Chapter 49 - Father’s Unreasonable Request
Finally, news arrived that the new feudal lord had entered the capital of our territory.
This announcement was delivered to all knightly families in the vicinity, including ours. Before long, an official summons arrived at our home, stating that the high countess wished to meet with the members of the knightly families. Father gathered the household in his office, where he and my elder brother regarded the official summons with serious expressions. Then, Father spoke with deliberate gravity.
“The time has come. I do not know what intentions the high countess holds, but a summons cannot be ignored. I’ve heard of her reputation through the letters from your friend. Is there anything you wish to add?”
“No, Father. My friend’s description of her seems accurate. However, the only concern is how much control she has over those around her. If she has become a mere puppet, then my friend’s accounts may be of little use. On the other hand, if she has firmly grasped control of her vassals, the information might indeed prove valuable. Please see for yourself, Father.”
“I see. This gathering in the territorial capital will include all the knightly families in the area. The summons specifies that the head of the family, their spouse, and the heir and their spouse are required to attend. It also mentions that, upon prior request, other family members may accompany them. What do you two plan to do?”
Father turned to Second Brother and me. After a moment of thought, Second Brother shared his decision.
“I will remain here. One never knows when an emergency might arise. Recently, the Shallow Forest has been unusually restless, and the frequency of mobilizations has been increasing. As the one responsible for leading the main force, I cannot afford to leave.”
“Hmm, sound reasoning. And you?”
“The guerilla unit is far from being a fully trained elite force. Additionally, its primary mission is conducting reconnaissance-in-force before Second Brother’s mobilizations. As a soldier of the frontier, abandoning this duty is out of the question for me.”
“I see. So you prioritize the stability of the region (hometown). Very well, I accept your judgment. That is, after all, the essence of what it means to be a knightly family. My wife and I, along with the heir and his wife, will head to the capital. In the meantime, I entrust this territory to you.”
“”Understood.””
And so, Father, Mother, Elder brother, and Sister-in-law departed for the capital. Whether it was the matter of the new investiture or reporting on the state of the governed region, I was confident that as long as Father and Elder Brother were there, things wouldn’t go awry. Besides, the high comital lady—no, the high countess had seen many things beside the grand ducal lady and received her education at the grand ducal household. Her insight and knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary nobles.
Because of this...
I wasn’t too worried. I simply resolved to continue dedicating myself to the peace and stability of the frontier, whispering this silent commitment to myself.
―――――
Second Brother and I took on the role of stewards in their absence. As Father and Elder Brother’s representative, Second Brother presided over various matters, while I acted as his assistant. We faced a daunting amount of administrative tasks, which left us sighing in unison. Father, Mother, Elder Brother, and Sister-in-law... I found myself marveling at how they had managed to handle this workload so efficiently.
Even though most issues were already addressed, there was no end to daily petitions and complaints. From mediating minor quarrels to resolving disputes between guilds, the endless stream of miscellaneous matters brought to our knightly family’s doorstep was exhausting. At one point, Second Brother finally threw in the towel...
“I’m leaving this to you. You’re better suited for handling these things, having become a man of words thanks to your education in the royal capital. I almost lost my temper and punched someone. It’s better to withdraw than to shame Father and Elder Brother.”
“That’s harsh. What do you expect me to do?”
“Stall for time. Leave it to Father and Elder Brother. There’s nothing else you can do. Hahaha! I’m not cut out to be the heir. Supporting Elder Brother is more than enough for me. I’d rather be out there wreaking havoc in the forest. You’re no different, are you?”
“Second Brother... I’m just beginning to understand how much effort Father and Elder Brother put into all of this.”
“Consult the butler often, and don’t forget to make use of your adjutant. That’ll make things a little easier.”
“I will. ‘If you lack the ability, rely on those who have it,’ wasn’t it?”
“The creed of our knightly family is all about exhausting ourselves until we have nothing left, really. Well, that’s how it is.”
Despite saying this, Second Brother still supported me in various ways. While he let me take the lead publicly, he worked tirelessly behind the scenes. I wasn’t one to step into the spotlight... It was a bit embarrassing being the figurehead, but I reminded myself that this, too, was part of the responsibility of being born into a knightly family. So, I kept my chin up and pressed on.
Before Father and the others returned to this land, our governed domain, there were two instances where we received urgent reports. Abandoning all miscellaneous matters, I led the guerilla unit into the Shallow Forest and conducted reconnaissance in force. During this, I incorporated suggestions from the soldier into the operation and tested it.
The results, however, were far from satisfactory. Marching with two types of weapons proved impractical. Switching between them took too much time, and it caused confusion for the spotters as well. The effective ranges of the weapons were simply too different. The incanted bolts carried the same runes as the bullets.
But the accuracy was vastly inferior. Instead of dealing decisive blows, all we managed was to drench the magical beasts in holy water. This, too, became a point of reflection. Even though they could hit the mark repeatedly on the shooting range, in real combat, their aim faltered. The same applied even with the use of Skills. Once again, the wall of experience loomed large and unyielding.
Old Man watched it all with a smile on his face. He said nothing. Perhaps his long years of military service had taught him that “soldiers will never understand until they experience it for themselves.” Could it be that the current guerilla unit had that much leeway? Am I the only one who found his quiet smile so intimidating?
One thing was certain: the two reconnaissance-in-force missions in force ultimately became the infantry unit’s showcase.
――――
“All eighteen knightly families in this land have been re-granted their titles. The high countess (lord) is a reasonable woman and has managed the high comital household well.”
Father, who had returned, said this with a cheerful tone in his office. I see, that sounded just like her. She was reputed to be the most brilliant woman at the Magic Academy. Yet her achievements were always followed by the phrase, “If only...”
With her beautiful face and refined manners, she exuded an air of nobility that made one instinctively regard her as a person of high stature. Everything about her was of the highest caliber. However, she bore a large scar on her body. As a child, her carriage was attacked by a magical beast while traveling with her relatives. Her parents perished, and she herself was gravely injured, hovering between life and death.
That injury led to her uncle taking over the family title, effectively stripping her of her place and position. Through her connection with the grand ducal family—thanks to her friendship with the grand ducal lady since childhood—she was taken in and lived with them thereafter. Few knew she limped slightly due to her old wounds. It was barely noticeable, but upon closer observation, it was clear her movements hinted at significant damage to her core strength.
As my friend from the Minister of Magic’s household wrote in a letter, “She, too, has led a life marked by great misfortune.” Yet she never let adversity crush her. Even now, she stood tall, dignified, and unwavering. Her resolve was truly admirable, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of respect. I silently thanked God for blessing us with such a remarkable lord.
“Now then, we must express our gratitude for her re-granting our family’s title, but... the recipient is a high countess from a high comital family—a woman once considered for a role as the Crown Princess’s close advisor. A half-hearted gift simply won’t do. Do any of you have any ideas?”
Father’s gaze swept across us—the family members of the knightly house.
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