Chapter 60 (2/2)

“You are a saint.” In the meantime, Jin Soo-young was sitting down to alleviate her pain. Her voice was quite clear.

”Yes. Doesn't the sight fill you with pride?”

“Not at all.” Jin Soo-young frowned. I looked down at her.

“I thought your mind wasn't bad.”

”What?”

”Still. You should study more, like your father. Your mind will improve if you read a few history books.”

Leaving the speechless Jin Soo-young behind me, I walked forward again. Kino had told his sister that I had saved them. However, her eyes didn't seem friendly as she gazed at me while hugging her brother.

”… Thank you for sparing the life of me and my brother, King.”

“It’s nothing.”

“But we… We won't follow you.”

“Shouldn't you listen before deciding?” Obviously, there was a place somewhere in this castle where integration was possible.

“Of course, it is possible but you should've seen it. Even if you bring the people of this land to your territory… Only chaos will occur. You won't be able to keep it.”

”… Aha.” I was impressed. “Is that why you developed the rules of the religion?”

”…I just finished what Father planned.”

At first, it was just a rule to reject the offer of citizens.h.i.+p. However, wouldn't a third party frown at the thought of a religion? In fact, Jin Soo-young had already described the residents of this place as fanatics.

”Great.” To an outsider, this was just a barren territory with fanatics. The idea of integration would be dropped instantly. Even if they killed the lord for the sake of treasure, the territory would just be ignored instead of integrated.

But rather, I needed to integrate this land. “You know the integration place, right? Please guide me.”

”…!” The woman's eyes shook.

“What… Didn’t I tell you? This place…”

”Yes. I still want to do it.”

“If you are looking for treasures, of course there was a time when my family had relics. But after several integrations…”

“One remains.” I pointed my finger and declared. ”You.” Kino’s sister.

“Aren't you at the top of this religion? Despite the religion only have a short history, you only need to say a few words and the residents will follow you.”

“I will never…”

“I will give you the right to rule.”

I heard Jin Soo-young take a sharp breath from behind me. It was the same for the woman.

“What…?”

“It is like I said. I will give you the right to rule my territory and all the people living in it.”

So far, I hadn't paid much attention to the governance of my city. When I thought about it, the city was definitely part of the dungeon. Even Isaiah would get more power the more the city was active. Instead of neglecting the inhabitants, was there a way to organize them into one community?

“I think your skills are sufficient.”

In history, the means that the ruling cla.s.s used to justify their rights varied. They could monopolize information only they knew, promote social discipline or lead ceremonies. Of course, that alone didn't make them a ruler. Sometimes it was necessary to borrow the power of armed forces or wealth, but that wasn't the case in this castle.  It was the planting of moss, management of goods and various ceremonies. It felt like they had squeezed everything possible from this land. The difference was more prominent compared to the forest. A culture and rules were maintained here under a unified leader, compared to the forest where the population was scattered.

”My city has a sun. There are no metals to be used as raw material yet, but there is a blacksmith for quality goods and breeding grounds for livestock. I will leave it to you.”

Their ancestors had been tired of the chaos. But, that was when their ancestors were one of the many neglected.  They didn't have a position as the ruler.

“But by what authority…”

“Authority? Why worry about it? It is my authority.”

I could still wield ultimate power in the city. I could give and take citizens.h.i.+p away at will. I just couldn’t pour my effects into the city due to time being the same as reality.

“I can give you as much authority as you like. I will support you… Well, a more reliable guarantee should be given when thinking about the people who would come in the future. I want you to be my empress.”

”…!!!”

I just threw a word that I thought of. It seemed they needed to discuss it.

I moved away and gave a signal to Kino. The boy had distanced himself from his sister without knowing it while listening to the conversation. I approached his sister's chair and bowed. After lowering myself to my knees so that we were eye level, I placed my hand on her thigh and asked.

”What is your name?”

”…Mino…”

”Yes. Mino. I need a companion. Someone who will rule my city when I'm not there. Don't you also want your people to live in a better environment? These are people who followed you and your family faithfully. They deserve to see the sun.”

Eye contact was always effective. “And once again, I think you are well qualified.”

”…”

”Let's go together.”

At that time, I heard yelling from outside the door. The news of intruders had spread and the people outside were coming up.

Tang!

There was the sound of the door opening and the desperate expressions of the residents calling their lord. “Lord!”

As the agitated residents tried to storm the room,  “Stand down.” Mino raised her palm and stopped them.

”This person, he came to save us.”

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