Ch.113113. Apartment Subscription Rights

Since infiltrating the Empire and beginning her operation, Iclit had strictly adhered to certain rules.

First. Target estates far from the imperial capital, specifically villages rather than main castles.

Second. Avoid remote villages where people might not know the Hero had changed, and focus on visiting moderately sized settlements.

Third. Don’t get greedy, and never stay in one place for more than a day.

These weren’t rules imposed by anyone else—Iclit had established them herself to maximize damage to the Empire and the Hero while ensuring her own safety.

Since this was her own operation, there was no one to criticize her approach.

‘Well, I don’t need to risk my life anymore.’

Her attitude had become quite relaxed compared to the days when she risked her life infiltrating the imperial capital to purchase Cordana.

Yet her efficiency had actually improved.

She was no longer a mere low-ranking demon but officially a member of the Tetrad.

More precisely, she was one of the two new Tetrad members empowered by the Demon God’s grace (though one had died), commanding all demons under the Demon Lord’s forces.

Even now, several demons accompanied her.

Demons disguised as knights and maids. Though not dressed extravagantly, their exceptional appearances made them look exactly like a noble lady and her attendants.

Their appearance was bound to stand out, but they remained surprisingly inconspicuous while traveling. Since becoming a Tetrad member, Iclit’s disguise skills had reached the pinnacle of sophistication, and her subordinates carried magical items that hindered perception.

While a truly exceptional mage or cleric might suspect their identities, none of the demons worried about such things.

“There’s no way such a mage would be in the countryside.”

“Of course, Lady Iclit. I think we’re being overly cautious.”

“Better safe than sorry. Humans have this peculiar trait. There’s always some knight or mage who settles in the countryside for no apparent reason, just passing time.”

“But now you can handle most humans easily, Lady Iclit.”

“Still, no need to create unnecessary trouble.”

Indeed, Iclit now possessed power equivalent to that of a high-ranking demon.

Though insignificant compared to the other Tetrad members Bynessa and Leoneo, she was still a Tetrad member. There was no chance of her being pathetically defeated in the countryside.

‘But fighting isn’t my role. I can’t die right after becoming a Tetrad member like someone else did.’

Iclit decided to stay true to her identity.

Shortly after, Iclit’s group arrived at a village belonging to “Viscount Weiden’s territory”—a place receiving little attention as its lord was in a dazed state.

It was a sizeable village with about 300 households.

There were wealthy farmers with multiple livestock, and the village chief owned considerable land. As this village served as a breadbasket for the viscount’s territory, damaging it would impact the entire estate.

Iclit immediately set her subordinates to work.

***

The process was simple.

“Please gather the residents in one place. You may decline if it’s inconvenient, but if you don’t want to miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it would be best to gather.”

She visited the village chief and instructed him to gather the residents at the village hall.

“Hello? I am Karen, the eldest daughter of the Ortear family. I currently serve in the Court Mage Corps.”

After presenting her convincingly forged identity to the blinking, naive farmers, she captured their attention with dazzling magic.

“Oh, I haven’t mentioned this yet? Actually, I’m acting on behalf of ‘Hero’ Count Erick Wellesley.”

Invoking the Hero Count’s name drew gasps from the crowd. Everything proceeded smoothly—this wasn’t her first time doing this.

The commoners gathered at the hall were already murmuring among themselves.

“Court mage? Such a distinguished person… and on the Hero’s behalf?”

“She’s beautiful, truly beautiful.”

Hearing this, Iclit smiled sweetly and produced a “certificate of rights.”

Not a shabby piece of paper, but a gleaming scroll rolled up on a rod—a document that looked legitimate to anyone.

Everyone’s eyes fixed on the certificate.

“This is a certificate of rights personally signed by the Hero.”

“Certificate… of rights?”

“As you may know, the Hero has amassed enough wealth to build mountains of gold. With that money, he’s constructing a magnificent castle in his territory. It’s nearly complete now… But sadly, there aren’t enough residents to live in that castle.”

At the mention of a “castle,” people’s eyes began darting about excitedly.

Village residents often admired the main castle where the lord resided.

Protected by castle walls, they wouldn’t have to worry about monsters, and the living conditions were incomparably better than in villages.

And to think it was a castle ruled by the Hero Count! Some farmers were already rising from their seats with excited expressions.

‘They’re already taking the bait.’

For farmers who had lived modest lives, it was difficult to imagine how prosperous the Hero’s territory might be. Iclit decided to fill in the gaps in their poor imagination.

“In every house within the Hero Count’s castle, you can use clean water whenever and however much you want. Each home has its own water supply—essentially imperial capital standards.”

“My goodness. In every house? That’s impossible…!”

“And that’s not all! Multi-combustion chamber stoves… oh, you might not know what that is. Anyway, you won’t have to worry about heating. You can even bathe in hot water every day.”

“Wow, I’m speechless.”

“And you might not believe this, but you can buy unsalted fish or meat at affordable prices anytime. Thanks to preservation magic and cold magic… Has anyone here ever eaten fresh fish instead of salted fish?”

“…No.”

“With this certificate, you can receive a house in the Hero Count’s castle. You can also get farmland or a job according to your preference.”

People’s expressions were becoming increasingly dreamy.

Perfect security, spacious homes, clean environment, shops filled with various goods.

This was a life that even the village chief couldn’t dream of in the countryside.

Even Iclit occasionally thought, “Isn’t this too exaggerated?” while speaking. She had never even visited Wellesley County. She was just making things up.

‘Well, I won’t get caught anyway.’

The Hero’s reputation lent credibility to these outrageous exaggerations.

In reality, it hadn’t been long since the Hero had been promoted to lord, and while Wellesley County was developing, it was still average in size—but these weren’t considerations for the villagers.

They simply assumed the Hero had magically created everything with the help of mages and dwarves.

However, the cheers didn’t last forever.

The people gathered here may have lacked education, but they had honed their survival instincts over decades.

Everyone knew that nobles wouldn’t show kindness to commoners, especially those with no connections.

Indeed, as the excitement subsided, one man—a middle-aged laborer who had worked for the lord’s merchant group—expressed his doubts.

“But, Lady Mage?”

“Yes. Speak.”

“Why would the Hero show kindness to ignorant folks like us? …Of course, I know this Hero isn’t sent by the Goddess, but, well, how should I put it… anyway, he’s still a noble, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. A proud count of the Empire. Even before becoming the Hero.”

“Then why would he accept us…? Is it because he lacks people to farm? If so, he could just bring people from neighboring territories.”

As this very reasonable question was raised, the faces of people who had been lost in fantasy suddenly grew somber. Their expressions seemed to say, “Such luck is not for me.” The hope that had visited these labor-worn commoners was fading like a momentary glimmer.

But Iclit wasn’t flustered at all. She had anticipated such questions.

Not because she had any foresight, but because the same situation had repeated itself in villages she had previously manipulated.

Iclit spoke with a natural smile.

“Yes. It’s understandable that you’re suspicious. But the Hero isn’t showing kindness without reason.”

“Then why?”

“Actually, the Hero comes from a commoner background. Even now as a noble, he has special concern for commoners… especially farmers who till the land. That’s because the Hero himself grew up as the son of a poor farmer.”

“Oh. Really…? Come to think of it, I might have heard something like that from an adventurer.”

“It’s the absolute truth. His dream was to support his family through swordsmanship, but sadly, he failed. All his family members died before he became a knight… That’s often the life of commoners living outside castle walls.”

Everyone expressed their amazement at this revelation.

In fact, 90 percent of Iclit’s words were true. This was common knowledge among commoners in the imperial capital and surrounding direct territories.

There was no better subject to gossip about in workplaces, restaurants, and taverns than Erick Wellesley.

But it was more than enough to deceive rural farmers with limited information. They all seemed eager to go to the Hero Count’s territory.

Now it was time for the main point.

Iclit spoke gravely.

“Everyone, I wish I could give this certificate to all of you.”

“…Ah.”

“But think about it. This is territory governed by none other than the Hero. You’re not just moving there to enjoy better conditions—you need to show your determination to be worthy residents of the Hero’s land.”

With these words, Iclit indirectly suggested they should “dispose of all their assets and leave for Wellesley County.”

They would need to take out the grimy gold and silver coins hidden under cupboards or beds, sell their livestock—their biggest assets—to neighbors at bargain prices, and even give up crops about to be harvested.

For farmers who had lived their entire lives in one place, this wasn’t an easy decision.

To urge those who hesitated, Iclit dangled sweet bait.

“You don’t think I’m trying to deceive you, do you? I’m telling you to use the money from selling your assets for travel expenses. If you leave empty-handed, you’ll die on the road before reaching Wellesley County. You just need to show your determination to leave your hometown.”

“Ah…!”

At this point, people began to step forward one by one.

A fantastic home perfectly protected from monsters where they could bathe in hot water daily. Plus the honor of serving under the Hero as their lord.

It was an opportunity worth risking one’s life for.

“I’ll take that certificate…!”

That day, twenty-six households received certificates.

Following Iclit’s advice that “if the lord finds out, it might damage the Hero’s reputation, so leave quickly,” they sold their livestock and household goods to neighbors at bargain prices and departed from the village one after another.

Iclit left one demon behind to supervise, then vanished—just as she had done in the eight villages she had previously visited.

Two days later, when the lord dispatched several guards to investigate rumors of residents leaving, it was already too late.

“When did they disappear?”

“I’m not sure. They all left so suddenly that I don’t really know.”

The farmers who had acquired the departing villagers’ assets at bargain prices (or for free) consistently claimed ignorance. They considered it a matter of loyalty.