The Crown Prince Who Raises a Side Character

#43 Servant Cedric (9) – Security’s a Dog’s Job

#43 Servant Cedric (9) – Security’s a Dog’s Job

The Eched Lord’s Residence.

A space that should have been overflowing with sternness and solemnity was, at this very moment, brimming with an utterly adorable, fluffy atmosphere.

-Woof!

-Kyuung.

Bloodfiend Beasts.

Creatures so formidable, even the most powerful warriors scarcely dared oppose them, special magical entities born from the Redbell family’s secret arts.

These beings, who were inherently meant to radiate terror and authority, were now shrunk down to the size of medium-sized dogs, multiplied into the hundreds, and packed densely throughout the manor grounds.

“I did as you advised, but…are you certain this will actually be helpful?”

Cedric, met with Claudia’s dubious expression, responded with a brilliant smile.

“Of course, young lady! These beasts will become the greatest work force in reforming Eched!”

“Hmph.”

Originally, Claudia could manage five bloodbeasts of the third grade.

Yet Cedric, disregarding the strength of each individual bloodbeast, requested she increase their numbers as much as possible.

Thanks to that, the population of bloodbeasts swelled, but their strength truly diminished to match their appearance, that is, to the level of ordinary medium-sized dogs.

“You said you’d use them to reinforce the security of the territory, didn’t you? In this state, they couldn’t even win against a pickpocket unless the mark was a small child. Let alone someone who knows even a little magic – they could handle a whole pack of them with ease.”

“It does not matter. The ones who degrade the peace of the territory are mostly petty criminals anyway, and in the first place, the proportion of combat in these bloodbeasts’ role is very low.”

Cedric saw that the true value of the Redvel family’s secret lay not in regeneration or combat power.

But in that each bloodbeast possessed a degree of free will, and intelligence enough to understand the commands of its master, Claudia.

In that they possessed canine-like abilities matching their appearance, and could operate independently by consuming food, without the need for a mana supply from their master.

If one could deploy hundreds of medium-sized dogs that understood human speech well, what could one accomplish?

“From now on, these bloodbeasts will freely roam and operate throughout the city. And should they discover someone committing a crime, be it a street thug or a pickpocket, they can warn the perpetrator with a growl.”

“What if the criminal just ignores them, thinking they’re just dogs, or attacks them in turn?”

“It does not matter. Then they simply flee and gather the other bloodbeasts to swarm the offender, and if even that seems difficult, they can report directly to the guard. The guard won’t need to patrol, but will transform into a mobile unit that responds to the danger signals from the bloodbeasts.”

Numbers are power in themselves.

If a guard force with sufficient arms and personnel, prepared to fight, swarms a criminal, there are few criminals who can stand against them.

“Even if the criminal is not witnessed by the bloodbeasts, or attempts to silence them by killing them before they can escape, it will not matter. They can be tracked down by their scent left at the scene.”

The tracking ability of dogs who deliberately utilize their sense of smell is incomparable to that of humans.

The main reason criminals run rampant is not that they are stronger than the entire guard force, but that they can hide or escape; the bloodbeasts will find those criminals, even at the very end.

“Still, there are those with abilities to erase their appearance or scent altogether, aren’t there?”

“That is so. But what truly troubles the security forces are not the violent crimes committed by a small number of people with abilities, but rather the accidents and incidents committed by countless petty criminals. If a situation is created in which 99 out of 100 accidents can be suppressed or dealt with immediately, then organizational resources can be invested to deal with the remaining 1.”

More than a single grotesque murder, hundreds and thousands of petty crimes have a greater impact on the city’s security.

And in this era of fantasy, where human lives vanish with such appalling ease, a territory with an extremely low crime rate is a potent merit in itself.

“This isn’t just applicable to the cities and towns people inhabit. If we position Bloodfiends at regular intervals along the main arteries leading to Etched territory, and have them patrol, we can concentrate our forces to eliminate bandits or monsters preying on travelers along those routes, just as I mentioned before. We can instill in travelers and merchants the perception that ‘the roads to Etched territory are safe.’”

Etched territory, after all, wasn’t without its innate potential.

Once the perception of a safe city takes root, and people begin to flock to it, a positive feedback loop is bound to unfold.

“But, this is a method anyone in the Redvel family could use. If others do the same, won’t my value diminish again?”

“To prevent that from happening, you must continue to hone your ability to control the Bloodfiends. Ultimately, this system hinges on how many Bloodfiends you can control simultaneously.”

More than anything, Cedric added,

“My intuition tells me that your siblings will likely not attempt to utilize this.”

“Why?”

“Well, setting aside efficiency, it would essentially mean using Bloodfiends—creations that are akin to extensions of themselves, crafted with their own blood and sweat—as mere guard dogs, patrolling every nook and cranny of the territory.”

At Cedric’s words, Claudia nodded in understanding.

She, after all, had already lowered her expectations enough to not care, but she couldn’t picture those haughty siblings of hers so easily following suit.

She chuckled softly.

“Then they’ll be hopping mad before long. Railing about the family shame, and the sullying of their noble visions.”

Save for one person.

She found it difficult to foresee the Marquis’s reaction.

How would that shadowy, cold-blooded politician receive this?

*

The Redvel Marquis’s residence was known even within the Virka Kingdom as one of the most magnificent and opulent.

A courtyard so vast, one could hold horse races within its confines.

Not even fishing, but a lake where one could simply launch a boat and luxuriate in a leisurely cruise.

The main residence, as if offering a modicum of respect to the royal family, was built a level lower than the royal palace, yet its grounds were more expansive.

Within the guest houses surrounding the main building, a headcount exceeding three digits found lodging, the guests spending a month or more in restless anticipation for a mere thirty minutes of conversation with the Marquis.

The time the Marquis devoted to receiving guests comprised only a fraction of his schedule, and there were many who witnessed him leisurely strolling the grounds. Still, no guest dared voice dissatisfaction.

For who, facing the kingdom’s most powerful figure – a man with whom even the king had to negotiate and request, rather than command – would be foolish enough to grumble, “Why are you resting while you make me wait?” Such a simpleton would never have been permitted to set foot on these grounds as a guest in the first place.

The vassals of Redbell were largely the same.

Though lumped together as “vassals,” countless ranks and classes existed within their ranks. Of them, only a select few of the highest-ranking were permitted to directly face the Marquis and converse.

Perhaps it was only natural.

The chairman of a major corporation wouldn’t receive reports directly from a low-level employee or middle manager, after all.

However, just as a corporate chairman might, out of caprice or personal interest, summon a single employee for a conversation, so too did the Marquis.

“So… you’re telling me my daughter has declared war on me. Is that the gist of it?”

Before the Marquis, the acting Lord, bowing low, hastily replied.

“Well, strictly speaking, she said she intends to change Eched with her own power, and asks that you observe this. The decision on her purpose should be made afterward, that is what she communicated.”

“That is a declaration of war. Ultimately, she intends to overturn my decision, no?”

Listening to the Marquis’ even tone, the acting Lord swallowed hard.

Claudia had threatened him not to distort her words, but strictly speaking, he hadn’t distorted or omitted anything.

He delivered the message verbatim, yet the Marquis interpreted it in this manner; surely that was not his fault?

Therefore, the acting Lord was quick to agree with the Marquis.

“It seems the young lady, being naive to the ways of the world, is running amok.”

“Hmm, running amok, you say. Is that your estimation?”

“Yes, Marquess. As you know, she… possesses a rather strong emotional temperament.”

“Indeed, the girl does have somewhat of a propensity for that.”

The Marquess’s agreement seemed to loosen the Lord Delegate’s stiff posture, as if he were carved from wood, just a little.

To this slightly more relaxed man, the Marquess inquired in a friendly tone.

“So, what course of action should I take?”

“Currently, the young lady is forcefully occupying the position of Lord by wielding the power of the Blood Demon Beast. If one who knows nothing of practical matters attempts to rule solely through brute strength, disharmony is sure to arise. It would be best to dispatch exceptional knights with all haste to subdue her.”

“Hmm, is that all? Are there no other necessary measures to be taken?”

“It is my considered opinion that the matter should be handled discreetly, to prevent it from escalating.”

“I see.”

Marquess Redbell nodded, then addressed the Lord Delegate.

“Very well. You may take your leave.”

“Yes.”

The Lord Delegate bowed low once more, a gesture almost obsequious, before scurrying away.

After he had completely departed.

Marquess Redbell spoke.

“Attend me.”

His personal guard, who stood by his side with an emotionless, doll-like face, stepped forward and lowered his head.

“Yes, my Lord.”

“It seems I have been too lenient with my vassals. The Lord Delegate, having his territory seized, offered no words on how he would take responsibility, nor plead to be punished.”

“I shall handle it appropriately.”

“Aye, take him as a shining example. That way, others will learn too.”

The Lord Deputy.

No, the moment that decided the fate of the ‘former’ Lord Deputy had arrived.

He would not see the morning sun again.

“Hmm.”

Marquis Redbell stroked his beard, lost in thought for a moment.

He was pondering how he should interpret Claudia’s audacious actions.

“So, is the news that fool brought just now everything regarding Etched?”

At the Marquis’s question, another vassal nearby stepped forward and spoke.

“The Young Lady has dismissed roughly thirty percent of the officials who served under the original Lord Deputy, and filled their positions with new talent.”

The Marquis nodded.

“Aye, a position doesn’t become yours just by sitting in it. To wield true power, you must fill the working ranks with your own people. But, I am puzzled. Did that child even have anyone who could be called her own?”

“It is said she brought servants who attended her in the manor.”

“Huh.”

A small laugh escaped the Marquis’s lips.

“Aye, I understand. With no support from her maternal family, no personal foundation, those are likely the only people the child could use. But, in that case, shouldn’t the territory be a mess?”

The servants who assist a noble in their daily life and the vassals who assist a noble in their duties are different.

There are cases, depending on the family, where the two areas overlap, but to the Marquis’s knowledge, only the butler, Bastian, was capable of administrative work among Claudia’s servants.

“That is… there seem to be no administrative problems occurring. Furthermore, due to the new system implemented in Etched, there are even signs of more and more people gathering there.”

“A new system?”

“This way.”

The retainer offered the report to the Marquis, who confirmed its contents.

Then, he muttered,

“Completely mad.”

The retainer’s expression, usually as impassive as ice, flickered almost imperceptibly.

It wasn’t strange that the Marquis would react this way.

Even he himself had reviewed the report from the local investigator countless times, wondering if there had been some mistake.

“I will take immediate action.”

“No, leave it be.”

“…Are you certain?”

The corner of the Marquis’s mouth curled upward.

“Have you ever grown flowers?”

“No, my lord.”

“I have.”

The Marquis plucked a single bloom from a nearby flowerbed.

“They can’t really be eaten, nor do they possess any special medicinal properties. In truth, they are of little use other than for looking at. And yet, there are those who willingly pay dozens, even hundreds, of gold coins for a single flower. I never understood such people, but I still grew them. Because I knew someone would pay dearly for them. The fashion has passed now, but I made quite a profit from it for a time.”

“……”

“If we intervene now, the flower will remain just a flower. Something that holds little value to me, but something someone else will pay a great deal for. However, if handled correctly, it could become something of value to both me and others. Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to leave it be for now?”

The retainer spoke.

“However, there is a risk that we will end up failing to secure even the initial value we envisioned.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll just squeeze that much more out of them then.”

The Marquis’s voice was devoid of emotion, but the implication within it was chilling beyond measure.

Just then, a bee, seemingly from nowhere, hurtled toward the flower held in the Marquis’s hand.

Faster than the guard knights could react, a snout emerged from the Marquis’s sleeve, snapped up the bee, and vanished again like a mirage.

The Marquis chuckled softly.

“…Well, I hadn’t planned on it keeping the insects away, though.”