Dream Life

December 10.

A month and a half has passed since the death fight with the undead. The village has returned completely to everyday life and is now busy preparing for winter.

I married two wives, but nothing has changed particularly about Liddy's relationship with Beatrice. Cohabitation? I think it was because of the long time, but the fact that we often act as Zack Sextet even when we're married would also be a cause of unchanged.

The best effort I've put into this past month and a half has been the recovery of Luna's heart.

After the battle with the undead, she closed her mind again, which was about to open.

My sister-in-law Rosalee told me that the fierce battle, which lasted four days, could not be hidden, and had once again terrorized her.

Still not panicking, as before, would be thanks to the dedication of the Rosaries, who were always beside them, and the spirits of darkness who tried to protect Luna.

That's the situation, but I try to take as much time as possible and try to talk a little bit. When I say talk, I don't know what to tell you, so I just talk as much as I can think of, but then I talk about nature, booze and cooking.

It's just that Liddy and Beatrice were stunned by me like that.

"You can't help talking about alcohol to a girl."

"You don't have that one. I'm not that interested."

I don't even know what you two are saying, but I think it's risky to talk about the original world until she opens her mind completely.

If you talk about the original world in the current situation, you could be too dependent on me. Even if it doesn't, I fear I will be disgusted with the gods as to why I have to fit such an unfortunate eye.

It is likely that then we will not be able to respond to the demands of the gods, and I do not think we can take such a risk.

I think so, but I was in trouble. If we can't talk about the original world, we have no story to talk about, and we can't talk about the village of Thysek. In the end, all I could think of was alcohol and cooking.

I just don't know, but I feel like I'm listening. When I told Sharon about it, I got an unexpected answer.

"I think it's because Master Zach looks like he'll have fun talking. It conveys the feeling that even if you don't know, it's going to be fun."

Mel agrees with me the same way.

"It sounds really fun, so who's Zach talking about alcohol? I'd love a drink, too."

I don't know if that's an eye for me or a hopeful observation, but in the past month I've stopped freaking out when I stroked my head, and he's been greeting me back, whispering.

Hopefully if this situation continues, he will have a bright smile in the spring.

Today, a messenger comes from Imperial City.

That is what Queen Katrina of the Kingdom of Kaum had expected, but that became a reality. The reward for this undead crusade will be conveyed.

We are talking about this undead crusade, but there has been talk of whether it was a false alarm in Imperial Capital since the beginning, and credibility was in doubt. However, suspicion was completely dispensed with not only by the Blacksmith Guild and the Kaum Kingdom, but also by the Adventurer's Guild's announcement that there had been an officially undead invasion.

I am a visiting envoy, but I am Viscount Ignacious Radford, the heavy town of the Marquis Seawell family. Already two days ago, it has been told that the aforementioned decree is due to visit the Mansion and arrive around noon today.

The Viscount has already visited this village twice, but until last time he had been contacted first thing the day before or the morning of the day. This time, however, he is the emperor's official messenger, or messenger, and he cannot respond poorly. That's why he gave us a prep period so we could contact him two days in advance.

Arrangements to welcome the Angel were many troublesome, and a thoughtful advance meeting had been held with Redley Sutherland, a civilian of the Marquis Seawell family who arrived yesterday, and even rehearsals had taken place.

Not long before noon, all Lockhart family officials welcoming the angels changed into formal attire and were waiting at the entrance to the village. In addition, there are well-dressed villagers waiting on the road inside the village that leads to Kanga Hill.

After the noon bell rang, I could see a group of Caerm Imperial Army knights consolidating themselves in blue gear. At the beginning is a knight with a flag painted with a golden eagle spreading its wings, the crest of the royal family, followed by a luxurious carriage with the same crest.

We'll poke one knee and wait for our arrival on the spot.

The Imperial Knight was Osborne Towerdin, who had previously accompanied the Viscount, announcing the arrival of an angel with a loud voice, Daoi Ja, commensurate with his great stature.

"It is the arrival of His Holiness Ignacious Radford, His Majesty the Emperor!

My father, Masaias, gives a welcoming oral according to the practices taught.

"Master Masaias Lockhart, welcome your angel, the ultimate in joy! … to His Majesty the Emperor for ever and ever!

After the mouth, my father takes the lead and leads the carriage.

Once inside the village, the villagers greeted them and whenever the carriage passed, they said, "Long live the Emperor!" Cheers up.

Upon arrival at the Mansion in Kanga Hill, Viscount Radford emerged from the carriage. The Viscount was a shoulder strap with plenty of blue based outfits and golden threads, in white narrow slacks.

When a beautiful man's Viscount like a sinister actor solidifies himself in his formal attire, it becomes a real picture.

A luxurious carpet is laid in front of the mansion, upon which the Viscount descends. This carpet was prepared for me by the Marquis Seawell family.

"It is Ignacious Radford, the name of His Majesty Siegfried XXI. This time I came to convey the words of His Majesty..."

At the end of his somewhat theatrical mouth, he enters the mansion.

My father and brother are officially conveyed from the Viscount in the hall, but we were listening in the hallway, without going into the hall.

"... is this feat of the Lockhart family, a superimposition. We decided to grant him the title of Viscount for his merits. Those are His Majesty's words. Take it with all due respect."

In contrast, my father replied, "I accept your prayer", and a series of rituals was finally concluded.

At the end of the ritual, Viscount Radford exhales fuzzily and moves his neck tightly.

"Your shoulders are stiff, Lord Masaias, Lord Rodrick."

"Sincerely," my father laughed, finally soothing atmosphere.

And we can be invited into the hall, too. It was my grandfather Govan, my mother Tanya, my sister-in-law Rosalee and I who entered the hall. I mean, it's just the Lockhart family, and this is because we're still talking about territory, and so on and so on.

Unlike before, the Viscount does not break a polite word against his father. It felt a little crusher before, but he seems concerned to become the same Viscount. Even so, the original bright personality cannot be changed and the atmosphere will not become hardened.

"I've never been an angel before. I thought about turning it down for a moment when the innkeeper told me. Well, I wasn't willing to lose the chance to come here and wave a major player. Hahaha!"

The reason the Viscount wants to come here is because of the good liquor. Especially the finest Seawell wines I've aged using the storage magic Inventory, and I think the ones I've put to bed for about twenty years are comparable to Bordeaux and Burgundy's premium Grand Cru.

Of course, I regularly send them to the Seawell family, but when they carry more than a thousand km by road, they really lose quality. That's why the Viscount says it's best to drink here.

"But what can I say about this one? I can't imagine fighting the undead in excess of 10,000. I lost my blood when I heard the story. Of course, not because you won't be able to drink. Worried about your home."

"Hahaha! I know," my father replies with a laugh.

"Now let's start talking about the future. Firstly, it has been decided that your territory will be increased. There are three new territories: Kilnarek and the surrounding villages, specifically Bardock, Oozley and Cipheres… it is possible to turn to knights for a few more. This will be decided without any problem if your family recommends it…"

In the Viscount's description, the territory given to the Lockhart family is the nearby accommodation town of Kilnarek and the three villages that feed there, and together about five thousand people join as new inhabitants.

Furthermore, as a Viscount, I can recommend the promotion of the Minister to the Knight. About a few means that all major squires can be knights.

It sounds like nothing's wrong when I hear this much, but it's not actually that simple.

Since Kilnarek belongs to an organization called the "Union of Urban States” created by the Commercial Alliance, coordination with the Alliance will be necessary. In addition, since it is nominally Raswell Borderline Uncle territory, it will also be necessary to take over with Borderline Uncle.

"I guess the Borderline House won't be a problem. If you can let go of a troublesome autonomous city, you'll be delighted the other way around. If there's a problem, you're a commercial guild. The Aurellas have been late to the Empire lately, so I thought you said you couldn't deny the possibility of some kind of return of interest."

Aurelia's commercial guild continues to turn backwards from last year's rebellion in the northern governor's office army. This wasn't because they had a clear fall, but because Luke's rampage couldn't be stopped and Raswell's borderline uncle's anger was stronger than he could have imagined.

"I wonder what Lord Zacharias thinks. What kind of hand would Sir strike if he were a commercial guild?

I was suddenly told the story, but since the story of becoming a Viscount, I had considered the possibility of Kilnarek becoming a territory. But there's something to be checked before we do.

"Before I answer, I'd like to confirm, will a civilian be dispatched from the imperial or northern governor's office in this matter? Five thousand people will be added to the Lockhart family, which owns only eight hundred villages, so I think we're going to need human support."

The village of Rasmore revolves around in an economy close to self-sufficiency in a pioneering village on the border. Although there is more cash income from the sale of distilled liquor than before, the Lockhart family spends less on its own and has no problems with financial management to the extent that it has hair on its household books. For that reason, only two people, Nicholas Garland, in charge of home affairs, and his wife Kate, were enough.

However, with the addition of Kilnarek, a trading city, that would be no longer the case. At least the finance department that manages assets, the tax department that manages revenues, and the budget management department that supports long-term territorial management, the construction department that manages infrastructure, etc. are absolutely impossible as ever. You'll need a specially educated bureaucrat, but not a single pure civilian in the Lockhart family.

"It's possible to dispatch if you ask for assistance, but this place is special..."

The Viscount's story says that if it is the usual Viscount Shigeru, it is rarely plagued by clerical arrangements and chores at the time of territorial rendition, to be supported by the grand nobleman, who is the sending parent.

However, although the Lockhart family is under the authority of the Raswell Borderline Uncle family, it is difficult to request dispatch because it takes the form of taking territory away from the Borderline Uncle family. Of course, the borderline ambassador is convinced, but because it was decided on its own without consultation, it is formally forced to express its dissatisfaction with the emperors and senior nobles of the imperial capital, making active support difficult.

"It's not like the Marquis Seawell doesn't have a saddle replacement, but then your reputation will fall to the ground."

If the Lockhart family is saddled with the Marquis Seawell family, they will betray the Borderline House, the home of the man's rightful wife. The Lockhart family definitely has a reputation for being ungrateful, given that it will take the form of taking away the territory of the Borderline House.

"Does that mean it's difficult to send a civilian..."

That's what I'm going to say and sort out my thoughts.

Kilnarek is still able to operate without any problems. This is because commercial guilds revolve around the administration. If the Alliance insists on Kilnarek, the Lockhart family must independently build an operating system from scratch.

(There is no way that a commercial guild that values information would not think about this extent. For one thing, you're likely to say to us the same way you've always done to the Borderline House. That's okay, but then there's the extent to which obligations arise...)

The current Borderline House is the Governor of the North, and it can be said that it is united with the imperial government. As a result, I was somewhat free, but the Lockhart family is an independent Viscount. Naturally, there should be obligations to the Empire. Depending on its content, it is possible that it will not be able to fulfil its obligations in the same system as before.

"What are the obligations to the Empire if the Lockhart family possesses Kilnarek"

The Viscount seems to have expected the question to be answered immediately.

"It would take a certain amount of payment from tax revenues against the Empire. Well, I think we can win the derogation if we insist it's a dangerous periphery. The rest could be requested by the Governor of the North in a massive war. If we add up this increment, we need to have about five hundred men, but I'm guessing the Raswells will tell us to send out soldiers. Of course, the Empire won't say anything."

The Viscount's answer was as expected. There is no obligation to pose a problem to the Empire.

So there's no great obligation to the Empire itself?

"Don't be. Well, this is your house, so I can tell you. Other houses would have boundaries, but they're not exempt from paying taxes and military service."

Here's what the Viscount has to say.

The Lockhart family has a big back shield called the Blacksmith Guild. Moreover, at present, the nobility with influence over the emperor is divided into the Crown Prince and the Leopold Prince to wage a power struggle. When you think of those two together, it's hard to think of turning the Lockhart family against the enemy. To think about selling favors to both factions and drawing them into our allies.

If the Lockhart family did not have a back shield, the Viscount family would be duty-bound as they deserved. It is self-evident that it is a trading city on the main streets and, furthermore, has little impact on the economy of the Empire's own country, so they may ask you to take a large toll tax and pay it.

"Here's the answer to your earlier question: If I were a commercial guild, I would negotiate with you in the way you've been operating. If the Lockhart family refuses to do that, they'll threaten to let Kilnarek's entire administrative organization go up. Because if you pull it up unilaterally without taking over, it's obvious that the administration will be disrupted."

"I see. So how do we respond to that?

"I haven't talked to my father or brother, so it's just my personal opinion, but for the time being, I think it's as good as ever. However, administrative surveillance will need to be gradually strengthened. I'm not willing to compete with a commercial guild, but we're in a better position. The guild is the one who has trouble changing the current state, so I don't think it's a problem to be a little strong."

What they need to do is not to be able to multiply the safety and wasteful taxes on Als Street. If the guild pulls up the whole administrative organization, Kilnarek will surely be confused. That would threaten the very passage around Kilnarek.

Even just one mess is deadly on Ars Street without a detour. In fact, the current streets of Aurelia are paralysed by a deterioration of security between the imperial realm of Low Cliff and the academic city of Doctus.

If the streets of Ars become the two dances of the streets of Aurelia, the merchants' trust in the guild will fall to the ground. There is no way they could have done such an irrational thing to their advantage.

"There's no way a commercial guild would sell a fight to Lockhart, where Lord Zacharias is. All you have to do is draw concessions from them, but it's up to your house to judge the area. The Empire won't say anything either."

Apparently, the Viscount wanted the Lockhart family to scold the Viscount and ascend to see if he made the wrong decision. I certainly don't know what it feels like to be worried because it's a build-up. But I don't.