Reborn in a Dating Sim: Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Reborn in a Dating Sim:

Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Chapter Thirty-three

Copper had wondered exactly how things were going to be spun to keep people from rebelling against the Lunar-Sol Kingdom. The uncertainty slowly revealed itself as he looked at the newest letter he’d been sent. It was King Consort Baked Bean. He studied the letter, trying to see what it was that he was looking at exactly.

Baron Copper Plum Bit,

I wish to first thank you for what you’ve done. The work your servant done on your behalf, along with your willingness to take in the displaced noble women that have no family left, speaks well of your character. It saddens me that there are parts of my wife I have overlooked. The darker parts, the parts where she willingly hid what happened to those noble women, all of it has caused me quite a bit of stress. Still, I can honestly say that my Celestia Sol Bean is the most beautiful woman inside and out. I still fortunate every single day that I awaken to be near her.

However, despite the deeds you’ve done, and those done by your servant, we cannot fully expose what was happening to the public. While it is my understanding that Chrysalis is under your control for the time being she will be marked as dead. She must remain in her disguise at all times, and she must never take her natural form. With her being marked as dead I have decided to lay the accomplishment of slaying the creature, and freeing the noble women at your feet. As such, I am granting the suggested climbs in status for you, but I am ascending them further. You will no longer be a mere baron, but instead you will be named a Viscount. This is a placeholder only though. The other great deeds you’ve done deserve so much more, and so it is my decree that you will be raised to Earl after graduation. I will ensure that you are of the upper forth ranking, and I sincerely hope that it will be your wise decision to stay near the capital.

Thank you for understanding, for accepting this accomplishment, and for not breathing a word of what truly happened to anyone other than your parents. Additionally, there will be a ceremony to celebrate your rise in the ranks. I wish to publicly reward you, and it is my hope that you will allow me the chance to do so. Once that is done there is another matter. Since your servant has already dealt with Chrysalis I believe that puts you in a very good spot to help weed out those that took then places of the noble women.

If they can be captured, please do so. I would much rather see if there is a way that we can convert them into serving the kingdom itself. I could see a true use in them being able to gather information for us on rival kingdoms, but if they are unable to be captured then I believe that it is in the best interest of the general public to completely deal with them. I leave the methods up to you. Regardless if they are captured or dealt with the Kingdom will reward you. You cannot report this to a guild, but I have spoken to Duke Filthy Rich. He has agreed to be the go between for you. I believe he also has questions about his daughter’s future with you.

Regardless, the ceremony will happen soon, and I will send attendants to prepare you for the date and time.

Sincerely,

King Consort, Baked Bean

He scanned the letter twice more just to make sure that he hadn’t missed anything. He was getting used to being a baron. Sure, it was going to be a pain, but it wasn’t the end of everything. Being raised to the rank of Viscount was a different ball of wax altogether. And that was before graduation. After graduation he was going to be an Earl. He could remember the talk he had with his dad. He’d have to be able to raise an army. He’d need to raise an entire army in order to help to defend the kingdom!

He almost felt himself stop breathing, but he felt a set of hands touch him. He turned and two lips pressed against his own. The kiss, as welcomed as it was, did exactly what the one doing the kissing had hoped, and Copper felt himself relax a little. He felt her pull away, and he looked into the eyes of Artemis. She stood there, a smile on her face, “My Captain,” she said, her voice having a slight purr to it, “What has you so anxious?”

He handed her the letter, and she seemed to scan over it for a moment, “Honestly, I applaud his reading of the situation,” she remarked after a moment, “He’s figured out a way to ensure that the kingdom itself isn’t torn asunder, and in addition he’s given you the credit. The fact that you are being made an Earl is also a boon. You now will have the level and authority to fully utilize me. I was designed for war, and I am certainly more powerful than a mere army.”

He nodded, “I get that,” he said as he looked at the letter again, “But this means that I’m going to have to really expand everything in order to meet the demands made on Earls. I’ve got to think of something more than just farming. I’m not sure what else there is, but I’ve really got to focus on something else.”

She shrugged for a moment, “There is adventuring,” she stated as she looked at him, “It is a lucrative career option, and one that is smiled upon here in the kingdom. Honestly, I believe that it could be made into more of a business model. We could claim a dungeon, or create one, and begin grinding resources from it. Additionally we could hire adventurers to go into the dungeon for us, paying them a wage that would reflect their work but at the same time would ensure that we make out exceptionally well.”

He looked at her, “Wait, we’d turn a dungeon into a factory?”

She grinned, “I don’t see a reason not to. War and business are both very closely related, and such a plan would succeed.”

In truth he couldn’t really argue with the logic that she was pointing out. Still, it felt like they would be taking adventuring and turning it into something mundane. It would be removing the exploration of a labyrinth and making it into just another job for someone to go through. There were a few examples of something similar to that in his previous life. Not exactly of turning a labyrinth into a factory, but rather taking what normally would be a fantastical job and sucking the joy right out of it by making it into something mundane.

The memories of those jobs came to him slowly. Abandoned Urban Exploration Tours took the idea of exploring abandoned buildings and complexes and turned it into a business. The explorers that ran it had to go through the same buildings over and over again, pointing out what the building had been once upon a time. They had to explain what the importance was of the building, and why it existed. It was something he was sure was fine the first couple of times, but after the twentieth or thirtieth time he was sure that it got old fast.

While it wasn’t the best example it certainly had the same feeling to it. Still, what she said made sense. It would certainly provide the extra funds, and they could potentially build more than just a single labyrinth. They could, in theory, create multiple ones that could all be pulling resources toward the governing business. It in essence would be running similar to how one of the mega retail stores in his old world ran. The resources would come to the business, in turn the business would look for the best options for selling the resources, and would make a deal with those places.

Allowing those places to purchase at a discount with the guarantee that they would only purchase from them. This would secure revenue, and in turn it would ensure that the taxes needed to pay the kingdom were met. At least it would eventually. Artemis’ plan had merit, absolutely, but at the same time he understood what it could do to the adventurers that were just getting their start. There were a lot of commoners that tried their hand at adventuring. They ventured out to at least attempt to become a knight. It was one of the few ways that was truly fair in how it was approached.

That wasn’t to say that nobility didn’t have some advantages. The higher the nobility the more likely they had access to higher level spells, better weapons, better armor, and maps of the well known labyrinths. Those advantages were the kind that was only gotten with cold hard cash. Most commoners would never be able to get those advantages until they entered into their second decade of adventuring. Even then depending on what they were striving for they may never get them regardless.

Defeating a labyrinth was a guaranteed way of ensuring that someone was able to become a member of nobility. For a commoner it would raise them to either a knight, or if it was an especially hard labyrinth maybe to a baron. It would be something noted by the rest of nobility, and the commoner would usually be allotted the island where the labyrinth was located. It would allow them their personal domain, and it would ensure that they were able to live a moderately successful life.

He looked up and saw the expecting face of Artemis, and there was absolutely no way that he could tell her that they couldn’t do the plan. Despite knowing what it could do he had to reside himself to knowing that currently it was the best option. If another came out later then he absolutely would gravitate toward it. Especially if it was something that would ensure the other adventurers stood a chance of making a future for themselves with their own two hands.

“It’s a decent plan,” he admitted, “And if we don’t find another way of securing the funds then I absolutely agree that we should.”

He saw her looking confused, “Artemis, I like the plan, I do, but I want you to consider something. What is the one truly fair profession in the entire kingdom? I mean it. What is the one thing that anyone can do and get paid a decent wage for a job well done?” he asked as he looked at her, “Take a moment, but consider that question.”

She seemed to think for a moment, “Adventuring,” she replied, “Anyone is able to become one, and if they destroy monsters in a labyrinth they can collect the cores and sell them. If they are able to defeat a labyrinth then they are able to rise in nobility. It even allows for commoners to become above their station. I don’t see what that has to do with… Oh.”

He watched as she nodded, “I see,” she admitted after a moment, “by turning labyrinth raids into something mundane it begins constricting the market. Those attempting to become adventurers will find it nearly impossible to get a start. Those who have been doing it for a while may not feel the effects as heavily, but they will be there regardless. Within a few decades it will completely corner the market, and it will change how adventuring is done all together.”

He nodded, “Exactly,” he replied, “So, it would, in essence, ensure that there was absolutely no room for anyone else. It would completely remove the room for growth, and it would eventually stagnate the adventuring profession. People would see it as something similar to farming. It would be a career that is accepted, but it wouldn’t be considered a test of true nobility. It would just be another job. Something people do in order to make a living. The chance of making a ton of money is nice, but I’d like to see if we can find another way first.”

She nodded, “I understand,” she replied, “Perhaps the chance will show itself later on.”

He smiled at her, and then he looked back at the letter. King Consort Baked Bean would be sending attendants to meet him. They would be escorting him to the palace, and he would be receiving his rise in nobility followed by his rise in the ranks. He wondered if it would be possible for him to disappear for a while. Technically he could go to the island where one of Artemis’ avatars was cultivating the land. Once there he could just stay for a while.

The only problem was that school was in session, and he didn’t want to miss class with his master. He enjoyed having class with Professor Fancy Pants. It was more than just a tea class. It was teaching negotiation tactics, learning how to make connections, and exploring the various ways that it was possible for people to work together. Taking his class was like learning how to actually do the parts of leadership that never really were covered.

It was amazing how much was actually covered. Still, part of him screamed that it would be an idea to miss. Surely his master would understand the reasoning behind it. He breathed out, knowing that the answer to that question was no. Even if Professor Fancy Pants would understand he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t miss, not just so that he didn’t have to attend the ceremony. So, that left the one other option. He’d have to go, but he didn’t have to be happy about it.

“My Captain,” Artemis said as she leaned against him, “I understand you not wanting to attend, but I believe that it would be good for you to do so. Attending would give you the chance to further the connections you have with other nobles. Additionally it would show the kingdom that you are willing to honor their traditions, and finally there is a very real chance that you could discover some of the weaknesses of the kingdom itself.”

He looked at her for a moment, “Okay, I get the other reasons, but why would I look for weaknesses?” he asked as he studied her, “I mean we live here, and my Dad is here. I really don’t want anything to happen to him.”

She smiled at him, “Your father is a border baron. As it sits anything that would happen to the kingdom likely wouldn’t affect him. At least not directly. Additionally, discovering weaknesses would allow for the possibility of razing the entire kingdom to the ground if needed. From what you know the Royal Family has been willing to replace low ranking noble women with drones in order to breed discontent. It has ensured that the balance of power has reflected the females, and this has allowed them to rule as they have for the last few centuries.”

He nodded, “Yeah, I get that,” he admitted after a moment, “But again, why learn about the weaknesses? I don’t really want to destroy the kingdom. If I’m completely honest I’m fine with just living in the background. It suits me just fine, and I’m fairly sure that it shouldn’t be a problem to do so. I mean at least it shouldn’t be a problem to do so. Well, that’s not exactly right. We both know that I’m going to have to end up supporting the kingdom with taxes equal to my station. That’s going to be a problem, but we’ve got a decent fall back plan for that. Ugh, I really just don’t want to have to kill people that don’t deserve it.”

Artemis smiled at him, “And that is a wonderful trait; however, you must remember that sometimes deaths are unavoidable. There are times when you have simply no other choice. The welfare of those you care for means more than the potential of keeping someone alive who would rather see them dead. In those times it is important to be prepared to do the difficult thing,” she said as she studied him, “And I know that you will not turn away from something difficult just because it stands in your way.”

He nodded, “Yeah, if needed I’ll do whatever I’ve got to in order to protect the people that mean the most to me,” he admitted, “So, I guess that it means that my Dad will be there. I wonder if Delicate Emerald will be there as well?”

She studied him, “I am certain that she will be. My Captain, she has been attempting to get to know you. She has sent letters and baked goods for you. I believe that she truly wants to get to know her son. The view you have of her is from someone that was pretending to be her,” she replied as she leaned against him, “I believe it is time to step past what was, and attempt to get to know her. She deserves the chance, and you deserve the chance to heal.”

“I guess you’ve got a point,” he admitted as he stood there, “I’m just uncertain of it. I mean I know that she’s not the same Delicate Emerald. That the thing that pretended to be my mother was doing what it was doing because it was more or less made to do so. I understand that she didn’t have a say in it. It’s just hard for me to accept that I was being treated the way I was being treated because of a creature that was bred to sow discord and discontent among the lower nobility.”

He shook his head, “Guess that the ceremony is about as good of a place as any to try to get to know her, right?”

He felt Artemis hug him tighter, “It is,” she admitted, “The other thing we need to focus on is how we progress from here. My Captain, your father was not wrong. The nobility most certainly does look down on the fact that you have me as a servant. Personally, I do not care, but I do know that it can affect how things will go with your future. While I like the idea of having you to myself I am not completely against the idea of you having more than one wife.”

She pulled back and looked into his eyes. He could see the concern she had for him, “I just ask that if you choose someone else as well that they be someone that I can accept. Diamond Tiara or Applebloom are both acceptable,” she replied as she stood there, “The two of them are genuine in their feelings, and they seem to truly enjoy your company. I believe that there is a chance for something there.”

He looked at her, “Diamond Tiara is currently out of my range. She’s a duke’s daughter, and Applebloom is a commoner. I can’t marry her,” he said as he looked at her, “But where is this all coming from?”

She smiled at him, “My Captain, I want you to be successful, and I believe that having a wife that is not considered a demi-human would do that.”

He shook his head, “Maybe, but for now, let’s leave the talk about a future where I’ve got more than one person in a romantic relationship on hold.”