Chapter 181: Chapter 181

Those walking behind Rubia had been overwhelmed by the sight of Viscount Kurk’s entourage slaughtered outside the castle. Nevertheless, they were likely still evaluating her in real time. To be recognized as the lord, every step mattered.

"Walk with confidence. Chin up."

Displaying dignity was her responsibility. Ensuring her safety was mine. I walked along the main beams, quietly following Rubia while scanning the surroundings. No one stood in her way.

Within the castle walls, many burst into tears, forgetting shame and greeting her with joy. Most had tears in their eyes. Rubia responded to each person with gentle warmth, her gaze moistening as well.

I inspected every corner carefully. Of those currently inside the castle, not a single one appeared hostile toward Rubia. That was no easy feat.

Is this what they call… virtue?

"No threats. The keep is secure."

"Thank you. It’s all because of you. Um… but what do I do now?" Rubia bit her lip nervously.

"How about holding a meeting?"

What she needed now was an official setting—something to solidify her position in Erast for all to see.

Rubia swallowed hard.

"We’ll gather in the main hall in one hour. Please prepare any relevant reports by department."

"We will be there shortly!"

Those who had been imprisoned brightened and scattered quickly.

"Did I… do it right?"

Once everyone left, a maid standing by the door stepped inside.

"M-Milady… your bath is ready…"

She’s not in good condition.

The red-haired maid’s eyes brimmed with tears. Bruises marked her face—evidently from fists. Her arms and legs bore scratches and blunt marks.

Rubia bit down on her lip. Then, quietly, she walked up and embraced the maid. Looking at her made it painfully clear how the former lord had treated others. It wasn’t surprising. Viscount Kurk belonged to the Necron.

Without saying a word, Rubia gently patted her back.

So this is what she looked like?

After her bath, Rubia underwent a complete transformation. She’d washed off the mud and blood before putting on clean clothes. Her damp hair clung softly to clean, pale skin. Though she wore no adornments, she seemed to shine. Remembering the red handprints and dark bruises on that pale skin made my chest tighten.

That won’t happen again.No matter what.

Rubia exhaled slowly as she walked to the audience chamber. The curve of her nape moved gently with her breath.

"Do you think I can do this? You’ll help me, right?"

"Within my abilities."

I could at least offer my opinion. After all the lives I’d lived, I’d absorbed a fair number of skills. They probably wouldn’t be especially helpful in governing Erast, but…

She relaxed before I could say anything else. Her trust made me feel guilty. After all, it had taken watching her die over and over to reach this point. For original chapters go to novᴇlfire.net

This was my second time in Erast Castle. The first had been with Rena as a tournament participant. Now, I had come to make Rubia the lord. Perhaps because the person I walked with was different, the castle felt entirely new.

We reached the audience chamber quickly. As Rubia approached, those who had arrived earlier stood at once. The room was already full.

The elder who had been imprisoned spoke as if representing them all. Gone was the ragged man who had lacked even a shave in prison. Now clad in neat black attire, he looked composed and energetic. All eyes turned to Rubia.

"W-what do I do? They’re all suddenly calling me lady…"

Was she nervous? Her heartbeat raced. Her slender fingers trembled slightly.

"Don’t panic. Stay calm. Weren’t you expecting this?"

"I knew it might come up, but not this suddenly…"

"You saved everyone here."

I pulled up the translucent scenario window again.

[Crown Rubia as the Lord of Erast!]

[Raise her governance level to 10!]

Maybe this time it won’t be so difficult…

If she had already been acknowledged as the lord, raising her governance level should come naturally. In Rena’s case, she hadn’t even gotten near a branch leader before dying repeatedly.

S-rank scenarios are supposed to be harder…

Then again, maybe I had simply grown stronger.

While I pondered, Rubia spoke again. "But it wasn’t me… it was you who saved them…"

"That means it was you."

"I don’t understand…"

"They’re all looking at you. Ask them—if not you, then who should be lord?"

She discreetly clenched a fold in the back of her crimson robe. There was no reason to hesitate. Rubia knew that. But the heart always needed time to catch up.

All she needed was a gentle push. Rubia opened her mouth.

"Magistrate Illia, is there any issue with me taking the lordship?"

Her voice, though a bit nervous, did not waver.

The elder known as Magistrate Illia smiled with pride. "None whatsoever, my lady. Please review this will."

He tore open the seal of a wax-stamped envelope.

He unfolded the document and held it up for all to see. It clearly stated that Rubia Ray had been named the rightful heir to Erast.

"No mistake. That’s the previous lord’s signature…"

"Ah…! My father did say he’d written a will, but I didn’t expect this…!"

"Control your expression."

Rubia addressed the room again, her expression composed.

"I thought Kurk had taken it… but you held onto it."

The pulse beating beneath her robe was impossible to miss. Even without Detection active, I could feel it vividly.

The old magistrate nodded. "It was too important. I hid it in a place only I knew. Not that it was strictly necessary, your legitimacy as the rightful heir was clear even without it."

"Exactly. You’re the direct descendant of the previous lord. As such, under imperial edict, no separate approval is required."

"The real issue is…" the old man continued, "there are rumors that you were killed by the Empire’s hand."

Rumors? No, it was true. Judging by their reactions, the others here already knew as much.

"That’s why… many of us didn’t actively resist Kurk. Shameful, I know."

"Tell them you don’t intend to oppose the Empire."

"You must. I’ll explain why later."

Rubia nodded slightly.

"I have no intention of going against the Empire."

Naturally, relief washed over the faces in the room. If Rubia bore a grudge and defied the Empire, they would all be implicated.

"If that’s the case! Then we have nothing to fear…"

A monocled, middle-aged woman flipped through her papers with a dry expression. Then, she finally said, "I’ll report the current status of the domain."

She hadn’t been imprisoned earlier. She looked emaciated, with sunken eyes.

"Did she cooperate with your uncle?"

"Don’t judge her too harshly. Without her, the domain wouldn’t have functioned. The crops in storage would’ve rotted away without proper management."

"I-it’s not that much…"

Her cheeks flushed faintly. The woman with shadows under her eyes turned to Rubia.

"Oh, my lady knows what kind of person she is. Please go easy on her."

The magistrate shrugged. It seemed there had been a misunderstanding.

"Hm! No, it’s fine. Please proceed, tax officer."

The woman nodded and continued.

"The County of Erast currently holds 721 households. Total population: 3,841. As of today, down by 30."

"They weren’t productive citizens."

"Trash better off gone! Though, I don’t know how you got rid of them, my lady."

Someone glanced at Rubia cautiously. Perhaps to them, Rubia had returned as a sorceress who could make people explode with a finger.

"Should I tell them how I did it?"

"It’s not… can’t I introduce you?"

I firmly rejected it. I had no intention of burdening Rubia with that kind of risk. I had to stay hidden.

The tax officer with the monocle said, "The garrison numbers are 151."

Those I hadn’t seen earlier must have been off-duty or stationed far away.

Rubia tilted her head. "That many? Wasn’t it under a hundred before?"

"When the lord changed, many young farmers were conscripted into the army."

As long as I was protecting her, numbers didn’t matter. I alone could deal with a hundred or two hundred ordinary humans.

"Release those conscripted against their will. Only keep those who volunteer. And compensate them for lost income during their forced service."

The tax officer alternated glances between her white paper and Rubia.

"Next is… flood control."

"That was one of Father’s top concerns. What’s the issue?"

"The previous lord sold all the materials for it."

"To fund his indulgences. Nothing more."

The officials were left speechless. They had no idea what Kurk Ray had done while they were being imprisoned.

"Winter flood season is near. We’ve submitted an urgent request for materials to a merchant guild. But our current budget barely covers that expense."

The issue was money. It meant that compensating the conscripted farmers would be difficult. But I had no intention of letting Rubia worry about money.

"Tell them you have plenty."

Finally, it was time to use that money.

I always died before I got the chance.

Just thinking about the silver bars buried near Yublam made me feel oddly satisfied. Those who buried them would be dead soon anyway. They wouldn’t need the money.

"Tell them not to worry about funds."

Even without accounting skills, it was simple enough. If I dug up all those silver bars, I could easily fund Erast for the next five years.