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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Proks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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[TL/N: PoV Changed]]
Chapter 12: The Young Lion Regains His Spirit
As the sun set, silence began to envelop the surroundings.
"..."
Allenvert remained immersed in his book, not even lifting his head. Some chapters he skimmed through, while others held his attention endlessly.
What could have brought this about? How could he concentrate so deeply?
The librarian found himself reflecting on his own habits of merely flipping through pages, satisfied with superficial understanding.
Surely the boy's concentration would break once the darkness grew too thick to distinguish between paper and text.
Suddenly, the librarian was struck with a fear that some brilliant insight might vanish with the fading light. Quietly, he lit a lamp. The flickering flame seemed to transfer itself into the boy's eyes.
'...What ignited such a fire in this young man?'
Though he had many suspicions, the librarian simply remained silent, quietly watching Allenvert.
The night grew deeper. The librarian's working hours had long since passed, and even the watchmen who'd been wondering why the Fourth Young Master hadn't yet emerged began to yawn with their heads tilted back.
Just as Peter, who had been waiting patiently for his master, was nodding off completely...
Allenvert opened his eyes.
"...Ah, what a relief."
He smiled, saying it felt as if all the answers to his long-held questions had suddenly been hammered into his mind.
"Congratulations, Young Master."
"Congratulations? For what?"
The librarian smiled in response to Allenvert's playful grin.
"You've gained insight, haven't you? Did you understand everything?"
"For the most part. I'd like to apply it right away, but that would be unreasonable now."
"Indeed."
Allenvert blinked and looked around.
"How much time has passed?"
"About six hours."
"Thank you for waiting."
Allenvert took the librarian's thin hand.
"I know you've shown me kindness beyond what was required. Now I'd like to know your name."
The librarian was unconsciously moved by this sincere yet dignified respect.
"Young Master, my name is Ludan."
"Ludan. Let me express my gratitude to you."
Allenvert gently released his hand and said.
"Would it be alright if I visited occasionally to request tea from you?"
"How could you spare time for a humble old man like me?"
"Humble? All I see is a wise man who has quietly walked his own path for many years."
"...!"
Allenvert turned around.
"I'll take my leave now."
"P-please take care."
Allenvert smirked at Librarian Ludan, who had delayed his response due to being moved by the moment.
"Well then, goodbye."
As the door opened, Ludan watched Allenvert walk away with a leisurely gait, smacking his dozing servant awake.
That extraordinary concentration.
Those eyes full of intelligence.
That fire flickering in those eyes...
Ludan had to acknowledge that Allenvert Grunewald, the Fourth Young Master who had once been a timid and powerless recluse, had indeed 'changed.'
Ludan muttered to himself.
"There will be many visitors starting tomorrow."
Allenvert's transformation could create significant ripples throughout the ducal estate. It was easy to predict that the eyes and ears of the young masters, along with many others, would come to pester him for information.
Though Ludan wrestled with whether telling the truth would be in that pitiful young man's best interest, he realized he had little choice in the matter.
"...I should procure some good tea."
Of course, he wouldn't serve that tea to anyone but Allenvert, even if the other lions tried to intimidate him with their fangs and claws.
* * *
The corridor was silent.
A vast, deep darkness gaped open, while beautifully crafted lanterns painted scenes between the shadows.
A man walked alone through this long cave of night, heading toward the inner chambers of Duke Georg Grunewald.
'It's gotten quite late.'
The Head Butler, Count Aiden's footsteps were as regular as a clock's second hand.
"..."
The guards standing watch in the corridor maintained their virtue of silence, offering slight bows.
"My Lord."
"Enter."
Having received permission, the Head Butler adjusted his attire and gently pushed the door. The thick door opened slowly.
"I apologize for the late hour."
A large window stretched above the simple desk. Moonlight poured softly through the glass. The Head Butler spoke while looking at the back of the man gazing at the black sea spread beneath the moonlit night.
"I have unusual matters to report."
Though the man's back remained silent, the Head Butler knew this silence meant he was listening. Duke Georg Grunewald was naturally a man of few words.
"Fourth Young Master Allenvert has just now left the library."
The Duke continued to watch the moonlight scattered by the waves without speaking.
The Head Butler, accustomed to addressing his lord's back, continued.
"While nothing unusual occurred, they say the Young Master's expression was remarkably bright as he left the library."
"I see."
"Since he said he would read martial arts texts, he must have achieved some understanding."
The Duke asked in a dry tone.
"What book could he have read for so long?"
"I will check with the librarian tomorrow."
"Very well."
The Duke's voice carried both dignity and composure, commanding authority through tone alone.
"It's curious that while he's forgotten the past, the first thing he wanted to read was a martial arts text."
The lord spoke in an even voice.
"Indeed. If Young Master Allenvert has regained his childhood intelligence, he might well have mastered the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique..."
"In just a few hours?"
"Nothing is certain. However, I think it might be possible."
"You must have found your conversation with that child quite impressive."
The Duke knew better than anyone that the Head Butler rarely spoke highly of others.
"Do you believe Allen has been hiding his intelligence?"
The Head Butler chose his words carefully.
"I believe there's a fifty percent chance. He showed aspects of a lion I'd never seen before. If he was hiding it, his mind runs deep; if he truly changed, it's remarkable."
"Either way, it's unexpected."
Though he had received reports about Allenvert's activities and changes, the Duke showed no particular emotional reaction.
"If what you say is true, it means Allen has regained his will to live, grasping at even a thread of hope, triggered by that fever."
Whether he had been hiding his intelligence or suddenly transformed, that fever was clearly the catalyst.
"It's not uncommon for someone who's faced death to experience a great awakening. However, it's hard to believe that Allen's character up until now was all an act."
"...I too find that difficult to accept. Rather than his nature changing, perhaps his mindset shifted during puberty while in seclusion."
The Duke finally turned around.
Gray strands mixed with his golden hair. His well-developed jaw, thick neck, and sturdy build suited his lion-like dignity.
This was Georg Grunewald himself, the true king ruling over this vast duchy.
"He was certainly a clever child before that incident."
"Yes."
He spoke in a tone that made it unclear whether he found his estranged young son's changes puzzling, uninteresting, or pathetic.
"If his seclusion was intentional, it was foolish to miss his training. If not, it was merely a commotion caused by youthful rashness."
"Indeed."
"But you, who met Allen directly, believe it's neither."
"I only worry that I may have been too dull to read him properly."
"If your capabilities were that limited, I wouldn't have placed you in that position of trust."
The Head Butler carefully asked,
"Would you like to meet with him?"
"That won't be necessary."
The Duke shook his head slightly.
"Unless there's something significant, there's no need for further reports."
"Understood."
The Head Butler was a man who knew when to withdraw even without being dismissed.
"Then, have a peaceful night."
He left the bedchamber with impeccable etiquette.
"..."
Walking back through the corridor, the Head Butler reviewed their conversation, trying to gauge his master's intentions.
'I'll need to keep watching for now.'
He would need to monitor activities and gather information at his level until there were no more unusual developments.
'If His Grace showed direct interest, that too would draw unnecessary attention.'
The Head Butler thought,
'He's still in no position to handle even his father's slightest attention.'
Even receiving the lord's attention required certain qualifications. Otherwise, one would face silent opposition from blood relatives and in-laws.
Why wouldn't they? In this castle, rumors traveled faster than arrows. All the servants, maids, employees, and cooks were someone's ears and eyes.
'Of course, this is because His Grace "allowed that much."'
No matter how ambitious the young masters and in-laws had become, they couldn't cross the lines set by the Duke within this domain.
And any measures the Head Butler would take from now on would be within the authority granted by the Duke.
'I should send the tutor back to check on him.'
As a vassal, it would be both disrespectful and impossible to presumptuously interpret all of his lord's intentions.
However, as his lord's hands and feet, it was his duty to oversee and handle even "unassigned tasks."
'I should visit the librarian directly to hear the story.'
Despite being busy managing the duchy's affairs, matters concerning Allenvert, the Duke's direct bloodline, were quite important.
'I have a strange feeling.'
He sensed he would soon return to report about Allenvert to the Duke. If Allenvert was truly as he had observed, Grunewald would soon realize that a new lion had emerged.
As the Head Butler emerged from the night's cave, he suddenly turned to look at the annex tucked away in a corner.
The lights were still on.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Proks]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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