Chapter 29

For the Golden Landscape

While overseeing the unloading of supplies, Waller’s mind was in turmoil.
Normally, he would have meticulously checked every arrow and every handful of grain, but this time he merely glanced over them.
Though he was a man who valued dignity, his steps toward Isaac’s tent were closer to a run.

“Carlson, Hans. Leave us for a moment.”

After making sure once again that no one was nearby, Waller immediately burst out in anger.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner!?”

“…You startled me.”

Isaac, who had been sharpening his blade on a whetstone, turned toward Waller.

“I nearly used magic on the soldiers here. If that had happened, it could have sparked a rebellion.”

The head steward looked genuinely furious.

“But you didn’t use it, did you?”
“It was a hair’s breadth away. You could have at least given me a hint.”
“I needed you to keep quiet.”
“For what reason?”
“So that you and Hans would react like that—so Besimer would believe it. And I trusted you’d figure it out.”

“….”

Waller pressed his lips together.
Though clearly displeased, he took several deep breaths and suppressed his anger.
As head steward, he had things to understand before letting emotions take over.

“Since when?”
“Since when what?”
“Don’t play dumb now.”
“…Since the last mana eruption.”

Even without a subject or object, Isaac understood the question.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You know why. My unusual constitution resembles someone from a century ago. It’s the manifestation of that bloodline.”

“…!”

A crack formed in Waller’s composure.

“The previous records weren’t authorized for your reading.”
“With things like this happening, did you think I’d care? I read them secretly.”

“….”

“Why are you so surprised? You already knew.”

Isaac resumed sharpening his blade.

“If it becomes known that I can use magic, no one in the kingdom will be pleased. It’s no different from a seed of disaster sprouting.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“Keep it secret.”

Waller was momentarily speechless at Isaac’s calm reply.

This was something that could determine the fate of the entire family.
And yet Isaac was utterly composed.

Waller had watched Isaac and Jonas—these young Goethes—from the moment they were born until now.
As much as their nurses or attendants—perhaps even more—he knew them well.

Over the past few months, Waller had thought Isaac’s strange behavior and unexpected achievements were just a temporary change caused by the mana eruption.

But after the duel with Besimer, he was certain.

Isaac had changed.
And in a way completely beyond Waller’s understanding.

This wasn’t the ordinary growth or maturity of a child.
He had no idea what consequences this change would bring to the Goethe family.

Suddenly, Isaac’s hand stopped moving.

“Maybe so. Waller, I have a favor to ask.”

“Young master… what exactly are you planning? Aside from gaining magic, has anything else unusual happened to you?”

“Why?”

“You’ve become… a different person.”

“….”

***

At dawn the next day—

“Keep formation! Anyone who falls behind runs an extra lap!”

About eighty soldiers—excluding those on night duty or injured—ran along the outer perimeter of the camp, their faces twisted with exhaustion.

“What the hell is this bullshit?”
“That damn brat—hah—acting like he’s the commander—hah—should’ve smashed him earlier—hah!”
“Then stop whining—hah—and do it—hah—your mouth’s the only thing working!”
“If it weren’t for that damn monster—hah—I would’ve already—!”

Curses filled the air, but no one dared stop running or resist.

One reason was the brutal violence that had taken place before sunrise.
Any soldier who disobeyed or lagged behind was met with Carlson’s fists and kicks without mercy.

A few soldiers had tried to gang up on him—
now they lay in their tents, unable to rise.
Teeth knocked out, hair torn, and in severe cases, broken limbs.

In a camp where disputes were usually settled by force,
this was an extremely effective method of communication.

Watching Carlson knock down men twice his size in a few blows—
then beat them until they cried for mercy and passed out—
left everyone shaken.

Another major reason was Besimer.

The strongest soldier in the camp, practically its leader,
had joined the running formation without complaint.

Seeing him comply made the others fall in line.

And yet another reason—

was Hans.

Carlson mercilessly kicked Hans when he fell behind.

“You insisted on staying here with just this much resolve? You’re hopeless from the start! Give up and go back to the estate!”

Hans endured, shouting back.

“I—won’t—give—up!”

“If you don’t give up, you’ll die! Either from exhaustion or by my hand!”

“Even so… I won’t!”

Already three laps behind, Hans staggered with a deathly pale face, vomiting, drooling, and struggling just to crawl forward.
Even the battle-hardened soldiers, who had seen everything, clicked their tongues in disbelief.

Thus, dawn broke over Vinfelt.

Without even a magical beast attack, such a chaotic morning felt utterly unfamiliar to the soldiers.

***

“You’re really staying?”

Waller asked, ready to depart for the estate.

“…Yes. My place… is by the young master’s side. Ugh—!”

Hans retched after finishing the run.

“Tsk. According to the young master, we’ll be here quite a while.”
“Even so… it doesn’t matter.”
“Your family will worry.”
“Yes. And… they’ll be proud. I’ll make sure of it.”

Hans wiped the drool from his chin with his sleeve.

“Hmph. That stubbornness—just like your master.”
“A servant reflects his master, doesn’t he?”
“Are you insulting me right in front of me?”

Isaac cut into their exchange.

“Stay well, young master. Carlson—I’ve left some soldiers at the estate, but ultimately, the most important role is yours. Protect him.”

“Yes.”

Carlson nodded.

“Waller, I’m counting on you.”
“It may take some time, but I’ll manage somehow.”
“Make good use of Bill. I’ve already spoken to him.”
“Understood. Then…”

Waller bowed to Isaac.
As he was about to board the carriage, he paused and looked back.

“It’s simply that luck wasn’t on your side.”
“What do you mean?”

“It’s not your fault, young master.”

Before Isaac could respond, Waller bowed again and boarded the carriage.

“….”

Isaac gave a faint, slightly bitter smile.

He understood what Waller meant.
He was referring to the innate mana rampage of Zik von Goethe.

To the old steward, Isaac must seem like a pitiful young master.

He meant well, in his own way.

Isaac hadn’t refused Waller’s farewell.
He had shown him the duel with Besimer.
He had revealed just enough magic for Waller alone to notice.
He had shared part of his plans.

All to gain Waller’s trust.

Fortunately, it had worked.

Still, the faint trace of pity behind Waller’s stern demeanor
left Isaac feeling less than comfortable.

“Just what did you talk about with Lord Waller for so long last night?”

Watching the supply wagons leave the camp, Carlson asked.

“You were eavesdropping anyway.”
“I got bored halfway through and dozed off.”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Bring me a soldier who knows the terrain well.”
“What are you planning?”
“I should take a look around. It’s my first day as the lord of Vinfelt, after all.”

Isaac stretched.

“Oh, and Hans.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Pick up the axe Besimer dropped.”
“What for?”

“I’ll need it.”

***

“Y-you called for me?”

The soldier wore a supply gambeson, but at a glance it was clear he was of tribal origin.
His head was shaved except for the crown, and the remaining hair hung down to his shoulders.
Like most of the soldiers, he looked at Isaac with unease.

“I heard you were born and raised around here. You must know the area well.”
“I know it well enough.”
“There are some small tribal settlements nearby, right? How many?”
“I don’t know about the ones in hiding, but there are about three villages that are still functioning.”
“Guide us there.”
“…Why should I—”

Isaac was the lord of Vinfeltro and the commander of the camp.
Under normal circumstances, obeying orders would be a given.

But nothing here worked on “normal” terms.

The soldier had only come because he feared Carlson, and it showed plainly on his face.

If Carlson had violence as his method of persuasion,
Isaac had another.

Isaac flicked a silver coin with his thumb.
The soldier instinctively caught it.

“I’m asking you.”

“…Fine.”

Reluctantly, the soldier nodded.

***

Three horses left the camp and galloped across the wasteland.

Since Isaac didn’t yet know how to ride, Hans held the reins for him, while Carlson and the soldier rode their own mounts.

“Let’s stop here for a moment.”
“Here?”

Hans pulled the reins, confused.

There was nothing around them.
A barren, dark-red land stretched across rolling hills.
No animals, no plants—only scattered dry brush and the occasional bleached skeleton.

“What are you trying to do?”

As Isaac suddenly dismounted, Carlson asked.

“I want to check something.”

Isaac crouched and dug into the reddish soil with his hands.

At first glance, the ground looked hard, frozen, and dry.
But with just a little force, the brittle surface crumbled, revealing damp earth beneath.

Isaac scooped up the slightly moist soil—and tasted it.

“Why are you eating dirt!?”

Hans rushed over in shock.
Carlson and the soldier, however, simply watched with mild curiosity.

“I need to check it firsthand.”

Isaac spat out the dirt and rolled the lingering taste on his tongue.

A faint sourness.
And a slightly acrid, unpleasant smell.

Just like the books said.

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

From the hills in sight to the plains, all the way to the distant edge where the black forest began—
the entire land shared the same color.

“Are you planning to bake cookies out of dirt or something?”
“It’s not entirely impossible. Hans, do you see it?”
“See what?”

“From here… all the way over there. A landscape dyed entirely in gold.”

“…What?”

Hans blinked in confusion, then reached out and placed a hand on Isaac’s forehead.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Before the mana eruption, Isaac had often said strange things like this.
It had been months since the last one—perhaps it was about time again.
Or maybe he had suffered some unseen injury in yesterday’s duel.

“I’m not crazy, so relax.”

Seeing the shadow fall across Hans’s face, Isaac let out a small chuckle.

Hans’s concern was natural.
Because neither Hans, nor anyone in the Goethe family, nor anyone in the kingdom—

could see the landscape Isaac was seeing.

But soon enough, they all would.

A vast golden breadbasket—the largest granary region in the kingdom—
filled with wheat, barley, and sunflowers.

It hadn’t existed in his previous life.
But in this one, it would.

The foundation for Goethe’s independence.

Before that… I need to secure this land first.

Isaac brushed the dirt from his hands.

“Let’s go.”