Chapter 311 - Episode 303: An Unexpected Reward ②
Oscar's explanation begins regarding his intention to let Noein establish the Grand Duchy of Arqvist.
The key, first and foremost, was the operation the Kingdom of Lordberg executed during the Betumia War.
In the Kingdom of Lordberg, which employs a feudal system, the landed nobles are subjects of the royal family, but at the same time, they are the masters of their own castles, ruling independent territories.
The higher the rank of the noble—especially those in strong positions—the more flexible their thinking tends to be (or rather, it would be more accurate to say that those capable of flexible thinking have managed to acquire stronger positions). However, among the mid-tier nobles and below, there are still many who cling to conservative and traditional ideas.
Such people prioritize old-fashioned thinking even in war. They believe that fighting majestically, proudly, and splendidly is the ideal and most noble way for an aristocrat to behave. In the case of the devout, the belief that "if one does not fight such a war, they will not be welcomed by God in heaven after death" is added to this.
To such people, the plan devised by Noein was truly the thinking of a demon.
For conservative nobles, battle is something that takes place on the battlefield. Strategy is something to be exercised only within the scope of the battlefield. Noein's idea of rotting the enemy's society from the inside with massive amounts of poison and despicable lies was something that should never have been conceived. To them, Noein's thought process was far too abnormal, far too hideous.
Even at the military council where only the high-ranking nobles of the north gathered, some nobles reacted with intense hostility toward Noein's proposal. Had they been holding swords at the time, it likely would have ended in bloodshed. Among the southern and central nobles, not a few felt similar antipathy. As for the lower-ranking nobles, the proportion of those who felt hostility was likely even higher than among the high-ranking nobles.
Furthermore, there were nobles who felt resentment toward Oscar for accepting Noein's plan and ordering its execution with semi-authoritarian power. Even if that resentment was smaller than that directed at Noein, the originator, Oscar wanted to avoid a situation where an increasing number of nobles viewed the royal family unfavorably at all costs. Especially in the current situation, where the interior of the country is still unstable.
"...Well, I suppose that's how it is. That is why Your Majesty first praised me as the 'Hero who Saved the Nation,' I presume. Even going so far as to make it a proclamation throughout the entire kingdom. By doing so, you impressed upon even the lowest nobles and commoners that I was the one who devised the operation in the Betumia War. And to further solidify that impression, you spread rumors that I am a demon or something of the sort. That while Noein Arqvist did save the country in fact, his thinking is the same as that of a demon. Is that it?"
"...Yes, exactly."
To Noein, who interjected in a slightly complaining tone, Oscar nodded firmly without trying to dodge the question.
"Are there really so many nobles who harbor resentment toward me or the royal family that you had to go that far?"
"I wouldn't call them the mainstream, but they are not so few as to be ignored... I'd say. I haven't completely finished gathering information yet, but that is generally the situation. And for now, most of the hostility is directed toward you, the originator."
Oscar nodded in response to Noein's question.
"Aside from the matter of the 'Angel's Honey,' I hear various voices trying to disparage you—claiming you mercilessly slaughtered thousands of royal citizens who were enemy prisoners, or, though it's a bit late for that, that you're a pervert who keeps a beastman slave by your side and dotes on her. Such unnecessary rumors will likely spread widely throughout the kingdom from here on."
"Ahaha, if it goes that far, I'm almost impressed. Since they are all technically facts, I'm at a loss for how to refute them, though."
Noein laughed with cold eyes. Regarding the annihilation of the royal citizen prisoner unit, any other noble would have made the same choice if they were in the same situation. As for Noein doting on Matilda, it really was a bit late for that, and as long as his wife Clara and her family, the House of Viscount Koenitz, showed understanding, it was not for others to interfere.
In other words, these were merely nitpicks intended solely to slander Noein and lower his personal evaluation.
"So, while pushing all the bad impressions onto me, you intend to cut me loose by granting me independence."
"To put it bluntly, that is exactly what's happening."
Oscar gave a wry smile, seemingly unbothered by Noein's tone, which had become uncontrollably resentful.
In order to make the conservative nobles think, "It is Noein Arqvist's fault that we were forced to fight such a shameful war," the King issued proclamations in the name of the crown and spread bad reputations through agents. Oscar himself seemed to think that such maneuvering by the royal family was not something to be praised.
"I understand you want to complain, but I will continue the explanation."
Saying so, Oscar began speaking again.
There was no doubt that Noein had saved the kingdom through an extremely alien way of thinking. If that were the case, the royal family had no choice but to give Noein a correspondingly large reward—a reward larger than anyone else's. Otherwise, the capacity of the royal family would be questioned. For there were many nobles who supported Noein's achievements, even more than those who hated him.
However, if Noein were given a high position within the kingdom's society and the power befitting that position, the resentment of the nobles who hated Noein would continue to smolder within aristocratic society. If handled poorly, a conflict could break out between the nobles who liked Noein and those who hated him.
Within the current kingdom, no matter how Noein was treated, he would only become a nuisance.
"If I permit independence as a separate country, it is an impeccable reward. There is no greater honor that the royal family can bestow. And if you become the head of state of another country rather than a noble within the Kingdom of Lordberg, the inconveniences of placing you within aristocratic society will vanish."
If a person with an unacceptable thought process wielded power at the top of the domestic aristocratic society, the nobles who hated Noein would never be appeased. It was possible that the resentment would once again spark toward the royal family.
However, it was a different story if Noein were treated as a "foreigner."
Even if the Lordberg royal family provided the catalyst for independence, once independence was achieved, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist would be clearly treated as a foreign nation. In fact, in the distant past, there had been several subordinate duchies and marquessates around the kingdom. Until they were swallowed by the waves of history and annexed, they were independent countries, albeit small vassal states.
As long as the peace of the kingdom's aristocratic society was not threatened, there would be less worry that the nobles who hated Noein would resort to extreme actions. They would likely accept a thought process far removed from the kingdom's general values to some extent, thinking, "It can't be helped if he's a foreigner."
Furthermore, if Noein became independent, there would be no nobles who could physically pick a fight with him. There is a difference between nobles fighting among themselves within the country and a single noble arbitrarily fighting the head of state of another country.
"In short, I am a... poisonous snake that lays golden eggs, is that it?"
No matter how wonderful the work they performed, or how much utility they still possessed, no one wants to live in the same room as a venomous snake. The best way is to build a dedicated shed for that snake next to the house and coexist with a wall between them.
Those who could not accept Noein as a housemate had room to tolerate him as a neighbor at an appropriate distance. Therefore, from now on, Noein would be treated as such.
"Hahaha, that's a fitting analogy... though this isn't exactly a scene to laugh at. This is a story with many parts that are likely unpleasant for you. I feel sorry for not just giving you a reward, but for involving you in such complex circumstances. As you can see."
"No, please... please forgive me. This is not something for Your Majesty to bow your head over."
Noein was genuinely humbled by Oscar, who had given a slight bow. The royal family's methods were cunning, but the resentment of the conservative nobles, the original cause, was not Oscar's fault.
"...Within the large framework of society, humans often cease to be rational. They blindly believe only in convenient logic and blame their own shame or displeasure on someone else... Nobles, like commoners, are humans after all. This time, the bad side of humanity emerged, and it was directed at me. That is all it is."
"That is quite a pessimistic way of thinking."
At Oscar's words, Noein wore an ironic smile.
"I am a person who has naturally always thought this way. My birth and upbringing were not in fortunate circumstances, and from the numerous books I read as a child, I learned the dysfunctional side of human society. Since gaining my territory, I have witnessed that side in reality. I feel I have known a bit too much of human stupidity to have expectations for the world."
From the moment he was born into this world, even before he had done anything, Noein had been loathed. He had no expectation of human rationality or conscience, nor the coolness of human society, at this late stage.
The fact that he was being spoken ill of was certainly not a pleasant feeling. However, no matter how badly he was spoken of elsewhere, it wouldn't injure him or kill him. As long as no actual harm came to himself, his family, his vassals, or his people, he didn't care.
"That is why I can understand the feelings and thoughts of the conservative nobles... even if they are incredibly childish and selfish."
In short, Noein was being severed from the kingdom for the sake of some nobles' feeling of "that guy is creepy, so I don't want to be with him." Those nobles were trying to make a fuss by linking their personal likes and dislikes to grand slogans like "the pride of the nobility and the royal family" and "the honor of the kingdom."
And no matter how foolish that seemed, as long as actual harm resulted from those voices, the royal family had to deal with it. The series of actions and decisions by the royal family would, as a result, also lead to protecting Noein.
"...However, even if it is for the stability of support for Your Majesty and the peace of the domestic aristocratic society, is this acceptable for the royal family? As I mentioned before, it seems unwise to let go of the Arqvist territory, which possesses the Bezel Great Forest Road and connects to the Kingdom of Lancel, in the form of independence."
"Hahaha, you underestimate me too much."
Oscar replied with a laugh to Noein's question.
"I am not a king so incompetent that I cannot maintain a connection with a single small neighboring country. Even if you become independent, I intend to maintain a friendly relationship with you. Moreover, I believe that you will not easily break the friendly relationship with the Kingdom of Lordberg. Militarily, economically, and in terms of blood relations, there is no meaning in doing so."
The Arqvist territory possessed extremely large military power for its population size, but that was strictly based on the premise of "for its population size." It could not wage a head-on war against the Kingdom of Lordberg.
Furthermore, to maintain prosperity by converting the Arqvist territory's sources of income—potatoes, oil, sugar, mineral resources like lapis lazuli, and weapons like the Ballista—into money, a connection with the Kingdom of Lordberg was indispensable.
Also, including the House of Koenitz, there were many relatives of Noein and Clara within the Kingdom of Lordberg. Emotionally, they did not wish to actively fight with their own kin.
Either way, even if he became independent, Noein could not oppose the Kingdom of Lordberg. Oscar was not simply letting go of the Arqvist territory.
On the other hand, Oscar also had to make an effort to maintain friendship with the Grand Duchy of Arqvist. If he easily exercised military force to force compliance, the domestic nobles would see it as "the royal family tries to take back rewards by force when things become inconvenient."
"Besides, as you said, the Grand Duchy of Arqvist will become a key point for exchange with the Kingdom of Lancel. That is precisely why I will prioritize the relationship with you for the benefit of the kingdom. There is enough basis for you to trust that it will not be bad for either of us, right?"
"...Yes, well, I suppose so. My apologies."
Noein formed a gentle smile and nodded at Oscar's words.