Utarou strode through the city of Richerson with an enthusiasm and confidence he hadn’t had since he first died and came to this world.
The only residents of Mountain Keep that had accompanied him were Henrek and Hope, with his travel from the mountains to the city being guided by Gareth and his tax collection convoy.
“You know, you still haven’t told me how this… peculiar girl will lead to these monster girls you speak of.” Gareth noted as Utarou practically danced his way towards the castle of King Oldsman.
Hope tucked her head further into her hood as they walked the high streets of Richerson, having left their wagon and horses at the gate they were now exposed to the city dwellers of Richerson who noted the strange woman's platinum blonde hair and yellow eyes that almost glowed.
“Something to do with Legacy skills.” Henrek sighed.
“Interesting, you know when it comes to Legacy Skills you should consult the Elves-” Gareth began, interrupted by Utarou snapping his neck around, Henrek and Hope bracing themselves for the rant.
“THOSE DAMNABLE KNIFE EARS? YOU THINK I’M GOING TO LET THEM GET THEIR DIRTY HANDS ON MY MONSTER GIRLS?!” Utarou shouted, pointing aggressively at Gareth as he continued on a long rant about the disgrace that Elves brought to every project they were put on.
“Has he even met an Elf before?” Hope whispered.
“I don’t think so, I’m pretty sure he’s only been in this city and the Mountain Keep.” Henrek explained.
“Really?” Hope exclaimed in shock.
“He is from another world…”
“He’s been here for a year!”
“He’s got…” Henrek trailed off as Utarou finally finished his rant.
“- THEY WILL BE TOO COWARDLY TO ATTEMPT THE REAL SCIENCE I’M LOOKING FOR! THEIR PRISSY LITTLE MAGIC AND FORESTS HAVE NO PLACE IN MY MONSTER GIRL UTOPIA!” Utarou screamed, having thoroughly explained his position on elves which can be succinctly described as;
Somewhat negative.
“... Specific goals.” Henrek groaned.
“Alright alright I get it! Calm down, you're making a scene!” Gareth shouted as he pushed Utarou’s finger off of his chest, his years of being a city guard coming back to him as he tried to bring things back to order. Utarou smirked and spun back around, facing towards Richerson’s Castle.
“Very well, I don’t have any time to discuss Elves anyhow.” Utarou declared.
“What were you just doing then?” Everyone else thought in unison.
“ONWARD! We shall procure the necessary funding for Monster Girl City!” Utarou shouted.
…
“Absolutely not.” King Oldsman declared.
“Why nottt?!?” Utarou whined as he looked up from his deep kowtow. Hendred, Hope and Gareth were standing at the back of the throne room, collectively face palming.
“You’ve quite literally asked for more gold than there is in the entire treasury of this kingdom in order to establish a city in a province which hasn’t produced a harvest in nearly a decade, has 0 natural resources and for all intents and purposes, is entirely useless to me to develop, let alone have you govern on my behalf.” King Oldsman explained clearly.
Henrek shook his head, regretting getting involved with Utarou more and more day by day.
“You can still transfer right…?” Hope asked quietly.
“Believe it or not, King Oldsman is quite a generous man, I’m sure your track record will speak for itself.” Gareth explained comfortingly.
“It better…” Henrek sighed as he looked at Utarou consider his options at the foot of King Oldsman’s throne.
“I can’t bully the money out of him, and making him an enemy is a terrible idea for the sake of my Monster Girls plan, dealing with a thousand year blood feud? Yeah no thanks… Plus that instant death guy is standing right next to Hope, can’t risk this meeting going south.” Utarou thought until suddenly stumbling onto an idea.
“You said that province is useless to you right?” Utarou clarified, a glint in his eye.
“Yes… I’m not intending on giving up any land if that’s what you’re asking.” King Oldsman growled.
“Not at all! I’m suggesting that you give me unilateral control of it.”
“That sounds a lot like me giving you the land.”
“Not at all! I’m requesting you make me a sort of… Duke let’s say. Give me control of the province for the next two years. I’ll not only fix the famine in that time, but I’ll make it one of your most profitable provinces.” Utarou declared with infinite confidence.
King Oldsman raised his eyebrow.
“And what does unilateral mean exactly?” King Oldsman asked cautiously.
“Simply, that you allow me to do as I please with the land. I won’t ask for anything, we’ll trade under the same rules as foreign territories, however we’ll also still pay the royal tax as loyalty to the crown.”
“Wait wait wait, you want to pay the 20% tariff and pay the royal tax?”
“All I ask is that you keep the guards you have protecting the border whilst I restore the province.” Utarou explained.
King Oldsman considered it for a moment.
“You spoke of your exploits in your previous life, you said you were a great strategian who managed many cities. Are you saying this experience transfers into restoring a province’s devastated land?”
“Not only that, I have hundreds of hours as a farmer as well.” Utarou declared.
“I was talking about Strategy Games, City Builders and Farming Simulators but… same idea.” Utarou thought to himself, his confidence only dropping for a moment.
“Hmm, you, Henrek was it? Come here please.” King Oldsman requested, beckoning the man in the back towards him.
“Y-yes my King.” Henrek exclaimed, quickly running over and kneeling in front of the King.
“You’ve spent far more time with the Blessed Being from another world, tell me, do you believe he will make an effective leader in this time of crisis? Do you believe he can save the province of Dracons?” King Oldsman asked seriously. Utarou looked intensely at Henrek, nodding furiously.
Henrek sighed.
“Despite his eccentricities, despite his outbursts and despite his… fixations.” Henrek said, glancing over to Utarou before looking back at Hope.
“I do think he has the drive to do what he sets out to do.” Henrek sighed, he was betting it all on black, either Utarou would save and potentially help his hometown thrive, or it was all over.
King Oldsman nodded.
“Very well! By royal decree, you are now the Duke of Dracons.” King Oldsman declared, grabbing his sword and using his weak arms, forcing it up to officially knight Utarou.
Unfortunately he slipped and dropped the blade, chopping Utarou’s head off.
“Still counts right?” Utarou’s head asked as his body flopped to the ground.