Lord of Akasha Territory
Everything was already prepared for our departure to Akasha Territory, so we set off the very next day. I assigned Jacques and a few mercenaries to the administrator and the security captain to keep them from causing any trouble. Just to be safe, I attached Clone No. 2 as well. Before long, we'd gathered so many people that over two hundred of us headed out early the next morning. This was just the advance party, though—Dorvi's contracted merchant caravan would follow with all the materials and foodstuffs.
Despite the large group, we'd bought plenty of wagons, so everyone rode comfortably and we made good time, arriving at Akasha Territory faster than expected without any issues. I'd already known the territory's situation, so it didn't shock me, but Dorvi and Jayke—who'd only heard about it—looked stunned.
"My lord, this is..."
Even the usually unflappable Jayke was saying that much, so it must have looked really bad. But I actually didn't mind. Sure, on the surface, the territory was a disaster, but I had zero intention of running it like a proper fiefdom to build wealth. All I wanted was a defensible base I could leave empty whenever I needed to. From that angle, it was close to ideal.
The land wasn't even that small, really. Sure, much of it had been sold off or seized, leaving only about half a typical barony's size, but it wasn't being farmed because there were no people—not because the soil was poor. The surrounding conditions weren't as bad as they seemed, either.
"Alright, we're here—let's get to work. Jayke, check the empty houses in the village and assign the kids first."
"Yes, my lord."
"Baronet Dorvi, have the workers start building temporary barracks right away."
"Understood."
"Jacques, help Jayke out and secure lodging for your men too."
I got the stunned newcomers moving. As our large group entered the village, the steward—one of the remaining vassals—came out to greet us. He was talking with two other vassals who'd been dragged along like baggage, his face twisted in a scowl.
"I'm Germain Akasha. Pleased to meet you, steward."
I approached him with a bright smile and greeting.
"Ah, yes."
Before he could respond properly to the half-hearted reply, I pressed on.
"Shall we go pay our respects to Viscount Akasha—er, my father—first?"
I started walking briskly ahead, and the three vassals scrambled to catch up. Before they could react, I opened the door to the two-story house where the lord of Akasha lay and headed straight upstairs. Finally, I pushed open the door to his room.
I hadn't noticed through Clone No. 2's eyes, but a foul stench hit me like a punch when I opened the door. I went to the viscount's bedside and looked down at him. His eyes were open but unfocused—he was little more than a living corpse. I had no idea what kind of life he'd lived before ending up like this. He probably wasn't the sharpest, but I doubted he was a bad person. Ordinary, kind, foolish types often met ends like this. Or maybe not—but I'd think of it that way.
I leaned close to Viscount Akasha's ear and whispered.
"This wasn't your choice, but I'm Germain, your adopted son. I promise—at the very least, I'll make those rotten vassals die in agony."
For a moment, life flickered in the viscount's eyes, and his fingers twitched slightly before going still again. The vassals burst into the room behind me, wrinkling their noses at the smell. They scowled even more when they saw me closing the viscount's eyes.
"Come on in. We've got a lot to talk about—it's been a long time coming."
I immediately unleashed the Power of Disease on all three. There are countless diseases, including one where even a light breeze feels like a knife slicing your skin. High priests can heal it with prolonged treatment, but it's beyond normal medicine. And no high priest was coming here to cure them.
The room filled with their simultaneous screams. Amid the echoes, I used Clone No. 2 to end Viscount Akasha's miserable life painlessly.
The first day was eventful. The viscount's death and the vassals' inexplicable fits threw both the existing residents and the newcomers into chaos. I'd considered taking it slower, but I wanted to end the viscount's suffering quickly, so I stirred things up. It was necessary anyway.
I locked the writhing vassals in the room regardless of their screams and rushed through the viscount's funeral. Under the notarization of Dorvi, an imperial fifth-grade official, we skipped formalities, placed a few items he seemed to cherish in life beside him, summoned a fire spirit, and cremated him.
"Shouldn't we at least leave a tomb for appearances' sake?"
Dorvi, who already knew I could use spirits and wasn't surprised by that, piped up.
"Do I look like someone who'll maintain a grave?"
I handed him the documents I'd received from the emperor via sub-space. Everything was a mess anyway—better to bulldoze through it all at once. What I gave Dorvi was the imperial approval for inheriting the Akasha Viscountcy. I'd gotten it in advance, knowing this was coming.
"Fifth-grade imperial official Dorvi Agellahim hereby proclaims the emperor's decree. Germain Akasha, kneel."
It was pure formality. Normally, applying and waiting for approval would take months, but the almighty guardian spirit card had worked its magic.
"...Germain Akasha is hereby appointed lord of Akasha Viscounty and granted inheritance of the Akasha Viscountcy."
There was some lengthy mumbo-jumbo in the middle, but it was irrelevant. And just like that, I was officially an imperial viscount.
Afterward, things proceeded smoothly. The vassals in the room spilled everything without much torture—just as we'd asked. It was mostly as expected: House Illibad was behind it all, and the three had embezzled a fortune in between. The surprise was how little they'd actually taken—it didn't add up with what we'd found when raiding the security captain's wife's house in the capital.
On that point, the vassals claimed the family hadn't had much wealth to begin with, but it was suspicious. Once the interrogation ended, we locked them up again—this time in a crude wooden jail far from the village. They screamed for death amid the agony, but I intended to keep my promise to Viscount Akasha.
A few days later, the merchant wagons loaded with materials and food arrived, and the village buzzed with energy. We distributed rations to the existing residents too. Even if few were fit for real labor, I wouldn't abandon them. As lord, I planned to shoulder at least that much responsibility.
Once the workers started, even the barely mobile locals stepped up for odd jobs. The orphanage kids lent a hand too. The mercenaries hunted game in the nearby woods. In just days, hope bloomed in a territory that had known only despair.
That's humanity for you. A single spark can change everything.
I was feeling quietly pleased, watching the village shift for the better in its own way, when the mercenaries—who'd been patrolling the perimeter under the guise of play—brought someone over.
"He says he wants to see the lord, so we brought him."
I'd been lounging sideways in my chair but straightened up the moment I saw him. His soul was decently strong. And it was emanating a golden glow—the touch of a god.
"Hello. You're Viscount Germain Akasha, right? I'm Wider Bibri, a mage."
"Pleased to meet you. What brings you here?"
I greeted him warily. A big soul was one thing, but divine power changed the equation.
"Take me as your vassal. You won't regret it."
Wider made the odd proposal out of nowhere. A capable mage vassal wasn't a bad deal—especially for a territory short on manpower.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Viscount Germain Akasha, aren't you?"
Hardly anyone knew I'd formally inherited the title yet—just the people here, the emperor, and imperial intelligence. So a divinely touched stranger shows up asking to serve me? Suspicious as hell.
"What about this territory—or me—makes you want to sign on?"
"The territory just needs to limp along, and as long as the vassals do their jobs, you'll cough up the wealth gladly. That's you, Viscount Akasha, isn't it?"
What the hell? Is he using some power to read minds?
"That suits me perfectly. I hate doing a ton of work but have every confidence in delivering results."
That's when Argin approached with Jayke from their training session.
"My lord, is something wrong?"
Wider's eyes lit up at Argin. Normally, you'd look at the burly knight over the kid, right? Unless he could sense soul sizes like me.
"So you're Sir Jayke, as famed in tales. The loyal knight. And the little warrior there must be young Argin..."
The more he talked, the shadier he got. Should I just kill him?
"Jayke, give us the room for a bit?"
Once Jayke was out of earshot, I overlapped Clone No. 2 on Wider's heart and asked.
"Who are you, really? What power do you have?"
"Just as I thought. I figured Viscount Akasha would see through me. As I said, I'm Wider Bibri."
"And?"
"My modest ability lets me give you info favorable to Viscount Akasha for the next forty years or so."
"Future sight or something?"
Wider grinned in a way that didn't suit him. Damn gods—how many of these guys are out there?
"Not quite future sight, but similar."
He wasn't spilling details. A guy with that kind of power seeking me out voluntarily? Not bad. He figured he'd eat well for forty years under me, apparently.
"So, what's the most advantageous info for me right now?"
"Get friendly with House Illibad."
Not a bad idea. I'd thought the same when accepting this territory—I had no plans to pick a fight with them per the imperial scheme.
"How? And why?"
"Precisely, the youngest lady of House Illibad has an incurable disease even priests can't heal. As for why... you already know, don't you, my lord?"
This bastard even knew I had the Power of Healing. How much did he know?
"How much do you know about me?"
"That'd reveal too much of my trade secrets. I've gotta eat too. But I do know my life gets easier sticking with you."
I eyed Wider, weighing my options. If he wasn't scheming, he'd be useful nearby. Letting him go felt risky. Killing him here might be best.
"I know you could kill me anytime. That's why I came anyway—hoping you'd see that."
Fine. If he pulls anything shady, I'll end him then.
"Alright, you're in as a vassal."
The moment I approved, Wider collapsed to the floor, drenched in cold sweat.
"Haha! It was a gamble with my life on the line. I acted tough, but I was terrified inside."
And just like that, I gained a mysterious vassal with unknown powers. Keeping him around might be fun, at least.