Reincarnation of a Hunter

 

While still on the ship, I held up my glowing hand.

 

The administrator arrived with the soldiers.

 “Out of the way, the Acting Administrator is here!” 

The soldiers shouted as they walked through the crowd.

 

Through them stepped the man they called the administrator.

 

That must be the administrator Captain Adrienne mentioned.

 “What’s all this disturbance, and what is that light?” 

They must have seen the glowing light from the administration building and rushed to see where it came from.

 “Annapurna gave her blessing to my Lord.” “What nonsense, you are swindling us!” 

The magistrate, angered by the villager’s words, looked up at me with my glowing hand. Then he shouted at me.

 “You, stop your charade and tell me the truth before I slit your throat!” 

I’ve heard of blessing impostors, and they trick people by emitting light from their tools.

 

But there’s no way anyone would be so brave to fool this many people.

 

Thousands of people were already gathered at the harbor, praying, and more were gathering all the while.

 

Any fraudster would be scared to death in this kind of situation.

 

I sighed, looked down, and asked the administrator.

 “What’s your name?” “You! I am Henry Brone, Acting Administrator of the estate! Who are you!” “I am Eric, Lord of Marseille. Viscount to Count Michael of Westphalia.” 

Henry seemed surprised by what I said.

 “No! No! That’s ridiculous! Hey! Come, seize that impostor!!” 

But the soldiers who had come with him hesitated at his command.

 

My hands were still glowing as the crowd stared at the soldiers.

 “What are you waiting for? Go catch that crook!” 

He shouted again, and those who remembered me, including Captain Adrienne, began to speak up.

 “That is the Count’s son, Eric! I guarantee it with my life!” “That’s right, look at his hair, doesn’t it look just like Maria’s?” “He looks just like Maria. What do you mean, fraud.” 

Overwhelmed by the roaring crowd, Henry is taken aback. He quickly lowered his tail.

 “Well then, show me a proof!” 

I have a letter from Count Michael. I thought about showing it, but then I thought of something else.

 

A method that no one else in Marseille could replicate.

 

I glanced at my mother, who was standing behind me, and asked.

 “Mother, would you like to walk down the flower path?” 

Understanding what I meant, she smiled slightly and headed for the stairs with Sir Pierre.

 

As she slowly walked down the tiered stairs to the harbor, she was greeted with exclamations from those who remembered who she was.

 “Oho— Maria has returned home!” “Maria has arrived!” “Maria, please take me!” 

The appearance of Maria, indeed, as Marseille’s heroine.

 

Before her marriage, she was known for her good deeds and beauty, and afterward, she was beloved by the people of the estate for her care for the poor and sick.

 

Although she had been gone for more than a decade, many people still knew her and were filled with emotion.

 

My mother took a step.

 

The cheering crowd gave way as if the Red Sea were splitting.

 

Their reverence for her was palpable.

 

Walking slowly down the path, my mother held out her hand to Henry.

 “Do you need more proof? And give me an example, Administrator, Henry.” “Ugh!” 

Henry shook his head in disbelief and threw up his hands in frustration.

 

Mother, seeing this, smiles at the sight of him leisurely.

 

But Sir Pierre, who was following her, had a strange look on his face. He was glaring at the insolent Henry.

 

‘Oh my, if I don’t do something, He’s going to slit Henry’s throat,’

said Eric inwardly.

 

Sir Piere, who was commander of the Knights of Marseille, wouldn’t allow Henry’s rudeness.

 

Pierre puts his hand on his long sword.

 “Sir Pierre, wait!” 

I quickly called and stopped him.

 

If Henry’s head were cut off now, it would be hard to find who was behind it.

 

I rushed down from the boat and walked to the front of the administrator.

 “I am Eric, Lord of this land. Your role as acting administrator is now over.” “Laurian… Does Countess Laurian know about this?” 

From what Henry said, I could tell what kind of person he was.

 

The appointment as acting lord was clearly a request from Laurian.

 

Probably by the people behind the scenes.

 “Of course, the Countess Laurian and the former Count of Westphalia have given me their support, and they will not interfere now. The vassal relationship with Westphalia has been revoked.” “Oh my goodness… Ugh!” 

Henry sat down and screamed.

 

I couldn’t tell Henry in front of everyone that neither he nor the estate was abandoned.

 

The truth was, I said whatever would work.

 

‘Great. We’ll use this as an excuse to lock him up and then go ahead with the plan.’

 

There’s also a reason for the quick arrest, to prevent the bastard from coming to his senses and gathering private soldiers or support. I didn’t want to have a big brawl in the city on my first day home.

 “Many people here have seen you humiliate me. How dare you insult me, a Lord and a nobleman. Soldiers, throw this man in prison at once!” 

The guards were also aware of this and knew whose side to take.

 “Yes, my lord!” 

Henry was escorted by a soldier on his way here, but now he’s being dragged away.

 “Let go of me! Without me, the estate will not operate! Look, my lord! The estate is doomed without me! Listen!” 

‘He’s talking nonsense.’

 

In my entire life, past and present, I’ve never seen a landfall because of one person.

 

It works just fine without him. Besides, Henry wasn’t a competent administrator. How could a man who embezzles taxes from his fief be a competent official?

 

Things work just fine without him, and besides, that bastard Henry certainly hasn’t been a capable administrator. 

 

After getting off the boat, I moved with the others.

 

There were so many people that I couldn’t get into a carriage, but had to walk to the manor house.

 

And all the way to the residence, I had to wave my shining hand to the gathering crowd.

 “Mother, my arm is starting to hurt a lot now.” “’Oh, we’ll be there soon, just hang on.” 

My mother smiled and comforted me.

 “I’m so glad you’ve been blessed by the gods, now the support of the people will be expected, and your position as Lord will be solidified.” 

Unlike my mother, she even brought up political views. That’s a pretty good feeling.

 

And my glowing hand began to fade by the time we arrived at the residence.

 

As if someone had alerted them, knights and officials from the administration were greeting us at the entrance.

 

“

My lord, I am Axel, Commander of the Knights of Marseille.” 

Now that the acting administrator was detained, the next highest-ranking Knight greeted us first.

 

Everyone introduced themselves one by one, starting with Axel.

 

A quick glance at their first impressions suggests they’re doing a decent job, but it’s hard to tell.

 “Today, I am meeting with the administration officials. Then, tomorrow morning, I will meet with the knights and senior soldiers.” “Yes, my lord.” “Where is the tax collector?” 

The officials glanced at each other.

 

One of them spoke up and said,

“The tax collector just suddenly left a while ago.” 

The bird sniffed and took off.

 

It was also fast. But if the tax collector himself was behind this, he could reappear.

 

We need to put a bait to catch him.

 “Sir Axel, come here.” 

I called to the Knight Captain Axel as he approached.

 “Remove all guards from the prison where Henry is being held.” “Can you tell me why?”

asked Axel.

 “To use him as bait.” “…I’m not sure what you mean, but I’ll do as you say.” 

I like it when it’s quick and clean.

 

That’s a gave him a thumbs up for him.

 

Walking up to my office in the manor and looking out the window.

 

The view of the blue sea was beautiful, the whitewashed walls of the low buildings glistened, and the green forest stretched far beyond the manor.

 

The panoramic view and the cool breeze were refreshing.

 

The seafront overlooked the harbor. Between the port and the palace were shops.

 

The wide streets and subdivided houses are also impressive.

 

The estate was designed by my great-great-grandfather, Viscount Marseille, a pre-war general, and it’s a well-planned and efficient structure.

 

It’s a structure I admired when I lived here as a child.

 

‘What a man, to destroy such a well-built estate.’

 

I cursed Count Michael under my breath.

 

He abandoned this beautiful estate for some kind of wealthy endeavor.

 

I could understand his behavior, but I couldn’t sympathize.

 

‘A man who dreams of elevating his status by marriage is pathetic, both as a man and as a noble.’

 

After cursing under my breath, I prepared for the officials’ meeting.

 

In the meantime, the leader of the Knights, Axel, rushed in to announce the news.

 “My lord, the tax collector has used private soldiers to break the administrator out of prison.” “Is anyone hurt?” “No. Only the prison door was damaged.” “Find out where they are, and gather the knights now.” “Yes, my lord.” 

It was not only the administrator Henry, but also the tax collector who was behind this.

 

They couldn’t leave right away because they had to cover their tracks.

 

‘I’ll send someone to get him.’

 

For a moment, I pondered, but not for long. This was the time to test his skills.

 

Leading the mission was Raoul, the beast warrior. I chose Raul, the wolf man, to vanguard the hunt.

  

At administrator Henry’s house.

 — Slam! “Ugh!” 

Henry screamed as he hit the ground.

 “Oh my, tax collector. Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong?” “That’s none of your business.” 

An unfamiliar tax collector looked at him.

 

Perhaps this was the same tax collector with whom we used to embezzle and frequent brothels.

 

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that the tax collector had captured Henry rather than bailed him out, but Henry chose not to think about it.

 

If he stayed here, he’d be killed by the lord anyway.

 “Look. We’re dealing with the Lord of the Manor, and if we try to fool around with a few private soldiers right now, we’ll be slaughtered in no time. If we go back to the lord and beg, he might spare our lives. Let’s go.” 

The tax officer laughed at what Henry said.

 “I guess life is a bit of a waste.” “I will do anything to stay alive.” 

The tax collector’s face twisted at the answer. His expression was almost contemptuous…

 “You don’t know why I brought you here, do you?” “You brought me here to escape?”

said Henry.

 “You’re a fool. Go figure it out.” 

Just then, the tax collector’s men came in, dragging the man by the hand.

 “We got the closest thing we could find.” “Well done. Take off his clothes.” 

The tax collector took off his uniform, put it on the man, and gave him a signet ring.

 

Then picked up a sledgehammer and smashed it across his face.

 —Clang! Clang! Clang! 

Henry was trembling at what he saw with the man.

 

The tax collector gave Henry a bloody cape dripping with blood.

 “Hold on to it.” “Are you trying to kill and shut me up?” “You’re right. You know too much, and I can’t be caught,” “…just let me die in prison.” “Who’s going to open that safe?” 

Where the tax collector pointed with his finger was a large safe.

 

And only Henry knew the combination to the safe.