Chapter 220 - Episode 213: Family
"...I wonder if my attendants and the commissioned merchants, as well as the members of Arnold-sama's commissioned trading company, have entered the southeastern region by now."
"Likely so. The interior of the country is peaceful right now. It is unlikely that a caravan of that scale would get caught up in any commotion."
Mid-October. In the reception room of the Viscount Koenitz estate in Retovik, Noein was meeting face-to-face with Viscount Arnold Koenitz, who was both his neighbor as a fellow lord and his father-in-law.
The primary purpose of the meeting was seasonal greetings and the exchange of information... in other words, social interaction as neighboring lords. Those greetings and information exchanges had reached a conclusion, and the conversation was shifting toward mere idle chatter.
"The war itself will begin in a manner close to a surprise attack by the Kingdom of Rhodeberg. It will likely end without major incident."
"...It is strange, isn't it? Even though the Pallas Empire is larger in population scale, the Kingdom of Rhodeberg is stronger in military power."
Noein suddenly voiced his doubt.
The territory of the Pallas Empire is wider than that of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, and accordingly, its population is larger. Since people are scattered across a vast territory, the population density is not significantly different, and it seems the scale of the royal capital, Lichthagen, is larger on their side, but normally, the difference in territory and population leads to a difference in national power.
Furthermore, until a short while ago, the Kingdom of Rhodeberg had been staring down the Kingdom of Lancel to the west. It seemed strange to Noein that the Kingdom of Rhodeberg maintained superiority over the Pallas Empire while essentially fighting a two-front operation. He had heard that militant nobles held territories on the eastern border and that the royal army was stationed there, but even so, it was a strange story.
"You were born to a noble house in the southeast, yet you do not know the circumstances of the Pallas Empire's army?"
"...Do you think that Count Kivileft, who treated his neglected illegitimate son coldly, would have taught me about the military situation of a neighboring country? Especially when the Count himself has so little interest in military affairs that his understanding is shallow enough to be unbelievable for a high-ranking noble?"
"...That is true. My apologies."
When Noein spoke while grimacing, Arnold also wore a look of awkwardness.
Regardless of being born in the southeast, the current Noein was completely a northwestern noble. Moreover, until a short while ago, he had been a lower-ranking noble with no decent information network. Since he did not actively collect information on the distant eastern part of the kingdom or the eastern neighboring country, he was ignorant of the circumstances over there.
"The answer is simple. The army of the Pallas Empire is weak. Regardless of numbers, the quality is poor."
"Quality, you say?"
"Yes... You know that the Milleon Holy Church organization has infiltrated even the core of that country, right?"
"Yes, at least that much."
Noein nodded. Any noble would know that level of general common sense.
"That sect... the Orthodox Society, has a tendency to interpret the teachings of the Milleon Holy Church literally. Specifically, the teaching that 'all races shall be equal.' I hear that this ideology has extended even to the military. What do you think happens then?"
"Literally interpreting the teaching of 'all races equally'... Evaluating and promoting officers and soldiers of every race by the same standards? No, if that were the case, there should be no problem with the quality of the military... Perhaps making the number of officers and generals equal for each race, regardless of individual ability?"
"...As I thought, you are clever. That is correct."
Arnold raised an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised.
"It seems the Holy Church organization interfered even in the personnel appointments of the national army, ensuring that the various commanding positions from legion commanders down to platoon leaders were distributed as equally as possible among humans, demi-humans, and beastmen. In recent years, that trend has become even more extreme, and there have been successive promotions and demotions to achieve equality more strictly."
"Eh... Is there no consideration for population ratios regarding the distribution of positions?"
In the southern part of this continent, many countries have a population ratio where humans are eighty percent, beastmen are slightly under twenty percent, and demi-humans make up the remaining small minority. The Pallas Empire is no exception. Thinking logically, the number of excellent generals and officers should be highest among humans and lowest among beastmen and demi-humans. Not because of racial superiority or inferiority, but simply due to the difference in the base number.
"I hear it is not considered. Therefore, it is a terrible state of confusion where human legion commanders are demoted to centurions, while beastmen or demi-humans who were platoon leaders are suddenly appointed as legion commanders. Since the internal affairs of the military are leaking even to enemy nations, it must be quite something."
"Uwah... I feel sympathy for the soldiers of the Pallas Empire."
Hearing this, Noein groaned with a look of utter repulsion.
"As soon as a general or officer dies in battle or retires, they make another absurd appointment, so that confusion has yet to subside. That country strictly limits the military equipment held by nobles, and in exchange, they have expanded the national army held by the Imperial Family. If the organization of that national army is in such a state..."
"...There is no way they can create a strong army or a strong country."
At least in the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, it is said that the national army is, in principle, an organization that values ability. The reason there are many generals from prestigious military families is that they received gifted education, put in the effort, and firmly acquired actual strength. While there may be some consideration for family lineage, an incompetent person would not suddenly lead a large unit based on that alone.
It is the same even if status is replaced by race. It would be understandable if they evaluated ability by the same standards regardless of race, but if they ignore individual ability and achievements and move commanding posts simply by looking at race, there is no way the army can function properly.
Giving heavy responsibility to the incompetent solely because of race is a folly equal to excluding the competent solely because of race.
"To add to that, I hear they are trying to align the lowest-ranking soldiers by race as well. Within the same unit, humans, large beastmen, small beastmen, elves, and dwarves are apparently assigned as evenly as possible."
"...I am completely appalled."
Hearing this final blow, Noein's face twitched again. If soldiers with different physical abilities, stamina, and builds are lumped together, not only would coordination in battle be difficult, but even marching would be a struggle.
"Indeed. I was speechless when I first heard it... Well, for those reasons, the Pallas Empire's army is larger than ours in terms of troop numbers, but weak as an army. You could say they compensate for the fact that they cannot win in quality with their numbers."
"That makes sense. Against such an army, there is no way the armies of the militant nobles along the border or the elite royal army would lose."
As he spoke, Noein took a sip of the tea placed on the table in front of him.
It is often said that "war is a matter of numbers," but it is likely not a matter of simply gathering numbers. If the opponent is such a shambolic army, it seems a slight difference in combat power could be easily overturned.
"...Ah, by the way, Noein. Shall we move locations soon? The greetings and information exchange as heads of houses are already finished."
Noein looked with a blank expression at Arnold, who had begun to act restless.
"Arnold-sama, could it be... that you want to play with Eleos quickly?"
"Hm? Hmm... well, if you put it that way, yes."
This time, Noein had come to Retovik bringing Clara and Eleos, partly for the purpose of showing the grandchild's face to his parents-in-law. By now, his mother-in-law Eleonore was likely interacting with her daughter and grandson, but Arnold had been kept waiting until the stiff talk between heads of houses with Noein was concluded.
However, it seemed he could no longer suppress the desire to interact with his grandson. Sensing this, Noein answered with a smug smile.
"Nfufu... I see. It would be pitiful if I monopolized Father-in-law too much. In that case, shall we end this formal meeting?"
"Don't tease your father-in-law... but I am in complete agreement about ending the meeting."
Together with Arnold, who made a bitter face to hide his embarrassment, Noein left the reception room and moved toward the living room. There, as expected, Clara and Eleos were interacting with Eleonore.
Furthermore, Frederick and Renette, who were Noein's brother-in-law and his wife, were also present. Renette held her first child with Frederick in her arms.
"Oh dear, the business talk is finished, I see."
"Good work, Father."
"Welcome back, Father."
"Yes, finally it is time to slowly interact with my grandson... Now, let me hold Eleos as well."
While answering, Arnold sat between Eleonore and Clara and took Eleos. Eleos, who had a curious personality, stared intently at the grandfather holding him, and perhaps becoming interested, began to reach his hand toward the well-groomed beard on his chin.
Arnold, who until a moment ago had been draped in the aura of a head of a high-ranking noble house, now had the face of a grandfather simply playing with his grandson. Since it was the child of his youngest daughter, whom he had raised with particular care, the cuteness must be exceptional.
Thinking so while looking at Arnold, Noein also sat in an empty chair. Behind him, Matilda stood by like a shadow.
Then, Frederick moved to Noein's side. Renette, holding her own baby, also moved her seat closer.
"Noein-dono, I am grateful to you for bringing Clara and Eleos today. Let me thank you once more."
"Please, there is no need for thanks... I have merely done what is natural as a family."
To Frederick's words, Noein now answered with sincerity. Precisely because he had grown up without knowing the warmth of a family, he wanted Clara and Eleos to taste the happiness of interacting with their family as much as possible.
"Our child also seems happy to meet his cousin, so thank you, Noein-san."
"I am also happy that Samuel is growing up healthily, Renette-sama."
Noein responded with a smile to Renette, who was smiling while holding her eldest son with Frederick—Samuel.
Samuel, who was said to have been born a few months earlier than Eleos, would become the next head of the Viscount Koenitz house after Frederick if things continued this way. Being the same age and in similar positions, he and Eleos would likely become good childhood friends.
If the two grew up interacting harmoniously, the friendship between the two houses would be maintained at least until the generation after Noein. As long as they are nobles, such political intentions inevitably get mixed in, but even putting that aside, Noein hoped that his own child and his brother-in-law's child could become friends. Opportunities for nobles to make friends are not that numerous.
"Oops, now now..."
"Ah, again, you can't, Eleos."
"My my, I wonder if he is curious about Grandfather's beard."
Hearing those voices, Noein turned toward Clara and the others, and as usual, Eleos was trying to pull Arnold's beard and stuff it into his mouth out of curiosity, while Clara and Eleonore were stopping him.
"Hahaha, I wish our Samuel would become such a big personality. He is a bit too quiet."
Just as Frederick said, Samuel, held in Renette's arms, had a blank expression and was silently watching the commotion with Arnold and the others.
"I wonder which is better, being too bold or too quiet..."
While looking at the scene of absolute peace, Noein laughed together with his brother-in-law.
The gentle interaction with his parents-in-law and brother-in-law's couple continued for a while after that.