“Red Mage Sharen became the Crome Family’s exclusive Mage?” News of Red Mage Sharen becoming the Crome Family's exclusive Mage spread across the continent in an instant. Those most surprised by this news were the Black Rose Family, the Great Lord family of the west. Count 『Mordic Blackrose』, the head of the Black Rose Family, couldn't hide his surprise upon hearing the news. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this surprised, Father.” “That the idealist Mage has settled down. Even I can’t help but be surprised.” Sharen had stayed in the Black Rose territory for about three months. Though a short time, the magic ability she displayed was truly astonishing, and they had tried to make her the family’s exclusive Mage with a salary more than ten times that of a normal Mage. However, she left the territory, saying, ‘The darkness of the Black Rose Family is too deep.’ “The Crome Family... She truly went to an unexpected family.” “Indeed. I thought she would go to the 『Tarwin Family』 in the north or the 『Seraphin Family』[TL]It's legit Seraphin, with an N...Not an M...The Korean word for Seraphim is diff[/TL] in the east.” “I thought so too. Considering her inclinations, those were the only options.” Mordic had spoken with her several times. So he knew a little about her thoughts and believed that only those two families suited her inclinations. But she had gone to the Crome Family in the south, a completely unexpected choice. “I thought they were just salt mongers selling salt in the south, but it seems I underestimated the Crome Family.” The image of the Crome Family was that of southern salt mongers. They earned a lot of money through the salt monopoly, but instead of hiring large numbers of knights or actively lobbying the Imperial Family, they just hoarded it like nouveaux riches, leading people to call the Crome Family the southern salt mongers. That such a Crome Family recruited Red Mage Sharen, who possessed enough power to disrupt the balance of power in the Empire, was astonishing to Mordic, who knew the Crome Family of the past. “This Crome Lord seems special, Father.” 『Ivy Blackrose』, Mordic’s daughter and the Chief Retainer of the Black Rose Family, shared the information she had investigated. In fact, she had already been aware of the information from the south. She understood that a new Crome Lord had been appointed and that he was implementing various reforms. Revising workers' compensation, improving equipment for knights and soldiers, reforming customs duties, and so on – the new Crome Lord had implemented very aggressive reforms and was achieving numerous results. The biggest achievement among them was the recruitment of Red Mage Sharen, but even if he hadn't recruited Sharen, in Ivy's assessment of Callix Crome, he had already become a formidable figure. “You said his name was Callix Crome, correct?” “Yes, that's right, Father. Among the People of the south, he is reportedly called the 『Silver Dragon of Crome』.” “The Silver Dragon of Crome... The young man already has a dangerous moniker.” Five hundred years ago, the Empire was still a kingdom. The Novarens Kingdom launched wars of conquest to unify the continent. That era of war left behind tales of numerous heroes, among them was General 『Draigon Crome』 of the Novarens Kingdom and the first head of the Crome Family. In reverence for his superhuman exploits and valor, people called him this: The silver dragon blessed by 『Crome』, the god of the sea. The 『Silver Dragon of Crome』. “Ivy, investigate the Crome Family and the south carefully.” “Yes, Father. I will double the number of investigators.” In fact, she was already increasing the number of investigators. Anticipating her father would give such an order, her curiosity was even greater. “I can really feel the start of the game approaching. I truly hope to see who will be the winner of this Game of Thrones.” Mordic said, sipping high-quality wine as he gazed at the moon outside the window. Ivy felt she knew the words her father left unsaid. ‘The one who laughs last is always us.’ That was the Family Motto of the Black Rose Family. * Red Mage Sharen became our family’s exclusive Mage. Hearing the news, Hart and Noah said joyfully. “Everything went according to your scheme, My Lord. To think you grasped Mage Sharen's dislike for luxury and gave such an order... You truly are amazing, My Lord.” “I was surprised too, My Lord. When I saw you neglecting Lady Sharen, I thought for once that your Lordship had made a mistake.” “Hahaha... Th-There’s no way that’s true, Hart. Hahaha!” “Indeed. Hahaha! There’s no way your Lordship would make such a mistake, yet I doubted. I apologize.” “It’s alright. It’s all in the past, isn’t it? Hahaha...” My heart skipped several beats. Thus, Sharen officially became the Crome Family’s exclusive Mage. I could feel my renown skyrocketing on the invisible game UI. Surely, faraway families like the Black Rose Family would have started dispatching investigators to my territory. Sigh... My head ached thinking about the future. Now, surrounding territories will probably start keeping a close eye on us. What should I do... Ah, whatever!! If a problem arises later, I’ll think about it then!! Thus, I tried to ignore reality. “My Lord!!! Urgent news!” “What is it!!?” But this damn world wouldn't leave me alone. Honestly, it felt too much that they weren't even given a second to rest. “Deep Rock!! A horde of Deep Rock has appeared!!” “A horde of Deep Rock appeared!?” 『Deep Rock』[TL]....I have no words for this name...I legit have half a mind to simply fanfic one...[/TL] Monsters with fish bodies and limbs, living in the deep sea. These monsters form groups at regular intervals, reproduce like crazy, and when food becomes scarce in the deep sea, they swarm out of the water. Their intelligence is goblin-level, so individually they aren’t very threatening, but when they swarm out like that, they become a truly unmanageable legion. Looking at Callix’s memories, even during the previous Lord’s time, due to a Deep Rock attack, knights from not only the Crome Family’s territory but also surrounding territories had to be fully mobilized to barely suppress them. Confirming the appearance of the Deep Rock horde, we immediately entered an emergency response mode. We evacuated the people of the territory and dispatched scouts to grasp the exact situation. The situation grasped was as follows: “The Deep Rock horde is emerging from the Rage Coast at the eastern end of the Crome territory. The currently identified number is estimated at 5,000 to 6,000 and is continuously increasing, requiring swift suppression.” “5,000... It’s tight, but not a scale our territory can’t handle.” “I see. That’s a relief.” About 5,000 could be handled by Crome’s knights alone. However, that was only if Crome’s knights could be fully committed. Just as a bad premonition arose, the door burst open violently, and a soldier entered. “My Lord! We’re in big trouble!!” “What is it now?” “The Lion Family... has started deploying knights.” “What! Knights!!?” The news the soldier brought was about the Lion Family. After the Deep Rock horde appeared, the Lion Family began deploying knights along the Crome territory’s borderline. The reason given was to exterminate Deep Rock monsters crossing into Crome. But anyone who wasn't a fool could see what those Lion bastards were aiming for. “My Lord, this means those Lion bastards are openly planning to invade our territory while we fight the monsters!!” “That’s right, My Lord. Those Lion bastards are capable of such a thing.” The Lion Family had done such things countless times. Whenever they had a chance, they would invade surrounding territories to claim them as their own or demand enormous ransoms. This had become particularly severe in recent years, and no surrounding territory trusted the Lion Family. “Is Lord Hadem present on the Lion Family’s side?” “Yes! As always, he is at the forefront.” As expected, he showed up. Lord Hadem, true to his reputation as a warmonger, always stood at the forefront of any battle. His personal appearance was a signal that he was prepared to invade our territory if given the chance. “I will go and speak to him myself. Prepare a horse.” “Yes!!” I sent a messenger and, accompanied by Rikain and the knights, headed towards the territory borderline. Meeting Lord Hadem, who was like Yeopo, could be extremely dangerous.[TL] Yeopo (Lü Bu) was a famously powerful and treacherous warrior from China's Three Kingdoms period, known for switching allegiances (serving multiple "fathers"). [/TL] However, since their Lord had come out, it was appropriate for me to go. If I made a mistake, the head of our innocent messenger could fly. Thus, when we reached the territory borderline where the Lion Family’s knights were, Lord Hadem, with his shining bald head and an axe, approached alone from a distance. Seeing Lord Hadem in person, not only his appearance but also his actions were truly those of a berserker. I came with ten knights and Rikain, but his coming alone was truly impressive in many ways. “Lord Hadem, it’s been a while. Have you been well?” “Yes, I’ve been well, Callix.” Being neighboring territories, Hadem and Callix had interacted before. However, as could be inferred from Hadem’s tone, he looked down on the Crome Family and Callix. I got straight to the point. “I’ll be direct. Either withdraw your knights, or fight the Deep Rock with us.” Hadem seemed slightly taken aback by my words. But then he spoke as if amused. “Speaking so directly to me. You’ve grown a lot, Callix.” “I am a Lord. If I do not grow, my people will suffer.” In Hadem’s memory, I would be the weak fledgling from before my transmigration. But the current me was me. Whether my original self was weak or not, I had to say what needed to be said. “Trying to become strong for the weak. That’s why you’re a fledgling.” Dismissing my words lightly, Hadem replied. Then he slammed his axe into the ground and said. Crunch-! “You know my answer.” At the tip of the axe, a snake lay dead, split in two. I replied. “The weak are preyed upon. So do not become weak.” “Yes, you know it very well.” The Lion Family’s motto under Hadem was ‘The weak are preyed upon. So do not become weak.’ In a word, the law of the jungle. In other words, Hadem was telling me that if I became weak, he would devour me, so I should prepare myself. I had somewhat expected it, but for him to come out like this was truly berserker-like. But then, Hadem said something completely unexpected. “However, if you come under my command and fight for the Imperial Prince together... it’s not like we can’t fight together.” This fellow is making such an offer? The Hadem I knew was not someone who would make such an offer. He looked at me with great amusement and said. “What will you do, Callix?” Like a lion... more accurately, a hairless lion, Hadem stared at me like a beast of prey. I sighed and replied. “You know my answer, don’t you?” “Will you remain at the very bottom?” ‘Look at the highest place from the bottom.’ That was the Crome Family motto, and the life principle I had decided on to survive here. To Hadem’s words, I replied as the beloved Lord of Crome. “I am not at the bottom. I simply know what is most important.” “Well, if that’s your choice, it can’t be helped.” Hadem lightly picked up an axe as big as I was and slung it over his shoulder. “I shall stay here and see how the weak crumble.” He turned his horse and rode back. Trying not to be intimidated by Hadem, I replied. “Feel free to see. You will witness something very amusing.” Yes, you will witness something very amusing. It’s time to show the fearless lion the flames of a Red Mage.

Monsters and Lions