Chapter 137: The Days Toward the Rostingia Marcher Lordship (21)
It was originally the duty of a noble, passed down from ancient tis, to provide a grand reception for those who successfully completed a subjugation.
This was especially true in a case like this, where they had covered up the cultist issue, even a family disgrace, and allowed him to share in the glory instead.
Count Joberham imdiately summoned Shatien’s party, who were working hard on the village reconstruction.
“Blessings to the great heroes who subjugated the cultists!”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“Brave warriors! Your honor shall descend through eternity!”
The crowd welcoming the subjugation team was massive.
It seed Count Joberham had made up his mind.
Countless people were smiling brightly and shouting cries of welco.
So won, who seed specially mobilized, blessed the path of Shatien’s party by scattering flower petals from large baskets.
In the anti, heralds who appeared to be separately mobilized by Count Joberham stood in various places, busy shouting the achievents perford by the subjugation team led by Shatien.
Of course, in between those shouts.
“Ah! But tragically, Lord Yoturve, the youngest son of Count Joberham, fell in battle against the at monolith created by the cultists.”
“But it is alright! Because of Lord Yoturve’s struggle, the sches of the wicked cultists were ruined, and because of this, Sir Shatien was finally able to destroy the at monolith!”
“Praise him! The brave Lord Yoturve! Praise him! Sir Shatien, who showed the greatness of God to the cultists! The pious Sir Shatien received God’s grace and subjugated the cultists!”
Various works were put in to elevate Count Joberham’s family, indeed.
“Hahaha. Count Joberham is quite the old fox. Isn’t that right? Pious Sir Shatien?”
“Ahem… stop teasing already.”
Shatien’s face felt hot because of the sowhat embarrassing words, but he thought it wasn't a bad thing.
‘Since he’s going to promote instead, well...’
Reputation was not sothing that spread easily, no matter how much one showed off alone.
The notarization process of such a great noble was necessary.
In that sense, it really wasn't bad.
However, the problem was.
“Ohhhh! It’s Sir Shatien!”
“Knight Shatien is here!”
“Pious Sir Shatien. Please, look at .”
It felt as if the various modifiers attached for packaging were sohow accepted with a different aning.
The mont Shatien’s location was revealed, people began to rush in.
Looking at their clothing, they were mainly the poor of the city.
They approached Shatien with gaunt and shabby appearances, having neither eaten nor washed, and reached out their hands.
“A blessing for us unfortunate ones...”
“Please hold my hand just once.”
“You rascals? Step back imdiately!”
As more people than expected flocked in, Count Joberham’s soldiers hurriedly blocked them.
They showed clear signs of being flustered by the sudden situation.
“Heh heh heh. It seems your reputation is spreading very far?”
“...I didn't want it to spread in this way, though? Mage Agpiel.”
“You should think of it as the price for building a reputation. Right, so what will you do?”
“What else can I do. Phew... I should think of it as my karma.”
Shatien let out a deep sigh as he looked at the gathered poor and spurred his horse.
-Neighhh!
“W-What?”
“Who dares... Huh? Lord Shatien?”
“Move aside.”
“B-But. These are the city’s poor, so there's no reason for Sir Shatien to respond...”
“Since when did a knight discriminate against people! Protecting the weak and showing courage in the face of fear is precisely the duty of a knight. I say again, move aside. Soldier.”
The soldiers were even more flustered by Shatien’s appearance. This was because such a thing was a truly unexpected variable.
A knight who even forced his way to et the poor personally. Since when were knights like that.
Mage Agpiel knew those aggrieved feelings well.
“Now, now. Step back. Even if sothing happens, I will manage it well so it won't be your responsibility. I, the Sage of the Forest, will guarantee it.”
“If you say so...”
Only then did the soldiers step back and open the control over the poor.
Shatien stood resolutely on his horse amidst the procession of poor people pouring in and was comforting them.
The clothes getting dirtied and the sll coming from the bodies of the poor could have been unpleasant, but he remained unchanged. He was just calmly comforting the poor.
‘Interesting. Haha.’
Thanks to that, Mage Agpiel found himself smiling unconsciously. He had seen many people who boasted of their skills to raise their status. However, most tended to beco arrogant as their status rose. But that young knight did not do so. He was always humble from a lower position.
Even those musty monastery knights would not be able to do that.
-Wuuuuuuuuuu.
-Flash!
Therefore, Mage Agpiel decided to give special help.
“O-Ohhh!”
“It’s a miracle! Ah, dear God.”
“Holy Sir Shatien. Benevolent Sir Shatien. Ah, thank you.”
The forest magic that blood cautiously from the tip of Mage Agpiel’s staff passed through Shatien and gently caressed the poor.
“Uwoah? My goodness!”
“O God. He is truly a noble knight!”
Thanks to that, everyone around who discovered the sight was startled and began to cross themselves and praise God.
It was because that nobly shining appearance looked like the manifestation of God’s miracle to anyone.
No, even if it weren't so, the people wanted to believe it.
There was no one who would personally deny that honorable experience of seeing and experiencing the scene of a miracle with their own eyes.
Of course, Shatien, who knew the truth, was flabbergasted.
‘Just what on earth are you doing? What if we get caught. Mage Agpiel.’
‘Which cow-eyes would notice? It’s my gift. Heh heh heh.’
There really is no stopping him.
Shatien sighed and hurriedly looked for where the monastery knights were.
He intended to explain the situation quickly before they misunderstood.
But...
“Ohhhh. How moving!”
“A miracle. Indeed, he is like a knight who has received God’s grace!”
“If you think about it, didn't he once deal with that monster-like hobgoblin alone(?) in the past. This can only be called a miracle. We must step forward and speak to the Church. Comrades.”
“Indeed, indeed. Of course.”
Sohow, they were going even further.
“......”
This is driving crazy.
Shatien wanted to cry.
* * *
“Thank you for the grand welco. Count Joberham.”
“Hahaha. Grand, you say. Could I not even do this much for a pious knight?”
“...As I have told you repeatedly, that is a misunderstanding...”
Aigo, my head.
Shatien’s head was throbbing at Count Joberham’s words.
However, Count Joberham imdiately cut off Shatien’s words and spoke.
“This friend has so little desire for fa. Isn't that right? Mage Agpiel?”
“It seems so to as well. Count. As soone who watched from the side, I have no choice but to think of him as a very humble friend. Heh heh heh. Since you have ford a connection with such a knight, I am truly envious of you, Count?”
“Euhahahaha. That is true as well.”
“......”
They were perfectly in sync, going back and forth. Since when did they start acting like that. Shatien was now tired of explaining.
“The stabilization of the village is now mostly finishing up. Since Branch Manager Marhen took charge of helping with that part, you will be able to know the details if you ask her. Lord Count.”
“Hmm. It is a very good thing that the village at the strategic trade point has been rebuilt. To specially repay this help, I will temporarily exempt the taxes on the trade of the rchant guild in that region.”
“Hoho. Thank you. Lord Count Joberham.”
It was a decent price.
Though it was limited to the rchant guild led by Branch Manager Marhen.
“Then how is the pagan temple? I am also worried about that cult.”
Count Joberham turned his head and changed the subject.
His sowhat serious expression showed that he had a great sense of alarm regarding the matter.
Indeed, this cult incident had been a bit serious.
They tried to bring down a secret weapon of the cult that had been passed down from the Ancient Empire era within his territory... what noble would like that.
Furthermore, it was even more so as his beloved wife had even suffered and fell ill from a curse due to the cult’s trickery.
Of course, that was entirely a misunderstanding.
“I cannot give a definitive answer, but for now, it appears the cult in this area has effectively collapsed. The status of the priest Sir Shatien killed is not ordinary. It seems he was a High Priest. Moreover, the assets they invested seem formidable.”
“Since they were bastards who wandered without a proper settlent until now, the blow must be severe?”
“It is safe to say that it is unlikely they will appear again in this area for several years. Furthermore, I intend to stay here for a while to purify the contaminated pagan temple. Count Joberham.”
“Oh...”
If the Sage of the Forest was in the area, it was certain that the re-ergence of the cult would be blocked.
Count Joberham nodded in satisfaction.
“If you stay for us, it will be even more reassuring. I will give you plenty of ti to purify the pagan temple. I will not spare any support. Should any interference co from the Bishop or the Church, I will gladly beco your shield.”
“I am grateful! I needed a lot of help here and there anyway. Heh heh.”
Indeed, the old fox knew very well what Mage Agpiel wanted. Mage Agpiel also burst into a hearty laugh, satisfied with the tailor-made proposal.
Branch Manager Marhen got what she wanted, and Mage Agpiel received a corresponding reward.
If so, Shatien was all that remained.
“I have resolved many problems thanks to the knight’s help.”
“How could it be my credit alone. It is a matter that could not have been resolved without everyone’s help.”
“Hmmmm. Excessive humility is sotis actually not good. My honor is tarnished because it feels like I haven't properly given a reward compared to the knight’s rit.”
“My. Who dares say such a thing? I myself am satisfied. Haha.”
Shatien replied with a shrug. There was no need to be greedy. He had gained quite a lot from this subjugation. Gaining a reputation as a knight and a noble was not an easy opportunity. Especially, did he not gain the goodwill of the Church? Even if nobles viewed the Church uncomfortably, no one ignored the power they possessed.
The dioceses and clergy of the Church spread throughout the continent were another axis of power.
“If you are so satisfied, there is nothing I can do, but...”
However, Count Joberham’s thoughts seed a bit different. It was an incident that occurred in the Count's territory; if it ended with just this much, how would people view them.
He might beco a laughingstock for years to co as a great noble with stingy hospitality.
And vassals don't follow such a noble.
“Nevertheless, I wish to specially give you one more reward.”
“Mm. What do you an by reward?”
Shatien asked back with a tilt of his head.
It was because the situation was sowhat ambiguous for receiving a title or material reward.
In terms of honor, he already had the honor of the Banneret received from Viscount Ragnarsson, and in terms of money, it would be far less than the money Ragnarsson could give, so would it not just pale in comparison.
However, Count Joberham’s reward was a bit unexpected.
“I heard you have a rcenary Bureau in operation? I will commission the road patrol of the newly established trade network. To your rcenary Bureau. How about it?”
It was exactly the reward Shatien needed. There was no reason to refuse.
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