Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 257: Punishing the Corrupt Official
“Excuse me, may I have a moment?”
“Huh?”
Rest stepped in between the two men.
“Hak—”
The village chief tried to speak, but Rest silenced him by raising a finger to his lips.
Then… he stepped forward to face the feudal lord directly.
“Excuse me, but isn’t your reasoning a bit off, Lord?”
“And who might you be?”
“Just a traveler staying at a nearby inn.”
Rest purposely withheld his name and status, choosing to introduce himself in that way.
“Hmph… A mere traveler has no right to speak! How rude!”
The lord swatted dismissively with his hand, as if brushing away an insect.
(He really hasn’t realized I’m a noble…)
Not that he could be blamed. Rest had come out in the sleepwear provided by the inn.
Unlike Celestine, who was already fully dressed in her noble battle attire, no one would guess from Rest’s appearance that he was nobility. Celestine was also hidden from view by the villagers behind him.
“Still, I’m not exactly unrelated. I’m the one who defeated the sea serpent.”
“What…?”
The lord’s eyes narrowed, and he began sizing Rest up suspiciously.
“You mean you’re an adventurer?”
“Something like that. I make a living hunting monsters.”
It wasn’t a lie.
Ever since he became a count, he’d been doing nothing but exterminating monsters. It was practically his main job at this point.
“The materials from the sea serpent were sold to a merchant by my companion, and the money was donated to help rebuild the village. Donations like that shouldn’t be subject to taxation.”
“Tch…”
The lord clicked his tongue loudly.
Still, he remained arrogant, puffing out his chest as he spoke.
“You ignorant commoners wouldn’t know, but… nobles like us sometimes have to make extralegal decisions that go beyond the rules.”
“…And what exactly do you mean by that?”
“I mean there are things that must take priority over the kingdom’s laws.”
The lord glared at Rest, snorting angrily through his nose.
“This village was originally favored over others due to the influence of a powerful landowner. The villagers abandoned their original work and took part in incomprehensible projects, which reduced tax income. I’ve given them special treatment until now, so what’s the problem with collecting a little extra tax?”
“…”
“This is a perfectly reasonable decision by the ruling lord! Outsiders should keep their noses out of it!”
As Rest stood silently, listening, what appeared to be the lord’s guards stepped forward to block his path.
“If you interfere any further, we’ll arrest you as a traitor! We’ll confiscate your assets and sell your family into slavery!”
“Wow… honestly, I’m shocked.”
He hadn’t even tried to trap the guy—and yet the lord was gleefully confessing his own crimes one after another.
Not just morally gray—this guy was pitch black.
“Since you’ve confessed this much… that’s enough.”
“…We’ve heard enough.”
As Rest gave a subtle signal with his eyes, Celestine stepped forward from behind the crowd of villagers.
“Ah, you are…?”
The lord, who had been so arrogant just moments before, instantly shrank in fear at the sight of Celestine, clearly dressed and carrying herself like someone of high nobility.
“Nice to meet you. I’m accompanying this gentleman here. My name is Celestine Crocus.”
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“Cr—Crocus!?”
The Duke Crocus family.
A name every citizen of the kingdom would know. The most prominent noble house, second only to the royal family.
“This should be proof enough. But if you need further verification, I can have my father provide documentation to confirm my identity.”
“Guh… hii…”
Celestine took out a silver pocket watch engraved with her family’s crest.
In this world, where there are no driver’s licenses or national ID cards, nobles used crested swords or accessories to verify their status.
“N-No way… why would Duke Crocus heiress be here…?”
The lord, flustered, began backing away and letting out odd squealing noises.
His face paled, and sweat poured from him as Celestine pressed on.
“By the way, the gentleman here is also the current head of the Count Clover family. In other words, he’s a sitting count.”
“C-count…?”
The lord’s own title was baron.
He had just threatened a noble two ranks above him, even calling him a traitor.
“You also mentioned selling someone’s family, didn’t you? That would include his fiancées, who happen to be ladies of the Marquis Rosemary family.”
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“Ro…Rose…marquis…?”
“And as for these so-called ‘extralegal measures’—yes, sometimes nobles must act outside the law to protect their lands and people. But… do you truly believe that applies here? I’m no legal expert, so perhaps we should ask my father and his good friend, the Minister of Justice?”
“H-h-buh… buhihihihihi…”
The sounds coming from the lord’s mouth were no longer recognizable as words. He sounded like some strange beast from the wild.
“I-I-I-I-I-I just remembered something urgent so if you’ll e-excuse meeeEEE!”
And with that bizarre line, he turned and sprinted away from the fishing village at full speed.