The Damn Family Is Back Again

212 – 212. The Enraged (12)

From a distance, the Chatren domain seemed no different, just an ordinary land based on agriculture.

Fields carefully selected through farming tools. A river clear enough to see the ground beneath. An environment with enough humidity for crops to grow.

It goes without saying that this land was very fertile and good.

However, upon setting foot in the domain, Talphon had to immediately abandon that thought.

The earth always smells of soil.

The scent of soil, imbued with the essence of nature, always carries its unique fragrance wherever it is.

Depending on how it’s managed, what kind of soil it consists of, and what grows there, the scent of the soil changes, but the essence of nature’s smell cannot be concealed.

But this place was different.

From this land… the natural scent, the fragrant smell of the earth, was completely gone.

What replaced the natural scent of the soil was an odd stench.

As soon as one set foot on this land, it was a filthy smell that greeted them.

“That smell…! It’s a scent that shouldn’t emanate from a place like this!”

Different lands may have different smells.

But this is not simply a smell.

It’s a stench.

A stench familiar not only to Talphon but to all members of the Lilpeton tribe.

The reason is… simple.

The West.

The land eroded by magic.

The very stench they had dreadfully inhaled while eradicating demons there was the same one they now detected.

Such a stench should not emanate from an ordinary farmland.

Unless it was eroded like the lands in the west.

“Is this the place?”

Talphone, having scoured the estate for the source of the foul odor, finally stumbled upon a field he presumed to be the origin. Instead of dismounting, he nearly leaped off his horse.

“Huff. Huff. Calm down!”

“Let’s deal with this quickly!”

“Damn it all!”

The residents of Chatren were huddled together, farm tools in hand, managing the fields.

And at the center… an unidentified smoke began to rise.

The smoke wafted gently, and its stench assaulted Talphone’s nostrils. It had to be the cause.

“You fools. Have you lost your minds!”

Like a wild beast.

He approached the villagers and shouted at them.

Startled by Talphone’s booming voice, the villagers turned their heads in shock.

“Gosh, you scared me. Thought someone else had come.”

From noble mtl dot come

“Where are the lookouts?”

“But… that person. Isn’t he a bit different?”

“Good heavens… He’s a barbarian from the west!”

Realizing too late that he was a westerner, they brandished their farm tools at Talphone in horror.

“Get out of here, now!”

“A westerner, of all people…!”

“How dare you step foot here! You barbarians!”

“That mad lord has decided to ruin our land. Now he’s even brought in barbarians?”

To them, who had felled countless beasts, the feeble threats of the villagers were futile.

-Thump!

“Wha, what?!”

A middle-aged man threatening with a farm tool was suddenly hoisted into the air by Talphone. With little effort, he was sprawled out like a pathetic bundle.

In the meantime, Talphone witnessed the smoke billowing and clenched his teeth.

‘The smell is the same as the one from the bags at the entrance of the estate. That means…!’

These madmen were ruining the land with their own hands while blaming others.

Unable to bear it, Talphon grabbed the collar of the man who lunged at him and shoved him away.

“Wha, what?!”

In the territory, the action leader Maph, known for his strength, was pushed away like a young child.

“You fools should be the ones to dig up all the land that’s been tainted! You imbeciles!”

Caught pitifully, he hung helplessly from Talphon’s strong grip, unable to use his size to his advantage. Meanwhile, the villagers tried to fight back with their farming tools, but the Lilpeton tribespeople arrived and subdued them all.

“A barbarian, you…!”

“What do you know to spout such nonsense!”

“The only way to restore the land ruined by Karsein is with that fertilizer!”

“Idiots. That’s not a means to restore anything!”

“What?”

“It’s actually destroying your land!”

The stench from the strawberry and grape fields was identical to that from the sacks.

Something inside was eating away at the land.

Not just Talphon, but the entire Lilpeton tribe knew this fact.

“You’re destroying your own land with your hands. What’s inside is not mere fertilizer!”

However.

“Hmph. The lord must have told you to say that, huh?”

“Everyone’s in a frenzy. They’re desperate to stop us from using the fertilizer!”

“This is a premium fertilizer made from very rare materials. What do you know to talk such nonsense?”

“Be prepared for the consequences! The whole country will hear about how you barbarians were plotting to ruin our Shatren under Karsein’s orders!”

These foolish villagers were still being stubborn.

“The incompetent lord is trying to ruin our land again!”

“Why bring in a barbarian? Just as I thought, that lord’s mind is all the same!”

“We’ll inform the symposium organizers and make sure to drive you out this time!”

“I’ll make sure to witness the downfall of that liar!”

Following that, as undeniable words began to spill from their mouths, Talphon’s eyes flipped in rage.

“Everyone in this territory knows! Ever since Karsein touched our land, everything has changed!”

“Don’t you know? The quality of the crops, the yield, our lives! Everything has been altered!”

“It’s that do-nothing, incompetent lord who has ruined it all!”

Such absurdity.

After committing such acts, on what grounds do you dare blame Karsein?

“Lies are a daily affair, and by shifting your own faults onto others, framing them, that’s why Shatren has come to this! How can such trash, deceiving people, be the lord leading a territory?!”

“The worst lord, with no interest in our land!”

“We have no need for such a person!”

There were certainly misunderstandings and stubborn wrongs, but Talphon clearly remembers that time.

Karsein was desperate.

He came suddenly from the west, and even as his body was filled with wounds, he only looked for ways to save his territory.

But you.

To such a lord.

To someone who was sincere from head to toe.

You were framing him with such false charges?

-Ding!

▶Agent Trigger, ＜Rage of Lilpeton＞ is activated.◀

▶The affinity of the Lilpeton tribe, including Talphon, has increased.◀

[Talphon: 51%]

“You certainly don’t deserve such a generous lord.”

These things are nothing but obstacles.

Shall I beat them thoroughly so they can’t even come near this place?

Shall I crush a hand or an arm so they can do nothing?

Or perhaps, completely…

“I made it clear. Do not bring in any external goods into Shatren, except for those from Rusmayer.”

As Karsein walked towards us, Talphon guessed his intention and stepped back.

“A sword?”

“What are you doing…”

“You have trampled even my minimum consideration, from now on, you have no rights.”

Thud.

“aaagh─!!”

Marp’s thigh was deeply pierced, and screams echoed through the field.

“From now on, I declare a complete lockdown on Shatren.”

After the scream echoed across the field.

The villagers retreated, trembling with fear.

Of course, their land was important, but the prospect of losing their lives was even more terrifying.

That issue had been somewhat resolved.

And now.

▶You have inflicted harm on a resident of Chatren!◀

▶As a penalty, the residents’ affinity and your reputation within the field will decrease!◀

It was time to receive the penalty for committing a taboo.

An immutable law when ruling a domain.

If the residents are harmed, the player inevitably loses points in affinity and reputation.

In other words, a forbidden act.

It would be no exaggeration to designate it as such.

“…You must have had your reasons for acting so violently, right? Karsein.”

Talphone asked me casually as I was checking the status window.

Unlike him, I had drawn my sword and even inflicted direct harm on the residents. It was only a matter of time before Chatren would come at us with significant backlash.

However.

“Of course.”

I too had a plan prepared.

After all, it was necessary to set an example at some point during the unfolding events.

“Won’t you share it with me?”

“Hmm. For starters, those guys will deny any issues with the fertilizer, even if you point it out. No matter how much you push the smell you detected as evidence, they’ll claim it’s an absurd lie.”

“But it’s true! The smell that filled that sack is the kind that would emanate from eroded soil!”

“I know. I’m not doubting you, a member of the Lilpeton tribe.”

Talphone calmed down a bit when I added that I too suspected the fertilizer and had issued a closure order.

“Still, even with a complete closure order, it’s hard to implement.”

“Why?”

“There are instigators within Chatren. Probably, just a guess, but we’ll have to uproot them completely to point out the issues with the fertilizer.”

“Then we need to take action, don’t we?”

“Regrettably, those guys have already closed their ears. To them, this must feel like their last hope.”

“Such fools beyond belief.”

Talphone’s fists trembled with fury.

It seems we have a grasp on the situation, so let’s proceed with the explanation.

“So, first, we need solid evidence.”

“Solid evidence?”

Even though no options are appearing, I would have chosen this method anyway.

“Talphone. Your sense of smell can distinguish someone who went outside a few days ago, right?”

“Of course. The scent of mana each person emits is not forgotten by me even after several months, not just a few days. Even if it weren’t me, it’s easy to tell.”

Only then did Talphone crack a smile.

“Indeed, you were after such evidence.”

There’s no better way to catch the enemies within.

“I’ve already informed the guards. They’ll be more cooperative than the villagers we saw earlier, so don’t worry and go see them.”

With this, I can make full use of Talphone’s three abilities.

The next Clue and Prove event will be happening soon.

***

After sending Talphone away, I sat back down at the table.

-I’ve investigated with the Rusmayer side, and they mentioned there were many peculiar things about the trash bin.

It wasn’t long before Daik, Frikte, and the other guards arrived.

They pointed out the suspicious aspects of the Chatren’s trash bin.

“I understand the issues with the discarded farm equipment and fertilizer, but is this related too?”

◆Wooden Stump

[A wooden stump from which something has been cut.]

I brought it because it seemed like a clue, identical to the stump found in the field a few weeks ago.

It still felt completely out of place in this field.

A few days later.

I gathered the residents of Chatren.

▶We will proceed with the Clue and Prove event!◀

This time, it’s not in the village hall.

In front of the village hall. I called all the residents together.

“What’s the occasion this time?”

With a face full of discontent, Squad Leader Maph asked that question.

I didn’t hesitate to signal to Talphon.

-Thud.

“You.”

“What? What is it!”

“You. And you.”

“Why are you doing this!”

One by one.

The Lilpetonians pointed directly at the residents of Chatren with their fingers, pushing them aside and separating them.

And the last one was.

“You.”

“What, what is it?”

“Get out over there.”

It was Squad Leader Maph.

Maph, with a bewildered face, tried to retort but, overshadowed by Talphon’s massive frame, swallowed his saliva and walked out on his own.

“Karsein. This is the end.”

The people Talphon had selected were all drawn outside a line.

“What is this?!”

“Do you plan to punish innocent people?!”

“Pfft. As if they’re innocent.”

“What did you say?!”

-Swish.

▶Activating Agent Ability.◀

[ The guards, including Daik, all simultaneously aimed their weapons at the designated residents. ]

[ The Lilpeton tribe members, including Talphon, all simultaneously aimed their weapons at the designated residents. ]

-Click!

At the signal, they all took up arms and surrounded the area in a square.

“The real culprits trying to ruin Chatren must be separated and punished. So that the innocent don’t suffer unjustly.”