Chapter Five

Survival was the key for Otto. The biggest hurdle in playing this character was to survive until someone awakened his full potential. For that reason, walking around in full-plate armor was a must. The problem was that Dojin had never worn armor before.

“Ugh...”

The steel armor he donned for the first time in his life was excessively heavy, uncomfortable, and stifling. Furthermore, due to the character’s low strength, moving around in it was not easy. Consequently, Otto had to clumsily waddle around, unable to use his limbs properly.

With this, I should be safe from most assassination attempts. The chances of me dying from an accident will decrease too. It didn’t take long for him to confirm that he had made the right choice.

Shatter!

As Otto shuffled his way to the meeting, [Random Misfortune] was triggered once again, and a brick fell from the castle walls, striking him on the head. Thanks to the helmet, he managed to avoid suffering a serious injury. That wasn’t the end of it, though.

“Die, you son of a— Wait, what?”

When Otto turned a corner, he narrowly evaded an assassination attempt from a guard who bore a grudge against him. Fortunately, it was impossible to kill him with an ordinary dagger, given his heavy armor.

“Exile him and be done with it.” Despite the attempt on his life, Otto chose to show mercy to the guard.

“My lord, please reconsider. This bastard tried to kill you!”

“He must’ve had his reasons.”

“But...”

“I’m the one who needs to seek his forgiveness.” Otto approached the captured guard and firmly grasped his hand.

Tsk. I can’t believe I have to apologize for stuff I didn’t do. Scuderia is a real piece of work. Grumbling inwardly, Otto did his best to appease the guard.

The guard’s name was Hansen. His year-long grievance with Otto stemmed from what his younger sister had endured at the lord’s hands.

“Hansen,” Otto began. “I have committed unforgivable deeds against your sister and your family. I understand why you tried to take my life. No reason to kill has ever been more just. I admit it.”

The guard stared at Otto as if he had grown another head.

“I deeply regret what I’ve done. Therefore, I won’t punish you for what you tried to do. Leave this place with your family.” Otto had the servants bring him a pouch of gold coins from his personal coffer, which he handed to Hansen.

“This doesn’t change anything!” Hansen hissed, his face a mask of wrath. “Do you think a bag of coins will heal the wounds my sister suffered?”

“No. Certainly not.” Otto shook his head. “I’m merely seeking atonement. The gold is a token of my sincerity and apology. If you still wish to exact your vengeance on me, you’re free to return anytime. I’ll welcome you with open arms, dear Hansen.”

With that, Otto proceeded to the meeting.

Darn it! It’s hard to make an apology sound sincere. However, as Otto de Scuderia, there were unavoidable aspects Dojin had to endure. Otto’s accomplishments, both good and bad, were now Dojin’s to own as well.

* * *

“All rise for Lord Otto de Scuderia.” The herald’s voice echoed through the hall as the gate to the throne room swung open, revealing Otto.

“What in the world...?”

“Why is he wearing his armor?”

“I don’t understand.”

Otto’s appearance in full armor bewildered the court members. They couldn’t understand why he would do so during a time of peace.

“A good morning to all of— Whoa!”

Crash!

With a resounding crash of metal and flesh, Otto plummeted to the floor.

“Ow...”

Silence engulfed the court. Everyone was too stunned by what they had just witnessed to say anything.

I’m starting to wonder how many times he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. He has me completely at a loss.

His subjects were having trouble making sense of Otto’s recent changes. It was strange enough for their scoundrel lord to suddenly regain his senses, but the recent execution of Pizzero, his once-closest advisor, left them even more perplexed.

There’s no telling what he might do at this rate. I’d better be careful. People rarely change. There’s no telling when his true nature will reveal itself.

The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense. The Otto they knew was a psychopath beyond imagination, which was why his transformation was even more terrifying in their eyes.

“What has gotten into him again...?”

Camille closed his eyes and rubbed his face, looking weary.

Otto groaned as he struggled to get back on his feet, then lumbered his way to his throne. “What’s the agenda for today’s meeting?”

Camille was quick to answer. “My lord, the territory’s finances aren’t in a good state.”

“Of course, they aren’t,” Otto muttered.

“My lord?”

“Don’t mind me. Please continue, Sir Camille.”

“Yes, my liege.” Camille presented the parchment of the lord’s treasury report to Otto. “To be frank, our financial situation is dire. At this rate, the state might go into insolvency in less than thirty days.”

In other words, Eiota’s financial situation was at its worst.

[Eiota]

Public Sentiment: 41/100 Caution

Provisions: 9/100 Critical

Treasury: 7/100 Critical

Public Order: 37/100 Caution

Overnight, the Treasury dropped by four points, decreasing from eleven to seven.

“The stored grain from last year’s harvest has almost run out, and the shortage of food has reached its limit among the general population. We managed to stave off the worst by seizing Pizzero’s wealth and assets, but it’s still not enough.” Camille’s face darkened. “My lord, we are scrapping by just to pay the interest on your debts as it is. Wages are already two months overdue, and if we fail to pay them this month...”

“Everyone will be upset, correct?” Otto chuckled nervously.

The news chilled him to the bone, and he couldn’t help but shudder at the mere thought of what might happen next. It was already concerning that wages hadn’t been paid in two months. Imagine the repercussions if it stretched to three months. A revolt centered around his knights and other soldiers would surely transpire.

My head will be hung high above the castle walls. Oh, man. The mere notion of his head swaying in the wind sent a shiver down Otto’s spine and caused his knees to tremble.

“We’re approaching a crisis, my lord.”

“I know.”

“I can’t see a solution to this problem, and we—”

“Actually, we do.”

“My lord?” Camille squinted his eyes in disbelief. “Are you saying we can solve this?”

“Certainly!” Otto replied with a smile.

“Please share your insight with us.”

“We just have to borrow some money.”

As soon as Otto finished speaking, Camille’s hand reached for the hilt of his sword.

“W-wait a second!” Otto shrieked, unable to conceal his surprise. “Hear me out first, will you? Seriously, you have the patience of a hungry bear!”

“Go ahead, my lord. I’m dying to hear your solution.” Camille suppressed his anger with great effort and loosened his grip on the weapon.

Such a reaction from the knight was entirely expected. The state was already drowning in debt, and now, his lord was suggesting borrowing even more money.

Gesturing fervently, Otto began his explanation. “I’m saying we have to secure some money first. Then we’ll tackle the most pressing matters.”

“Who would be willing to lend us money?” Camille rebutted. “Considering the staggering amount of your debt, who in their right mind would grant you a loan?”

“I know someone who will, actually.”

“Who, exactly?” Camille raised his brow and glared at Otto, as if to say that even a fool would hesitate to lend a single coin to him.

“The Lord of Solun will loan me some— Ahh!” Regrettably, Otto had to cut his sentence short as he fled.

“Just die...” Enraged, Camille unsheathed his sword, no longer hesitating, and lunged at Otto.

“S-stop him!”

“Sir Camille!” one of the court members shouted. “Restrain yourself, please!”

“My lord, you must flee right now!”

Otto’s subjects jumped at Camille to stop the knight from lopping their lord’s head off. For Camille, the idea of borrowing money from Solun was nothing short of absurd.

* * *

Eiota and Solun shared a border, and because their spheres of influence overlapped each other’s, the two territories had been at odds for over two hundred years. A rivalry between minor territories was considered a local quarrel for some, but those who thought so were unaware of how ferocious such disputes could be. After all, a hungry dog was more vicious than a full one.

The lords of the two territories had historically bickered over even the smallest plots of land in their borderlands. The conflict between the two had sparked numerous wars over the last two centuries. Thus, Otto’s suggestion of borrowing money from the Lord of Solun was unexpected, especially since he was the Lord of Eiota.

It was akin to selling off the entire territory to Solun. Taking Solun’s gold would spell the end for his territory, as it would provide a legal pretext for Solun to annex Eiota into their territory. It would be detrimental for Eiota, given that years of tyrannical leadership had depleted its resources and weakened its military strength.

On the other hand, it would be welcome news for the Lord of Solun, who had been eagerly eyeing the opportunity to devour his unwanted neighbor.

“My lord, I do hope that what you just said was all a big joke.” Camille glared daggers at Otto, not bothering to hide the rage on his face. “Do you intend to plead with Solun like a beggar? In this darkest hour of our history?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Die.” In an instant, Camille unsheathed his blade. With a powerful swing, he cleaved Otto’s throne in half.

“Ahhhh!” Otto was in full-blown panic as he dodged Camille’s attack while attempting to reason with him. “W-wait! As they say in Korea— Wait, no, wrong country. Just... let me finish my explanation, all right?”

“My lord,” the knight said grimly. “I eagerly await your excellent explanation for your treacherous suggestion.”

“Like I said before, I have a plan.”

“Do you, really?” Camille asked, his fury pausing for a moment. “Please tell me this isn’t some joke.”

The knight’s eyes narrowed to a slit, his grim suspicion still having its edge. “Hear me out! I’m not lying!”

“Do tell, my lord.”

Otto let out a short sigh. “R-right...”

Truthfully, he also didn’t know how to explain his own plan.

Where do I even begin? More precisely, he had no idea how to persuade Camille to agree to his plan. Otto knew the future order of events and how to capitalize on it for his own substantial gain. The problem was that he was certain he wouldn’t be convincing enough if he attempted to share his knowledge with others.

“I, uh... I don’t have to return that money, you see. Does that make sense?”

“And why’s that, my lord?” Camille asked, almost demanding. “Is the Lord of Solun engaging in charitable activities now?”

“Not exactly...”

“Why do you think so, then?”

“Solun will collapse soon.”

Camille’s head tilted slightly. “Collapse?”

“Yes. It will crumble in exactly two weeks. It will go poof. Meaning, I won’t need to repay a single coin. There won’t be anyone to collect the payment, after all.”

“What evidence do you have to suggest that Solun will fall in two weeks?”

“About that...” Fidgeting with his hands, Otto hesitated to give a reply. “It’s just a... hunch.”

“What?”

“I have a gut feeling, you know? In two weeks, Solun will fall, and— Ahhhh!”

For the rest of the morning, Otto was busy fleeing from Camille, who was determined to slay his lord.

* * *

As the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the meeting chamber, a decision was finally reached to dispatch a messenger to Solun, seeking a loan.

“I want to thank you all for standing by me. I swear to live up to your expectations— Huh?”

The reaction of his court left Otto feeling somewhat crestfallen.

“My lord, what if Solun moves to annex us?”

“Well, it has been a pleasure serving alongside you all.” Otto sensed the resignation among the members of his court and realized they had already given up on him.

Many of them believed Eiota’s fall was imminent based on its financial crisis. So, they gave their consent, knowing things would go downhill either way.

“What will you do now, my lord?” Camille inquired, his gaze fixed on the departing messenger.

“I told you I have a plan.”

“I hope your plan doesn’t involve any form of ritual dance or mysticism. Gods, please don’t tell me...”

“No, of course not.”

Frowning, Otto shot a fleeting glance at Camille before releasing a quiet sigh of frustration. You should be blaming Otto, not me! Otto, I hope you know you’re killing me right now. If only you hadn’t been so wicked, even a sliver of goodness would have spared me from dealing with this mess.

After inwardly complaining about his current circumstances, Otto finally said, “Here’s my plan, Camille.”

“I’m listening.”

“I will bring about their downfall. In exactly two weeks.”

A mischievous smile spread across Otto’s face.