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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 10: The People of Cron
Time had passed since the incident involving the Raion family.
Contrary to my concerns, their response remained surprisingly quiet.
It was so uncharacteristically subdued that I wondered if this was truly the same Raion family I'd read about in the World Archive, known for their boar-like ferocity.
Relieved, I turned my attention back to my own domain—specifically, my office.
Following the clash with the Raion family, Nova began to cling to me more than ever.
"Lord, I've completed this month's financial report. Please review it."
Previously, she would stand before me and deliver her reports in a formal manner.
Apart from her inscrutable bright smile, there was nothing particularly unusual.
But now...
"Lord, I've organized the budget for immigrant support. Please take a look. Ah! There are some complex parts, so I'll explain them to you."
She would press close to me, offering explanations.
While her explanations were perfectly clear, the way she leaned in—pressing right up against me—made it impossible to focus.
With the soft scent of hydrangeas drifting off her and that body-to-body proximity, it felt less like a budget meeting and more like a sneak attack from a succubus.
"The key point is the adjustment of tax rates for immigrants and subsidies. We've categorized the freemen based on their ability to pay relocation costs and adjusted the tax rates accordingly."
Nova continued speaking, but I couldn't focus on her words.
No matter how many times I looked, Nova's beauty struck me as unreal. No—she wasn’t just beautiful. She was breathtaking, like a goddess carved from light.
How could someone be this stunning? Maybe it was just the way things worked in another world.
"Lord... Lord! Are you listening to me?"
"Mm...? Ah! Yes, I heard you. I understand. Let's proceed with this plan."
Having a beautiful girl like Nova cling to me was undoubtedly delightful.
However, lately, whenever she flashed that sly smile, I felt a chill down my spine. It reminded me of the gaze one might encounter in a training simulation game like Princess Maker.
…It must be just my imagination.
＊ ＊ ＊
While I was enjoying these small events and brief moments of happiness, the world of the『World Archive』, true to its nature, didn't let its characters rest.
An event occurred.
A few days later, Hart approached me with a serious expression.
"Bandits have begun to appear."
"Bandits?"
Weren't the bandits in our domain already dealt with by our knights?
As if reading my thoughts, Hart continued his explanation.
"The bandits within our territory were indeed eliminated by Rikain and the knights."
He showed me a map, marking the locations where the bandits had been eradicated with skull symbols.
Seeing it laid out like this, it was clear our knights had thoroughly dealt with them. I'm glad we provided support.
As I was lost in thought, Hart pointed to the border areas of our territory.
"However, new bandits have started appearing, seemingly coming from outside our domain."
"From outside?"
"Yes, they are emerging in the border regions between our territory and that of the Raion family."
"What about the damage? Have any of our citizens been harmed by these bandits?"
If these bandits had harmed my precious citizens, I couldn't stand idly by as their lord.
Hart responded calmly.
"Fortunately, none of our citizens have been injured. However... the freemen attempting to migrate to our territory have suffered significant losses."
"Freemen have been harmed!?"
Upon hearing Hart's detailed account, the situation was grave. Some of the freemen en route to our domain were found dead, bearing sword wounds, their belongings entirely stolen. The women among them had suffered unspeakable atrocities.
"Is it possible to protect the immigrants?"
"It's not easy. Even if we deploy all our knights, safeguarding every immigrant is challenging."
Hart explained further, pointing to the map. The bandits were appearing across a vast area along our border, making it difficult to address.
Their strategic movements resembled those of a military force.
"The best we can do is to encourage the immigrants to travel in groups during the day for safety."
"I see... Let's proceed with that plan to minimize any harm to the immigrants."
"Understood, my lord."
Having lived in a country where it was safe to go out even at night, this situation truly made me feel the reality of this different world.
"Also, inform our citizens about the bandit sightings and advise them to flee immediately if they sense danger."
"Yes, my lord."
Thus, Hart and I discussed our response to the bandit threat.
After Hart left, I turned to Nova, who had been quietly listening beside me.
Seeing her smile at me once again, my heart raced, and I hurriedly spoke.
"Nova, should I prepare anything else for the sake of our citizens?"
I subtly hinted at the possibility of increasing expenditures.
Nova smiled and replied.
"From my perspective, there's no need for you to make any additional preparations, my lord."
"Really?"
"Yes, the people of Cron are already thoroughly prepared."
She gazed out the window as she spoke.
As the treasurer and heir to the White Merchant Guild, Nova seemed to perceive things beyond my understanding.
I asked her—
"What do you mean by 'prepared'?"
She looked surprised but then smiled knowingly.
"Your feigned ignorance is truly merchant-like, my lord. You've already set everything in motion, haven't you?"
"No, I..."
"Ah... it's because of the Raion family, isn't it? Understood. If you say so, I'll pretend not to know as well."
Wait, what is she talking about?
I genuinely have no idea!
I couldn't comprehend what Nova was saying. Though I wanted to ask her, I restrained myself to maintain my dignity as a lord.
Soon after, I would come to understand the meaning behind Nova's words.
＊ ＊ ＊
Garche—before being ‘hired’ by the Raion family, he was a bandit.
He used to live a laid-back, if somewhat criminal, life in the mountains—robbing travelers and merchants as they passed through.
But one day, he made the mistake of targeting a carriage that belonged to none other than the Raion family.
That’s when he met Hadem Raion, the so-called『Lion of Hell』of the Raion family—whose name he had only ever heard in terrifying rumors.
That day, his bandit gang was wiped out.
He barely survived.
Instead of being killed, he was forcibly ‘recruited’—no, ‘conscripted’—into the service of the Raion family.
While enduring what could only be described as abuse disguised as ‘training,’ he was approached by Lagos, the right-hand man of Lord Hadem himself. Lagos handed him a secret mission.
The assignment? ‘Return to being a bandit—and harass the people of Cron territory.’
Garche gladly accepted.
Escaping from hellish training and going back to being a bandit, with permission to pillage? It would’ve been ‘weird’ not to take that deal.
And just like that, he found joy again. For the first time in a while, his days were fun.
He started by targeting the freemen migrating to the Cron territory. This was partially due to Lagos' orders to intercept those fleeing even from the Raion territory—but also because it was far too dangerous to attack directly inside Cron’s lands.
His years as a bandit had taught him well—start small on the outskirts, stir up trouble at the borders, stretch the knights thin... then strike when the prize shows itself.
And so, he did.
He led over a dozen small raids around the territory border, preparing for a major strike.
Finally, his patience paid off—a carriage transporting salt and tax goods to the capital had just departed.
These carriages were typically guarded like royal treasure, but this one had departed late—with barely any escort.
This was the moment Garche had been waiting for.
He and his crew prepared for the ambush.
It was a full moon night. The early morning air was sharp against his nose when he finally spotted the flicker of lights from the distant carriage.
“Boss… I mean, Garche—there it is!”
“I see it. Ha! Looks like we’ll be eating like kings tomorrow night!”
Even from a distance, Garche could tell this wagon was carrying something ‘serious.’
He’d heard they could do whatever they wanted with the loot—so if they flipped this haul, they could hit the city and party till they dropped.
Grinning like a madman, Garche drew his sword and shouted—
“Move out!! You bastards!! It’s hunting time!!!”
“UWOOOOOOHH!!!”
“Let’s go!!! Hyaah!!”
At his signal, his crew surged forward, charging straight for the wagon.
This… This was the moment he lived for.
In the darkness, as they rushed in, he knew how this would go. The travelers would scream, panic like frightened rabbits, and scatter in terror. That sense of absolute control—to decide whether someone lived or died—Garche lived for that thrill.
“Kuhaha! Kill the men, take the women!!”
“Run, little bunnies! Run for your lives, hahahaha!”
But as they charged toward the wagon, something… felt off.
The people at the wagon weren’t running.
Usually, just the sight of them would send folks into a blind panic.
But these guys—they didn’t even flinch.
Then it happened.
BANG—!
“GAAAHHH!!!”
A deafening sound—and the guy right next to Garche got blasted off his horse.
Garche had seen that kind of thing before.
“Guns! They’ve got guns!!”
Guns. The kind only knights could afford to use.
Garche had seen one, but could never afford to use it himself.
But these people—these supposed ‘commoners’—were armed. He could see the glint of polished swords and spears in the moonlight.
They weren’t running. They were charging.
“You filthy scum! Do you have any idea whose property this is?!”
“You dare lay hands on our lord’s goods?! You’re all dead meat today!!”
‘What… What the hell is happening? The intel said they were just commoners. But nothing about their gear or their formation said ‘ordinary’.’
Garche was stunned.
“Retreat! Retreat!! It’s a trap!! They set a goddamn trap!!!”
BANG—!
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?! Leave your heads behind, you bastards!!”
Garche abandoned his crew and fled with everything he had. The ones who lagged behind were captured—and what happened to them was… horrific.
And even in their final moments, they never realized the truth—
The ones who ambushed them? They really ‘were’ Cron’s commoners.
The people of Cron had heard rumors about bandit attacks. So they decided to take matters into their own hands.
To protect themselves—and their lord’s property—they armed themselves.
Two guns. Each one cost the equivalent of a full year’s salary.
But they had the money—thanks to increased wages.
They had access to weapons—thanks to the merchants that now filled their land.
And they kept it a secret.
Why? Because if their lord found out, he’d likely spend from his personal fortune again to support them. And they felt he had already done more than enough.
So, this time, they protected him.
They secretly trained. Armed themselves. And struck when it mattered.
That day, the people of Cron wiped out an entire bandit crew and etched a new legend into the land—
A tale that would be sung by minstrels across the land.
And that song…
It led ‘Her’ straight to Cron.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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