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091 I Proposed
to the Princess that the Knight Order be Strengthened
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Translator : PolterGlast
The next day, I got
ready and went to the castle with Anneliese, Rosalina, and Jojok. Leaving the
three in the waiting room, I headed to the Princess's chambers alone. As usual,
many officials were waiting in line in the waiting room outside the Princess's
chambers. I felt exasperated at the thought of having to wait in line myself.
"Baron
Footscythel. Please enter," a voice called. Huh, is it okay to skip the waiting
line? I entered the Princess's office, glared at by the officials. I hadn't
skipped the line by my own will, so they didn't have to glare so much.
"Your Royal
Highness. It has been a while," I said, performing the noble bow I hadn't
done in ages. It was a good thing I practiced the proper bowing etiquette;
otherwise, I wouldn't have done a noble bow (laughs).
"It has been a
while, Baron Footscythel," the Princess replied. She was hiding it with
makeup, but the dark circles under her eyes were still there. She still seemed
to be having busy days.
Now, there were
knights guarding the Princess in this room, and among them was that obsessed
appraiser. Was he going to appraise me? Well, it was fine; there was nothing to
hide from an appraisal.
"The reason I
summoned you today is regarding your dungeon exploration. Could you tell me how
much progress you've made?" the Princess asked. What, it's about dungeon
exploration? I was called for no apparent reason, so I'd been reviewing all my
actions. If only she had said so earlier.
"Yes. We have
conquered the 8th floor and just entered the 9th floor," I replied.
"My, you've made
so much progress already. I thought Baron Footscythel was excellent, but you
exceed even my imagination," the Princess praised. No amount of praise
will get anything out of me.
Besides, she probably
called me because she heard I exchanged a large quantity of 8th-floor monster
materials for money. The Princess must be concerned about the progress of the
royal capital dungeon, so she must have such an intelligence network.
"At this rate,
thinning out the 1,000 monsters on the 10th floor won't take long, will
it?" she asked with a pleasant smile. I don't know if it will be quick.
Not just the monsters, but if the 9th and 10th floors become difficult terrain
to explore, our progress speed will drop drastically.
"I will strive to
meet your expectations," I replied safely. I guess I've matured a bit.
"By the way,
Baron Footscythel. I hear you purchased a mansion in the royal capital,"
the Princess commented. She hears things quickly. Of course, she'd know, an
envoy came.
"Yes. I felt bad
always staying at the Duke's mansion, so I purchased a humble abode," I
replied.
"I heard it was a
mansion in the commoner district, but if you had told me, I would have prepared
a mansion for you," the Princess said. I would absolutely hate that. And
if I did, the Duke would probably grumble, and I don't want to be tied to the
Princess.
"And you're
having children collect garbage?" she asked. Hm, how did she know that?
"I heard you're
feeding children who collect garbage. What is your intention?" Her gaze
was sharp. Even the Princess can look like that.
Now, what would be the
best answer? Should I sarcastically say the royal family doesn't do it, so I'm
doing charity work? Or is it a beautification project for the royal capital?
Well, I'll just be
honest and say it's a pretext to feed the children.
"There are many
children in the royal capital who cannot eat properly. It's easy to feed them,
but then they might misunderstand that they can get food without doing
anything."
"So, you're
having them collect garbage and giving them food as compensation, is that what
you mean?" the Princess asked.
"Yes," I
confirmed. The Princess placed her hand on her chin, deep in thought.
"Baron
Footscythel. That is somewhat disrespectful to the royal family," Doren, a
close aide to the Princess, glared at me. What does he mean by that?
"Did I say
anything rude? I am originally a commoner, so I am unfamiliar with proper
etiquette. I would be grateful if you could overlook some things," I
replied.
"We are not
talking about etiquette, sir," Doren countered. He said
"disrespectful," so I thought it was about etiquette. Then what is
it?
"From Baron
Footscythel's words just now, it sounds as if the royal family is doing nothing
to help the children," Doren pressed. Oh, so that's what it is. The royal
family not doing anything is a fact, isn't it? If they don't like being told,
they should just do something about it so they don't get told.
"Are they doing
nothing at all? That won't do, will it?" I asked. I'm still a child for
getting drawn into an argument like that.
"We operate
facilities that gather and raise orphans, sir," Doren said.
"And?" I
asked.
"...And
what?" Doren stammered.
"Is having
facilities enough?" I pressed.
"The royal family
is taking measures—" Doren started.
"Have the number
of children starving or freezing to death dropped to zero?" I asked.
"No... that
is..." Doren trailed off. Don't stammer. You're the one who exaggerated
this conversation. Take responsibility and try to win this argument against me.
"Since the noble
family and royal family can't do everything, I have no particular thoughts
about the royal family," I stated. That's a lie. I think they should try a
little harder with their measures. However, I also understood that every
country has limits to what it can do. If you hadn't exaggerated, the Princess
would have just ignored it and it would have ended. Understand?
"Therefore, I am
merely teaching the children the meaning of work by feeding them within my
reach. What is disrespectful about that? If you call that disrespectful, then
I'd like you to save all the children first," I concluded.
"Guh..."
Doren groaned.
"Baron
Footscythel. That's enough," the Princess interjected, cutting off the
conversation.
"Baron
Footscythel is merely offering a helping hand to children who have fallen
through the cracks of the royal family's policies. We should thank Baron
Footscythel, and never complain to him. Understood, Doren?" the Princess
stated.
"Understood! My
apologies!" Doren replied. Who is that apology directed at? Oh well, I
can't save everyone either.
"Baron
Footscythel. The royal family will also provide some financial
assistance," the Princess offered. It's not a large amount, so I don't
mind. If they're going to use money for that, there are better uses, so could
they use it for those instead?
"Your Royal
Highness, I have a suggestion," I said.
"What is
it?" she asked.
"This is merely a
suggestion, so it's fine if it's rejected," I clarified.
"Let's hear
it," she replied.
"Regardless of
whether they have parents or not, how about gathering poor children and
training them? We know the job change conditions for Swordsmen, Lancers,
Bowmen, and other jobs to some extent. Poaching explorers is fine, but I think
training soldiers internally would lead to a stronger Knight Order, and if
there are children who can study, they could even become bureaucrats."
"That's an
attractive proposal, but there are issues with the budget and so on," the
Princess mused. You just said you'd provide financial assistance! Though what
I'm doing would probably require much more funding.
"I won't mind if
it doesn't happen," I stated. If I don't expect anything from the start, I
won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen.
***
▽▽▽ Side Ermelda ▽▽▽
After seeing Baron
Footscythel leave the room, I turned my gaze to Samdaal, the appraiser. Samdaal
is the best appraiser not only in this country but in others as well. There is
no one he cannot appraise.
I thought it might be
rude to Baron Footscythel, but I had him appraised. I heard his job was Sword
Master. He actually used a sword to overwhelm Sir Akaba and the others.
As a ruler of this
country, it is unavoidable to know the secret of Baron Footscythel's strength,
who reached the 8th floor of the Jores Labyrinth—commonly known as the royal
capital dungeon—in such a short period. It's truly a karmic position to be a
ruler, having to do such things.
Moreover, I believe
Baron Footscythel possessed a unique skill. Even as a Sword Master, it should
be difficult to reach the 8th floor in such a short time. Even if his
subordinates were excellent, they shouldn't have reached the 8th floor that
easily. That's why I thought he possessed a unique skill.
"How was
it?" I asked Samdaal.
"Y-yes..."
Samdaal's complexion was not good. What was wrong?
"What is it?
Report quickly," I urged.
"Baron
Footscythel's job is Heroic Sword Master," Samdaal replied.
"Heroic... Sword
Master...? Are you certain?" I asked. Jobs with 'Hero' in their name are
the strongest, on par with Heroes. And with 'Sword Master,' it suggests he is a
swordsman so skilled that no one surpasses him.
"Yes, it is
indeed Heroic Sword Master. His level was 35," Samdaal confirmed.
"Level 35, you
say? That seems a bit low to conquer the 8th floor... How were his skills? Did
he possess any unique skills?" I inquired.
"His skills were
all those of a Heroic Sword Master, and he did not possess any unique
skills," Samdaal replied.
"He doesn't
possess any unique skills... Are you sure about that?" I pressed.
"I confirmed
multiple times. There is no mistake," Samdaal affirmed.
I had thought he
possessed a unique skill, but it seemed my intuition was wrong. However, his
job is Heroic Sword Master, not Sword Master. Hm, that's strange. If he had
changed to such a job, I would have heard about it. Could he possibly have some
connection to the temple? However, my investigations around Baron Footscythel
revealed no connection to the temple whatsoever.
"Does Baron
Footscythel have a priest among his subordinates?" I blurted out. If so,
the temple certainly wouldn't stay silent. When one changes jobs at a temple,
those who become priests are forcibly affiliated with the temple.
However, there's a
possibility that a priest might have gone into the city during the Chief Priest
incident. If Baron Footscythel were sheltering an escaped priest and that
priest had changed jobs, it would make sense that I wouldn't have received any
information. No, that wouldn't explain his Level 35. It hasn't been that long
since that incident, so Level 35 is impossible. Then, Baron Footscythel must
have changed to Heroic Sword Master quite some time ago. Could Duke Gardland
have hidden that? I must investigate. Sigh... Problems keep arising one after
another. When will I ever be able to sleep peacefully?
I wish to have a
friendly relationship with Baron Footscythel, but he has too many mysteries.
Until I can determine that those mysteries are not dangerous to the royal
family, I must remain vigilant. Being a regent is such a karmic job.
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