The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 115

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Strongest in Our Neighborhood (115)
Jang Gain, who had been training in martial arts, heard that the king was trying to reach him and hurried to the Communication Device.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I hope you have been well?”
—I’m doing fine. How about you, Duke Gain? Being a Territory Lord for the first time, I imagine managing a domain isn’t easy?
“I’ve been fortunate to recruit former Count Johansen, and with the dragon’s help as well, plus the experienced Duke Morona Valencia and Duke Yure’a, things seem to be running smoothly enough.”
—Ha, if a dragon is lending its aid, your domain can’t help but prosper.
“To be honest, we owe the most to the dragon. But what brings this call, if I may ask?”
—Last time, you and the dragons went to the war zones of Kram and Bermuda and sealed a gate connected to the Demonic Realm.
“Yes, that’s right.”
—Word of it reached the Emperor of the Holy Empire, and he wishes to present you with an honor. He’s sent an invitation.
Jang Gain heard the king’s words and managed a wry smile.
Since a dragon might descend from the heavens at any moment to kill him, he was training day and night without pause. How could he possibly find the leisure to travel idly to the Holy Empire and receive a medal?
“Ah, an invitation? I’m afraid I’m terribly busy these days and don’t have the time to make a journey to the Holy Empire. I apologize, but please tell him I cannot go.”
—What? You can’t go? An invitation from the Holy Empire? Duke Gain, it seems you don’t fully appreciate the situation. Our kingdom has many temples, and most of their roots trace back to the Holy Empire. And there’s nothing quite like the support of the temples for winning the hearts of the people.
“I understand that much, but I’m genuinely swamped at the moment. Surely Your Majesty can appreciate how chaotic things must be for a novice Territory Lord?”
—No matter how busy you are, with the dragon’s Spatial Movement Magic, you could be there and back in an instant, couldn’t you?
“If I go to the Holy Empire, would I return after just a day? I would need to meet the Emperor at minimum, and the nobles, and the High Priests of various temples. Who knows how many days that would take?”
—Hmm. Ordinarily such invitations are not refused. But if Duke Gain is truly this occupied, I suppose I have no choice but to tell them you cannot attend.
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
—You needn’t apologize to me. And besides, if you govern your domain as well as you seem to be, you won’t need the temples’ support—your own people will back you.
“When I have the time, I’ll make a point to visit the Holy Empire and pay my respects. Please convey that.”
—Very well, I’ll tell them. Ah, and I know I shouldn’t meddle in your internal affairs, but I’m rather concerned about something.
“What worries you, Your Majesty?”
—I hear you’ve proclaimed that you’ll levy taxes at only ten percent of income. Aren’t you afraid the treasury will run dry?
Jang Gain listened to the king’s words and had to stifle an inward chuckle.
Even the Celestial Demon Divine Church levied only ten percent of income as taxes.
Yet its people were far more prosperous and comfortable than those in other domains that paid over half their income in levies.
‘Taxation isn’t about how much you take—it’s about whether corruption is eating away at the middle.’
“As an Autonomous Territory, I don’t pay taxes to the Royal Palace, so ten percent is more than sufficient.”
—You’ll find many expenses managing a domain. Don’t let yourself be too seduced by winning hearts. Levy at least thirty percent.
“If the treasury becomes strained later, I can raise it then. For now, I’ll collect only ten percent.”
—Tsk. You won’t listen to me after all. When your tax revenue dries up, you’ll understand why I said this. For now, proceed as you see fit, Duke Gain.
“Understood. Is there anything else you’d like to advise me on?”
—Nothing but the tax matter. I’ll be in touch.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After ending the call with the king, Jang Gain didn’t head back to the training grounds but paused a moment in thought.
‘Hearing His Majesty’s words, I suppose I should look in on the domain. As a Territory Lord in name, I ought to take some interest in affairs there.’
A moment later, he summoned Sillon and achieved unity. Jang Gain’s presence vanished, replaced by a gust of wind that swept through the chamber.
As that gust of wind, Jang Gain flew first toward the office of former Count Johansen, who would be attending to administrative duties.
* * *
The five High Priests and Holy Maidens whose influence had moved the Emperor of the Holy Empire to extend the invitation received word that Jang Gain had declined it, and their expressions grew puzzled.
“This is strange. It’s quite an honor, and a fine opportunity to secure the absolute backing of the temples throughout his domain. Yet he refuses?”
As Mottier, the High Priest of the Solar Sect, tilted his head in confusion, among those visible in the Communication Device, the Holy Maiden Yurision of the Goddess Asera shared her own theory.
“Is it possible that Duke Gain has seen through our trap and realized we’re trying to lure him in?”
“We’ve only just begun discussing what kind of trap to set. How could he have discovered it?”
“You’re right, of course. Then why did he refuse the invitation?”
“This is merely my thought, but wasn’t it said that he has a contract with a Demon God?”
“Yes. The Goddess Asera told us as much.”
“If he’s in contract with a Demon God, wouldn’t he find a land saturated with divine power distasteful?”
At Mottier’s words, the High Priests and Holy Maidens nodded in near unison.
“Ah, that’s true! We alone in the world permit no low-rank Demonic Beasts or ordinary Demons to nest within our borders. A servant of a Demon God would naturally be reluctant to come here.”
“Even if we offered him a fortune, he wouldn’t come.”
“Then what do we do now?”
“If he won’t come, we’ll have to go to the trouble of finding him and killing him ourselves.”
“But he’s using the power granted by the Demon God to seduce dragons and command them as subordinates. Can we truly kill him?”
“If we could separate him from the dragons, we’d have a chance. But with them at his side, even if we managed to kill him, the cost would be catastrophic.”
At the words of Sarinarian, the Holy Maiden who served Selene, the Goddess of the Moon, all four of their faces grew grave.
After a moment of silence, Mormonte, High Priest of Ares the God of War, opened his mouth with a heavy expression.
“Even if the cost is great, we must follow the will of the gods.”
“I’m not opposed to following the will of the gods. But if possible, let’s minimize the damage. If we could just separate him from the dragons, couldn’t we kill this Gain easily?”
“But as long as he commands a dragon as his subordinate, there’s no way to separate them, is there?”
“We’ll have to find a way to make him release it. Perhaps if we all think on it, an answer will present itself.”
“Let’s all give it some thought for now. If we can find a solution, nothing could be better.”
* * *
The beastkin warriors were drilling their younger fighters in combat against the monsters under Sabel Tiger’s command, while Jang Gain sat apart, observing their progress.
Aleingde Mir approached him and spoke.
“Duke, I’ll be away for a few days visiting the Magic Tower.”
Jang Gain turned his head, and seeing the man’s expression grim as someone preparing for battle, tilted his head in puzzlement.
“The Magic Tower? Where is that?”
“It lies at the southern end of the Crerarion Mountain Range, in the marshes between the desert and the wetlands. Since it’s an unmarked region, the exact location is difficult to pinpoint—only those who know of it can find their way there.”
“At the southern end of the Crerarion Mountain Range? Even riding a Chimera Wyvern, it would take three days to fly there.”
“Yes, that’s roughly how long it will take.”
“But what business do you have at the Magic Tower?”
“Years ago, I went there through an introduction from a friend named Luxicana who was at the Magic Tower. I performed Limb Reattachment Surgery on General Kairox of the Bermuda Allied Forces.”
“Ah! I remember that. Back then, General Kairox captured you, plundered your Subspace, and you didn’t even get paid.”
“Yes. If you hadn’t rescued me then, Duke, I would have died at Kairox’s hands.”
Jang Gain, observing Aleingde Mir’s expression, could roughly guess his purpose.
“Are you going to confront this friend Luxicana?”
“After you rescued me, I made time later to call Luxicana and settled accounts with her then.”
“If you’ve already settled it, isn’t that enough?”
“I did then, and Luxicana apologized, saying she’d give me one of her treasures—a Mandragora root.”
Jang Gain’s eyes widened at once.
Dragor was an expensive medicinal herb, a key ingredient in potions. Dragor over a hundred years old served as material for mid-rank potions, five-hundred-year Dragor for high-grade potions, thousand-year Dragor for the finest potions, and Mandragora was known to be so rare that its value couldn’t even be assessed.
“She said she’d give you Mandragora?”
“Yes. But considerable time has passed, and she hasn’t brought it or asked me to come fetch it. When I made contact asking about it, she said she’d been too busy to reach out and told me to come get it myself. So I sent my disciple Laila there. Her Communication Device signal came through when she arrived at the Magic Tower, but for the past week, there’s been no word from her at all.”
As Aleingde Mir spoke, Jang Gain’s brow furrowed involuntarily.
“If Lady Laila has gone missing at the Magic Tower, this friend Luxicana could well be the culprit.”
“It occurred to me that Laila might have lost her Communication Device, so I contacted Luxicana, and she said Laila still hasn’t come to find her.”
“So you’re planning to go investigate directly?”
“Yes. I need to find my disciple’s whereabouts, and if possible, obtain the Mandragora from Luxicana.”
“This is just my thought, but what if this mage Luxicana didn’t want to give up the Mandragora, so she killed Lady Laila and hid the body?”
“I’m considering that possibility as well.”
“Then isn’t going to the Magic Tower extremely dangerous?”
“Dangerous or not, I must find my disciple. And I must obtain the Mandragora.”
“But you could end up in danger yourself.”
“I’m making what preparations I can before I go.”
“At the Magic Tower, aren’t there other mages besides this Luxicana?”
“When I was there, there were ten or so high-tier mages of Fifth-Rank and above, and if you count Fourth and Third-Rank mages as well, there were likely more than a hundred.”
“What rank is this Luxicana?”
“She’s Sixth-Rank, the same as me.”
“Then she holds a considerable position at the Magic Tower.”
“Excluding the Tower Master, Grasilah, she’s among the top three mages there.”
“What rank is the Tower Master?”
“When I was there, she was Seven-Star Grade, but I cannot say whether she remains so now or has advanced to Eighth-Rank.”
“As the saying goes, eight bends inward—if the Tower Master takes Luxicana’s side, you’ll be in grave danger.”
“The Tower Master and I have personal ties, so I don’t think she’d side with Luxicana so one-sidedly.”
“If that relationship had remained intact, surely the Tower Master would have come forward to search for Lady Laila herself when told she’d gone missing at the Magic Tower. Have you informed the Tower Master that Lady Laila disappeared there?”
“I contacted the Tower Master as well, but for some reason, I haven’t been able to reach her.”
“Hmm. I can’t send you alone. It’s too dangerous. Go with Noxscasarsis.”
Hearing Jang Gain’s words, Aleingde Mir’s expression became bewildered.
“What? You think Noxscasarsis would be willing to go to the Magic Tower with me?”
“Come with me to see Noxscasarsis. I’ll handle the persuasion.”
“If Noxscasarsis were to accompany us, I’d certainly feel assured, but I’m not certain he’d actually agree to go.”
“He’s been idle lately with nothing much to do, so he’ll go.”
A short while later, Jang Gain sought out Noxscasarsis and told him the story of Aleingde Mir and Luxicana, asking him to go along and help.
“Why should I bother with something so tedious? No. I’m not going. If anyone’s going, it’s you. I’ll keep this territory safe in the meantime.”
“You have nothing particularly to do here anyway. Just think of it as getting some fresh air and go.”
“I said no. I’m not going. And if it’s somewhere that dangerous, you should go, not me. Where else would you find better real-world combat experience than fighting the mages of the Magic Tower?”
“No matter how skilled the mages are, they can’t compare to you, a dragon.”
“I’m alone, but the Magic Tower’s mages are many. And mages at the Magic Tower can wield spells one tier above their actual rank. So it would be an excellent learning experience for you.”

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