Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! - Chapter 73.3

“Karla-sama!”

“I’m the adventurer, Karla. I came here because I have business with the master of this mansion.” (Karla)

The soldier, who guarded the gate, knew Karla’s face.
After he returns into the mansion in a hurry, an elderly butler-like man comes to invite us.

“Karla-sama, Have you returned from the front?”

“Various things happened. Is uncle-sama in?” (Karla)

“Yes. Master is currently bored. Especially since the feudal lord’s mansion is in such a state.”

As Philip and Christoph are absent, the retainers supporting either party are standing off against each other with the corpse of Margrave Browig, who has been refrigerated for the sake of a funeral service with unknown schedule, in between.

“There are many people who don’t enter the feudal lord’s mansion anymore and a part of the government affairs has been delayed as well…”

“That’s terrible, Beckener.” (Karla)

“It doesn’t affect me much since I’m master’s butler. Even for master there’s nothing ((to do)) but to stay quiet currently. By the way, the people in the back are… Excuse me. I shall guide you.” (Beckener)

It seems he realized our true identity.
The butler called Beckener guides us into the mansion.
When we are drinking the black tea which was offered in the parlour, a 40-years old man with a refined face and a young man around 20 years, who seems to be his son, appear.
Both of them resembled Philip and Christoph a bit.

“I’m Gerd Oskar von Browig. And, over there is my son…” (Gerd)

“I’m Lienheit. However, those are quite extravagant members.” (Lienheit)

It looks like both of them know doushi’s and my faces.

“Gerd-san is the younger brother of the deceased Margrave Browig?”

“Age-wise we are close to 30 years apart though. It’s the same as with Earl Baumeister-sama. The previous Margrave had a young maid give birth to me in his last years.” (Gerd)

He has been acknowledged more or less although he was quite apart in age. He is living by receiving wages and a reasonable status so that he won’t threaten his nephews while they are growing up.
The rest will be succeeded by his son, Lienheit. He has no particular complaints, Gerd.san explained.

“The news flowed in, but ((the situation)) is messy.”

“Yes.”

“What are those two doing?”

“Simply put, they are prolonging the arbitration negotiations to negotiate a discount for the reconciliation money.”

They are likely waiting for Margrave Breithilde to give in.
Until the time he will think that it’s better to push forward the Savage Lands development by cancelling the war time quickly even if the reconciliation money is haggled down.

“They are somehow making light of the royal family thinking that they won’t ever crush the Browig household.”

At present you could say that, but if they overdo it too much, the possibility for the kingdom’s side to snap won’t be zero either.
Therefore, it shouldn’t be good for them to get too unreasonable.

“That why you want me to succeed, Karla?” (Gerd)

“There’s no other way.” (Karla)

“The other sons?” (Gerd)

“You know, uncle-sama. It’s difficult for them, who gave up their succession rights and left towards lower households once, to become successors again…” (Karla)

Since they went down to branch and retainer households in order to not dispute over the inheritance rights, it will trigger a big opposition if they simply return.

“In that regard, you have your inheritance rights, uncle-sama.” (Karla)

As a matter of fact he possesses an inheritance right coming right after those two.
Because of his usual conduct they aren’t cautious of him at all and it’s considered to be meaningless as he has almost no retainers supporting him.

“I’m an ordinary man who receives his living expense for just looking at the account books for a bit…” (Gerd)

“I don’t think so at all.” (Karla)

Karla seems to consider Gerd-san to be a capable person.
Certainly, he has such aura.
Living by receiving a moderate amount of money in a moderate position is very likely his worldly wisdom.
From the point of view of the deceased Margrave Browig, something like an excellent younger brother, who is apart by years, is nothing more than a hindrance if he considers the future of his children.
Since there’s also the danger of assassination at worst, you could say it was safe for him to not exhibit his abilities.

“The one who sheltered the seal official, Heimo, is you, uncle-sama, right?” (Karla)

“Why do you think so?” (Gerd)

I have a feeling like I heard such conversation once before, but by no means did I expect for it to appear from Karla’s mouth in this place.

“It’s my intuition. Nii-sama’s frantically employed people to make them search for him, but his way of vanishing is far too skilled. Nii-sama’s didn’t catch hold of information stating that he has left Brotrich.” (Karla)

The two extended the search range believing that there were flaws in the gathered information.
However, Karla believed that he was actually sheltered by Gerd-san who is living at a place close to the mansion.

“As expected, I can’t relax my guard around you, my niece.” (Gerd)

Certainly one must not be negligent around her.
Doushi, Burkhart-san and me are frowning.
Acting like she has talked about everything to Margrave Breithilde and me, Karla concealed the highly, most important information in reality.

“Certainly, I’m sheltering Heimo. At this rate he might get killed and the seal will be stolen.” (Gerd)

Once Gerd-san makes an eye signal to his butler, Beckener, he brings in one man after leaving the room for a moment.
He, who is almost at the same age as Margrave Browig, is probably the seal official, Heimo.

“You hid him after all, uncle-sama.” (Karla)

“Sorry. The two approached me telling me that master nominated them as successor even though it was a lie. Even the seal, they told me if I don’t hand it over, they will change the seal official…” (Heimo)

The matter of changing means him getting killed if it isn’t a natural death.
Since the seal official is a special position, they can never be replaced if it isn’t by the feudal lord himself.

“Due to my troubles, Gerd-sama has lent me a hand…” (Heimo)

After that he always hid in this mansion.

“I believe that it was terrible, but is there a testament from the crucial Margrave Browig? If there is, various things will move ahead, but…” (Burkhart)

From the standpoint of Burkhart-san, who accompanied us after receiving the thoughts of Margrave Breithilde, it will be fine if the arbitration negotiations finish quickly no matter who succeeds.

“That is, master has…” (Heimo)

He just revealed　『Those two are lacking something important as feudal lord』 and apparently didn’t say anything further.

“The feudal lord didn’t decide it…?”

He likely took into account the possibility of being unable to deny that there might be a dispute between the supporters of both parties if he nominates either of them, but as result he didn’t do anything besides being irresponsible.

“Well then, that means there’s no problem if Gerd-san succeeds either.”

“No one will follow even if I succeed?” (Gerd)

“Considering it the other way, the retainers might think it’s fine for you to declare the matter of succeeding now if they can obtain good positions.”

It would have been probably fine if they won in the dispute, but in reality those two lost and are naturally distrusted as successors by the kingdom, Margrave Breithilde and me.
For the retainer households, who presented their daughters as wives, it’s too late, but there was the possibility of the other households switching over to Gerd’s faction if they can secure their current treatment.

“Will it be alright with a group that switches over that easily?” (Burkhart)

Burkhart-san say looking worried whether it’s fine to count on such lot.

“If you put it in reverse, that kind of group is tractable.”

The kind of retainers, who possess odd believes and fanatic loyalty towards those two, are dangerous.
Given that it’s wrong to not protect a household that is capable of being hereditary even for retainers, it can’t be helped even if they abandoned those two who caused disgraces up to this point.
What the current Gerd-san will do is to push their backs.

“How about holding a tea party tomorrow?”

First it’s about gathering supporters.
And, we will carry out the the ceremony in front of them at that place.

“Heimo-san will entrust the seal to Gerd-san.” (Wendelin)

The seal official will entrust the seal to a person other than the feudal lord.
That would be equal to declaring that person as next feudal lord.

“What do you think, Heimo?” (Gerd)

“My deceased master regarded the conflict between those two as dangerous. I wonder whether there will be blaming slander since he couldn’t prepare any move, but since I’m the seal official appointed by master, I will follow the conclusion of master. Personally I don’t want those two as successor since they even aimed for my life.” (Heimo)

Heimo-san answered Gerd-san’s question like this.
And he said that he will retire once he hands over the seal to Gerd-san.
His son will inherit the rest of the household, but he seems to be a civil official in charge of a normal mainstay class of agriculture administration.

“I was appointed as seal official because I was a playmate of master since his childhood. Gerd-sama will make someone else, who has some kind of relation with him, his seal official. Such is life.” (Heimo)

“I might not appoint a seal official.” (Gerd)

Given that he lived being restrained by his elder brother and nephews, he apparently hasn’t made many acquaintances. Even considering it age-wise, it seems troublesome to search for a seal official he can trust.

“I will have a talk with the rest too though. And it will be fine if I assign new human affairs centring around the retainers who declared their support.” (Gerd)

The feudal army’s top brass has fellows where it will be wrong if they don’t receive the treatment of having their households shut down and taken alongside an execution of the family heads.
They are the group who schemed that night attack.
It will be also wrong if the civil officials of finance affairs doesn’t receive at least reductions in hereditary stipend and revocations of their official positions as group close to Christoph who provided the budget.
Even the people related by blood to the deceased Margrave Browig will be a danger if they remain in the territory. He probably has to ban them to a certain extent.

“Although there’s few of those who have entrusted their life to one party despite supporting the two, it will be fine if I head hunt from a slightly distant place.” (Gerd)

Especially the majority of the feudal army’s top brass, who are passionately supporting Philip, are still prisoners together with their soldiers.
They have few means to stop him even if they do something to us in this place.

“Let’s send a written invitation to those of the feudal army’s top brass, who have remained in the mansion, as it looks that they are not altogether hopeless.”

If their luck is good, there’s the possibility that they will be able to rise to the top although they have resigned themselves to a lower position as they didn’t offer their daughters as Philip’s wives.
Moreover, the bunch, who has dispatched their troops as support for Philip, has likewise caused a big disgrace.
If it’s such lot, it will be fine to have little hesitation in betraying them.

“Wend-sama. How heinous.” (Wilma)

“People’s factions are like that.” (Wendelin)

Even in my previous life there was a department chief who made me say “V, V” (T/N: for victory or maybe a Code Geass otaku? ;)) in my time as new employee, but once he lost his standing for a stupid reason, I had no choice but to laugh at the manner of the betrayal of the lot who clung to him like suckerfishes.
Since it’s normal for life to have ups and downs, let’s have those two leave seeing that they failed.

“It will be alright if you send written invitations, except to the fanatic supporters.”

“That kind has mostly become prisoners though.”

“In that case the talks will be quick.”

We are allowed to stay in Gerd’s mansion as is on that day.
In preparation for the next day, Beckener-san ran about to deliver the written invitations together with the other servants.
Once listening to their responses, it looks like everyone accepted the written invitation readily as they have apparently been already told through the adventurer’s guild that we are restless.

“Will they send assassins or such, I wonder?”

“They surely won’t do that.”

I’m an adventurer and am here in someone else’s name. It’s not like I’m particularly sneaking around either.
Even the dispute itself has been ended by the Earl Baumeister household. It will become a problem if something happens to me here.
That’s true for the royal family as well, but I’m likely being watched by the adventurer’s guild.

“The adventurer’s guild distributed the news to the Browig household’s side to prevent such imprudence.”

However, according to Beckener’s report, there are several strange groups investigating this mansion.
It’s probably inevitable for them to be worried what Gerd-san and me are talking about.

“In that case, it will be tomorrow.”

And, on the fated next day, a strange tea party was held in Gerd’s mansion.
Just before noon Beckener-san lines up tables and chairs in the mansion’s garden and arranges tea and sweets there.
As the majority of the invited retainers were those supporting either Philip or Christoph, they talked with Gerd-san while smiling on the surface.

“Everyone, smiles.”

“Since it has become such situation, they cannot help wanting to pull each other’s feet. It suits you, Wilma, that attire.” (Wendelin)

Because it was a tea party, Wilma wore clothes chosen by Karla.
It seems to be something previously worn by Gerd-san’s daughter-san who was married now.

“I want to be a bit taller. If that happens, I will be an adult woman.” (Wilma)

Wilma, who sulks because her height is lacking, was really cute.

“I believe it’s fine since you are cute though.” (Wendelin)

We, who are chatting, drew the gazes and consciousness of the participants.
There’s already no more benefit even if they lend a hand in the conflict of those two.
Even while supporting either side on the surface, they are aiming for some timing to slip away.

“Oh, yes. They are guests invited from outside for today’s tea party.” (Gerd)

Gerd-san introduces me, doushi and Burkhart-san in order.
They have already known about us, but they gave their greetings as if it was a completely unexpected encounter.

“Which reminds me, didn’t you play a very active role in the recent dispute or such, Earl Baumeister-sama?”

“More or less.”

It’s a barefaced way of talking, but it’s a kind of talk happening often as it’s about deeds of arms in disputes since they are retainers of nobles.
I talk about the events which happened until now indifferently. The retainers, who heard that, sighed.
There were especially many people listening attentively to the information about the liberation of Herthania Valley, which still hasn’t entered the news much, after saying 『I haven’t heard about it!』

“It looks like they are disagreeing in the arbitration negotiations for this reason as well.”

The one disagreeing is the Browig household’s side who is declining to pay the reconciliation money.
If they don’t obediently pay seeing that they lost, it will be more disgraceful than having lost. It was the same in this world as well.

“It seems Margrave Breithilde is troubled as well.”

“Really…?”

“Even the royal family is slowly reaching its limit of patience.”

While a heavy atmosphere spreads, finally the main star makes an appearance.
The seal official, Heimo, shows up. He began to criticize the two successors on the spot.

“It was just as master said. If either becomes the successor, it will be grounds for a dispute. In reality, the two are continuing to damage the Browig household by linking it to the succession struggle. If it’s now, we can still somehow rebuild the Browig household, but…” (Heimo)

“Heimo-dono. The will of master is?”

“There isn’t any.” (Heimo)

Heimo clearly answer the retainer who timidly asked.
At the same time he glared at a part of the retainers.
They likely forced a conferment of the seal on Heimo.

“Seeing that there’s none, I believe it to be legitimate for having Gerd-sama, who has inheritance rights coming after the two whom master was anxious about, succeed.” (Heimo)

“That’s too forcible!”

“You have to listen to the opinions of the two, who have left to the negotiations, and those who are accompanying them.”

“There are many people who have become prisoners in the dispute! They have an opinion too!”

“If we do that, it will go around in circles once again.”

Many of the retainers, who found fault with Gerd-san’s succession, were those who glared at each other in front of refrigerated corpse of Margrave Browig until yesterday.
They are quite influential supporters in the Philip faction and Christoph faction, but their position is half-baked.
The chief retainers among the chief retainers, who have been entrusted with house-sitting without being allowed to depart to the front and unable to join the negotiation team, haven’t been invited to this tea party.
Half of the uproar is also an appeal to their superiors and bosses in their own faction.

“Those who became prisoners won’t be released if the arbitration negotiations don’t finish. Now then, when will they return?”

“…”

Moreover the ones prolonging those negotiations are Philip and Christoph.
The clamouring lot ends up sinking into silence due to my question.

“Besides, if it’s Gerd-dono, he will probably receive the permission to inherit from the kingdom at once, too.”

At least, different from the other two, he hasn’t caused any disturbances.
Even as for the ability to rule, the kingdom isn’t looking for someone with overly high skill in that as a matter of fact.
Since there are people governing with a system that includes groups of retainers in big territories, it was important to stand in a superior position even if one’s an ordinary feudal lord.

“Earl Baumeister-sama. Still, there’s no basis to assume that the kingdom will give its permission right away…”

“If it’s about a basis, then there is one. Isn’t that right, doushi?” (Wendelin)

“In case of His Majesty, he told me to carry out the ceremony of succession to the peerage at once!” (Armstrong)

Doushi, who was excessively eating the sweets placed on top of the table, stopped stuffing his cheeks for a moment and answered clearly.
He got permission properly by contacting His Majesty with a magic hand-held communication device during last night.

“Even if we go right now, the ceremony of succession to the peerage will be held without any kind of problem.”

“No way…”

“Well, then let’s go together?”

“No, leaving this place in the current situation…”

“It will finish within an hour though. After all we will travel by magic.” (Wendelin)

I tell the hesitating retainers that there’s no argument if they head to the capital via teleportation. Gerd and nine people chosen from among the retainers travelled to the capital peremptorily as is.
The soldiers, who are guarding the royal castle’s gate, know my face and once I inform them about the objective of our visit, they let us through.

“Earl Baumeister-sama, although we will be meeting with His Majesty, our attires…”

“It doesn’t matter. The current Browig territory is in a crisis. It’s ordinary dresses suitable for a tea party, but it won’t be taken as discourtesy.” (Wendelin)

“…”

It looks like the retainers realized why they were invited to the tea party.

“Earl Baumeister? You are working quite hard on behalf of the matters of other territories.”

“It’s for the sake of quickly returning to a peaceful daily life.” (Wendelin)

“Philip would have been useless if I didn’t take care of him…”

“Isn’t that favouritism?”

“That idiot. Even though he would have been a general by now if he honestly served in the royal army after abdicating his inheritance rights…Certainly he won’t be able to stay in the Browig territory. It will be for the sake of nipping a second rebellion in the buds.”

“I see. I can agree with that.”

I have a talk with Minister Edgar and Minister Rückner, whom we met on the way towards the audience hall, but the retainers watched it with a feeling of being there in body but not in spirit going by their state.
Following the unforeseen situations, their thinking capability likely got fried.

“The ceremony of succession to the peerage will finish right away.”

Once we enter the audience hall while taking them along, His Majesty was already sitting on the throne there and waited for us.

“Earl Baumeister, you worked hard on this occasion.” (Helmut)

“I have just joined the transportation industry temporarily.” (Wendelin)

His Majesty showed a light smile due to my joke.

“I see. In that case, shall we begin, Gerd Oskar von Browig?” (Helmut)

“Ha!” (Gerd)

“I, the king of Helmut Kingdom, Helmut the 35th, grant you, Gerd Oskar von Browig, the third court rank, the rank of Margrave.” (Helmut)

“My sword shall be wielded for the sake of Your Majesty, the kingdom and its people.” (Gerd)

Once Gerd-san makes his oath, His Majesty orders a chamberlain to bring a mantle.

“I believe it’s something handed down and given to the Browig household by the royal family for generations, but in the current matter there will likely be many troubles for a new Margrave Browig. There might be those who find fault with your succession. It will be fine if you wear this and contribute to the peace of the East.” (Helmut)

“As you wish!” (Gerd)

While watching Gerd who had put on the mantle from the chamberlain, the retainers’ faces became ghastly pale.
That’s because they were the lot who raised the most objections and nitpicking towards Gerd-san’s succession after declaring to be Philip supporters and Christoph supporters.

“With you accompanying him to the ceremony of succession to the peerage, you are retainers who are loyal to the new Margrave Browig, right?” (Helmut)

Their faces become even more white due to His Majesty’s question.
That question was equal to a test of loyalty* by His Majesty. (T/N: Also means “tablet bearing Christian images, on which Edo-period authorities forced suspected Christians to trample​” as it’s 踏み絵 aka “fumi” = stepping on, trampling + “e” = picture)

“Of course.”

“All of us will serve our new Lord solidarity.”

By no means are they able to say that Philip or Christoph are suitable at this point in time. In order to protect themselves, they had no other path left but to earnestly serve Gerd-san.

“That’s good. The ceremony of succession to the peerage is, as you can see, something wearisome. Thus I shall give you, his fellow followers, a souvenir.” (Helmut)

The nine retainers received a large silver coin as memento.
It’s a large silver coin that used the amount of silver of 10 common silver coins. Its design is different, too.
The amount of silver has a worth of around 100.000 Japanese Yen, but since only retainers who came along to a noble’s ceremony of succession to the peerage can receive it, it has a premium-like value.
Since it’s a chance to get hold of a number of coins depending on the amount of retainer households of historically old noble households, there’s also a tendency to compete with those numbers.
If I remember correctly, Klaus, who accompanied father, should possess one as well.
Since I had zero retainers at the time of my ceremony of succession to the peerage, none of my retainers possess one.
Probably there are quarrels who will get to go at the time a child receives the ceremony of succession to the peerage.

“(However, it’s a heavy silver coin, isn’t it…)” (Wendelin)

Not only in regards to its weight but also in a much more different meaning.
I couldn’t see it as anything but a cursed silver coin as it will be wrong for them if they don’t pledge allegiance to their new Lord by forsaking the two whom they supported until now.
Even the kingdom likely got quite angry in this time’s case.
You can even say it’s a harsh reward for them.

“Well then shall we go back?”

In the end the succession ceremony finished without taking even an hour.
Before returning, Minister Rückner, who was in the succession ceremony together with us, told me 『Them making an enemy out of Earl Baumeister is foolish. You are a generous noble』, but that’s an overestimation, I think.
That’s because I have done nothing but taking a disgusting revenge against the Browig household.
Once we return to Gerd’s mansion via teleportation and explain the gist of ((what happened)) in the capital, the retainers, who were left behind, readily approved of Gerd-san’s succession.
Especially the group, who accompanied Gerd-san and was called to attention by His Majesty, all of them have a determined look.

“Lord, please enter the feudal lord’s mansion and start the preparations for the funeral service of your predecessor.”

They apparently resolved themselves to get rid of their superiors, who recommended the same candidate as them before and are remaining in the mansion, at worst.
They enter the mansion accompanied by Gerd-san and Lienheit, who is his son.
Immediately appointing their private armies as guards of those two, they entered the room where the corpse of the previous Margrave Browig is enshrined and declared the following to their former superiors who were surprised by the sudden events,

“The new Margrave Browig is Gerd-sama! After receiving the official succession ceremony from His Majesty in the capital, he was bestowed a new mantle as proof of that! He will formally take over the government affairs from here on.”

“What foolishness!”

“Who will believe such a lie!”

“Did you go insane!?”

Regardless of being in the Philip or Christoph faction, the retainers, who were next to the corpse, begin to criticize them all at once.
Since their opponents were a lower ranked group, their tones were harsh all the more.

“Just when the hell did he receive the succession ceremony in the capital!? Cut it out with your daydreams!”

“Thanks to Earl Baumeister-sama’s magic that time was shortened! Naturally he has accompanied us to the succession ceremony as well. Do you have any complaints?”

“…”

Since they were higher ranking retainers, they knew my, doushi’s and Burkhart-san’s faces.
Furthermore, Karla is next to me as well.

“Were we done in…?”

“Calling it being done in is weird. Rejecting the two people who dropped the Browig territory into chaos with their succession struggle, we have accepted to be governed by Gerd-sama. Earl Baumeister-sama lent us a hand unable to just watch the chaos right next to him.”

“Well, that’s how it is. It will influence the development of the liberated Herthania Valley after its transfer.” (Wendelin)

“…”

I deliver the final blow to the chief retainers who are dumbfounded as is.

“I think it’s still recoverable for you if it’s now though. If compared to the group, who has become prisoners after departing to the front, and the group, who is pointlessly delaying the negotiations, that is.” (Wendelin)

A decrease in territory as well as vassals* and an increase in debts due to being made to pay reconciliation money. (T/N: Just a reminder: In this novel vassal means a retainer under a patron while the word “retainer” itself is a general term to clarify the social position, though in most cases retainer = vassal)
With the inauguration of a new feudal lord, the reorganization and restructuring of the retainer group in the Margrave Browig household will begin hereafter.
If they declare their support to the new feudal lord ahead of time, they will survive at worst. And if they act cleverly, there’s the possibility of being appointed a responsible post by Gerd-san who had few supporters until now.

“Since you guys were responsible for watching the state at home, I believe it will be a chance for you instead.”

The group, who followed the two since they will be appointed a responsible post by them, will have their family heads forcibly retired, will be deprived of their positions or ((will suffer)) a reduction in their hereditary stipend.
If that’s difficult, they have no other future ahead of them but either being exiled together with the two or having their households crushed and their family heads hung without a doubt like the lot who planned that night attack.

“We will obey to Gerd-sama…”

As they have apparently accepted their fate, they immediately welcome Gerd-san’s family after beefing up the security of the feudal lord’s mansion by gathering their private armies and at the same time they put colleagues, who are expected to disobey, and the families of Philip and Christoph under house arrest.
Sending a messenger to the church, they informed the church that they will conduct the funeral service of the predecessor tomorrow.

“That’s fast.” (Wendelin)

“There won’t be any problem even if we hold a public funeral service, where we will invite mourners from outside, much later. Now it will be a private funeral service carried out with just the retainers and family. Since we have also published an edict, it’s possible for the fief’s population in the vicinity to participate as well.”

Lienheit, who was appointed as funeral service chairman in a hurry, was slightly bewildered by suddenly advancing from his carefree position to being the next Margrave Browig.

“Good grief, now you’ve done it, Earl Baumeister-sama.” (Lienheit)

“This as well is for the sake of my own peace.” (Wendelin)

“My peace vanished completely though…” (Lienheit)

With the matter of Gerd-san serving as chief mourner of the predecessor’s funeral service, it’s equal to declaring to his surroundings who will succeed him afterwards.
Moreover, being the funeral service chairman was equivalent to an informal decision as next Margrave Browig for Lienheit whose seat is next to Gerd-san.
The person himself hated it quite a bit, but one can also say it’s inevitable since he ended up advancing from being the heir of an easygoing branch family to being the next Margrave.

“A poor treatment like this! That will be never forgiven!”

“Why is my husband not allowed to participate in the funeral service!?”

“In spite of being part of a rebellion, to do something like the deceased Lord’s funeral service!”

Of course there were people who kicked up a fuss.
It’s the legal wife of the previous Margrave Browig and the wives of Philip and Christoph who are under house arrest.
However, I was unable to feel pity for them.
Each of them stirred up the dispute between the two successor candidates.

“For the Browig household to be disturbed by such greenhorn!”

Especially the elderly woman, who is the legal wife of the predecessor, among them was enraged.
Dressing her body in expensive clothes and ornaments, she seems to be refined since even her family has a good pedigree, but once she gets angry, she looks like an excessive demon hag*. (T/N: oni baba)

“Wend-sama. Demon hag.” (Wilma)

“Wilma, don’t become like this.” (Wendelin)

“I will make sure not to.” (Wilma)

Our appearances in mourning dresses, which we borrowed for the sake of appearing at the funeral service, ignored the rage of the demon hag.
Though it looks stout-hearted, she was the cause of the dispute getting unnecessarily worse as result of her excessively dotting on the second son Christoph as her precious son.

“The Browig household will end! It will be usurped by the household of a lowly upstart like the eighth son of a peasant knight!”

The surroundings freeze due to the statement of the demon hag.
It’s not so bad if it’s said behind the scenes, but she spit out abusive language in front of me.

“Gerd-san, the honourable madam over there seems to be confused due to mental fatigue.” (Wendelin)

“Yes… I will have her devote to recuperation after this…” (Gerd)

The demon hag and the two wives will be first sent to the mansion of Margrave Browig in the capital. After that they will spend their future in the church or under house arrest.
With the funeral service having begun in the church, they are forced to visit the coffin following after Gerd-san and Lienheit and then get forcefully pushed into a magic airship headed for the capital.

“While having my hands full with just my own territory, I won’t do something like ruling the Browig Margraviate. Although internal dissension is nice and all, please make sure that it won’t become a nuisance for other people.” (Wendelin)

I bluntly tell demon hag and the other two, who are forcibly moved to the port, at the end.
While hanging their heads, demon hag and the other two were led out from the funeral service venue by retainers and soldiers.
The funeral service itself continued for the whole day and many of the fief’s population offered flowers.
It was a private ceremony, but we have participated as well with Gerd-san as chief mourner.
The fief’s population surely understood who the new Margrave Browig is.

“It will probably be busy for a while. Those two haven’t done anything except ruining themselves either…”

The funeral service finished safely, however there was a mountain of difficult problems.
That’s also because the number of retainers supporting Gerd-san is still low.

“Is it a salvation that there aren’t any military forces to stage a revolt…?”

With many having become prisoners, there’s no way for them to arbitrarily raise an army as the heads of the households are absent.

“Here’s the list of the households whose family heads participated in the night attack.” (Wendelin)

“17 households, eh? That unexpectedly many.” (Gerd)

Apparently there were many who went to the front line desiring distinguished war services.

“Won’t you be able to gain their support by approving the children and siblings, who have been left behind, as successors?”

They will be recognised as new family head in the name of the new Margrave Browig.
It’s the same for the other retainers who have become prisoners.
Their hereditary stipend will stay as is without them being blamed.
If they are told that, there won’t be any opposition from their families and servants who were left behind.
From their viewpoint it will be fine if the household is maintained, no matter who becomes its master.

“However, there are also people we can’t shut our eyes to.”

There’s a place where Gerd, who became the new Margrave Browig after resolving himself, dispatched soldiers to right away.
The branch families and retainer households, where the siblings of Philip and Christoph have married into, Junior Commander Godwin, who led that night attack, and the chief retainers of the feudal army who participated in it.
Because their family heads and their men departed to the front, their families end up being captured quickly by the soldiers who stormed in.

“I won’t gloss it over. I will have everyone from my elder brother’s direct descendant’s lineage leave.” (Gerd)

If they stay behind in the territory, it’s very likely that they will scheme something good-for-nothing.
The chief retainers below Godwin will be hung for their wrongdoing of causing a huge disgrace. Their families will have everything they own taken away from them and will be banished from Browig Margraviate.
It’s pitiable, but there’s no way to cover for such a failure.

“This female fox!”

“You are the same as your mother! Being deceived by the son of a peasant knight, you are a whore who dropped the Browig household into hell!”

Karla simply stared with an indifferent expression at the events carried out by Gerd-san and me.
She was the daughter of the previous Margrave Browig, but she doesn’t consider herself to be so.
For her it doesn’t matter at all what will happen to other households.
Her elder half sisters were pathetically abandoned by the branch families.
Since there will be impacts in ruling if they are shut down, they accept the conditions of a decrease in hereditary stipend, penalties and making a relative, who is not a child between the family head and her elder half sisters, succeed. Her elder half sisters are divorced and get sent to the same church as their mothers.
They hurled abusive remarks at Karla while in the middle of being dragged away, but she had an appearance of not particularly caring about it while being expressionless.

“Karla-sama is in a certain sense amazing…”

Burkhart-san was unusually attracted a bit by Karla’s attitude.

“If you allow me to say it from my standpoint as her uncle, I feel you are right.” (Gerd)

She is a thoughtful, gentle person, but calmly dividing people into being important to her and those who aren’t, she cool-headedly discards the latter.
If you think about it, even in this drama of the Margrave Browig household’s family head change, you can say that she ignited the fuse.

“(No, is it her revenge…?)” (Wendelin)

It’s probably her revenge against the Browig household which toyed with her and her mother.
If you consider it like this, it might be fortunate for the predecessor to have died while not knowing of that conclusion.

“The story of telling me to take her as wife or such is unacceptable.” (Wendelin)

“No, as expected, I won’t tell you that… Even if we repair our relationship, that’s a talk for the next generation and the ones after that, right?” (Gerd)

Given that the new Margrave Browig doesn’t want to prolong the discord with the South, he will first gradually open up ((the territory)) with trade and agreeing on migrant workers going to the Savage Lands development.
Something like marriage should be a matter for the generation of Lienheit, who is his heir, or his children.
There’s no way to dispute forever. If they are cornered too much, there will also be the risk of a sudden discharge ((of hate)) once again.
There were really various difficulties in interacting with one’s neighbouring nobles.

“Earl Baumeister-sama, I was also able to escape the curse of the Browig household. Thank you very much.” (Karla)

Gerd-san immediately removed Karla from the family register of the Margrave Browig household with his authority as family head.
That means she she became publicly free and will be treated as daughter of the Bänker household which is the home of her mother.
Even the Bänker household shouldn’t use a daughter, who was removed from the Browig household’s family register, as tool for a political marriage of convenience.
Before that, if told that there’s no merit in being married into that household itself, then it will be the end of it.

“That’s great.” (Wendelin)

Karla’s gesture of thanking me was really beautiful.
If it was an ordinary man, they would have likely fallen in love, but I have drawn away from her quite a bit due to her manner.
If I made a child after marrying her, I had a feeling that the future Earl Baumeister household would become a second Browig household.

“(Karla-san is making me believe that on purpose…)” (Wendelin)

Moreover she makes sure that I don’t fall in love with her by deliberately showing such behaviour.
For herself it’s also disagreeable to marry into the Earl Baumeister household.

“(No, no. I lost my interest in you…)” (Wendelin)

It’s a feeling like 『Farewell, person who resembles my former girlfriend』.
Like this, people become adults after throwing away their past.

“Wend-sama?” (Wilma)

“Wilma, you are cute…” (Wendelin)

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but it’s nice…” (Wilma)

When I stroke the head of Wilma who was close to me, she blushed while looking happy.
But, that man shouldn’t draw back at this level.

“(Wend, you are my best friend, right? Please remove all the obstacles hindering Karla-san marrying me.)” (Erwin)

Erw delightfully said to me in a whisper while bowing.

“(Karla-san became the daughter of the Bänker household, but as for her definitely becoming your wife, Erw…)” (Wendelin)

I think there was no problem in regards to the family status, but the problem is how Karla herself feels about it.
Even if I order the family head of the Bänker household to do it, there’s no guarantee that she, who can live by herself if she feels like it, will accept it.
Besides…

“(If it’s Erw, there’s no hope. The probability is cut at 10%.)” (Wilma)

Since the sharpness of Wilma’s perception was the real deal, it wasn’t a prediction that was that far off.

“(It will be alright. After Wend prepares an occasion, the rest will be for me to show my manliness) Karla-samaa~~~.” (Erwin)

Leaving with such words, Erw began to talk with Karla at once.

“(What do you think, Wilma?)” (Wendelin)

“(As Erw said that he will do it himself, it will be fine to leave it to him.)” (Wilma)

If it’s my current authority, it’s possible to forcibly request it from the Bänker household as well.
However, I don’t want to pressure Karla. I’d like Erw, who is my best friend, to realise his love with his own power.

“(Besides, Erw has his pride as well.)” (Wilma)

If Karla was forcibly married to him due to my order, that will hurt Erw’s pride as man.
What Wilma pointed out was as usual perceptive.

“(Erw, please do your best.)” (Wendelin)

I look at Erw who is eagerly talking with Karla.
Although the Browig household problem was mostly resolved, my troubles weren’t completely settled yet.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Well then, I will go to those two to give them the final rites!” (Armstrong)

“Doushi, you are too straight forward.”

“All things considered, I thought that those two will come back in a hurry…”

I’m talking with doushi and Burkhart-san inside Hendrik’s magic airship.
The seizure of the territory by Gerd-san, who is the new Margrave Browig, was mostly finished.
Within merely one week even the shadows of a dispute between the Philip faction and Christoph faction vanished and they have pledged their allegiance to the new family head on the surface.
Unable to deal with a sudden coup d’etat, there might be those who abide as it’s currently inevitable, but as time passes, the opportunity for something like a rebellion passes as well and it will become impossible.
Due to the legality after having succeeded the peerage from the royal family, we, who got a complete victory against the Browig household in the dispute, helped him out.
If he improves the relations gradually with the current family heads, the retainers won’t have any choice but to acknowledge Gerd-san becoming their feudal lord.
Besides, the change of rank and ruin of the chief retainers, who aren’t here at the moment, has been decided.
There were also many people who worked eagerly as they wanted to be promoted by Gerd-san, who hasn’t many trusted retainers, by contributing at once.

“The information wasn’t relayed?”

“As expected, that must be it, I believe.”

Next to doushi’s group, Gerd-san and me talked.
Although we arrested the relatives and retainers who remained over here with the unexpected coup d’etat, it’s not all of them.
The possibility was high that people, who escaped in time, have informed the two who left for the arbitration negotiations.

“They were unable to slip away, I guess.”

Since they have voided the arbitration draft with their night attack at the first time, there’s likely no way for them to selfishly return to Brotrich a second time.
Burkhart-san predicted that.

“They might take it lightly as the majority of the retainers will support them, once they return.” (Armstrong)

“They might be thinking that something like the Gerd administration, which has a weak foundation, can be easily overthrown”, doushi explained.

“Is that really so, doushi?”

“They might want to believe it to be so.” (Armstrong)

Even so, the majority of their loyal retainers has accepted the third as new family head.
Since that’s connected to their households if they acknowledge it, it means that they won’t take any reckless measures like forcefully opposing him.

“Most of the lot left behind wouldn’t have much of a change in their positions no matter which of them succeeded to begin with.” (Armstrong)

Those, who had the possibility to be appointed to a higher position if Philip or Christoph became new family head, were mostly among those who departed to the front.
From the standpoint of those left behind, it was also a chance to take down those above them.
Since the limits of retainers are set, this rare dropping out of senior retainers means a chance for them who are lower- and middle-ranked retainers.

“It’s a set ruin for everyone and even the group who is related by blood to the family head predecessor! Well, after causing such a disturbance, they are probably fortunate to not have their entire family massacred.” (Armstrong)

“If it was before the ceasefire ((with the Holy Empire)), their blood would have definitely been purged”, doushi explained.

“Wend-sama, we will arrive soon.” (Wilma)

“There’s no change from a half month ago, huh…?” (Wendelin)

Receiving the report from Wilma, I look at the scenery below the magic airship.
Stuff like the tent, where they are carrying out the arbitration negotiations, and the encampments of both armies had absolutely no change from the time before we headed to Herthania Valley.

“Is that so? If pushed I’d say…”

“Erww~~~~. We arrived.”

“Eh? Already?” (Erwin)

Once we descend from the magic airship after pulling Erw, who is having a chat with Karla while looking happy, we are immediately greeted by Margrave Breithilde.

“At last it’s the arrival of a state that looks like the negotiations will be concluded, huh?” (Breithilde)

“I’m the new Margrave Browig, Gerd Oskar von Browig. I’m sorry for having put you through various troubles.” (Gerd)

Seeing Gerd-san who wore the mantle provided by the kingdom, Margrave Breithilde showed an expression of relief from the bottom of his heart.

“So, how is the situation?” (Gerd)

“Day after day they are greedily nagging to cut the debt.” (Breithilde)

He seemed to be fed up by both of them having irresponsibly started to take a path of cooperation in this matter.

“Really…?” (Gerd)

“Shall we start the negotiations at once?” (Breithilde)

Once we entered the tent, where the negotiations are held, Philip and Christoph immediately begun to kick up a fuss.
They probably didn’t believe that the ringleader, who caused the coup d’etat, would come here at all.

“Uncle-sama!”

“It’s inexcusable to cause a revolt in our absence! Get ready to be hung!”

They had a force as if they wanted to grab him at any time, but that was prevented by the retainers whom Gerd-san brought along.

“Philip, Christoph, my succession to the peerage was already accepted by the royal family.” (Gerd)

“There’s no way for such thing to happen though!”

“The calculation doesn’t match! Isn’t that mantle a counterfeit?”

“Christoph, did you call the mantle bestowed by His Majesty a counterfeit?” (Gerd)

“The time doesn’t match, does it!?” (Christoph)

As Christoph said, if one headed to the capital with a magic airship normally, he shouldn’t have enough time after waiting for His Majesty to be available and performing the succession ceremony.

“Why? I headed to the capital after requesting an adventurer who can use 『Teleportation』 though.” (Gerd)

“You don’t say…”

“Hello, I’m an Earl and an adventurer who can use magic.” (Wendelin)

“Earl Baumeister…”

I transported the new Margrave Browig to the capital after accepting a request so that he can quickly succeed the peerage.
That’s the shape it took officially.

“I was also present at the succession ceremony of the new Margrave Browig.” (Wendelin)

I take out my magic hand-held communication device from my magic bag and show it to him.

“Do you want to try asking His Majesty directly if you still doubt it? 『Is it the truth that my uncle has succeeded the peerage of Margrave Browig?』, It’s fine if you ask that, but please be resolved to be at worst sacked.” (Wendelin)

“…”

Once Christoph hears my words, he ends up hanging his head on the spot.
If he asked such a thing, it would become a matter of him denying His Majesty’s authority.
If it’s someone at the level of being merely the eldest son of a Margrave, their head will likely be loped off easily.

“You bastard! Aren’t you ashamed as noble!?”

The remaining Philip shouts at me, but I calmly rebutted that as well.

“You are lucky that I haven’t taken revenge for you meddling with the people of my family before. Because I think that you really are? Seeing that I ended up becoming a noble against my will, I probably have no other choice but to move as noble.” (Wendelin)

“You have killed close to 100 of our men!”

“Your side started it by breaking a law, right? Are you considering how much trouble it took me to not kill as much as possible?” (Wendelin)

“…”

“It’s just as Earl Baumeister has said. If he felt like it, he could have annihilated your side with very flashy, advanced, wide-area magic.”

Philip shows an uneasy expression due to Margrave Breithilde pointing that out.
The retainers, who followed him, slowly began to take a distance.
One way or another they probably have the idea of wanting to be spared by the new Margrave Browig.
On Christoph’s side the retainers began to get away as well.

“Herthania Valley was our family’s property!”

“Even so, it would be a bad debt, if Earl Baumeister didn’t liberate it by using a large amount of money and labour, right? I heard the reports, but it was a large army for the sake of restraining and five excellent magicians. I believe that it’s nobility who arranges such things skilfully and carries out such operations. Are you, Philip, who should be excelling as military personnel, picking such a weird fight?”

“…”

Philip ends up holding his tongue once again due to Margrave Breithilde pointing that out.

“It’s probably already enough. Those two people don’t even have the right to participate in the negotiations.”

“That’s right, isn’t it? Their punishment is under the jurisdiction of you, Margrave Browig-dono.”

Because of the final verdict by Viscount Knappstein who was quiet until now, both of them are restrained by the soldiers brought along by Gerd-san.

“Also, restrain Godwin and the feudal army’s top brass below him after their release.”

After that the negotiations were finally carried out decently.
He might have been already worn-out.
Margrave Breithilde lowered the reconciliation money a bit for the new Margrave Browig.
Granting it as achievement to him who became the new family head, he wanted him to stabilize the East quickly.
Then the reduced part would be quickly returned by stuff like trade picking up pace.

“Anyway, I’m exhausted…”

“If you can receive a certain amount of money by nodding off while checking the documents. That would be a dream-like situation…”

Margrave Breithilde, who incurred a heavy loss due to the dispute, and Gerd-san who succeeded a peerage he didn’t want to succeed due to his stupid nephews destroying themselves.
Certainly, no one has gained here.

“Earl Baumeister, didn’t you obtain a promising asset called Herthania Valley?”

“Accordingly it has its troubles.”

“Since I know that, please give me a bit of the share.”

Mining engineers, labourers and technicians who will carry out the refining.
Because there’s not enough of all sorts ((of people)), it was necessary to have them introduced to me.

“There are plenty of people, who have no destination after their mine was closed down. The Herthania Valley will probably be alright for several hundred years.”

Once it became a measurement against unemployment, Margrave Breithilde was delighted.

“Well then, have the prisoners been returned?”

The negotiations have concluded and the prisoners will be released and reorganized into the new Browig army.
At the beginning it was a feudal army that served as Philip’s stronghold and had Karla as figurehead, but once all of the top brass was arrested, the retainers, who were left, were recognised by the new Margrave Browig.
If it’s to maintain the status quo, of course even those, who had their hereditary stipend reduced by a lot in relation to the dispute, lost their willpower to resist after seeing the gallows for hanging built up in the Eschago Grasslands.
Before that, they are likely already worn-out from their livelihood as prisoners and the dispute.
They are watching the gallows expressionlessly.

“Philip-sama! Wasn’t I allowed to marry my daughter to you!?”

The Junior Commander Godwin and eight people below him were hung while screaming.
What became a show for both armies was for the sake to receive absolution by Margrave Breithilde camp, even if only a bit.

“Their numbers are somewhat low, but the rest of the top brass lot will suffer a pay cut by being deprived of their official position as well. Well, it’s also not something overly pleasant to look at. Shall we go home?”

After confirming that the war criminals are swaying while trembling after being hung, we are finally able to return to our territory.
Once I look below after taking off with Hendrik’s magic airship, the corpses of Godwin and his goonies are still swaying on the gallows.
Averting my sight, I put great effort into forgetting it right away.