Chapter 423
Chapter 423. The Hero’s Brilliant Reasoning
Hello, it’s Hero Alexander.
…Wait, is it actually Demon Lord’s Prince Zilbagias?
Which one am I right now?
I look closely at my hands—it’s too dark to tell.
Not even my eyes can see through it.
A pitch-black, deep darkness…
“Why?”
From behind. A hoarse voice.
I try to turn around, but my body won’t move, as if it’s been paralyzed.
“Why did you kill me?”
A presence creeps closer.
Right behind me, it whispers in my ear.
“Why—did you kill me?”
It softly whispers.
Cold as ice, a hand grabs my neck—
†††
“…”
With my eyes half-open, I stared blankly at the bright ceiling, realizing that I had woken up.
The sun is high… and outside, it feels even livelier than usual.
“Mmm…”
As I moved my gaze, I saw Leila and Barbara engrossed in a board game on the opposite bed. Leila was staring intently at the board, while Barbara sat cross-legged in mid-air, deep in thought.
Thinking that my chest felt oddly empty, I noticed a rare sight: Antendeixis, in human form, munching on snacks while watching them.
“This is… it!”
After a long deliberation, Barbara pointed at a piece and swiftly moved it.
Since Barbara, being a spirit, found it challenging to make physical contact, Antendeixis moved the piece instead.
“Mmm. Then… I’ll do this.”
Leila quickly countered, causing Barbara to smack her forehead in realization.
“Oh no! The hero and the prince!!”
“Hehehe♪ Now you have to choose which one to sacrifice♪”
“Nooooo!!”
Barbara clutched her head and flipped over in mid-air. Just then, our eyes locked.
“Oh, you finally woke up. Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
I smiled and sat up.
“Good morning! You must have been quite tired.”
“That’s unusual for you. Well, I guess it isn’t for your current form.”
Leila smiled cheerfully as Antendeixis licked her fingers after snacking and returned to my side after reverting from her human form.
Yeah. This pressure feels familiar.
“Is it already past noon?”
I poked my head out the window and looked up at the sky, shocked by how the sun had shifted.
“Wow, I really overslept. We were supposed to set sail in the evening, right?”
“Yes. However, you were sleeping so soundly that we decided to let you rest until the last minute.”
“I see… Thanks. Must have been really tired.”
Physically and mentally. I even had a bad dream… What kind of dream was it again? I seem to have forgotten.
That sensation of memories fading away—
It feels so familiar. I wish I could forget it all.
—Then, in a flurry, we packed our things. This evening, the NeedAlun is set to depart for the next town.
“But departing in the evening is unusual, right? Isn’t it usually early in the morning?”
While Barbara floated nearby, we folded clothes and repacked bags.
“It is unusual to depart early morning. But this time, the next destination is only about half a day away, and it’s a rocky area. So it’s better to arrive during daylight.”
“Oh, if we left early, we’d arrive in the evening when it’s dangerous.”
“Exactly. They’re adjusting to arrive in the morning.”
“I see.”
As we chatted, we quickly wrapped up our packing and checked out of the inn to grab a meal at a nearby tavern.
But when we stepped outside… well, it was something else…
“Long live the Duchy!”
“Long live Duke Oranio!”
“Glory to the Hamilton Duchy!”
The town was in a festive uproar. It felt like a little festival was happening, with the tavern already overflowing with drinkers even in the daytime.
“What’s going on? Is there some kind of festival today?”
“Hey, bro, you don’t know??”
An older, red-faced man at the next table answered my muttering.
“Apparently, that wicked Deputy Edingo got fired!! And the chairman of the Ark Deacon Trading Company is headed to jail with him! So everyone’s celebrating!”
“Huh, really?!”
I was shocked. I had been curious about the wicked deputy and the corrupt trading company chairman, but this sudden turn was astonishing! Ohanna’s family business, the Tamikusa Trading Company, had been burdened with outrageous debt, which was due for repayment today… What on earth happened?
“How did this come to be? What happened?”
“Listen and be amazed! The wicked deputy was dismissed in the name of Duke Oranio…!”
In the name of the duke…? Current Duke Oranio, huh?
“Well, this all started this morning when the Ark Deacon Trading Company brought in the guards to the Tamikusa Trading Company to demand they hand over everything from their store to their house and warehouse materials as debt payment…”
The red-faced man, enthusiastically drinking ale, recounted the story. He seemed drunk, making it somewhat hard to follow, but the summary came out like this:
—This morning, the Ark Deacon Trading Company showed up at Tamikusa with guards, demanding all their assets in repayment for the debt with exorbitant interest rates!
The Tamikusa side rejected it outright, claiming the contract with the predatory rates was forged. The Ark Deacon Trading Company, disregarding this, sent the guards to forcibly drag out the employees.
But just then, a stop was called.
“The one who stepped in was a mysterious old man claiming to be Gautam Milt…!”
Milt’s Old Man made his appearance!
I had suspected he was involved, given he had sent out that suspicious-looking woman for investigation.
Nevertheless, the old man stood firm before the guards, asserting that the contract was falsified and presented undeniable evidence of the collusion between the deputy and the Ark Deacon chairman.
The Ark Deacon Trading Company dismissed this with a scoff, but then, for some reason, the deputy rushed to the scene in a panic, demanding that the guards detain the old man and his group.
—Thus began a great commotion. The guards, relying on their numbers, attempted to subdue the old man and his group, but they were surprisingly strong. The companions (likely Shuken and Kirk) were throwing the guards around, and even the old man himself reportedly tossed several guards aside.
And when most of the guards lost their fighting spirit, one companion brandished another document, and magically, the national emblem was projected in the air—
“Then bam! Suddenly, the Lord’s soldiers and knights rushed in and clobbered the deputy and chairman, restraining them!!”
At that moment, it was declared in the name of the duke that the wicked deputy was dismissed, that Edingo’s decision was questioned, and that proceedings were frozen while a new deputy was appointed to re-examine past judgments.
“So, Ohanna’s family no longer has to pay interest!”
The decision made by the wicked deputy that the Ark Deacon Trading Company’s contract was valid was suspended, so there was no immediate repayment needed. Moreover, the chairman of the Ark Deacon had been captured, leaving no one to collect the debt. The Ark Deacon Trading Company, having lost its chairman unexpectedly, was now likely in chaos.
Hence, Ohanna’s family was saved, the villains were punished, and it turned out to be a happy ending… assuming we can overlook the next deputy possibly working themselves to death.
“Wow, I was there as a bystander starting from midway! That magical light emblem was definitely the royal family’s mark! I can’t believe that old man’s true identity is—”
“Hey, everyone!!”
Suddenly, the tavern owner’s shout drowned out the man’s words.
I saw the owner rolling in a barrel of ale from the back.
“It’s a happy day! To commemorate, ale will be free refills today!!”
““…Wooohhhhh!!””
The tavern erupted with cheers from the drinkers at the owner’s generous announcement, nearly bursting my eardrums.
The man I had been listening to also dashed off with a mug in hand—
“I thought it was noisy outside…”
Meanwhile, Leila nods, elegantly eating her lunch amidst the commotion.
“And even in the midst of such noise, you were snoring away.”
I see. I must have really been tired.
Still, while I was asleep, such a whirlwind of events unfolded…
The old man held all the keys. His overly confident demeanor when he took on Ohanna’s case, the exceptionally skilled bodyguards, and that clearly competent woman accompanying him—
Ah, all my questions are resolved!
I remember! It was in a book Sophia made me read when she was teaching me years ago!
The true identity of Milt’s Old Man is—
A high-ranking official dispatched directly from the king to monitor the provinces!!!
“What’s that?”
It’s a system well-documented in history. Officials sent from the central authority to prevent corruption in local areas.
It’s often found in vast countries where central control is weak, but it’s not unusual for a small nation like the Hamilton Duchy to adopt such a system…
When looking back at history, the Hamilton Duchy would have surely been formed from the neighboring Kaizaan Empire, so it wouldn’t be surprising to inherit such systems from them.
And the current Duke Oranio is hardly supported by the citizens. Given the unstable political situation within the country, he is likely dispatching monitors to tackle civic unrest and eliminate corruption.
Shuken, Kirk, and Gizelle, who are clearly involved in intelligence operations—they must all be officials connected to the duchy. And Milt’s Old Man is probably a retired veteran now. At his age, for a beastman to be so insistent on martial prowess is certainly no ordinary feat.
He’s likely trusted by the royal family and has been appointed as a monitor to alleviate the political instability…
“Well, thinking about it that way, it kind of makes sense.”
“I see, so that was the case!”
“I thought he wasn’t an ordinary person.”
Sharing my conclusion with Antendeixis and the others, our leisurely late lunch came to an end.
We carried our bags toward the port. The sun was starting to set, and I didn’t want to get left behind on the NeedAlun.
On the way, I casually glanced at the Tamikusa Trading Company.
—Ohanna and her father were happily cleaning their store with their employees. They’d faced constant harassment, receiving filth thrown at them and having to deal with endless cleaning, but… they had finally been freed.
Considering I hadn’t done much, it felt a bit presumptuous to say anything, so I just passed by.
Ah, lately, it’s only been grim happenings, so it’s pleasant to see the villains swept away!
“Sure, the city’s sickness hasn’t all disappeared, but it’s definitely better than before.”
Exactly!
—With that, I happily boarded the NeedAlun.
“Listen up, you all! Make sure to maintain the ‘usual routine’!”
““Aye!””
I noticed the captain was surprisingly giving a speech. The crew seemed a bit tense, too.
What’s going on? With rocky waters awaiting us, perhaps they’re more on edge than usual?
First, I placed my luggage in my cabin and went separate ways with Leila. As usual, I headed to my regular spot on the deck, where I noticed Arthur waving cheerfully while leaning against the rail.
“Hey, Alexander! Have you heard about the recent incident?”
“Oh… the deputy and the trading company?”
“Yup. I was shocked… who would’ve thought it would end like this?”
Arthur flicked his hair back playfully. Honestly, I was just as surprised.
“Oh, do you want this?”
“I’ll take that.”
Arthur offered me a drink he had magically chilled, mixed with lemon juice. Just then, I was pretty thirsty, so I gratefully accepted.
We leaned against the rail, enjoying a moment to watch the sky turn crimson.
“It was a bold move they couldn’t have made by the Holy Church…”
“Exactly! I was present at the scene, and you wouldn’t believe it.”
Wow, Arthur seems pretty strong too; he must’ve been running around all night like me.
“I was asleep this whole time, just hearing about it now.”
“Haha, yesterday was tough! The bishop was so energized we saw him flop down for a long sleep! I went to greet him before departure, but he looked dead to the world, totally unresponsive.”
Seeing him not move, I put my hand over his nose to check if he was breathing, Arthur laughs.
“That’s a masterpiece.”
True, the bishop was quite active last night. Although he was all energetic, it must have been tough for an old man.
…Speaking of old men.
“Um, just to clarify, I might be mistaken, so I want to check. The true identity of Milt’s Old Man is… that of the duke’s?”
A high-ranking official, tasked to supervise regions?
“Exactly. He’s the king’s.”
Arthur solemnly affirms.
“Hiding his identity… monitoring regional corruption, making corrections when necessary.”
“Yes, precisely.”
“I knew it~~~!”
“But, you shouldn’t say this too loudly.”
Arthur hushes me with a finger to his lips.
“…Is it bad if it becomes too famous?”
“That’s right! There’s an aspect of appealing to the populace, but if it gets too widely known, it loses its surprise element; managing that is tricky…”
“Oh, I see.”
“It’s said that they issued a decree to avoid unnecessary attention. But, of course, some will share, so it should balance out just right.”
Got it! So that’s why when I listened to conversations on the street, everyone seemed to be vague and indirect; it didn’t quite add up!
“It’s clearly well thought out. The current duke seems to be quite unpopular, making a lot of efforts to turn things around.”
“Yeah. Hmmm? …Right?”
Arthur tilts his head as if something was slightly off.
Huh? Did I say something wrong?
“Well, regardless, given he’s putting himself on the line at such an age… that’s something.”
“That’s for sure.”
Milt’s Old Man gives such a powerful impression, rivaling that of the bishop.
I find myself weak against types like that, driven by a sense of mission! I can’t help but feel a connection!
“—Hoo hoo hoo. I won’t lose to any young whippersnappers yet.”
Suddenly, a bright voice comes from behind. Whoa, seriously!?
I turn around to find none other than Milt’s Old Man standing there!
“Oh, excuse me…”
Arthur hastily set down his lemon water, becoming overly formal. The old man smiled warmly, telling him to relax.
“Why are you on this ship, Old Man?”
“Well, we are also heading to the next destination by ship. And the route of this ship was just right.”
He stroked his beard as he spoke steadily. He had such a calming presence that eased others naturally.
What a coincidence, to be sailing together… It seems like something is bound to happen in the next town!
“By the way, is it true that you tossed guards around at the scene?”
His beastman companion, Hien, seems to hold him in such respect…
“Ha ha! Well, just about four or five.”
“I saw it in person, and it was astounding…”
Arthur nodded deeply, and took a swig of his lemon water with a relaxed demeanor.
“Honestly, I can’t believe I was just a bystander. It’s hard to believe I was so carefree…”
“Ah, don’t worry; you didn’t lose out to those lowlifes, so it’s fine.”
He laughed heartily, genuinely enjoying himself as Milt’s Old Man. I understand how Arthur feels.
To laugh and be carefree at his age, it must be easy to want to be like him… I found myself smiling bitterly, realizing my smile was far too bittersweet.
“Old man… I know you can handle yourself, but…”
“Don’t overexert yourself, alright? You need to take care of yourself.”
I patted the old man’s shoulder lightly.
“What!? Bwah!!”
And for some weird reason, Arthur beside me guffawed and sprayed out his lemon water.
Huh??
What just happened???
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Next time: “What did I do?”
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