Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Nameless Treacherous Subject
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'Imperial Knight Order Derivative-Neumel Sixth Form-Anaconda'.
An extension of the 'Fifth Form-Sidewinder', a sword style for attacking enemies at an even greater distance.
However, Beonald's expression as he unleashed it to kill Paul was not particularly good. While the dead Paul might have thought he'd been hit on the second try, the truth was Beonald had only managed to land a hit after unleashing the Neumel Sixth Form-Anaconda a total of six times.
"Hmm, hitting a moving target from afar really is difficult. The 'Neumel Fifth Form-Sidewinder' was manageable enough to land, but... Well, can't be helped. I still have one more chance~ This time, I'll succeed within three tries, or else."
Looking towards the house of Shante, another retainer who was currently sleeping, oblivious to everything, Beonald smiled.
Yes, there was still one more opportunity.
Thinking it best to make use of lives destined for death as nourishment for his own skill improvement, Beonald headed for Shante's house.
'I must not fail this time. And... the soldiers and militia are probably busy with the rescued people and captured bandits, so I have plenty of time.'
Of course, someone might come to summon Shante, a retainer of the lord, but the territory soldiers and militia who had rescued the people would first go to report to the lord, and it would take some time to protect and deal with the returned people.
There was ample time to deal with Shante, and if anyone did come, it was a problem that could be 'persuaded' with a sword.
'This method... is probably the best.'
In truth, he could have arrested and punished them justly during the day with proper evidence, but the reason for doing it this way was precisely because of Paul and Shante's subordinates.
If punished justly, their subordinates, who made up two-thirds of the territory's military force, might rebel or simply quit and leave the territory. So, having the leaders leave like this, leaving letters behind, was the best choice for the territory's future and situation.
'Since they ran away of their own volition, the remaining personnel won't be able to say much, and their subordinates will also think they were betrayed and abandoned... Well then, shall I go finish the remaining task?'
And so, Beonald made the same proposal to Shante, made him run, and then finished him off with 'Neumel Sixth Form-Anaconda' in two tries.
He also cleanly eliminated one bandit he had brought along as a witness, ensuring he wouldn't utter any unnecessary words.
Then, feeling the satisfaction of a job perfectly done, Beonald secretly returned to his room before sunrise and went to sleep.
Some time later.
As for the territory's situation, everyone was initially shocked about Paul and Shante running away after leaving letters, but upon learning from the captured bandits' testimonies that they had been colluding, they quickly understood.
"For the crime of daring to target my territory and its people with invasion, you shall repay it by working until you die. You are sentenced to forced labor."
The five captured prisoners were immediately sentenced by Baron Leon's furious judgment to territory slave labor.
They would probably spend every day until their deaths cutting trees in the forest to the west and quarrying stones.
Thus, the bandits, paired up and chained so they couldn't use their hands and feet beyond a certain extent, were immediately dragged off to work.
'How soft. He should think about restoring his authority by having them stoned to death by the angry populace or publicly executed. Tsk~!'
Beonald thought it would be better to have them killed by stones thrown by the angry populace or executed publicly, but Baron Leon deemed it better to make them perform any act that would benefit this rural territory, however slightly.
Furthermore, Baron Leon wanted to find out about the wandering knight who eliminated the bandits and safely rescued the people, but with only the facts that it was late at night and the knight was young to go on, it ultimately ended as just a short-term topic of conversation.
"Haaah! Hup!"
And so, Beonald returned to his days of diligently training, swinging his sword alone once more.
Moreover, what this incident confirmed was that the 'sword' was still a profound art requiring even more discipline and training, so he devoted himself endlessly to his practice without distraction.
'The mana training method took 10 years, but I've only practiced the sword for a mere 5 years!'
Since the path of the 'sword' was one knights usually pursued for a lifetime, Beonald did not take it lightly and applied himself solidly to his practice.
Of course, his parents wouldn't just leave him cooped up in the training room. The most awkward moments were when his father, Baron Leon, seeing that his body had grown somewhat, would propose a spar under the pretext of checking his training progress.
"Hahaha, come at me with all you've got!"
'...Then you'll die, Father.'
Just seeing his stance made Beonald think he could subdue him sufficiently even without drawing up mana, but actually doing so would be problematic.
A son stronger than the current family head? If such rumors spread, it would be troublesome. Moreover, even if it's a rural backwater territory, the family head is still the family head. His authority and pride must not be damaged, and the gaze upon himself, who is training, would not be favorable.
"Huep!"
"Grrrrrrrrrrr!"
Thus, Beonald thoroughly acted out a courtesy spar, feigning exhaustion before collapsing.
As he fell, Baron Leon laughed heartily and encouraged him.
"Hahahaha! You still have a long way to go! A long way! But I'm glad you seem to have talent!"
"Yes! Haa... haa... So I must train even harder. Hahahaha."
"Of course! Strive even harder from now on."
'I will strive! But I don't want to hear it from you! You country bumpkin! Son of a parvenu noble. Ughhh!'
It wasn't that he had bad feelings towards his father in this life, but the problem was his pride as a high noble was grating, so Beonald could only seethe internally.
What provided comfort at such times was his mother. Like his father, she started private tutoring for him, who was immersed in swordsmanship training all day, to build up various knowledge and culture so he wouldn't be easily deceived by others or become a mere ruffian with only strength due to his lack of knowledge.
"Still, I'm thankful you show interest. Usually, children interested in martial arts tend to find academics boring or tiresome, but who knew our Beonald would focus so intently. Sniff... If I had known, I would have started your education sooner... I'm sorry for not realizing it, son."
"No. It's alright, Mother."
Beonald's mother had thought he would dislike or find it difficult to learn academics, being so deeply immersed in swordsmanship training.
But instead, he was showing qualities of excellence in both arts and martial skills, striving to attend even one more lesson and actively asking questions about things he didn't understand, which both surprised and moved her greatly.
'...Compared to dealing with Father, this is like a fairy. She's teaching me everything I wanted to know about this country and continent's situation, the history after my death... I'm the one who should be more grateful, Mother.'
Conversely, from Beonald's perspective, the knowledge his mother provided about the current state of this continent was immeasurably precious.
The nation's political situation, major noble families, history, culture, trends, etc... Even if the substance was a bit shallow, compared to being unable to obtain any information in this backwater village until now, it was a refreshing relief for Beonald's frustrated mind.
"...And long, long ago, before this continent split into six countries, there existed a massive empire that unified the entire continent. But one day, that continent began to split and fight... Not from one to two in that manner, but suddenly that great empire collapsed, split into multiple countries, and after fighting and absorbing each other, it became the current six countries. The problem is, because they fought for so long, they are said to have lost many things."
'The Goddess said 500 years... So if they've been split and constantly at war with each other all that time... I can understand why the map looks like that.'
Of course, they probably didn't wage war for 500 years straight.
But he thought it plausible if wars and truces repeated, territories were taken and lost, and various records and technologies were lost repeatedly.
One remaining question was that at least just before becoming six countries, during the process of absorption, wars must have occurred and something should have been developed, but he couldn't comprehend that part at all.
'Usually, when competition intensifies due to war, technology or civilization develops faster. Because they're killing each other, and they need more troops and funds. Did someone do something that nearly destroyed the continent? Or was it those Dark God cultists behind the scenes?'
"...And afterwards, while each country was splitting, the religious order serving the Goddess helped people in various places weary from war through religion, explaining that this Great War until now occurred through acts blaspheming God, and they are guiding people so they do not go down the wrong path anymore."
'Religious order?'
"They particularly prioritize censorship and restriction of knowledge. They spread the meaning that misguided knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance, and the order and paladin order travel throughout the country to eliminate technologies and knowledge that could become a danger to the continent."
'I see... The culprit was the religious order. That makes sense. Those guys hated developing something or creating anything new...'
"The story that forms the basis of their claims is still passed down through the order. It's about a treacherous subject who, in the late Unified Empire era, used a critically ill emperor as a puppet, seized power, and wielded tyranny across the entire continent for decades."
'...That sounds familiar?'
For some reason, his ears itched, but Beonald continued listening.
"He did not follow divine doctrine, pursued forbidden knowledge, endlessly filled his own belly, and committed all sorts of evil deeds. A river where gold melted and flowed like water, a garden adorned with jewels, gathering all the world's beauties to imprison in display cases or coating them in gold liquid to make ornaments for his enjoyment, enjoying the smell of meat rotting in warehouses while the world was overflowing with starving people, killing people and enjoying various tortures, etc... He is said to be one who committed countless evil deeds."
'...This isn't it. This is clearly not what I did. I made a river of gold coins, decorated gardens only with artworks, as for beauties, I just... took them all as concubines... and I made sure everyone in our territory ate and lived to their fill. The gladiatorial arena was built for entertainment. Hmm~ That's right.'
"That demon-like treacherous subject was finally caught by righteous clergy and a hero who could no longer forgive him and met his death, but as he was an existence that could not possibly be left in the shameful imperial history, all records of him were deleted, and he is called the 'Nameless Treacherous Subject'."
'Frankly, that's too much. Even I would delete the records. Anyway, as the saying goes, the pupil surpasses the master, I didn't expect a treacherous subject surpassing this Beonald would appear. Humans truly cannot be underestimated.'
Hearing about the 'Nameless Treacherous Subject', Beonald felt relieved that he wasn't the worst, and continued listening to his mother's story.
It wasn't over yet, so he could ask something after it finished.
"One problem is that afterwards, people fought to claim the legacy left by that 'Nameless Treacherous Subject'... This was the prelude to the Great War that has divided the continent until now. It's a story told by the order, but since the Great War did happen, it's clear. That's why the order calls that 'Nameless Treacherous Subject' the root of all evil."
'I see, so the order caused civilization to regress? Hmm~ Who could it be? That guy called the 'Nameless Treacherous Subject'... Really, I'd like to see his face.'
"And... although they said they deleted the records of that 'treacherous subject', the fact that some records remain about his family and territory proves that the order's claims aren't entirely unfounded. So mercenaries and treasure hunters are still searching and searching past records, wandering in search of a territory called 'Benofis', which is only passed down by name as the territory of that 'Nameless Treacherous Subject'. They think incredible treasures, enough to cause a world war, must be sleeping there."
'...What? What did you just say?'
'Benofis'. The very name of his previous life's family, the Neumel family territory.
Upon hearing that name, Beonald froze as if struck on the head with a hammer.
"Hehe, was it interesting? Of course, it's just a folktale-like story passed down, so you don't need to react so seriously, Beonald. The lesson ends here, shall we have some tea with Mom now? Hmm? Beonald? Beonald?"
'Then that means... the 'Nameless Treacherous Subject' was... me?'
What was even more shocking was that the treacherous subject from the story his mother just told was his previous life, and the content was severely exaggerated.