by Ryota Hori
“Then it would be better if Master Ryoma approaches him first. That way the count won’t have an excuse he can leverage against him,” Sara concluded.
“I agree with Sara. Meeting him should give us a better idea of what kind of person we’ll be dealing with. He may actually turn out to be in our favor.”
Ryoma nodded at the Malfist sisters’ advice.
“Yeah, for now I’ll just meet him and see what kind of man he is. It should help me gauge if he’s a foe or a friend to us...”
And then there’s Lady Helena’s warning... Beware Thomas Salzberg, the governor of Epirus and head of the ten noble houses of the north...
Helena told him this before he left Pireas, during their final meeting. When Ryoma asked her why he should be wary of him, she simply shook her head in silence.
She probably wanted me to confirm that for myself, without any prejudice...
Ryoma looked around the table, fixing his gaze on everyone, who nodded back at him. They all knew from painful experience that nobles and royalty weren’t worthy of trust. That didn’t mean that all nobles without exception were suspicious. The only way to find out was to confirm whether they could be trusted with one’s own two eyes...
Well, the same holds true for us, I guess... Gennou Igasaki... It’s about time we clear this out. And we need to decide how to deal with that man...
Gennou was an odd one. His granddaughter, Sakuya, was sent to assassinate him, but for some reason he decided to switch to Ryoma’s side. By now, they both served Ryoma alongside Boltz and Lione.
But one wouldn’t make that kind of choice out of whimsy. With that thought in mind, Ryoma cast a meaningful gaze in Gennou’s direction.
“Milord... Is there anything you would like to tell me?”
Everyone left the room with the talk concluded, but Gennou had returned to the room on his own. Apparently he felt Ryoma’s gaze.
“Yeah... I’d like to ask you something.” Ryoma showed no regard for the fact that Gennou opened the door without so much as a single sound.
Hmm... So he felt my presence...? Perhaps my skills have dulled... Or not, it’s his abilities at play.
Gennou had seen many ruthless battles in his youth. He may have distanced himself somewhat from field work since joining the Elder Council, but his assassination skills were still at the top of his clan.
He really is the one the elders of the first generation sought...
Gennou’s gaze was fixed on Ryoma.
“What is it, Gennou?” Ryoma asked.
He picked up on the intense emotions in Gennou’s eyes. He turned a puzzled expression at the old man standing stock still at his room’s entrance.
“Ah, my apologies, milord...” Gennou lowered his head reverently. “Well? Do you need me for anything?”
“Ah, not much... Just a little request... Except I need to ask you something before that request, so that’s why I wanted for you to come back in.”
“Aye, understood, milord. Ask me anything you will.”
Ryoma called him back after breaking up the group, so it was apparently something he didn’t want Boltz, Lione and the others to hear.
It’s likely regarding me and Sakuya... He may have confidence in our work, but he can’t fully trust us.
Gennou swiftly picked up on Ryoma’s doubts. They did initially come to assassinate him, after all, and he’d been using them since without executing them. This was a show of Ryoma’s tolerance, of course, but at the same time he always remained slightly reserved around Gennou and Sakuya. It was proof he didn’t fully trust them.
But that’s only natural... After all, I did not disclose everything to him...
It was a relationship where neither of them could fully trust the other. That didn’t mean they were necessarily suspicious, but rather that they adopted a wait-and-see approach toward each other. But that could very well change depending on Ryoma’s approach.
Do I tell him everything now...? No... It’s too early. I can’t entrust the clan’s future to this man on my own discretion.
Ryoma Mikoshiba’s skill as a warrior was top class, and he was a skilled commander and a talented tactician. He was also a tolerant leader. But that wasn’t enough to make him worthy of being the Igasaki clan’s master.
The clan’s future hinged upon this decision. Gennou was understandably cautious and wary.
“I have just one question, Gennou... Why do you follow me?”
He’d apparently read Gennou’s emotions and cut straight to the heart of the matter. The question touched on what Gennou kept hidden, and he could only meet Ryoma’s query with silence.
“Can’t tell me yet...?” Ryoma asked.
Gennou felt Ryoma’s eyes on him.
I don’t want to lie to him...
That emotion tightened Gennou’s lips. A shinobi could lie as much as necessary, but that wouldn’t earn him any real trust. And so his only choice was neither denial nor affirmation, but to simply remain quiet.
After a long moment of silence, Ryoma shrugged in resignation.
“Fine,” he said. “You probably have your reasons. I won’t force you.”
Gennou’s expression filled with surprise.
“Are you sure it’s fine...?” the old man asked.
“Of course not. But I don’t think you’re up to anything malicious... You’re being pretty secretive, but I figure I’ll ask you again when the time seems right.”
Ryoma could vividly sense that Gennou was serving him out of some sort of purpose, and not a malicious one. If Ryoma felt even a hint of ill-will from Gennou, he would have disposed of him and Sakuya without any mercy. Even if they did have Japanese blood running through their veins.
That’s fine. He’ll tell me himself once the time comes. For now, we need to deal with that matter...
Ryoma switched gears. He needed every skilled person possible to lend him help.
“By the way, Gennou. I want to ask your clan to handle a task. Can I hire their services?”
“Why... Of course you can, milord.”
Gennou regained his cool after Ryoma’s surprising words. At the same time, his mind began coolly analyzing what Ryoma was going to ask.
He’s asking for my clan... Is it because he doesn’t want to move me and Sakuya away...? Then, whatever work it is, it’s not around Epirus... It can’t be! Does he want us to assassinate Lupis Rhoadserians?!
That was the most probable option right now, given Ryoma’s personality. He hadn’t known Ryoma for that long, but Gennou already had a good grasp of his character.
He never forgets a favor, but at the same time, he never lets go of his grudges.
Considering Queen Lupis maliciously forced him into governing the frontier land of Wortenia, it would come as no surprise if Ryoma would resort to having her assassinated. And yet, Gennou ultimately denied that conclusion.
No... That isn’t the case here... He would gain too little by doing that now...
It might have been an option when they were still in the capital, but the peninsula was now right before their eyes. At this point, going to the trouble of killing Queen Lupis would achieve little.
Killing her now would just plunge the kingdom into chaos... Choosing to do that now, when he doesn’t have a base of operations yet, would be reckless... In which case...
It would take several years to develop the Wortenia Peninsula into a proper territory. Throwing the kingdom into a state of turmoil would make Ryoma lose the precious time he needed to build up this region. Ryoma was acutely aware of everything that was relevant to his interests, and would never make that kind of choice.
But what Ryoma said next was a most unexpected name.
“I want you to kill someone. His name is Wallace... Wallace Heinkel, the guildmaster of the port town of Pherzaad. And also his family.”
Gennou found himself tilting his head questioningly. He had naturally heard of the man who duped his current master. Their group had mentioned him rather often
, as well. But by now, the business surrounding him was concluded.
“You look surprised,” Ryoma said. “Don’t understand my reasoning?”
“Correct...” Gennou nodded honestly. “Queen Lupis’s influence should have proved your innocence... Why kill him now?”
Is it just a plain desire for revenge...?
If so, Gennou’s high opinion of Ryoma would decrease significantly. The desire to get back at a man who set him up for a fall was understandable, but they were pressed for every coin they could save at the moment. A man who squandered his funds away on a personal desire for revenge had no future... And wasn’t worthy of being entrusted with the clan’s future.
But Gennou’s anxiety was misplaced.
“True, thanks to Lupis’s influence Lione and I are proven innocent. But that only means Lupis could render us guilty again, right...? And Wallace wasn’t particularly punished by this whole affair, either. He’s still working as Pherzaad’s guildmaster.”
That made Gennou realize Ryoma’s concerns to some extent.
“You suspect Wallace Heinkel might try to bare his fangs against us again?”
“He duped us once already. It’s only natural we’d hold a grudge against him, and he knows that... In which case, we’re a nuisance to him. A threat. At worst, he could join forces with Lupis to set us up again.”
Those words made Gennou consider that option as well. The Queen of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria and a guildmaster. That would indeed be a dangerous force if they allied with each other.
“So you want to weed out this threat before it has a chance to sprout,” Gennou concluded.
Ryoma nodded silently.
“Understood... I’ll have the clan send people over.”
“Thanks... I considered just asking you and Sakuya, but it’s too far away right now.”
A round trip from Epirus to Pherzaad would take a month and a half. Along with the time it would take them to prepare for the assassination, it would take a full two months. But since taking possession of the peninsula took precedence over all else right now, having Gennou and Sakuya gone for that long wasn’t a possibility.
“So about the pay... How much will it be?” Ryoma asked.
Gennou Igasaki served Ryoma personally, but the same wasn’t true for the Igasaki clan. Hiring them naturally meant he was going to pay them for their service. Gennou, however, simply shook his head gently.
“Nay... There is no need, milord.”
Ryoma’s right brow furrowed at those words.
“Are you serious? No... There must be some kind of condition here.”
A guildmaster was a serious target. It was the same as asking to have an influential noble assassinated. Normally it would cost well over a hundred or two hundred gold coins, but Gennou claimed there was no need for payment.
I suppose they might not want money, but something else...
Ryoma knew that taking the words “there’s no need for payment” at face value would only lead to a swift death on this Earth.
“Yes... We only ask for one thing.”
Figures...
It was only natural Gennou would bring up his terms now, but the question was what they would mean for Ryoma.
I guess I’ll have to ask first before I decide whether to say yes or no...
“Sure. What is it?” Ryoma said calmly, after a few seconds of silent contemplation.
On that day, Gennou and Ryoma sealed a pact. But the only one apart from them to know its contents was the pale moon, shining in the sky.
Chapter 3: Leader of the North
A single carriage clicked against the flagstones as it rolled forward. It eventually stopped in front of the entrance to Count Salzberg’s estate, located in the south side of Epirus. The sun had already set and the area was lit up by candlelight.
The black two-horse carriage was only barely adorned on the outside with the most minimal decorations. It wasn’t shabby or simple, as its exterior was certainly polished and well-maintained, but it certainly couldn’t be called magnificent.
In a word, it seemed to prioritize functionality over appearances. And frankly speaking, it didn’t seem like the kind of vehicle a noble might use. But its owner didn’t much care for that. With the task of developing the Wortenia Peninsula ahead of him, appearances were the last thing that concerned him.
“Here you are, sir.” Mike, who accompanied Ryoma as the carriage’s driver, opened the door for him.
Ryoma got off the carriage and stepped onto the ground, turning to face a row of servants who bowed their heads to greet him.
“““We welcome you, Baron Ryoma Mikoshiba.”””
They bowed in a single, fluid motion. A perfect welcome performed by servants of a noble house. And as if prompted by their words, two figures appeared in the estate’s door.
“Well met, Baron Mikoshiba!” said a man spreading his hands out in a welcoming gesture.
It was the master of this estate and the ruler of the citadel city of Epirus, Count Salzberg. He was over one hundred and eighty centimeters in height, and looked to be in his mid-thirties. With him approaching midlife, his gut was starting to stick out. But perhaps owing to his role as the ruler of a border town, his stance and form were clearly those of a warrior.
I’ve heard the Salzberg house dates back to Rhoadseria’s founding, but apparently he’s not just some stupid, laid-back noble... Why is he being so cordial towards me, though? It’s giving me the creeps...
In terms of title, Salzberg was a count while Ryoma was a baron — he was two ranks above Ryoma. They were both nobles of Rhoadseria, true, but their positions were in no way equal. Ryoma was like an employee promoted to section manager, while Count Salzberg was like the superior to a branch manager.
This wasn’t Japan, where the class system was abolished. For better or worse, there was a clear, distinct hierarchy between the two of them. Ryoma was a vagabond who was promoted to noble status, while Count Salzberg was a noble of a famous house. Being welcomed so warmly struck Ryoma as exceptionally odd.
I should be cautious of this man...
Ryoma strained his consciousness. He did misjudge Queen Lupis’s intentions, so it would be only natural for him to exercise caution. Not that he intended to let it show on his face, of course. Ryoma smiled broadly and lowered his head respectfully, just like Laura and Sara taught him to act in the presence of other nobles.
“Please accept my humblest apologies for the sudden visit. I may be young, but I hope our future relations will be of mutual favor to each other, Count Salzberg.”
The outfit Ryoma was wearing that day was far from gaudy. He still had plenty of the money he got from killing Azoth the slave merchant, but considering the future he would need to save as much money as possible. With that in mind, insisting on ordering special clothes felt like a waste.
Nobles had their dignity and honor to consider, though. Ryoma felt it was a foolish thing to obsess over, but even he realized meeting a noble in his usual hemp black shirt and trousers would be unfitting. Getting into trouble over something as simple as not being dressed for the occasion wouldn’t do.
And so, Ryoma was dressed in a somewhat handsome outfit of a black silk shirt and pants, held up with a belt with a golden buckle. He also had a cloak which he wore outdoors, like now. But for a noble, it was the absolute minimum. He only maintained the least possible manners required.
Count Salzberg didn’t seem to look down on Ryoma for his appearance, though.
“No, no, I’m honored to have a hero of the rebel war visit my humble abode. House Salzberg is a family of warriors, and so I am proud to have you. I apologize that we haven’t much to greet you with, however. Your visit was a touch sudden, but we’ve prepared a fine dinner. You may find my hospitality somewhat lacking, but do enjoy whatever we may offer you.”
With that said, Count Salzberg took Ryoma’s hand and led him in.
“Your words are wasted on me... I’m greatly obliged.” Ryoma swiftly
lowered his head.
“Now, now, raise your head and come on over. Allow me to introduce you to my wife. Go on, Yulia, introduce yourself,” Count Salzberg said, prompting the blooming young woman behind him to step forward.
She seemed to be edging into the age of thirty. Her braided hair was a shining shade of gold. She was about a meter and seventy centimeters tall, and had voluptuous, attractive limbs. Any man would have his heart stolen by her attractive appearance. She was a bewitching woman, indeed. Ryoma did not miss the intellectual glint in her eyes, though.
“Well met, Baron Mikoshiba. The journey from the capital must have been quite taxing. You may take your time and rest tonight in our estate. Right, beloved?”
Count Salzberg nodded magnanimously at Lady Yulia’s words.
“As my wife says, I hope this visit allows you to rest from your arduous journey. After all, once you enter Wortenia, there will be no villages or cities to rest in... You’ll have no choice but to bring in supplies from Epirus in the near future. This is in the name of our friendship as ones who rule over neighboring lands! And I hope it will be a longstanding friendship, at that.”
“Erm... I’ll gladly accept your invitation, then... I hope you will be able to guide me in my future duties.” Ryoma meekly lowered his head to the count.
Hmph... He read my intent already. From what he says, he’s willing to help me with the supplies... First order of business is to figure out his intentions.
Ryoma’s eyes glinted sharply.
“Now come along, Baron Mikoshiba. I’ve ordered my head cook to put together a special feast to welcome you,” Count Salzberg said. “Sadly, my land is much more of a backwater region compared to the capital, so we haven’t much in the way of local specialties. But it is a bountiful land, thankfully, so we do have plenty. Do relish it.”
Confirming that Ryoma had taken a seat, the count declared the beginning of the banquet. At his words, the doors swung open and maids walked in, pushing carts lined up with dishes.