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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: A Changed Grand Prince
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"A serious problem?"
"Two days ago, I went into the armory with one of the blacksmiths who works here."
"The armory?"
"Yes. He asked me to help him with something. We went into the first armory to identify and set aside weapons that needed repairs."
Giranox spoke while wringing his hands, clearly anxious.
"He told me to only check the weapons at the front, but since I work rather quickly, I finished before he did. Looking for something else to do, I got curious and opened a box labeled 'Main Swords'."
Having heard this much, I could guess what Giranox was about to say.
"They looked different from the weapons at the front, so I drew one... It wasn't a usable weapon. You couldn't even call it a weapon. The quality was abysmal."
"How bad was it?"
"You couldn't even cut through leather armor with that sword. No, trying to strike someone with it would be more likely to injure yourself. It was the lowest-grade junk you wouldn't take even if someone paid you."
"What about the ones at the front?"
"They were mid-grade items, perfectly usable anywhere."
Rage boiled up inside me. Of all the things to mess with, they were playing games with weapons—with people's lives.
"After that, I went to the second armory, and it was the same story. The ones at the front weren't bad, but the shafts of the cleverly hidden spears were loose, and the metal of the spearheads wasn't even fit for scrap."
"Hah, those sons of bitches..."
"I debated whether I should tell you or not..."
"What are you talking about? You did the right thing."
I understood why Giranox had hesitated, so I patted him on the shoulder.
"Those bastards are absolute human garbage. You know why?"
"Because they're corrupt?"
"That's a given, but the people who use the weapons from the armory aren't the knights."
"Ah!"
"That's right. The knights have their own personal weapons. The armory's weapons are for the soldiers and the trainee knights. They're doing this to the weak who can't protest even when there's a problem!"
I wanted to round up everyone involved right now and pour Wayeomdok on them.
"And the fact that they made the front look normal to deceive people makes me even angrier."
"I didn't get to see where the shields and armor are kept, but I imagine it's a similar situation."
"I'm sure it is. Ha! Those bastards, really."
I was furious, but also ashamed in front of Giranox.
"I'm sorry. I brought you here promising good treatment, only to show you such a disgraceful sight."
"N-No, sir. This has nothing to do with you, Grand Prince."
"Instead..."
I clenched my fist until I thought it would bleed and continued.
"I'll show you exactly how I handle this."
**
"Hmph, to ask for a permit that allows you to enter and inspect any area without so much as an explanation. What is the meaning of this?"
"It is absolutely necessary."
After finishing my preparations, I went to the Marquis's office and requested a permit that would grant me access to any location.
"I'm asking you what it's for."
"You will find out once you issue the permit."
"Hmph, honestly..."
"Since the day I was knocked unconscious by Ilia, I believe I have never once disappointed you, Marquis. I will not disappoint you this time, either."
As I said that, I thought to myself that once this was over, the Marquis would be disappointed in himself.
"You will know everything by tomorrow. I ask this of you."
I bowed my head to the Marquis once more.
"If you put it that way, I have no choice but to grant it... Very well. I will inform the butler. You may retrieve it tomorrow."
"Thank you."
I paid my respects to the Marquis and left his office.
"All preparations are complete."
**
"Grand Prince."
The next morning, Peru came running in a hurry.
"There are people at the House's entrance with boxes, looking for you, Grand Prince. What should I..."
"They're right on time."
"Pardon?"
"Send all the male servants and butlers to the entrance. Tell them to bring the items there to the front of the first armory."
"A-All of them?"
Peru asked again as if he had misheard.
"Unless they're doing something truly important, tell them I ordered it and send them all."
"Understood."
"You, go to the workshop now, gather the blacksmiths, and bring them to the front of the first armory."
"A different task for me, I see."
"I have something to retrieve as well. I'll see you in front of the armory."
With that, I headed to the Marquis's office.
"You've arrived."
"There should be something the Marquis left for me."
The Marquis's head butler was waiting in front of the door.
"Here it is."
The butler handed me a document from his coat. It was a permit granting the right to enter, inspect, and control any area for the entire day.
"What is the Marquis doing?"
"The Marquise came to visit, so they are having a brief chat."
"Is that so? Then please be sure to tell the Marquis to bring the inspector and come to the first armory by noon."
"Pardon?"
"You'll regret it if you don't relay the message properly."
Leaving the bewildered butler behind, I walked leisurely to the armory.
"What do you all think you're doing! This is not a garden!"
"Our apologies, but we were summoned here as well..."
"Then go wait somewhere else!"
"The Grand Prince ordered us to wait here."
I had deliberately moved slowly, so the butlers, servants, and blacksmiths were all gathered in front of the armory. They were in a slight altercation with the soldiers guarding it.
"Grand Prince!"
"Grand Prince, you've arrived?"
Peru and Giranox ran up to me.
"Giranox, is the quantity correct?"
"Yes, of course. I checked each one and brought only the finest goods."
"Well done."
I nodded to Giranox and Peru and walked toward the front of the armory.
"Halt!"
"What is it?"
"This is an armory. Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to approach."
"You see those boxes back there?"
"Yes? Yes."
"Those are swords, shields, and armor procured from As Castle. I purchased them for the upcoming campaign."
I pointed to the twenty boxes the butlers and servants had brought.
"We need to put them inside, so open the gate."
"P-Please wait."
"Ah, right. The Ordnance Officer needs to be present, I suppose."
"Yes. I will call him right now..."
"What nonsense are you spouting? He's already been called."
"Pardon?"
My words must have hit the mark, as the soldier swallowed dryly.
"The Ordnance Officer would have told you to call him even if the slightest thing happened in front of the armory. Am I wrong?"
"That is..."
"And I suppose that man running over in a mad dash is the Ordnance Officer."
A refined-looking middle-aged man was rushing toward us.
"Huff, huff... W-What is all this! What are you all doing in front of the armory?"
"I ordered it."
"G-Grand Prince..."
The Ordnance Officer was so surprised to see me that he took a step back.
"I have purchased weapons and armor for the campaign. I intend to place them in the armory, so open the gate."
"You purchased them?"
"Yes."
"Ah... My apologies, but even so, the armory can only be opened with permission..."
I said nothing more and simply showed him the permit I had received from the Marquis. The Marquis's seal was clearly stamped on it.
"No more talk. Open it."
"Ah..."
The Ordnance Officer's arms trembled as he went to the armory gate and opened it.
"G-Grand Prince. You must not touch the other items. You may only put things in."
"Peru, Giranox."
"Yes."
"Sir!"
"Go in there and bring out one of the boxes at the very front."
"Understood!"
They entered the armory.
"Grand Prince. Inspecting the weapons requires a permit..."
"I'll just look at one. Bring it."
The Ordnance Officer spoke as if to refuse, but I didn't miss the subtle change at the corners of his mouth.
"I really can't allow it..."
Despite his words, he meekly stepped aside.
Thud!
Peru and Giranox brought out one of the boxes from the front.
"Open it."
Crack!
The box was filled to the brim with swords in leather scabbards. I picked up four of them and handed them to the blacksmiths.
"What do you think?"
"Not bad, sir. Well-maintained, and the quality is good."
"Same here. It's mid-grade or better."
"Ordnance Officer, you've done a fine job of managing them. I should mention it to the Marquis and see that you're praised."
"Haha, why would you embarrass me like that? Now that you've checked, why don't you quickly store the weapons you brought and go rest?"
"That sounds like a good idea."
I smiled broadly and looked at the servants and butlers.
"Well then..."
"Shall we put the boxes inside?"
"No, take out all the boxes in the armory."
My smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a voice cold enough to freeze the air.
"You can't do that! Grand Prince!"
"Why?"
"This is overstepping your authority! Not even the heir, let alone the Grand Prince, can take out the boxes!"
Smack!
"Keuk!"
Pretending to show him the permit, I slapped the Ordnance Officer across the face. His cheek immediately began to swell and turn red.
"G-Grand Prince!"
"Look closely. The right to inspect everything. You see it."
I showed the Ordnance Officer the fourth line of the permit.
"So that's that. Everyone, bring out the boxes."
"Yes."
"Understood."
"W-Wait! The, the Marquis..."
The Ordnance Officer blocked the butlers and servants.
"Hey."
"Ah..."
"Block them one more time, and I'll cut off your legs."
My fury manifested as an aura that completely overwhelmed the Ordnance Officer. His teeth chattered as he lowered his gaze.
"N-No..."
The Ordnance Officer collapsed to the ground, and the servants and butlers brought out all the boxes from the armory.
"Open every one of them."
Creaak.
"Now, let's have a look, shall we?"
I drew a sword from an opened box. The blade was chipped, and it was so unbalanced that it tilted to one side. It was a piece of scrap you wouldn't take even for free.
"What about this one?"
"Th-This is absolutely not of deliverable quality. You couldn't even use this for practice. Who would make such a thing!"
"I would think not."
The oldest-looking blacksmith answered.
"From this moment, on behalf of Marquis Willington Lox and in the name of Yuren Lox, I hereby seal the first, second, and third armories, and the food storeroom."
I held up the Marquis's permit and shouted loudly. Then I had three butlers each go to a storeroom to deliver my order.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Just as the butlers departed, the main actors arrived right on time. The Marquis, the Marquise, and a middle-aged man who appeared to be the inspector.
"I am inspecting the weapons."
"The weapons? Why all of a sudden?"
"You will understand when you see for yourself. Open them all."
The hands that had stopped began to move again.
Clank.
All the boxes were opened, revealing the weapons inside.
"Hmm."
The Marquis walked around slowly, looking as if he was wondering what on earth I was doing. But my eyes were not on the Marquis; they were on the inspector, who was sweating profusely.
"See for yourself."
I brought a box full of swords directly to the Marquis.
"Th-This one, this one too, surely... all of them?"
The Marquis drew the swords from the box one by one, then glared at the inspector, grinding his teeth so hard I thought they would break.
"Inspector."
"Y-Yes!"
The Marquis's voice was colder than I had ever heard it.
"In the inspection a month ago, did you not report that there were no issues with the armory?"
"Th-That is... Th-This man must have been playing tricks. I'm certain..."
The inspector pointed a finger at the dazed Ordnance Officer, trying to shift all the blame onto him.
"What utter bullshit. Does this look like the amount that could be siphoned off in a month?"
"N-No. I..."
"Shut your mouth."
"Gak!"
"You're playing with people's lives for money?"
"Guuuh..."
I unleashed all my internal energy, crushing the inspector. He couldn't even breathe under my pressure, just gasped and sputtered.
"Now you must understand. Why I asked for the permit, and why I did not tell you about it beforehand."
The Marquis said nothing, but his face had turned beet red.
"It's not just here. The second armory, the third armory, even the food storeroom—I doubt any of them are in proper order. Let's say we get through this year's campaign safely. What about next year? The year after?"
"That is..."
"We will have fine weapons and eat good meals even during the war. But what about the soldiers? If those in charge don't do their jobs properly, they will be forced to fight with trash like this and eat miserable meals that might as well be poisoned."
As I spoke of poison, I glanced at Kaina, who stood beside the Marquis. She met my eyes, her face turning pale, and she took a step back. This was the first and last warning I would give her.
Shing.
I drew a sword from a nearby box and walked up to the inspector.
"I-I'm sorry... Please, spare me!"
KRRR-ANG!
"Hiiiek!"
I slammed the sword down between the inspector's legs, shattering it. A wet patch spread across his trousers.
"I want to beat these bastards to death right now. But that would truly be overstepping my authority. I will leave what comes next to you, Marquis."
"You, what in the world..."
"Those boxes over there contain swords, armor, and shields. My blacksmith procured them from As Castle, so there will be no issue with their quality. Please discard the useless ones and use those."
The Marquis looked stunned, as if shocked that I had even prepared the equipment.
"The people involved in this are not just one or two. I hope you will ensure that everyone involved—these two here, the blacksmiths, the guards, the civil officials—is punished accordingly."
I said I was leaving it to the Marquis, but I had no intention of letting those who played games with human lives receive a humane punishment.
Those two were already afflicted by my poison.