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124 Bandit
Cleanup and Proposal
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Translator : PolterGlast
As I was proceeding
with the interrogation (appraisal) and sentencing, the total number of
casualties came in.
46 dead, 58 seriously
injured, and 121 captured. We had no casualties. The guards of the Golteo
Trading Company also suffered no damage.
The seriously injured
were being treated just enough to keep them alive, but they would normally have
been killed. There's apparently no custom of treating people who attacked a
lord. Instead, it's considered an act of mercy to kill them and put them out of
their misery.
Also, since it's not a
crime to kill a bandit, it's rare to capture them alive.
This time, if I hadn't
ordered them to be captured, it wouldn't have been strange for all the bandits
to have been killed.
But I think bandits
are a valuable labor force. Putting them in a cage to make them reflect is not
something that's done in this world.
I've also started to
adopt the mindset of this world. I didn't like the slavery system before. I
still don't. However, I think villains should get what's coming to them.
What I dislike is when
innocent people become slaves. When they're sold by their parents because they're
poor. When they're kidnapped and made into slaves. Or when they're made into
slaves by a false accusation, like Anneliese. I think those things are
unforgivable and sad.
But criminals are
different. It's unthinkable to put them in a cage and feed them uselessly like
in my previous life. I think criminals should face the consequences of their
actions.
Especially for serious
criminals, I won't let them off easy, and I have no intention of doing so. I'll
make them work in heavy labor, intending to literally wear them out.
"You're the last
one. The former commander of the Triange Knight Order, Nishuru Ringer."
He's a man who was
originally in charge of maintaining public order in Triange... well, not
really, but he held that position.
"I am a relative of
Count Parton. This humiliation is ugh..."
I slapped Ringer on
his left cheek.
"Don't speak
until I give you permission. Answer my questions with 'yes' or 'no.' Got
it?"
"..."
I slapped his right
cheek this time.
"What's your
answer?"
"...Yes."
He sounded
dissatisfied, but I'm just sick of listening to criminals' insults. I've
interrogated over 100 criminals so far, and I'm fed up.
"I already knew
you weren't doing anything good. That's why I gave you the option to go to
Count Parton and live out the rest of your life quietly. But you foolishly held
a grudge and attacked me. You have disgraced the name of the Parton family. The
Count will be angry."
"..."
"Now, you're
going to the royal capital. The other former knights are the same. I'm handing you
over to the Royal Family."
I have the right to
punish a crime that occurred in my territory. I was attacked and captured him,
so I could punish Ringer myself, but the former knights also committed crimes
when this was a royal direct domain. They embezzled funds from the Royal
Family, diverted supplies, and threatened and injured residents. The only
saving grace was that they didn't commit murder. If they had just lived a quiet
life, they would have been fine.
People who attack
nobles are generally sentenced to death or an indefinite (no-release) 1st-grade
controlled slave sentence. But since the Royal Family was also a victim of
their crimes, I'll leave it to them. Of course, I'll make sure to mention that
they attacked me.
And as Ringer himself
said, he's a relative of Count Parton. I decided to leave the trouble to the
Royal Family.
If I punish him, it
could cause friction. Count Parton would hold a grudge. It's important to
distribute the hate. Banarji taught me that.
But I feel like it's
already too late. That Count Parton is even more of a scumbag than Ringer.
Considering Ringer's actions this time, I have a feeling he'll be targeting me.
By the way, Banarji,
as the magistrate, didn't have the authority to arrest and punish Ringer.
Ringer and Banarji were both appointed by the Royal Family. Ringer was in
charge of the military, and Banarji was in charge of politics. They were on
equal footing and couldn't put each other down.
If they had checked
each other's record cards, they would have noticed Ringer's criminal record.
The Royal Family's record card check system is being implemented sequentially,
starting from the royal capital, then to large cities, and then to small towns
and villages, so it hadn't been introduced in Triange yet.
Then I came in and got
the territory. It feels like the Princess set me up, but the Princess can't
foresee everything, so I'm probably overthinking it.
But they must have
known that the record card check would eventually come. What were Ringer and
the others planning to do then?
It's unlikely that
there are many people who can erase criminal records from record cards, like
the Chief Priest Dandelid. The Holy Forgiver job isn't something that's found
everywhere.
My case is different.
We have Patricia as a Holy Forgiver and Lilith as a Saintess. And I was a Holy
Forgiver myself. I don't know how many high-ranking priests the temples have,
but I wonder if we could put up a good fight? The scale is different, so it's
probably impossible.
Anyway, I'm getting
sidetracked. Here are the results of the recent turmoil. All the former knights
were captured. Their subordinate soldiers were either killed or captured. Some
of the soldiers couldn't refuse the orders, so their sentence has been reduced
by one degree. Still, they will have to work as slaves in a harsh place for
several years.
All the former village
heads were captured, and their subordinates were either killed or captured.
Since Ruineza-san and the others also played an active role, I'll have to give
them a reward. I'll get that from the Royal Family.
Two or three bandits
apparently escaped, but all the leaders were either killed or captured. The
ones who escaped were low-level bandits, but we've sent soldiers into the
mountains to hunt them down. It's only a matter of time before they are dealt
with. I won't forgive criminals. I'll chase down anyone who was part of a
bandit group, even the low-level ones.
Banarji told me that
by showing a strict stance and performance like this to the residents, you can
gain their trust. Banarji is leading the rumor that I annihilated a bandit
group of over 200 people. I think it's a bit cowardly, but since it's just
making what we did public, I'll allow it.
Also, we
simultaneously raided the three hideouts of the Urug Bandit Group. They had a
decent amount of treasure stashed away. Well, defeating the Orichalcum Golem,
the boss of the 9th floor of the Royal Capital Dungeon, would be a lot more
profitable.
***
I traveled to the
royal capital and requested an audience with the Princess.
"...That’s why,
I'd like to hand over the former knights."
The Princess looked
very displeased, but I set everything up for her, so the rest is up to her.
"The fact that
the Royal Family didn't properly manage its retainers is the cause of this turmoil.
I apologize to Viscount Footscythel."
Oh, the Princess
apologized. Her retainers seem quite surprised by that. I thought Doran would
say something, but he didn't.
It seems the Princess
has no intention of being my enemy. I can understand that from her polite
attitude and responses. Doran probably accepted that stance too.
It's only natural for
a person to express gratitude when something is done for them and to apologize
when they do something wrong. I don't think royalty or nobility should ignore
these basic human qualities. This country has been neglecting those things.
Royalty and nobility
can't bow their heads. If they bow, they lose. We have to change this kind of
idiotic common sense.
Anyway, there were 17
former knights, but I'm handing over 9 to the Royal Family this time. Eight of
them died, so I handed over their eight record cards.
The nine I handed over
and the eight who died all have a criminal record.
Now, the Princess will
have to issue a notice to the former knights' relatives and possibly punish
them by association. In particular, since Ringer, the former Knight Commander,
was the mastermind of the crime, his relative, Count Parton, should also be
punished. It all depends on how far the Princess is willing to go.
I also received
compensation from the Golteo Trading Company for the trouble. I'm thinking
about getting compensation for myself, but I'll let it slide since I gained a
large number of disposable laborers.
"I promise you
that their punishment will be severe."
"Since I've
handed them over, I won't interfere from here on. Please do as you see fit,
Princess."
"Your words make
it most difficult."
The dark circles under
her eyes seem to have cleared up a lot, but this situation will probably bring
them back. It's not my fault. They were criminals from when the Royal Family
governed the territory.
"Oh, that's
right. I had two things I wanted to ask you."
"What are
they?"
You don't have to be
so on guard. I'm not your enemy, Princess.
The first thing was
about growing cotton and the industrialization of cotton weaving. Since this
isn't a protected industry throughout the entire Oda Kingdom, it's apparently
not a problem to produce cotton in Triange.
It's apparently only a
protected industry in the ducal territories.
I asked my second
question.
"Does the Royal
Family know the job change conditions for a priest?"
"...Why do you
ask?"
A furrowed brow! I can
tell she's very on guard by the depth of that wrinkle. Your cute face is being
ruined, Princess.
"Oh, no. I just
happened to have the opportunity to learn the job change conditions for a
priest, and I thought I'd offer the information if the Royal Family doesn't
know it."
"...You really
know the job change conditions for a priest? The temples are very strict about
keeping that information from being leaked."
It seems that the
conditions for special jobs are very strictly managed by each family and
organization. If a family keeps the conditions for a powerful job a secret,
they can gain an advantage over other families.
"Yeah. I just
happened to find out, and I was wondering if I should make it public.
Hahahaha."
Since the temples are
so strict about managing the job change conditions for priests, they would be
troubled if I made it public.
If you keep the
information on a job like a priest, which can use healing skills that are in
high demand and can change other people's jobs, a secret, you can make a huge
profit. It feels like they're saying, "We can't be stopped, can we?"
There are several
conditions for changing jobs to a priest.
·
Pray for 500 days straight.
·
As a Villager, defeat 100 monsters with bare hands
alone.
·
As a Villager, defeat 10 monsters of a higher level
than oneself in under 3 hours alone. The use of weapons is permitted.
If you clear one of
these, you can change jobs. There might be others, but I don't know them right
now.
Praying for 500 days
straight is a form of asceticism. It's likely that most priests change jobs by
clearing the second or third condition.
If you have good
weapons and armor, the third one is the fastest. We're also using this
condition to have people change jobs.
"There's no
temple in our territory."
"Don't tell me...
are you changing jobs outside of the temple?"
"Not just
changing jobs. I'm also planning to perform treatments."
Even though the taxes
are being collected, the people are still too poor. I think that's a result of
the nobles' negligence. If I say that out loud, not only the nobles but also
the Royal Family will become my enemies. I'm not saying it out loud for that
reason, but I think administrative services should be improved.
"The temples will
become your enemies."
"That's where
this information comes in."
"...I see. Even
if the temples become your enemies, it's not a problem if you can secure priests."
Exactly. The problems
that would arise from making the temples my enemies are job changes and
treatments.
Treatments overlap
with potions, but high-level priests can perform a wider range of treatments.
Job changes are a
complete monopoly of the temples, and they demand 20,000 Grill for one job
change. The temples are making a ridiculous amount of money.
"It's a great
help that you understand so quickly, Princess. In my territory, not just job
changes, but also treatments are very inconvenient. The priests tell the sick
and injured to come to the temple, but some people can't move. Moreover, the
donations they demand in exchange for treatment are very high, and many people
die without being able to receive treatment. Don't you think priests are
arrogant and greedy? Don't you think it's very uneconomical to rely on such
priests?"
The Princess's
retainers looked very troubled when they heard my words. They must be thinking
I've brought them a new problem.
"I cannot give
you an immediate answer to that. Could you give me some time?"
"That's fine, but
we already have many priests in our employ."
"You already have
people who have changed to the priest job...? That's fast."
"I'm the kind of
person who likes to act first and think later."
The Princess started
rubbing her temples. Don't think of it as such a hassle.
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