Chapter 91

"Ha-ha-ha! I am the honorable baroness, Katarina Linda von Veigel, known as the best magician in the West. I challenge your magicians of the Blois family to a magical duel!"

The next morning after accepting Klaus's plan, Katarina stood at the midpoint between the two armies, declaring her challenge with a loud laugh.

Klaus's strategy to damage the finances of the Margrave Blois family had begun. However, it wasn't a particularly complex plan.

The one-on-one knightly duels were running out of participants, so this time it was simply a shift to a magical duel.

"Katarina, you look excited."

"It's a chance to make a name for myself."

The revival of the Veigel family was already underway, but Katarina seemed to have her sights set on further advancement. By engaging in a magical duel, she aimed to earn military honors.

Such conflicts on this scale were rare, and gaining military honors in such a setting would enhance the prestige of the noble involved. This applied to women as well, though there were some differences in practice.

In fact, there were differences, but as a rare exception, since Katarina herself was a magician, defeating the opposing magician would count as a military honor.

This was a loophole that took advantage of the scarcity of magicians. However, it was important to note that if the female magician were not a noble, she would only receive honor and money but not become a noble herself.

Indeed, in this country, there were significant restrictions on women's participation in society.

"Magicians have a high ransom, right?"

"Seems so."

The amount of ransom depended on the status of the captured individual. There was another criterion: the ransom for high-ranking magicians was significantly higher.

Klaus's plan, in simple terms, was to have Katarina capture the magicians of the Blois family.

"Is there a possibility that no one will come forward?"

Eina's concern was valid, but the malicious part of this plan was that it didn't matter even if no one came forward.

"In such conflicts, if no one accepts a challenge, it's a great disgrace."

As a noble, not responding to a challenge would invite ridicule from others, questioning the purpose of maintaining an army.

"But, there's no absolute certainty, right? Could there be a magician stronger than Katarina?"

"It's unlikely, but I think we'll be fine."

Previously, Brantark mentioned that the Eastern region was lacking in excellent magicians. Therefore, Klaus explained that there shouldn't be any magicians capable of threatening Katarina.

"That's right. The best the Margrave Blois family can afford is a mid-level magician. If they hire a powerful external magician, information would reach the lord. Unless they make a huge mistake, Katarina won't lose."

Brantark agreed with Klaus. For a mid-level magician to defeat a high-level one, they would need to use surprise attacks or exploit weaknesses, which was difficult without extensive combat experience.

Moreover, such tactics were almost ineffective in a straightforward one-on-one duel like this. The side that could cast more powerful spells would have a decisive advantage.

"I accept the challenge! I am Bienko Rouke, the chief magician of the Margrave Blois family, known as 'Gale'!"

In response to Katarina's challenge, a magician from the Blois side stepped forward. He appeared to be around forty years old.

A middle-aged man in a common robe stood facing Katarina, wand in hand.

"Huh?"

"What's wrong, my lord?"

"That person doesn't seem that formidable..."

It might be impolite to say, but compared to Brantark, the chief magician, he seemed significantly less skilled.

"They make up for it with numbers."

Recently, the Eastern region has lacked powerful magicians, so the Margrave Blois family has failed to hire high-level magicians. Instead, they have hired several mid-level magicians and appointed the most senior or skilled among them as the chief magician.

"He wasn't appointed as chief magician because of overwhelming skill, was he?"

"No, that's not the case."

Elise asked Brantark while serving him tea, and he answered while drinking it. The ongoing standoff between the two armies, now less intense, was essentially a battle against boredom.

So, not only us but also the allied nobles were sitting in their camps, drinking tea and eating snacks while watching the proceedings.

The current time was around ten in the morning, similar to a morning snack on Earth.

"Can that magician from the Blois family defeat Katarina?"

"He can't."

"Then why would he come forward?"

From El's perspective, it was hard to understand why a chief magician would accept a challenge he couldn't win. However, from a noble's point of view, it was expected to come forward.

Regardless of the outcome, not responding to a challenge would bring greater shame to the Blois family than defeat.

"Let's fight fairly!"

After introducing themselves, the duel between Katarina and 'Gale' began. 'Gale' took the initiative, casting two tornadoes from his arms and launching them at Katarina.

I thought he was a skilled magician for being able to cast two tornadoes simultaneously with both hands.

"But... against Katarina, that level of wind magic isn't enough..."

Katarina immediately created a tornado around herself, neutralizing the tornados launched by 'Gale'.

"Not yet!"

'Gale' continued to cast tornadoes with both arms, but they were all deflected by the tornado Katarina had created around herself.

"Did you see that? In such a duel, the power and amount of magic determine the outcome."

"Only that?"

"Yes. Other factors don't matter!"

Ultimately, 'Gale' ran out of magic power and surrendered, handing his wand to Katarina.

"I am Roy Zarnia, the chief magician of the Margrave Blois family, known as 'Fire Whip'! Let's fight fairly!"

Katarina then faced 'Fire Whip,' a mid-level magician in his thirties.

He created two fire whips with his hands and began attacking Katarina alternately. The fire whips attacked Katarina at various times. When Katarina defended against a frontal attack, another attack came from behind. After defending against an attack from a blind spot, another fire whip would come from the same place.

'Fire Whip' seemed to have thoroughly studied and trained in this magic.

"But..."

"Wow! That's impressive!"

"That's why, in this type of battle, 'Fire Whip' has no chance against Katarina."

Indeed, all of 'Fire Whip's' skillful and deceptive attacks with the fire whip were blocked by the water walls Katarina had created. No matter where he attacked from, he couldn't break through the water walls, only producing steam and hissing sounds.

"For 'Fire Whip,' fire magic is his most proficient and well-practiced element. Conversely, Katarina is relatively weak in water magic."

Yet, in terms of power, Katarina's water magic was superior. This was the insurmountable gap between a high-level and a mid-level magician.

"He's not much stronger than 'Gale.' It's evidence that the Margrave Blois family maintains their magicians with multiple mid-level ones."

A few minutes later, 'Fire Whip' was surrounded by the water walls Katarina had created and surrendered, dropping his wand.

"Did you see my skills?"

Having captured two of the Blois family's magicians, Katarina returned with a proud expression. At the site where she had fought, other magicians were now beginning their duels.

Both the Blois and the Breihlader families had multiple magicians in their employ. Normally, magical duels were prohibited as a waste, but they were allowed in times of war.

Winning would bring honor and rewards, so many magicians were eager to participate.

"That was pretty uneventful, wasn't it?"

"Elise, watching such chaos might be fun, but it's not something I can endure..."

"It was completely one-sided."

"That's the nature of such duels."

Katarina, who had returned, was greeted by Elise, who offered her tea.

"In actual combat, even a high-level magician can lose if caught off guard or attacked at a weak point..."

But in this type of formal duel, where both sides face each other and start on a signal, the stronger magician almost always wins. Katarina's victory was almost inevitable.

"Surprising the opponent is a good strategy."

"In actual combat, yes, but this is a one-on-one duel for honor."

If someone used a surprise attack in such a duel, they would be considered a coward. Katarina explained this to Eina.

"Hey, aren't Brantark and Vel going to participate?"

"I'm passing."

Brantark was the chief magician of the Breihlader Margrave family. Since the Blois family had no magician capable of defeating him, he needed to give the lower-ranking magicians a chance to fight.

"Besides, what would I gain by winning this now?"

Brantark had already earned enough merit and honor. There was no reason for him to fight a mid-level magician, and he would only be resented for taking away their opportunities.

"Vel is the same, right?"

He had already earned enough merit and had captured over forty nobles, important vassals, and soldiers from the Blois side. The Breihlader family had even told him, "You can take a break now."

"Master Guide?"

"He won't come."

If the chief court magician of the southern and eastern nobles were to get involved, it would complicate matters. However, El's concern was understandable.

Given his nature, there was a possibility he might join the duel for fun.

"Besides, the Blois family would cry."

If the Guide came, he would naturally side with us, and the power imbalance would become even more overwhelming, causing significant problems.

"Vendelin, what about my reward?"

"There isn't one."

"Why not!"

"Hey! You're a noble too!"

Katarina's position in this conflict was that of a female head of the Veigel barony, a relative of the Baumeister earldom, who had joined the Breihlader Margrave family's request to participate in the war.

While she couldn't bring an army, her contribution as a powerful magician was considered a significant achievement.

"The ransom from the nobles, soldiers, and magicians Katarina captured will be a profit. It wouldn't make sense for me to give her a reward."

"That's true..."

Despite being a temporary head of a noble family, Katarina seemed to lack a sense of responsibility.

"Without intermediaries, the ransom will be higher. You can leave the negotiations to Heinrich's son, who acts as a bailiff."

"That's right! I'll contact him immediately!"

Upon realizing that more money would be available for the development of the Veigel barony, Katarina happily started drinking tea.

"Katarina is lucky. I wanted to try a one-on-one duel too."

"Lord Vel, I want to fight too."

"Women aren't supposed to participate in battles on the battlefield."

In this conflict, Louise and Vilma, who had nothing to do except for meal preparation and training, expressed their desire to fight. However, Eina scolded them, as it was impossible.

"Before that, it would be unfortunate for anyone to fight Louise and Vilma."

Brantark was right. If an adult were to fight and lose to children like Louise and Vilma, it would severely damage their reputation as a knight or noble.

Given Louise and Vilma's skills, they would almost certainly win.

"What about disguising yourselves as men?"

"Louise, that's a good idea."

"Stop it. It would be cruel to the opponents."

Scolded by Brantark, the two finally gave up on participating in the duels.

"Still, when will this end?"

With a full-scale military conflict impossible, once the few magicians finished their duels, there would be nothing left to do but stare at each other. This would only waste money and food.

"Grandfather used to say that such situations are a test of endurance."

Elise refilled the tea while answering my question. Apparently, Cardinal Hohenheim had experienced a similar conflict in his youth as a priest.

"The side that gets impatient and suggests arbitration first will be at a disadvantage."

Currently, the Blois side is suffering a major defeat. In the key conflict zones, the Blois family's nobles have lost their pre-war privileges and territories to us, and many nobles and their forces have been captured.

"The Blois family might think it's too late now."

"Exactly. It won't get any worse."

Even if they lose a few more duels, the main army of the Margrave Blois family is still intact. Without a full-scale conflict, they can only endure and try to gain slightly better terms through arbitration.

"Still, the nobles in the peripheral conflict zones have already been defeated."

Before that, the Blois family had suffered a major defeat in the peripheral conflict zones. I couldn't understand the point of the main armies facing each other in such a situation.

"Can they retreat now?"

The Blois family's deployment in this conflict is full of mysteries. They are being retaliated against for some provocation, and it's possible that the Margrave Blois himself is not with the main army.

There are rumors that he is bedridden due to illness. How much was he involved in this deployment?

The Margrave Breihlader is also confused by the lack of clear information.

Whether arbitration is possible in this situation is uncertain.

From his perspective, ending this pointless conflict as quickly as possible and focusing on the development of our territory would be more beneficial.

In the end, no envoy from the Blois side came to request arbitration, and it seemed the standoff between the two armies would continue for a while.

"Earl Baumeister, do you have any good ideas?"

With Katarina capturing the chief and second-in-command magicians of the Blois family, the Breihlader family was declared the winner of the magical duels.

Since there were few magicians, the duels ended quickly, and the two armies have been facing each other for three days.

The Margrave Breihlader seemed to be getting impatient and asked me if I had any ideas to lower the morale of the other side.

"It's unclear if it will lower their morale, but it might cause some disturbance."

"Are you going to cast a spell?"

"Of course not, that would be a waste."

After getting the Margrave Breihlader's approval, I implemented my plan.

"Vilma, is it ready?"

"I'm quite confident."

"Indeed, it's beautiful."

I approached Vilma, who was writing on a large piece of cloth in the Baumeister earldom's camp. Surprisingly, among my fiancées, Vilma had the most beautiful handwriting, so I had asked her to help.

In the typical noble army, where there are few women, the female members, except for Katarina, the temporary head and a magician, were responsible for preparing meals for the soldiers and serving tea to the Margrave Breihlader and others. Elise, as a temporary military priest, spent her time in this role.

Vilma, who was still Elise's guard, had less to do during the prolonged standoff and was now helping me.

"Really, it's good."

"Louise, your handwriting is bad."

"That's not true. My handwriting is unique."

Elise's handwriting, while not as good as Vilma's, was still quite neat and added to her perfect superwoman legend. Katarina and Eina had average handwriting, while mine and El's were a bit worse. Louise's handwriting was so bad that it took time to read.

"Maybe my writing could be useful as a code in such conflicts."

"No, that's not the case."

If neither the enemy nor our side could read it, it wouldn't serve as a code.

"Vel, that's rude. What is this?"

"It's a job advertisement!"

My idea to cause disturbance among the enemy was to recruit new people. The target was the ronin (masterless samurai) hired by the armies, and we would hire as many as met our standards. I wrote fifty as the number of hires, but we planned to hire all who met the criteria.

Since I lacked the ability to judge people, I would leave the evaluation to Moritz and Klaus. Despite my reluctance, I couldn't match the experienced Klaus in this area.

"Hmm, you're going to hire the best ronin from the other side."

Brantark was impressed with the idea. Without a letter of recommendation, there would be a probationary period, but it could help address our shortage of personnel. If they were unsuitable, we wouldn't hire them, and even if no one was hired, it wouldn't harm us. After all, we had been idle for the past three days except for magical training.

"Show them that we have the resources to conduct daily operations, and watch the ronin on the other side become disturbed."

If they had joined the Breihlader side, they could have participated in the interviews, but since they were on the Blois side,