Chapter 29 - The Disturbance Resolved
--- My father made his decision.
He ordered Granduncle's complete disownment from the knightly family and his expulsion from the town. Granduncle's subordinates were dismissed with a decree of self-responsibility. Granduncle’s subordinates, who had once been at the forefront of the vassals, included many who had earned renown as seasoned warriors in the past. As for their misdeeds in the city, it would not be tolerated from now on... This was one of his conciliatory measures. The unspoken message was clear: "Past sins will be overlooked based on past achievements."
The message also implied a warning: "Things will be different from now on."
More people than I had imagined understood this. Of course, this included those who had been swayed by my second brother's conversion tactics, but also those who held a love for their homeland in their hearts, and those who began questioning their loyalty to Granduncle. These individuals separated themselves from him and approached our family to reaffirm their allegiance to our knightly house.
--- Granduncle himself was greatly flustered.
His former subordinates, who had always followed him without question, were now defecting in droves. Among those subordinates were some who had lived indulgently, far removed from the battlefield, forgetting the pride of the knightly family, living for their own gain. These were the ones who could not abandon their old ways and chose to leave the town with Granduncle.
Their numbers were a third of the garrison.
Whether this was considered a large loss or something to be celebrated as a major reduction depended on one's perspective. For me... it was a cause for celebration. Those who had forgotten the pride and dignity of the knightly house were no longer fit to bear the responsibility of protecting the peace of their homeland and would likely have become harbingers of disaster to the very land they were supposed to protect.
Upon receiving Father’s disownment letter, Granduncle must have deemed an armed uprising futile. Once again, he spouted his usual grandiose rhetoric, leading his remaining subordinates out of the town, away from our homeland. No one from the common folk came forward to aid him or begged for Father's forgiveness, and the sight of his waning influence made it impossible for the knightly houses to hide their surprise. As a knightly family, we were relieved—there had been no major chaos, and the problem seemed to be moving further away from us.
If things had gone wrong, a civil war could have broken out, turning the town into a battlefield.
It had been a critical moment. However, feeling at a disadvantage in terms of military strength, Granduncle chose to gather his forces and leave the town. A battle within the city—just the thought of it was a nightmare. Many of Granduncle's subordinates were seasoned veterans, some with experience in the kingdom’s foreign wars. They knew firsthand how devastating urban combat could be, and this understanding likely pushed him toward that decision.
Just barely... they still had some humanity left.
Where they would go from here was unclear. But if they retained sufficient combat strength, they would have several options. They could join the Adventurer Guild, become mercenaries, or even serve as loyal dogs for some noble house. Any of these options would require a quick decision; if not, the worst-case scenario would be that they descended into becoming bandits or highwaymen. I’d like to believe they haven’t sunk that low.
--- The greatest crisis for the Frontier Knightly Family had been avoided here.
--- § ---
One day, just before a patrol, my second brother stopped me before training. He wanted to talk to me for a while before heading out. We sat across from each other at a sturdy wooden table and bench in the corner of the training grounds—where the barracks was located—which also served as a resting area.
He wore an expression that seemed as though he had cleared his mind. I suppose he had much on his mind. Perhaps this was an opportunity for him to organize his thoughts with words. He placed a faint smile on his lips that was far from refreshing, and began to speak slowly.
"Granduncle was far too reckless. The people of the town are keenly observant of us. Normally, they quietly obey without question, but that obedience was nothing more than coercion backed by power. As you said, explaining the reasoning and gaining their agreement before conscription, it leaves a completely different impression from conscription with no questions asked. The common folk are people too, and this incident has made that clear. You planned this, didn't you?"
"Oh? Those who live on the frontier have always been keenly aware of the threats of nature, so they understand the necessity of various forms of cooperation. As for the rest... well, I suppose it's more of a matter of sentiment."
"That intuitive sense of yours is truly remarkable. Could it be a result of having grown up mingling with the common folk since childhood? As someone who studied in the royal capital, I find such a perspective exceedingly unconventional."
"In the royal capital, the nobility, much like Granduncle, have a strong sense of elitism. The younger ones, in particular, are more pronounced in this regard. However, the key difference is the ability to conceal this—a matter of tolerance, if you will. This is what defines the noble way. Moreover, the kingdom's laws exist to suppress the reckless behavior of the aristocracy. Additionally, the fundamental mindset of those who govern—the king and high-ranking nobles—is centered on the peace of the kingdom and the accompanying growth of national wealth. Therefore, blatant arrogance and selfish desires are especially despised within noble society. Of course, absolute purity is not expected, but those who can embrace both the clean and the foul are the ones who align with the king's heart."
"I see... I see. The knowledge you've gained in the capital, such thinking is rare in the frontier. I hope you use it well to aid our heir's cause."
"Shall I also be of service to you, Second Brother? You are about to lead the elite forces of the frontier knightly family. It may be somewhat different from a guerilla unit, but if you make use of what I have learned, I believe it will be somewhat easier to command the main force."
"Your advice on 'conversion' was truly remarkable. I never imagined that so many would once again pledge loyalty to the knightly house. The number of personnel in the heir's garrison will increase. We now have enough personnel: the injured from the former main force, the logistics and medical units from the guerilla unit, and those who stayed loyal... We have secured enough manpower to protect the safety of the city. However, it is expected that there will be difficulties in commanding them..."
"It is not impossible. After all, the ones at the core are those whom Eldest Brother personally trained."
"Though they are injured, their spirit is genuine... huh. They can indeed be called good senior figures. Even those who remained, though they are veterans, are no longer on the frontlines. Many of them will likely recall their pride as they catch the scent of the front lines once more. If Brother trains them once again with his own hands... the garrison might become an elite unit."
"They are the last human fortress to protect the town. I have no doubt that Eldest Brother will not spare any effort. I am certain of it."
"...By the way, is there any issue with the composition of the guerilla unit you command?"
"At present, the newly formed unit is focusing on basic training. It may be too soon for real combat experience, but if commanded, I believe we could accomplish tasks with our current forces. It may be difficult to perform at full capacity, though."
"I see... What about those who remained in the guerilla unit?"
"They've been treating me well, Brother. You selected them, didn't you?"
"Well... yes. Now then, I must go for the regular patrol."
"Yes. Wishing you good fortune."
We raised our fists in front of our chests and wished each other long-lasting success. A gesture of respect typical of the frontier. Given the current situation, this could very well be our last farewell. Thus, conversations that cleared any lingering resentment or grudges were necessary. Of course, direct exchanges of words could sometimes escalate into physical confrontations, but such things were commonplace in the frontier.
It was a far cry from my previous life, where I struggled with social interactions. The circumstances had forced me to change. If I hadn't, my heart would have withered. Compared to my past life, if I were to withdraw mentally, I would accomplish nothing, help no one, and fail to repay my family's love... I would simply die in vain once more.
That would not do. After all, I had been born into this world and was loved.
It was my karma to improve the situation with all my strength.
I glanced at my older brother's back as he left the training grounds, then shifted my focus to where I was meant to be. The place where the guerilla unit was training. This place was where...
--- I directed my gaze.
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