“Although I got a message earlier, you are early.” (Breithilde)

Arriving at the gra.s.sland where Margrave Breithilde’s army is stationed, I descended from the s.h.i.+p in advance with the spell

and met Margrave Breithilde and his party.

Given that an Earl is an Earl, even if he’s a newcomer, I’m an existence they have to pay attention to.

“We suppressed the rebellion within one day. You have my grat.i.tude for the a.s.sistance by Burkhart-san.” (Wendelin)

“He is your bodyguard after all. Please don’t worry about it and use him as you wish.” (Breithilde)

Since it might be a setback to the development of the Savage Lands if something happens to me in the worst case, Margrave Breithilde has placed his treasured Burkhart-san with me.

Apparently he has entrusted his own protection to several magicians he has employed in addition.

“And, they are the rebels, but…” (Wendelin)

I talk about the details of the rebellion and them who were captured afterwards and then entered my service after getting persuaded skilfully by Klaus.

“As expected, they were personnel to cause disturbance in the rear from Browig’s side, huh?” (Breithilde)

“No, rather than personnel, they were treated as sacrificial p.a.w.ns.” (Wendelin)

“The economy over there is stagnating after all. The are even getting rid of excess personnel now, aren’t they…?” (Breithilde)

Since they have been blocked from moving money, items and people to the development of the Savage Lands, third sons and below of lower retainer households have needlessly lost their destination.

Given that there are people left over, they likely judged it as profit, if they can prevent me from making a move while also using and getting rid of the people.

“It’s not like everyone who has been driven out can make a living as adventurer either. This problem exists in my family as well. I’m grateful to you, Earl Baumeister.” (Breithilde)

Besides the Helmut Kingdom, there are currently no n.o.ble households that are short on people except us.

In the end that means that it creates many young people of retainer households who are unable to get employment.

“It looks like they are quite cornered economically.” (Breithilde)

As Erw’s group also got off the airs.h.i.+p while the two of use were talking, we immediately moved to the troop headquarters and continued our conversation there.

“Currently our battle formation is close to the border line of the Eschago Gra.s.slands which are extending over the eastern and southern domains. Our military forces are around 4.000 and are compromised by a mix of seven households. Additional reinforcements will come in one more week, but with that it will be around 6.000 troops, I guess.” (Breithilde)

I have a feeling as if the numbers are low, but it can’t be helped as money goes flying by only preparing and deploying military forces.

The salary of the soldiers and their provisions will become the burden of the n.o.ble household below Margrave Breithilde that dispatched their feudal army .

“So, how about Browig’s side?” (Wendelin)

“They have 5.000 troops. That’s why it’s a stand-off currently.” (Breithilde)

Both sides don’t wish for a decisive battle. The damage will become big if they do such a thing.

Therefore it has naturally turned into a stand-off like this.

“Also, there’s another battlefield.” (Breithilde)

Next Margrave Breithilde spreads a detailed map of the boundary line’s region on top of a desk.

“It’s around 300 km Northwest from here. At that place the va.s.sal, a.s.sociate Baron Henckel, of Margrave Browig and my va.s.sal, a.s.sociate Baron Lanzel, are facing off against each other over a copper mine.” (Breithilde)

How it began originates from a recurrence of a rights dispute over a boundary area like here.

“The copper mine, which is located at the borderline of both territories, is boasting a splendid yield. Naturally they competed over it in the past…” (Breithilde)

There were many conflicts in the past, but for now they are sharing it evenly.

“That’s sudden.” (Wendelin)

Deploying their military forces, the a.s.sociate Baron Henckel household of Margrave Browig’s side drove the mine director of a.s.sociate Baron Lanzel household’s side and his guards out off the copper mine.

And now the military forces of a.s.sociate Baron Henckel’s household, who are occupying the copper mine, and the a.s.sociate Baron Lanzel’s household, who deployed their army to recover it, kept glaring at each other.

“Fortunately there haven’t been any casualties though.” (Breithilde)

It’s a blessing that there aren’t any casualties albeit it being a dispute, because it will become difficult to control the dispute if casualties appear.

“Eternal monopoly is something troublesome as well.” (Breithilde)

While letting off steam by fighting each other once in a while, both sides reluctantly agree to an even division.

Those were the true colours of this time’s rights dispute.

“That’s why I ask you to please use training weapons.” (Breithilde)

All of the soldier partic.i.p.ating in this dispute apparently use dulled blades in both armies.

I never thought they would be that thorough for the sake of avoiding casualties.

“Eh? Training weapons?” (Wendelin)

“It’s alright. They are loaded on Henrik-dono’s s.h.i.+p.” (Moritz)

Moritz, who’s at my side, informed me that that a number matching the people had been loaded on Henrik’s s.h.i.+p.

I’m told that Thorsten made a smart move and stored them there.

“Since Thorsten-sama is Minister Edgar’s esteemed son, he is well-informed about such matters, too.” (Moritz)

“That saves us, but we don’t have the share for those guys.” (Wendelin)

“If it’s the share of around 20 soldiers, I will sell you my spares.” (Breithilde)

“Thank you very much.” (Wendelin)

Because I was able to secure weapons for our new subordinate unit too, Margrave Breithilde continues the talks again.

“Of course, even if you dull the blades, they are similar to blunt weapons. There will be deaths if people are hit at the wrong spots. Their number will be considerably low though.” (Breithilde)

Decreasing the number by capturing the opponents, they will afterwards have negotiations and settle it with money.

It was apparently normal for there to not be more than one casualty in both armies although they fought if it was the battlefield of medieval knights and mercenaries as the core. (T/N: Not sure if the author means medieval Europe here or this world. In case it’s former, that’s bulls.h.i.+t, in case it’s latter is contradicting the earlier statement…)

Even the kingdom’s side recommends behind closed doors to battle while avoiding casualties as much as possible.

“With such feelings, the n.o.ble households, who are engaging in the quarrel in the boundary area, on both sides exceed more than 80 households. This time the n.o.ble households of Margrave Browig’s camp suddenly dispatched their troops and occupied and plundered the concession of the n.o.ble households under my control. As we must take those back, our allies have gathered their troops and now the stand-off continues. Although it’s the mobilization of such numbers, there are dozens to several hundred smaller battlefields, but there are also around 40 places for them.” (Breithilde)

Certainly, a great number of memos was written on the map which had been spread out by Margrave Breithilde.

After the n.o.bles of the Breithilde household's side were beaten one-sidedly due to the majority of the Browig household’s side’s surprise attack being beyond expectations, they are itching for an opportunity to retake their shares of concessions after gathering their troops.

“Are there any n.o.ble households who have clashed with their opponents?” (Wendelin)

“No, not yet.” (Breithilde)

This is the troublesome part of the disputes here.

I didn’t grasp it from the copper mine at the beginning, but since those were disputes to extend the territory a bit or over how much water to pull from the river source, a genuine clash will exceed the budget if the casualties increase.

“On the other side, if we don’t dispatch soldiers to those places, the other side’s control over the concessions will be approved. Not dispatching soldiers is an impossible choice. We have to consider the n.o.bles’ honour.” (Breithilde)

I can understand that since there were countless territory disputes between fellow countries in my previous life as well.

I see, n.o.bility seems to cost quite a bit of money.

“If it’s like that, aren’t they a bit clumsy?”

“Which household? Although the occupation could be prevented by sensing it ahead of time, it will be our complete defeat afterwards. If it comes to the arbitration, we will have an one-sided disadvantage.” (Breithilde)

Browig’s side, which suddenly advanced their troops, is evil, but the concessions and territories, they are competing over, will practically end up being ruled by Browig’s camp.

You could say that this would naturally become a one-sided disadvantage in the arbitration as well.

“Do you want to take it back to some extent?” (Wendelin)

“Yes, but that’s also difficult.” (Breithilde)

The feudal army of Margrave Browig, who’s the person at the heart of the matter, is waiting in the rear of the Browig’s camp.

Since you can expect him to dispatch his military forces in response, if Margrave Breithilde sends out his feudal army, which is likewise kept in the rear, as reinforcement, he can’t currently do anything but confronting them like this.

“How troublesome… As it is now, it will turn into a disadvantage if it comes to the arbitration…” (Breithilde)

“Is that their aim?” (Wendelin)

“Yes, it is.” (Breithilde)

Because dissatisfaction has appeared due to missing out on our development rights, he is likely restraining the complaints of his followers with such measures.

I didn’t know of the possibility of this kind of a public works-like aspect.

“Then I will get them back.” (Wendelin)

“Can I leave it to you?” (Breithilde)

Flying to the dispute areas in turns with the small airs.h.i.+p we have chartered, we will defeat the troops of the n.o.bles from Browig’s side and capture them.

If we can charge a high ransom by capturing them, Margrave Browig will regret having meddled with us, too.

“Thank you very much then.” (Breithilde)

Receiving the map from Margrave Breithilde, we quickly hurried to the locations where the n.o.bles’ military forces faced off against each other with the small magic airs.h.i.+p.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Dous.h.i.+ isn’t partic.i.p.ating this time after all.” (Erwin)

“As it is a dispute between the South and East, it will become a problem if the Royal Head Magician comes to support the South.” (Henrik)

“I do understand that as well, but in the case of dous.h.i.+ it seems also possible that he would partic.i.p.ate by saying something like 『It looks interesting』.” (Erwin)

“No way!” (Henrik)

“No… Since it’s that father, it’s possible…” (Henrik)

It’s been a half day on board the s.h.i.+p while Erw and Henrik have such chats.

As it was explained by Margrave Breithilde in the beginning, the copper mine, they are competing over, is close to the border between the a.s.sociate Baron Henckel household and the the territory of a.s.sociate Baron Lanzel’s household.

If you properly look at the copper mine, the side of a.s.sociate Baron Henckel’s household soldiers had stationed sentries in several places.

“Welcome! Please come in.”

Both armies were surprised by the magic airs.h.i.+p suddenly visiting at first, but once I sent Erw as messenger to the troop headquarters of a.s.sociate Baron Lanzel’s feudal army, the person himself came right away to greet us.

a.s.sociate Baron Lanzel was an ordinary, around 40-years-old ojii-san.

“Reinforcements from Margrave Breithilde-dono, is it?” (Lanzel)

“Yes. Let’s recapture the copper mine right away.” (Wendelin)

“Eh? Will it be alright?” (Lanzel)

Although he approves of the recapture of the copper mine, he wants to be spared from having too many victims, too.

Once I looked at a.s.sociate Baron Lanzel’s face, I was able to grasp that he is thinking like that right away.

“In short, there won’t be any problem if both sides have zero casualties, right?” (Wendelin)

“Yes. That would be the optimal solution.” (Lanzel)

If that’s the case, it’s simple.

We shouldn’t suffer an unexpected defeat either, if they can’t detect us.

“Well, then first comes the execution of the agreement. Brier-dono.” (Lanzel)

“Ah, yes. I was ordered by Margrave Breithilde-sama to accompany Earl Baumeister-sama. I work in military administration.” (Brier)

On a certain battlefield a certain problem with a.s.sisting the n.o.ble in leading the army occurred.

There were quite a few n.o.bles who tried to steal the achievements of a n.o.ble, who came as reinforcement, once the war ended despite being the ones rescued after them having come to a.s.sist. That was the cause of many troubles springing forth.

The military administrator who was dispatched this time by Margrave Breithilde is called Brier-s.h.i.+. He was a serious looking fifty-years old man.

Also there’s an agreement regarding the share of military gains.

There was something like a sharing percentage for stuff like the ransom of the prisoners themselves.