Chapter 257: The Villainous Magistrate’s Downfall
“Excuse me, may I have a moment?”
“Huh?”
Rest interjected between the two.
“Wha—”
The village chief attempted to raise his voice, but Rest silenced him with a finger held to his lips. Then, he stepped forward once more, standing before the lord.
“Pardon my intrusion, but isn’t your reasoning rather flawed, my lord?”
“Who do you think you are?”
“I’m just a traveler staying at a nearby inn.”
Rest deliberately concealed his identity and status, introducing himself in such a manner.
“Hmph… A mere traveler should keep their mouth shut. How rude!”
The lord waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away an insect.
(Ah, he still doesn’t realize I’m nobility.)
It was no surprise. Rest had come outside in his nightclothes after staying at the inn. While Celestine had already donned her fully armed noble attire, no one would assume Rest was of noble birth in his current state. Celestine stood behind him, hidden from view by the villagers surrounding them.
“However, I cannot claim to be uninvolved in this matter. I was the one who defeated the Sea Serpent.”
“What did you say…?”
The lord’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing with suspicion as he sized Rest up.
“Could it be that you’re an adventurer?”
“Well, something like that. I make a living by hunting monsters.”
It wasn’t a lie. Ever since becoming a count, he had been tasked with monster hunting. It had become so routine that it felt closer to his actual profession.
“The materials from the Sea Serpent were sold by my companions to a merchant, and the proceeds were donated to support the village’s reconstruction. There shouldn’t be any taxes applied to the donation.”
“Tch…”
The lord clicked his tongue in annoyance. Yet, he maintained his oppressive demeanor, leaning back as he spoke.
“I doubt a lowly commoner like you would understand, but… there are times when we nobles must resort to extraordinary measures that transcend the rules.”
“Huh… What do you mean by that?”
“It means that there are matters that should take precedence over the laws of the kingdom.”
The lord glared at Rest, snorting angrily.
“This village has been favored due to the wishes of the large landowners from the start. The villagers have been forced to abandon their main occupations to cooperate in incomprehensible projects, resulting in decreased tax revenue. Since we’ve treated you specially until now, what’s the problem with collecting a bit more tax?”
“…”
“This is a legitimate judgment as the lord governing this land! Outsiders should refrain from meddling!”
As Rest listened silently, soldiers who appeared to be the lord’s guards stepped in front of him.
“If you interfere any further, we’ll arrest you as a rebel! We’ll confiscate your property and sell your family into slavery!”
“Wow… I’m honestly quite surprised…”
To think such a blatant villain existed. He was openly confessing his misdeeds without any provocation. It was more than just gray; it was pure black.
“If you’re going to confess this much, then I suppose it’s fine…”
“I’ve heard enough of your nonsense.”
Rest exchanged glances with Celestine, who stepped forward from behind the villagers.
“Oh, it’s you…?”
The lord, who had been so arrogant, suddenly shrank back at the sight of Celestine, who exuded an unmistakable noble aura.
“Nice to meet you. I am Celestine Crocus, accompanying that gentleman over there.”
“C-Crocus!?”
The Crocus Duke House. One of the most prestigious noble families in the kingdom, second only to the royal family in power.
“Here’s proof of my identity. If you have any doubts, I can prepare documents for my father to guarantee my status.”
“Guh… Hii…”
Celestine produced a silver pocket watch adorned with the family crest. In this world, there were no licenses or identification cards; nobles proved their status with such crested weapons or accessories.
“N-No way… Why is the daughter of the Crocus Duke House here…?”
The lord stumbled backward, making strange noises in his panic. His face turned pale, and beads of sweat began to form as Celestine pressed on.
“By the way… the gentleman here, Rest, is the head of the Clover Count House. In other words, he is an active count.”
“H-Hakushakufu…?”
The lord held the title of baron. He had threatened and insulted someone far above him in rank, even going so far as to label him a rebel.
“You mentioned selling families, didn’t you? That includes fiancées, right? She is the daughter of Marquis Rosemary.”
“R-Rojyu… Koushak…?”
“You spoke of extraordinary measures, didn’t you? Indeed, there are times when nobles must break the law to protect their territories and subjects. However… would that apply in this case? I’m not well-versed in the law, so perhaps I should consult my father and his friend, the Minister of Justice?”
“H-Habu… Buhihahuhuhuhuh…”
The lord’s voice had devolved into incoherent sounds, resembling that of a strange beast.
“Y-You see, I just remembered something important, so I must take my leave!”
And with that… he left the fishing village at full speed, leaving behind a trail of nonsensical words.