Chapter 194 (2/2)

“I have a question, Your Majesty. Where is the official you sent to confirm the payment?”

“Confirm the payment? What are you talking about?”

“….”

This can’t be happening.

This is the worst thing that could’ve happened.

“What’s wrong, Baron Tanaka? My time is precious; hurry and present your offering.”

“U-Uh, of course….”

I was so close that I let my guard down. After spending the last few weeks peacefully building my town, I became too relaxed when I should’ve been more cautious.

“…wa-wait a minute, are you saying…?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so.”

I spoke to the person beside me, Ester-chan.

She seems to have figured it out as well.

“T-That can’t be….”

It didn’t take long for Ester-chan to fall into the same stunned silence as me.

There’s nothing we can do now.

Is something the matter, Baron Tanaka? If not, hurry and present your offering as His Majesty has a busy schedule.”

The Prime Minister prompted me for my payment.

“Come now. Your King is waiting.”

A menacing grin spread across his face.

That official must’ve been working for the Prime Minister.

And he wants me to know.

“…yes.”

I fell for his trick. It’s been so long since I’ve made a mistake of this magnitude.

If I try to explain what happened to the King, he’ll think I’m just trying to come up with an excuse. Either way, I would’ve failed my part of the agreement and the King may even give me a harsher punishment for lying.

Damn it, I was so close.

If I had just remained focused for a little longer and not allowed myself to be tricked so easily.

“I sincerely apologize, but….”

The slave route has been decided.

I’ll do my best to serve Ester-chan in whatever way she decides. I’ll satisfy her sexual needs night after night. Every drop of semen my body produces will be dedicated to her.

I got excited by the thought.

Is this the pleasure only shame can bring?

It’s unbearable.

I’m already close to finishing.

However, the picture I was painting in my mind of my future was suddenly swept away when an unexpected voice echoed throughout the halls of the throne room.

“Excuse my interruption!”

When I turned to find the source, I was surprised to find Neumann entering the throne room. He entered from the same doors that the Princess had passed through when she had been cured of her curse.

It had been a while since I had last seen him and I almost didn’t recognize him.

But this was mainly due to his gaunt appearance.

Naturally, everyone else turned their attention to him as well.

It’s rare for a nobleman to enter a place like this, so it was completely unprecedented for a commoner to suddenly come bursting in. I could hear the same question being asked among the crowd of gathered nobility. Who is this man?

Neumann rushed forward to my side and said,

“I humbly apologize to Baron Tanaka and you, Your Majesty, for the delay, but here is the agreed-upon payment.”

In his hand was a stack of cold coins, neatly bound together by a paper band.

I couldn’t count the exact number, but it looked close to the amount I had in my pouch. I recall telling him I needed to earn fifty gold previously, but that amount shouldn’t be something an official like him is capable of coming up with in under a month.

But I doubt he got my gold back from that other official.

Neumann isn’t a great fighter nor can he use any magic. He is purely a career government official that has worked his way up through the ranks by his own hard work. I’m certain this is what he told me and the Dark Elf in that tavern.

What is he even doing here, anyway?

And the two guards at the entrance did nothing to stop him.

“Isn’t that right, Baron Tanaka?”

“O-Oh, yes, of course. Thank you, Neumann-san.”

When he was allowed to approach the throne, he handed me the stack of gold. There was no doubt in my mind that this weight was similar to the pouch I had held only minutes ago. The exposed gold sparkled brilliantly as if had never been touched by a human hand.

Who would be capable of obtaining fifty gold in such a short time, all while being unhindered by the Prime Minister? This person must also be capable of allowing a random government official access to the throne room and preventing the royal guardsmen from stopping him. There’s only one person that comes to mind capable of all of this.

I glanced up at the towering figure seated on the throne.

“….”

“….”

A fleeting smile replaced the stoic expression I had grown used to. It disappeared in an instant and I almost believed I had been imagining things, but there’s no other explanation.

I don’t know why he did it, but he has to be behind this.

But, for whatever reason he did it, I owe him a big thank you.

“Your Majesty, the fifty gold coins as promised.”

While remaining kneeling, I presented the gold coins to the King.

“Good. I’m glad to see that even when placed in a difficult situation, you still strive forward to meet the tasks placed before you. The hard work and effort Baron Tanaka has put into developing his territory is clear for all to see!”

“Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty.”

I wasn’t sure the day would ever come where he would speak a kind word to me.

And the Prime Minister was visibly upset and I could see his fist clenched in anger as it trembled at his side. If it wasn’t clear he was behind what happened in the waiting room, it is now.

A knight that stood at the foot of the stairs leading up to the throne collected the gold I held out and presented it to the King. He placed it in a small chest positioned on a pedestal to his right. Just like the throne and everything owned by the King, this chest was covered in gold and precious gems.

My taxes for this month have been paid.

Mission accomplished.

“Is this enough to convince you, Mordred?”

“P-Please, wait just a moment, Your Majesty. How can we be sure that this money is the Baron’s?”

“What do you mean?”

“….”

The King responded to the Prime Minister’s question with a question of his own.

But the Prime Minister was at a loss for words.

“With this Baron Tanaka has become a member of the nobility not only in name but in reality as well. He has accomplished the admittedly harsh tasks given to him to earn his title and I will have none claim otherwise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

The words of the King resonated through the halls of the throne room.