#700 The Farm Graduates’ Activities – The Humans’ POV (7/7)

“Huh? Me, a feudal lord?”

Caught off guard, I found myself lost for words.

Nevertheless, those around me quickly formed a consensus and pushed forward.

“That’s a good idea. Ritheseus has been trained and nurtured under Lord Saint. He certainly can fulfill the role of a lord,” says Lord Dalkish. “This time, he solved the issues in this desolate territory and laid the groundwork for its reconstruction. To reward his meritorious deeds, it would be suitable to appoint him as feudal lord.”

“Yeah! If Ritheseus takes charge, we’ll happily serve him! We’ll be his hands and feet!”

Even Zepnio wholeheartedly agrees for some reason.

Hold on... Please hold on! 

“I appreciate your support, but this is too much for me! Originally, I was just a servant serving in the lord’s mansion! Moreover, I was born in a remote village; I don’t have a noble lineage at all!”

“I’ve heard from Lord Saint that your blood carries a strong trace of divine ancestry. It’s said to be a sort of atavism. If so, your blood’s nobility surpasses the current feudal lord’s family.”

Lord Dalkish?!

He, who has a strong connection with the farm due to his territory’s proximity to Orkubo’s Castle, knows a lot.

“Even if that wasn’t the case, times have changed. Practical ability is now prioritized for responsible positions and not lineage. We don’t want any territory to be messed up by an incompetent person just because he is the son of the previous feudal lord.”

Are they talking about Saldacase...?!

“More importantly, realistically speaking, if we were to choose by lineage, who would we appoint as the lord here next? I believe the previous Lord Sergio had only that fool of a son. That’s why they had no choice but to appoint such a fool as the lord.”

“Capability isn’t everything. A person who protects and supports a territory must have compassion and not abandon their territory and people, no matter what. There’s no need to confirm again that you love this land.”

“Hear, hear!” echoed hoots from around me.

It’s from the former bandits...

“Someone has to do it. In that case, shouldn’t the most suitable person step forward?”

With no backing, I’ve heard that Governor-General Malvastos struggled from the bottom, climbed to a position equivalent to the Demon King’s Army’s Heavenly Four, and earned the responsibility of being the governor-general of the Human Kingdom’s occupation office. 

That’s why his appeal was weighty.

Perhaps, I might be able to support this territory without Saldacase.

What I learned at the farm can be used in this land.

If I can develop and prosper this territory as much as the farm, Sensei and Lord Saint may be pleased.

But...

“I’m sorry, but I firmly refuse.”

“Are you abandoning us?!”

The former bandits’ idolization has already reached an intimidating point.

“Of course, I will also devote myself to the reconstruction of this territory from now on. However, this is possible even if I am not the feudal lord. It’s okay if someone else is at the top.”

“But the candidate for that...”

“There is one.”

If it’s about a candidate, there is one.

I’m going to ask that person now.

  *    *    *

Once again, the scene of judgment was the lord’s mansion, which should’ve been the residence of the lord of Sendekyrs.

I enter the mansion and proceed steadily, entering a room where a certain person is secluded.

“Excuse me.”

I enter the room of the previous feudal lord.

The lord who had fallen ill is still lying in bed, making this room feel more like a hospital room than a bedroom.

“Wait, Ritheseus...! You can’t possibly be referring to Lord Sergio?!” exclaims Lord Osennim.

The former feudal lord is named Lord Sergio.

He is older than Lord Dalkish, so he’s most certainly acquainted with my master as well.

“Lord Osennim... And you must be the son of Lord Vishdelia. What a fine young man you’ve grown into.”

“I am Dalkish, sir,” says the young Lord Dalkish, also offering his greetings.

The former lord only manages a lonely smile from his bed.

“He was blessed with a successor. If you were to succeed, the Wallachia frontier would be secure. On the contrary, as one who was not blessed with a successor, I can only be envious.”

Sire’s detached house is far from the main building, but he still must’ve heard Saldacase’s disgraceful outcry. 

“I spoiled him too much because he was an only child. I did receive advice from my servants, but while I thought I would educate him properly eventually... this is what has come of it. I truly failed as a feudal lord.”

“While I cannot defend your son, I intend to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment instead,” says Governor-General Malvastos, joining us. “His downfall has left a vacancy in the seat of this territory’s lord, and Ritheseus proposes that you retake it.”

“That’s ridiculous...!” 

Sire’s voice lacks strength, but his intent to refuse is clear.

“I resigned from the feudal lord’s seat because my body could no longer fulfill its duties. My condition hasn’t changed since then; there’s no way I can return to being a ruler.”

Of course, that’s not the only reason.

I imagine Sire feels responsible as a father and a predecessor of his son, utterly betraying his expectations and wrecking the territory he was supposed to protect.

I would like to take the time to persuade him about that issue, but...

“As for your health, you will be fine. You should recover in no time, sire,” I say. “I’ve called in someone perfect for that task.”

“YOU’RE STILL CALLING MORE PEOPLE?!” 

But of course.

Lord Saint and Sensei’s teachings are to use whatever you can, even if it is a deity.

Knock-knock! Goes the sound of knocking on the door.

“Home delivery!”

The door opens to reveal a cute little girl.

But her true identity is far from cute. It’s the dragon, Lady Veil.

“EEEEEEEEK!!!”

Only Lord Dalkish, who knows her true identity, shrieks in terror.

“Hey, you called, and I came. A mere human daring to summon me...guess your divine blood makes you arrogant, eh?”

“I’m sorry. But thank you so much for coming.”

But you came because you know there’s something in it for you, right?

You’ve been having fewer opportunities to handle that lately, after all.

“Okie-dokie, you said you’ll be eating this, as promised. This is a large serving of gonkotsu ramen with very firm noodles!”

She plonks down a bowl of ramen.

Inside is a dense soup from which steam is rising, with thin, wire-like noodles submerged.

There are also green onions, wood ear mushrooms, leaf mustard, and red pickled ginger.

“What on earth is this...?!”

“Sire, let’s start with the soup.”

I scoop up some soup with a china spoon and bring it to Sire’s mouth.

He slurps it, and...

“Guooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!!!”

The effects were immediate.

Sire, who has been bedridden due to illness, jolts up from his bed and lets out a roar, raising a surge of vigor.

“Woaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Howaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

“Huh? What? What’s going on here?”

Even Governor-General Malvastos is taken aback by the drastic change in the patient, which is beyond anyone’s imagination.

Lady Veil’s gonkotsu ramen is made from dragon essence, an ingredient so potent that if humans consumed the soup, they might burst from being overly powered up.

In this bowl of gonkotsu ramen, there is only a single drop of dragon essence.

Yet it was potent enough to turn a patient into a superhuman.

“Ryaaaaaaaaaa! I feel an incredible surge of power all of a sudden!! I think I can keep going strong for another three hundred yearsssssssssssssss!!!”

“That’s a relief, sire! Please continue to lead our territory with your vigor, sire!!!”

“Leave it to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

At this enthusiastic response, the present Governor-General Malvastos, Lord Dalkish, and Lord Osennim collectively sigh in relief.

***

Thus, I managed to solve various problems that occurred in my home territory, utilizing the various things I learned on the farm.

What do you think?

Sensei?

Lord Saint?