Chapter 261: Can I Really Do This? (3)
Chapter 261: Can I Really Do This? (3)
A moment later.
Count Krupa, having recovered at least a fraction of his mental state, pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead.
"Regardless of the reason, the administration cannot function like this."
"So? What do you want me to do about it?"
"We are short-staffed. Please authorize more personnel."
"No."
A flat refusal.
Count Krupa grit his teeth and demanded, "And why not? Why?"
Patrick adopted a grave expression. "Now look here, Count. It’s not that I’m trying to save money on labor costs."
"Pretty sure that’s exactly what it is," a voice chimed in.
"Yeah, that’s it."
"Don't let him fool you, Count."
"Gah! Shut up, the lot of you!"
After silencing the heckling knights, Patrick resumed his calm explanation. "Even if I wanted to hire people, it’s not like administrative talent just grows on trees. Most of the people in this territory can’t even read or write. Where am I supposed to find management-level staff?"
"..."
"And it’s not my fault the workload is so granular. My father had this habit of personally handling every single little thing for the residents."
"..."
Count Krupa clenched his jaw.
True. Back when this was just a rural barony, it might have been possible for a lord to oversee every minor grievance of his subjects. If the lord was exceptionally diligent and benevolent, perhaps.
But the Schneider Duchy was now a full-fledged nation with a population exceeding one hundred thousand and two major cities.
How on earth was one person supposed to process all of that?
Minor civil complaints and petty misdemeanors needed to be handled on the spot by low-level officials. As things stood, the residents were inconvenienced, and the administrative bureaucrats were literally working themselves to death.
With a hardened expression, Count Krupa asked, "Then, if I find the people myself, will that suffice?"
"Mmm, well, we’ve been doing fine so far, so there’s no real need to—"
"..."
"Again, I’m not saying this because I’m stingy with salaries. It’s just that sudden changes can have unforeseen side effects on a nation, so we should take it slow..."
"I will deduct their salaries from my own pay."
"Hahaha! Well then, Count, I leave it in your capable hands."
Count Krupa let out a long sigh as he watched Patrick clap him on the back with a boisterous laugh.
‘Can I really do this?’
His life in the Schneider Duchy had only just begun.
Hang in there, Count.
* * *
Alexander Krupa was an alumnus of the Harbor Kingdom’s Academy. Not only that, he was a brilliant talent who had double-majored in Law and Administration, graduating at the top of his class.
Naturally, he had a vast network of classmates, seniors, and juniors. Among them were many skilled individuals who, for various personal reasons, had not sought government employment. Most were people who had grown disillusioned with political factionalism and quit.
Count Krupa sent letters to these people asking for help. His connections must have been quite extensive, for in less than a month, over thirty administrators flocked to the Schneider Duchy.
Count Krupa assigned them directly under his command and began delegating the workload. The effects were immediate.
"Huh? It’s processed already?"
"Whoa... that was fast."
"I can’t believe the business permit came out this quickly."
As administrative tasks were handled with crisp efficiency, the residents' satisfaction skyrocketed.
The knights felt the change as well.
"Wait, what’s this?"
"Is this... the creature known as a 'horse'?"
"Now that you mention it, I’ve heard stories. They say knights are supposed to ride these things."
"They even provided horse armor."
The support necessary for knights finally took shape.
Warhorses, stablehands to care for them, and a dedicated forge for the maintenance of equipment—the Double Dragon Knights, who had been treated poorly despite their formidable skills, finally began to look the part.
Naturally, the knights were overjoyed.
"Tsk. If these kids get too well-fed and comfortable, they’ll lose their edge."
Well, everyone except one person.
"A true warrior, you see... yeah. He should make danger his friend, shun luxury, and face hardship without fear. That’s where the style comes from. Tsk... things weren't like this in my day."
There was someone who clearly hated seeing the knighthood start eating up the budget.
Regardless, under the full support of the Grand Duke of Schneider, Count Krupa steadily established the nation’s framework. In just fifty days, the Schneider Duchy had implemented a near-perfect administrative system.
Of course, this required significant financial expenditure. Patrick grumbled about it, but he didn't stop it.
"I mean, as long as they aren't starving, isn't that enough? Do we really have to pay them that much?"
"A 'dignity maintenance stipend'? Good grief... Should I bring them down to the training grounds? I’ll make them realize how much 'dignity' there is in just being able to walk on two legs."
"An official should be frugal and upright, you see. Yeah. If they only care about money, they’re no good."
As mentioned, he grumbled.
Constantly.
However, Patrick still tolerated Count Krupa’s reforms. This was because the positive changes were worth the money being spent.
Watching the nation take shape, Patrick slowly began to step back from various administrative duties. And then...
"Now I can finally stop worrying about other things and focus on my training."
Until now, Patrick had to have a hand in every matter of the territory—large, medium, or small. Now, he finally had time for himself.
He could pour that spare time into his training.
Recently, Patrick had delegated the training of the knights to his wife, April, and devoted himself to his personal cultivation.
"That pale, spotted cat bastard!"
BOOM!
"The next time I see him, I’m going to skin him alive!"
CRASH! RUMBLE!
"And then I’m going to sell him for a fortune!"
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Whatever his motivation, Patrick was finally able to focus on his personal training for the first time in a long while.
Even if that time didn't last very long.
"Young Master. There is urgent news."
"I told you, I’m not the 'Young Master' anymore."
Patrick sighed as he looked at April, who still insisted on calling him by his old title.
April’s face turned as red as an apple. "It’s just... I’m used to it..."
"Don't be like that. Try calling me something else."
"What should I call you?"
"Honey, Darling, Dear, Husband, My Lord. Go on, try it."
"How could I possibly..."
There were a few words in there she didn't recognize, but every single one of them felt too overwhelming to say out loud.
Seeing April blushing and acting shy, Patrick...
"Ho... so you’re going for the 'cute' approach, are you?"
Patrick grinned and wrapped his arm around April’s waist, pulling her close.
April’s face flushed even deeper.
‘Why... why has he only started acting like this now...?’
April had served Patrick closely for a long time. During those years, Patrick had been so uninterested in women that he seemed almost celibate. He hadn't shown even a hint of interest in noblewomen, the maids of the manor, or even her.
But ever since they got married...
"What am I supposed to do when you look this cute? Hmm?"
As Patrick pulled her flush against him, their faces were so close their breaths mingled.
April stammered, "I have a report. Please, just listen first..."
"Go ahead."
It probably wasn't anything major anyway.
Patrick, intending to listen briefly before spending some quality time with his beautiful wife, waited for her to speak.
April said, "The Caesar Kingdom has fallen."
"...Huh?"
"And the Decatur Kingdom has been annexed by the Yuzef Kingdom."
"...What?"
Now, that was something major.
A memory flashed through Patrick’s mind.
[Within the next two months, we will annex the Decatur Kingdom and the Caesar Kingdom.]
"That crazy bastard..."
Those were the words Noah Gregory had spoken before they parted ways.
At the time, thinking rationally, it had seemed completely unrealistic. Devouring two nations in just two months? How could that even be possible?
"Or so I thought..."
It seemed he had actually pulled it off.
As Patrick stood there with a dazed expression, April added, "Red has arrived to give a detailed report. Would you like to go hear it directly?"
"I suppose I should."
This was something that required his full attention.
* * *
Rewinding time a bit...
From the moment Noah Gregory parted with Patrick and returned to his home country, the Yuzef Kingdom began to accelerate the pace of the war.
"We cannot let this war drag on any longer. If the war continues while food is scarce, even a victory will only lead to a more difficult future."
The Overlord, Sierion, spoke as he personally negotiated with King Arren Hamut Decatur III of Decatur.
King Arren agreed with his words.
"You are right. But how do we end this war? Should we sign a peace treaty?"
The Overlord shook his head and spoke firmly. "Let us launch an all-out offensive."
"An all-out offensive..."
"We will take the lead. Let the Decatur Kingdom support our rear. We will take the capital of the Caesar Kingdom in one fell swoop."
King Arren thought to himself, ‘Not a bad deal.’
If the Yuzef Kingdom, led by the Overlord, took the front lines while they supported from the back, their losses would be relatively small.
While he was grateful for their help in this war, the growth of the Yuzef Kingdom—which had already swallowed the Flame Kingdom—was terrifying. Therefore...
‘This is a good opportunity to drain the Yuzef Kingdom’s strength.’
Having reached a conclusion, King Arren agreed to the Overlord’s proposal. "Very well. Let’s do it."
The allied forces of the Yuzef and Decatur Kingdoms staked everything on an all-out offensive.
And to this, the Caesar Kingdom responded...
"Arrogant fools. How dare two tiny nations think they can challenge me just because they joined forces?"
King Georgia Burkin Caesar was consumed by rage.
This war was never intended to drag on this long. His plan had been to occupy the Decatur Kingdom, seize half its territory and a massive indemnity, and then stop.
Bordering the Great Forest directly was a burden, and the war itself was primarily intended to restore the Caesar Kingdom’s prestige, which had recently crumbled.
"Double Dragon... because of that damn bastard..."
In King Georgia’s mind, Patrick Schneider was the root of all his problems.
Patrick had come to the Caesar Kingdom and sliced Count Calvin Spike in half. That had triggered a large-scale battle, which resulted in Caesar’s defeat. They had even lost two additional 7-Star swordsmen.
For a single nation to suffer such damage against one man was a fatal blow.
Furthermore, the truth of the incident was revealed afterward. The fact that the whole thing started because Count Calvin Spike had ruled the citizens of Andmion with tyranny spread across the continent, shattering the Caesar Kingdom’s reputation.
As Patrick Schneider’s fame rose, the name of the Caesar Kingdom fell into the dirt.
Thus, King Georgia chose war to somehow salvage the nation’s status and dignity.
The Decatur Kingdom. It was the perfect, easy prey.
He planned to find a pretext, win the war, and claim territory and reparations to boost national prestige while gaining practical benefits.
But the plan went awry again when Count Helios Gilsian lost his life to the Decatur Kingdom’s 'Divine Spear,' Marquis Dustin Lobsky.
Having lost three to Patrick and now one more, they had lost a total of four 7-Star masters.
This was no longer a hunt to establish prestige. The Caesar Kingdom had entered a war from which there was no retreat.
[I will erase the Decatur Kingdom from the map. Mobilize the entire army and attack!]
At King Georgia’s command, the remaining five 7-Star knights and an army of 120,000 were mobilized to invade the Decatur Kingdom.
When the Caesar Kingdom attacked in earnest, the Decatur Kingdom suffered consecutive defeats and was forced to retreat. The difference in power between the two nations was simply too great.
However, another variable emerged: the Overlord, Sierion, the ruler of the Yuzef Kingdom, which had risen as a powerhouse in the north.
Claiming that no one should dare attack his brothers in the East, he joined the war to help the Decatur Kingdom before they even asked for support.
Thanks to the Overlord’s intervention, the battlefield regained its balance, and the Decatur Kingdom, which had been on the brink of ruin, was literally saved. As a result, the people of Decatur sang the Overlord’s praises incessantly.
And now.
Finally, the two kingdoms, with the Overlord at the vanguard, had launched a full-scale frontal assault.
This fact dealt a severe blow to King Georgia’s pride.
"Arrogant wretches. To think they believe two small nations joining forces can threaten me..."
He stood up from his throne and shouted, "It is a total war! Mobilize the entire army, crush the enemy, and bring the Overlord’s head before me!"
Even if two nations had joined forces, the Caesar Kingdom’s military strength still overwhelmed the alliance. This was an objective fact.
That was why King Georgia chose a frontal confrontation without hesitation. Just then, a subordinate approached him.
"Your Majesty, this is top-secret information we have obtained..."
As he whispered something into King Georgia’s ear, the King’s expression shifted subtly.
"Is this certain?"
"We have verified it several times. There is no mistake."
"Ho... I see. Is that so?"
A predatory smile spread across King Georgia’s face.
"God is truly on our side."