Chapter 75

Certainly, here is the translation:

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No matter what, huh?

While looking at the kneeling Raymond, I thought for a moment.

"Do you respect your father?"

"Huh? ...Yes, that's... already..."

Though surprised by my question, it seemed clear that Raymond was proud of his father, and he quickly returned to a serious expression and nodded firmly.

"Then, inherit your father's title as it is."

"―! Thank you so much!!"

"The task I want you to do is to expand your territory."

"Huh?"

Once again, Raymond's face showed a look of confusion, as if he had been toyed with.

"I mean, continue to expand your territory as a thief."

"Forgive me, but... why such a thing?"

"Do you realize that your methods are unique?"

"...Yes."

When I glanced at the bodies of the ruffians Raymond had cut down, he nodded slightly, noticing my gaze.

"It would be easy to incorporate you and your men into the official army, but then your territory would become a blank zone. The new arrivals might act in completely different ways."

"Yes."

"It would be better to leave you in charge. If you can push out those who act differently and expand your territory...?"

"I see."

Raymond was taken aback and nodded.

It seemed he understood my plan.

"You will act as the official army, but outwardly remain a band of thieves."

"You are wise, that's what it means."

"Understood."

"I will give you one honorary knighthood per year. You decide who among your subordinates will receive it."

"「「「Oh!？」」」

The subordinates kneeling behind Raymond stirred.

All of them looked extremely pleased.

"I will also supply you with provisions. I won't say to stop plundering entirely, but do it in moderation."

"Understood."

"I will also give you this. Use it to appeal directly to me if you have any urgent matters."

I handed him a box I had prepared in advance.

I had modified the exterior of the box after becoming the emperor, making it a bit more luxurious with the imperial crest.

"Once locked, no one but me can open it. Handle it with care."

"To give me such a thing... Thank you so much!"

Raymond, deeply moved, pressed his head to the ground even more.

To anyone watching, it was clear that he was wholeheartedly submitting to me.

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☆

"Amazing, Your Majesty."

On the cart, Shirley, who was alone with me again, said in a moved voice.

Raymond's matter was settled, but since we had come this far, we decided to take a look around incognito for a bit more. We parted ways with Raymond and Cheryl and drove the cart down the road.

Shirley, who had witnessed the entire scene, was extremely moved.

"Really?"

"Yes! Not only the restoration of honor, but inheriting it is truly fitting."

"It is the wish of most nobles, after all, to pass on their titles."

Nobles (though they may put on a brave face) are not afraid of death.

What they fear is losing their honor and status.

As a result, any noble who has built their status, even slightly, wishes to pass it on.

The son of a prince is not usually a prince.

The only one who can inherit a title directly is the emperor.

Passing on a title means something akin to being equal to the emperor.

I, who was a prince, know this well.

"I see. That's why you did it. Truly, Your Majesty."

"Yes."

"You are wise, and from the look of it, he would follow your orders without hesitation. Your status has surely risen again, hasn't it?"

As my first knight, Shirley also knew the details of my “+” status.

"Yes, it has."

"Of course! Amazing... As you gain followers, your power grows. I increasingly believe you were born to be an emperor."

It might be true, or it might not.

But I do believe I have the aptitude.

---

☆

After half a day of driving the cart, we reached a larger village as the sunset dyed the earth.

"It's quite lively."

"Yes, it might be a festival or something."

From a distance, it was a village, not a town.

While towns are usually bustling, villages are generally peaceful.

However, this one was quite noisy, with the villagers moving about.

In a village, one might first imagine a harvest festival.

"We might have arrived at a good time."

"Yes."

Nodding, we entered the village.

At the entrance, Shirley stopped a villager and asked:

"Excuse me, is there an inn here? If not, is there any place where we can stay for the night?"

The middle-aged woman who was stopped glanced at us on the cart.

"Are you merchants? I'm not saying anything bad, but there's an inn about half a day's journey north from here. Go there and stay. If you leave now, you can just make it."

"Ah..."

Shirley looked confused.

It's quite rare to be told there's no place to stay in a village like this.

"Is something going on—"

I started to speak, but the woman didn't even listen and hurried off into the village.

She seemed to be in a hurry, almost desperate.

"What should we do, Master?"

To avoid revealing my true identity, Shirley changed the way she addressed me, as there might be others around. At the same time, it seemed she had noticed something.

"What should we do?" Her face was very serious when she asked.

"Let's observe for a bit."

"Yes."

Shirley nodded and became more alert.

As we drove the cart further, we could see it from a distance.

A simple platform had been set up in an open area of the village, arranged like an altar.

On the altar, a girl was lying, her hands and feet bound, and a gag in her mouth.

The villagers were gathered around.

One of them, an old man with a cane, stepped forward, his legs trembling.

"Everyone, at this moment, we will offer Reina to our god, Kala."

The villagers fell silent, listening to the old man's speech-like words.

"I have known Reina since she was a child. To me, she is like a daughter. However, Reina was violated by an outsider. We cannot keep such an unclean person in the village. Therefore, we will offer her to Kala to purify her soul."

The old man said this, then turned and faced the altar.

"O god, O Kala, please purify our impurities!"

"「「「O Kala!」」"

The villagers shouted in unison after the old man's words.

I understood the general situation. It made me feel sick.

"Master?"

"I'll go."

I told Shirley and jumped off the cart.

I strode forward to the altar, and when the villagers noticed me, they tried to stop me, but I ignored them and continued.

"Stop that ritual!"

I raised my voice so that everyone could hear, standing in front of the altar.

"Who are you?"

The village chief, still trembling, glared at me.

"It doesn't matter who I am. I'm telling you to stop this ritual immediately."

"You're an outsider. Mind your own business."

"Right, right!"

"What do you know, outsider!"

"Can you take responsibility if the village is destroyed!"

The villagers shouted at me.

"I am a traveler."

The old man said this in a calm but authoritative tone.

"Look at the mountain to the right rear."

"Mountain?"

I turned and looked at the mountain behind us.

In the sunset, a peculiar shape caught my eye.

"See that? It's the mark of Kala biting it."

I understood only after he said it.

The peculiar shape of the mountain looked like it had been bitten by a giant creature.

"So, you offer sacrifices to avoid angering this creature?"

"O... how dare you speak of our god Kala in such a way."

The old man swayed as if he had been struck by dizziness, perhaps because I had called their god a monster. But that didn't matter.

"Offering human sacrifices is prohibited by Imperial Law 351. You are—"

Thud!

Before I could finish, a huge sound and a tremor shook the ground.

"It's here!"

"It's Kala!"

The villagers turned pale.

Turning to follow their gaze, I saw a giant monster behind the altar.

It looked like a dragon, but with a long neck and two heads.

Its eyes burned brightly, and it had a very imposing presence.

As it approached the altar, its gaze was fixed on the bound girl.

"Hmph."

I ran up the altar.

"Stop this!"

I ignored the old man's attempts to stop me and continued up the steps.

"Can you do it?"

As I ran up, I asked.

Leviathan responded the strongest.

"Alright, then it's you. Leviathan!"

I drew the water magic sword from the bracelet.

I ran up to the altar in one go, leaped over the trembling girl, and charged at Kala.

Kala opened its huge mouth and lunged at me.

"Too slow!"

I twisted my body to avoid the bite and—swung!

With Leviathan, I cut off the two heads.

Thud... Thud!

The heads fell, and the body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

"Bahamut."

Just to be safe, I burned the corpse with fire.

The dragon's body, whether convulsing or stiff, was quickly charred by the flames.

I sheathed Leviathan and returned to the altar.

I helped the still trembling girl to her feet.

"It's safe now."

"...Huh?"

The girl, still not understanding what had happened, was shocked when she saw the burning corpse of Kala.

I lifted her and descended the altar with her.

The villagers, including the old man, were stunned.

"I'm taking this girl with me."

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☆

That night, in the girl's house.

The three of us—me, Shirley, and the girl—were there.

I sat and drank the tea offered while listening to the girl's story.

The first part was a common tale.

There was a monster near the village, revered as a local deity.

The second part was a disturbing story.

The girl had been violated by an outsider and was considered "unclean," so she was to be offered to the "god" to purify her.

"I see, I understand the story."

"Thank you for saving me... but..."

"You can't stay in the village anymore, right?"

I know this kind of story well; it's all too common. I could understand the girl's concerns.

"Come with me, I'll give you a job."

"Really? Even though I'm unclean?"

"It doesn't matter."

Being violated doesn't change anything.

"Thank you, I'll do anything, I'll work hard."

"Alright."

We would spend the night here and leave the village in the morning. I could reveal my true identity gradually.

Shirley spoke up.

"Has your ability increased, Master?"

"No, but it's fine for now."

I moistened my lips with the tasteless, almost drained tea and continued.

"People are treasures and possibilities."

"I see."

"As long as they are alive, there are endless possibilities."

"...Truly impressive!"

Shirley, initially confused by the phrase "endless possibilities," quickly became moved.

"Well, for tomorrow—"

I said this while reaching for the tea out of habit.

Even though I knew it had no taste, I reached out of habit—only to be surprised.

Just before, the teacup had been quickly replaced.

The lukewarm tea, which was about to become cold, had been swiftly replaced with a hot one by the girl.

I picked it up and looked at her.

"Do you not like it hot?"

"...No."

I smiled.

It seemed the girl had a talent for serving—making people feel comfortable.

I smiled and turned to Shirley.

"See, already."

"Yes! Truly impressive, Master!"

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