episode_0027

A series of events that occurred in Changbaekryeong came to a close, and about two weeks had passed.

The warrior party, led by Krimhilt, had to stay in the border area for a long time, treating patients, repelling monsters that attacked the residence, and protecting immigrants from nearby villages.

Perhaps I don’t want to stay in a remote place like this.

Hyunwoo kept complaining every day about how the food was not tasty, how the bed was uncomfortable, and how he was frustrated with hanging out with the school idiots, and he kept talking about going back to the labyrinth city right away.

Well, from his perspective, the ‘event’ is already complete, so it’s only natural that he thinks there’s nothing more to see.

However, Krimhilt has expressed a strong will not to return until the Ghoul Plague situation is somewhat resolved, and since Julia and Sion also agree with Krimhilt’s opinion, Hyunwoo’s demands for return are always rejected.

“Sigh…. Fuck…. What sin did I commit in my past life that I have to take off the blood-soaked bandages of these filthy kids, wash their shit-and-pee stained clothes, and carry all these old farts to the hospital room?… Hurry up and die, you fucking idiots…..”

“Hey, really… Brave Oppa~. You shouldn’t say such bad things. As the goddess always says, you should reach out to the weak and sick…..”

“Yes, yes. Nigimi. You fucking saint.”

Krimhilt and Julia still have feelings for the warrior, so they try to keep the situation going by trying to please him with nice words and charm…

It was obvious to me that the atmosphere inside the party was heading in the worst direction.

Then one day.

After a day’s work, I was having a late dinner at a restaurant in front of my accommodation when an unexpected guest showed up.

— Thud, thud… squeak….

“You guys were here.”

“No… Sir Huebel? What are you doing here?”

“I have some news to tell you. I stopped by for a moment as I was passing by.”

After saying those words, Huebel sat down at the corner of the table with a tired expression.

We are also having our own hardships, but it is no exaggeration to say that we are nothing compared to that old knight.

He was suddenly given the position of acting lord, and was given the important task of overseeing the administration of the entire northern region, which had been thrown into chaos by the Count, and bringing it back on track.

He must be desperately working hard, even sacrificing his sleep time.

but….

“Ha… Hey, old man. When will this neighborhood ever end? Nigimi, the situation needs to stabilize a bit so we can go home with peace of mind. Why can’t we see an end to this?”

“Hehehe… That’s true. The source of the plague itself has been resolved, but there are still many patients left… and the economy of the entire territory has been seriously damaged. It doesn’t seem like the situation will be resolved in a short period of time.”

“Isn’t it the role of the permanent resident to somehow do that? Man, you always act like you’re so great, but you don’t have any special abilities?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not a very capable administrator. I’ll try my best.”

Perhaps because he didn’t care about other people’s hardships, Hyunwoo complained to him in a whiny tone…

Huebel led the conversation, coaxing him with kind words and showing superhuman patience.

Perhaps because she had decided that she could no longer listen, Julia joined the conversation.

“Sir Huebel. You said you came in just now on some business… What business was it?”

“Oh, yes. That’s it….”

After glancing at Hyunwoo’s expression and confirming that he had no intention of engaging in any more conversation.

Huebel sighed in relief and took out a letter from his bosom.

“Actually, a letter arrived from the capital today. It seems that the decision regarding the Hailoi border territories has been made.”

“…….!!”

“Leaving out the details and just getting to the main point… The change of territory will be changed to a direct territory of the kingdom until the next lord is decided, and a governor will be dispatched to manage the territory for the time being.”

“The entire North becomes the direct territory of the kingdom…? You did a good job of persuading the great lords.”

“If the change of the barracks falls into the hands of a single lord, he will gain power that will effectively split the kingdom in half. It will be the result of a complex power game.”

“………..”

“The new governor has already departed the capital and is expected to arrive at Kish City within a few days. Once the governor arrives, I will hand over my duties to him, step down from my position as acting lord, and return to my position as the leader of the Purification Knights.”

“I see.”

Julia and Krimhild nodded with serious attitude.

Sion looks like he doesn’t care, and Hyunwoo yawns.

“……….”

Perhaps it is because I am hesitant to bring up the ‘original matter’.

Huebel fell silent for a moment at that point, and after a suitable pause, I returned to the main topic.

“So, why are you bringing that up in front of us? It doesn’t seem like it would be something that would warrant the busy acting lord coming all the way here.”

“…………”

After a moment of confusion, he looked as if he had hit the nail on the head.

Huebel opened his mouth in a tone that sounded like a sigh.

“Actually….”

“……?”

“The new governor sent a letter to the warrior party asking for their escort.”

“Escort…. you mean?”

“Yes. He said he wanted you to accompany him and act as his bodyguard while he was staying in the North.”

“Hmm…..”

In fact, there is nothing particularly strange about the content of the request itself.

The position of the border county at the forefront of the battle against the Demon King’s army, and the unstable public sentiment and public security due to the ghoul plague.

It would be natural for a new governor to want to entrust his escorts to as many capable and trustworthy people as possible.

Well… the story won’t go that naturally from here on out, though.

“How much is the salary?”

“They say they pay 100 gold per day.”

“Ugh….”

A look of interest spread across Hyunwoo’s eyes as he listened to the story dryly.

“That’s right, you’re a very generous gentleman. Well, I guess I’ll have to stay in the North for a while anyway…. It seems like a good deal. I vote yes. ”

“I agree too.”

“Cream…. Yeah….. I agree.”

Zion expressed her agreement as I had promised in advance, and Krimhilt looked a little hesitant, but agreed with the warrior’s opinion for the time being.

and…..

“Excuse me, but can you tell me who the new governor is?”

“Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that. Yes. The person who was decided as the new governor as a result of the meeting is the Second Prince, Lucius Philipp von Rekaia.”

“Lu, Lucius…. Brother?”

“…….Yes.”

Huebel nodded with a complicated expression.

Julia, who had been looking at him with a darkened expression, nodded her head weakly after a while.

“I see. Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem. Then I will ask you to take good care of the escort.”

Four days after that.

The new governor and the knights he led entered the city of Geese.

A private army with a total of 2,000 soldiers.

The faithful formation of 200 heavy cavalry, supported by apprentice knights, infantry, and transport units, is reminiscent of a combat unit ready to go to war at any moment.

— Bam ppabam bam ppabam ppabam….

Is it as if I feel like a triumphant general?

The military band at the forefront of the line played the national anthem, while gorgeously dressed women on either side of it advanced, scattering flower petals and confetti.

The new Governor Lucius rode through the city, perched on the roof of his private carriage and looking down at the streets.

“Hoohoohoo…. Is this the city I will rule?…. It’s not a bad sight. Well, it can’t be helped that the entire city is in ruins…. But I guess I’ll have to accept that. After all, a hero’s journey starts with a small first step….”

“……….”

“…………..”

The citizens of Kish City, who had lost their families and friends to the plague and were caught up in the tragedy of the murder of the Count, were not in the least bit in the mood to welcome the new governor.

I was receiving their gazes mixed with curiosity and anxiety all over my body.

The knights continued their march towards the lord’s residence.

— Crunch, crunch, crunch… Crunch. Creak…..

After opening the main gate of the lord’s residence with bold force.

Lucius and his retinue entered the castle with a proud gait.

Huebel, several of the executives, and members of the warrior party including me were waiting near the entrance and welcomed him.

“Welcome, Your Excellency the Governor. I am…..”

“Oh, Julia. It’s been a while. How many years has it been?”

Lucius approaches Julia, completely ignoring Huebel’s greeting.

He hugged Julia tightly in a bold manner, and Julia accepted his embrace with an awkward expression before carefully pulling away.

“It’s been a while, brother.”

“Haha… Yeah, yeah. I heard a rumor that you were staying in the North…. I almost didn’t recognize you when I first saw you. Who knew you’d become so feminine in the few years I hadn’t seen you….”

“……….”

“A slender waist, full breasts, and a pelvis and thighs that are perfect for pregnancy… Isn’t that an attractive body that would make men drool? If you’ve matured to this extent, shouldn’t you stop being an adventurer and start looking for a wife?”

“Thank you for your consideration. I have my own thoughts, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yeah…. If you really have nowhere to go, tell me. I can even offer to make you my concubine after I ascend to the throne…”

“I… Your Excellency the Governor.”

Did he notice Julia’s expression, which looked like it might explode at any moment?

Huebel cautiously interjected himself into the conversation, and Lucius’s expression became clearly one of annoyance.

“What are you? You’ve been annoying me since a while ago.”

“Yes. My name is Huebel, the leader of the Purification Knights. I was serving as the acting lord of the border county. ”

“…………”

“You must be tired from the long journey, so please come to the office first. We have prepared the Northern Pearl Alpine Fume.”

“…….”

“And, first, I will be handing over the ongoing business and administrative processing. I have prepared sufficient documents and related materials, but there are some matters that I need to explain to you verbally…”

“Ah, that’s fine, do whatever you want.”

“………Yes?”

“Do I look like I have enough free time to just stay in the office and do administrative work? I brought two administrators, so they should handle the handover. Do I have to tell them all about this?”

“…….No. Sorry.”

Of course, it is not uncommon for the lords to have the administrative officials handle administrative matters hastily…

Unless you’re a truly incompetent idiot, you should at least know what’s going on in your own territory.

If we just let go, it would be impossible to know if administrators openly take bribes or do other absurd things like appointing their acquaintances to high positions and pushing forward business.

But perhaps because he decided that saying such things to this idiot was useless, Huebel simply ended the story with a sigh.

— Thud, thud, thud…..

As he walked through the castle at a leisurely pace, Lucius spoke as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him.

“We are planning to leave tomorrow, so please prepare for the inspection.”

“Huh? A… inspection? What do you mean?”

“The entire territory is devastated by the plague, so as the governor, I can’t just sit in my official residence and do my work leisurely. I need to tour the entire northern part of the territory to grasp the reality and listen to the voices of the people.”

“That’s right…. Yes. That’s right.”

“We will leave tomorrow, so prepare food and medicine. You can ask the administrators I brought for more details.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, and….”

“Yes….?”

“Please prepare about 50 escort carriages.”