“A vassal, huh...”

The unknown Rose Knight asked with a laugh that seemed more incredulous than amused.

“Baron, do you really think this makes any sense?”

Come to think of it, it was a question I had heard many times living as a barbarian.

And my answer hadn’t changed one bit since then.

“Huh? What part doesn’t make sense?”

I scratched my ear with my pinky, and the Rose Knight frowned.

“An amount reaching ten thousand—”

“Hmm, to be exact, it’s 8,712.”

“...What difference does that make? Even the most prominent noble houses in the city, neither in the past nor now, have had vassals numbering that much.”

“Oh, really?”

I shouted with genuine delight.

“Then I’ll be the first!”

I even muttered aloud, wondering if this could be inscribed separately on some ‘stone of honor.’

But that woman, who looked like she wouldn’t shed a single tear, thoroughly ignored my muttering.

Then...

“Baron Yandel, are you intending to raise a private army?”

The skilled swordsman asked sharply, piercing the air like a thrust into an opening.

This time, it was a sensitive question I couldn’t just brush off nonchalantly.

If I answered flippantly like, ‘A private army? Why not!’ my intentions might be misunderstood and twisted.

At worst, it could be taken as plotting treason.

Therefore...

“Not at all. I have no intention of raising a private army. I swear on my name and honor as a warrior.”

This was something I stated clearly and decisively above all else.

Of course, that woman didn’t even acknowledge it.

“Instead of a vow, explain why you need that many vassals.”

Tough as nails.

I clicked my tongue behind my back but answered the question nonetheless.

“Well... isn’t it good to have many vassals? I also tend to like busy, bustling places...”

“You say you like bustling, so you plan to have 9,000 vassals?”

“It’s 8,712, not 9,000.”

I cut her off with a careless remark, then quickly added:

“And it’s not that I just hired that many for the sake of numbers. I really need all of them. For example, Kaina Elmosh on this paper... oh! It says kitchen assistant!”

“Baron, do you truly expect us to believe that?”

...Well, I knew no one would.

I knew my excuse was unbelievable.

But so what?

“Believe it or not, why would that be your concern?”

“......”

“Honestly, I don’t understand why you’re suddenly acting like this. Yesterday you said you’d just follow the king’s orders? They became my vassals and got proper entry rights. So why are you blocking them?”

When I brazenly pushed back like that, the Rose Knight couldn’t come up with a rebuttal.

It was time to turn up the pressure.

So...

“Human woman, one thing.”

“......?”

“If you’re going to judge, then judge.”

I lowered my voice and continued.

“If you want to speak, then speak.”

Barbarian advice to behave like a proper tool.

The Rose Knight didn’t show much expression to this but perhaps listened carefully.

“......”

“......”

In the awkward silence as even the knights before the checkpoint rolled their eyes and watched nervously, the woman who had kept quiet for a while finally parted her lips.

“Baron...”

“Baron?”

“You will regret today’s choice.”

Huh, what is she trying to say now?

Coincidentally, this too was a familiar refrain.

Whenever something went wrong, they’d say stuff like this, planning for the future.

“Oh, so you’re not a knight but a fortune teller?”

When I teased her to the end, she glared at me indignantly and said to the knights,

“...Everyone, make way!”

Phew, at least I got past that hurdle.

District 4, part of the commercial city Commelby.

Originally a busy area full of shops and passersby, the sight inside the checkpoint was completely different.

All shops were closed, and not a single person passed by.

“Human woman, what exactly is going on here?”

“...District 4 has been temporarily closed for the safety of the citizens.”

“What other districts have been closed?”

“Only District 4 has been closed.”

It was a statement that made me question my ears for a moment.

“...What?”

The Rose Knight’s words didn’t add up.

District 3, adjoining Noark-occupied District 13, and District 5, adjoining District 7, were not closed...

‘Only District 4, adjoining Viphron, was closed? For “safety reasons”?’

It was hard to accept, but even when I pressed for details, no proper answer came.

“Ask the Chancellor for the rest. As the Baron said, I’m not the one to judge.”

“Chancellor? Are we going to see the Chancellor now?”

“Yes.”

That ended the conversation abruptly with a repeated answer to ‘ask in person.’

Afterward, upon arriving at District 4 plaza, I set up a shelter for Viphron residents and District 7 natives.

We needed some time to decide on treatment, so they were told to stay here until then.

“Hoo...”

“...I think this is the first time I’ve seen Freedom Plaza so empty.”

Still, seeing the people, they didn’t seem to mind the royal family’s treatment.

They seemed to think it was natural.

“Baron, come here. The Chancellor is waiting.”

“...I’ll go. Emily, Versil. Take good care of things here.”

After settling the plaza situation, I followed the Rose Knight to a high-end residence not far away.

And...

“Soon, if you wait, the Chancellor will contact you.”

As expected, instead of the Chancellor, a communication crystal for video calls was set in the room.

Buzzing.

Once the Rose Knight left and I was alone, the crystal vibrated, and pressing the answer button revealed a familiar face.

[Long time no see, Baron Yandel.]

“Long time no see, Marquis Terserion.”

[Before we start, please understand we can’t meet in person due to the wartime situation. It’s difficult to leave the post.]

Difficult? How long does it take from Karnohn to here?

A person who can even freely ride military magic circles.

I barely suppressed a scoff but spoke politely.

“I understand. And I’m not particularly upset, so don’t worry.”

[Thanks for saying that.]

“So, did the expedition team who went to the underground first floor all return safely?”

[They all safely returned and submitted reports on their exploration. Thanks to them, we also found out you were in District 7.]

“Hmmm... I see.”

I’m not fond of long introductions, but since there was useful information, I kept listening.

“So, how did you know we were in Viphron?”

[We secretly sent agents to District 7. They heard the declaration to go to Viphron. Why was that? I heard they said the enemy would just let you go.]

It was one of # Nоvеlight # the expected questions, so I answered smoothly.

“How can I believe they’d just let us go? Besides, the talks suggested Noark is planning something suspicious using Viphron.”

[Something suspicious? Did you find anything there?]

“I’ve investigated for days but unfortunately haven’t found anything yet.”

[I see... Anyway, since it’s you, Baron, I’ll inform the strategy office that Noark is plotting a secret scheme involving Viphron.]

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

After that, a short silence followed, and I cautiously asked what had been on my mind.

“What happened to Saintred?”

[Saintred is also safe. Thanks to his unique ability, he woke safely and could tell us what happened there.]

So the chief also came back alive.

Would have been better if he’d just died if there was a problem.

[Speaking of which, I heard you led the expedition after Saintred was incapacitated?]

“Ah, it just happened that way. We have to get everyone out alive.”

“Well done. You did well. That was a great achievement.”

“Oh, so can I get promoted now?”

[...That’s not something we discuss yet. There will be merit reviews later, but for now, it’s wartime.]

In other words, recognition for deeds would only come after the Noark invasion ended.

I found that reasonable and didn’t say more.

‘Anyway, the introduction was long enough...’

It was time to get to the main topic.

Just as I opened my mouth, the Chancellor brought it up first.

[By the way, I heard you accepted Viphron residents as your vassals...]

The old man who liked long intros seemed to be warming up.

[Are you planning to send them back?]

“Send them back? Did I do something illegal?”

[No, it’s not that. But... from our point of view, it’s not exactly welcome that they all come outside. You’re a noble; you should understand.]

A noble, you say.

That implied I should discard personal feelings and act for the royal family’s benefit.

“Well, I might have thought differently before, but now it’s too late. They’re already accepted as vassals, so what can I do?”

[Then you should just throw them out.]

“Sorry, but I’m the kind who can’t say unpleasant things to others, so that’s difficult.”

[...You, are you?]

The Chancellor laughed incredulously at my reply.

I’m so delicate and introverted.

“Anyway, if it’s not illegal, then that’s settled. Stop talking about it. It’s over.”

[...Baron, I say this out of concern for you.]

Concern my ass.

If I were dead, he’d be the happiest person alive.

“Thanks for your concern, but I’ll judge and handle things myself.”

[...]

“So what’s the plan for Viphron?”

From the Marquis’s perspective, the disposition of the residents was the main point.

For me, this was the main issue.

What did the royal family plan for Viphron?

[We can’t reveal military info to outsiders, but it’s not a secret to you, Baron. You probably guessed it already.]

“If I did guess...”

[Right. We plan to wipe out Viphron entirely. The moment the Noark forces sneak in.]

Calm words, but infinitely cold and cruel.

They planned to obliterate Viphron whole, yet told us to send the residents home.

‘...What do these people think of human lives?’

I thought this world was barbaric again, but from afar, I was probably the same kind of person.

Besides, this wasn’t something for me to worry about now.

“Wait, you said you planned to lure Noark? Do you know what they’re up to in Viphron?”

[We don’t know. But by keeping up pressure, we expect them to flee there.]

The Marquis said he didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to believe that naïvely.

Neither the royal family nor Noark were behaving normally.

‘Secrets they can’t tell me...’

That only made me more curious.

[Anyway, that’s why you were hurried out when we heard you were in Viphron.]

I honestly didn’t get this part either.

If I were the Marquis, I would have just blown Viphron up with Noark.

Why bother rescuing me?

That question was partly answered by the following conversation.

[Oh, I almost forgot. You still have most of the items you got from exploring the basement, right?]

“Ah, I do.”

[Do you?]

The Marquis tilted his head at my past tense but, thinking it a simple communication error, didn’t ask more and continued.

[Leave the loot from the exploration here when you leave. Those are valuable royal assets. After merit reviews, some will come to you as needed.]

Hearing that, I lowered my head.

Makes sense—I never thought they rescued me for the loot from the basement...

[...Why are you bowing all of a sudden?]

Because if I met his gaze, I’d have trouble keeping my expression.

“...Sorry, Marquis.”