Chapter 61 - Chapter 60: Premonition
Arnold Koenitz, the current lord of the Viscount Koenitz territory, had naturally grasped the news that a large-scale bandit group was approaching the northwestern part of the kingdom.
And, like the other nobles, he was agonizing over how to respond to the bandits' raid.
According to information received from merchants, they would likely penetrate into this territory in about half a month.
The Viscount Koenitz territory was a reasonably large domain with a population exceeding 10,000. However, even so, the scale of the territorial army, consisting of professional soldiers, was less than 200. Furthermore, due to the peaceful nature of the land, it was hard to call them formidable.
If such a force were to clash head-on with a bandit group made up of former mercenaries, total annihilation was a possibility.
That said, conscripting from the populace was also problematic. At this time of year, when preparations for planting wheat were about to begin, pulling away the male peasants would cause farm work to stagnate, leading to the people starving next year and a significant decrease in the Viscount house's tax revenue.
It could be said that the bandits were approaching at the worst possible timing.
"...It cannot be helped, then."
With an expression as if he had chewed on a bitter bug, Arnold spat out those words.
"What will you do?"
"Bribe the merchants and have them spread rumors. Tell them, 'To the west of the Viscount Koenitz territory lies the Baronet Arqvist territory, which has meager military strength and a vast amount of gold earned from mines.' Make sure the rumors spread thoroughly, even to the bandits."
Asked by the elderly chief attendant waiting beside him, Arnold gave those instructions.
"Is that all right? If you do that..."
Arnold's plan was practically saying, "I'll divert the bandits to the Arqvist territory and dump the response on them." At the instruction to push a friendly neighboring territory into a predicament, the chief attendant showed a hesitant expression.
"I am aware, but I must prioritize my own survival. Besides, that youth won't be easily defeated even against a bandit group. I can then send reinforcements and make it seem as if 'I saved them.'"
The youth named Noein was sharp. If it were a defensive battle within the Bezel Great Forest where he had the advantage of the terrain, he would likely manage to drive back even 200 bandits somehow.
If the Viscount Koenitz army then pincer-attacked the exhausted bandits as they retreated, he could push the most difficult part onto the Arqvist territory while maintaining the appearance of having "cooperated to strike down the bandit group."
"It pains me, but to protect the interests of my territory, this is the best... or at least the second-best plan. There is not much time. Execute it immediately."
"Yes. I shall convey the information to the merchants with haste."
The chief attendant said so and left the room.
(Forgive me, Baronet Noein Arqvist. This is what it means to be a landed noble.)
While apologizing to his young neighbor in his heart, Arnold let out a deep sigh.
.....
The rumor that "the Arqvist territory is wealthy yet poorly defended," which Viscount Arnold Koenitz had spread, reached every corner of the Viscount Koenitz territory and the surrounding lands in an instant.
Through the information network of petty peddlers, the rumors reached every single small village with thoroughness.
Naturally, the story spread within Retovik, which was under Arnold's thumb, and reached the ears of Bart, who was responsible for transporting supplies to Retovik.
"...Until now, the circumstances that only people connected to us in Retovik knew have suddenly become widely rumored."
"Yes. This can only be... someone spreading it on purpose..."
While receiving the report from Bart, who had rushed back to the territorial capital Noeina, Noein wore a bitter expression.
"Spreading information that bandits would love, timed perfectly with the rumors of the bandit group's approach. Tsk, that ungrateful old geezer really did it."
In a voice unusually irritated, Noein spat out rough words.
"As expected, is it Viscount Koenitz?"
"It's undoubtedly him. Though, if we were crushed by bandits, Viscount Koenitz, who has trade with us, would also suffer economically... Most likely, he's planning to stick his nose in once we've fought desperately to drive the bandits away, and snatch the achievement of 'delivering the finishing blow to the bandit group.'"
"That is a truly infuriating story... So, what will you do?"
Yuri, who was present, asked Noein.
"There's no place to run anyway, so we'll fight. It's no joke to have the territory I've worked so hard to build up be trampled."
As Noein said this, he wore an evil smile for the first time in a while.
"Fortunately, the Crossbow is complete. If I increase production in great haste and train the populace, we can be equal to or stronger than them in terms of combat power."
The population of the Arqvist territory was soon to reach 200. Among them, the male hands that could be mobilized for combat were a little over 100, and to that, Noein's two golems would be added; furthermore, if a large number of Crossbows could be provided, it could be said that there was sufficient combat power.
"But there aren't even 20 Crossbows yet, are there? Moreover, the number of bolts is far too precarious for facing actual combat."
"I'll put as many of my slaves as possible under Damian and have them increase production at full speed. I'll recruit... no, conscript manpower from the populace."
"The season for preparing wheat planting is about to begin. Won't the populace be reluctant about conscription?"
"I'll reduce next year's taxes to compensate for the decrease in harvest. Besides, we have potatoes. Even if wheat planting is slightly delayed, there's no worry of starving."
"...Understood. I'll mobilize Bart, myself, and the other attendants to spread the instructions immediately."
"I'm counting on you."
While seeing off Yuri and Bart as they hurried out of the room, Noein muttered to himself inwardly that this was the first time he had been pushed into a corner by something.
.....
"W-wait! Please don't kill me! I have a good story! I'll tell it to you!"
In an occupied village, the village man whom Gosling was just about to kill pleaded desperately.
"A good story, huh?"
"Yes! It's a story you people will surely love! Please listen!"
"...Fine, try saying it."
When Gosling asked with a suspicious look on his face, the man began to speak as if rattling off.
"T-to the north of here is the Viscount Koenitz territory, and to the west of that is a territory called Arqvist. I forgot if it's a Baronet or a Baronetcy, but although it's a territory of just one tiny village, they're apparently doing well thanks to finding a gemstone mine."
"Tsk, that story again. I've never heard of such a territory. The northwest of the kingdom was supposed to be a dead end at the Viscount Koenitz territory."
"It's a territory that was created in the last few years! That's why they don't even have a territorial army yet. And yet, they apparently have plenty of gold! If you attack there, you'll make a fortune!"
There was a possibility that the villager was talking nonsense out of a desire for his life, but Gosling had heard the same story in the previous village. Since the details of the story were the same, it was likely a fact rather than nonsense.
"You're not lying?"
"I-it's true! I'll bet my life on it!"
"...Fine. I'll believe you. Thanks for the good information."
"T-then, let me go—gyaaah!"
Gosling, who silenced the villager by piercing his torso with a sword, decided that his next destination would be this so-called Arqvist territory.