Chapter 131
I Became the Finance Director of a Kingdom on the Verge of Civil War – Part 7
『 Translator – Divinity 』
The Maktern domain, located right next to the capital of the Delphia Kingdom.
A land owned by the royal family, a city where various important facilities were located.
This place, once bustling with people and filled with laughter… was now filled with a heavy atmosphere and numerous soldiers.
The sight of tens of thousands of soldiers gathered in one place.
“They are all potential customers.”
“…What?”
“Isn’t that right? I can rake in even more tobacco and gold coins.”
I gave the Archbishop a bright smile at his dumbfounded question, and his usually stern expression faltered.
I wasn’t a merchant of death or anything; it was just a mutually beneficial deal.
But I couldn’t help but become serious as I looked at the distant horizon.
“That’s the Duke of Wei’s army. It’s much…”
“More disciplined. The soldiers are confident of victory. It’s clear in many ways.”
“You seem to know quite a lot. Were you perhaps a soldier?”
“…Yes.”
He only gave a short answer and didn’t say anything more, but it was easy to imagine how such an upright former soldier became the Archbishop of the Wish Cult.
Anyway, the important thing wasn’t the Archbishop’s past reminiscence.
“We’ll be meeting Crown Prince Zeke soon. Then, please introduce yourself!”
“…Do I have to?”
“Why not? We should confirm beforehand.”
“…Second Security Unit Captain of Grandis Academy, Marx Croken.”
“There is indeed a Marx who’s the Second Security Unit Captain, so there’s no problem with your identity. Your appearance is a bit different, but that’s fine since you can hide it with a robe, and your physique is similar. You’re reliable, Captain Marx.”
“I… see.”
Marx, no, the Archbishop, had a very hesitant expression, but what he had accomplished in the past few days was truly remarkable.
He stopped the Duke of Wei’s surprise attack by overturning the terrain, cleared the path blocked by the landslide with a few swings of his sword, and threw a giant boulder to block the river that was hindering the army’s advance.
I had become somewhat desensitized to the strength of those below Rank 8 after seeing the Headmistress so often, but seeing the Archbishop, I could clearly feel that even a proper Rank 7 was practically a natural disaster.
‘He’s said to be stronger than Malton.’
He was stronger than Malton, the Paladin Captain and an incomplete Rank 7. Honestly, even Ruth was Rank 7, but she would have to acknowledge his superiority.
Of course, it might be different if she drew Dark Sword and fought, but there was no way that would happen.
Actually, with this level of strength, he might even be able to buy time against the Headmistress or escape.
It was truly a force that deserved respect, whether in the Empire or the kingdom. Having someone like that as my bodyguard…
He was truly a force, worthy of respect wherever he went, be it the Empire or the kingdom. And such a powerful individual was now my bodyguard.
It was reassuring to the point of making me feel fearless… but…
“Finance– Marx. We’ll be arriving at my brother’s location soon.”
“I’ll be counting on you as promised when we arrive.”
“Don’t worry.”
Finally arriving at the main force in the Maktern domain with Cartea’s army,
The four of us – Beatrice, Suzanne, myself, and the Archbishop, who was treated with great respect as a Rank 7 – headed straight for the largest castle in the domain.
It was a castle built for appearances rather than combat, and hasty fortifications were underway.
After passing through the strict security, we finally met him.
“…Beatrice.”
“Brother.”
Amatriuss Delphia Zeke. The Crown Prince who was acting as the temporary king since the king was captured by the Duke of Wei’s faction.
Crown Prince Zeke, with an expression of disbelief, clutched his ashen hair and his forehead. His tired eyes seemed to grow heavier.
His gaze then fell on Suzanne, me, and the Archbishop, and Crown Prince Zeke gestured to those around him.
“Everyone leave.”
“But Your Highness, even if the others leave, that man is a Rank 7.”
“I said leave.”
“…As you command.”
The vassals and nobles who had been busily reporting on the war situation left, and…
Crown Prince Zeke’s eyes turned towards me.
“Finance Director Adam Keynes.”
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
“What is the meaning of this? When I first received the report, I thought my foolish sister had escaped on her own. Why are you accompanying her?”
“As you can see.”
“What?”
“I was Kidnapped.”
“………?”
“I’ll explain, brother.”
This was what I had planned with Beatrice beforehand. The favor I asked in exchange for granting Beatrice’s unreasonable request.
I had promised Crown Prince Zeke to keep Beatrice at the academy. But now, I had broken that promise.
What was the best excuse in this situation?
“I threatened and kidnapped the Finance Director.”
“…What do you mean…”
“Even though he’s a Finance Director, he’s ultimately just a Rank 1. I could easily subdue him now that I’ve overcome my chronic illness. I brought the Finance Director here as a hostage to avoid being captured.”
“Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
“Of course I do.”
Ah, I was kidnapped and threatened, so I had no choice. That was it.
It was the invincible excuse I could use as a Rank 1. What could a Rank 1 do? It might have been different before she overcame her chronic illness, but what could he do when Beatrice herself kidnapped him?
Indeed, Crown Prince Zeke looked back and forth between Beatrice and me with a dumbfounded expression, then turned his gaze towards the Archbishop, who was wearing a robe.
“Then who is that Rank 7?”
“He’s someone sent from the academy to ensure the Finance Director’s safety. I don’t want to actually harm the Finance Director or antagonize the Headmistress.”
“…S-Second Security Unit Captain of Grandis Academy. Marx Croken.”
“That’s a ridiculous story. Then why is that Rank 7 accompanying you instead of taking the Finance Director back?”
“It’s simple, brother.”
Woong.
[Spatial Control]
“…!!”
The magic that Beatrice cast with a single gesture was something even Crown Prince Zeke knew.
[Spatial Control], a Rank 7 magic among the notoriously difficult teleportation magic.
A high-ranking magic that allowed her to freely manipulate the positions of everything within a limited range around her was activated.
Beatrice’s position instantly shifted to right in front of Crown Prince Zeke.
“It means I’m stronger than that security captain.”
“…Beatrice.”
“I’m no longer an incompetent, useless burden.”
Of course, Beatrice hadn’t truly reached Rank 7. But…
I glanced at the Archbishop, and he was sweating under his robe.
‘When I asked him before, he said he couldn’t guarantee victory against Beatrice.’
He would win nine out of ten times. The Archbishop was a complete Rank 7 and had abundant combat experience.
But conversely, it meant that Beatrice’s level was so extraordinary that he could lose once.
And this was with her incompletely cured chronic illness, and it hadn’t even been a year since she reached this level.
‘Isn’t she going to reach Rank 8 in ? Beatrice coin to the moon?’
Almost Rank 7 at that age. Like Ruth, she was very likely to reach Rank 8 in the future. If she hadn’t come to the Delphia Kingdom, I wouldn’t have known she was at this level.
It was like the stock I invested in had skyrocketed beyond the moon.
“Do you still see me as your little sister who’s happy with occasional handouts?”
“…Then why are you here? To stop the Duke of Wei? To save His Majesty’s life?”
Well, that would be the case.
Even though Beatrice said she disliked the Delphia royal family, she wouldn’t be happy with them all being killed by the Duke of Wei in the civil war. That’s why she kept trying to return to her home country.
And there was also the matter of her nanny, and her chronic illness was also resolved, so she wanted to help Crown Prince Zeke—
“No. That’s not it at all.”
“………”
“Huh?”
What?
Then why did she try to return to the Delphia Kingdom?
“Brother, do you remember the question I asked you last time? I asked if you would still be the ‘Crown Prince’ when we meet again.”
“………”
“And now, brother, you’re the crown prince and also the acting king.”
The various objects that appeared around her due to [Spatial Control]…
…simultaneously aimed at Crown Prince Zeke.
“Then what’s next?”
“………”
“After Father is executed, you’ll become the king, won’t you?”
“It’s a burden I have to bear as the crown prince.”
“Why did the Duke of Wei start the civil war in the first place?”
“What are you…”
“I know the Duke of Wei well. I was almost his concubine instead of my third sister. He’s greedy, selfish, and a terrible person. At first, I naturally thought he started the civil war because he wasn’t satisfied.”
But…
But what if…
“What if he started the civil war because of a promise with someone?”
“………”
“There’s no reason for us to fight to the death. He’s the type who would immediately accept if we promised to give him the north, where his influence is strong. But what does he gain by splitting the Delphia Kingdom in half? I didn’t know either, but I found out after coming here.”
In a week,
The current king would be executed. And by the Duke of Wei’s hand.
After that, it was only natural for Crown Prince Zeke to ascend to the throne, even if it was a Delphia Kingdom with only the south remaining.
“Brother, Brother Zeke.”
“………”
“Are my words just absurd speculation?”
It was an outrageous accusation, claiming that this entire civil war and situation was a plot by Crown Prince Zeke to become king.
If anyone else had heard those words, Beatrice would have been summarily executed, regardless of being the fourth princess and a Rank 7 mage. She would be condemned as a spy sent by the Duke of Wei’s faction to cause discord.
But Crown Prince Zeke, after closing his tired eyes for a moment, said,
“Yes.”
“…What?”
“It’s all absurd speculation. Are you satisfied now?”
“Brother!!”
“Now step back.”
Clang!
At Zeke’s gesture, those who had been concealing their presence appeared and pulled Beatrice back. Even though he told everyone to leave, his guards would have remained to protect him.
Despite hearing Beatrice’s outrageous accusation, there was no confusion in the eyes of the guards. They were acting as if they hadn’t heard anything but the order. He must have used artifacts or other means to ensure that.
Each one of them was at least Rank 6, and the one who seemed to be the captain of the guards was around the same level as the Archbishop.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“…You…”
“You must be tired after your long journey, so rest for now. Finance Director, if you wish, I can free you from my foolish sister’s grasp.”
“I’m fine. I’m not in any danger with Captain Marx here. More importantly, shouldn’t we discuss why we came all this way?”
“Let’s postpone that until tomorrow. Of course, I’ll stop sending the payment since you couldn’t keep my promise.”
“Do as you please.”
That was expected.
I could resolve everything with Crown Prince Zeke tomorrow anyway. But for now…
“Your Highness Beatrice, let’s go back.”
“Finance Director! But!”
“Are you planning to have a showdown with Crown Prince Zeke here?”
“………”
“Let’s return first. We can talk later.”
Beatrice, still glaring at Crown Prince Zeke with an agitated look, gritted her teeth and left the reception room first.
Following her was Suzanne, who had been blocking her ears with aura, and the Archbishop, who wanted the civil war to drag on no matter what the truth was.
And finally, I, after making eye contact with Crown Prince Zeke once again, closed the door and left.
‘Then shall we start the business?’
It was shocking that Beatrice’s true reason for coming to the Delphia Kingdom was to suspect Zeke, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it right now.
I would be meeting Crown Prince Zeke tomorrow anyway, so I could talk to him then. Before that, it was much more efficient to appease Beatrice and then sell more salt or focus on manufacturing stimulants.
After returning to the separate room prepared for me and calming down the fuming Beatrice,
“Then, Your Highness Beatrice, I’ll be going for a walk.”
“…Again?”
“Should I hear more of your story?”
“No… it’s fine. Go ahead.”
Good.
Then it was time to get down to business—
“Haha, hello.”
“…? Yes, but who are you?”
“Just an insignificant artist. But you…”
“…!! Wait, get away from me!”
“What? Captain Marx?”
“Your heart seems very impressive.”
“Wait, could you be a model for my sculpture?”