Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Pacifying the Knights
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"What a tough woman. A real tough cookie."
Crema Galpredic, having heard Eugene's account of his conversation with Essendra, let out an admiring sigh.
"Just from the story, it sounds like Count Essendra should have inherited the title by now. Are her other brothers not pushovers?"
"Countess Essendra wants to bring Count Gabriel under her wing, but he seems to be refusing. Looks like he's got connections in the capital and plans to claim a title separately."
"What's the issue with that? Can't they just split?"
Leave it to a knight—Galpredic clearly didn't get it.
To be fair, when Eugene first heard the story, he had wondered the same thing: what could possibly be the problem?
But he'd been told that dividing up territories on the Kalsbaegin Peninsula was an incredibly complex affair, with a great many factors to consider.
"Preserving the house? That's how Countess Essendra put it, anyway. She said the peninsula's matters should be handled by the peninsula's people, without interference from the capital. And that the Archibald family must stand at the center of it all."
"Ah, so if Count Gabriel gets his own title from the king, it puts things in a weird spot. Countess Essendra must hate that."
In his previous life, Eugene hadn't known much about how the kingdom really worked.
Knights and territory folk pledged loyalty to their lord, and the lord pledged loyalty to a higher lord or the king.
That was the simplistic hierarchy he'd understood—not just him, but most ordinary folk, and even many knights.
Reality, however, was far more complicated.
The king wasn't the object of all lords' loyalty; he was merely the contractual figurehead.
Even the king couldn't arbitrarily order around the lands of powerful lords called great nobles or their wealthy cities.
Thus, the royal family constantly sought opportunities to weaken cities and great territories, expanding its influence there.
On the Kalsbaegin Peninsula, Gabriel had become a target for royal recruitment.
"Even if Countess Essendra succeeds as marchioness, if Count Gabriel takes a title from the king and leaves, she'd be left with half a house. Plus, it'd be like having a royal dagger at her throat."
"Can't have that, huh?"
"Pretty much. So she's trying to keep him close somehow, but Count Gabriel seems pretty greedy."
"Heh heh. I get it now. He wants ownership of the magic dungeons, right?"
"Spot on. He's demanding the marquis house's dungeons. A condition Countess Essendra absolutely can't accept."
There were other demands too, like farmland, but Eugene hadn't bothered memorizing her every grievance.
The key issue was just those two magic dungeons owned by the marquis house.
As far as Eugene could see, Essendra could become the new Marchioness Archibald anytime she wanted—but precisely because of that, she was locked in this tug-of-war with Gabriel.
"So, Master, you've fully sided with Countess Essendra? Even handing over the thief leader?"
"Hmm. Taking that Balmong fool to Count Gabriel myself wouldn't do much good."
"True enough. Even if you've been recognized as a lord by local nobles, the marquis's direct retainers would just see you as a lucky knight. The same words carry way more weight coming from Countess Essendra. Ah, no offense!"
"Huh? It's the truth—why would it bother me?"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Galpredic burst into laughter at Eugene's unchanged attitude, even after becoming a lord.
But Eugene truly believed it.
He just wanted to grow stronger to avoid dying pathetically and pointlessly like in his previous life, and somehow things had snowballed to this point.
Sure, he'd put in the work, but he wouldn't deny that luck had played a huge part.
"Um, Lord Eugene."
The merchant Magart, who had been watching the two men along with the ten-man captains, hesitantly spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"If you've decided to serve under Countess Essendra's banner, shouldn't you prepare for territorial war?"
"I was planning to, but dealing with her other brothers instead of Gabriel makes things easier."
"Pardon?"
"It's a long story. Anyway, we're heading to Count Edrike's territory. Beyond that is Countess Essendra's dungeon—we're going to subjugate it."
"With this whole group? Then the transit toll you mentioned earlier will be massive. Ten silver per head..."
"No, not everyone. You lot wait at the territory border. Crossing Edrike's land to the dungeon—I'll do that alone."
"What!?"
* * *
"Think it over one more time, my lord."
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm really fine. Can we drop it now?"
Knight Gecko, serving as both guide and Essendra's proxy, pulled out the same line for the third time, and Eugene scowled.
"Your decision isn't courage—it's recklessness. Countess Essendra recognizes you as a lord, so I follow her will, but as a knight, I still..."
"Yeah, yeah."
The subtle provocation made Eugene want to beat some sense into him until he shut up.
But since Essendra valued this knight and they were in the same boat, Eugene just nodded perfunctorily.
"Even granting you enter the dungeon alone, who dismantles the monsters? Who hauls the byproducts? My lord, I understand wanting to impress Countess Essendra, but..."
"Hey, aren't those Count Edrike's troops over there?"
Eugene pointed to a group of soldiers watching them from across the narrow bridge.
"Looks like it. Sigh... Anyway, remember I tried to stop you. And I won't wait more than three days..."
"Got it. Now go relay Countess Essendra's message."
"..."
Gecko glared at Eugene in clear displeasure before turning his horse around.
While Gecko informed Edrike's troops of Essendra's proclamation, Eugene gathered Galpredic and the ten-man captains.
"While I'm gone, hold position here. But absolutely do not cross the bridge. Don't give them any pretext."
"Don't worry. If any fool tries something stupid, I'll crack their skull open."
Galpredic grinned, and the captains flinched before nodding in unison.
Eugene was stronger, but Galpredic was better at handling people—and cracking heads.
Moreover, when it came to mercenary unit tactics, Galpredic far outshone Eugene.
Knight Galpredic perfectly filled the gaps in Lord Eugene's leadership.
'To think he'd meet knights like that.'
'If that's luck too, Lord Eugene's destined for greatness.'
The captains returned to their posts with such thoughts.
But they didn't know Eugene had another loyalist on Galpredic's level.
"Veron, hold up."
"What is it, Brother Partek?"
Veron turned as he headed back with the captains.
"Round up some of the lads. The chatty ones with loose lips."
"Huh? Why?"
Veron blinked, and Partek clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Tsk tsk tsk. What'd you think when you heard Lord Eugene's going into the dungeon alone?"
"Hmm. That Lord Eugene's about to do his Lord Eugene thing?"
Partek chuckled at the fresh phrasing.
"Right? You've seen him wipe out Balmong and his hunter dogs, so you figure, 'Here we go again.' But what about the others? The ones who didn't witness his impossible feats firsthand."
"...Ah!"
Veron caught on.
"Go spread the word. Tell 'em what 'Lord Eugene being Lord Eugene' really means. That way, no complaints. Better coming from you than an outsider like me."
"Leave it to me! Hey, you bastards!"
Veron strode off, boldly calling his men.
"Whoa! Brother's got it!"
"When'd you win Veron over, anyway?"
Glad and Raban sidled up, grinning.
"Everyone's got their role. Can't brag about serving Lord Eugene from day one if I can't manage basic crowd control."
Raban, who had been chuckling, suddenly glanced aside.
"But okay for us—how about those knights over there? They look pissed as hell."
Their eyes turned to the knights, huddled separately.
Dreaming of glorious battles and fame, they were quite angry at Eugene's decision to enter the dungeon alone.
"Hmm... Not sure."
Since even Partek couldn't handle knights, he narrowed his eyes.
Just then, they saw Eugene riding Silion toward the knights.
Eugene spoke to them with utmost courtesy and warmth, despite their sullen glances.
"My lords, thank you for honoring my requests despite the itch to fight. You've been a great help."
"Ahem! When Lord Eugene asks personally, of course we comply. But heading into a dungeon subjugation alone—not even territorial war—it's honestly disappointing."
"Agreed. We mercenaries aside, we knights thought we'd fight alongside you, Lord Eugene."
"Surely, my lord, we don't meet your standards?"
True to form, the seven knights aired their grievances subtly.
Eugene wanted to thrash them all into submission.
But.
"No such thing! Sharing the field with knights of such skill and conduct is every lord's dream—why would I pass that up?"
He could feel Galpredic clutching his sides in silent laughter behind him, but Eugene maintained a calm, gentle demeanor.
Even a minor lord like Kamara Tiwin hid his true feelings when needed; Eugene couldn't do less.
"Oh!"
"To hear you say that... Forgive me for doubting you, even briefly."
"We were rash, Lord Eugene."
With one bit of praise softening the mood, Eugene pressed on in an even warmer tone.
"What's to forgive? Anyway, my lords, would you watch the situation here for three or four days? I expect great things from you—and so does Countess Essendra."
"Countess Essendra?"
"Really?"
"Absolutely. She praised you highly for following me on spirit alone, without formal hire. Said she'd remember you when she inherits the title."
Pure fabrication, of course.
They'd never meet Essendra one-on-one, so it was a safe lie.
"Here—a small token from Countess Essendra and myself."
At Eugene's signal, Mark handed each knight a pouch with fifty silvers—straight from Essendra's coffers.
"Oho!"
The knights, unaware, lit up with joy.
Not a fortune, but some trembled with emotion, faces flushed.
Free knights of skill but long unhired were weak to praise and gifts from great nobles.
"And that's not all. Just my thought, but... in three or four days..."
Eugene spun a tale that might come true—or not, no loss either way.
The knights, hooked and excited, fidgeted in their saddles; they looked ready to stay ten days, not three.
"...What do you say? A fine chance to show Countess Essendra your prowess and knightly honor."
"Leave it to us!"
"We'll give our all, no stain on your—or her—trust."
"Only you knights could do it. Truly reliable."
"Ha ha! No such thing. Ha ha ha ha!"
The flattery made Eugene cringe inwardly, but it bought more free labor from his volunteers.
(To be continued in the next installment)