'Great! I'll get what I asked for, the Borison estate!'
The property in question was none other than the Borison Manor, nestled deep within the rugged Kennel Mountains of Rafalde.
No one had ever been granted ownership of the Borison Estate before, so it was undoubtedly his now.
'The White Crystal Mines are mine!'
White crystal!
It was a type of magical stone!
A mineral essential to the crafting of magic tools, the value of which is immense!
The White Crystal, a type of magical stone known as 'White Crystal,' was stored in the Borison territory.
'It was discovered by accident during the war.'
Originally, the Borison Estate had an abandoned mine within its borders, where the White Crystal lay hidden deep underground.
The discovery of this valuable resource had occurred quite unexpectedly during a wartime expedition.
'Of course, there are a few things about the Borison Estate that are a bit of a hindrance.'
Raymond frowned.
According to reports, there were several unidentified patients around the abandoned mine.
It was worth checking into further.
'I can handle this with my medicine.'
The bigger problem was that the quality of the white crystal ore seemed to be somewhat inferior.
'For some reason, it has a slightly different color than the usual white crystals. Is there an impurity in it?'
White Crystals were ores that contained mana within transparent minerals.
The quality of the ore was determined by the color of the mana within it, and the mana in this particular ore appeared somewhat cloudy.
Consequently, the White Crystals found within the Borison estate were likely of the lowest quality.
'But even if it's the lowest grade, it's still a magical stone. It's worth a lot more than ordinary minerals, and I'll be rich today.'
It was a dreamy moment.
Soon, Count Trentby approached Odin.
By the way, Count Trentby had fearlessly thrown himself into the war, determined to revive his fallen noble lineage.
He had taken a prominent role on the frontlines, slaying a considerable number of enemy knights, and played a crucial part in repelling the enemy's aggressive pursuit during their retreat.
This had earned him the distinction of being the second most distinguished individual.
Moreover, Count Trentby harbored a fierce competitive spirit towards Raymond.
Before stepping up to the podium, he shot a hostile look at Raymond.
'Yeah, yeah. Glare at me. It's a nice day, so I'll let you off the hook.'
Raymond leisurely watched Count Trentby receive his prize, when suddenly a voice rang out like a thunderclap.
"...For these merits, Count Trentby, I grant you the estate of Borison."
"...!"
Raymond's eyes widened to the point of tears.
The Borison Estate he had hoped for had been given to Count Trentby out of nowhere!
'What? Why would the manor of Borison be given to Count Trentby? This is ridiculous!'
Raymond looked at Lord Galman.
He was looking at him, too, and their gazes met, but there was something strange in his eyes.
His eyes looked alarmed.
'...Why is he looking at me like that?'
It turns out he wasn't the only one.
Everyone in the room was looking at Raymond in shock.
'What is it?'
Then, a thought occurred to Raymond.
The Borison territory, which included the White Crystal Mine, had been granted to Count Trentby, who was recognized as the second most distinguished individual.
This left a lingering question: what land would be bestowed upon Raymond, who had achieved the most significant accomplishment?
It seemed only fair that he should receive a manor of even greater value than the geode mines.
'So what kind of lands will I receive?'
At that time, the people shared a whisper.
"It hasn't been decided yet who will own it."
"You don't mean Baron Penin?"
"Nonsense!"
Raymond mentally visualized a map of the Rafalde provinces and froze.
There it was, unmistakably marked—a manor whose ownership was still undetermined.
It was a vast and highly valuable territory, far surpassing the Borison estate.
'...N-No way?'
Raymond's fingertips trembled faintly.
'Nonsense. Of course not. They wouldn't give that estate to me.'
Just then, Odin spoke.
"Baron Penin, come to the dais."
Raymond swallowed hard and stepped forward.
Everyone in the ballroom stared in horror, sensing what was about to happen.
"Baron Penin, you have done countless good deeds in your service as an army healer."
King Odin listed Raymond's accomplishments one by one, as he had done earlier.
"As a dedicated healer, you have saved the lives of countless soldiers, knights, and nobles, instilling hope within our ranks through your compassionate care. You thwarted the enemy's devious schemes, safeguarded our allies from peril, and played a pivotal role in capturing crucial fortresses. Moreover..."
The story didn't end there.
He had done so much in the war.
It was a glorious moment, but it fell on deaf ears.
One thought kept running through his mind.
'Seriously, you're going to give me that estate?'
And then.
"For these exceptional merits, I bestow upon you the following rewards: Baron Penin, your title is elevated to the rank of Count."
"...!"
The banquet hall erupted in astonishment.
A Countdom!
That's two ranks!
He had risen to the rank of Count in less than a year, an unprecedented feat in the history of the continent.
But this was to be expected.
Rumors abounded that he was going to be knighted as a count because of his achievements.
The problem was the land.
'Where exactly will the territory be?'
'Could it really be that territory?'
Before he could open his mouth, Odin looked at Raymond.
For a moment, his deep eyes pierced Raymond's.
"Count Penin, I hereby appoint you as my representative to carry out my wishes."
"...!"
"I am appointing you as an 'envoy' to the war-torn province of Rafalde to oversee its post-war recovery."
A puzzled look crossed the faces of the people.
A 'special envoy' for post-war reconstruction was an unexpected appointment.
A fitting title for a healer.
'He'd be well-suited to dealing with the people of Rafalde.'
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Restoring the war-torn Rafalde region was indeed necessary.
Moreover, they had fought against the enemy for a hundred years, so it was essential to win over the hearts of the people and bring them into the embrace of the Houston Kingdom.
No one was better suited for this role than Raymond, whose remarkable healing abilities would prove invaluable in this endeavor.
However, the question still remained: what territory would be awarded to him?
The room held its collective breath, waiting for King Odin to reveal his decision.
Then, King Odin addressed the assembly once more.
"Count Penin, I hereby charge you with the task of repairing the war's aftermath within six months, stabilizing the province of Rafalde, and restoring the hearts and minds of its people. Should you achieve this within the designated timeframe..."
A solemn silence blanketed the hall.
"In recognition of your outstanding achievements in this war, you shall be granted the title of feudal lord of the Luin Estate and the esteemed position of High Lord of the Rafalde Province."
***
Shock and disbelief gripped the banquet hall.
The Luin Estate!
It housed Luin Castle, the heart and capital of the Rafalde Province.
For reference, Luin Castle was not only the largest castle in the Droton Kingdom but ranked among the top five across the entire kingdom.
Moreover, for generations, it had served as the seat of the Rafalde Province's High Lord!
The ruler of Luin held the esteemed title of Lord of all Rafalde, known as the High Lord.
Throughout history, this had never changed.
'To bestow such a place upon him!'
'He's going to crown that bastard as high lord of Rafalde?'
The collective astonishment in the hall was palpable.
High Lord!
Just how prestigious and exalted was that title?
As the ruler among rulers, the lord above lords, and the sovereign of an entire region within the kingdom, it held immense prestige and significance, second only to the king himself.
The notion of offering Raymond such a position, even conditionally, struck everyone as utterly absurd. Raymond himself shared this sentiment.
'...What do you mean, I'll be High Lord?'
All he wanted was a yolk estate to become a Super Rich.
He had never imagined himself in such a high position as High Lord!
And so, as Raymond languished in a wave of shock, someone stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, I suggest you reconsider that decision."
It was Marquis Terne, high lord of the province west of Houston.
Incidentally, he was the head of the supporters of the third prince, Remerton, and had stepped forward to prevent Raymond's position from growing stronger.
The others nodded in agreement.
'Even a war hero is too much.'
'Such an important position should be held by another legitimate noble...'
'Yes, it's too much. I just wanted an estate that would make me a lot of money.'
It should be noted that the latter comment was Raymond's own perspective.
Raymond nodded in agreement with Marquis Terne, whose words reflected the sentiments of the assembly.
"It seems to me that the province of Luin is better left in the hands of another qualified person than the newly-mintedCount Penin."
But for some reason, Odin came out strong.
"Why do you say the Count Penin is unqualified?"
"Because..."
Marquis Terne fell silent.
'Because he's a bastard nobleman.'
It was the sole aspect that they could criticize, but it carried far greater weight than any other disqualification.
While Raymond's abilities were widely acknowledged, the position of High Lord, the ruler of the entire Rafalde region, was a matter of immense prestige.
Although others might overlook his origins for lesser positions, no noble would willingly entrust such a prestigious role to Raymond
"Does anyone else feel the same way? Are you all against giving the province of Luin to Count Penin?"
There was no answer.
There was a definite mood of disapproval.
But then, someone stepped forward.
"How laughable. If Count Penin doesn't deserve it, who does? You, Marquis Terne, who hasn't done anything of merit in this war, or His Highness Prince Remerton, whose poor judgment has cost the kingdom dearly?"
Harsh words.
It was Duke Leif!
"Y-you speak harshly, Your Grace the Duke."
"I don't know what's harsh about it."
Duke Leif said sourly.
"I, Duke Leif, as Lord of the Southern Province, agree with His Majesty's decision."
Just then, another unexpected voice spoke up.
"While I hesitate to intervene in this matter, I, as a representative of the mages of the Houston Kingdom, also align with the judgment of His Majesty the King."
It was Shameron of the Magic Tower!
He stepped forward in recognition of Duke Leif.
With that, other voices spoke up.
"I, too, agree."
"Me, too."
Among them were the nobles who had received favors from Raymond.
Their number was not insignificant.
The favors Raymond had bestowed had come back to him.
At that moment, a decisive voice in favor of Raymond emerged.
"As the First Princess of the Kingdom of Houston, and fourth in line to the throne, I also agree with His Majesty the King's decision."
It was Princess Sophia!
With a cold gaze, she stared at those who expressed opposing opinions.
"Of course, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I personally support Count Penin. But honestly, I don't know who else among these candidates is more suitable for this position than him."
Just like that, Duke Leif and Princess Sophia.
The room fell silent as the two magnates stepped forward.