Chapter 43

Chapter 43 - Lining Up (2)

A luxurious room provided by the Count.

Click.

As Eugene, with a tense face, opened the lid of the chest, the reflected silver light was dazzling.

"This is it!"

"Hwaaah."

The country youth and the country girl were deeply moved by the heap of silver coins.

Charrng!

As Homi scooped up the silver coins with both hands and let them go, an ecstatic sound poured out.

"The House of Count Morad is a family possessing gold mines that are counted among the best on the continent. They are also cultivating top-quality vineyards on a large scale."

"Whether it's things one cannot eat or things one can eat, they only possess things that make money."

"Even the House of Duran would not have dared to attack recklessly if not for the Emperor's backing."

There was also a pouch received separately from the chest of silver coins. It contained the gold coins Roxanne had sent as ransom for the knights.

"To touch such a large sum of money after making a few copper coins selling herbs and leather."

"Why do you think knights try so hard to catch the eyes of nobles? The title of Victorious Knight is certainly a glorious one. But to reign as a leader, one needs money rather than glory."

"With this much, I should easily be able to maintain the mercenaries for a few years. I can look into other means of making money in the meantime."

The burden that had been sitting like indigestion in a corner of Eugene's chest since he hired the mercenaries felt like it completely washed down.

"Since you have caught the Count's fancy, an opportunity will come in whatever form it takes. Did he not even hint at the intention of granting you a territory?"

Although he did not yet know what kind of territory it would be, the Count also had his face to maintain, so he would give him a usable village. The fact that he has a fixed income. That he has a base to maintain. This is extremely important. He also needed a place to store spoils like the Wendigo trophy.

"Do you know anything about Count Morad? For he felt so very different from the people I have met."

"Rather than feeling different, the Count has many parts that resemble you."

"Are you saying me?"

"He knows how to utilize tradition but is not bound by it, and he distinguishes people when befriending them but is not picky when using them. He also knows how to break the rules when necessary."

"...Is this a compliment? Or an insult?" Eugene had a puzzled face.

"It's better than both. Because it means he is a dangerous person."

"You mean I must be even more cautious of Count Morad. I understand well."

Eugene nodded. He didn't think he was a dangerous person at all. Because he thought he had a similar personality to Cressi, who died in the Palace War.

"..."

"..."

Although Homi and Valda, who were watching, were only dumbfounded.

"Anyway, you have grabbed a splendid connection. For Count Morad is generous to his allies, even if he is harsh to his enemies."

"I will have to see what kind of work he orders. Since the vassals are watching, he probably won't be able to just give me a territory."

No matter how famous Eugene himself was, he was a rolling stone. To obtain the core interest that is a territory, he had to establish clear merits.

* * *

As the House of Morad mobilized its army and went on patrol, the House of Duran also withdrew its army for now. Thanks to that, it felt more peaceful after the declaration of war.

"It's not a family a mere Duran dares to covet." The clerk who was guiding Eugene around the castle said.

"Could it be that they'll just have a ceasefire like this?"

"Wars that fizzle out like that are common. They might have merely tried to show sincerity to the Emperor, and perhaps had no intention of fighting properly in the first place."

"The Count seemed like a person who would surely return what he suffered. And with interest at that."

"You saw accurately. If Duran wants a ceasefire, they will have to give up something considerable."

"I do not understand."

Even if the House of Duran is greedy, they are not stupid. There was no way they would impulsively declare war on the House of Morad, called the ruler of the western Roman.

"In truth, they have already obtained what they desperately wanted."

"What is that?"

"In the letter declaring war, it was written as Count Duran."

As soon as he heard it, Eugene understood what had happened.

"So they were granted the title of Count by the Emperor in exchange for fighting the anti-Emperor faction."

"Yes. Even while having sufficient power, their low noble title due to getting on the bad side of the royal family was their long-standing inferiority complex. The title of Count must have been coveted enough to endure a peace negotiation where they take a loss."

"But will the Emperor be satisfied with barely this level of achievement?"

Although they poked around here and there, they couldn't inflict anything that could be called a valid strike.

"If they had succeeded in kidnapping Lady Roxanne, it would have been vastly different. Well, it's their own circumstances."

"She was a bold and strong person. There is no way she would fall to half-baked ambushes."

Having accumulated experience, Eugene was able to gauge an opponent's strength to some extent without even fighting. Roxanne was a strong person who did not lack even when compared to Karas. Considering her age, she is an amazing knight whose growth limit is noteworthy.

"I am joyful myself that you speak so, Sir Knight." Even though she was not the successor, Roxanne was highly popular among the vassals for her capabilities and leadership as an outstanding knight.

"There must have been many places calling for you, Sir, but accepting the invitation of this family... you will absolutely not regret it."

"It seems that way."

Just looking at the composition of the coming and going troops, the underlying strength of the House of Morad was visible. For there were more heavy infantry belonging to the family than mercenaries.

Private soldiers equipped with standard-issue gear disallow comparison with mercenaries in terms of training, morale, and loyalty. It was not that other nobles did not know this and thus used mercenaries. It was just that maintaining a standing army incurred too great a cost, so they were unable to do so.

'It seems I stood in the right line.'

Eugene was once again certain that his choice was correct. Just because he received the bestowal of a territory did not mean he would become subordinate to the Count. Because it would become a relationship closer to a more tightly knit mercenary contract.

* * *

Eugene and Valda received a meal invitation from the Count.

When they arrived at the appointed place, a man welcomed them. It was Timothy, the eldest son and successor of the House of Morad.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I have heard much about you from Uncle Benjamin."

Like Roxanne, Timothy was a handsome man with curling black hair. However, he possessed neither his father's commanding presence nor his younger sister's sharpness. Rather than the eldest son who would lead the family, his appearance was closer to the hidden same-sex lover of that eldest son.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. It seems Lord Benjamin spoke well of me here and there. I must thank him later."

"My uncle has his stubborn sides, but he is a good person."

"This is Lady Valda, the magician of the Emerald Forest."

Valda, who was behind him, pulled back her hood and paid her respects.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Timothy."

"You possess tremendous beauty as I have heard! Father should have diligently served you, Magician, not solely hanging on Sir Godfrey."

"I am honored to be welcomed by the successor of the highly reputed House of Morad."

Valda, who smiled gracefully, took a seat next to Eugene.

"Have you all arrived already?"

The second child, Roxanne, entered while fanning herself with her hand. She was dressed in casual clothes, seemingly having just returned from training. The white top was soaked with sweat here and there, turning it gray.

"Roxanne! It's rude for a banquet hosted by Father. You should maintain dignity befitting a lady of Morad."

"I shall be careful from next time."

Roxanne smiled brightly and let it go out the other ear. The way she nonchalantly wiped the sweat from her neck and cleavage with a handkerchief on the dining table truly showed she was a heroine among heroines.

"Tsk!" Timothy also did not say anything more. Because it was obvious she wouldn't listen. The look he gave his younger sister was filled with an animosity that made it hard to see them as blood relatives.

"The Count is entering."

At the servant's announcement, everyone sitting stood up and paid their respects.

"Everyone, take a seat. And Roxanne." The Count, taking his seat, looked at his eldest daughter with a cool gaze. "If you are to come to such a place after training, at least change your clothes. Or wear a color that does not show even if it is soaked in sweat."

"Unlike with Brother, you do not tell me not to train?"

"Every child has a use. You were born with the talent and nature to accomplish tasks in our family that no one else can. To restrict that just because it is a little embarrassing for others to see is a foolish act."

"..." Timothy listened with a resentful face.

It was Roxanne, a warrior blessed in martial prowess and leadership, who surpassed the eldest son. He felt a great inferiority complex because even the vassal knights supported her over him, the successor.

"Sir Eugene. It's regrettable, but Benjamin could not come due to outside duties."

"Because he is someone who single-handedly does the work of an army of hundreds in wartime. It's a pity, but it cannot be helped."

"I think you would have done well even if you were a clerk instead of a knight."

Since all the guests had arrived, the dishes were set out one after another. There were four types of soft bread, including pastries, and as many as six types of jam and cheese to dip them in. The young venison sprinkled with spices had meat so tender it split just by touching a knife to it. The trout dish newly caught from the artificial pond within the castle and the roasted wild bird simmered in sauce were also excellent.

"Do you know that Benjamin possesses a territory, Sir Knight?" The Count, watching Eugene eat heartily, asked.

"I heard from the clerk. That he has a village in the northern part of Morad territory."

"It's a timber-producing area named Richwood, and because it sits by a river, the logistics are also good. This dining table is also made from timber produced there."

Unlike the custom where the firstborn inherits everything, Benjamin exceptionally owned a territory despite being the second child. It was bestowed by the current Count.

"As you said, he is a fellow who substitutes for an army of hundreds with his three-inch tongue. To act properly, would he not need wealth and a base to use at his own discretion? Sparing one territory is nothing."

Roxanne also nodded as if it were natural, but Timothy showed an extremely uncomfortable expression. Because the share he, the heir, would inherit had decreased.

"However, a problem has arisen in the village of Richwood. Wild beasts and monsters that should be deep within the forest are running rampant on the outskirts."

Valda, who had been listening quietly, opened her mouth.

"An anomaly has occurred in the forest ecosystem. It's a phenomenon when a ferocious monster appears and destroys the existing territorial structure."

"The vassals also predicted as much."

The Count of Morad under heaven also did not speak down to Valda.

"It's something to be sorry for to a younger brother who runs about day and night for the family. Because of the war, he will have even less leisure to look after his territory."

Eugene guessed that this was the reason he was invited to the meal today.

"I wish to ask you to save the village. Whatever is inside the forest, a knight who executed a Wendigo should be able to deal with it sufficiently. As one who proxies my full authority, may I ask you to carry out the subjugation?"

"How could I refuse when the Count requests it? I shall follow your words."

'It's the first gateway to the bestowal of a territory.'

Eugene accepted immediately. With an opponent like the Count, asking about the reward here would rather be an act that lowers his own value.

"I thank you. Benjamin will also be the most joyful that you step forward."

Although he looked cold-hearted, the Count genuinely cared for his younger brother.

"I shall also help."

"How could I refuse the help of a highly reputed magician?"

As Valda stepped forward, the Count nodded in satisfaction. The reason he invited her to the meal in the first place was because he expected this. The forest of Richwood is vast, and finding a specific monster within it is an extremely difficult task. Ordinarily, it requires a large-scale military force, but because they were in the middle of a war, they lacked the leeway for that. However, if the Magician of the Forest is together, the story changes.

"Fath... No, My Lord Count!"

The only one dissatisfied was Timothy alone.

"Would it not be a discourtesy to entrust such backwater work to an honorable knight like Sir Eugene?"

"..." Timothy, who stepped forward vigorously, became mute at the Count's ice-cold gaze. As if all the thoughts he had prepared evaporated.

"What are you doing not continuing to speak? Will you be a lord who stops speaking if the opponent threatens during a negotiation?"

Roxanne had her face lowered. Seeing her trembling shoulders, it seemed she was holding back laughter.

"Th-The war with the House of Duran has begun. If the Victorious Knight charges holding the banner of Morad, the enemies will collapse like autumn leaves. Would there not be an use better than this?"

'A use, he says.'

Perhaps because he was flustered, Timothy even used a discourteous expression.

"The underlying strength of Morad is deep. We can teach the likes of Duran a lesson without the help of our guest."

"Looking at the situation, it didn't even seem like there'd be a proper, smashing clash. Like, the sight of them hitting first and running away."

At the Count and his daughter's words, Timothy's face distorted.

He had inwardly welcomed Richwood being threatened. Because if the territory is ruined, he, who would succeed the family in the future, would gain the justification to confiscate it by holding him responsible for its management.

"It's a relief that the knight is going. I felt sorry for Uncle, who even had to worry about his territory while being overwhelmed with work." Roxanne spoke as she put a piece of meat skewered on her knife into her mouth. She did not use a fork. She held only a knife in both her left and right hands. It was an undignified act for a noble lady, but it suited Roxanne incredibly well.

Only Timothy, excluded from the harmonious conversation of the family, nibbled at his food with a displeased expression.

'When things go like this, the eldest son usually overreaches and inevitably causes an incident.'

Eugene, feeling inexplicably stifled, drank his water. He belatedly realized that the time he spent hanging around with Panis in Bonyard had been comfortable for his inside.

* * *

Two days later, reinforcements departed for the northern village of Richwood. Eugene and his direct subordinates, and even the mercenaries supported by the House of Morad, bringing the scale close to a hundred men.

'It's a relief. There's even troop support and the wages are frozen.'

The House of Morad also decided to cover the wages and expenses of Eugene's mercenaries. He was on the verge of humming just at the fixed expenses stopping. Looking at the horizon spreading out to the north with a burden-free heart, it felt as if his heart was opened wide.

"You look to be in a good mood. Are you anticipating the territory that much?"

"It's too early to think of a territory already. First and foremost, it's time to establish plausible merits."

Eugene also planned to leave a proxy and travel the world even if he obtained a territory.

"I just smiled because... I like traveling."

Both for accumulating experience and making money, a roaming life appealed more to him than staying in one place. Someday, if his mind and body became exhausted, he might desire to settle down, but not now.