Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: We Welcome Your Visit!
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Armin Campbell Baron's days lately followed an incredibly fulfilling routine.
When his son first handed him administrative rights over Goldic Viscountcy, declaring from now on you're a viscount, he'd wondered what the hell this was all about.
But recently, he'd grown accustomed to the increased workload, and he'd even started building bonds with the new territory's people that could be called camaraderie. Any complaints had long since faded away.
"Goldic Territory has long been famous for its mining industry, producing high-quality magic stones for generations."
As Armin stretched after finishing his work, his exclusive butler Hermann set down a cup of tea beside him and remarked.
"Ever since unification under Campbell Territory, the people have been able to obtain top-quality magic stones at low prices, and everyone's satisfied."
"Yeah. Good for them."
Armin chuckled in agreement.
Though his expression darkened right after.
"...If only that one thing wasn't an issue."
"...You mean that, my lord."
Hermann echoed him in a gloomy tone.
He fully agreed that they were enjoying a pretty decent life these days.
As long as you excluded 'that thing' that showed up right around this time.
"Are you in, Viscount Campbell?"
The voice coming from outside the study made Hermann and Armin flinch simultaneously.
It was the voice of a servant, tense to the max.
Normally, they'd call out cheerfully to come on in, but at those words, cold sweat dripped down both men's faces.
"It's that again this time?"
"...I'm afraid so, my lord."
The servant gulped dryly in response to Armin's words.
"From the Tristan Ducal House and Kendrid Margrave Territory."
"...Let them in."
Matching the strained voice, several servants entered, pulling a handcart with tense expressions.
Two large crates.
Each accompanied by a letter handwritten by different people.
"What's inside this time?"
When Armin pointed at the crates and asked, the servant squeezed his eyes shut and answered.
"...A collection from the continent's most renowned jewelry workshop, and health supplements shipped directly from the Magic Tower. Both are items regularly supplied to the imperial family, they said."
...
While Armin's face rapidly turned sullen, Hermann standing beside him spoke in a depressed tone.
"Selling just one piece from those would cover several months of our territory's operating expenses."
Armin groaned and clutched his head.
It was the only way to fend off the dizziness.
"...What do the letters say?"
"As always, nothing much."
Fortunately, compared to those enormous gifts, the contents were just casual check-ins.
How've you been? I'm doing fine. This and that happened in the territory—mundane chit-chat like you'd share with a close friend.
The problem was.
Both senders were great nobles who could wipe out a viscountcy like this with a mere snort.
Why.
Did such people.
Send these polite greetings every single time, treating him like their lord?
Complete with these massive gifts every time.
No strings attached, just take them, as if shoving them into his pockets for free.
When Armin himself should be the one sending gifts to them to score points, yet here they were, acting desperate to please him.
...
Honestly, it was burdensome.
Beyond burdensome—it was scary.
He was dying to send them back.
"It's because of the boy, right?"
"Who else but the young master?"
As Armin glared at the two letters and spoke, Hermann nodded eagerly in agreement.
There was no one else around Armin who could provoke such reactions from them—not even a guess.
"...Just store them away properly."
Armin waved his hand dismissively.
The servant replied with a stiff expression.
"...My lord, the warehouse and empty rooms are already full."
...
"Especially that set of twenty petrified giant guardian beasts from last time—they take up so much space—"
"—Drop it. I'll handle it myself."
Seeing Armin trembling like he'd been triggered by trauma, Hermann gently stopped the servant with a soft voice.
It hadn't been long since Armin had fainted upon seeing life-sized statues of beasts that could be torn apart like cardboard delivered as a "gift" to the front yard.
That was enough firepower to wipe out a fairly militaristic count's family the moment the petrification was undone. Not the sort of thing to plop in a farming viscountcy's front yard.
As Armin calmed his shaking chest recalling that memory, another remark flew in.
"...By the way, my lord?"
"Hm?"
"The Tristan Ducal House included an extra document beyond their usual missive."
His heart sank.
Seeing Armin pale, the servant continued sympathetically.
"It's an invitation."
"...Pardon?"
"They say there's a major announcement at the Tristan Ducal House, and they really hope you'll attend."
...
"...The young master and several of his friends will be there too."
...
His son was coming, the Tristan Duchess would be there, there was a major announcement, and they specifically wanted him to 'definitely' attend.
Yeah.
It had finally come.
"...He caused trouble again, didn't he?"
"Wouldn't be surprised."
...
Armin pressed his trembling hand to his face.
Forgetting all dignity, he dry-washed it with both hands.
'...Please.'
Son.
What the hell did you do this time.
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He'd felt this before, but a well-made carriage really was incredibly comfortable to ride in.
Even from the perspective of someone who'd ridden all sorts of vehicles as a modern person before possessing this body, that was a pretty encouraging fact.
So, a carriage from one of the continent's most renowned nobles, the Tristan Ducal House, promised an extremely pleasant journey.
[You comfortable right now?]
'No.'
It would have been, normally.
"...So, Miss Bella."
"It's Bella Myers."
The strained words were cut off by a response from across the way.
A suit that meticulously covered her from head to toe, including white gloves. Neatly tied white hair. Monocle.
She gave off the vibe of a capable office lady.
She was the one who'd be attending to him during his stay in Tristan Ducal Territory.
"Unlike Sir Dawood, I have no formal title—I'm a commoner. Please dispense with the honorifics."
...
This stiff woman's name was Bella Myers.
Elnor's exclusive maid, was it?
That alone was already, well.
The intent was terrifying.
Sharing an exclusive servant was something nobles greatly avoided unless it was on a 'family' level, or so he'd heard...
'Kaliban.'
[Yeah?]
'This is supposed to be a countryside retreat, but what they're planning is basically...'
[Like a meeting the parents?]
'...'
[Didn't they invite your dad too?]
Yeah.
Thanks for nailing exactly what I was thinking.
Looks like they were using this excuse to call me to the territory to just blitz through everything they'd been planning.
"Anyway, could you take a look at this?"
As ominous thoughts amplified my stress levels, Bella suddenly held something out in front of me.
"...What's this?"
"Just give it a quick scan."
Tilting my head at her words, I skimmed through the proffered documents.
They contained detailed information on territories around Campbell Viscountcy.
Meticulously compiled and neatly organized—befitting a servant of a great noble house.
...
Honestly, it was too detailed.
Security systems, military facilities, even the lord's deepest personal secrets—all included.
Even top-secret matters only the territory's ruler should know.
"Please pick one from these to annex next, Sir Dawood."
...
What the hell is this now.
"...Bella."
Her brows furrowed delicately.
"Bella. Please, address me informally."
...
"I don't mind if you curse me out or insult me. Just no honorifics. It puts me in a bind."
"...Bella."
Figuring this would drag on if I didn't play along, I gave in for now.
"Aren't all territories subject to His Majesty's approval for annexation?"
The Goldic case was a special exception before. Taking over someone else's territory doesn't happen this easily.
With a perfectly sane emperor as head of state, you can't just—
"His Majesty has already approved it."
...
"Pick one, and we'll incorporate it into the viscountcy's lands immediately."
Are you insane? For real.
My mouth went dry as I stared at her, but she replied calmly, in stark contrast to my vibe.
"The Campbell Viscountcy will one day be directly tied by blood to the Tristan Ducal House. Frankly, Sir Dawood, you'd be in trouble if you didn't expand your power base more."
...
"This has the approval of the Duchess, the Duke, and His Majesty—"
"—Anyway."
Pushing further on this would make my head spin, so I desperately changed the subject.
"Why do you keep calling me 'sir' since earlier...?"
Strictly speaking, the one with the title is my father. Officially, I'm just the eldest son of a noble house with no formal knight or noble rank.
But at my question, Bella widened her eyes in surprise.
"...You didn't know?"
"Know what?"
...
She stared at me silently for a moment.
Then a soft sigh escaped her lips.
"...If you truly don't know, that's fine. There's a reason the others haven't told you."
"What do you—"
"You'll find out soon enough."
With that, she cut off.
As awkward silence threatened to settle, Bella opened the window and looked outside.
"More importantly, look."
The carriage was cresting a high hill's slope, heading downhill.
Quite elevated, offering a great view of the surroundings.
"This is Tristan Ducal Territory."
Following her gaze out the window.
A vast city unfolded like a panorama.
"...Whoa."
It's huge.
Insanely huge.
He'd seen the imperial palace, but that impressed with its building's grandeur and majesty. It didn't deliver this level of overwhelming 'expansiveness.'
A massive city stretching to the horizon without end. They said it had the largest area among single noble territories on the continent.
The empire's top stronghold, called the second heart alongside the imperial palace. Tristan Ducal Territory.
Elnor's hometown.
'Unreal.'
This size was rare even in the pre-possession world.
No wonder they were the empire's premier great noble house.
That was the sizzling thought in his head.
It really drove home what level of VIP that white-haired lady who stuck to him daily truly was.
"Hm?"
While admiring, something odd flitted across his peripheral vision.
At the end of the slope, the checkpoint entering Tristan Ducal Territory.
People were swarming.
...
Not sure if you could just call them people.
They were clearly a well-trained 'army.' Hundreds lined up with solemn expressions.
You'd tense up thinking some incident, but.
Instead of weapons, they held something else.
[ Tristan Ducal Territory Welcomes Sir Dawood Campbell's Visit! ]
[ We Sincerely Wish for True Harmony with the Tristan Duchess! ]
...
The moment he saw the knights solemnly holding up huge signs with such messages, his expression froze stiff.
Beyond that, photos of him and Elnor side by side, paintings, statues...
...
Statues?
When the hell did they prepare those?
No need to guess who ordered them.
'Elnor, please.'
Tone it down.
Seriously, I'm gonna die of embarrassment...!
"Shall we go? We'll be late for the parade."
"...Parade?"
"Various events are planned inside the ducal territory to celebrate your visit. This is the kickoff event."
...
Cold sweat trickled down at Bella's words.
Not easy from the start.
For real.
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