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“Alright, it’s a success.” (Wendelin)
“Are you again experimenting on a new seasoning?” (Hermann)
A little less than 3 months passed since I came to this Baumeister territory.
As I’m sitting on the chair of the master, there is Paul-nii-san, who’s the manager of the guards, and Hermann-nii-san, who came to the mansion on business, on both sides.
The maid, Dominique, Elise, Ina, Luise and Wilma are in charge of cooking and serving the food.
However, in this world this is an accepted practise.
Erw, who is the Junior Commander, Ottmer-san, who is planned to become the Junior Commander of Paul-nii-san, and the other guards are sitting on the adjoining seats.
The difference in seating order is dictated by the social position, but if I recall it now, even at the year-end party of my company in my previous life the big-wigs were seated at the head of the table.
I feel like even I finally got used to sitting at the seat of honor every time.
“Wend, what’s this?” (Paul)
“It’s a new product, Paul-nii-san.” (Wendelin)
“Are you developing merchandise even at this place?” (Paul)
During his time as guard in the royal capital, Paul-nii-san had known for a fact that I was inventing seasoning and cooking during my stay in the capital.
But with only this much, it was impossible for him stop me since this is my hobby.
“So, will you put it up for sale again?” (Paul)
“For now it’s only a prototype. If you included the production costs, it would wouldn’t be payable easily…” (Wendelin)
This time’s prototype was my favorite food from my previous life, 『Mentaimayonnaise』.
As a matter of fact there are trouts, who go up streams due to the mild climate, called 『Southern Sea Trout』 in the rivers of the Savage Lands, thus it was possible to obtain salmon roe from there.
And although there was cod roe, I have confirmed that it is eaten in the north.
Furthermore, this cod roe is indispensable for making mustard-seasoned cod roe.
Tentatively it was a trading company with a known name, but we were treated as second-rate by the industry, which had elite employees receiving orders for infrastructure projects with a big amount of money involved after having negotiated with the local governments overseas and who was constructing cutting-edge industrial plants.
After I finished the training as new employee, I was assigned to the department mainly in charge of buying up things related to foodstuffs.
I offered these to manufacturers and stores where these were needed.
Even the clients were soy sauce warehouses, miso storehouses and sake breweries, who were fixated on the traditional way of manufacturing.
Naturally, in relation to making deals with the people of such companies, it’s impossible to say that you don’t know basic way of manufacturing.
Anyway, there were many moody people among the artisans and managers fussing about the techniques of the makers in this way.
Since I’m even now persisting in gathering experience on how to cook during my off-days as it is my hobby and a process of learning, I don’t know whether it has proven to be fortunate for my life.
“At any rate, let’s sample it.” (Wendelin)
With wanting to test the taste, I immediately put the 『Mentai mayonnaise』 on top of cooked rice and sample it after that.
Even in my previous life I made it for trial purposes given that it was usually sold in bakeries.
Thanks to cod roe being imported good, the production cost was high, but if it’s the current me, anything’s possible.
Certainly this means that my tongue became accustomed to extravagance.
“By the way, although the talks have veered off, will you go to inspect the Savage Lands today?” (Hermann)
“Yes, I want to advance the development special ward.” (Wendelin)
I answer with a 『Yes』 to Hermann-nii-san’s question.
Besides, as compensation for his cooperation, it will become possible for Hermann-nii-san to at least obtain the title of Baron with his allocation of the Savage Lands and it has been decided that he will receive help in developing that soil.
Also, he has been called to go report to Margrave Breithilde before, though I sent him with teleportation.
There are only few people who currently use this magic tool, which is known as portable communication device and cellphone in my previous life. It was an item discovered in historic ruins with quite the high ratio of being common.
Of course it’s not possible to measure its worth. The matter of him entrusting it to Burkhart-san was proof of the situation in the Baumeister territory to have gathered the attention of the nobles.
“Kurt-aniki wants to be the leader of this territory, including the Savage Lands. I guess he wanted to inherit it.” (Hermannl)
“Such a pipe dream.” (Wendelin)
“He likely thought it would be possible, if he exploited it from Wend. Thanks to that, it turned out like this.” (Paul)
As Paul-nii-san says, because of the secret activity of Burkhart-san, who is capable of locating the current position of his opponent due to minuscule quantity of mana, all of Kurt side’s movements were leaked to us.
Being in the sticks, where you can’t expect any support from somewhere else, for the feudal lord’s household to have a firm grip on preserving its sovereignty, there was no other way if they wanted to avoid their downfall due to a rebellion.
“However, it has become ill-fit for the current times. Even I wasn’t allowed to attend until I became the head of the branch family. Even if only a few of their wishes come true, they will profit. That lot is only producing petitions with unreasonable demands.” (Hermann)
Also, as the majority of the members attending the meeting are old people, the cause for the meeting has apparently become obsolete.
Therefore, when Hermann-nii-san suggested a proposal on how to not discriminate in the treatment of the three villages, they ended up laughing scornfully.
Hermann-nii-san apparently expected a reformation due to the new generation, but the fact is that they are attached to their vested rights, no different from the elder lot, and were only advocating the favorable treatment of the main village.
“Even Kurt-aniki laughed at it with 『Immature idealistic thoughts』. What do you think, Wend?” (Hermann)
“In short-term the maintaining of the status quo is effective. In long-term, won’t it be the first step to a slow decline?” (Wendelin)
“Right. That’s what I think too.” (Hermann)
Above not being able to develop the peculiar Savage Lands, it will become a suicidal act to increase the population of this territory in the future.
I wonder how they are planning to develop the Savage Lands this time?
“As I said. They are holding onto the dream of 『If we develop the Savage Lands, any generation after that will at least be an Earl』. As for concrete plans, they don’t really know well.” (Hermann)
“There is. Aren’t they saving funds and want to exploit money from Wend?” (Paul)
Hermann-nii-san as well as Paul-nii-san were shocked by Kurt, who doesn’t mention anything but vague plans such as 『If I become the feudal lord, our sovereignty will be firm』 and 『I will become a great feudal lord by developing the Savage Lands in the future without fail』.
Even the kids around here can say such things, if it’s only at this level.
“With that quite a few inhabitants will follow him, right?” (Wendelin)
“No, because of that he lost followers, I heard.” (Hermann)
And at this point Burkhart-san makes his appearance.
If the opponent is skilled, there will also be a high possibility to be spotted, but Kurt’s skill in martial arts is at the level of giving me a good fight or below that.
Even for the wealthy farmers, it seems that only half of them ended up attending.
“It’s probably because many of them suddenly want to curry favour with you too, boy. Even that lot has likely a guilty conscience.” (Burkhart)
“Huh!? And then?” (Wendelin)
“I only made a few little rumours here and there. It has been in the style of 『Even god doesn’t know who will become the head in the current situation, right? But that is after all a problem of the authorities, I guess? Though I think you would be able to profit in the end, if you proclaimed your neutrality here.』” (Burkhart)
Even the folks from the main village have realized that it isn’t advantageous for anyone to unreasonably support Kurt in the inferior position he is now.
They won’t have to choose to support either side if they become neutral and thus they have decided to handle it in this way.
However, given that we are actually struggling at the actual location, their real opinion was that they don’t care about the situation itself.
“But, he likely can’t refuse any longer since today.” (Burkhart)
“Umm… what do you mean by that?” (Wendelin)
“After the meeting Kurt came in contact with a person from outside.” (Burkhart)
“From outside?” (Wendelin)
According to Burkhart-san’s information, Kurt apparently got in contact with someone from outside in the forest in the back of the main family’s mansion at night.
It looks like he has already reported it to Margrave Breithilde.
“Although it is more exhausting to climb that steep mountain path in January, it is still manageable to reach the exit. It’s easy to imagine on whose order he is moving about.” (Burkhart)
Speaking of nobles trying to contact Kurt even once, there isn’t anyone but that person’s younger brother after all.
Since that person has been cornered, there’s no other way but to use such a person, if he aims to turn the tables with a single successful attack.
“Well, isn’t it dangerous to go on an inspection then?” (Wendelin)
“Possibly, though that likelihood is exceedingly low.” (Burkhart)
While there might be a magic tool obtained by illegal means, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s possible to achieve the objective this easily.
“I think that the black market managed by the criminal guild has been used as source. If you don’t pay a large amount of money to to a leader at that place, who has connections, you won’t be able to get your hands on a magic tool that is capable of killing you, boy.” (Burkhart)
Most of them is stuff like 『There is a possibility of getting a magic tool with awesome power, but the probability for that is around 10%?』. It seems there are many folks palming those off cheaply for around 10% of their original market price.
Even if the purchaser makes complaints, the other party is the criminal guild. If they appeal to the guards, it will be hopeless to not mention the fact of having bought illegal items themselves in the first place.
“To put it simply, it’s nothing an amateur will get involved with. The guys, who say that they already understood and dabble in it a bit, will get burned.” (Burkhart)
Instead, if you pay the legitimate price by using legal connections, you will be able to obtain items that haven’t been available through public sources at first.
That is the place called black market.
“Does Rückner’s younger brother have connections to that black market?” (Wendelin)
“Maybe he has, maybe he hasn’t. Even with an official position attached, if it’s at the level of an appointed Baron…” (Burkhart)
Besides, there’s also the problem of having to pay a large amount of money.
I have decided to ignore the question why Burkhart-san knows about such matters.
“Even with Rückner’s younger brother preparing a magic tool of that degree, the possibility of it killing you is low, boy.” (Burkhart)
“Does that mean that the inspection is a bait, to sum it up?” (Wendelin)
“That’s how it is, I think. I will also accompany you on the inspection. There are just the right helpers here as well…” (Burkhart)
At the same time as Burkhart-san says that, a sound as if some meteorite has fallen can be heard from outside the mansion.
Anyway, next to the landed doushi there was the figure of a flying dragon with its head being miserably smashed in a single blow.
Probably doushi had a magician, who is capable of teleportation and stationed at the royal castle, sent him up to Breitburg. From there he likely broke through the sky of the mountain range with high-speed flight.
The great number of flying dragons and wyvrens inhabiting the mountain range are beings reigning at the top of this area’s ecosystem.
The only exception is the merchant group travelling along the mountain path.
The result, needless to say, apparently was only three of them, including the founder, returning.
Even Erw and Ina should be able to at least kill a single wyvren, if they fight together.
“How is Kurt-aniki aiming to reverse the tables?” (Hermann)
“No idea? Maybe that magic tool or whatever is a terribly great item.”
“No, if it’s Kurt-aniki’s connections and assets, he definitely won’t be able to obtain something like that!” (Hermann)
At any rate, if it’s like this, there’s no change in the state of affairs either.
There was the matter of going on the inspection with a peace of mind, but a single, big problem popped up here.
“This is 『Mentai mayonnaise』, huh!? I certainly want a large amount of this as well!” (Armstrong)
All of the high-priced 『Mentai mayonnaise』, which I made as prototype in the morning, has ended up being eaten away.
“Doushi-sama, you are eating quite well.” (Wilma)
“Uh huh! the appearance of a rival, huh!?” (Armstrong)
Wilma, who was late for breakfast due to serving as waitress, tries to eat a large amount and ends up burning with the flame of rivalry for some reason.
“Second serving, it is!” (Armstrong)
“Second serving.” (Wilma)
Because of those two an outrageous amount of rice, bread, meat and vegetables have vanished in one go.
“I win.” (Wilma)
“Nooo~~~! Next time for sure!” (Armstrong)
“(Are you a child… ?)” (Wendelin)
And, before anyone noticed an eating contest between doushi and Wilma began.
Or rather, it was nothing but reckless for a normal human to oppose a person with hero syndrome in the amount of food.
– POV Kurt –
“Umm… Kurt-sama.” (Eckhart)
“What is it, Eckhart?” (Kurt)
Somehow I obtained the information that Wendelin’s group will be heading to the Savage Lands for an inspection today.
This time there will be 5 guys accompanying me.
All of them are folks, who have supported the Baumeister territory before Wendelin came.
In the beginning I considered to act by myself in order to carry out my scheme secretly.
But, he shouldn’t win against the force of numbers, no matter what kind of guy he is.
If it calls the large amount of dragons living at that mountain range, even Wendelin shouldn’t survive it.
“Will it also be alright to tear off such large amount of dragons from their monster domain?” (Eckhart)
“We will be fine.” (Kurt)
“Ermm… That is, in other words…” (Eckhart)
As usual, he is a stupid man bad at guessing.
Oh well, he might hang on in order to not be discarded for his incompetent methods.
“They will likely be hurt if it’s like that.” (Kurt)
“Such a thing!” (Eckhart)
“Oy oy, despite accomplishing something special, you plan to take no risk at all?” (Kurt)
Certainly, if I now blew the 『Flute of a dragon tamer』 here targeting Wendelin, the large amount of dragons coming flying would ignore Wendelin’s group and likely kill a large amount of the fief’s inhabitants.
“However, if we want to survive, we have to win.” (Kurt)
They would obliterate the successors of Wendelin’s inheritance, the inhabitants, who reached the point of buttering up to that stupid brat, father and the cheeky Hermann and the people of the branch family.
No, it would be a fresh start.
“However, your family is…” (Eckhart)
“Such people, isn’t it fine to build a new family then?” (Kurt)
Someone like my wife, who has grown old and lacks appeal, isn’t suited for the new Baumeister territory.
“We are still halfway through our thirties, Eckhart. Even the remaining folks still haven’t turned 50 yet.” (Kurt)
Me, Eckhart and the other guys can advance the story, if we receive young wives additionally to a new governing system.
Though I will only protect myself after I blew the 『Flute of a dragon tamer』.
In front of my view it seems Wendelin’s group is checking something like the condition of the soil while talking about something.
What have they been promised to get?
Wendelin, as well as Hermann and Paul buttering up to him, the damned old man, the stupid inhabitants, for all of them the time for cleaning up has come once I use this 『Flute of a dragon tamer』.
“Well, let’s start then.” (Kurt)
As I exhale, holding the 『Flute of a dragon tamer』 in my mouth, something immediately begins to flow similar to a melody never heard before.
I didn’t have anything like training in instruments.
Also, this melody seems to come out so that people can distinct whether it’s a sound coming from this flute.
However, such thing doesn’t really matter, if only that imprudent Wendelin dies.
Because of the sound of the ocarina, Wendelin’s group discovered our existence.
The dragons should already be heading this way.
“Ye~~~a, it’s a flute calling something, huh?” (Burkhart)
Margrave Breithilde’s pet dog grumbled seeing me blowing the 『Flute of a dragon tamer』.
“By no means! Is it a 『Flute of a dragon tamer』?” (Armstrong)
“Such item is something that rarely comes into one’s hands. I think it’s a magic tool to summon something else.” (Burkhart)
It was a giant wearing a violet robe, who noticed the true identity of this magic tool.
Really, there was no choice but to laugh at the idiot trying to act smart.
Most likely the dragons, living at the mountain range, gathered as they have been called by this flute.
“(Looks like your lives will end today, bastards!)” (Kurt)
Being attacked by an army of dragons, Wendelin’s group, being outnumbered, will be eaten alive and the stupid fief’s inhabitants and their families will be destroyed.
I will become at least an Earl and a great number of new inhabitants will flow into my vast territory.
And such me will even be acknowledged by Margrave Breithilde and the nobles of the capital.
“(All of you, die for my sake!)” (Kurt)
“Say, Kurt-sama…” (Eckhart)
“(What is it?)” (Kurt)
Although I’ve been blowing the flute properly with a nice, manly mood, there is an idiot being a nuisance close-by.
As I look in the sky for such reason, I see something similar to black smoke approaching this place from every direction in the sky.
“(What is that? That black smoke?)” (Kurt)
“Kurt-sama?”`(Eckhart)
Those things, similar to black smoke, seem to have been drawn from quite a vast range due to the sound of the flute.
However their numbers aren’t normal at all. It was a swarm coming here as if it was a cloud.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you stopped blowing into the flute… ?” (Eckhart)
What a foolish thing to say.
Anyway, I won’t receive any damage from that black smoke.
“(Besides, look at that! There’s no other way but to call Wendelin to be panicking!)” (Kurt)
Due to the gradually gathering clusters of black smoke, Wendelin’s group started to put up magic defence in a hurry.
Fearing the swarms of black smoke, they try to run away from this place.
They were fools trying to escape due to fear although I told them they would become retainers at long last, but it looks like I can use the effect of that black smoke as shown on their bodies.
Although the flute didn’t call dragons, let’s deem it usable since it was a useful magic tool.
“(At this rate they will attack Wendelin’s group!)” (Kurt)
I put even more breath into the flute and increased its sound.
With me being right in the centre of the tornado of black smoke, I’m not influenced by its effect at all.
Their skin’s colour became ashen with them not even moving a twitch.
“(I wonder, what’s this black smoke anyway? Well, it’s fine since it’s usable, I guess?)” (Kurt)
At the time I thought ‘Well, next is Wendelin’s group.’
Their eyes are completely unfocussed. Snot is dripping from their noses and drool is coming out of their mouths.
Furthermore, they treat me as human prey.
Since those of the expeditionary force killed in action in the Demon Forest have turned into undead, it should have been a request for the sake of purifying those.
『Zombies are people possessed by a desire. They are especially specialized in appetite. It would be best to subjugate them as fast as possible.』 (Artur)
Dad talked to me about the details of Wendelin’s report afterwards.
Those fellows, although they can’t even get any nutrition by eating, they are determined on hunting for food. Occasionally it seems to even go as far as cannibalism.
“(Perhaps…)” (Kurt)
Eckhart’s group, believed to have already died, suddenly has gotten up. While saying 『Something to eat』, they are heading towards me.
I decide to remove the flute from my mouth to stop temporarily, but I have confirmed an even more outrageous fact.
In the same ways both my hands, which supported my blowing of the flute, don’t come off either. Let’s first stop the sound by stopping to breath, else the sound of the flute won’t stop either.
“(Because it’s a magic tool, eh?)” (Kurt)
It might be possible to not being able to stop the flute’s sound until you achieve your objective, once you send your breath through it once.
Mercilessly biting off meat all over, I fall senseless due to the exceeding pain.
“(Anyway, if I don’t escape…)” (Kurt)
However, my body didn’t have any strength left anymore.
I see, instead of this flute killing my target, it steals my life.
“(That’s why I shouldn’t have relied on something like a capital’s noble! Damn it! My dreams! My aspirations!)” (Kurt)
Using Wendelin’s inheritance, I will rejuvenate the Baumeister territory.
The last thing I saw in my life was the large mouth of Eckhart, who turned into a zombie, plunging his teeth into my vital point at the nape of the neck.