Unchanged Samurai In Another World

Chapter 34: Noble Sir, Receives Grave News

“Master, you should rest soon…”

“I’ll rest once I finish with these documents.”

In the dead of night, within the manor of the liege, a middle-aged man offered a curt response from behind a desk drowning in piles of paper.

Despite it already being the chilly season, there was no fire in the hearth, and one of the windows stood open, turning the room as cold as an ice chamber. The elderly steward’s eyes were fixed on the open window, but understanding that his lord was trying to suppress sleep with this bad habit, he refrained from giving advice.

“The winter preparation report alone will take you all night. Master, you are no longer young, please take care of yourself.”

“Angila is still in the process of growth. Can I afford to falter with such a trifling amount of paperwork?”

The Angila March, which holds a population of eighty thousand in its provincial capital and a total of one hundred and forty thousand across its territories, stands as one of the largest territories in the Pharas Kingdom. Leveraging its coastal characteristics, it has pioneered maritime routes with other provinces. Though a minority, merchant ships from the eastern Letnark Republic occasionally visit after traversing seas infested with monsters—a voyage fraught with extreme danger. However, by employing skilled adventurers aboard the ships, Angila advertises enhanced safety, steadily expanding trade routes which other regions hesitated to engage in. The time when this city becomes the maritime trade entry point for the kingdom is near.

Despite being positioned at the westernmost edge of the kingdom adjacent to the Forest of Demons—an unfavorable location—this region has managed such prosperity thanks to the March Lord’s adept utilization of adventurers.

Traditionally, the nobles of the kingdom did not place much emphasis on adventurers. Many regional lords firmly believed that “people exist to pay taxes” and largely disregarded wandering citizens who were exempt from taxation.

Nevertheless, the present lord of Angila March, Siegfried Angila, identified a path of prosperity in exporting monster materials to external regions. With significant investments, he had the Forest of Demons and the Labyrinth, which could be both advantageous and disadvantageous to the region, improved and then persuaded the central headquarters in the capital to bring in Adventurer Guilds throughout the territory. He offered facilities to related merchants and implemented all sorts of preferential measures to attract adventurers. The nickname “Adventurers’ Paradise” was also spread by his staff’s publicity efforts.

Thanks to these efforts, profits far surpassing those of the previous generation of the master have begun to flow. At this pace, if Angila could dominate the kingdom’s sea transport industry—

“It won’t be long until we’re awarded a higher noble rank. How could I possibly rest now?”

“…I beg you not to overwork yourself.”

Realizing that any argument would be futile, the steward reached for the teapot containing tea, hoping at least to warm his lord up. Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor approaching. The clinking of armor suggested one of the retainers, and at this late hour, the urgency was unmistakable.

With little time to spare for formalities, Siegfried signaled to the steward, who hastily opened the door.

“Lord, urgent report!!!”

The retainer captain burst into the study, ignoring the flabbergasted steward, and knelt on one knee in the center of the room.

“Too loud. Calm down and report.”

“Apologies! A report has just arrived that the Orcus Empire has invaded the northern area this morning!”

“An official army?”

“No, we’ve confirmed it’s the private forces of the Dris Marquis!”

“Here we go again… That upstart bandit marquis.”

Despite the establishment of multiple fortresses along the border in preparation for invasion, these forces often slip past reconnaissance missions and frequently cause trouble.

“Casualties?”

“Thirty residents of the Muylrim village dead, five critically injured—there are no bodies of the women and children, so it’s assumed they’ve been abducted! All houses have been burned, and the farmland and the wells have been destroyed!”

Siegfried was momentarily stunned, unable to immediately grasp the content of the report.

“—What?! They’ve targeted the villagers!?”

“Yes, the village has been wiped out!”

There had been numerous minor skirmishes with the Marquis’ territory in the past. However, they were mainly about ruining well-maintained roads or releasing captured monsters in areas with castles—acts closer to mischief than war.

“Has the Dris Marquis gone mad…!?”

This attack cannot be dismissed as mere mischief—it’s an act akin to declaring war.

“Those barbarians…!!”

“What about the scale and trail of the group responsible for burning the village?”

“They’re mounted cavalry units, but the scale is unknown. They have moved south along the river at the northern border.”

“Send an urgent messenger to the capital immediately. Inform them there’s a possibility of an official invasion by the empire! Request reinforcements from neighboring nobles and local magistrates of Angila estates!”

“Understood!”

As the retainer captain rushed out from the room as if on fire, two young men in their nightclothes entered the room.

“Father, what has happened?”

“I saw the retainer captain running off in panic.”

“The imperial forces have burned a village in the north. It seems they intend to engage with us in earnest this time.”

“—!!”

“Thomas, you are to accompany me to the battlefield. We’ll head to the northern fortress with the advance party at dawn tomorrow.”

“…Understood. However, Father, will you personally go to the front lines?”

“Naturally. If Angila’s border is breached, the barbarians would pour into the western kingdoms. That must be stopped at all costs. Jayd, you will manage everything in my absence as Lord in my stead.”

“Understood. What about the recent plea from Baron Borello?”

“…The request for tax reduction? With the possibility of war, decline it politely.”

“Should we ignore it completely? After all, Baron Borello—”

“Jayd, I’ve taught you this multiple times. This land is a diverse place where adventurers gather from all over the kingdom. Moreover, Baron Borello is a rare and noble nobleman these days. If even he is petitioning, it must be a dire situation. Dismissing it completely is out of the question.”

“…I understand.”

—

The next day, the lord’s study contained two figures with remarkably similar faces. Their resemblance was almost identical, twin-like, but one was slouching over a desk while the other knelt respectfully in front.

“Brother, did you call?”

“Renald, you know the empire’s army is attacking?”

“Yes. I overheard the knights talking; Father and Brother Thomas have gone to the battlefield.”

“Exactly. In their absence, I’ve been assigned as the acting lord. And I have a task for you…”

Jayd fixed Renald with a cold, mischievous smile.

“…A task?”

“Deliver the Lord’s refusal of the tax-cut request in person to the magistrate of Navar. It’s urgent, so confirm the details in the documents on the way.”

With that, a bundle of papers was unceremoniously tossed onto the floor.

“Brother, the way to Navar passes through the Garena Wilderness. So… could you perhaps assign me a few guards?”

The brother, meeting the pleading eyes of his desperate sibling, snorted with mocking laughter.

“You have your own capable guards, no? Or are you going to be extravagant and demand soldiers in these times of crisis?”

“…No, I apologize. I’ll set off as soon as possible.”

—

“No guards, you say?”

“I’m sorry, Raoul.”

Shaking his head, the bulky knight named Raoul answered the dejected Renald.

“It is not your fault, Young Master Renald. But as you know, the Garena Wilderness is not only dangerous due to monsters but also because of bandits. We, on our own, are not enough…”

“I know… Axle and Aureik—”

“Although they’ve trained under us, they’re still apprentices. There’s no help for it. Let me find some other means of protection.”

“Find other means? What do you plan to do?”

“I am on good terms with the Guildmaster of the Mercenary Guild. During war, mercenaries are recruited, but I’ll inquire if there are any skilled ones available for protection. …Do not worry, Master Renald! Leave it all to this Raoul!”

In an effort to cheer his uneasy master, Raoul beat his chest with gusto.

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