Chapter 193 : Chapter 193

Chapter : 193

It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was truly unbelievable.

Because ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of a rumor that I would expel all infidels, the income collected in the County of Campania had plunged.

I ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍immediately issued an order to correct the nonsense and normalize trade with the infidel merchants, but it was not that simple.

“Um… ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍my lord. Recently, there have been almost no infidel merchants anywhere nearby.”

“It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍seems they changed their trade routes altogether…?”

For ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍some reason, the infidel merchants truly stopped showing their faces.

“The true faith is spreading across this land at last, Your Grace.”

“Indeed, the devout Margrave is most admirable! The Holy See is deeply grateful for Your Grace’s devotion.”

The ones who grew excited were the clergy.

No matter how much they loved money, they had long found it distasteful that infidel influence was steadily growing in the County of Campania.

Even if trade was permitted for the sake of profit, good heavens—allowing filthy infidel temples as well?

From the Holy See’s perspective, it was utterly unacceptable.

“…….”

Of course, for me, watching them rejoice was enough to make my blood boil.

‘Are they toying with me?’

After I had raised a great army and seized the county, what was I supposed to do if my revenue was cut to a quarter?

I might be basking in the Holy See’s halo, but in the end, was money not more important than piety?

Only money could develop a domain and defend it from outside threats.

‘I will have to send people and drag them back one way or another. If I offer some drastic conditions, will they not return?’

For several days I brooded, pondering what I should provide. Fortunately—unexpectedly—my problem resolved itself.

“Your Grace! Those insolent infidel merchants say they want to see you. Shall we drive them out at once?”

“What nonsense! Bring them in immediately. I will meet them.”

Before I had even summoned them, the infidel merchants sent representatives first.

---

“The infidel merchants request entry.”

At the attendant’s words, the reception room doors opened, and the infidel merchants entered—straining under an armful of baggage as they shuffled inside.

‘Hm. They look rather adorable.’

That was my first thought as I watched them flail about, clearly trying to show their sincerity.

A fluffy tail.

Ears standing perked up.

And even bright, round eyes.

The representatives were desert fox beastmen, and even the turban-like hats on their heads were charming in an absurd way.

‘Of course, I must not be fooled and trade like an idiot.’

Still, simply watching them made a smile creep onto my face. They were that kind of adorable.

“Kang! Kang!”

They even let out a distinctly cute fox yelp.

“Do not be deceived by that appearance.”

“That is right. Desert fox beastmen are very good with numbers, and they are selfish and greedy!”

After Magician Agpiel, Azuela whispered to me as well.

But I—

“…Yes, that was obviously my intention. Looking cute is one thing. Negotiation is negotiation.”

“Oh? Is that so? Then there is nothing to worry about.”

“Still, you must be careful. They snare people in an instant with those cute faces.”

Azuela continued to grumble as though she had once been thoroughly taken advantage of by them.

Her words were a bit extreme, but since even Magician Agpiel warned me to be cautious, it seemed there was some merit to it.

Merchants were greedy by nature, after all.

So I steeled myself and prepared to face these adorable infidel merchants.

And yet…

“To behold the noble and devout Margrave, Kang!”

“?”

“This is a gift, Kang! It is small compared to the wealth you possess, but you must accept it. Kaaang.”

They were far more humble than I expected.

The moment they saw me, they threw themselves flat and presented treasures with the most earnest posture imaginable.

“…Did you not say they were greedy?”

“T-that is because…! They are trying to lower your guard with some trickery!”

“Is that so?”

Unfortunately, Azuela’s speculation was wrong this time as well.

“Margrave! We dare ask for nothing, Kang! We only wish to trade with the County of Campania as before. Kang! We will pay taxes properly, too! Kaaang!”

“…That is what they are saying.”

All my concern turned out to be pointless. They set no conditions at all, and there was no hidden trickery, either.

“It seems Lady Azuela should think one more time before offering advice.”

“…….”

Azuela could only sit there, mortified.

‘No, damn it!’

Those people who usually beat you down and swindle you—why were they acting like this now, of all times, and ruining her dignity?

I clicked my tongue at Azuela. She really was, in many ways, not far from a fool.

“Very well. Then do you have anything else you want from me?”

“Kyaaang! How could we dare want anything, Kang.”

“Even so, speak.”

“Kaaaaaang.”

The leader let out a foxlike whine for a moment, then perked his ears and finally spoke.

“M-maybe… could you open a port somewhere other than the southern region? Kang?”

“What? A port?”

For a moment I blurted it back in surprise.

To open a port meant they wanted to trade in that region. In other words, they wanted to extend their trade route into my territory itself.

I had no reason to refuse.

Expanding the trade routes of my relay trade market had been my greatest objective.

“Kiiiing. I-it is not that we are asking you to open a port for free, Kang.”

It seemed my startled question sounded like a rebuke to their ears.

“That is right, Kang!”

“If you open the port, we will build the pier and trade facilities ourselves, Kang!”

“We only mean that we want trade permission. Kaaang.”

“If opening a port in Your Grace’s direct domain is a burden, then please allow it at least in the capital of the County of Campania. Kang!”

They hurriedly piled on explanations among themselves, their tails trembling.

Meanwhile, I could only think—

‘What a windfall?’

It was a wonderfully pleasant proposition.

---

The meeting with the infidel merchants—adorable beyond belief—ended to my complete satisfaction.

As I said, they demanded no special privileges at all. (In fact, when I granted permission for them to build their temples, they nearly fainted.) They even promised to construct port facilities for the newly formed trade network with their own money.

It was an encounter overwhelmingly favorable to me.

At first I wondered why they were going so far.

But after I learned what lay behind it, I could not quite laugh with a clear conscience.

“Keh keh keh. No wonder they bowed so low. They must have misunderstood thoroughly. Or was it not a misunderstanding, our devout Margrave?”

“Ghh…. Stop teasing me, Magician Agpiel.”

“Now, now. Teasing? Who would dare commit blasphemy and invite divine punishment by mocking such holy matters?”

“Enough!”

Good heavens.

They had truly believed a baseless rumor that I would slaughter them all.

According to the desert fox beastmen, even sending a representative had been decided by drawing lots—someone coming here prepared to risk his life.

They had even found it suspicious that I treated them so well.

“I do not understand why such bizarre rumors keep spreading.”

It was not as though I was a man driven mad by religion.

At this rate, I might end up with a nickname like Bellua the Zealot, and that was enough to worry me.

Of course—

“Are you saying you do not know why?”

Magician Agpiel spoke as though I was being ridiculous.

“Enough. I should not have said anything.”

“Heh heh. In any case, use it well. If you lean too far to one side, your leeway will shrink.”

“That is precisely what worries me.”

As Magician Agpiel said, the more powerful one’s reputation became, the narrower one’s room to maneuver became.

People interpreted me through my reputation, and they expected me to behave according to it.

If I acted contrary to that reputation, they would be disappointed—and disappointment became a ready-made justification to turn against me.

“So you must manage it well. Sometimes, even the exact opposite situation can be steered in the direction you want, if you use your head properly. For the time being, stabilize the County of Campania and manage it carefully.”

“That is easy for you to say.”

I grumbled, but I intended to take Magician Agpiel’s advice seriously.

If I followed his words, I only needed to start trying from now on, did I not?

In any case, with that thought, I planned to remain in the County of Campania for a while.

It had been only a few months since the conquest. I still needed to build relationships with the local nobles, and I also had to maintain close contact with the Holy See for joint 대응 against the Emperor.

Building rapport with the infidel merchants, with whom I had just opened new trade, was important as well.

And with envoys arriving from small eastern kingdoms from time to time, it did not seem I would be leaving the County of Campania anytime soon.

And fortunately—

During this period, there were no major problems on the continent.

Except that large-scale peasant revolts, sparked by the ongoing The Great Famine caused by abnormal weather, still had not been suppressed and had begun building their own power.

Across each kingdom and empire, peasant rebel forces—small or large—were establishing themselves and pursuing independent paths.

Unlike previous peasant revolts, nobles, knights, and scholars who had been pushed out of the mainstream were joining them.

And this—

“You really are… impressive in every way. Did you even aim for this?”

“…I did not expect it to persist this strongly.”

It was because of “Social Contract Theory” and the translated “Bible” that poured out of the Printing Office I had established.

At first, I thought it was only a small spark, but it flared far more fiercely than expected, and the central governments had lost control.

Of course, it bought my domain—relatively stable in its administrative network and welfare—ample time to grow, but still.

“It is a very good thing.”

If only everything could pass like this without any major problems.

No war, no uncontrollable variables.

But, as always, it seemed the god of this world disliked it when I stayed still.

“My lord! Margrave!”

A messenger arrived in haste from my homeland, having ridden a fast boat across the waters.

He carried a letter from Chamberlain Hamil—who was governing the domain in my stead—and on that letter were written these words:

-The King is critically ill. Return at once.

A short sentence.

But the meaning inside it was more than sufficient.

Once again, the kingdom would fall into unexpected turmoil.

From that letter, for the first time in a long while, I smelled the thick scent of blood again.

Damn it!