Interlude 22 – The cornered Kurt
『If it goes on like this, the Baumeister territory will be hijacked by Wendelin!』 (Kurt)
Three months passed since that annoying Wendelin has moved his home base into our Baumeister territory.
Although he said at the beginning that he came to purify that Demon Forest of the victims of the expedition, who have turned undead, and to put their articles of the deceased in order, he reversed that statement right away and begun to free-load within the territory.
Furthermore, he ignores me, who is the next family head.
The fucker only negotiates with the old man and does as he pleases. Getting a license for the still undeveloped Savage Lands from the old man, he arbitrarily plants his own nest there.
With that mansion being something pointlessly extravagant, if you compare it to our main family’s mansion, he is at the same time making fun of the feudal lord.
In what kind of world are there idiots, who are relocating a more gorgeous mansion than the mansion of the feudal lord.
As expected, he protested to the old man because of that issue, but the old man’s wasn’t something sweet.
『I have been told that it’s for a limited time. Bear with it for a short while.』 (Artur)
Even so, the old man’s reply was cold.
Being a user of magic that can even kill a dragon, the old man yielded to the pressure of the excellent son-sama. (T/N: topic change)
I didn’t think there would be anything problems caused by the elderly, if he has grown this old.
『Isn’t the development of the territory advancing nicely? What are you gaining by complaining here?』 (Artur)
Certainly, the development of the territory is advancing.
But, that has absolutely nothing to do with us.
Currently Wendelin is spending half his time exploring that Demon Forest and the other half at the cultivation of new land in the Savage Lands.
He levels the land with outrageously powerful magic. Occasionally he removes obstacles such as rocks, that even have the height of hills.
He is creating neat square-shaped paddy fields, roads, irrigation channels, etc.
Additionally, he is even transforming the soil of those paddy fields into something suitable for rice cultivation with magic.
『That guy! Wendelin is usurping the territory!』 (Kurt)
Usually it takes time to reclaim and cultivate farmland from scratch.
In the first place, the reclamation itself takes time.
Then, until the soil proves suitable to even grow crops there, it takes several years and if you do it poorly even a decade.
Although that’s the case, something like a degree of income from the first year…
I can’t think of anything but Wendelin making fun of us, who are honestly cultivating new land.
In these 3 months a vast paddy field with a network of irrigation channels has been spread in the Savage Lands bordering to our territory.
In a paddy field filled with water the rice-plants, which had been planted the other day, are growing nicely.
The immigration applicants, who gathered and are called servants by Wendelin, were trained in the care-taking of rice-plants by experienced male farmers, who were employed in the same way. They were concentrating on things like reinforcing the irrigation channels and the ridges between the rice fields.
『Sooner or later that special development ward will become our territory though.』 (Artur)
『Such promise! Do you really think that Wendelin will stick to it!?』 (Kurt)
Wendelin named the cultivated land 『Special Development Ward』.
Currently the number of households is around 100. The population should have passed the number of 350 residents.
『It ended up becoming bigger than the main village!』 (Kurt)
『Even so, time is moving on. Though it is called the main village, things change such as the centre of the territory, if the scale of the territory expands.』 (Artur)
The old man is just satisfied by the size and population of the territory increasing.
However, such “just” is only something like the territory expanding.
Being out of the control of a feudal lord, it’s nothing more but a place of common people gathering.
For the sake of territory’s safety, it won’t do if we don’t rule it appropriately.
For that reason we are collecting taxes even if we are hated for it.
『Moreover, that lot ain’t paying any taxes!』 (Kurt)
『Not paying? Did you properly see the details of that agreement?』 (Artur)
Having been left out of the loop at the time of the agreement, it seems to have considerable statements.
According to the agreement with Wendelin, his earnings as adventurer seem to be linked to the income and expenditure of the Savage Lands development.
In other words, the total sum of the profits from hunting and gathering in the Demon Forest will be used for the Savage Lands development.
From the entire income and expenditure, 20% of the profit will be paid as tax.
Because it is a deliberately complex agreement, it makes sure that I won’t understand the details.
Without doubt that guy will dodge paying the taxes.
Therefore neither the old man nor Klaus are saying anything.
They only got angry.
『Father, he will definitely deceive us!』 (Kurt)
『That’s not possible. Klaus has checked it properly.』 (Artur)
Certainly, Klaus is a capable man for something like the crude calculation of money.
But I’m not able to trust someone like that guy in the current situation either.
If it’s that man, he won’t care in the least even if Wendelin becomes the Baumeister lord.
No, he is likely hoping for that to happen as it is preferable for him that way.
『Can you trust him!?』 (Kurt)
『In that case, check it yourself.』 (Artur)
『…』 (Kurt) (T/N: Sucks to be an illiterate, huh?)
It’s impossible for me to do that.
I haven’t received such education. It was you, who told me that such things weren’t necessary for those with blue blood.
『Do you want to entrust it to the village headmen of the other villages?』 (Artur)
There’s no way I’m able to do that either.
That lot had difficulty in understanding my decision of collecting the iron from the articles of the deceased for the growth of the territory.
Tattling to Wendelin, they are nuisances.
『Those people are probably traitors!』 (Kurt)
There was the point about Wendelin being responsible for the odd jobs within the territory within the agreement with that old man.
I had an unpleasant premonition, but that has turned into reality.
『Elise-sama, recently the state of my body is fine as well.』
『That’s great.』 (Elise)
At the time the priest of our territory hurt his hips and couldn’t move, Wendelin sent his fiancée as substitute.
As granddaughter of a corrupt priest in the capital, she is a woman, who indeed looked like a holy woman.
With her tits, which are big for her age, she’s a bitch, who seduced Wendelin.
Healing the fief’s population with her prided healing magic, she was in the middle of earnestly sucking up to them.
I considered whether to get rid of her since she’s a nuisance, but since there would be a lot opposition by the fief’s population due to her healing magic, there’s no choice but to hold back here.
Good grief, it’s an annoying story.
『Then, we will transfer our residence in the direction of the special development ward.』 (Kurt)
『Isn’t the other side capable of cultivating rice? It will be fine, if we are also able to do it sooner or later…』 (Artur)
Following the takeover of the church, there was also the matter of making a move on the redevelopment within the territory.
After all, he wouldn’t reach out his hands towards the main village, but if it’s the other villages, they will pro-actively assist in this.
Organizing the divisions of fields by transforming and dividing the hilly areas, woods and rocky areas into parts and establishing new branch irrigation channels, the resident’s houses would be relocated to locations close to their fields.
So far our territory concentrated its effort into cultivating new fields for around 100 years.
Rather than the influence of our efforts, the cultivated land ended up irregular because of the difficulty of the terrain and obstacles. The fief’s population was given new fields in remote areas since it was impossible close-by.
There were many, various problems.
During one day they are tending the field in front of their houses and take care of the new field, which is around one hour by foot away.
That Wendelin resolved such inconveniences.
Their farmlands are now properly in the vicinity of their houses.
Moreover, in order to make it easy to use agricultural equipment and animals for farming purposes, he adjusted the land with magic so that they have turned into square fields.
『That moron!』 (Kurt)
Something like adjusting the land as we are in the middle of harvesting our grown-up, precious wheat.
Without the intention to help with the harvesting at the actual site, he unfolded a strange spectacle there.
『This wheat field will be transferred here, including the soil.』 (Wendelin)
『Thank you, Wendelin-sama.』
『It’s my job.』 (Wendelin)
That asshole doesn’t influence our nurtured wheat at all.
Does he transform the vicinity into a field little by little? He moved the wheat, including the soil, to another field floating all of it through the air.
『Alyama. Isn’t this the work of a god?』
『Are the wheat seedlings, which were moved to the new field close-by alright?』
『As you moved them together with the soil, there ain’t any problems. For wheat planted during winter, transplanting the wheat to a new, wider field is a joyous occasion too.』
『I will improve the fertile ground to some degree as well, but make sure to carefully look after it for 2~3 years.』 (Wendelin)
『It’s alright since I have experience. Although I suffered for several years by cultivating land from the scratch, magic is definitely a handy thing.』
I’m told that Wendelin received this job from the village headmen. He finished the land readjustment and cultivation of new land for the two villages in around a week.
As result the inhabitants of the two villages have ended up surpassing the average inhabitant of the main village in the size of their fields.
In addition, removing big trees and stones, which hindered the cultivation, the fields have been leveled even including hills, where I don’t know long it would have taken to flatten them. Creating a farm road for convenient transport, even the irrigation channels have been extended so that watering becomes easier.
『Father!』 (Kurt)
『If the fields of the fief’s population increase and the farm work gets easier as well, the tax yields will rise as well. So you still have some complaints?』 (Artur)
I went to complain to the old man, but as usual he doesn’t do anything by himself.
That bastard is plotting to split this territory apart, so why doesn’t the old man realize that?
『Wendelin is driving a wedge between the main village and the other two villages!』 (Kurt)
『Kurt… You…』 (Artur)
『No…』 (Kurt)
Continuing on, I unintentionally said the taboo words.
In this territory there is a confrontation between the main village and the other two villages.
However, the handed-down tradition by generations of feudal lords is that one mustn’t speak about this publicly.
『Anyway! Wendelin is dangerous!』 (Kurt)
Besides redeveloping the two villages, that shithead, with the special development ward, he made the former inhabitants, who left the territory previously, make a U-turn as people with hope. (T/N: Meaning, he gave those who left the Baumeister territory hope for a better future with the ward)
In addition, even the inhabitant’s children like the third and fourth sons began to cultivate rice after changing their residence.
『The population of the two villages has decreased! The tax yields from the poll tax will drop!』 (Kurt)
They were people, who are insignificant, but it should still cause a decrease either way.
Moreover, the destination of their move, the special development ward, is able to subtract the involved expenses from their profits.
They were helping Wendelin with tax evasion.
『Father, you are too soft! Since someone like Wendelin is earning this much income, it will be fine, if we exploit him by squeezing him out!』 (Kurt)
We can’t miss this chance.
We will save money here and carry out an independent development of the Savage Lands.
It’s already no good to permit the development by outsiders like Wendelin any longer.
『Why is it necessary to do something like exploiting Wendelin?』 (Artur)
『What’s so bad about extorting money from some place?』 (Kurt)
『Currently Wendelin is developing in a special ward, but did you calculate how much money it would take us to do that?』 (Artur)
『It will be for free with Wendelin’s magic though!』 (Kurt)
『Kurt, are you an idiot?』 (Artur)
『Who’s an idiot!?』 (Kurt)
Fucking around with me. I glare at the old man.
『Certainly, the costs for the reclamation will likely be that of a meal for Wendelin. But, there will be other expenses as well.』 (Artur)
The old man starts to babble about something annoying.
『He has given the job of bringing a large amount of houses, although second-hand, from the capital to a magician, who is specialized in relocation. I hear that gentleman is a renown expert in relocation magic while also being an appointed Baron.』 (Artur)
Naturally Wendelin has been paying for that commission’s expenses.
In addition, there are the wages for the experienced male farmers, who were scouted from the territory of Margrave Breithilde, and the buying expenses for things like farming tools necessary to begin the rice cultivation.
There was also talk about the immigration applicants receiving wages in their first year.
『Did you understand? Kurt, even if it becomes a slight decrease now, that special ward will become ours, if we wait some years. Its inhabitants will become our fief’s population as well. In the first place, there isn’t anything like a decrease in income. Have you properly been looking at the reports?』 (Artur)
He is belittling me again.
Even I have been glancing through the report concerning tax yields at the very least.
Even if you deduct the expenses of the special development ward, the sales of our territory’s first shop are increasing and there’s also the profit from selling the spoils, obtained during the exploration of the Demon Forest, in Breitburg.
Those are facts supplying us with around 600.000 cents in about three months.
However, only this much isn’t enough.
Or rather, Wendelin is a rich person to that degree.
By his authority as feudal lord, it will be fine, if the old man collects around half of the total assets that asshole is stashing away.
If it’s this much, it will be possible for even us to develop the Savage Lands.
『Anyway! It’s alright to exploit even more from Wendelin. With father being the top of this Baumeister territory, even His Majesty won’t be able to meddle within this territory!』 (Kurt)
『Calm your anger a bit.』 (Artur)
Although people were earnestly worrying about the future of the Baumeister territory, the essential old man was in this pathetic state.
No, it means that either way would be fine for the old man as long as this territory continues. He doesn’t care whether Wendelin or me become the next successor.
『I will follow my own path!』 (Kurt)
『Do as you like.』 (Artur
I can’t rely on the old man anymore.
On the contrary, he is also a potential enemy for me.
As that’s the case, there’s no point in me listening to something like the old man’s opinion anymore either.
『Where are you going, Kurt?』 (Artur)
『Today is the day of the meeting.』 (Kurt)
In the Baumeister territory there is occasionally something similar to a meeting for listening to opinions of the fief’s population held.
Several representatives from each of the three villages will make their appearance there.
In addition to that there was also the meeting, which could only be attended by important people of the main village.
Officially it has been arranged that the three villages are equal.
But in reality, the old man, grandfather as well as his predecessor have opened an extra meeting. They didn’t stop deciding matters after properly listening to the opinions of those, who are their base of support.
At any rate, they are existences, who are strongly approving the rule of the Baumeister household.
『There are also many not pleased with Wendelin among the inhabitants of the main village. If I can get their approval, it should also be possible to make that asshole pay more taxes.』 (Kurt)
While thinking this, I hurriedly headed towards the house of Eckhart, where the meeting will be held.
◆◇◆◇◆
“The number of people is few.”
“Everyone is busy with work…”
Leaving alone the old man, where it’s futile no matter what I say, I turn up at the scheduled meeting, which will be held at Eckhart’s house.
It has been decided that this meeting will be kept a secret from the lot of the other villages.
The reason is that the three villages have to officially be on equal terms.
It’s a chance for us of the Baumeister family to openly give only the lot from the main village the chance to state their opinions in advance.
Usually something like that would invite opposition from the other two villages.
However, something like the existence of this meeting is known to the outside for a long time already.
“Nevertheless, aren’t we far too few?”
Originally there are around 20 people of the main village permitted to attend this meeting.
Wealthy farmers, possessing vast farmlands, and craftsmen, who monopolized the profits and market within the Baumeister territory until now.
It’s regrettable, but that traitorous Hermann, who is the head of the lesser retainer households, and several of the lesser retainers have been approved to attend as well.
Even so, the total number of those, who came to attend today’s meeting, is 8.
It ended up becoming less than half.
“Dirk, the leather craftsman? Ingo, the clothing and accessories tailor? Lukas, the carpenter?” (Kurt)
“That is…”
As I look at the participants, it became only the blacksmith Eckhart attending from the group of craftsmen, who strongly supported me being inaugurated as next family head until now.
Once I asked for the reason, Eckhart begins to reluctantly explain.
“It seems they have suspended their businesses for a while…” (Eckhart)
“Haa? Suspended their businesses?” (Kurt)
“Yea…” (Eckhart)
According to Eckhart’s explanation, they were in a situation of being open, but having no customers, as Wendelin’s newly opened shop stole their clients.
Deceived by that bastard’s temptation, they apparently decided to quit being craftsmen.
Surely, even seen from my view, you can’t call the skills of the craftsmen of this territory good by any standard.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login