Chapter 22

Chapter 21

When the upper class points, the lower class rolls - 3

If a family suffers due to a mistake made by the Inspection Department, it is customary to provide them with benefits and considerations that exceed the damage, to make amends. This custom has been in place even before I joined the Inspection Department, which also implies that historically, families have occasionally lost everything due to the Inspection Department's mistaken attacks.

In reality, while it is called a benefit and consideration that exceeds the damage, from the perspective of a family that was living well and suddenly faced near-death, it naturally leads to curses. Most importantly, it is rare for a family to survive the Inspection Department's mistaken attack and endure until it is proven to be a mistake. If they are lucky, they die instantly.

In that sense, the Yorun family is quite fortunate, and I am also fortunate. The Yorun family survived and received compensation, and I avoided the title of "the one who destroyed a perfectly fine noble family." In the past, an Inspection Department chief who mistakenly wiped out several noble families was executed, a grim example.

"Brother, are you okay? Your expression is dark."

"A, I'm fine. It's nothing."

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Louise's worried voice. Recalling the incident that still makes me dizzy, my expression must have soured.

I didn't just tell the section chief to bow his head in front of all the officers for no reason. If things had gone terribly wrong, I might have faced severe punishment, though not execution. So, when I learned that Louise's friend was a member of the Yorun family, a victim of that incident, I was quite taken aback.

'It seems she also knows that I am the head of the Inspection Department...'

On the day I first met Louise. When I tried to leave, it was Irena who stopped Louise from holding me back. At first, I thought she was a quick-witted child who noticed I was leaving, but later I realized she was just scared of me.

Of course, Section Chief 3 personally went to the Yorun family to apologize and provide compensation, and I also sent a letter of apology to officially conclude the matter. However, from Irena's perspective, the head of the department that almost destroyed her family appeared before her. It would be understandable if she was terrified.

"By the way, Irena sometimes asks about you. Do you know each other?"

Louise's direct gaze almost made me sigh. It must have been terrifying for her to see a person she feared as a close friend. She probably asked if they might run into each other by chance.

"No. She was probably just curious about the torture techniques used by the inspectors."

I couldn't bring myself to say, "My subordinate stabbed your friend's family in the chest." But Louise's eyes already held a hint of suspicion. She must be worried that I have some trouble with her friend. It's a sad but true situation...

'Should I go talk to her?'

Damn, she would probably be even more terrified. But a conversation might help improve the relationship a bit.

As Louise's suspicious gaze grew more intense, I couldn't say anything.

That night, after receiving a look from Louise that seemed to be tinged with annoyance, I received a message from Villar through the new communication device I had acquired, as I felt guilty using the school's messenger system.

"Sir Villar? What is it at this hour?"

- I apologize for the late hour, but I have something important to discuss.

The news Villar shared was a tearful tale of woe.

Since the picnic involved key figures from the three countries leaving the academy, the combined forces of the three countries could not just sit idly by. However, the three key figures, who had crawled their way to the academy, stubbornly refused the protection offered by the combined forces.

'These guys are really crazy.'

That was my immediate thought upon hearing the news.

No sane guard would accept "Oh, okay. Hehe, I'll take a break today" when their charge, whom they must protect at the cost of their life, tells them to stay behind. But since the key figures kept refusing protection, there was nothing the guards could do.

Villar contacted me at this hour to share this unfortunate news. It was a message that would make anyone want to grab their neck.

Moreover, it's not even close protection; they are supposed to keep a distance and observe. Even that is being refused. Even though they cleared a dungeon, who knows what the original story's power might do. Of course, the picnic is planned with the assumption that the combined forces of the three countries will be at a reasonable distance, not that I would guard them alone.

For a moment, I lost my words and almost shed a tear looking at Villar's haggard face. When the upper class acts recklessly, the lower class suffers. This is a truth that applies not only to the empire but also to the three countries.

In the end, I suggested that the guard forces hide in the forest near the hill. It is close to the picnic site, the surrounding area is a plain, making it easy to detect other entities, and from the outside, it would be hard to tell if the guards are present.

"It should be a suitable place to hide."

- I appreciate your consideration.

It didn't seem like something that deserved a thank you, but I just smiled in response. The situation itself, where the guards must hide from their charges, is absurd. Anyone might mistake them for assassins. These guys are really something.

Thus, Villar and I shared the plight of the lower class and quietly ended our conversation.

The day of the picnic arrived, not that I was particularly waiting for it. Erih and Louise said they would bring the picnic lunch, so I just needed to show up. However, my mind was not at ease due to the strange conversation I had last night. Is this what they call a plus-minus zero? I'd rather be physically tired.

Meanwhile, the sight of some of the guard forces heading to the forest early in the morning was heartwarming. So, I instructed Villar to tell them that if their hiding place in the forest was discovered, they should say it was on my request for the dungeon clearance. After all, there was a dungeon. I'm just letting you know...

When Villar, upon hearing the word "dungeon," seemed ready to rush off, I added that we had already cleared it yesterday. His expression became a bit odd, but he thanked me for the consideration. Well, government officials must help each other.

"Everyone is here, let's go."

Unlike the guard forces, who left early in the morning, the baking club leisurely boarded the carriage provided by the school when club time arrived. The carriage was large enough for six people, so I let the students sit inside and I sat next to the driver.

The driver seemed a bit nervous, and I can understand why. Even I would be hesitant to be sandwiched between six closely packed people. To encourage him, I slipped a few silver coins to the driver, and his trembling quickly subsided.

"I will take you there quickly!"

"Take it easy and be safe."

I didn't warn him that if anyone inside got hurt, his head would roll. As the tension subsided, his enthusiasm seemed to rise. Indeed, financial therapy is the best. A lesson learned from the Gold King.

After that, both the driver and I remained silent. I had just helped him relax, and if I spoke now, it might scare him. Instead, the quietness of the driver's seat made the conversation inside the carriage faintly audible.

"Sometimes dungeons appear suddenly in fields or forests."

Some kid was talking about the dungeon flag that had already been pulled. Is it Ruitis? His voice sounds familiar. He must be the one who gained a notorious reputation in the original story for his demonic mouth.

"To prevent that, artifacts were created. It has been harder to see dungeons for decades."

Lathier added to Ruitis's words, driving a nail into my heart. Indeed, it is harder to see dungeons now. I really didn't expect one to appear in this area at this time.

"I've never seen a dungeon. What is it like?"

"Don't look, Miss Louise. The creatures in dungeons are very vicious."

The topic somehow turned to dungeons, and Louise and Ainter continued the conversation. Just as I was getting bored from sitting quietly, a topic of conversation appeared, and I didn't want to miss it. This is a perfect foreshadowing, assuming the original story. It's giving me chills.

"Even a small dungeon requires a dozen elite soldiers led by an experienced knight to clear. The creatures are much larger and stronger than ordinary beasts."

"Oh, a specific record?"

"The record is from a dungeon that opened in our territory. It was quite shocking after the artifact was developed."

I've heard the story Erih mentioned. It happened a few decades ago, and the head of the Krausius family was teased by his friends for having a dungeon in his territory. And surprisingly, not long after, a dungeon appeared in the territory of the friend who had been the most vocal in teasing him. The head of the Krausius family then led the teasing. The two friends' self-improvement and mutual teasing left a lasting impression.

"Well, that's based on soldiers. We could easily clear a decent dungeon."

'Bastard.'

I almost burst into the carriage at Ruitis's laughing words. Whether or not they clear the dungeon, any injury during the process would mean the guards' necks would be on the line. The actions of the upper class can cause an earthquake-like effect on the lower class.

This is why those born into higher positions are often ruined. The upper class doesn't understand the lower class...

Frustrated, I quietly closed my eyes. I might as well sleep until we arrive.

"This conversation makes me want to see a dungeon!"

'...'

I pretended to be asleep and didn't hear anything. Bastard.

So, I cried silently in my heart until we arrived at the picnic site.

Author's Note

In the original story, the author left so many foreshadows that it would make readers feel embarrassed if no dungeon appeared. But don't worry, the dungeon is taken care of by the protagonist!

The next chapter might be posted later than usual. I have an appointment today, and I can't guarantee my condition when I return. However, I will do my best to maintain the daily update.

Thank you for reading this chapter!