"Excuse me,Claude-sama, may I have a moment?" While I am working, I hear the butler's voice along with the sound of a knock. "Come in." Hearing my answer, the butler enters the room and bows. "I beg your pardon." "Did something happen?" "Yes. A person who used to work as an auditor in a southern pioneer village has come to request a meeting with Claude-sama." "An auditor?" And, he said it in the past tense, that they used to serve as the auditor. Did something happen? "What is the matter?" "They wish to speak directly with you, Claude-sama." Directly... "Are they an idiot? Or are they just being rude?" I am the noble who rules this area. "No, I don't thinks it's either... I also deemed it necessary for them to meet with you, Claude-sama, so I brought their request to you." I should meet them...? Is there some sort of problem? "Fine. I'll meet them. Bring them here." "Yes, sir!" The butler bowed his head and left the room. "Phew..." After placing the pen down, I let out a sigh. A pioneer village in the south, huh... I thought it was reckless for the country to consider developing that vast forest. So maybe something bad happened? Corruption, maybe? No, it could also be some secret information, given the mention of an auditor. As I was contemplating this, a knock echoed through the room. "Come in." When I called out, the door opened, and a woman entered with the butler. The moment I saw her, I understood why the butler insisted I meet her. The woman was dressed in a high-quality robe with white and blue accents, and she had golden hair. She had a refined face, and her hair was beautiful and radiant. Tch! A noble, huh... I thought she might be a commoner mage when I heard she was an auditor, but she definitely looks like a noble. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Monica Arnett, and I served as an auditor in a pioneer village in the south." The woman who introduced herself as Monica bowed her head respectfully. Arnett? I've never heard of that name... So not a noble after all? Actually, yeah. There's no way she's a noble. A noble would never be appointed as an auditor in such a remote village. If that's the case, then who is she...? "Claude-sama?" I was taken aback when the butler spoke to me. "Oh, I apologize. I am Claude, the one who governs this area." "It's an honor to meet you despite your busy schedule." Not a noble... not a noble, but she certainly looks like one. I better not act too rude to her. "Yes. Now, what is the meaning of this talk about 'having served as an auditor'?" "Yes. Actually, it's about the pioneer village in the south. Thanks to everyone's cooperation, the village's outlook is good. So, the other day, I reported this to the country." Good outlooks? In that forest? "Really?" "Yes. Today, I have come to report this and express gratitude to Claude-sama for the considerable assistance provided until now." Although she calls it assistance, it wasn't much. The country probably initially thought it was a lost cause, and I personally thought it was absolutely impossible. Because we've tried to develop that forest near our home many times before. But things didn't go as planned. The reason is simple.

The soil in that forest isn't suitable for growing crops. So, the so-called aid was basically just for show. "I see. So, you have great prospects... Well, if that's the case, that's great news. I'm happy for you too." "Thank you very much." Monica smiled faintly. She looked every bit the part of the upper class. "So, what will you do with the village? I could manage it as part of my domain, but..." Honestly, I'm ambivalent. Even if they have developed, I don't know how well they are standing. If they can only just scrape by, there's no expected tax revenue, and taking on more responsibility might lead to higher expenses if something goes wrong. "No, the village chief has been replaced, and a new chief has taken over the administration." "Is that so... Huh? The village chief has been replaced? I hadn't heard about that." "I'm sorry for the late report. The previous village chief was quite elderly, so we used this opportunity to make the change. I also reported this to the country on my way back." I see. Indeed, the village chief was an old man, so I can understand the decision to replace him now. "Understood. But, are you sure everything is alright?" "Yes, there's no problem. We've decided that we'll all work together and help each other." Hmm... That sounds overly naive. There's no way that will go well. "What kind of person is the new village chief?" "He's the grandchild of a person who lived in that village. The person passed away, so they have come as a replacement." I see. An outsider, huh? They must be educated. "Well, I see. If that's the case, I won't interfere and you may do as you please." "Thank you very much. This is also solely thanks to Claude-sama's support." I didn't do anything. "Is that all you wanted to report today?" "Yes. Since the village chief position has just been filled by the new individual, I have come in his stead as he seems to be occupied at present." Huh? In his stead? Is she acting as a messenger? "Aren't you an auditor?" "I have submitted my letter of resignation and resigned. And now, I am serving as a secretary to the new village chief." Secretary...? In a colonist village like that? Someone like her? Ah... did they become lovers, perhaps? Is this commoner woman dressed like this because someone is supporting her, or is it just her preference? Well, it doesn't matter. "Got it. Is that all?" "Actually, there's one more thing..." Still more stuff? "What is it?" "We reported this to the state, but reason we have developed so far, is because we successfully cultivated a certain fruit." A fruit? "What is it?" "It's a red fruit called an apple. My lord wishes to consult you about its distribution and potential buyers." Apples... Never heard of them. "Hmm, well, that shouldn't be a problem, but..." Finding buyers for fruit won't take much time... but wait a second. Why did she come here in the first place? When I think about it calmly, there was no real need for this woman to come here just to greet me. So, this is the main point of her visit... "Thank you. My lord will bring the apples for a discussion on another day. We appreciate your cooperation." Monika respectfully bows her head and starts to leave the room. "Wait." Having become curious, I stop Monica from leaving the room. "What is it, may I ask?" "I heard that the new village chief is the grandchild of someone from the village, but which one?"

"I didn't say 'villager.' I said someone who used to live there." Monica rejected my statement directly. I see. That's what she said. "What is that person's name?" "It's Tadashi-sama." Tadashi...! I knew it, that eccentric magician! He was called a great wizard, and despite many invitations to work for me, he never accepted, a stubborn old man. If that's the case, then his grandchild must be... "Has Tadashi-dono passed away?" "Yes, he was 90 years old." He lived a long life, didn't he... As expected of a wizard with the title of great magician. "I see... Is his grandchild the current village chief?" "Yes, he is called Tatsuya-sama." I thought the old man had a strange name, but it seems his grandchild does too. "I see... Are you willing to serve that man even to the extent of resigning from your position as an auditor?" "Yes, I am determined to serve him for a lifetime." Is he that promising? I guess he's also a mage then? Not just any mage, but an extraordinary one. Considering this women is an auditor, she must be a mage as well, but this man must be far more powerful. Maybe even to the extent that he could also be called a Grand Mage... "By the way, may I ask if you have any intention of serving me?" When I ask this, Monica's expression doesn't change at all. "I consider it a great honor. However, as I mentioned earlier, I have already chosen my lifelong master. It would be inappropriate for me to serve another master at this point, wouldn't it, Claude-sama?" That's a skillful way of declining. "No, you're right. I'm sorry for trying to hold you back." "Not at all... Well then, I will take my leave." Monica said that and then left the room. "Claude-sama." After Monica left the room, the butler came to me. "What?" "Is that woman a noble?" "That would have been preferable. She's much more troublesome than any noble." Why was that woman working as an auditor? Is the staff in the royal capital incompetent? "What do you mean?" "This woman is quite cunning. I am too, but did you think she looked capable when you first saw her?" She simply appeared to be a noble. "Yes. I thought she was a noble. That's why i though it was important to meet her..." If she's a noble, it's not easy to just turn her away. "I think so too. But didn't you feel relieved thinking it wasn't the case right away? Furthermore, did you think she was a naive fool for not understanding how difficult it is to govern and maintain the village with the words 'We will all work together'?" I did think so. "Yes, that's right. So what about it?" "All of that was planned to make us allow them the governance of that village. I was coerced into giving my word." Damn it...! "Could you be overthinking?" "No, originally, there was no need for that woman to come here. Even so, she came not to greet or show gratitude, but to bring us a fruit called an apple." "Fruit... She mentioned wanting an introduction to a wholesaler, right?" "That's right. That is her purpose. I'm sure she must be very confident. She didn't seem to consider failure at all." Otherwise, my persuasion should have moved her at least a little. "Is the new village chief Tadashi-dono's grandchild?" "Yes. It's certain that the grandchild must also be a suitable magician. If not, the development of the village would be impossible." "What do you want to do? It's still possible to change your decision now, you know?" I did not leave it in writing. But, one must not forget that the woman has come here after stopping by the capital. "No, either way, this territory will not suffer any loss." "Well, that is indeed true." "Anyway, they say they're coming over. We can make a judgment after hearing their story." I wonder what kind of person will come...