Episode 21.6 (1/2)
”This dungeon town looks thriving well to me though.”
”It might be good enough had it been a viscountcy. But this is far from sufficient for an earldom. Please think about it. Even Ninae is a viscountcy.”
Lecan had no idea that Ninae was a viscountcy up until a second ago, thus he was a bit surprised at the news.
True enough, in term of town's scope, prosperity, and dungeon items' quality and quantity, Golbul ranks far below Ninae. To the point that you'd think it was Ninae that's an earldom instead.
”So, how does <Dagger of Harut> fall into this story of yours.”
”Father plans to present <Dagger of Harut> to the royal family and petition to get Golbul territory changed into a viscountcy.”
”I don't get it. Will that come true for sure if you present <Dagger of Harut>. Can it really not be done without presenting the dagger.”
”Father had the idea after he heard about <Dagger of Harut>. He can't think any further than that as of now.”
”What do you think.”
”I believe it's better to continue reporting the current situation of this town as it is to the royal palace.”
”Is there really that much difference in amount of taxes between an earl and a viscount.”
”There really is. However, the problems aren't limited to tax payments to the royal capital. We have to draw a clear line showing the difference in ranks between an earl house and a viscount house with our mansion at the royal capital. That includes clothes, wagons, everything. We also must maintain our pride as a house of earl as we mingle with neighboring nobles.”
”What do you get as populace of an earldom.”
”They can take pride in being a part of an earldom's population.”
That stuff can't fill your stomach, thought Lecan, but he's talking to a noble. The guy probably believes you can simply bear your hunger as long as you have pride.
”Things are fine for now. We're getting by by putting dungeon items on the market within our territory and get on all kinds of dealings. But everything is over if a war breaks out.”
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”War?”
”No big wars have yet occurred in the last few decades. There were skirmishes, but they took places around national borders at the kingdom's western regions, they've got nothing to do with this area. But if a big war erupts, we will be obliged to send forces. The load imposed on an earldom is incomparable to that of a viscountcy. Our territory will collapse on itself.”
What an insipid story, thought Lecan.