I Only Tried to Seduce the Villainess Sister Who Was Supposed to Kill Me - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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78.

[I have made it so that you can return to physical form whenever you wish. This is my gift to you.]

With those words, Shin disappeared.

For a while, I stared blankly at the spot where Shin had vanished.

The fact that Shin had been here just moments ago didn’t feel real.

“Elinea.”

Theor called my name.

“We…”

“We’re alive.”

His eyes were gentle as he squeezed my hand and spoke.

“Since Shin said we can return to physical form whenever we want, shall we take our time going back?”

My eyes widened slightly at Theor’s words.

“Everyone will worry if we’re gone too long, so three or four days should be fine.”

I thought three days or so would indeed be acceptable.

“Then let’s visit places we haven’t been to. Since we’re in spirit form, we can go anywhere, right?”

“Good idea.”

Theor squeezed my hand and smiled warmly.

In our current spirit forms, we could travel anywhere throughout the Empire without even riding Demorga.

We first went to visit the places that had suffered damage.

Fortunately, we had prevented landslides in advance, and when the plague occurred, we quickly contained it and minimized secondary damage through holy relics, so each village hadn’t suffered major harm.

Relieved by this, I carefully examined the damaged villages and discussed with Theor methods for helping the affected villages recover more quickly.

“Still, it’s really fortunate that the water purification was completed quickly.”

“His Highness and Countess Triaize worked hard.”

“Is the reconstruction of Failun and Hombogal villages proceeding?”

“Since they’re in Marquis Goatania’s territory, the reconstruction will be handled there. They said the Imperial Court sent reconstruction support funds to the Marquis Goatania’s estate.”

“Hmm…”

I hoped the reconstruction support funds sent by the Imperial Court would truly be used for Failun and Hombogal villages, but usually the outcome of such matters depended on how good-natured the lord of that territory was.

“What’s wrong? Is something bothering you?”

“…Theor. Shall we briefly visit the Marquis Goatania’s estate?”

“The Marquis Goatania’s estate?”

“Well, as you can see, reconstruction support funds were sent, but it seems like proper reconstruction surveys haven’t even been conducted yet.”

When I pointed to the two villages destroyed by landslides, Theor’s gaze turned toward them.

Since we were spirits, we could look down at both villages from above, making it very easy to assess how much progress had been made.

“You’re absolutely right. The reconstruction support funds were sent as emergency aid directly to the Marquis Goatania’s estate just two days after the landslide occurred. Yet even now, several days later, there’s no sign of human activity at all.”

Since the Imperial Court had bundled this as emergency support to enable quick recovery from the landslide, by now many people should have been examining this area, recording the scope of damage and how to proceed with restoration.

At Theor’s words, I nodded once and said.

“Exactly. I hope such a thing isn’t happening, but if Marquis Goatania isn’t using the Imperial reconstruction support funds for the villages, we need to correct that.”

“With the Imperial Court in chaos due to the appearance of the Demon God and dark sorcerers, there’s certainly a possibility of that.”

“Right. He probably thinks that since the Imperial Court is busy right now, they won’t particularly care about the people in his territory’s villages.”

From the beginning, Failun Village, Hombogal Village, and even Peboniel Village and the surrounding villages all looked like poor villages compared to other territories.

That meant Marquis Goatania might not be a lord who worked hard for his territory.

Theor seemed to think the same way.

“As Elinea says, it would be better to check.”

Theor extended his hand to me, and I took it while nodding.

Theor knew the way to the Marquis Goatania’s estate well, so he probably took my hand to guide me, but my mind was adding special meaning to that action and indulging in happy fantasies.

This wasn’t a situation for such happy fantasies, so I calmed my racing heart several times and headed toward the Marquis Goatania’s estate.

“Wow, this place looks like a different world.”

The Marquis Goatania’s estate was as large and splendid as Perioze’s Sister’s ducal mansion.

Moreover, the statues of successive heads of the Goatania family erected throughout the vast gardens showed how superior they considered themselves to be.

“Statues of family heads – this is my first time seeing such a thing.”

“It’s my first time too. They don’t seem to have been made very long ago.”

Theor examined each statue of the successive family heads as he spoke.

“Then all these statues weren’t erected over time, but were first put up by the current head?”

“That’s right. All the statues are dated from the year before last.”

That meant the current generation’s head was consumed by excessive superiority complex.

“Let’s find out how the Imperial reconstruction support funds are being used.”

“Let’s do that. The family head’s office is usually on the 3rd floor with a clear view of the mansion entrance, so let’s go there.”

Theor extended his hand to me again as he spoke.

I took his hand and nodded.

Just then.

“But sir, if we don’t handle the village repair work first, the Imperial Palace will surely contact us.”

As soon as we found the office, we could see Marquis Goatania and his aide conducting business.

The aide placed a repair work report about the landslide-damaged villages on Marquis Goatania’s desk as he spoke.

My eyes widened involuntarily, thinking we had arrived at just the right time for this conversation.

“How busy is the Imperial Palace right now – do you think they’ll pay attention to my territory? This kind of thing can be postponed.”

Marquis Goatania pushed the repair work report aside and began checking other business.

“But the people of both villages have been…”

“They’re fine in their shelters, aren’t they? Why are you so eager to handle this urgently? Is this urgent? Do you really think this is the most pressing matter?”

“The Imperial Court even sent reconstruction support funds, and considering the people of the damaged villages, we should act as quickly as possible…”

“My goodness, you know one thing but not two.”

Marquis Goatania clicked his tongue, saying what use was Gotania’s aide when he was this stupid.

“The reconstruction support funds from the Imperial Court are precious assets to increase Gotania’s wealth. If we invest that money and multiply it several times, we can restore those damaged villages quickly too.”

“…!”

“It may be a bit inconvenient for now. But that inconvenience is something they should rightfully endure. Why? Because they were the ones who settled in an area prone to landslides.”

At those words, my brow furrowed with irritation without realizing it.

“How can someone who’s the head of a territory say such things?”

Even Elinea’s father, a commoner-born man who only cared about money, spent generously for his territory’s people.

Of course, that too was a calculated choice based on his creed of ‘my surroundings must prosper for me to prosper’ rather than pure goodwill.

Though it was a very merchant-like way of giving, the people of Brensia territory lived quite prosperous lives because of it.

“We need to report this matter to the Imperial Court.”

Theor also seemed angry at Marquis Goatania’s behavior, wearing an expression cold enough to freeze a person as he spoke.

“Anyway, leave this matter alone and invest all the reconstruction support funds from the Imperial Court in new business. Since the Imperial Court might tour the villages to check, stick up a few construction signs here and there to make it look like we’re trying to maintain them.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Marquis Goatania’s words, the aide swallowed a short sigh and picked up the repair work report again.

Then he went to his desk, sat down, and checked what budget could be allocated immediately.

“This person seems to be trying to start the repair work somehow.”

“Since Marquis Goatania told him to make it look like they’re trying to maintain them, he’s probably planning to make the most of those words.”

“Ah…?”

“If the aide could arbitrarily use all the Imperial reconstruction support funds, things would proceed quickly, but since he said he’d invest that money, it will end up progressing slowly anyway.”

A sigh escaped me naturally at Theor’s words.

I couldn’t understand how the aide helping the lord seemed more like a lord than the actual lord who should be making his territory prosperous and working for his people.

“Still, it’s fortunate that Marquis Goatania’s aide clearly cherishes and loves the Gotania territory more than anyone.”

“Someone like him should become the lord.”

If someone who doesn’t see the lord’s position as power but works for the territory’s people became lord, the Empire would become much more prosperous.

Unfortunately, it would be difficult to find such sentiment among the Empire’s nobles.

It would be inherently difficult for those born and raised as nobles to truly understand commoners’ lives and have the desire to work for them.

But there are certainly people like Theor and others who truly strive for the Empire’s citizens.

“First, we must report Marquis Goatania’s misconduct to His Highness.”

Theor summoned Pandeum and had him report to Lloyd about Marquis Goatania’s misconduct of trying to convert the Imperial reconstruction support funds into personal investment money.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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