Chapter 79

After traveling further south from the village that engaged in forestry, the group arrived at a town by the sea.

It was also the time when several boats were returning from fishing, and the town's residents were bustling about, busy with the unloading of the fish.

Crossing through such a town, Sora met up with Raset and Zess, who had been sent ahead.

"The ship carrying the materials is said to arrive in the evening."

Sora nodded at Zess's report.

They were purchasing small amounts of metal and stone as reconstruction materials. They couldn't buy and use them on a large scale yet due to insufficient funds and manpower, so they intended to stockpile them bit by bit while prices were low.

"Have you secured a building?"

Sora, sitting on the driver's seat, asked Raset.

Sora planned to establish a base in this port town and had instructed Raset to arrange a building to use as an office until the lord's mansion was completed.

Raset nodded with a troubled expression.

"I managed to rent a house at the edge of town. However..."

"Sora-sama, it seems the impression isn't good at all."

Zess continued where Raset left off.

Chaff gave Sora a reproachful look, as if to say, "It's your fault."

Sora chuckled wryly and asked for a tour.

Led by Raset and the others, they arrived at a building that looked like three huts placed side by side.

The walls had holes, and the window frames were rotten and falling off. Peering inside, the floor was just bare ground, clearly abandoned for a long time.

No matter how positively they tried to view it, it was clear they were not welcome.

Most importantly, Sora's group consisted of twenty-five people, including horses, and this building was far too small.

—We'll have to teach the town officials a lesson later.

In the kingdom, officials appointed by the lord are placed in cities and relatively populous towns.

In the Kleinzelt viscount's territory, there are two cities: Granthis in the east and Gransuno in the north. Eight towns, including this one, have officials.

The officials handle tax collection, management and operation of the coast and forests, and resolution of minor disputes in their assigned areas.

In the case of the Kleinzelt territory, if asked whether they actually do their job, the answer would almost certainly be no. They are likely as corrupt as usual.

This can be inferred from the fact that they pushed this dilapidated building onto Sora. They are completely underestimating him.

Sora, with a sinister smile hidden, decided to teach them who is in charge and began thinking about how to use the building.

"Leaving the horses out in the open isn't good, is it?"

Sora looked around at the eight horses and muttered. Six of them were ridden by Chaff and the guards.

Of course, as the eldest son of the Trynen family, known for one of the kingdom's best cavalry units, he wouldn't allow it. Glaring at Sora with hostile eyes, Chaff raised his hands in surrender.

Sora didn't want a repeat of the duel incident.

Horses are delicate animals, expensive, and especially well-trained military horses, which Sora couldn't afford to replace.

"There's no choice. We'll use the office as an open-air space and stay at an inn for a while."

When Sora made the decision, Chaff objected.

"Sir Sora, we should also be wary of assassination. We are enemies of the Kleinzelt Count and the Church."

"Gorge and the others are here, and Cole will prepare the meals. It should be fine. I feel bad about causing trouble for the innkeeper, though."

When Sora glanced at the timid cook, he flinched. Chaff looked worried.

However, there was no other option. The group reluctantly headed to the inn.

The inn Sora chose was a large building, often used by merchants who hired guards in the lawless Kleinzelt territory.

When Sora's group stopped in front of the inn, the innkeeper rushed out, his face flushed.

"We'd like to stay for a while."

Chaff said from his horse, and the innkeeper, sweating coldly, looked around, trying to find a way to refuse.

If it became known that the Kleinzelt family was staying, merchants who wanted to avoid trouble would stay away.

The innkeeper's mistake was not noticing Sora, who had been quietly observing from the carriage.

Sora quietly got out of the carriage and approached the innkeeper with a nonchalant expression.

"Uncle, can I use the toilet?"

"Huh?"

The innkeeper, who had been looking at Chaff with a worried face, turned to Sora, confused.

Thinking Sora was a child brought by a migrant worker, the innkeeper roughly gestured for him to go ahead, too busy dealing with the group to bother with a stranger.

Raset and the others, who had been pretending to be strangers, moved once they saw Sora enter the inn.

"We can't leave Sora-sama alone. Gorge, please follow him."

Pointing to the inn's entrance where Sora had gone, Raset made the innkeeper realize what had happened.

"Could it be, that was...?"

"Sora-sama has also gone inside, so we'll be staying at this inn."

"Wait, what—"

"Leave the horses and carriage at the previous building."

Raset started moving before the innkeeper could respond.

The innkeeper, left standing in front of the inn, bowed his head.

Hearing that the heir of the Kleinzelt family was staying, the merchants who had reserved rooms fled.

Sora, looking down from a second-floor guest room, understood the phrase "like ants scattering" as he saw the merchants fleeing.

Sania and Zess entered the room.

"I've talked to the nearby inns and covered the merchants' lodging fees."

Sania reported and handed Sora a wallet with the change.

"Thank you. I hope it improves their impression, but don't expect too much."

Sora chuckled, looking down at the merchants who were leaving the inn, some whispering rumors and others trying to explain.

In the shadows of the alley, a suspicious-looking man could be seen, likely monitoring the sudden arrival of the viscount.

Regaining his composure, Sora turned his attention back to the room.

In addition to Raset and the others, Chaff was also present, making the room quite crowded.

"Alright, now that everyone is here, let's go intimidate the town official. Raset, please lead the way."

Recalling the name of the official who handled the town's and surrounding area's affairs from his memory, Sora stood up.

However, Raset's yawn-filled words deflated his momentum.

"—The official has already fled."