Ch.513513. Between Rest and Work (2)

Even when I’m taking a rest, the world continues to turn just fine.

This doesn’t change even if the one resting is a key figure in the current kingdom—someone who could be called a protagonist, having left footprints in all sorts of places.

Beyond the reach of my eyes and ears, countless people breathe, converse, and live entangled in various interests. Especially the royal palace, where the kingdom’s many brilliant minds gather daily for exhaustive debates. After all, it’s not just the royal residence but a place built specifically for such affairs.

“Lord Benet, so about that urgent matter…”

“Hmm… news from the royal court reached us belatedly. I thought the lord should know about it, and there are also some issues within the barony that have been escalating lately… It’s all because this old servant has grown incompetent with age, forcing me to disturb your rest. I truly apologize.”

“What fault could Lord Bener possibly have? Please raise your head.”

It’s quite burdensome when someone decades older than me bows so respectfully.

After making him raise his head, I thought to myself.

‘News from the royal court.’

I’ve been too busy lately to pay much attention to the kingdom’s political situation.

Even during my rest, I avoided reading newspapers to prevent unnecessary worry, and instead spent all day being affectionate with Sione.

‘Certainly, when Princess Lephelia at the wedding—’

She said she heard the story from Adelheid after her training.

I suspect something happened after she returned to the royal palace.

As for the other princes and princesses, they’ve either been overshadowed by her or suppressed—I haven’t heard of any significant movements from them. After all, it’s none other than Adelheid who’s leading the royal decisions with the Queen’s trust behind her.

“Could I hear the news from the royal court first?”

“…Word has reached the barony that the seeds of a minor power struggle have been planted in the royal court.”

“Power struggle?”

Struggles for power and authority in the royal court are quite normal, I would think.

“Debates among nobles who have declared their support have been common for some time, but this is somewhat special. This time, two princesses have directly confronted each other in public, and some at the palace say it’s likely to intensify further.”

“Likely to intensify, you say. Is the source reliable?”

“The barony was under direct royal control until recently, wasn’t it? This comes from the acquaintances of the barony’s elder vassals, so it should be quite reliable.”

When he mentions two princesses, it can only be Adelheid and the third princess. Given that Adelheid has already firmly secured her right of succession, such direct confrontation is certainly unusual.

“While everyone knows of the friendship between the Baron and Princess Adelheid, you haven’t yet made a public declaration of support. I thought perhaps the third princess, Amelie, might try to approach you.”

“Indeed, it wouldn’t hurt to know. Thank you, Lord Bener.”

“I’ve only done what’s expected. I’ve placed more detailed documents about the current situation in the drawer of your desk.”

It seems Lord Bener and the vassals who first discussed this matter thought there might be attempts at persuasion from the third princess’s faction.

‘Having already committed to Adelheid’s side…’

I won’t be switching to the third princess’s side, but if her opposition to Adelheid intensifies more than expected, it might not be a bad idea to discuss with the Count’s family about supporting Adelheid further.

‘According to what Princess Lephelia told me.’

The third princess, Amelie. She’s likely surrounded by those who, despite being royal servants, excessively praise and elevate the Empire.

Given the princess’s previous statement about heading to the Empire, and the timely conflict with a pro-Empire princess, I can roughly guess what’s happening without hearing more.

Let’s move past this topic.

“Then, could you tell me about the problems within the barony that you mentioned?”

I expressed interest in the other issue that necessitated calling me during my vacation.

Bener eagerly responded.

“Well… recently, the security in the barony’s slums has become quite unstable.”

“The security in the slums?”

“While the Winter War’s frontlines against the demons were certainly the most intense, the rear areas also suffered numerous attacks from the Demonkin. Many who lost their homes migrated south to the western or central regions, seeking help as refugees in numerous territories.”

“And our barony was no exception.”

“That’s right. However, the number of refugees who reached our barony wasn’t too large, so the burden was manageable… but the problem deepened when mercenaries who had been active in the north also entered our barony, mixing with the refugees.”

An interesting topic has emerged.

Mercenaries. Those who wander and sell their abilities to earn money, primarily targeting families without the resources to maintain their own military, or remote areas vulnerable to monster threats. They mainly rent out their combat abilities for money.

These money-seeking mercenaries were quite helpful in establishing and maintaining the Count’s pioneering outposts, weren’t they?

But now these mercenaries have become another problem—

“While some successfully settled by joining the barony’s mercenary guild, those who failed ended up in the slums. We could subdue and escort refugees suffering from war trauma, but the mercenaries…”

“It would be difficult for ordinary security forces to subdue them without knights. Mercenaries tend to move in groups.”

“Exactly. Moreover, even those in poor mental or physical condition are experienced veterans skilled at hiding. Their range of activity and level of misconduct have been increasing, causing us considerable trouble.”

From Bener’s continued explanation, I learned more details about the recent disturbances caused by mercenaries.

Some wandered beyond the slums into the streets in broad daylight, suddenly screaming and swinging swords. Several people were injured after getting caught up in their commotion.

“If such incidents occurred, couldn’t knights be deployed to detain them?”

“That’s true, but… they too are war veterans. Considering how you lead the barony’s army and treat war veterans, as well as the news of your direct participation in the Count’s recent relief project…”

“You mean—”

“With the barony’s coffers quite full now, rather than simply ending this by deploying knights to imprison them, I thought it might not be a bad idea to use this opportunity to revitalize the barony’s slums.”

It seems he thought it would be good to fundamentally address the chronic darkness of the slums filled with refugees and retreating mercenaries.

Of course, since this would require spending a considerable amount of money to thoroughly clean up the slums, he wanted to hear my decision rather than issuing orders on his own.

And I, naturally, had to agree with his suggestion.

“How could investing in the barony’s future within our financial means be a bad choice?”

“You mean…”

“As you thought, since I know about the framework of the Count’s poverty relief project, it wouldn’t be bad to implement something similar tailored to our barony’s circumstances.”

“…I see why the royal court bestowed the title and fief upon you. This old servant will faithfully assist you.”

Refugees and mercenaries suffering from the aftermath of war.

And my poor territory residents who had to be driven to the slums, each carrying their own circumstances.

“Ah, before that. Could you tell me about the church and religious forces in the barony?”

“Religious forces? There is one church, but… it’s not very large. The barony has more gold coins and merchants than devout believers, and with many alchemists, there are plenty of affordable potions that are cheaper than the healing provided by church priests.”

“I see? I was also wondering if they were taking care of the people in the slums—”

“Since the security in the slums deteriorated, even they haven’t been able to enter easily…”

With the situation laid out like this.

Instead of the priests who can’t share God’s love for fear of being struck by blind blades,

I should directly save my territory’s residents myself.

‘This must be what they call noblesse oblige.’

Looking at it this way.

For someone who fell into this world after living in an equal society, I’ve adapted remarkably well.

Having become a noble, I should know how to spend money as much as I enjoy handling it.

My first task after coming to my house has been decided.

“Trust me, Lord Bener. I’ll personally handle this matter somehow.”

Raising people up and increasing the number of taxpayers.

And—

“If we approach them with sincerity, won’t they eventually open their hearts?”

Filling them with faith.

Of course.

“Tasha, we have work to do.”

“Work? Ah, taking care of the barony’s poor that you mentioned at the Count’s residence! I’ve been waiting for when we’d go!”

Not faith in the church, but faith in me.

‘With God dead and only me, his representative, remaining…’

Wouldn’t I essentially be God himself?

At the Count’s residence, the church was too large for me to be too forward.

But not here, as he said.

“…My lord, your smile is a bit strange.”

“It’s just your imagination.”

From today, the barony is a theocracy.