Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings - Chapter 5 - Snake-Like

Chapter 5: Snake-Like

Clinton Fau Serpente is the fourth son of a rural baronial family.

With long gray hair tied back, resembling ashes, narrow eyes, a slender body, his appearance evokes a snake-like presence, much like the Serpente family crest’s symbol.

He’s a privileged nobleman employed by the Lightless Marquisate.

Currently, Clinton is groveling in front of me, nervously fidgeting.

Before me, in the grand hall of Clinton’s mansion, where he should be setting in as a ruler of this mansion.

Let’s rewind back to a few minutes before this current situation.

The carriage carrying me and Carlos arrived at the port town where Clinton’s mansion is located.

At the same time, we were surrounded by a group of men, likely Clinton’s private soldiers.

And among that group, Clinton, who was also there there, was astonished when he saw the Lightless family crest adorned on the carriage.

He literally jumped in surprise.

Clinton ordered his soldiers to lower their weapons and prostrated himself in front of the carriage.

“I apologize deeply for the foolish act of my soldiers surrounding the Lightless Marquisate’s carriage. I am truly sorry!”

Clinton pleaded.

Quietly stepping down from the carriage, I stepped heavily on Clinton’s head in front of the private soldiers.

The private soldiers were in an uproar.

Perhaps out of fear or humiliation, Clinton trembled under my foot.

I glared at the stiff private soldiers.

“Hey, what are you standing around for? Do you want to die?”

As I formed a Dark Ball in my hand, Clinton, still in a kneeling position, hurriedly scolded his soldiers.

“You fools, kneel quickly! This person is Rofus Ray Lightless, the legitimate son of the Lightless Marquisate!”

Upon hearing this, the private soldiers quickly dropped their weapons and knelt before me.

Despite being on the borderlands, they were still indeed officials of the Lightless domain.

It seems they recognize my face.

The officials and their private soldiers showed a submissive attitude before me, the magistrate who governs the city.

Hmm, it feels really good.

This is it, this is how it should be.

Despite being in the rural borderlands, I had half given up, but the Lightless family should be treated like this.

They are among the upper ruling class in this kingdom.

Afterwards, I was graciously invited to Clinton’s mansion, leading up to this moment.

Carlos, watching me throughout, had a look of constant disbelief.

　＊　

“Now, at Rougvelt, your soldiers attacked us. I want to hear your explanation,” I asked Clinton menacingly, with a smile plastered on my face.

Sweat dripped from Clinton’s forehead as he groveled.

“Y-yes. I have just received a report from my soldiers. It seems they acted recklessly without realizing it was you, Lord Rofus, and I am deeply sorry…”

“Your soldiers couldn’t see the Lightless family crest on the carriage? Or perhaps, they didn’t know?”

It’s unacceptable for someone working in the domain of a noble family not to know the lord’s family crest.

Even the commoners back there should have been charged for disrespect.

For someone belonging to the military, such as soldiers, the responsibility to know their lord is important.

They would be immediately brought to a military tribunal, and their superiors would be punished for their lack of management.

To attack one’s own lord without recognizing their family crest is no laughing matter.

If the private soldiers didn’t know the Lightless family crest, then the responsibility would naturally extend to Clinton, their lord.

“I can’t believe they didn’t know the noble family crest of the Lightless Marquisate! Such an act of disrespect should not exist within the Lightless domain, or within the kingdom at large. It seems they acted carelessly without paying attention… I intend to punish those soldiers severely.”

“Oh?”

Well, I suppose I believe they simply didn’t know, your private soldiers.

Moreover, it seemed that even the residents of Rougvelt were unfamiliar with our family crest too.

Well, this response was expected.

It’s natural to cut ties to avoid responsibility.

Those private soldiers who escaped from Rougvelt, fearing they might testify against him, may have already been dealt with.

It’s Clinton who would be troubled if they gave a poor testimony.

“Speaking of which, at Rougvelt, your soldiers were displaying an unfamiliar crest, weren’t they?”

Clinton froze at my words.

“That crest… wasn’t it from some rural noble family?”

For a hired magistrate to display his own family crest, there’s no excuse for such blatant treason.

Clinton wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and raised his head.

“T-that’s… um, th-those soldiers were recruited locally, and until recently, they were in my local territory, Serpente. Their weapons and equipment were from that time…”

Clinton spoke while glancing at my expression.

“And then?”

“T-they, um, they… I’m terribly embarrassed to say, but we don’t have much financial leeway in the borderlands. Our supply of equipment was insufficient… No, there was no intention of rebellion, I assure you.”

Clinton bowed his head to the floor again.

No, that excuse seems too far-fetched.

It’s truly a forked tongue.

Even if that were true, the moment they displayed the crest of another domain, it’s already more than enough of a sign.

As I listened with a smirk, Carlos, who was standing by my side, spoke up.

“You’re not showing any signs of backing down, Magistrate Clinton. The pillaging at Rougvelt, the violence against residents, the attempted abduction… Lord Rofus has seen all of your crimes. There’s no escape for you now.”

As Carlos piled on, Clinton trembled even more.

Hey, Carlos… you’re saying too much.

Well, it’s fine. I was getting tired of hearing their hastily concocted excuses anyway.

It seemed to be over, but Clinton suddenly lifted his head and approached me aggressively.

“I-I’m not at fault! I-it’s all because the people of Rougvelt refuse to pay their taxes quietly!”

“This guy still talks nonsense…”

Carlos, with a hint of annoyance, reached for the hilt of his sword, but I stopped him with my hand.

“Alright. Summarize the situation in writing.”

“And make sure to gather evidence,” I quietly instructed Carlos in a low voice.

Carlos nodded silently and left the room.

There must be plenty of incriminating evidence in this mansion.

It would be troublesome if Clinton disposed of it before we could find it.

Evidence must be gathered before then.

“Hmm, neglected taxes, is it? That’s interesting. Tell me more.”

Though I wasn’t actually interested, I decided to keep chatting with Clinton until Carlos gathered the evidence.

“They… they make excuses like not being able to catch fish!”

“Why can’t they catch fish?”

“They spread lies like sea monsters becoming aggressive and multiplying! They’re just trying to avoid paying taxes and line their own pockets!”

Huh? Sea monsters becoming aggressive?

“Hey, are sea monsters really becoming aggressive?”

“It’s a lie! They’re lying just because they don’t want to pay taxes!”

Clinton just kept shouting lies without making any sense.

Aggressive sea monsters, mass disappearances…

Such stories indeed exist in tales.

In the first chapter, the sky turns murky and a sinister black sun rises due to the revival of the Demon King.

And monsters become aggressive and multiply in various countries around the world.

It’s truly a calamity heralding the end of the world… This phenomenon is referred to as “Catastrophe” in the story.

But it’s not the time for that now.

Chronologically, it should at least be three years from now.

There hasn’t been a change in the color of the sky.

However, before the “Catastrophe” occurred, powerful monsters appeared in various places as a sign of the upcoming disaster.

The Demon King’s minions… the Four Demonic Beasts.

One of them was indeed supposed to appear in Rougvelt.

It’s one of the Demon King’s minions, a giant octopus-like monster that’s abnormally large for an island-sized creature.

The super-sized ship-eating Kraken, Sea Demon Strauff.

Could it be that it’s already appeared?

Wasn’t the appearance of the Four Demonic Beasts supposed to be three years later?

“No… that’s not right.”

In the first place, the story’s plot line shouldn’t have started yet.

The story begins three years later when the protagonist enrolls in the magic academy.

Information before that isn’t part of the story.

Were the Four Demonic Beasts already existing before the story started, and causing damage?

“Clinton, when did the residents of Rougvelt start complaining about the aggression of those monsters?”

“That’s… I believe it’s been about half a year! They were paying taxes obediently until then, and suddenly they started spreading such lies!”

Half a year ago… that’s surprisingly recent.

In other words, in just half a year, Rougvelt has deteriorated to that extent.

Does that mean Rougvelt can survive as a fishing village until three years later, when the story begins?

Without my intervention, it seems like it would become a deserted village within a year.

No, perhaps…

“Has the appearance of the Four Demonic Beasts been accelerated…?”

If I think about it that way, it makes sense.

Rougvelt seemed more dilapidated than when I saw it in my dream of the story, which was supposed to happen three years later.

Rougvelt was unable to catch fish due to the aggression and mass appearances of monsters, and couldn’t even pay regular taxes.

And Clinton resorted to forced seizure in the form of plundering Rougvelt.

All of these were supposed to happen three years later.

It seems absurd, but it’s not impossible.

If the story is destined to happen from now on, then I am an anomaly in a world that goes against fate.

In fact, I am intervening in Rougvelt and trying to change the future.

And there’s no reason to believe that there’s anyone else besides me who’s trying to change the future as well.

It’s not necessarily just me who had that dream of the story.

While I was contemplating, Carlos returned.

Well, that was fast.

Carlos whispered to me quietly.

“We’ve gathered all the evidence. And…”

“What is it?”

“It seems that they’re imposing significantly higher taxes than regulated. Not only in Rougvelt, but also in the surrounding villages. And acts like plundering and kidnapping residents, similar to what was done in Rougvelt, seem to have been frequent as well in other villages. The number of towns and villages affected is quite substantial.”

It seems that Clinton has been doing as he pleases in the Lightless territory.

“…How’s the audit going?”

There should be periodic dispatches of auditors to ensure that officials are not engaging in misconduct.

Judging from the scale of the damage, it seems to exceed a level that can be concealed.

“Perhaps the auditors have been bribed as well.”

“Damn.”

Come to think of it, this mansion is quite luxurious for a port town in the borderlands.

Clinton has been lining his pockets with taxes imposed on top of heavy taxes.

“He seems to have amassed quite a fortune.”

“Yes. We confirmed a considerable amount in the underground vault.”

You’ve already found it?

Isn’t it too soon?

“We have sufficient evidence. Let’s detain Clinton like this and inform the lord.”

We’ll report the situation via carrier pigeon and seek the lord’s decision.

Certainly, that’s the smartest move.

…But unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there.

As long as Sea Demon Strauff, one of the Four Demonic Beasts, exists in Rougvelt, fish cannot be caught so easily.

If fish cannot be caught, Rougvelt won’t even be able to pay regular taxes.

And it’s uncertain what kind of accusations the protagonist’s faction will come up with to come and kill me in the future.

Fundamental resolution is definitely necessary here.

Namely, it’s the subjugation of Sea Demon Strauff.

“Wait, Carlos. Hold off on the report for now.”

“Huh? But it’s getting quite…”

“We’ll wait until all the reports are finished. The reason I came to Rougvelt isn’t done yet.”

“Young master…”

“That’s right, don’t give me that exasperated look, Carlos. Just bear with me a little longer.”

Clinton looked anxiously at me and Carlos, though he shouldn’t have heard our conversation.

Clinton Fau Serpente.

Yes, let’s use whatever’s available.