The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 238 "Folklorist" Mogers (8) - The Count Palatine's Legacy The grand banquet hall of Ostern's main castle was utterly disconnected from the barren landscape of the holy territory. Outside was chaotic with news of an officer killed by a beast and the sound of military boots trampling throughout the holy territory, but the air here was filled with expensive incense and the smell of rich roasting meat. Silver-plated candlesticks illuminated the golden walls, and wine brought from the north rippled on the tables. The priests who should spread God's word spewed hypocritical flattery, and the knights who should fight for the people grasped women's waists instead of sword hilts, eagerly caressing them. No one reproached or glared at this behavior. The Count Palatine, who could be called the master of this place, wasn't scolding his retainers' corruption but rather cackling with laughter at something, so if a rigid person saw this scene, it wouldn't be strange for them to grab the back of their neck in shock. Mogers let out a hollow laugh. 'This is impressive in its own way.' Half of it was sarcasm, but the other half was admiration. Originally, if you do anything ambiguously, you receive an ambiguous evaluation, but if you commit and reach the extreme, it gets evaluated as art, doesn't it? Even vulgar nouveau riche behavior, when it reached this level, couldn't help but be a kind of mastery. 'Even in Eizern, it's hard to see something like this.' Because the empire is poor? Hardly. Gossips chatter that the holy territory is close to a duchy in terms of other countries, and the Count Palatine is close to a duke, but that's only in terms of nominal position. In terms of actual wealth holdings, the holy territory can't even fit into the empire's 'wealthy class' category. Then is it because the Eizern Empire is a nation that considers frugality and poverty virtues? That's not it either. Excessive consumption beyond one's income draws ridicule from others, but luxury that one can sufficiently afford is an object of envy even in the empire. Expensive clothes and accessories. The culture of using splendid banquets as a means of displaying authority exists in the empire too. But even so, they don't indulge in this manner. The reason is simple. Because they have to be mindful of those around them. In other words, because they have to maintain 'moderation.' A knight living obsessed with women? That can happen. But a knight who can't even handle a sword properly while being devoted only to womanizing becomes an object of ridicule. A noble indulging in gluttony? That can happen. But eating while dripping meat juices from the mouth and spitting is considered vulgar. Then what about this holy territory? 'There's no one to be mindful of.' Knights and priests? Only their peers and the Count Palatine can reprimand them, but the former are birds of a feather and the latter doesn't seem to have any thought of scolding them. The Count Palatine himself should originally be mindful of the Hasht Sacred State, but the believers of the fallen Pantheon aren't idle enough to interfere with such remote lands one by one. External invasion? The barbarians who were once their main enemy were brought to ruin by their ancestors, monster activity has diminished, and Ostern itself isn't an attractive land to begin with to worry about invasion by other foreign enemies. There's no need to worry about reputation and no motivation to continue training, so all that remains is to stagnate and rot. 'If you value reputation too much, you become slow to act, but if you ignore it too much, a person's sense of shame disappears. A proper balance is important.' While Mogers was nodding his head as if watching the results of some strange social experiment, a man walked toward him. Herman Ostern. A descendant who inherited neither the bravery nor the sense of mission of his ancestors who protected people on the front lines, but was fully enjoying the reputation and inheritance that came with the name. He, who was swaying his corpulent body that was hard to hide even with luxurious clothing, wiped the wine stains around his mouth with his arm and spoke. "Professor Mogers, was it? I wonder if you're enjoying the banquet." Mogers politely bowed his head and answered. "Yes, I'm savoring a rare sight that's hard to see in one's lifetime." "Hahaha! Is that so? I did put some effort into this for the professor. Don't be modest and enjoy it to your heart's content." Whether he understood Mogers' 'rare' as a compliment, the Count Palatine burst into laughter. He struck down his fork onto the plate that a maidservant was holding up, then spoke while chewing the greasy wild boar meat. "By the way... Patrol Commander Volgof praised the professor quite a lot. He said you're a very cultured and well-mannered intellectual." "It seems the patrol commander gave excessive praise. I'm not such a great person. My scholarship is quite lacking too." "Come on, what's so important about not knowing a few lines of text? The principles that must be kept as person to person. Knowing that is more important." At first glance, it sounded like an extremely reasonable statement, but originally stories change in meaning and usage depending on who tells them. Sure enough, the Count Palatine soon revealed his true colors. "But if you were to observe even more principles while you're at it, our relationship might become a bit more solid. What do you think?" Mogers inwardly suppressed a chuckle. The assessment that he didn't pay attention to those around him seemed to apply not only to simple appearances but also to his words. Usually one would use subordinates to do it indirectly or coax gently with appropriate excuses, but this was no different from openly demanding it, just without using the word 'bribe.' But well, Mogers also had business with the high-ranking person of the holy territory. Thinking it was a good opportunity, he pulled out a gold bracelet inlaid with large gems from his bosom. "Come to think of it, I happen to have an item here that suits the Count Palatine's excellent bearing. Please accept it." "Ooh." Without a single word of refusal, the Count Palatine snatched the bracelet. It was a quick movement that didn't match his sluggish build. He looked with satisfaction at the large gems embedded in the bracelet and the bracelet's own splendid design, then belatedly opened his mouth. "Excellent. Truly beautiful. This delicate goldwork—is it perhaps a piece from the Eizern Empire?" "That's correct. Long ago, it was one of the items worn by an Emperor." "The empire's Emperor!!" The Count Palatine's mouth split as if it would reach his ears. Mogers had not lied. Because that bracelet was indeed an item that had been used by an old Emperor of the empire. It was an Emperor so notorious for debauchery that he never used the same accessory twice, resulting in thousands of accessories used in his lifetime, and while some of these circulated among civilians without the royal family even bothering to retrieve them, it wasn't a lie nonetheless. "Hahaha, well, perhaps thanks to the professor's scholarship, I feel like my eyes are being newly opened. Don't worry about anything while staying in the holy territory. I'll have your back firmly." "Those are truly words beyond what I deserve. Since I came here lightly this time, what I have isn't so impressive, but when I visit again later, I'll repay you with even greater favor." "E-even more than this?" The Count Palatine's nostrils flared. He showed signs of restlessness, then soon spoke to Mogers. "Is there anything you need? Ah, right. I heard you're going around with a Belastok woman as a guide. If she doesn't please you, I can change her for someone else anytime." "It's fine. I'm receiving a lot of help from her in local exploration. There probably isn't a more capable guide than her." "Hmm... I see. Well, if the professor says so." The Count Palatine had a somewhat incomprehensible expression, but perhaps because his spirit had already melted from bribery, he didn't spit out any more bad words or sarcasm toward Morana. Not missing that opportunity, Mogers spoke. "However, if I may dare to ask, could I possibly visit the Count Palatine's library?" "The library?" "Yes. From Gilbert Ostern who protected this land, up to the Count Palatine himself, I'd like to examine that glorious history through documents. If there are any handwritten records remaining, that would be even better." "Hmm, handwritten records. Handwritten records." The Count Palatine narrowed his eyes for a moment as if trying to recall something, but soon shrugged his shoulders and said: "Well, I'm not sure whether such things exist or not. As for the library, I'll let you go in anytime, so take a look." "Would that be alright?" "What would there be to hesitate about in revealing the great glory of our ancestors? I'll tell the servants to guide you there." "Thank you, Count Palatine." After finishing the greetings, Mogers immediately followed a servant's guidance and left the banquet hall. Behind him echoed the cheers of the Count Palatine bragging about the Emperor's bracelet and those flattering him. While walking down the corridor, Mogers' shadow writhed and produced a language that only he could hear. [Is that thing even human? Isn't it a pig wearing a human mask?] 'From a demon's perspective, isn't that kind better? He was advertising to be devoured quickly.' [Let me ask the opposite. Are a cake sealed in luxurious wrapping paper and black bread covered in some unknown sticky liquid rolling around on a dusty street without any packaging the same? I'm a demon with standards, you know?] 'Oh ho, that was a good analogy. I understand it at once.' While the Greater Demon and folklorist exchanged banter that others couldn't hear, the servant's guidance ended. "This is the place." When the servant removed the lock with a key, a wooden door that clearly showed its age creaked open. "I'll wait outside, so please call me if you need anything." "Mm, thank you." As if not wanting to disturb his concentration, the servant left only Mogers inside the library and disappeared outside the door. The interior of the library was the complete opposite of the splendid banquet hall outside, smelling of dead time. Mogers swept his gloved hand across the dust that had piled high on the desk. The texture of the paper touching his fingertips was brittle, and there were books with mold growing on them due to poor moisture management. "The glory of ancestors. I suspect they misspoke about a troublesome legacy." Along with light complaints, Mogers began examining the books that were still in decent condition one by one. Swordsmanship manuals from the time of the first Count Palatine Gilbert. Characteristics according to divine power left by the second generation and their corresponding utilization tactics. Territory management guidelines with annotations directly written by the third Count Palatine. About half of the books were from the first generation's time, and the other half were books from the second and third generations respectively. Whether looking at publication dates or the condition of the books, there were virtually no new books that entered the library after the fourth generation. After examining books like this for several minutes. A book with the Ostern family crest 'Shield of the South' engraved on its cover caught Mogers' attention. Despite being neglected for a long time, that book was in relatively good condition, and both the cover and the paper inside seemed to be made from processed monsters rather than ordinary materials. "Gilbert Ostern's handwritten records?" Thinking he had found the jackpot, Mogers opened the book, but soon had no choice but to frown. "...What terrible handwriting." A groaning sound leaked from his mouth. Mogers had mastered most of the continent's major languages, but knowing languages and deciphering terrible handwriting are separate issues. While decipherment wasn't impossible if he analyzed and grasped the tendencies in the handwriting, it wasn't something that could be done instantly. Thinking he would have no choice but to analyze this calmly over time, Mogers first roughly skimmed through only the parts he could quickly interpret, then hid the book deep in his luggage. The fact that the library was neglected was a blessing in disguise in this case. If the library had been properly managed, taking books like this would have been immediately discovered, but looking at this state, they probably wouldn't even notice unless he took an entire bookshelf. In his mind as he left the castle. Several passages from the book he had successfully interpreted came to mind. 《—Descendants, I earnestly hope that you must not antagonize the Belastok.》 《What I ask of you in mercy is not simply a matter of conscience or belief.》 《It is a measure to avoid the wrath of winter.》 《It is an offering to appease the mother of the white beasts.》 《Descendants. Keep this in mind.》 《Do not anger their goddess. Do not anger Marzanna.》