Chapter 103 : Chapter 103

Chapter 103 - The Unreserved Teacher-nim

To some, it was a coup d'état.

To the majority, including the kingdom's citizens, it was the revival of the Third Prince.

The incident, which wouldn't be bad to call whatever the Youngest Son wished, gradually subsided.

The incident, as incidents do, created wounds and left scars, but.

The remaining people did their best to make the scars fade without a trace, not just remain as scars.

Those remaining people.

The Third Prince, William Reggie Krawl, substituted his coronation with the crown he received from the young girl.

The reason was that he was busy.

He was so madly busy that he had neither the time nor the money to conduct such a state event.

At least the financial part was stabilizing thanks to Jubel, who had the merchant's guild wrapped around his finger.

“How did you do it…?”

William’s eyes, half in awe and half in sleepiness, stared blankly at the magnate.

He answered without letting go of the budget proposals he was reviewing.

“What are you referring to? Threatening the merchant's guild that was manipulating market prices for their own gain? Or making the merchant's guild support the kingdom's restoration budget?”

The merchant's guild received benefits and paid a certain amount of money under mutual agreement with the royal family.

It was literally a business relationship.

There was no obligation to help just because one side was in danger.

And it was highly unlikely that the merchants would do so for ‘free.’

Yet, the merchant's guild, which was more ravenous for wealth than crows, readily offered sponsorship funds.

He hadn't used any special method.

“I told them that if they didn’t offer it now, I would use my sponsorship funds to replace all of their positions. That’s all.”

“Haha. In a way, you’re worse than the thugs at Dusk Citadel over there.”

Jubel just smiled and didn't deny it.

Because commerce often had moments more brutal than visible violence.

Being a profession where it was easy to backstab others meant that one was also susceptible to being backstabbed.

“Now that I’ve secured the sponsorship funds, I will bring their merchant troupes under my control and stabilize the irregular commercial power here.”

“The merchants’ backlash will be severe.”

“It doesn’t matter. Since their funds have been depleted by the sponsorship, they will go bankrupt without being able to survive the next month if I buy up their stock.”

“Hah.”

If you don't want to be uprooted, pillar and all, hand it over quietly when I offer to buy.

It was a threat without a gun.

Jubel placed the budget proposal on his desk with a smirk.

There was already a mountain of things to review, but it couldn't be helped for a king who ascended the throne in a time of turmoil.

Of course, even in this, there was the Youngest Son’s consideration.

“At the very least, the Young Master has eliminated the problem of commercial power for me through you. To this end, he met with the merchant's guild several times to finish his assessment.”

“I see….”

William swallowed dryly.

Indeed, money was an indispensable part of state affairs.

It was an intractable problem that he had to grapple with headache-inducingly, as the people of the kingdom had suffered because of this money.

But the magnate, like a pro in the industry, untangled the twisted knots with a few gestures.

The budget proposal now on the desk was a neatly untangled thread.

“Please convey my thanks.”

“Would you convey my greetings as well? To Mercenary Captain Anthia, congratulations on becoming the Military Affairs Grand Officer.”

“Of course.”

“Then.”

William and Jubel parted ways.

***

The Mille Mercenary Company was disbanded as of today.

To be precise, it was incorporated.

It was incorporated into the Julsin Capital Kingdom Army’s Royal Guard.

Furthermore, Mercenary Captain Anthia became the Military Affairs Grand Officer and looked at its symbol, the Ceremonial Sword.

“This is really mine…?”

The man who was beside her, the Vice-Captain, who should now be called the Captain of the Royal Guard.

Abe was equally stunned.

“A Military Affairs Grand Officer in one fell swoop. A coup d'état. It's really worth doing.”

“…You idiot. We were just insanely lucky.”

“We-well, that’s true, but you know. A Military Affairs Grand Officer is someone who holds the military command of a nation.”

“……”

Summarized in one line like that, the weight of it settled heavily on her shoulders.

Moreover, it wasn't someone else's country.

It was the country of a comrade-in-arms with whom she had fought together on the border, however briefly.

It was the country of a benefactor who had saved a nobody who would have disappeared from the family without any decent influence.

Having achieved such success in a country filled with various forms of gratitude, she wanted to protect it at all costs, for the sake of that benefactor.

“Captain of the Royal Guard Abe. Let’s work hard.”

“I always work hard. I even sang the ‘Three Little Pigs’ song in front of people trembling before monsters.”

“…That must have been tough.”

“Oh, and did you see the report I submitted? The one about suspicious people approaching and trying to tear off flesh while we were burning the monster corpses.”

“That? Why?”

“I tried to catch them to find out, but the moment I approached, they slipped away as if they knew like a ghost. They seemed like sorcerers.”

“Hmm….”

“Should I report it to the Young Master?”

Anthia shook her head.

“I’ll do it.”

***

Eclipse, Dark Moon Grand Castle.

The master of the tower, who was usually cooped up in Hexa, came outside for a change.

This time, she had to.

The President had brought a new job, and it was no ordinary job.

“…My President's second-oldest brother is after me, and I am to take the Millesdusk Elder position just as that second-oldest brother wishes. Did I understand that correctly?”

It wasn't wrong.

But a few things had to be added.

“Lores, you will not die. I will not let that happen. Also, unlike the other great families, a Millesdusk Elder has next to no duties.”

The only regular duty was the Elder's meeting.

Even that could be missed by using personal research as an excuse.

From the beginning, the 10 Elders were a military force.

They would only step forward when the family got truly serious.

‘That won’t happen yet.’

Therefore, as long as she could avoid the Fourth Son's dagger, there was nothing to be wary of.

On the contrary, only benefits and advantages came into view.

“A Millesdusk Elder can freely use all of the family’s institutions, just like a direct blood relative, and can also create a new residence within the Pantheon.”

Was that all?

“Millesdusk actively supports and backs the Elders’ research. What does this mean?”

“…It means I can freely divert the great family's resources to Hexa.”

“Among those are funds, so Jubel's burden will also be reduced. You said you needed a lot of educational materials to train the Hexa councilors.”

“Yes. That's why I felt hesitant to keep asking. It's not just me, there's also Josephine from Belir.”

Both Hexa and Belir.

The term ‘money-eating hippos’ came to mind, as their investment costs were staggering.

It was even more so since Belir, following Hexa, had also started accepting trainees.

Although the situation had improved recently with a customer base called Dusk Citadel and the Julsin Kingdom, a new source of funds was always welcome.

A solid background like an Elder position was even better.

There were various advantages, but the most important thing was, of course, her own intention.

“Lores. What do you want to do?”

“It doesn't matter to me. Even if my life is targeted, I'm not someone who dies easily.”

Her slightly drooping eyes showed no stir.

The same went for her wavy, dark green hair that fell to her waist.

The 2nd Great Witch could treat a young direct blood relative as a nobody.

“It might be a little annoying, but. My President will take care of it and block him. You will, won't you.”

“Of course.”

“Kio and Halsin also seem comfortable within the forest that is my President. So I also have a responsibility to grow such a forest.”

Lores gave a small nod.

“I’ll try it. That Elder thing.”

“A good decision.”

Seeing the Vice-Patriarch before.

It seemed that as long as the applicant was highly qualified and showed enthusiasm, they would be chosen without much thought.

Of course, the selection of an Elder was not his sole authority.

But the other Elders would follow his opinion, and the Family Head had no grounds to refuse.

“You can do plenty of research for Hexa even within the Pantheon. In your spare time, you can come here and teach the councilors.”

“It will be so. If not, I can just use a puppet.”

“…A puppet, you say.”

For some reason, my ears perked up.

The Forest Witch’s puppet sorcery.

If handled well, something good might come out of it.

While I was lost in thought for a moment.

Knock, knock─

The Head Maid knocked on the door from outside.

“Young Master. A messenger has arrived from the family.”

The reason was as follows.

“They say they have come to deliver a reward and a handwritten letter personally bestowed by the Family Head.”

“I’ll go out.”

Putting on my coat, I looked back at Lores.

“Go to the Pantheon tomorrow. Whether you send a puppet or go yourself.”

“I’ll go myself. Still, I should show my face the first time for them to believe me.”

“When you’re done, could you also stop by the Execution Department?”

“Why there?”

“Because there’s a land-grabber who was wrongfully taken.”

Lores was silent for a moment, then.

She seemed to understand.

“…I think I get the gist. Yes. I’ll stop by.”

Nodding, I went outside.

The messenger from the family was in the reception room of the Dark Moon Grand Castle.

She was looking at the Butler with great interest in the reception room.

Her occasionally raised fingertips would approach the goat horns on either side of his head, then abruptly drop.

After repeating that act several times, the messenger asked the demon.

“Excuse me. May I touch them once?”

Her face pushed forward imposingly while she blinked her large, kitten-like eyes.

The Butler stepped back in bewilderment.

“Ah, no!”

“Oh, my. What a shame.”

The woman who had come as the Family Head's messenger smiled awkwardly.

Deudeudeudeuk─

Soon, the wall opened to the left and right.

“Y-Young Master!”

The Butler scampered over and hid behind his legs.

The demon, touching him through the cloth, was trembling slightly, uncharacteristically.

“That, that human woman is weird.”

“Oh my. The weird woman who is listening might get her feelings hurt.”

She did look weird at a glance, but.

For her to look weird in a demon’s eyes meant something different.

“That thing…! It’s a ghost…!”

“……”

Aigoo. Is that so, Marquis of the demon world.

You must have been scared.

“I get it, so go to the Head Maid.”

“B-be careful. She’s on a completely different level from a human pretending to be a ghost.”

“Yes. I understand very well.”

Amon left, rubbing his arms as if he still had goosebumps.

His short, rapidly crossing legs looked more like he was running away.

Kuuung─

The outer wall closed.

Only the ghost(?) and the bloodkin were left.

She was too distinct to be a ghost.

She wasn't using Spirit Sorcery’s shadow body like Lubosch did.

[That thing is a ghost?]

Even Enad posed a question, finding it hard to believe.

But I soon found out why the demon called her a ghost.

“Greetings, Fifth Son. My name is Ransis. I am the Family Head’s messenger.”

‘And her former job was Head Maid during the Family Head's succession contest.’

The unmentioned occupations were here in my head.

It seemed it wasn't just the Youngest Son; the messenger, true to her role, took out what she had to deliver.

From inside her own head.

Seueueuk─

[Crazy….]

Enad spat out a curse.

I almost did the same.

It was a performance that made one jump in surprise even if they knew it was coming.

Ransis’s hand passed through her head without resistance and pulled out a letter.

“The Family Head’s words are written here. Fifth Son, please receive it with due courtesy.”

Dante Black Millesdusk.

The direct bloodkin of the family knelt on one knee to receive the Family Head's letter and award.

The letter, moved from a human head to a hand, was freshly warm.

“I will deliver the award after you have read it all.”

If that's the case.

Seureureuk─

I broke the hydra-engraved sealing wax and took out the letter.

The letter’s content was short.

This letter, taken from her head, was written by the messenger based on her memory using magic power.

Didn't she forget something?

Such a reasonable doubt might arise, but after reading it, that thought was cleanly erased.

Thus, I looked up at her.

She, with a dimpled but shy smile.

With a moderate blush that didn't seem intentional.

“As you read in the letter.”

She tossed out words that could be misunderstood.

“The gift is me.”

The Youngest Son nodded and stood up.

“I see. Teacher.”

The letter that went down as I lowered my arm.

The stiff handwriting was saying.

[Among the bloodkin, you are the only one who has yet to receive the family sorcery education.]

The reason was my young age.

But here in Millesdusk, age was truly just a number.

The only thing that mattered was results.

[Dante, your achievement is something even the Elders could not do. Thus, I have sent the best teacher, one that no other bloodkin has been taught by. However, she is.]

“Teacher?”

[She is unreserved with others, so do not misunderstand.]

“Did she boil her manners in a stew and eat them?”

She was a teacher who was far too unreserved.

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