In a sprawling castle in Burgan Chester City, Count Shuesterm rode a tall, purebred horse through the gardens. He was gaunt, nearly two meters tall, and wore black leather boots.
He did this every afternoon. Walking through the castle his ancestors had passed down to him, he felt like a king surveying his kingdom.
A Knight's attendant in hardened leather armor followed close beside him, ready to cushion the count with his own body if he fell from the horse.
The last man who had failed to cushion the count in time was already in his Tomb. Rumor had it grass was growing over it.
If only I were king.
If I were king, I'd order those damned officials hanged, then put the nobles back in charge of governing the cities...
Those damned officials. Commoners without Nobility titles, and they dare disobey me... And those damned Priests of the God of Cruel Officials. Without them egging the officials on, how would those commoners dare ignore my orders?
They should all go to the Underworld and become food for Devils.
The mustache above Count Shuesterm's lip twitched with anger.
Ten years ago, the West Byron Kingdom had belonged to the Nobility. Everything changed when the Priests of the God of Cruel Officials arrived. They urged the officials working under the Nobility to cast their masters aside and govern the cities themselves. The Nobility had resisted, but those who did had vanished without a trace.
Then the count spotted a burly man in his garden. He had no idea when the man had appeared.
The man opened his mouth and spoke.
"Good afternoon, honorable Count."
Seeing a stranger inside his castle, Count Shuesterm felt a surge of anger. Once, no one would have dared enter a Nobility's castle uninvited.
But as soon