As I finished apologizing and bowed my head deeply, the Marquis asked again.

[...Apologizing? What do you mean by that?]

“......”

[Speak up. I just can’t understand.]

Thinking it would be faster to show rather than tell, I took out one by one the items obtained during the underground first floor exploration and neatly stacked them in the room.

And then...

[Why do you suddenly stop?]

“This is all.”

[What do you mean? I heard there were over a hundred essences collected in test tubes.]

Ah, that.

“...That’s right.”

[...]

Only then did the Marquis fall silent, seemingly understanding why I had used the past tense earlier.

Still, he seemed curious about the reason.

[...How on earth did it come to this?]

“Marquis, now I see—you’re the kind who values process over results?”

[Don’t answer jokingly; I say this because you might get into trouble.]

Okay, enough teasing...

I gave a lengthy prepared explanation.

Though unlike a barbarian, I spoke in great detail, but to summarize in one sentence:

[...You needed to increase your strength to escape the city, so you distributed the essences to the District 7 explorers? Those precious essences...?]

“That’s right.”

[Good heavens... That’s outrageous beyond words.]

“What’s so outrageous? If we had failed to escape and been captured, they would have taken everything anyway.”

Better that than falling into enemy hands, right?

As I muttered quietly, the Marquis on the other side of the screen held his forehead as if dizzy and spoke.

[This matter will need to be discussed again at the royal family meeting. It’s true you rescued the District 7 explorers. We need to discuss whether the merits outweigh the faults.]

In other words, they needed time to investigate whether my claims were true.

Well, no matter the investigation, the testimonies would be the same.

[So please, until this matter is settled, don’t cause any trouble.]

Anyway, that last comment didn’t sound like aristocratic politeness but genuine concern...

“Understood. I’ll stay quiet, so don’t worry.”

[...]

[Even though I’ve heard what I want, I don’t know why I feel even more uneasy.]

“Well, Marquis, maybe that’s because you’re narrow-minded.”

[...]

Ah, was this the time to empathize and comfort?

Not my specialty, so I quickly changed the subject.

“Oh! Then what should we do with the explorers and my vassals currently in the plaza? Are they just going to stay there?”

[They’ll stay there for now, though it’s inconvenient. The situation should calm within a few days.]

“A few days...”

He sounded like he believed this whole situation would be mostly resolved soon.

Ah, not that I didn’t believe him.

Since the royal family’s second in command said so, there must be good reason.

“Understood. Then we’ll return and wait for news.”

That ended the day’s conversation, and after returning to the plaza to live with the people, time passed quickly.

“Did you all hear? The Noark forces have released most hostages under pressure from the royal army!”

One day.

“The Noark forces occupying Districts 7 and 13 are being pushed back by the royal army!”

Two days.

“District 13 has been reclaimed!”

Three days.

“The bastards were pushed from District 7 and fled to Viphron!”

“Waaah!”

Four days...

Although the urgent war situation was updated daily, no explosion occurred in Viphron.

But.

Drdrdrdrdrdrdr-!

On the fifth day.

“What is that?!”

We instinctively recognized it.

Whatever the royal family’s plan was.

“The protective magic circle of Viphron has darkened...!”

Something was clearly going wrong.

The last stronghold, Lapdonia.

This giant city-state is covered with protective magic circles, a legacy of the Great Sage.

Though there had been doubts about whether the protective magic circle truly existed—especially since the Witch’s Poison was a lie...

‘But it really exists.’

Recently, Elwen’s arrow proved the existence of the protective magic circle.

Invisible to the naked eye, it nonetheless firmly covered the city and cut it off from the outside world at the walls.

‘At this point, I wonder if it’s not a protective circle but a prison circle.’

Anyway.

That wasn’t the important thing.

“What the hell is happening?”

“Does anyone know?”

“Is this because of the Witch’s Poison?”

With tremors felt through the ground, the protective magic circle covering Viphron blackened.

It looked like aliens invaded and put a dome over a district to imprison it.

Of course, this could have been the royal family’s original plan.

But...

“Yandel, the military’s movements look strange.”

Somehow, the atmosphere suggested otherwise.

“Wait a moment. I’ll find out.”

Feeling uneasy, I requested a private meeting with the Marquis but was rejected due to his busyness; I finally got through several days later.

“You look worn out.”

The Marquis on the screen looked to have lost several kilograms, clearly busy.

“Things aren’t going well, huh?”

[...I can’t say much due to military secrets, but yes.]

“Come on, say at least a little. Suddenly Viphron ended up like this.”

[...Once things settle, you’ll hear. You’re a noble of Lapdonia, after all. But I can say one thing: the Noark forces won’t be coming out of there for a while.]

“That’s a relief...”

Honestly, I was dying of curiosity, but no matter how much I pressed, it seemed they wouldn’t tell me more.

“Then what about us? Do we stay here?”

[No need. District 4 is scheduled to normalize from tomorrow.]

“Does that mean we’re free now?”

[Yes. District 7 is also open, so it’s okay to go.]

“What about our vassals brought from Viphron? Any problems there?”

[Ah, that was discussed in depth... For now, no problem. But as long as you keep them as your vassals.]

“If they cease being vassals?”

[They’ll be executed. It’s no longer possible to send them back to Viphron.]

Execution if no longer vassals.

An extreme measure, but still surprisingly lenient for a conservative royal family.

Though they probably weren’t without reason.

[Also, since they reside in the city, they’ll have to pay taxes too.]

Huh... No wonder they accepted so easily.

“How much do they have to pay?”

[Same as regular citizens. Minors are exempt from taxes as usual.]

That was at least somewhat reassuring.

If not for the condition that followed.

[Oh, and Viphron residents can’t hold any jobs requiring military training. Explorer jobs are included.]

In other words, they can’t use a strategy where talented few explorers take responsibility for the many.

[As someone who’s been Chancellor for a long time, can I give you a piece of advice?]

“Go ahead.”

[I’ll cut it short. Cut it as much as you can.]

“......”

[What value is there in useless people like them?]

Typical Chancellor advice.

This city judged those who didn’t pay taxes as worthless.

From the Marquis’s perspective in charge of the kingdom’s finances, Viphron residents looked like trash.

But...

“Oh, thanks for the advice. I’ll just let it go in one ear and out the other.”

A barbarian’s belief forbids caring about meddling like that.

[...]

After a few more words, the Marquis left, saying he was busy, ending today’s conversation.

After returning to the plaza, I led the District 7 natives and Viphron residents living on the streets into the ruined District 7.

‘...So we came back here again.’

They fled to Viphron, lived as refugees in District 4, and now returned to District 7.

‘They really trashed the place.’

The state of District 7 was worse than when we were last there.

Buildings along the ruined main road were stained with blood and signs of battle.

Barracks apparently used by soldiers were left untouched and abandoned...

“Oh nooo! My shop...! My shop...!!!”

“Mother! Mother! Here! You’re safe!”

Residents who fled during the liberation of District 7 could be seen here and there.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

“I’m curious if my house is still intact...”

“Thank you for saving us. I will never forget this favor, Baron!”

After arriving at District 7, the explorers from District 7 naturally dispersed, leaving my comrades and 8,712 Viphron residents alone.

“...Yandel, where are you going now?”

“To the holy ground.”

“Sure... Given your position, you should check that place too.”

Amelia seemed to understand, but actually there was another reason to go to the holy ground.

She was right to be worried, but...

‘First, I need to find somewhere to sleep tonight.’

If it didn’t work out, I could sleep rough in District 7, but I judged that if I had to sleep rough, better to do it in the holy ground.

Hmm, that was the plan...

“Bjoooorn Niiiiiim!!!!”

As soon as we arrived at the holy ground, regrets about coming flooded in.

“Why did you come so late?!”

“...Long time no see, Shabin Emure. How have you been? Let me put this down first—.”

“I’m not letting go! If I do, you’ll disappear for months again!! No way! I’ll never let go!!”

Shabin, our tribe’s administrative head, seemed extremely stressed ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) from handling everything alone for months and being trapped in the holy ground during the Noark invasion.

But...

“Let’s put our hands down and talk first.”

“...Yes? Ah... okay...”

Amelia forced Shabin’s hands down in a businesslike tone, and she seemed to regain composure.

If this was a boss fight, it was a kind of groggy state.

From experience, it was time to quickly apologize.

“Shabin, I’m sorry. I really didn’t think I’d be so late coming back.”

“...I understand your situation. That’s why I was worried.”

“Sorry for making you worry—.”

Just as the mood was warming, Shabin suddenly interrupted.

“But who exactly are those people behind you?”

Shabin’s gaze was fixed on the 8,712 residents awkwardly standing behind me.

It was quite awkward.

“Ah, uh, um...”

How should I put this?

Ah, let’s change the subject first.

“So, how’s the holy ground? It looks like it’s changed a lot...”

“While you were gone, a quarter of the holy ground development plan was completed. Thanks to that, funds have become plentiful.”

“Oh, that’s a relief to hear.”

No wonder the roads were paved and buildings had sprung up on the way here.

“So, who are those people?”

“They’re Viphron residents. They became vassals of our Yandel family a few days ago.”

“All of them...?”

Their looks said, ‘What the hell is this nonsense?’ and my voice unintentionally lowered.

“...There were reasons for it.”

“......”

Perhaps sensing unease, Shabin suddenly grew silent and cautiously asked.

“So why did you bring them?”

“They had nowhere else to stay. I plan to have them stay in the holy ground for now.”

“Wow, I see.”

Shabin nodded absently and asked again.

“What about land for them to live on? Food? Clothes? Budget?”

Ah, that’s the economic minister’s job.

In other words, roughly speaking...

“The chief administrative officer will take care of that.”

“Chief administrative officer?”

Shabin tilted her head, puzzled whether such a post even existed in the tribe.

Then...

Thud.

I patted her shoulder and said,

“Yes, chief administrative officer.”

You just got promoted.