Chapter 57

Earl Willem Bran Regor's Perspective

The Spirit Festival has ended.

This year, too, the important events have gone smoothly, and I feel a weight lifted from my shoulders.

However, I am the Earl who governs the vast Regor. Just because one festival has ended doesn't mean I can take a long break.

Ah, I can hear footsteps approaching my study. A brisk, meticulous walk. Armarco, can't you show a little more consideration for your master?

"Lord Willem, the guards have submitted several reports regarding the Spirit Festival."

Sigh. Here comes the nagging butler.

Ever since I inherited the title of Earl, Armarco hasn't let me rest properly.

"What are the reports about?"

"In the city of Regor, criminals have been confirmed attempting to break into specific shops and houses."

"Festival-related crimes aren't uncommon. What's the common thread?"

"Yes, all the locations were associated with people who received letters from Lord Chaos."

"…So they're after the lingering scent of Lord Chaos again. He rarely sends letters to the same place, you know."

"All the criminals have been apprehended, but their backers remain unknown. They were likely hired on the spot."

"They'll join the ranks of criminal slaves. Let's consider it an anonymous gift."

"Very well, my lord."

"Public works will also get busier from now on."

Lord Chaos. It's been about eight years since he came to this city.

Since then, my life has been nothing short of tumultuous.

I, Willem Regor, was born the third son of a strict father.

Ordinary… no, I was ugly in appearance, introverted in nature, and could never have been considered a suitable heir to the earldom. This was partly due to the bullying from my two older brothers, but I also believed it was my inherent nature.

I was destined to be a man lost to history… but life is unpredictable.

My strong and robust eldest brother died in a war, falling from his horse.

The scheming second son, who then became the heir, died suddenly from an illness.

In the end, the earldom was inherited by me, the fat, short, and bald third son. My father couldn't even manage a wry smile.

I was 22 at the time. No one wanted to support a man who had no popularity among the people, and I vividly remember how hypocritical the sudden change in attitude from those around me felt.

Unlike my two brothers, I lacked the gift, the strength, and the courage to speak skillfully with others, so I spent most of my time reading books.

Days spent holed up in the library, accumulating knowledge without speaking to anyone. But I loved that life. My dream was to become a scholar.

But everything changed when I inherited the earldom.

Pointless wars I didn't want to fight, conversations with sycophantic nobles, and politics where I only received complaints. I truly never wanted to be an earl.

Of course, I was well aware that I was too old and too established to throw a tantrum, so I couldn't run away…

In reality, my governance was far from perfect.

Nothing went as planned.

I knew what needed to be done, but the malevolent forces around me held back my actions.

Even though I knew it was due to the influence of my brothers' wives, I lacked the power to do anything about it.

…Until I received a letter from a person calling himself Lord Chaos.

The letter was adorned with unusual patterns in multiple bright colors and sealed with a wax seal I had never seen before. The method of production was unknown even then, and remains so today.

At the time, Armarco advised me to burn the strange letter, but I kept it out of sheer curiosity.

The letter contained knowledge.

Specifically, methods for farming. It was detailed, as if a farmer was teaching their child.

We, who were not experts, couldn't understand much from it, but the last sentence made us shudder.

It stated that adopting this method would increase wheat yields by 20%.

Can you believe it? I, of course, didn't. There was nothing in the letter to make it credible.

So I threw it on a shelf, deciding to let it die a quiet death. The same went for the distillation machine design that followed.

…When I heard that inventions based on Lord Chaos's letters were causing a sensation in the streets, I hastily overturned the shelf. I think it was a wise decision that I didn't throw them away.

Regor was an ordinary town, but it quickly came to life with the appearance of Lord Chaos.

Every time he sent a letter, economic activity surged. Various goods flew off the shelves, and trade flourished. It felt like I was in a strange dream, as none of this was due to my own efforts.

But what was most peculiar was how the corrupt and monopolistic merchants in the town were being driven out by the influence of Lord Chaos.

Many didn't notice, but Lord Chaos was undoubtedly targeting and dismantling these evil vested interests. He was spreading his letters and controlling the situation to make it happen.

For what purpose? Who was behind this?

The questions were endless, but I somehow knew he wasn't evil.

If his goals were good, I decided to support him.

Behind the scenes, the mysterious Lord Chaos was eliminating corrupt merchants.

In the open, I was preparing the ground to make it easier for Lord Chaos to act.

Though Lord Chaos and I had never met, I felt a strange connection to him during this time.

Indeed, as we cleaned up Regor, the malevolent influence of my brothers' families quickly disappeared.

The oppressive fog around me and Regor cleared, and I was finally able to govern properly.

It was around this time that I started to be called a wise ruler.

"There have been an increase in fraud cases involving inventors claiming to be Lord Chaos. Many are trying to obtain development funds by pretending to be him."

"Those fools. Lord Chaos would never claim to be himself."

"The victims are partly to blame. Being a patron of Lord Chaos, whether genuine or not, is a form of assertion."

"True, but I doubt he cares about personal allegiances. I think he's more focused on the greater good."

Thanks to Lord Chaos, Regor's economy has flourished.

Since his appearance, he has regularly spread useful product ideas without taking any royalties. He's like a fairy who plants a money tree in your garden for free.

Merchants desperately want such a figure, but his identity remains a mystery.

Whether he's a man or a woman, young or old, noble or commoner, is still unknown.

However, the public imagines him in a way that suits their own interests.

"Lord Willem, there's a complaint from the council."

"…What is it? Did I make a mistake?"

"No, it's about the distribution of whiskey throughout the entire city of Regor. Some are criticizing it as a waste of funds."

"Ah, that. I pushed it through…"

During this year's Spirit Festival, I distributed newly developed whiskey throughout the city of Regor.

Due to its newness, the quantity was limited, and it was a very valuable drink. The council is angry that I gave it away for free to the common people. Well, it's only a small part of them.

The nobles, for some reason, don't suspect that Lord Chaos is a noble.

They believe that someone with such knowledge must have received an education.

This is probably why they are hesitant to distribute alcohol in the commoner districts.

…But I don't think he's a noble.

"That was a promotional campaign for distilled spirits during the Spirit Festival, and an appeal to the outside world. If the strong alcohol and taste become widely known, it will immediately expand the market. It's more efficient to create a buzz all at once. The rigid-minded can be so stubborn…"

"They probably wanted to secure more for themselves."

"What good is a seller drowning in their own product… Such goods should be sold to others."

The selection and disinfection of seeds, the resulting increase in wheat production, and the use of surplus crops to make distilled spirits.

It took time, but we finally managed to secure the funds. Regor has been thriving, but now we can focus even more on earning foreign currency. The development of the Baroan Forest and the acquisition of stone will progress. Oh, and there are also embankment and bridge construction projects. I can never have enough money.

"Ah, I wish Lord Chaos could take over as earl."

"You're being too playful, my lord."

"I know. Lord Chaos wouldn't do that."

"…No, that's not what I meant…"

"But you understand, Armarco. If he were more directly involved, the city would develop even more. It's frustrating that he can only influence indirectly."

"…Invention and politics are different. Not everyone can balance interests as well as you, Lord Willem."

"I'm just reading the room and reacting to the situation. Anyone could do it."

"Hmm… Perhaps, but I see it as a rare talent."

"That's a poor compliment. I'm below average. Sigh… I hate this…"

I bite into a sweet pastry and sip hot herbal tea.

Delicious. Sweet treats during work are the best.

"Mmm… So, Armarco, are there any other reports? Let's get them all at once."

"Yes, my lord. There are reports of people searching for a specific individual in the city of Regor."

"Really?"

"The searchers are all guild members, and they're not particularly hiding it."

"Who are they looking for? Probably Lord Chaos, right?"

"No, a lecherous preacher."

"What?"

"A lecherous preacher."

"…Who…? That's scary… I don't need such reports…"

"Apparently, it's a sage known for some incredible night techniques, and it's a recent topic of conversation. That's all from me."

"…As long as Regor remains peaceful, that's all that matters."

"Indeed, my lord."

Well, whether Regor is peaceful or not, my workload doesn't change much.

Sigh. The capital might calm down a bit with the increased crop production… but they're not a monolithic group.

It's good that they're being cooperative, but I wish they would also suppress those who view Regor as an enemy…

Probably wishful thinking. It's a waste of time to hope. Sigh… I hate this…

Ah, these pastries are delicious…