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039 An
Honorary Baron
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Translator : PolterGlast
It was the 18th day
since my reincarnation. Before me stood Zaigen, the Steward of the Ducal House,
with a stern frown and sharp gaze. Beside him was Barukan, the Knight Commander
of the Ducal House, a man so terrifying that even the most heinous bandits
would flee barefoot. I understood Zaigen, but why was Barukan here too?
"First, you must
understand what an Honorary Baron is. An honorary noble title is granted for
one generation only. Therefore, it will not be inherited by your
descendants," Zaigen explained. I didn't even want a noble title myself,
though.
Zaigen, with his dull
golden hair mixed with gray, placed a stack of papers about 20 centimeters thick
on the table with a plop. "You will take this home and read through all of
it, but I will explain only the important points here." Read all of this?!
It's 20 centimeters thick! I don't even read the flimsy instruction manuals for
games... The only saving grace was that the papers were thick, like parchment.
I hoped there weren't 100 pages.
"As a title, it
carries the same authority and responsibilities as a Baron," he continued.
Authority and responsibilities... It's an exaggerated expression, but if he
says so, it must involve something troublesome.
"In times of
emergency for the Ducal House, you are to immediately rush to our aid, no
matter what."
"What kind of
emergencies are we talking about?" I asked.
"War, large-scale
bandit subjugations, and so on. Also, the Great Council is held regularly twice
a year, so the schedule is set in advance." I wanted to ask about the
contents of that Great Council.
"The Great
Council held at the beginning of the year is where His Excellency the Duke
presents an overview of the past year for the Ducal House and the new policies
for the coming year." What difficult-sounding content. Even if I attend
something like that, I can't do anything.
"The Great
Council held from late summer to early autumn is like an interim report. All
nobles serving the Ducal House are obligated to attend these."
"Will I just be
listening to His Excellency's announcements?" I asked.
"At the Great
Council to be held at the beginning of next year, you will be introduced as a
new noble." Ugh, seriously? I can't do a self-introduction. I'm Toi,
reincarnated from another world! There's no way I can say that!
"After your
self-introduction, you do not need to speak unless your opinion is
requested." So, if my opinion is requested, I have to speak! I have a bad
feeling that my opinion will be requested.
"The rest are
matters that occur irregularly, which we will contact you about at that
time."
"Um, can I still
continue my activities as an explorer?" I asked. If I couldn't level up in
the dungeon, I'd flat-out refuse this.
"Currently,
Master Toi has no official position, so there is no problem," Zaigen
replied.
I accepted it because
it felt forced, but the Duke's side seemed to have researched me thoroughly. I
could have escaped, but with this much information known about me, it would be
difficult, if not impossible.
If I ran, I wouldn't
be able to live in this country, at least. I could escape to another country,
but that would be a last resort. I'll endure what I can, and if I can't, I'll
either escape or corner the Duke. Until then, I'll gather the power to corner
him.
Fortunately, it seems
I can still enter the dungeon, so I can level up. I want to raise my Assassin
level and become undetectable to Barukan, let alone the Duke. I'll need to
raise my level considerably, but for now, there doesn't seem to be any real
harm, so it's fine.
"As an Honorary
Baron, you will receive an annual stipend of 12,000,000 Grill. If you take on a
post, you will also receive an allowance for that position." 12,000,000
Grill is 120,000,000 yen, huh? I can get that much just for attending the Great
Council twice? Nobles are amazing.
"Normally, we
arrange a mansion for you, but we will arrange to purchase the mansion you
currently reside in and bestow it upon you. Is that acceptable?"
"A mansion... is
that really okay?" From his tone, I knew he'd researched a lot, but he
even knew the location of my mansion. And that it's a rental. Just how much has
he researched about me?
"We do the same
for other noble houses, so there is no problem. Furthermore, the scale of the
mansion you reside in is appropriate for a Baron. However, if you wish to
purchase another mansion, you must do so yourself. The Ducal House will provide
only one residence." You normally wouldn't ask for money to buy a vacation
home, would you?
"The stipend is
paid in a lump sum at the beginning of each year. A Baron receives 12,000,000
Grill annually, but since only two months remain this year, we will provide a
pro-rated 2,000,000 Grill and an additional 1,000,000 Grill as a preparation
fund." A leather pouch containing 3,000,000 Grill, combining the 2,000,000
Grill for the remaining two months (as one year is 12 months in this world,
making the monthly stipend 1,000,000 Grill) and the 1,000,000 Grill preparation
fund, was placed on the table.
Once I took it, there
was no turning back. I had no intention of fleeing unless the Duke made an
unreasonable demand, but I felt like I was now tied to him. I suppose the
Duke's goal was to tie me to him.
"You will be
responsible for covering the stipends of the servants, knights, and soldiers
you hire. A Baron is obligated to employ at least one knight and five
soldiers." Servants are one thing, but hiring knights and soldiers? This
is the first I've heard of it!
"Master Toi is an
explorer, and it seems you have come from another land, so you likely have few
acquaintances. If necessary, we can introduce knights and soldiers. I do not
demand an immediate decision. Please endeavor to hire them within this
year." Hire a knight and soldiers within two months? Maybe I should accept
his introductions... No, first, I'll go home and consult Mondark. Mondark said
he served a noble family, so he should know about these things.
"You must
thoroughly read and understand the detailed documents, but first, decide on a
family name within 10 days."
"A family
name...?" I asked.
"A noble requires
a family name. And a crest. The crest must be designed so that it is not
already in use elsewhere. Come back here tomorrow morning. I will introduce you
to the herald."
A silver medal, like
an Olympic silver medal, was placed on the table. "This is a medal proving
your status as a vassal of the Gardland Ducal House. Present it anywhere, and
you can prove you are an Honorary Baron under the Duke of Gardland. If you lose
it, you will face not only the forfeiture of your title but also severe
punishment. Keep it on your person at all times." My heart leaped with
excitement at the thought of losing the title, but then I heard about the
additional punishment. Tch.
"Finally...
nobles are granted privileges, but that does not mean you are free to commit
crimes. On the contrary, you will be punished more severely. Because you hold
privileges, you must set an example for commoners. Never forget that." I
had no intention of becoming a criminal. In this world, criminal records are
easily confirmed with record cards. Criminals have to live their entire lives
as criminals.
Since the topic of
privileges came up, I'd check about that one thing. I wondered if I could release
a controlled slave using noble privileges. Nobles were supposed to set the
sentence duration. If so, could the sentence duration be reduced?
"Do you have any
questions?" Zaigen asked.
"Can controlled
slaves be released?" I asked. At that question, Zaigen's frown deepened.
Don't look at me so disdainfully. I'm not going to release trash.
"Unless they are
serious criminals, release is possible if Master Toi guarantees their future
conduct."
"Serious
criminals...?"
"In terms of
rank, they are 1st and 2nd-class criminals. This means 3rd-class and lower
criminals can be released." Anneliese was a 2nd-class criminal, I
recalled. It was an accident, but the extensive damage was unfortunate. It was
a privilege with so few uses, yet I couldn't use it to free her, which was very
disappointing. I thought I'd settle for releasing Anneliese, but I ended up
receiving something useless...
"Your Mage slave
was a controlled slave, wasn't she?" Zaigen asked.
"Yes. She
received a curse in the dungeon and caused an accident while researching how to
lift it. I thought there was room for leniency," I explained.
"Oh, a curse...
What kind of curse was it?"
"A curse that
adds 300 years to one's age. She survived because she is a Half-Elf, but a
Human would have died the moment they were cursed," I elaborated.
"I see... 300
years, huh..." Zaigen muttered, lost in thought.
Never mind that, is
Barukan not going to say anything? Is he just going to stand there doing
nothing? Barukan just stared intently at my face. I'm not interested in that
kind of thing.
"Hmm. I will
convey that matter to His Excellency the Duke."
"Eh!?" I
exclaimed.
"If the curse was
the cause, leniency can be considered. However, it may not be acceptable to the
victims, so I do not know what judgment His Excellency the Duke will
make." So there's still a possibility of her being freed from slavery,
right? That means there's hope!
"Oh, speaking of
slaves, it's about Shardina," Zaigen said. Shardina, that old hag. What
about her?
"Shardina has
been sent to the mines as a 1st-class controlled slave." Shardina's
criminal record was a parade of crimes. Murder, fraud, robbery, arson—you name
it. And even though she was a woman, there was even rape. Even for someone like
Shardina, it wasn't the death penalty.
"The judgment was
that sending her to the mines would inflict prolonged suffering," Zaigen
explained. So, working her to death in a harsh labor environment, huh? It was
her just desserts, karma.
"Why are you
telling me this?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"Hmph. No
particular reason," Zaigen replied. His explanation was over. Now, why was
Barukan here?
"Is there
anything from Commander Barukan?" Zaigen asked.
"Tomorrow, after
you decide on your crest, to the training grounds," Barukan stated.
"As I told His
Excellency the Duke, I cannot fight," I reiterated.
"Nonsense. You
will come, without fail," Barukan retorted, his massive frame standing up
and leaving the room. I was dumbfounded. Was I going to die tomorrow?
"Truly, Commander
Barukan is a troublesome one..." Zaigen sighed.
"Do I have to
go?" I asked. Zaigen pressed his temples, then looked at me. Don't build
up the suspense; I'm about to have a heart attack from worry.
"If you don't go,
I believe he will come to your mansion," Zaigen warned.
"...I'd rather he
didn't," I mumbled. I wondered if I should just escape tonight.
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