Chapter 06
Lord of Albert
“Let go of me, you bastard!”
In his dream, Ian kept stomping down with his heel on the face of an otherworlder who clung to his ankle and refused to let go.
“We’ll die together!”
“You die first, bastard! I’ll kill more of your kind before I follow you!”
Cursing furiously, Ian pummeled the otherworlder’s body, but his own was being pulled deeper and deeper into the whirling pillar of light.
“Damn it.”
Inside the warp, Ian’s body turned transparent like glass. Cracks spread from head to toe, and a moment later, his entire being shattered into tens of thousands of fragments, scattering across the universe.
“No!”
Ian woke with a shout, jolting out of the nightmare and gasping for air. His whole body was drenched in cold sweat.
“Damn bastard. Even shows up in my dreams.”
Trying to calm himself, he looked around the lord’s chamber, and his gaze fell toward the window.
In that instant, his body was already at the window.
So, the ability hasn’t disappeared.
It felt even easier to teleport than yesterday.
Opening the window, he inhaled the fresh air and smoothly began practicing the basics of internal energy cultivation.
As expected, his whole body ached and pulled.
“My lord, the healer has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
He heard Nekamo enter, but Ian didn’t stop his flowing movements.
Seeing this, Nekamo rushed forward with a shocked expression.
“My lord, your body is far too weak! You must not strain yourself with such exercises.”
“What nonsense. I just need to do it.”
“I’m only saying this for your health.”
“Don’t worry. This is happening because I’ve neglected my body for too long. And this training is essential for me.”
Ian’s firm reply left Nekamo speechless.
He’s definitely changed. Completely.
Even if one loses their memories, certain habits should remain. But with Ian, there was no trace of his old self at all.
“Who’s that behind you?”
“Oh—yes, my daughter. She’s often brought medicine I prepared for you, my lord. Of course, you likely don’t remember.”
“My name is Linda, my lord.”
Having been told about the lord’s condition in advance, Linda wasn’t startled by the situation.
Pretty.
Even just standing still, her beauty radiated.
After continuing his cultivation a bit longer, Ian ended with a long exhale, exhausted. Linda, meanwhile, was watching his face intently.
“That medicine you’re holding—is it for me?”
Stepping closer, Ian glanced at the bowl on the tray she carried.
“Yes, my lord.”
“What kind of medicine is it?”
“It’s made from centipedes found on Mount Yanka, a volcanic region.”
Her clear voice was confident, showing her deep knowledge of medicine, inherited from her father.
“Volcanic centipedes? That’s medicine?”
“The centipedes of Mount Yanka absorb and condense volcanic heat in their bodies. When consumed, that energy can stimulate growth of bones or height. Of course, it doesn’t work for everyone.”
This was no ordinary medicine.
“Have I taken it before?”
“Yes, years ago. Unfortunately, it didn’t suit your body—you vomited it up.”
“I see.”
Ian frowned slightly at the dark, ink-colored medicine. It looked unbearably bitter.
Listening to his daughter, Nekamo spoke gravely.
“My lord, the Yanka centipede is a precious ingredient. The late lord obtained it with great difficulty.”
“Really?”
“Yes. This is the last remaining one. Please, I beg you, do not spit it out this time. If you finish it, it may greatly aid your health.”
As Nekamo finished, Linda respectfully extended the bowl forward.
A pungent, stinging odor rose into Ian’s nose.
If I throw it up, it’ll be humiliating.
And Linda was watching him closely, which made him self-conscious.
Staring at the bowl for a moment, Ian then downed the medicine in one gulp.
Instantly, his stomach rebelled. The liquid surged back up his throat.
Damn it. The stomach isn’t something I can just control by willpower.
The bitter taste was nothing compared to the battle to keep it down. His stomach kept rejecting it.
Struggling in agony, Ian twisted, and Nekamo rushed toward him.
“My lord, it seems your body can’t handle the centipede medicine. Please, just spit it out!”
“Mmmph—!”
Even in pain, Ian stubbornly refused.
Unable to force his mouth open, Nekamo and his daughter could only stand by anxiously.
As time dragged on, Nekamo grew increasingly worried.
What if he collapses? Shouldn’t have brought this…
He looked at his daughter.
“I’ll fetch the soldiers. We may need to force him to stop.”
“Wait. Look there.”
Turning back, Nekamo froze.
The lord who had been writhing in pain now looked at them calmly, as if nothing had happened. He had swallowed the Yanka centipede medicine after all.
“My lord, you did it!” Nekamo exclaimed with joy.
Ian gave a faint smirk.
“No big deal. If it’s good for me, I’ll force it down. But if it doesn’t work, you’ll pay for it.”
As he spoke, blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth.
He had bitten the inside of his cheeks to endure the pain, using the fresh wounds to distract himself.
Nekamo shuddered at Ian’s sheer willpower.
“My lord, let me treat the injury.”
Linda quickly took out salve from her satchel.
Not bad. I get pampered with healing just for sitting here. Being lord has its perks.
As Linda gently treated his mouth, Ian felt his heart pounding.
For ten years, fighting the otherworlders left no room for feelings like this. No woman had ever tended his wounds like this.
This fluttering sensation was something he hadn’t felt in ages.
“All done, my lord.”
“Thanks.”
He forced his voice to sound indifferent, hiding the pounding in his chest.
“You really have changed. You used to always complain to me.”
“Complain? About what?”
“About how hard it was… living as a lord.”
“Linda!”
Nekamo panicked, covering his daughter’s mouth.
“Forgive her, my lord. My daughter speaks out of turn. I’ll see that she never utters such nonsense again.”
Ian quietly studied Linda’s bowed head, then slowly rose from his chair.
Perhaps the old Ian had confided in her.
“It’s fine. People complain sometimes. Thanks for the medicine. You may go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Leaving the chamber, Nekamo scolded his daughter as they walked down the corridor.
“Do you have a death wish? Speaking like that before the lord!”
“I only spoke the truth.”
“Others have tongues too, but they keep quiet. If the treasurer or secretary heard you, you’d be executed for insulting the lord!”
“If I were beheaded, there would be a lot of blood, wouldn’t there?”
Her playful words made Nekamo sigh deeply.
“From now on, don’t go near the lord.”
“Why not?”
“The lord has changed. A lot. So you must be careful. No telling when he might snap.”
“To me, it seems like he’s changed for the better.”
“If you think it’s ‘better,’ then what would the treasurer think?”
“Hmm… He’d probably hate it to death.”
A faint smile tugged at Linda’s lips.
Kevania (1)
Books of history and culture. And maps.
With just those, one could begin to understand this unfamiliar world.
From the moment he heard of mercenary drafts and monster subjugations, Ian had sensed this was no ordinary place.
Now that he had become a lord here through extraordinary circumstances, he felt a strange premonition—his life here would be anything but ordinary.
Damn it. This isn’t right.
Staring down at the pile of books and maps stacked on the desk in his chamber, Ian couldn’t hide his dismay.
“Illiterate? I can’t understand a single word.”
He had brought the books and maps to learn about this world, assuming that since he could understand and speak the language, naturally he’d also be able to read it.
But that had been a mistake.
“This is insane!”
He hurled one of the books, which slammed loudly against the door.
Moments later, the door opened and Captain Rondo of the guard entered. He picked up the thick history tome from the floor.
The Wriggling Kevania Kingdom.
This book recorded the founding of the kingdoms of the Kevania continent. It was an ancient volume, centuries old.
Did I bring the wrong books?
Rondo had been the one to bring the books and maps. The lord himself had ordered it, saying he needed to study again since his memories were gone.
But seeing his lord standing rigid, face grim before the books and maps, Rondo sensed something was amiss.
He approached, bowed, and offered the tome.
“Forgive me, my lord. I’ll prepare different books and maps.”
“No, that’s not necessary. It’s not your fault.”
Ian, who had angrily thrown the book, now covered his face with his hand.
For a lord to be unable to read—it was a terrifying thought.
Do I have to learn all over again? I really hate studying…
Groaning, Ian turned to face Rondo.
