Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Haves Are Worse -1
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After wrapping up a two-week journey, we returned to Altesia territory.
It was a triumphant homecoming that truly earned the phrase "returning in glory."
Curing the princess, the emperor's reward, three chunks of adamantium, and a guaranteed hit with the elixir.
Even disrupting the Nidhogg Cult's plans and cutting off their funding made it damn near perfect.
The only catch? The only visible gain was the adamantium, so to the locals, I was just the "young master who ditched the territory to goof off."
Stinging glares instead of a grand welcome.
I couldn't exactly go around blabbing about my feats either—a truly bitter misunderstanding.
Still, there were folks who appreciated my hard work, so I wasn't too miffed.
"You're incredible! Solving the princess's curse and putting the emperor in your debt to snag that old kingdom's land!"
"Not quite cause for celebration. In the end, I just piled more work on myself as payment."
Lunaria's current lands were in a downright pitiful state.
From basic land reclamation on that rough terrain to building massive facilities like the casino—every step was a headache.
With massive capital on hand, it wasn't impossible, but a project this big came with endless variables to manage.
I couldn't just blindly pour the family's money into it for an easy ride either.
Altesia's true master was someone else, after all.
"But there must be a reason you absolutely need to claim Lunaria, right?"
"Spot on. I have to have it in my grasp."
Somewhere in Lunaria territory lurked a Nidhogg Cult hideout.
Finding and wiping it out would be cleanest, but there was a major snag.
The game's bizarre rule: "Those who do not worship the evil dragon cannot enter."
Past players had scoured every inch of Lunaria's map, but no data on the hideout even existed.
The devs had skipped implementing it entirely to enforce that lore.
So how the hell was I supposed to know its location?
Even if I did, without being a devout believer, I wouldn't make it past the doorstep.
So I switched tactics.
If I couldn't find their hideout, I'd make them crawl out on their own two feet.
The method was simple: Turn Lunaria into a street teeming with human desires.
The casino's frenzied cheers, the brothels' sultry moans, the drunks' raucous revelry.
Could devotees really offer pious prayers amid the nonstop din of debauchery?
Hell, I even planned to convert an abandoned church confessional into an adults-only theme park.
I wanted to drive the cult insane.
"Of course, no guarantee the permit will come through, so best not to get hopes up."
"They'll definitely grant it! Handing it to you beats letting that land rot a hundred times over!"
"No expectations, but I've got contingencies lined up. Might as well rake in some cash while we're at it."
Ting-!
I flicked the potion vial on my desk with a finger.
It didn't tip over thanks to the contents inside.
"This is the elixir that cured the princess, right?"
"Yep. Feeling beat? Down one—it works great for fatigue too."
"I-I couldn't! It's too precious to waste on mere tiredness!"
"One bottle's no big deal."
I had plenty of materials stocked, so it wasn't an issue.
Investing in a subordinate was money well spent anyway.
Maribel still shook her head vehemently in refusal.
"No way! I've already received so much from you!"
"Take one anyway. For emergencies later."
"But...!"
"You need to stick around long-term for Kizen to operate without worry. So keep it."
"...Understood."
To Maribel, that might've sounded harsh.
Like I valued her father more than her.
But if she wilted over something like this, she should've quit assassinations and stuck to maid work.
I glanced sideways at her reaction—she calmly tucked the elixir into her personal pouch.
Meaning she could judge objectively, without emotions clouding her.
My lips curled up. Damn right I'd picked a killer subordinate.
"Young master! May I come in?"
"Yeah, enter."
Creeeak-!
The door swung open, and Luke poked his head in.
He scanned the room before even asking how I was, then spoke in a businesslike tone.
"I came to check on this afternoon's schedule... As expected, you're alone with Miss Maribel again today."
"Got a problem with that?"
"I'm just jealous. I'm your one and only personal attendant—your first loyal retainer, even. Last time, you ditched me to hit that risky casino!"
Luke laid out his feelings bluntly.
He opposed favoritism, but as a scoundrel lord, I couldn't oblige.
So I pointed at Maribel.
"She's a flower."
Then at Luke.
"You're a dick. As a man, how could I not prefer flowers?"
"Can't argue with that phrasing."
"If you're that bummed, get reborn as a girl next life."
"No need—rumor has it the Magic Tower Master finally cracked gender-swap magic! If push comes to shove, I could aim for a fresh start in the other body!"
Is he nuts?
"Oho! Not a bad idea!"
Yep, total nutjob.
Luke and Maribel's dizzying banter made my head spin.
I didn't recall gender-swap magic in the game.
Then I remembered the feature letting you freely swap the protagonist's gender.
Was this the game lore bleeding into reality?
Maybe the world itself was the real problem, not just the cult.
"Young master, I'm back!"
As I rubbed my temple, Lena hopped through the window like it was her own bedroom.
In that instant, Maribel's dagger struck like a viper at Lena's throat.
Lena dodged by a hair's breadth, seized Maribel's wrist, and snatched the dagger away.
Showcasing their skill gap, she winked at Maribel before heading my way.
"Reporting on the negotiations with the Adenberg knights!"
"Go ahead."
"Prep work's all done, but only three in ten have committed fully."
"The rest are on hold?"
"Yes. But snag one, and the rest will follow like dominoes."
I'd heard beforehand they wouldn't all flip guaranteed, even with leverage—so no big surprise.
Turning your back on a house you'd sworn loyalty to wasn't easy, after all.
Securing three in ten solid was impressive work from Lena.
"That lead guy's Gerrick, right?"
"Yep. Foul-mouthed with erectile dysfunction, but his skills are the real deal."
"Give him the ED cure, and the other seven in ten come running?"
"Bet on it. If I'm wrong, sell me into slavery."
Her ironclad confidence had me handing over an elixir without hesitation.
She pocketed it, promised good news next time, and wrapped up.
As she moved to exit via the window again, a voice stopped her.
"Wait a sec!"
"Oh yeah, who's this cute new face? A fresh maid you hired, young master?"
"Kizen's daughter. Maribel."
"This girl's Kizen's kid? Doesn't look a thing like him!"
Lena eyed Maribel up and down like a curiosity.
Maribel, meanwhile, frowned at Lena's flighty antics.
Feather-light demeanor clashed hard with Maribel's prim politeness.
The clash I'd dreaded was finally happening.
"I heard Lady Lena's recruiting knights from the Adenberg Marquis House."
"And?"
"Is it really okay to bring them into Altesia? Traitors once could betray again—no guarantees."
"You're right. Precious few will swear true loyalty to Altesia."
"Then why recruit them?"
"Unlike Kizen, our little miss here doesn't see the bigger picture."
"I'm asking to learn—I've got plenty of gaps."
Despite her dislike, Maribel set aside personal feelings to seek guidance.
That attitude piqued Lena's interest in the much younger girl.
She knew it too—Maribel was no ordinary kid.
"Simple test, then. Think the young master overlooked your concern?"
"No. Lord Heinz surely had it in mind!"
"Then why accept my pitch to recruit the knights?"
"That's..."
Maribel paused, pondering my intent.
Soon, her eyes flashed with realization.
"A strategy to weaken Adenberg ahead of time?"
"Not wrong, but lacks detail."
"Sounds like there's more."
"All Adenberg knights flipping to Altesia. Think that's feasible normally?"
"No way under normal circumstances. Betraying your lord over something minor..."
Maribel's words trailed off.
Quick on the uptake, she'd spotted the oddity.
Lena nodded approval.
She revealed the answer to her junior on the cusp.
"Marquis Adenberg is trash unfit to lead. Even if not, doesn't matter. We'll have our poached knights brand him a tyrant unanimously."
"Legitimacy! You needed a pretext!"
Lena glanced my way and nodded.
Her cue for me to chime in.
"Altesia will swallow Adenberg whole soon enough."
"But did you need every knight? Seems like overkill on manpower..."
"Young master's not aiming for a bloody takeover."
"Without knights, won't Marquis Adenberg rally the locals to resist anyway?"
"What's the easiest way to sway the people's hearts?"
After that, we said nothing more.
The answer overflowed around us—no need to spell it out.
Money is always right!