The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 32 (Part 1):

The beetles each possessed slightly different magical powers. Though I couldn’t identify each one specifically, I was able to determine that they had various different abilities.

I told Fabre to study them in more detail. Fabre cheerfully promised he would figure it all out before returning.

In the running carriage, I spent all night mentally organizing the two things I had learned.

First was the method of properly sending psychic energy to living creatures.

In particular, Fabre’s technique of gently guiding the beetle’s will without harming its mind gave me a great revelation.

The second was controlling multiple entities in a relationship similar to but inferior to a familiar.

This is impossible with fully intelligent beings like familiars, and only possible with creatures of extremely low intelligence like beetles. It’s similar to death magic, strengthening the bond by giving names.

But, corpses would originally have names, so is it okay to give them new names?

“Hm? What did you just say? What about corpses?”

Snapping back to attention, I saw the Count sitting across from me staring straight at me.

His left eye looked more than twice as large due to the monocle he wore.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just lost in thought and misspoke.”

He gazed at me intently.

“So? What’s the result?”

“Pardon?”

“The result of your musings. You haven’t said a word for over three hours since we got in the carriage after breakfast. Such deep contemplation must have yielded some good results, no?”

We’ve already been traveling for three hours?

Looking out the window, I saw the scenery had changed quite a bit.

Realizing that, it occurred to me that I may have been quite rude up until now.

He probably tried speaking to me several times? While I remained completely silent.

“I’m sorry. I had something on my mind.”

“No need to apologize. It’s just that I’ve never seen you think this deeply before.”

“Really? I do it sometimes.”

“I know. But not to this extent. That’s why I’m even more curious. What topic could so thoroughly captivate you, who instinctively provides answers others would only reach after long deliberation?”

“It’s related to magic. You probably wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”

“I’m sure that’s true. That’s why I kept quiet until now.”

He lowered his gaze.

A small book was in his hand.

It seems he had been reading.

But he hadn’t turned a page for a long time.

“Count.”

“Yes?”

“Is something troubling you?”

Count Furst maintained a blank expression, then set the book down with a thud.

“I’m not sure if Duke Balkan and Legless Monkey have made some kind of agreement, or if these are independent events. I need to figure this out before meeting Duke Balkan so I don’t get outmaneuvered in our conversation.”

Well, we are heading there without knowing anything at the moment.

Duke Balkan might not even agree to meet us.

I crossed my legs.

“It’s going to take 8 days to reach Duke Balkan’s territory anyway, right? I’ll lend you my brain in the meantime.”

Count Furst glanced at me sidelong.

“Don’t you have your own matters to ponder? It’s fine.”

“Actually, thinking about your situation helps clear my head. It’s like light stretching for my mind.”

“……”

“So go ahead and tell me about it.”

The Count chuckled, seeming to take it as a joke.

But it was actually true.

Count Furst picked up his book again and said:

“First I need to organize my own thoughts a bit. I’ll ask you questions here and there during our journey.”

After that, he didn’t say another word. To the point where I almost wanted to speak up first.

But he was thinking so deeply that I hesitated to disturb him.

So I just studied magic on my own.

About two days passed like that.

Suddenly, he spoke up.

“What do you think Duke Balkan’s intentions are?”

I was in the middle of using psychokinesis to move some nearby insects, so I couldn’t answer his question right away.

But the Count waited patiently, apparently thinking I was considering it seriously.

What a kind man.

I withdrew my psychokinesis and answered.

“Isn’t he trying to establish your position?”

“Position?”

“You know, like ‘You’re beneath me.’ That sort of thing. After all, none of the shareholders returned. It’s a bit childish but…”

“……”

“So, in my opinion, if you beg, he might give you the five native children. If you bow low enough, saying, ‘I’m beneath you.'”

The Count furrowed his brow.

“So you’re saying he had Governor Krom kidnap native children just to make me aware of my position?”

“Probably not that far. The Duke’s daughter likely did genuinely want native children. But given how things turned out, he decided to use it as an opportunity to teach you a lesson… I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize.”

Count Furst seemed to be barely holding back his anger, gritting his teeth.

“You don’t think so?”

After a moment, he spoke.

“It’s purely intuition, but I keep thinking there must be some kind of deal between Legless Monkey and Duke Balkan.”

“You mean Duke Balkan set this up from the beginning?”

“Yes.”

I recalled the events from back then.

“I’m not so sure. Legless Monkey’s anger seemed genuine at the time.”

Count Furst closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

“Do you think I’m overthinking things unnecessarily?”

“Would she have worked with Duke Balkan to the point of using children from her own tribe? For what purpose?”

He swallowed.

“I’m not exactly sure about that part.”

If that was all, he wouldn’t have voiced these thoughts out loud.

I asked him directly:

“So what makes you suspect they’re working together?”

The Count leaned forward and spoke quickly.

“Massacring the soldiers was too extreme. It could have easily gone wrong and led to war. And then it’s strange that they let me live despite that.”

I immediately shared the thought that came to mind upon hearing that.

“Maybe Legless Monkey also needed to show something to her tribe members. After all, this incident arose from interactions with people from the Yura continent.”

The Count immediately understood my point.

“You mean a message like ‘I haven’t bowed my head to the people of the Yura continent’?”

“Yes. That explains the motive for the excessive show of force.”

Count Furst nodded repeatedly.

“But then why didn’t they kill me?”

“Perhaps they were confident you would bring the children?”

“……”

Dangun

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