Chapter 124 - Introduction of Characters Thus Far
〇People of the Arqvist Territory
・Noein Arqvist
The protagonist of this work. 18 years old at the current point (4th year of development).
Head of the Arqvist Baronet family. He holds territory within the Bezel Great Forest, at the northwestern edge of the Lordberg Kingdom.
A puppet mage who is abnormally skilled in the handling of golems. Having grown up exposed to a vast amount of literature from all times and places during his childhood, he possesses knowledge and values that deviate from the general common sense of the Kingdom.
Born as the child of Count Kivileft's concubine, he spent his childhood confined in a detached building of the mansion. Due to these circumstances, his personality is warped, and he has a somewhat twisted side.
He harbors a strong grudge against his father, Count Kivileft, who continued to treat him coldly as an illegitimate child, and seeks to achieve his revenge by living happily as a "lord who gathers the love of the people," unlike his father, who is a corrupt lord.
Compared to general lords, he attempts to love and cherish the people of his own territory to an excessive degree, but this is the flip side of a strong desire to "be loved and admired by the people."
Conversely, he basically does not trust people from outside the territory and sometimes resorts to extreme self-defense, though he opens his heart to a certain extent to his wife's relatives and the families of his subordinates. Additionally, he places a certain amount of trust in those connected by clear interests.
・Matilda
Noein's slave and lover. A rabbit-person. 24 years old at the current point.
Originally a slave of the House of Count Kivileft, Noein's birth family; she became Noein's caretaker when she was 15 and Noein was 9.
Despite being a beastman slave who is normally looked down upon, she was taught reading, writing, calculation, and knowledge of martial arts recorded in books by Noein. As she continued to be treated with care, she came to swear absolute loyalty and love to him.
Because she possesses knowledge and wisdom above the average level of the Kingdom, as well as combat techniques utilizing the physical abilities unique to beastmen, she holds a position similar to Noein's adjutant using those abilities.
・Clara Arqvist
Noein's wife. The fourth daughter of Viscount Koenitz, the lord of the neighboring territory. 18 years old at the current point.
She married Noein following a proposal from Viscount Koenitz. Although the color of a political marriage was strong, the relationship between the couple is good.
Furthermore, she and Matilda, who was Noein's lover first, agreed on the opinion that they would "each support Noein in their own way while utilizing their respective abilities and positions," building a relationship that can be called comrades or best friends transcending social status. They often enter Noein's bed together.
She is deeply knowledgeable in academics, particularly history. She established and managed a school within the Arqvist territory, contributing to the improvement of the people's academic ability. Additionally, she hopes to act as a historian eventually.
・Yuri
The Chief Retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family. Former mercenary group leader. 38 years old at the current point.
A large, imposing man characterized by a shaved head and a beard covering his chin. For certain reasons, he is a fugitive from the Count Kivileft territory army, and he maintains this appearance partly for the purpose of disguise.
He possesses the strength befitting the position of Chief Retainer, and is the foremost in the territory in terms of close-quarters combat strength. He also possesses a talent for "Dialogue Magic," though that ability is inferior compared to first-class dialogue mages.
Due to his background as a former mercenary group leader, he is skilled at managing subordinates and possesses a certain level of academic ability and education. He is deeply trusted by Noein, and often provides suggestions that compensate for Noein's lack of experience and mental immaturity.
He has a young son named Yakov with his wife, Mai.
・Mai
A retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family and the wife of Chief Retainer Yuri. Former mercenary. 29 years old at the current point.
Possesses a bright and caring personality. She was originally a mercenary who took up the sword to fight, but now that she has a family and a son has been born, she has distanced herself from fighting.
She operates a mutual aid organization called the "Arqvist Territory Women's Association." In the Arqvist territory, where there are many refugees who migrated after losing their hometowns or relatives, she provides wide-ranging assistance so that women do not struggle with domestic life, childbirth, or childcare.
She has a young son named Yakov with her husband, Yuri.
・Pence
A retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family. Former mercenary. 31 years old at the current point.
Characterized by sharp, lizard-like eyes and a slender build. While there is nothing exceptionally outstanding about him, he possesses more than sufficient combat power, is reasonably intelligent, and is reasonably good at handling subordinates... being versatile, he serves in the position of Deputy Chief Retainer.
Normally, he handles a wide range of work from maintaining public order within the territorial capital Noeina to supervising development work, and depending on the situation, he sometimes serves as Noein's guard along with Matilda.
While he was rushing straight down the path of bachelorhood, he received a passionate approach from the maid Rosetta and were happily united.
・Radley
A retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family. Former mercenary. 35 years old at the current point.
An ugly man acknowledged by both himself and others, his manner of speaking is unrefined, and compared to other retainers, he is not very intelligent.
However, regarding combat, he is a powerhouse rivaling Yuri, and his tactical judgments are appropriate and swift. Also, contrary to his crude atmosphere, he is an extremely decent person in terms of character, so he is highly respected by the territorial army soldiers.
Normally, he patrols the surroundings of the territorial capital and the forest roads connecting to the mining village, handling the defense of the territory and the extermination of monsters.
He is married to Gina, a woman of the territory who was attracted to his personality, and she is pregnant with their first child.
・Bart
A retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family. Former mercenary. 27 years old at the current point.
A handsome young man acknowledged by both himself and others, and possesses excellent communication skills. Utilizing these characteristics, he played around with women quite flamboyantly during his mercenary days.
Since becoming a retainer serving Noein, he has lived a grounded life, and utilizing his likable appearance and abilities, he serves as the liaison with related parties inside and outside the territory. Being a former mercenary, he can handle combat reasonably well.
He fell in love with Michelle, the daughter of a restaurant owner he met in Retovik, the territorial capital of the Viscount Koenitz territory, and proposed shortly after meeting her, resulting in a lightning marriage. Since then, the relationship between the couple has been incredibly good.
・Anna
A retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family. 20 years old at the current point.
Born in Retovik of the Viscount Koenitz territory, her family home is a shop. While helping at the shop, she acquired excellent accounting and clerical abilities.
Also, because she had loved development stories since childhood, she was discovered by Noein and migrated to the Arqvist territory. Since then, she has handled the territory's financial and clerical work.
Originally she was shy and quiet, but perhaps because she has many opportunities to interact with Noein due to the nature of her work, she is gradually becoming dyed in the spirit of the Arqvist Baronet family and is becoming a shrewd personality.
She and fellow retainer Edgar were attracted to each other and married in the 2nd year of development.
・Edgar
A retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family. 28 years old at the current point.
Born in a development village in the southwestern part of the Kingdom, originally from the village head's family. He lost his hometown village in a conflict with the Lancel Kingdom to the west, and drifted to the northwest along with the surviving villagers to migrate to the Arqvist territory.
Having received education in the village head's family of a farming village, he has deep knowledge regarding agricultural management. Utilizing that ability, he organizes the farmers and has become the territory's agricultural manager.
Possessing an extremely serious personality, he manages the increasing number of farmers well and contributes to the expansion of agricultural scale while adapting to the cultivation of crops rare in the Kingdom, such as potatoes and soybeans. Though a bit plain due to his role, he is actually an incredibly capable person.
He and fellow retainer Anna were attracted to each other and married in the 2nd year of development.
・Damian
A retainer serving the Arqvist Baronet family. 29 years old at the current point.
While smoldering within the blacksmith circles of Retovik, he was discovered by Noein and migrated to the Arqvist territory, becoming the lord's head blacksmith.
A genius who created inventions such as the crossbow and the thousand-tooth rake with eccentric ideas. He is, in a way, the cheat character second only to Noein.
In exchange for his talent, he significantly lacks social life abilities, often speaks and acts at his own pace, and his etiquette as a retainer serving a noble is questionable, but because his abilities as a craftsman are outstanding, he is forgiven by Noein.
He is single and lives in the Baronet family's mansion, but since he might immerse himself in work until he collapses if left alone, he is watched over by the maids.
・Christy
A slave owned by Noein. 18 years old at the current point.
From the southwestern region. Originally born into a wealthy merchant's family and possessing high education, she was sold as a slave due to her family's bankruptcy, at which point she was bought by Noein, who wanted personnel capable of clerical work.
At first, she could not accept that she, who came from the wealthy class, had fallen to a slave, and continued to maintain an aggressive attitude toward those around her, including her owner Noein. However, through Noein's somewhat extreme education, she accepted her position and decided to live looking forward within reality, and is now working enthusiastically.
While assisting the financial manager Anna as a clerk, she also handles the verification and recording of cultivation experiments for commercial crops ordered by Noein from afar, contributing to the operation and development of the territory by utilizing her high education.
She lives in a private room within the mansion. Because she becomes so enthusiastic about her work, she sometimes becomes a bit of a workaholic, and along with Damian, is watched over by the maids.
・Mary
A maid working at Noein's mansion. 18 years old at the current point.
Possesses a bright and energetic personality and physical strength; within the mansion, she mainly handles physical labor such as cleaning and drawing water, utilizing her physicality.
・Kimberly
A maid working at Noein's mansion. 19 years old at the current point.
Possesses a cool and serious personality. Within the mansion, she mainly handles serving and the personal care of Clara.
Among the three maids, she holds a leader-like position, effectively serving as the head maid.
・Rosetta
A maid working at Noein's mansion. 17 years old at the current point.
Possesses a gentle personality, characterized by a way of speaking where she elongates the ends of her sentences. She is the best cook among the three maids and handles the meal preparation single-handedly.
Due to various things, she came to like Pence and continued to secretly appeal to him with the cooperation of those around her. Eventually, she confessed in a very direct manner and captured Pence's love.
・Zadrek
A slave owned by Noein. A tiger-person. In his mid-30s at the current point.
Serves as the coordinator for the slaves performing manual labor under Noein. Since he comes from a lineage of beastman clan chiefs, his abilities as a manager are also high. It is thanks to this Zadrek that Noein himself does not have to spend much effort on the management of lord-owned farmland or public facilities.
Despite being a beastman slave, his loyalty to Noein, who treats him generously, is very high.
・Henrik
A servant employed by Noein. In his early 20s at the current point.
As a stable hand, he takes care of the horses owned by the lord, and when Noein goes out in the Baronet family's carriage, he serves as the driver.
Coming from a rural farming village, he had handled farm horses and pack horses for a long time, so he is skilled in handling horses second only to the former mercenary retainers. In terms of skill in operating a carriage, he even surpasses the retainers.
A charming young man with an impressive way of speaking with a strong accent and a smile where one front tooth is missing.
・Rick
A soldier of the Arqvist territorial army. In his mid-20s at the current point.
Originally from the same development village as Edgar and was a farmer, but utilizing his sturdy build, he began helping with patrols around the territory and monster hunting, and is now a full-time soldier.
Since he is also a veteran resident, he serves as a coordinator for the territorial army soldiers, and also demonstrates excellent ability as a ballista shooter.
Having married young, he has a wife and son from before migrating to the Arqvist territory.
・Dant
A soldier of the Arqvist territorial army. In his mid-20s at the current point.
Originally from the same development village as Edgar and was a farmer, but along with Rick, he began helping Radley with patrols around the territory and monster hunting, and is now a full-time soldier.
Since he is also a veteran resident, he serves as a coordinator for the territorial army soldiers, and is becoming a position like a sergeant who connects the retainers of warrior families and the general soldiers.
Though not described in the work, he recently married a woman of the same generation. Also, Radley's wife Gina is his biological older sister.
・Gina
Radley's wife and Dant's older sister. Around 30 years old at the current point.
While interacting with Radley, who often took care of her younger brother Dant for work, she fell in love with his sincere personality and approached him herself to marry. A bright and generous good wife. Slightly plump type.
Currently pregnant with a child with Radley.
・Michelle
Bart's wife. In her early 20s at the current point.
From Retovik of the Viscount Koenitz territory. She worked as a clerk at the restaurant run by her father, but Bart, who visited the shop, fell in love with her and proposed, resulting in marriage with 0 days of dating.
Not an outstanding beauty, but possesses a refined and gentle personality.
・Philip
A merchant. The president of the Skinner Trading Company. In his late 20s at the current point.
Originally a tiny peddler, but he possessed foresight and initiative, such as being among the first to frequent and do business in the emerging Arqvist territory.
He did things like acting as a spy reporting the progress of the Arqvist territory's development while being paid by Viscount Koenitz, but because he also firmly contributed to the lives of the Arqvist residents as a peddler, he was overlooked by Noein.
Using the bandit commotion as a catalyst, his resolve and grit as a merchant were recognized, and he was given a shop by Noein to become the official merchant of the Arqvist Baronet family, establishing his own trading company. He is making large profits and growing the company day by day, being entrusted with the sale of mining resources outside the territory.
・Dmitri
A carpenter. A dog-type beastman. In his late 40s at the current point.
Originally served as a master in a construction company in Retovik, and took charge of house construction in the Arqvist territory upon Noein's request.
Thinking that no further promotion could be expected in Retovik due to the disadvantage of his race as a beastman, he migrated to the Arqvist territory and established his own construction company.
At the time of migration, he only had a few apprentices, but now he employs many laborers, and during the agricultural off-season, he hires farmers who have free time, continuing to build houses at a tremendous pace for the Arqvist territory where immigrants continue to increase.
・Victor
A mining engineer. A dwarf. 80 years old or more at the current point (dwarves are a race with longer lifespans than ordinary humans).
Originally worked as an engineer at a large trading company in Retovik, but using the occasion of being hired as a consultant for the Arqvist territory's mine development, he came to want to become independent and establish his own company.
Afterward, when Noein expanded the mine development project, he was called upon again and formally migrated, bringing along a group of his own craftsmen and miners. He established a company and, employed by Noein, directs the mining operations in the mining village.
Since the mining village is developing around his company, he also serves a role like the representative of the village.
Contrary to a wild appearance typical of dwarves, he has a polite and courteous personality, and his manner of speaking is very gentle.
・Daphne Alessandri
A magic tool craftsman. In her early 30s at the current point.
Originally operated a workshop called the "Alessandri Magic Tool Workshop" in the Count Kivileft territory of the kingdom's southeastern region; although it was a small-scale workshop of a single female craftsman, her meticulous work earned a good reputation. Having heard that reputation, she was requested by Noein and created two golems.
Recently, because Count Kivileft unplannedly brought foreign magic tool companies into the territory, the management of the workshop became unsustainable, and she migrated to the Arqvist territory to work under Noein.
After migrating, while making everyday magic tools for sale to the residents, she also contributes to the strengthening of the territory's military power, such as being requested by Noein to manufacture "Explosive Flame Arrows."
A relative of a lower-ranking noble serving Count Kivileft.
・Selfers
An elderly doctor. 90 years old or more at the current point (as a quarter-elf, he has a lifespan of over 100 years).
Operated a clinic in Retovik for many years. During that time, he was called to the Arqvist territory, which had no doctor at the time, and treated residents injured in the bandit subjugation and examined Noein, who suffered from a fever.
Using those events as a catalyst, he took a liking to the Arqvist territory, and after leaving the Retovik clinic to his disciple, he migrated and is spending his remaining years while witnessing the territory's development. Additionally, he works as the only doctor within the territory.
・Liris
A doctor's apprentice. 14 years old at the current point.
A first-year student of the school operated by Clara; she became interested after learning the basics of medicine from Selfers as part of her classes. Since female doctors are not common, she was opposed by her father, but with Noein's assistance, she persuaded her father and currently serves as Selfers' assistant as a doctor's apprentice.
The fact that she, a woman, entered the path of a doctor is becoming a catalyst for removing the atmosphere within the Arqvist territory where futures are often limited by gender, origin, or status within the Kingdom.
・Hasel
A priest. In his mid-20s at the current point.
A young priest of the Milleon Holy Religion, the state religion of the Lordberg Kingdom, who migrated along with his wife and nuns to establish and operate a church in the Arqvist territory.
In the Kingdom, the separation of church and state is practiced, and the power of religious forces is not strong, so his main role within the territory is to perform rituals, starting with the "Ritual of Blessing," and to provide a place of prayer for devout believers.
He provides a certain amount of cooperation for the strengthening of the territory's military power, such as providing the medicine "Angel's Honey," created by the secret techniques of the Holy Church, to Noein in exchange for large donations. Or rather, he is made to do so.
〇People of Retovik
・Arnold Koenitz
Head of the Viscount Koenitz family. 46 years old at the current point.
Governs the Viscount Koenitz territory, which is to the east of the Arqvist territory.
Out of a feeling of not wanting to be spoken of poorly by future generations, he strives for good governance and is evaluated as a reasonably capable lord. On the other hand, he has a shrewd side, such as using clandestine activities to divert bandit groups into the Arqvist territory to suppress damage to his own territory.
Having witnessed Noein's cunning several times, he chose the path of fully siding with the Arqvist Baronet family for the sake of his own territory's profit. As a manifestation of that intention, he recommended his fourth daughter, Clara, as Noein's marriage partner, and now maintains a friendly relationship with Noein, who has become his son-in-law.
・Eleonore Koenitz
The wife of Viscount Arnold Koenitz. 43 years old at the current point.
A woman possessing the glamour and composure befitting the wife of a high-ranking noble, boasting a beauty that makes her look like she is in her early 30s.
・Frederick Koenitz
The eldest son of Viscount Arnold Koenitz and the heir to the Viscount family. 24 years old at the current point.
In order to train himself capability-wise and mentally as the next head, he entered the Kingdom army before reaching adulthood and devoted himself to military service. He is excellent as a soldier, reaching the point of being assigned to the First Legion, considered the most elite in the Kingdom army, and is scheduled to retire and return to the Koenitz territory next year.
He is a serious honor-student type, and both his parents believe his character and abilities are flawless as the next lord.
Through the war with the Lancel Kingdom, he became comrades-in-arms with Noein. To Noein, he is a brother-in-law.
・Benedict Miles
A merchant. The president of the Miles Trading Company. In his early 50s at the current point.
A person who stands at the top of one of the largest trading companies in the Viscount Koenitz territory and one of the top in the northwestern part of the Kingdom. He possesses several branches from the northwestern to the northeastern part of the Kingdom, not just the main store in Retovik. He is also an official merchant for the Viscount Koenitz family.
He possesses economic power and connections that exceed those of some lower-ranking nobles, and because it is convenient for business, he uses the company name as his surname.
He conducts transactions of mining resources with Philip's Skinner Trading Company, and also sometimes receives direct requests from the Arqvist Baronet family, having deep connections with the Arqvist territory.
・Eliza
A merchant. Anna's mother. In her early 40s at the current point.
Operates a medium-sized grocery store in Retovik, mainly doing business with commoners.
Before the Arqvist territory became self-sufficient, Noein bought food from her store. When her daughter Anna said she wanted to migrate to the Arqvist territory, she showed a worried appearance, but eventually respected her daughter's will and sent her off.
Currently, she is earning large sums of money by responding to a proposal to stockpile large amounts of salt as strategic materials for the Arqvist territory.
Possesses a cheerful personality and is excellent as a businesswoman, having managed the store firmly even after losing her husband early.
・Marco
A merchant. Anna's older brother and Eliza's son. In his early 20s at the current point.
While helping at his mother Eliza's store, he is gaining experience to eventually inherit the store.
Possesses a serious personality and his abilities as a businessman are flawless.
〇Nobles of the Northwest Faction
・Siegfried Bechtolsheim
Head of the Marquis Bechtolsheim family. In his early 50s at the current point.
The leader who unites the noble faction of the kingdom's northwest, holding territory to the east of the Viscount Koenitz territory. The population of the territory is the largest in the northwest, and the territorial army possesses a number of people on the scale of a legion. The territorial capital Bechtoria is the largest in the northwest and one of the leading cities in the country.
An imposing man cloaked in an aura that does not betray his age, possessing the insight and judgment befitting the leader of a regional noble faction.
Also, he recognized the usefulness of the crossbows and potatoes brought in by Noein, who was an unknown minor noble, and possesses the flexibility to adopt new things without hesitation, such as spreading them within the faction.
・Edmund Marcel
Head of the Count Marcel family. In his mid-40s at the current point.
Holds territory on the border with the kingdom's northeast, playing the role of staring down the Northeast Faction, with whom he often clashes over profits. The scale of the territory is the second largest in the northwest after the Marquis Bechtolsheim territory, and he is in the position of number 2 in the faction.
Known as a thorough combatant, his personality is somewhat conservative. Therefore, while he recognizes Noein's capability in his head, he is emotionally very displeased with his unique thinking, values, and the behavior of always bringing along beastman slaves.
・Anton Shuvalov
Head of the Count Shuvalov family. In his early 60s at the current point.
The number 3 of the Northwest Faction, holding territory on the border with the kingdom's central region. The main highway connecting the northwest and the central region passes through the territory, and it prospers as an economic key point.
A crafty noble who has been active in securing the interests of the northwest while balancing with the center of the country, including the royal family; in terms of economic influence, he surpasses Count Marcel, the second-in-command of the faction.
He looks like a gentle, kindly old man, but he harbors unfathomable deep thoughts within that smile... or so it appears in Noein's eyes.
・Tobias Oggoren
Head of the Baron Oggoren family. In his late 30s at the current point.
Holds territory in a position closer to the south within the kingdom's northwest, and since there are many plains, it has a certain value as a reasonable granary region.
Within the faction, he is an existence close to the "others," but since he is an eccentric who likes beastmen and always brings along his favorite cat-person slave, he often gets along well with Noein, who always brings along Matilda. For Noein, he is one of the few people who can be called a friend.
Because the location of the Baron Oggoren territory in the settings was changed slightly (more to the south than initially), a part of the text in Episode 69 "Dinner Party ②" was corrected accordingly.
〇Royalty and Nobles of Other Factions
・Oscar Lordberg III
The current King of the Lordberg Kingdom. 8th year of reign. 31 years old at the current point.
Since the previous king died young of illness, he ascended to the throne at a young age. In terms of bravery, intelligence, and elegance, he is flawless as the king of a country, but because he is young, there is a side of him that lacks experience.
He has had interactions at social gatherings and such with Marquis Bechtolsheim since he was a prince, and according to him, he is "like a noisy old relative."
・Ragnal Burkhard
Minister of Military Affairs. In his mid-40s at the current point.
A so-called court count, serving the royal family as a bureaucrat.
The current head of the Count Burkhard family, a prestigious warrior family. Before taking the minister position, he was a self-made genius who gained experience in the Kingdom army, rising to the point of serving as the commander of the First Legion, the most elite, during his time as a soldier.
Even after becoming minister, he skillfully manages the Kingdom army while utilizing his experience and showing consideration for both the royal family and the field.
・Marquis Gardwin
A great noble who bundles the noble faction of the kingdom's southwest.
As the leader of the southwest, which prospers through trade with the Southern Continent, he possessed economic and military power surpassing Marquis Bechtolsheim, but since the territory borders the Lancel Kingdom to the west, he is directly receiving the negative effects of the conflict.
The Northwest Faction and Southwest Faction are traditionally on bad terms, but he himself maintains a certain amount of interaction with Marquis Bechtolsheim, and as leaders, they balance things so that the factions do not clash decisively.
・Maximilian Kivileft
The current head of the Count Kivileft family. Holds a large territory facing the sea in the kingdom's southeast.
While his military power is not that great, since he possesses a large port in the territorial capital, he boasts overwhelming economic power, prospering through trade with the Republic of Betumia on the Southern Continent. He is in the position of number 2 in the Southeast Faction.
Maximilian personally can hardly be called an excellent or benevolent lord-noble, and his reputation among other nobles is not good. He favors wealthy merchants under his umbrella and receives large bribes as payment, fattening his own greed.
However, he has enough wisdom to maintain a minimum balance so that his own territory does not decisively collapse, and since he contributes greatly to the faction with that economic power, he is not denounced on a large scale.
Due to a mistake in his youth, he committed the blunder of fathering an illegitimate child (Noein) before having a legal wife and legitimate heir, and has struggled to make that scandal fade away.
The story of how he pushed the Arqvist territory onto the illegitimate Noein and cut ties is a story known to those in the know within noble society, and only a very small part of the nobles know that Noein Arqvist is Maximilian's child.
.....
The scale of the economy in various parts of the Kingdom is balanced at about 40% for the kingdom's central region including the royal capital, 20% for the southeast, 17% for the southwest, 13% for the northeast, and 10% for the northwest. Therefore, the Count Kivileft family, the number 2 of the southeast, is strong enough to surpass the Marquis Bechtolsheim family, the leader of the northwest, in terms of economic power alone.
While the economic balance is as above, other elements do not necessarily correlate; for example, industrial technology is more developed in the north where there are many mines and craftsmen, the population is about 30% in the kingdom's central region, and in terms of military power, the central region possessing the Kingdom army overwhelms other regions.
Since the Count Kivileft family is one of the leading large territories economically in the country and possesses a thick pipe for maritime trade, no noble tries to spread the relationship between Maximilian and Noein for mere amusement, in order to avoid making them an enemy.