NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 21
Helmut, Balt, Ela, four guards, and several carts filled with sugar came when they first arrived, but the procession grew much larger on the way back.
Eight carts containing armored clothing and weapons for the serfs, one cart with quality tools, six carts carrying slaves, one cart filled with food for the return journey, and two carts filled with hay.
When I ordered from the merchants under the apprentice’s command, I had vaguely thought there would be a lot, but seeing it in reality was overwhelming.
Just the carts lined up in a row would stretch about 30 meters, or so I thought.
Due to the length of the procession, it took a whopping two weeks to return to Windheim.
Upon returning, I immediately mobilized all the slaves and employed them in the sugar-making process.
Even with better food and working conditions compared to other slaves, at first, they showed no intention of working hard at all.
Watching this, Balt angrily asked, “Shouldn’t we whip those ungrateful slaves or impose severe punishments?”
So I promised that I would give them the right to cultivate land like the serfs if they worked for just ten years, and suddenly they became diligent.
If they continue working like this, we could make not just 200 carts of sugar, but even 300.
Since I said I would buy everything they produced, isn’t money just going to multiply?
We’ll earn money through the sugar, and since we now have an abundance of food, the territorial reforms should also go well.
Today, I think I will sleep until the sun is high in the sky…
**
My lord, SIEL von Croilet, was originally not someone remarkably talented enough to perform such extraordinary feats.
Yet, his abilities were not lesser than those of other noble lords.
In fact, he was among the more excellent compared to other noble young lords.
He had the martial skills to enter the academy for knights, which is difficult even for noble families.
According to other servants and officials, they said he would adapt well even if he attended an administrative officer’s academy.
Especially since he resembled his father, Lord Croilet, respecting knights older than himself and not treating the servants or maids carelessly.
Furthermore, he possessed a kindness that even considered the humble serfs.
Thus, all of his vassals, including myself, sincerely respected and followed him.
However, something changed starting from the time he rebelled, or rather, opposed going to the academy after passing the entrance exam a few years ago.
Lost in thought, I suddenly felt someone tapping my back.
“Balt, where did Helmut and the other mercenaries go?”
I turned around and looked at my lord as I replied.
“They went to have a meal.”
“Alright, when do you think they’ll return?”
“They should be back soon. They began cooking about an hour ago.”
My lord nodded in response.
“Okay, understood. They wouldn’t have gone drinking since there’s training today, right?”
“Yes, my lord. No matter how much they enjoy alcohol, they won’t drink before training.”
He had slightly distanced himself from me compared to before and no longer showed the same timid demeanor as he did in front of Lord Croilet.
While it’s a bit regrettable that my lord seems to be distancing himself from me, I still find it admirable that he displays a confident demeanor since getting injured.
“Then let’s go, Balt. Hurry up. Once they finish eating, they’ll head straight to the village training ground.”
“Yes, my lord.”
**
On the way to the training ground, the village we passed by had changed immensely compared to when we first came to this territory.
When Bailiff Mars was around, the villagers’ eyes were all hollow, and they were so poor that they couldn’t even manage to mend their tattered clothes.
Even if the walls of their houses had holes, they lived without repairing them, and the villagers had no food to last until winter.
However, now the eyes of the village serfs held a glimmer of hope for tomorrow, and though their clothes might be a bit worn, no one was seen wearing tattered garments like before.
Naturally, there were no people living in crumbling houses, and the barns held either cattle or horses, with enough food stored in their homes to last at least until next year.
While walking, a serf carrying a basket full of bread saw my lord and greeted him with a broad smile, bowing deeply.
“My lord, how are you?”
Usually, my lord would just give a brief wave to the serf who greeted him, but he paused for a moment and responded.
“Yes, doing well. If there’s anything inconvenient, do let me know.”
“Not at all, my lord. Thanks to you, I get to eat good bread every day.”
Hearing that, my lord pointed at the bread, smiled, and asked,
“Then can I have a taste?”
“Yes, my lord.”
My lord split the bread in half and offered it to me.
As I took a bite, the rich aroma of rye and wheat, with a hint of sweetness, filled my mouth.
Having finished the bread, my lord smiled and said,
“It’s delicious, good bread. I will take my leave now.”
“Thank you for enjoying it, my lord.”
Then, my lord hurried his steps back towards the training ground.
After walking a certain distance, my lord asked me,
“Balt, do you understand why I bothered to accept that serf’s greeting and eat the bread?”
“No, I don’t.”
Sighing, my lord replied.
“That serf is the next village head of Hans. Therefore, even though I am their lord, I thought it better to present a good image rather than treat him like any other serf.”
For a moment, I was surprised that my lord, as the lord, remembered the face of someone who would only be the next village head, not even the current one.
Even though the population here is only about 3,000, there’s no need for my lord to remember the faces of such lowly individuals.
Yet, despite that, my lord remembers even their faces…
“Then surely that guy will go back and boast, ‘The lord remembered me.’ Naturally, upon hearing that, his father will think, ‘The lord cares for us’ and be more loyal.”
“… I see.”
“If a lord governs such a small territory, this much is to be expected. We should hurry.”
Though my lord said “this much,”…
I know that many other lords in his position do not even put forth that much effort.
If they remembered the faces of the bailiffs ruling the village, it would be considered a sign of their interest in the territory.
Thus, perhaps the serfs of the village are not following my lord too closely only because he sometimes “moves ahead” of them?
The meticulous interest of a lord with numerous accomplishments towards the serfs perhaps creates miracles.
In that light, my lord has indeed matured…
**
When I arrived at the training ground, there stood mercenaries with tense expressions.
At the front, Helmut was in half-plate armor, and next to him was the cart containing the weapons and armor I had brought.
A little further away stood young serfs.
After a moment, Helmut saw my lord from a distance and approached to greet him.
“Welcome, my lord.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Is everything alright?”
“Yes, I’ve explained everything well to the other mercenaries.”
“Let’s begin.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the mercenaries in front of Helmut began taking out the padded armor, helmets, and weapons from the carts.
Once everyone donned their helmets and padded armor, some took 4-meter-long spears, while others held shields and swords, and some carried large shields and crossbows.
“Attention!”
When Helmut’s loud voice resonated through the training ground, all the serfs turned their gazes that direction.
Seeing that, Helmut briefly smiled before continuing.
“From now on, stand in front of the mercenary holding the weapon you desire! You will learn how to handle that weapon. Once you make your choice, you cannot change it, so think carefully!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the serfs began moving towards the mercenaries with the weapons they wanted.
It seemed that since they were going through military training, everyone wanted to wield a weapon that looked impressive, as nearly all of them stood near the mercenaries with shields and swords.
A few who appeared somewhat intelligent stood in front of those holding crossbows.
Fools. Though swords and shields may look cool, those wielding the swords are the ones that get killed the most.
The ones with spears look dangerous as they lead the line, but when they charge, they end up dying en masse.
After a while, it seemed Helmut also thought it wouldn’t end well if they were arranged like this, and he sighed deeply.
“Swords and shields are good, but spears aren’t bad either. In fact, they’re even safer than swords, so why don’t you think again?”
Upon hearing that, the serfs began to murmur among themselves.
“… But isn’t a sword more impressive than a spear?”
“Right, right. And why do soldiers who occasionally get dragged into wars and die tend to be the ones with swords rather than spears?”
“And you get more rewards sometimes…”
“However, Helmut also said that using a spear is a bit safer…”
“Ugh, this is tough.”
After a brief moment of murmuring, excluding those a bit more sturdily built, everyone moved towards the use of spears.
I also chose like that back in the armory… though now I can wield everything.
As I was lost in such memories, my lord approached me.
“My lord?”
“Go help them. It wouldn’t be easy for Helmut to handle it all by himself.”
“I’m planning to observe how they train. Their methods are different from what I learned.”
My lord looked at me with a puzzled expression upon hearing my words.
It seemed he couldn’t quite understand why the basics of wielding swords and spears would differ.
“My lord, Helmut over there became a mercenary in the Republic of Zenobia before coming here, and I was a mercenary in Franche. Moreover, we belong to different mercenary guilds, so my help won’t necessarily be beneficial.”
Only then did my lord nod, as if he understood.
“I see. Ah, the training is finally starting.”
“Yes, please watch.”