Ch.271EP.61 – The Knight Fear People More Than Ghosts 2(1)

There’s a view worth a million dollars.

It was once a symbol of romance and success for Ihan. In his previous life, he had made a promise in his twenties to see this million-dollar view when he became successful. Unfortunately, that resolution never came to fruition, and in his current life, he was living far from success, so he had concluded that he would never experience such a million-dollar sight.

And yet…

‘If there’s a ten-million-dollar view, this must be it.’

As Ihan confirmed that an even more spectacular sight than a million-dollar view was before his eyes, he deeply understood why people say you never know how life will turn out.

Whoosh!

On a rare, brilliantly sunny day in Wales, which was typically shrouded in fog.

As the mist cleared, it revealed Wales’ pride—a massive waterfall. The light fog surrounding the waterfall appeared like clouds, and through those clouds formed a rainbow.

It was beyond beautiful—truly magnificent. Sitting in the prime spot on the high castle wall, the phrase “ten-million-dollar view” naturally came to mind.

He couldn’t help but be amazed, thinking that all he needed now was a steak and wine to feel like someone who had truly made it in life.

“Lord Santa. I thought you might be hungry, so I prepared lamb chops. Being young lamb, it has no gamey smell and will be tender to chew. The garnish consists of seasonal vegetables harvested from Wales’ pristine environment, properly cooked. The sauce is made from wine with appropriate acidity, reduced with the meat’s juices, premium butter, and spices. I’ve also prepared cherry wine, a Welsh specialty. Please enjoy.”

“…Pardon?”

“Oh, if you don’t care for red meat, I can quickly prepare trout steak. As for poultry, quail or pigeon is delicious this time of year. How would you like me to prepare it?”

“……”

“Lord Santa?”

“…I’ll just eat what you’ve prepared.”

“Oh my, please don’t be so formal! Just be comfortable! Please speak casually to me, I beg you!”

“……”

Well… how should I put this?

‘It feels strange?’

Part of him envied Santa Rihan who had achieved the success his original self couldn’t, and also…

‘It feels like I’ve become a regent who wields power by putting a young king on the throne?’

…No, it’s not just a feeling.

“This is exactly how I like it!”

“Pardon?”

“No… this is cooked exactly how I prefer it, haha…”

“I’m so glad! So Lord Santa prefers medium-well! I’ll remember that for the future.”

“That’s really not necessary…”

Despite the overwhelmingly excessive hospitality, Ihan fortunately didn’t get indigestion.

Because…

‘This is frighteningly delicious…’

The steak was too delicious to cause any stomach upset.

* * *

Ihan was enjoying unexpected supreme power, but in a way, this was only natural.

After all, he was the one who had normalized Wales, which had been in chaos and falling apart due to power struggles.

The fact that there were no civilian casualties and only nobles were dealt with was probably another factor in his popularity.

‘Is it a talent to make so many enemies in just five years?’

During the unification war, he learned that after the Margrave—or rather, the former Margrave—had left his position, numerous nobles had been exploiting the people.

Because of this, the nobles of Wales had steadily accumulated hatred, and as soon as they fell…

“That rotten bastard!”

“Useless noble scum, ptui!”

“Spitting is too good for them. Just throw stones, no, throw dung and urine!”

…That’s how things had turned out.

The nobles were being cursed for their downfall, and consequently, support for the new lord was quite high.

…Truly unexpectedly.

‘This is why people shouldn’t create situations that earn them hatred.’

“Urgh…brgh!”

“Ughk…!”

By the way, those tied to pillars and being beaten included not only nobles but also those who had committed crimes like corruption and assault.

‘I thought there was something wrong with people who bullied children, but they were even worse than I imagined.’

This was also one of the reasons why the 8-year-old, youngest-ever Margrave was receiving support.

People seemed to think that a pure child was better than greedy, insatiable beasts.

…Looking at it all, the common people were truly pitiful.

However, this series of events had been helpful.

There was no major resistance or confusion despite the sudden change in political circumstances.

Bloodshed was minimized, and the stabilization of Wales proceeded quickly.

Of course, behind this rapid stabilization…

“S-Sir Knight, are you here?”

“…You’re working hard, secretary.”

“I-It’s nothing, th-this is all for the guild, you know…”

The Guild Association’s help.

The guild was helping with administrative work more diligently than expected, and no joke, they were working so hard they were wearing themselves out.

Just look at that secretary—he’d been working in that same posture for a week.

As if he didn’t even have time to eat, let alone sleep.

“You should hire more people. There’s plenty of slush funds from the nobles.”

“E-Even with money, finding people isn’t easy, hehe…”

“People work to eat, but aren’t you getting your priorities backwards?”

“…I know, but we need to finish quickly before the royal palace notices. H-Honestly, I’m terrified…”

“I told you there’s no need to worry. Why can’t you believe me?”

“Still…”

“……”

The royal palace—that is, the high officials—would eventually notice the changes in Wales.

No matter how much Modred was a great noble with independence, as a noble who had pledged to the Pendragon family, it wouldn’t be strange if external pressure came at any time.

In other words, once they learned about this situation, sanctions could be imposed at the royal level.

Of course, they wouldn’t be able to touch Ihan or Louise.

Louise was a direct descendant of Modred, and Ihan was acting as her proxy.

However, unlike those two, the others were different.

Especially the guild.

If they were to fall out of favor with the royal palace, there could be a massive crackdown on the guild.

For the exhausted secretary and the Guild Association, this anxiety must feel like walking a tightrope over a pit of fire.

That’s why they were working so desperately and urgently.

‘They don’t need to go that far…’

However, Ihan thought they were being somewhat hysterical and overestimating the royal palace.

‘They’re too busy fighting among themselves to care about the borderlands…’

Ihan knew.

The nobles of the royal palace were busy with what they called political strife and shadow wars.

Honestly, the guys being stoned on the pillars were quite greedy too, but how could they compare to the nobles of the royal palace?

He would guarantee that even after a year, no, ten years, those guys wouldn’t have properly figured out what had happened in Wales.

Does that sound like a joke?

‘I wish it were a joke…’

Ihan smiled bitterly, knowing the true nature of his workplace.

‘If anyone would notice, it would be Big Sis, but I don’t think even she would care much.’

If other nobles were too busy fighting among themselves to notice, that sister would know about these events but wouldn’t intervene.

As long as Modred didn’t try to become independent from the kingdom.

‘She probably thinks she can control everything regardless of who’s in charge.’

She was a princess who brought to mind the phrase “self-centered.”

So Ihan had casually advised the Guild Association not to rush too much, but…

‘They don’t believe me.’

They thought he was joking to ease their tension.

It was frustrating for Ihan that they wouldn’t believe him even when he told the truth, but for the Guild Association, it was hard to believe that the royal palace could be so incompetent.

It was the boundary between common sense and nonsense, and while Ihan wanted to advise them that the royal palace was a place completely devoid of common sense, he decided to let it go.

‘Well, it’s convenient for me if they work hard.’

The harder they worked, the less he had to do, and the more time the little Margrave had to play—a win-win situation.

That’s why, although he tried to dissuade them, he didn’t try too hard.

‘Sorry, but please keep working hard.’

He felt he might get dizzy if he had to look at paperwork all day.

Ihan conveyed his slight apology to them and remained silent.

Of course, he didn’t just intend to dump all the work on them.

‘I should help with what I can.’

Mainly tasks that required physical strength, or tasks that required physical strength.

‘Tasks that required physical strength…’

…To be honest, though he didn’t want to admit it himself, he wondered if he was only useful for physical labor.

‘That’s oddly depressing?’

As Ihan was feeling something akin to self-loathing, he saw someone running over from the side.

“Ihan, I mean, Lord Santa!”

“…Do we really need to use that title when it’s just us?”

“W-Well, you never know, huff, huff. We must be th-thorough, haa, haaah…!”

“…Get some exercise, man.”

What’s with being out of breath after just a little running?

Ihan wore an expression of disbelief, but Simon ignored this and adjusted his crooked glasses before speaking.

“A-Anyway, Lord Santa. We have a big problem!”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“It’s not dramatics, it really is a big problem. A ‘ghost’ has appeared.”

“?”

“…Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. Actually, in my current state of mind, it would be better if I were just insane, damn it! Why did a ghost have to appear at a busy worksite of all places, damn it all…!!”

“…You seem to have dissociative identity disorder. You should go to the temple.”

“…It’s really not that.”

Ihan gave sincere advice out of concern, but Simon shook his head as if wronged.

Then he added:

“It’s appearing ‘right now.'”

“?”

“Let’s go see it together.”

“What are you talking about…”

A ghost appearing in broad daylight?

‘You might as well tell me a tiger has appeared.’

*

*

*

“…Why is this real?”

Ihan was dumbfounded by the situation unfolding before his eyes.

In broad daylight, on a rare sunny day in Wales, around the castle…

[Ki, kigi…gik, kigi, gigik…]

…A real ghost was floating around, and suddenly it…

Whoosh!

It charged at Ihan as if to attack him.

Swish!!

“Whoa shit, that scared me.”

“…?”

“Why did it suddenly lunge at me?”

“…What did you just do?”

“Huh? I hit it?”

“…How exactly?”

“…With a slap?”

“??”