The Shepherd Alone on the Hill is a Genius Wizard

Chapter 50 The Undead King's Problem (2)

Turan fell into thought for a moment before answering with a smile.

"Indeed. I wonder why."

Afterward, the nobles from the seven cities whispered among themselves before requesting to withdraw.

"We know it's rude to leave without staying even one night, but as this is urgent, we'll speak with our family heads and return with answers as quickly as possible."

"Very well."

While custom dictated it was rude to come, state their business, and leave immediately, since he had planned to house these noble guests in the city hall anyway, it could be considered even.

After all the nobles had withdrawn, Daruk, who had been waiting outside the meeting room, entered and asked.

"Well done, Protector of the city. Do you have any orders?"

"Call a meeting."

"Everyone is already gathered downstairs."

Of course, when nobles from all nearby cities visited, important discussions about the city's future must have taken place.

It was natural for those who led the city to gather.

Shortly after, Turan announced to those gathered in the meeting room his intention to soon transfer Kalamaf's governance rights to another house.

Everyone's faces darkened upon hearing this.

"But great protector, this city still needs you..."

"The threat from the west will soon be eliminated by Arabion, and other houses will pay sufficient attention given their justification for obtaining governance rights. Then it should be maintained well enough without me."

Kalamaf's influential figures had secretly hoped Turan would establish his house here.

Unlike other nobles, Turan was a dedicated shepherd who didn't exploit them and used his abilities for the city's benefit, something they had never even imagined.

However, whether to maintain or transfer city governance rights ultimately depended on the nobles' will.

Originally, whether sheep or pastures, these were things bought and sold between people - sheep never got to choose who would raise them.

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Naturally, the seven noble houses didn't immediately respond to Turan's proposal.

They would probably secretly gather information about his mother in their cities and surrounding villages, and only agree when confident they could win.

Since news about the transfer of governance rights was controlled, the citizens of Kalamaf lived each day hopefully, unaware they might soon have a new master.

Turan would sometimes sit on the city hall's roof and look down at their lives.

"They all live so diligently, don't they?"

Without the iron plate to write on, Bize could only answer with a chirp.

Turan looked at Kalamaf's citizens, those who would have died helplessly without him.

He recalled the question another noble had asked recently.

"Why go to such lengths..."

Even though the physical differences must have been much greater due to his training.

Shortly after, Turan brought Keorn to his lodgings in the city hall to avoid people's eyes.

It had been about half a year since they met?

Come to think of it, they had only met for a few days, yet why did it feel so good to see him?

It must mean Keorn had had such a big influence on Turan.

"I never dreamed we'd meet here. You must have had to take an incredibly roundabout route to get here."

While it wouldn't be too difficult for a knight to reach here from Hisaril Hill in half a year, the travel distance must have become enormously long since the west of the Grey Zone had become a battlefield.

With mountains blocking the north, he must have come through the south.

At Turan's words, Keorn made a slightly awkward expression.

"Ah, about that... I didn't just come here while traveling."

"If not traveling, then?"

"Actually, while traveling I heard news of the war and applied to rejoin the subjugation force. I've already fought with dark elves several times."

"Ah..."

So the old knight before him had come here not as a retired traveler but as an Arabion knight belonging to the subjugation force.

He probably learned of Turan's existence after his name and details spread within the subjugation force following his meeting with Meisa and her uncle.

"Did you tell Arabion's side about my bloodline?"

"I didn't. From what I heard, you didn't seem particularly interested in living as a Zahar noble. Was I being presumptuous?"

"No, you're right."

The old knight answered calmly, showing none of the tension characteristic of someone lying.

While Turan was smiling in relief at this fact, Keorn lightly cleared his throat and brought up his main business.

"Now I should do my duty as Arabion's messenger. More precisely, as Miss Meisa's messenger."

"Do you have a personal connection with her?"

The status difference between a mere knight and a great house's heir was far greater than that between ordinary nobles and commoners.

Though of course, Keorn was no ordinary knight.

"Not much, but I do know her somewhat. Somehow I ended up with a position above my station..."

"You mean Hero Keorn?"

"Don't tell me you saw that play?"

Keorn looked at him with an expression mixing embarrassment and self-deprecation before forcibly changing the subject.

"We'll talk about that later, let me first convey Miss Meisa's proposal."

"Yes."

"There's been a problem with eliminating the dark elf necromancer... the self-proclaimed Undead King, and she would like to request your cooperation."