Chapter 5

The Rodvelia family had owned a large amount of land for generations, but they did not manage all of it by themselves. Naturally, with the land being so vast, there were many areas that were out of sight. In those cases, they appointed trustworthy landlords in those areas. Weren’t they called the town head? They were like landlords or managers in apartments and condominiums. One of the hostages taken from a town head was Elmer Kisch. He was currently twelve years old and had been here for five years.

“F-Forgive me for this unsightly appearance! I had no idea that Lord Heinreid was here, umm, that’s not it…”

That Elmer just prostrated himself magnificently. His chestnut-colored bed hair was still bouncing around repeatedly, but he spouted off incomprehensible words without realizing it.

I guess that kind of state is what it means to have your confusion reach its limits. I don’t know if it was similar to waking up to find your executioner in front of you… I feel guilty for not giving them any heads-up.

When I was doing a small reflection, I heard a fading apology from Elmer.

“Please… forgive me…”

The prostrated body sank even lower. I couldn’t bear to watch a child in that state, so I decided to have him get up.

“Raise your head. I’m the one who came in suddenly, so you don’t have to feel so ashamed. And this won’t take long.” When I said that, trying to sound as mellow as possible, Elmer raised his head timidly.

“What is it about…?” he asked me fearfully, but there was no need to keep him on his toes, so I spoke in conclusion.

“Elmer. As a matter of fact, I’m sending you back to the Kisch family.”

“Huh…?”

Though I decided about it just now. Normally, I would’ve properly read the list of names I asked Karl to bring and then act on it, but things were a little different with Elmer.

Most of the prisoners and hostages in the dungeons were not named in the novel ‘Sieg of the Rebellion’. However, Elmer was mentioned… or rather, he appeared. When the protagonist, Sieg, confronted Heinreid for the first time, Sieg was outmatched and was forced to withdraw for the meantime; however, it was the Kisch family, Elmer’s family home, who sheltered him at that time. Despite being the town head of a Rodvelia territory, the Kisch family, who was secretly repulsed by the misgovernance, became an ally of the rebel Sieg. However, one of the Kisch family servants tipped Heinreid off… and their betrayal was exposed.

Naturally, Heinreid did not forgive the betrayal. So, what did he do to remind them of who would pay the price? …He delivered a ‘gift’ to the Kisch family. A sturdy wooden box that showed up several times in my dream. Packed inside of it was a child’s right arm.

A scum, a brute and a demon. I couldn’t tell how shocked I was to see something like that at such a sensitive time. He was unforgivable, that Heinreid.

Although there was a scene that only Elmer’s life was somehow saved by Craig, who took measures as a result of this matter; Elmer still had no arm when he appeared at the end of the story, his whole body was ravaged with marks of torture. I felt bad for the other hostages and prisoners for giving him priority, but I didn’t know when the story of the novel would begin. So for right now, I wanted to take this child out of the equation before anything else, given his high likelihood of receiving damage.

…That was the idea, but.

The expression on Elmer’s face was stiff. “Is it because my father made some careless mistake?” He probed with a trembling voice, trying to find out what my real intention was.

He didn’t seem to think in the slightest that he was merely going to be sent home. Did he really think that I’d return hostages just to bring the entire family together and dispose of them altogether? Craig must’ve felt pity for him too, and interjected to support him.

“My lord, the Kisch family is one of the most outstanding houses among the lower class nobility. There have only been infrequent uprisings in their territory and on top of that, they have been regularly paying their taxes. To give them punishment is…”

“I’m aware of that.”

The reason for the absence of rebellions was because the Kisch family had cut down their own expenses to compensate for the taxes they take from their people. They couldn’t defy when Elmer was being held hostage. However, they also cared for their people with all their hearts as the town head. That’s why they sold their family fortunes and cut back on their lifestyle, desperately trying to make enough money to pay the specified taxes.

So far, I don’t think there’s any problem with it, looking from Heinreid’s perspective. Either way, it’s not like I came here to give punishments in the first place.

But when Elmer heard my answer, he panicked again.

“Then perhaps, it was because of my crude behavior earlier, after all…?! My lord, I do not care what happens to me! I will listen to everything you say, and I will not go to sleep anymore, so!”

“Elmer Kisch, calm down!”

Craig restrained Elmer as he tried to stand up and cling on to me. It was probably because he saw those who had been killed for touching Heinreid without permission. Frightened by my rebuke, Elmer, however, pleaded with his hands tightly clasped together without taking his eyes off me.

“Please, spare my family at least…!”

…I was at loss for words. God forbid. Rather than telling me not to kill him, he showed his determination to help his family, not caring what happens to him. And he was only twelve years old.

I looked at his state, dumbfounded. It didn’t suit a boy of his age… sickly white limbs with all his muscles thinned down. He was stuck in a place like this for five years, so there must’ve been times when he felt like going mad. Even so, Elmer must have accepted this treatment and endured his loneliness so long as it was only him and no one else. How frightening was it for such a young boy? …I really felt deeply disgusted. My heart became heavy as I once again witnessed, before my very eyes, the weight of the crimes that Heinreid had committed.

I kneeled in front of Elmer who was standing still, looking like he was about to cry. I perfectly met with the eyes of the boy who was probably short due to lack of nutrition. Ahh. Back then… before I became Heinreid, this was how I looked at my younger sister whenever I would listen to her, even when she was little.

“Stop crying. Who said I came to punish you? Didn’t I say I’m aware of the work and loyalty of the Kisch family? In other words, sending you home is, well… something like a reward for that.”

“Re…ward?”

“That’s right.”

I tried to stroke Elmer’s head to reassure him but stopped myself. I knew I wasn’t the right person to touch him with these filthy hands. As a wicked lord… it was only suitable for me to sneer and say spiteful things.

“What, did you not want to leave?”

“No! …my lord. I’m delighted. I’m grateful for your mercy…”

“Okay. Then, you may leave.”

When I stood up and prompted him, Elmer had a blank face as if saying, ‘Huh, right now?’ Yes, right now. That’s why I came all the way here in person. But Craig had been waiting for an opportunity to speak.

“My lord. Elmer has not gone out of the basement for several years. If he suddenly is exposed to the sunlight, it will blind him.”

…So, it was possible to bring about such a harmful effect when confined underground? Woah, I’m glad I didn’t come alone. I almost blinded Elmer!

“Is that so… But even if today won’t do, can’t he leave as soon as possible?”

“…Then, I will prepare all the necessary items. Would it be fine with you if I mobilized the squads for a bit?”

“Yes, I’ll leave it to you.”

Yeah. I’m really glad I brought this guy with me, since he settles things quickly. If Elmer is escorted by those who were personally selected by Craig, I’m sure he’ll be safe on the road within this dangerous country.

“Well then, Elmer. Sorry, but you’ll have to stay here a little bit longer. I’ll send someone to pick you up once preparations are done, so… until then, you can go back to sleep.”

‘I won’t reproach you even if you have bed hair when you wake up.’ I made such a joke and laughed before leaving the room, and Elmer covered his hair with his face flushed.

On the way back to the office, Craig spoke up, “He’s really being sent home, isn’t he?”

I thought, ‘What’s with you? Stop following me and start the preparations for sending Elmer home already.’ But it was my fault for falling down the stairs like an idiot yesterday (I wasn’t conscious yet at that time, though), so I decided not to say anything about it.

“What, do you think I’m lying?”

“…I wondered if it was a new kind of ‘punishment’.”

…He didn’t really have any faith in me. The rule where ‘if a bad guy does something good, the gap would make him look like a really great guy’ didn’t seem to apply to Heinreid. Well, those were usually dubious traps, so it stands to reason.

“Ah, I guess I could also do that. I’ll use that as a reference.”

And since there was no faith and a relationship of mutual trust, a single joke like this seriously shocked Craig. Don’t freeze like that. For your information, it was your fault for digging your grave.

I smiled wryly and hit him lightly in the chest with my fist. “…It was a joke.”

You really need to get yourself together. After all, you have to kill me properly in the end.