Chapter 35
Editors Note: Some liberties have been taken with Helmuts speech as it is royalty formal, but the intent has not been altered.
Armstrong, Burkhart, Associate Baron Baumeister, the three of you, have together successfully concluded the mission of subjugating Grade Grande. We graciously thank you for your hard work on this endeavor. (Helmut)
Ten days after defeating Grade Grande, we, who participated in this mission, once again had an audience with His Majesty as result.
Thanks to this, there are good prospects for Palkenia Grasslands to become a grain-producing region. (Helmut)
His Majestys facial expression showed a happy mood.
Despite it needing many years before favorable conditions would appear, it was finally possible to develop the region, which would have been impossible before considering the obstacle called dragon.
Additionally, the subjugation of the remaining monsters still continued until now. The majority of the monsters in the former domain were already exterminated.
Nonetheless, the strength of Grade Grande, who ruled over the Palkenia Grasslands, was indeed great.
Now the monsters werent able to move as a group at all. The soldiers and adventurers thus hunted them down one-sidedly.
The amount of casualties was up to 200, but that was most likely something that couldnt be avoided.
As for the victims, We have arranged abundant reparations for the bereaved families. Although it might be considered as hypocrisy, it is still better than nothing. (Helmut)
This Armstrong is deeply moved by the kindness of His Majesty. I admire you. (Armstrong)
You could certainly call it hypocrisy, but it was still better than ignoring it completely. (T/N:Yay! for repeating sentences)
Besides, such was the work of soldiers and adventurers to begin with.
Particularly the adventurers, it was said that there were about 1000 casualties yearly.
Given that they werent able to do any other work in order to make a living, just because they failed in obtaining the gratuity of money and prestige in their life, it didnt mean it would be reasonable for them to complain about it afterwards.
There also were many adventurers,after judging their own skill calmly, decided not to participate in the military operation this time.
Furthermore, considering the scale of the dispatched troops for this military operation, the number of casualties could be called few.
His Majesty had also ordered the church to provide as many healers as possible for this campaign.
Especially those clergymen who were able to use holy healing magic, in contrast to the water healing magicians the church usually deployed outside of office.
Practitioners of both healing magic systems in large quantity were summoned by the church using its powerful connections in order to deploy them for this campaign.
That in itself wasnt surprising as the church would profit by constantly establishing new churches as the development of the Palkenia Grasslands advanced.
The establishment of new churches naturally meant that there would be a proportional increase of parishes and priest positions. Officially it could be said that they abided to His Majestys decree, but in reality they were rubbing their hands together due to receiving such a request.
While the clergymen at the actual scene were diligently treating the wounded, the higher-ups hosted such an ulterior motive. It was the same no matter in which world you were.
We are very sorry that We cannot present you a proportionally great reward. (Helmut)
It is fine because we received a large amount of money the last time. (Burkhart)
Although that was true as well, this time we received the valuable remains of Grade Grande.
Things like the frozen blood, the scales, the skin, the meat, the intestines and the bones.
Because the remains were stuffed into the magic bag right after killing the dragon, they preserved their freshness. Those would very likely sell for a large amount of money.
Also, because the remains held a gigantic magic crystal within, the kingdom would purchase it for 400 platinum coins.
As a result, combining it with the monster remains of the one week of hunting afterwards, the total amount per person was 450 platinum coins and 50 gold coins when split between Armstrong-doushi, Burkhart-san, and myself.
In any event, all of the dragons raw materials were expensive.
Supposing the undead ancient dragon from before was still alive, the prices would have risen even more steeply.
(I dont quite understand it as a large amount of money has already been given) (Wendelin)
Any further reward isnt really necessary, I thought due to the reasons from above.
From the point of views of someone who monthly earned 58746 yen (tax included) in his previous life, someone possessing several platinum plates appeared to be plenty rich. (E:~$488, which is hard to believe considering that is less than my cheapest apt rent ever)
There were many people in this country who wouldnt get to see something like a platinum plate until their death.
The people having seen something like a platinum plate within his home territory were zero including his father who was a noble.
However, given that honor be fulfilled, We award the three of you the Twin Dragon medal. (Helmut)
Even though there has been no one receiving it for more than 200 hundred years, I got it after a long time, and now, half month later, I end up receiving yet another one.
Although its appearance is quite beautiful as it is made out of gold and emerald, I somehow get the feeling that it isnt really that valuable after all. My senses might be dull though.(E:Sort of like your sense of money now, huh?)
Actually the expressions Armstrong-doushi and Burkhart-san wore, as they were awarded the medal by His Majesty and attached it to themselves, showed unusual nervousness.
Whats left is the peerage, huh? As Armstrong shall be a viscount and Sir Baumeister shall be promoted in rank to baron. (Helmut)
Armstrong-doushi is the second son of an Earls household.
Because he couldnt succeed the peerage as second son, he independently received the peerage rank of baron from His Majesty as he assumed his post as Royal Head Magician.
Just like myself, who doesnt possess any territory and only receives theannuity, his peerage rank was raised to viscount and mine was raised from Associate Baron to Baron at the same time.
Holding the rank of Viscount grants you a annuityof 2 platinum coins, whereas someone holding the rank of Baron receives 1 platinum coin as annuity.
It is a considerably high income.
As expected, there is quite the wall between an Associate Baron and a Baron.
That being said, there is a difference to me, who is a fake noble.
Normally, those nobles residing in the royal capital hire suitable guards and servants for maintaining the grounds and protecting the residence matching their family status. There are various other roles and uses through their association as well.
Occasionally it is necessary for the patron to aid their vassal, as at the time of Erich-nii-sans marriage for example. It is necessary to present appropriate, to the family status, congratulatory gifts at important ceremonial occasions in family relationships.
Thus you can say that the money spending increases as well.
Indeed, in the end I can understand Erich-nii-sans remark about the higher ranking nobles usually being tightwads unexpectedly.
Also, normally a medal only equalled something like honor, but apparently just the Twin Dragon medal is different.
Because there was no one receiving one for more than 200 years, the governmental official in charge ended up forgetting to give an explanation about it. The Twin Dragon medal apparently bestows an honorary annuityfor ones lifetime.
The amount allocated is 3 platinum coins per year.
I, who possess two of them, will receive a annuityof 6 platinum coins.(T/N:Yep, the author cant calculate as he forgot the 1 platinum coin annuityfor the rank of Baron, totaling it to 7 platinum coins per year tsk tsk tsk~)
(I guess this is actually areward?) I am extremely honored, Your Majesty. (Wendelin)
Compared to the raw materials of the dragon, thiscertainly is a meager thing, but (Helmut)
Due to subjugating two dragons, it could be viewed as insignificantly sufficient amount of money compared to the profit from selling the raw materials, but one had to consider that a dragon subjugation normally took place about every 50 years in the first place.
Usually it was very rare that such large amount of money was changing hands.
Burkhart, do you have some wish for yourself? Margraviate Breithilde shall receive a different reward. (Helmut)
Burkhart-san was Margraviate Breithildes retainer. For this times campaign it took the form of His Majesty ordering Margraviate Breithilde.
Therefore, no matter how much His Majesty wanted to appoint a peerage rank to him, it was no good due to that reason.
Given that the person himself didnt desire such a thing either, he would receive such things like gems and treasures from Margraviate Breithilde instead.
Still, as one would expect, without even that there would be rumors about His Majesty not recognizing his achievements decently in the end.
Also, although it was the Twin Dragon medal, it was still just amedal and you couldnt just not bestow anything simply because the target was a retainer either.
Normally Burkhart-san should receive something as well.
Like this, there appeared to be various difficulties between peerage connected directly to royalty and retainers serving different nobles.
On this occasion We are very satisfied with discovering such a young talent. We would be very glad if thee could diligently serve the kingdom from now on. We have high expectations of thee, Baron Baumeister. (Helmut)
Ha! (Wendelin)
Rather than such expectations, I wish to spend my summer vacation peacefully and soon.
While I bowed towards His Majesty, such was my eager request.
POV: Wendelin
Okawari! (Wendelin)
You really eat a lot. (Luise)
I amhungry since I didnt get to eat anything decent for about half a month here. (Wendelin)
After the audience had finished, I immediately returned to the Brandt household and ate a late lunch there.
The maid prepared such things as stew, pasta and salad. While eating I asked for a second serving. (T/N:Okawari for those of you who dont know that word.;))
Next to my place Luise stared at me with an astonished face while starting a conversation.
The army needed one week to prepare for departure from the garrison in the outskirts. It took three days until there werent any other monsters left in the center of Palkenia Grasslands where Grade Grande was enshrined. Furthermore it took another week to thin out the strong-looking monsters within the former domain. And the return took three days. Aaah our precious summer vacation (Luise)
After I arrived at the royal capital, it was almost impossible to follow my own intentions.
Although I planned to enjoy the long-awaited sightseeing of the capital, mostly my impressions of the capital were the formal audience at the royal palace and the garrison in the outskirts which smelled of sweat and was covered with dust. Therefore I only had quitean amount of unappetizing meals so far.
And to top it off, I had to fight for my life with dragons that looked like special effect monsters.
And at the end of the fight, just like in some famous manga, a muscular ossan, who you wouldnt believe to be a magician, came and concluded the battle climax. (T/N: LOL)
Although he surpassed its scales, striking the dragon with his bare hands, landing several kicks and throwing it after grabbing its tail, you really couldnt call that a magician (E:I keeping picturing FMAs Armstrong,_,)
Afterwards, he proceeded to subjugate monsters claiming it to be what a proper adult noble is supposed to do.
To put it bluntly, in comparison to the dragon these monsters were weak.
Just, the number of them was great. Whenever possible he left for a clean up battle so that there would be no casualties amongst our troops and the adventurers. Due to Armstrong-doushis orders, theycontinued to thin out the most powerful specimens.
For one week we continued the cleanup battles, acting as search-and-kill forces, we three filthy men handled the killing of monsters. The food was self-made and we slept by taking turns.
Although I consider it to be a good experience before the time I will become an adventurer, I could be called the only person able to produce some normal food in the end among the three of us.
As for the food of the army in the garrison, only the amount of it could be viewed as decent.
Or more precisely, what did Armstrong-doushi and Burkhart-san do during their time as active adventurers?
While pondering such things, Burkhart-san taught me the reason.
Such things like preparation of food, all of it was entrusted to Artur-san. As long as I had some sake to drink, there was no problem.(Burkhart)
I see, apparently it was Artur-san who had the thankless task in that party. (E:He truly is his masters disciple to inherit that role as well!)
After retirement, he attained success as merchant for that reason.
Putting that aside, I think it would be better for Burkhart-san to stop only using salty jerky or their likes and sake as replacement for a proper dinner.
Your liver will deteriorate. Thats one of the adult diseases you shouldnt want to have, I ended up thinking to that extent.
And then, the other person, Armstrong-doushi, was even more outrageous.
While he was on duty we only ate monster meat which he prepared by draining the blood, cutting the meat into slices and then roasting it above open fire.
Although it was interesting and got a feeling of wildness on the first day, it got rather tedious quickly after it being the same every day.
Or rather, what kind of meals does Armstrong-doushi, who bears the title of a noble, usually eat?
Monster meat, which has been drained of its blood and grilled with a sprinkle of salt, has a staggering amount of nutrition.(Armstrong)
Honestly, he is a person I cant really call a noble at all. (E:Really, you all fail due to a lack of various common sense.)
Because we got filthy due to the monster subjugation without being able to wash it off in a bath, we might have ended up being mistaken as bandits if things didnt go well at that time.
Likely, we would have to be prepared facing death if we were caught on a mountain trail during the night.
Boy, you are actually able to cook.(Burkhart)
Umu, it tastes good. I have decided to leave the cooking to the lad from tomorrow onwards.(Armstrong)
Somehow coming up with something like soup and zousui using rice, there was still a lot of room for improvement left for me.
However, inadvertently the second half of the meal preparation duty was pushed on me by the others.
Being the youngest in the group, I had no other choice by to obediently consent to it.
A summer vacation smeared in sweat, dust and blood, huh? (Ina)
Ina, dont say it (Luise)
Actually, I am all the more upset because it is the truth after all.
However, our time remainingthe capital amounts to no more than three days including today.
Although the summer vacation still continues past that, we cant stay at the capital throughout the whole summer vacation as we would become a bother to Erich-nii-san. Frankly, I have a feeling that his nagging has increased lately. (E:You are insanely rich now, so rent a placeor hit an inn!)
Even now the enthusiastic yelling ofMy certain death skill, Giant Swing Spearmanshipcould be heard from in front of the Brandt residence.
Though he seems to produce a bit of wind with his swing, I think I am not wrong in not hiring the Giant Swing fellow, am I?
Ina cold-heartedly repliedIts fine to leave him alone.
Soon it will even be too late to go and buy some souvenirs. (Luise)
I dont even know for whom I should buy souvenirs. For the remaining three days I want to enjoy the capital as much as possible. (Wendelin)
You are desperate (Erwin)
For souvenirs it is necessary that there is someone else, a close friend or family members, that isnt present at the capital.
Erwin has gone ahead by selecting close friends from the prep school, except us. Ina and Luise still live at their parents home and its not like their relation with the other family members is particularly bad either.
I dont plan on meeting my family back home anymore already, and as for friends, they have all come together with me to the capital. Thus there is no need to expressly buy souvenirs for them.
At most I could get some courtesy souvenirs for the teachers and headmaster at the prep school, huh?
However that isnt necessary either as Rdiger-san has prepared the souvenirs for such personnage already.
Anyway, I will leave now! Time for the sightseeing of the capital! (Wendelin)
You are desperate. Wend Isnt it fine to come here using teleportation magic anyway? (Erwin)
For some reason Erwin looks at me while being astonished. But it isnt the time to care about such things.
Anyway, for now I will go ahead and get my fill of the capital.
Besides, it is certainly true that I can use magic to return to the capital at any time I want.
However, whats important is now! How should I enjoy myself at this time?
It isnt necessary to care about such things likethe king or nobles anymore.
Please wait, Wendelin-dono. (Rdiger)
Rdiger-san hurriedly called out to me who was about to leave the Brandt residence.
Although I am feeling deeply regretful, the preparations for the real baptism at the Holy Church headquarters has been completed. (Rdiger)
Damn it! (Wendelin)
Due to the matter of receiving the real baptism at the Holy Church headquarters in order to keep up their prestige, I had ended up promising to attend it to Cardinal Hohenheim at the previous audience with His Majesty.
However, because the previous arrangements had been crushed by the sudden decision of the mission to subjugate Grade Grande, I wont be able to disregard this any longer.
I cannot afford to make an enemy out of the church in this world.
Real baptism, huh? You guys want to come along? (Wendelin)
I will refrain from doing so. (Erwin)
Erwin immediately rejected it. (E:Traitor!)
Given that it will be quite formal, he is very reluctant.
I am not very eager to go either.
Erwin will take care of our baggage. (Ina)
I cant repay the remaining one silver coin yet. (Erwin)
With a new sword Considering the souvenirs, how did you calculate to reimburse the debt anyway? (Wendelin)
Luise is currently shouldering the debt of Erwin towards me.
Although you would think that there was plenty of rewards during the earlier campaign, the female group saved it up while he didnt take into account to save some of it.
As they returned the full debt, they inflicted the penalty of him carrying the baggage instead of paying interest.
As for baked sweets, they will be preserved for a long time. (Ina)
Oh well. There are plenty of other famous products, too. Even if it is heavy, Erwin will take care of it. (Luise)
Other than the weight of the baggage, I am worried about what kind of shops we will visit (Erwin)
Apparently Erwins group plans to stand in line at a souvenirs shop that is aiming towards tourists visiting the low-lying part of the capital (T/N:shopping district, factories, etc) in order to purchase their goods.
Thus, only Igo ahead to the Holy Church headquarters in order to receive the tedious real baptism.
Welcome, please come inside, Associate Baron Baumeister, no, sorry, you have become a Baron, havent you. (Hohenheim)
I am also very humbled to receive Gods guidance. (Wendelin)
Shall God bless you with His good divine protections, Baron Baumeister. (Hohenheim)
I arrived at the Holy Church headquarters in the centre of the royal capital. Waiting at the entrance, it was Cardinal Hohenheim alongside 10 High Priests and a group of Bishops who received me.
Still, as expected of the sole faith of the Helmut Kingdom, which even encompassed the Holy Empire Urquhart, and its headquarters.
But given that the state religion of the Holy Empire Urquhart was Protestantism, it looks to me that there is quite a hateful relationship to the fellows at the Holy Church headquarters as it is a completely different faith after all.
Likewise the grounds of the Holy Church headquarters is grand. Anyone would understand the degree of money used to build this building by a single glance.
The cathedral where the baptism is performed has one side of its ceiling covered entirely in an enormous stained glass. I was forced to believe that religion isnt a profitable business indeed. (T/N:In other words, building such churches costs a lot of money so they should be at the edge of zeroor in the red well wishful thinking, but yea, thats what he means)
Furthermore, although we had such an conversation, should you call this the regular practice of greeting?
If I were to be a devout believer of the orthodox catholic faith (T/N:the faith of the Holy Church), should I express my gratitude withBecause of Gods blessing I was able to safely defeat 2 dragons. Thank you.and should Hohenheims group congratulate withIt is good that our God has granted you His divine protection?
I dont believe in the slightest that I defeated the two dragons thanks to God.
Also, the other side wont think that I have properly given my gratitude to God either.
But since I am still a child, lets get along with the adults.
Although you could call it it a mutual give-and-take, to put things bluntly it is only for todays purpose.
Being able to use the Holy Light to this extent, I am certain that Baron Baumeister is loved by God. (Hohenheim)
Nevertheless, I want to express nothing but my gratitude for this divine love. (Wendelin)
As I wasnt religious in my previous life, the chances of me visiting a church, with the exception for a baptism, were very few in the period at my home in the present time.
Other than that, I dont think I have prayed sufficiently enough to God to receive some kind of divine protection.
Apparently Holy magic has absolutely nothing to do with faith.
If the belief in a faith were to be required, it wouldnt be strange for more clergymen being able to use Holy magic.
Maa, it might be best to not mention it though, as the church also uses its excessive money to shelter talented people who are capable of using Holy magic.
The exceptionally few people able to use Holy magic are convenient to defeat undeads of the wraith level once they appear in an area. There is a lot of powerful healing spells within the Holy magic.
In the case of a high-ranking Holy magic practitioner, apparently they can reattach a torn off arm, able to cure cancer, and they are also capable of reviving someone whose heart has stopped beating within a few hours. (E:Hours, not minutes? Whoa.)
Although within my Holy magic only Holy Light has such a high power, I am only able to use Water healing magic.
The troublesome matter is that its almost completely the same with all healing spells from Water magic.
If you can use healing spells from Holy magic, you cant use healing spells from Water magic. Therefore, as the other way around is true as well, I wont be able to use any healing spells from Holy magic.
Even though I would have been given a stamp of approval in regards to my power if I could heal something like a torn off limb, there hasnt occurred such great injury to that extent in reality yet. Since there hasnt been such an injured person until now, I lack the proper experience of using the magic, too.
Furthermore, there wasnt a time when Erwins group was really injured either.
Because at the most it was to the degree of a little scratch, there was no opportunity to use healing as it wasnt a degree of injury to require that.
As a matter of fact I thought I might be able to practice it during the time of the expedition to the Palkenia Grasslands, but neither Burkhart-san nor Armstrong-doushi were injured at all.
Anyway, the persons themselves boasted about not having caught a single cold in their entire life until now.
(Somehow I havent caught a cold yet.)(Burkhart)
(Its just as you heard from Burkhart-san)(Armstrong)
Furthermore, although I tried to give medical assistance after joining up with a friendly unit, I was mainly reminded by Armstrong-doushi that we should constantly be deployed at the front.
Entrust it to the unit dispatched by the church! They are plenty prepared for support. Certainly our hunting of dangerous monsters at the front will lead to the best method of decreasing the victims!(Armstrong)
Though it was a reasonable argument, I just once wanted to take a break in the rear.
Read the mood, you muscle doushi!was what I ended up screaming within my mind.
Well then, let us begin the real baptism right away. (Hohenheim)
Although I had anticipated for the real baptism taking a lot of time at the beginning, it only took 30 minutes to finish in reality.
As for the aspect differing from the regular baptism, I think it was mostly to the degree of Cardinal Hohenheim taking the role of the priest and the other high priests additionally taking care of the various chores, huh?
Since I was a valued client, the high-ranking clergymen werent stingy.
The real baptism has finished safely, too. (Hohenheim)
Thank you very much. Please take this as gratuity. (Wendelin)
Although I was told it isnt necessary, there is no priest who isnt happy about receiving donations (T/NThere is no translator unhappy about it either:p). I passed the donation to Cardinal and he put it into his beautiful silken pouch.
It was 10 platinum coins.
Even though it was a large amount of money, I expected the priests of the church to become my allies if I gave them such an impact here.
After all I still have more than 1000 platinum coins which I cant use up anyway.
We thank you very kindly for this generous donation. (Hohenheim)
Just as I thought, seeing the coins taking their place amongst gold coins within Cardinal Hohenheims pouch, he casually passed that pouch to a nearby high priest.
As expected, I shouldnt be caught in the action of seeing the contents at this place.
I probably wasnt surprised knowing it afterwards.
Well, since I cant really estimate the donations from nobles, it might actually be quite normal.
Well, since the real baptism has finished, how about some tea? (Hohenheim)
Given that Cardinal Hohenheim has invited me to some tea, I decided to take him up on his offer.
Leaving this impressive church and walking for a little while, the building mentioned earlier, where Cardinal Hohenheims office is located at, became visible.
Entering the interior of the building I was guided to a room similar to a reception office with a sofa and desk.
In the back is my office, although it is an ordinary study lacking any appeal. (Hohenheim)
The door visible in the back apparently is the entrance.
After a few seconds, there was a knocking at the door and following Cardinal Hoheheimers reply a person clad in a female learning attire entered the room holding a tray with tea kettle and cups. (T/N:Originally it says holding tea but I doubt that makes sense;))
Well, although you could definitely say that she was a woman, her height was not more than 150 centimeters. Also, checking her face and trying to deduct her approximate age, I wasnt able to.
You might even say that the certainly mysterious face of this young lady (shoujo) made her into a well-featured beautiful girl (bishoujo). The small amount of long blond hair being visible behind the veil was glittering and shining. Adding to this these mysterious pupils colored like amethyst, I ended up being charmed for a moment by her face.
What continued to be on my mind, were those bulges of a certain part which werent adequate at such degree considering her age.
Although it would be rude to keep staring at her, there was no one in the same generation like Ina who could win against those two hills. The originally inconspicuous nuns habit was pushed up by her breast portion.
Well there existed such things as 11 years old gravure idols with F-cups in my previous life. There are many people in this world who resembled Europeans and Americans in shape and appearance.
Therefore it might not be too strange for an approximately 12-years old girl with above F-cups to exist here.
Considering it like that, Ina and Luise might have various difficulties without me being aware of it, huh?
And then I also noticed one more fact.
Her magic power is strong, isnt it? (Wendelin)
So you can tell after all, huh? Although I let her serve tea as greeting today, she is in reality my granddaughter. (Hohenheim)
My humble name is Elise Katharina von Hohenheim (T/N: >> erize katarina fon hoenhaimu Translation Notes
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