The only thing the Ancient Dragon had really heard was Nolan's power. Compared to that, everything else seemed unimportant.
Watching Lansseax's figure recede into the distance until she disappeared completely, Ranni's delicate little face showed a hint of confusion.
She lifted her small, tender blue hand and gave Nolan's collar a light tug.
"Summonwater Village? Aren't we going to look for that idiot little brother?"
Ranni blinked up at Nolan with wide eyes as she asked.
That little brother was far too dangerous. Abandoning him was the wiser choice.
At least, that was what Ranni thought, without the slightest trace of guilt.
Setting aside so-called blood ties, the only connection between her and that little brother was Nolan, standing right in front of her.
Sorry, but that was simply how things went in a struggle between sisters.
"We're definitely going to the Land of Shadow, but as far as I know, there also seems to be a Cursemark of Death in Summonwater Village." Nolan shook his head slightly and explained in a soft voice.
Before going to find Mohg, he felt it would be safer to add one more layer of insurance.
Hearing that, Ranni fell silent in thought.
For Nolan, who did not fear death, a Cursemark of Death truly carried extraordinary meaning.
...
Limgrave could now be described as thoroughly fractured.
The central region belonged to the lords who had once followed Godrick and House Miro, while House Haight in Mistwood to the southeast and House Morne on the Weeping Peninsula to the south had also declared independence.
Meanwhile, the entire northern stretch of Limgrave, from Stormveil Castle all the way to Summonwater Village, had already become Nolan's territory.
After Lansseax spread her wings and flew out of Stormveil Castle, she followed the broad official road eastward through the air.
Before long, the road began to narrow, turning into a winding inlet.
Following it onward, they finally arrived at the village known as Summonwater Village.
Caught between the coastlines to the north and south, the place was shrouded year-round in a thin veil of mist.
The whole village looked like a brilliant pearl set quietly upon a shimmering lake.
Aside from the lofty mountains around it, there was only the boundless expanse of water. That unusual geography gave the place a landscape all its own.
It was called a village, but in truth, it was more like a lively, thriving town.
Situated between Limgrave and Caelid, it occupied a highly important strategic position and was a necessary stop for merchants traveling between the two lands.
Because of that, this seemingly unremarkable little village, together with Stormveil, had become one of the main sources of tax revenue in Nolan's domain.
"Maybe this place could be turned into a fortress," Nolan murmured to himself.
A village really did not match the scale of the place, and Caelid also needed to be guarded against.
He walked along a wooden bridge built from thick round logs. Beneath it, the lake shimmered, reflecting the distinctive tall buildings and waterways along the shore.
The prosperity and wealth here far surpassed anything an ordinary village could boast. The population was large, and most of the people here were passing merchants.
Because Nolan had wiped out the Redmane allies, relations between the two sides had become tense, and many merchant caravans headed for Caelid had been forced to remain here for the time being.
There were no nobles in the traditional sense within the lands governed by Nolan.
The current village chief was Diego, the young noble who had taken part in the defense of Miro Fortress and won fame through his military achievements.
Governing a place was no easy matter. It required a fair amount of knowledge and experience.
Compared to others, someone like Diego, who had received proper education and training, was clearly much better suited to the job.
If the position were handed to just anyone, not only would they likely fail to manage the village well, they might even ruin the hard-won prosperity before them.
Of course, this young baron was no longer a noble now, and once his term ended, the office of village chief would not be inherited through bloodline either.
At that moment, the conscientious young chief was busy arranging accommodations for the distinguished guests who had come all the way from Stormveil.
He settled them into a small inn and assigned several teams to stand guard in rotating shifts, ensuring tight protection.
Nolan himself did not really care. Sleeping in the open and living rough had long since become normal for him, and luxury and indulgence had little to do with him for the time being.
Besides, the inside of this high-end inn was actually quite well furnished, and he found it rather comfortable.
When Nolan stepped out of the inn, he could not help pausing to take a closer look at the bustling village.
Shops lined the waterways, pedestrians came and went in an endless stream, and the whole place was noisy, lively, and full of life.
As he walked, he wondered where exactly he should go to find the half-wheel wound of the centipede.
The moment that thought flashed through his mind, someone caught his attention.
Not far away, beside the railing of a small tavern, sat an elegant and captivating woman.
Her skin was white as snow, her face lovely and striking, and her figure graceful and beautifully proportioned.
At times she would take a light sip of wine. At others, she would prop up her head with one hand and gaze into the distance in boredom.
The slow boats drifting past and the passersby alike could not help being drawn to the beautiful sight she made.
Many people looked eager to go over and begin a charming encounter with the beauty, but their attention was soon pulled away by another person.
"Look! It's His Highness Nolan! So the Lord really did come to our village!"
As one person cried out in surprise, the crowd instantly erupted.
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, and all eyes shifted at once to Nolan.
There was a stunning beauty right there, so why were these people staring at a man instead?
Seeing that, Nolan's lips curled slightly, and he let out a soft laugh.
If these people knew everything that had happened between him and Marika, those cries of "Your Highness" would probably have turned into "Your Majesty."
He carefully straightened his collar and strode through the bustling crowd with slightly hurried steps.
A cheerful waiter came up with a smile plastered across his face, but Nolan only waved him off lightly and went straight to where Sellen was sitting.
"Teacher, why did you come out by yourself? We couldn't find you at the inn. I thought you'd gotten lost."
The gentle voice rang out suddenly, interrupting the Witch's thoughts.
Sellen lifted her long, fair neck slightly. The moment her eyes fell on Nolan, she let out an annoyed little snort.
"I'm not interested in whatever you two were talking about, so I came out to get some air. Besides, adjusting my mood once in a while helps improve research efficiency."
As she spoke, Sellen turned her head to the side, clearly unwilling to meet Nolan's eyes for long.
"Come on, don't be mad. We still have time."
Nolan said it with a smile and casually sat down across from Sellen.
He looked at his clearly displeased teacher with a warm smile, and yet that smile only grew brighter.
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
[email protected]/PinkSnake (50 Chapters Ahead).
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.