How Dare You
Following him, the others behind pulled back their robes and raised both hands to show they meant no harm.
"Chwiik, I'm Ben, proxy of Arhan Territory. We got lost during the subjugation operation."
Got lost. The soldiers immediately grabbed their communicators and began reporting up the chain.
Ben tilted his head at the sight of the woman who soon appeared.
That woman...?
Her skin was so pale she almost seemed human, yet her ears suggested she might be from the heavenly race.
Ben had never actually seen a demon before, so he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"What sort of place is Arhan Territory?"
Gremori asked calmly.
Arthur's territory was still under Lord Protection Period, after all.
That made it a place no other territory could easily approach.
Asking for such information was also a procedure to confirm they truly harbored no ill intent.
"Arhan Territory is about 30 km north from here. Behind the lord's castle lies the path up Vargano Mountain, and we have around 200 troops. Our lord is currently in the 11th month of their Lord Protection Period, and our territory has joined the Troll Minor Alliance. Here's our territory status report."
[Arhan Territory Status Report]
A territory under Lord Protection Period.
Territories under protection could still clash with each other.
Gremori hesitated for a moment.
11th month? If we clash with Valkas Territory...
Lord Arthur, whom she served, was truly remarkable.
But 11 months in meant they had a solid foundation by now.
Gremori had never witnessed Arthur's 'territory battles,' so her worries weren't unfounded.
Still, she decided reporting up was best.
Gremori hurried back to the castle and woke Arthur, who had returned to reality.
Arthur scanned the territory status report handed over by this Ben fellow.
The lord's name was Kashas. Total territory level: 5. Solid troop numbers.
They'd leveled up the territory quite quickly.
Showing a status report when requesting aid was like baring one's insides—a clear sign of no malice.
It let others check troops, resources, and more.
But the aiding side had no need to share theirs.
"Got lost, huh. Yeah, that could happen. Rain's coming down hard."
Arthur gazed out the window at the steady drizzle.
And Troll Minor Alliance? That meant real power lay with Lord Brock.
Did he send them to scout me? Nah, Brock's not the type.
Arthur gave a wry smile.
If he'd come, he'd have shown up personally.
Not sent underlings like some petty schemer.
Anyway, more importantly...
Reject them, and it's a problem. Accept, and it's a problem too?
Turning them away might make Arhan's lord see Arthur as an enemy.
Fordail Land was crawling with lunatics, after all.
Accept them, though?
Conflicts would only arise if they caused real trouble inside.
Not scary if they stir shit internally. Gives me justification, even.
Arthur was currently scouting territories he could crush solo.
After some thought, he made his call.
"They just want a place to crash for the night and food for their empty stomachs, right?"
"Yes."
"Let them in, then."
"Understood."
It wasn't a big deal for the territory anyway.
And no matter how peerlessly Arthur advanced alone, he had no intention of going full 'shut up, I'll handle it myself, I'm the best.'
A hot meal and lodging weren't hardships, and they were just ten troops.
As Gremori turned to leave, Arthur added,
"Put conditions on it."
Always plan for the worst.
"Blindfolds on during territory transit—only remove them in the mess hall or barracks. And take a small gold fee from them."
Arthur wasn't an idiot.
They might be scouts.
And nothing in the world was free.
Ben and the orcs entered the mess hall Gremori guided them to.
They tore into the meat with gusto and chugged the dark ale.
"Chwiik, the lord won't join us?"
"No, the lord has retired to their chambers."
Gremori nodded, and Ben roughly wiped his mouth. The other orcs looked a bit uneasy too.
They were guests from another territory.
And as far as Ben knew,
This territory's barely two weeks old.
A total newbie lord owned this land.
And he made them wear blindfolds, didn't even greet them personally.
Gutsy little punk.
But Ben kept it inside.
"Chwiik, the meat's damn good."
Gremori didn't add anything.
Then—
Ting!
A glass of water shattered. Gremori's head snapped toward the sound.
Come morning, Arthur got Gremori's report right away.
"Nothing out of the ordinary?"
"Yes, they finished eating and went to the inn we provided. Took the gold too."
Arthur nodded.
"Oh, they said they want to see you before leaving for lunch."
"Handle it at the embassy, then."
Arthur nodded at the report and headed out early, as was now habit to patrol the territory each morning.
Wandering the area, he spotted the boy Low.
The kid who'd confessed to that girl Zabes a couple days back.
Arthur wondered how things had gone between them.
He'd tipped the boy yesterday to bring two flowers.
"Low."
"L-Lord!"
Low bowed deeply, breathing heavily. Arthur frowned curiously.
"Something wrong?"
Low hesitated before speaking.
"Last night, one of the orcs who visited spilled water on Zabes while she was serving food, then cussed her out harshly and threw bread at her forehead."
"Hm?"
Arthur's brow furrowed.
He hadn't heard about that. He shot Gremori a look, questioning what was up.
She looked lost.
"Zabes is so scared she's locked herself in her house and won't come out..."
"Gremori."
Arthur's voice sharpened.
Gremori bowed her head low.
"Yes, my lord."
"I said report everything, no matter how small."
"I-I..."
Gremori faltered, unsure what to say. Honestly, it was just a 'minor' thing.
Arthur ruled over a thousand territory folk now—and more to come.
Did such a lord need to clash with guests over one citizen?
No need to sour the mood. Just one villager mistreated by an orc—not worth bringing up again.
"Gremori."
"Yes."
"You're an 80-point proxy. Deducted."
"...!"
Gremori looked shocked.
My lord... hates me now?
Tears welled up, but Arthur stayed cold.
It might've been easy to overlook.
Fair enough.
He knew Gremori's thinking.
She'd held back for his sake, the territory's sake.
"I get you didn't tell me for my benefit. But Gremori—you didn't trust me just now."
Arthur left those words, chatted briefly with Zabes, then turned away.
Gremori chased after him with a grim expression.
A lord doesn't show guests the castle.
That's why embassies exist.
With Gremori at his side in the embassy, thirty troops lined up behind Arthur.
Nine orcs stood behind Ben.
"Chwiik, thanks—we rested well."
Arthur just nodded silently.
Ben inwardly cursed the gesture.
Chwiik, arrogant newbie lord punk. Didn't even show yesterday.
Still, Ben grinned slyly.
Chwiik, stumbled into this territory by chance, but time for the pitch?
Proxy Ben had a shallow scheme.
"Chwiik, as you know, Fordail Land is a dangerous place."
Arthur just nodded.
"Word is, this territory's been claimed less than two weeks. How about we provide full protection? It's fate we helped you like this."
This time, Arthur didn't nod.
He just thought, Here it comes, anticipating the next line.
"Chwiik, Arhan Territory has the Troll Alliance behind it, and above them the Valkyrie Grand Alliance—but personally, we have a lord who aids us. Tyrant Zakan."
"Hm."
Arthur sounded intrigued.
"Impressive guy. Protection period ended just four months ago, but he smashed two territories at once recently."
Ben emphasized his words.
"Lots of lords with ties in Fordail Land, many paying us 'protection fees.' For you specially, just 8% of your monthly gold, and we protect you."
Arthur finally nodded, downing the tea in his cup.
"Chwiik, dirt cheap. Tyrant Zakan's name alone..."
Arthur toyed with the empty cup—toss, catch, toss, catch—crossing his legs as he spoke.
"Heard one of your orcs threw bread at one of our villagers' heads in the inn last night."
"Chwiik? Oh, that minor thing—whaddya gonna do? Pay the protection fee and..."
Arthur knew the pitch.
Lords called it 'lord shaking-down.'
Veteran protected lords—ones who'd progressed fast despite protection—pulled this non-mannerly stunt.
Approach unaffiliated mid-tier territories under 'protection' pretext.
Squeeze 10-20% monthly gold to bloat their own lands.
Newbie lords couldn't fight back.
Refuse, and they'd declare war instantly.
Greed hiding behind a smile.
Perfect fit.
Arthur mulled Ben's words.
"Minor?"
Arthur's eyebrow twitched.
Ben tilted his head, then smirked.
"Chwiik, overreacting to some bread at one villager. How'll you rule a territory like..."
Before he finished—
Arthur hurled the cup at Ben's forehead with all his might.
Whoosh!
Crack!
"Hup!"
"Hek!"
"...Chwiik!"
Silence blanketed the room.
Arthur rose slowly.
He pulled Kazaven's Venom Dagger from his inventory.
"Yeah, minor thing. Valkas Territory lord Arthur de Press just minored a cup into the proxy's skull."
Drip.
Blood trickled from Ben's forehead to the floor.
He grimaced, rising slowly.
"Chwiik, what the hell is..."
Arthur kicked the table hard.
Ben stomped it down as it slid.
Crunch!
The table splintered. Arthur said coldly,
"I don't throw food at weaklings just 'cause I'm a lord—that'd be embarrassing. Sticking a cup in a proxy's forehead? That I might."