Oblivion (15)

“What’s so serious?”

When I entered Greek’s office, the young man was flipping through documents with a very serious expression.

It seemed like the issue with Siena had been resolved.

The reason he seemed so serious was probably because of the many troublesome matters left. At least he hadn’t been able to deal with Count Lutyian yet.

“Master! When did you arrive? If you had let me know, I would have gone out!”

“It’s fine. You must be busy with Lutyian’s matters, so there was no need for that.”

I sat down on the sofa where Greek had been sitting.

Greek nodded and sat down beside me.

“I think you’re doing well. The attitude of trying to fight and win, I think that’s very good.”

“Is that so? Because he tried to kill Siena in the territory, I’m thinking of using Baron Gerin to try some different schemes. I won’t let Siena be taken again.”

“Hm, but if there’s one worry, won’t just having murder evidence make things difficult?”

“What? But…!”

Greek looked surprised, his eyes wide open.

I handed him the documents I had brought, which I had taken from Count Lutyian’s study.

These documents clearly showed the evidence of tampering with relief supplies.

“Master, what is this?”

Greek grabbed the documents and expressed his curiosity.

“Before I explain the documents, let’s first touch on the point that while attempted murder is definitely a crime, what is considered important in noble society is the trivial concept of ownership and affiliation.”

“That’s…”

“In noble society, the fact that you held someone from another family, by force or not, will probably cause more of a stir than the murder itself.”

“That’s absurd! That would cause more of a stir than murder!”

Greek answered, clenching his fist tightly.

“That’s why this document has come up. Read it.”

I gestured for him to read, and Greek hurriedly grabbed the documents and started reading. His face slowly grew more surprised.

“However, if an issue arises that surpasses the trivial concept of ownership, the story changes. Stealing relief supplies is essentially an act of treason. So, you should push it in that direction. Disband the Lutyian family. If you do that, there will be no need to hand Siena over. If the disbanded family tries to recover its people, with the income from Greek City recently, it will be very possible.”

“This… I see. This is really solid evidence that can completely tie up Lutyian!”

“Yes, but it’s just the evidence. How you use it to create a case is up to you, My Lord. From here on, I can’t help you any further.”

“I’ll try. If I can’t get the desired result with this evidence, navigating the political scene of the Capital will be impossible!”

That’s right.

That’s what I wanted to say.

Because starting from now, standing on his own begins.

“Also, even if I want to help, I won’t be able to for the time being. I have plans.”

I’ve gotten the chance to help resolve Rurin’s lifelong wish.

Rurin’s mother. I plan to leave Greek City for a while to resolve that long-buried issue.

“This could be the last help, so…this document is your gift.”

“Whaat?”

A startled Greek jumped up and rushed towards me.

“Master, what’s that!”

He was so surprised that he couldn’t even close his mouth, and I had to correct myself, feeling like I was talking to a poor hamster.

“It’s just something I must do, so I’ll be leaving for a while, but I’ll return once it’s done. I’m not leaving for good, so please calm down.”

“Oh…is that so? In that case…”

Greek let out a sigh and wiped his forehead with his sleeve before slowly settling back down on the sofa.

I emphasized once more to the boy.

“Yes. I will return. Definitely.”

It’s obvious that I’ll return. I plan to grow old and die in a place with a restaurant, after all.

Well, I’ve said what I needed to say, so I stood up from the sofa.

“My Lord, you can achieve anything. Have confidence.”

“Wait, just a moment, Master!”

I was about to leave after giving him some encouraging words, but Greek quickly called me back.

He rushed toward me and shouted with an urgent expression.

“Actually, I have something to tell you.”

“What?”

“I’ve made up my mind! Master!”

He’s made up his mind? What for?

Is there more to decide?

His eyes weren’t joking. They were completely serious.

So I decided to listen to what he had to say and sat back down on the sofa.

Then Greek, still standing, began to speak passionately.

“In my opinion, a servant of a noble family is not a slave. The Empire’s class system strictly applies only to royalty, nobility, and commoners. There is nothing below that!”

That’s true. While slaves are secretly sold, that’s more of a black market issue.

There are no slaves openly. Instead, there’s a distinction in jobs among commoners.

It’s like a situation where there’s no such thing, but it feels like there is. It’s a bit of a paradox.

“And commoners have freedom of occupation. Servants are also commoners. Whether they are butlers, maids, or housemaids, legally, they are commoners! While commoners cannot become nobles, they are free to farm, trade, or pursue whatever occupation they choose.”

“That’s all correct. But why are you suddenly bringing this up?”

All of this is true. A commoner can never become a noble. Nobles always rule over commoners.

The way a commoner can become a noble is by founding a country and becoming a king.

Or by supporting a future king and helping to establish a new country, becoming a founding hero.

Those are the two main ways.

In this world, unless something extraordinary happens, commoners remain commoners.

The highest rank a commoner can achieve is that of a knight.

Since most nobles live off tax revenues, it is ultimately commoners, working various jobs, who lead the world.

In other words, it’s the commoners who feed the country and pay taxes.

But why is that?

I looked at Greek.

“But the servants affiliated with noble families are commoners, yet they don’t have freedom of occupation. The reason they claim that noble families’ secrets should remain hidden? I don’t believe in that. Instead, I think nobles should ensure their servants have the freedom to move around in order to prevent things like what Count Lutyian did!”

Ah, that’s what he meant?

Freedom of movement for the servants working in noble families. It must have been a thought he had because of Siena.

“Did you think of that?”

It’s not that he had an overly progressive idea that everyone should be equal. It’s just a very natural thought that commoners should have their rights.

But it was also an idea no one else had.

Servants belonging to noble families were always viewed as property.

So while they were commoners in status, they were essentially treated as something other than commoners.

It’s one of those situations where there are slaves, but not really.

“If you accept applicants from commoners to work, there should be no shortage of people willing to work for the noble family. You can hire whoever you want, and they can move freely. I believe they need that freedom. It’s unjust to force commoners to serve noble families for generations. This is clearly a bad law, Master, don’t you agree?”

Greek continued to gaze at me with intense determination in his eyes.

As for me, I was born in a time where everyone is equal, and everyone is given equal opportunities. Naturally, I agree with that opinion.

But changing such entrenched customs in this era is a very difficult task.

“That’s a valid point, but would you have thought this way if Siena hadn’t been involved?”

So I probed for a blind spot. This is the key. Greek, showing a look of hesitation, shook his head.

“I honestly don’t know. But even if this idea came to me because of Siena, I don’t think it’s wrong. Everything has a reason, as you said before, Master!”

Having a goal in life isn’t a bad thing.

I have no intention of stopping him.

As long as he gains the strength to achieve it and the power to enforce it, that’s what matters.

“So Master, I…”

“But My Lord.”

“Yes?”

“It’s a difficult task. Changing something that has been firmly established among the nobility isn’t something that can be done with ordinary power. Do you truly think you have that power now?”

“Maybe…! Is it really that difficult?”

“It’s difficult. Right now.”

It is difficult. The ideal that Greek speaks of is something that can’t be achieved without power.

“Do you really want to achieve it? How desperate are you?”

“I’m desperate enough to stake my entire life on it, Master!”

Greek clenched his fists and shouted with strong determination.

With his life.

That’s a good attitude.

“If you can, I’ll share a strategy with you.”

“A strategy?”

“I was planning to tell you a bit later, but if you’re determined to stake your life on it, now seems like the time.”

“Master…”

This is actually a solution to the situation Greek finds himself in, one that allows him to solve the issues facing Greek City on his own, rather than just focusing on the issue of servants.

By solving the issues of Greek City, Greek will automatically gain the power to address the problems with the servants, so the path is essentially the same.

I smiled at Greek, whose dry lips trembled with desperation, and then I began to give him a detailed explanation.

“The issue with the servants you mentioned, and furthermore, the situation where Greek City should normally belong to a duchy, but is stuck in a middle position and under various constraints. There is a way to solve both of these problems. Of course, I’m only presenting the path; it’s up to you, My Lord, to overcome and achieve it.”

“What is that method? I can do it. I will succeed!”

“Hm, the Imperial feudal system is the foundation of the country. Greek City cannot remain an exception forever.”

“Yes…that’s true. So, I thought about using the dukes and selecting one of their duchies…”

“No. There’s absolutely no need to enter under those shallow nobles who only seek to use you.”

“Is there another way?”

“It’s simple. You just need to become someone who can guarantee an independent territory.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Greek tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand. It was understandable.

The real conversation starts now.

“If you’re dissatisfied with how servants like Siena are treated, then you must become someone who can change it. The finances of Greek City are improving day by day, right?”

“Yes… Thanks to your help, the financial situation is steadily improving!”

“That’s right. So the materials are more than enough. The current Emperor is aging, and the time for him to abdicate is approaching. This has led to a fierce succession battle in the Empire. Duke Delian and the Crown Prince are struggling for power, very intensely.”

“Yes. I’m aware of that too.”

“So the method is simple. Use the financial power of Greek City to support the Crown Prince. Back him from behind. Strengthen the knights of the Count’s family, and use the wealth earned from the clock industry to help the Crown Prince ascend to the throne. Currently, the Crown Prince is at a disadvantage against Duke Delian in many ways.”

“But even if the Crown Prince becomes emperor, the foundation of the feudal system won’t change, and the imperial laws stating that Greek City must belong to another duchy won’t change either, right?”

“Helping the Crown Prince become emperor means putting him in a position he originally couldn’t have risen to. If you help him reach that position, it would be like becoming a founding hero of the nation. So, in other words, My Lord, become a duke. Since it’s impossible to change the foundation of the feudal system, the only way to achieve both goals is to become a duke. Once you become a duke and guarantee independence, you will be able to solve Siena’s issue as well. It’s not easy, of course, but consider it your lifelong goal. You said you would stake your life on it, so do you think you can do it?”

I stood up and patted Greek’s shoulder again.

Greek didn’t respond. I could feel his hands trembling slightly.

“Once that happens, there will be no pressure from the dukes. Originally, only nobles or royals who have had a significant influence on the country can become dukes. So, move slowly towards that goal, get recognized for the influence you’ve earned.”

Greek swallowed hard, and the sound of the saliva traveling down his throat was loud in my ears.

He was so shocked and tense that he couldn’t answer, and just looked at me.

Well, the choice is his.

I walked out of the study, leaving Greek behind.

He’s a smart guy, so I’m sure he understood. I think I’ve given him plenty.

Since he called me his master.

Now, I forget about the boy’s business. I have dragons to deal with.

I’m sure we’ll both have busy days ahead.