Chapter 423: Rewards and Punishments Based on Merit (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 423: Rewards and Punishments Based on Merit (3)
What was the most shocking appointment during this distribution of merit-based rewards?
It wasn't Knight Commander Jonathan, nor was it Felix or Fernando.
While their promotions fell well within the realm of expectation, the decree granting Hans the title of Baron immediately after the coronation ceremony was truly unprecedented. Hans hadn't achieved a single merit in the war. He was a mere servant; rising to the rank of nobility was something even he himself couldn't comprehend.
Hans immediately went to see Roman Dmitry.
"...A barony? I cannot fathom why such an undeserved reward has been bestowed upon me."
His mind was in a whirl.
Some told him to just accept it, but in the world Hans knew, there was no such thing as a reward without a reason. It was far too generous. If he had achieved sufficient military merits like Chris and Kevin, he would naturally deserve it. But while the world was embroiled in chaos, Hans had lived a life far removed from the battlefield, tucked away in safety.
He asked for the truth.
Having never once desired the life of a noble, his eyes pleaded for a genuine answer.
He truly was an interesting man.
While ordinary people would have jumped for joy, Hans didn't take this fortune for granted.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"Hans. The scope of merit-based rewards is not limited to military achievements. Throughout everything that has happened, you have meticulously managed my daily life. And the person you served has now become the Emperor of the Dmitry Empire. Why on earth do you think this is undeserved? If you are to continue managing the Emperor's life, don't you think you need a status befitting that role?"
Hans was left speechless.
People often said he was a blessed man.
Though he was a mere servant, the Dmitry family had never treated him as just a servant. They respected his role and supported his family in countless ways so they could live comfortably. In truth, when he first started working as a servant, he had never anticipated such a future. Servants were usually looked down upon and treated like disposable tools, but Roman Dmitry had treated him as a human being.
And as if that weren't enough, he was now granting him a title of nobility.
With emotions welling up inside him, Hans didn't know how to handle the situation.
"In truth, granting you a title and asking you to continue living for my sake might just be my own selfishness. Hans, if you wish, you no longer have to work as a servant. But if you intend to continue living for me, I hope you will accept this reward and ease the burden on your mind."
He left the choice to him. Rather than forcing the issue, Roman wanted Hans to choose of his own free will.
Hans bit his lip repeatedly.
He had never even dreamed of leaving Dmitry in the first place, but just being respected so deeply made his heart swell as if he had already received the greatest gift. Dmitry had accepted him as family. Their actions over the years proved it, and even now, as they leaped forward to become an empire, they made that reality clear once again.
People each have their own dreams.
Just as others had requested different rewards during the distribution of honors, Hans had received a reward that was emotionally fulfilling, regardless of the title itself. No matter what happened to Dmitry in the future, this man named Hans would live his life as their companion, praying for Dmitry's peace.
"...I will accept it. Of course I will. From this day forth, I, Hans, will continue to live for Dmitry."
He nodded. Seeing him nod vigorously over and over, Roman Dmitry smiled.
* * *
A few days before the international conference.
The news about Hans spread quickly. Whenever people gathered in small groups, they would talk about Hans as if they had planned it beforehand.
"Has there ever been a case where a servant was granted a noble title?"
"Absolutely not. Think about it. The nobility is incredibly exclusive. Who would ever grant a noble title to a servant who wasn't born into it? This is truly unprecedented. His Majesty the Emperor, who was so strict with war criminals like Ares, has set a precedent that breaks down the barriers of social status!"
Everyone was filled with admiration.
In fact, Roman Dmitry's attitude toward commoners had long been famous.
While ordinary nobles usually looked down on anyone who wasn't of noble birth, Dmitry thoroughly respected the working class. By placing ample value on occupations like blacksmiths and miners, Dmitry came to be known as a land free of discrimination. Since the members of the Hao Sect were also composed of ordinary people—such as restaurant servers and fruit shop owners—Dmitry's unique character stood out even more.
Even so, granting a noble title was a completely different matter.
No one had expected that he would allow a mere servant like Hans to become the precedent that shattered the boundaries of social class.
In a pub some distance away from Dmitry, people who had absolutely no connection to Hans spoke with flushed faces.
"This incident proves His Majesty the Emperor's sincerity. He always said he holds no prejudice, and whether it's punishing Ares or this matter with Hans, he has proven that his actions match his words. At least in the world we will live in from now on, Dmitry will never judge us with a prejudiced yardstick."
"As for me, the moment I saw the results of this merit distribution, I knew for sure that I had to move to Dmitry. Kevin, Hans... these people weren't born into nobility. One was a slum boy, the other a mere servant, yet His Majesty did not forget their dedication to Dmitry and rewarded them handsomely. This is the future. Dmitry will never, ever forget the sacrifices of those who dedicate themselves to this nation."
Trust is not built overnight. It was the accumulation of his past actions.
Respecting the working class, establishing a support system for the families of those who died in war, and making such unprecedented moves in this distribution of rewards—all of this made the people raise their glasses high, chanting Dmitry's name.
They were overjoyed.
Until now, the system of the Salamander Continent had been truly wretched.
The Kronos Empire had never once apologized for its wrongdoings, and countless people had suffered under their oppression and ambition for continental conquest. Not only had Roman Dmitry brought down the Kronos Empire—the very symbol of evil—but the ideal system he proposed also ignited a fire of hope in people's hearts.
Some feared Roman Dmitry.
But the ordinary people, who had nothing to do with power, welcomed the changing world with open arms.
The matter of Hans proved it. From that day on, those who worked for Dmitry became far more motivated—a fact well known to anyone who paid attention.
* * *
Back to the present.
William was visibly flustered. The moment he confirmed the other party was Hans, warning bells rang in his head.
'Damn it. Of all people, I had to offend Baron Hans.'
The Dmitry List. On that list, Hans was recorded as follows:
[One of Roman Dmitry's closest confidants. He has cared for Roman Dmitry since childhood, and they are understood to share an exceptionally close bond. Roman Dmitry has shown enough affection to personally send gifts to Hans's parties, and Hans's family currently lives under Dmitry's full support. His appointment as a Baron during the recent distribution of merit-based rewards is clear proof that Hans is a key figure of influence in Dmitry. Therefore, if you encounter him, you must never look down on him because of his background as a servant.]
Baron Hans. He was a key figure.
That was why William had studied his face countless times to memorize it, yet he had still made such an absurd mistake. His mind went blank. Normally, speaking down to a servant was not an issue, but because the man standing before him was Baron Hans, his thoughts ground to a halt.
First, he had to apologize. Without even stopping to think, William bowed his head.
"I am terribly sorry! I did not realize you were Baron Hans and committed a grave discourtesy!"
"No, it is quite alright. Given my appearance, it is only natural that you might mistake me."
Hans smiled. At his generous attitude in letting the matter slide, William looked at Hans with a face full of genuine gratitude.
"The rumors of Baron Hans's outstanding character are indeed true. I will make sure to warn everyone from the Frank Kingdom, including myself, so that nothing like this ever happens again. It will never, ever happen again."
He threw away his pride.
The King of Frank revered Roman Dmitry like a god, so if William left any room for trouble, he would face immense wrath upon returning to Frank. The world had changed. Dmitry was now at the center of power, and even if Roman Dmitry didn't raise an issue, countries like Frank had no choice but to tread carefully.
It was only natural. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, it was normal for every animal except the apex predator to be cautious.
Hans spoke after exchanging a few words with the administrator.
"Everything the King of Frank desires has already been prepared. Although I did not receive any specific instructions regarding it, I made sure to check in advance what areas we need to be careful about. You do not need to worry."
Hans. Although his primary role was to personally care for Roman Dmitry, he meticulously oversaw the affairs of the entire Dmitry Imperial Palace unless there was a special reason not to. This matter was no different. Upon hearing that an international conference would be held, he had reviewed information on the kings of each nation, checking their preferences and what they might find uncomfortable.
As the true power behind the scenes of the Imperial Palace, Hans remained faithful to his role. Though his status had risen now that he held a barony, he never forgot what he was supposed to do.
William was deeply impressed. As he repeatedly expressed his gratitude, Hans offered a warm, genial smile.
"I hope you have a comfortable stay here in Dmitry. And if you ever need assistance, you are welcome to seek me out at any time."
That day, another heartwarming tale was added to the reputation of Baron Hans among the people of the Frank Kingdom, praising him as a man of true noble dignity.
* * *
At that same hour, the international conference taking place in the Imperial Palace's conference hall was divided over a single agenda item.
The King of Redford spoke.
"I agree with reviving the ranking system, but even so, we cannot allow the winner the audacity to challenge His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty is now the ruler of the continent. Coveting the authority of the Dmitry Empire is something that can absolutely never be permitted."
"I agree as well. A swordsmanship duel? How could we possibly consent to such a dangerous affair?"
It was Daniel Cairo.
The representatives of each nation felt the same. While they agreed to the ranking system, they couldn't help but oppose the condition Chris had requested. In the past, Roman Dmitry was merely the successor of a noble family. Back then, it didn't matter what hardships he faced. But now that he had ascended as the Emperor of the Dmitry Empire, they could never allow him to be exposed to such danger.
It was a sensitive issue. Most voiced their opposition, but Roman Dmitry stated his thoughts in an unwavering voice.
"Before I am an Emperor, I am a swordsman. For me, someone who rose to this position with a single sword, proving my continued strength is actually a way to assert my authority as Emperor. Do you truly believe I will lose?"
"...No, that is not the case."
"I wish to prove my authority myself, not through the seat of the Emperor."
At those words, no one objected further.
Just as Roman Dmitry said, he had always proven himself with his sword, and the idea of him losing to anyone was utterly unimaginable. If anything, it felt incredibly characteristic of him. Rather than avoiding challenges just because he had ascended to the throne, his declaration that he would prove himself every single time showed immense confidence.
Ultimately, Chris's agenda item was passed.
After confirming the implementation of the ranking system, Lucas stepped forward to discuss the next agenda item.
"A few days ago, we received information from Kronos. I will show that to you first."
He gave a signal. As the mages set up a device, a screen created by magic appeared before everyone's eyes.
[The disaster has become reality. The Gate of Darkness will open. It is an unavoidable reality, and just because it is not visible before your eyes does not mean nothing is happening. Humans, beware. Prepare. Struggle. On the day pitch-black darkness descends upon the world, humanity will face an unprecedented disaster.]
It was none other than the Oracle. In truth, it was because of this issue that Roman Dmitry had summoned the representatives of each nation.
Lucas spoke.
"This is the content of the Oracle discovered in Kronos's secret room. The existence of Alexander has already proven that the demons of the Demon Realm are plotting something. And according to the Oracle, their plans, which are already well underway, will dye the continent in darkness in the near future."
Everyone's expression turned grave. The Demon Realm. It was a serious problem.
Roman Dmitry had revealed the existence of the Demon Realm to the world, and the representatives of each nation accepted it as an unavoidable reality. However, there was no clear solution. The Demon Realm was a world that transcended the human domain. Since even a monster like Alexander was a mere minion to them, the people couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by fear.
Silence hung in the air. As everyone hesitated to speak, Roman Dmitry looked at them and spoke with a calm face.
"The existence of the Demon Realm has become reality. As I promised my people, I will not stand by and watch. I will work proactively to resolve this issue. Somewhere in this world, a passage connecting to the Demon Realm exists. Since we do not know when they will attack from there, we would normally have to tremble in anxiety and endure endless fear."
It was a strange statement. Just as the representatives of each nation felt a sense of oddity, a shocking declaration struck them.
"I do not intend to wait for them to attack. I plan to strike them first, directly through the passage to the Demon Realm. That is the reason I convened this international conference."