I’ll Cover You
“Would it make things easier if I converted that bastard?”
As you know, my lord, the degree of conversion rises in proportion to the EP consumed. Shrakhim has a rotten character, and he already bears a grudge against you over what just happened. To bring his conversion to 100, it would take 200 EP.
“What? 200?”
His remaining EP stood at 310.
“It’s a shame to dump precious EP into some precious idiot like that.”
Ho-yeong frowned.
“But does it really have to be maxed out? Can’t I just fill it halfway?”
For example, if Shrakhim’s conversion reached 20, he would not pressure Baron Kihara, but he would strongly demand the immediate withdrawal of the dispatch force.
“Hmm. I don’t like the idea of just sending him off. Taking the money and then running off without doing the job? That’s not on. I need to work him for the duration of the contract.”
Are you concerned about losing labor rather than losing troops?
“Is there even a point in separating troops from labor? If you’re holding a shovel, you’re a worker. If you’re holding a sword, you’re a soldier.”
But there was a problem larger than manpower loss.
If you let Shrakhim’s demand stand, the Kihara Barony will come to disregard Tamer Territory in the future. Moreover, the conversion of the territory’s residents will also drop.
“Hmm? I can follow the first part, but what’s the second part supposed to mean?”
The residents have frequently clashed with Shrakhim because of his habitual sabotage and lax conduct. Furthermore, word of what just happened has already spread, and public outrage toward Shrakhim is only growing.
“Huh? How is a rumor already spreading that fast?”
By this hour, a crowd of women had gathered near the well.
“Sobs. That dispatch guard captain started swearing and tried to slap me across the face.”
Peach dabbed at her tears.
“What a filthy bastard!”
“That pig-faced creep was already unbearable with the way he strutted around, and now this?”
“Who does that little piece of trash think he is!”
The women cursed him in one voice.
“He shoved me around and then started harassing me too... He poked at my chest, and that wasn’t enough, he... grabbed at me all over. Hic.”
Peach’s performance and the women’s fury reached their peak.
“What? That lunatic!”
“He couldn’t find something better to touch than a young lady like this? He’s worse than a kobold!”
“Priestess, is the maid’s story true?!”
Rubia naturally chimed in.
“Yeah. He should’ve gone after me instead.”
“...Priestess?”
“Ah, I mean it’s a shame he didn’t try it with me, because I’d have burned him alive with holy fire. Right, yes. Anyway, the young lady’s telling the truth.”
Having been educated by Joren, the very embodiment of honesty and fidelity, Peach did not lie.
“So, so what happened?! Then what happened?”
The listeners pressed her for the next part.
“At that moment, when I was so terrified I couldn’t even move... someone came to save me.”
“Who was it? Who?”
The business of drawing water had been forgotten long ago.
“The kingdom’s proud Upper Knight, and the continent’s only Byeonbangbaek.”
Peach clasped her hands and looked up toward the heavens.
“Our lord twisted that man’s arm and forced him to his knees. Shrakhim screamed.”
“The lord did? That’s incredible.”
“But even then, the bastard kept threatening our lord.”
Peach went on in a dreamy voice.
“He said he was Baron Kihara’s nephew, and that if anyone touched him, his uncle would not sit still for it.”
“Right, he did say he had backing. That’s why he’s been acting so shamelessly.”
“Our Byeonbangbaek was silent for quite some time after hearing that.”
Peach gently closed her eyes.
“Miss, hurry up and tell us. I’m about to choke here.”
“No way... did he back down?”
This household really knew how to keep a listener hanging.
The women were so engrossed they might not have noticed if the bucket line snapped.
“A moment later, our lord barked at him. He said a man like him had no right to be called a knight, no right to be a guard captain, and if Baron Kihara stood behind him, then the people of the territory stood behind our lord.”
Water burst from the women’s eyes as though to replace the half-dried well.
Conversion of territory residents increased! The lord’s nature, cold to outsiders but endlessly warm to his own people, moved them deeply.
RP gained 5! News spreads of the Byeonbangbaek who struck down a subordinate without bowing to a powerful figure.
“What’s this now? Why are the residents’ conversion levels suddenly going up? And how did I get RP...?”
Ho-yeong blinked in confusion, utterly lost.
“Anyway, explain again why Shrakhim being unpopular has anything to do with conversion.”
The residents are strongly hoping for Shrakhim’s punishment. If you simply let him go in this situation, they will be deeply disappointed, the conversion level will plummet, and you, my lord, will gain the title of ‘a weak lord bullied by a neighboring territory.’
That outcome was not at all appealing.
“If his conversion were around 50...”
Shrakhim would keep to the remaining contract period, but there is a high probability he would continue slacking off as he has always done. That would still stir dissatisfaction among the residents.
“Damn it, now I really just want to lock him up.”
If you wish to imprison Shrakhim, you have plenty of grounds. He has habitually threatened, assaulted, and extorted the citizens.
“But even if I did lock him up, it wouldn’t reform him. It’d just make him hold a grudge, and then that Barony-whatever would start breathing down my neck. Dammit.”
This was turning into a headache.
Are you considering using your conversion ability on Shrakhim?
“No. Let’s hold off for now. I should’ve prepared a bit more for governing a territory. No, wait, we were thrown straight into defense the moment we arrived. I didn’t even have time. Come to think of it, I never properly read this thing either.”
The investiture document he had received from the king. Peach had taken the thing stuffed into the saddlebag and arranged it somewhere visible.
“Let’s see... by appointing Joren Tamer as a Byeonbangbaek, the entirety of Auphocalypse City is transferred to Tamer County and granted as a fief. Joren Tamer inherits ownership of all movable and immovable property belonging to Auphocalypse City...”
By then, Duonoraong had come over with the contract in hand.
“My lord. I read it again on the way here, and...”
His expression was far from good.
“It seems this may get tangled. Please look at Articles 3, 4, and 5.”
“And what’s the issue?”
The command of the dispatched guard force is held by Guard Captain Shrakhim, who is to consult with Duonoraong, the acting mayor of Auphocalypse City, in the execution of his duties. However, if a new mayor is appointed during the contract period, command shall be transferred to the mayor.
Ho-yeong clicked his tongue.
“So the city guard command is supposed to belong to the mayor, but because Duonoraong is only acting mayor, he can’t actually hold command? ‘Consult’ sounds nice, but that pig must’ve dragged you around by the nose.”
“I am ashamed, hmm.”
“I’m not blaming the treasury official. There was nothing else you could do. More importantly, they did put in a clause saying command would be transferred if a mayor were appointed.”
“I added that clause myself, in the faint hope that someone might eventually be appointed.”
Duonoraong spoke bitterly.
“Shrakhim and Baron Kihara probably thought a new mayor would never be appointed, hmm. Well. In truth, they weren’t wrong.”
“Why not?”
“Because with the string of monster appearances over the past few years... the capital had no room to spare attention for our city.”
Seeing the worry etched into the deep lines around his eyes, Ho-yeong read the contract even more carefully.
The contract remains in effect for five years, but may be extended only if both parties agree. However, if Auphocalypse City is dismantled or suffers a comparable collapse that makes its continued existence difficult, the contract may be terminated at the judgment of the Kihara Barony, regardless of the remaining term. In that case, the advance payment issued to the guard force as compensation shall not be recovered.
“Ah. So that bastard was leaning on this part and acting cocky.”
“Indeed. Hmm. The problem is what to do about it.”
“Can’t we challenge it as an unfair contract?”
“Of course. I was already preparing for the possibility of a lawsuit in the capital court, but...”
Duonoraong trailed off.
“But what?”
“From what I heard from the dispatched guards just now, Baron Kihara has connections with the judges. He will surely make use of them.”
A long sigh leaked out of him.
“Of course, we could also bring up what happened with Miss Peach earlier, but that would most likely be handled as a separate matter. We might be able to punish Shrakhim personally, but connecting that to the dispatch contract is the problem. It’s a common tactic when there’s backroom maneuvering: reduce it to an individual’s misconduct instead of an institutional one...”
That reminded Ho-yeong of all the corruption he had seen back in Korea.
“So trials here are twisted by connections too, huh. There must be plenty of people standing above the law. Hmm? Standing above the law...”
He shook his head, then looked back and forth between the contract and the investiture document.
“Guard! Bring Shrakhim in.”
Shrakhim entered, his swagger notably reduced.
“Guard captain. I’ll get to the point. Your argument is this, yes? Auphocalypse City has become Tamer Territory, so it is effectively dissolved. Therefore, you’ll void the contract and return home. Of course, you can’t spit back the compensation. Am I right?”
“Hah. Yes. You seem to have inspected the contract closely.”
He broke into a broad grin.
“If we wrap this up that way, I’ll overlook what happened earlier. How about it?”
“Overlook it? Hahahaha. You’ll overlook it? Good! Hahahahaha.”
Ho-yeong laughed along with him.
“L-Lord?!”
Duonoraong went pale.
“I’ll cover you too.”
“Now you’re speaking my language. Kaha! In two days I’ll leave this backwater behind and sleep with my feet stretched out in my own house!”
As Shrakhim laughed heartily, convinced things had gone his way...
“Goblin hide will do nicely.”
“W-What did you say?”
Ho-yeong wiped the smile from his face.
“I said I’ll cover you. Even if you’re locked in a prison, you still need something to sleep under. You won’t be stretching your legs comfortably, though.”