Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: I Don't Like This Forest, Raze It to the Ground. (1)
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"Excellent. With that, I hereby declare that from this moment on, my son Schwain von Nant shall become the lord of Nant County."
After saying those words, the old count broke into a relieved smile and slumped weakly back into his chair.
The other retainers moved quickly to let the count rest upon seeing this, but he raised a hand from his chair to stop them.
In response, Schwain stepped forward and continued the proceedings.
"Glory to Deus, dignity and honor to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the Elaine Empire. And as the count who serves them, I shall demonstrate my loyalty and integrity. Thus, you too shall repay me with your loyalty and devotion."
Everyone knelt on one knee and bowed their heads in unison.
"Very well. Then, as your lord, speak your desires. I shall grant the wishes of you all as your count."
Though he spoke of granting every wish, in practice, it was customary to request tools necessary for service as one of the count's soldiers.
And since it was impossible to fulfill every single wish here, most barons aside, few would even be mentioned.
Still, it was an event where everyone could receive expensive weapons for free according to their rank and status, so it wasn't without its perks.
After a brief moment, the count's stewards collected slips of paper where each noble had written their 'wish.'
Soon after, only those slips written by barons or their heirs were passed to the count, and Schwain read them aloud, declaring he would bestow them personally.
Particularly surprising was the son of Baron Ren, who—unlike the usual requests for weapons—asked for a knighthood.
In the end, during a short intermission, Schwain personally granted the son of Baron Ren his knighthood, and from that moment, he became Sir Knight Ren.
And as for me...
After the knighting ceremony concluded, Schwain opened my letter and said in a surprised voice,
"And finally... Hmm? Siel von Kroitel, why have you requested the second and third sons of serfs and the like? If left alone, wouldn't they become vagrants or wanderers? They might even turn to banditry... Wouldn't they just be a burden to you and your territory? It's not like you have food to spare."
As he said, in most territories, those serfs who couldn't receive arable land to till—like second or third sons—were expelled due to food shortages.
Thus, a lucky few men joined mercenary companies, while the majority ended up as urban paupers or exploited as low-level laborers.
Women who were exceptionally beautiful became maids or noble concubines, or else prostitutes trailing cities or mercenary bands.
And those who wanted neither became mountain bandits or thieves.
However, our territory would soon reform with new farming tools, generating surplus food. And with that food as a foundation, we'd need all sorts of manpower to develop the land.
People for construction, crafting, creating farmlands, soldiers, and more...
So, leaving out the part about surplus food, I answered honestly.
"I plan to enlist the cooperation of our baronial nobles, imposing some burden on them in exchange for reclaiming undeveloped land into farmland. For that, I need people—and I figured taking along those future criminals who give Your Excellency headaches would be even more helpful."
Satisfied with my words, Schwain smiled and replied,
"You're right. I like seeing this devotion to me, with plans for the future. Within a month, I'll send serfs—men and women alike—to your territory."
"Thank you."
With those words concluded, the other nobles returned to enjoying the feast.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, my father and I went from house to house among the count's retainers to bid our farewells before departing.
I couldn't understand why we couldn't just say, "We're heading back. Thanks," hand over a suitable parting gift, and be done—instead spending over an hour at each place exchanging greetings.
"Hoho, even when we parted after fighting on the Rifenheim Plains, we did it this way. I've brought that ham you said you wanted to try back then. Ah, but this ham..." They went on with stories like that for what felt like eternity.
I could somewhat understand that, but what baffled me most was buying souvenirs to give the retainers on the way out.
Of course, it was a fine gesture for the baron to buy gifts for retainers who couldn't come to the city themselves.
The nobles who received them would boast for generations about gifts from their liege, and if it was wine, they'd brag for days after drinking it.
Over time, loyalty would even grow where there was none.
The problem, however...
"Twenty bottles of ten-year-aged wine here, forty swords engraved with famous quotes..."
After buying things like that, special packaging for nobles more than doubled the price at minimum.
I too bought a box of pastries for Ella and a dagger for Baldt, but it felt like a loss.
All this added up to two gold coins...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After buying all the gifts, it took a week for my father the baron and me to return to Kroitel territory.
On the way back, we rode in the same carriage, and along the way, the baron asked me various things.
Questions natural for a noble, like "When will you marry? Is there anyone you like?"—important ones, really.
I brushed it off with, "I'm too busy developing the territory to think about that yet."
Fortunately, my father—no, the baron—didn't press me on why I hadn't reported my new farming method beforehand.
Had he done so, I'd have had to rack my brain for a plausible excuse, so I was relieved he didn't.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Upon arriving in Kroitel barony, I reunited with Ella, who had been staying at the baron's manor, and we boarded a carriage to return to Windheim.
As I sat in the carriage, Ella naturally took the seat beside me.
A little distance away, but close enough that a bump might brush our shoulders or bodies.
Moments later, as the carriage lurched into motion, Ella beamed and spoke.
"Welcome back, Master. I missed you so much."
"Yeah, I missed you too, Ella."
Afterward, I gently stroked her head.
When I stopped, Ella looked a bit forlorn and said,
"Being apart from you was so lonely, Master. So I studied hard this time, to follow you even if you go far away next time. Cooking, cleaning, maid etiquette..."
True to her words, Ella's speech had shifted from childlike innocence to that of a proper maid.
"The head maid told me. She said you'd surely inherit the Kroitel barony someday. Then, even greater people would stand by your side. So she told me to do my best too."
Ella's soft, quiet voice carried a subtle feeling, as if pleading, "Don't go far away."
And rightly so—the pain and sorrow this girl had endured were beyond imagination.
The despair after losing both parents, then her sibling to the bailiff in quick succession.
Yet despite it all, the resignation when she chose to become mine, giving up everything.
What must her heart have felt like, bearing all that alone?
Then Ella looked at me, her sullen expression brightening into a smile as she said,
"So, Master, from now on... I can come with you, right?"
"Of course."
Hearing that, Ella nuzzled her head toward me as if asking for more pets.
I stroked her endlessly.
Hoping only that this girl's grief and resentment would fade.
Next, I handed her one of the pastries I'd bought.
Ella took it, ate it, and with a truly blissful expression said,
"Thank you, Master. And it's so sweet."
Good call buying them.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Two months passed since returning to my Windheim territory.
First, the village elders who had served as headmen in Windheim's various hamlets were dispatched across Kroitel barony as bailiffs or headmen.
They all initially opposed the assignments, but when I said that doing well would make them all bailiffs, they went off happily.
From what I've heard, they've been working diligently elsewhere too, now properly implementing the Four-Field Rotation.
If things go as I planned, we'll secure more than enough food for our serfs and nobles alike.
And in Windheim, serfs began using the carts I bought and distributed to venture farther and reclaim new fields.
This was likely due to my promise of tax exemptions on all cultivated fields once the current ones were done and additional distant ones added, plus the increased arable land from using oxen and horses in farming.
They'd normally still be tilling their assigned plots, but with plow oxen distributed per household, they could create deeper, wider fields faster.
Barring any sudden natural disaster causing famine, I expect we can support the new serfs this year without issue.
And once the serfs arrive...
Baldt came running up to me and said,
"Young Master! The serfs have arrived!"
I smiled and told Baldt,
"Is that so? Tell the serfs... I don't like that forest, so have them raze it all."
I sound like some army entertainer's division commander, but what can you do?
To make money right away, it's what has to be done.
To earn an enormous sum that would make all our earnings so far feel like mere play...
We need to invest.