139
Why do you keep doing this
‘Step by step.’
Fullfoot pressed his temples and checked the front.
Nova, whose eyes were dim as if she was tired, was still organizing a pile of papers with a cold expression on his face.
Just seeing the paper divided as if it had been measured accurately gave me a sense of confidence.
Adela, heavily armed, sitting across from him.
In front of Adela was a yellow piece of paper with the words ‘Adela’ written in large letters on it.
Yet, he had a very dignified and confident face.
I don’t know why she unsheathed her sword and placed it on the table, but Adela was filling Gerel’s place admirably.
There were some shortcomings with the two of them-.
‘There’s also Kanna.’
Because the table was high, only her round face was visible, but her face was relaxed and untroubled.
“Chief Kanna, you don’t have to be nervous. Just do as you did at Namaiyad and it will be enough. We at Namaiyad are together.”
Adolf, who seemed more nervous.
“Would you like to try this?”
Even Sheriff William, who makes a tongue-lashing sound that makes you frown just by hearing it.
‘···It’s okay. It’s okay.’
Fullfoot opened his mouth, trying hard to suppress his rapidly rising anxiety.
“What are you talking about, Marquis Ethan? Isn’t Marquis Ethan from the Kingdom of Byzant?”
Fullfoot took out the most questionable point first.
As the Empire occupied most of the continent, there were quite a few nobles from the kingdom.
Among them, the Kingdom of Byzantro was famous for having withstood the Empire for the longest period of time.
I heard that after the kingdom fell, he received a marquisate and turned his troops into a mercenary force…
‘···Why are you writing to me?’
Because it was located on the western side of the continent, it could be seen as the end of the continent with Cassidy.
There can’t be any connection, so why are you suddenly sending me a letter?
“It’s just a social letter, without much content.”
Nova answered monotonously and handed over the letter.
Of course, Fullfoot knew this too. He read it first and handed it over to Nova.
‘···I’m going crazy.’
Count Behar alone was enough to cause such a fuss, and now the Marquis is suddenly sending a letter.
‘No. It’s far. Don’t be too scared.’
Fullfoot slowly reasoned, trying to suppress his rising worry.
If it was necessary to send a friendly letter to Cassadic, then Vivian was the only one to do so.
‘······Is that it?’
Sure, Vivian was beautiful enough to be called the flower of the East, but was she worthy of sending a letter from a Marquis on the other side of the continent?
“I’ll write a separate reply later.”
I was surprised by the high rank of Marquis, but seeing as there was nothing special about it, it wasn’t something to worry about right away.
“Yes, the following is a notice of the visit of Cardinal Gobert.”
‘······cardinal?!’
Nova spoke clearly, emphasizing her pronunciation.
Cardinal, you say-.
“why?!”
This time I couldn’t hold it in any longer and asked back in a loud voice.
It couldn’t be helped that the cardinal was the person directly below the Pope in the religious order.
In some ways, it was a higher position than a Marquis. Of course, there was no direct hierarchy between the religious order and the empire, but they had no choice but to be mindful of each other.
“It seems like a visit related to the recent heresy. It seems like they’re not just stopping at Cassidy, but are patrolling the entire eastern end where the heresy has emerged.”
Pulpouts let out a small sigh of relief at Nova’s subsequent answer.
‘Heresy···.’
It has long been known that the church is oversensitive to heresy, but even so, is it possible for a cardinal-level official to take direct action?
‘It seems that the heresy in the East is serious.’
If a cardinal himself was moving, it was clearly not an ordinary heresy.
It seemed like I could have responded a little more aggressively in case something unexpected happened.
The cardinal was visiting, and if even one heretic appeared, it would be unmanageable. The surrounding castles would surely be in chaos.
“I’ll write a response to that later. Then I’ll have to come up with additional measures against heresy. I’ll have to call in someone from the religious community about that…”
“I have already called Priest Blian.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Nova answered.
‘As expected from Nova.’
Nova gestured as Pulpouts nodded.
One of his maids went out.
A little later, a priest came in with a maid, a person I had never seen before.
Nova clearly said he was Priest Blian, but he was completely different from the Priest Blian I remembered.
Priest Blian was a fat and greedy man, as expected of a priest, with bags under his eyes.
But the priest who had just entered was very thin, as if he had never eaten meat in his life, and his face was swollen and cracked.
He looked like someone who had been trapped and escaped.
“···Priest Blian?”
“It’s been a while. I came because you called.”
The voice and tone were exactly like that of Priest Blian.
‘What on earth is going on···.’
As soon as Priest Blian entered, he looked around like he was being chased, then sighed deeply and sat down.
“···I have called you to talk about heresy. Cardinal Gobert is visiting. Do you know anything about this?”
Fullputs asked without much expectation, knowing full well how useless Priest Blian was.
Priest Blian was exactly like a priest. He was the kind of guy who would eat moderately and then wipe his mouth and pretend to be clean in front of others. He was a typical priest.
“Cardinal Gobert is a person who is famous for his high virtue in the religious world. He is also fearless and is the most active person against heresy. I heard that the reason he was recommended as a cardinal was that he eradicated a major heresy when the position of cardinal became vacant.”
‘···?’
However, Priest Blian’s answer was completely different from what Pulpouts had expected.
‘Was this the kind of man he was? Clearly···.’
If it was Blian, as Fullfoot remembered, he would have been trying to find a way to get money while poking around, but his answer was cleaner than expected.
“I…I see.”
Fullfoot responded curtly, embarrassed.
“The sun is shining on your path… Ah! Me! Ahem….”
Blian, who had been muttering naturally, suddenly became startled and let out a strange sound effect.
“···Then do you have any advice for me regarding heresy?”
Pulpouts, who was looking at him, asked quietly.
“You can kill a demon and it’s over, but once heresy seeps in, you can’t tell how far it has spread. If things go wrong, you could end up having to judge all the residents of the castle.”
A smooth answer that doesn’t suit Blian.
Pulpouts, who had been looking at Blian like that for a while, nodded.
“I guess I’ll have to find a way to strengthen it further by working with the Inquisitors. Thanks.”
Even though the order to evacuate guests had been issued, Blian hesitated. It seemed as if he had something to say…
‘It’s money after all.’
There had been several times before when he had asked for donations. Of course, Pulpouts had paid a reasonable amount each time.
At this point, I was about to take out my pocket because I felt like I deserved this much information.
“Would you mind if I have a light meal before I go? Maybe with some wine?”
Blian’s request was beyond Pulpout’s expectations. Even though it was a trivial request, Blian asked with a rather earnest expression.
‘The two most troubling things have been somewhat alleviated.’
Fullfoot nodded willingly. Then the maid took Blian out.
At that moment, Kanna raised her hand.
“Your Majesty, Kanna has something to say.”
Then the sheriff suddenly stands up and speaks out.
The table was so high that I could barely see Kanna’s face, but it felt a bit too much.
“Okay, let me tell you, Administrator.”
Pulpouts gestured while pressing his temples.
“The recent ban on heresy has increased the workload of the guards. We must also prepare countermeasures for this.”
A voice so sharp it was hard to believe it was a child’s, and an ice figure on the table. It was Aaron, crushing someone’s head.
‘···Is this a complaint about Aaron’s late arrival from work?’
Pulpouts nodded, pressing his temple at the ice figure that seemed to be staring at him.
***
“No, big brother, if you do this, what are we going to eat and live on? Isn’t this too much?! Shouldn’t we step aside?!”
I silenced the complaining weasel by pressing the button on its head.
As the weasel said, the lord now completely locked the castle gate.
Because the salary was so meager, it was a huge loss for the guards who had to rely on tips from the carriage drivers.
Of course, as always, I found the answer.
“Those who failed in trading, come this way.”
Not all of the items brought by the carriage drivers from Yeongju were purchased.
Since they only bought what was absolutely necessary, there were quite a few carriage drivers who returned home without selling anything.
If they had come all the way to the outskirts of Cassadick and had to carry it back without selling it, it was not a loss for the wagon drivers.
However, since the strings have already been created, it will be difficult to change the distribution channel.
At my shout, the carriage drivers with sullen faces lined up with a look of anticipation.
There were quite a lot of them. Since the merchant cartmen did not bring unsold goods, if you bought them, they would eventually sell.
Of course, it was not something I needed as a lord, but for me, who had a lot of gold left over, it was a worthwhile investment.
“It’s wool! These sheep, as they run around in the meadows, are watered periodically by the shepherd, so they’re very fluffy···.”
The coachman at the very front gave a long explanation about the origin of wool, his eyes sparkling.
Most of the explanations were useless. An uncivilized medieval man would have fallen for it, but it was out of the question for me.
Where in the world would a sheep not run and play in the meadows?
“Okay, how much?”
He cut the bastard off and asked.
Then, the guy’s face suddenly became complicated. He was in a situation where he couldn’t sell, but he seemed to be thinking about profit even at this moment, as a businessman.
That face was quite annoying.
“40 Cooper each… I think a total of 16 Silver would be enough. Hehe.”
The guy laughed, rubbing his hands together.
I wondered if it was the right price, but just looking at the bastard’s face, it seemed like it wasn’t true at all.
“Hey-! You didn’t even wash it and it’s a mess?! This is a waste of 15 coppers for one!”
Hannah, who had been chattering beside me while bringing me beer, pointed to the wool and said.
“Ah… no! What is this woman talking about! What a precious piece of wool this is! She’s crazy!”
“You bastard! How dare you do that to my mother!”
As soon as the man started swearing, the weasel started screaming strangely and rushed at him.
The weasel shook the coachman’s head for a long time and then threw it aside.
“Oh my god! I’m dying! I’m dying!”
The cartman, who had been rolling on the floor, groaned as he watched me.
“He’s dead? Then let’s clean up and just take the wool.”
As I spoke with a smile, the startled carriage driver jumped up and threw up both his hands.
“I’m alive! Anyway! 15 Cooper is ridiculous! I said I should get at least 30 Cooper!”
“If you don’t like it, then don’t say anything.”
Although he made his point with spit flying, it was an unbalanced deal from the start.
He must be a pretty backward carriageman if he came all the way to Cassadic, and I felt bad for him just leaving with a loss, so I thought I would help him, but I didn’t necessarily intend to buy him.
It wasn’t me who was disappointed.
“No-! Wait! Look here! That… Then 25 Cooper! No more!”
“Clear it. Next.”
In dealing with these carriage drivers, it was necessary to keep one’s wits about oneself at the outset.
Although Hannah seemed to know the market price quite well, she couldn’t know everything, so she had to be aware that she would actually lose if she got caught fooling around.
The carriage driver, who had been shouting something, was hit on the back of the head by a weasel and fell forward.
The weasel put the guy in his carriage and even covered him with wool. He was quite considerate.
Could it be because one of the carriage drivers was fast asleep?
The expressions on the waiting carriage drivers’ faces became mysterious.
Some of them were seen turning back.
There was no need to catch those guys.
“This… This is an oil candle. If you light it, you can walk around at night as if it were day! I’ll charge you three coppers for each one!”
Candles were not a bad item to buy because you could use them or sell them at some point.
“······2 Cooper.”
Hannah whispered softly in my ear.
‘Anyway, even in this situation···.’
I clicked my tongue and glared at the carriage driver.
“······2 Cooper Van! No more!”
The price went down on its own, probably because it was scared by my gaze, but it was still higher than the amount Hana had mentioned.
“One Cooper each. Buy them all. If you don’t like it, don’t worry.”
“Ah… no! You bastard! If you sell candles for 1 copper, what am I supposed to eat?”
“Eat the bread. If you don’t like it, go somewhere else and buy it.”
I waved my hand firmly.
Then Hannah stepped forward and whispered something to him.
“No matter what! It’s really something you should receive at least 2 Cooper!”
The guy started yelling, but he quickly became quiet when Hannah pointed at me and said something.
“Okay, okay. 1 Cooper and a half… Ugh.”
“I thought about it carefully. I thought it would be best to get this sorted out quickly.”
Hannah nodded to me, patting the guy on the shoulder.
“Kehehe! You idiot! How dare you overcharge our big brother! You should be thankful your head didn’t get pulled out!”
The weasel, now covered in wool all over its body, was laughing loudly at the man.
I took out my pocket and paid the money.
“···Big brother? That’s my pocket···.”
The weasel that had been laughing loudly soon became quiet.
“Okay, next guest!”
Hannah put the candle aside and smiled brightly, waving her hand.
Because his face looked so innocent, the carriage drivers who had been hesitating quickly approached him.
When we finished dealing with Hannah and headed back, everyone’s steps were weak.
***
“There are too many sheep?”
Hana muttered as she looked at the pile of items on one side of the gate.
“It’s all for sale, but I think the situation in the East is worse than I thought.”
I nodded at Hannah’s words.
There were quite a few people who sold them even though the price was slashed quite a bit.
I heard that not only Cassady but also other places had strengthened security, so it seemed like Cassady was the Maginot Line.
The three men of Hogu diligently loaded the cart with goods. Their faces were filled with the smiles of workers sweating with satisfaction.
“If the security checks are strengthened, carriages without a seal won’t be allowed to pass.”
Winter has come to the carriage drivers.
Of course, the merchants will somehow survive.
“A sentence··· A sentence··· If you talk nicely to Nova···. Hmm···.”
Hannah muttered and gently pushed her body.
After all the carriage drivers had returned, a group of people approached the empty city gate.
‘···Brock Lesnar? Are you done already?’
It was Brock Lesnar with better armor than before.
Moreover, it seemed that he had been treated well in Karzan, as his appearance had improved. Or perhaps he had tasted blood as much as he wanted.
There was even a large carriage behind it that looked like it would cost quite a lot of money.
There was blood everywhere, making its source highly suspicious, but there was no way that Brock Lesnar, the ninth star, would commit robbery.
Perhaps Dante had sent a luxury carriage that had lost its owner in an unfortunate accident.
“Master! I’m back. Karzan is a very nice place.”
Brock Lesnar greeted him with a cool smile.
It was a greeting that seemed like it was from a trip, but there were red marks here and there on the armor.
‘It’s become ambiguous.’
With Cassidy under lockdown, it was difficult to get them in.
In such a tight situation, it was most important not to allow exceptions.
“I’m craving that cold beer I had last time.”
“Hold on a second! I’ll get it to you right away! Zenta! Brown! Can you get me some iced beer? A whole bottle!”
A bunch of guys were sitting in the makeshift market. Looking at him from the side, they looked like really rough guys.
“Hmm, hmm, hmm···.”
Hannah walked around diligently, mumbling something over and over again.
However, as the saying goes, the day you leave is a market day.
“Beautiful ninth star! Here you are! Become one soul with me!”
“I am already a sex slave.”
“No! Who would dare to turn the beautiful ninth star into a sex slave!”
A man with a moderately dark complexion and a moderately large body, as befitting a desert dweller, looked at me and shouted.
I was momentarily silent as I listened to the skit-like conversation between the desert guys that I hadn’t heard in a long time.
“Oh my! Aaron, the one who ruined the kingdom! He’s still alive!”
It was a familiar face, but I couldn’t remember the name.
There was no need to talk at length, so I went straight to the main point.
“Damn it! I’m losing! I admit defeat! From now on, I, the nineteenth star, am Aaron’s sex slave!”
‘It was the nineteenth.’
It seemed like useless rumors would increase.
“It’s okay. Aaron’s sex slavery isn’t so bad either.”
“Ice beer! If I had known there was such a thing, I would have gone to the Empire a long time ago.”
“It’s free for Aaron’s sex slaves. See over there? That woman is the mistress, and she keeps making ice beer.”
‘I need to think of a way to deal with this.’
Because the desert accent still remained, the conversation sounded somewhat naive and stupid.
I couldn’t help but frown at the stupid conversation that was so annoying just listening to it.
Including the ones who just joined, there were fourteen.
Fourteen warriors, armed and covered in the scent of blood, could never be allowed into the castle.
Even the Flying Baron wouldn’t understand.
“Arong, Arong. I have a good idea!”
Hanna greeted the guys by handing out ice-cold beer and clapped her hands.
“Since it’s come to this! Let’s set the table!”
Hannah’s eyes looking at me shone brighter than when she opened a large bar.
“······top?”
Even when she opened a large bar, I felt that Hannah’s ambition was different.
***
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
At the sound of a hard knock, Nova spoke without taking her eyes off the paper.
The sound of the door opening slightly was followed by a familiar voice.
“Sister Nova, aren’t you feeling hungry?”
Nova raised her head at the sweet smell.
There, Hannah was holding a cake and smiling brightly.
“what?”
Nova asked, wary of that smile.
“Oh, I came to see my sister. Since my sister doesn’t come out of the inner chamber very often, I have no choice but to come see her.”
It was a friendly voice, but it was clear that he was after something.
We weren’t close enough to come here like this.
Nova glanced at the cake in front of her and turned her gaze away.
“I don’t like sweet things.”
“Oh, that’s right! My mind is…!”
Nova didn’t turn off the light of the border, but Hannah still smiled brightly.
“There were people who came to see Aaron today. Did you hear that the mercenaries came before?”
“uh.”
The tone was ambiguous, whether asking or speculating. Nova nodded.
‘I heard that the mercenary force left right after that… and they came again?’
It was a number that exceeded ten. From what I heard, they were not random mercenaries, but proper people.
It was obvious that it would be awkward for the lord, Pulpouts. However, since he had just left, it passed without any problems, so he came back again…
‘This is a headache.’
No matter how friendly Fullfoot was to Aaron, there was a line.
Armed forces exceeding ten have clearly crossed the line.
From Fullfoot’s perspective, even if Aaron didn’t show any greed, he couldn’t help but be wary.
“There are even some new ones. They all have iron armor on their bodies, so they look like they’re not ordinary people. I heard they’re really good at fighting!”
Nova squinted her eyes to see what Hannah meant. Hannah was still smiling brightly.
“so?”
Nova leaned back, feeling a strange discomfort.
“Aaron must be having a hard time figuring out what to do. Didn’t they recently put Cassidy under lockdown?”
Even if it was a lockdown, if you had told me, I would have found a solution somehow.
Sure, there would be noise, but Aaron was louder than the noise.
The problem started after I sent it in.
“so?”
“Once a lockdown is imposed, it’s going to be quite tricky, right?”
A conversation that goes round and round like a smile. Nova’s eyes narrowed even more, in contrast to Hannah’s eyes that drew a line.
“so?”
“Aaron’s overflowing manpower and the awkward blockade. Still, we have to maintain relations somehow… But there’s no real upper class in Cassadic… I heard it’s been hard to get materials lately. I’m starting to realize how important the upper class is.”
Nova was able to understand Hannah’s intentions through her lingering explanation.
“You want to set up a top with Aaron’s troops? At a time like this? No, since you came to me, it seems you need more than just permission, but the emblem of the Fullfoot family.”
Knock, knock. Nova’s fingers quickly tapped the table. Hannah’s eyes widened even more as if it was the right answer.
It was a truly thick-skinned smile.
“A strong Aaron top? Also, since there is no top in Cassidy, wouldn’t it be nice to have one? Not only me, but others have often talked about tops.”
After that, a strangely jarring explanation followed.
Nova’s brow furrowed in discomfort and annoyance, but now she was a secretary.
I couldn’t let my emotions mess up things.
From Cassidy’s perspective, Hannah’s offer was more than tempting.
He’s opening up a business route by turning the troublesome mercenary force outside while holding it inside. And on top of that, he’s asking me to borrow his sentences…
‘···I’m sure you know what it means to borrow the Fullfoot family’s crest.’
There was a situation where other saints were walking and locking the gates.
The need for a superior has grown even more so at times like these, as it is unknown how long the standoff with heresy will last.
But there was no upper class that settled in Cassadic. It was just a place where you would stop by Cassadic while visiting other castles.
As things stand, it seems clear that Cassidy’s growth will continue. The letters pouring in prove it.
If a top tier is created centered around such a Cassadic, then growth is guaranteed.
‘Borrowing a sentence means paying a price for it.’
The difference between having a noble’s emblem on the top and not having one was enormous. One noble’s emblem alone guaranteed one’s status.
Additionally, if you were to turn the mercenary force to the upper ranks of the Pulptu family, it would be good for maintaining the tension and balance between Pulptu and Aaron.
However, Hannah’s eye smile was really annoying.
‘I am a scribe.’
Nova took a deep breath and calmed her mind.
“Good. What are the conditions?”
“I don’t know how to write. Can you write it for me, Sister Nova? Aaron said I could leave it to Sister Nova.”
“Aaron said that? Then should I invest a little too?”
This time, Hannah’s eyes hardened, while Nova’s mouth corners went up.
***
“······Top? Why?”
Pulpouts forgot about his pride and asked out loud.
Following the sewer, they are now going to build the upper level as well.
Of course, the need for the above was beyond question.
Plus, the terms written on the paper were so good.
It’s as if they’ve been waiting for this, they’ve prepared everything for you and all you have to do is lend me the sentences!
It was said that you can eat the fruit even without sowing the seeds or plowing the field.
It was a condition that anyone would welcome, unless they were a person with a knife stuck in their head.
Pulpouts was saddened by the great conditions he had been given in exchange for lending him just one sentence.
Because I had no choice but to agree.
No, come to think of it, there was one.
“Ah, it’s definitely a good condition… but there’s no seal. A seal is absolutely essential for this kind of thing.”
Pullputs took a deep breath and answered.
So many good things happened one after another that I couldn’t come to my senses.
At times like these, a little rest was needed.
“Hiccup! Hiccup!”
Vivian, who was waiting to have lunch together, started hiccuping.
***
‘My head hurts.’
Razbeth muttered, looking down at the paper with dull eyes.
Although I declared my intention to create an information guild, nothing changed.
I was somehow able to collect information by connecting with informants, but capital was the problem.
Besides, there’s no point in selling information in a remote castle like this.
“That… Razbet? If we continue like this, we’re doomed. And we’re doomed.”
I felt a surge of anger at Gillian’s words, but I tried to hold it in and suppress my anger.
A few days ago, I couldn’t stand it anymore and hit her, causing Gillian to run away from home.
However, no matter how much of a jerk he was, the difference between two and one was very big.
In this situation, it was impossible to find anyone who could read and write, so Razbet had no choice but to give in.
‘Why is that kid taking turns eating his bread?’
Every single action, every word that comes out of his mouth is hateful, but what can I do? He’s the only one around me.
“Then should I make it worse? Okay?”
Razbeth answered, smiling so much that his molars were showing.
When she speaks to herself, she smiles so much that her molars are visible. That was Gillian’s negotiation condition.
“I always think about it, but Razbeth’s teeth are really yellow. Hehe.”
Ugh-. Razbeth’s palm opened wide. However, he managed to regain consciousness at the last moment.
“Isn’t there a saying? If you’re going to sell shoes, sell them to nobles! Aren’t there nobles in Cassadic? And the East is dangerous these days. Wouldn’t it be easier to ask the lord for help? There are many guilds that started out as nobles.”
Although his speech was harsh and his face was unpleasant, he was quite persuasive.
‘······Nova, that woman was quite smart.’
She was a woman who had often bought information about Aaron and other things before. She must have known the importance of information.
Moreover, if it went under the nobility, it was clear that the White Leaf Guild would not be able to come forward recklessly.
‘This is worth a try.’
Razbeth stood up from his seat, gathering the information he thought Cassidy might need.
“Two loaves of bread when you come!”
However, at the sound of a nasty voice coming from inside, Razbeth’s legs momentarily gave out.
