Hero w/o Blood and Tear: Chapter 57
Chapter 57. The Knight’s Territory (2)
As long as the Rajter Family was faced with the worst time in the history since their name has been in existence. Baldur, the patriarch of the knight family, has not had a moment of peace and not a moment without grimacing in the recent days.
He was rather a difficult and cruel man to begin with, so when the darkness over his face constantly persisted, the atmosphere of the castle that he was residing in has become like that of a demon king’s castle.
“The Archbishop of Salzburg said to transfer this matter to Niederbayern?”
“…Yes. Elder Brother.”
Finally, the Archbishop of Salzburg, the emperor’s agent, has been detached. As Saxon Feudal Lords have left the matter alone, there was no longer anyone one, in the empire, who was on their side.
In fact, many were watching the situation unfold with bitter smiles. It was especially the case for those cities that have been decimated by this family’s evil deeds. They were out front in their support for Duchess of Niederbayern and were stoking Baldur’s temper.
“Valersted Valer…. That bastard is the root cause of all this.”
“You’re right. Elder Brother.”
Gaeohart who went to the capitol city and came back after just having spent money there didn’t know what to do. To him, his elder brother has always been a difficult person to talk to. Besides the cruel nature of his character, he was also an expert, powerful swordsman. So, whenever he came near his brother’s presence, he couldn’t help, but become tense.
‘However, I must report what I must report.’
Gaeohart made up his mind and spoke.
“Elder Brother. That swordsman has deserted.”
“What?”
Baldur’s forehead wriggled. That swordsman implied the awesome expert who had been invited by hiring him several months ago. He called himself the last legend, and although it wasn’t verifiable whether or not he was indeed the last legendary one, his skill was truly awesome.
“What was that!”
How could he have left as he was the only man whom Baldur had faith in as the battle was drawing near?
“That’s. He objected to collecting taxes in the village that he instantly killed five of our soldiers on the spot, before vanishing.”
“That crazy bastard! And what the heck did you do about it! Uh!”
Finally, his emotions exploding, objects began flying from Baldur’s direction. However, Gaeohart felt it was what one reaped based on what one sowed.
‘Where in the world is there a man who deserts his own territory.’
It was certainly an urgent situation for Rajter Family. They even had a tough time paying salaries to the 300 mercenaries that they were able to barely recruit.
They were in tough circumstances due to debts, but they have gone to Vienne and wasted everything. The vault was already empty. As a result, for the purpose of covering the cost of war, Baldur began harsh collection strategy within his own territory.
It was taxation in the name only as it was more like pillaging. Any farmers that resisted were killed. Any place that the knights have passed through was left with a sea of blood.
Ultimately, unable to look the other way against these evil deeds, it was said that the great legendary swordsman had killed five soldiers and vanished.
“Aaaaaah! This bastard! That bastard! Everyone is testing me!”
Finally, flipping out, Baldur drew his sword. He has lived his life by this one sword alone. He was about to show what a cornered beast could do.
“Alright. Since it has come to this, will get the duchess of Niederbayern alive. And will negotiate with the feudal lord of Bayern.”
Hearing those words, Gaeohart thought of a plan.
“It is no use trying to force a negotiation with the feudal lord of Bayern. How about this?”
“What is it?”
“After capturing the duchess of Niederbayern, we have her marry someone on our side. The feudal lord of Bayern would be put in to a difficult situation, should there be an impregnation even if it was through a forcible consummation of the marriage. After that we can negotiate.”
Of course, the marriage wouldn’t necessarily come to fruition as an official marriage, but his suggestion was to insist that it was a marriage.
“Excellent idea!”
Baldur was truly happy with that proposal. First of all, if a marriage could occur with the duchess of Niederbayern then it could be even possible to take over her territory. Ultimately, filled with such desire, he has volunteered to get married again.
“But you already have a wife?”
Gaeohart who had internally desired to marry the duchess himself smacked his lips.
“It’s OK. Such a useless woman can be tossed out! What? That Walpurgis b***h was a female knight? Krraaaaaah! Well, that itself may be interesting!”
However, they did not know of one fact. The fact that Valer believed that the last legendary swordsman was here, he has been making preparations, to the point of extreme measures.
On top of that, the feudal lord of Bayern was a fool for his niece beyond one’s imagination.
***
“What is all this….”
I, Valersted Valer, could only shudder. Through Walpurgis, he sent a message to the feudal lord of Bayern that he wanted to hire 500 militias. However, what came in response was beyond his imagination.
Thup! Thup! Thup!
Rather well disciplined soldiers were marching. As there were so many raised long spears everywhere, in a glace from a distance, they looked like reeds in the wind.
There were approximately 5,000 men.
About ten times the number of men which he had requested has arrived. The militias were also in need of equipment fittings, but like the citizens of well off Bayern, their equipment of arms were also excellent.
“Duchess Walpurgis. Isn’t that artillery?”
“You’re, right. At least 12 units of heavy guns. At least over 20 units of light guns. What is….”
Walpurgis, who was standing next to me along the castle wall of Lantzhuit, could not hide her surprise, either.
“Valer. Look there. The knights of the golden twin lions.”
“My goodness. Even they’ve come. Aren’t they the ultimate knights unit in Bayern?”
The Golden Twin Knights were heavy cavalry unit that was employed by the Bayern aristocrats, and personally by each of them.
Those heavy cavalry mercenaries showed high level of skills in wars in which they were hired by aristocrats, and were given the duties of protecting the territory. Even if there weren’t any ever-ready soldiers in the world, the lords always had access to tens and hundreds of royal cavalries.
That Golden Twin Lion Knights were part of the royal cavalry of such Bayern lords. They numbered about 3,500 in total. They were the elite forces, all armed with iron armors, jousts, and guns on horse backs.
Of course, the leader of those knights was the top leader of the Bayern the feudal lord of Bayern.
“Hm… Duchess Walpurgis.”
“Speak. Valer.”
“By any chance, has the feudal lord his highness stopped by your territory on his way to war? So that he could give you the requested 500 militias.”
“Ah, right? Valer, your opinion is truly logical.”
That was the most probable guess at this time. However, the two of us knew that that was not the case.
“At that level, don’t you think that that is close to the maximum number of troops that Bayern could gather without recruiting mercenaries?”
“Right. With the exception of the troops required to protect the city, everyone is here. Look at those flags. That countless number of flags is the symbols of all the aristocrats.”
As a reference, the feudal lord of Bayern was the richest one in the entire empire. Even the emperor would borrow money in order to maintain his throne.
If he was to earnestly start recruiting, he could easily gather a great army of even 40,000. Suddenly, at the majestic display of the empire’s ultimate authority, his legs began to shake. This was the majestic display of the Bayern’s feudal lord, which even the demon kings recognized.
“I’m not sure what’s going on. I must go meet my uncle. You should come to.”
“Alright.”
When they got to the duchess’ official residence, the place was busy with people getting ready to receive the guest. The officials and hired hands were busy running about. However, not giving them enough time to get ready, the feudal lord of Bayern arrived with his knights, like the wind.
“Hahaah! My niece! Long time no see!”
One old man of a giant stature got off the horse. The old man’s body was so big that even the military horse which was twice the size of the normal horse looked small compared to him.
Opening his arms wide, he ran towards Walpurgis.
“Come here!”
“Uncle!”
Walpurgis also welcomed his uncle, the feudal lord of Bayern, with happy voice. However, when the feudal lord of Bayern was about to hug her, she dodged him like a ghost.
“Hey, kiddo!”
“Uncle, I’ve now reached the age of womanhood, old enough to even marry.”
“You weren’t like this last year!”
Turning her head coyly, Walpurgis did not respond to that. Then the feudal lord of Bayern greatly huffed through his nose and showed his disappointment.
“Must be the one that you are head over hills for! Krung!”
When those words were spoken, ‘the man of no foundation’ hurriedly hid behind the maids in the vicinity. No matter whether it was seen as a cowardly disposition or not, I was feeling fear.
For some reason, the soldiers that have just arrived were bringing the fire woods. Why were you piling them up? Don’t!
“Uncle! As I told you before, I’d like to pick the man that I want to marry!”
It was refreshing to hear Walpurgis’ words, considering that it was the time in which arranged marriages were widely accepted. However, the fact that that was even possible was because she was the successor. She could say such things because she was not some aristocrat’s daughter, who could be sold in feudal lords’ transactions, but because she was the successor of Bayern.
Of course, even a successor was not completely free from arranged marriages. However, the feudal lord of Bayern’s sudden anger was for other reasons, not because of those arrangements.
“You! I’ve nurtured you like the treasure you are, but now you don’t even listen to your uncle!”
“That’s not it! You know that I love you the most in the world.”
“Quiet! You! Whom you will be married to will be chosen by this uncle! You must be married to the most excellent man in the world!”
What was it, the feudal lord of Bayern wasn’t after arranged marriage, but wanted to choose a man he wanted.
“I even turned down the prince’s proposal a few years ago, how could you bring some field tender (Valer’s meaning is grass cutter) such as this!”
“You’ve heard, too, uncle.”
“Such a bastard without good family background is no use! Child!”
“No!”
However, Walpurgis resolutely shook her head, and proclaimed proudly.
“No matter what anyone says, I like Valer! I am not thinking about marriage now, but if it’s not him, I’m not interested!”
“Ohhhhh!”
Everyone who was looking on exclaimed as they were all impressed. Even if the duchess of Niederbayern was on a different class than any other noble child, no one would have known that she would proclaim that she liked only one person in the bright day light, like this.
“Great, Duchess!”
“That must be love!”
“Excellent!”
As the exclamations came from all over the place, the faces of the maids who were in my vicinity were turning cooler. They were looking at me, as I was hiding behind them, like I was a trash.
“Duke Valer? How long are you going to hide behind our behinds?”
Suddenly, the head of the maids berated me with an icy tone. Finally, I realized that I had no other choice.
“Hm-hm! Well, I don’t mean to say that I’m going to hide here forever.”
However, instead of replying to me, the head of the maids pushed me out as she shouted.
“Here is Duke Valersted Valer!”
At that moment, the attention of everyone who was in the yard turned to me. From the Duchess to the lowly hired hands, all together there were more than 300 people.
I felt like I was suddenly suffocating. However, as the situation has come to this, I could no longer keep my current disposition. I decided to go forward audaciously. After breathing out once, I stepped forward.
“Your Noble Highness. I, Valersted Valer, pay my respect.”
Then the feudal lord of Bayern snickered.
“Hm! You must be the subject of the rumor!”
Stay calm. I always handled myself with my smooth talking no matter how desperate a situation had been. I could do well this time, also. Having determine that way, I was about to speak, but with immediately spoken words of the feudal lord of Bayern, my resolute determination came down crashing to the floor.
“I brought sufficient fire woods, knowing this!”
“What? Your, Your Highness… What are you going to burn?”
The feudal lord of Bayern spookily laughed when I flutteringly replied.
“Huhuhu. Well, what do you think I’m going to burn?”