“M-Master, what did you just say…?”

The person most shocked by the fact that the material for the Hyperhemia experiment was a human was, of course, Hav.

He seemed quite shaken by the realization that his respected master had experimented on humans.

Of course, for Luca, it was not a surprising story.

“……”

Bern wore an expression that words could not describe.

Shame about the past, guilt toward the sacrificed, and the fear that his disciple would be disappointed in him.

Complicated emotions flickered across his face.

“Any disagreements between master and disciple can wait until after our conversation. So, all that’s needed is the right human ‘material’? And the side effects?”

Then Luca spoke calmly, almost indifferently. Hav’s eyes widened.

“Luca, you… You’re going to accept using humans as materials?”

“I’m not so lacking in morality that I’d sacrifice innocent people. But I’m not such an idealist that I believe even those who have committed crimes should never be killed. If someone threatens me, I have no reason to hesitate to use them as material to restore my life force.”

With that, Luca glanced out the window.

“As it happens, such people are about to arrive soon. There’s no reason to refuse.”

“……”

“So let me ask. If I have the material, can you restore my life force? Of course, if possible, I’d prefer a method with no side effects.”

Bern, after a brief moment of thought, nodded.

“If it’s not about increasing predetermined life force as in the Hyperhemia experiment, but rather about restoring damaged natural life force, then there should be no side effects at all. The only issue is that we don’t have all the equipment here, so extracting the life force will take some time. But once that’s done, the restoration itself is quick.”

“That’s a relief. I’d rather avoid becoming unsightly.”

“Unsightly?”

Bern’s expression turned faintly curious.

“Your words sound as if you’ve seen the results of the Hyperhemia experiment.”

“How do you think I know that Marquis Kisen conducted the Hyperhemia experiment?”

“… So, they used that result for the terror incident!”

At Luca’s words, Bern’s eyes widened.

“Did it succeed? Creating the ultimate life form?”

“I’m not sure if it’s the ultimate life form, but someone did transform into a giant.”

“Oh… a giant…”

Bern’s eyes glittered with fascination, but soon dimmed.

He thought to himself: ‘Even after falling because of that experiment, I’m still interested in it. I’m truly disgusting.’

Self-loathing swept over him. Seeing this, Luca spoke dryly.

“Anyway, you don’t intend to do this for free, do you?”

“Free, huh……”

Bern looked mildly conflicted. But before he could give an answer, Luca spoke up.

“The payment—it’s enough if I protect this village, isn’t it?”

Regardless of Bern’s decision, Luca planned to compensate him.

After all, free things are often the most expensive, in his view.

In the current situation, the most appropriate compensation for both sides would be the protection of this village.

“How do you intend to protect the village? Are you going to rely on your family’s power?”

Bern looked doubtful.

If Luca was a friend of Hav and Moula, he would be only a first-year at the academy at best.

No matter how rural it was, going up against a noble’s private army was no easy task.

“I told you, didn’t I? I stopped the academy’s terror attack. The one carried out by Marquis Kisen.”

“That’s… certainly…”

At that, Bern nodded in partial understanding. Not everything can be judged by appearances alone.

Someone who survived the Hyperhemia experiment and its fallout—he couldn’t be an ordinary first-year.

There are those in this world who transcend age. Apparently, this little noble was one of them.

‘Just what kind of heavy fate were you born with?’

At that moment, Ottbo whispered with concern.

“But Luca, you haven’t fully recovered from your injury yet.”

Luca responded, still indifferent.

“I’ve almost healed.”

This wasn’t bravado.

Luca’s injuries had been recovering remarkably fast ever since using “Different World” to protect his body with the power of clouds.

And after resting for several days in the auto-carriage, he was almost at full strength again.

“Moreover, even without me, isn’t there someone who could handle any number of the baron’s private troops alone?”

“Who?”

Ottbo tilted his head. Luca glanced back at Bella, who was smiling quietly.

“Oh, ah, that’s right.”

Ottbo finally accepted the idea.

‘Honestly, I don’t really know how strong Bella is, but if Luca says it’s possible, then it must be.’

Because Luca never talked nonsense, Ottbo decided to trust him. At that moment, Bella added:

“There’s also the option of doing what Mr. Bern Doyner said and borrowing the prestige of a noble family instead of using force. After all, what rural baron would dare threaten the sons of a count?”

Luca responded, still apathetic.

“I don’t really want to bring up my family in a place like this. Besides, I doubt it would have much effect.”

Bella spoke cautiously.

“The thing is, this is actually national property, so Baron Max can’t do as he pleases with the people here. The justification is on our side, so maybe we should avoid unnecessary conflict?”

At Bella’s words, Luca contemplated.

“If not, there’s no easy way to secure life force…”

“Well… heh…”

Bella trailed off, unable to finish.

To restore Luca’s life force, a human was needed.

She couldn’t just suggest that they go out and acquire one wherever.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!

“?”

Just then, a bell sounded from somewhere. As Luca looked out the window in confusion, Bern wore a bitter expression.

“They’re here.”

“Hah. Well, let’s go, then.”

Whether there would be a fight or not, they needed to face them.

* * *

“This is a message to the residents of Potro Village! If you do not surrender peacefully, you will all be severely punished for the grave crime of defying the orders of a noble! Stop resisting and comply with Baron Max’s orders!”

A man who seemed to be in command, clad in chainmail, delivered the declaration in a booming voice.

He appeared to be one of Baron Max’s knights.

“Cut the nonsense! We’re not subjects of Max—why should we obey you?”

“That’s right! We belong to the Parama fief!”

“Baron Parama’s family is already extinct! Therefore, you have no allegiance, and should obey the nearest noble’s orders!”

As Luca stepped forward belatedly, he laughed at the words of Baron Max’s knight.

“How amusing. If Milia were here, this would be quite a spectacle.”

“Indeed. Since this is national land, it’s imperial property.”

“What a shame.”

With that, Luca threaded his way through the villagers to the front. He glanced at Ottbo.

“Ottbo, just in case, can you use a voice-amplifying spell?”

“……”

“I see. Sorry about that.”

Luca wanted to ask since it seemed like basic magic, but judging from Ottbo’s downcast face, it seemed he couldn’t do it.

Smacking his lips, he looked toward the knight from Baron Max’s household.

Then Hav, who had followed him, produced something that looked like a megaphone.

“If you want to amplify your voice, use this.”

“Ho.”

Impressed, Luca switched on the megaphone and cleared his throat.

“Ahem!”

Bzzzzzz—

“?!”

Just that small cough echoed so loudly it made everyone’s ears ring.

Everyone covered their ears, and even Luca, the one who’d spoken, was wide-eyed.

“……”

“S-sorry, I should have adjusted the output.”

“Click.”

Hav, flustered, adjusted the megaphone’s output. Then Luca spoke into it.

“I am Luca Traverse, the second son of Count Traverse. What is your name?”

Baron Max’s knight replied loudly,

“I—um, my name is Martro! I am a knight of Baron Max!”

“Martro. There’s a flaw in your statement.”

“What?”

Martro was flustered. Luca replied indifferently.

“This is national property. In other words, these people belong to the imperial family, and Baron Max has no right to touch them.”

“T-that…”

“And I am of the Traverse family, the Fang of the Hernan Empire. I am duty-bound to subdue anyone who rises against the Empire.”

Shiiiing!

Luca drew his sword. It glinted coldly in the light.

“If you continue to oppress the people of Potro, you’ll have to cross swords with me.”

“You liar!”

Just then, a shout came from the direction of Baron Max’s soldiers.

As Luca looked at them curiously, the soldiers parted and a pot-bellied man came forward.

“To mock us with lies! Pretending to be from the Traverse, the imperial Fang? Blasphemy!”

“… Hah. Interesting. So you must be Kobakht Max.”

Luca smirked. This was Kobakht Max, the head of Baron Max’s house himself.

“You’re saying I’m impersonating the Traverse?”

“Yes! Why would anyone from the Traverse family come all the way to this rural place?”

“Hm… That’s a fair point.”

The Traverse family usually operated on the eastern front.

Normally, there was no reason for any of them to come to the southernmost edge of the continent.

Luca nodded, acknowledging that much. Kobakht Max, feeling emboldened, pressed harder.

“To lead people astray with no evidence—your head will roll for this crime!”

“I never thought we’d be able to reason with you. You were being unreasonable from the start.”

“What did you say!?”

Luca retorted sarcastically, switched off the megaphone, and handed it back to Hav.

Then, taking a deep breath, he shouted:

“Come and get me!”

Luca’s ringing voice thundered across the square.

Usually, he didn’t raise his voice, but when he chose to, he could project loudly enough to make ears ring even without a megaphone.

“……”

It was just a loud shout, yet Baron Max’s soldiers visibly faltered.

They couldn’t understand how such power radiated from this small child.

“… A-attack!”

Kobakht Max, hesitating at Luca’s cry, recovered himself and shouted to his men.

They hesitated only an instant before raising a roar and charging.

“Uaaaaaaah!”

“Fire!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As they watched the soldiers advance, the villagers fired guns at last.

Firearms were common in this world as well.

They followed similar principles to modern guns and, naturally, were quite powerful.

However, since there were much more efficient and powerful magic devices, guns weren’t really superior weapons on a real battlefield, especially since the protective gear soldiers wore could easily block bullets.

But in rural regions like this, firearms were overwhelming.

Without protective equipment, a gun was still the strongest weapon.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

“?”

But Baron Max’s men marched on, unfazed even as bullets struck them.

It was as if they wore some kind of protective gear.

“Soldiers in the sticks, wearing protective gear?”

“Hahaha! I fully expected you’d use weapons like those!”

Kobakht Max drew his sword, grinning, and pointed at the villagers.

“Go! Capture them all!”

Even the traps set up around the village had no effect on those protected soldiers.

When they saw that guns were useless, the villagers retreated in panic.

“Catch that impostor first!”

With Kobakht Max’s shout, the soldiers surrounded Luca.

Even so, Luca stood his ground alone, not retreating. As they moved to strike with their swords—

Slash!

“Gaaagh!”

“!”

A flash— and the soldiers around him fell. Kobakht Max stared in shock at Luca.

“Interesting. Do you really think mere protective gear can block my sword?”

Luca’s sword glowed blue.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep