Chapter 140
Rank 8 - Part 9
『 Translator – Divinity 』
"...I wish I could say that, but realistically, that's impossible."
"Y-Yes. Beatrice, even now, you can bring me back to... a dead state and rule the kingdom yourself."
"That's not the problem. The civil war isn't completely over yet."
"Speaking of which, what about the Duke of Wei?"
"Your sister turned him into charcoal."
"...Then the civil war you're talking about must be with the neighboring kingdom. Akendelminos."
"That's right."
After all, what was the reason why the Akendelminos royal family tried to get on the Headmistress's good side, even going as far as conducting a financial audit(?)?
It was to prevent the Headmistress from causing trouble while they sent their army to the Delphia Kingdom and to prevent the Empire from attacking them from behind.
Therefore, it was certain that Akendelminos would try to deploy troops, taking advantage of the civil war.
It was just that the civil war ended too quickly.
"They're probably crossing the border and heading towards the capital now. Under the pretense of quelling the unrest."
"But the Duke of Wei has already fallen, and the civil war is over. But Akendelminos..."
"They definitely won't withdraw their troops. They're probably even considering a war of conquest. I don't know how the Empire will react, though."
Would the Empire, the hegemonic power, tolerate the expansion of the second strongest nation?
Neither Zeke nor Beatrice knew. The only certainty was that Akendelminos would invade.
Therefore, Beatrice couldn't leave the Delphia Kingdom.
"If I, the only Rank 8, return to the academy in this situation... the Delphia Kingdom will be finished."
"...You finally became a Rank 8, Beatrice."
"In a way, it's thanks to you, brother. Just so you know, it wasn't entirely with good intentions."
"...Yes."
"And don't make that expression after trying to die on your own. You have your role to play, brother."
"A role?"
"While I'm stopping Akendelminos's army, someone else needs to reorganize the Delphia Kingdom. I'm still unstable to handle both. It would be different if I had someone to help me..."
"I don't know why you're looking at me."
"...Anyway, you'll have to take care of the internal affairs, brother. A suicidal crown prince will have more influence in this than a baggage princess who was a hostage."
Crown Prince Zeke, his head bowed at Beatrice's pointed words, tried to move his arm, then realized there was nothing there and laughed hollowly.
Beatrice, who had been smirking, now smiled genuinely and turned her head.
"Then, Finance Director, unfortunately, it seems like I won't be able to return. Even for a little while."
"...I'll take that as you saying you'll return once the army withdraws and the kingdom stabilizes."
"There's no need to answer that. Anyway, I can't go back, but I can't let the Finance Director return empty-handed either."
Oh.
As expected of Beatrice! I knew I could count on you! I knew you wouldn't abandon me even after becoming a Rank 8!
"However, considering the situation in the kingdom, it seems like I won't be able to send you things regularly like before. I could be criticized for sending money meant for reconstruction elsewhere."
"That's a shame."
It was a pity. The money I received from Zeke was quite sweet.
Then what kind of reward would I receive? I had income from the salt and stimulants, and even a moderate amount would be—
"There, do you see it?"
"I see the charred Duke of Wei."
"I'll give you all of his assets."
"...What?"
"It's the wealth that the greedy Duke of Wei has been accumulating from the royal family and the people. Since he even dreamed of establishing a new kingdom, it must be enough to actually build a nation, even if it's a small one. Isn't that enough as a reward?"
"N-No."
Really? All of the Duke of Wei's assets?
As Beatrice said, the Duke of Wei's assets weren't just a matter of being rich or having a lot of money. It was literally enough to establish and run a country.
However, she said it so casually that I wondered if it was actually a small amount.
...Of course, seeing Crown Prince Zeke's reaction, it wasn't.
"B-Beatrice! Are you crazy!? The Duke of Wei's assets are clearly...!!"
"They belong to the victor, me. And I'm just doing whatever I want with my belongings. Is there a problem?"
"...That's true, but! Without the Duke of Wei's assets, there will be many difficulties in the following reorganization and reconstruction!"
"If it weren't for the Finance Director, I wouldn't have become a Rank 8, and everyone here, including myself, would be dead. I think it's a sufficient reward."
"F-Finance Director! I beg you. Please persuade my sister!!"
He didn't even hesitate to kneel and bow his head. It was puzzling how he could move so quickly despite missing an arm and a leg.
...Putting aside the jokes, I helped Crown Prince Zeke up.
"Don't worry. I wasn't planning on taking everything."
"Finance Director!"
Yes. Even if she gave me all her assets, I wasn't planning on taking them all to the academy.
So...
"I'll lend it to you."
"...Huh?”
"The Duke of Wei's entire fortune would be an astronomical amount, how could I, a Rank 1, carry it all the way to the academy? I'll take as much as I can, and the rest... consider it a loan to the Delphia royal family."
"Huh...?"
"That's a great idea! Finance Director, how about lending it with compound interest? We won't have any shortage of money."
"I have no intention of turning the Delphia Kingdom into a puppet state. I'll lend it to you with simple interest."
"As expected, the Finance Director is merciful!"
Merciful? Compound interest? Simple interest?
"Ah..."
He won the civil war, but the royal family ended up in the hands of lunatics.
Crown Prince Zeke couldn't help but lament...
***
After the Finance Director, who had been flirting with Beatrice for a while, left,
Zeke was left alone in the room with Beatrice, watching her back.
"Beatrice, are you truly..."
"Brother. You must be aware of your current state by now, right?"
"...Yes."
Her voice was ice-cold, unlike when she was talking to the Finance Director.
But Zeke himself had expected it, so he wasn't surprised.
He quietly placed his only remaining arm on his chest.
...It wasn't beating.
"Am I dead now, or alive?"
"That was the limit of the necromancy magic I reverse-engineered from the artifact. Your consciousness is alive because I'm constantly maintaining the magic. If I stop the magic..."
"I'll become a corpse again."
And that would be the most effective leash on Crown Prince Zeke.
It was ironic. He thought she would be jealous and try to keep him in check if he was alive, since she had become a Rank 8.
But his sister, in an unexpected way, completely blocked any jealousy or attempts to control him.
"This... this is..."
"To be honest, I don't really care about the royal family or the kingdom. It's a place that I couldn't find a reason to love, a place that didn't give me love."
"........."
"But it seems like it would be a great help to the Finance Director."
So that was why.
Since the Finance Director lent the Duke of Wei's assets to the royal family, they had to diligently repay that debt. In other words, that was the sole purpose of the royal family's existence.
A place that simply paid tribute to Finance Director Adam Keynes.
But…
"If the kingdom can survive, even like this..."
"........."
"If many can live with the sacrifice of one... that is the responsibility of a ruler."
And also the responsibility of a third-rate villain. The responsibility of one who neglected his sister, who couldn't even be a good brother,
And irresponsibly died in the end.
Rather, he felt liberated in this state. He could smile genuinely, even if it was a sorrowful smile.
"Now, then, let's get to work."
"........."
"You have to diligently send money to the Finance Director you love."
For that, he had to stop Akendelminos's army, finish the internal reorganization, and rebuild the kingdom.
Beatrice, watching Siegfried smile as he said those words,
"...Yes, alright."
...smiled as well.
Ironically,
It was the first time the siblings smiled together.
***
On the way back,
Suzanne and Beatrice weren't there, but I wasn't lonely. Because of the artifact bag weighing heavily on my back? No, it wasn't that. I wasn't carrying it this time either.
There was someone else to carry it for me.
"By the way, this is unexpected, Archbishop."
"What is?"
"You're not saying anything even though the civil war ended too quickly, contrary to your cult's objective. You're even carrying my luggage for me. Are we going the same way?"
"Strictly speaking, we're not. The cult's base is in the Empire, and I've already finished my report."
"Then?"
The Archbishop, after looking at me with a heavy gaze for a moment,
Quietly spoke with a sigh.
"As you said, with the civil war ending too quickly, our cult's plan has been disrupted. As the Archbishop, I should be angry at you, but..."
"But?"
"...There was something I couldn't overlook, even considering that."
Something he couldn't overlook?
If it was something he experienced with me... don't tell me?
"The reward you asked from the Sculptor. I can guess what it is. It must be sculptures."
"How did you know?"
"It was the same when the cult contacted the Sculptor in the past. A faithful believer sculpture would be useful in many ways... but the price was the death of a few bishops. The Sculptor wasn't someone the cult could control."
"Then..."
"I want the sculptures you'll receive as a reward. If even the Sculptor needs time to prepare them, there must be quite a few. How many did you ask for?"
"Ten."
"...That's a lot. I want one of them."
He wants one of the Finance Department staff sculptures.
Actually, it wasn't a request I had to grant. Even if I ruined the cult's plans by ending the civil war too quickly, they couldn't threaten or kill me.
The Archbishop was devoted to the cult, so he had to consider its future. He wouldn't sever ties with me, the only way to retrieve the sacred treasure.
It was a shame that I would lose one of my Finance Department slaves, but...
"Well, alright."
"Really?"
"But there's a condition. Ah, it's a good offer for you as well, Archbishop."
"...What is it?"
"Come to the academy."
"What?"
"You haven't met the Headmistress before, have you? And you don't seem to be using the power of Dark Sword, so you won't be caught. And when the Sculptor brings the sculptures, you can take it yourself."
"I could also have Bishop Milia bring it to me later."
"Taking the sculpture isn't for the sake of the cult, is it?"
"........."
"Even if you take the sculpture, it won't bring back the bishops who were turned into sculptures, and it won't allow you to take revenge on the Sculptor, so it's meaningless. So I can only assume that you want the sculpture for personal reasons."
"...You're perceptive. Unnecessarily so."
"I'm being considerate. You were planning to sneak in and take it yourself later, weren't you? Wouldn't it be better to stay at the academy under my protection?"
I didn't know why he wanted the sculpture for personal reasons, but it was probably related to his past.
The reason why a rigid soldier like him, a Rank 7, joined the Wish Cult. And if it was related to the Sculptor...
There was no reason for the Archbishop to refuse.
"I trust you're not planning to offer me to that Mad Dragon."
"Well, if that were the case, I would have offered Student Milia first. And the Headmistress's mouth is smaller than you think."
"........."
It wasn't nice that he didn't react to my joke. Even if it wasn't funny, he should at least show some reaction as his superior.
Anyway, I had my first Finance Department employee.
'Circe is equipment, and Milia is a slave.'
The Archbishop was worthy of being considered a full-time employee. If you're wondering where I would use a Rank 7 warrior when he wasn't like Milia, who could handle paperwork, there were plenty of uses for him.
The harvest this time was quite bountiful.
'The profits from the salt, the stimulants, the Duke of Wei's assets I took as much as I could, and even a Finance Department employee.'
I had to leave quickly because of the news that Akendelminos's army was rapidly approaching, but I said my goodbyes to Crown Prince Zeke and Beatrice.
Beatrice even gave me a letter to deliver to the Headmistress when I returned. And she said she would send letters periodically.
'A Rank 8 mage as a connection, how reassuring.'
The Headmistress was also a Rank 8 connection, but she was my superior. It was a bit different.
Anyway, it was an unexpected trip to the Delphia Kingdom, but the gains were substantial. Once I arrived at the academy, I could focus on my work—
"...Adam Keynes?"
"Oh? First Security Unit Captain, it's been a while. Are you patrolling outside the academy? That's the Second Security Unit Captain's job."
"........."
I met a familiar person as I almost reached the academy.
Full body armor covering her entire body. A truly strange individual with a soft voice despite her heavy appearance.
She was also Rank 7, like the Archbishop, but seemed a bit weaker.
By the way, why was she here when she should be at the main gate?
"I finally found you. Where did you suddenly disappear to?"
"Huh?"
"It's a good thing you're back now. Let's go to the academy."
"N-No, wait. First Security Unit Captain? What are you talking about?"
"It's no use denying it. Do you know how much Professor Circe has been looking for you? It's a good thing it's during vacation. You disappeared so completely that even I was surprised."
"What?"
"Anyway, let's go back quickly. Who's that person behind you?"
"He's, uh, someone the Headmistress assigned to me. He'll be accompanying us."
"Really? He seems quite skilled... We're going to the Headmistress's office anyway, so he can come with us."
"More importantly, I'm truly curious, what's going on?"
"Why? Well, if you insist..."
The First Security Unit Captain, her face seemingly frowning even with her helmet on,
Nodded in an impressed manner and replied,
"Professor Circe succeeded in developing the hair loss cure."
"...What?"
"Do you know how excited some of the professors were? Especially Professor Circe, who said you were a great help and wanted to see you so much. It was troublesome that you suddenly disappeared."
What?
Wait a minute.
What?
"Hair loss cure development success?"
Even the Archbishop of the fanatic group widened his eyes at the unbelievable news.
It wasn't a joke; even the Church's miracles and life magic couldn't cure hair loss.
'Wait, does that mean I have to let Circe go?'
Really?
But she's my equipment!!!