kscans

Chapter 56 - Chapter 10: Second Half As Far as Commoners are Concerned

"By the authority of these achievements, I hereby appoint Craig Crownheite as Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Knight Orders. He shall command the newly formed Monster Extermination Knight Order, which will unify the Second and Third Knight Orders."

The King's words echoed through the audience chamber, followed by thunderous applause. Clad in a brand-new suit of silver armor, Craig knelt on the red carpet. The slightly ambiguous rank of Assistant Commander-in-Chief aside, the unification of our forces against the monsters was a wonderful thing.

Though the Second Knight Order had suffered immense damage, it was originally larger than the Third. The number of personnel under Craig’s command would double even at its current strength. If you considered the eventual restoration of the old Second Knight Order, it would triple. The budget probably would too…

As long as the new Commander didn't try to include me in that increased headcount, this was all fantastic news. Though I wouldn't mind getting a slice of that budget.

"Prince Craig's achievements are immeasurable, are they not," the Prime Minister said.

I was fairly certain he was aligned with the Second Prince, but his expression showed no trace of it. The real problem was the man in court official attire, plastered with an excessive number of royal crests, who was staring at his younger brother with eyes that seemed to be cursing him. And next to him, the middle-aged man with a beard. I see, so this is the Grand Duke of Kurtheite. If I recall, these two are father and son-in-law.

Hilda-senpai was a beauty, but I don't envy her one bit.

"Next, we shall announce the rewards for those who contributed to the subjugation," the King declared.

The names of those who contributed to the Voracious Dragon's defeat were read out. The decorated members of the Knight Order. The sage, Fulsy. The names of the Central Garden members, led by Food Guild Master Kenwell, were also mentioned. It seemed the honorary title for the Guild Master, which had been postponed due to the Food Guild's continuous scandals, would finally be granted. He deserved it for being caught in the middle of all that.

Count Adele’s innocence was also formally declared. As if to atone for the false accusation, he was to be appointed as one of the vice-commanders of the newly established knight order.

"We expect great things from the Knight Commander who defeated the Voracious Dragon with such few sacrifices."

"I swear on my sword and rose. Your Majesty, if I may be so bold. As a bit of entertainment, I would like to introduce one more individual whose humble achievements deserve recognition."

At the Prince's words, the courtiers began to murmur.

Craig beckoned me forward. I did ask for your help, but I didn't order such a dramatic performance. Especially since you went out of your way to call my achievements 'humble.'

"And who might this be?" the Prime Minister asked, his gaze turning suspicious at the sight of me, someone not in a knight's uniform. The other dignitaries around also looked perplexed by the young man in a student's uniform.

"He is a student of the Royal Academy, Ricardo Vinder. He is also the heir to a company belonging to the Food Guild."

"The heir to a company?" "So he's a commoner." "Why would His Highness…"

The Prime Minister silenced the courtiers' whispers with a gesture of his hand.

"And what achievements has this person accomplished, new Commander?"

The Prince grinned at the skeptical Prime Minister.

"Ricardo Vinder, along with the miners, advised the Knight Order on methods for fighting in the harsh environment of Tuvil Mountain. Furthermore, as a member of the Food Guild, he assisted in narrowing down the location of the calamity to Kurtheite."

Of course, he omitted any mention of the poison or the effectiveness of bludgeoning weapons against the dragon. He couldn't tarnish the Knight Order's achievements, but as for my own, please, tarnish away. Humble achievements, I like the sound of that. If the Empire had any sense, they would be desperately investigating how the Third Knight Order managed to kill the dragon right now. The truth might eventually come out, but the longer it takes, the better. Especially for my own self-preservation.

However, the gazes from my surroundings were rather piercing. Especially from the Grand Duke of Kurtheite and the Second Prince beside him. They were giving me a look that said, 'You've made a nuisance of yourself, even after we protected your lands.' Ah, I see. I'm being recognized as part of the Third Prince's faction. Give me a break. But regardless of that, you two are already on my watchlist. I've heard all about your negotiations with the Empire before I returned.

"I see, so the Third Knight Order learned how to fight from miners."

"Oh? Have you forgotten, Grand Duke, how the nobles with territory around Tuvil Mountain were clamoring in a half-crazed panic. Or how the Second Knight Order departed without preparation and suffered many casualties."

"Ghh…"

"Though he is a commoner, or rather, because he is a commoner, considering his courage in accompanying the monster extermination, I believe this person is worthy of reward."

Nice. I'm just a commoner, after all. My achievement was merely helping out. My participation in the battle was like getting a consolation prize.

"Hmm, it seems there is no doubt he has merit."

"Ricardo Vinder. We thank you for your contribution to the monster extermination."

Of all people, the King addressed me directly.

"Not at all, Your Majesty. I am but an assistant to the Sage. As for the Knight Order's training, that is the fruit of the miners' long years of experience. In fact, it is thanks to the kingdom's twenty years of prosperity that the area around Tuvil held out until the Voracious Dragon could be slain."

I adopted a posture of utter reverence. I'm good at this act. After all, if left to my own devices, this is how I'd naturally be. And that last bit of flattery is especially important.

"Such a commendable attitude. As King, I must reward your service. State your desire."

Here it is. The reason I showed my face in a place like this is because there's something I want.

"Yes, Your Majesty. There is one thing for which I wish to rely on your benevolence."

My mouth went dry with tension. But this was a request only I could make. Alfina, as the King's adopted daughter, was forbidden from even speaking of her biological parents. And since the last rebellion was deeply entangled with the royal family's internal affairs, the same applied to the Third Prince and the Grand Duke.

Only a young commoner who can't read the room could blurt out such a foolish, defiant demand. Well, there's more to it than just that.

"I ask that you permit my company to hold a trade fair in the Royal Capital's Forum, entrusting the space to us for three days once a year."

There was no reaction to my words.

"…………"

The King remained expressionless. The Prime Minister's face showed only confusion. He'd likely never heard the term 'trade fair'. But something similar did exist. The one place for commerce outside the guilds' framework.

"At the Royal Academy's Shoken Festival, I learned the significance of widely exhibiting one's products. I wish to ask your permission for an imitation of that in the Forum."

I added an explanation. The Prime Minister looked at the King. The King nodded.

"His Majesty's permission is granted," the Prime Minister said.

First objective, accomplished. But the real problem starts now.

"I am eternally grateful. Then, as preparation for this event, I humbly request permission to restore the two reliefs located in the Forum."

At my words, both the King and the Prime Minister looked bewildered. But in the next instant, the Prime Minister's face flushed crimson.

"As a mere commoner, are you so puffed up with your achievement that you dare meddle in the regulations of the kingdom?" the Prime Minister raised his voice.

"Prime Minister, hear the boy out. That Forum is apparently a place of recreation for commoners. It might be interesting to learn a commoner's perspective," Craig said in a casual tone. The Prime Minister fell silent, glaring at me.

"To Your Excellency the Prime Minister's words, I can only reply that they are entirely mistaken. Such a thing would be impossible, for two reasons."

From what I've seen in those documents, the Prime Minister is a devotee of reality. He bases his judgments on reality, but stubbornly refuses to let that reality change. He tries to maintain an unchanging reality through rules and laws. Of course, the King who trusts him is likely the same.

The Prime Minister worked to reduce the size of the Knight Orders to counter the ballooning military expenses from the civil war and the military interests that persisted even after the war with the Empire ended. The current King not only dealt strictly with his brother, but also cut the royal family's expenses, which had grown unchecked under the previous king, to an appropriate scale.

This is their reality. And in terms of governing the kingdom, this duo has been effective. While I have plenty of complaints, keeping things functioning without faltering for twenty years is no simple feat. That's how I see it.

Of course, I have serious doubts about whether it will function for the next twenty years.

Which means there's an opening. Ideals, by their definition, do not allow for change, but reality, by its very definition, can. I have to explain that.

"The other day, myself and my colleagues from the Food Guild, whose names were mentioned earlier, invited Princess Alfina out. It was to thank her for her help during the Shoken Festival. Now, where do you suppose we took Her Highness?"

At my words, the Prime Minister's eyes darted left and right as if he'd been caught off guard. He probably has no idea what I'm trying to say. I mean, being asked a quiz-like question by a commoner must be a fresh experience for him. On my end, I feel like I'm walking on thin ice. But this has to come off as a personal, defiant outburst.

"The place we took Princess Alfina was that very Forum. Not a single one of us was aware of what we were doing."

My self-deprecating tone made the Prime Minister's face twitch for the first time.

"For us ignorant commoners, that's all it is. Even those who use that place every day, no one remembers what is depicted there, and what is not. No, perhaps that's slightly incorrect."

I paused, then looked at the throne.

"Most likely, no one has ever paid any attention to such things since the day the reliefs were made. I will say it again. That's just how it is."

That is my defiant suggestion. The reality you all hold so dear is just that fragile.

"...If it is of such little consequence, then why do you desire its restoration now?"

A voice, devoid of emotion yet bone-chilling, rained down from a great height.

Well, he's right. Restoring the reliefs now doesn't have much meaning. But…

"The members who accompanied Princess Alfina will be participating in the trade fair held at the Forum. If possible, I ask that you allow us to operate it without reservation."

With those words, I bowed my head.

"Craig."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"There is no mistake that this person has rendered a great service in this subjugation, is there?"

"I swear on my sword and rose, there is no mistake."

"Your Majesty. ...To begin with, holding a market that bypasses the guilds is..."

"Prime Minister. This is for me to decide."

The tension in the room heightened. The King's jurisdiction, meaning this was a matter concerning the royal family.

"Ricardo, was it."

"Y, yes."

"Your wish is, to be clear, the restoration of the reliefs, and nothing more?"

"That is correct. For one such as myself, who has lived sixteen years amidst the prosperity of Your Majesty's reign and the kingdom, that is all that is appropriate for my station."

I have lived in the peace and stability of this country. That is an undeniable fact. Therefore, what I desire is only something of that small scale. And something of that small scale will not shake the result of you two's twenty years. For commoners, compared to maintaining peace and stability, it is a trivial matter. That is my second reason.

"He has saved the kingdom from crisis on two occasions. We can surely grant such an innocent wish. Prime Minister, give that to this person later."

"...As you command."

At the King's words, the Prime Minister nodded with an air of reluctance.

"I am eternally grateful."

I knelt down once more. I bowed my head so low I could see my own inner thighs. They're shaking so much I feel like I'm going to piss myself.

This is beyond the level of self-preservation. I am never making a direct appeal to the King again. Absolutely never.

...Come to think of it, what did he mean by 'twice'?