Chapter 125 Score! A Reward!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the end, Crown Prince Aare survived. But the real shocker came afterward—why had he gotten sepsis in the first place?
Answer: because in this world, apparently no one believed in handwashing.
Yeah. Despite living in a place with magic and miracles, their “disinfection” usually meant waving some perfumed smoke around.
Okay, to be fair, smoke did contain stuff like creosote, which had antimicrobial effects. Smoked meat lasted longer for a reason. There were even old legends, like Hippocrates supposedly saving Athens from plague by filling the streets with aromatic smoke. (Never mind that historians say it’s probably made up.) Still, it wasn’t total nonsense.
But the second Ayumu pointed this out, the Royal Physicians did their usual routine:
”I’ve never heard of such a thing! Don’t spout nonsense!”
But after sometimes, when he forced them to test it—washing hands after touching corpses, disinfecting before surgery—death rates in the town hospital plummeted. Some doctors were horrified, realizing they’d been killing more patients than they saved, and took their own lives. Others doubled down in fury, shouting things like:
”How dare you call our sacred hands filthy!”
”You’re a murderer, driving doctors to despair!”
Yeah. Messy.
Still, not all bad news. Ayumu’s efforts were acknowledged. His proposal for a sulfa drug facility got the green light, and he secured the trust of the imperial couple. Which led directly to…
Yugan Free Cities League
State Capital: Livonia
Grand Palace – The Imperial Throne Room
For saving the Crown Prince, Ayumu was to be rewarded. And not just with a pat on the head—the Emperor himself planned to ennoble him as a high-ranking noble.
Count or higher. Above barons, above viscounts. For most people, that took ten years of military service, a pile of war merit, or mountains of money. Ayumu? He’d started as a vagrant without even citizenship. This was like jumping straight to daimyo rank in feudal Japan. Absolutely unheard of.
Naturally, every noble dragged to the ceremony whispered venom from the sidelines.
”Tch. Some nobody peasant, suddenly promoted…”
”Rumor says he used suspicious sorcery to heal His Highness.”
”What is His Majesty thinking, trusting the likes of him?”
Ayumu grit his teeth. He could hear them, thank you very much.
Still, he walked the red carpet toward the throne. Emperor Rai sat crowned, Empress Sarendra at his side, their three daughters standing nearby. Even poor Aare had been hauled in, strapped to some portable chair like a festival mikoshi. The kid could barely sit upright.
Ayumu handed over the ceremonial longsword, knelt, and bowed his head. The hall fell silent as the ritual began.
A herald’s voice rang out:
”Let the ennoblement of Ayumu Sanai commence. Silence, for this sacred oath.”
Emperor Rai raised the sword.
”Sanai. Repeat after me. Swear your vows.”
Ayumu swallowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
And so he spoke:
”I recognize Your Majesty as the rightful ruler of Yugan, and I pledge my loyalty.
As long as I draw breath, I will serve faithfully until my final day.
As long as my soul lingers on this earth, I will guard Your Majesty with my life.
When the time comes, I will fight at Your Majesty’s side with my sword.
Even if my blade shatters, even if my arrows run dry, even if my limbs lose their strength—I will protect my lord until death.
In war, I will uphold Your Majesty’s cause, shield your children, and follow the rightful heir of Yugan with absolute devotion.”
The Emperor nodded gravely. “Well sworn. A vow most sacred.”
Inside, Ayumu was screaming.
Waitwaitwait?! That’s not what I signed up for! Protect you even if my arms and legs don’t work anymore? That’s—no, that’s worse than a black company! I didn’t agree to dying painfully in some war zone!
He forced a polite smile anyway. Rai beamed at him, far too pleased, while Ronafermia gave him a small wave. The only shred of comfort in the room.
Then Rai’s voice thundered again:
”From this day, Sonata shall be my vassal! I grant him the fief of Keldan, with all revenues belonging to him!”
Applause echoed. Of course, it was for the Emperor, not for Ayumu.
Ayumu’s brain snagged on a single word. Keldan… why does that sound familiar?
…That was the beginning of his nightmare.
* * *
And now, in the present—
Ayumu stood frozen, staring at his “fief.” The old town hall creaked in the wind, its broken sign swaying back and forth like a death rattle.
”…Why. Why did it come to this?” he whispered, hollow-eyed.
At his side, two new companions bickered nonstop.
Ninim, the overworked bureaucrat, threw up her hands.
”Why do I have to suffer like this?! Just because I’m from Birene?!”
Across from her, the knight Yoluminette sneered, beautiful face twisted in disgust.
”Tch! Why must I, of all people, work alongside a colorless little mouse like you?”
Ayumu sighed. “You two… seriously. Do you have to fight all the time?”
But that, dear reader, is a story for another day.
Notes:
• Empress Sarendra – Aare’s mother who expresses quiet resentment towards Aare’s existence.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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