Chapter 74 - Episode 73: After the Banquet ②
"An important noble house that cannot be easily discarded, huh..."
"Yes. Even if I were welcomed into the Northwestern Faction as a 'talented young noble who achieved the subjugation of bandits,' I am, after all, only a Baronet. If I were to ever clash with Count Kivileft, I cannot say there is no possibility that you all would discard me."
Marquess Bechtolsheim wanted to say that it wouldn't be like that, and that he would protect Noein as a comrade of the faction, but the heavy responsibility of his position as the leader of the Northwestern Faction would not allow it.
Count Kivileft belonged to a faction in the southeastern part of the kingdom. The northern part of the kingdom, where mine development is the primary industry, and the southern part, where maritime trade flourishes, have different temperaments and are traditionally on bad terms.
If the Arqvist territory and Count Kivileft's territory were to clash, it could potentially develop directly into a conflict between the Northwestern Faction and the Southeastern Faction.
Furthermore, because it prospers through trade with the Southern Continent, the southern part of this kingdom is more developed than the northern part. If a full-scale conflict were to occur, the Northwest would be at a disadvantage. In such a case, there would be a possibility of maintaining the stability of the Northwest as a whole even if it meant discarding the Arqvist territory.
"That is precisely why I attempted to become one of the central nobles within the Northwestern Faction by providing many gifts and contributing to the military and social development of the kingdom's northwest. From a state of having zero connections, in order to leap forward to become an important figure in the faction, I intended to offer the crossbow and the potatoes from the very beginning."
"I see... Indeed, if the Northwest is transformed by the crossbow and the potatoes, your position within the Northwestern Faction will become rock-solid."
"Yes. Besides, the matter of the crossbow and the potatoes would have leaked outside the territory eventually anyway. I thought it best to provide them to a close faction and spread them quickly before they became known to nobles I didn't know well. It is better for a close friend to become strong than a distant stranger."
Noein's smile changed into something slightly mischievous.
"To further add to that, I am also aiming for the Northwest to develop through the proliferation of powerful weapons and the establishment of stable food supply means, thereby gaining power that surpasses other factions."
"You wish to make the Northwest itself a sturdy shield for your own territory, and by gaining an important position within the faction, you wish to obtain peace. Is that it?"
"To put it bluntly, that is how it is. This is my honest intention without lies, and I intend to continue providing the technology and knowledge produced in my territory to the faction based on this thinking."
In other words, Noein was telling the Northwestern Faction, "Become strong and be the backing that protects me. I will hand over the technology and knowledge for that purpose."
It was a quite condescending and cheeky way of thinking, but looking at the skill of mass-producing crossbows in less than two years while developing the frontier, and further establishing an efficient cultivation method for potatoes, it was by no means an empty boast.
"...Hahaha! Your way of thinking is interesting! Your posture of seeking the peace of your own territory to an excessive degree looks terribly cowardly, but your decisiveness in boldly letting go of the seeds of profit to obtain that peace seems brave. It is not very noble-like, but I like it."
"Thank you. I am not noble-like in my origins, after all. I simply wish to protect the peace of myself and my people and live happily."
"I see. Then, as the leader of the Northwestern Faction, I shall protect your peace. For that purpose, I shall make meaningful use of the technology and information you offer to the faction. Let us develop the Northwestern Faction together."
"Yes, I am still young and inexperienced, but I will do my utmost to be of help to the Northwestern Faction."
Marquess Bechtolsheim and Noein exchanged a powerful handshake while looking firmly into each other's eyes.
.....
After the contracts with the nobles, the dialogue with Marquess Bechtolsheim, and further finishing the dinner he had been invited to by the Marquess, it was late at night by the time Noein and Matilda returned to the inn.
"Welcome back, Noein-sama~"
"You have quite a worn-out look on your face."
The ones who greeted them were Rosetta and Pence, who was on guard duty at the inn today.
"I'm tired... really tired. I'm done for today, I can't do anything. Just the contracts with the nobles were tiring, and on top of that, Marquess Bechtolsheim probed my inner thoughts. It was the first time I've been that nervous."
Saying so, Noein cast off his cloak haphazardly and flopped down onto the bed.
"Was Marquess Bechtolsheim really that formidable?"
"Yes. Even from my perspective, he was a formidable person to the point that Viscount Koenitz seemed like a mere small fry. I felt a spirit that intended to draw out Noein-sama's true intentions no matter what."
When Pence asked while glancing at the genuinely exhausted Noein, Matilda responded thus.
"I see... that must have been tough. Good work."
"Thanks, Pence... Honestly, the leader of the Northwestern Faction is scary. As expected of the greatest high noble in this region. It's a good thing he successfully became an ally."
It was fortunate that Marquess Bechtolsheim had a temperament that valued practical benefit over formalities, but if he had been the type of person to say, "It is outrageous for a lower noble to try and use a faction!", Noein's plans would have been ruined.
He had heard about the Marquess's character from Viscount Koenitz beforehand and had stepped into today's conversation after actually gauging the man's personality at the banquet, so he hadn't been too worried, but even so, one cannot let their guard down until the results are out. Noein did not know where the high noble's reverse scale lay.
"Being a lord is hard~"
"Indeed. I could absolutely never imitate that."
"Even I, if I could, would want to avoid troublesome socializing and just stay shut in the capital city Noeina forever. But since our place is still a small territory, I have to strengthen connections with other nobles... I think it'll be much easier from now on thanks to this success, though."
Having been recognized by the leader of the Northwestern Faction, having put the nobles belonging to the faction in his debt, and having gained a strong position within this faction, Noein had leaped from an unknown, insignificant noble to an influential noble who is respected in the region.
Though there was much mental strain, the participation in this banquet and the dialogue with Marquess Bechtolsheim could be called a great success.
"Even so... it seems you two enjoyed sightseeing in Bechtoria quite a bit while I was working hard. Even though I'm the one who gave you the holiday."
Noein spoke while directing a judging look at Pence and Rosetta, who had been enjoying something like baked sweets and tea with a unique scent as a midnight snack while waiting for Noein's return.
"Well, thanks to you, I fully enjoyed the big city. Here are the souvenirs."
"Noein-sama, would you and Matilda-san like some tea and sweets~?"
"I'll have some. Matilda, come here beside me."
"Yes, Noein-sama."
With Matilda attending by his side, Noein munched on the baked sweets, finally taking a breath to heal the fatigue of the day.
.....
Exactly ten days after leaving the capital city Noeina to attend the banquet. As they entered the period that could be called the end of the year, Noein's party safely returned to the capital city Noeina.
"My beloved home!"
"We've returned~!"
The door of the carriage that arrived in front of the mansion opened, and Noein jumped out excitedly. He was followed by Rosetta, who also seemed excited, and finally Matilda, who stepped down with her usual expressionless face.
"For a lord's long-awaited return, that's quite a childish entrance."
The one who greeted them with a look of exasperation as usual was the Chief Retainer Yuri, who had served as the acting lord during Noein's absence.
Besides him, the subordinates who had handled the territory's management during Noein's absence were lined up to welcome them. Mary and Kimberly, who had maintained and managed the mansion as maids, were also there.
"But, this was the first time I've been away from the Arqvist territory for this long since becoming the lord, you know? It's natural to miss the land."
"I see. Well, for now, the most important thing is that you are safe. How will you handle the report to the retainers?"
"Since everyone is gathered, maybe I'll just do it now... For starters, in one word, it was a great success."
"That is the best possible outcome."
Noein, laughing airily, was also spoken to by the other members of the welcoming party besides Yuri.
"Noein-sama, welcome back."
"Good work. Socializing with so many nobles must have been difficult."
"Thanks. The results were great, but it certainly was quite difficult. I don't think I want to do it again for a while."
He complained as he received words of appreciation from Anna and Edgar.
"I worked hard while Noein-sama was away too! I have a new report!"
"I'm making crossbows like crazy so they can be exported at any time!"
"Good work to you both. I'm happy you're hardworking, but are you sleeping properly?"
He instead offered words of appreciation to Christy and Damian, who were still somewhat workaholic and had slightly glinting eyes.
"Noein-sama! I've made the mansion perfectly clean!"
"Rest, bathing, and meals can be provided whenever you desire."
"Good job. It seems Rosetta bought a lot of souvenirs for you two, so you should look forward to them."
He smiled at the energetic Mary and the earnest Kimberly.
Surrounded by the retainers, slaves, and servants who admired him, Noein entered the mansion.
Noein's first full-scale diplomacy ended thus, accompanied by great results and fatigue.