Chapter 43: Epilogue

At around the time Sibyl defeated the grand crocodile, the Lockwood territory was in utter chaos.

A mountain of petitions from farmers had arrived before Leonard, the head of the house. With taxes raised beyond sixty percent, the farmers could no longer survive and were begging for relief. Some, already convinced they could never pay, had begun fleeing to other territories.

“They do nothing but complain instead of working…! This too is because that coward spoiled them.”

Leonard directed his anger toward Sibyl.

“Still, this situation has become somewhat troublesome.”

His gaze shifted to the farmers being suppressed by soldiers below.

Outside the manor, a large crowd of farmers had begun a riot, and Lockwood soldiers were cutting them down one after another.

“Damn garbage, getting carried away!”

Hail wiped the blood from his sword. He had executed farmers who spoke badly of him. That had finally pushed the farmers—already seething over the tax increase—past their breaking point.

“All we did was protest! Why did he have to be cut down!?”

A young man shouted while holding an old farmer who’d been slashed and killed.

“Did you think you could defy your lord and escape punishment?”

The soldiers spoke coldly and cut down the young man as well. Though the surviving farmers fled, they glared back at the soldiers and House Lockwood with hatred in their eyes.

“Hmph. Cowards.”

Hail snorted at their retreating backs.

But he didn’t understand that excessive suppression was certain to leave deep resentment behind.

This incident would spark riots in even more villages.

“Hail, that’s enough.”

Leonard emerged from the manor and called to him.

“Father, is something wrong? I can handle rabble like this by myself.”

“I’m not worried about you losing. But stop carrying out executions like this. Even after raising taxes to sixty percent, the revenue is disappointing. Some have even fled. As much as it pains me to admit it, that coward seems to have been skilled at currying favor with the farmers.”

Leonard spoke with bitter resentment.

“Perhaps because he was a coward, he understood how farmers felt?”

The sudden mention of the brother he hated sharpened Hail’s tone.

“I’ve considered the matter from every angle. We will call that coward back.”

“What are you saying, Father!?”

Hail couldn’t help shouting at Leonard’s sudden proposal.

“Don’t worry. We’ll merely work him to the bone. Tell him we’ll allow him to live in this house again and he’ll return in delight. As the next head, all you need to do is use him properly. If he hasn’t died, he’s probably somewhere in the Rodel Empire. I’ll send soldiers to find him.”

“Understood, Father. I’ll search for him myself. Something might happen if we leave it only to our men.”

“I don’t believe this warrants your personal involvement… but very well. Going outside from time to time will be good experience. I’ll assign several guards to you.”

“Thank you.”

Hail thanked him calmly, but rage boiled in the depths of his heart.

(The Lockwood territory has no need for my brother! What is Father thinking!? I’ll find him myself and take his head!)

Hail returned to his room and immediately began preparing for the journey.

“You men, we’re leaving for the Rodel Empire. Get ready.”

“”Yes, sir!””

Those who answered were subordinates who had sworn loyalty to Hail. They had a faint idea of what he intended.

Early the following morning, Hail and his men mounted their horses and departed for the Rodel Empire.

That concludes Volume 1. My sincere thanks to everyone who has read this far!

Thank you as well to everyone who has bookmarked and rated the story, and to everyone supporting it through comments and likes. Your support is what has allowed me to keep writing.