But Elmud had said his piece and was gone.
They both stared at the application in their hands and remained silent.
It was awkward.
But after a moment.
"Pft."
"Pfft. Pfft."
They both laughed.
Simultaneously, with no indication of who came first.
"Why are you laughing, Viscount?"
"Just feel like laughing. How about you?"
"Me too."
The laughter, which started small, grew louder.
Laughing heartily, Rothen signed the application form. Krynn did the same.
"You don't regret it?"
"I suppose I could. It's a much thornier road than serving Prince Remerton."
Rothen chuckled.
It was a rueful laugh.
"But it sounds like it would be a lot more fun and rewarding."
"I think so, too. It would be far more rewarding to serve Lord Raymond than that arrogant fool, Remerton."
Rothen glanced at Raymond, who was still treating patients in the distance.
Perhaps, later, they would regret this choice.
It would be much harder and more dangerous.
"But... if it's dangerous, we can protect him."
"What?"
"Because it's our job as knights to protect our lords, isn't it?"
Krynn smiled back.
"Yes, that's right, as long as I'm here, no one will be able to touch my lord."
That day, the two lords made their decision.
To protect this foolishly extraordinary man.
They pledged to safeguard him, and thus, Raymond earned the loyalty of the two lords.
***
Raymond wasn't just concerned with restoring Mefin and Thor.
'I need to convince the other lords.'
The problem was that the other lords didn't suffer from major illnesses, making it difficult to be effective as a healer.
He needed to adopt a different strategy.
'Fortunately, there's a plan in place for the lord of the Kunka territory.'
The Kunka territory.
It was a crucial transportation hub to other important territories and belonged to the noble House of Remerton.
Raymond had a plan on how to approach the lord of Kunka.
'Crack the whip. I can't offer every lord a carrot.'
While Rothen and Krynn had the people's best interests at heart, some lords did not.
The lord of Kunka was a prime example.
'An irredeemable scumbag.'
As such, Raymond was prepared to crack the whip and bring him to his knees.
First, he summoned him.
"What can I do for you, sir? I'm not in much need of medical attention."
The lord of Kunka approached Raymond with a haughty demeanor.
'I can't believe they made this guy lord of an important province.'
Raymond clicked his tongue; the encounter had failed.
But it was for a good reason, as Lord Kunka had been careful to conceal his misdeeds.
As the second son of a marquis, he had the support of his influential family, and he held a high position in the administration.
The issue was that he was an extremely crafty individual, executing his deeds covertly, leaving behind no evidence.
Few were aware of his actions.
'I wouldn't have discovered them either if it weren't for the staff officer who I treated on the battlefield.'
In the end, his wounds worsened, and he passed away, cursing the lord vehemently in his final moments.
He had been wronged behind his back.
Numerous injustices had been committed against him, and the lord's most egregious transgression was claiming credit for the achievements of others during the war to secure his position as lord.
But that would change today.
'It took time to gather concrete evidence.'
Evidence of his misdeeds.
That was the whip Raymond had prepared.
"I didn't summon you to be treated as a healer."
"Well then, I'm in a hurry, so keep it brief."
Brief.
That's precisely what Raymond desired.
He had no time to waste on this scoundrel.
"Apprentice."
The door creaked open, and a dark-haired beauty entered.
It was Christine, who had recently joined the team after resolving the Duke's predicament!
"Why is the lady here?"
Lord Kunka frowned at her.
Christine shot him a disdainful look and tossed him the papers.
"What's this?"
"Take a look."
Upon opening it, the lord's expression turned ashen.
It was an extensive list detailing all the transgressions he had committed!
"How... How is this possible?"
"You seem to have forgotten who I am."
Christine Laverne. The First Princess of the Duke of Laverne, the most influential family in the kingdom, and the current frontrunner for the heir apparent.
"If the Laverne duchy decides to exercise their influence, no information remains hidden within the Houston Kingdom. Although it was a bit challenging to unearth these wrongdoings, given how thoroughly they were concealed."
"You've done well, apprentice."
Raymond nodded appreciatively.
Indeed.
Raymond turned to Christine, intending to use the evidence as leverage.
'I was planning to negotiate with the whip.'
Raymond shook his head.
'With such clear evidence, there's no need to negotiate.'
"Rao, please."
"Yes, brother."
Rao appeared, his one-eyed glasses gleaming, accompanied by a group of knights.
"W, wait!"
"You can share the rest of the story in prison."
Rao said coldly.
"You won't get out for a long time, so there will be plenty of time to talk slowly."
With that, the Lord of Kunka was imprisoned, and the power of the province naturally passed to Raymond, the commissioner and candidate for feudal lord.
The zealous sage Mevinson was overjoyed that Raymond had gained control of three important provinces at once.
"Great, great, lord, how wise you are!"
His admiration was so profound that the sage was moved to tears.
"You are not merely good, my lord, but you have the power to make it happen!"
Mevinson reminisced about his past.
He had conceived policies for the people, yet his efforts were consistently thwarted by the schemes of the nobility.
However, Raymond proved to be different.
Raymond possessed not only a heart as pure as light but also the strength to translate his benevolence into action.
'To serve such a man is the greatest blessing of all, and for the remainder of my life, I will dedicate all my passion to your service!'
With that, the sage flared up again, and Raymond wore an awkward expression.
'This old man seems to be turning into another Hanson; is that okay?'
Then Rao inquired.
"What will the other territories do now, brother?"
Capturing the three lords of the Remerton faction was a victory, but six others had yet to succumb.
The challenge lay in the fact that approaching them in the same manner was difficult.
'They're average lords. They don't require my assistance like Rothen and Krynn, and they haven't committed any wrongdoings.'
Not particularly good or evil, these lords were moderately greedy individuals who hadn't done anything wrong. That made the situation even more complicated.
If they were evil, one could exploit their weaknesses; if they were good, they would have a heart for their people. However, they displayed neither quality.
'Driven by self-interest, they'll never cooperate with me.'
Rao expressed a similar sentiment.
"They claim they will restore their territories independently, without your assistance. They won't yield easily."
"That's my assessment as well."
Mevinson inquired, his tone laced with both concern and anticipation.
"Do you have another strategy in mind?"
"No, I don't have a similar strategy this time."
Raymond shook his head.
The tactic he employed with the previous three lords was not universally applicable.
"We'll need a different approach this time."
"Such as?"
"I'm considering using a directive."
Raymond raised his hand, revealing a commissioner appointment from King Odin!
"As their appointed commissioner, I'll order them to immediately collaborate in the recovery efforts."
"...!"
Rao and Mevinson's eyes widened.
"But Brother, do you believe they'll comply?"
"Of course, they won't willingly comply."
Both of them appeared puzzled.
Raymond clenched his fists.
"I will wield the threat of feudal lord's retribution, for the feudal lord possesses the authority to penalize lords who neglect their duty to the people."
"But Brother, you haven't officially assumed the role of a feudal lord yet, have you?"
"Nor am I a powerless lone commissioner."
"...!"
"Now that Rothen and Krynn have pledged allegiance to me, it will be challenging for them to disregard my directives."
Rao grasped the meaning behind Raymond's words.
"Brother Raymond has secured the loyalty of two lords and has acquired the authority of the Kunka territory.'
Considering the Luin territory, originally belonging to Raymond, he now held four of the ten major territories in Rafalde Province.
It could be argued that he was significantly closer to becoming a feudal lord than before.
Would the other lords be able to dismiss Raymond in this situation?
It wouldn't be easy.
If Raymond were to ascend to that position, they would be in significant trouble.
"I'll present them with both a stick and a carrot, giving them a choice: align with me, a feudal lord who can genuinely assist them, or follow the uncooperative princes."
"Brother."
"Lord."
Rao and Mevinson regarded Raymond's determination with admiration.
Raymond, naturally, was ablaze with determination.
'Ugh. A direct confrontation, it's nerve-wracking. I'm shaking. This is not for me.'
But Raymond remembered.
To bask in the wealth and glory of a monarch, he had to overcome this hurdle at least once.
'Skill purchase, Monarch's Pen!'
The Monarch's Pen!
A skill he had retained from before, assisting in document writing.
It would be helpful for crafting such diplomatic letters since he wasn't accustomed to writing threatening missives like this.
Yet, the skill had a much more profound effect than he had anticipated.
[A skill has manifested!]
[The warmth of a Healer Lord who cares for patients and subjects, and the majesty of a monarch who chastises misbehaving subordinates, imbue the letter!]
Raymond gazed at the letter he had composed with a perplexed expression.
"Isn't this a bit too imposing?"
The heartfelt empathy for the subjects and the stern reprimand of self-serving lords had powerfully merged into the letter.
It was a missive that would make anyone, regardless of who read it, flinch.
'Let's send it.'
And so, Raymond's confrontation with the other lords began.
***
The lords didn't even flinch.
"Hmph, do you really think anyone would listen to those words?"
"It's nothing but delusions."
However, this was merely their outward facade, as the lords started to feel unease.
'Damn it, Rothen and Krynn have fallen. What happens to us if Count Penin is truly after us?'
Of course, they didn't believe it would happen, but they couldn't be certain.
'Above all, the King wants Count Penin to become the feudal lord. After all, if Count Penin ascends to feudal lordship, will the Prince shield me?'
There were countless ways for a feudal lord to exploit their subjects.
If Raymond managed to maneuver his way to the throne, they would be in significant trouble.
At that moment, Kairen and Remerton shared a common worry.
If the worst-case scenario unfolded, would Kairen and Remerton shield them?
Neither lord had an answer to that question.
***
On the other hand, Raymond, who had dispatched the letters, was trembling with anxiety.
'Oh, what if they don't comply with my orders to the end?'
He understood that the one who succumbs to fear is the one who loses, but Raymond's innate timidity made him feel nervous.
Sensing the need to exert more pressure on the lords, he raised his pen.
This time, his aim was to influence the inhabitants of the subordinate territories.
[Skill, The Monarch's Pen is activated!]
[The love of the Healer Lord towards patients and subjects is inscribed in the text!]
Swiftly, another splendid letter was crafted.
"Mevinson, instruct people to post the letter I've composed in the squares of each territory."
"My Lord?"
Mevinson looked surprised as he perused Raymond's letter.
'It's a missive designed to console the people in each territory grappling with the aftermath of the war!'
It was a masterpiece that could stir anyone's heart just by reading it.
Sage Mevinson promptly recognized the profound love for the people embedded in Raymond's letter.
It was clear what kind of reaction would unfold when these comforting letters were displayed in each territory.
The blame would cascade onto the lords who turned a blind eye to the suffering of the people in their domains.
'As expected, My Lord. You are truly amazing. To conceive of such a method for the sake of the people is remarkable. Loyalty, loyalty, nothing but loyalty.'
Of course, Raymond was contemplating along these lines in his mind.
'No matter how scared I am, I'll never back down! My future! My prosperity!'
Just as he was fervently working on this, he heard an annoying sound.
"Milord, a message from Duke Leif."
"At such a busy time?"
Raymond frowned.
Duke Leif had occasionally reached out to him since taking him on as a student, and it was usually nothing of particular significance.
Currently, Raymond wasn't in a situation to receive teachings, and Duke Leif knew that.
It was just a routine check-in with no specific content.
'Are you doing well?'
'I'm always silently cheering for you. Stay strong, my dearest disciple.'
'...Did I ask him to be so considerate?'
Raymond was taken aback.
He had told Duke Leif that if he wasn't treated well, he would seek another master.
Raymond was initially flattered by Duke Leif's frequent attempts to reach out, but now, it was becoming a bit overwhelming.
'I should inform him that I'm busy.'
Just as he was about to respond, a single thought crossed Raymond's mind.
'If I leverage Duke Leif, I can exert even stronger pressure on the lords.'
Raymond had refrained from excessively using Duke Leif's influence thus far.
Despite being his student, he didn't want to exploit the relationship.
Raymond had kept Duke Leif's assistance reserved for moments when he genuinely needed it.
'But avoiding using such connections in this situation is unwise.'
In reality, circumstances like these were when one should utilize connections.
'Moreover, I'm not asking for extravagant favors.'
Facing Duke Leif through the communication device, Raymond said.
- You don't look well.
"Oh, no, no, it's just... No, no."
Raymond deliberately raised and lowered his head, making it evident to anyone that he was facing challenges.
It was the first time he had displayed such an expression.
-Is it because of those pathetic lords?
Duke Life's mood turned sour.
He was well aware of the situation in the Rafalde region, but he had refrained from interfering, as he believed it was a problem Raymond should solve on his own.
However, seeing his most precious disciple suffering like this...
-Talk to me. I'll help you in any way I can.
The tone was icy and veiled.
-I, Leif, am on your side.