Chapter 17 : Chapter 17
Chapter 17
After Reina's trait blossomed, every day became a repetition of the same routine.
I'd wake up in the morning and run around the Lord's Castle until I was on the verge of collapse, followed by personal training and then a sparring session with Reina or Lina.
I had already reached a level where I could leisurely defeat Lina using two traits, but I wasn't happy at all.
“This is a complete failure.”
Watching a squad member leave with a bowed head, I grumbled to Lina in a low voice.
“Why?”
“Hah… Honestly, I thought I’d get at least one, but this is already the 15th person.
I feel like I started this for nothing.”
Even though I had already awakened 15 traits, I hadn't obtained a single one among them.
“I’m definitely thinking about something wrong.
What could it be?”
“Duke, I’m sorry, but I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lina looked at me with her characteristically indifferent eyes.
She was a child who smiled so brightly when she was with the other members, so why did she change so much whenever she was around me?
Thinking it was something I couldn't possibly understand, I mumbled a vague answer.
“It's just one of those things.
The way of the world is all about give and take, you know?
But it's quite frustrating when I keep giving and get nothing in return.”
“Didn’t Sally just thank you?
What more do you expect from kids who came here because they have nothing?”
I coldly averted my gaze from her eyes, which now looked at me as if I were a complete snob.
As far as I knew, the trait 'The Capable Incompetent' copied a trait when the person being taught genuinely felt they had learned something.
In that case, having received sincere gratitude just now, I should have obtained a trait.
‘Does that mean she doesn’t think she learned from me?
That can’t be right…….’
In the first place, I was the one who found a weapon that suited their trait and provided the secret art, so no matter how selfish a person was, they couldn't deny such an obvious fact.
“Ah!
I’m missing something… What on earth could it be!”
As I was shouting in frustration, a young girl approached timidly from a distance.
“Excuse me……”
‘Her name is…….’
It was the child who had threatened Rick that she would poop if he didn't let her have an interview on the last day.
The members still found it difficult to talk to me, so I hadn't managed to memorize all their names.
In fact, I had never spoken to them except when teaching them one-on-one.
When I glanced sideways, Lina opened her mouth with a look of pity.
“Puck, what is it?”
“I’m here to see the Young Lord.”
At those words, Ian’s face brightened as he welcomed Puck.
“Ah, you found a weapon?”
“Ah, yes!
There’s that, and also… uh, um, thank you so much!”
Ian’s eyes wavered as he saw the child bow so deeply that her head touched the floor, accompanied by a vigorous shout.
‘What did I do?’
Lately, all I had done was train at the training grounds and do physical conditioning, so I couldn't even guess what she was thankful for.
I looked at Lina again, but she just shrugged, seeming not to know the situation either.
“What is it?”
I had no choice but to ask the still-bowing Puck, who answered in a tearful voice.
“I-it’s just, I received a letter that my parents received the money and were able to buy medicine…….
They said they’re okay now!
Thank you!”
“You’re… thankful for receiving the contract payment?”
“Yes!
I didn’t think you’d really give it, so thank you for giving it to me!”
What kind of infamous reputation was I known for that she couldn't believe she'd receive the promised contract payment?
Vowing to one day check every single rumor spreading in public, I asked Puck again.
“Money and medicine?
Are your parents sick?”
“Pardon?
Ah, yes.
My father hasn’t been able to work since he was attacked by a demonic boar.
My mother works as an herb gatherer instead……”
That alone was enough for me to understand the situation.
In this deformed domain where most of the income was generated from hunting demonic beasts, a man getting injured meant the entire family was shaken.
“What about treatment?
The Lord’s Castle should be providing support for hunters injured by demonic beasts, shouldn't they?”
To that end, support for hunters and soldiers was thorough.
The sick were treated by calling a cleric, and if they couldn't be cured, they were given seed money and sent to the large city of Lier in the rear.
The Moner family’s domain was more of a front-line outpost against demonic beasts than a proper domain, so a lot of attention was paid to the safety and welfare of its residents.
“Th-that’s… they said we had to pay money to apply for treatment……”
Ian’s face contorted for a moment as he looked at Puck.
As his unrestrained killing intent was released, cold sweat formed on Puck's tearful face.
“I’m sorry.
I did something wrong!”
“No.
You don’t need to apologize when you’ve done nothing wrong.”
After suppressing his murderous intent, Ian soothed Puck and sent her away first.
‘Is one person not enough of a warning?’
Roberto’s role was clear.
It was to send a warning that the ducal family would no longer turn a blind eye to crime.
All the investigations currently underway in the Lord’s Castle and Roberto, who was still drying up and dying in the square, were emergency measures to stabilize the domain by preventing injustice and corruption.
‘I was holding back because it’s not time to move yet.’
It seemed the warning letter I sent because I lacked the power to move immediately was quite inadequate.
‘It can’t be helped.’
If the dog-like bastards want a dogfight, I have no choice but to go and bark back.
Having made his decision, Ian looked at Lina and gave an order.
“Lina, tell Reina to help Puck’s parents receive all the support they are entitled to.
After that, check if any other members are facing similar difficulties, and if you tell Reina about them too, she will handle it well.”
Confirming the thick killing intent seeping through his voice, which was so cold it sounded like he would draw his sword at any moment, Lina bowed her head and replied.
“Yes, my Lord.”
One corner of Ian’s mouth curled up as he left the training ground.
* * *
The Lord’s Castle Auditor's Department was going through its busiest period since its founding.
In the middle of investigating the corruption of Administrator Roberto, which the young lord had uncovered, 40% of the already short-staffed auditors had abruptly submitted their resignations.
Of course, no one was unaware that those who applied for retirement were the auditors who had been taking bribes, but since they had all worked in the same building, the Auditor's Department quietly buried the matter and focused all its efforts on solving the mountain of problems before them.
Everyone was doing their best, but one's best doesn't always yield the best results.
The head of the Auditor's Department, who had developed a bald spot from the lack of progress, suddenly began to hound his subordinates.
“Hey!
Go out and get something!
What did the Giyom Merchant Guild and the Jiks Merchant Guild say?!”
“Of course, they say they know nothing about it…….
They even blocked the entrance with mercenaries when we said we would just go in and look at the documents before leaving.”
“Aaaargh!
Then what are we supposed to do!
Did you contact the Security Forces?”
“They’re short-handed as well right now… and they said there was an order to avoid provoking the Merchants’ Association if possible.”
“Bullshit!
The mad young lord says he'll have our heads if we don't find any crimes, but we're told not to touch the actual culprits?
Fuck, I should just quit!”
The department head, who had been agonizing over the unsolvable problem with a scowl, continued speaking.
“So, next, what was next on the list?”
“Uh… that, the clerics refused to provide treatment… and apparently they bribed the administrator to prevent it from being reported.”
“Hah!
One side is untouchable due to money, and the other is untouchable due to sanctity?
This domain is in a fine state!”
As the department head, whose irritation had reached its peak due to the frustrating situation, shouted, Ian, who had been listening to their conversation while using Ghost Step, let out a small sigh and opened his mouth.
“Indeed, this domain is in a fine state.”
“That’s what I’m saying.
Phew, what was the next item on the list?
It was the clerics and the merchants, so what’s next, our young lord’s drug connection?”
The department head, who had been covering his face with both hands and trembling with helplessness, flinched at the familiar voice he heard from somewhere.
Through his slowly spread fingers, he saw a somewhat familiar face.
‘Sharp eyes, a villainous smile, an overall ruthless and ruffian-like impression, just like…….’
“Head of the Auditor's Department?”
“…I greet the Young Lord!”
As the department head, despite his pale face, straightened his back and saluted sharply, all the remaining auditors in the department began to salute one by one, watching for cues.
“We greet the Young Lord!”
* * *
“So the clerics are refusing to provide treatment?”
Ian asked with a frown as he entered the office of Bain, the Head of the Auditor's Department, following his guidance.
“Ah, yes.
In fact, the domain provides them with money under the pretext of maintaining their dignity, but since there are so many injured people, they repeatedly work through the night……”
“Heh, they’ve devoted their bodies to God and use holy power, yet they need money?”
“Yes.
They say they need more money to secure their holy power.”
“Crazy bastards……”
It was no secret that the clerics of Lost Chronicle were corrupt.
Probably if you grabbed anyone in a rural domain and asked, you wouldn't find a single person who thought well of clerics.
However, it was different here in the Moner domain.
This was because the Pope himself had declared the Moner domain a hall of penance and ordered all prospective clerics to treat the sick according to God's will.
Although, if you delved deeper, it was nothing more than the Pope, who didn't want to support the Holy Nation's troops in the Demonic Beast Forest in another country, pretending to be disappointed and throwing in prospective clerics who couldn't even treat properly.
“Hoo… then can’t we just give them a few more pennies and tell them to continue the treatment?”
“Well, their dignity maintenance fees have already been raised several times.
There are even numerous cases where, in small villages far from the Lord’s Castle, they have been given the authority to act as the village chief.
But because the bastards insist that they cannot provide treatment unless a donation is offered to God each time they treat someone……”
At those words, Ian, lost for words, looked at Bain.
“So those vermin have been watching my people die because of a few pennies……”
Bain, who had been nervously worrying that Ian’s madness might flare up, shot up from his seat at Ian’s unusual demeanor.
“Please do not worry, Young Lord.
We will resolve this well.”
Of course, he had no solution whatsoever.
The self-important clerics were unlikely to humble themselves now, and he couldn't think of any good way to persuade them.
He just thought he had to do his best to reassure the madman before him so that he wouldn't make the mistake of antagonizing the clerics.
Believing that this domain, where thousands of injured people appeared every day, would have no future if it were abandoned by the clerics, Bain continued in the most confident voice he could muster.
“When you speak of clerics, are they not those who listen to the will of God?
If I contact the Holy Nation and send a petition about their indulgence, the clerics will then follow the will of God, so please do not worry.”
Even as he spoke, Bain prayed that the madman, who was said to resort to violence at the drop of a hat, would not have his fit of madness explode right before his eyes.
Perhaps his prayer reached the heavens.
Upon hearing his words, Ian was greatly pleased and repeatedly patted his shoulder, saying.
“That’s right, that’s it!
Shouldn’t those bastards hear the will of God directly?”
For a moment, an ominous premonition that the crazy bastard was about to do something washed over him, but Bain bowed his head with a smile.
Bain, a retired soldier, sincerely cherished this domain where he was born and raised.
Therefore, he thought it was a better choice for the young lord to throw a debaucherous party with his concubines or build a drug den than to mess with the clerics.
Unfortunately, with his head bowed, he did not see the murderous glint in Ian's eyes, and he could not even begin to imagine what it meant for the clerics to hear God's will directly.