Chương 8: From a merchant to a governor
...
It's hard to believe that a year has passed since I found myself in this world. Back then, I was just an ordinary student, living a mundane life, until I got hit by a cow of all things. Now, I'm a successful merchant, navigating the complexities of this new reality. Though I still haven't reached my target city, I've already made a solid profit. With winter fast approaching, I decided to stop in a small town called Terespol to rest before continuing my journey to Krusk.
As I wandered through the town center, a crowd had gathered. Curious, I approached and asked what was going on. Apparently, monsters had attacked during the night, killing two farmers. The townspeople were frustrated, claiming they lacked the proper defenses due to mismanagement of the town's funds.
They said the governor had squandered the town's resources on a lavish lifestyle, traveling frequently to the city and leaving the town defenseless. The funds that should have gone toward building a protective wall and hiring watchers were nowhere to be seen.
Determined to get some answers, I found the governor and questioned him.
"I am not spending the town's money on my lifestyle!" the governor protested. "I travel to the city to seek out investors for Terespol. This town has great potential to grow into a city, and securing investment will guarantee its future."
I wasn't convinced. "Your town might have potential, but no investor will touch it while it's vulnerable to monster attacks. You should be using those funds to protect the people here, not on trips that serve your own interests."
The crowd, hearing our exchange, began shouting their support for me, voicing their anger and frustration at the governor. It wasn't long before a young woman stepped in to calm the crowd, sending them back to their homes. Once things quieted down, she approached me.
"Sir, it seems you've won the favor of the people of Terespol. May I ask your name?"
"I'm Jacob, a merchant from Isselburg."
"A merchant? It's been over a month since any merchant dared to visit Terespol. The attacks have driven them away, and the people are worried no one will return."
I nodded. "I see. Has this been a recent development? The monster attacks, I mean."
"Yes, they've only started happening since the new governor took office. He cut funding for the watchers and halted construction on the wall. Ever since, the town's been vulnerable."
"Sounds like corruption to me," I muttered. "By the way, could you point me to an inn?"
"I own the inn here. Please, follow me."
Grateful, I followed her to the inn and rented a room. Five silver coins was a bit steep, but it was the only option available, especially since other rooms were still being repaired after a recent monster attack. The room itself was simple but comfortable, offering a decent view of the town.
The next morning, I decided to explore Terespol. It was a modest town, surrounded by farmland that stretched far into the horizon. As I walked through the streets, I noticed that most of the buildings looked old and worn down, a stark contrast to its potential. Despite its location, the town had seen little to no development. Homes were in disrepair, and the roads were still dirt paths.
I asked around about the town's preferences, trying to gauge what the people might want to buy. Eastern goods were popular here, which made sense given Terespol's location closer to the eastern regions. However, as I walked farther, I saw a grand mansion standing on a hill, much better maintained than anything else in the town. I asked a nearby vendor about it.
"That's the governor's mansion," the vendor explained. "His family's ruled this town since its founding. The first governor was a great leader, but after he passed, his city relatives took over. The town's been stagnant ever since."
Before I could ask more, the peaceful morning was shattered by a sudden commotion—another monster attack. This time, two houses were destroyed, six people were killed, and seventeen were injured. The townspeople had had enough. Furious, they marched to the governor's mansion, throwing stones and demanding answers.
Then, as if by fate, a black carriage arrived at the inn. The governor stumbled out in a panic, rushing inside. Moments later, the girl from the previous day knocked on my door.
"Jacob, the governor's here. He needs to speak with you. Now!"
Confused but curious, I followed her downstairs. There, the governor, pale with fear, dropped to his knees before me.
"Please, Jacob! You must help me. The people are out for blood. They'll kill me if I stay! I'll give you everything—my wealth, the town, the position of governor. Please, I need to get out of here."
I stared at him, incredulous. "Why would I take on your responsibilities? This is your mess, not mine."
"Please!" he begged. "The people love you after what you said yesterday. They'll listen to you. I'll give you everything I own, just let me and my family leave safely."
I hesitated, but the state of Terespol weighed heavily on me. The town was suffering, and if someone didn't step in soon, it would fall apart entirely.
"I'll do it, but only on one condition."
"Anything! Name it."
"You and your family are to leave Terespol and never return."
"Done! Just let me go!"
With that, the governor fled with his family, disappearing before sunrise. By the time the sun rose, I was being escorted by the knights to the town hall. The entire town had gathered in the square, and I was formally introduced as their new governor.
"The old governor has fled," the knight announced. "In his place, Jacob, a brave merchant, has taken the position of governor of Terespol, starting today!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, calling my name.
And so, from a humble merchant, I had somehow become the governor of Terespol in less than a day.
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