Chapter 227

Chapter 227 - Barcia (2)

A group of men riding horses stopped on a hill in southeastern Barcia.

"Honorable Count Excellency. On behalf of our Lord, I welcome you to Bean Land."

As Aaron took a slight bow on horseback, the other Barcia knights also followed suit. The servants and slaves knelt on one knee.

They do not usually go this far for a foreign noble, but Eugene is a special counterpart in many ways.

'It's a crazy land.'

Eugene's first impression was an overwhelming flood of life. Wherever he looked, it was entirely green. Things like mountain ridges or gravel fields could not be found either.

Alfalfa, rich in nutrients enough to be called the king of feed, covered the earth like a carpet. Even the air held a thick and pungent scent.

Rustle.

Hind, who got off his horse, grasped a handful of grass that came into his grasp. He could not help but admire the rich tactile sensation, healthy root strength, and the vibrating smell of grass.

Swoooosh-.

It was so dense and high that green waves crashed from all directions with just a slight breeze. It was a chorus of life going beyond white noise.

"It is a land where even a blind person could take a happy walk. Because you wouldn't fall even if you run with your eyes closed, and you would feel its abundance with your whole body as long as your ears are intact. The place where God laid his body after creating the world. This is Barcia's folktale, right?"

After the creation of the world, holy flesh and blood blessed this land. This is one of the many arguments Barcia nobles put forward for their nobility.

"Those words are truly correct."

"Excellency. Please save those precious words. He will be even more pleased if you say them in front of Count Marcus."

At the best praise a foreign noble could give, even the slaves, including Aaron, made proud expressions.

"Is this entire vicinity Count Marcus's land?"

"It is from the bridge of that river over there to the monastery over there. Beyond that is the territory of the Piranian family."

"Piranian...?"

Eugene nodded his head at a name he felt like he had heard somewhere before, then suddenly recalled it.

"Ah! The friends who got the back of their hands stabbed by Karas at the tavern."

"Do you have a connection?"

"I almost did. After parting with your Lord, I stepped forward as a proxy warrior in a city called Bonyard. At that time, there were two Dhampirs among the knights invited to the same side."

Like Eugene at the time, they were knights who lacked a territory and set out on an adventure seeking honor and wealth.

"Surcoat crest is a man being squeezed by rose vines. Is this right?"

"Yes. That is the symbol of the Piranian family."

One was eliminated after suffering a major injury to his hand at the tavern. The other stepped forward as a detachment in subjugating forest bandits but was defeated by a pagan knight and died in battle.

Unlike Eugene who rode a wave of success, they were those who stepped through the perfect example of a wandering knight failing.

"What happened to the knight who returned with his hand injured?"

"His debt increased further due to not being able to work because of the injury. Saying he would pay that back, he pushed himself to go on a monster subjugation but ended up falling to a Troll..."

"Oh my."

Nobles in debt are common, but when the scale grows, pressure naturally comes in. The more that happens, the more knights fell into seeking a one-time big score.

Even now, there will be an overflow of knights everywhere in the world heading out to dangerous battlefields driven by debt or dreams.

Even the moment they fall, they would imagine themselves sitting in the Lord's seat. While their eyes gradually blur, leaving only their cooling bodies beneath their broken armor.

The reason Eugene receives respect above a certain level from knights wherever he goes. That is because the honor he built is honor, but he is also their idol.

In history, there has been no case where a countryside knight who rose with a single sword achieved this level of success. The spouse he took in too, and the legendary castle he made his residence too.

It was a story already beyond fairy tales or legends, closer to a founding myth of the distant past.

* * *

When Eugene went out for a walk with the Barcia knights early in the morning, Valda took care of the castle as the Lady of the House.

No matter how loyal they are to Eugene, both the Hammer Brotherhood and the Blackhand Tribe are fundamentally mercenary groups.

In particular, the Dark Elves are in a state where their unique bellicosity, nomads' freewheeling nature, and confidence piercing the sky from continuous victories are combined. If they make a misstep, they could cause an accident.

Usually, Eugene is also busy controlling these parts right after transferring the castle to a civilized sphere. However, now that his wife shares that role, he could comfortably do outside activities.

"Madam."

"Welcome."

As Valda entered the stable, everyone took off their hats and politely welcomed her. The stable keepers all uniformly had 'I'm saved!' faces.

"It is noisy today. Did something happen?"

The tribal knights who were the culprits of the commotion appeared.

"You came at just the right time."

"Look at these children. Aren't they truly robust?"

The knights brought mares over. They are desert military horses obtained in Samur. All uniformly having good complexion and fine coats, it could be seen they were very well managed. They were all pregnant so their bellies were full.

"Lord obtained a stallion as a reward during the Lamia Queen subjugation, right."

"I know. Because he proudly boasted about it while smiling brightly all day."

Military horses cannot use just any horse. Training is basic, and breed must also back it up. Depending on what bloodline it inherited, the price difference ranges from several times to at most dozens of times or more.

The desert military horse which has the most excellent direction changing ability and gets no injuries due to its unique flexibility. That stallion is a treasure where even a war could break out over the ownership of one.

- O-Other things we will give you however much. But...

- Even my beloved steed met its death during the subjugation. Yet the city means to not compensate anything?

- No, if it's desert military horses we can give you more...

- My horse was also an excellent stallion! Therefore, it will not do unless it is the same stallion!

The hero who saved Tripol. It is the stallion obtained by pressuring the city council members carrying that name on his back.

Of course, that Might died is a lie. However, if a Champion Slayer is growling right before your eyes, you won't think to nitpick evidence.

"A pregnant horse must appropriately get outside wind and move to give birth healthily."

"And we must let it graze grass too. I mean moist grass coming up from real dirt."

The grass coming up from Moving Castle's magic feed trough is fully nutritious.

However, even though it has the appearance of grass, practically it was a kind closer to seaweed like sea mustard, dashima, and gim.

- The grass in the feed trough alone cannot fully maintain the animals. Although it contains almost all necessary nutrients, you must occasionally let them graze real grass.

- Lord. We also faintly knew. We waited for those words.

Even before Eugene instructed it, the others were also feeling it.

The appearance of the grass in the feed trough swaying subtly even though it was indoors where wind did not blow.

When touched, it isn't cold but has a subtle warmth, and the tactile sensation also feels like touching the delicate epidermis of something.

Munch munch.

Even it leaning its body on its own as if asking to be eaten when livestock put their mouths to it.

A sense of incongruity that it is something disguised as a plant. That can be known just by spending a little time in the stable.

Those who believe in superstition were afraid, but it did not last long. The castle residents took the lead and patched them over.

- It is irreverent.

- What are you saying towards the Lord's castle?

The point that it is also another body of Eugene. Because doubting that the grass fundamentally originating from there might be a wicked existence is an irreverent act.

"When pregnant is exactly when they must eat well. However, we kept living in the jungle, stopped by Britannia briefly, then immediately went to the black rock zone."

"Since we came to a good grass field after a long time, I want to let them live in luxury."

As the tribal knights stroked their flanks, the mares also docilely accepted it with half-closed eyes.

"No. We cannot act rashly in this place."

However, Valda firmly refused.

It is the reason the stable keepers waited for her while being at a loss. Because to block the knights' demands, Eugene's or the Lady of the House's authority was needed.

"This place is Barcia. My husband is merely a foreign noble. We cannot recklessly let them graze the pasture used for military purposes."

"I heard it is the Pierce family's land. They say they are close with the Lord, though."

"The closer the relationship, the more careful one must be. Because one thing like this can crack the relationship."

The tribal knights looked dissatisfied, but politely expressed courtesy to Valda. Had it been the past, they could not have been subdued this easily.

Because these are from a powerful family within the Blackhand Tribe, and are knights Eugene directly ordained.

However, Countess Valda possesses far more powerful authority than Sorceress Valda.

As a supplementary measure, Homi, who was by her side, stepped forward.

"I think a walk would be fine. I will manage them so the horses do not graze the grass."

Homi's beast domination could make even horses, for whom potty training is impossible, hold it in, albeit limitedly. Let alone the degree of forbidding them from grazing grass.

"Thank you. I ask you."

"It's good for me too."

Growl-.

Might sent off Homi as if saying to work hard. That guy is catching the discipline of the War Goats whose horns are becoming grand in full swing.

Next to him, Dire Wolves are lined up. Like guys with a thoroughly instilled sense of hierarchy, they are contributing to maintaining stable order taking Might as the boss.

The next place Valda arrived at is the arrow manufacturing workshop. Tribal women are in the midst of tasks.

"Ouch!"

"Look at this. That's why I told you to wear a thimble, didn't I?"

The girl whose index finger got cut by an arrowhead looked like she was about to cry at her scolding older sister.

"But I can't handle it properly if I wear a thimble. You're barehanded too, Sis?"

"Are you and I the same?"

The older sister chose the path of a technician upon coming of age, and the younger sister is doing experiential learning desiring to walk the path of a technician in the future.

Arrows are the most expensive consumable. About 15 arrows are the price of one usable sword or spear. Picking up arrows on the battlefield, repairing and recycling them was essential.

And Eugene grossly divided military arrows into two types and is operating them.

One is for suppression fire. He bought them from any village or city he stopped by without caring about the specifications.

- Since we produced smoke, Goblins will pop out of that cave soon.

- Now! Fire!

It's an application of pouring them out without caring about precise hit rate.

The other is arrows following standard specifications for main combat. To guarantee consistent hit rates of the archers.

High-grade materials are used for all of the arrowhead, arrow shaft, and fletching. Even their shapes differ according to uses like armor-piercing, poison arrows, monster hunting, fire arrows, assassinations, etc.

Naturally, after battle, they recover as much as possible and repair them to use. Since the better they carve and trim them, the higher their family's survival rate goes up, they put in craftsmanship.

"Oh my!"

"Madam came!"

Seeing Valda inspecting, everyone stood up. She is the most popular person in the arrow manufacturing workshop.

"P-Perhaps if it's fine, could you show us a thorn arrow? I want to see it so much... Ubeub!"

"Has she lost her mind?"

The magic where thorny vines wrapped around the arrow coil around the stricken opponent like a snake. That is a dream arrow a fletcher has no choice but to fall in love with.

"Look at this grain. The ash wood delivered this time is soo~ good, you see?"

Even the wood to be used for the arrow shafts, Valda directly picked out with an eagle's eye among what came up from across Britannia.

"To think what must be dried for half a year was shortened to 3 days without even using fire. And without bending even a speck at that."

"The sap coating that blocks moisture for 10 years or more is truly!"

Fast and perfect material drying magic, special waterproof oil is also Valda's masterpiece.

It is needless to say that the strength of the archers is huge in Eugene's army writing an invincible myth. Valda's support also had a considerable stake in that mighty long-range firepower.

"Lord's Madam. If our daughter perhaps does not do well, please punish her however much."

"Matie. Do not worry. I will raise her well as an excellent witch worth one person."

The deeply moved middle-aged woman shed tears in front of Valda.

There are dozens of witch apprentices working as Valda's assistants and receiving teachings. The daughters of the fletchers here occupied the largest stake.

Because they are the ones who realize the greatness that the forest's magic possesses the most.

There is a saying that if a man rules the world, a woman rules the man.

Valda went one step further from there. Because even the means by which the man ruled the world was under her hands.

The next place she stopped by was the vault room.

Chak!

Nod.

The Dwarf guard squad members who were strictly guarding paid respects. Beyond that, Dwarf artisans wearing magnifying glasses are lined up.

"We have completed the inspection of 2,000 Khazad-dor gold coins."

On the highest-grade solid wood table, gold coins evenly arranged in 10s are piled up heavily.

As they were put out by the Dwarf King, the content and quality would have no problems, but procedure is procedure. Eugene instructed to do it according to the manual without a single exception regarding money matters.

Before putting it in the vault, it absolutely must undergo a confirmation procedure by Eugene or Valda.

"The exchange certificate?"

"It is here."

Valda received luxurious paper from the scribe. It is a personal letter stamped with the Dwarf King's official seal.

It is content stating that if they bring 2,000 Khazad-dor gold coins together with this certificate, they will exchange them for 2,000 Shambler subjugation commemorative coins in the future.

It is a measure taken because manufacturing the commemorative coins takes time. As Valda nodded her head, the Dwarves transferred the gold coins to a chest and sealed it.

Rather than hoarding money, rolling it to increase it is profitable, but this case is an exception. Khazad-dor's limited-edition commemorative coin is the best investment in itself.

A moment later, Valda welcomed Eugene returning after finishing his walk.

"Welcome back."

"The weather was fickle."

She wiped her husband's face that was moistly wet from a sudden drizzle with a handkerchief.

"I lit a fire and boiled some tea."

In one part of the castle lobby, a brazier, solid wood chairs, and refreshments set up by Valda were prepared.

"To have such a beautiful wife welcome you with love, you must be happy."

"We truly envy His Excellency."

The Barcia knights said containing sincerity. However, they only see the extremely superficial things.

"I'm sorry for leaving my seat. You must have been busy with the things I had to do."

"Solidifying relations with external nobles is also the duty of a monarch. There's no need to worry about matters inside the castle. Because I am enjoying it with fullness."

"..."

Eugene couldn't hold it in and hugged Valda tightly.

"E-Everyone is looking."

"With envious eyes, I mean."

"Ueu."

Valda is a beautiful wife and at the same time a wizard of brilliant mind. Just how much reassurance her Queenship of House gives Eugene. Even however much he explained it, those who are mere knights would not be able to understand.

* * *

Some time later, Eugene's envoy sent to the Pierce family returned.

"Count Marcus has invited you, Lord."

"Was he satisfied with the gifts?"

The place Moving Castle descended is the tip of the Pierce family's territory. Like a place making contact with the border of another country, it operated as a sort of buffer zone. However, it was also true that they brought an army, no, a castle in without permission.

Eugene, combining it as an apology, sent the envoy delegation with more gifts than usual.

"He welcomed us saying what apology is needed for a friend's visit. Saying there are too many gifts, he said he would subtract the apology portion and accept only half. However, as you commanded, I handed everything over and came back."

"You worked hard."

Eugene smiled and nodded his head. Both his first impression and giving him a military horse, the Pierce family has a deep meaning to Eugene. Things as pleasant as mutual respect exchanged with a counterpart one acknowledges are rare.

"To what extent did he permit the escort?"

Normally, if it is another noble's territory, and a foreign land at that, considerable restrictions are placed on the military force that can be accompanied.

"Um, that is. He said he would not place restrictions. Rather, he proposed first asking you to accompany a sufficient number."

"Is the territory's public order unstable? Clouds of war don't particularly seem visible, though."

"He says a tournament hosted by the King of Barcia will be held soon. It is an event that also doubles as a trial by combat for mediating disputes among nobles."

"Nobles who say they wield some strength would all be gathered?"

"That is so. Lord is a foreign noble, your fame is sky-high, and since you also have a record of heavily defeating the Louis family recently..."

They won't go as far as an ambush, but if the numbers are small, there will be multiple nobles picking fights.

"We are sorry. If it were according to the original plan, it was scheduled to be held next year."

"The current situation is what it is, isn't it? Since the adjacent Roman and Britannia are both spending fierce times, it could be pushed forward."

Eugene patted Aaron encouragingly. Being a single political event beyond simple pleasure, it is something that could be adjusted however much according to the international situation.

"Ah, and he also granted permission to use the pasture to our heart's content. He said to taste their pride to our heart's content and evaluate it."

"His generosity is plentiful. Now then, shall we go see a friend after a long time?"

Along with his subordinates' cheers, the Mayer family's flag fluttered high in the sky.

The knights and warriors marching underneath it were sparkling with the achievements gained from their adventures over the past 3 years.

Following at the front are knights clad in Hydra leather armor. The mystery and ferocity the ancient snake possessed are still lingering in the armor unchangingly.

Baaah-!

"W-Why are these guys suddenly acting like this?"

The shepherd who was paying respects to the nobles' procession was flustered and patted the sheep when they cried out in terror. Following right behind are human heavy cavalrymen whose horses are draped in horse armor made of Lamia leather.

With them marching forming a formation, it brought out an appearance as if a giant snake god inside a legend was squirming and advancing.

Thanks to that majesty, the Moving Castle residents recently bundled these ones of Eugene and started calling them by the unofficial nickname of Poison Snake Squadron.

Bark bark!

Finally, when fleeing sheep appeared, a dog looking similar to a Border Collie ran around diligently and gathered the sheep.

Behind them, Dwarf armored cavalrymen mounted on Vertigos and Dark Elf mounted archers mounted on desert military horses followed in a 4-file column, 2 files each.

'With this much, I shouldn't be swept up in unnecessary disputes.'

As Eugene thought, the journey to the Pierce family's main castle was peaceful.

During the journey, they encountered noble flags numerous times, but the opposing side omitted even greetings and avoided them as if running away.