Heir to the Marquisate (2)
I've become the eldest son of the Marquis house—Phoenix Ludbekia, son of the Ludbekia Marquis. So, what should I do right away?
"Thank you all for attending this banquet."
A banquet! A party held in the mansion of a noble family.
"Without you, the monster surge wouldn't have been resolved so quickly, and it was thanks to your help that we could leave a good impression on Marquis Ludbekia."
This was a commemorative banquet for resolving the monster surge, and at the same time, a celebration of my adoption into the Ludbekia Marquis family.
"If anyone asks, 'How did Regiph Hapsderk survive and come back?' I trust you'll all handle that appropriately. You all took good care of your cores, right?"
What do I gain by taking this position?
"Now that I'm part of Ludbekia, let me say a few words as one of its own. This isn't as an academy student—it's as the heir to the marquis house."
The shield that is the Ludbekia Marquis house. Beyond that, just having the status of nobility alone brings tremendous merits.
"Conquest of the monster zone. I will actively support you hunters in conquering the monster zone."
Moreover, the Ludbekia Marquisate is vast. It had been undervalued due to the monster zone dominated by Ratatosk, but now that we're starting its conquest, we can draw enormous profits by utilizing the land.
"Truth be told, I'd love to drop out of the academy and help right away, but since I've enrolled, I should at least get my diploma, right? I have things to do at the academy too."
When something good happens to one person, others get jealous and envious. Do I really need to care for them? But there comes a time when you have to pay attention to those around you once things get on track.
"That said, I can't just ignore it as a mere undergrad, so I have to do what I can for the Ludbekia Marquisate."
This is that time. Now that I'm part of the Ludbekia Marquis house, my actions no longer affect just me—they impact the entire house. So, even if it's a bit annoying, I have no choice.
"The cores obtained from this monster surge will be handled by the Ludbekia Marquis house, but in exchange, we'll take only half the commission fee."
"Phoenix! Phoenix! Phoenix!"
The hunters clap and raise their glasses. It looks like a loss—and it is one—but I've already shared the maximum profits from this monster surge raid with the hunters.
"Now that I'm under the Ludbekia Marquis house, the share from monster surge farming falls under their portion. Yes. I'll return the legal share I should claim as an academy undergrad to you hunters."
From the hunters' perspective, it's basically free money. Even slightly lowering taxes boosts support for the lord, and even though this is a one-time event, these freelance-equivalent hunters are taking home at least 30% more profit. How could they not be thrilled?
With this, the gossip behind my back should turn a bit more positive now.
-That bastard... fuck.
That was the level of trash talk that would've come out originally.
-Man, our young master is the best! Keep showering us with cash like this from now on, for real!
Something like that. Of course, if I don't keep it up, they'll badmouth me later, but it's still better than getting hate right now.
They don't even realize I'm trying to tie them down here.
Because I won't feel secure unless they settle here.
If these freelance hunters end up affiliated with the Ludbekia Marquisate later, it'll make things much easier for me in every way.
The hunters who got their cores appraised by me this time will start settling in the Ludbekia Marquisate one by one. They'll see me as a bit of a pushover, happily taking the core scraps the lucky young master of the marquisate is tossing around, setting up bases, buying houses, and staying long-term.
"Here's to the future. For the Ludbekia Marquisate."
"For the Ludbekia Marquisate!!"
And one day, when most of their wealth is tied up in real estate here, weighing their assets and lives in the marquisate...
-Argh, damn it! Better to protect my house than leave and end up broke!
To safeguard their assets in the marquisate, the hunters won't abandon it even in the face of the massive apocalypse and disasters to come.
Therefore, this is an investment. As the heir to the Ludbekia Marquis house, it's a social return on the many benefits I'll gain—and preparation for the future.
If I don't do this, I'll get hate.
Some might think that. Considering Hapsderk traditions, maybe I could even take the Ludbekia Marquis as a "son" in name.
Others might think:
-Whoa, so the young master is fated to marry the lady? The cute little sister who's academy material is gonna be the wife? Lucky guy.
As Marquis Ludbekia himself said, I have the prime qualification to take a beautiful little sister as my wife above all else.
Just this alone would make anyone want to be adopted into the Ludbekia Marquis house.
Seya Hapsderk—now Seya Ludbekia. If you could marry that beauty, even as a concubine or potentially the main wife, nine out of ten would choose to become the marquis house's child. The remaining one? Probably a case where it just doesn't sit right emotionally.
For example—
"Surprising. I figured you'd hate families backed by Silverstar."
Yurha Silverstar, approaching in a suit instead of a dress at the banquet hall.
"Silverstar has a tight grip on Ludbekia's economy. Doesn't it worry you or make you uneasy becoming the heir to such a place? They'll meddle in every spending decision from now on."
"That's for people who only have a moderate amount of money, senpai."
I subtly slipped her a small core where others couldn't see.
"If they say they'll manage the territory for you in exchange for money, why would I antagonize Silverstar?"
"You're the first to approach it from that angle. Most lords blow up, saying outsiders are gambling away their lands."
"No matter who runs it, as long as they manage it well for the fee, that's fine. In the meantime, both I and the marquis can focus on more important things than territory management."
"Hmm..."
Yurha pocketed the core I gave her and sidled closer to me.
"So, what should I call you from now on? Regiph Hapsderk? Or Red Sol Phoenix Regiph Hapsderk Ludbekia?"
"Even the empire's emperor doesn't have a name that long, senpai."
I poured her a drink directly into her empty glass as I replied.
"Officially, I'm Phoenix Ludbekia for now."
"I heard you were going to start the Phoenix family at the academy."
"If I branch off later, I can separate from the Ludbekia Marquis house, or take it a step further."
"Phoenix Duchy?"
"Something like that."
I clinked glasses with Yurha.
"You look like you have something to ask. What is it?"
"Hm, no. Just..."
Yurha took a light sip from her glass, swirling it gently.
"Marquis Ludbekia's words were pretty amusing."
"Which ones...?"
"That you're actually Regiph, who survived tenaciously in the demon realm for a decade, came back hiding your identity, and were drawn back to your rightful place by fateful pull."
"Hmm."
I deliberately paused.
"Is it true?"
"Didn't we decide to present it that way to the world?"
"......Then let me rephrase the question."
Yurha stared straight at me.
"Was our meeting at the academy really our first?"
"Do you want me to be Regiph Hapsderk, Yurha senpai?"
"Honestly? Yeah, I do."
She tilted her glass toward me.
"The guy who fell for me and handed over his entire family is not only escaping the demon realm but now bending over backward to give me immense wealth and glory. Wouldn't it be nicer if we were continuing a connection from ten years ago?"
"You're saying I fell for you, Yurha senpai, and handed over my family's pillar root and all?"
"That's how Regiph was back then. Against the golden devil trying to devour his family, he was so blinded by love that he threw away family traditions and common sense, offering me everything he had."
"Did I do that?"
"......."
"......."
I clinked my glass against Yurha's.
"Let's go with that. Oh, and on that note, I'll let you in on something, just for you, Yurha senpai."
"What?"
"Marquis Ludbekia just picked it out of thin air, but whether it's S-rank grand mage intuition or what, 99% of it hit the mark. I was really shocked."
"...Pfft."
Yurha let out a low chuckle at my words.
"Seriously. So, all the knowledge you have is from the demon realm?"
"Something like that, senpai."
"It'd be easier to understand if you said you came from some other world we can't even perceive, instead of the demon realm for ten years."
"Who knows, maybe."
"Pfft."
At my nonchalant reply, Yurha smirked and took another sip.
"Here's to the future, Phoenix Ludbekia junior."
"Of course, senpai."
Whether Yurha sees me as Regiph or not, our relationship is always business.
"Oh, right. If you're Regiph, could you pass this on?"
Yurha grabbed my shoulder, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in my ear.
"Interest accrues on love, and its weight becomes heavier than gold?"
......?
Nah, no way.