The Ordinary Willem-Blanc-Legol
Count Willem-Blanc-Legol PoV:
The spirit festival has ended.
This year too, the events went off without any major issues, lifting a weight off my shoulders.
However, I am the count governing the vast Legol. Just because one festival is over doesn’t mean I can rest for too long.
Ah, I hear footsteps approaching my office. That brisk, diligent stride. Armalco, could you not give your master a bit more rest?
“Lord Willem. We have received some reports from the guards regarding the spirit festival.”
Well, the annoying butler has arrived.
Ever since inheriting the county, Armalco never lets me rest satisfactorily.
“What are these reports about?”
“There were confirmed cases of criminals attempting to break into certain shops and residences in the Legol city streets.”
“Crime taking advantage of festivals is nothing new. Were there any common factors?”
“Yes. They were all places associated with those who received Lord Chaos’ letters.”
“…So they were targeting Lord Chaos’ lingering gifts again. He rarely sends letters to the same place twice.”
“The criminals were all apprehended, but we could not identify their backers. They were likely just hired hands.”
“Just new additions to the criminal slave trade then. We’ll treat it as an anonymous gift.”
“I see.”
“With public works projects getting busy from here too.”
Lord Chaos. It’s been around 8 years since he came to this city.
The word “turbulence” would aptly describe my life since then.
I, Willem-Legol, was born the third son to a strict father.
Plain… no, I can assert that with my unsightly appearance and introverted personality, I was ill-suited to be of a count’s lineage. The abuse from my two elder brothers from childhood was likely a factor, but I believe it was my innate nature as well.
I was supposed to end up as just a man buried in history books…but life is unpredictable.
My fearsome and robust eldest brother died from falling off his horse in war.
Then my scheming second brother, who became first in line to inherit, suddenly fell ill and passed away.
In the end, the one who inherited to become the Count of Legol was me, the short, fat, balding third son. Even my father could not force a wry smile.
I was 22 at the time. No one wanted to take me, an unpopular man among the people, on as their leader, so I remember well how insincere everyone around me became once they hastily changed their attitudes.
Unlike my brothers, I lacked any special gifts, physical prowess or glib ability to converse with others.
My days were spent reading books alone, secluded in the library and accumulating knowledge.
But I loved that life. My dream was to become a scholar.
Then everything went awry when I had to inherit the county.
Pointless wars I didn’t want, simpering conversations with noblemen, politics where all I received were complaints – I hated it all. Deep down, I never wanted to become a count.
Well, I was well aware that at my age and station I couldn’t exactly throw a tantrum or run away…
In reality, I was severely lacking in political ability.
Nothing I did went as planned.
I knew what needed to be done, but the forces of ill will surrounding me tried to restrain my actions.
Even though I knew it was due to the influence of my sisters-in-law’s factions, I lacked the power to do anything about it.
…Until the time I received a letter from someone calling themselves Lord Chaos.
That letter had bizarre patterns drawn in vivid, multiple colors, sealed with an unfamiliar wax stamp whose method of manufacture was unclear even now.
At the time, Armalco was wary of the strange letter and advised burning it, but I didn’t simply because I was intrigued.
The letter contained knowledge.
Nothing particularly difficult – just farming methods. Detailed techniques like a farmer teaching their child were inscribed there.
We non-experts couldn’t make anything of it just by looking, but we were stunned by the final line written:
Employing these methods will increase wheat yields by 20 percent.
Could you believe it? Of course I didn’t believe it at first. There was nothing credible about the letter.
So I shelved the letter, putting it on hold to gather dust. The same for the distillation device blueprints sent afterwards.
…When I later heard that inventions from letters by this so-called Lord Chaos were becoming a huge fad in town, I hurriedly dug through those shelves.
Not discarding them was truly a wise decision.
Legol used to be such an ordinary town, but with Lord Chaos’ appearance it quickly became lively.
For every letter he sent out with a new product idea, economic activity was reinvigorated. All sorts of things flew off the shelves and trade flourished. It felt like a strange dream since I had no direct hand in it.
But what was strangest was how Lord Chaos’ influence led to the downfall of corrupt trading companies that had monopolized the town.
Many may not have noticed, but Lord Chaos clearly aimed to take down evil vested interests, scattering his letters and controlling the power dynamics to make it happen.
For what purpose? Who is doing such things?
Questions abound, but I somehow knew he was not evil.
And if his goal was a benevolent one, I decided to join his cause.
Behind the scenes the mysterious Lord Chaos expunged corrupt merchants.
While outwardly I tried to facilitate his movements.
Though we were unacquainted, it strangely felt like our hearts were connected as we did this.
In fact, as we cleaned up Legol this way, the malign influence of my sisters-in-law’s houses vanished in an instant.
The vexing miasma surrounding me and Legol cleared, allowing me to finally properly conduct my politics.
It was around then that I began being called a wise ruler.
“There are increasing reports of fraud under the guise of inventors calling themselves Lord Chaos. Impostors endlessly try to obtain research funds by impersonating him.”
“What foolish people. As if the real Lord Chaos would ever identify himself.”
“The patrons likely know on some level. Whether genuine or not, claiming to be Lord Chaos’ patron has become a sort of declaration.”
“Of allegiance to the real Lord Chaos? He doesn’t seem the type to care about individuals’ loyalties. Probably.”
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Lord Chaos’ appearance led to Legol’s economic development.
Since his arrival, he periodically scatters ideas for useful products without ever asking for royalties. Like a fairy planting a money tree in one’s garden for free.
To merchants he’s the goose that lays the golden eggs they desperately want, yet his true identity remains utterly unknown.
Whether man or woman, young or old, noble or common folk – all are mysteries.
Yet people imagine his form conveniently for themselves.
“Also, Lord Willem. There are complaints from the council.”
“…What now, did I mess something up again?”
“No. It regards you distributing whiskey across all of Legol city, not just the noble districts. Some criticize it as an unnecessary expense.”
“Ah, that. I just forced it through in the end…”
For this spirit festival, I provided newly developed whiskey for free throughout all of Legol.
It’s a costly, highly valuable liquor due to the new development and limited supply. Handing it out gratis to commoners earned the council’s ire. Well, it’s likely only a small fringe complaining.
For some reason, the nobles don’t suspect Lord Chaos is one of their own.
Thinking someone of such vast knowledge must be an educated person.
That’s probably part of why they were reluctant to have me distribute the liquor in the common districts as well.
…Though I don’t think Lord Chaos is a noble.
“That was promotion for the new distilled spirits utilizing the festival. If word of its strong proof and flavor spreads, it will immediately open up sales channels. If we can accomplish that publicity in one go, it’d be easier. These shortsighted fools…”
“They likely wanted to secure more for their own consumption.”
“What good are salesmen indulging in the product themselves…? Such wares should be sold elsewhere.”
Seed selection and sterilization to increase wheat yields, then using surplus crops for distilled spirits production.
It took time, but I’ve finally come up with a way to raise funds. Legol has already been prosperous, but from now we can further focus on acquiring foreign capital. That should facilitate developing Baroa Forest and securing masonry. Ah, but there were also coastal defense works and bridge construction. No matter how much money we have, it never seems enough.
“Ah, I wish Lord Chaos could take over as Count instead of me.”
“You jest too much.”
“I know. Lord Chaos would never do such a thing.”
“…No, that’s not quite what I meant…”
“But you understand, Armalco. If he applied himself more diligently, the city would develop even further. Knowing that, and only being able to indirectly wield influence, makes me quite vexed about him.”
“…Hm, invention and politics are different matters. Your lordship’s deft handling of various interests is no simple feat.”
“I’m just reacting improvisationally based on reading the situation each time. Anyone could do that sort of thing.”
“Heh…Perhaps to you, my lord. But I consider it a rare talent.”
“What poor flattery. I’m utterly ordinary…no, worse than that. Ah…I don’t want to deal with this anymore…”
I stuff my face with sweet pastries and drink piping hot herbal tea.
Ah, delicious. Sweet snacks while working are the best.
“Munch munch…So Armalco, anything else to report? May as well hear it all at once if so.”
“Well then. There are apparently some lower priority movements observed of people searching for a certain individual in Legol city streets.”
“Oh?”
“The searchers seem to be Guild folk, not particularly hiding their intent.”
“And who are they searching for? Lord Chaos, I’d wager.”
“No, the Perverted Evangelist.”
“The what now?”
“The Perverted Evangelist.”
“Eh…who the heck…? Scary…never mind reporting stuff like that…”
“Apparently some sage knowledgeable in extraordinary carnal techniques, the talk of the town lately. That was my full report.”
“…As long as Legol remains peaceful, that’s what matters most.”
“Indeed it does.”
Whether Legol is peaceful or not, my workload hardly changes.
Well, the capital may settle down a bit from the increased crop yield methods…but they’re not a monolith either.
It’d be nice if the cooperative ones could also rein in the factions looking to make an enemy of Legol…
No chance of that happening, probably. Pointless to hope for it. Ah…I don’t want to deal with this…
Ah, these pastries are delicious…
TLNOTE: Those are all the web novel chapters that were adapted into Volume 2 of the light novel. If I return to translating this series, would you prefer I continue with Volume 3 of the light novel or stick with the web novel chapters? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
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