Chapter 602 (1/2)

Chapter 602

Chapter 60 – A new trigger

My name is Hermann von Benno Baumeister

I’ a certain hinterland territory

However, although that territory e-scale developun

There are plans to connect a road to the Baue Lands If that happens, the contact with the outside will increase as well It will enliven my territory, which was completely isolated before

But, the path up to here wasn’t easy at all

Originally I was the second son

The second son, born to a noble household, has always been reputed to be the spare of the eldest son

While free-loading at hoe will be later than that of the eldest son, too

And, there are many, who can’t marry, either

At worst, if the succeeding eldest son is unable to produce children, the second son will remain for life in the provided room of the mansion

In my childhood I didn’t know that

The eldest son, Kurt, as the heir, was by no h he was mediocre

However, once he grew up, he gradually grasped the situation of the household and territory

Given that Kurt was the heir, he was cherished My treat

As there was also a radually ht have still been better

My younger brothers, ere born byto leave elsewhere since they couldn’t succeed the household anyway

As red-bloods, they would becoe header sisters it would be fine as long as they married, even if it was a wealthy farmer (T/N: in contrast to the blue-bloods, aka nobles)

However, I was living in a room as Kurt’s spare

I was given a private roo but a jail without bars

That doesn’t mean that I particularly hated father or mother

I just hated the established rules of the nobles

It reached the point that I vented that resent

And also into the training of the foruard unit, which consisted of the second and third sons of farmers in a similar situation

That guard unit was usually responsible forthe public order

In an eency it would naturally become the core of the feudal army

Even if I say that, criminals or such rarely appeared here since it was a reions

Even the feudal aret a turn, if there wasn’t that previous expedition to the Deo there myself

Besides, although it uard unit which acted to maintain the public order, they stopped the occasional brawls between fellow farot drunk on sake, or mediated violent matrimonial quarrels

In this territory the guard unit was dispatched for incidents of that level

It was a job, that finished with several people rushi+ng on-site, listening to the argu up the fellow related parties

Also, there was the occasional subjugation of wild boars and bears, who lost their way into the fields, I guess?

Those were defeated in cooperation with the hunters, but there were many cases where the aniuard unit ca

There wasn’t a considerable auard unit

So the unit

Be that as it ma

y, the members had ordinary jobs, too

A regulation for the a had been decided more or less, but it was never obeyed

As it didn’t make sense to abandon the fields in order to carry out the training according to the regulation, father, who is the previous feudal lord, carried out a large-scale recla the tax revenue

Given that recla, I mainly helped out with that as well

『Here of today is over there』 (Artur)

Digging up the soil at the place designated by father, I chopped down hindering trees and uprooted their sturound with several people

Ree stones and blocks was quite the labor

However, as the field, which was assigned today, had been properly prepared by the unit e would receive it

He was a third son, as unable to succeed his home’s fields

Therefore he couldn’t afford failures in this reclamation

『Thank you, Here)

『Let’s not say such stuff to each other If you didn’t reuard unit would have become even more shabby』 (Hermann)

『Here)

We had a great laughter with the guard unitin another reclamation

As everyone was a second son and below, there were only people in the sa, even if it wasus emotionally

『You have been paying a large amount of money as taxes So, don’t hold back』 (Hermann)

Helge, who became 20 years old this year, was a survivor of the Deh it was difficult to see that

In those days he had just become an adult with 12 years, but he was recoht it wouldn’t be a problem for him to die as he was the third son

No, it was probably correct to call it getting rid of a nuisance

There’s no difference between nobles and co a problem like this

To be frank, I’ood for me, as 18 years old at that time, to no be dispatched with the army

Instead, the annihilation of the Junior Corand-uncle, and his three sons caused the currently icy relationshi+p between the main family and the branch family

It was obvious, once you looked, that the wohthe branch family

They were following father’s order, but once in a while they were looking at father and Kurt with piercing gazes

I becaet as well, however that was probably inevitable

I’roup after all

『Possessing that o so that it was taken away, you have to properly receive a field, Helge』 (Hermann)

It wasn’t like Helge was particularly excelling in swordsmanshi+p His body was also short and slender

However, by being skilled with the bow and further a robust body, he had sta spirit

He, as treated as underling due to his age, worked as er in the expeditionary force

On the surface they should have an equal status, but when the Baued, there was naturally no way for it to be that simple

For the previous Margrave Breithilde grand-uncle’s group was the retainers of his retainer

A large gap gradually forrave Breithilde treating them as retainers

Grand-uncle kept the Baurave Breithilde

It was probably because there were problems in their treatment, but maybe he predicted their fate to a certain extent

Because more than 20 people of that small force survived, I have no doubt that he was likely preparing for the failure of the expedition

However, the option to escape with few victims was no viable

It was likely that it would become a problem in the future, if the Baumeister feudal arot annihilated

Especially, seeing that our supply route for goods such as salt was in the hands of the Margrave Breithilde household, it wouldn’t do with only the

Even so, he wanted to let the young men escape as much as possible

All of the 20 survivors were youngsters ranging from 12 years to early twenties

It was the best outcorand-uncle was able to leave behind with his sphere of influence

He risked his own life and the lives of his sons

However, it was cruel for father’s evaluation

『He parted with valuable residents without resistance』 and such

Even so, father had the position of feudal lord

On the surface it was necessary for hirand-uncle, who lost 80 of the war potential

『Certainly, it’s just as father says』 (Kurt)

Following up on father, rand-uncle, too

As Kurt was a mediocre man, it was only natural for hi to what father told him

But, with that brief comment I noticed Kurt’s lack of military talent

At the same time I didn’t miss father’s instant expression of disappointment

Father likely wanted Kurt to praise grand-uncle

Since he was the feudal lord, he wasn’t able to praise grand-uncle, who lost the majority of our war potential

However, if the succeeding son praised grand-uncle for returning asmen as he could, it would have been possible to soer of people of the branch family

Although I wasn’t that intelligent, I at least understood this much

Be that as it may, Kurt didn’t realize that

Father likely felt dejected in his heart

Such things should be arranged ahead of ti I could think

『Putting that aside, we have to thank those ere able to come back』 (Hermann)

I considered it butting in, but I proposed that father should directly call out to the people, ere able to return

Such concern couldn’t be expected of Kurt at any rate

Lacking manpower due to the expeditionary force, it was onlythe still re inhabitants, but it was also necessary to rebuke and properly correct the group I was leading, if they made a mistake They had to at least knohat to not do, if they wanted to be praised and achieve accomplishments

They had survived the hell, which cost us 80 of our military forces

Rewarding their efforts, it was necessary for father to give thes

『Certainly, that’s necessary』 (Artur)

Father consented with my opinion

And it actually took place, but ht have been polished at that time

『Holidays and such are unnecessary Rather, it would be better to et that hell』 (Kurt)

Kurt had such opinion, however once I considered that standpoint, it wasn’t like his vierong either

With all of the surviving youngsecond sons and below, they were in no position to succeed a family in reality

Given that those, who no one would ed that their manpower should be immediately used

It was probably a necessary decision for the sake of the territory’s growth, but his way of thinking ed to the fact that he had the position of eldest son

Although I could comprehend it, I wasn’t pleased with it on an emotional level

And, although the young men were able to come back, the majority of them had collapsed mentally

During grand-uncle’s absence I read books in father’s study thinking it was necessary to study as it was an activity on the level of a patrol unit with several people, but within the books there was a description about mind sickness due to war

If you go through a too bitter experience on the battlefield, there will be people, whose mind becomes sick and ill become useless as soldiers

According to their story, a large arht attack

Thanks to that, they reached the point of even becoht’s darkness and the mysterious sounds, which occur then

Since the one, I wasn’t able to do anything but a shauards around for a while

I had hope for them, who had actual combat experience, but it was probably impossible to invite them as they were in such state

『I will be alright』 (Helge)

However, luckily it resulted in several young uard unit

The one as especially solid ae

Grand-uncle had appointed Helge as er to stay in touch with the Breithilde feudal army

For the sake of clearing the dangerous mood between the two arest

And that attehtly successful

The leaders of the Breithilde feudal are, whose parents were in the sa for communication, the soldiers apparently were affectionate towards him

『For you it’s a disaster as well You were dragged into a competition of obstinacy between fellow authorities』

『I don’t , if I’e)

『You have a great character Since we grilledsome of it』

『Thank you』 (Helge)

『Youngsters have to eat their fill without holding back』

He was favored by the lower soldiers with such feelings

And then that fateful day came

As Helge was heading into the direction of the Breithilde feudal arave a certain soe

『We probably won’t be able to return alive Boy, you have to survive at any cost We will give you this』

He didn’t quite understand anything, but he received several s

And he was successful in escaping alongside others fro his horse skilfully thanks to his er duty

Together with the other survivors they barely ed to reach the Baumeister territory one way or another, but after that he was assaulted by the blas in his chest

Father collected the taxes froreat pains

Because they were given a reward by Margrave Breithilde in addition to going to hunt at the time they entered the Demon Forest, they paid it with the coins they possessed

『Father, that’s probably crude, as one would expect』 (Hermann)

『It ht be as you say, but even so, the law is the law』 (Artur)

However, even the reward, they had, was substantially reduced to zero

『Besides, it’s probably not almost all money they have on hand…』 (Artur)

Certainly, it was as father said

He ht have taken the tax as planned since father definitely understood it as well

Everyone of the surviving group was second son and below

As according to his conjecture of their treatment at their ho their lives, was snatched away

Especially Helge, as the received h-priced roup, who had money, for 200000 cents

Even so, the e received from his parents, was mere 1000 cents

Thehis life on the line, was completely exploited by his home

『(It’s a story, which is really sickening)』 (Hermann)

Be that as it ricultural community in the countryside

Given that it is important for the continuation of the fa but rapes, which you squeeze for their juice

Recently the nuether with the , but I was able to understand their feelings

Even father was considering this to not be a good thing

However, too radical n in the territory

If there was so like a rebellion in such isolated territory, the Baue That’s probably why he was trying to proement for reclamation as much as possible to allow the second sons and below to stand on their own feet

I didn’t believe that the eldest son, Kurt, noticed father’s forethought though

If it was from his point of view, it was likely the level of perception that the tax yield would increase, if the arable lands expanded

『Hermann, you will enter the branch family as son-in-law』 (Artur)

At the time when I heard that story from father, my realization was no more than 『Will it be less objectionable because it’s noonder?』

Coe-scale reclamation, it was the time when Kurt’s as finally decided

I was told to work in the position of Junior Co adopted into the branch family

With the failure of the expedition, the military forces of the Baumeister feudal army still hadn’t recovered

In the case of an e , were also necessary to a certain degree

Even so, while I was looking for possibilities in the books in the study, the 20 second sons and below, in nah imitation from me

One of the few results was Helge beco experience

Although I felt sorry for troubling them with hardshi+ps in addition to the farm work on the fields, which were reclaimed just recently, the me at that time had no other way to entertain them

For Kurt, who had realized his secure position through being surrounded by the heirs of wealthy fareneration, such hardshi+ps were likely unnecessary

Moreover, it seemed like Kurt was jealous of my military talent

At the ti as it was far too ridiculous

Certainly, I was the most proficient in swordsmanshi+p within the territory I didn’t believe I would lose in archery to the hunter group either

If it was a vigilante corps and a certain extent of a guard unit, I would probably be able to command them more skilfully than father and Kurt

But, what about it?

While it may be true that I was the best in such isolated, rural territory, there should exist as uys as there were stars in the sky, ere more skilled than me, once you went outside

Kurt’s jealousy was nothing but false accusation in my view

Afterwards his jealousy vanished at the same time when I was adopted into the branch family

He was probably relived because his rival became the head of the branch family

He was a truly happy-go-lucky next family head For someone like me the branch family was a bed of thorns

Being adopted into the branch fa delayed since father waited for Marlene, who is the direct granddaughter of granduncle, to become an adult

Actually, once I was adopted, I was baffled by the attitude of my wife, Marlene

From the branch fanised as having killed granduncle’s group in a plan to hijack the branch family

I didn’t knohat father was thinking, but it would have been fine, if he had at least dispatched only me as well

The appearance of Marlene was lovely There was nothing I wanted to coiven that I was able to marry her

Once she had taken an attitude of 『It can’t be helped since it’s for the sake of ht, even I was bothered

Even during the tiuest

As expected, even I would end up mentally strained by that, however I was saved by an unexpected person

I have s

Even with only the children born by al wife, there’s the third son Paul, the fourth son Helmut and the fifth son Erich

And, being the youngest boy, the eighth son, Wendelin

They were daily running about preparing to leave to the capital as they couldn’t succeed the household anyway

For me, who spent his teens as spare to be ready just in case, it was very enviable

『Instead, ill be on our own』 (Paul)

Paul said so, but even so I was jealous of the able to leave elsewhere

I had no lingering affections towards being a noble or such I wouldn’t be a noble anymore at the moment I became the head of the branch family anyway

Even at that point in time I had the drea an adventurer or such like Paul, if possible

『I have no other choice but to leave and go travelling In all honesty, I have no attachh』 (Paul)

Although he was able to succeed in the future, Kurt discovered a new target for his jealousy

It was the fifth son, Erich

That guy was ayou believe that it was abeen born into the Baumeister household

Great looks, unly excellent intellect

Of course his popularity with the fief’s population was high

And naturally it reached a point that they deemed him to be appropriate as next feudal lord

I didn’t believe that this territory would have any dealings with other feudal lords, but it would be better for the feudal lord to have a dignified appearance, since he’s the face of the territory

Even in regards to ability Erich outclassed Kurt by far

Kurt’s jealousy was a matter of course, however that vanished with the declaration that Erich would leave the territory in the future

And in the end an even er brother appeared

It was the eighth son, Wendelin

At the beginning this child also read books and such froht he was a similar type as Erich

However, gradually he displayed his talent in ic

For a child, which has talent in ic, to appear in this hinterland territory was close to a miracle

Father immediately took countermeasures

Those ended up being complete non-interference

Although father told him to make sure to not contribute to the territory ascontributions with stuff like meat and supplies

Even at the time, when I was still at home, the stuff we received to eat often was the uinea fowl

It was freely provided by Wendelin

Fro he probably carried out special training in ic

Occasionally it reached the point of hi the night somewhere else

Naturally the flaain

Froly advise him to study, if he had so much spare time

And although it was ood character

Without considering someone like Kurt, he did as he liked due to his independence

『(Once I looked at Wendelin, everything seemed absurd)』 (Hermann)

I was adopted into the branch fa to father’s and Kurt’s intention and even my wife had reservations towards me

I was fed up with such life

Certainly I was the second son of the main family, but I had already become a former second son

Currently, as head of the branch family it was necessary to work for father and Kurt as retainer, but there was no necessity to obey in other matters

Several days after the day, I decided to do so, I attended a certain

Thisto the opinions of those in the rated in the early days

They were taken into consideration because they were the feudal lord’s support base

However, if this was always done, the guys fro

It was necessary to resolve that in the future, however at that ti about those benefits on behalf of others as head of the branch family

『We want to request of you to reduce the irresponsible labour』 (Hermann)

Even without that, the branch family had few men

For that reason even the women of the branch family had to help in the reclamation work

There are several subordinate warriors in the branch family as well, but they usually spend a busy life as farmers

They were at their limit with the help they could provide to us

『For that reason we sent the h』 (Kurt)

『There are li me』 (Hermann)

Kurt didn’t think anything ofone of his henchmen after all

Since he sent that henchman to the branch fa else but an usable tool

Indeed, once analysed caln of the Baue was no more than a house built on sand

Father and the village header, but they didn’t find an innovative solution Kurt didn’t even notice that danger

『(In a certainthat’s enviable, huh…?) Thanks to the labour, the aone down』 (Hermann)

The branch families occupation was traditional apiculture and the production of honey liquor byuse of that

Even so, by expediting an increase of work in an extree, the production output fell

『Also, I want you to pay the bills for the honey liquor』 (Hermann)

Alcohol was precious in this territory