80 - I Became a Guy Who Got Caught Up in the Summoning of a Hero

The Gathering of Exchanges I was forcibly removed from all scheduled events afterward. "I'm the lord of the territory, aren't I?" "It's Her Highness the Princess's orders. Everything seems to be running smoothly as it is. Until you recover, she's decreed that you be forcibly removed from your duties." 'Who gave her that right?!' I couldn't help but flare up, but the princess had yet to leave our territory. In fact, I heard she was planning to lead the merchants to Count Brynne and then return to the capital via teleportation in a few days. "Oh... I have so much to do! Right, the wine! I need to transfer it!" Benny promptly responded to my remark. "Most of the wine has already been transferred. Even the private storage, my lord." "What? Did you taste it?" "How could I taste it? It belongs to you, my lord." 'Stop saying strange things and lie down,' Benny said, pushing me back onto the bed. Maybe I could charge him with insubordination? Just to find some freedom? While entertaining those thoughts, I was eating the porridge Benny handed me... "What is this made of? Why does it taste so bad?" "I heard it's made with herbs and vegetables good for recovery, as well as meat, all boiled together and seasoned." Are they trying to assassinate me? As I was seriously pondering this, Benny looked at me with a worried expression and spoke. "Hare said you must eat it even if it doesn't suit your taste. It helps detoxify the mana recovery drug that's accumulated in your body." "Then do I not have to take the medicine you give me later?" "No, you have to take that too..." "Then what is this...?" "It's your meal." It was a bleak situation. I was thinking I had fallen from heaven into hell as I forced myself to eat the porridge when Benny continued. "All the beastfolk are worried. While you were sleeping today, Vizel came by and asked me to relay a message." "What did he say?" "He said you're taking the medicine well, and there's not a single beastfolk suffering from any side effects or problems." "That's a relief... And what else happened?" "Well, merchants requested a meeting to wish you health, but they were all turned down. We also received a letter saying that Guts and Rita from the unseen mercenary group would be coming to our territory." "What do they want?" "They mentioned that they could do mercenary work here anyway, and it's cheaper to get divine blessings from the main production area rather than the market." I thought they were quite persistent. Thanks to Benny's detailed updates, I was able to grasp the state of the territory, and when I had been bedridden for two weeks, I finally noticed the flesh having returned to my body, which left me in awe. 'The dragon’s medicine is amazing...?' Despite seemingly doing nothing special, my body had completely detoxified from the mana poison. Apparently, mana poison stealthily infiltrates the body at first, making one unaware of their addiction. It then gradually consumes the user’s body, first burning the fats, then proteins, and finally breaking down muscles and bones, leading to death. I was in quite a dangerous situation. But now, having built some resistance to mana poison, I received a warning from Hare not to consume more than two mana recovery pills. I now had the freedom to revisit my territory after a long absence. But the issue was that I wasn't alone. "So, why have you come here?" Count Bran de Ishtine, who succeeded the late Count Ishtine, was rumored to be a knight of tremendous skill. As the lord, is it really okay to leave the territory unattended like this? As I pondered this, Bran spoke up. "Her Highness the Princess asked me to look after you." I wasn’t sure who was supposed to take care of whom, but persuasion seemed necessary for now. "This is my territory, and I’m fully recovered. I’m neither in need of nor seeking anyone’s care, am I?” "That may be true. But I’m interested in you." "...So what do you intend to do about it?" "I’d like to take a walk and have a conversation with you." With a sigh at the young lady count’s rather stiff atmosphere, I dismissed the guards who were trying to follow us and strolled alone alongside her near the lord’s residence, where harsh winds were blowing. Bran spoke. "Your medicine is reputed to be quite formidable on the battlefield." "And so?" "I heard the current medicine on the battlefield is your 'advanced' treatment. I’m curious if you have something even better." "Well..." Several recipes crossed my mind. However, was there a reason to create such medicine? "It might be possible. But why do you ask?" "I’m planning to join the war." This noble-looking person heading to the battlefield... Was she trying to emulate Joan of Arc or something? I fleetingly entertained the thought but had no intention of stopping someone from doing what they wished. "So, it's a request for a potion?" "Do you take personal requests?" "I see no reason to refuse, as long as there’s adequate compensation, don't you think?" "Hmm... I have nothing to offer immediately. But after the war, if I succeed, I will give you half of my achievements. How does that sound?" It could be considered a rather generous offer, but should Bran die on the battlefield, it would all be in vain. Moreover, recently, there have been reports of a hero’s head rolling. Even for Ingrad, such news usually arrived late, but this time it was delivered relatively quickly. This indicated that the hero's death was a shock that would tremble the continent to its core. "In this late age, my talent for the sword has finally blossomed. I've reached the ranks of a master. Unlike the warriors who recklessly rely solely on divine power, I will steadfastly enter the battle, earn merits, and... achieve my revenge." "Revenge, is it?" Count Bran nodded. It made sense; the local nobility was wiped out, and most estates had passed to the next generation. It seemed they had every right to seek vengeance. But I wondered if it was something they could actually accomplish. That esteemed hero has died. I speculated that the hero who arrived with me must have perished somewhere on the front lines too, which left a bitter taste. I decided to pose a question to Bran out of curiosity. "How many heroes are active on the front lines right now?" "Thirteen. Three died recently, and five new ones were added, making that number." From hearing "five," I could infer that those who accompanied me had been sent into battle. How strong could they have become in just a few months? Nonetheless, considering it a matter separate from myself, I spoke to Bran. "Are you heading to the battlefield where the heroes are?" "No, I am going to the battlefield where a hero recently died." "Why is that?" "Because my enemy is there." There is something about revenge simplifying people. Was the Bran Count before me blinded by revenge? As I stared at Count Bran, she met my gaze with her steely gray eyes and spoke firmly. "I haven’t lost myself to revenge, but it just so happens that the enemy I seek is there, where I can earn merits as well. And it's the quickest way to face them, which is why I've decided this." "Who exactly is the target of your revenge?" "The Archduke of the demon realm, Heneth.” A name unknown to me. But being called an archduke of the demon realm must mean he's a formidable entity. Could this seemingly delicate Count Bran really defeat such a being that had even killed heroes and accumulate achievements? Just as I was deep in thought about this, Bran continued. "There is an ace up my sleeve. With this, I will have the means to deal with him." She then showed me a small vial from her pocket, only about the size of a pinky finger, and upon seeing it, my pharmaceutical knowledge kicked in. 'A high-grade physical enhancement potion, it says...' Produced by some standard pharmacist guild, it was indeed high-grade, but compared to my supreme-grade physical enhancement potion, its effectiveness was laughably insufficient, with far less powerful effects. Nonetheless, the high-grade classification wasn’t entirely unwarranted. 'It's not extraordinary, but decently good, I'd say?' Picturing how any reputable pharmaceutical guild might react if they realized this, frothing at the mouth, I mulled over my options and finally made a deal. "Half of your achievements. Don't forget that promise. Furthermore, what I will provide you comes in two types." "An excellent remedy is all I need." "No, it would be unsettling if you went to a battlefield where heroes couldn't prevail just to die. If you're returning to the territory tomorrow anyway, I'll prepare them for you before you leave." "Thank you. I will be enormously grateful for your assistance." I didn’t think it was something to be so thankful for. Afterward, until I had toured the entire territory, Count Bran silently followed me without interference, staying beside me. The portrayal of her looking out for me on behalf of Princess Liana, or perhaps she was simply monitoring me... Regardless, knowing the cause of what was eating away at me, I intended to be more cautious. Moreover, I recalled that among my supplies, I had prepared an antidote suitable for mana poison, and I figured I would take it along with my mana recovery potion. If those concerned knew about this setup, they might have considered burning the workshop down. Following that, after returning to the residence and sharing a farewell dinner with Count Bran, for the first time in a long while, I was able to sleep deeply alone. It really did feel like it had been ages. * * * The next morning, I prepared the finest grade recovery medications I could manufacture. They came in two forms. One was a topical application, and the other, a pill meant to be swallowed. The former was a treatment that would act directly on wounds, while the latter was a potion intended to maximize recovery capabilities. In essence, they were designed to enhance natural healing abilities. Given that battles boil down to a war of endurance, I engineered the pills to also be beneficial for stamina recovery through additional refining procedures. Their effect lasted for half a day, and unsure of how many might be needed, I prepared about 600 pills, the size of a pinky nail, storing them in a compact container. Additionally, I produced 30 bottles of the wound treatment for multiple uses. The purpose was indeed not to let Count Bran die. And the crowning gift was the supreme-grade physical enhancement potion. She would experience a boost incomparable to what she currently held, though it came with the penalty of rapid stamina depletion, so I planned on giving only a limited amount. 'Three vials should suffice.' If I lied about the success rate being nearly zero, it wouldn’t leave room for unreasonable demands. Then, during lunch with Count Bran, as I was explaining the three types of potions, she particularly gravitated toward the supreme-grade physical enhancement potion. "Is that truly a supreme-grade potion?" "I can’t manufacture many of them. The production success rate is nearly zero, so I can't offer more than this." "...It is overwhelming. With what you’re offering me, I could potentially purchase a small estate. I didn't realize how extraordinary this is." Thinking she might be exaggerating, I replied. "Don’t forget—half the achievements. If you change your story later, our trust will 'crumble,' understand?" "I... there will be no such consequence. I will earn those merits without fail... And this... shall be my token of promise to you." The item handed over to me was a signet ring. It was a rather luxurious piece, emblazoned with the emblem of the count's family. Just by looking at it, I could sense how solid and determined Count Bran's resolve was, a sentiment that clearly showed on her face. 'How adorable, so fresh and charming...' It seemed I had fully recovered.