A Fortuitous Encounter in the Game Becomes Reality Episode 39
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A Fortuitous Encounter in the Game Becomes Reality Episode 39
13. Appearance at the Board of Audit (1)
It was during the height of the war with the Croysen Empire.
Besides grinding levels in the game, there was one more thing I was absorbed in.
That was using the Man-Gyeong to discover talented people with high potential.
It was the work of finding those who would become my trusted aides in the future.
As a result, I stayed on the battlefield for three months and was able to find 14 talents, then secretly sent them, without Anna knowing, to a royal-domain mansion I had prepared so they could receive training suited to their gifts, such as swordsmanship and magic.
And I named this institution the "Youngjaegwan" and spared no support so that the recruits could focus solely on unlocking their talents...
Is it because I've only scooped up people with the very best talent?
The speed at which the Youngjaegwan talents were growing was beyond imagination.
"I hear Sir Lopez has already reached the 2nd Circle?"
"Haha, it's all thanks to my lord."
"An aura user and a 2nd Circle mage—at this point, wherever you go, you're at a level where you could be called a magic swordsman."
"I'm embarrassed. It's not just me; everyone in the Magic Department has awakened to the 1st Circle, and since Miss Noah and Mr. Grant are knocking on the wall of the 2nd Circle, I expect we'll have good news soon."
"The Youngjaegwan instructors must be losing their heads over this."
"They were at first, but once it became known that my lord is the last disciple of Duke Cain Riverdale, they seem to think it makes sense."
The famed reputation of Duke Riverdale, known for having trained seven archmages including me, appears to be useful in many ways.
The Youngjaegwan instructors are reacting as if I must have inherited from the duke his know-how for discerning a person's talent.
Of the 14 people in Youngjaegwan, all 7 with talent as mages have blossomed their 1st Circle, and the 4 with talent as knights have all become mana users and entered the apprentice-knight stage.
Gathering together those who can be called prodigies and letting them receive lessons fit for nobles made their growth speed downright terrifying.
At this rate, archmages and aura masters might end up being mass-produced.
Even though a 7th Circle archmage and an aura master are said to be realms bestowed by heaven, considering the talents and growth pace that the Man-Gyeong shows for them, I don't think it's impossible.
'If I comb through our country thoroughly, couldn't I gather at least 100 people with talents like this?'
I had thought they wouldn't become a major fighting force anytime soon, but if I give people with top-tier talent just one year of training, it seems we could fully organize mage corps and knightly orders and put them to use.
From now on, wherever I go, I should get into the habit of scoping out the places with the heaviest foot traffic.
At this rate, I might end up commanding dozens of aura masters and archmages.
'Once again, I'm struck by how incredible the Man-Gyeong is.'
I have received many things through fortuitous encounters.
But together with Arcia, I consider the Man-Gyeong the gift that has helped me the most.
Its basic functions—emotion, observation, clairvoyance, far-sight, and so on—are amazing enough, but the way it lets me read the stats of living beings and objects has presented me with a wide variety of futures.
[Arcia of Heavenly Steel / Aura Master]
Relationship: Favorable / Absolute obedience
Status: In a good mood.
And now that I can read people's emotions through the Man-Gyeong as well, from my position where I must always watch out for being backstabbed, the Man-Gyeong has become an indispensable item I could never part with.
At first, it displayed so much information that it made me dizzy, but I've adapted now, to the point that I can read the Man-Gyeong's information and still cast magic at the same time.
"But is it really alright for us to accompany you to the royal castle?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's just that Sir Eric and I still lack in many ways...."
Right now we are riding a floating vehicle, heading to the royal castle to be investigated by the Noble Board of Audit.
I kept the party going to the royal castle simple: leaving aside the four Vanguards for escort, Lopez was wearing an expression like he wasn't sure if someone as inexperienced as he was should really be present.
So I asked Eric—who, like Lopez, was affiliated with the Youngjaegwan and had talents in politics and administration—whether he felt the same way.
"I believe the young lord would never have called us without reason. I am sure you have a grand intention."
"It's hard to call it a grand intention, but since you two will be the ones leading the talents from the Youngjaegwan in the future, I called you because I want you to experience a bit more." ## New Terms Man-Gyeong = Man-Gyeong Youngjaegwan = Youngjaegwan Lopez = Lopez Noah = Noah Grant = Grant Duke Cain Riverdale = Duke Cain Riverdale Magic Department = Magic Department Noble Board of Audit = Noble Board of Audit Eric = Eric royal castle = royal castle
It also meant that my hopes for the two of them in the future were that great.
"You will probably encounter many nobles at the royal castle today. If you're lucky, you may even see members of the royal family. Engraving the backbone of this country in your minds—that is what the two of you must do today."
"Y-yes, I will bear that in mind."
I had said it to help him relax, but it seems I only ended up putting more pressure on Lopez instead.
It was a stark contrast to Eric's composed expression.
Once he rises higher in the future, he will need to become at least a little shameless, so he is someone I worry about a lot.
"Young lord, we have arrived at the Teleport Gate."
We were using a vehicle for transport, but the distance from the Lawrence territory to the royal castle was over 500 km.
Naturally, I had no intention of crossing the country with such a small group, so we planned to teleport the entire vehicle to the capital.
"Initiate the transfer immediately."
"Understood."
At my command, the teleport gate magic circle beneath the floating vehicle began to emit light.
-Pop!
Accompanied by the peculiar buoyant sensation of spatial movement, the scenery around us soon changed.
Our territory might look unimpressive at a glance, but Arenci, which serves as the capital of the Viscounty of Lawrence, has a population of one million.
Among viscounties, you could say it is fairly large in scale, but just as local cities in Korea cannot be compared to Seoul, the Kingdom of Rhinehearts' capital, Lionel, boasted a scale on a completely different level from our Arenci.
A city of 16 million people.
True to its status as the capital of cutting-edge magi-engineering, dazzling holographic billboards and signs caught the eye, and countless floating vehicles buzzed through the roads in a frenzy.
At first glance, it looked like a scene straight out of an SF movie, but thanks to the well-blended natural elements, the classical architectural styles, and magic's unique visual effects, it exuded a mysterious atmosphere that felt far more like fantasy than cyberpunk.
"Wow...."
Lopez, visiting the capital for the first time, gaped with an astonished expression.
His reaction was so amusing that I unintentionally let out a little puff of laughter.
"Is it really okay to go this fast inside the city?"
"This is a nobles-only road."
Since nobles-only roads have a higher speed limit than regular ones, our vehicle approached the royal castle at a very high speed.
And just as we were almost at the royal castle, which radiated a classical atmosphere with its pure-white exterior—
I encountered an anomaly.
[The sacred Adrian of Rhinehearts!]
[The most handsome archmage in the world!]
-Adrian Lawrence Fanclub
[The most beautiful Aura Master in the world!]
[Milky Arcia!]
-Arcia Klein Fanclub
Holograms decorating bizarre placards and billboards began to catch my eye here and there.
And as if it were some kind of parade, a few citizens suddenly emerged and waved their hands toward the vehicle we were riding in.
Judging by how they reacted to the emblem and flag of House Lawrence on the vehicle, it seemed they recognized us, but since I had not expected this kind of reception, even I could only wear a dumbfounded expression.
"How did those people even find out about our schedule?"
"Maybe there was an article or something. This is full-on celebrity treatment."
I let out a dry chuckle at William's reaction, he being the one in charge of our escort.
* * *
The royal castle could be described as a single masterpiece that embodies the full extent of modern architectural technology.
Yet in outward appearance, it looked as though an old European palace had been transplanted here as-is.
Unlike the commercial district of the capital, where buildings over 100 stories were a dime a dozen, there was not a single building over ten stories within the royal castle, which contained a vast garden like a park, and in place of the holograms that filled the capital, sculptures and artworks were displayed everywhere.
However, the fact that no fewer than ten Sky Fortresses floated high in the air encircling the royal castle made it clear just how precious the people living here were.
"Oh my?"
"Is that him?"
"He looks much better in person."
The government office where the key ministers served as heads of departments was attached to the king's palace.
Thanks to that, we saw an enormous number of maids, and as if they were enjoying some sort of spectacle, their burdensome gazes focused on Arcia and me as we followed behind our guide.
"The two of you are quite popular."
"It's thanks to the media hyping us up."
The person guiding Arcia and me was Baron Walker, the head of the investigation team at the Noble Board of Audit.
He was a baron with a single-rank title, in his mid-30s, yet even when dealing with youngsters like Arcia and me, he maintained a perfectly polite demeanor without the slightest lapse.
"You have no idea how noisy the royal castle has been lately because of the two of you."
"I doubt that commotion is in a good way." ## New Terms Arenci = Arenci Lionel = Lionel Adrian Lawrence Fanclub = Adrian Lawrence Fanclub Arcia Klein Fanclub = Arcia Klein Fanclub Baron Walker = Baron Walker
"Naturally, the core power bloc did not look on you kindly. But among single-rank nobles like me, you are quite popular. After all, you seized power with your own abilities."
His words could also be interpreted as meaning that this country has many incompetent people who occupy power by bloodline alone.
It seems that single-rank nobles who have risen in status through their own abilities have a mindset closer to commoners.
However, even if they are dissatisfied with the social structure, it will not cause the existing power bloc to waver.
Even if they are wearing the same noble skin, their cries pose no threat when they lack a fief and military authority.
Suddenly curious about his stats, I checked Baron Walker's information as it appeared through the All-Seeing Eye.
[Baron Harris Walker / Senior Administrator / Noble Board of Audit Team Leader]
Talents: Intellectual Ability (Top), Administrative Ability (High), Command Ability (High), Learning Ability (High)
Traits: Upright Leader
Relationship: Favorable / Neutral
Status: Mental Fatigue / Sense of Futility
But when I absentmindedly inspected his stats, they were so unexpected that I froze for a moment.
Leaving aside the irregular Arcia, who possesses as many as three top-tier talents, this was the first time I had seen someone with four abilities at high level or above.
If he also had a talent for mana, his stats are such that he would have achieved great success even as a mage.
And to have the trait Upright Leader—what a title for a mid-level administrator; it was far too grand for him.
"Baron Walker."
"My apologies. I misspoke. Please forget what I said."
"That's not it. Here, please take this."
"Pardon?"
With that, I handed him a business card that had only my name and contact information engraved against the background of the House Lawrence crest.
Baron Walker tilted his head, wondering what this was, and I answered with a slight smile.
"When I receive my fief this time."
"Yes."
"I plan to hire a capable administrator and appoint him as vice-lord to entrust him with managing the territory. If you are interested in the position of vice-lord, please contact me. I promise you the best treatment."
"Is this a serious offer?"
"Of course. This is the first time I've even floated such a proposal."
"What makes you place such faith in me?"
"I can see a person's talents."
"Excuse me?"
"You can think of it as me being influenced by my mentor, Duke Riverdale."
When I flashed him a finger heart, he did not know what it meant, tilted his head, and examined the business card carefully.
"Baron Walker, this place's work doesn't seem to suit you. Am I wrong?"
"...."
"You have plenty of time. Think it over carefully, and if you feel like taking on something new, don't hesitate to contact me."
He is not someone who should be wasting his talents in a place like this.
I was certain of that.
So I made my intention to recruit him clear.
Momentarily taken aback by the utterly out-of-the-blue offer, Baron Walker pondered seriously for a moment, then nodded.
"Thank you for the offer. It was so unexpected that I was surprised, but to be honest, it doesn't feel bad at all."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Then I'll contact you once I've sorted out my thoughts."
I could read the curiosity shining in his eyes.
It seems I will gain an unexpected asset from an unexpected place.
That alone makes it feel as though I've been compensated for having to appear before the Noble Board of Audit.
"We've arrived. Only Lord Lawrence and Sir Klein (Arcia) may enter here. The investigation will take two to three hours, so it would be better for the attendants to stay in the lounge."
Guided by Baron Walker, whose manner had become even more courteous, we arrived in front of the room labeled First Investigation Chamber.
Baron Walker informed my party of the location of the lounge, but I could not help a wry chuckle at Lopez, who was looking around like a country bumpkin.
"Rather than that, why don't you take this opportunity to tour the royal castle? I'll contact you when we're done."
"W-would that be all right?"
"Here's some pocket money. There are restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops, and the like inside the royal castle, so it should be good for killing time."
"That won't be necessary. I'm already being paid a sufficient salary."
I, as well as the attendants, expected that the so-called investigation would be little more than a formality.
After all, all the justification for the recent incident lay on our side, and Arcia and I were talents that this country could not afford to lose.
So I casually suggested sightseeing, and my subordinates, having received that suggestion, did not think much of it. ## New Terms All-Seeing Eye = All-Seeing Eye Baron Harris Walker = Baron Harris Walker Duke Riverdale = Duke Riverdale First Investigation Chamber = First Investigation Chamber Lopez = Lopez Noble Board of Audit = Noble Board of Audit
I told him I was fine, and whether Lopez waved his hands in protest or not, I deposited 3 million route into the terminal of everyone who had come along to assist.
After separating the attendants like that, I entered the interrogation room with Baron Walker.
"Please be careful."
"...?"
"I do not know exactly what will happen, but the head of the audit office had it out for Prince Lawrence."
"Is that so?"
Baron Walker sent the warning with a face full of concern.
In response, I nodded with a confident air.
I had the mindset that if trouble arose, I would simply leave this country, so I felt no pressure at all.
Even if it was not my homeland, the Kingdom of Rhinehearts, there were plenty of countries willing to bring us in and grant us a fief.
In fact, the love calls from Duke Olivia Riverdale of the Kingdom of my alma mater, the Kingdom of, had been non-stop.
"Thank you for your concern."
Perhaps because of the recruitment offer, I shook hands with Baron Walker, who was radiating a friendly atmosphere, and calmly stepped forward.
And after a short while, a space appeared that was like a major corporation's interview room, with eight people seated in a row and two lonely chairs placed in front of them.
But when Baron Walker took in the faces of the eight auditors waiting for us, I could see him swallow hard.
[Douglas Hamington]
[Luke Win Rhinehearts]
I had wondered what he was looking at, but it was not hard to realize that it was because of the man who appeared to be in his thirties, seated beside Audit Office Chief Hamington Marquess.
A large man utterly unsuited to the highly bureaucratic atmosphere of the audit office.
His skin was sun-darkened and tanned, and his short black hair and cold gray eyes that evoked a blade gave off an unmistakably military air.
But the faint smile on his lips carried an air of arrogance, so he was not exactly the kind of person I liked.
'Luke Win Rhinehearts.'
He was the second prince of this country, the head of the Second Royal Guard Knights Order that protects the royal family, and one of the aura masters representing the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
Why would such a heavyweight, second in line to the throne, be sitting in front of me?