Chapter 90

"Although we were informed in advance, you arrived quite quickly."

Upon arriving at the grasslands where the Breichreiter Margrave's army was stationed, I descended from the ship using the 'Flight' magic, and the Breichreiter Margrave and his entourage welcomed me.

Even as a new baron, I am a baron, so I am someone who makes others cautious.

"The rebellion was quelled in a day. I appreciate Mr. Blantark's cooperation."

"He is your bodyguard. Don't hesitate to use him."

If anything were to happen to me, the development of the frontier might be jeopardized, so the Breichreiter Margrave assigned his precious Blantark to me.

He seems to have entrusted his own bodyguards to several other mages he hired.

"Regarding the rebels..."

I talked about the course of the rebellion and how Claus successfully persuaded them to join our side after they were captured.

"Indeed, they were the rear disruptors from the Brouwa family."

"No, they were more like expendable pawns."

"The economy there is stagnant, so it was probably a way to dispose of surplus personnel..."

Due to the frontier development, the movement of people, goods, and money has been restricted, leaving even fewer destinations for the third sons and below in the lower vassal families.

Since they are expendable, they probably thought it would be a good deal if they could stop my activities.

"We can't just drive them all out as adventurers. This is also a problem for my family. I am grateful to Baron Baumayster."

Apart from my family, there are almost no noble families that lack manpower at this point.

Occasionally, there are people who start from scratch to reclaim wasteland and aim to become nobles, but it's uncertain whether they will achieve nobility, so they are not popular among those seeking employment, and there is no job information magazine, so few people know about them.

As a result, many vassal children end up without jobs.

"Economically, they seem to be in a very tight spot."

While we were talking, El and the others also came down from the airship, so we quickly moved to the main camp to continue the conversation.

"Currently, we are stationed near the border of the Echago grasslands, which spans the eastern and southern regions. Our forces consist of about 4,000 men from seven families. In about a week, reinforcements will arrive, bringing the total to around 6,000."

Although the number seems small, it's inevitable because maintaining and deploying an army costs a lot of money.

The allowances for the soldiers and their meals are the responsibility of the noble families who sent the troops, including the Breichreiter Margrave.

"What about the Brouwa family side?"

"About 5,000 men. So, it's a standoff."

Neither side wants a decisive battle, as it would result in significant casualties.

Thus, it naturally becomes a standoff.

"Additionally, there is another battlefield."

The Breichreiter Margrave then spread out a detailed map of the border area on the table.

"About 300 kilometers northwest from here. Here, the Henckel baron, a vassal of the Brouwa family, and the Lanzel baron, a vassal of ours, are in a standoff over a copper mine."

The root cause of the conflict is the recurring struggle for rights in such border areas.

"The copper mine on the border between the two families is said to have excellent production. Naturally, it has been a point of contention in the past..."

There have been multiple conflicts in the past, but for now, it is divided equally.

"Then, suddenly..."

The Henckel baron from the Brouwa family side sent troops and expelled the miners and guards from the Lanzel baron's side, occupying the copper mine.

Now, the Henckel baron's troops, who have occupied the copper mine, and the Lanzel baron's troops, who aim to reclaim it, are in a standoff.

"Fortunately, there have been no casualties."

It's fortunate that there are no casualties in the conflict, as it would make it difficult to resolve the dispute if there were any deaths.

"It's difficult for either side to monopolize it forever."

Occasionally, they fight to vent their frustrations, and both sides reluctantly agree to a certain distribution.

This is the reality of the rights disputes in this era.

"Given that, please use training weapons."

Surprisingly, all the soldiers participating in this conflict, on both sides, use training weapons with blunted edges.

I didn't expect them to be this thorough in trying to avoid casualties.

"Training weapons?"

"Don't worry. Lord Henrik's ship has them on board."

Moritz, who was standing next to me, reported that Henrik's ship had enough for everyone. Apparently, Tristan had thoughtfully loaded them.

"Tristan is the son of the Minister of Military Affairs, Edgar, so he is familiar with such situations."

"Thank you, but we don't have enough for those guys."

"If it's just a little over twenty, I can sell you some spares."

"Thank you."

With the weapons for the newly appointed soldiers secured, the Breichreiter Margrave continued his talk.

"Of course, even with blunted edges, they are like blunt weapons. Some people die from bad hits, but the number is significantly reduced."

They capture opponents to reduce their numbers and later negotiate ransom payments.

It's similar to how medieval European nobles resolved conflicts through ransoms.

In medieval battlefields dominated by knights and mercenaries, it was common for there to be only one casualty on both sides after a battle, as capturing and demanding ransoms was more profitable than killing.

The kingdom also unofficially encourages battles with minimal casualties.

"There are over eighty noble families on both sides that have disputes in border areas. This time, the Brouwa side's noble families suddenly sent troops to occupy the rights of noble families under our jurisdiction, and allies gathered troops to reclaim them, leading to standoffs in about forty small battlefields with dozens to hundreds of troops."

Indeed, the map the Breichreiter Margrave spread out had many notes.

For example, the troops of a certain knight family suddenly occupied a shared forest area, and the troops of another knight family were in a standoff.

Another example was the troops of a certain baron family occupying a mid-river island where entry and exit were prohibited due to pending arbitration, and the troops of a knight family, who were in a dispute, were demanding that the troops be withdrawn from the island.

Most of the conflicts were unexpected, with the Brouwa side's surprise attacks forcing the Breichreiter side's nobles to be driven out, and they are now gathering troops to reclaim their rights.

"Have any noble families clashed yet?"

"Not yet."

This is the troublesome part of such disputes.

Initially, it's unclear, but the conflicts are often over small territories or how much water to draw from a water source. If they escalate into full-scale conflicts with casualties, it becomes difficult to resolve.

"However, if we don't send troops, it would mean recognizing the other side's effective control. It's not an option, considering the honor of the nobility."

I understand this, as there have been many territorial disputes between countries in my previous life.

If you are too weak, the other side might take advantage and make even more demands. Sending troops to stand off is the natural course of action.

Indeed, being a noble is quite costly.

"Is this going badly?"

"A few families managed to prevent the occupation by anticipating it, but the rest are our losses. In arbitration, we are at a significant disadvantage."

While the sudden advance of the Brouwa side is regrettable, the key disputed rights and territories are under their effective control.

Naturally, they are at a disadvantage in arbitration.

"Do you want to reclaim some of it?"

"But that's also difficult."

The Brouwa side has the Margrave of Brouwa and his army in the rear.

If the Breichreiter Margrave's army in the rear sends reinforcements, the Brouwa side will also send troops, so for now, it's just a standoff.

"This is a problem... If we go to arbitration now, we will be at a disadvantage..."

"Is that their goal?"

"Yes."

Due to dissatisfaction with the development rights, they are using this method to suppress the discontent of their subordinates.

Additionally, by spending the money the Brouwa Margrave has accumulated on military actions, they are circulating money within their territory.

It might also have an aspect of public works.

"Then, I will reclaim it."

"Can you do it?"

Using the small magic airship we hired, we will fly to the conflict zones one by one, defeat and capture the troops of the Brouwa side's nobles.

It would be even better if the Brouwa Margrave's army sends reinforcements.

If we capture them and demand large ransoms, the Brouwa Margrave will regret challenging us.

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

I received the map from the Breichreiter Margrave, and we hurried to the locations where the noble armies were in a standoff on the small magic airship.

"Of course, the Archmage is not participating this time."

"If the Archmage from the southern and eastern conflicts sides with the southern side, it would cause problems."

"I understand that, but the Archmage might say something like 'It sounds interesting' and participate."

"Really?"

"No... Given my father, it's a possibility..."

On the ship, we talked with El and Henrik for half a day.

The ship finally arrived at the first battlefield.

This is the border area between the Lanzel baron's territory and the Henckel baron's territory, where they are in conflict over a copper mine, as the Breichreiter Margrave explained earlier.

Indeed, about 300 soldiers from the Lanzel baron's side are stationed in front of the copper mine, guarding it.

Looking closely at the copper mine, soldiers from the Henckel baron's side are stationed as sentries in various places.

"Welcome."

Initially, both armies were surprised by the sudden arrival of the magic airship, but when El was sent as a messenger to the Lanzel baron's main camp, he quickly came to greet us.

The Lanzel baron is an ordinary-looking man in his forties.

"Reinforcements from the Breichreiter Margrave?"

"Yes. Let's reclaim the copper mine immediately."

"Really? Is it okay?"

He agrees to reclaim the copper mine, but he doesn't want the casualties to be too high.

I could tell from his face that he was thinking that.

"As long as there are no casualties on either side, it's fine, right?"

"Yes, that would be the best."

Then, it's simple.

Just like during the rebellion, I can paralyze them with Area Stun and capture them.

There shouldn't be any slip-ups if I use detection.

"First, let's sign the agreement, Lord Bruya."

"Ah, yes. I am the military supervisor sent by the Breichreiter Margrave to accompany Lord Baumayster."

When a noble leads an army to assist in a conflict, a problem arises.

It's about the recognition and distribution of achievements and spoils of war.

Even if the assisting noble helps and wins the war, some nobles try to claim the credit, leading to many disputes.

In this case, the Breichreiter Margrave sends a military supervisor to officially recognize and record the achievements.

The military supervisor sent by the Breichreiter Margrave is named Bruya, a serious-looking man in his fifties.

He looks like a typical bureaucrat.

There is also an agreement about the distribution of spoils of war.

Rights to the captured soldiers' equipment, supplies, money, and food.

The distribution ratio of the ransoms for the captured soldiers.

"I will paralyze everyone, so please help with the capture."

"Indeed, you are the hero who slew the dragon..."

Unlike the rebellion suppression, this will be a wide-area Area Stun, but it's actually easier for me because there's no need to select the range or targets.

The copper mine is large, but the areas with people are limited.

I should be able to handle it alone.

"Please help with the capture of the paralyzed Henckel baron's soldiers, the care of the captured prisoners, and the defense of the reclaimed copper mine."

"Of course."

The first task will take time if we do it with our own personnel, and the second task is fine because the cost of maintaining the prisoners is included in the ransom, so we can get reimbursed later.

The third task is because, according to Blantark's detection, there are about 300 soldiers from the Henckel baron's side in the copper mine.

If all of them are captured, defending the copper mine shouldn't be too difficult.

"Will you occupy the Henckel baron's territory this time?"

"No. It's considered almost taboo according to an unwritten rule."

When the Henckel baron's side first invaded, they could have occupied other territories of the Lanzel baron, but they didn't.

Or rather, they couldn't.

"The conflict is only about the rights to the copper mine. If we don't limit it to that, there will be no end to the disputes."

If they enter each other's territories, kill the people, violate women, destroy fields, and burn houses, the grudges will be endless.

The conflict is limited to the copper mine.

The same applies to other noble families in similar disputes.

"If the conflict gets too severe, intervention from the royal family is expected."

In such a case, a favorable ruling is unlikely.

"The kingdom might confiscate the copper mine as the cause of the conflict. In the past, such rulings were not uncommon..."

The conflict is limited to the two families and the rights to the copper mine.

By showing this stance, they prevent intervention from other forces.

The patrons and regional overseers, like the Breichreiter Margrave, assist the local nobles, and in return, the assisted nobles contribute to the stability of the region.

This relationship has been established for a long time.

"Then, let's sign the agreement."

In the end, the Baumayster family will not be involved in the rights to the copper mine.

In return, the Baumayster family will take all the rights to the possessions and prisoners of the Henckel baron's troops, which have been rendered combat ineffective.

The Lanzel baron will later request reimbursement for the costs of managing the prisoners.

There were other minor details, but both sides reached an agreement, and Bruya quickly recorded it on a contract parchment, which I and the Lanzel baron signed.

In this world, paper has already become widespread among the common people, but for important contracts, parchment is still commonly used.

"Then, let's get started."

There are many places in similar situations, so to resolve them as quickly as possible, we decided to start the operation immediately.

"Are there any mages?"

"Yes. When they attacked the mine, someone was firing fire arrows. I think they are probably adventurers hired temporarily..."

For a baron, it's rare to have even a low-level mage.

According to Lanzel baron, there is no information that Henckel baron has ever had a mage as a vassal, so it seems they were hired temporarily for this campaign.

"There's no point in paralyzing them together."

If it were a mage of Katarina's class, they might resist the Area Stun and counterattack.

But if the testimony is accurate, there's no need to worry.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes."

When the troops of the Baumayster family, led by Thomas and Moritz, and the troops of the Lanzel baron appeared in front of the copper mine, the soldiers of the Henckel baron's side, who were defending it, became tense.

"Let's go!"

But that tension was cut short by the paralysis from the Area Stun.

Everyone in the mine was paralyzed and couldn't move.

"Charge!"

Orders were given by the commanders of both armies, and the capture of the paralyzed Henckel baron's troops and the complete occupation of the copper mine began.

"Well, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Yes..."

My part is over, and there's no need for the Lanzel baron to stand at the front.

Further involvement would take work away from his subordinates.

I took out a table and chairs from the magic bag and invited him and his aides for tea.

Vilma set up the table and chairs, and Elise started brewing tea with the tea set she had taken out.

Incidentally, El, Ina, and Louise went with Moritz as observers.

In case the paralyzed soldiers counterattacked, they were prepared.

Bulantark and Katarina were also sitting in chairs and drinking tea.

Since they wouldn't have anything to do at the mine, high-level mages are welcome at such tea parties.

Tea parties among nobles can be quite troublesome