I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake. Chapter 117

I Killed the Demon King. It was a mistake.

Chapter 117

Caesar drank tea with Harrison.

“So, am I now officially a Councilman?”

“I received 5th place in the party conference, so it’s almost as good as confirmed.”

Homigraph’s councilor system is 100% proportional representation.

Voters don’t vote for individual councilmen but for parties, and the number of seats depends on how many votes each party receives.

So, the ranking in this Sapien party conference would determine whether one could become a Councilman.

“Councilman Walterwood?”

“He’s 1st place. He said he’ll run again this time.”

“Won’t that cause a problem? Didn’t he tell me before that there are no councilmen from the same family?”

“There were internal discussions about that, but they were dismissed.”

“Why?”

“They said you might create a new party if that happened.”

Caesar stared at Harrison as if it was absurd.

“When did I say I would create a new party?”

“You didn’t say you wouldn’t. You just said you didn’t know.”

Caesar chuckled.

“Now that you’ve become a politician, you’re playing word games. And using my name without my permission is quite annoying.”

“Instead, I’ll add budget for the special police this time.”

“What else?”

“I’ll ensure there are no tax issues when you purchase land for the knights’ order you’ll create.”

“What else?”

“I heard you’re planning to build a ‘Knight City’ in Westline. I’ll handle the speculators trying to inflate land prices in the area.”

“What else?”

“I’ll provide small ports near Caesar’s estate and Knight City. Military ports will be necessary for knights to operate efficiently and quickly.”

Caesar laughed.

“Now you seem like a proper Councilman.”

“Please call me Harrison comfortably. I’m not quite used to it yet.”

“Okay.”

Harrison and Caesar smoked cigars, chuckling.

“I never imagined I could become a Councilman. It’s all thanks to Caesar.”

“Enough flattery. Let’s get to the main point.”

Caesar blew cigar smoke to the side and said:

“In 2-3 months, I’m going to the demon realm.”

“…I’ve heard rumors about that.”

“Until the councilmen selection, who knows what might happen to Homigraph. Once the news spreads about creating a potion-less city Homigraph and a doctors’ city Sapientia, the Royder Order will launch indiscriminate attacks.”

“We didn’t think their offense would be that strong.”

“But there’s always a possibility.”

Caesar handed Harrison a film.

“What’s this?”

“Photos taken when Cardinal Hyginus was assassinated. There are a few more photos taken from unpublished angles.”

Harrison’s eyes widened.

“So that’s why you went out that night…”

Caesar nodded in response.

“I’ve already asked the Redfield family and Eileen Imperial Family to support us if the Royder Order attacks Homigraph. But they might hesitate. If that happens…”

Caesar smoked his cigar.

“I’ll ask the Arch Duke to expose this. That way, both families will naturally support us. Then the Royder Order’s offense will be dampened.”

“But this is just a stopgap. If the Royder Order completely cuts off potion supplies to the nobles who supported Caesar, not just Homigraph but the entire Wizard Province might rise up.”

“That’s why we can’t stop there.”

Caesar also took out the ‘secret notebook’ Tina had left.

“It contains the inhumane acts committed by the Royder Order. Since it’s from Tina, an inquisitor, it should be reliable. Whenever criticism against the Royder Order dies down, I’ll expose it to the media.”

“So you’re saying to completely antagonize the Royder Order?”

“We couldn’t work together since the moment I said I’d create a potion-less city. You know that well.”

Harrison thought for a moment and then spoke.

“If we’re going to become enemies, we should take a proper position.”

“It might be dangerous during my absence from Homigraph. We could be under personal threat.”

“We’re not that easy to handle.”

Harrison tucked the film and notebook inside.

“Process everything carefully. Bring good news from the demon realm. Then it will be of help to us as well.”

Caesar chuckled.

“That’s a given.”

***

Though he had been confident in front of Harrison, Caesar was starting to get a bit anxious.

“Not a single proper knight.”

Was it because he was trying to create a knight order without even receiving a title yet?

Recruiting knights that met Caesar’s standards was extremely difficult.

He had met knights for almost a week but couldn’t find a single one that truly satisfied him.

‘Not a single named character has come.’

This was quite different from the game.

If he became a knight commander or started as a military-born character and obtained a title, he could easily open a ‘recruitment window’ and contact knights from the free agent market…

He already knew that the Springfield Viscount and Redfield Duke families had started recruiting useful knights.

Were their absorption rates this fast?

This was getting completely out of hand.

“Let’s call it a day.”

Sean carefully spoke.

“That is… One hasn’t arrived yet.”

“What? Who?”

“Messio Balquin… He sent a letter saying he would only join the knight order if we accept everyone.”

“What do you mean by ‘everyone’?”

“I’m not sure myself.”

Caesar looked at the clock.

It was 9 AM.

“Didn’t he say he’d come by 7 AM? Why would I accept someone who can’t keep a time promise? Forget it.”

“Yes. Understood…”

At that moment, Caesar heard something strange.

The ground slightly trembled, feeling like a herd of orcs moving at once.

Caesar turned towards the direction of the sound.

Hiiiiiing!

Dozens of horse herds were approaching from far away in the training ground.

Strangely, most horses had no riders.

Only one man rode the white horse at the front.

The knights who had been rejected by Caesar all retreated upon seeing the horse herd.

“Whoa.”

As the man pulled the reins, the other horses simultaneously stopped.

The man dismounted and approached Caesar.

“Are you Caesar?”

“That’s right.”

“I apologize for being late.”

Caesar examined the man’s appearance.

A shaggy black beard and black hair.

A massive build that reminded him of Hagrid from Harry Potter.

“I got lost on the way.”

With that directional challenge added, here was quite a character.

“Messio the horse rider?”

That guy loves horses more than people.

“My name is Messio is correct… What does ‘Balquin’ mean?”

“It means a person who loves horses.”

“… Has such a term existed?”

“If I say it exists, then it exists. Why are you talking so much when you’re already late.”

“Oh, yes…”

Caesar checked Messio’s profile.

“You’re from the Vincis Viscount’s Storm Knight Order, right?”

“Yes. That’s correct. I was the commander of the order.”

“Show me your identification tag.”

“Oh, yes. Here it is.”

Caesar checked the identification tag.

It was indeed the real Messio Balquin.

Caesar began to ponder a bit.

‘… This guy is really ambiguous.’

Messio is an extremely fastidious knight.

From a game perspective, to employ him, you’d need to build a top-tier stable and hire workers who can periodically manage the horses.

Of course, the horses Messio brings and manages are almost top-tier battle horses, so building a stable isn’t a bad idea.

However, he was so in love with horses that he refused to accept knights into his order who hadn’t reached a certain level of horsemanship.

The reason was frustratingly simple: horses could get injured or die if not handled properly.

Is it right to accept such a person?

Caesar decided to ask a few questions first.

“What are your conditions?”

Messio said while stroking a horse.

“My friends need a home.”

Damn it.

Horse-loving bastard.

Each of his answers is so irritating.

“You mean you need a stable.”

“Yes. That’s correct. And I want to personally select the knights who will ride my friends.”

“Why?”

“Because my friends must not be hurt or die.”

Just as he expected.

This is why he was dismissed by Viscount Vincis.

‘How should I handle this guy.’

Of course, if used well, he could build one of the top cavalry knight orders in the imperial province.

But in a situation where it’s already difficult to recruit proper people, selecting only knights who have mastered horsemanship?

That’s by no means easy.

Caesar thought for a moment and then spoke.

“Why did you leave the Storm Knight Order? Wouldn’t they have the best stable prepared for you?”

Messio’s expression stiffened.

“Well… That is…”

“I’ll investigate everything, so just tell the truth.”

Caesar used psychometry.

“During this demon war, too much money was spent, so they were going to sell these friends of mine. So…”

“Don’t tell me you stole them?”

“No. I gave them all my retirement pay, saved money, and war participation vouchers.”

-Actually, I don’t even have enough feed for my friends right now.

-It’s winter, and there’s nothing for the horses to eat.

-If Lord Caesar doesn’t accept me, I’ll truly be ruined.

This is pure devotion.

Investing his entire fortune in these horses.

Viscount Vincis really hit the jackpot.

Disposing of a knight order commander with a lot of money who doesn’t listen, along with over 40 horses at once.

If this were modern society, it would probably be featured as an incredibly successful restructuring case in a management textbook.

“So you have not a single penny left.”

“I have a spear and my friends. With just this, I’m invincible.”

Caesar decided to think coldly.

Horses are honestly expensive.

But for Caesar, money is currently overflowing.

He has Miles who can pull out interest-free credit loans anytime.

Nearly 250 knights have surrendered to Caesar, paying compensation in the millions of Del.

Moreover, he’s even receiving knight order operation funds from the Arch Duke, so money itself isn’t a big problem.

Then, can he use Messio immediately?

Messio was the commander of the Storm Knight Order who was active in the demon war.

Excluding game aspects, he has experience managing an entire knight order and has worked as a leader, so he is indeed a very useful talent.

But can he recruit knights who can handle all those horses?

That’s a different matter.

“Let me be honest. I’ve never operated a cavalry knight order. And I’m not sure if I can recruit knights to your liking.”

“… Is that so?”

“However, if you meet two specific conditions, I’ll recruit you.”

Messio’s eyes brightened.

“I’ll do anything you say.”

“I need to perform an operation in the demon realm in two months. This is for that purpose, and this will be the knight order for that.”

Messio’s expression rapidly worsened.

“The demon realm? I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“That’s why only you should know about it.”

Caesar took a step closer to Messio.

“Gather a knight order to ride these horses and bring them. Then I’ll provide feed for your horses and a stable that suits your taste.”

Messio began to seriously ponder.

-Go to that hell again?

-But… I now have absolutely no money.

-My friends and I have been starving for a day already.

-My friends are gradually growing weaker.

Messio looked at the horses. All the horses were staring at Messio with bright, attentive eyes.

“… What do you think?”

Damn it.

With a build that rivals an orc and speaking in such a plaintive voice, it’s infuriating.

Messio pondered for a bit and then spoke.

“Then please take care of the horses for just one week. There are subordinates who, like these friends, had to leave the knight order unavoidably. I’ll try to contact them.”

“I told you I don’t know how to take care of horses.”

“Then, may I use this training ground?”

“You’ll turn my training ground into a horse dung field?”

“I’ll clean it well! And if possible, could I get some money to buy feed for my friends…”

Caesar waved his hand.

“Not my training ground. I’ll lend you a suitable site and funds. But what will you do if you can’t repay?”

“I’ll repay with my body!”

At least he’s not talking about running away.

Fine.

With a shortage of talented people, I might as well take in this inadequate fellow.

He might actually manage to put together a proper knight order.

“Okay. I’ll lend it to you.”

“Thank you! Really, thank you!”

“I haven’t even told you the second condition yet.”

“Oh, that’s right. Please tell me!”

“You’re directionally challenged.”

Messio coughed awkwardly.

“… I’m not good at reading maps.”

“Fix that. Otherwise, you’re done for.”

“I’ll try!”

Caesar sighed.

Well.

He didn’t expect to build the strongest knight order cheaply from the start.

Taking in an inadequate fellow like this might attract more knights.

Swoosh!

At that moment, the white horse began to defecate.

Seeing the steaming horse dung, Caesar’s expression rapidly darkened.

Messio looked at Caesar and said,

“… Shall I clean it up?”

“Clean it up right now.”