Don’t Run Away My Lord

32 – The Grand and Beautiful Tower (5)

The Marquis’s castle had a completely different atmosphere from Tussenne Duchy.

If Tussenne Duchy pursued splendor, like a palace, this place had a fortress-like feeling that prioritized practicality.

The plain-colored corridors had no decorations, but there were water barrels with fire prevention measures at regular intervals, and the windows were tall and narrow.

It was a structure where attackers from the outside couldn’t easily breach, while arrows could be shot out from the inside.

The servants were all dressed in functional boots and comfortable attire, with thick leather belts that could hold anything around their waists.

In case of emergencies, they could hang swords or various weapons on them.

“Even though it’s a castle belonging to a Marquis, it somehow looks poorer than the Duchy’s castle.”

“This is normal, Lord Erga. Tussenne Duchy made ridiculous amounts of money through their drug trade.”

A soldier walking ahead asked.

“Where are you two coming from? From the way you speak, you don’t seem to be from around here.”

“We came from Veravche.”

“I see. The castles in your country and the castles of the lords here are definitely different.”

According to the soldier’s explanation, unlike the Veravche Kingdom, the Tarda Kingdom prioritized the function of castles as fortresses due to frequent warfare among the lords.

The way of the territory war is that once the lord’s castle falls, it’s over.

“Maybe you didn’t see it from outside, but there are hidden traps and facilities for attacks everywhere. Even the lowest-ranking maids are armed and deployed in times of emergency.”

“Then what about the people of other territories? Do they evacuate?”

“Evacuate?”

The soldier chuckled.

“What are you talking about? Everyone is mobilized as soldiers and fights with weapons. In preparation for that, they regularly undergo military training.”

Now that I looked closely, the soldier’s leather armor was covered in countless scars, and the leather strap holding the sword scabbard was worn out.

It was a clear contrast to the shiny plate armor worn by the soldiers of Tousen.

There was a reason why Mera was worried when we said we were going to the Tarda Kingdom.

And it makes sense that Riana said she had to come here to become a lord.

The more chaotic a place is, the more crises and opportunities it offers.

Whether you seize them or not depends on your individual capabilities.

* * * * *

Count Gorda’s office was, as expected, a luxurious place unlike the modest Tousen estate.

In the center, a tilted table was placed with a map of the territory and small flags, and several people were gathered around, discussing something.

“We have completely annihilated Breghardt’s battalion that crossed into the territory.”

“But the damage to the people of the territory is severe… It seems like retaliation is necessary…”

“I agree with retaliation. But the question is how and to what extent.”

“Shouldn’t we just repay them the same way?”

“No. That would only escalate the conflict. We need to repay them overwhelmingly, so they won’t dare to make a sound.”

The soldier cleared his throat and spoke up.

“Your Excellency, travelers have come regarding a request from the Cape Tower.”

As he said that, the gaze of the humans turned towards us.

The middle-aged man standing in the center smiled.

“Have you seen the announcement recruiting people to retrieve artifacts from Cape Tower?”

“Yes, sir. Are you Count Gorda?”

“That’s right. I am Count Gorda.”

Count Gorda was a middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard on his reddish-brown hair.

He had a robust physique, tall stature, and a relaxed smile on his lips, exuding the dignity of a noble.

“I am currently in an important meeting. I will be there shortly. Please wait in the reception room.”

When Count Gorda gestured with his eyes, the soldier led us out of the office.

* * * * *

The reception room was a desolate place, devoid of any special decorations or furniture.

A gruff maid placed a warm tea on the table and fidgeted with the fire in the fireplace before disappearing.

“It’s really bleak here, isn’t it, Eurga?”

Riana spoke up while sipping her tea.

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“There’s frequent warfare, so it can’t be helped.”

“Well, that’s true. But Eurga, if we were to have a territory, we would decorate the lordship like a place where people live.”

“How so?”

Riana rolled her large eyes and said.

“Hang some paintings on the walls and place beautiful tropical plant pots on the terrace. Cultivate a small vegetable garden in the backyard and let chickens and ducks roam there. It would be even better if you could raise fish in a small pond.”

“Isn’t that just a countryside house, not a manor?”

“Is that so? hehehe.”

Liana burst into laughter.

After a while, footsteps were heard from outside, and the door swung open.

“You’ve waited long.”

Count Gorda and several humans entered the drawing room.

“There’s a minor issue in the territory that needs to be discussed.”

The count and his entourage sat at the table, and the stern maid from earlier brought in tea.

“Let me introduce myself formally. I am Count Gorda. These are our guests.”

“Hello, I am Erga.”

“I am Liana.”

We exchanged brief greetings.

Count Gorda smiled and asked, “You came because you saw the notice at the Kefal Tower?”

“Yes, I saw it on the Tuscany notice board in the Vera Vecche Kingdom,” Liana replied.

“Vera Vecche? hahahaha. Did the notice really reach that far? By the way, you’ve come from quite a distance.”

“As it is a request from the count, I thought it would be worth the money.”

Count Gorda chuckled at Liana’s straightforward remark.

“That’s right. It’s money that moves the feet of travelers.”

“Can we know exactly what it contains?”

The ghost sitting next to Count Goda unfolded a map on the table.

It showed the territory and its surroundings in detail.

Count Goda pointed to one place with his finger.

“A tower suddenly appeared here not long ago.”

“Ah…? A tower appeared…?”

Liana asked in confusion.

A tower appeared? I couldn’t quite understand Count Goda’s words either.

“I’m sorry, but it’s just as I said. A tower suddenly stood in a place where there was nothing before.”

Liana and I looked at each other.

I didn’t think Count Goda, or any other respectable author, would make fun of others by making false claims.

But a tower appeared? Hm…

“But how did it come to be called Kepel?”

“The place where the tower appeared is called Kepel. It used to be a small village, but the tower descended upon it…”

Count Goda’s expression darkened slightly.

So, a building was brought in from somewhere.

The only thing that came to mind immediately was teleportation magic.

If it’s teleportation, it means you can move a specific object to a desired location.

But who on earth moved the tower?

If that’s not the case, it means that a tower that didn’t exist in the air was created, and I wondered if such magic existed.

“Do you know anything about that tower?”

“I don’t know exactly, but there are rumors of mysterious artifacts inside.”

“Artifacts, you say. Who says that?”

“Ancient characters are engraved on the outer wall of the tower.”

After having someone who knows ancient characters interpret them, it turns out that the tower was built by the first elf magician.

The first elf magician… It must have been as long ago as the Black Dragon.

Then there might be something hidden inside for sure.

“But why would you entrust such a task to an outsider rather than an insider?”

Count Goda closed his mouth for a moment and looked at his subordinates.

And then he opened his mouth.

“I will be honest with you. No one who entered that tower has ever come out alive.”

“Ugh…!”

Liana screamed in horror.

“That’s why we had no choice but to recruit brave mercenaries and adventurers from outside.”

“Have there been others who have tried, besides us?”

“Most of them listened to me and ran away, and a very small number never returned.”

“Well, then the commission fee must be considerable.”

When Count Goda mentioned the amount of the commission fee, Liana let out a second scream.

I, too, couldn’t help but be a little surprised when I heard the amount.

Do you really bet such a large amount without even knowing if there are artifacts in the tower?

When I looked at Liana, her face was very complicated.

Just hearing the amount makes my mouth water, but the problem is that no one has succeeded so far.

Hmm… What should I do…

Clearly, we have a lot of gold coins, but they are far from enough to do something big.

We have to earn as much money as possible, but the amount suggested by Count Gorda is too big to ignore.

Even though many humans have failed and not returned…

I am a Black Dragon.

A member of the oldest and strongest race on the surface.

And among them, I am the successor of the Lord’s bloodline.

No matter how much I have transformed into the form of a human, there is probably nothing stronger than me right now.

I don’t know what’s inside the Kepel Tower, but it seems right to give it a try.

If things go wrong, I’ll just transform into my true form, destroy the tower, and escape with Liana.

Getting caught by detection magic is a bit scary, but it’s better than Liana dying.

“We’ll do it.”

“Ergha, are you okay…?”

“I’m fine. There won’t be any problems.”

Liana was anxious, but she didn’t raise any objections.

Count Gorda was very grateful for my decision, and if we succeed in the request, he promised to give us additional rewards.

Liana’s worried expression about the rewards slightly eased.

The next day, we rode horses and went to the place where the tower was located.

To monitor if the commission was being carried out faithfully, three soldiers from the Viscount’s castle accompanied us.

It was to prevent any lies or deceit, such as hiding or finding nothing in the middle.

“There, that’s the tower.”

The soldier raised his hand and pointed forward.