[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 32: A New Wind
"Hal, was it? Congratulations."
After a while, the Imperial noble said awkwardly.
The bishop behind him added with a smile,
"Baron, you an."
"Ah, I almost... forgot. Baron... Hal."
The noble gritted his teeth and abruptly held out the Emperor's letter of appointnt and a sword.
Hal, having completed the inheritance of the title, rose from his seat and accepted them.
"Thank you."
"Well then, I'll be on my way."
"You're welco to stay longer."
"...No, I'd rather go to an inn in the neighboring territory than stay in this place without a single servant."
The Imperial noble clicked his tongue, turned around, and imdiately prepared to leave.
Hal had only offered out of courtesy and had no intention of persuading him further.
It was true that the mansion was in a poor state, and he was busy with the affairs of the territory anyway.
After seeing the noble off, Hal went straight to the study.
There were a number of urgent matters that needed to be dealt with imdiately.
First of all, the outflow of residents and population decline were serious.
The population had halved compared to 10 years ago.
Also, all the sales channels for the salt mine were cut off, and no ships ca to the port for trade anymore.
Not only agriculture, but even fishing was not being done properly due to the decrease in fish catches.
With no tax revenue, the funds to run the territory had dried up, and it was deep in debt.
Furthermore, Viscount Ramsey, the lord of the northern territory of Heidern, was coveting Heidern's land.
"I don't even know where to begin."
Hal sighed deeply.
There was a mountain of related docunts and materials.
Even those were all old records, so gathering accurate information was the priority.
"...I'm going to need people."
At this rate, he would die from overwork managing the territory, let alone getting his revenge.
It was then.
Knock, knock!
Bishop Arsen appeared with a knock.
"Hal. Do you have a mont?"
"Of course. Please co in, Bishop."
Hal rose from his seat and pulled out a chair for the bishop to sit on.
The bishop smiled awkwardly and sat down.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you when you seem so busy."
"No, it's alright."
Most of the issues were things that would take ti to address.
They weren't problems that could be solved imdiately, so Hal didn't make a fuss.
'Of course, there are so things that need to be dealt with urgently, but...'
The bishop looked at Hal, seemingly understanding his worries, and said,
"You must have a lot on your mind."
"...Is it that obvious?"
When Hal asked with a puzzled look, the bishop chuckled and shook his head.
"No, it's not that. Actually, while you were gone to the salt mine, I briefly checked the state of the territory... and to put it nicely, it's on the verge of collapse."
"To put it bluntly..."
"It's more like a lawless zone than a territory, isn't it?"
"... "
After a mont of contemplation, Hal nodded.
The salt mine village was probably in a better situation than others.
Even though exports through the coast were blocked, smugglers would have been coming and going by land.
'And with Dane, a forr knight, as the headman, the security would have been stable.'
Even the people of the salt mine, which was relatively well-off, were emaciated and impoverished.
It was obvious what the situation would be like in other villages within the territory.
"We need food. Clean water, clothes, and firewood too."
"Indeed."
The bishop nodded in understanding.
"But direct support from the order is difficult."
"... I understand."
Hal nodded with a creak.
"As you know, Hal, you are no longer a priest of the order. You are a nobleman of the Empire."
Hal had beco a lord.
This ant that he had sworn allegiance to the Emperor and now had rights and responsibilities.
However, if Hal continued to receive help from the order after becoming a lord, the Imperial family would inevitably doubt his sincerity.
"Many eyes are on you right now, Hal. And the order does not want any further conflict with the Imperial family."
"I understand."
The Order had already made a considerable sacrifice by helping him this far.
Of course, they did so with the judgnt that it would increase their influence in the long run.
In any case, further assistance could be detrintal to Hal.
"I have received enough help. Thank you."
Hal bowed his head deeply in gratitude.
At that mont, the bishop placed sothing on the desk with a thud.
Hal reflexively looked up to see what it was.
"This is..."
He was speechless for a mont and closed his mouth.
The leather pouch was filled with shining gold coins.
"This should be enough to put out the imdiate fire."
This was undoubtedly the bishop's personal funds.
Considering his usual frugality, it was almost all of his possessions.
"I can't accept this."
When Hal refused, the bishop shook his head and said,
"Think of it as severance pay."
"..."
Hal hesitated for a mont, then nodded.
With this money, he could sustain the lives of the people in his territory for a while.
Rembering his duty as a lord, Hal endured the burden.
"Thank you."
"Not at all. I'm grateful that you accepted it."
The bishop rose from his seat with a good-natured smile.
"Ah, please wait a mont."
Then, as if he had rembered sothing, Hal took sothing out of his pocket.
A silver insignia shining brightly.
It was the insignia symbolizing an exorcist.
Furthermore, Hal unfastened the talisman he was wearing, his sword, and offered it to the bishop.
"I can't keep this anymore since I'm no longer a priest of the order."
Hal's expression as he spoke was extrely calm.
The bishop stared at him intently for a mont, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"...?"
With a puzzled expression, Hal waited for the bishop's laughter to subside.
A mont later, the bishop waved his hand and said,
"Just keep those. Did you really intend to leave the order, Hal?"
"...Wasn't that the case?"
At Hal's question, the bishop smiled contentedly, as if looking at an innocent lamb.
"If we intended to let you go completely, there would be no reason for the order to help you, even to the point of antagonizing the Imperial family."
"..."
Co to think of it, that made sense.
As Hal nodded, the bishop said with a smile,
"If you agree, Hal, the order will soon negotiate with the Imperial family. In exchange for returning you to the priesthood, this territory will be placed under the order's jurisdiction for one generation, with you acting as the lord."
"..."
There was such a thod?
Hal, surprised by the idea he had never considered, thought for a mont and then nodded.
"Please do so."
Although he had stepped down, there was a possibility that the Imperial family would continue to plot to remove him.
Hal's goal was revenge, after all.
He couldn't be tied down to the position of lord forever.
The bishop, watching Hal, smiled with satisfaction and got up, leaning on his knees.
"Very well. Then I'll be on my way. I can't be away for too long."
"Why don't you rest here for a day?"
Unlike when he had offered to the Imperial noble, Hal sincerely tried to persuade him to stay.
The bishop looked at Hal in surprise for a mont, then burst into laughter.
"To think that Hal would try to keep here."
Hal was always soone who didn't speak unnecessarily and was reluctant to form deep relationships.
The bishop was amused by this unfamiliar side of him.
After a mont, he smiled contentedly and patted Hal's shoulder.
"Then let's have a drink together next ti."
"I'll visit you when things are settled."
"I look forward to it. I'll prepare so good alcohol."
The bishop left the study with a pleasant smile.
A short while later, the outside was noisy with preparations for departure.
Night travel was always risky, so no amount of preparation was too much.
The Holy Knights were also busy preparing to leave.
"I'm glad you're safe, Lord Hal."
At that mont, Antonio, carrying his luggage and leaning on his staff, ca to find Hal.
"...Are you leaving?"
Hal said bitterly, looking at his attire.
Antonio replied in a bright voice,
"Yes, I'm going back with the bishop."
"Is that so?"
The Saint Joseph Temple, where Bishop Arsen resided and where Hal had stayed during his ti as an exorcist.
It was the largest temple in Letria, in the eastern part of the Empire.
If he went there, there would surely be a place for Antonio as well.
However, Antonio's following words were different from what Hal expected.
"I intend to finish the Exorcism Trial there."
"...The trial?"
"I couldn't complete the Path of Exorcism this ti... but I'm sure I'll be able to soday."
Hal paused for a mont.
The Path of Exorcism, the final stage of the priest's trial.
Antonio hadn't given up yet.
"You could die."
"It doesn't matter."
Antonio grinned.
"Rather, isn't it cool? A blind exorcist. Like the saint from the scriptures."
There was no such saint.
But Hal understood what Antonio ant, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Huh? Did you just laugh at ?"
Hal put on a straight face and feigned ignorance.
"You must have misheard."
"No... I definitely heard you laugh."
Antonio tilted his head.
Hal placed a letter with his seal on it in Antonio's hand.
He had prepared it beforehand to give to him when the ti was right.
"What's this?"
"It's your report card. You can submit it to the temple when you return."
"...Excuse ?"
Antonio tilted his head, not understanding.
"What do you an? I didn't finish the trial."
Although the passing of the Path of Exorcism was determined by the supervisor, there was a minimum requirent.
That was to perform at least 10 exorcisms.
Antonio hadn't fulfilled that condition yet.
Hal replied calmly,
"You finished it. Because I judged it so."
"But the minimum requirent..."
"There are exceptions."
Hal continued, looking at Antonio's dumbfounded expression.
"It's possible if the trial supervisor has the na of a Saint."
"...What does that..."
"I thought it was useless, but it seems there are so privileges within the order. Like discretionary judgnt in the examination."
"...!"
Antonio finally understood what Hal ant.
Hal placed his hand on Antonio's shoulder.
"Antonio, you have successfully completed the Path of Exorcism on this journey."
"But I..."
"As the supervisor of your trial, I assure you. There is no one more suited to be a priest than you."
Antonio's trembling was conveyed to Hal through his hand.
Hal continued speaking.
"You faced overwhelming evil and did not hesitate to sacrifice yourself. You overca fear and acted according to God's word."
"Lord Hal..."
Antonio's voice trembled slightly.
There was a hint of moisture in it, but it was clearly a feeling of joy.
Hal smiled gently at Antonio and said,
"You passed the trial."
"Thank you..."
Antonio finally sniffled.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he smiled brightly and exchanged greetings with Hal.
"I will definitely co back, whenever that may be."
"I'll be waiting."
Hal and Antonio bowed to each other with utmost courtesy.
Soon after, Antonio left with Bishop Arsen.
Unable to mount their horses due to the thick darkness, the procession slowly made its way along the road.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!
The leisurely sound of horses' hooves without riders echoed through the silence.
The procession of lanterns stretched out in the darkness.
If there are etings, partings are also inevitable.
But now he knew.
That there were partings that weren't sad.
That there were joyful farewells, anticipating the day they would et again.
Hal watched the procession disappear into the darkness for a long ti.
***
The next day.
Early in the morning, Hal gathered the remaining people in the mansion.
He had sothing to ask of them.
"You've all gathered."
Hal looked at the assembled people and placed the divided pouches of money on the desk.
As everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions, Hal continued calmly.
"Autumn is coming soon. At this rate, our territory will not survive this winter."
"..."
No one argued.
It was all too clear that Hal was speaking the truth.
"So I have a favor to ask of you. First, Sir Daniel."
Hal said, holding out a pouch of money to him.
"Please go to the Lengbast territory and purchase a sufficient amount of firewood and lumber. We need softwood and hardwood for construction, but prioritize firewood for now."
"I don't mind, but... what about your plan, Hal?"
Daniel asked, sowhat surprised.
Hal replied in a resolute voice, as if he had already made up his mind.
"I will leave in the spring. If I leave now, it would be no different than abandoning the territory."
"Well, if you're okay with it, I don't mind."
Daniel shrugged and accepted the money pouch.
Hal expressed his gratitude and then looked at the next person.
"I have a request for you as well, Dane."
"Just give the order."
Dane's eyes lit up as his na was called.
Hal flinched slightly at his intense reaction but continued calmly.
"We need soldiers to maintain security in the territory. Please hire about twenty able-bodied people within the territory who need jobs and train them."
"To entrust with such an important task... I will do my best."
Dane knelt down as if deeply moved and received the pouch that Hal handed him.
As Daniel looked at them with a strange expression, Hal coughed briefly and turned his attention to the next person.
"But Ono... why are you here?"
"...I was disciplined."
"...Excuse ?"
When Hal asked back, Ono ruffled his hair irritably and replied.
"The bishop disciplined for heading to the mansion without you. He told to do so service here for a while."
"...Hmm."
As Hal struggled to find sothing to say, Ono sighed deeply and said,
"Don't bother with useless consolation, just give so work. I have nothing to do anyway."
"If you're willing... I'd be grateful."
Hal continued, surprised by Ono's unexpected reaction.
"Then, Ono, please go to the harbor. There seems to be so trouble there as well."
"...Don't tell it's another demon?"
"Yes, probably."
Ono muttered a curse under his breath and nodded.
"This territory must be cursed. Damn it. Fine, I'll do it."
"Thank you."
Just as Hal was expressing his gratitude,
"Um... what about ?"
Everyone's attention was drawn to the unexpected voice again.
Den, whom Dane had brought along, was looking up at Hal with an anxious expression.
"Ah."
After a mont of contemplation, Hal asked Den,
"Den, what do you want to do?"
"I... want to learn swordsmanship."
When Den said that while glancing at Dane, Hal nodded lightly.
"Alright. Then Den, go with Dane and learn swordsmanship. And while you're following Dane, please find soone to hire to work in the mansion. Soone diligent."
"...Yes!"
Den nodded vigorously.
Dane simply bowed his head towards Hal with a deeply moved expression.
Hal was briefly lost in a strange emotion.
Although there were only five of them, he now had people he could trust and rely on.
As each prepared for their assigned tasks, the desolate mansion was filled with energy for the first ti in a long ti.
A new wind was blowing in the Heidern territory.
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
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