<h4>Chapter 63: Salgaera (6)</h4>


    The exiles’ dull eyes were filled with fear even though Munke wasn’t there; his employees were enough to frighten them.


    Henry looked murderously at the employees.


    <i>Wince.?</i>The five employees didn’t dare to raise their heads because they knew they were guilty.


    “How despicable…”


    It was a short but frightening remark. The employees were all terrified because they’d witnessed what had happened to Munke.


    Henry continued to speak to the soldier. “Are you going to stay here?”


    “What…? O-of course?”


    .


    “I will report back to Chief Vhant, so why don''t you go back to the checkpoint and leave this ce to me?”


    “A-ah… Alright…”


    Thezy soldier got the hint. He counted the number of the exiles once more and slowly began to exit the Exile Vige. As soon as the soldier left, Henry ordered the employees in a cold tone, “Move.”


    “Y-yes, sir!”


    The frightened employees quickly started to unload the supplies from the carriage. The vigers tried to help the employees as they always did, but Henry blocked their path and kindly said, “You can stay put, they will do all the work.”


    “B-but…”


    “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen. Please trust me,” Hagler assured the vigers.


    Meanwhile, the employees were unloading the supplies with great effort in an attempt to assuage Henry’s anger. When all the supplies had been ced next to the iron poll, Henry spoke once more. “Hagler.”


    “Yes, sir?”


    “Strip them of their coats, tie their hands together, blindfold them, and leave them in the snow.”


    “Alright.”


    “W-what? W-wait a minute!”


    They had no use for the employees now. Henry sentenced them to the extreme cold as punishment until his anger was appeased. The bound and stripped employees were thrown into a waist-deep pile of snow.


    Henry stood in front of the exiles and said, “Everyone.”


    The vigers began to tense up. Even though Henry had punished the employees, they still saw him as Munke’s recement.


    Henry continued to speak, “My name is Henry Morris.”


    “...!”


    No one spoke a word, but their eyes all widened in surprise at the unexpected name.


    “I’m sure you all are surprised by my name. I get that reaction a lot,” Henry continued. “You’re thinking of my master, who taught me magic spells.”


    There was a moment of silence. The vigers weren’t the only ones surprised—Hagler, who stood next to Henry, was even more surprised.


    “It’s a coincidence that my master and I share the same name, but I was truly his disciple. Now, I’m here in Salgaera to continue the wishes of myte master, which was to visit you.”


    The crowd remained silent. It had been a year since all the State Contributors who had challenged the Central Aristocracy died. In the meantime, all those who were close to the State Contributors had been demoted or secretly killed. Those who had served Henry only clung to survival because of his death.


    However, their lives were worse than that death, since each day that passed was full of suffering. They were malnourished and lived in extreme weather conditions, and it was impossible to even sip water as they pleased, much less eat hot food. It was a true living hell.


    Henry bowed and said, “I apologize. I should havee to see you first, but Icked the ability to do so.” Since Henry couldn’t reveal his true identity, he tried to show them his sincerity this way.


    There was another moment of silence… But it did notst long.


    “<i>Sniff</i>.”


    “<i>Sniff, sniff</i>…”


    One of the vigers started to cry, and the sobs spread to the rest. Some fell to the ground and wailed loudly, while othersughed and cried in despair.


    “Are you really…really the lord’s disciple?”


    The viger, who seemed to be the oldest, walked up to Henry and asked. He was a rtive of one of Henry’s deadrades, the Divine Archer.


    Henry lowered his head and said, “Yes, I am. I truly apologize for onlying now.”


    “No… Thank you, thank you so much foring to see us…”


    What the exiles had struggled with the most after arriving in Salgaera wasn’t the insufficient food, clothing, or shelter: it was theck of hope. Hopelessness meant that they had no reason to live.


    Many had frozen or starved to death, and a handful had alsomitted suicide because they had no hope left. As the number of deaths increased, the suffering of those who remained doubled.


    Since every day was a living hell, they were desperate to end their own lives, but that took more courage than they expected. Humans were fragile beings with tough lives; it was easier to endure pain than escape it. The survivors who remained in Salgaera were those that had survived all those sorrows.


    Henry bowed his head for a long time before he slowly began to look up. The dull eyes of the vigers had changed, and they were starting to be alive, like small embers.


    Like the eyes of people with hope.


    * * *


    Sword Master Hiram was so dizzy that he felt like he would faint at any moment, but he continued to move forward, despite his condition. <i>‘I have to… I must let them know what happened…!’</i>


    Hiram, who was themander of the fifth unit of the Viper Knights. A year ago, Salmora had secretly ordered them to attack the merchants heading to Salgaera and steal their supplies. Hiram did not understand the reason behind the order, but he carried out the mission without asking questions. After all, the order came from Salmora, who was basically his idol.


    The mission itself was simple: the merchants were in on the secret, so all they needed to do was go along with the act and deal with the mercenaries that apanied them.


    They had proceeded with this mission in a casual manner as usual, and the results were just as they had expected. They’d destroyed all thirty members of the Hound Corps in one blow. However, just when they were about to kill the leader of the Hound Corps, something unexpected urred.


    <i>‘What the hell…!’</i>


    A greatsword had flown out of nowhere and cut off the head of a cherished subordinate. Then, the other subordinates and their horses fell to the ground dead. Their fates had changed in an instant.


    It was ridiculous to assume that the suddenness of the deaths was all a coincidence. Hiram could no longer hold back his anger and drew his sword. However, as soon as his sword collided with Henry’s, Hiram realized that something was not quite right.


    Hiram believed Henry was just a kid who possessed no aura, but as they fought, he realized that they were equals and both Sword Masters. As the fight continued, he began to feel that he was at a disadvantage, and eventually, Henry’s movements were so fast that Hiram couldn’t even follow them.


    <i>“T-this can’t be possible!’?</i>Hiram was infuriated at the difficulty in dealing with Henry. However, by the time reality dawned on him, he had to run for his life and had lost one arm.


    “<i>Argh… Argh…</i>”


    Hiram had exploded his aura as he ran. He had failed the mission and his life as a swordsman was over as soon as Henry cut his arm off. However, his damaged pride made him feel like he couldn''t give up. Hiram had to make it through.


    He clenched his teeth and held his wound, looking for a way to inform Salmora about the incident through any means. Eventually, Hiram reached a nearby imperial military base.


    * * *


    “I will start now.” After hepleted his preparations, Henry took his hands off the ground. He had formed an underground tunnel below the Exile Vige.


    Hagler and the vigers watched Henry with curiosity. The knee-high piles of snow had all disappeared after Henry melted them away with magic; in addition, it no longer snowed within the Exile Vige.


    Henry hadn’t changed the weatherpletely, but he had created an invisible barrier around the vige to stop the snow froming inside. On the ground where Henry had ced his hands was a number of runes that looked like constetions. They formed a huge magic circle. Henry put his hands together and started the spell.


    “...May the blessing of a great architecte before thisnd. Rising Grand Mansion!”


    <i>Voom!</i>


    Henry could feel arge amount of mana escaping his body like a flowing river. It was the price of such a great spell, but he had no regrets. When the magic circle fully responded to Henry’s call, a huge change began to take ce.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    Rising Grand Mansion: it was a top-tier spell that Henry had developed. It was a form of architectural magic that used the environment to create a beautiful mansion that integrated perfectly with it.


    Henry had developed this spell for a simple reason: to decrease the work of the workers building the empire.


    Henry felt extremely dizzy from the excessive and rapid use of mana. It would take him longer to reach the sixth circle, but the corners of Henry’s mouth rose to form a smile.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    Even though the mansion was magical, it would take some time to build. Everyone was mesmerized by the mysterious process of the magic spell. It was a magnificent spectacle.


    The soil formed itself into walls and roofs. Beautiful patterns appeared on the walls as though a real architect were at work, and various rooms based on Henry’s knowledge started to appear. Atst, a mansion suitable for Salgaera wasplete.


    “Sir… Isn’t this much nicer than the ce we live in?”


    “Then live here if you’re jealous.”


    “N-no, I like living in a small house; it’s easy to clean.” It was a realistic response, just like a father would say.


    After taking a quick break, Henry began to cast small spells that would keep the house clean and warm all the time. Only when he was done could he sit down and rest properly.


    <i>‘This should be enough.’</i>


    Henry pushed himself hard to provide them with a nice home because they couldn’t leave Salgaera until the emperor was punished.


    <i>‘This is actually a good thing. If I just whisked them away without thinking, the imperial pce would probably investigate.’</i>


    Henry could take the exiles away, but without a cover story, things would beplicated and dangerous. Instead, Henry decided to use Salgaera’s isted location as a useful hiding ce.


    “W-wow…”


    “I-it’s so warm.”


    “Oh wow, it’s so spacious.”


    The vigers had all once been wealthy, but after losing everything in an instant and being forced to live in terrible circumstances, their gratitude was indescribable.


    “Is there a river orke nearby?” asked Henry.


    “Yes, but they’re all frozen. Why are you looking for one?”


    “Now that we’ve got a warm house, shouldn’t we also have a steady source of drinking water? Where is the ce?”


    The construction of the house was just beginning.