Chapter 57 : Chapter 57

Chapter 57. I Am Rich Now (2)

He was about to take off his glove and throw it in Viscount Balson's face.

But before he could, Viscount Balson quickly turned the arrow.

"Let's ask Baron Schneider himself. Baron, do you think your soldiers had a significant impact on the tide of battle?"

Baron Schneider, who had remained silent until then, thought for a moment and then said.

"I do not know."

"You don't know? Why do you not know?"

"In truth, I was not at the scene at that time, so I cannot confirm that fact."

"You were not at the scene?"

"Yes, Viscount. At that time, I was leading my troops and standing by at the location designated by the Count. My son went with fifty soldiers to support the vanguard, but I do not know what kind of exploits my son and our family’s soldiers performed at that time."

"Hahaha. A mere 50 soldiers? Not even 100. Does it make sense for them to sway the tide of battle?"

Viscount Balson was steadily picking at his words even in the midst of this. And Baron Schneider replied.

"Of course, it does make sense."

"What did you say?"

"As Viscount Preis said, the soldiers my son personally trained are strong. Their skills are such that they are not lacking to be called knights."

"You are being unreasonably obstinate."

"What would I gain from telling a lie that would be immediately exposed? What I have said is the undeniable truth."

Baron Schneider spoke his mind calmly, without getting excited.

In Viscount Balson's eyes, this appearance….

'This one is a cunning one, too. His control over his expression is extraordinary.'

It seemed like the masterful bluff of a highly skilled politician.

Making a bluff seem real.

Making the truth sound like a lie.

It was something anyone who lived in the world of politics could do, and had to do.

'I thought all these country bumpkins in the east were ignorant and violent commoners, but it seems there are some who know a thing or two about politics.'

Of course, it was a misunderstanding.

Politics?

Could Baron Schneider, the biggest pushover and fool in this eastern region, possibly do such a thing?

The words he spoke were just his honest, sincere feelings.

He didn't think of himself as a great man. But even so, he knew what efforts his son and the soldiers training under him had put in. And what they had gained as a reward.

To not acknowledge the soldiers' skills here was no different from insulting the blood and sweat they had shed for the past five years.

Therefore, he had just calmly acknowledged the truth.

Because even if he was a good-natured pushover and fool, there were things he could never compromise on.

That calm gaze made the seasoned politician, Viscount Balson, flinch for a moment. However….

'It's a bluff. It must be a bluff.'

Changing the tide of battle with just 50 soldiers?

Soldiers' skills are on par with knights?

No matter how he thought about it, it was not logically right.

No, if a soldier's skill was on par with a knight's, who would leave them as a soldier instead of knighting them?

It was something that was logically impossible.

"Very well. Then, to prove the Baron's innocence, my knight and your soldier may have a duel."

"That is…"

The Baron hesitated.

He believed in the soldiers' skills. But the Baron didn't know exactly how strong the soldiers were.

What if he had them duel a real knight and a soldier got hurt?

Unlike ordinary lords, Baron Schneider, who cherished each and every one of his soldiers, did not want to make his soldiers shed blood for the sake of merit.

Viscount Balson judged that Baron Schneider's hesitation revealed his bluff and attacked more strongly.

"Of course, I will be the one to choose the Baron's soldier. If all the soldiers are of knightly skill, it wouldn't matter who steps forward, would it? Hahaha."

"……."

At the sight of the hesitating Baron and the heartily laughing Viscount Balson, anyone could see that Viscount Balson's claim had more credibility.

'Honestly, it's impossible for all soldiers to be of knightly level.'

'It's an impossible thing.'

'Logically thinking, isn't it obviously a lie?'

At that moment, someone stepped forward in place of the hesitating Baron.

"Understood. If you say so, I will face the Viscount's knight anytime."

The one who stepped forward at this time was not a noble from another fiefdom, and not even a knight.

It was Sanson, a mere soldier of the Baron Schneider family.

"Sanson!"

"My Lord. Please trust us, and the Young Master."

Sanson could not bear it any longer.

He knew this was not a place where he, a mere soldier and not a knight, should open his mouth. He knew, but….

'How dare they persecute the Baron.'

Baron Schneider was his lord.

He was their lord who had ruled with benevolence for the people of the fiefdom, cherishing them more than anyone in the barren land of the Schneider fiefdom.

The reason the people of the fiefdom were able to put down roots and live, thinking that their fiefdom was not a bad place to live in the past Schneider fiefdom, which was teeming with monsters, was thanks to Baron Schneider's benevolent rule solely for the people of the fiefdom.

He could no longer stand by and watch Baron Schneider's honor be insulted.

"Anyone is fine. I will face them."

As Sanson took a step forward and spoke, Viscount Balson flinched for a moment.

'This man… is he really a soldier?'

Although he had never seriously trained in the sword, he had an eye for it, developed from seeing various knights as a noble.

Even to Viscount Balson's eyes, that soldier named Sanson seemed extraordinary in both physique and spirit.

Perhaps there were one or two soldiers who were quite skilled, even if not quite knights.

'I can't leave any room for error.'

Having made up his mind, Viscount Balson immediately replied.

"As I said before, I will be the one to designate the opponent. That is the right way to prove the truth of your lord's words."

"It does not matter."

"Good. My Lord Count, would you be the witness to this duel?"

"A duel between a knight and a soldier, you say."

"On a small scale, it is to determine the honor of Baron Schneider, and on a large scale, it is to set the order of the entire east right with a proper rewarding of merits."

"…That damned tongue of his."

"Pardon?"

"Never mind. I permit it."

Count Parmas had no choice but to permit it, having come this far.

A duel between a soldier and a knight?

It was absurd, but according to the logic that came from Viscount Balson's tongue, this was necessary for the order of the east, and all the surrounding nobles were wearing expressions that said, 'That's true,' so what could he say?

He couldn't just use his authority as the Margrave, the head of the east, to suppress everyone here.

"Let's move to another location. We will proceed with the duel."

"Yes, sir!"

And so, all the eastern nobles went outside the barracks.

* * *

A duel that had suddenly broken out.

Although it was a duel with a lot of political meaning, in truth, the eastern nobles showed interest in the duel itself.

"The soldiers of the Baron Schneider family have long been rumored to be a strong force. As the fiefdom is located in the roughest area of the east… you know what I mean, don't you?"

"Hmm, that is true, but it's just a matter of degree. Aren't most of us eastern nobles facing the monsters of the Great Forest?"

"That is correct. And no matter what, it's a bit hard to believe that the level of a soldier is comparable to a knight."

"That is true, but…"

Originally, the eastern nobles, being military nobles, were people who paid a lot of attention to military matters.

And most of them had trained in the sword since they were young, so unless they were exceptionally untalented, they had reached a level of 1-2 stars.

What about Baron Schneider?

That person was hopelessly untalented, so it was impossible, but it wasn't as if he hadn't trained.

Such eastern nobles showed interest in the duel itself.

'They're like ignorant country bumpkins…'

Viscount Balson was displeased with this situation.

The eastern nobles were watching this duel with interest as if it were a spectacle that had appeared after a long time.

Without even knowing the true meaning of this duel.

'You foolish bastards, just live like that forever.'

While someone was fighting at the forefront like this to prevent Count Parmas' influence from excessively dominating the entire east, those bastards were just watching the duel for fun, as if it were a fire across the river.

Without understanding the meaning of this duel in the slightest.

'I will win this duel and prove that my judgment was correct. By politically utilizing the fact that I have led a counterargument against the Margrave of the east, Count Parmas, I will create my own faction in the east, and using that faction as a stepping stone, I will one day return to the central government.'

Although Viscount Balson was counting his chickens before they hatched, his goal was, in any case, to return to the central government.

He had no thought of rotting away for his entire life in a barren backwater like this eastern region.

Presenting a counterargument to Count Parmas and belittling Baron Schneider were just means to achieve a political result.

For that purpose as well….

'I must win this duel. Only then can I prove that my judgment is correct.'

"Sir Miranda."

"Yes, my lord."

"You will step forward yourself."

"Me, my lord?"

"I know it might be unpleasant to face a soldier. But it is important, so you must step forward."

"...Yes. I understand."

The knight Viscount Balson had designated was a knight who had reached the 3-star level and was his most trusted individual.

The level of the knights belonging to his family was not particularly high, but this man was a genuine knight he had hired by paying a lot of money and giving him high treatment.

So much so that he had to be careful with his words when giving orders, even though he was a subordinate.

To ask such a Miranda to step forward for a duel against a soldier was originally something that was hard to say. However….

'I must be fully prepared.'

Having made up his mind, he pushed the matter. And if he had presented his strongest card, then he had to find the weakest card among the opponents….

'That one should be good.'

A single soldier caught Viscount Balson's eye.

A soldier who was tall but slightly thinner than the other soldiers, with a somewhat distracted air about him.

If it weren't for the armor and armament he was wearing, he had an impression that would make one believe he was a petty thief who roamed the back alleys, not a soldier.

"Baron Schneider. As promised, I will designate one of your soldiers."

"Please do so."

"Hmm, you there."

Viscount Balson pointed to a single soldier without a moment's hesitation.

The soldier who was pointed at pointed to himself with a finger, wearing an expression that said, 'Me?'

"Yes. You, you have an excellent physique. You must be quite strong among the soldiers, so it will be a fair match."

"...Am I really doing this?"

"If you are scared, you may admit defeat and withdraw. I have no intention of forcing a mere soldier."

"No, it's not that, but…"

The designated soldier wore a bewildered expression. And then….

"Well, if I have to, I have to."

And he bowed his head to Baron Schneider and said.

"My Lord. I'll be back then."

"Hmm, there is no need to overdo it."

"I don't do such things."

A relaxed smile formed on the face of the soldier who said that. Then he stepped forward and said.

"It is Oliver of the Schneider fiefdom."

The designated individual was Oliver, also known as Soldier A.

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