It was hard to imagine that Raymond had actually gone out of his way to skin Solen.
"I heard he caught him just as he was about to pull a scam as if he'd been waiting for him."
"Huh! That's great! Come to think of it, didn't he take down the Dark Blade Guild in the Bay Area before, and clean out the corrupt officials?"
"That's right, he's really a great guy, he did a great job this time too."
The people listening to the story let out a series of exclamations.
"Listening to him talk, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside."
"It's a shame that such a talented and wonderful man is an illegitimate son."
"I know."
The commoners, who were already enamored of Raymond, were even more so now.
"That's not all. Do you know something more surprising?"
"What?"
"Baronet Penin has agreed to pay off the debts of those who owe him."
"Is that true?"
The people looked at each other in amazement. This was unthinkable.
"This is nonsense. Are you sure you didn't hear wrong?"
"No. I doubted my ears too, but it's true. They said that those who paid more than the principal in interest would be reimbursed, and those who didn't would only have to pay the principal."
"Hehe! What kind of nonsense..."
The people marveled.
"Is he some kind of angel that came down from heaven?"
"He is. I've never met anyone like him in my life."
This shocked people beyond anything Raymond had ever done before.
"I can't believe I'm hearing about this."
"Alright, let's all drink in his name."
One of the men raised his beer mug high.
"A toast in the name of Baronet Penin!"
"No, that's not it!"
Someone shouted back.
"Say it with more respect, it's not a name you should call him!"
The toastmaker grimaced.
"I apologize. I'll do it again."
"Majesty Raymond!"
"Majesty!"
Majesty.
King.
Or the title reserved for the most honored, the commoners shouted.
***
[Achievement: - 'One who washes the innocent tears of the weak' has been achieved!]
[Greatly increases your reputation!]
[Gained a new title due to a short-term surge in fame!]
[Title: - 'Favored by the Commoners' has evolved into 'Beloved of the Commoners'!]
[Beloved of the Commoners]
[Description: A title given to those who are loved by the commoners.
Prestige Rank: Large Town
Additional Effects: -You are loved by the commoners!
-Commoners strongly support you!
-Limitations: Due to the title's low rank, the title's effect is limited to a limited area (capital).]
[Leveled up for earning a title!]
[Leveled up!]
[Earned 30 bonus points!]
Meanwhile, Raymond says.
'Heuk, heuk.'
He was in tears over the waste of money!
'I'm crazy, why did I make such a decision? Heuk, my money. My money!'
Originally, Raymond hadn't planned to pay off his debt so drastically.
However, he couldn't help but swallow hard when he saw people who were still in debt after paying several times the principal amount in interest.
'Heuk.'
He searched for any other wealth, but there was none.
The nobles owed him very little.
They borrowed money from the larger banks rather than from Solen.
Except for one.
He could keep the building for the new casino Solen was building in the capital.
'At least we got the building.'
Raymond sighed heavily.
With what little cash Solen had left, he was able to pay for the work and take possession.
'At least I'm now the owner of the largest and grandest mansion in the capital.'
Raymond consoled himself.
For a building that was supposed to be a casino, it was a very nice and grand mansion.
Saving the mansion was actually a good thing.
The Penin Clinic decided to move into the former casino building.
Compared to the size of the current clinic, the mansion was much larger, but he vowed that one day he would build a top-notch clinic that even the mansion could not match.
'Okay, let's not lament the lack of money. I'll be the best healer ever.'
Just then, he heard an unexpected voice.
"Master."
"Apprentice?"
Apprentice.
That was what Raymond called Christine.
"What are you doing, up on the roof, not drinking?"
Down below, they were having a beef party to celebrate.
"Just..."
"You were thinking about the patients, I know you're always thinking about them."
Raymond swallowed a sigh. Just then, Christine said something unexpected.
"You did a great job this time."
"... Pardon?"
Did she drink a lot? Her cheeks took on a red tinge.
"That was just great. Of course, I'm not going to stand still, I'm sure I'll surpass you one day, so be prepared."
Raymond blanched at the words that began with a compliment and ended with a challenge.
"Be prepared for what?"
But Christine had already whisked away.
Raymond sighed and took a swig from the bottle he'd clumsily carried.
'Ugh, it's tough.'
Raymond looked up at the sky and realized that he wasn't just feeling bad.
***
This caused the commoners to praise Raymond whenever they met.
It was a shocker.
No one had ever done such a thing for commoners before.
"He's the best."
"I have never met such a nobleman in my life."
"Only nobles? There is no one like him among the royalty. He must be the son of the knight king."
Some even went as far as to say something dangerous.
"Such a man should take the throne."
"An illegitimate son, what a shame."
"What can we do?"
"Yikes. What are you talking about?"
"No... it's just a pity. If he succeeds you, we, the Kingdom of Houston, will have a bright future, won't we?"
"In any case, be careful what you say, or someone might overhear."
Someone had called attention to it, but the commoners had exchanged it without realizing it.
Of course, the commoners didn't really mean anything by it; they were just talking about how they wished Raymond was a real prince because they hadn't had any royalty like this before.
But enough people spoke of it, and naturally, it reached the royal court.
***
A royal garden.
Three young men were chatting.
"Such a story is circulating? Huhu, what a surprise. Our puppy has really grown up."
"It's not something to laugh about, brother! What kind of hypocritical behavior did that filthy bastard do that the commoners are talking about?"
Second Prince Kairen, Fourth Prince Seitil, and beside them was Third Prince Remerton.
"Well, the commoners are not entirely wrong, for he has shown himself to be a good man in his own way."
"Brother!"
Seitil exclaimed in disbelief.
"Our pup has changed so much."
Second Prince Kairen rolled his eyes languidly.
"He used to be a dirty dog."
Remerton thought.
'He's not happy about it either.'
This was an extremely proud Kairen.
But Raymond being better?
It was hard not to feel bad, even if it was just commoners talking.
Also, the arrival of Princess Christine, with all the talk of marriage, at Raymond's healing center must have irked Kairen.
'That's just the talk of the commoners.'
Remerton shook his head inwardly.
To be honest, he wasn't in a very pleasant mood either.
But he didn't care, because he didn't need to listen to the tales of ignorant commoners.
'There is no reason to pay attention to the stories of blind, uneducated commoners.'
How could the foolish commoners know who is truly great?
'The people are blind and dumb. Since they are so foolish, I should lead them well as a monarch.'
They were incapable of right thinking.
That was Remerton's view of commoners.
If he becomes a king in the future, he would have to lead the foolish people well as a good leader.
'Anyway, I'll have to think twice about taking Raymond under my wing, he's doing a much better job than I expected.'
Remerton did not see Raymond as a competitor. This is because the class was completely different.
However, he wondered if he should take him under his wing, as he was excelling in his own right.
'He's got dirty blood, but if I'm going to ascend to the throne in the future, I'll have to learn to live with it.'
Kairen seemed to be of a similar mind.
Judging by the way he hid his displeasure and said.
"I'll have to give him a pat on the back when I see him later. After all, what he did was for the good of the Kingdom of Houston. He should be praised as a great subject who made a contribution as the king of the Houston Kingdom."
Remerton frowned at the tone of voice, not doubting in the slightest that he would be the next king.
"Brother."
"Oh, right. You mean you don't know yet? Well, now that you do, do your best. You must be nervous."
At the mocking tone, Remerton clenched his fists.
Despite his frustration, the gap between Kairen and Remerton was vast.
'If only Duke Laverne were not on his side.'
Laverne!
One of the most powerful families in the kingdom, and it had come out in full support of Kairen, tipping the scales.
'No, it's not over yet. I've just got to get the ball rolling. A ball big enough to win the heart of father.'
Luckily for Remerton, an opportunity is coming. A big one, too.
'Tensions are rising with the Drottons.'
Secretly.
There's talk among the highest echelons of the kingdom that war with the Drottons was on the horizon.
'I hope it doesn't end up as a rumor because war would be a great opportunity for me.'
Remerton's eyes sparkled.
'I've been studying strategy and tactics in books since I was a boy, and if there's a war, I'll be the one who gets the credit.'
For the commoners, war was hell, but for a powerful man like Remerton, it was a chance to make his mark, nothing more, nothing less.
Meanwhile, Seitil was having similar thoughts.
'I may be the least powerful of the two brothers now, but that's before the war, and when it comes, who's going to be the most prominent? And that's me, because it has to happen.'
Who was Seitil?
He was a Sword Expert and swordsmanship genius.
When war came, he would be at the forefront and make an overwhelming contribution.
If he could become a war hero, he could become a king.
The three princes thought the same thing at the same time.
'Hehehe, the king is definitely my position.'
'You're not fit for the throne, I am.'
'Sorry brothers, but I'm going to be the king.'