novelraw Chapter 100 : Chapter 100
Chapter 100 : Chapter 100
100. Journey to the Capital
As soon as the morning sun rose, everyone gathered in the office.
Raguel, Ilea, Zal’karin, and Hakain sat at the table, waiting for Yohan.
Shaferia and Gaf were nowhere to be seen.
The two had departed for the borders of the Miyatro territory.
By Yohan’s orders, they were patrolling the vast domain.
They likely would not return to the castle for quite some time.
Raguel’s shoulders slumped.
“You should’ve at least left the guard captain behind.”
Soon even Yohan and Ilea would be leaving the castle.
Those Raguel relied upon and trusted were disappearing one by one.
It left him heavy-hearted.
He had no confidence to manage the territory on his own.
Zal’karin spoke in a somewhat arrogant tone.
“Worry not, brat. Am I not still here? I shall guide you well.”
Raguel let out a deep sigh.
“You can’t even handle basic arithmetic, so what help could you possibly be? I’ll be lucky if you don’t get in the way.”
Part of Raguel’s duties included financial affairs.
To run a territory, one had to be skilled with numbers.
Thankfully, Raguel had quite a knack for mathematics.
He had no need for Zal’karin’s help.
Zal’karin exploded furiously.
“Arith… arithmetic?! I could outdo you in a single day if I cared to learn! Want to make a wager?!”
Raguel looked at him with a weary face.
“Forget arithmetic. Want to try learning administration instead? No, what am I saying. How could a demon possibly manage a territory?”
At present, nearly every official position in the territory was vacant.
A treasurer to handle finances, an administrator to manage the peasants and oversee festivals or rituals, a scribe to keep all manner of records… none existed.
Not even a warehouse keeper.
Up until now, all those duties had fallen on Ilea and Gaf.
Now they were leaving.
Raguel alone would have to manage the domain.
The future looked pitch dark.
Zal’karin sprang to his feet and shouted loudly.
“Leave everything to me! I’ll put you to shame!”
To Raguel, Zal’karin did not inspire much confidence.
A demon’s body had far too many limitations.
For one, Zal’karin couldn’t even show himself to the residents.
An administrator, by necessity, had to interact with the village chiefs, but Zal’karin could never do so.
‘Not even the slightest help.’
Raguel’s shoulders sagged further.
He muttered weakly.
“Please, just don’t stir up trouble. I beg you.”
Zal’karin’s already red face turned even redder.
He was about to shout something when Ilea spoke.
“It certainly won’t be easy. It's hard for a young master to manage everything alone.”
Raguel’s expression brightened slightly.
He was simply grateful that someone understood his predicament.
“As expected, Ilea. You understand my troubles.”
“I’ve been through a lot with Yohan myself. At times, he really is… reckless.”
Raguel nodded again and again.
“Exactly. He dumps everything on me.”
“While saying he trusts you, right?”
“Same thing! He did that to me too.”
Ilea let out a soft chuckle.
“Seems Yohan trusts the young master quite a bit.”
Raguel’s face darkened again.
“…Honestly, I’m scared. That I might betray that trust.”
Ilea shook her head.
“No need to feel such a burden. Even if you make mistakes, Yohan won’t scold you. He’s the kind of person who… always looks for the problem in himself first. He never blames others.”
Raguel agreed with her.
He had never once seen Yohan blame anyone.
Unconsciously, he nodded.
“True enough. That’s exactly who Yohan is.”
Ilea smiled softly.
“So ease your mind. When you’re too tense, you end up making mistakes even with simple tasks.”
Hakain tapped his pipe and opened his mouth.
“Sounds like the territory’s shorthanded.”
Raguel replied.
“That’s right, Hakain. It’s because of the nature of this domain. Recruiting people is too difficult.”
The Miyatro domain was ruled by a demon.
The moment someone became an official of the territory, they would inevitably learn that secret.
Most would be horrified and run to the Order.
That would spell the end of Yohan.
He could not employ just anyone.
He needed proven confidants.
And their number was still woefully small.
Hakain said,
“Well then, maybe I should lend a hand? I can read and write, and I’m decent at arithmetic.”
Ilea gave him a suspicious look.
“And why, all of a sudden? Aren’t you usually too lazy to bother with anything?”
Hakain always lazed about, puffing on his pipe. Except when training with Yohan, he was perpetually slack.
So for him to volunteer for tedious duties… Ilea found it hard to believe.
Hakain spoke.
“Eh, I’m just a bit bored…”
Ilea’s eyes sharpened.
“Speak the real reason.”
Hakain gulped. He found Ilea a little frightening.
A sheepish smile spread across his face.
“Haha… truth is, I have a favor to ask of the baron.”
Ilea gave him a look of “of course.”
That idler would never volunteer for work unless he wanted something.
“What favor?”
“Well…”
Hakain’s words cut off.
Yohan entered the office.
Everyone rose from their seats.
“The Great End arrives! Show proper respect!”
“You’re a little late, Yohan.”
“You’re here?”
“Haha, good morning.”
Yohan glanced over them.
“Quite a lively chat. What were you all discussing without me?”
Zal’karin immediately shouted as if waiting for the moment.
“O Great End! They were slandering you behind your back! This wretch heard it clearly!”
Yohan smirked.
“Now I’m curious.”
Raguel scratched his head.
“Well, that is…”
Zal’karin cut him off.
“Reckless! The witch and the high elf called the Great End reckless!”
Yohan folded his arms.
“Reckless, eh. Well, not entirely wrong.”
He was aware of his nature.
Ilea said,
“You’ve given the young master too much. We’re simply too shorthanded.”
Yohan looked at Raguel.
“You mean the problem of running the domain?”
Raguel, a little cowed, answered.
“Y-yes… I’m still learning and not used to it yet… but I’ll do my best!”
Yohan thought for a moment.
After a pause, he spoke.
“Do what you can. For now, we can’t reinforce the staff. You know the reason well.”
There were ways, of course, but Yohan had too many pressing issues to worry about minor matters.
The urgent problems piled high.
Raguel sighed with resignation.
“…Understood. I’ll try my best.”
Yohan felt a little sorry for him. For the moment, he had no solution to offer.
Hakain spoke carefully.
“My lord, I think I could be of some help.”
Ilea added,
“He can read and write, and do arithmetic too. I thought he only knew swords, but he’s unexpectedly capable.”
Yohan looked at Hakain.
“Good. Then you will assist Raguel.”
Hakain scratched his cheek.
“I’ll do it, but I have one request.”
He glanced at Yohan.
Yohan didn’t seem displeased.
“Speak freely. I’ll hear it.”
He was more lenient than expected. Always had been.
Hakain had spent over two months in the lord’s castle, yet still couldn’t fully grasp Yohan.
‘…Is he truly a demon? An Apostle?’
Yohan was remarkably human.
He cherished the peasants and always looked after those around him.
He barely seemed evil at all.
To Hakain’s eyes, Count Staviana was closer to a demon than Yohan.
Hakain spoke.
“I want to relocate my family to the barony.”
Hakain’s family was held hostage by the count.
Because of them, he could not oppose the count. They were leveraged, binding him by a subjugation contract.
In other words, he was practically a slave.
Yohan answered at once.
“Very well. I will retrieve your family from the count.”
Hakain’s drowsy eyes flew wide open.
“R-really?”
For Yohan, it was a simple matter.
At present, the count could hardly refuse any of Yohan’s demands.
“I’ll speak to him. Within a month at most, you’ll see your family.”
Hakain bowed deeply.
“…I’ll serve with all my loyalty.”
He felt dazed. He could so easily be freed from the count’s grasp.
No longer would he have to endure the accursed Dead Shadow or those magicians.
The price was the service of a demon, but Hakain didn’t care.
Compared to the count, Yohan was far more human. Compared to the Dead Shadow, the barony was paradise.
Yohan chuckled.
“If you give loyalty, I won’t refuse it.”
Hakain said,
“I’ll prove myself with deeds. Later, ask the young master—he’ll tell you I’m quite useful.”
He winked at Raguel.
Raguel smiled awkwardly.
“Haha, well, at least that’s one more pair of hands.”
Yohan spoke.
“I’ll add more people later. Until then, Raguel, you’ll have to manage.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll do my best.”
Yohan nodded once and looked at everyone.
“While I’m away, I’m entrusting the territory to you all.”
Zal’karin cried loudly,
“This wretch will guard it with life, O Great End!”
Ignoring him, Yohan addressed Hakain.
“Above all else, watch Gawain. Assisting Raguel is fine, but the most important thing is him. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens.”
Gawain could turn into a demon at any time.
He needed someone to watch him.
Hakain was suited for it.
He had the ability to handle unexpected incidents.
“Don’t worry, my lord.”
It was somewhat reassuring.
“Good. Then it’s about time to depart.”
Yohan’s gaze shifted to Ilea.
Ilea asked,
“First to the count’s estate, right?”
The first destination was the city of Beldana.
Before heading to the capital, Yohan intended to meet briefly with the count.
He nodded.
“That’s right. Let’s go.”
Yohan and Ilea left the office at once.
Outside the door, Grian stood awkwardly.
Seeing Yohan, he forced a nervous smile.
“M-my lord, safe travels.”
Yohan frowned.
“I need no send-off from you. Spend this time figuring out how you’ll assist Raguel. If anything happens to the domain, you will bear all responsibility.”
The territory was so shorthanded that Yohan had no choice but to make use of even this incompetent man.
‘Really do need to recruit people soon.’
He would start considering how.
It was a headache.
As Yohan’s expression grew more twisted, Grian dropped flat to the ground.
“I-I’ll devote myself entirely to developing your fields!”
Yohan felt no confidence in him whatsoever.
Clicking his tongue, he passed Grian by.
Not worth wasting words on an insect.
Yohan headed straight for the count’s estate.