Chapter 185: ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? (3)

Chapter 185: Nobles of the Capital (3)

Of course, such nonsensical excuses were not accepted. The nobles came over and started talking.

Like an excellent prosecutor casually throwing out attacks to gauge the opponent’s skills, the nobles here also lightly tossed out questions to get a sense of Johan.

Those hired from outside Vynashchtym may be good at battles but are often greedy and ambitious or ignorant of politics.

Not all virtues desired by the nobles. But if there was one among them that could be tolerated. . .

‘I don’t care if he’s greedy or ambitious, as long as he’s someone I can talk to.’

‘I’m tired of dealing with these barbarians.’

I wish he was at least politically conversant!

Not all elders, nobles, or wealthy commoner representatives wanted to tear down the emperor. Just a few ambitious ones had such dangerous thoughts. Most only wanted to maximize their own interests as long as Vynashchtym was running smoothly.

For that, the emperor had to lend an ear to the words of various groups in the capital and govern beautifully. And for this to be possible, the emperor had to get out more and actively socialize. . .

Gaïaros did not.

━Please, just come out!

As an army general, not an emperor, he was only training his own troops in the barracks.

At least his younger sister Gaoalkana was sociable and charming, but had no interest in politics. She simply passed on any petition to his older brother.

It was enough to drive the people she interacted with crazy. It was like talking to a wall.

The only option was to persuade the emperor’s aides to prod him out. . . But so far most had failed.

In the case of the Draconian Guards and other barbarian groups, language itself was a barrier. . .

‘Oh wait. He can speak the empire tongue.’

‘Contrary to what I heard, he is quite cultivated. . .’?

In that sense, Johan earned points just for knowing the ancient imperial language. Any Vynashchtym noble should know ancient imperial.

And contrary to rumors, he was quite learned in theology and academics. They thought he’d be a typical battle commander noble, but he can actually hold a conversation! The nobles’ faces brightened a bit.

‘Why do they look happy?’

Johan noticed the change in the people’s expressions and felt uncomfortable. It was awkward to have strangers strike up a conversation then get happy among themselves.

“It’s nice to meet you, Count Yeats.”

“By the way, I’m hosting a banquet at my estate tomorrow. Won’t you come? I dare say my chef is among the best in the capital.”

“A banquet is nice, but for someone newly arrived, there’s no place more fun than the Colosseum. What do you enjoy? Chariot races? No. You must like fights. Do you want to see battles against monsters? Or fights among warriors?”

The Vynashchtym people indulged in pleasures and amusements on a scale unimaginable in the west like the Holy Empire. Pitting monsters and gladiators against each other in a massive circular arena for people to spectate.

Of course, it was a literal gamble with their lives. The more warriors killed, the more the excitement and thrill multiplied.

‘Where I’m from, even knights competing on horseback is seen as gentlemanly.’

In the Holy Empire, when knights gathered to compete on horseback, countless people would come to watch. With so few entertainments in this world, such equestrian events were a rare spectacle.

Even such non-lethal competitions saw many knights killed and injured. So fights with real swords. . .

“But what does the Order say about this in Vynashchtym?”

At Johan’s words, the nobles made awkward expressions. The mainland’s unified church and Vynashchtym’s imperial church did not get along but had no major doctrinal differences.

Gluttony, debauchery and killing could hardly be condoned.

“Worry not, Johan. I know a good method.”

“?”

“After enjoying pleasures, I always go to the temple the next day to pay penance money.”

“. . . . . .”

“As expected of Her Majesty!”

“Hahaha!”

‘Hmm. Guys I fundamentally disagree with.’

Seeing the nobles laugh happily, Johan could understand why the emperor had withdrawn.

Surely talking to them would cause headaches!

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At first meeting, work was work. Johan gathered the centaurs and dwarves to distribute roles. They were certainly skilled enough not to fail at work.

“Johan. Why do we need more guards?”

“Isn’t it strange to have that level of guard originally escorting someone of high status?”

“I told you to speak comfortably. I allow it. Was it dangerous even with that escort before?”

“There’s no guarantee it’ll stay safe in the future.”

“Haha. . . What foolish person would target me first? They’d target Gaïaros first.”

“!”

“Johan. Think of more!”

“. . . . . .”

“If you think of one more thing, I promise to never make you do this again! I promise!”

“. . . . . .”

“Stop glaring at me! It’s scary!”

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Digging through faint memories, Gaoalkana was very satisfied to take out several luxurious dishes that existed in history. She insisted that Johan was clearly born for art.

Not only that, she shouted loudly that she would introduce him as an artist in front of people, so Johan had to keep a straight face.

“What do you think about the Vynashchtymyu still not perishing?”

The dwarf next to him whispered. Johan chuckled. The nobles of Vynashchtym ate and drank like crazy, to the point that the dwarf said that.

At the banquet Gaoalkana hosted at her villa, the nobles were completely absorbed in making loud noises.

“Well, if they want to do that, there’s no need to stop them. . . Wait.”

“?”

The dwarf was puzzled as Johan frowned.

“Do you not hear any sound?”

“All I hear are big drunks vomiting. . .?”

“No. Monster sound.”

“!”

The dwarf had great faith in his employer’s abilities. If Johan said there was one, there was one.

“Grab your weapons!”

The physical abilities of the dwarves were one of the best among their race. They picked up their shields and battle axes and tensed their nerves. Their eyes seemed to radiate a fierce light.

‘But can a monster appear in a big city like this?’

As if answering the dwarf’s question, noisy sounds gradually started to be heard. Screams of people, sounds of things colliding and collapsing were heard.

“Drake! Drake!”

“A drake escaped from us!”

“. . .Don’t tell me these crazy guys had a drake locked up?!”

The dwarves shouted in disbelief, but now was not the time to worry about that. First we had to assess and handle the situation.

“Check which way it’s coming and stop it from rampaging once it gets here.”

“Don’t we need siege weapons for a drake?”

Drakes, which look like two-legged dinosaurs, have low intelligence but strong vitality. Siege weapons were needed to kill them in one blow.

“Your excellency will kill it in one shot.”

“Well, his excellency is. . .”

“. . .It’s not my place, but don’t you think you’re being too casual towards your master?”

Even as he spoke like that, Johan took out several spears and staked them into the ground. He figured one spear would be enough to kill something centaur sized.

‘I’m worried this monster rampage in the capital might sour public sentiment.’

Appeasing the dissatisfaction of the capital was one of the emperor’s greatest roles. If dissatisfaction grew, riots could happen and the emperor could lose his position.

That’s why so many feasts and victory parades were held.

And now an accident like this happened. My luck is the worst for things like this to occur.

“What’s with the noise?”

“Yeah, what’s going on?”

The loud noises seemed to reach the ears of the drunk nobles as well, as people came out from the villa into the courtyard. Johan shouted angrily.

“What are you doing? Get them back inside!”

“We’re sorry!”

The dwarves tried to push the nobles back in. The drunk nobles resisted tipsily.

“Why are you pushing, you midgets!”

“. . .”

“What? Want a beating?!”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

The dwarves immediately swung their axe handles to hit and knock down the nobles. The nobles shrieked ‘Ow ow!’ and scrambled hastily back inside.

Just then the drake appeared from the road below. Fortunately it wasn’t very big. Johan threw his spear down like lightning.