Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Great Leap (3)
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As soon as my order fell, the soldiers by the gate stepped aside to either flank, and the massive doors began to creak open in response.
The castle gate—eight meters wide and over ten meters tall—was opening very slowly.
At the sight of it parting, the soldiers gazed at the gate with fervent eyes, clearly tempted by the promise of plunder.
Of course, in Europe before international law had any real effect, plundering food, supplies, and women was so commonplace it carried no stigma whatsoever.
It was something commanders tacitly allowed or even permitted outright—as long as no massacres occurred—like riding a thrilling amusement ride.
No wonder, then, that during the Thirty Years' War, when such leniency was rampant, Cavalry Commander Pappenheim learned of the Magdeburg massacre—where 25,000 citizens were slaughtered and every woman raped—and still wrote in his autobiography:
"[Today the soldiers plundered well, morale is high, and I feel excellent.]"
But allowing plunder here would forfeit the hearts of the entire County of Nant, not to mention sacrificing all the future profits from Nant City.
Personally, I wanted to forgo pillaging altogether—especially the thought of some cute girl Ella's age being raped without reason by a hulking soldier. I didn't even want to hear reports of it.
When I first formed the standing army, a report came up about a girl raped by some lowly private...
I had another executioner smash that bastard from hands to toes in front of her family, then finally pulverize his manhood with a hammer to finish him.
She should have witnessed it too, by rights... but the poor girl had already taken her own life by the time the report reached me, shattered by the trauma and the social stigma of losing her purity to a soldier.
To prevent anything like that ever again, I gave the soldiers one final warning as the gates opened.
"Regardless of rank, anyone who plunders so much as a single coin or grain from the city's or villages' residents will die without fail. No—furthermore, unless their direct heirs have records of serving me, their children and wives will be executed too. In exchange, I'll reward you more generously than ever before, so don't be fools blinded by immediate gains."
With the gates open, the full vista of Nant City spread before my eyes.
Houses with white and yellow walls and tall vertical windows lined the streets. A large road paved with slightly worn bricks ran through, and makeshift stalls selling fruit, fish, meat, and liquor stood before the homes.
Not quite on the level of the imperial capital Elrain, where the Emperor resided, but for a city this size, including surrounding residents, the population had to be 30,000 to 50,000.
Yet inside the castle walls, fear of plunder had made the place eerily quiet despite the sun high overhead, as if abandoned.
The people here must have heard the reputation that 'Baron Kroitel' was a man of honor, but they probably saw it as relative compared to other lords.
Honor meaning relatively less looting, less womanizing, less killing.
Lost in such thoughts as we marched proudly on horseback, merchants clad in silk garments appeared.
As commoners who had amassed wealth through trade, they weren't nobles, so regulations barred them from silk except black...
They were all in black, making them look for a moment like a procession of reapers.
The merchants halted before me, dropped to both knees, and bowed their heads in respect, but I stopped them with one raised hand.
"Why have you come?"
The lead merchant before me waved back to signal someone and replied,
"We've come to offer a modest token of goodwill. Please accept it."
After a short wait, a small carriage rolled up before me.
Inside was a large sack likely full of gold coins, and two girls in frilly dresses, dressed like they were being sold to a new master.
They had a different appeal from Ella—and perfectly matched my tastes...
How did they know? I'd never been close to any girl but Ella.
The merchant clasped his hands and said to me,
"We've brought 1,000 gold coins painstakingly gathered by Nant City's worthies, along with these girls we hope suit Your Excellency's tastes—though they're hardly enough. Beneath the carriage floor, we've also prepared the finest armor, sword, and shield crafted by Hamburg's Master Schmitt for Your Excellency's tribute. Please accept them."
1,000 coins, two beauties like that, plus Master Schmitt's armor, sword, and shield—items even money couldn't easily buy...
And since they hadn't mentioned offerings to others, they must have prepared slightly lesser ones for my father.
Captains and above would probably receive ample gold, weapons, and women too...
Accepting just this much would earn us saintly praise, but since I wanted to rule Nant exactly as I envisioned...
"I'm grateful for this show of goodwill toward me. Thus, I won't plunder you. And I have no need for such pocket change. Go back and assure the citizens there will be no pillaging after I leave. Return at once and calm everyone."
The lead merchant's eyes widened in shock, standing frozen as he stammered,
"Your Excellency, what nonsense is this? Even accepting our token alone would have the citizens praising your mercy for sparing us plunder. But you need nothing?"
"Exactly as I said. Besides, I am Siel von Kroitel. The revenue from my territory alone this year... Chris?"
At my words, Chris approached and answered,
"Revenues from Your Excellency's direct territories alone total 100,000 gold coins. Including profits from purchasing and reselling food from others, it reaches 200,000."
The man before me gaped and muttered,
"That can't be poss..."
"You, a merchant, don't know the might of my Merchant Guild?"
"...How could we not? Since your days as lord of Windheim, we've half-jokingly, half-seriously speculated you might buy out the neighboring Santoburg Barony with cash—and planned our businesses accordingly..."
The guy's exaggerating again. At best, back then, I could've afforded a bailiff-run fief of 2,000 souls.
"So I need nothing. Just go back."
Even after that, the merchant eyed me and the others anxiously, deliberating.
Dragging this out in front of me would leave them more uneasy than grateful...
Resigned, I decided to accept just a tiny fraction of their offering and asked,
"Where did you get those maids?"
Thinking I'd secured their safety by accepting something, the merchant beamed and replied,
"Girls from our guild who sold themselves for debts. They'd normally fetch 200-300 gold from slave traders, but how could I take money from Your Excellency?"
Girls indebted and sold... Reminds me of Ella somehow.
Come to think of it, once Ella becomes the count's concubine, it'll be harder for her to mingle with girls her age... Attaching these clanless maids would help ease her loneliness.
Far better than headaches from accepting knights' or barons' daughters over this.
"Fine, I'll take those two girls."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
I extended a hand to Chris for a blank check, wrote 'Guaranteed payment of 1,299 gold coins in the name of Count Kroitel', handed it over, and said,
"One gold coin from all of Nant City suffices for me. I'll reward the others myself, so you need give them nothing—not even a single coin. The remaining gold covers meat, beer, wine for the banquet, and the girls' labor."
"Understood."
I placed a hand on the man's shoulder and stated firmly,
"If my investigations reveal even one lowly worker unpaid justly... I'll come for you myself."
He trembled and replied,
"No such thing will happen..."
"If funds run short, contact the castle. I'll send more—but squander even one coin improperly, and survival will be hard."
Then I headed for the count's mansion.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Exaggerating slightly, it was the lair of Schwein von Nant, who wouldn't bat an eye at peasants starving before him—opulently lavish.
Floors entirely marbled, walls papered in pristine white or paneled in ebony.
At intervals along the long corridor stood porcelain vases said to be from the 'Orient'.
One of those vases could buy a knight's warhorse, give or take...
Well, a Count of Nant could afford it...
But knowing Schwein lived like this soured my mood just looking at them.
Pushing down the disgust, I headed to the most vital space: the audience chamber.
As I entered, Father, Baldt, and the Kroitel knights rose as one, knelt on one knee, and bowed their heads.
Father showing me such deference proved how thoroughly I dominated them—and declared that whatever I did would stay within a viscount's bounds.
I'd have to visit Father later with suitable gifts and thanks...
"You've all worked hard. Rise."
At my words, Father and all the knights stood in unison.
Then I bowed to them and said,
"With your aid and sacrifice, I toppled the vile Count of Nant who spat on honor, securing my rights and dignity. In recompense for your devotion, from this moment, I am no longer 'Baron Kroitel'—I am the legitimate lord of the County of Nant and County of Helsman, Siel von Kroitel, Count. Though without formal imperial sanction yet, it will come soon enough."
The knights erupted in cheers.
"Long live Count His Excellency!!"
"With Count His Excellency, we fear no battlefield or hell itself!!"
I continued,
"Good. Then I shall stand with you on the field and reward your devotion fervently. First, witness the proof: Bring in the brave warriors who resisted knights with naught but a single pike."
About thirty men—captains and knights—emerged from the rear of the audience chamber, knelt before me upon reaching me.
I clapped once, smiled, and said,
"I've already slapped your cheeks, so no need here. Once suffices, no? Instead, I grant you knighthoods, ranks, and symbols of nobility. Separate from lands or wealth in the merit awards—so rest easy."
Maids including Chris in a dress delivered to each a masterwork sword with gold-inlaid scabbards.
Recipients began weeping; I patted one shoulder and said,
"Must promising knights weep in the audience chamber? The maids are watching."
Laughter rippled through the knights.
I borrowed a sword from one before me, drew it, tapped both shoulders, and declared,
"You are all promoted from 'captain' to major. You'll command roughly 300-500 infantry. Of course, you'll receive salaries or fiefs befitting knightly dignity during service—choose wisely. Ideally, rise to colonel commanding over 2,000."
The newly knighted men in the chamber couldn't hide their tears.
Several bastards sobbed outright on their knees.
Ignoring them, I pressed on,
"And Chris Belladora."
Hearing me, Chris glided forward in a pale blue dress like a society lady, sky-blue hair and golden eyes suiting it perfectly—I lost myself staring for a moment.
To cover, I casually continued,
"Chris Belladora aided Baldt in strategy from the capital, scattered armor, coin, and rations before 18,000 enemy infantry to minimize our losses, and managed supplies efficiently in the campaign... remarkable feats. Thus, I believe even a woman can stand equal with you all—what say you?"
The knights muttered in apparent disbelief.
Yet lacking courage to defy the man with thousands of standing troops and more in coin, they only grumbled...
Soon, one at the end snapped angrily,
"But she never stood on the field! How can a woman work with us? What honor, what price paid? Blood on those hands...?"
I glared and retorted,
"Exhausted against 18,000 infantry, we might've lost. Preventing that alone is honor enough. And though a woman, she wielded a blunt axe, smashed the necks of those scum threatening you, and bled for it. Woman or not, Chris Belladora showed valor rivaling any knight."
The knight persisted,
"As you say, but placing her equal is hard to accept. We fought lance-in-hand on the field—she didn't."
"Fair point. Very well, Chris."
Summoned, Chris straightened ramrod-stiff in surprise and replied,
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
"Your merits suffice for knighthood already, but I can't dub one untested in battle. Thus, Chris Belladora, I offer you an ensign's administrative post or commission—choose well."
With that, I unbuckled my cheap dagger from my waist and handed it over, saying,
"Wear it from now on. Woman or not, you're head of a near-noble house, aren't you?"
Chris took it gingerly, stroked it, blushed, and murmured,
"Th-thank you... Your Excellency."
I bellowed to the other knights,
"The territories aren't fully pacified—much work remains. And I must soon meet Duke of Brussels. Full merit awards will take time, but tonight, I permit a banquet worth 500 gold coins. Short? Tell the treasurer to take from my funds. Make merry."
With that, I prepared to reach Brussels one second sooner.
Next, I exited the mansion with Major Frost, his platoon, and Chris.
Now, time was life itself.