Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Great Leap (2)
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And it's human nature that the first betrayal is the hardest, but once they've done it a second time, they'll flip at the drop of a hat if things start going south.
It's not exactly betrayal, but that's why affairs are toughest at the "first step"—later on, as long as the husband or wife isn't around, they can do it right at home without a care.
Of course, in that case, it's a bit different from the backstabbing "betrayal"...
No matter the reason, killing the count before sending that secret letter pledging surrender to me was crossing the line...
Still, since he sexually assaulted Ella, and these guys could be useful depending on how I play it...
I'll give them one more special chance.
Otherwise, they'll just have to serve as justification for securing the County of Nant.
"Thanks for killing Schwein for me. So, why did you do it? Be honest. That way, it'll be easier for me to help you, right?"
It might sound like an absurd question at first glance.
Because these people standing before me already claimed they killed him for my sake.
But my question holds the only hint and clue that could save them.
The question is whether they'll find it...
The man prostrated before me, on his knees, spoke up.
"I'll be honest, Your Excellency. Even now, we wish to cast out our dishonorable lord and serve the honorable Siel von Kroitel. Please accept our loyalty."
First, I need to respond to what he said, but those with differing opinions will get 'different treatment.'
Just like how punishments vary—whether you killed intentionally, accidentally, or in self-defense.
"Do you all share the same view? If so, raise your hands."
All the bastards before me raised their hands except for one, murmuring among themselves.
"Better to follow the honorable and excellent Excellency Kroitel than that dishonorable lord."
"If I work under Baron Kroitel, could I become a knight too?"
"If I get a fief and my father's recognition..."
I ignored them and approached the one who hadn't raised his hand.
"Why did you go along with killing Schwein?"
The man I questioned stammered.
"Rather than die dishonorably, I thought I'd beg Your Excellency for my life. If we truly meant to serve an honorable lord as they claim, we should've surrendered before meeting like this."
What this man said was right.
No matter how trashy the count was, or how no one would blame a betrayal...
For nobles, politicians, or soldiers, you can't pull that stunt of betraying under the excuse of "the war's turning against us" while droning on about honor.
Guys like that aren't worth keeping around—they'll ditch their lord like a used rag the moment things sour or they sniff a bigger payoff.
And that's a massive disqualifier for anyone pretending to be a knight, or even just a noble.
"I see. Thanks for speaking up. I've heard everyone's opinions, and I'll treat you accordingly—the best way possible."
At those words, the bastards' eyes lit up.
They must think a rosy life under me is about to unfold. Sure, I've knighted a few bastards like you...
But they never once betrayed their honor. Not a single betrayal.
Idiots— if they'd just said, "We just wanted to live! Spare us!" I could've saved their skins, given them a clean slate, and opened paths to ensign or sergeant...
But these fools have only one use left.
Oblivious to my thoughts, the bastards beamed with joy, tears streaming down their faces as they looked at me.
I clapped for the soldiers across the way, signaling them, and shouted.
"Bind every last one of those bastards. Sharpen the axes—we're executing them all."
I'm not sorry at all, but if they'd killed their lord in a favorable situation and come back, I could've used them as propaganda: "This is what happens when you betray in a winning spot."
But because they killed their own lord when things were in our favor, it's harder for me to build justification to take Nant.
Now I've got to use an excuse that's not even common in Europe.
The grand cause of slaying the dishonorable rapist count and his cowardly, greedy underlings to improve the serfs' lives in Nant and uphold justice.
Not bad, but I never imagined I'd end up sounding like a Joseon-era yangban yelling, "For the people!! For the Confucian old-fart nation!!"
Is this the "fog of war" Clausewitz talked about in On War?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, I gathered all the soldiers on a plain a short distance from our camp.
The troops lined up on the plain stared tensely at the makeshift execution platform.
As I sat in the chair atop the platform, the idiots who'd sold out their lord to save themselves—soon to be executed—knelt and started wailing.
"Your Excellency, please just spare our lives!!!"
"We did it all for you! This is unfair!!"
"I beg you, just let us live. We have bunny-like kids and vixen wives!!"
Hearing that made my heart heavy for no good reason.
Not because of killing these guys, but thinking of those who died enduring unimaginable terror and pain, charging over 500 kilos of iron for Siel von Kroitel.
Some soldiers took iron mace hits that caved in an eye, their jaw, or the top of their skull like punctured paper, yet held their pikes till the end...
Imagining how their families would grieve upon hearing they'd fallen in battle weighed on me.
So, to vent that frustration on these doomed fools and solidify Chris's standing for her service so far, I called her over and said.
"Chris Belladora, suit up in armor immediately and come out. Oh, and buckle a 'sword' to your waist like a proper noble."
Chris looked puzzled at my words.
"Your Excellency? Why me specifically..."
"It's an order. Dress like that, and I'll give you a surprise gift."
"Understood."
Hearing that, Chris bowed to me and withdrew.
Then I beckoned the elderly ensign beside me.
"How many bastards surrendered to us with the 'Count of Nant''s head?"
"40... no, 58. The rest fled."
"How many are on the execution ground?"
"57, everyone except the one Your Excellency secretly let escape."
The honest guy I let go yesterday had at least some situational awareness.
Proof? Even when I dangled the 'reward for killing the count' in front of him, he admitted frankly it was fear of dishonorable death.
In Joseon, they'd force a dog's death and you'd have to down the poison saying "Your grace is boundless" or be branded a traitor—but in feudalism, if the lord demands a dog's death without cause, it's legal to kill him sometimes.
So I sent that guy off with a letter for the Duke of Brussels, saying to meet in Brussels soon.
Delivering my letter to a duchy-sized territory amid civil war is risky, but if he pulls it off...
I can appoint him ensign based on merit.
"Got it. How's the axe blades?"
"As ordered, some are dulled. They're more like iron mace-axes now."
I handed two gold coins to the veteran mercenary ensign overseeing the execution.
"Well done. Take your three men out for drinks in Nant. Keep the change."
"Thank you."
Soon after, Chris approached, fully armored.
Of course, for a woman like Chris without pro training, it was just a breastplate and greaves, the rest a form-fitting suit...
And to hide her 'womanly chest,' she'd padded it with thin quilted armor inside...
Come to think of it, would some fool see Chris and think, "Am I crazy? Why am I crushing on a guy?" like in anime?
Then, to give Chris her final test—and a chance to earn their respect—I looked at her and said.
"Chris Belladora, have you ever killed anyone?"
"No, Your Excellency."
I declared flatly.
"The continent you live on, Europa, is ruled by knights. Anyone incapable of the bare minimum—killing enemies—can't stand above others. Ah, the Emperor doesn't need to, but you're no royal, right?"
Tensing at the idea of killing, Chris bit her lip slightly.
"Yes..."
"I'm not demanding you don plate armor and wield a lance like a knight. Because Chris Belladora is already valuable to me as is. I won't force risks or impossibilities. And that dream you shared months ago? 'Even as a woman, I want to revive my house and become an administrator respected equally—no, more than men'? I'll give you the chance."
A brief silence passed between us, then I said.
"Kill our enemies. Do that, and I'll restore your nobility and let you rebuild your house. Or, starting tomorrow, in non-war times, wear a dress to work if you want. The Kroitels—me and my house—haven't the luxury to discriminate against talent like yours over gender."
Normally, seating a 'woman' to manage the army—even if her house accepts her—is an unthinkable taboo.
But our house isn't your average noble line.
By war's end, Baldt—likely to get a barony—outranks knights from serf-born tourney winners in Nant and a lowly mercenary captain, counting from the top in the territory.
Without massive war feats, some bastards became full knights after just years under me.
Serf soldiers will soon promote to ensigns, treated as gentry near-knights.
To quash the resulting aggro and push propaganda of "equal shot at advancement for all," personally...
Nothing beats Chris in a dress, conducting ensigns and bailiffs with a baton.
It'll focus all the "frustrated losers'" attention on her, making them easier to handle, and she'll serve me to the death out of gratitude.
So, like when I first blackmailed her, but now with a 'devilishly sweet offer,' I lifted her chin with my right hand.
With zero resistance to men, Chris's face flushed crimson.
Our eyes met, and I whispered sweetly in her ear.
"Chris Belladora, I don't know your house's history. But devote everything to me. I'll guarantee it: in a decade, Belladora will shine as Europa's sole knightly house founded by a woman. I can't grant knighthood without battlefield kills yet, but soon a formal admin post. Will you stake it all on me? Then take that axe the ensign holds."
Hearing that, Chris grew serious, gripped the axe, and stared at the blade for a moment.
"Ensign, begin executions. Chris's axe is intentionally dulled, so put the worst offenders on her side."
Chris and the executioners stood on the platform, mercifully severing the necks of the criminals before them.
Shortly after the other executioners' axes met necks, a dull 'thunk' rang out, splattering blood even on the wielders.
The bodies and heads were dumped into the pre-dug pit before the execution ground.
Meanwhile, Chris—face tense with nerves—mechanically raised her axe again for another.
The criminal assigned to her suddenly screamed.
"F-Foot, m-my f-foot, kill, k-kill, lady...!!"
A pitiful wail rose, but Chris mechanically ignored it, striking his neck repeatedly.
His neck turned purple, mashed like dough, and the criminal stopped moving.
Coldly—or pretending to be—Chris kicked the body into the pit.
Thus, Chris and the executioners methodically chopped down the honorless traitors before them.
Side note: that day, Chris collapsed from physical and mental exhaustion the moment "executions complete" was called.
To spread rumors I favored her anyway, I personally princess-carried her to her tent.
That day, word spread among the troops: "Does Baron Excellency...?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Afterward, we split into companies as before and marched at max speed to Nant Castle.
It took just 7 days from the Sternheim Plains battlefield to Nant Castle.
During that time, I sent couriers to two neutral barons: "Don't want your lands seized and end up like Schwein? Garrison the eastern County of Nant ASAP. We'll pay 1.5x cash on delivery—keep the ledgers."
By the time they check, those two barons will be hunkered down.
To quash gay rumors too, I rode in the noble carriage with Ella.
Not planning anything audible to troops, but stoking their overactive imaginations would kill the rumors in days anyway...
Thus, I flirted with Ella in the carriage like a vacation until we finally reached Nant Castle.
Then, per prior agreement, to occupy the County of Nant, I ordered the guards at the gates.
"The honorable lord of Nant, Siel von Kroitel, has arrived. Open the gates for your new lord."