Chapitre 3: Noble Dungeons
On the way—
While walking, Wallace felt intense pain in his body.
Just because he looked like he could walk normally didn't mean everything was fine inside. He sensed his foot muscles tightening, but there was nothing he could do except keep going.
"Nobles have something like that? Sebastian? I thought they could only use their intelligence in scheme, political and social intelligence?" he asked, looking at the person walking beside him—the butler.
The loyal-looking servant, with a slightly annoyed expression, corrected him once again.
"Um, young Baron, my name is Mendez, not Sebastian, sir," he replied bitterly. Wallace had persistently mistaken his name for some reason.
This had been going on for three days—he was tired of correcting him for these three days.
Nevertheless, Mendez composed himself, clenched his fist near his face, and continued, "Yes, sir. In this world, 'Nobles' not only have social and political intelligence but also the power of Mana like other Mana users. The higher beings gave them magical dungeons—a wonderful gift that, when fed with Magic crystals, human blood, and Mana users, brings incredible blessings to the Nobles's territories and their people."
Wallace furrowed his brows, his mind filled with questions. "Really? Wait... aren't they dangerous too, then?" he asked, his eyes showing both curiosity and concern.
Butler Mendez nodded solemnly, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. "You're both right, sir," he replied, his voice laced with caution.
With a growing sense of curiosity, Wallace delved deeper. "Then why do Mana users want to work with them? And why do you want me to convince those Mana knights to enter my dangerous dungeon?" His words hung in the air, pregnant with anticipation.
Butler Mendez couldn't help but chuckle, a sly smile forming at the corners of his mouth.
"Ah, that's a good question, sir," he said, pausing momentarily to gather his thoughts. Then, with a fake cough to regain his composure, he continued, "Nobles's dungeons have the characteristics of their ancestors. Hidden within the depths of their dungeons are secret magical artifacts, ancient aura practices, Mana knight manuals, and countless other priceless treasures. So despite the inherent danger, mages, mana knights, and other Mana users are willing to risk their lives for a chance to acquire such valuable resources."
Butler Mendez's voice echoed as he could envision the future in his head, his words filled with the promise of a better future.
"Moreover, sir," he began, leaning closer to Wallace, "just imagine the endless possibilities if a group of Mana users were to explore the depths of your dungeon. Your worth would skyrocket, your fortress would become stronger, and the entire town would thrive.
"The people would become healthier, stronger, and more vibrant. And if luck favored us, the mere sacrifice of magic crystals and Mana users would trigger a wonderful event—a surge of mana-infused blood flowing through the veins of our citizens, where Mana users would be born."
Mendez's pride swelled as he revealed this hidden knowledge, his voice brimming with conviction.
"Hence, it's crucial, Sir Baron, that we attract these Mana users to your dungeon. As a Baron of this town, you hold the sole responsibility for the well-being of its people. The more we offer in terms of blood and stones, the better prepared we'll be against the encroaching Mana radiation," he reminded Wallace, his gaze unwavering.
Wallace's steps faltered, his mind was in a mess, he didn't think that Noble's responsibility was that high.
Meanwhile, Mendez sensed his unease and paused, there was concern etched on his face.
"What's troubling you, young Sir Baron?" he inquired, his voice tinged with worry.
In that crucial moment, Wallace's determination crumbled, he could feel that his secret was too heavy to bear any longer.
Should he tell the butler or not?
Should he just pretend like nothing is going on?
Wait until they both die?
What should he do?
"I'm going to tell you the truth, Butler... Even if we go to the Mana users, it's useless..." he hesitated, but chose to continue, "I am an Illegitimate child and I don't I have a dungeon," he confessed, his voice shaking with anxiety like a demonic shroud, always ready to consume him.
The truth spilled out, honest and unfiltered. For three painful days, he had concealed this truth, but now he could no longer carry on with the deceit.
From what he understood on Butler Mendez's explanation, Wallace transmigrated to a normal magical world. However, the world is not dominated by Mages, Knights, etc. but by the human Nobles.
Normally, nobles are only adept at political and social studies, but in this world, Nobles have magical powers too, called personal dungeons.
To protect their lands and people from magical radiation to live a normal life, the Nobles feed their dungeons with mana users like knights, mages, or magical crystals to clear the radiation—it was an ultimate power that even Mages, Knights, and other Mana users also relied on.
However, sometimes, these Mana users would ignore low ranking nobles, like Barons, especially if it doesn't benefit them
Wallace didn't experience passing down a ceremonial activity that he needed to, to become a true Titled Baron and have a dungeon of his own.
Otherwise, he would have felt it.
How did he know he was an illegitimate child? Of course, he didn't. He just didn't want to disappoint the butler, so he confessed a lie.
However, he had a clue - when he first came here, he was in a prison-like setting, treated like a dog.
Who would be treated that way if he was not a dog or slave, but he remembered that the lady told him he was the same blood as the family that she killed, so it's basically his family.
So it could be that he is a disgraced child, abandoned or an illegitimate child.
You know—cliche things.
That's the only explanation he could think of.
So he came up with a lie acceptable enough to prevent the butler from having too much hope for both of them.
As Wallace confessed that he was an illegitimate child, it was like a pang in the butler's head, creating a suspenseful silence between the two.
A few seconds had passed, after articulating this in his head, Butler Mendez admitted that the confession caught him off guard, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
However, before the astonishment could fully sink in, Wallace's next words shattered the tranquil moment.
"I don't have a dungeon," he declared firmly.
Hearing this, Butler Mendez froze, and his initial surprise quickly transformed into a strong denial. Immediately, he shook his head vigorously.
"No, young sir Baron," he interrupted, his voice filled with conviction.
"You have a dungeon... It was situated outside, and its design may differ from your father's, but make no mistake, it is yours. You are now the rightful Baron of this territory."
It was due to the change in the dungeon's appearance that Butler Mendez became curious about what had happened to Wallace's family, yet he hesitated to inquire.
If Wallace had indeed caused their demise, it wouldn't explain the appearance of a new dungeon.
The rules governing the power of the magic users, known as Nobles, stated that such a transformation wouldn't occur when someone spilled their family's blood.
So he didn't bother since it was natural.
However, after butler Mendez said those words without a pause, Wallace couldn't help but feel his body turned to stone for a few seconds.
"A dungeon?" Wallace questioned after a few seconds, disbelief evident in his voice.
"I have one?"
Seeking confirmation, he repeated the question, his eyes searching Butler Mendez's face for answers.
Meeting his gaze, Butler Mendez nodded.
"Yes, sir, you do," he affirmed, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
With a welcoming smile, he gestured for Wallace to follow him, beckoning him forward with his hand.
"Come quickly, young Baron sir. See for yourself."
Wallace, still trying to understand what the Butler told him, found himself absentmindedly following Butler Mendez, his mind consumed by the mysteries of the idea that he had his own magical dungeon.
Not much time passed as they walked out of Baron Castle and traveled in a carriage pulled by ordinary horses, until they reached an empty piece of land.
They continued walking a little farther until Wallace and Butler Mendez reached their destination.
"There they are, young Baron, sir," Butler Mendez pointed with his finger. Wallace looked and saw a group of people dressed in shiny armor, gazing in their direction.
Shortly after, Butler Mendez spoke again, pointing and motioning his hand towards the dungeon next to the armored men. "Beside them is your dungeon, sir," he added.
Upon hearing this, Wallace felt a sharp pain in his wrist.
Wallace briefly noticed the dungeon and then shifted his attention to his wrist, where a bracelet had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
It looked like a futuristic gadget, with its smooth and metallic appearance.
The bracelet had glasses on it, and inside the glasses, words were displayed
[ Connecting device… ]
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone