Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: One Step Back, Two Steps Forward for the Future (1)
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Feudal loyalty isn't like the absolute devotion to the king you see in those historical dramas from Korea's Joseon era. It's a principle of giving back as much as you receive.
That means if I serve the count, it's not about living on his land and offering blind loyalty. It's about pledging allegiance because of what he's given me.
In my case, I received the Barony of Kroitel from Count Nant, and in a sense, I'm under his protection. That's why I offer my loyalty.
So if either of those falls through, I gain grounds to withdraw my oath or even commit treason against him.
That's why, back in the day, when we received a declaration of war, he'd lead troops from the County of Nant to our aid.
But this time, no matter the excuse, our esteemed Count Schwein failed to uphold his duty to protect me.
That gives me a perfectly reasonable basis—anyone would agree—to retract my oath of loyalty and tell that messenger up front, "Pass this on to your lord: make sure he washes his neck nice and clean."
But as I sat lost in thought, not responding even after hearing the letter read aloud, the herald grew annoyed and asked,
"Um, my lord? Did you perhaps miss something? Shall I read it again?"
I smiled at his slightly mocking tone and replied,
"No, I heard you loud and clear. As you said, I'll offer up 3,000 gold coins to atone for my sins. By the way, who might you be?"
Realizing only then that he hadn't even introduced himself before Baron Kroitel, the herald bowed his head, apologized, and said,
"My apologies. I am Herald Klein Halt. Please forgive my rudeness in not introducing myself first."
Even as he spoke, I couldn't shake the feeling—maybe I was just in a foul mood—that the corner of his mouth was twitching upward in a smirk.
Could this lunatic actually think that after delivering such rotten news, I'd feel obligated to entertain him out of deference to the count?
Has the master gone mad, dragging his servant down with him...?
If I'd clearly wronged the count, that might be one thing. But what he did is the kind of crap even street thugs would call him out on—"What kind of man is that count bastard?"
If he had even a shred of decency, he'd be begging for mercy in this situation, pleading that I might die if he doesn't take the money...
But coldly speaking, I still don't have the strength to topple that mad count just yet...
My retainers might click their tongues alongside me, drown their sorrows in drink over his outrageous behavior, but if I suggested rebellion...? They'd probably hold back for now.
I still have to endure. Just a little longer.
So I swallowed the urge to rip out the guts of the man standing before me and forced a smile.
Witnessing this, the herald—proving his guts truly hung outside his belly—feigned exhaustion and said,
"I've had a rough ride here in the wagon loaded with gold... My lord baron, forgive me, but might I rest a bit? And I've heard tales of Kroitel's incredible prosperity—I was dying to visit. I'd love to sightsee a little..."
Even among fellow barons, no one would so brazenly demand women, booze, food, and lavish hospitality with "I'm tired."
Yet this lowborn knight dispatched as a mere herald dares make such demands of me, a baron...?
I'm tempted to kick him square in the face with my iron-toed boot.
But holding back my rising fury, I plastered on a bright smile and replied,
"You must have had a hard journey all the way to Kroitel. Very well, I, Siel von Kroitel, will host you with the utmost hospitality. I'll have the steward reserve the finest brothel in town just for you. I'll cover all costs, so relax and enjoy yourself."
The herald grinned and bolted from my office like a shot. Baldt, standing beside me, let out a heavy sigh and said,
"Even for Count Schwein, this is too much... How could he treat the Kroitel baronial family—which has served loyally for centuries—like this? Is that the act of a knight? No, even lowly serfs or usurers wouldn't stoop so low!"
Baldt's outrage on my behalf felt genuinely touching.
Then, right in front of me, he unleashed a barrage of curses he really shouldn't have uttered.
"That herald especially—is he insane? Bringing such terms, he should be ashamed! Threatening a baron and demanding women? Whoever knighted that bastard must have an empty head or sold his soul to Satan! The woman who birthed him was a witch!!"
In this world, where faith in God is absolute truth, calling someone "soul sold to Satan" or a "witch" is worse than "traitor" or "collaborator" back home.
Some overly scrupulous knights would even slap a man just for letting such words slip in anger.
"Baldt, enough. I don't mind, but others can't hear this."
Baldt bowed to me and said,
"My apologies."
"No, I wanted to say it myself. Thanks for raging in my stead. But listen..."
"Yes, young master."
I looked at Baldt, burning with hatred for Count Schwein, and spoke slowly.
"Words alone can't kill. So let's drop it. Instead, since we're bowing, let's bow all the way. To gather the momentum to crush Count Schwein."
Baldt stared at me in shock and said,
"M-my lord...? You don't mean Count Schwein...?"
"Following him now gets us nowhere in this political climate. And I'm not planning assassination yet. He's drawn his sword, so we'll sharpen ours."
"I see... But how?"
I snorted and replied,
"Even a piglet dies crushed under its own weight if it eats too much."
If His Pig Excellency loves money, women, and booze so much, what choice do we have?
As his vassal, I'll let him indulge in all the pleasure and lust he craves, lull him into complacency, and let him die on his own.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Following that plan, I deliberately kept the herald—the bearer of His Excellency's orders—around for two extra days.
In that time, I made sure not to seek him out, letting him gorge himself on the territory's delights. As a result, he spent his days buried in booze and women.
Thanks to that, the count's envoy— who should have thanked me politely before departing—stumbled drunkenly into his wagon, too wasted to even think straight.
And I loaded that wagon with 3,500 gold coins—more than the demanded 3,000—plus two pretty maids selected from our estate, secretly offered up to Schwein.
I'd hesitated to send the pair, but I'd gotten reports from the head maid that they'd been bullying Ella for no reason, using their good looks as an excuse...
According to her, the two had begged to become concubines for some "rich noble."
Poisoning Schwein works for me, removes household troublemakers, protects Ella, and even fulfills the girls' dreams. Best of all worlds.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With the war's aftermath sorted and Count Schwein's scheme handled, I finally returned to my office for the first time since the war ended and eyed my desk...
It was buried under a mountain of documents awaiting my approval.
Fortunately, most just needed my seal, so I cleared them quickly... but two stood out as problematic.
The first, which I could postpone, was this:
"Though the Barony of Kroitel enjoys excellent food supplies compared to other territories, preserving provisions for military campaigns remains an issue."
Since I wouldn't be marching troops for months, maybe a year.
Of course, for future expansions or distant expeditions, it must be solved.
Otherwise, a long march could end in starvation if supply lines fail midway...
So I filed it under "pending solutions" on my desk.
The next issue? As someone with a master's in Western history, I absolutely couldn't ignore it.
"As the Barony of Kroitel prospers, urban population growth has led to slums where streets overflow with excrement, causing foul odors."
The reporting official downplayed it: "Not a major issue, but reporting just in case."
Obviously, this can't be overlooked. Neglect it, and waterborne diseases like cholera or typhoid—or worse, the Black Death—could ravage us.
Since no epidemics have hit yet, swift action now can prevent them entirely.
Delay, and booming Kroitel takes a fatal blow.
I read the report three times, then slammed open my office door.
Spotting soldiers passing in the hall, I commanded,
"This is urgent. Gather every official in Kroitel immediately!"
The war on hygiene had begun.
If we lose here, Kroitel is finished.