Chapter 98: Meeting with Silas
Since everyone had gathered in the dining hall for supper, I went ahead and made an announcement.
「Tomorrow, as planned, Shining Star’s main party will head into the Great Demon Forest. First, I’ll have Ria check whether the city is fit for habitation. If she gives her approval, we’ll lead the citizens in.」
「Alan-sama, that is not permissible.」
Of course, Adjutant Dalshim’s objection was already accounted for.
「It’s fine. The five of us have been hunting magical beasts in the Great Demon Forest all this time. If anything, the more people we bring, the slower we’ll go and the more problems we’ll run into.」
It takes considerable time to travel from Gantz to our lands in the Great Demon Forest. If we want to reach the city and finish the inspection in less than a week, we can’t take a large group.
「It’s okay, Alan. We don’t need a preliminary inspection. As I told you before, I trust you when you say it’s a secure settlement. We should take everyone with us.」
「Are you sure, Ria? I’m confident in the city’s living conditions, but this was part of our agreement.」
「Yes, I’m sure. Everyone is eager to see our new city, so we shouldn’t make them wait.」
「…Understood. We’ll take everyone, then. The pace will be much slower if we bring all the immigrants, but we should be able to move everyone in about five days. Adjutant Dalshim, inform all group leaders of our decision and coordinate them for tomorrow’s trip. The road is finished, most monsters in the vicinity have been culled, and Gloria is patrolling, so the danger is low. Even so, assign all Satellite Squads and the adventurers to protect the immigrants. 」
「Understood, Alan-sama. I will go now to prepare for tomorrow’s departure.」
Just as Adjutant Dalshim went out to relay my orders, the food was brought in.
As expected, those having karaage for the first time burst into loud chatter, each voicing their impressions. Chef Rotal has leveled up again. I’d love to have him out in the domain. Ah, I need to think about upgrading food culture in the territory, too…
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After savoring karaage for the first time in a while—and with some of the group starting in on wine and ale—Sally-san came over.
「Alan-sama, Sir Silas has arrived.」
「Thanks. Please show him to the office—and bring some glasses after, if you would.」
「As you wish.」
「Silas-san, sorry to make you come all the way here.」
「Hey, Alan—no, Baron Corinth. Congratulations! You did it.」
「Thank you. ‘Alan’ is fine. Everyone’s treating me like a noble now, so it actually feels better when you don’t change.」
「Lord Corinth, allow me to offer my heartfelt congratulations on your ennoblement as a baron.」
「Thank you, Arista-san. But please, as always—no need to stand on ceremony.」
「Alan-sama, my congratulations again.」
「Karina-san, thank you for earlier.」
I had them sit and poured inside the glasses the liquor I’d picked up in the royal capital.
「This is something I bought in the capital. Not quite up to what you brew, Silas-san, but it’s pretty good. Man, now I finally feel like I’m home.」
「Word’s gotten around—you made quite a splash in the capital, didn’t you? Drove off a dragon and nabbed a whole mess of bandits!」
「For news from the capital to reach even out here… the merchants’ information network really is something.」
No doubt a mix of Guild communications and travelers’ gossip—fast, either way.
「Information is a merchant’s lifeblood. We’ll hear the details at the banquet. Still didn’t expect you to be hunting bandits even all the way in the capital.」
「His Majesty sprang it on me at the investiture. Not an everyday experience, that.」
「Point is, you—er, Alan-sama—is the Hero of Gantz. Everyone’s dying to hear more.」
「Now that you mention it, people were waving a lot on our way back.」
「You’re the Dragon Slayer and a newly made noble. ‘just a little attention’ doesn’t cover it.」
I could only give a wry smile.
「Doesn’t really suit me, though.」
「By the way, is that crest behind you yours, Lord Corinth? That’s a rare design.」
With nowhere else to put it, I’d hung my crest on the office wall. He must’ve noticed it.
「Yeah. When I had it made, the artisan told me, ‘Never seen a crest this outlandish before.’」
「C’mon, I was trying to be tactful. So the artisan had no tact at all, huh!」
「Well, he mistook me for a retainer, so he said whatever he pleased.」
「Hah! Can’t blame him—who’d think a baron-to-be was this young?」
「Doesn’t suit me, like I said. Anyway, Silas-san, I pinged you the moment I got back because I’ve got a favor to ask.」
「Oh? Name it.」
「You might have seen them already, but we’ve arrived with immigrants to settle the domain.」
「Yeah, I heard about it, you recruited them in the capital, right? How many did you bring?」
「About two thousand five hundred.」
「That many!? You’re sending that many into the Great Demon Forest to—what—pioneer?」
「No, the pioneering’s done. They’re basically moving in.」
「Hold it, hold it—what do you mean ‘pioneering’s done’!?」
「My backers and the dragon lent a hand. We’ve secured places for them to live.」
「……You serious? Since when? I didn’t hear a peep.」
「We got started when the talk of my ennoblement first came up.」
「So that’s why you looked so confident then.」
「We could see the path forward.」
「Even so, getting all that done without anyone in this town catching on? I can’t picture it.」
「It’s not some noble’s manor or anything, but once we’ve finished tidying up, I’ll invite you. Something to look forward to.」
「All right, I’ll look forward to it.」
「Now, we have the people, but we’re still short on furniture and other essentials, so we plan to procure a fair bit here in Gantz. It’s a big crowd, so I wanted to give you a heads-up.」
「Got it. When do you need them exactly?」
「I’d like to have them in a couple of weeks. They’ll spend tonight in Gantz’s outskirts, then head to the domain tomorrow. We’ll stagger the move and have everyone relocated within about five days.」
「Fast. Not much time, then.」
「Either way, our domain has to route through Gantz to go anywhere. The town’s going to be lively for a while.」
「All the more to earn—music to my ears.」
He’s supposed to be the richest man in the Kingdom, and he still wants to earn more. That’s Silas-san for you.
「By the way, have you met Lord Jurgen?」
Silas-san asked.
「We stopped by to pay our respects before leaving the capital.」
「Didn’t click with him, did you?」
Judging by the face he made, it must be pretty bad.
「No. I’d rather not get involved, but we’re neighbors—can’t avoid it.」
「Well, his steward, Lord Dennis, is competent. Best to cultivate that relationship.」
「Understood. I’ve already sent a messenger to offer greetings, but given what you’ve said, maybe I should arrange to meet him in person.」
「Yeah. You’re a baron and he’s a steward; you can summon him, frankly. Or we can do an intro at the Merchants’ Guild.」
「Let’s do that, then. I’m heading to the domain tomorrow, so I don’t know when I’ll be free, though. I’ll let you know when I have time.」
「All right. Let me know and I’ll set it for you.」
「I’m in your debt.」
We’d got our greeting done, and the bottles were nicely empty, so we called it a night.
「Thank you for coming today. I’ll be holed up in the domain for a while, but compared to the capital it’s just next door. I’ll let you know in advance when I come back.」
「Right. I can’t have you dropping by as casually as before, but I’ll count on you same as ever.」
「Father, please mind your language.」
「Arista-san, it’s fine here.」
After seeing the three of them off, the lively night came to an end.
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