Chapter 300

Chapter 300 - The Beginning of a Tectonic Shift

Just as Gaius had Imperial faction nobles, Eugene also had his hardcore support base within Britannia. The nobles of the Cornwall region and the militant factions captivated by Eugene's martial prowess.

"I apologize for being late."

"Considering the distance, you came quickly enough. I'm glad you look healthy."

Baron Foster greeted Eugene. Even in the South, which values tradition, he was a bigshot in the Cornwall region with deep loyalty.

"Population is indeed national power. Many immigrants are coming down, and the South is in an era of peace. Once Your Excellency's policies become universalized, we will grow to a scale that overwhelms other regions."

These were people who would be cooperative to the end no matter how much Eugene caused trouble. Of course, due to practical problems, they didn't introduce the reform policies into their respective territories. Eugene wasn't stupid enough to fOrce that either.

However, several joined in the installment distribution of farming tools, perhaps finding it tempting.

"Tell the serfs. If there are any broken farming tools, don't throw them away, but collect them. You see this, right?"

There was something like a code combining numbers and letters on the handle Eugene pointed to.

"What is this?"

"It's called a lot number. It tells you the production date and the manufacturing plant. It's to hold them accountable if a product line with frequent breakage comes out. Because they might put out low-quality stuff if supply is guaranteed."

"It's a business hosted by Your Excellency, would they really do that?"

"As time passes, they get used to the system. And familiarity enlarges the liver. It's good to secure a means to monitor them."

Around the same time, the lords of the borderlands also arrived one after another.

"Welcome. Baron Lester."

"I greet Your Excellency. Whenever news of your successive victories in Roman came, my hands also itched."

The Lester family, which possessed the strongest military power in the South, also stood on Eugene's side.

The Baron's sick mother recovered her health through convalescence in Shade Garden. The respect harbored as a martial artist was immense, and since it was a border territory, they also received operational benefits.

As the active supporters increased, the passive supporters who had been holding their breath under the pressure of the opposition also voiced their opinions.

Anyway, it was a system the Lord would implement only in his own territory. There were limits to protesting citing customs or traditions.

* * *

Once the noise settled down, Eugene threw a luxurious banquet.

Being victorious in war and governing the territory well wasn't enough. A Great Lord must also provide a venue for vassals to excitedly eat, drink, and socialize.

Even though nobles are said to play while indulging in luxury, the specialness provided by a Great Lord's banquet couldn't be replaced.

"Recently, there has been a severe lack of this in Britannia. Don't you all think so?"

"Your Excellency the Count. I dare say, you are mistaken."

"Hmm?"

"It wasn't lacking; there was absolutely none!"

Everyone laughed and raised their glasses. It was meaningless to argue further about something already decided. Enjoying the banquet provided by the monarch to the fullest was a vassal-like attitude.

"Before enjoying the banquet, there is a food I want everyone to taste while your minds are clear."

The nobles had faces filled with anticipation. If the Master of the South spoke to this extent, it wouldn't be an ordinary precious food.

However, the food placed before the nobles was bread. The appetizing golden color that looked like it had absorbed sunlight was impressive, but it was hard to consider it special.

"What is this?"

Amidst a majority of lackluster reactions, the nobles from the Cornwall region were astonished.

"Could this be?"

"Your Excellency! Could this be the bread baked by the Princess?"

Eugene nodded.

"It is Anorbas."

"The Bread of the Sun!"

It was very fitting for Southern Britannia, where many legends from the 1st Era remained. The majority of the nobles in the banquet hall were excited by the name.

"It is a magical bread baked with the light of twilight instead of a fire oven. It's a secret technique of the 1st Era royal family, and right now, only my wife can make it. It's a delicacy that neither the King of Roman nor the Caliph of the Eastern Empire can eat."

When the nobles carefully put the bread in their mouths, heaven unfolded. It felt like an autumn wheat field swaying in the wind had descended into their mouths.

An exploding flavor with every chew. It penetrated not only past the esophagus but also into the nasal cavity and lungs. As if smoking tobacco rolled purely with savoriness.

Afterwards, a feast of delicacies poured out, and the full-scale banquet began. Such a venue also functioned as a ceremonial hall for observing customs.

"I swear loyalty to the Master of the South and the guardian of the Elven royal family, Count Mayer."

A noble kneeling before Eugene gathered and held his two hands togAAether. He was a lord from the Central region who decided to defect under the Meyer family.

"As your knight, I will bravely charge wherever that noble finger points."

"I accept your loyalty. Welcome to becoming one of us. Your descendants will praise this decision from generation to generation. I will make it so."

Eugene warmly enveloped the defector's hands and sent him to the banquet hall. The next noble standing in line approached and knelt.

"I will be reborn as the honorable Count's loyal subject. From now on..."

Ranging from a young man who had just gone through his coming-of-age ceremony to a man in his 50s or a widow in her 30s. Nobles who had become lords or successors for various reasons offered the ceremony of oath.

Eugene had prepared several entertainments in the banquet hall, and one of them was experiencing the AAAether Sword.

"The dream trees of Britannia. Don't hesitate and come here."

Dozens of youths gathered in front of Eugene at one spot in the banquet hall.

Staring at a log block the size of a watermelon, a boy around 13 aimed a silver-white sword. The greatest conqueror's sword. Last Autumn.

"Breathe slowly and calm your limbs."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Was it because Eugene was beside him? Or was it because he was holding a treasure that couldn't be bought even with a thousand gold? The boy's hands trembled so much that the blade shook.

"Eyaah!"

With a cute shout, the sword flashed.

Crack!

The wooden barrel that wouldn't be easy even for a strong man to strike down with an axe was split in an instant.

"Uwooooh!"

"Wah!"

Amidst the admiration pouring from all sides, the boy had a face that couldn't believe his own cut.

"The cutting feeling is awesome, right?"

"It truly is, Your Excellency!"

"Wait. Giving it like that is dangerous. Handing it over upside down is the basics."

"I'm sorry!"

The boy, who committed a faux pas due to joy and nervousness, bowed flatly.

"Next friend?"

"Me! Meeeee!"

The noble children who followed their fathers excitedly joined the experience.

"Spread your legs a bit more and your shoulders like this."

"I, I want to cut diagonally."

"You want to see it slide sideways smoothly?"

"Yes!"

For reference, the AAAether Sword experience was only available for youths. Knights who had been excited and tried to line up retreated with awkward faces.

"I'll leave the rest to you."

"Leave it to me."

Since there was an endless stream of applicants for the experience, Eugene handed the spot over to Hind. Building memories with future lords was important, but the host had much to do.

"There don't seem to be many nobles who seriously oppose your policies."

"If they were going to see it to the end, they wouldn't have brought their children introducing them."

Valda and Eugene whispered into each other's ears.

"The Meissner family, Globe family, Hight family, Spetz family. I think you should keep an eye on these four families for now."

Since it's a banquet where everyone laughs and chats togAAether, dissatisfied individuals stand out easily. Valda guarded the seat of honor in place of Eugene and weeded out such nobles.

"Will you step aside for a moment? The young ladies seem to want to show off their skills."

"Understood."

"By the way, are you planning to keep that sword?"

Valda pointed to the sword sheathed at Eugene's waist. It was another AAAether Sword, the King's Agony. It was protecting Eugene in place of Last Autumn, which was mobilized for the event.

Since it was an item claimed as spoils of war after winning the duel against Magnus, it was in principle Eugene's possession. But isn't it not just an ordinary sword but a sacred artifact of the Roman royal family? They would try with all their might to somehow recover it.

"If they're desperate, they'll come looking for it. Let's think about it then."

"I wonder if it will even be possible to meet you."

"Shh... that's enough."

Eugene blocked Valda's lips with his finger. Chuckling, she gestured for him to go.

Young ladies from various families were holding cross-stitches around Valda. She received each person's work and praised the excellent points.

"Look!"

Eugene introduced hundreds of different liquor bottles.

"It's a secret collection gathered by traveling around the whole world riding the Moving Castle. Our precious guests who have joined this place today. This isn't an opportunity that comes every day. Drink to your heart's content."

"Your Excellency! Won't we go see our ancestors even if we just take a sip of these?"

A banquet of hearty laughing nobles and knights. It continued even after dawn broke.

* * *

A Great Lord's banquet doesn't end in one day. It must be maintained for at least a few days to a week to show off wealth and generosity.

Because it doesn't end with simply eating and drinking. Marriage talks go back and forth between families, knighthoods are bestowed, or transactions are concluded. A Great Lord's banquet is like an event hall encompassing those things.

"The tournament will be held after the season changes. For now, enjoy it with the feeling of embarking on a light warm-up."

Eugene soothed the disappointed knights. Since it was a suddenly held banquet, a tournament requiring a lot of preparation was impossible. Instead, he hosted competitions measuring strength and skill.

Things like this could be participated in without restrictions even by commoners, serfs, or mercenaries.

"Only one chance! Shoot carefully!"

Archery, the folk game of Britannia, drew popularity as always.

On the continent, lords didn't hand bows to peasants due to the danger in case of rebellion. However, in Britannia, lords encouraged archery for military reinfOrcement.

"If you hit the target, you earn copper coins corresponding to that number. Those who shoot a 10 are given the right to challenge the silver coin target board."

"Sir Guard. Does the silver coin target board also give silver coins according to the number?"

"Of course!"

"Hiyah!"

Since Eugene was the sponsor, the prize money was hefty.

"Those who have used up all their chances can have a special experience. We have everything from Elven longbows to composite bows utilizing hydra sinews. Become His Excellency the Count's elite warrior for a moment!"

"Oh!"

There were also several prepared contents outside of monetary ones.

The 'running while carrying your wife in your arms' that Eugene had seen in Barcia was also introduced. Perhaps considering it romantic, a majority of knights and nobles also participated, but the winner was a certain serf.

"I can't believe this!"

"Hey, you. What exactly do you do for a living?"

"I supply water to the village, sirs."

"..."

He was a manual laborer who tirelessly carried heavy water buckets without resting. Even a knight had no way of matching such a person.

"What's wrong?"

"...It's nothing."

Valda also looked like she desperately wanted to participate. Clenching her two fists above her knees, she stamped her feet. But perhaps due to face-saving, she endured it until the end.

With the tournament missing, the highlight of these matches was wrestling. Men confident in their strength and technique all participated.

'The Lords are watching.'

'If I perform well here, surely...'

Nobles scrambled to scout those who achieved excellent results in the archery competition. Because they had many uses, whAAether as gamekeepers or private soldiers.

Not to mention if it was wrestling assuming close-quarters combat. The prize money was also the highest.

Muscular men took their tops off and fiercely clashed on the soft sand. Looking at them sweating, shouting wildly with bright red faces.

Noble ladies watching took out their hand fans. Despite it being winter, it seemed heat was rising to their faces.

"Strong warrior. I send praise to your strength and body. Therefore, I bestow a prize."

Valda personally hung a flower crown on the winner.

"The sight of not losing fighting spirit until the end was truly beautiful."

She also bestowed respective praises and flower crowns to those who took 2nd and 3rd place.

Those who had been running wild like bulls on the sand modestly lowered their heads like shy bachelors. Seeing that funny sight, the spectators laughed uproariously.

-Things like this shouldn't be done by me, but the Princess should step forward. The effect will be awesome.

It was truly exactly as Eugene said.

* * *

A few more days passed and when the banquet was reaching its end. Eugene presented a new civilized product to the guests.

Kick!

A soccer ball kicked by a knight crossed the earth. It was a soccer ball processed by soaking a pig's bladder in an alchemy reagent.

"Sir Roderick. Please act like a gentleman. Soccer is kicking the ball, not striking shins."

"You pulled my clothes! Where did you sell off your chivalry?"

Gathering thugs and making them bump against each other led to soccer close to combat. However, the reaction was awesome. In an era lacking entertainment, soccer came as a massive shock.

Simple rules that even ignorant knights and mercenaries understood immediately.

A structure where you can fully display honed physical abilities, unlike chess or hunting.

The excitement of forming a team and engaging in a war-like group battle.

It was a game that would be weird if it wasn't popular.

Beep!

When Eugene, acting as referee, blew the whistle for a foul act, everyone stopped.

'Ho-oh?'

Since they were all guys who had rolled around in war, they were quick-witted regarding this sort of thing.

Eugene had strategically planned to spread soccer from the past. Because there was nothing better than this as a high-class hobby for unity among the class of free citizens and above. It was even better since it could implant respect for rules and a cooperative spirit.

"I pushed you? Stop framing me! It's just that the wind blew a bit strongly!"

"But why is there a footprint on my back?"

"Pass the ball!"

"Sir, as soon as you receive the ball, you immediately hand it over to the opposing team! If you're going to do that, switch with a messenger."

"What did you just say!"

You can't get full on the first spoonful. Putting rough, uncultured swordsmen togAAether made them approach the match like a war of all against all.

Because that thrill was immense, from serfs to noble ladies watched with immense interest. An old noble smiled looking at Eugene.

"It also gives a feeling somewhat like military training."

"Exactly. Right now, since everyone is a beginner, they run simply, but if you dig deep, tactics become important. It's easy to enter, but mastering it is more complex than chess."

It's troublesome if there are only too many beginners. One of Eugene's subordinates joined each team for the purpose of livening up the atmosphere.

-A Dwarf?

-Can you even kick a ball with those stubby legs?

The team assigned Rampage was dissatisfied, but soon realized they had been rude.

"Block! I said block him!"

Strong muscle power and a low center of gravity. With those two combined, he displayed tremendous breakthrough power. Even if the ball bounced off, he performed a feat of sending it forward again with his wide belly.

The opposing team, collapsing at the mortar-like dribble unique to Dwarves, allowed a goal.

"Park the carriage!"

The team that conceded a goal turned all 10 players to defense to respond. Guys who rolled around in war are indeed different. Even though it was the first match, they coordinated their formation in perfect order to match the war situation.

"Take this!"

Kick!

The knights who stole the ball from Rampage through tight defense passed to Homi running far away.

Soaring with incredible jumping power, she scored with a header.

"You can score like that too!"

"Beautiful."

Exclamations burst out from everywhere. Apart from the elegant movement, the sight of a single tactic succeeding filled them with a sense of accomplishment.

However, Homi also seemed to undergo a slight personality change once she entered the field.

"Your Excellency! Touching the ball with a tail, isn't that a foul?!"

"What are you saying? It merely brushed against my tail fur, I didn't touch it!"

"Say something that makes sense! It brushed the fur, but how does it make sense that a ball flying sideways drops straight down at a right angle!"

Leaving Homi, who put her hands behind her back and feigned ignorance, the nobles of both teams repeated defenses and protests.

"When the ball flies over, everyone jump! WhAAether it touches your head or not, jump no matter what!"

A corner kick situation.

While everyone was engaged in a physical struggle to secure a better position preparing for an aerial ball.

"A-I can't see ahead."

Homi, who returned to defense, covered the opposing striker's face with her tail. It was better than those pulling clothes or grabbing shoulders, but it was too conspicuous a foul.

Beep!

Eugene blew the whistle immediately.

"Hing."

Homi acted cute with an adorable expression, but bribery failed. Eugene valued fairness whAAether on the battlefield, in court, or on the field.

It seemed she secretly enjoyed dirty play, unfitting for her cute face.

As a result, soccer partially provided the effect Eugene desired. Because nobles and knights who had never met each other memorized each other's names and chatted comfortably.

Sometimes through policies.

Sometimes through play and culture.

Eugene gradually changed the South into the shape he desired.

Changes that seemed like nothing gathered into one and rolled like a snowball. Irreversible tectonic shifts in Britannia's power dynamics had begun.