Chapter 55

"Really, that house..."

The next day, I was reporting the results of yesterday's meeting to the Margrave of Brechleider.

Of course, it was impossible for the engagement to be broken off.

The main content of the report was about when and where the ceremony would take place, and the details of the conversation with Friede.

Naturally, that topic would come up.

The issue of the Baumayster main family receiving aid from the royal capital Baumayster family and not even sending a message once they became self-sufficient.

And the fact that they hadn't repaid a single copper coin of the aid they received.

"Didn't you know about it?"

"It's the same as Ehrich's wedding gift. Neither of us has made the facts public."

The royal capital Baumayster family, having obtained a hereditary position for the next generation, no longer cared about repayment.

Or rather, they probably thought it would be annoying if they were asked for more.

"Since it's aid, strictly speaking, it's not a loan, right?"

Even so, once the development of the territory progressed and they had some leeway, it would be proper to repay it without interest.

This is something that could be said to be a matter of course for a noble.

No, it could be said to be a matter of course for a human being.

"Perhaps they even thought it was a waste to send someone to demand repayment for the position they had obtained with such effort."

Even if they sent a letter and went to the trouble of sending someone, if our family said, 'We can't return what we don't have,' that would be the end of it.

If we had such manpower, I would think it would be better to allocate it to forest protection.

After all, the stability of one's duties is what brings stability to the lives of future generations.

"Perhaps they anticipated that and decided not to return the money."

By conducting private loans and borrowings among a narrow circle of parties and deliberately not repaying them, it could almost be called a kind of small-scale fraud.

Even if the amount was far from being a small loan.

"Also, there's the possibility that the position they obtained with such effort might be tarnished?"

"Yes. There are people who might make a big fuss and turn it into a scandal."

There are dirty people in the family who might sabotage the work, so they might fire them and suggest our family as a replacement.

Noble idlers are said to do such things to get a position they lack.

"Considering that, they didn't say anything..."

"It seems to have turned out well in the end."

The royal capital Baumayster family, without doing such things, devoted themselves to forest protection and, as a result, became a wealthy family among the knightly families.

I can't help but think that our family should learn from them a little.

"I will attend the ceremony. As for the rest..."

In any case, it seems that our family must repay the aid that has not been returned, including compensation, to the royal capital Baumayster family in strict secrecy.

"It's a secret, but the two families have severed ties over this matter. The rest is just a matter of gifts..."

I will face the same problem as when my brother Ehrich got married.

My brother Paul, as the head of an independent knightly family, is supposed to receive support from the Minister of Military Affairs, Edgar.

Naturally, it was necessary to give a gift at the ceremony.

"I'll do it all..."

"No, I'll do it. I'll make it look like the Baron Baumayster did it."

The Margrave of Brechleider, as the greatest power in the south, probably has the pride of a patron.

He declared that he would pay for everything.

"On our family's financial records, it's all a debt of the Baumayster main family, though."

It's unclear how much it will be, but if it were to become a reality, it would certainly be an amount that would put the Baumayster family in a difficult situation.

"Will you not demand repayment?"

"Considering the sins of our predecessors, we can only remain silent."

Both issues were like dust that would come out if you hit them.

However, they are recorded in the accounts, and the fact that they are not being demanded is only because of the Margrave of Brechleider's instructions.

In the future, it could become a significant bomb.

"That's enough for that. By the way, are you going to participate in the martial arts tournament?"

"It seems to be mandatory..."

It is apparently common sense for nobles to participate in the kingdom-sponsored martial arts tournament at least once.

Our family is an exception, as always.

"When you are appointed as a noble in this country, don't you say something like, 'My sword is...'?"

"Yes, that's the one."

Even if the main weapons on the battlefield are bows and spears, and even if a secret gentleman's agreement has been made between the two countries that they should not use magic as a tactical or strategic secret weapon.

Nobles are said to be respected only when they wield their swords gracefully.

Putting aside the question of how many nobles, including myself, can actually handle a sword properly among all the current nobles.

"I participated in it once when I was young."

Before inheriting the title, I apparently participated only once.

"How was it?"

"I lost in the first round of the preliminaries. I'm a man with negative talent for swords."

As a child, my sword teacher apparently told me, 'Just don't get hurt during practice.'

I'm sure even I wasn't that bad.

"Losing in the first round of the preliminaries isn't a problem, though."

"Is that so? Because the Margrave of Brechleider is not a soldier?"

"Even if you're a soldier, it's not really a problem."

It's just a rule that you're supposed to participate at least once.

And there is no causal relationship between performance and advancement as a soldier, but good performance is said to be a plus in evaluations, at least up to the level of a mid-level commander.

"If you want to become a high-level commander, you need command ability, logistics ability, and various other things."

If the supreme commander were to cut down enemies one after another with his excellent sword skills, that would mean the battle was already lost, so sword skills are not highly valued.

Rather, the one who can organize a large army, establish a logistics support system including supply, and command accurately.

It seems that they are evaluated during drills, and if they are not evaluated here, they cannot advance.

"Even if you're just good at physical strength, you'll be sent to the front and that's it, right?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

As a soldier, to become great, you need the ability to lead an army.

Just being a sword expert will only make you a famous adventurer, a sword instructor, or a capable squad leader on the front lines.

"Besides, Baron Baumayster won't become a soldier, right?"

"No."

"So, there's no problem. Aiming to pass the first round of the preliminaries is fine, isn't it?"

It feels a bit pitiful, but I won't become good at swords just by working hard from now on.

The Margrave of Brechleider was right.

"Baron Baumayster has magic that can kill dragons, so that's fine. I don't even have that."

Besides, it's not necessary for nobles above the rank of baron to be experts in martial arts.

In fact, it's better to be bad and hire such people.

"If you can do everything, it might be seen as obnoxious. And about the martial arts tournament..."

The Margrave of Brechleider explained that there are separate categories for swordsmanship, spear skills, archery, and unarmed combat with or without gloves.

"Personally, I was thinking of the archery category..."

I wasn't boasting to be one of the best in the kingdom, but I felt it would be the best category for a decent performance.

"Unfortunately, the head of a noble family and the heir must participate in the swordsmanship category."

Nobles say, 'My sword is...' so they must participate in the swordsmanship category.

"Can't be helped. I'll give it a shot... (Wait, if I use magic to enhance myself...)"

"Ah, let me tell you. The use of magic or magical power is prohibited in all categories. This is a tournament to see pure skill."

With the Margrave of Brechleider's words, my last hope crumbled.

"The martial arts tournament, huh. I participated once in the past."

After leaving the Margrave of Brechleider's place, I returned to the mansion in the capital using the instant teleportation spell, where Master Armstrong was elegantly drinking mate tea and munching on cookies.

This man, despite his appearance, loves sweets and often eats them.

And the topic of the martial arts tournament came up at the table.

"The prohibition of magic is tough."

"For most people, it's because they can't use magic."

It's a tournament to see pure skill and experience, so bringing in magic or magical power is not allowed.

If Master were to get serious, he could crush even the best swordsmen with a snap.

"However, there are some ambiguities in the rules."

There are people who have a normal amount of magical power or a little more and can skillfully enhance their physical abilities with that magical power.

However, this talent is half instinctive, so it's difficult to be told not to use it.

Also, since the amount of magical power used is small, such people are tolerated.

"If the judges measure the amount of magical power and confirm that it exceeds the average amount of a normal person, they will be disqualified."

"That's a lot of trouble."

We would be disqualified just for using a little magical power.

"Pure swordsmanship only, huh. I'll probably lose in the first round of the preliminaries."

If I'm lucky, I might win against a noble who is participating as a memorial event.

But the others are professional soldiers who regularly participate, knights belonging to the royal guard and the knightly order, and young people who train rigorously every day as apprentices.

There are also many adventurers and ronin who want to participate.

Only 128 people can participate in the main tournament, and to advance to the main tournament, you need to win at least seven times, making it a grueling tournament.

"Adventurers and ronin are particularly motivated."

Top performers are likely to be scouted by nobles.

As immediate combat forces to strengthen the guards or the small armies of minor lords.

In this era without war, it is perhaps the only opportunity for outsiders to serve in a noble family.

"By the way, how did you do, Master?"

"Ah, I was told by my father to participate in the swordsmanship category..."

Master is apparently not good at swordsmanship, but he made it to the fourth round of the preliminaries thanks to his power.

"Wow, the fourth round of the preliminaries..."

"Indeed, the fourth round is impressive."

Ehrich and the others, who were discussing the wedding at our mansion, also appeared.

Paul and Helmut were busy with the wedding and the preparations for moving in.

"Is the fourth round impressive?"

"Vell, I lost in the second round of the preliminaries."

When he was a junior official, he was told by his pure superior, Mr. Rottger, to participate 'because it's a tradition.'

"My first-round opponent was the heir of a certain baronial family, so I was lucky."

He was a noble's son and very weak, so he won.

Indeed, Ehrich's sword skills might be even weaker than mine.

"By the way, how about Paul?"

"I made it to the third round."

"Wow."

"I was lucky in the tournament. That's all."

His opponents were other apprentice guards and heirs of noble families.

"Also, the adjacent bracket. By chance, I was seeded due to the number of participants. There was an heir of a baronial family there."

Still, making it to the second round is impressive.

Vell, Ehrich, and Helmut all looked at Paul with admiration.

"Still, our Baumayster family is pretty low-level..."

It seems that unless you come from a military family or have very enthusiastic parents, it's not that great.

"For reference, I also lost in the second round. My first-round opponent was a weaker guard than me."

And Helmut apparently made it to the second round.

I felt a bit of pressure.

"To be honest, it's not a very exciting story. I just want to pass the first round..."

"Like Paul, if you can make it to the third round, that's impressive. But in reality, that's the level."

It's not like in some saga where the protagonist easily makes it to the main tournament and wins the championship.

Such things are rare.

For me, such a scenario is impossible from the start.

"You'll understand if you face a veteran adventurer. You'll lose easily and unexpectedly. Even for such a skilled person, making it to the main tournament is a miracle."

Moreover, such skilled individuals are powerless against the sheer number of opponents.

It's the main reason why the military expects them to only excel on the front lines.

"Considering our brothers, maybe Elwin, Iina, or Louise could do it?"

"Elwin could probably make it to the fifth round of the preliminaries. It depends on the tournament draw, though."

To catch the eye of a noble, you need to make it to the fourth round of the preliminaries.

Conversely, if you can't make it that far, it could be a problem, Paul said.

"Vell's baronial family is a new one, isn't it? If Elwin, the head of the guards, has a poor performance, the sales pitch might become intense."

If Elwin is that level, I should be more useful.

There's a possibility that people with better performance and who are currently job hunting might come knocking.

"But, just being strong in swordsmanship isn't enough, right?"

"Yeah, it's dangerous to keep someone with just that skill close."

It's not a pleasant thought to imagine a skilled ronin sent by a noble who is an enemy, hired and then stabbed to death with a sword.

"Anyway, Elwin has to do his best."

After talking for a while, the three brothers left, and I went to see them off to the gate. In the garden, Elwin was practicing swordsmanship diligently.

"It's because the tournament is coming up. Aim for at least the fifth round of the preliminaries, right? Vell, you're aiming for the first round, right?"

"Yes, just one win."

While watching Elwin's practice, Ehrich and I were talking when Elwin suddenly raised his voice.

"I'm aiming to pass the preliminaries!"

For Elwin, who is learning swordsmanship from Warren, a member of the Royal Guard, achieving a good performance in this tournament is a must.

"What a noble goal..."

"Iina is practicing hard, too. And so is Louise."

It's a tough tournament for Iina and Louise because they can't use magic and have to rely on technique alone.

In their case, it might not be necessary to achieve such good results.

"I have to win."

"Is that so..."

We silently cheered for Elwin, who was swinging his sword with all his might.

"But, the first round is a tough wall..."

"It would be nice if Vell had some tournament luck."

"Really, that's all I can hope for."

Ehrich's comment was quite rude to me, but since it was true, I didn't mind at all.

And the day of the martial arts tournament arrived.