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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Territory's Foundation
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The Ikenia Kingdom had long dominated the southwest of the continent as a mighty power, yet ironically, it had never once claimed the title of empire throughout its history.
This was due to the kingdom's geographical characteristics.
The northwest region bordered the Dragon Mountains, which included the forbidden Beast Forest teeming with monsters, while the northeast was overshadowed by the Holy Empire—the continent's strongest and most terrifying force—that firmly controlled the northern continent.
To the east lay the Five Nations Alliance and the Philador Kingdom, the continent's premier agricultural producer.
These nations had served for generations as steadfast allies of the Ikenia Kingdom, effectively blocking the Holy Empire as part of the alliance.
Thanks to this stable international landscape, the Ikenia Kingdom maintained robust national strength at all times, with most territories suffering minimal resource drain from war.
However, to rephrase it.
The northern territories excluded from that "most" had no choice but to pour heavy investments into military forces, ever vigilant against the Beast Forest to the southwest and the Holy Empire's movements to the northeast.
The Carviot Count family—known as the Shield Family of the kingdom—stood as the central pillar of those northern territories.
Thus, the territory's defenses were inevitably ironclad.
Deep moats and towering outer walls appeared sturdy enough to repel any external invasion.
And within the count's household, the most vital location was the inner castle.
The inner castle housed the current lord, Count Bacchus von Carviot, his Six Shields, and the children destined to lead the future Shield Family.
This was the nexus where all the Shield Family's power converged.
Though it was home to the family's key figures, retainers typically handled territory affairs from their own posts and rarely gathered.
Aside from meetings personally called by the lord, a full assembly was exceedingly rare.
Yet today, that rarity unfolded in the conference room—thanks to me.
With the successor struggle's authority on the line, it made sense: a judgment by all retainers together.
A full month since I'd last visited my father, yet the time felt far too brief.
In my previous life, days dragged on endlessly, but now they flew by inexplicably.
Likely because, unlike then, I was giving my all each day. In that regard, I was surely succeeding...
"Holed up in the casino, the pharmacy, your room—and finally riding off everywhere for fun... You spent the month in quite the splendor. Whether as expected or not, I'm not sure."
...or so it didn't appear.
At least not in my father or the retainers' eyes.
Unlike a month ago, when faint hope lingered in their gazes toward me, now not a trace remained.
Leading the six retainers flanking my father sat knights, mages, and the territory's administrative managers here to test me—all with composed demeanors.
By their reckoning, I was already no longer part of the territory.
"A promise is a promise, so we'll proceed with the test at once."
My father flicked his right hand, and a portly middle-aged man at the left table line rose.
This was Baron Geibel, overseer of the Banten territory's general administration.
Baron Geibel lifted the glasses perched on his nose bridge and scanned the documents before him.
Then, in solemn tones, he addressed me.
"Jerome von Carviot, I put this to you! According to the Theory of Territory Management, what are your thoughts on a territory's foundation?"
As expected. This was the heart—the very bloom—of the Theory of Territory Management, so I'd anticipated it. Not difficult, of course.
The book's textbook answer: "the territory's people." For a standard pass, pair it with thoughts on territory development—simple.
I recalled my brother and sister delivering polished responses with that answer and their insights.
But passing wasn't my aim. Mere passage wouldn't bridge the gap with them. I needed a viewpoint apart.
One shown by the great war the monster emperor unleashed.
And judged by my hard-won expertise from nearly twenty years running a merchant group and mercenary corps within the empire.
That answer was no true answer at all.
"An easy, straightforward reply from the first question. A territory's foundation is, naturally, 'the lord's benefit.'"
Baron Geibel's and the retainers' faces at my response? Priceless.
Pitying how I'd botched the basics, no doubt.
Baron Geibel sighed.
"Third Young Master, regrettably, the correct answer is..."
I cut him off, seizing control.
"Haha, Baron. Surely you're not peddling some antiquated 'correct answer' like 'the territory's people'?"
Irritated, his brow furrowed.
My hunch was dead-on—his tone snapped back to formal.
"...Jerome von Carviot. Your words are utterly bizarre. Without the people, no lord exists. How can a territory's foundation be the lord's benefit? That's pure corrupt official drivel!"
His ire built as he spoke.
As head of the territory's administrators, he bristled that a Shield Family direct heir spouted such rot.
"Ah, did I lop off too much context? One premise: the 'properly pursued' lord's benefit is the answer."
"Still sophistry. How can something so self-serving found a territory?"
His face stayed stern.
Lifetime pride in serving Banten's people etched there.
Admirably upright. But.
"Then, a question for you, Baron. In managing the territory's affairs, ever short on funds?"
"...?"
Caught off-guard, he paused; I scanned the others.
"Same to all seated. Armor unrepaired? Horses unfed? Magic tools withheld?"
Silence from the retainers.
No surprise. Never happened.
"You excel because our Carviot coffers brim. That's how we fund people-first policies? Simple: income outpaces outlay."
"Insolent, Jerome von Carviot! Nurturing the people—the territory's foundation—is a lord's duty..."
"Duty without funds? How?"
I pressed on, overriding him.
"The casino? Maybe to curb folk gambling. Now? Prime revenue source—funneled to welfare. But if money-sink only? Policies sustainable?"
I indicated the sword of Arandal, knights' chief at father's right.
"Sir Arandal, Six Shields head—mithril-coated famed blade. Sir Merlin's treasured staff? Same. Hard times: sell to feed the starving?"
Sir Arandal flinched, gripping his hilt; Sir Merlin stowed his staff in his robe.
"What? Cat got your tongues? 'People first' is lordly virtue, no?"
"Ahem! Sophistry, Third Young Master. This is about lordly duty..."
"Fine. As lord, I command: sell your finery for the wretched people's sake. Will you?"
"..."
No replies.
"Lords must chase their benefit relentlessly. Only then care for retainers, people. Saints aside—no human sacrifices all. That's humanity."
"...!!"
Resistance leader, merchant head, mercenary chief: I'd seen every human stripe. Watched the Holy Empire's monster emperor dismantle alliances.
One conclusion.
Humans prize self-benefit above all.
Unchanging truth.
I lured talent to Carlos Merchant Group with better pay, conditions.
Surplus goods flowed to Stigma Mercenary Corps.
Full backing: resistance barreled toward reconstruction unhindered.
Thus, Carlos boomed on talent.
Thus, Stigma endured against Holy Empire.
Paradox: emperor toppled alliances by buttering elites' greed.
Ironic—the "Holy" Empire's apex wielded human avarice best to conquer.
My reply that shocking? Retainers' mood shifted far beyond expectation.
"Hm! Very well, Jerome von Carviot. Next question..."
Regaining poise, Baron Geibel continued; I fielded flawlessly. Not textbook-right.
My values—twisted perhaps.
Documents exhausted, Baron eyed father: end the test?
Bacchus von Carviot drummed the table, pondered, then spoke deliberately.
"...Memorized the Theory of Territory Management yet spat that? Means my son's too thick to grasp it. Undoubtedly, book untouched—your inventions."
Father knows best.
"Question: casino, pharmacy, room—then riding territory-wide. Scarce time for study, book ignored. Reason?"
As anticipated.
But.
'Drew mandragora at casino for Heterogenous Powers; met Karma—Great Three Sages' Azure Wing, Black Sages legend—at pharmacy for power basics; room-bound to master first stage.' Sanity questioned.
Prepared reply, delivered slowly.
"Books: dead knowledge, someone's digest. Truth? In the world. Sought it."
"Casino for truth?"
"Our territory's starkest trait. Know it? Dive its rooted landmarks..."
"Not just fondness?"
"That too. Sparrow bypasses mill?"
"Results?"
"As heard: pierced book-blind spots."
Slot patterns absent—truth.
"Pharmacy why?"
"Remote shack, lone elder. Family duty: feel lowborn pains. Aid if able."
Karma's future baldness relief—truth.
"Room seclusion?"
"Time to collate insights."
Steel honed anew—truth.
"Days riding territory?"
Silent, I approached father, proffered right hand's offering.
"This is...?"