Reset Life – Chapter 107

Chapter 107: I Will Not Let Go of This Hand (1)

Imperial Year 375, July 15th.

Scribbling various things on the back of the paper, I scratched my head. I just jotted down whatever came to mind, but it turned out to be quite a lot.

“Risel, what’s that?”

“A list of people or organizations I can get help from. I realized I have quite a lot of connections, whether I know it or not.”

“Well, you did hire Mangya and the Black New Moon. Flowers in both hands, I’m so envious as a man.”

Lucy shrugged and started doing push-ups again.

Watching the mage putting the saying “a sound mind in a sound body” into practice, I briefly drifted into thought.

Isn’t it a sound mind in a healthy body?

The evening before, I called Levidian and Aila separately and put a temporary freeze on the issue they needed to resolve.

It’s impossible for me to mediate and resolve the long-standing feud between the two organizations right now. However, as someone who knows and is acquainted with the leaders of both sides, I could put a stop to it.

The card I used was ’employment’.

Assassins assassinate targets they have no grudge against through contracts. In other words, they are irregular contract workers.

Based on that, I hired the leader of Mangya and the leader of the Black New Moon.

The period is three months, the employment conditions are different for each.

Of course, both of them looked bewildered.

However, there was no restriction in their rules that one person could not be employed by two organizations simultaneously, and it was obvious that they didn’t want to fight each other anyway.

It took a while, but I succeeded in hiring both organizations by appropriately using reasonable logic and nonsensical stubbornness.

Above all, the current situation of the two organizations became a catalyst for them to become my employees.

To be precise, it was the Black New Moon, and ridiculously enough, they were worried about not having operating funds.

For now, I have quite a bit of assets accumulated in the underworld, and even though the Black New Moon charges a high price, they are just starting out again, and since I know the leader, I could hire them at a discounted rate.

Maybe I have the qualities of a professional negotiator. Umhahaha!

“But, ugh! Those two over there, huff! When will they finish? Ugh!”

The two people Lucy was talking about were Levidian and Al.

Al seemed to have wanted to spar with her ever since he found out that she was the Sword King, and Levidian probably needed time to not worry about other things.

In the end, this morning, the two of them, with almost tacit agreement, are having a lively spar in the vibrant morning.

“Well, they’ll finish after a while. If they don’t want to be exhausted on the journey.”

I said nonchalantly, ignoring the countless sounds of metal clashing in my ears.

Currently, there are four of us in the party. Me, Levidian, Lucy, and Al. We parted ways with Aila, Mangya, and the Black New Moon yesterday.

First, I gave Aila a request similar to the one I asked of Duke Ecoshian.

To keep an eye on the situation in the Imperial Capital and, if possible, protect my family.

Honestly, I don’t want to protect my father or brother, but what did my mother, Sera, and sister-in-law do wrong?

Also, I don’t know where that Artshever guy went, but if he’s scheming something in the Imperial Capital, Aila will actively stop him. I got her promise.

I sent the Black New Moon to the opposite region. It’s because establishing a branch of AJOR won’t be easy.

Even if Jay, Old Man, and Lucy (female) are competent, Prema, where the branch will be established, is a historical land where the underworld organizations of the Ruery Three Kingdoms are also intertwined. Reorganizing the power structure there would require considerable power.

Levidian accepted my request and dispatched the assassins to our organization as temporary members.

Long-term employment is difficult, but I set special conditions for the Black New Moon.

Side income is at their discretion.

Whether they steal the wallets of their opponents or rob the safes of those they’re supposed to fight, I don’t care. Thanks to that, the underworld of Prema will be noisy for a while.

Unlike Aila, who is the brain and decides and executes the direction of Mangya, the Black New Moon didn’t have any major problems even if Levidian didn’t directly control the organization. Besides, it was fortunate that she had to travel with me.

Aila said it was too obvious an excuse, but with a shrug, she accepted the conditions.

Anyway, that’s how the party was formed and we started our journey again.

After a while, I was able to complete a rough map of connections.

When I gathered the connections I built while in the Imperial Capital, the connections through people around me, and cooperative relationships, it became a tremendous level of influence for an individual to have.

Lucy, who had just finished her push-ups, glanced at it and exclaimed.

“Wow, you’re really amazing. Your cousin is the son of a Marquis, you know the Crown Prince of a neighboring country, and you have quite a few underworld figures. Oh my? Even Duke Ecoshian? The Baron here looks insignificant in comparison. Your connections are spread across the front and back of society? Where am I?”

“Here. Al is here.”

“Oh, I see. But what’s this? The Magicians’ Guild? Reputation among mercenaries?”

“The range you can contact through connections. When drawing something like this, it’s enough to go through one connection. I can contact the Magicians’ Guild through you, and I can contact mercenaries through Al.”

“Aha! I see. I guess nobles value this kind of thing. You seem to have drawn it quite skillfully?”

I smiled bitterly and nodded.

By the time they’re a bit older, children of noble families have one or two of these connection maps. It becomes clear what they can do based on their influence.

The bitter part is that this is mostly used when plotting conspiracies, isn’t it?

“But why are you suddenly making this?”

“Well, I’m thinking about what I can use in Orknesia. I don’t have many connections there. I was wondering if I could make some by going through one connection.”

Call me reckless and foolish, but I’m going.

To that cursed place. To the Gray Forest.

I’m going to find the Shadow Stone there and lift Levidian’s curse!

With this determination, I declared that I would go to the Gray Forest.

Levidian jumped up and said if I was crazy, but Lucy and Al, with the unity of old friends, simultaneously stroked their chins with intrigued expressions.

Men are originally drawn to recklessness, right?

Of course, I’m not without that kind of personality. However, I have something that bothers me about the Gray Forest, and I’m quite confident, so I made this bold plan.

However, right after I drew the connection map, my confidence disappeared faster than water evaporating in a desert.

Lucy pointed that out with the clarity of a mage.

“But you have unusually few connections in Orknesia? It seems like you have more connections in Restart.”

“Thank you for reminding me of what I already know.”

No, even if we exclude other things…… what is this meager connection that even this toothpick would laugh at?

When it comes to Orknesia, my connections are ridiculously small.

It seems like I unconsciously neglected making connections because it was a place I didn’t care about, didn’t need to care about, and didn’t care about me.

No, even so, isn’t it a bit too much that it’s just Baron Hiltenpens and two Knight Commanders from other places? Even though we’re not blood-related, I’m still officially the son of the Duke of Orknesia.

“You don’t necessarily need connections to enter the Gray Forest…… but are you really the son of the Duke of Orknesia?”

“Sometimes I wonder about that too.”

Indeed, those people over there don’t think much of me.

For the past three years or so, they’ve been showing interest as I’ve been gaining fame, but the nobles of Orknesia are an exception and without exception, they’re on the Eastern Army’s side, so in terms of influence, my father and brother have priority.

No matter how much I make a name for myself in the Imperial Capital, the vassals of the territory ruled by the Duke, especially those who are part of the army, prioritize the Duke’s orders over the Emperor’s.

Because my father pledges allegiance to the Emperor, the vassals also follow the Emperor’s words, but for those nobles, the Emperor’s position is ‘the boss of their master’.

The most credible rumor among the historical rumors related to our family also supports this.

《The most likely candidate to rebel is the Duke of Orknesia. And if the Emperor punishes the Duke of Orknesia, it’s Orknesia that will rebel.》

Well, it’s a rumor that’s been passed down for almost 200 years, so neither my father nor the Emperor pays much attention to it, but anyway, in Orknesia, the head of the Herduke family is the de facto ruler.

It seems like I need to seriously think about establishing a branch of AJOR in Orknesia. It’s difficult to obtain proper information without connections.

I scratched my head and threw the connection map into the bonfire. There’s no need to keep it since I made it to organize my thoughts.

Around that time, the spar between Levidian and Al ended. Both of them looked like assault soldiers who had just come through a fierce battle.

“Hey, Levidian, we have a long way to go.”

“Whew, is that so? It was a good workout.”

“Al, how was it?”

“She’s strong.”

Al muttered, rubbing the dried bloodstain on the corner of his mouth.

Al was covered in dirt from rolling around, while Levidian was neat except for her slightly disheveled clothes and dust.

It’s like the appearance of a war veteran and his newly partnered recruit.

“You’re quite strong. You can be proud of your skills. A practical hand-to-hand combat style that can almost compete with a sword, I had a really good experience today.”

“Me too. Indeed, the title of King was not undeserved.”

Al’s voice was filled with awe. His way of addressing Levidian had also changed.

Levidian smiled brightly and nodded slightly.

In two days, she had erased her gloomy expression and returned to her former self.

Personally, I think it’s desirable and fortunate, but she’s too bright for someone who’s prepared to face a fate that might kill her in three months, so I’m worried.

“Risel, why the long face?”

“Huh? No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that you might be tired if you move around so much and then something happens……”

She came in front of me and placed her hands on her hips. Then, she bent down to meet my eyes and said with a sullen expression.

“Lies.”

“Ahahaha……”

I think I understand how Artshever feels. Did he feel this embarrassed when I annoyingly hit the nail on the head?

Levidian, on the other hand, said with a worried expression.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m cursed, but there won’t be any problems until the set date, and the connection with the shaman is already severed, right? And you’ll do something about it before then, right? I trust you as much as I trust my sword.”

“Haha, I’m glad to hear that.”

Ah, it’s definitely something to be happy about. It’s a significant event that she finally placed my position on the same level as her sword.

She showed a bright smile at my awkward smile and raised her left hand.

“As long as I have this, I won’t leave or disappear anymore.”

“Uh…… then?”

My face must have unknowingly become wide with joy. She straightened up with a shy expression and coughed.

“Ahem! W-well, the ring is a bit tight…… I have no choice but to keep wearing it……”

“Uh, that’s a problem.”

“Huh?”

She looked puzzled, and I said with a somewhat mischievous expression.

“That’s a temporary ring. You’ll have to take it off when I give you the official ring later……”

“I-is that so? Then, I-I have no choice. I have to lose weight.”

She couldn’t hide her awkwardness and turned her head. I couldn’t say anything because an indescribable fullness filled my chest.

To that swelling chest, Lucy poked a needle.

“Whew! Woohoo! It’s hot, hot! Isn’t this too much for summer? Oh my, I’m so envious! If you don’t have a partner, you should just go out and die. Wow! It’s even heartbreaking!”

Lucy, that’s too classic. Who would get angry after hearing that, huh?

“Um…… Risel?”

“Yes?”

Looking at Levidian, she had her reddened face hung low, her right hand twitching as she reached for her sword.

Ah. So there are people who get angry too.

“From now on…… I want to get a little closer to Risel’s friend.”

Srrrng……

The sword was half-drawn, revealing Levidian’s face, almost forced into a smile. Hmm, it seems she can’t help but be unfamiliar with this, no matter what.

I laughed weakly. Even so, a real sword is a bit too much. Even if it’s Lucy, there’s no way he can withstand the Sword King.

Out of consideration for Lucy, I said,

“You’re the same age, so you should be able to get along well.”

“Thank you.”

Chaang―!

The Sword King’s sword flashed brilliantly in the morning sunlight.

“Ugh?!”

Lucy’s strangled voice. Levidian walked towards him step by step, speaking kindly.

“We have a long journey ahead of us, so how about we try to get to know each other, Mr. Lucy?”

“No, I…… Please put that away……”

She spoke with utmost kindness, yet with a coldness that surpassed a midwinter blizzard.

“Oh my, put it away? My eloquence is lacking, so I’m just substituting it with something else.”

“Is that something a sword?!”

At Lucy’s scream, Levidian replied with refreshing honesty.

“Yes. Because I’m the former Sword King.”

“U, Uwaaagh―!”

Lucy’s screams filled the sky from early morning.

Ah, what a desirable start to the day.

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