“Isn’t that far more than imagined!?”
“What’s this? This big number of people…”
It’s four days after the mass slaughter of Baron Rückner and more than 50 other people by the remaining residue of Kurt’s grudge.
In this time’s trip to the capital I was only accompanied by doushi since everyone else was busy.
Given that Paul-nii-san was busy with inspecting and examining his new territory, there were plans to use the chance for His Majesty to bestow him the peerage of Associate Baron next time he comes to the capital.
“This child is the child of the deceased Associate Baron Blumental (T/N: >> Burumentaru <<)! Please acknowledge it!”
“Finance Minister Rückner! I definitely believe to be the appropriate successor of Sir Bureau!”
“What’s this about?” (Wendelin)
“It’s likely because more than ten central noble households were almost totally destroyed.” (Armstrong)
With the Baron Rückner household, including him, his family, his retainers and his servants, having been annihilated, several folks, including even the relatives, are intruding and proclaiming 『I’m definitely suitable as next Baron Rückner』.
In case of brutal households, there are families where the other children and retainers were entirely annihilated by the heir.
I think it’s more helpful to use the authority of Finance Minister, which will be the verdict of a powerful person, than having the guards draw close to protect the property against the mob directly intruding up to the mansion of the person himself.
“Well, then it’s better to leave it to His Excellency the Finance Minister after all.”
“I guess so.”
Even I don’t have spare time because I might be granted a new territory and get an order to develop it any time soon.
Of course I have already finished doing a round of courtesy calls to other important nobles.
I have been told by Minister Edgar 『Wilma is my adopted daughter! You do understand, right?』
In other words, I have to absolutely receive her as wife.
With the influence of Wilma originally being the daughter of an Associate Baron household, she should be next after Elise in the ranking order.
I cursed at the Minister of Military and Naval Affairs, who wasn’t a simple muscle-brain albeit having the same muscled build as doushi, in my mind.
Probably they will tell me various things after the Savage Lands have been bestowed to me.
“At any rate, we won’t meet Minister Rückner like this.”
Today he is running around to support here and there in the mansion and has gone to the actual site because he was informed by Minister Edgar. Many people are crowding in front of the Rückner mansion in order appeal for their case. Doushi and I address the guard being at the main gate while pushing our way through the mob.
“Whose relative is it this time? Or whose children or something are you?”
I thought he was a very arrogant gatekeeper, but he likely had to always be this lot’s partner for the last few days.
Since the gatekeeper immediately treats us politely, we enter inside through the gate.
“Baron Baumeister-sama! This child is really Associate Baron Blumental’s child! By all means, please put in a good word for it!”
“I’m also on good terms with the capital’s Sir Baumeister! Please mention my name, Christian of the Knight Martinstein household, to Minister Rückner!”
With doushi and me being celebrities, the bunch, who is crowding at the gate, tries to request various troublesome matters to us, once they become aware of our social rank as we are smoothly entering the mansion.
“It will be endless, if you care about each and every single of them!” (Armstrong)
Once a noble dies, this kind of people will always come forward.
However, because there isn’t something like a DNA test in this world, they won’t be recognised in the first place if there isn’t any written proof of the deceased from the time of its birth.
Also, claiming non-existent connections and relationships, there are nobles without any duties, who aim to become the successor of the official position.
Yesterday a candid advice, close to sarcasm, was mentioned in the royal castle as well.
“It’s a disaster, isn’t it? We also want to entrust you with it, but is it alright?”
“You mean regarding the treatment of the children of the eldest son, who caused the attempted assassination? I will somehow handle it. But before that, there is a single problem…” (Rückner)
The contents apologetically reported by Minister Rückner were something shocking for me.
“Hah? Roderich is the next Baron Rückner?” (Wendelin)
And in addition to that it was astonishing that immediately following the case of attempted assassination caused by Kurt, Baron Rückner provided information about the magic tool handed to Kurt with a nonchalant look.
Moreover I was more than amazed that Minister Rückner ended up approving that.
“Why did you approve his demands!?” (Wendelin)
“He wasn’t an utter fool to be caught red-handed like Duke Hertha, whom you duelled before, Sir. If there’s no evidence to deserve an arrest…” (Rückner)
Although he was an accomplice without doubt, he sold Kurt with an innocent look and pretended to be an information provider with good intentions.
Never did I expect him to be a shameless person to this degree.
“And, believing it went well, he called his faction’s followers and held a party.” (Rückner)
There it led to his downfall from the peak.
This might certainly be a just retribution.
“The cat cornered the mouse, but it died due to blood loss being bitten in the neck by that very mouse.”
“Didn’t he need the permission by Roderich himself for acknowledging him in the first place?” (Wendelin)
“Legally speaking, there’s no need for that.” (Rückner)
For a noble household the authority of the family’s head is absolute.
Since there was already an heir, they likely planned to not hand over a single cent of the assets, not to mention the peerage, either.
You can apparently also say that it equals the nobles’ way.
“But, thanks to that it has become troublesome.”
The party was held at Baron Rückner’s mansion.
But, if that happened, it might produce a huge hindrance in the development of the Savage Lands.
“Please don’t steal our head retainer, who will also act as governor.” (Wendelin)
Since he will become my representative concerning the development of the Savage Lands, I had naturally planned to give him the salary of the head retainer and even offer a possibility of the title becoming hereditary.
It will result in him earning sarcastic remarks by His Majesty and all the ministers once again.
“I know, But, although I understand…” (Wendelin)
The Savage Lands, granted to me, will become the territory of Earl Baumeister according to plan.
The next day I travel there together with the messenger of the royal castle.
First there was Baron Rückner. His household will be shut down as punishment for the complicity in the attempted assassination against me. All of its assets will be confiscated.
As that’s the case, it apparently will end with a quick punishment.
“The other nobles will be deprived of their official positions.”
The 12 nobles were veterans, who have been experts in their professional duties.
And, those inexperienced people will be able to rise in rank to at least the official position of their parent.
Therefore, it has been decided that recruitment will be opened for the 12 official positions without nobles this time.
This seems to be a rule in the Helmut kingdom.
But, according to those observing the priests, the undead, being an assembly of the grudges, which actually performed the massive killing, were purified. Those undead had absolutely no resemblance to Kurt’s body.
Apparently a ghastly, loud laughter continued in front of the corpse of Baron Rückner, who was devoured by zombies and changed into almost only bones.
He failed killing me, but was he satisfied with killing Baron Rückner transformed into such a shape?
Even so, as there’s the crime of obtaining the used magic tool from the black market and handing it over to Kurt, it turned into a different punishment of discontinuing the noble household. (T/N: The difference is: Rückner bought it, handed it over and used it, Kurt only used it. <– official version, not truth)
“Well then, there’s a reason why I wanted you three to listen.”
First we were told that Helmut-nii-san’s and Erich-nii-san’s peerage will rise to Associate Baron.
“Why?”
“Your Majesty, we don’t have any particular achievements or such…” (Erich)
“It can’t be that there’s nothing. You are putting effort into your given work everyday.” (King)
“That is the same for all the other nobles as well though…” (Erich)
His Majesty answered Erich-nii-san’s doubts with a smile.
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