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147 The Shadow
of the Liver Empire
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Translator : PolterGlast
Gandarvan, holding
Alysha and putting his arm around Reilin's shoulders, had a huge smile on his
face. He was laughing with tears streaming down his face. I wonder if I would
be like that if someone were to kidnap Anneliese.
"Viscount
Footscythel. I am grateful for your help in dealing with the bandits."
Baron Ildeen bowed
deeply.
"It was just a
coincidence, but I'm glad we were able to help the person who was
kidnapped."
"This is all
thanks to Viscount Footscythel."
Baron Ildeen, who is
46 years old and about the same age as my father, bowed his head many times.
Despite being a noble, he is a humble person.
"I will ask
Princess Ermelda in the royal capital for her support in the reconstruction of
Tolg. This is a token of my sympathy from me."
I handed Baron Ildeen
500 million Grille.
"This
much!?"
"This is also a
token of my gratitude for you taking care of Gandarvan's wife and child. Please
accept it without hesitation."
"I, Ruud Ildeen!
I will pass on the kindness I have received from Viscount Footscythel to my
descendants for generations to come!"
You don't have to be
so dramatic...
Now, the next thing is
what to do with the bandits. They are people who deserve to be killed, but I
was curious about them, so I had some of them captured. About 500 bandits died,
but a little over 100 were captured alive. I handed these 100 people over to
Baron Ildeen, so they will probably be worked to death as criminal slaves.
Among those bandits, there was someone I was curious about.
"Baron Ildeen. I
feel that there is something strange about the way some of the bandits
speak."
"What do you
mean?"
"Gandarvan told
me that there might be some people from the Liver Empire among the
bandits."
"What!?"
Gandarvan and his wife
Reilin are originally from the Liver Empire. Reilin noticed that some of the
bandits were using the dialect of the Liver Empire. My Detailed Appraisal also
confirmed that some of the bandits were spies of the Liver Empire. I thought
they were incompetent spies. They should have practiced their dialect. What a
bunch of idiots.
I kept quiet about my
Detailed Appraisal but explained to Baron Ildeen that Reilin had heard them
speaking in a different dialect. The surprised Baron Ildeen immediately sent a
messenger to Duke Bentnas, who governs the nearby city of Moritia, and had him
lend him an appraiser. Since Baron Ildeen is a vassal of Duke Bentnas, he is
the one he should rely on in times like this.
"These people are
indeed from the Liver Empire."
"Hmm. This is a
serious matter. I will contact Duke Bentnas and the royal capital
immediately."
Baron Ildeen was
greatly flustered, but he regained his composure and did what he had to do.
"Immediately make
them slaves and find out who is behind them! Berlud! Summon a slave
merchant!"
The bandits had gags
in their mouths and were tied up so they couldn't commit suicide. We should be
able to interrogate them right away if they're made into slaves.
***
A few days later, we
extracted information from the Liver Empire spies who had been made slaves.
Their objective was to cause chaos in Tolg and Moritia when the Liver Empire
invaded the Oda Kingdom. They attacked Tolg this time to satisfy the bandits
they had gathered.
The Liver Empire is an
enemy country that borders the Oda Kingdom to the north. It had been quiet for
a while, but it seems they will be invading soon. The region where Tolg is
located is in the central part of the Oda Kingdom, and if it is in chaos when
the Liver Empire invades, it will be impossible to transport supplies from the
royal capital. Furthermore, it would be difficult for Duke Bentnas, who governs
Moritia, to send reinforcements. They must have wanted to cause chaos in this
area for those reasons.
"I'm going back
to the royal capital. We can't be sure that there aren't any other Liver Empire
spies. Please be on high alert."
"Of course. I am
truly grateful to Viscount Footscythel."
The gratitude is
enough. Please focus on rebuilding Tolg.
***
I went to Tolg by
passing through the Moritia dungeon, but I haven't greeted Duke Bentnas yet. I
was planning to sneak back and forth, but I guess I can't do that. It's a
hassle, but I'll have to greet Duke Bentnas.
"Gandarvan, take
Reilin and Alysha and go back first."
"No,
that's..."
"Gandarvan.
That's an order. Jonaminus. Please take Gandarvan and the others to Triange via
the royal capital."
The Dungeon Move skill
allows you to travel between dungeons. It requires a lot of magic power, and
the farther the distance, the more magic power it consumes. I can travel from
Moritia to Triange in an instant, but Jonaminus' magic power isn't enough for
that. So they'll have to go back to Triange via the royal capital.
"Understood."
"Your
Excellency... Thank you."
Gandarvan and Reilin
bowed deeply. Alysha seemed not to understand and was waving at me happily.
Children are so cute.
***
"Welcome, Gardland's
prized child."
Huh? What's with that
nickname? Who is the Gardland's prized child? Are you kidding me?
"His Grace Duke
Bentnas-"
"You can skip the
formalities. More importantly, I thank you for the bandit matter."
Duke Bentnas is a wolf
beastman who looks like a combination of Gandarvan and Barukan. He's a big guy.
The hand I shook clearly had sword calluses. You'd think, He's a Duke, but then
I realized this person was a Sword King, Level 34. The same as Barbatos, the
Royal Knight Commander. But he smelled more like Barukan than Barbatos. What a
muscle-brain!
"No, I just
happened to be passing by..."
"Hahaha. Just a
coincidence, huh? Well, that's fine. I'll take your word for it."
He must have decided
it would be better to take my word for it than to blame me for not greeting him
on my way here.
"I've heard about
the Liver Empire spies. I will immediately move my army to deal with the bandits
in this area. You can leave the rest to me!"
"Ah, yes. Thank
you."
I wasn't planning on
doing anything more, so this is perfect. I'll leave it to the motivated Duke
Bentnas.
That day, he hosted a
banquet to welcome us. Duke Bentnas can drink a lot, but not as much as the
dwarf Bacchus. But he couldn't beat me, who has the Heavy Drinker job at Level
23. Hehehe. I made him pass out!
The next morning, I
thanked the pale-faced Duke Bentnas for his hospitality.
"Toi, are you a
monster...?"
"Don't say something
so rude."
"To have such a
cute face and be such a heavy drinker..."
My face and my ability
to drink have nothing to do with each other.
"I won't lose
next time."
"If it's a
drinking contest, Viscount Bacchus is stronger than me."
"What!? There's
someone stronger than you!?"
"He's my drinking
master."
Bacchus, I'm sorry for
making you my master without your permission.
"Hmm. Then I will
defeat that Bacchus, too!"
"I don't think
you can."
"What are you
talking about?! I will win if I say I will!"
Yeah, right. But I was
able to change his target from me to Bacchus. Hehehe.
***
I left Moritia, used
the Stealth skill from my Assassin job to hide everyone, and entered the
Moritia dungeon. Once we were inside the dungeon, we used Dungeon Move to
travel to the royal capital dungeon and then snuck into the mansion.
"Welcome
back."
"Yeah, I'm back.
Did anything happen in the royal capital, Enrique?"
"No. Nothing in
particular has happened in the royal capital."
"I want to see
the Princess. Can you send a messenger?"
"Understood."
I have to report to
the Princess, or I don't know what she'll say to me later.
"To think that
the Liver Empire would use spies to incite bandits in central Tolg... There may
be other Liver Empire spies infiltrating not only around Tolg but also
elsewhere, so we'll take action on that as well."
The dark circles under
the Princess's eyes, which she's hiding with thick makeup, seem like they're
going to get even darker. It's a little sad that her beautiful face is being
ruined by dark circles from the burden of being a regent. It's her duty as a
member of the royal family, but still...
"Viscount
Footscythel, you have achieved another great feat."
"I don't think so
at all!"
What are you talking
about? I don't need a reward.
"Hehehe. You
don't have to be so flustered. I'd like to promote you to count, but I know you
don't wish for that."
I'll just laugh it
off.
"However, this
matter has made the Liver Empire's intention to invade clear. We may have to
rely on Viscount Footscythel again. I'm counting on you when that time
comes."
"I'll do my
best."
My wedding is coming
up soon. I don't want to fight a war! But I've grown to like this country. I
can't just stand by and let it be invaded.
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