Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Recruiting the Strategist
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"Young Master Dwayne, why don't you join me?"
"Pardon?"
Dwayne's eyes went wide at my sudden proposal.
"I've heard Young Master Dwayne's opinions, and they were truly insightful. I deeply agree with the speculations you shared. Let me be direct. Dwayne, I want you to be my strategist."
"……."
Dwayne looked stunned by my straightforward request, then slowly shook his head with a troubled expression.
"...I'm truly sorry, Young Master Jerome. I'm the heir to the Kelton territory. In other words, a noble who pledges full loyalty to the royal family. I can't possibly enter the shadow of the Shield Family."
Hmm, just as I thought.
'Well, that's why he joined Princess Seira's Golden Cross in the past.'
Deep loyalty to the royal family. Something that deserved respect under normal circumstances. However.
"You're the first person who's listened to my ideas without ridicule. I'm incredibly grateful for that, but I can't serve another lord on my own whim when it goes against my family's will... Koff."
Thud!
Dwayne collapsed onto the bed with a short grunt before he could finish his refusal.
"...What was that? Did you hit him?"
Saladin's flustered voice.
"Y-Young Master... The Hesway family may be small, but this method is...!"
And Beskin's response, tinged with slight panic.
"No choice."
I replied calmly.
"If we don't do it this way, we can't take him with us."
No matter how much of a genius mage Princess Seira was, you couldn't talk about building her 'Golden Cross' without mentioning Kandahar—no, Dwayne.
It was about time I needed a sharp mind(?) to start painting the big picture.
'Can't pass up a chance like this.'
* * *
The discussion ended in disarray due to Dwayne's abrupt outburst.
The next afternoon, there was talk of giving a small reward to Dwayne for his fresh(?) ideas despite the controversy.
But for some reason, Dwayne was nowhere to be found. There was even movement to condemn him for vanishing without a word from the royal event, but oddly, Prince Julius didn't seem too bothered.
With the prince's closing declaration, the spring festival—packed with major and minor incidents—finally drew to a close.
Like the other nobles heading home, I set off for Banten with Saladin and the Blizzard Knight Order.
'History's changed so much since the famine. Good thing I came to this festival.'
There were many situations I couldn't handle because they hadn't happened in my previous life.
Like Viktor openly clashing with the royal family already.
Or Prince Julius granting me a territory.
Or Viktor trying to kill me during the hunting contest.
'At this point, the past history is just a reference at best.'
Apart from knowing who was who and their tendencies, the events themselves had already diverged far from the past.
Solving the famine—something the Sword Family should have handled—had alone altered history.
If one event could trigger a chain reaction, how much more would change once I settled in the Olivia territory and built a base in the southern territories?
And if I pulled in the bandits—who were just criminals in the past—as planned?
Or linked up with the elves to expand influence in Banten as originally intended?
'Too many variables. Time to get a brain that can keep up with the rapid changes.'
In that sense.
"Young Master Jerome!! What in the world is this?! Do you think His Highness will stand for it?! Even for the Shield Family, this outrage is...!"
The harvest?(?) in the carriage behind me was the greatest spoil from the spring festival.
"I already told you, Dwayne. I got permission from Prince Julius."
"Say something that makes sense! There's no way His Highness would approve such barbarity!"
Dwayne denied reality, but what could he do? It was the truth.
"Hesway and Dwayne. Why act like this when you're so smart? You know traveling with me is the safest option right now, don't you?"
"……!"
Dwayne flinched and trembled at my words.
"With your broad perspective, you must know Grand Duke Viktor's temperament. Even if it happened in the heat of the banquet, do you really think he'd just forget the humiliation? Honestly?"
Of course, he would forget it. He had weaknesses we held over him, so he'd stay quiet for a while. But Dwayne had no way of knowing that.
And getting permission from Prince Julius wasn't a lie either.
After knocking Dwayne out, I went to the prince and asked to take him.
-Take him and use him as you please! I'll talk to Baron Hesway!
He agreed readily, so there were no issues.
"...No, still, I'm an eastern noble. I told you I'm loyal to the royal family! What are you planning to do with me by dragging me away like this?!"
"I've told you several times already. Be my strategist."
"Argh, this is driving me crazy. I said it was all just my delusion!"
Click.
Saladin gently placed a hand on Dwayne's shoulder, still bound in the carriage and refusing to accept reality.
"Young Master Dwayne. It's easier if you just give up. Since it's come to this... enjoy it."
"No, Young Master Saladin. My goal isn't this. My dream was to catch the prince's eye in the debate and become a high official... Koff."
As Dwayne started venting to Saladin like he'd finally found someone reasonable, Saladin's hand on his shoulder struck his neck.
"Sadly, I don't like chatterboxes either."
That Saladin guy was surprisingly ruthless when you thought about it.
With the noisy spring festival over, the mountains and streets blooming with all sorts of flowers were gradually donning a vibrant green as summer approached.
"Good work."
A curt praise from my father after months apart.
Those words carried profound meaning.
"Seems like quite a few interesting things happened this time too."
"Yeah, well. I got some results."
I headed to the sofa in the center of Father's study.
"I have something to discuss."
Arandal reacted to my words with a surprised look.
But his mischievous expression suggested he anticipated something fun.
Father, having noticed Arandal's demeanor, wouldn't miss it.
"...Arandal, step out for a bit."
"Tch."
Arandal clicked his tongue as his intentions were seen through.
"Hm, you. Lately, you've been getting a bit too cheeky."
"Must be your imagination. Call me when you're done."
Arandal switched attitudes in an instant and slipped out of the study like he was afraid someone might stop him.
"Tsk. Bad habits."
Father clicked his tongue, displeased with Arandal's behavior.
"That's Sir Arandal's charm."
"Hm, true. Anyway, what do you want to say?"
Slurp!
"Let me be direct."
After savoring Banten's black tea for the first time in a while, I countered Father's question.
"Father, do you want me to give up on Banten?"
"……."
Slurp!
Father sipped his tea in response to my blunt question, offering no immediate reply.
Instead, he gazed at Banten's scenery outside the window.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
"...Yeah, the view's nice."
Of course, up close it was the Dragon Mountains crawling with monsters.
But from afar, you could appreciate the grandeur of nature.
That view was the foundation of Banten's tourism business, rivaling even the casino.
Father shook his head at my agreement.
"No, I wasn't talking about the mountains. Look closer."
"……?"
I looked at the scenery below the mountains as Father said.
The capital was ending spring, but Banten, further north, still had fields busy with farmers planting spring potatoes.
"As you know, Banten is harsh land. In many ways."
Father spoke the truth.
To the north: beast forests, Dragon Mountains, Holy Empire.
Not blessed with the livable climate of the kingdom's center or south.
Now thriving under the Carviot Count family, but in the past, it was called cursed land.
"Many think of our family when they hear Banten, but this land wasn't built by our strength alone."
Father's gaze, fondly watching the farmers, turned to me.
"It was the silent dedication of the territory's people, each doing their duty, that allowed our family to flourish today."
"……."
I knew why Father was saying this, so I stayed silent.
"Thus, we have a duty to protect them—and this kingdom."
Clink!
As he set down his teacup, Father—Bacchus von Carviot—spoke.
"I want my children to help fulfill that duty. Without carving away at their own flesh."
'So it comes to this after all.'
It had been weighing on my mind since the moment he sent me to the spring festival.
Why send me away at this crucial time when trade with the elves was starting?
Father wouldn't miss my brother and sister's plans. If he knew and allowed it, there had to be a reason.
No matter how I pondered, the answer was one.
'He doesn't want me to inherit the family.'
"I fully understand what you're saying, Father."
But one lingering question.
I had to ask Father about it.
"But why me, specifically?"
"……."
When Father didn't answer, I pressed.
"I admit I lived like a worm before. But now, more than anyone... "
"That's exactly it."
"……?"
"Jerome, you've come to your senses fully. Enough that you don't need to be tied to Banten."
Father—Bacchus—said firmly.
Going back a bit, when Jerome left for Nile in Philador Kingdom to secure wheat.
Bacchus had planned to make Jerome one of three successor candidates based on his results.
Jerome had since achieved dazzling feats, enough to make him heir immediately.
Securing wheat from Nile, slaying orcs.
Sticking it to the Sword Family clashing with the royals, aiding Prince Julius in his plight.
Anyone could see he'd turned his life around splendidly.
However, in that process.
As a noble of Ikenia Kingdom, not just as a father.
Bacchus couldn't shake a subtle sense of dissonance.
And seeing the invitation to the spring festival from Prince Julius.
He finally identified the source.
"Your achievements were brilliant, beyond reproach. But to my eyes, all your actions seemed..."
Father stared into my eyes, as if peering into my hidden depths.
"...for the 'kingdom,' not our 'family.'"
"……!!"
I'd forgotten.
What kind of man Father—Bacchus von Carviot—was.
A lord with immense might and wisdom.
Even the Holy Empire wary of him—two of the three early war dukes not deployed to Ikenia front.
"I won't ask what you're thinking. But in my view, Banten isn't suited for your ambitions."
"What do you mean?"
"The Shield Family is strong. But our thinking has stagnated."
Father glanced at the door Arandal had exited.
"Except for Arandal, everyone's mindset is rigid. That Saladin you brought along, and the kid with you—both use Heterogenous Powers, right? Miron, was it?"
He'd even grasped that.
"Just from gathering such people, I can see your vision lies with the kingdom, not Banten. So there's no need for you to inherit it. Am I wrong?"
"...You're impossible to beat, Father."
I threw up all four limbs in surrender.