The Baron's Crisis and the Golden Carrot
The crisis in the Esper Barony was deepening, and in a small estate, rumors travel faster than a galloping horse. "Did you hear? The Witch—no, I mean the Head Maid—arrived at dawn?"
"Really? Didn't they say she wasn't coming back for another three days with the Young Lady?"
"You know my boyfriend is a guard, right? I heard it from him, so it's certain. They said to prepare every single report for the office immediately."
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yeah, yeah. And everyone who was on vacation or medical leave has been recalled."
"Is something big happening?"
"I'm not sure, but..."
The Head Maid’s unexpectedly early arrival exerted a level of pressure that only her mere presence could command. "Why is the Acting Head Maid so late coming out? That’s not like her."
"She was just called away right in the middle of her meal. She ordered all the valets and maids to assemble in the garden."
"Is it for work? Is someone getting fired?"
"I don't think so. It seemed like something quite serious..."
A strange, tense atmosphere began to flow among the bustling and agitated servants. "What is this, starting from the morning... Could it be that something bad happened again?"
"A mandatory assembly? We aren't the territorial militia."
Complaints began to erupt here and there. In the midst of it all, the garden gate opened, and the Head Valet and the Head Maid arrived.
Before they arrived, in a small, warehouse-like room, an old man sat frowning as he read a report. He stroked his beard and reached for the cane resting by his bedside. The creaking of an old door announced the exit of the elderly Head Valet. Carrying his cane and limping, he was greeted by the Esper Barony’s Acting Head Maid, Angela.
"Head Valet Heather."
"I understand the situation. I heard everyone is gathered in the garden."
"Yes. Per the Head Maid's instructions, we have summoned everyone, including those on medical or annual leave. The servants who were outside are also returning to the estate one by one."
"Good. Let us go."
The Head Valet offered a benevolent smile and walked with a stride far more ambitious than his age would suggest. Angela followed behind him. After walking for a while, Angela looked at the back of his head with a look of anxiety and asked, "Head Valet... this matter is not ordinary. If you could tell me in advance how you intend to resolve it..."
"Hmm. First, we must find the missing adventurers and merchants. We need to stop the rumors from spreading outside."
"I see. However, I believe the Head Maid's current approach is too extreme."
"Maid Angela."
"Yes."
"Chloe said she would solve it by throwing money at it. It is too hasty. Though, it is typical of that child. I understand. It is the fastest way. However, a truly good person..."
The Head Valet paused to collect his thoughts before continuing. "Even if they fall into the abyss, they do not become a hideous beast."
Angela tilted her head at his cryptic words and asked, "......I find that difficult to understand."
"We are already in the abyss."
The Head Valet’s calm words carried a chill that seemed to pierce to the bone. "......!"
"Five years ago, we lost the territorial war against Sachsen, who was a Baron at the time, and lost everything. Even so, our Lord decided to pay the salaries based on the Viscounty standard and brought all his staff with him. It was a matter of loyalty."
"You are speaking of the time just before I arrived."
"Indeed. Loyalty... it is a very difficult thing to keep."
The Head Valet stood before the door leading to the garden, looked at Angela, and smiled faintly. "Our good Lord spent extra money for a loyalty he didn't need to keep. Thanks to that, many people have been able to eat and live in this mansion for five years. Including myself."
"However, what does that have to do with this? We are in a desperate crisis right now. Even if the eldest Young Lady leads the territorial army... there seems to be no way to solve this problem within three days. And even if we throw a large sum of money at the Adventurer's Guild later, if it isn't resolved... at worst..."
Angela trailed off, looking full of worry. "Maid Angela, listen well. The great Esper family has faced many trials worse than this, and we have always resolved them well."
The Head Valet's optimistic attitude made it seem as though the problem could be solved easily, but Angela knew that was far from the truth. Still, it didn't mean she had lost faith in Head Valet Heather. Anything that couldn't be solved by the Head Maid, Chloe, was always resolved by the Head Valet.
As they walked down the hallway, they encountered the group led by Head Maid Chloe. Angela’s face relaxed slightly at the sight of the leash in Chloe’s hand and Tommy.
"Head Valet, are you up?"
The Head Maid bowed elegantly. She looked completely different from the person seen in the office. "Head Maid Chloe. Good morning. You are working hard from early on."
"It is nothing."
"I was going to visit you separately, but since we met, it is for the best."
The Head Valet walked up to Chloe and looked down at her. The solemn atmosphere emanating from the tall, elderly man made Chloe’s usually glib lips seal shut.
"I heard everything from Angela."
"Yes. There is no other way."
"Truly wise. You are quite the strategist. I feel it every time. How correct a choice it was to entrust you with the mansion's affairs."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Even so..." The Head Valet pointed at her with his cane. "Do you know what is important when managing poor people with no money? You must not take away the rice bowl, even if you cannot provide the rice... A bowl may hold hope, but it is better than having nothing at all. To think such an obvious thing..."
The old man’s wrinkled face hardened, and he looked at Chloe with a sharp gaze. "You should not have acted so foolishly. No matter how urgent the situation."
At Heather’s words, which seemed to scold Chloe’s hasty actions, Chloe’s small lips twisted subtly. "Of course, that is your way, but... tsk. What is the use of an old man nagging? The Head Maid who manages the empty household is the one suffering."
"Thank you."
Chloe, the Head Maid, replied sarcastically, snorted, and tilted her head. The two groups merged and headed toward the garden. Angela carefully stepped back and stuck to the side of the Head Maid, Chloe.
"Head Maid... um, about Tommy."
As soon as Angela spoke, Chloe handed the leash to her. "I'll be brief. Since you said you would raise him, you are now solely responsible for this puppy. Report to me every day. He must never be injured or go hungry. Do you understand? Train him well, too..."
Angela looked down at Tommy with an expression that said, 'As I thought.' Tommy was also looking up at her, his bright blue eyes wide and adorable.
'Excellent, Tommy. You survived even this witch.'
'For a hyper-intelligent genius dog, this is only natural... hehehe.'
Angela tried to chuckle, but given the situation, she maintained her composure and said, "Thank you."
"I'm still going to deduct 20 coppers from your weekly wage. It will be deducted from your salary, including the puppy's food expenses."
"......"
Angela’s expression stiffened instantly at those words.
'Tommy. You should have done better.'
'Damn, she's such a cheapskate.'
Just as the thoughts of the maid and the dog crossed, the group arrived at the garden. In the garden, the valets and maids were standing in rows, separated from each other.
"Head Valet! Are you up!"
"Head Maid. Good morning."
Having overcome the trials set by the wicked, strongest being in this other world, I was once again entrusted to Angela’s hands with a dignified air. Following her, the bald old man who was the Head Valet, and the psychopathic petite Head Maid, we arrived at the garden. There were about 20 people lined up in the garden, and it was absolutely insane. Angela stood me in front of the group of maids.
"Thank you all for your hard work in gathering from early in the morning."
Chloe, who had climbed onto a small platform in the garden, greeted everyone with a refreshing face. I couldn't help but be surprised by her polite attitude, which was completely different from the unhinged, crazy woman I had seen in the office. As they say, you never know a person until you see both sides.
"From now on, Head Valet Heather has something to say to you all, so please listen carefully."
As she stepped down, the old man in the butler's uniform carrying a cane climbed onto the platform. This old man was the one who introduced me to Angela as soon as she arrived. Wasn't he the old man who was pruning the trees in the garden earlier? They say he's the Head Valet... If the Head Maid is that much of a nutcase, my interest was piqued as to what kind of person the Head Valet would be.
The Head Valet, with a stern expression, surveyed the crowd and opened his mouth.
"We have gathered today because the great Baron of the Esper family, Hordin, wishes to reward your hard work with a bonus."
"......?"
"......What?"
"A bonus?"
At those words, doubt filled everyone’s faces. A bonus? What? A bonus from the Esper Barony, famous for having no money? In this territory, which is the smallest in the Empire, where there is nothing to see but agricultural products, and where even the merchants don't come, so the market doesn't even function properly—a bonus from the Esper Barony?
The valets who had worked with the Head Valet for a long time, and the maids who were used to the Head Maid’s nagging, instinctively felt a sense of crisis.
'Damn, I'm still dreaming. A dog's dream, a dog's dream.'
'Has the Head Valet finally gone senile? Or is it Lord Hordin?'
'This is bad. This is really bad. Are we getting fired this time?'
'Should I go to the neighboring Sachsen family? If I say I'm a migrant from the Esper Barony, they'll treat me like a beggar, so it'll be hard to settle down...'
Looking up at the expressions of the people who heard the Head Valet, each one was a spectacle. Angela, in particular, had her fists clenched tightly.
"Head Maid. Bring it."
"Yes."
The Head Valet received a money bag full of clinking coins and placed it on the podium, causing a stir in the surroundings.
"It's real. It's real money."
"It's not a dream, is it?"
Isn't it a good thing if they're giving a bonus? Why is everyone like this? What kind of bonus is it in this cheat-code Barony?
"You will receive a week's worth of wages as a bonus, so come forward as I call your names. Maid Angela."
"Yes!"
Angela took me and approached the platform. She received a silver coin from the Head Valet with trembling hands. Wow. It’s my first time seeing a coin made of silver. Is Angela actually rich? Seeing how they generously give bonuses to the working servants, the cheat-code Barony is indeed different! I admired it inwardly and watched as others received their bonuses. Compared to Angela, they received copper coins, but everyone had a face that looked moved.
The Head Valet, who had finished distributing the weekly wages, continued his speech.
"Are you all satisfied?"
"Yes!"
As they shouted in unison at the old man’s words, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"But that is not all. The Baron has decided to help you earn extra money on top of your salary. This is a special, limited-time offer, just for this time."
"I... is that true?"
"That is correct. Some of you might need quick cash, or perhaps you might want to receive your salary in advance. Especially living in this difficult territory, that is even more so."
The Head Valet said that and gestured to the Head Maid. What was placed in the Head Valet’s hand was a parchment that read: [Esper Barony Goblin Subjugation Request].
"Look at this."
"Goblin... subjugation request?"
"Goblins?"
As everyone’s eyes focused on the parchment in the Head Valet’s hand, he smiled slightly at the corners of his mouth and spoke with a stern expression.
"That is right. It is an opportunity for you all to earn a large sum of money."
In that moment, I was able to confirm it. The strongest, petite Head Maid in the world was wearing a sinister smile at the Head Valet’s words... and the hand holding my leash, my Angela-goshujin-sama, was gripping it even tighter.
Clearly, there is something going on in this Barony.