78 – Summary (3)
“Phew. “I’m finally getting down to the territory.”
After the party at Marchen Castle, people who had finished their business went their separate ways. Master said he would go to the Academy first, so I went down south again with the intention of taking a look around the territory before going to the Academy.
I look around again at the people going down to the territory with me.
Lena, who still fully supports me, and Sharon and Meron.
The knights and soldiers who followed me from the Ivory territory.
And crucially…
“Do you want some candy, Eleanor?”
“…Thank you.”
Eleanor Marhen, who comes from the Marhen territory and has hair bluer than the sky and has no expression, but her cheeks are quite cute when she crinkles when she receives candy. Even our human rights character driver.
Eleanor is the knight whom I requested support from Duke Marhen this time using the achievements gained through battle.
This is Eleanor, who definitely belongs to the Marchen duchy. It may feel awkward and strange to be next to me like this.
It is clear that the value of Eleanor, who is famous as a genius, will only increase in the future, so it is not easy for the Duke of Marchen to allow her to be by my side instead of at the Duke of Marchen or the Imperial Knight Academy. Obviously, if I had only accessed it through the game, there would be no way I would have recruited Eleanor at this point.
But, seeing as the Duke of Marchen had considered many things, I succeeded in taking Eleanor from her.
-Thank you for helping the Marhen territory, Baron Ivorys. As you requested, I will assist Eleanor in your territory. I hope that this opportunity will foster friendship among the southern fiefdoms.
I can vaguely guess what the Duke of Marchen is thinking. Eleanor’s skills improved while she was at the academy, so I guess she will improve even more if she stays by my side.
A line of connection and surveillance was connected to the newly created southern nobility. He is also a new sword master.
The Ivory Territory that I now own is a strategic point bordering the immediate empire and the southern magic kingdoms of Sherrington Kingdom and Holy Kingdom.
Of course, before I was there, it was just a desolate territory, but in name only, I, the sword master of the empire, was stationed in the border area.
In an act like this, which can be seen as an exercise of military force by the Empire, Duke Marchen also dispatched Eleanor to secure actual military support and a justification for intervention, which can only be said to be a highly advanced political strategy.
Of course, stories like this didn’t just come from my head. It came about when Lena, Sharon, and Meron came together to discuss Eleanor’s recruitment. If I were alone, I might have just assumed there was some kind of plan and moved on.
Like my previous life, I am not a particularly smart person. Hannah was the smart one.
So, when conquering the Carnia Chronicles, I always did the combat content, and my childhood friend, Park Hanna, strategized the headache-inducing content such as territory management.
In the same room, covered with the same blanket, playing the same game. That’s how the two of us spent time.
‘…It’s a past we can no longer return to.’
While thinking about the bittersweet past, I suddenly look at Lena.
The first woman I met in this world was so beautiful that I was dazzled when I first met her.
If things had gone the way they were, the silver-haired beauty would have lost Yohan to other women and gone crazy and lived a gloomy life.
She is now talking with Sharon and Meron while smiling faintly. It’s an expression you can’t imagine from Hannah’s illustrations I’ve seen.
I feel proud of myself for changing what was a predestined fate when I see her beautiful appearance, which is different from her original appearance.
At the same time, she suddenly became aware of John who had been taken away from her.
The person I had forgotten until now in order to adapt to this world, become stronger, live, and stand tall as a knight, once again floated in the waves of my head.
Is it right for me to take Lena and her?
How would Lena react if she found out that I was not the Johan she used to know? Was she really right to affirm and fulfill all my desires?
I feel like the vow I made when I got the Ego Sword, that I would throw away my poor conscience and live the way I wanted this time, is shaking. To my surprise.
What should I do with Lena, Sharon, and Meron from now on?
-Puuk.
“John.”
“…Huh?”
While I was lost in thought, I was startled by an unfamiliar sensation stabbing my cheek, and when I turned my head, I saw Eleanor poking my cheek with her finger.
To be exact, he was holding something rustling in his hand.
“Candy… Want some?”
“Candy?”
“Yes. “Most troublesome things are relieved by eating sweets.”
The candy that was always given to me suddenly came into my mouth through her hand.
An unexpected sweetness started to fill my tongue and into my head, and the feeling of being dizzy from many thoughts was gradually fading away.
“John looked different from usual in pain… “
“Does it hurt? I?”
I don’t think it’s a problem with my physical condition. I’m really used to horseback riding, which was a bit difficult at first, but I don’t feel any residual illness or fatigue at all.
However, given Eleanor’s characteristics, it is unlikely that she will say something useless or lie.
That’s why what I’m thinking about right now is probably useless.
“Don’t worry. It’s not painful. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Really. “Here, take another candy.”
“Are you okay? You gave me one earlier. You shouldn’t eat too much… “
“This much is okay. You’re going to travel with me from now on, right? I also pay the salary. So you don’t have to worry about that.”
“…Thank you.”
-Yum…
As I put another candy in her mouth, I organize my weak thoughts. Because I have no intention of continuing this while causing worry to the people around me.
Anyway, watching it again, our human rights character is amazing. How was it possible to recruit him like this now? Perhaps the Duke of Marhen will ask me something bigger than expected or something like that later?
Well, it doesn’t matter. If I can get Eleanor, I can think about such calculations without any problem. No, rather, it should be considered a great luck that we were able to bring in the manpower of the Duke of Marhen at such a high level of calculation and cost.
Although it is thanks to the trend of the Duke of Marchen, who, unlike other dukes, does not think of the princess as her own princess… Something feels a little off.
Whether she knows my complicated feelings or not, Eleanor is squeezing candy into her small cheeks. Since she didn’t twist her hair on the way, maybe she was showing her satisfaction in her own way.
“Thank you, Eleanor.”
“…It’s no big deal.”
Despite her seemingly unremarkable appearance, her usual pale skin looks a little warm on her cheeks. Looking at her like that, I felt as if her stray cat, which usually just takes food from her, was asking for something from her.
I somehow want to pat her head in gratitude, but
“Hey, Eleanor. If it’s okay, can we talk for a moment, it’s been a while?”
“…With me? Suddenly?”
“Ugh~! For a moment. “It only takes a little while!”
“John, wait a minute, go first! “There’s something we need to talk about here just between women!”
For some reason, sisters Lena and Sharon Meron rush over and disappear behind, taking Eleanor with them. So much so that it is beyond the range of my sensitive ears.
-Ododog…
The candy given to Eleanor lingers in her mouth, leaving a clear sound in her ears.
How many times did I repeat the feeling of candy in my mouth?
We were able to return to Ivorys Estate as scheduled.
* * *
“Waaa—!!”
“Long live the lord!!!”
“Long live the Sword Master!!”
Unlike when I left, the first thing I see is a group of people greeting the soldiers with bright expressions.
Of course, there is some element of Sword Master and all mixed in with their cheers, but what is more important than that is…
“Ellis! Oh my, my daughter. You came back alive… !”
“Yes, Mom. I told you. Our Baron is very strong. So you don’t have to worry? “At most, we only had minor injuries.”
“Thank you, thank you Baron…” Hmm… “
The joy of the families of our soldiers and knights who returned safely and in good health will be the top priority here.
Although I was not able to conscript, the families of the soldiers and knights I led are all in this territory. As the scale of the war was quite large, there was a high probability that there would be casualties.
As luck would have it, none of the soldiers and knights in the Ivory territory I led died. Although there may be some injuries, everyone will be able to return and fully enjoy the aftermath with their families.
‘Family… Ira… ‘
From Noble mtl dot com
After looking at something unfamiliar to me with some curiosity, I returned to the lord’s castle with Lena and Sharon Meron. It’s not that grand to be called a castle, though.
Lord Micheleva, a middle-aged female knight who took care of the territory on my behalf, was waiting for me there.
“Congratulations on your victory, Baron!!”
“Thank you, Sir Micheleva. “You took good care of the territory while I was away.”
“Of course it was something that had to be done. The Baron is the one who brought the knights and soldiers safely! “As expected, you are the Empire’s new Sword Master!!!”
With her bright smile, she enters the lord’s office after exchanging a few things related to her fiefdom.
“I have organized, however briefly, the documents related to this rebellion and the former baron’s work. I haven’t learned professional administration, so I’m a bit lacking, but… “
“No. This was a great help, Sir Micheleva. “I don’t think leaving you here and entrusting me with the territory was a wrong choice.”
“hahahahaha! I feel very happy to hear such words from my handsome lord. “Then, if you need anything, please let me know.”
After leaving the lord’s office, Sir Michael Leva left his post.
“Wow… Why are there so many documents… ?”
“Melon. Could you read… ?”
“What are you talking about, Sharon? You know that we are gems except for the documents related to the mercenary contract. To begin with, even at the Academy, the administrative exams this time were terrible. If I had known it would be like this, I would have studied more… Ugh… “
We are suddenly faced with the reality that the content went from war to territory management overnight.