Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master
Chapter 142

142: Renslet’s Royal Letter (2)

Before they knew it, the factory staff had started gathering around Arad and Mary.

‘Sir Eote, is this really happening?’

‘Shh! Let’s just watch for now.’

‘But no matter how you look at it, it seems like her wrist is genuinely injured.’

Among those observing were Eote, Carrot, and Sir Rosie, all former Frost Knight operatives and now employees of Arad Group’s security team.

They maintained a respectful distance, careful not to interrupt the moment between Arad and Mary.

However, with the sudden issue of an injury arising, they couldn’t help but feel the need to react somehow.

Still, they refrained from making any further comments or taking additional actions.

‘Could she be concerned about those rumors circulating lately?’

‘So... you think she hurt herself on purpose?’

First, while they didn’t know Mary’s true identity, they were well aware of her remarkable skills.

She had once demonstrated her prowess by defeating intruders who had attempted to infiltrate the factory grounds.

Unaware of Mary’s deteriorating physical condition, they assumed her injury was simply an act.

“Chairman, if you need anything for the treatment, just say the word. We’ll bring it immediately,” said one of the staff members.

“No need. My dimensional pouch and bag have everything I require,” Arad replied.

“Yes, understood. We’ll remain on standby.”

Second, the person tending to Mary’s injury was none other than Arad Jin himself.

Before being a mage engineer, Arad was the continent’s greatest healer.

He had restored limbs to disabled war veterans, eradicated the dark magic epidemic that once loomed over the North, and extended the average lifespan of Northerners with the introduction of syringes and medical kits. ṙ𝓪Ν𝘰𝖇ËŜ

To suggest finding a priest or healer when someone of Arad’s caliber was present would have been a grave insult.

For these reasons, the staff chose to wait nearby, watching nervously.

‘Of all times for Director Shapiro to be on vacation...’

‘Staying out of this has to be the right call, right? It has to be...’

The absence of Theo Shapiro—commonly referred to as Director Teo, who usually managed every little issue within the group—was keenly felt. Theo was currently on a rare vacation, spending time with his family.

With all eyes on them,

“...”

Arad silently examined Mary’s right wrist.

“...”

Likewise, Arina, still disguised as Mary, said nothing.

Her heart, however, was pounding so loudly it felt deafening.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Suddenly, Arad’s gaze shifted to Mary’s waist.

The empty spot where her sword should have been—a white blade which Arad had crafted as a birthday gift for her—was conspicuously vacant.

‘This is exactly like the dream!’

Arina’s sense of déjà vu struck her once more as she caught Arad’s gaze.

“T-The Grand Duchess said she needed a sword... so I gave it to her,” Arina said in Mary’s voice, explaining the absence of the blade.

Hearing her answer, Arad nodded and spoke.

“I’m working on a sword as a birthday gift for Her Highness next month. While I’m at it, I might as well make one for you too. You both share the same birthday, don’t you?”

For this year’s birthday gift, I’ll craft a sword for Her Highness and present it to her.

“!!”

Arad’s response was so similar to what he had said in her dream that Arina instinctively clenched her left fist tightly.

That won’t be necessary. This sword is enough.

“T-That won’t be necessary. Cry of the Snowfield is enough for me,” Arina replied, echoing the words from her dream in Mary’s voice.

“It’s fine. As you know, the High Tower’s magic engine factory will begin its trial run tomorrow. It’ll produce small amounts of mithril, orichalcum, and adamantium. I can use those to craft it,” Arad said.

The High Tower’s magic engine factory is nearing completion. Once it begins producing mithril and orichalcum, I’ll use those to craft equipment.

Just as in her dream, Arad remained emotionally unperturbed by the absence of Mary’s sword.

This struck Arina as odd, especially considering how he had once insisted on painting a joint portrait of both Mary and Arina, a request that bordered on ridiculous.

‘Could this still be a dream?’

Her confusion only deepened.

“Is that so?”

Is that so?

Even amidst her turmoil, her words automatically mirrored those from the dream.

Yes.

“That’s correct,” Arad replied.

The dry, detached exchange felt eerily similar to the dream.

“Hmm... It’s just a minor sprain, nothing that really requires treatment. A potion or a priest’s blessing should be enough,” Arad concluded, finally releasing Mary’s wrist.

Your body is in excellent condition now.

However, as he released her wrist, Arad added something that hadn’t been part of the dream.

“But the real issue lies elsewhere, doesn’t it? You know what I’m talking about.”

“...!”

This marked the divergence from the dream.

“Shall we head to my lab? I believe we have some things to discuss privately.”

“...Yes.”

‘It’s finally happening!’ Arina thought, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Arad turned to the others.

“Mary and I are leaving early today. If anyone asks for us, tell them we’re unavailable. If it’s urgent, use the magical communication device linked to my lab.”

“Yes, understood!”

The staff saluted, watching as Arad and Mary walked away together.

Arad swiftly mounted the prized steed with Mary—Arina in disguise—and urged it into motion, leaving the factory without looking back.

“This is getting interesting,” someone remarked from the gathered group of employees watching them ride off.

“Sir Eote, what are we supposed to do?”

“Do what we must, of course.”

“Do what, exactly?”

“Provide security, naturally.”

“Ah... of course.”

“Yes, we’ll follow them, keeping a safe distance. Not because we’re curious, mind you!”

“Exactly! We’re simply ensuring their safety. That’s all this is about—support and protection from afar!”

“You there! Contact Jarvis immediately. Let him know that the Chairman is heading home with Lady Mary.”

The staff, filled with excitement, quietly cheered as they watched the pair riding off, hoping for the best.

***

“Are you alright, Mary?”

I glanced at the figure leaning halfway into my arms—Mary, or rather, Arina disguised as Mary.

“Yes! I-I’m fine!” she stammered, her voice growing more nervous as we approached my home.

I believe Chairman Jin is not just the sorcerer of the North but also a responsible man.

Marrying Her Highness while maintaining a common-law relationship with Lady Mary would be the best arrangement. That way, the rumors spreading across the continent would...

Entir’s earlier words floated into my mind, but I shook them off forcefully. That wasn’t what mattered right now.

What mattered was finding a way.

‘A way to heal her body.’

Arina’s physical condition was precarious—beyond the help of potions or even an Elixir.

‘I should’ve realized it sooner. This is entirely my fault. I was too complacent when I used that half-finished Elixir.’

Back in the depths of the Demonic Realm, I had hastily used an improvised Elixir to save Arina.

It had worked remarkably well at the time, and I thought I had gotten lucky.

But in hindsight, that wasn’t the case.

Ever since that day, Arina’s body had shown subtle cracks.

Symptoms we couldn’t explain at the time: the simultaneous growth of her heart and mana core. Neither I, Arina, Isabelle, Balzac, nor Sun could understand what was happening.

In hindsight, those symptoms had been signs of fractures within her body.

And Isaac, the Dark Sorcerer of the Devil’s Den, had exploited that vulnerability.

When Arina, already in a compromised state, sought to ascend beyond the level of a Swordmaster,

Isaac twisted an ancient curse he had once cast upon the Renslet family and inflicted it upon her anew.

The result: a body riddled with fractures, compounded by the curse at the threshold of becoming a Grandmaster. The aftermath was catastrophic.

‘What am I supposed to do? Even with knowledge from the future, I don’t have an answer.’

Since learning the truth about Mary’s real identity and Arina’s condition,

I had been searching tirelessly for a solution—amidst managing the magic engine project, Pluto’s development, and the soft power industries.

But no clear solution had emerged.

Even a flawless Elixir, capable of reviving someone on the brink of death, would likely falter before the aftereffects of a Grandmaster’s curse.

‘I need to at least prevent her condition from worsening.’

Lost in thought, I barely noticed as the horse came to a stop in front of my house.

“Get down,” I said.

“...Yes,” Arina replied softly, so tense that her voice was barely audible.

I helped her down and guided her inside.

“Chairman, welcome back. We received your message just a moment ago via magical communication,” Jarvis, the steward, greeted us at the entrance.

“Mary and I will be in the basement lab. Unless it’s urgent, do not disturb us.”

“Yes, of course, sir!”

With a firm warning to Jarvis, I led Mary down to the lab.

Once inside, I turned to check on her condition. Under the magical lighting of the lab, her face was flushed crimson.

Thud-thud-thud-thud.

Her heartbeat was loud enough to hear without even needing to measure her pulse.

‘Ah...!’

Only then did I realize why she was acting this way.

From the moment she injured herself playing tennis to now,

Every moment must have looked a certain way to Mary... and to anyone else observing.

I believe Chairman Jin is not just the sorcerer of the North but also a responsible man.

Entir’s words, which I had tried to push aside earlier, echoed in my mind again.

‘So fate does exist, after all.’

I could feel it instinctively.

The ridiculously high Luck stat that made up my existence was whispering to me.

This moment was an opportunity. Something close to destiny. And if I ignored it, it would slip away forever.

‘Besides... there’s no guarantee I’ll return to Earth.’

Before making a decision, I once again pondered what had been bothering me.

My potential return to Earth.

[...Save us. Please, save us!]

[Legendary Creator.]

[Legendary Alchemist.]

[Legendary Mage Engineer.]

[Legendary Merchant.]

[Please save the North... save Renslet!]

The voice I had heard when I was possessed and summoned to this world.

The desperate plea of an old woman.

That voice had asked only for help—nothing about a reward.

‘But I assumed I could return to Earth if I saved the North.’

It was a baseless assumption, a gut feeling I had when I heard the plea.

‘I thought saving the North would let me return home.’

Now, another near-certain instinct added itself to my mind:

‘Arina Rune Renslet. Saving her... is that also part of the mission?’

But as soon as the thought formed, I rejected it.

‘No. That’s just an excuse.’

I corrected myself. The thought I just had was nothing more than an excuse—a rationalization.

‘Let’s be honest. I love her. I love Mary, and I love Arina Rune Renslet.’

Enough to abandon any thoughts of returning to Earth if it meant being with her.

Before I realized it, my heart had already completely fallen for Arina.

“Chairman?”

Arina called out to me hesitantly.

We had entered the lab, but I had been standing silently for some time.

By now, the tension and excitement she had been radiating seemed to have calmed somewhat, leaving only a faint blush and a subtle tremor in her demeanor.

“...”

I stepped closer to her.

The reason I had brought Arina here wasn’t strictly for treatment. It was to conduct a precise examination and continue researching ways to heal her condition.

‘And… I won’t deny it. This is partly selfish, too.’

I moved close enough to feel the breath of Arina—still in Mary’s disguise—against my skin.

“C-Chairman…?”

Her voice quivered as her composure began to waver once more. Her heartbeat quickened, and the flush in her face deepened.

“There’s no need to pretend here. Arina Rune Renslet, Duchess of Renslet.”

I whispered softly into her ear, while my hand reached for the transformation necklace she wore around her neck.

“!!”

Arina flinched as her gray eyes shifted to a sapphire hue, her snow-white hair returning to its original silvery-blue. Her facial features, body shape, and even her voice gradually reverted to her true self.

“...You knew,” Arina murmured blankly, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“When?”

“Since you collapsed while fighting off the intruders at the factory.”

Our gazes locked, an unspoken understanding settling between us.

For a few moments, only the sound of our uneven breathing filled the space as the tension built.

The shock and confusion in Arina’s sapphire eyes began to fade, replaced by a quiet determination.

She stepped forward decisively.

Thump!

Arina’s lips crashed into mine.

‘Thank goodness.’

Thankfully, she didn’t react to the revelation by dying of embarrassment or trying to kill me.

Instead, her tongue found mine, as if declaring, This is the moment!

The kiss, however, wasn’t enough to satisfy us.

Years of suppressed emotions and longing demanded more, and soon, our hands began to explore each other’s bodies.

But before we let things escalate further, there was something I had to clarify.

Even if I had made up my mind, I needed to prepare her for the possibility of the unexpected.

“I’m not from this world. You know that, don’t you?”

I spoke abruptly, holding Arina close.

“I know. The Golden Age and this era are vastly different, after all,” she replied, interpreting my words in her own way.

Well, that explanation would do.

“Does it bother you? Whether I’m from the ancient past, the Empire, or a different world altogether?”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t care who you are or where you came from. I only care that you’re Arad,” she answered firmly.

“It might matter. Someday, I might suddenly disappear.”

“!!”

Her hand, which had been tentatively exploring my body, froze.

“That’s why… I pretended not to know your feelings for so long.”

“And now… why now?”

“Because I couldn’t ignore them any longer. It’s undeniable now.”

“...”

Arina’s startled expression softened into one of understanding.

“It’s alright. It’s alright, Arad. Even if you vanish tomorrow, it’s alright. Because I’ve found love. You—my Arad.”

Her hesitant touch resumed, this time with more confidence.

“If you’re okay with me, someone who might disappear at any moment…”

“And if you’re okay with me, someone whose body is so fragile it could break at any time…”

That was all that needed to be said.

The lab soon became filled with the sound of heated breaths and the warmth of two souls finally finding one another.