The Doomed Fief’s Dying Lord (18)

The grandly named double time attack, payback then chicken race.

Everyone must be wondering what on earth that means.

‘So here’s the explanation!’

The explanation was handled by Avenger Colono, the Steward.

Now, let’s get to it.

“…So you mean this? First spend money to close the orchard’s Dungeon, then sell alcohol to make up the funds?”

“Exactly. We must immediately begin hiring mercenaries and requisitioning personnel and supplies!”

It’s not like I hadn’t considered that earlier.

‘So as soon as I came to this world I checked the ledgers to see how much of Denabi’s treasury I could spend.’

On the day I was possessed I checked Denabi’s cash holdings on the Status Window.

[163,930,017,42]

But that was 100% pure debt.

Every penny already had a purpose.

‘And those expenditures were being steadily carried out. Not even three weeks had passed since I checked the 160 billion figure…’

Over two billion had vanished in that time.

There really was no spare cash.

“Avenger. You know this too, right? That money is just a heavy fiction. We can’t spend it!”

But Avenger didn’t relent at my protest.

“That’s why I said we’d take and pay it back!”

Avenger brought the ledgers himself and spread them on my desk.

Then he spoke.

“I believe the young master. The young master is a serious person. You wouldn’t joke about this. If you said you’d die the day the elder young master arrives, I thought there must be a reason.”

Avenger whispered so only I could hear.

“The new Dungeon is generated then, right?”

Wow.

I was a bit moved just now.

‘They said Regular contracted talent will help on their own…’

They even grasped my intent and stepped up to help.

I responded with a joyful nod.

Avenger continued.

“Then we must finish the Dungeon assault within ten days regardless. This is not the time to be frugal with budgets that have use dates.”

“You mean use mercenaries even if it means accepting bankruptcy?”

That was also a reasonable approach.

If we’re going to fail anyway, it’s better to go down from money than from the Mana Plague.

But Avenger’s suggestion wasn’t even that.

“There’s no need. Now, look.”

He pointed to one of the commonly used budget accounts.

‘Purchase payment receipts, 5/15’

‘760,000,000 won’

“Today is April 8. And this is money the Denabi treasury must pay out on May 15. There are five weeks until payment.”

“Ah…!”

I swallowed a sigh.

Why hadn’t I thought of something so simple?

My mouth started blabbering whatever came to mind.

“If we can earn enough to pay this back within five weeks, we can use it. This fund, that line, that account…!”

My hand pointed without hesitation to items with several weeks until due.

“We’ve already found a way to earn the money. Then it’s fine to draw on funds early! We can pay it back!”

“Exactly!”

A wave of emotion washed over me.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t known this!

‘My luck with talent is killer!’

[A-]

Avenger’s current rank, having blossomed, was even higher than Ronari’s.

Among the talents I had identified, he was almost top tier.

“Avenger! You be the financial advisor! I’ll just handle the errands! You are my heroes!”

“No…! If the young master hadn’t trusted and inspired me, how could I have come up with this plan! It’s all thanks to the young master!”

“Avenger!”

“Young master!”

The young Steward of Denabi Castle and I embraced across the desk.

Our sudden fuss contorted the office staff’s faces oddly.

Ronari’s expression in particular was a sight.

‘What, are these two crazy as a pair?’

But we weren’t crazy.

This would let us survive!

’…There was a time when I thought so, too.’

“There wasn’t.”

“You say there wasn’t?”

I repeated in dumbfounded disbelief.

Tandel answered.

“I’m really sorry… but the amounts the young master pointed out are actually all past due.”

“Then why are they listed there…?”

Tandel pointed to the same spot in the ledger Avenger had indicated earlier.

Purchase payment receipts, 5/15

“This isn’t May 15 of this year but May 15 of last year. Payments due last year or the year before have been delayed until now. We’ve avoided being reported so far… but if it’s revealed that we spent this money…”

“Bankruptcy… can’t… be avoided…”

Thud—

I flopped face-down on the desk.

“Young master!”

“Hehehe. Hehehe.”

“Young maaaster…!”

“Hee hee hee hee.”

This isn’t laughter.

It’s the sound of a soul leaking out of a mouth.

‘Whether we go down to the Mana Plague or to bankruptcy, we’re doomed anyway? Hee hee hee.’

“Haaaaaa…”

Lying face-down, I shook out the despair filling my gut.

The situation was a literal cesspool.

But there were still things that had to be done.

“…Anyway, Tandel, continue with the projects in motion. Even if we go bankrupt, stopping the Dungeon comes first.”

“Understood.”

Die from the Mana Plague?

Or go bankrupt and become a beggar?

Both were shitty options.

If I had to choose, obviously I’d pick being a beggar.

I immediately began requisitioning military supplies.

Thanks to that, our workload doubled.

‘Since we’ve started, we must keep the alcohol business going… and now we must also prepare militarily at the same time?’

Double time attack, payback then chicken race.

Chased by money and chased by mana concentration, it’s a double time attack,

And because we must repay money pulled forward before bankruptcy, it’s payback then chicken race.

But now there’s nothing to pay back—only the time attack remains.

“Oh, the misfortune…”

I murmured while staring at the ceiling.

Avenger apologized to me despite being busy.

“I’m sorry. I thought it was a good plan…”

I waved my hands while looking at the ceiling.

“What are you saying. Thanks to the Steward, the people of Denabi will live. The Denabi government will go bankrupt anyway. The fief will pass into creditors’ hands, but if the people live, isn’t that enough?”

Besides, I’ll survive too.

I’ll survive as a fallen family’s living saint, but!

Anyway, living is living.

Hehe. Lucky bikki zanang.

I decided to think that way.

If I sulked, it’d be rude to Avenger who’d given the idea.

People around would watch my mood too.

I forced myself to speak cheerfully.

“Ronari! You’re so busy overseeing raw materials, drafting soldiers, and procuring gear you’re about to drop! Let’s power through one more job!”

“If you knew that, don’t give me more tasks.”

“You said you’re smart. Can’t you handle about five people’s worth?”

“That was me telling the young master to have some confidence. It wasn’t me asking for more work.”

“Really? You’ve succeeded. Thanks to you I have the confidence to task a genius. There’s a meeting with military advisers, so hurry upstairs.”

“Ugh…”

Ronari couldn’t abandon the work but bundled things up.

Then she staggered toward the office door.

That’s right.

We were in a situation where we had to work even while walking.

Of course, that went for me too.

The site smelled strongly of barley.

The place was starting to proclaim it’s a brewery by scent alone.

Two people greeted me as I arrived.

It was Izack and Pietro.

Izack tilted his head after looking at my face.

“What’s up? You shouldn’t need to come to the site anymore. Why not send the Steward?”

“Not the site—there’s something I need to discuss with both of you.”

Pietro looked between his son-in-law and me and asked.

“Is it personal?”

“No. It’s official.”

I began without further ado.

“Soon the orchard’s Dungeon assault team will be formed.”

“Already? That was six weeks away.”

“We’ll have to move the schedule up.”

“Wasn’t this venture planned because we didn’t have the funds to raid a dungeon? Where did such spare money suddenly come from?”

“We decided to draw on other funds. The government will go bankrupt. But saving the people comes first, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm…”

Then Pietro spoke.

“If the young master thinks so, then there must be no alternative. I won’t press further. You’re busy, so state your business.”

“I heard both of you were soldiers in the past. Very able soldiers.”

A frown formed between Izack’s brows.

“Where did you hear that?”

I gave a vague answer.

“I don’t think that’s particularly important.”

“Hmph… well, one of the guys who fought alongside Alejandro, probably. So?”

“I want you to lead the assault team.”

Izack and Pietro.

I had been watching them for some time.

Both former soldiers and both A-rank.

With their help, assaulting the Dungeon would be much easier.

Originally, I might not have needed to call on them.

But now the situation was urgent.

“As you know, the main force for the Dungeon raid has already left Denabi Castle. Father’s unit is depleted. We really need your help.”

“My son-in-law and I have been out of the military for a long time. We’re likely not as reliable a hand as the young master imagines.”

Pietro said.

‘No way—there’s no hand I trust as much as you two.’

I secretly (though they couldn’t see it) checked the Status Window again.

[A] and [A-].

In a world where S+ is top rank, this was nearly the best.

No doubt the two were seasoned warriors.

I bowed my head before them.

“Please.”

“Hmm…”

“This involves the lives of Denabi’s people.”

“…Damn, I know without you saying it. Who’s going to refuse? This site needs a commander. You should give me time to appoint my successor, won’t you?”

I sprang my head up.

“You’re accepting?”

“Ten days, you said? Goddamn. There’s no time for training or anything. Do you think the Dungeon is easy?”

“If I thought that, I wouldn’t have asked you two! Thank you so much!”

I shook Izack’s hand and then looked at Pietro.

Pietro smiled and nodded.

“It’s my son-in-law’s burden after all. I’ll try not to be a hindrance.”

“No, thank you! Really, thank you.”

As I kept bowing, Izack complained like this.

“You said you’d dominate the liquor market and gave a business pitch… then you made us employees and now you’re ordering us to be your soldiers. Ridiculous kid.”

“Haha. I have no excuse.”

I thanked the two again and left the site.

Shane’s back lengthened a shadow as he returned to the castle.

Pietro looked and said.

“Izack. He accepted more easily than I thought.”

“I figured it would turn out this way. That kid’s business plan included a Dungeon raid.”

“Even so, you started this work?”

“That’s why I started. That brat knows what the real problem of this domain is. I too… didn’t want to keep running from it.”

It was the first time the son-in-law had shown that much inner feeling.

Had that young master opened the son-in-law’s heart?

Pietro wondered.

Then Izack spoke.

“Father, do you have any regrets?”

Heh. Asking something like that.

“Yes. Even if the young master fails, I won’t regret it.”

“Why?”

“Because it won’t be the young master’s failure alone—it’s our failure. You and I will do our best for Ronari. If we give our all and still fail, there can be no regret.”

“That’s right.”

Finally Izack said.

“And we’ve already made the best choice.”

Izack looked off into the distance again.

It was the direction Shane had gone.

Good thing we trusted him.

That’s what his look conveyed.

But…

At the edge of that gaze…

Something… is returning?

“…Zack! …Elder Pietro!”

Whatever was so urgent.

Shane came running, arms flailing.

“…What is it?”

“Wait, I think the young master is saying something.”

They strained to hear Shane’s distant voice.

This was what he said.

“…I just remembered! We don’t have to go bankrupt…! Great!”

They heard it, but what on earth was he talking about?

The two looked at each other and muttered.

“Great…?”