Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings

Chapter 2: Departure for Reformation

An invitation to a party hosted by the Duke Galleon family.

The party is scheduled about three months from today.

Let’s think about what can be done before then.

First, why did I have to be killed in that story?

Was it because I was an enemy of humanity?

Was it because I became one of the Four Heavenly Kings who served the second Demon King Raymond?

Those were probably one of the factors, but that’s not the essence of it.

The protagonist faction simply hated me.

In the first chapter, I mocked the protagonist for being a commoner and harassed him.

Not all of the Four Heavenly Kings in the second chapter were killed by the protagonist faction.

While most of us were all wiped out, there was one guy who was spared after fighting the protagonist faction.

The strongest and last of the Four Heavenly Kings in the second chapter.

Vallum the Dragon Knight.

Vallum was a dragon knight who rode dragons, and was one of the best spearmen in the story.

With his tremendous spearmanship, the ultra-high speed mobility granted by his beloved dragon Flügel given by Raymond, and his innate thunder magic, these are what made Vallum the strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings.

While I and the other Heavenly Kings were part of Raymond’s entourage due to our noble bloodlines and abilities, he was different.

Vallum was the only one among Raymond’s followers who did not hold a peerage and noble background.

Vallum came from a frontier knight family.

While they had served the kingdom for generations as knights and were thus not commoners, there was still an unbridgeable gap compared to us nobles.

Why was Vallum, with his frontier knight family background, allowed to be by Raymond’s side?

It could only be because Vallum was overwhelmingly strong.

Vallum was valued not for his lineage but for his personal martial prowess, and was made part of Raymond’s forces due to it.

It was probably because of that almost upstart-like history that he was able to make his way into Raymond’s side.

In the first chapter, while Raymond’s followers harassed the commoner protagonist, Vallum alone was passive about it.

He never voluntarily harassed them, only when ordered by Raymond.

Rather, it seemed he even respected the protagonist despite him being commoner, consistently showing courtesy whenever they met.

His strength was exceptional, he exhibited tremendous fighting power against the protagonist faction alone during the Four Heavenly Kings battle.

I think the decisive battle ended when he was knocked off while riding his dragon and he admitted defeat himself.

After that, the second Demon King Raymond was defeated by the protagonist faction, who then committed suicide, meeting a pitiful end.

Well, it still doesn’t compare to me being killed unfairly countless times.

In summary, the protagonist faction would spare enemies if they weren’t outright hostile, even if they disliked them and their history.

Kill the bad guys, and kill the ones who aren’t necessarily bad even if they give a bad impression.

In other words, I have to resolve the heavy tax issue to some extent, before the second chapter, or before enrolling at the academy, so I can atleast save some face when the time comes.

A minor meddling in governance?

No, this must be handled carefully or I’ll lose my father’s trust.

Ahh, my head hurts.

“So Carlos, look into places in our territory suffering from heavy taxes.”

“If you ask that out of the blue…”

Early morning, as Carlos pours me the usual pitch black morning coffee, he makes a troubled face at my words.

“It seems our territory is imposing heavy taxes or something.”

“Where did you hear that from, young master?”

“A dream.”

Carlos sighs.

Hey, what’s with that pitiful look?

“Perhaps I should call a doctor again?”

“No need. More importantly, the heavy taxes.”

“But young master, the taxes in the Lightless territory follow the kingdom’s regulations. While not low compared to other territories, they aren’t especially high either.”

“What? They aren’t high?”

“Well, it’s good for young master Rofus to take interest in governance.”

“Our territory is big right? Are the tax rates uniform everywhere still?”

“Of course they differ by region. To begin with, there are different types of taxes levied depending on the purpose. On the industry, like commerce, agriculture, and fishing. Merchants pay commercial taxes based on their reported earnings when they do business. Farmers pay agricultural taxes on their crops, and the fishing industry pays fish taxes on their catch…”

“Ah, complicated stuff is fine. So in short, our Lightless territory does not impose excessive heavy taxes right?”

“…Yes, well, that’s right.”

Hmm, then is there nothing I can do about the taxes now?

But wait.

In the first chapter of the story, there was a plotline about visiting an abandoned fishing village.

I think the story went like this; due to the demon king’s revival, the number of demons increased, which severely impacted the fishing industry, decreasing the amount of fish caught by the fishers.

While the main focus was subjugating the demons to relieve the pressure on the fishers, there was this one minor scene about punishing the tax official imposing heavy taxes.

If I remember right, that abandoned fishing village which was the setting, was it part of the Lightless territory?

“…”

This is bad.

I can’t leave that village alone.

If I do, I’ll probably die again like in that dream.

What was the name of that village again…

“Rougvelt.”

“Yes? Young master, what’s the matter all of a sudden?”

“Carlos, what’s on my schedule today?”

“Today’s schedule? Morning magic practical lesson with the instructor, after lunch is economics, magic theory, and etiquette classes packed together…”

“I see, nothing important. Cancel everything. Prepare a carriage immediately.”

“What!? Young master, where are you…”

“Hurry, we’re going to Rougvelt.”

I put on my jacket and leave my bedroom.

Carlos hurriedly follows me with rushed footsteps.

“Please wait, young master Rofus!”

“The morning instructor is already here, we can’t just cancel the session!”

“That’s right!”

My magic instructor, the magician Razel, blocks our way in front of us wearing his triangular hat.

“Rofus-sama, it’s time for your practical magic lesson. Where are you planning to go?”

I silently form a gigantic dark ball and immediately fire it at Razel.

My magic obliterates the ground to the right of where Razel stood.

The wind blast sends Razel’s triangular hat spinning through the air and rolling on the ground.

Razel stands frozen, unable to move, and I say one thing to him.

“Get lost.”

Still shaking, Razel timidly clears the way.

“O-Of course, as expected of young master Rofus! A splendid chant cancellation! Th-This concludes the morning lessssson!”

“That was chantless. I have nothing to learn from you anymore. Fill in that ground and disappear.”

Ignoring Razel sitting down trembling on the spot, I immediately start walking away.

Carlos covers his face with his hand as if grieving.

“Rofus-sama…”

“Who was that again, some third son of a baron family? Trying to teach me with that meager amount of mana, how stupid. Fire him after today.”

“Just how many is this now?”

“Don’t know. Get a more decent instructor.”

Among the nobility, the higher the peerage, the greater the magic power expected.

Though occasionally someone with high magic power emerges from minor nobles or commoners, it’s still extremely rare.

For me, a marquis family possessing tremendous magic power, Razel’s magic power as a mere baron family is like a drop in the bucket.

“We’re paying high wages, but no new talent wants to come. If this keeps up, it’s only natural that…”

“Are you being sarcastic? But there’s also an issue with the personnel hiring someone who can’t even tell the difference between chant cancellation and chantless.”

“It was the family head who interviewed and hired Razel directly.”

“My father did? It seems his eyes are quite clouded.”

I get in the carriage with Carlos and tap the ceiling with my cane to signal departure.

“Go. Destination, Rougvelt.”

At my words, the carriage slowly begins moving.

It’s moving but the coachman looks troubled, glancing at me repeatedly.

“What is it, why do you keep looking.”

“Young master, do you know where Rougvelt is?”

“Me? Of course not.”

“I thought so. It’s a rural village out in the boonies, I only know it by name too.”

“It’s that much of a backwater? Well, our territory is wide after all. Don’t tell me it’s far?”

“I’m afraid so. It takes 2 full days by carriage.”

“2 days…”

I’m at a loss for words.

I really don’t want to ride a carriage for 2 whole days.

I didn’t think Rougvelt was that far.

“With that much distance, this coachman would have a heavy load. We need to prepare an experienced coachman and escorts, food and camping supplies, adjust your schedule for the next few days, and get permission from the family head to take 2 days off.”

“I see…”

There’s a lot to do.

Normally I would give up, but this time my life is literally on the line.

If I can resolve whatever issues Rougvelt is facing, I may be able to eliminate one factor leading to my death.

This is something I have to push through even if I have to force my way through.

“Carlos.”

“Yes young master, what is it? Are you giving up already?”

“You handle being coachman and escort me yourself.”

“…Excuse me?”

Carlos has a past as the captain of a knight order in the Lightless territory.

While aged, his combat ability is satisfactory, with abundant camping experience.

He should be able to keep watch for 2 mere days without sleep.