Chapter 345
"*Achoo!?*"
"Liberta, do you have a cold?"
"No, my physical condition should be fine... My nose just suddenly got itchy. Maybe someone's talking about me?"
If I had to list one difference between the game and reality, it's that in the game, once you clear a quest, you just watch a story movie and the stage ends. But in reality, you must thoroughly report, inform, and consult.
The Edelgard family's private troops—except for the person in charge, Borg—are probably raising victory toasts at a celebration feast right about now, enjoying delicious food.The Garden Watchmen, except for Genjirou, are probably in the midst of a banquet at the mansion with their families, celebrating their safe return.
And as for me...
"Liberta, you have just battled a formidable foe. Perhaps your body is not yet at its best. If you are unwell, the report can wait until another day.""Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. However, if I postpone this debriefing, I fear some troublesome interference might come from unexpected quarters. Please allow me to proceed."
A debriefing on this Aži Dahāka subjugation is being held, with Borg, the commander from the Edelgard private troops, André from the Temple Knights, and Genjirou from my own private troops, the Garden Watchmen, in attendance.
The main report is given by me, the one who led the charge.
Listening to the report are Duke Edelgard, Lotus-san, and...
"... ..."
...His Majesty the King and the Prime Minister, who have turned pale upon seeing the contents of the report document.
While reading the document and listening to our report, the King's complexion has remained consistently poor.The Prime Minister beside him looks much the same.The only one among the authorities with a decent complexion is the Duke.
Well, since the source of those pale faces is undoubtedly me, I won't touch on that.It's a story about the appearance of a calamity-class monster that could have become a world crisis, so it's only natural they'd turn pale. However, part of the reason for His Majesty's poor complexion this time is related to the topic he's desperately trying to postpone—the discussion of rewards for this battle against Aži Dahāka.
We'll have to announce it grandly at a ceremony later, but to ensure that ceremony goes smoothly, we must decide the reward details together with His Majesty and the Prime Minister.
Incidentally, the report document they are looking at isn't just the one I wrote. It also includes a report from the Temple co-signed by Claudia, the report from the Duke's private troops, and André's report. So, it's impossible to dismiss it as lies or fabrications.
That's why they've gone pale—it was a genuine world crisis.
Moreover, since they left the response to this crisis to me and Duke Edelgard, and no one from the Royal Family distinguished themselves, the Aži Dahāka materials won't be offered to them, and their income is practically zero. Yet, as the Royal Family saved by the country, they *must* provide a reward.
These two, who have never given a reward for saving the world before, must be desperately calculating in their heads right now. The financial official sitting with them has gone beyond blue and is turning completely white.
Since I've already declined marriage to a royal princess or a noble title beforehand, the reward will likely have to be in cash.
"Liberta, you said you desired land as a reward, but granting such a vast area of land to someone who is not a noble is difficult."
It boils down to two choices: honestly granting me ownership of the land I want, or accepting my independence from the kingdom.
"Then, cash.""That would bankrupt the national treasury."
His Majesty and the Prime Minister, unable to accept either option straightforwardly, look to Duke Edelgard as if seeking a lifeline.
"I believe Liberta's achievements this time contributed immensely to the very existence of our nation. Although the land Liberta is requesting is vast, compared to the territory Boldrinde held, it is smaller. Furthermore, it is undeveloped land of little value to our kingdom, which has remained untouched. As a reward, I'd say it's rather cheap.""Regarding the land, I share Duke Edelgard's opinion. However, the problem lies in recognizing independence. That would mean a new nation is born in this southern continent. We cannot simply permit that easily."
I had already laid the groundwork with the Duke beforehand.Naturally, he's on my side.Far from opposing, he's even providing covering fire for me.
In terms of position, he's acting somewhat like my negotiation agent.
Realizing the Duke isn't on his side, the Prime Minister furrows his brow and focuses on the core issue.
"Then, Prime Minister, what kind of reward do you think is fitting for him, who saved the world from crisis?""That would be... one could consider having him inherit the vacant ducal title of the former Duke Boldrinde, for example.""Along with that territory as it is? To place the hero who saved the world from the brink of destruction and safeguarded this kingdom and the Royal Family, into the seat of a great traitor who plotted rebellion... Prime Minister, you tell quite an amusing joke."
I had already sent Ingrid, Nell, and Amina ahead to the Spirit World, where preparations for the victory celebration—or rather, a festival—are underway. There's also the matter of treating the spirits who fought Aži Dahāka, so it won't be immediate, but I still want to conclude these negotiations quickly.Bringing Claudia and Lady Esmeralda to these negotiations is to appeal that both the Temple and the Edelgard Duchy are on my side.
From the Prime Minister, I can see an intent to keep me as a national asset by any means necessary.However, I'm not okay with that, and Duke Edelgard understands my intention.
First of all, being told to rebuild that land infested with corrupt nobles and unscrupulous merchants is, by any reasonable measure, insane.I saw the villages along the way; they were pretty run-down, the commercial routes were in shambles, and with bandits running rampant, public safety was at its worst.
And you want to give such a terrible environment as a reward for subjugating Aži Dahāka? Are you in your right mind?A Duke's title comes with responsibilities, you know?
Are you telling me to devote my life to the peace of the people?I might accept, but if I do, I'll pull off some noble moves that would make even Boldrindu, who was ready to overthrow the state, turn pale. Is that alright?
"However, the northern territory he is requesting is a remote, undeveloped frontier. It is true that already developed land would be more useful than such a place.""The problem is the responsibility that comes bundled with granting that land. Even if His Majesty, the Prime Minister, and I guarantee Liberta's new ducal status, the other Dukes would never recognize him as an equal, nor would the other nobles. The more we shelter him, the more isolated Liberta's position as a noble would become, which in turn would worsen Your Majesty's own standing. Do you intend to discard Liberta after worsening relations among the nobility as a result?"
Because I had already conveyed such predictions to Duke Edelgard beforehand, His Lordship is also desperately trying to push through my request.
The land I'm asking for is located in the undeveloped northern territories owned by the Royal Family, a place even more remote within those frontiers.
There aren't even settlements, let alone villages, in the vicinity.A place so remote there are practically no roads or visitors.
To top it off, there's almost no flat land; it's mostly mountainous terrain.
Monsters inhabit it, and it's far removed from the main highways.
It's not a place for people to live.
But, I happen to know, you see?In FBO, that place is a super prime property, sitting atop some of the most abundant mineral resources in the southern continent.
The monsters inhabiting the area are among the strongest on the southern continent, but with my current strength, plus Nell and the party members, and Genjirou and the Garden Watchmen, they'd be mere trifles we could brush aside.
Furthermore, you might think the terrain makes it hard to live in, but well, it's FBO, right? I just need to train about ten people specialized in land development.
"That is not my intention.""At the stage where such a possibility exists, I believe granting him a ducal title is dangerous. That said, a rank below Marquis would be undeniably cheap as a reward for this battle."
Once I train the people, it's just a matter of developing.I'll need to prepare items to eliminate monster spawn points, but since I want to develop the area by organizing hunting grounds and creating a resource cycle, I can plan this part carefully.
Entrusting the negotiations to obtain this to the Duke should be fine, basically.From the Temple's side, they have also advised using the highest possible praise in their report to secure my reward, so the Prime Minister's statements are mere futile resistance.
They probably want to settle my reward as cheaply and respectably as possible, but that's not going to happen.This time was truly arduous.
I'll squeeze thoroughly from where I can squeeze. No mercy.
Since I defeated Aži Dahāka, the worst quest in the southern continent, this southern continent will be peaceful for a while in a sense. Even if calamities on other continents revive, I've secured a safe zone in the southern continent to avoid a game over.
At this point, I've secured time to properly establish a base.
However, if I sit back and do nothing during this grace period, I can see a future where they'll find some reason or another to consume my time.
So, I'm taking a step toward liberation from that national framework that would consume me.
"Liberta. Are you truly sure you have no other wishes?""None at all."
The Prime Minister, judging that talking with the Duke won't get him anywhere, also asks, but I cut him off decisively.
What this country can prepare, I can prepare myself.Of course, I can't just prepare a princess or a marriage partner easily, but I'm still a child right now.
That kind of thing is better when I'm a bit older.
"Are you absolutely sure?""Absolutely. As long as I receive land I can use freely and am left without interference, I will be satisfied. Oh, and please don't forget proper rewards for everyone who fought this time, not just me.""Y-yes."
He's probably hoping I'm being forced to say this by the Duke, but by stating it with a bright smile, the Prime Minister can't say anything more.
"Prime Minister, as a member of the Temple, I hesitate to say this as it might be seen as interference in domestic affairs, but his achievements in this battle truly demonstrated the caliber of a disciple of the Goddess of Wisdom, Kefeli. Rather than stubbornly worsening relations with him, it would be better to show magnanimity here and build a relationship as good neighbors."
Once even André starts providing covering fire, His Majesty and the Prime Minister can no longer put up futile resistance.
"Your Majesty, if relations with Liberta deteriorate, relations with the heroes from other continents will also worsen. If that happens, diplomatic relations with other continental nations will become even more difficult."
As a follow-up, the Duke points out my master-disciple relationship with the other continental heroes, driving home the nail that they should stop being unreasonable.
"......"
Once that point is brought up, even His Majesty cannot say anything more.He could sense from the atmosphere that a reversal was difficult.
"...We grant independence on the premise of several conditions, with the Temple as witness."
After much deliberation, His Majesty ultimately yielded.The conditions were also premised on protecting the kingdom.
To summarize: Do not expand the territory beyond what is initially ceded.Establish an embassy and maintain diplomatic relations.Land inheritance is possible only by my bloodline. Roughly these three things.
His Majesty and the Prime Minister, as a last futile effort, tried to form a military alliance to use me as a force when needed, but knowing I'd be treated as a handy-man, I firmly refused. Then they tried to propose marriage alliances not to me, but to Genjirou or Nell and the others, to enable interference in internal affairs, but I firmly refused those too. In retaliation, I dangled the prospect of increasing this time's monetary reward, and also snagged permission for road maintenance between the two nations to build highways for trade, plus permission to build a port, and a set of permissions for travel to other continents.
"Then, the border shall be as marked on this map.""The Temple will dispatch personnel to the site to erect boundary stones marking the border."
Once a compromise is reached, things proceed smoothly.I can feel a lingering sense of reluctance, but their true desire seems to be avoiding worsening relations with me. The civil officials prepared by Duke Edelgard and the Royal Family's civil officials are deciding the fine details.
After that, it's just a matter of receiving the King's seal and me signing it, and the flow leads to me officially receiving my territory.
Well, just because I receive territory doesn't mean I can do much immediately, but thinking about being able to do what I want is exciting, isn't it?