ã€ŠMoonlight on the Snowfieldã€‹


 Chapter 1

    The servant assigned to the bathing chambers was a large man.

    In the swaying lamplight, the man being washed saw that compared to the point of the manservant¡¯s elbow, the width of his own thigh wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning.

    With large and thick hands covered in a plentiful amount of soap bubbles, the manservant personally washed the body of the man before him.

    This man, Ernst, let out a sigh so softly that the manservant didn¡¯t even notice.

    If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, this manservant was probably someone from Dunbert. Though he¡¯d never seen anyone of that kind, Ernst had heard about their appearance. Their height surpassed two meters, and their sturdy-as-steel bodies were covered in warm copper-colored skin. They had brown, curly hair, along with reddish-brown eyes. The way that this man carried his body, as if there wasn¡¯t a single opportunity to slip past him, might also be another piece of evidence proving he was Dunbertian.

    The people of Dunbert had no country. They were a race of people with exceptional fighting power, and their culture was completely individualistic. They weren¡¯t the kind of people who would gather together to govern a country. When the children of this people reached ten years of age, they left home to work in what one might call the Dunbertian family business: they became mercenaries. They were the kind of people who were unwilling to tie themselves to things like property and homes, or even families.

    This knowledge, which Ernst had read about in books, floated through his head.

    This guy should have chosen a life full of tension, so why exactly was he in this sort of place? Ernst looked down upon the giant man who wore only a thin bathrobe.

    The manservant crouched and carefully washed Ernst¡¯s toes. His boorish fingers moved with surprising skill. The skin that touched Ernst was tough; as Ernst had thought, this man was also one who handled swords, wielded spears, and pulled on sturdy bows as he fought. The damp bathrobe did nothing to hide the sight of the man¡¯s large muscles swelling beneath the cloth. The man¡¯s large body seemed to be made entirely of muscle.

    When Ernst¡¯s knee was touched, Ernst stood. Even when the manservant was on one knee with his head lowered, the height of his head reached Ernst¡¯s stomach. It made Ernst feel like a child ¨C he was sick of it. This manservant probably hadn¡¯t lived even half as long as Ernst had.

    Ernst Gille Farson Rintz Kleber. He, who was named with both the names of his country and race, was the Crown Prince of the country of Rintz. Or rather, was once the Crown Prince. He had prepared himself for this day for more than a decade. And today, it had finally happened.

    This morning, after breakfast had ended, the head butler of the Crown Prince had arrived. Seeing the unusual tension in his face, Ernst had instantly known what he was going to say.

    I will be demoted from the rank of Crown Prince, thus I should prepare myself and wait. No matter how many times Ernst repeated that he was prepared, he understood ¨C the head butler still informed him of the same thing.

    When that time came, he was likely to become distraught and behave disgracefully. Ernst was afraid of that. Preparing yourself for something to happen, and having it actually happen in reality, were two different things. No matter how much he¡¯d mentally steeled himself, no matter how many preparations he¡¯d made, wouldn¡¯t it still affect his heart? Yet, disappointing even Ernst himself, it turned out that he had actually accepted it so easily. In fact, he might even have let out a sigh of relief.

    The Kingdom of Rintz abided by strict rules.

    What that meant was, the Crown Prince was the firstborn child. It didn¡¯t matter from whose stomach they had been birthed from, and it didn¡¯t matter whether the child was a boy or a girl. The only significance was whether the child was the firstborn. From there, if by any chance there was a situation involving the current Crown Prince, it was decided that the youngest child of the King would be chosen as the next Crown Prince. That was because only the King and Crown Prince were considered royalty, and even if one was the child of the King, there were still certain differences ¨C in treatment, and in upbringing. The moment the crown prince was born, he or she was taught to become the next generation¡¯s king. Even if the current Crown Prince were to pass away, it was considered that unless the second child were an infant, they would not be able to inherit the throne.

    In Rintz, it was unthinkable that the Crown Prince would lose his position while still being alive.

    Let¡¯s say, for example, he suffered from a problem in body or spirit. He would be surrounded by people of magnificent talent, and be allowed to spend time in ease. And even if there were a problem with the crown prince himself, if he became king and still didn¡¯t quite understand what was expected of him, he would politely be taught his duties.

    Even in a country such as this, Ernst still lost his place.

    There was one important duty the King had to fulfill. For Ernst, fulfilling this duty was deemed impossible.

    That duty, was to sire the King of the next generation.

    Among the people of Kleber existed a unique disease called Kleber¡¯s Disease, which only affected the Kleber. It developed around the age of puberty. It was not a life-threatening disease, but because it was incurable, one spent their entire life suffering from it.

    Ernst was afflicted by Kleber¡¯s disease.

    The Kleber counted their age based on the passing of the first day of the new year. Of the 200-year Kleber lifespan, Ernst had already lived 60 of those years. However, his outer appearance remained that of just a boy¡¯s. Even though he was a fully healthy Kleber, and his age had already passed to the stage of being an excellent young man, he still appeared only to be a child.

    As one could guess, the condition of the illness known as Kleber¡¯s disease was that after its onset, the body would no longer grow. Even after becoming a 200-year old elder, and even after dying, the appearance of someone afflicted by this disease would remain that of a young boy or a young girl.

    Up until he was thirty, Ernst had grown steadily. Compared to others of his age, he might have appeared somewhat delicate. However, after his fortieth year passed, he still looked like a young boy; when his fiftieth birthday came, the royal palace called for doctors from all over the country. Yet in the end, every doctor who saw him diagnosed the same thing. Without a doubt, this was Kleber¡¯s disease.

    Afterwards, the doctors were summoned for another purpose. Was it possible for Ernst to have any descendants, was what they were asked; yet every doctor who saw him made the same diagnosis. The Crown Prince was unable to sire a child.

    After a decade of repeated examination and diagnoses, the King finally made his decision. His firstborn child, Ernst, was to be demoted from the rank of Crown Prince.

    Ernst¡¯s gaze fell upon the crouching manservant who first washed Ernst¡¯s thighs, then thoroughly cleansed between his legs. With those large hands, he washed Ernst¡¯s tiny manhood. An ironic laugh drifted from Ernst¡¯s mouth. If he were to say that this thing existed only for mere decoration, what sort of face would this giant man make?

    No, he shouldn¡¯t even think of it ¨C Ernst shook off his thoughts. Ernst and this manservant held such vastly different social statuses that words couldn¡¯t be shared between them. Even if they spoke the same language, the manservant of the bathing room was not to ¡°understand¡± the words spoken by a royal personage.

    The lifespan of a Dunbertian was a hundred years. This manservant seemed to be around thirty or so? Ernst was first made aware of him when he found the manservant there in the Crown Prince¡¯s bathing chamber. Before him, the previous servant was a man of Kleber. At least, that was how it had been for the past years, as far as Ernst could remember.

    For what reason was this giant man placed here in this bathing chamber? Wasn¡¯t he a mercenary? When Ernst looked into his bathing robe, he saw countless scars crossing the man¡¯s body. Maybe he had suffered from a serious injury which made him unable to fight. Even so, such a huge and brawny man like him really wasn¡¯t fitting for the bathing chamber. For this manservant to have chosen to serve the Crown Prince who looked like a child ¨C wasn¡¯t his real purpose to mock him?

    Ernst instantly fell into depression. All his life as the Crown Prince, he¡¯d always had people waiting upon him. He never thought anything about being nude in front of other people. Even after his illness, this hadn¡¯t changed.

    But now, the feeling of it was unbearable. He didn¡¯t want to be seen by this Dunbertian. He, who had the kind of body Ernst would never be able to have. Even if Ernst had been a perfectly healthy man, such a robust body was still impossible to obtain as a Kleber.

    After washing everything, the manservant poured warm water over Ernst¡¯s delicate shoulders, rinsing away the bubbles. Ernst gazed down at the curly hair of the manservant¡¯s lowered head. Swelling back muscles. A thick neck. He wondered how valiant this giant man¡¯s cock would be. It wouldn¡¯t be anything like his own, so thin and small. It would be something that matched his huge body, thick in size. The urge to strip the man¡¯s thin bathrobe and peel off his white undergarments rose up within Ernst. Right now, this manservant still thought that Ernst was the crown prince. All that would happen was that he would push away Ernst¡¯s thin body, and he would only need one of his fingers to do it.

    With such harsh thoughts in his mind, Ernst smiled bitterly and headed for the bathtub. The manservant quietly followed him from behind. If by chance Ernst were to slip, the manservant was to protect him.

    Ernst soaked himself in the bathtub full of hot water. Though this bathtub was enormous, it was normal for it to be used only by the crown prince. But everything that Ernst had thought was normal and natural was soon to no longer be the case.

    In only three more days, he would have to leave the Royal Palace.

    In the Kingdom of Rintz, only the King and the Crown Prince were considered royalty. For the other relations of the King, whether they were the King¡¯s children or his consorts, they were called nobles. Among the nobles, having a blood relation to the King made no difference.

    Only the King and Crown Prince could live in the royal palace. The consort lived in a villa an hour away by carriage, and only if the King called upon her did she travel to the palace to serve the King for a night or two.

    This morning, the head butler had given Ernst the news. He had lost his rank as Crown Prince, so starting tomorrow he would have three days before he must leave the palace and travel to live in one of the villas.

    Whether ¡®three days¡¯ was too long or too short, Ernst didn¡¯t know. In the first place, Ernst didn¡¯t know of any crown prince who had been discarded in this way. Kleber¡¯s disease wasn¡¯t particularly rare among the Kleber people. It occurred in 1 out of every 100 people. However, it had never before occurred in one of the royal family. In the past, there had been a consort who looked as if she had been afflicted with Kleber¡¯s disease, but there were no records of any children resulting from her. The disease was less prominent among the nobles, and so people snidely whispered that this was a disease of the common folk.

    It was for that reason, Ernst thought. That was why it took such a long time to diagnose him with Kleber¡¯s disease. No one wanted to think that it would afflict a member of the royal family.

    Considering it all, he couldn¡¯t help but think that the time of three days was truly too short. As soon as possible, Ernst would be expelled from the royal palace, and the fact that he had once been the Crown Prince would be buried in darkness.

    Over these three days, he was told to tell the maids of anything he needed. But what Ernst was accustomed to was that which belonged to the Crown Prince; they didn¡¯t belong to ¡®Ernst¡¯. Asking the maids who had been with him for the sixty years since his birth to accompany him now would be too much, and Ernst would be refused. Whether it was things or people, none of it was Ernst¡¯s.

    Suddenly, he thought of the man behind him. Wasn¡¯t this giant man a new servant who had come here to wash the crown prince? Just like he did with Ernst, was he going to wash the next crown prince with those large hands and brutish fingers? The next crown prince was also a boy. So the question was, whether he was going to considerately wash the tiny manhood of a ten-year-old or a seven-year-old child.

 Chapter 2

    It was now the second day since Ernst had fallen from his rank as Crown Prince.

    All of the butlers and maids went to attend to the new Crown Prince. Regardless if Ernst was also there, they spoke only of the child Crown Prince. Though we aren¡¯t to make brand new outfits for the little Crown Prince, how about we craft a chair and desk which fits him? And such. Though those items were what Ernst had used in the past, now they would be replaced by something completely new for the Crown Prince. If Ernst¡¯s memory wasn¡¯t wrong, what he had used was what the previous generations of Crown Princes had also used.

    The mother of the next Crown Prince was the daughter of Marquesse Katalina. The family of the Marquesse was exceptionally affluent, and had the same amount of fortune as the King.

    Before breakfast, Ernst took a walk through the garden. Up until now, the inside of the Crown Prince¡¯s palace was always the same; wherever he went, the Imperial Guard followed after him without fail. But today¡­ Ernst regarded the change in his surroundings, and more than anger, what he felt rise in him was a laugh.

    Once, everyone and anyone had to kneel to Ernst. But ever since this morning, or rather, since yesterday, no one had bothered to look at Ernst. Though he was certainly still there, he had truly been made to feel that he had already disappeared.

    When Ernst had still been young, wherever he went, people would scurry after him; no matter what he was doing, someone would talk to him, or reach out to him, to the point where he wanted to retreat into himself and find some space to be alone. He had made several attempts to hide, but in just a slight amount of time he would always be found. He remembered quietly staying silent as the servants scolded him.

    I¡­

    Ernst spoke to himself.

    Had I wanted to be the Crown Prince? Had I wanted to become King?

    Or, had I wanted to find freedom?

    When he saw the large man attending the bathing chambers, Ernst felt surprise.

    He had thought that this manservant¡¯s heart would also be stolen away by the next Crown Prince, and so Ernst had expected for no one to be in the bathing chambers. No matter how low this manservant¡¯s status may be, he should still surely know that Ernst was no longer the Crown Prince. With an appearance no different from before, he washed Ernst as usual.

    Suddenly, Ernst wanted to ask for his name.

    Now that Ernst was no longer the Crown Prince, it would no longer be disrespectful for him to answer Ernst¡¯s words.

    But Ernst didn¡¯t speak up. Even if he asked for the giant man¡¯s name, he was afraid that there wouldn¡¯t be any response. Ernst¡¯s existence was now as thin and unnoticeable as air. If he spoke, only for his words to be passed by without acknowledgement, the mental blow he¡¯d suffer would be too overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t that Ernst was that fragile, but for some reason he felt that he couldn¡¯t bear it if this manservant treated his existence as nothing.

    His boorish fingers carefully and skillfully washed Ernst¡¯s delicate body as they always did. Every time the manservant moved, Ernst watched the smooth movements of his muscles.

    Even now, the bath had always been a place for Ernst to think. After a day¡¯s lesson, he would revisit his lessons in the bath, and come up with questions to ask his tutors for the next day. He thought deeply over the history of the Kingdom, and pondered over and over again the administration he would implement when he became King.

    The bath was also a place to deeply immerse himself.

    That said, now that he had been dismissed from his rank, this became only a place to not think about anything. Though, this was also a place where Ernst could gaze upon the giant man who kneeled as he served Ernst.

    Ernst suddenly had a thought. Didn¡¯t it make him feel superior, how he was able to subdue a gigantic man like this, whose physique Ernst would never be able to have? In this palace of the Crown Prince where all of the butlers, maids, and guardsmen who once bowed to Ernst with the deepest respect now neglected him, only this giant of a man still showed unchanging loyalty. Just how far would this person accept Ernst¡¯s conduct? No matter how unreasonable the Crown Prince¡¯s behavior was, would this servant resign himself to accepting and serving him regardless?

    As if to clear out the cruel thoughts that had risen up one by one in his mind, Ernst shook his head. Cold water droplets flew from his hair. It was pathetic how swiftly he had fallen into such petty thoughts.

    A touch landed on his knee, and Ernst stood. The servant¡¯s large hands carefully washed between Ernst¡¯s legs. His thick fingers gently scooped up Ernst¡¯s small manhood, and he slowly and gently washed it as if he were holding it with both hands. A strange and tingling feeling spread from Ernst¡¯s toes to the rest of his body.

    After he had been diagnosed with Kleber¡¯s disease, the doctors tried to determine if Ernst¡¯s manhood could stand and perform the duties of a man. Sometimes they used bird feathers, other times they used ears of wheat. Yet Ernst¡¯s manhood didn¡¯t prick up or react in any way. In front of innumerable doctors and butlers, Ernst was made to stand nude to see if he could become erect.

    Finally, the chief doctor reached out his thin fingers which looked like dead branches, respectfully picked up Ernst¡¯s soft manhood, and rubbed it.

    Even just thinking about it now made Ernst feel sick to his stomach. Ernst had endured it for a very long time, but in the end, his manhood still didn¡¯t have any reaction.

    Yet he felt somehow different when in this manservant¡¯s hands.

    What that feeling was, Ernst wasn¡¯t able to tell.

    After gently being rinsed with water, Ernst dipped himself into the bathtub. The warm water seemed to relax every muscle of his body.

    If there were any ¡®muscles¡¯ at all in his body, that is.

    As usual, the manservant waited right behind him. Just what thoughts were brewing in that brown-haired head of his? Was this big man¡¯s brain also filled to the brim with thoughts about the new Crown Prince? Even if that were the case, right now, he had dedicated himself to serving Ernst as he always had, and for that, Ernst couldn¡¯t help but praise him.

    Compared to the behavior of the butlers and maids, the dedication this servant showed to Ernst deserved his appreciation.

    There were differences between the Kleber and the Dunbert.

    It wasn¡¯t that they as a people were that different, it was that they were different species. Like dogs and cats, or horses and cows, they were not at all the same thing.

    The Kleber race belonged to the family of the Schell Continent races, in which blue blood flowed through their veins. The Dunbert belonged to the Grude Continent, and their blood flowed red.

    Was red blood warm? With blood that was a warm color flowing through this large-bodied man¡¯s heart, perhaps his heart, too, was warm.

    Ernst gave a slight smile at the romantic musings in his head; those thoughts were like those of a young girl.

    For someone¡¯s personality to change based on the blood they shed, how ridiculous.

 Chapter 3

    This was the last night he could stay in the palace of the Crown Prince. Tomorrow, he would have to leave the palace.

    He had lived in this palace ever since he was born. Ernst was the firstborn child of the King. Of the various women the King had held, Ernst¡¯s mother was the first to become pregnant, and she spent the last month of her pregnancy within the palace. His mother safely gave birth, and a few days later, was sent out of the palace; thus, Ernst had no memories of spending time with his mother. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that all he knew about her was her name.

    From the time he was born, he was now 60 years old. That seemed like a long time, didn¡¯t it?

    But, if you think about it, the people of Kleber lived for 200 years. If he lived properly, Ernst would have spent less than half of his lifetime in the royal palace. Thinking about it that way, the time he spent in the royal palace was actually short.

    He didn¡¯t really have much luggage. A few pieces of clothing and several books. No one would be coming with him. He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to ask if anyone would be following him. No matter who it was, they would rather serve the next King rather than Ernst, who had become just another noble. He had briskly packed away all of his sixty years of life in two small clothing boxes.

    In the bathing chamber, as usual, the large man kneeled with his head down to receive Ernst. Even though he knew that this man would be here as always, Ernst had still held some anxiety deep inside his heart somewhere. Today, his dinner had been forgotten.

    Every minute of Ernst¡¯s time had been scheduled with things to do. There was his morning walk time, his meal time, his studying time, his bathing time, and his sleeping time. These were the primary duties of the Crown Prince, and unless his body suffered in a way that prevented him from completing his schedule, the schedule was something that couldn¡¯t be broken. If Ernst broke his schedule on a whim, the butlers, maids, and cooks who served him would all be thrown into confusion. Ernst was never allowed to choose what to do with his own time.

    But today, though the time for dinner passed, no food ever came. The cooks had misunderstood and thought that Ernst had already left the palace today. For the first time in Ernst¡¯s life, the last meal of the day in the palace didn¡¯t come at a fixed and determined time. It was delightful. To be able to move around without having all of his actions decided for him was delightful. When Ernst finally left the palace, he would be able to eat as he pleased and sleep as he pleased, he thought.

    As usual, the servant washed him carefully. He covered Ernst¡¯s shoulders in a plentiful amount of foam, and slowly and gently washed his back. His large hands sometimes rubbed against Ernst¡¯s skin. The hands washed him as if checking each and every part of his spine, and Ernst held his breath as if trying to keep the servant unaware. The thick fingers washed Ernst¡¯s thin neck, and slowly traveled down to his chest. He then washed Ernst¡¯s small nipples, holding them between his index finger and the meat of his thumb.

    He touched Ernst¡¯s knee, and Ernst stood. As the servant rubbed Ernst¡¯s soft and white thighs as if gently caressing them, a strange and unfamiliar feeling that Ernst wasn¡¯t sure how to describe ¨C almost ticklish, but not quite ¨C flooded his body.

    Was this, perhaps, what something sexual felt like?

    Once he understood that despite being a man, he wasn¡¯t able to make ¡®it¡¯ stand, he threw himself as if obsessed into reading books, books, and more books. What manner of state was sexual arousal? What kind of state was being erect, and what kinds of feelings did one experience then? He wanted to know more about these feelings that he would never be able to have.

    But the understanding he could glean from theories was limited. There were things beyond what could be communicated through words which Ernst knew nothing of.

    As the servant washed behind his knees, Ernst gazed down at his head of curly brown hair. Large fingers moved back and forth through the crevice of his small ass. A rough-skinned fingertip slipped into his narrow entrance and gingerly washed there. Ernst felt the tips of his toes spark with an electrifying feeling. So this, too, could feel this way, huh?

    His large hands touched Ernst¡¯s small sack. He held it in his palm, and with the fingers of his other hand, kneaded it as he washed. He did so with a serious look, taking care not to make it hurt. Though Ernst felt as if his thighs were trembling, his small manhood still hung down lifelessly. Thick fingers gently picked it up, and the servant enveloped Ernst¡¯s slender and small manhood in his large hands. As if handling an incomparably precious treasure, the servant¡¯s unrefined hands moved slowly.

    Something swirled in Ernst¡¯s stomach. Once he finished washing here, everything would be over. Yet, Ernst felt like he had grasped something. Something inside him was awakening from servant¡¯s hands. Ernst couldn¡¯t bear to let this end without knowing anything. Right now, if he could take hold of that ¡®something¡¯, he felt like he would be able to live as a ¡®man¡¯ from now on.

    When the washing had ended, Ernst quickly touched the thick arm that had just been about to leave. Just at the touch of Ernst¡¯s thin fingers, the servant stopped moving. Thinking it was good that the servant had stopped moving, Ernst began to rub against that large hand between his legs. This large, thick, and hot hand, which could easily cup both Ernst¡¯s balls and cock within its grasp. Like this, Ernst had clenched the servant¡¯s hand between his thighs, and he clung to the servant¡¯s arm. Ernst¡¯s cheek came closer to the servant¡¯s muscular arm as he gently reached toward the servant¡¯s groin.

    The large man¡¯s groin was tightly bound by thick cloth. Wanting to know the shape of it, Ernst stroked it with his thin fingers, but he couldn¡¯t make anything out due to that thick cloth in the way. Ernst ardently rocked his thin hips, grinding against the muscular hand between his legs. The servant just let it happen to him, and did not move or have any reaction at all.

    Ernst heard a drop of water fall from the ceiling into the bath.

    A sigh escaped Ernst, like the sound of someone who had resigned themselves and given up. He stood as if nothing at all had happened just now. His small manhood still hung down without having shown any change whatsoever. Ernst glanced down at that useless decoration. When he had been touched by the manservant¡¯s hand, when the manservant had touched him of his own volition, Ernst had lost control of himself. But Ernst didn¡¯t have any regrets. He didn¡¯t think it was awkward. This was the end of any relation he had to the royal palace. Whatever happened now, by tomorrow, everyone would have their minds full of only thoughts about the new Crown Prince.

    The manservant gently poured the water on him. Ernst bathed in the hot bath, laughing at himself mockingly.

    It was such a large bathtub, for no reason at all.

    Early in the morning, Ernst got on the carriage. There wasn¡¯t any breakfast today, either. There was nothing more that Ernst could do in this palace. Everyone and anyone only just wished for him to hurry up and leave. Right now, without having any care at all for Ernst, they were running around in order to care for the newly-arrived Crown Prince.

    Ernst lifted the thin curtain of the carriage with a finger. In the morning mist, he saw the flowing cobblestone pavement. This was the first time he had ever left the Crown Prince¡¯s palace. The King and the Crown Prince were never to leave the royal palace. As they stayed deep within the chambers of the royal palace, throughout their entire lifetime, their eyes would never catch sight of the world beyond its walls.

    The carriage approached the bridge connected to the royal palace. So this was the bridge that connected to the lower world. Once he crossed here, he would be ¡®outside¡¯. There, he would find things like towns, and villages, and forests. This was the world in which Ernst would live from now on.

    Turning around to face the back, Ernst pulled up the cloth hanging from the back of the carriage. The royal palace grew ever distant.

    Such a large, yet puny world it was.

 Chapter 4

    Ernst¡¯s new residence was the furthest villa from the royal palace. There weren¡¯t any nobles living here. The intention was to keep Ernst from meeting other nobles. Ernst couldn¡¯t determine whether this was out of consideration for him, or as an act to exclude him.

    The working staff for the villa were hastily arranged, and all of them were inexperienced. They dithered about not knowing what to do, and if someone needed something, it took quite a lot of time to find it. Furthermore, they had no idea how to serve the former Crown Prince, Ernst.

    Ernst also had no clue. Up until now, the servants of the royal palace had dealt with everything. It was impossible for someone who had never worked in the royal palace to know what was done only in the royal palace; thus, a hard-to-fill chasm emerged between the servants and Ernst, who had just begun his life in the villa.

    When Ernst woke, all he had to do was stand at the side of the bed. Once he stood, the maids changed his clothes.

    On his first morning in the villa, Ernst stood at the side of the bed as usual. Yet nothing happened; only an awkward atmosphere formed between him and the maid serving in the room. He¡¯s already 60 years old, so just what exactly is this former crown prince doing? When the maid looked at Ernst with what looked like pity in her eyes, Ernst realized that he would have to change his own clothes for the first time. If Ernst weren¡¯t such an avid book reader, it was possible that he might never have realized.

    The bathing chamber was naturally the same; there was no one inside it. There wasn¡¯t any manservant who would wash his body for him. After having such an extremely difficult time putting on his own clothes, Ernst painstakingly peeled them off once again, and stood alone in the bathroom.

    He had no idea what he was supposed to do here.

    Bathing involved being lathered with bubbles, but Ernst didn¡¯t know where to find the bubbles. Completely naked, Ernst circled aimlessly around this bathroom, which was only 1/5th as big as the royal palace bathing chamber that he was accustomed to. No matter where he looked, he couldn¡¯t find any bubbles.

    Eventually, he settled with just soaking himself in hot water for that day.

    The next day, when he asked the maid about the bubbles, she gave him a weird look and handed him a strange white block. He had asked about bubbles, so why did she give him this thing? He didn¡¯t understand it even after a long time.

    In the villa, the timing of everything was uncertain.

    By contrast, Ernst had lived many years according to a strict schedule. Every morning, he strenuously labored to put on his own clothing in order to hurry to meet the time in which he should attend breakfast. In order to make it in time, he began waking up an hour earlier in the morning. However, even if he hurried to make it to the breakfast table, breakfast seldom appeared on time. This was the same whether it was during the day or in the evening.

    In the past, Ernst had been scolded to not make noise at the dining table. Whatever was put in front of him, even if he didn¡¯t like the taste, he had to shut up and eat it. This was the proper conduct of a member of the royal family. For that reason, even if he had to wait over an hour for food to appear at the table, Ernst merely sat there silently. Standing by the wall of the dining room, the butler assigned to be Ernst¡¯s assistant looked at Ernst with annoyance. For Ernst, once he had sat at the dining table, it was unthinkable to stand without having finished the meal.

    What occurred in the villa was intriguing to Ernst, and he found himself enjoying it. Little by little, the butlers, the maids, and the cooks all began to grow accustomed to Ernst, and bit by bit they began sharing conversations.

    Ernst forgot what it felt to be bored.

    After being taught how to create bubbles himself, Ernst eventually got used to washing on his own. He remembered the movements of those large hands. Wash between the ass, wash his manhood. He didn¡¯t feel that same tingling, electric feeling that he¡¯d had when the manservant had washed him.

    Living in the villa, he learned for the first time since birth what it meant to be alone. When he lived in the royal palace, someone was always in the same room as him, even if he went to sleep. Now, Ernst could be alone as much as he liked.

    Sometimes, when Ernst took a bath to wash himself, he gripped the tip of his manhood between his fingers and turned it up. The books he¡¯d read had pictures. What was called an ¡®erection¡¯ looked somewhat like this, didn¡¯t it? Ernst had tried to pull it up like so, but the appearance still didn¡¯t quite match. A soft and unreliable thing like this, how exactly was it supposed to take on an unnatural appearance like that?

    There were things he had read only in books which he had now seen while living in the villa, and experienced for himself. After living in the villa, that which he could only vaguely see in his head now took on distinct forms, granting him understanding. But something like ¡®sexuality¡¯ was still a subject that Ernst completely didn¡¯t understand.

 Chapter 5

    Three months had passed since Ernst began life in the villa.

    Most nobles lived their lives ruling over large territories. Ernst, who had just been demoted to the rank of noble, should have had land to rule as well.

    People who belonged to the races originating from Schell continent were generally unwilling to bequeath land to their children, perhaps due to these races¡¯ long lifespans. Besides, it was difficult for them to conceive children, so it was possible for a noble to reach the end of their life without having a child. Rintz Kingdom was like this; land was bequeathed by the King, and naturally, people weren¡¯t overly attached to their place of residence. If a noble has died, or if they have been accused of a crime and parted with their territory, and the next lord of the land hasn¡¯t yet been decided, then the lord of the neighboring territory would temporarily reign. At the moment, there should be several territories without lords.

    Would Ernst receive a territory befitting his former rank? Or would he receive a territory which dissolved the prestige of his former status? It could go either way. The two options were so contentious that even up until now, this matter hadn¡¯t been decided.

    Ernst would be fine with either result. Whether it was an incredible one, or a disappointing one.

    Now that Ernst was no longer a crown prince, the servants learned to look at his face and speak to him. After a long while, their hearts eventually understood that it was no longer improper to do so. Ernst was fine with ruling whatever territory he received. He only just felt regretful if he were to have to part with the servants of this villa, with whom he had only recently began to reach some semblance of familiarity. That was why he never asked if a decision had arrived. He felt that if they were to treat him like the servants of the royal palace did, as if he was some awe-inspiring and untouchable figure, then it would wound him greatly inside. It disgusted Ernst how, ever since he had ceased to be the crown prince, he gradually became a more cowardly person.

    The villa was on the other side of the country from the royal palace. There weren¡¯t any visitors, and there weren¡¯t any travelers passing by, either. There weren¡¯t any tall walls or low fences, and beyond the backyard, a forest spread out. Even after a long time, Ernst wasn¡¯t able to get any closer to the forest.

    When he had first started living in the villa, Ernst had been greatly interested by the forest. One could see its expansive size and depth just by looking in the general vicinity of its entrance. Every now and then, he could hear an indistinct and light voice coming from it. He had asked a passing-by butler, ¡°What is that?¡± The butler had stared at the forest, then turned his face away and replied respectfully, ¡°That is a wolf, sire.¡±

    A wolf. That was something he had seen among the illustrations in his books.

    There was a book in the royal palace which detailed all sorts of animals and plants. Whenever he needed a break from studying, Ernst always looked through this book. Not only the Schell continent¡¯s flora and fauna, it also listed the Grude continent¡¯s, the Sout continent¡¯s, Hel continent¡¯s, and Sistica continent¡¯s. All of the animals and plants of the world were listed in that book. It was incredibly interesting. Within the forest before his very eyes lived the wolf which he had seen in the book. Ernst wanted to find it no matter what, and see a wolf with his own eyes.

    But when Ernst expressed his interest in doing so, the butler intervened, ¡°Sir, with all due respect¡­¡± and talked about his own experience. With a pale face and a shaking voice, he described the appearance of the wolf, and upon hearing of what the wolf did, Ernst blanched and his face froze.

    Even the maid who had just been passing by began to tremble and cry, her grief palpable as she and Ernst listened to the story of how the life of the butler¡¯s acquaintance had been brutally snuffed out by the wolf. The story was so gruesome that it haunted Ernst¡¯s dreams for the next few days, giving him nightmares.

    However, it took him about a month to realize that the story they¡¯d fed him had been completely made up.

 Chapter 6

    Though he was scared of the wolves in the forest, Ernst didn¡¯t want to shut himself away inside the villa, either. The act of taking a morning walk was ingrained in his body, so he couldn¡¯t just stop doing it. Whenever Ernst crossed into the rear garden, he kept close to the villa¡¯s outer wall.

    On this day, too, Ernst glared at the forest while walking with his back scraping against the outer wall of the villa. A wolf could probably jump into the rear garden with just one leap. If he saw one lurking in the forest somewhere, he was prepared to run back into the villa as fast as he could. As Ernst stared intently into the forest, he heard the same thin voice that he¡¯d heard when he had first learned there were wolves here.

    It was a wolf.

    Sweat poured down Ernst¡¯s slender back. The act of ¡®sweating¡¯ was also something Ernst had learned of after coming to the villa.

    This moment was one that Ernst couldn¡¯t help but laugh at whenever he thought back to it.

    Trembling with tension, Ernst stared at the small blue bird that had jumped out in front of his eyes. The trees rustled as the bird flew through them; it landed upon one of the trees in the back garden and began to pleasantly chirp, its voice something that Ernst recalled hearing before.

    The maids who had been passing by looked dubiously at Ernst, who had stuck himself to the wall, not breathing as he held his body as stiff as stone.

    So that voice wasn¡¯t actually a wolf¡¯s? No, when Ernst had been told that, he did think something had been off. He¡¯d wondered whether such a dreadful beast as that actually spoke with such a lovely voice.

    But wait, if he considered all of the possibilities, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for there to be a bird with a voice similar to a wolf¡¯s. The next thing Ernst did was accost a passing-by maid and ask her. The maid answered him with a frank expression which indicated she absolutely didn¡¯t understand what he was talking about. There aren¡¯t any wolves in this forest, were her words.

    That day at dinnertime, Ernst feigned a casual air and questioned the butler from before. Where did the wolves go? A grin like that of a child caught pulling a prank crept up on the butler¡¯s face. ¡°Perhaps they had wandered off into the forest,¡± he replied.

    In that case, I wish you had told me that from the start. Ernst thought that, but he didn¡¯t become angry. Ever since Ernst had arrived at the villa and met the people here, they had earnestly cared and worried over him.

    Ernst had read books such as ¡°A Guide to Walking through the Forest¡±. The way they were written made it seem like if you followed what the literature said, you wouldn¡¯t get lost. Despite the fact that the vast majority of his knowledge was obtained from literature, Ernst had thought that was all there was, and had been under the impression that this information was all correct.

    But now, he understood. Even books could be mistaken.

    There was a donkey.

    On that day, Ernst saw a funny-looking and unfamiliar animal at the back entrance of the villa. It seemed to belong to the dingy and crude man who had been talking with the cook. He came closer and asked, ¡°What is this?¡± The man looked at him with eyes that questioned, You don¡¯t even know something like this? Pronouncing it with a roll of his tongue, the man said, ¡°This is a donkey.¡±[1]

    Donkey. Did he say that this was a donkey? Ernst didn¡¯t believe it. The donkeys in the illustrations were shorter than horses, but otherwise looked completely the same. It shouldn¡¯t have such a stupid-looking face. Was this really what donkeys were like, or was it only this donkey that had such a funny face? A somewhat sullen expression came over the man¡¯s face after he had been asked whether his donkey especially had a funny-looking face, and he said, ¡°No, it looks the same as all the others.¡±

    It was so unexpected for the literature to be wrong that Ernst couldn¡¯t believe it. The literature was everything. Every single one of his teachers would lecture after opening a book. He had been told that the answers to everything he didn¡¯t know could be found within books. Ernst had read all of the books supplied by the royal palace. He had memorized them all. He had been filled with self-satisfaction after being praised for his excellence. Had all of that been for naught?

    Yet, there were also times where the literature had come in handy.

    On that day, one of the maids collapsed. She complained of terrible abdominal pains. Because of the storm outside, it was dangerous to venture out. Even if one went outside, unless they were in the area surrounding the royal palace, one wouldn¡¯t find a doctor in the city. In any case, it had been late at night, and no one thought that a doctor would make a trip just for one maid. There wasn¡¯t anything that could be done; in front of that suffering maid, a heavy atmosphere fell over the inside of the villa.

    Ernst had already gone to bed, but he suddenly woke in the middle of the night. Though the storm was nearing its end, he sensed something strange in the air of the villa, and left his room. Despite it being midnight, he heard servants speaking with lowered voices. After following those voices, he discovered that one of the maids was in pain.

    Even though he wanted to scold, Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?, it couldn¡¯t be helped. While only temporarily, Ernst was the head of the household, so it was natural that he wouldn¡¯t receive a report on the physical condition of a single maid.

    Ernst examined the maid¡¯s condition, listened to what she had to say, and concluded that it was food poisoning. He ordered the butlers to go to the forest and grab some of the wild Chigo leaves growing nearby, then boil it with Rasbi roots and Zaray stalks and have the maid drink it. Everyone around him looked at him dubiously. In Rintz Kingdom, all medical care was performed by doctors, and only doctors issued medicine. Though doctors used medical herbs, how much to use and what was effective were secrets which doctors only passed down to their apprentices. Because of that, the general people paid high prices to buy medicinal plants, even if they possessed the same efficacy as something they could grow in their own garden.

    There were no mistakes in Ernst¡¯s diagnosis or prescription, and the maid had been cured by dawn.

    After coming to the villa, Ernst had learned many things.

    Though literature could be wrong, it could also be right. The important thing was to judge its correctness using one¡¯s own mind. Nothing would come of thinking that only the literature was correct and turning one¡¯s eyes away from reality. Though it was very different from the illustrations, there was something charming about the silly face of a real donkey, after all.

    [1]: The word for donkey is ¥í¥Ð (roba). The man pronounces it by rolling his R, like the way a gangster or delinquent would in modern times. Basically, he¡¯s a gruff and rough dude.

 Chapter 7

    As winter approached, the territory Ernst would rule was decided.

    The butlers, the maids, the cooks, and even the man who owned the donkey shed tears as they bid him a reluctant farewell. This made Ernst feel happiness. When Ernst had separated from the royal palace, every single person there had an attitude expressing how they just wished for Ernst to hurry up and get out. Yet even so, the people of this villa were willing to cry for him. They cried and were angry over how absurd his situation was.

    Ernst¡¯s territory was a backwater area along the border, Meissen.

    Meissen.

    This was a place that shared a border with the neighboring country, Lux Kingdom. The snow-covered region was barren, and it was separated from the adjoining region of Rintz[1] by steep mountains and valleys, which couldn¡¯t be crossed during the winter season. The territory itself was broken up by steep mountains and vast forests, and it also held a raging river which served as the border to Lux Country; it was an impoverished but vast territory.

    Most of its population was said to suffer from famine. Even the Lord of the territory likely wouldn¡¯t be unaffected by it. For over a hundred years, there were no Lords ruling over Meissen.

    It was probably due to the raging river and the land being too poor that the territory hadn¡¯t been stolen by Lux Kingdom.

    Crying, the butler who had once frightened Ernst with the story of the wolf shouted: Why must he have to go to that sort of place?

    But for Ernst, there were things he had to do which left no room for him to spend grieving or getting angry.

    That was, to prepare himself for his departure. Even if he left immediately, it was uncertain whether he would arrive safely at his destination. Winter was coming soon. Or rather, it might already be snowing over the land. In this season, Ernst didn¡¯t know if it was even possible to cross the mountains and valleys separating Meissen from the Rintz region.

    Even so, it was impermissible to ignore the King¡¯s royal decree until next spring. With his life riding on the line, early in the morning on the very next day, Ernst hurriedly set off.

    Did the people of the palace expect this situation to happen? It wouldn¡¯t be a surprise; perhaps the decision of Ernst¡¯s territory had been put off because they had been waiting for the coming of winter. He wasn¡¯t even the Crown Prince anymore ¨C just what were they so afraid of?

    Or was it that he must have been such a nuisance that they hated him?

    The horse balked at the snow trapping its legs, and was soothed by the man currently tying a rope to it.

    Ernst traveled via horse-drawn carriage toward the Rintz region. He wasn¡¯t able to ride horses. He had been told that as befitting the manner of a prince, he mustn¡¯t touch animals. Horses were things which pulled carriages; they weren¡¯t things that the King and Crown Prince should ride. That said, Ernst regretted that he hadn¡¯t taken the opportunity while he was at the villa to practice riding. It took fifteen days for the carriage to rush from the villa to the Rintz region.

    Once he passed into Rintz¡¯s territory, white snow had begun fluttering from the sky.

    The servants of the villa had requested Ernst to please, at least allow them to assist in his preparations, and Ernst had gratefully accepted. They followed him on horseback, and until Ernst arrived in Rintz, the servants on their horses became his escort, arranging his food and even his winter clothing.

    They had really helped him out. Ernst wanted to repay this favor to them, but he didn¡¯t really have anything with him.

    Except, he had books. Ernst handed the book about medicinal plants over to them. Though they tried to refuse, saying, ¡°Something as valuable as this¡­¡±, Ernst insisted. In the first place, he had only brought it with him to distract himself. All of its contents were already memorized inside his head.

    He made them take this bulky book, and one by one, he shook each of their hands to say goodbye. All of them had warm, nice hands.

    Just like the hands of the servant in the bathing chamber, they were the hands of people who lived honest, steady lives.

    [1]: So I actually got confused here. To clarify the geography, Rintz is the name of the Kingdom, but the name Rintz here refers to a specific region of the country which is next to Meissen.

 Chapter 8

    The march through the forest grew more difficult with each step. The closer they went to Meissen, the deeper the snow became. At the moment, the snow nearly reached the knees of the horse ¨C yet they hadn¡¯t even finished half of the journey.

    Every now and then, a belly grumble-like cry of an animal issued from the forest. That was a wolf. This time, it was an actual, genuine wolf.

    With the long winter approaching, the wolf¡¯s stomach was most likely empty. In order to keep it from sensing them, Ernst¡¯s escort proceeded downwind of the wolf.

    The people traveling with Ernst were hunters who lived in this forest. Large and heavy-looking hatchets were balanced on their hips, and they carried pointed, sharp knives. Carrying bows on their backs, they marched through the forest with grim faces. All three of Ernst¡¯s escort were Kleber.

    Though they hadn¡¯t yet encountered a wolf, Ernst was slightly worried over whether just these men would be enough against a wolf.

    Certainly, all of them had burly and strong physiques compared to Ernst, who suffered from Kleber¡¯s disease. But in his mind, Ernst was comparing them to a Dunbertian¡¯s body.

    If that man were here, he would be able to walk leisurely without worrying about the snow catching his feet.

    The snow continued to fall constantly.

    The snow flew between the branches of the trees, which stood still as if they were dead. Sometimes, a snowstorm blew.

    This was the first time Ernst had ever felt so cold in his life. He buried himself in the winter clothing that the villa¡¯s servants had prepared for him to avoid the freezing cold.

    Unconsciously, he hunched over. Because of how cold it was, he couldn¡¯t even look in front of him; he couldn¡¯t raise his face to see.

    He listened to the sound of the horses and hunters stepping through the snow. This quiet marching was all that he could hear. Ernst started nodding off until one of the escorts woke him. Whether he was asleep or awake, time passed without much difference between them.

    Even when he was awake, he dreamed.

    In his dreams, there was a warm bath. That giant man of a servant was there. He gently washed Ernst¡¯s body. His fingertips slipped into the hole in Ernst¡¯s backside and scrubbed it. With his large hands, he washed every inch of Ernst¡¯s body, and he touched Ernst¡¯s small manhood. Warm happiness flowed through Ernst.

    Only Ernst had a horse prepared for him. With his boy-like slender body, it would take all of his might just to stand in the snow.

    They advanced through the woods. They kept on advancing. The snow continued to pile up heavily, but the men marched forward without paying it any mind.

    Ernst heard the howls of the wolf coming from far away, and closeby.

    At night, they dug holes in the snow and and rested inside. This was the first time Ernst learned that snow could be something warm.

    His escorts took turns resting, and they continuously stoked the fire to make sure it wouldn¡¯t go out.

    Ernst offered, ¡°Shall I take over?¡± After all, during the daytime he was the only one on a horse, and he thought that he shouldn¡¯t be as tired as these men who had to walk through the snow.

    The men¡¯s faces showed that they had been caught off guard, and they laughed awkwardly as they rejected Ernst¡¯s offer. Their stern faces had made them seem scary, but their expressions when they laughed were nice and honest.

    Ernst chatted with them little by little. They walked in silence during the day, but at night, they gathered around the fire and spoke. Bit by bit, the men told him in quiet voices about what it was like to live in the forest, and how they had lived in the Rintz region ever since they were young.

    Gazing at the fire, Ernst fell into a strange and quiet mood.

    The howls of the wolf echoed throughout the night. Though Ernst still felt scared, it wasn¡¯t as much as he had been when he¡¯d first entered the forest. This was because he¡¯d come to understand the people escorting him. He didn¡¯t need to worry uselessly; instead, he just needed to get to know them.

    They ate the food they¡¯d brought with them little by litte. Though the luggage they carried gradually grew lighter, the expressions on the men¡¯s faces grew more severe. When Ernst asked why, they told him that from here on out, if a wolf attacked them, they wouldn¡¯t have any food to spare for luring it away.

    So that was why. Their food wasn¡¯t just for eating; in an emergency, it was also used to divert a wolf¡¯s attention.

    That said, walking through the snow while carrying extra food wasn¡¯t all that easy.

    As their load lightened, their walking speed increased. They had to leave the forest before they encountered any wolves.

    The next obstacle to face on their path would be the valley. Supposedly, in front of the valley was a hunter¡¯s hut. They would travel up until there, and then they would leave the horse and continue on foot. Once they left the forest, there wouldn¡¯t be any wolves. The men¡¯s feet moved faster.

    The night, too, quickly approached. Though the fire would repel a stray wolf, they would be helpless if a group came after them. The wolves were intelligent enough to know to wait until there wasn¡¯t enough wood for the fire to keep burning.

    The horse exhaled, its white breath rising like a cloud. In the night sky, the whirling snow glittered like stars. The fallen snow looked like crystals, and it was beautiful, cold, and cruel. To keep himself from falling asleep, Ernst tightened his grip on the horse¡¯s reins.

    Suddenly, he felt something gazing at him. The men¡¯s feet came to a still. Sending a signal with his eyes, the youngest hunter touched Ernst¡¯s arm.

    He was asked to quietly get off the horse and follow him. They hadn¡¯t left the forest yet. This wasn¡¯t a resting place, either. Ernst heard the urgency in their voices, but he neither questioned nor resisted them. There was nothing in this forest that Ernst would know better of than they did.

    The eldest hunter tied the horse¡¯s rope to a tree. He touched the nape of the horse¡¯s neck as if comforting, apologizing, pitying it. The horse stomped its feet restlessly.

    Surrounded by his escort, Ernst quietly but quickly proceeded down the snowy road. He followed after one of the escorts, who had gone ahead to break up the snow, making it easier for Ernst to walk. Though his feet still got caught in the snow, Ernst fervently followed him as if trying to chase away the frightening thoughts in his head.

    As Ernst continued to walk, clenching both of his hands, the sounds of the horse¡¯s neighs reached his ears. He heard the wolves¡¯ enjoyment. Ernst tightly closed his eyes and shook his head.

    He roughly exhaled. Kept traveling through the forest. The escorts strode forward quickly. Ernst clumsily moved forward like he could fall at any moment. His body looked like it was about to collapse, so one of the escorts grabbed his delicate arm and pulled him along. No one said anything. No one could say anything.

    Ernst felt like he wanted to cry. But he couldn¡¯t afford to do so.

 Chapter 9

    After arriving safely at the hut, Ernst rested there for one day. The hunters living at the hut welcomed him with some warm soup. Though they noticed the horse was missing, they didn¡¯t mention it.

    The day passed slowly.

    Ernst laid down so that he could recover the energy it would take to safely cross the valley. Though his body felt very tired, his mind didn¡¯t feel any better, either.

    Even so, he wasn¡¯t able to fall sleep.

    What they did was the right thing to do. If they hadn¡¯t sacrificed the horse, someone might have died. No, maybe all of them might have died. One horse was enough to satisfy a pack of wolves. If that hadn¡¯t been the case, Ernst wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape on foot.

    He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about those days he spent swaying on the back of the horse. He had been told that as king, he shouldn¡¯t hesitate to sacrifice one or two people for the greater good. He should always unhesitatingly choose the good of the country over the lives of a thousand citizens.

    Ernst, also, had believed that this was the way of an admirable politician.

    But now, faced with the sacrifice of just one horse, he knew he would never be able to do such a thing.

    He had really¡­ become so weak.

    No, that wasn¡¯t right. In that cage called the royal palace, he had just lived without knowing anything. Something like ¡®living¡¯, and something like ¡®dying¡¯, he didn¡¯t understand either of them. For that reason, as life held no meaning to him, it was simple to throw away the lives of his people whilst debating what should be done.

    The valley was more difficult to cross than the forest.

    It didn¡¯t have any wolves. It didn¡¯t have any other dangerous animals to replace the wolves, either. It was the terrain itself that was dangerous.

    In the summer, it was said that this place was rocky. But the scenery laid out before Ernst¡¯s eyes was one vast, white surface. Below the white snow covering the area were countless unstable rocks.

    The hunters carefully searched for footholds to move forward. Now that they had exited the forest, there weren¡¯t any trees to block the wind from blowing directly on them. Ernst¡¯s small body was about to be blown away, so one of the hunters tied Ernst to himself with a rope.

    As they went forward, the amount of ground they could walk on lessened. The path narrowed, making the cliff seem like it was getting closer.

    Three days after they started walking, they approached the most treacherous part of the valley. Will we be able to get through this place safely? Ernst wondered, his body shrinking in fear.

    The hunters took one day of rest before heading to that area. They used cloth, branches, and snow to ward off the wind. Using the lumber they¡¯d brought from the hut, they stoked a fire. They melted some snow, and for the first time in three days, they were able to have a hot drink. They added tea leaves and ate some of their treasured butter in order prepare for tomorrow and build up strength in their bodies.

    The next morning had fine weather. The wind also wasn¡¯t very strong. Ernst felt relieved; he thought that it would be easy to cross from here on, but in contrast to his thoughts, the hunters had gloomy expressions. When the weather was good, the temperature would rise, and it would be easier for the snow to melt.

    But of course, it would still be easier to walk than if the wind were blowing. Winter still hadn¡¯t passed over the entryway to Meissen. They had no choice but to hurry and get out of here while they still could.

    The youngest hunter proceeded first. He carefully searched for footholds. He grasped at the rocks with both of his hands. Ernst watched him with intense concentration.

    He couldn¡¯t afford not to do so. If Ernst missed his footing, he would fall into the cliff on the other side. You couldn¡¯t see the bottom even if you peered down. With the depths of hell at his back, Ernst had to be able to walk on his own because no one would be able to save him if he fell.

    Ernst was the second to go. The eldest hunter had fastened a rope around Ernst¡¯s stomach, then tossed the rope toward the crossing hunter. After confirming that the other person had tightly grasped the rope, the hunter urged Ernst forward. With a nervous expression on his face, Ernst nodded and began to walk.

    He believed in the three hunters.

    He followed the footsteps of the hunter who had crossed before him. His fingers gripped the cliffside. He felt like his bulky gloves didn¡¯t have much use when it came to this.

    As best as he could, Ernst put all of his strength into sticking his fingers to the rock. Slowly, carefully, he inched his feet forward. Because he wore the winter clothing, he couldn¡¯t see his feet.

    When Ernst leaned slightly back to get a better look, the voice of the senior hunter rang out. Move forward by searching out the next spot with the tip of your foot, he said.

    Ernst hastily pulled back his neck. He was right; even though Ernst had only leaned back a little, the gust of wind coming from below had destabilized his body.

    He couldn¡¯t just rely on his eyes. He concentrated all of his senses on his feet, and as if fiercely trying to get his shaking fingertips to settle, he applied more strength to them. He let the vast scenery behind his back fade from his consciousness.

    His eyebrows were frozen because of the cold. Ernst slowly advanced, and as he glanced up, his gaze collided with the serious expression of the hunter carrying the rope.

    Regardless of whether they had been hired by Ernst, regardless of his status as the former Crown Prince, they all felt that they wanted to safely get out of here together. Ernst boiled with energy that bubbled up from the depths of his body.

    Ernst took twice as long to cross as the hunter leading the way. On Ernst¡¯s last step, the hunter who had watched over him gripped him with his powerful hand.

    As Ernst fell over, the hunter firmly hugged his small body. He patted his back as if praising him, Well done. Ernst felt more proud than when he had solved a difficult formula in the royal palace.

    The two remaining hunters also safely passed through.

    Once again, they walked in a group of four. Just because they had crossed the hardest spot didn¡¯t mean that the rest of the path in front of them would be easy. They had to climb both crumbling rocks and frozen stone surfaces. It was hollow beneath the snow, putting them in danger of falling in.

    But because the three hunters accompanied him, Ernst wasn¡¯t afraid. Day by day, step by step, Ernst felt like he was growing stronger.

    He felt like he was learning, for the first time, how to trust in other people.

    It had been inevitable that of all the people in the royal palace, no one had felt sadness or regret over his leaving.

    Ernst didn¡¯t know the name of a single person living in the royal palace. He didn¡¯t even know the name of the head butler who had accompanied him since birth.

    Even if he didn¡¯t know, it didn¡¯t matter. Though he didn¡¯t know their names, the only things they spoke were instructions. There wasn¡¯t any trace of affection in them.

    So that¡¯s how it was, Ernst realized.

    Ernst didn¡¯t even know the names of the people who¡¯d lived in the royal palace.

    When he thought about it, that giant man had been the only person whose name he had wanted to ask.

 Chapter 10

    This was the last night Ernst would spend with the hunters. After walking for one more day, they would reach the outlying village of the Meissen territory. There should be a welcome party for him in the manor of that village. The hunters would part with him from there.

    Even though Ernst had said that it would be fine if they at least rested for a day at the manor, the hunters politely declined. Winter was growing deeper and deeper. If they delayed their departure for even one day, the valley might close on them. The snow seemed to be falling more heavily this year.

    After passing through the valley, they entered Meissen¡¯s forest. They lit a fire with the drywood they collected here and there.

    The forest within Meissen¡¯s territory was quiet. Here, the land, the people, and the beasts were all barren and starving. In this forest, there wasn¡¯t a single sign of a living creature.

    They spoke quietly while drinking warm tea. Ernst listened to the hunters¡¯ stories, and he in turn told them stories of his time at the villa. When they heard about how Ernst had been tricked by the butler¡¯s tale of the wolf, the hunters¡¯ grim faces broke out into smiles.

    When they got along like this, it made Ernst feel regretful over how they would have to part ways. But it wasn¡¯t as if he could ask them to come along with him. After all, these men lived their lives as hunters.

    Ernst told them that he wanted to apologize for the horse they lost. He also wanted to thank them for safely bringing him to Meissen. Yet these things were also firmly refused. They couldn¡¯t receive more compensation than what had already been decided, they said.

    They drank tea and began preparing to rest. Today, too, the hunters switched off on fire-watching duty between themselves. The four of them had overcome their obstacles. They chatted about various things.

    It didn¡¯t feel as if, by tomorrow night, they would all be gone.

    They walked through the forest. The trees in Meissen were wide and tall. It sure would be hard to chop these down,said the hunters, who also worked as lumberjacks.

    Was that so? Ernst had thought that it would be better if the trees were large, but it seemed that it wasn¡¯t good if they were too large.

    Moreover, it was even difficult to find trees for firewood.

    When Ernst asked why that was, the hunters answered that there wasn¡¯t any deadwood in this forest. Along with that, last night, they had only found enough firewood to fuel a fire for one night despite how long they had searched.

    Something moved between the trees. The hunters¡¯ feet stopped. They covered Ernst, who stood at the back, and gazed into the depths of the forest.

    It was a deer.

    Even to Ernst¡¯s eyes, the sight of this deer with its enormous horns was eyecatching. They stared at this outstanding deer. It was incredibly large. The hunters let out murmurs of amazement. Though where they were bordered Lux Kingdom to the north, it also bordered Grude to the east, so the animals were quite large, weren¡¯t they? the hunters said.

    A map of Meissen¡¯s territory drifted through Ernst¡¯s head.

    Certainly, if you kept walking east, you would reach the land of Grude. There, you would find Grude Country, a land which existed solely for the purpose of trade. Grude Country was located in the approximate center of the Grude continent, and it was said that the rest of the land was filled with dry rocks and reddish soil.

    That large man of the bathing chamber belonged to one of the four races which lived in Grude, the Dunberts. All four of the races of Grude shared enormous and sturdy physiques. The animals which dwelled there were also larger than could ever be imagined in the Schell continent.

    The deer had stared fixedly in their direction, then turned its body and leapt away.

    If we¡¯d brought that deer down, it would¡¯ve made for a fine meal, the youngest hunter said. With that size, it would¡¯ve been a pain, the eldest hunter replied.

    When Ernst asked why, the hunter explained that it was too big to be brought down by the arrows used in Schell. Then why not use a knife or hatchet? Ernst once again asked. Even if they did, with a beast that big, it was impossible to even get close to it, the hunter explained, then shook his head as if trying to let go of his own reluctance.

    In the distance, they heard the sorrowful cry of a wolf. Even those wolves wouldn¡¯t be able to bring down that deer, the hunters muttered, showing a trace of sympathy.

    The forest wasn¡¯t withered of life. Yet what abounded within it was the frustrating feeling of being unable to grasp that which was right before your eyes.

    The village was bleak and desolate. The welcoming reception from the manor consisted of solely one butler.

    The villagers who unsteadily crept out from their dilapidated shacks all wore clothing that looked rough and chafing. Even though the people of Schell continent were strong against the cold, they still wouldn¡¯t walk around like that in a place like this. They were thin and emaciated, and their limbs looked like sticks.

    Ernst had unconsciously frozen still. One of the hunters softly pushed his back. Ernst suddenly remembered to walk, and he went to thank the butler who had come to greet him.

    Well then, the hunters said, about to leave. Ernst hurriedly rushed to hold them back a bit. He expressed his thanks to them, and for the first time in his life, he lowered his head and bowed.

    Though the hunters, the butler, and the villagers were stunned, Ernst¡¯s bow had come naturally. The hunters had brought him through such an arduous journey; just bowing his head once wasn¡¯t enough of a sacrifice to pay them back for everything.

    He raised his head and saw the faces of the hunters. He looked at each and every one of their faces, wanting to carve into his mind the memory of what they looked like, and then he shook the hand of each of them to say goodbye.

    They had bulky, rough-skinned hands, those warm hunters.

 Chapter 11

    The distance between the village at Meissen¡¯s outskirts where Ernst had parted with the hunters and the manor of the feudal lord took about half a day¡¯s worth of travel via carriage. When he compared it to the smallness of the royal capital¡¯s territory, Ernst understood just how vast Meissen was.

    Ernst stopped the butler who wanted to hurry and bring him to the mansion, saying that he wanted to take his time to look around. Though it would be impossible to check out everything, Ernst wanted to at least view the villages scattered along the way to the mansion.

    To begin with, Ernst asked who was the head of this village. The person the villagers all glanced at came forward; he was an old man whose legs were so unsteady, it wasn¡¯t certain whether he could walk on his own. Was this kind of person really fit for the job? Ernst furrowed his eyebrows.

    When he looked it over carefully, he couldn¡¯t find any men who looked like strong workers or breadwinners in this village. There were old men, women, and strangely enough, many children.

    Where did the fathers of these children go? In response to Ernst¡¯s question, the village head pointed to several of the villagers and said, ¡°All of them have Kleber¡¯s disease, sir.¡±

    This was the first time Ernst had ever seen someone else who had Kleber¡¯s disease.

    There were very few people who developed it in the royal capital. They lived in the lower city surrounding the capital.

    But more frequently, in poverty-stricken lands far from the capital, such as Meissen, one would find many people with Kleber¡¯s disease.

    There hadn¡¯t been enough time before Ernst¡¯s departure, so while riding his carriage out of Rintz, he had read some information that he had hastily sent for. In Rintz Kingdom, the average rate of occurrence of Kleber¡¯s disease was 1 in 100. Yet in Meissen, that rate became 1 in 20.

    Though they had Kleber¡¯s disease, not everyone was like Ernst, who was unable to sire children. Rather, it was considered unusual to be like Ernst, who was entirely a child.

    Ernst once again looked over the villagers. These were people who were said to have Kleber¡¯s disease. In this village, the rate of occurrence of Kleber¡¯s disease was 1 in 10, no, 1 in 5, wasn¡¯t it.

    A sudden thought occurred to him, and Ernst asked the village head for his age. This year he had turned 147, he answered. These words stunned Ernst.

    The average lifespan in the Schell continent was 200 years. Rintz Kingdom was comprised primarily of Kleber people who were, of course, one of the races of Schell, so their average life expectancy was 200 years. No matter how Ernst looked at him, the old man in front of him seemed like he should be somewhere from 190 to 200 years old.

    Normally, a 147-year old should still be good to work, and their lower half should still be more than strong. So why did he look like this? Did he have some other disease?

    Feeling like the questions in his mind had gone unanswered, Ernst unwillingly moved on to the next village. This village was in the same state. There were many people with Kleber¡¯s disease, and there were only elderly villagers with not a single person in their prime.

    Nothing changed in the next village, either.

    When the mansion was in sight, Ernst asked the butler what the average lifespan in Meissen was. The butler only shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t need an exact number ¨C how old?¡± Ernst asked again, but the butler just tilted his head away.

    Why does he have to keep shaking his head so much, Ernst thought, a doubtful feeling rising within him. The butler trembled nervously as he asked a question. What is an ¡®average lifespan¡¯, he asked.

    Ernst was stunned in disbelief. It couldn¡¯t be that a butler who worked at the manor wouldn¡¯t even know something like this. Then, he suddenly recalled something.

    When comparing the countries in Schell continent, including the Luxe and Silus Kingdoms, the literacy rate of the Rintz Kingdom was clearly lower than the other two. The disparity between classes was clear; along with the nobles and wealthy merchants, only 1 in 5 people among the commoners was able to read.

    But in Meissen, this rate was possibly even lower. A butler who served the manor shouldn¡¯t possibly be unable to read, but his behavior roused Ernst¡¯s suspicions.

    The materials that Ernst had hastily gathered only briefly listed some details regarding the neighboring Lux and Grude territories.

    For 100 years, no one had ruled this land. Ernst watched the scenery from the window of the carriage.

    The bright red sunset illuminated the distant reaches of the snowfield.

 Chapter 12

    By the time Ernst arrived, the mansion was shrouded in darkness. In Meissen, which was located in the north of Rintz, night fell quickly.

    Noticing the sounds, a middle-aged man exited the manor. At first glance, Ernst thought he was the head butler, but upon seeing the careless way the man carried himself, he began to have doubts.

    The man greeted him whilst biting his own tongue. He really was the head butler.

    But, this¡­

    Ernst felt a touch of anxiety. After a hundred years passed without a Lord to rule it, it seemed that Meissen had lost all of its ways. Before Ernst came here, were these people the same as the rest of the population, living their lives by plowing fields and hunting?

    Among the territories in Rintz Kingdom, Ernst didn¡¯t know of any territory that was considered worse than Meissen. Ernst would be spending his whole life as the lord of this land. Thankfully, Ernst had been given a lot of time. He would be able to work on this slowly, he thought

    Though the curtain of darkness had fallen quickly, the night was still young. But after Ernst finished eating what was considered a full meal to them, he was encouraged to immediately head to bed. Though it had been a long journey, and he was certainly tired, was he supposed to go to sleep without taking a bath? Ernst was puzzled as he thought this, but when he told them that he wanted to take a bath, they looked back at him with perplexed expressions.

    The royal palace did as the royal palace did, the villa did as the villa did, and Meissen did as Meissen did. Ernst paid respect to the way they did things and went to bed early.

    That day, the sense of relief he had from safely reaching the mansion pulled him into a dreamless sleep.

    The next morning, he woke early. Apparently, ¡®early to bed, early to rise¡¯ was a rule. There was no fire in the hearth, and Ernst shivered in the cold as he changed his clothes. Perhaps there was also a rule that the fires would only be lit in the fireplaces when it became night.

    At the dining table, he ate a simple meal. Thin soup and hard bread. There wasn¡¯t a single piece of fruit or a sip of tea. He drank hot water.

    Once he¡¯d settled in, Ernst met with the servants of the manor face-to-face. There were two butlers and three maids, and there was also one cook. As well, there was only the single head butler. There were less servants here than at the villa he¡¯d stayed in temporarily.

    Meissen was a remote region ¨C or rather, a border region. Though the three Schell countries were friendly on the surface, they were by no means neighbors who would always trust each other.

    Meissen was, at the moment, the front line against Lux Kingdom should they ever come to war. Naturally, it should have a militia within.

    So was this supposed to be that militia? Ernst felt out of his mind as he looked down at himself. They were the same as all of the villagers he had seen yesterday ¨C shabby and thin men who stood around aimlessly. Would those people be able to fight; would they be able to win against an enemy? In the first place, would they even be able to wield a sword?

    Ernst went to talk with the man who was considered the commanding officer. He was a man with arrogant eyes. He had a good physique for a Kleber. This man seemed to be the only soldier here. Yet, he carried a kind of atmosphere which said that in the event of an emergency, he would go anywhere.

    Ernst gathered the militia in the much-too-small inner courtyard of the mansion. There were also people hidden by the walls of the residence. Hiding his inner dismay, Ernst slowly walked through the mansion, looking at and memorizing each face. He made his way to the back, and just as he turned around, his feet stopped.

    Capturing the gazes of the militia men still hidden by the walls of the manor, Ernst¡¯s thin legs froze.

 Chapter 13

    Maybe it was another rule that in Meissen, all three meals consisted of the same thing. In the morning and at noon it was always the same soup as ever, and dinner was soft baked bread.

    The same as last night, the head butler glanced at Ernst as if telling him to ¡®Quickly go to bed¡¯, so Ernst found himself in front of the hearth in his own room.

    Letting out a sigh of relief at the warm fire, Ernst sat in a chair. The candle they had given him was short. Was this to tell him to go to bed before the candle went out?

    Snow blanketed the earth; the night was quiet. Ernst wondered if everyone in the manor was asleep. He had thought that normally, if the lord of the manor was awake, then all of the servants would also stay awake, but it seemed that things were different here.

    First, he should try to follow the way the people of Meissen did things, Ernst thought.

    Ernst heard the sound of a hesitant knock at his door.

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    Easily pushing open the heavy door, an enormous man nervously entered the room. Ernst silently pointed toward the one other chair in front of the fireplace.

    Looking up at Ernst from his lowered face, the man sat in the chair. His large body was unable to fit in it, so he sat with his buttocks hovering over the seat, his body squeezed to take up less space.

    But of course, it wasn¡¯t the chair¡¯s fault.

    ¡°If I¡¯m not remembering wrong, I know you.¡±

    Ernst glanced at the large man from the side of his eyes. The man¡¯s large body flinched.

    ¡°Hmm. So it seems like you¡¯re the one I was thinking of, after all.¡±

    That large body grew stiffer and stiffer.

    ¡°Well then¡­ for what reason did you come here?¡±

    The man nervously opened his mouth.

    ¡°I, had come here to join the militia.¡±

    ¡°Since that was where I found you, that seems obvious enough. What I am asking is why are you, who had been serving the bathhouse of the crown prince, now here, in Meissen, as a member of the militia. Surely this can¡¯t just be chalked up to coincidence.¡±

    The sight of those large hands tightening on themselves caught Ernst¡¯s attention from the corner of his eyes.

    The large man currently cowering before Ernst was that very same manservant who had served in the bathing chamber. He was a person of the courageous Grude race, the Dunberts. It was hard to believe that this figure who was so tense under Ernst¡¯s questioning was supposed to be of such fearless character.

    ¡°It¡­ isn¡¯t a coincidence. I heard that Lord Ernst was to become the Lord of Meissen, so just a short time before that happened, I entered Meissen and joined its militia.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Why?¡±

    Those who desired to govern the kingdom, or otherwise those who desired power and authority, would no doubt cling to their social status. Ernst didn¡¯t know which he was, but it seemed that he himself was an obstacle, he thought. When Ernst thought over his situation, it was easy to guess that somewhere out there, someone was trying to ostracize him.

    So it seemed like this large man hadn¡¯t come here to kill him, Ernst guessed. After all, there was no way an assassin would stand out this much. This overly large body wouldn¡¯t be able to hide anywhere.

    In that case, what was he doing for him to be in a place like this? In Ernst¡¯s chest, a single light flickered to life.

    He turned his delicate body slightly towards the large man, waiting for the Dunbertian¡¯s words.

    ¡°I¡­ wished to serve Lord Ernst.¡±

    With his head lowered, the words this large man whispered made Ernst feel a swooping sensation.

    In that palace, in that cold palace where Ernst had not formed a single connection to another person, there was someone who had missed and yearned for him.

    Of his own free will, he had chosen to follow Ernst even in the face of the dangerous forest and steep cliff faces that Ernst had crossed.

    ¡°I see! I see!¡±

    Overturning his chair in his haste to stand, Ernst grabbed the large man¡¯s hand. It was a warm, faithful hand.

    ¡°I had never before had someone that I wanted to praise and commend. As I am now, I¡¯m unable to even give appropriate recompense to those who are willing to serve me. Even knowing that, you still willingly chose to serve me; how magnificent you are!¡±

    The large man raised his head. For some reason, his reddish-brown eyes held some distress.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, that¡¯s not it. I, I¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it? Did I get something wrong? Is it that I misunderstood something, somewhere. You did say that you wished to serve me now, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    The swelling delight within Ernst deflated.

    ¡°That¡¯s not it! I do wish to serve Lord Ernst. If it is for Lord Ernst¡¯s sake, then I am even willing to throw my life away!¡±

    His large hand grasped Ernst¡¯s and squeezed. His grip was tight and powerful.

    ¡°In that case, what did I get wrong¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I adore Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    The large man painfully spit out these words.

    ¡°Adore? So you¡¯re saying there was even a person who was able to adore me¡­ Aah, what an honor that is. For someone to adore even a boring person like me¡­You understand how delighted this makes me¡­?¡±

    Everyone had sought out Ernst¡¯s value as the Crown Prince. There hadn¡¯t been anyone who wanted to follow Ernst when he had lost everything. They each had their own lives, and they lived steadily in the place they had rooted themselves to. Ernst was just an existence that passed by between them. A faint existence.

    Yet this giant man had thrown everything away, and he alone had chased after Ernst. Ernst did not know any joy greater than this.

    ¡°That¡¯s not it! That¡¯s not it!¡­ That¡¯s not it!¡±

    The giant man violently shook his head.

    ¡°Just what, isn¡¯t right¡­¡±

    Pain rose within those reddish-brown eyes as they stared at Ernst. He didn¡¯t know exactly why, but Ernst felt that this man was pitiable.

    ¡°The meaning of my adoration, and Lord Ernst¡¯s adoration¡­ is different. I love Lord Ernst to the bottom of my heart¡­¡±

 Chapter 14

    After the man left, the room had grown cold. Ernst had long since realized that the fire in the hearth had gone out. Shivering from the extreme cold, Ernst curled up his quaking, trembling body within the cold bedding.

    That man, just what did he say¡­

    Even though Ernst had submerged himself in blankets, sleep never came for him.

    Morning eventually came, and Ernst hadn¡¯t even gotten a wink of sleep. Seeing that the candles and firewood had burnt themselves out, the butler turned a condemning glance on Ernst. With his head fuzzy from a lack of sleep, Ernst ate his breakfast, which was the same food as yesterday.

    In his office, Ernst cast his eyes over some of the documents that the head butler had gathered.

    The number of villages in Meissen, the number of towns, their population, demographics, militia count, the resources within the fief, the resources they imported from other territories, the number of livestock, the acreage of farmland, the rate of usage. The relationship with the neighboring Lux Kingdom, the relationship with Grude Continent, the previous Lord¡¯s reign.

    There was no end to the things he had to know, and even if he did learn them all, there was still more to come.

    Yet not a single thing stuck in Ernst¡¯s mind. It wasn¡¯t because of his lack of sleep. Even Ernst knew that.

    Last night, what was that man saying? Ernst had deliberated over the meaning of what that man had told him all through the night.

    Loved him to the bottom of his heart. Loved him. L, o, v, e.

    Ernst now noticed that the concept of ¡®loving a person¡¯ was a gaping wide blank in his understanding.

    After all, he had been the crown prince. For sixty years since his birth, up until a few months ago, he had been the crown prince. This wasn¡¯t an existence where he could frivolously fall in love, and the partner whom Ernst was to love was to be some powerful noble¡¯s daughter, as decided by the leaders of the Kingdom.

    It was an existence where, regardless of Ernst¡¯s wishes, he would have to usher in several people as his consorts. Ernst¡¯s circumstances had nothing to do with falling in love with anyone.

    That was how it was supposed to be. Ernst himself had thought that this was how it should be.

    Falling in love¡­

    What type of feeling was it, to fall in love?

    All throughout the night, he had thought this over.

    Even now, while he was looking through the information on his territory, most of his head was filled with that matter.

    In the royal palace, people were ¡®things¡¯. [1]

    The head butler, the butlers, the maids, and the royal guard, all of them were ¡®things¡¯. They were the same as the desk, same as the chair, same as the walls, same as the pillars. Even if the person were replaced, nothing would change except for the face; it was no different from re-upholstering the back of a chair.

    It was for this reason that Ernst never asked for anyone¡¯s name. He had looked at them the same way he looked at objects. The ambassadors from other countries who had come to visit the royal palace were also ¡®things¡¯. There was no difference between anyone or anything.

    Ernst, who couldn¡¯t discern people from objects, let alone pick out individual people, couldn¡¯t possibly do something like fall in love.

    But, he pondered.

    From now on, he was free. He wasn¡¯t royalty; he was going to live as just any other noble now. Ernst could now choose his own partner to love at his own discretion.

    In that case, he considered.

    Do I fall in love with that man?

    He had never considered something like taking a man as his partner. It couldn¡¯t be helped. He had been royalty, after all. That was something who had to leave behind a child no matter what. That wouldn¡¯t be possible if his partner were a man.

    But from now on, he was free. In the first place, the races of Schell continent lived longer lives than races from other continents, so they didn¡¯t find much worth in having children. Marriage itself involved a painstaking exchange of contracts, and only royalty and nobles bothered to go through with it.

    Love between the common people was more free. Ernst had also witnessed this with his own eyes in those few months he had spent at the villa. There were male companions, female companions, and also lovers for only a few days.

    That¡¯s right, those people had all freely loved, and Ernst had also become just as free as everyone else.

    Freedom, what a great word that was. Ernst looked out the window of his office.

    Here, there was no tall fence to obstruct his view, and he could see the enormous forest spread out over the distance. If Ernst wanted to do so, he could even go and run over to that forest as he pleased.

    Even now, Ernst had never gone running before. Once spring came and the snow melted, he wanted to try running up to that forest. It was an idea that made his heart thump with excitement.

    Aah, no, wait. He had a much more urgent problem to think about than spring.

    That was, ¡®falling in love¡¯.

    What was it that the man had said? Right, he¡¯d said that he wanted to stay by Ernst¡¯s side.

    Ernst had been happy. There was someone who had said to him that they wanted to stay with him.

    Was this what it meant to be in love, he wondered.

    No, that wasn¡¯t right, was it. Ernst recalled his memories of those faces that he would be able to recognize, even now.

    If those three hunters had told him that they wanted to stay with him, he would also be happy. If the villa¡¯s butlers and maids said it, that would also make him happy. This feeling wasn¡¯t how it felt to be in love.

    At some point, it became time for lunch. He blankly ate the same thing he had eaten in the morning.

    He kept thinking it over until his head felt like it was going to burst. He wished he could separate it from the neck up and just leave it somewhere.

    There was nothing he could do cooped up in his office, so he went to take a walk inside the manor. On second glance, it was a shabby mansion. Bare stone walls without any wallpaper spanned the corridors. Here and there, the eaves of the roof were broken, letting some snow blow inside. Couldn¡¯t they fix it? Even though he was inside the mansion, Ernst wore a heavy cloak as he walked.

    Had it always been this lacking, or had it only been dirt before? This shabby mansion¡¯s only benefit was its spaciousness. Even after walking for a long time, Ernst hadn¡¯t come across any butlers or maids working here. It seemed like they had limited the areas where they worked.

    The servants in Meissen were extraordinarily pragmatic, he found.

    A fine, authoritative voice drifted over on the wind. Ernst walked down the corridor, then looked out a window.

    The militiamen were training. No, to be more precise, the stern-eyed commanding officer and that Dunbertian were sparring.

    As expected of the leader of the militia, the officer¡¯s movements looked sharp and fast to Ernst¡¯s eyes. But he wasn¡¯t a match for a natural-born warrior, and the Dunbertian easily sidestepped him.

    Soon after, the other militiamen who had been watching from the sidelines stood, and they turned their swords on the Dunbertian. Though the commanding officer tried to stop them, they didn¡¯t hear his order, and a large number of people dashed forward.

    Without even realizing it, Ernst rushed toward him. All he could think was that even if the man was Dunbertian, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t be hurt when fighting against that many people.

    But then, the way the Dunbertian held himself changed ¨C just as that thought passed through Ernst¡¯s head, the Dunbertian evaded all of the swords pointing toward him, and he stood in the place the militiamen had just left. Some of the militiamen let out sounds of amazement.

    Ernst was so relieved that he carelessly patted his chest and gazed at the man in admiration. That enormous body was capable of making such vivid movements.

    After that, the frustrated militiamen who wanted to fight again, along with the militiamen who thought it would be amusing and pulled out their swords, together formed twelve opponents who faced the Dunbertian. Yet in the end, not a single person was able to land a hit on him.

    Amidst the exhausted Kleber who collapsed to the ground, the Dunbertian alone stood without losing a single breath.

    [1] This hasn¡¯t been apparent in the translation, but all this time, whenever Ernst refers directly to another person (usually his servants), he uses the word Õß (mono) rather than ÈË (hito). Though both words mean ¡®person¡¯, Õß is also a homonym of Îï (mono), which means ¡®thing¡¯. Õß is used mainly in formal situations; it seems to denote a lowered status, so people may use Õß to refer to themselves in order to be polite/humble, while a superior may call others Õß to show they have higher rank. In this particular sentence, Ernst says ¡°ÈË¤Ï¥â¥Î¡± or ¡®[In the royal palace,] People are things¡¯. It¡¯s implied that he now understands that people are living and breathing beings that he can feel connected to. After leaving the royal palace, he has learned that others aren¡¯t ¡®things¡¯, they are ¡®people¡¯.

 Chapter 15

    Ernst thought back to the spectacle he had seen earlier that day. Everyone had good faces. Even though they had been completely defeated, all of the militiamen had laughed with fine expressions. Even that leader of the militia who seemed so hard to deal with had let out booming laughter.

    In the sunset, the Dunbertian had laughed, his face the nicest of all.

    Ernst smiled bitterly, remembering the face the head butler had made when Ernst had asked him to light the fire in his room tonight, too. This manor faced some harsh financial difficulties, it seemed.

    Tomorrow, Ernst should check on the status of the finances, too.

    He gazed at the swaying flames. A quiet and contemplative feeling rose within him.

    There was a quiet knocking at the door. It sounded hesitant, lost, and beaten down.

    ¡°Enter.¡±

    His voice, did it tremble a bit? It seemed like he hadn¡¯t settled himself as much as he thought he had.

    Ernst prompted the man who entered to sit in the chair. The man¡¯s large body rigidly sat upon the seat. Hmm, Ernst should prepare a slightly bigger one for him.

    ¡°I thought over what you told me last night.¡±

    The man flinched, his body trembling in surprise. Where did that bravery from earlier today go, Ernst wondered.

    ¡°To love, and to fall in love with someone. I am unable to understand the notion of it; I don¡¯t know what it entails.¡±

    The man hung his head.

    ¡°I was happy that you followed me here. Yet if the hunters who had shown me the way had come with me, that would also have made me happy.¡±

    Those reddish-brown eyes captivated Ernst. Ernst¡¯s blue eyes gazed into those eyes which flickered with uneasiness.

    ¡°To love someone means to place them above others, is that correct? If that is the case, then inside of me, you would have to have more importance than anyone else? That was what I was pondering over.¡±

    Compared to last night, the candle burnt out much faster than before. A sudden thought popped into his head: they sure prepared a such a tiny one for him, didn¡¯t they.

    ¡°I thought about names.¡±

    ¡°Names¡­?¡±

    The man opened his mouth for the first time.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Names. Before, I didn¡¯t think about people as people. I didn¡¯t realize that each and every person would, of course, have their own name. Yet I didn¡¯t find any problems despite this.¡±

    ¡°¡­There was no helping it. Lord Ernst had been the Crown Prince. All of the beings around Lord Ernst were beings who acted accordingly to even one movement of the Crown Prince¡¯s eyes.¡±

    The man gave a lonely smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. I had never felt like I wanted to know someone¡¯s name, and I also didn¡¯t realize how to ask for someone¡¯s name. That was how I spent my days in that palace. But you were different.¡±

    In this room where all of the candles had been extinguished, the only light came from the fireplace.

    ¡°In that bathing chamber, I had thought to myself ¨C I wanted to know your name.¡±

    The reddish-brown eyes peered at him, the light of the fireplace swaying inside of them. That movement looked like an externalization of the swaying of his heart.

    ¡°I thought about how I wanted to touch your body. And when you touched me, it was as if there were sparks in my body. I thought to myself, I want to know your name.¡±

    The man¡¯s body slightly leaned forward.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t this mean that inside of me, you have a place that is higher than anyone else? ¡­Does this mean that I could be considered to be in love with you?¡±

    When Ernst asked this, the man put on a troubled smile.

    Just like last night, Ernst couldn¡¯t sleep well. That man was special to him, so didn¡¯t that mean there was love there? Unable to find the answer, he felt frustrated.

    If he were in the position that he had been in before, someday, someone would bring someone else over for someone else¡¯s convenience and tell him, ¡®Now, please fall in love.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but think about how very easy that was.

    Yesterday, he had thought that this freedom was incredible, but now he felt tossed around by the increasing choices.

    How pathetic he was, to not be able to make up his mind. Ernst derided himself.

    Even though the duties he had to work on continued to pile up, he had been unable to concentrate on anything ever since this morning.

    That¡¯s right, that was it. Because he had thought that he wanted to know that man¡¯s name in the beginning, he had confused himself into thinking that man was special to him.

    At that time, probably, perhaps, there were a lot of things going on ¨C right ¨C so he had maybe felt disheartened. So he had thought that this servant who had been the only one to continue serving Ernst without changing how he treated him was special to him.

    Aah, so that¡¯s how it was. That man had continued to serve Ernst, who had been deposed as Crown Prince, with unwavering, unchanging loyalty.

    That was why Ernst had felt that he wanted to know his name.

    That¡¯s right, his name. At that thought, a sound escaped Ernst¡¯s small mouth.

    He realized that last night, he had forgotten to ask for that giant man¡¯s name.

    Today, too, he hadn¡¯t been able to concentrate on anything for the entire day. He had spent half the day shut inside his office, and after noon he took a walk, staggering around the manor. His feet had unconsciously brought him to the corridor where he could gaze down upon the militia¡¯s training grounds.

    Reclining absentmindedly on the same windowsill as before, Ernst watched the militia continue their training. The Kleber militia lined up alongside the Dunbertian, as if highlighting the trust they had in him.

    If the Lux Kingdom attacked, would this militia really be able to face off against it?

    For the first time, these fearful words rose within Ernst¡¯s chest.

 Chapter 16

    This was the third night. Ernst had prepared the largest chair in the manor, but it was still too small for that man.

    There was a clear difference between the physique of a Kleber and the physique of a Dunbertian. Even among the Kleber, Ernst, who suffered from a disease, had the unchanging body of a boy. No matter how you looked at it, in this man¡¯s eyes, Ernst could only be a small child.

    Or could it be that this man had a preference for children?

    ¡°You, do you like young children?¡±

    Ernst asked the question that had risen in his mind.

    ¡°I don¡¯t. We men of the Grude Continent have no interest in having family or children.¡±

    ¡°No, not like that. I meant, would you take a child as your romantic partner.¡±

    Once the man understood Ernst¡¯s words, his thick eyebrows knit together, and then, he frantically shook his head.

    ¡°No! No! I would never do such a thing! Until now, the majority of my partners had been Grude women. Ah¡­ of course, they had all been mature women. I would absolutely never, with a child¡­!¡±

    In other words, it seemed he didn¡¯t love Ernst for his small body.

    Ernst¡¯s contemplation deepened.

    No matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible for someone else to come to like him when he was shut inside the royal palace.

    ¡°In the first place, why were you in the bathing chamber of the royal palace?¡±

    For Ernst, who had never been interested in others, this was the only question he could think of.

    ¡°In the beginning, I wanted to become a gatekeeper.¡±

    Aah, that would make sense. Just by standing there, this giant man would make other people hesitate to approach.

    ¡°However, when I went to the interview, there were already many people waiting there.¡±

    ¡°Was being a gatekeeper really such a desirable job?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ All you had to do was stand around and look intimidating, and that was enough.¡±

    The man gave a wry smile.

    ¡°I waited for my turn in that room packed full of people. At that time, I heard someone talking. They said that the palace was also searching for a manservant for the crown prince¡¯s bathing chamber.¡±

    Just when did this story happen? Ernst couldn¡¯t remember at all when his manservant had changed.

    ¡°¡­They said that to closely serve the crown prince was bleak, so there weren¡¯t any candidates. With all due respect, I had also thought this way.¡±

    So Ernst really had been such a bleak, depressing existence.

    ¡°I had gotten tired of waiting, so was looking at the palace garden from the window. It was a perfectly-maintained and vast garden. Unexpectedly, while I was looking out, I saw many people off in the distance. At that time, someone next to me said, ¡®It¡¯s the Crown Prince.¡¯¡±

    The man slowly folded his hands and gazed into the fireplace.

    ¡°The people of Rintz Kingdom around me couldn¡¯t make them out, but as a Dunbertian, my eyes could clearly view those figures. What was strange was that¡­ I didn¡¯t see any of the surrounding retainers. Lord Ernst was the only person who stood out to my eyes.¡±

    Ernst looked at the man¡¯s face.

    ¡°In that moment, everything changed. My pride as a Dunbertian, my way of life up until now, everything in the world faded away¡­ Only one thing remained. That was, my desire to be by that figure¡¯s side.¡±

    Those reddish-brown eyes captured Ernst. They held a powerful light that he couldn¡¯t turn away from.

    ¡°My heart has not changed at all since that day. Even now, I am still bound by you.¡±

 Chapter 17

    In the end, he wasn¡¯t able to sleep this night, either. The Dunbertian¡¯s strong feelings were heavy.

    Ernst let out a deep sigh. What should he do ¨C was a question that he had lost all of his answers for. He wasn¡¯t able to keep his mind straight.

    Even though the head butler had collected all of the information on the fief for him, Ernst wasn¡¯t able to read one page or even one sentence of it, making the head butler send him contemptuous looks. While Ernst drank his soup, the maids watched and smiled with ridiculingly as he forgot to bring it up to his mouth.

    No decent Lord would be sent off to a remote place like this. Ernst heard them say this.

    But, there wasn¡¯t anything Ernst could have done. Everything about his small body was an embarrassment.

    He had only been taught how to rule. No one had taught him how to relate and connect with other people.

    If Ernst hadn¡¯t fallen in love with him, then should he just say that? But, did he really not love him? He was special to him, after all. No, was he really special? Ernst had just wanted to know his name. Was that really something special, after all?

    ¡­ Just what should he do.

    In times like this, when Ernst thought about what he should do, Ernst lost sight of himself.

    He couldn¡¯t think about anything, and just when he¡¯d had enough of it, his feet would always end up bringing him to that place.

    He stood at his usual spot by the windowsill, blankly watching the militia train.

    His appearance was¡­ Ah, that¡¯s right. His appearance was to Ernst¡¯s taste. Since he himself was small, Ernst liked things that were big. His appearance was very pleasing. Though, perhaps he was a bit too big, Ernst thought.

    Snow fell from the sky, glittering in the light. Winter was still just beginning.

    Even without him having to say anything, the kindling for the fireplace had been prepared. But there was very little. Tomorrow, no matter what, he had to check on the financial state of the fief.

    Ernst looked into the fire of the hearth. There wasn¡¯t anything else to look at. They hadn¡¯t prepared any candles for him. It seemed that the use of candles was precious.

    The man¡¯s large body was seated on the rug in front of the fireplace. No matter how he tried, Ernst couldn¡¯t find a chair which fit this body.

    If he were the Ernst of before, he would have looked down upon sitting on the floor, believing it to be bad manners. But after having sat on the ground in the forest and in the valley, he could only think it was such a trivial thing.

    That large body looked like it was somewhat stiff with tension.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just say it with all honesty.¡±

    His rigid shoulders shook. Ernst felt it was sad how even if he said just one word, the man would react so strongly to it.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t understand what it means to love someone.¡±

    Those reddish-brown eyes looked up at him intently. The head of the man sitting on the rug came up to the same height as Ernst¡¯s shoulders while he sat on a chair. The Dunbertian truly was enormous.

    ¡°Since I had passed my days in that sort of position, I know very little about the feeling of love. Just what sort of emotion is it, to love someone?¡±

    ¡°Since Lord Ernst had been the Crown Prince, I understand that this makes you feel at a loss. Moreover¡­ Lord Ernst is also a person of the Schell continent.¡±

    Ernst looked down at the man.

    ¡°The people of Schell continent are long-lived, and you live twice as long as people like me, who are from Grude¡­ That may be why. Compared to us, you contemplate things much more deeply.¡±

    This was something Ernst had read in his literature. In that case, was what Ernst had been worrying over not a result of him losing his judgment, but a characteristic of the people who came from Schell?

    ¡°Then does that mean you¡¯re faster at coming to a decision since you¡¯re a Dunbertian?¡±

    ¡°Well, that may be it¡­ but, that is more likely a result of how we often put ourselves in battle. We can lose our lives if we judge too slowly in battle. Moreover, since we might die at any time, we become faster at making decisions, I think.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. So that is how it is.¡±

    ¡°That is why, I myself was surprised.¡±

    The man turned his gaze away, and he laughed somewhat shyly.

    ¡°Up until now, whenever the mood was right, I would sate my desires with someone. I did not feel that there was any partner I could not have, and my desires always turned toward the next person. All of the people of Grude were like this; this was normal to us¡­ But this wasn¡¯t how I felt when it came to Lord Ernst. In an instant, you had stolen my heart. No matter how many years had passed until now, these feelings never went away.¡±

 Chapter 18

    In order to better understand the Dunbertian and to ascertain his own feelings, Ernst spoke with the man every night, yet his confusion only grew deeper with each passing day.

    Ten days had passed since he had arrived in Meissen, but he hadn¡¯t read a single document. He himself knew that this was unacceptable.

    There was one night where he tried to chase the Dunbertian out of his head, and didn¡¯t call him to his room.

    But in the end, he had only tormented himself. Even though Ernst had called for him every night, tonight, he hadn¡¯t called for him, so Ernst wondered if that would make the large man feel sad; and tomorrow, when he went to go train, what if he hadn¡¯t been able to sleep and became injured because of it? Thinking about that, Ernst wasn¡¯t able to get a single wink of sleep.

    The next night, after Ernst invited the man again and saw the man¡¯s relieved smile, he came to a decision. He should try to get rid of his worries, he thought.

    In times of trouble, turn to books. Ernst looked through the mansion¡¯s bookshelves.

    The Lords up until now seemed to have been avid readers. There was a large room with only bookshelves in it. Many tall bookshelves which spanned from floor to ceiling stood side-by-side.

    But, because who-knows-how-many Lords had collected them, there was no organization at all.

    There were countless books that Ernst had never seen before. There were things he would never have seen in the royal palace. Vulgar romance novels, and the like.

    If he were the Ernst of old, he might have dubbed them useless and discarded them.

    But for the Ernst of now, he treated them like scriptures.

    For these few days, he went to the archives and indulged himself in reading romance novels. Everyone fell in love incredibly easily. They fell in love at first sight. They fell in love when confessing their feelings, they fell in love after being saved.

    Ernst wasn¡¯t able to understand the feelings of those people who fell in love after only a few lines.

    Once he was tired of reading, he left the room.

    Ernst stopped all of his useless struggling. Like when he concentrated on his documents, none of their contents entered his head, either.

    Three days had passed since he had last entered his office.

    In the afternoon, he gazed out the window of the corridor. The militia¡¯s training always took place in the afternoon.

    They seemed to be growing tougher and manlier with each day. It seemed that the current commanding officer had taken up his post earlier this summer.

    Though the captain had his peculiarities, he surprisingly took great care with them. When newcomers joined the militia, he gave them moderate training tasks.

    But in the end, the biggest presence was that of the Dunbertian. Whether they had the drive or not, everyone gathered together to fight him. No matter how many opponents he faced, and no matter how long the battles were, he was never winded. How nice it must be, to be able to move one¡¯s body so splendidly.

    Leaning against the windowsill, Ernst sighed.

    It was difficult for the people of the Schell race to build muscle. It wasn¡¯t as difficult for them as it was for the people of the Sout continent, but no matter how much they trained, they were no match for the Grude races or the people of the Sistica continent.

    Among the Kleber, there was no hope to gain muscle for those whose bodies stopped growing after childhood due to Kleber¡¯s disease.

    Ernst looked down toward that muscular body that he would never be able to obtain. A smile drifted over the face of that man, whose breath had never once been thrown into disarray.

    Ernst noticed that lately, he had grown fond of seeing that man¡¯s smiling face. The way he looked when he smiled, not exaggerated but instead quiet and serene, was something Ernst liked.

    Unusually, the captain of the militia approached the man.

    It seemed like those two shared this role. The captain trained the newcomers, while the Dunbertian trained the others.

    The captain had a large body for a Kleber. His head reached up to around the height of the Dunbertian¡¯s shoulders. Ernst couldn¡¯t hear what they were talking about from his position, but the two of them were smiling.

    Thumping a hand on the captain¡¯s shoulder, the Dunbertian laughed with a loud voice.

 Chapter 19

    The flames of the fireplace flickered as they swayed. It was as if they reflected the disarray in Ernst¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­ is something the matter?¡±

    The man¡¯s deep voice sounded directly against Ernst¡¯s ears. It¡¯s nothing, Ernst said breezily, rubbing his head against the man¡¯s warm chest.

    ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡±

    He didn¡¯t feel well, and his mood wasn¡¯t any better. But, as expected, he couldn¡¯t say those words.

    In Ernst¡¯s mind, the scene he had witnessed that afternoon filled his mind. The image of the man as he laughed aloud. That large hand patting the captain¡¯s back.

    So he could laugh like that. He had never laughed like that in front of Ernst.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    The man¡¯s confused voice fell from above. Disregarding it, Ernst clung to the man¡¯s clothes, rubbing the tip of his nose against them as he tried his best to breathe in the man¡¯s scent.

    He no longer remembered how many nights had passed. Remembering how comfortable the man had looked sitting on the rug, Ernst had also stopped sitting in his chair.

    They had sat side-by-side in front of the fireplace and chatted. But before long, he felt like he wanted to held and supported as he sat, so he brought himself over to the man. Currently, he was seated atop the man¡¯s firm and toned thighs.

    The man¡¯s scent was similar to the forest Ernst had traveled through before. When he breathed it in, an indescribable peace of mind came over him.

    ¡°¡­How did you spend time with the partners you¡¯d had until now?¡±

    Ernst asked about the thing that he had constantly worried over. Though they passed time together neutrally, the man could also overflow with joy like what he showed to the captain, couldn¡¯t he?

    ¡°How did I¡­¡±

    He muttered, bewildered. Before long, his large hands soothed Ernst¡¯s small back.

    No matter how close Ernst came to him, the man became rigid, not moving even a single finger. Last night, finally, he timidly touched Ernst¡¯s back.

    The man¡¯s fingers really left behind such a pleasant feeling.

    ¡°What is appropriate for me to let Lord Ernst hear is¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, so just tell me.¡±

    He was unable to hide how sullen his voice was, so it became half an order.

    ¡°In general, we would be in a bar. We would sit next to each other and talk, and if we both agreed to it, then¡­¡±

    ¡°Then?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ well¡­ then, we would go to an inn¡­¡±

    ¡°So you would go there, and then do what?¡±

    Ernst tried to hurry along the man¡¯s stumbling, reluctant story.

    ¡°What we did at the inn, is¡­. Um, well, you know. We, did that.¡±

    The man rushed his words.

    ¡°What? What is that? What were you doing?¡±

    Ernst raised his head, peering up at the man¡¯s face. When he got closer, the gentle scent of grass drifted from the nape of the man¡¯s neck. It was the scent of spring.

    ¡°What¡­ that, refers to, it¡¯s¡­ we, copulated.¡±

    The man said this, turning his face the complete other way.

    Translator¡¯s Note

    Can I just say that I had to hold back my screams/laughter at how the man was trying so hard to not say anything vulgar to Ernst that he used the frickin scientific term for mating to explain his one night stands

 Chapter 20

    Copulation was¡­ So in other words, they had copulated.

    Ernst once again couldn¡¯t get a wink of sleep. Even though lately he had been able to sleep very well. The man¡¯s words from last night reverberated in his head.

    Men, as men, as adult men, with adult bodies, would copulate. After such a long time, Ernst became newly aware of this again.

    The man said that for Grude people, if they both agreed to it, they would sate their desires with each other, didn¡¯t he. Weren¡¯t men also said to be like this? Why didn¡¯t he realize that at the time?

    Ernst went back to the library. Just what exactly was this ¡®copulation¡¯ that the man talked about, Ernst wanted to know.

    The knowledge he¡¯d acquired from the royal palace was useless. Ernst had been taught a few lessons about bedroom procedures. But, he was fairly certain that this wasn¡¯t the intimacy that the rest of the world understood.

    The lecturer had told him this:

    So that his groin would become erect, the chamberlain would stroke it. It was best if Ernst stretched out on the bed and faced the ceiling.

    After that was done, the noble lady would graciously seat herself over Ernst¡¯s groin.

    Now that Ernst knew the ways of the world, he wasn¡¯t naive enough to believe that was all there was. Besides, that man wasn¡¯t a noble lady.

    His feet stopped, striking the ground with a fwap.

    That¡¯s right, he was a man, and Ernst was a man, too. How was it supposed to work between two men? It wouldn¡¯t do for him to not even know that.

    Ernst guessed that somewhere in this collection of books was one that held what he wanted to find out.

    Romances seemed to be what the Lord from three generations ago preferred. However, they were the so-called ¡®pure love¡¯ stories. Those books that were like what a pure and innocent girl would like to read were utterly useless to him. Even though paper was so precious, someone had actually written down such worthless things.

    Ernst went to the back of the library. These were what his predecessor had collected.

    This person seemed to have been quite the hobbyist. Expert manuals on every topic were lined up. There wasn¡¯t any organization here, either. Had he been interested in learning everything and anything, only to lose interest halfway and leave it unfinished?

    Ernst peered at the spines of the books. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for this predecessor of his to have at least one book on bedroom techniques.

    Ernst checked over many books, his hands shaking, until his fingers paused over a single book.

    There was something off about this book¡¯s spine.

    Even though it was gorgeously decorated, the spine gave way a little bit under the pressure of his fingers. The binding was poor compared to its ornamentation.

    When he curiously pulled the book out, another book fell to the floor.

    Ernst looked between the book in his hand and the book that had fallen.

    It seemed like someone had taken the cover off of another book and used it to cover the fallen book. Ernst picked up the book on the ground and checked its cover.

    ¡°The Beastly You¡±

    Ernst¡¯s blue eyes stared at these words. He silently looked at the bookshelf, then grabbed the next book over.

    Another book fell out with a thump.

    The same for the next, the next, the next, and the next¡­

    By the time twelve books had fallen on the ground, Ernst felt weak and had to sit.

    ¡°Steamy Entanglement¡± ¡°The Night of the Beasts¡± ¡°Relations between the Three of Us¡± ¡°Satisfy Me¡±

    Even Ernst, who had been estranged from society, knew what sort of books these were.

    Ernst slightly teared up over his predecessor¡¯s truly broad hobbies as he picked up one of the books. In any case, it should have the thing he was searching for.

    And also, he thought, looking up at the bookcase.

    There were still suspicious-looking book covers scattered around its shelves.

    Ernst cringed every time he flipped a page, and whenever a drawing appeared, he shut his eyes. He had somehow finished one book, only to fall over on his hands and knees when he got to the second one.

    The stimulation was far too strong.

    He returned the books to their shelves and put everything back in place. The library didn¡¯t seem to be cleaned often. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine that the successive Lords had ordered their servants to not approach the library, or the bookshelves.

 Chapter 21

    While staring into the fire of the fireplace, Ernst rested his cheek upon the man¡¯s warm chest. He had curled his hands around the man¡¯s strong back, gripping his clothes. As a member of the militia, his clothes were made of thick, tough cotton.

    Ernst looked up at the man intently. Thick eyebrows, reddish-brown eyes which reflected a strong light, a surprisingly fine-boned nose, and a large, serene mouth.

    He stared, fixed upon this masculine man¡¯s face. This man had done the same things as what was written in those books, hadn¡¯t he. These thick arms which were now supporting Ernst¡¯s back, did they make someone disheveled like in those books?

    Seated atop the man¡¯s solid thighs, Ernst gently moved his rear. He felt the man¡¯s foot on his inner thigh.

    The tips of his toes shivered with sparks.

    ¡°Lord Ernst?¡±

    The man looked over to try and see what had happened.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±

    Ernst answered bluntly while shaking his head, making those reddish-brown eyes look a bit wounded.

    He hurriedly pushed his body closer. As if trying to say that nothing had really happened, he stroked his hand down that warm chest.

    That warm chest was covered in hard muscle.

    Ernst wanted to tear off its cloth and look at the man¡¯s skin.

    ¡°Have you ever¡­ taken a man as a partner?¡±

    Ernst asked, murmuring each word haltingly. Although he¡¯d only looked at the books briefly, all of them had been about the relations between men and women. Ernst didn¡¯t have a hole like those women did.

    This man had said that he loved Ernst. Supposedly, before, he would do those such things with anyone who agreed to do them with him.

    Would he want to do those same things with Ernst, whom he said he loved?

    ¡°I have not.¡±

    The man shook his head. Ernst felt a sharp prick of pain in his chest. Since this man had never had a male partner before, was it really certain that when he said he loved Ernst, he hadn¡¯t mistaken something?

    Ernst tightly gripped the man¡¯s clothes and breathed in the man¡¯s scent. He wasn¡¯t able to sleep well anymore without this man¡¯s scent.

    He had looked for books about relations between men. Though that man had said that he truly felt that way for Ernst, Ernst felt that it wasn¡¯t good if he himself didn¡¯t know how things were done.

    He had grabbed book after book. Each time, Ernst¡¯s hopes had been beaten down.

    All of them were about intercourse between man and woman. All of the men inside these books looked at women, thought about women, and grew erect for them. After they met, they exchanged a conversation that lasted for a single page, and then they were doing it. It was as that man had said.

    Was that what it looked like normally, Ernst wondered. In that case, it might be that even if the man said he loved Ernst, the man¡¯s own body might not believe him.

    Ernst had impatiently recalled this when he hurried down the hall. Below, the militia had been training. That man had also been there. A manly body with rippling muscles. His masculine facial features sometimes took on an earnest look.

    Ernst¡¯s heart pounded with a thump.

    In front of the fireplace, Ernst clung to the man¡¯s neck. More than usual, a nice scent drifted from the nape of the man¡¯s neck.

    ¡°You have a nice scent. Are all of the Dunbertians like this?¡±

    It was the same scent as young grass in spring.

    ¡°Do you think so? I have been told that to other races, we smelled like beasts¡­¡±

    The man laughed from deep in his throat. Because of how intimate their bodies were, the low sound reverberated through Ernst, making his fingertips tremble.

    ¡°In my opinion, Lord Ernst¡¯s scent is more pleasant.¡±

    Ernst instantly raised his head to look up at him. Perched upon the man¡¯s thighs, Ernst found that his eyes reached around the man¡¯s chin.

    ¡°It¡¯s a fresh, fruit-like scent.¡±

    The man brought the tip of his nose to the back of Ernst¡¯s neck. His breath was ticklish, and Ernst laughed.

    ¡°¡­If I might be permitted to comment, I believe our bodily fluids might be highly compatible.¡±

    Once he said this, his hot tongue slowly traced the line of Ernst¡¯s clavicle.

 Chapter 22

    A person with compatible bodily fluids.

    Just what in the world was that supposed to mean? [1]

    The next day, Ernst once again returned to the library. The head butler threw significant glances at Ernst, who secluded himself in the library every day. It seemed like he knew what was contained within the library.

    Ernst disregarded the head butler¡¯s glance with a single cough. He opened the door to the library.

    The pleasant smell of paper wafted over and enveloped him. The overwhelming majority of books were treasure troves of knowledge. They had comforted and guided Ernst ever since he had been young.

    Ernst went to browse the book spines. He wanted to verify the words that the man had murmured.

    First, he drew out a dictionary.

    The dictionary contained here was thin and not very likely to be useful, but it might also shine a faint light that could lead the way.

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    Those words fell from Ernst¡¯s mouth without him meaning to say them.

    A person with compatible bodily fluids.

    Partners of different races whose bodily fluids are perfectly compatible with each other. The probability of a person with compatible bodily fluids being born is one in a million, and the probability of being able to encounter throughout an entire lifetime is one in several tens of millions ¨C was what the dictionary said.

    It was something that was so extremely rare that it was uncertain whether it actually existed. Just what kind of circumstances signified that one¡¯s bodily fluids were perfectly compatible? Ernst wanted to find this out, but the dictionary didn¡¯t go into further detail.

    Ernst stared at the bookshelf, then let out a breath and reached for the suspicious book spine. He wasn¡¯t very sure, but the answer was probably written somewhere inside here.

    After a large amount of books once again fell to the ground, Ernst glanced inside one of them.

    ¡°Drowning in Your Fountain¡± [2]

    So, they drowned in a fountain. They drowned in a fountain, so just what were they doing. Working hard to maintain his composure, Ernst let out a curse at this book.

    He took a deep breath and opened the book.

    He had¡­ found the answer. That is, if what was written in the book was correct.

    People with bodily fluid compatibility were, in sum, like what was written in the dictionary. The sweat, saliva, blood, and also semen of both parties all felt desirable to the other. Their sweat, the way they tasted ¨C all of it matched the other person¡¯s preferences.

    The man had said that he had been told that he smelled like an animal. Ernst couldn¡¯t believe it. The odor of the man¡¯s body was always the scent of a forest overflowing with life. It was the scent of fresh grass in the spring. It was flowers just beginning to bloom, the warm scent of life.

    Just as always, Ernst sat on the man¡¯s lap in front of the fireplace. Ernst brought his nose to the nape of the man¡¯s thick neck, filled his chest with the man¡¯s scent, and lapped at him with his tongue the same way the man did to him last night. A fresh and vibrant taste spread out over his tongue.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­!¡±

    Though Ernst heard the man¡¯s flustered voice, he ignored it and continued.

    ¡°I understand what you meant when you mentioned our bodily fluid compatibility. Have you ever encountered a person like this before?¡±

    Ernst settled his hips on the man¡¯s thick thighs and looked up at him.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t. Something like bodily fluid compatibility is¡­ how do I say this, it¡¯s, half a legend in that sort of world.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, that sort of world?¡±

    ¡°In other words, that is, um, the kind of shop where you could buy a woman, or a man.¡±

    Ernst knew that there were stores such as this. They showed up in the books.

    ¡°¡­Have you purchased from there, too?¡±

    Ernst himself was self-conscious over how insecure his eyes became.

    ¡°Uh, um¡­ Well, that is¡­ when there weren¡¯t any other options¡­¡±

    After staring intensely at him for a long time, Ernst dropped his gaze. He gripped the man¡¯s clothes with both of his hands.

    So, just like those men that had appeared in those books, there were times where he had bought a woman. So, he also had feverish nights where he couldn¡¯t help but have to purchase someone in order to let it out.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­?¡±

    Ernst, who had sunk into silence, heard the man¡¯s questioning voice. For the first time, Ernst felt irritated with this man who didn¡¯t understand Ernst¡¯s feelings.

    [1] Google translated this line as ¡°What the hell is that?¡±, which was my exact reaction to reading ¡®bodily fluid compatibility¡¯.

    [2] These scandalous book titles are all innuendo. This book¡¯s title is ¡ºÄç¤ì¤ëÈª¡»(Oboreru Izumi), and the word Äç¤ì¤ë (oboreru) can mean both ¡®to drown in¡¯ and ¡®to indulge in¡¯. Ernst, obviously, thinks it¡¯s about drowning.

 Chapter 23

    Was this really so rare that it was considered legendary? In every book¡¯s setting, these pairs always met without fail. Rather than it being rare like in reality, it seemed nearly impossible to not meet.

    Ernst absentmindedly looked down toward the man. Today might have been a warmer day since he had taken off his thick coat while he trained.

    It would be nice if he really did have compatible bodily fluids with that man.

    He pressed his cheek to the window. Lately, whenever he thought about that man, his body became hot. The cold stone around the window felt good.

    The captain told him something, and the man vigorously pulled off his clothes.

    The militia troops cheered loudly at the man¡¯s reveal of his nude upper body, muscular and masculine. Sweat flowed down the raised muscles of his chest and over his tight and compact abdominal muscles, making them glitter in the sunlight. As if admiring him, the captain smacked the man¡¯s abs with his fist.

    When Ernst saw that sight, a dark and muddy emotion swirled deep inside his stomach.

    He would bring his mouth toward that man¡¯s chest. Touch that hard fabric with his lips. I want to touch his body, he thought, a scathing and bitter feeling rising inside him. Even though the man touched those soldiers with those hands, why did he never touch Ernst with them. For some reason, Ernst¡¯s small body felt like it was doused with dark emotions.

    ¡°Lord Ernst?¡±

    This man always met Ernst with an unobtrusive voice, a quiet demeanor.

    Weren¡¯t the Grudes supposed to be the kind of people who would do it immediately after they met. Ernst didn¡¯t know since when this man had served in his bathing chamber, but the man had been able to keep himself from touching Ernst for however many years. Was he really a person of Grude, this Dunbertian.

    Or did it mean that he actually, in reality, didn¡¯t really love Ernst, after all.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­?¡±

    At the man¡¯s inquisitive voice, Ernst raised his head. He peered into those reddish-brown eyes, then raised his body and stuck his mouth on the man¡¯s warm lips. When that giant body grew stiff and unmoving, Ernst let go of his mouth and looked at the man¡¯s bewildered and masculine face from up close.

    ¡°I am a man. How can someone like you, who had only ever had women as your partners, say that you fell in love with me, a man? Are you sure that you have actually fallen in love with me?¡±

    Ernst whispered. They were close enough to feel each other¡¯s breath. As if trying to conceal the anxiety in his heart, Ernst tightly clutched the man¡¯s large shoulder with this slender fingertips.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Those perplexed and wavering reddish-brown eyes gazed straightforwardly at Ernst. The power of his gaze pierced through Ernst¡¯s blue eyes.

    ¡°It has nothing to do with whether you were a man or a woman. No matter which Lord Ernst was, no matter what you looked like, I would have fallen in love with you. Lord Ernst is the first person that my heart has ever loved. And¡­ the last person, as well.¡±

    His muscular arms embraced Ernst, and his hot breath covered Ernst¡¯s lips.

    Ernst had felt intoxicated by the man¡¯s tongue. Last night, Ernst had slept with his heart feeling like cotton. That fluffy sensation that had made him feel like he was floating persisted even now.

    This was, a person with compatible bodily fluids, was it.

    Even so¡­

    Ernst finally arrived at a single thought.

    It had nothing to do with being a man or a woman.

    That¡¯s right, it already didn¡¯t matter at all to Ernst. Being a man or a woman didn¡¯t matter. Having compatible bodily fluids didn¡¯t matter.

    Because he had fallen in love with that man.

    Ernst¡¯s feet once again brought him to the library. Now that his situation had come this far, there was another problem on his hands, so he had to turn to some other place for the answers. He still hadn¡¯t yet found a guide for what he wanted to do. In other words, how two men were supposed to do it.

    That man had said that he had never taken partners other than women. Ernst was a man, so he didn¡¯t fit. But since the man loved him, that would make him want him.

    Ernst looked for everything which had a suspicious book binding. All of the things he pulled out were about men and women. Or beasts.

    Ernst felt like he was withering away. Of all of the vast numbers of books he could have chosen from, how did this book end up in his hand. And what in the world was the previous lord thinking when he collected it? Did he read this?

    Ernst thought back to the corridor which housed the portraits of the previous lords. Which one of those faces was the lord who was reading about animals and people doing it, he wondered.

    Exhausted, Ernst pulled out another book with his thin fingers.

    Aah, there it was.

    Ernst¡¯s eyes had grown more discerning as of late. Everything about this, as well as its cover, said ¡®this is it¡¯.

    ¡°Sword and Sword¡±

    What a gallant title that was. If he had looked at it without knowing anything, he might have thought it would be a guide on swordsmanship. But since it had been stored in such a way, this was certainly that kind of book.

    Ernst timidly and nervously flipped through the pages. He followed the words.

    All of the answers he had been searching for were contained inside.

 Chapter 24

    Did that man really want to do that sort of thing?

    Did Ernst actually want to do that sort of thing?

    ¡°Lord Ernst?¡±

    Ernst looked into those reddish-brown eyes, which held a tinge of curiosity.

    ¡°You said that you love me. If that is the case, then why are you so calm like this? Dunbertians are the kind of people who are quick to become intimate, aren¡¯t they? ¡­As I thought, because of this childish body of mine, you can¡¯t feel that way for me.¡±

    Ernst had wanted to speak with composure, but by the end, his voice distorted. After he had come to the realization that he loved this man, and after finding out the manner in which two men would do it, Ernst¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t able to stay calm.

    Even though they had hugged each other, even though they had kissed each other, this man hadn¡¯t made a single attempt to move forward. If he believed in the man¡¯s words, then would a person of Grude really be able to show that much restraint?

    ¡°That isn¡¯t true! Lord Ernst, that isn¡¯t the case¡­ because, I!¡±

    Suddenly, Ernst felt the arms circling his back tighten with power.

    ¡°I¡­ must apologize to Lord Ernst.¡±

    His large head hung down.

    ¡°I know that I will receive Lord Ernst¡¯s beratement. And that you will despise me. If it were possible, I would have kept silent about this my entire life¡­ that was what I had cowardly thought.¡±

    This large and despondent man who hung his head before Ernst looked so pitiful; Ernst started to rub the man¡¯s head.

    ¡°There is a rule that the servant of the bathing chamber has to follow. It is a rule that must absolutely, never be broken. It was¡­ that one should never make contact with the honorable body of the crown prince.¡±

    Ernst twined his fingers around the man¡¯s curly hair and pulled.

    ¡°The truth is, the crown prince¡¯s body mustn¡¯t be washed with anything other than a golden cloth.¡±

    ¡°Humm. If I¡¯m not remembering incorrectly¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes. I had used my bare hands to wash you¡­¡±

    It was just a faint memory by now, but Ernst had a feeling that the other manservants had certainly been using something when they washed him.

    ¡°At first, I had also used the golden cloth. But Lord Ernst always looked as if you were deep in thought over some difficult matter¡­ In that state, you paid no mind at all to my conduct¡­ and one day, the back of my finger made just a slight bit of contact with Lord Ernst¡¯s skin.¡±

    Ernst wasn¡¯t sure of just how long this man had served in the bathing chamber. When he had lived in the royal palace, he didn¡¯t really differentiate between any of the people around him.

    ¡°Lord Ernst hadn¡¯t noticed that my finger had touched you. Every night after that, I made contact with Lord Ernst¡¯s soft skin. Before long¡­ I had stopped using the golden cloth. Yet even so, Lord Ernst hadn¡¯t noticed at all¡­¡±

    The man smiled bitterly as if in self-derision.

    Unable to hold back, Ernst pressed his lips to the man¡¯s wide mouth. He slipped his tongue inside and tasted the man¡¯s thick tongue. The man¡¯s saliva was sweet, and his taste spread through Ernst¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Forgive me. I, the Ernst who had been in the royal palace, hadn¡¯t yet become a person.¡±

    The man¡¯s tongue licked at Ernst¡¯s wet lips.

    ¡°The one who must beg for forgiveness is me. What I had done to Lord Ernst without your notice was inexcusable. I, whenever I touched Lord Ernst¡¯s body¡­ I was unable to keep my body from heating up.¡±

    Even though the man¡¯s hot tongue had felt around the inside of Ernst¡¯s mouth, even though the man had said that he hadn¡¯t been able to restrain the fervor of his body, on this night, as well, the man left before the fire of the hearth went out.

    Once the man had left, the room felt cold even when the flame of the fireplace continued to burn.

    Ernst reread the book that he had found yesterday. In the book, the manhood between the man¡¯s legs had risen with a flourish, and it penetrated the hole of the other man¡¯s rear. The man who had been pierced also had an erect manhood between his legs. Seeing that, the man who had penetrated him had been pleased.

    Was that man also seeking for Ernst to respond to him in such a way? Was that why he didn¡¯t do anything? If it was that man, he of all people would know what Ernst¡¯s manhood was like. No matter what was done to it, it wouldn¡¯t stand up.

    For the first time, Ernst felt mortified over his disease-stricken body. No matter how much time passed, even when he was on his deathbed, his body would continue to be like a child.

    Ernst gazed down at the training soldiers. That soldier, and that soldier, and that soldier, and that soldier, they were all men. All of those soldiers over there, they would all be able to become erect.

    Those soldiers of the militia, all of them would be able to please that man.

    ¡°Lord Ernst?¡±

    Not even able to wait for the man to sit down, Ernst clung to the man¡¯s large body.

    ¡°The reason why you don¡¯t touch me, it¡¯s because I¡¯m not a man, isn¡¯t it!?¡±

    Ernst shouted for the first time in his entire life.

    ¡°You know it too, don¡¯t you!? That my manhood is, that this thing that hangs between my legs is useless and good for nothing!¡±

    Ernst cried as he said this. He had never before cried in front of another person.

    ¡°L¡­Lord Ernst, please calm down. U-um¡­ First, how about we go sit down. It¡¯s cold over here, right?¡±

    The man easily picked Ernst up and sat down with him in front of the fireplace, setting Ernst upon his hip. Ernst felt vexed by the man¡¯s composure.

    ¡°You¡­ so even if you don¡¯t do anything with me, it doesn¡¯t matter to you¡­? Even though for me, it¡¯s not enough anymore to just always keep talking like this without doing anything more.¡±

    The man licked Ernst¡¯s flowing tears with his tongue.

    ¡°Each and every one of those people you had touched before, I want to find them, I want to cut them down, it¡¯s so horrible.¡±

    The man¡¯s large finger traced Ernst¡¯s bitten lips.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, you don¡¯t need to have such thoughts. I myself have already forgotten anyone who had ever been my partner before.¡±

    Ernst looked at the man¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°But I feel this way because I¡¯ve fallen in love with you.¡±

    At Ernst¡¯s whisper, the man¡¯s reddish-brown eyes widened in shock. Ernst now remembered his own failure ¨C he had forgotten to tell the man his feelings.

    ¡°Aah, that¡¯s right. I had forgotten to tell you. I hadn¡¯t meant to, but I had ended up falling in love with you.¡±

    The flames of the fireplace burst, devouring.

    Translator¡¯s Note

    Please be aware that the next chapter contains explicit content. (teehee)

 Chapter 25

    Translator¡¯s Note

    This chapter contains mature content. Please be advised.

    Sorry for the awkward translation; most of the words I would normally use when writing these scenes are words Ernst would never use, and to add on to it, the Dunbertian speaks so formally to him¡­

    ¡°Can I really¡­ Um, may I really, be allowed to touch you¡­?¡±

    ¡°Aah, I don¡¯t mind. I want you to touch me, after all. And I also want to touch you.¡±

    Ernst tried to take off his clothes with his clumsy fingers. Even though a long time had passed since he had learned how to manage his own clothes, he still hadn¡¯t become proficient at it. Especially now that his fingers were shaking, he wasn¡¯t able to do anything.

    ¡°Aah, it¡¯s no good. I¡¯m sorry, but could you take this off for me?¡±

    Ernst turned around to face the man, who stretched out his hands to skillfully and nimbly strip off Ernst¡¯s clothes.

    ¡°Ah! Lord Ernst¡­!¡±

    The man pressed a kiss to Ernst¡¯s small body, which had been rendered completely nude. He sucked on the tiny nubs on his chest and stroked his tender skin.

    ¡°Wait¡­!¡±

    The man sucked between Ernst¡¯s legs, bringing ecstasy to Ernst¡¯s small manhood. When he began to roll it above his tongue, Ernst pulled on the man¡¯s curly hair. His entire body began to tremble from the pleasure creeping up over him until Ernst¡¯s upper body fell over on top of the man.

    ¡°¡­Wait. I also want to touch you.¡±

    When Ernst hit the man¡¯s back, the man finally released Ernst. The man stood straight up and yanked his clothes off. His coat had ripped along the way, but he didn¡¯t care at all.

    ¡°Aah¡­ it¡¯s truly, amazing¡­¡±

    Without meaning to, Ernst let out an admiring remark. The raised muscles of his shoulders, his thick pectorals, his tight and rippling abdomen. Thick thighs and muscular arms.

    With nothing getting in the way, the man¡¯s everything was now exposed freely to Ernst¡¯s eyes. Ernst¡¯s trembling fingertips reached toward the manhood which proudly jutted from between the man¡¯s legs.

    This was the first time Ernst had ever seen this when it was erect. Just from the thought that this was the thing of his beloved person, Ernst felt electricity in the core of his body.

    ¡°It¡¯s very¡­ large.¡±

    Spellbound, Ernst held it with both hands. The thick undergrowth was the same as the man¡¯s hair, but a darker color. Ernst stroked what he held in his hands and felt ashamed over his own lower half.

    ¡°I really am lacking, aren¡¯t I.¡±

    He whispered this while setting his cheek upon the man¡¯s warm chest.

    ¡°What are you saying. Lord Ernst is truly magnificent. All it takes is for me to be near Lord Ernst, and just like this, become unable to suppress myself.¡±

    The man moved his hips as if to jut out his lower half, which Ernst continued to grip.

    ¡°But it seems as though you¡¯ve been able to hold yourself back plenty up until now¡­¡±

    ¡°Because I always took caution to not show it. I constricted myself by tightly wrapping a strong and firm cloth around me so that I would never make Lord Ernst have to see my unsightly form. In this way, I disciplined myself.¡±

    Ernst touched the wet tip with his slender fingertips, thinking back.

    Now that he mentioned it, on Ernst¡¯s last night at the royal palace. When he had touched the man, he had thought that the man was wearing an incredibly tough cloth for his underwear. So that was what he was talking about.

    A smile spread over Ernst¡¯s lips.

    So, it seemed like this man had desired him from such a long time ago.

    ¡°¡­Lord Ernst!¡±

    The man spoke in a harried voice as Ernst rounded his back and brought his face closer to the manhood in his hands. Ever since earlier, the choking scent it released had made the insides of his head feel fuzzy.

    The man¡¯s semen smelled fragrant. More than the man¡¯s saliva, more than his sweat, this scent drove Ernst mad, his mind unable to keep itself together. Unable to hold himself back, Ernst stretched out the tip of his tongue to lick it.

    ¡°¡­ngh!¡±

    The man¡¯s large hands gripped Ernst¡¯s shoulders and pushed him away.

    ¡°What are you doing!? Don¡¯t interrupt me.¡±

    When Ernst turned a condemning gaze on him, the man¡¯s reddish-brown eyes looked earnestly down at Ernst.

    ¡°If you¡­ do such a thing to me there, I won¡¯t be able to endure.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, endure?¡±

    ¡°That is, in other words, um, I am about to ejaculate.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it good if you do?¡±

    Ernst had read about that countless times in the books.

    ¡°No way¡­! If it happens like this, then I¡¯m afraid that it will land upon Lord Ernst¡¯s face.¡±

    Ernst didn¡¯t understand just what this man was afraid of. What was the point of having something with such a fragrant and delicious taste if Ernst couldn¡¯t taste it.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you let it out.¡±

    As soon as Ernst said that, he opened his small mouth as wide as he could and popped the man¡¯s erection inside.

    The man¡¯s semen was wonderful.

    When Ernst had been the crown prince, he had received a gift from one of the countries of the Sistica Continent, the Kingdom of Leucurias.

    Of the various goods they had brought to him, the one that Ernst liked the most was the Leucurias liquor. It could only be made in Leucurias, and only a small amount of it could be made; it was an extremely scarce and precious liquor.

    What Ernst had received was a small bottle that could fit inside his palm. Every night, he savored and enjoyed it little by little.

    The taste of this man¡¯s semen was the same, no, it was more wonderful than even the taste of that Leucurias liquor.

    ¡°Lord Ernst! Lord Ernst¡­!¡±

    The man¡¯s voice sounded like he was on the edge. The tip which Ernst held within his mouth pulsed and shot out several times. Ernst gulped down the man¡¯s semen as if it were an overflowing fountain.

    Aah, more, more, more!

    Despite how frantically Ernst sucked him down, the man brought his large hands to Ernst¡¯s face and firmly, but not roughly, pulled him off.

    Having been rudely interrupted, Ernst looked up at the man with an accusatory glare ¨C and a hot splash covered his face.

    ¡°¡­ngh! ¡­Ah, Lord Ernst!¡±

    The man hurriedly rushed to find a cloth while Ernst stood there in the middle of the room, staring at him in a daze.

    The feeling of the man¡¯s semen dripping down Ernst¡¯s forehead and cheeks made his body tremble. Surrounded by the man¡¯s overpowering scent, Ernst felt a beast rise up within his small body.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    Hanging his head, the depressed man wiped at Ernst¡¯s face with a soft cloth.

    ¡°What do you need to apologize for? Right now, I¡¯m feeling so very happy because of you.¡±

    Ernst clung to the large hand wiping his face, then tried his best to stand all the way to the tips of his toes to ask for a kiss. The man promptly met his wish, and his large tongue licked the inside of Ernst¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°I love you. I love everything about you.¡±

    Ernst¡¯s whisper was swallowed up by their kissing.

    The man faced the fireplace, his large legs spread out. Ernst rode the man¡¯s lap, watching the man¡¯s thick finger move in and out of Ernst.

    Ernst leaned back on the man¡¯s thick chest, resting his cheek on the man¡¯s arm, and reached over to pluck at his own downturned, limp manhood.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    As if sensing Ernst¡¯s despondent mood, the man gently pressed a kiss to Ernst¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Over here, if it looked something like this, you would be pleased, wouldn¡¯t you.¡±

    Ernst tugged, lifting it up. The arms encircling Ernst tightened, holding him closer.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t show that sort of figure to me¡­¡±

    Still kissing Ernst¡¯s shoulder, the man let out this low and muffled whisper.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to restrain myself, if you do.¡±

    Ernst pulled back his hips, rubbing against that place between the man¡¯s legs. He touched the man¡¯s hot, hard manhood.

    ¡°This¡­ you want to penetrate me with this, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Closing his eyes, Ernst felt the heat of that robust manhood on his waist.

    ¡°So you knew of this¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so naive that I wouldn¡¯t even know that.¡±

    He successfully made the man chuckle. Ernst wasn¡¯t going to let him know just how hastily he had gotten this knowledge.

    ¡°If you want to insert it, then insert it. That way, you don¡¯t have to just keep fingering at my rear forever.¡±

    Ernst tightened his hips, making his ass squeeze around the fingers inside him.

    ¡°¡­ngh! But¡­ Lord Ernst. Lord Ernst is so delicate here, there is no possible way for this insolent thing of mine to enter.¡±

    Ernst also knew that the largeness of the manhood behind him was different from the width of the finger inside of him.

    But that was what this man wanted. And besides, he had done that very same thing with those women up until now. It wasn¡¯t fair that he could give it to those women whose faces he didn¡¯t even remember but not give it to Ernst, whom he loved.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about my body, or anything like that. I want to be penetrated by you. I want to feel you more strongly. More strongly than anyone, before, ever has.¡±

    Ernst firmly gripped the man¡¯s manhood and looked up into the man¡¯s reddish-brown eyes, those eyes which revealed how taken-aback the man was. Within those eyes of the man he loved, Ernst searched for the light of a beast.

    ¡°Please¡­ give this to me.¡±

    Ernst felt the number of fingers in his ass increase.

    If you¡¯re able to easily take three fingers, then we can do it. The man said this, allowing Ernst to finally understand what he had been doing for so long.

    Ernst laid on the long length of the man¡¯s legs and looked at the man, who peeked toward him fretfully. The man continued to look at him with hesitation, so at the very last minute, Ernst turned to him and opened his legs wide.

    ¡°Lord Ernst!¡±

    Ernst felt it ¨C inside the man, something had been unleashed.

    Taking care with Ernst¡¯s small body, the man laid flat on the ground and settled Ernst¡¯s body over his stomach.

    Ernst rested his cheek on the man¡¯s muscular chest, trying to endure as the man¡¯s overwhelming girth entered him.

    So tight, so painful, so difficult.

    But, Ernst¡¯s chest beat faster; they were finally doing it, this act that the both of them had been desiring. Just a little more, there¡¯s just a little more, the man soothed. Gritting his teeth, Ernst nodded with difficulty.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ernst raised his frail head at that man¡¯s caring voice.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, how are you feeling?¡±

    Those reddish-brown eyes looked like they were on the brink of tears. When Ernst was in pain, that man also looked just as pained. Heheh, Ernst snickered, reaching out a trembling arm to stroke the man¡¯s cheek.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡±

    The man took Ernst¡¯s fingertips into his mouth and licked them, smiling gently.

    The man rocked with a very slow and gentle rhythm.

    The man waited patiently for Ernst to get used to his shape. Finally, once Ernst had gotten used to it and begun wriggling his small body on his own, the man gripped Ernst¡¯s hips with his large hands. He slowly, slowly, began to move.

    Slowly, as he watched Ernst¡¯s reaction.

    Ernst swayed, his cheek resting on the man¡¯s chest. He felt anchored by the man¡¯s powerful heartbeat. It let him feel how robustly full of life the man was.

    Ernst was entranced by the sound of that heartbeat and the pleasure of the sensations that the man gave him. Even though the man had been swallowed up by Ernst¡¯s body, he continued to painfully hold back; inside of Ernst, he had an urge like a beast to make this man run wild. The girth inside of him struck a place that the man¡¯s wide fingers hadn¡¯t before reached.

    ¡°Ah¡­. aah¡­!¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst, are you alright? ¡­Was this too much for you?¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡­! Aah, you¡¯re really, so big, aren¡¯t you¡­¡±

    When Ernst began to pant, his breaths coming out hot, Ernst sensed the man smile in satisfaction.

    The rhythm steadily grew more intense. Ernst¡¯s mouth had stopped functioning properly. All it was good for was gasping and panting.

    ¡°Lord Ernst! Lord Ernst!¡±

    The man moved his hips like crazy, calling out Ernst¡¯s name countless times. His body grew even hotter.

    The manhood inside of Ernst¡¯s body suddenly felt scorching within him. That delicious liquor was probably pouring out from its tip.

    The moment Ernst felt it, pleasurable tremors wracked his small body uncontrollably.

    ¡°Aah¡­¡±

    His entire body felt numb. He felt numb even up to his brain. Not a single part of his body would listen to Ernst¡¯s orders.

    ¡°Aah!¡­ aah¡­ what was¡­ that¡­?¡±

    He clung to the man before his eyes. He felt that if he didn¡¯t grab onto something, he would fall into a dark and unseen pit.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    ¡°What is this? What¡¯s happening? Aah¡­ I¡¯m going to fall¡­ Save me!¡±

    For the very first time since he was born, Ernst spoke out when he was afraid. Without worrying about his position, without being afraid of losing his dignity, he exposed everything about himself to his beloved person.

    Feeling as if he was going to be pulled away somewhere, Ernst clung to that man¡¯s robust body as if his life depended on it.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, please calm down.¡±

    Those large hands rubbed Ernst¡¯s back as Ernst repeatedly let out shallow breaths.

    ¡°Take a deep breath¡­ Yes, like that¡­ It¡¯s alright, there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of.¡±

    The fingers that Ernst had used to grip the man¡¯s wide shoulders were stiff with tension. Ernst pried them off one by one, trying to bring strength back to his trembling arms as he roused his body.

    ¡°I thought that I was about to fall somewhere¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. If that happens, I¡¯ll hold you tight to keep you from going anywhere.¡±

    Ernst pushed up his hips, his small body arching back.

    ¡°¡­If I may be permitted to say this¡­ since Lord Ernst and I are partners with compatible bodily fluids, when you felt my semen inside of you, it may have caused a reaction.¡±

    ¡°¡­That might be so.¡±

    The characters in the stories were also like that. For the partners with compatible bodily fluids, nothing happened to their mouths, but in the deepest parts of their bodies, they felt their partner more strongly than anywhere.

    Ernst sat on the man¡¯s toned hips, taking great care to keep in mind the place where he held the man deeply inside him.

    He had felt that his own body had stopped listening to him and begun moving of its own accord. Even though the man had reached into the furthest depths of his body, it had been greedily inviting him to come deeper inside.

    He placed his hand on the man¡¯s solid stomach and briefly glanced at it.

    Once he saw an unbelievable sight there, he gulped in a breath.

    ¡°This¡­ Isn¡¯t this¡­?¡±

    ¡°Has something happened?¡±

    The man looked confusedly at him. Dumbfounded, Ernst whispered:

    ¡°Look here. I¡¯m erect¡­¡±

    Ernst was pulled off of the manhood that he had so painstakingly taken inside of himself. The man brought his giant body toward the place between Ernst¡¯s legs, grasping it with his mouth.

    ¡°Why did you take it out!¡±

    The man ignored Ernst¡¯s futile protests, but in exchange for his manhood, perhaps, he slipped his thick fingers inside of Ernst.

    It felt soft and warm inside as the man sucked Ernst¡¯s manhood strongly enough to pull. At the same time, he played with the hole of Ernst¡¯s ass, making Ernst savor a feeling so intoxicating that he felt like his soul was about to fly away.

    As the man continued to suck between his legs, Ernst used both of his hands to grip the man¡¯s curly brown hair, a pleasure he had never before experienced in his life now assaulting his body.

    ¡°Ngh¡­!¡±

    He fell over atop the man¡¯s large back, his thin chest rising and falling.

    ¡°Haa¡­ aah¡­ what happened¡­?¡±

    The man continued to suck on Ernst¡¯s small manhood as well as the sack behind it, both of which he held within his mouth. Ernst asked that question, his fingers trailing over the man¡¯s wide back.

    ¡°What happened was that you ejaculated, Lord Ernst.¡±

    The man raised his head, smiling cheekily. Upon seeing how wet the area around the man¡¯s mouth was, Ernst¡¯s brain felt dizzy as if he was drunk.

    ¡°Aah, I¡¯m so happy, I feel like I have been blessed¡­! Lord Ernst¡¯s first time letting it out, and it was allowed to happen within this mouth of mine!¡±

    The man opened his large mouth and once again buried his face between Ernst¡¯s legs.

    ¡°Hold on, wait!¡±

    The man raised his face, dissatisfied.

    ¡°I¡¯m unable to leave behind descendants, right? That was what the physicians had told me. So how was I able to ejaculate?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s, I hadn¡¯t been aware of that¡­ Though certainly, no matter how Lord Ernst had been touched, you remained small and cute, after all.¡±

    A large finger stroked Ernst¡¯s manhood, which had reddened after being played with.

    ¡°Perhaps it was¡­ because you had felt my semen with in your body¡­?¡±

    The man suddenly said, as if struck by an idea. Ernst also thought it over.

    That certainly might be it. The moment that Ernst had felt the man¡¯s semen inside him, he had experienced unprecedented pleasure.

    ¡°That¡­ should be good, right. That¡¯s, very good.¡±

    Ernst grinned, brushing the man¡¯s brown-haired head.

    ¡°It¡¯s as if I¡¯m being told that I was made for you, and you alone. I¡¯m very satisfied.¡±

    The flames of the fireplace had already gone out, yet Ernst didn¡¯t feel a single trace of cold.

    The hot-bodied Dunbertian embraced him, and deep within Ernst¡¯s innermost parts, he felt heat spill inside of him. That hot, scorching vitality shot out inside of Ernst.

    It was an unending, gushing stream of life. In ecstasy, Ernst felt its strong power.

    In the morning, Ernst woke to find himself between two muscular arms. He rubbed the tip of his nose against the man¡¯s burly chest and looked up at his face. The man seemed to have already been awake for some time. When Ernst looked up, he encountered a discomfited expression on the man¡¯s face.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Ernst asked him with a tone full of doubts; the man replied, seeming at a loss.

    ¡°Just earlier, a butler came in.¡±

    Aah, so it was already time to wake up. Ernst now realized, far too slowly, that he had woken up.

    ¡°Um¡­ Once he saw me, he was surprised and left¡­¡±

    The man gave a troubled smile.

    ¡°Is something the matter with that?¡±

    ¡°Right now, it should have caused an uproar within the mansion, right?¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. But isn¡¯t it fine if we don¡¯t pay any mind to it?¡±

    ¡°You believe so?¡±

    ¡°I told you that I loved you, didn¡¯t I? ¡­Or could it be that you, have already had your fill of me?¡±

    The people of Grude were not said to be the kind of people who would continuously love one person. Ernst turned his teary eyes upon the man.

    If the man said that he was already done using Ernst, then from here on, Ernst didn¡¯t think that he would be able to live with human decency anymore.

    ¡°Lord Ernst! Please, don¡¯t make that kind of face. I also love you. I have always, always wished for you to be in my arms, and now, my dream has finally come true. I¡¯ve never felt happier than I am now.¡±

    The man hugged him tightly, enveloping Ernst with his beloved scent.

    ¡°Then in that case, it¡¯s fine. We don¡¯t have to worry about anyone else.¡±

    ¡°But am I not a Dunbertian? And Lord Ernst, the noble Lord of the fief¡­ I feel that what others will say is that I will be unable to bring you honor; instead, I would be lowering your standing¡­¡±

    Hearing the man¡¯s worries, Ernst laughed. This was his first time laughing aloud.

    ¡°What do you think they¡¯re going to say. I¡¯m the Lord of the fief of Meissen, you know? I¡¯d be surprised if there was anything that was any worse than that.¡±

    ¡°Is that really how it is?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right; there¡¯s nothing you have to worry about. Besides, I might be ousted from my position as lord and become just any other citizen. If that happens, well, I might just have to depend on you¡­¡±

    ¡°Leave everything to me! With these arms of mine, I would be able to protect one, or even two of Lord Ernst!¡±

    As the man tightly gripped his hand into a fist, his large biceps bulged, becoming as big as Ernst¡¯s face. Ernst trusted in the man¡¯s resolve and smiled.

    ¡°In that case, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±

    Saying that, Ernst kissed the man¡¯s chest; and at this exact moment, the head butler timidly inched open the door and poked his head inside.

    ¡°Aah, you came at just the right time. This man is my partner from here on.¡± [1]

    Ernst sat up, and when man beside him similarly raised himself up, Ernst reclined against him, patting the man¡¯s thick arm.

    The people of Grude did not marry. Other than the upper classes, the people of Schell also did not bind themselves to each other. There were many things which had to be decided in the contract, making it a burdensome act.

    But Ernst didn¡¯t want to have a simple, uncomplicated relationship with this man.

    If Ernst bound him with a contract, then this man wouldn¡¯t be able to leave him. If Ernst showed them the contract, then no one else would be able to get close to this man.

    ¡°I want to have it set down in writing that you and I will spend the rest of our lives together¡­ Do you mind?¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­!¡±

    The man embraced Ernst¡¯s thin waist, nodding his brown-haired head up and down.

    ¡°Humm. Then it¡¯s decided. We will exchange a formal contract in the future, but at this time, I have decided to take this person as my spouse.¡±

    Ernst gave his proclamation in a sonorous voice, gazing at his beloved man.

    And then, he realized, suddenly:

    ¡°By the way, what is your name?¡±

    The man was dumbfounded for a moment as he looked down at Ernst, but afterward, he burst out in laughter. He gave his reply:

    ¡°My name is Ganche.¡±

    This was, throughout Ernst¡¯s entire life, from the moment he was born up until now, the very first time that he had received another person¡¯s name.

    [1] The word Ernst uses is °é‚H (hanryo) ¨C companion, partner, spouse?

    Translator¡¯s Note

    Here it is, the last chapter of this phase of the story! We finally, finally, found out the man¡¯s name. Ernst may have forgotten to read his papers and find out the man¡¯s name, but the readers certainly didn¡¯t¡­ Did you notice that other than Ernst, not a single person had been named throughout all 25 of these chapters?

    Also, Ernst locked him down immediately after sleeping with him. He works fast.

    The next chapter is an interlude which contains some of my favorite content. (Spoiler: Ernst finally reads his documents.) It¡¯s the longest chapter so far, and the ending really moved me and cemented my love of Ganche and Ernst. Please enjoy the author¡¯s wonderful writing! After that, we move into phase 2 of the story. They¡¯re all longer chapters, so I¡¯ll be taking my time with the updates.

    Thank you for reading Tsukiya¡¯s wonderful story with me!!

 Chapter 26 - Interlude â€“ Gancheâ€™s Repairs

    Although Meissen was exceedingly poor, it had plenty of land.

    In fact, Meissen made up one twentieth of the Kingdom. However, seventy percent of Meissen was mountains or forests, and it was covered in trees.

    The Lord¡¯s estate also owned vast stretches of land. No one knew for sure where the Lord¡¯s lands began and ended, but at the very least, his properties included three forests.

    The estate itself was also extraordinarily enormous, being at least three times as wide as the palace of the Crown Prince where Ernst had formerly resided. Each and every room was also large, their ceilings high.

    Thanks to this, even with Ganche¡¯s physique, he was able to live here without any problems; yet he was able to sense the voiceless cries coming from this mansion, which had fallen into disrepair.

    ¡°Lord Ernst. A large hole has cracked open in the wall of the corridor.¡±

    The life of a man in the militia was a leisurely one, Ganche thought. Ever since Targes had become the captain, they spent every morning to afternoon training, but it seemed like there hadn¡¯t been any training before then.

    The militia¡¯s main job was to cultivate the fields around the estate and to gather firewood, the soldiers had said with placid, peace-loving faces.

    ¡°Humm. There are also holes on the second floor of the south building as well as the first floor of the east building, and also on the second and third floors of the west building.¡±

    Ernst replied while writing something upon some documents.

    ¡°So you were aware of them¡­¡±

    As always, Ernst¡¯s brightness caught Ganche¡¯s tongue. Just how much information was contained within that small, golden-haired head? It was mystifying to him.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I know about it, but I don¡¯t have the money to make repairs.¡±

    Saying that, Ernst smiled wryly.

    Two months have passed since Ernst came to Meissen, and one month has passed since he and Ganche became partners.

    For this one month, Ernst had shut himself into his office as if trying to make up for his past neglect.

    No one was allowed to come near the office lest they disturb his work, and Ernst didn¡¯t invite anyone to spend time inside other than Ganche.

    It makes me feel lonely when we only spend time together from dinner to breakfast the next morning, so whenever you don¡¯t have anything to do, come stay beside me, Ernst said.

    Feeling happy but also nervous about causing trouble for Ernst, Ganche had timidly entered the office ¨C but it didn¡¯t take long for him to realize that his fears had been unfounded.

    While conversing casually with Ganche, Ernst read mysterious and complicated papers, and he wrote up official documents which Ganche was sure freely made use of many difficult-to-understand, abstruse sentences; and when the head butler entered the room for business, Ernst calmly pointed out, without overtly saying it, that the calculations in the papers filed to him three days ago were incorrect.

    In Targes¡¯ words, ¡®Lord Ernst¡¯s head has ten people inside of it.¡¯

    Even with all of Ernst¡¯s intellect, the issue of Meissen¡¯s financial difficulties was a formidable one.

    In Meissen¡¯s current situation, the basic tax paid by each villager was 5 sitts. The militia was exempt from taxes, so 539 people, excluding the soldiers, paid taxes. In other words, every year, the Lord came into possession of 2695 sitts without fail.

    But the Lord of Meissen must also pay taxes to the King of Rintz. The amount was decided by the size of the territory and the number of citizens.

    Although the militia didn¡¯t have to pay taxes to the Lord, for some reason when the Lord had to pay taxes to the King, the entire population was taken into account; in other words, this number included the militia.

    The Lord had to pay 1 sitt per person under his rule. As such, every year, he had to pay 696 sitts, as well as a land tax of 2500 sitts, totalling 3196 sitts which had to be paid.

    The current status quo was a deficit of 501 sitts every year.

    The vastness of Meissen¡¯s land had become its liability.

    The minimum tax stipulated by national law was 5 sitts per person, and the Lord was able to change the amount of tax so long as the number was above 5 sitts.

    Up until Ernst had been made Lord, the neighboring lord of Rintz had collected Meissen¡¯s tax and paid it to the King.

    At that time, the tax collected for each person had been 10 sitts.

    Every year, the Lord of Rintz had collected 2194 sitts from Meissen and pocketed it for himself.

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you raise the taxes? If it were even just 6 sitts, you could at least work out the payment for the Kingdom¡¯s taxes¡­¡±

    Once, Ganche had said this. But Ernst gave a decisive reply.

    ¡°That would certainly be true. However, the yearly income of someone who leaves the village to find work is, at most, 7 sitts. Though I have on hand data collected over twenty years, the situation in reality has changed greatly. In the villages where people leave to become migrant workers, the number of people who leave consists of half their population. That half earns the taxes which the village has to pay¡­ I understand that even 5 sitts for each person is already harsh.¡±

    ¡°¡­That does seem to be the case.¡±

    ¡°But this amount of tax was set in place by national law. I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡±

    Ernst sighed heavily.

    The way Ernst spoke to anyone was always in this way.

    First, he acknowledged and affirmed what the person said.

    After, he would talk about the present situation, as well as his own thinking of how the issue at hand should be dealt with.

    He never ignored the other person¡¯s words or denied what they said, and no matter how off the mark their answer was, he never treated it as foolish.

    Finally, he absolutely never spoke to the other person with condescension.

    There had been a time where one of the militiamen had said something exceptionally rude to Ernst.

    Targes, who had also been there, had instantly frozen in place, but Ernst merely changed his posture into a calm stance and accepted the militiaman¡¯s words. Then, he nonchalantly corrected the soldier¡¯s misunderstanding.

    ¡®I haven¡¯t been deceived by that person¡¯s appearance, or his personal history.¡¯

    Targes, grinning cheekily, had relayed these words to Ganche.

    Did Ernst have a secret plan for recovering the deficit that would occur every year from now on?

    He knew that the head butler had heavily criticized Ernst, saying, ¡®He only lowered taxes to curry favor with the common people.¡¯

    Ganche had been so aggravated that he wanted to strike him, but when Ernst heard this story, he just laughed quietly.

    The Vice-Captain of the militia, Aldo, had been born in Meissen, but from when he was 40 up until he was 80, he had been a mercenary in the Gaidla fief. Even in that territory, a single person had to pay a tax of 15 sitts to the Kingdom.

    The tax collected from the people was only one part of the taxes the Lord collected ¨C was how things usually were.

    It was unheard of for a fief to be like Meissen, where the tax collected from the people fell short of the tax to be paid to the Kingdom.

    ¡®Aren¡¯t you the ones doing it wrong?¡¯ Targes and Aldo said, when Ganche brought it up.

    ¡®What the head butler said is right, isn¡¯t it?¡¯

    At that time, Ganche had been so indignant that he pounded his fist on the desk of the barracks, splitting it in half.

    He understood that even though Ernst was incredibly concerned over the lives of the people, if he was too kind to the point where he disregarded the reality of the situation, it would only lead to a disaster.

    To say nothing of doing such rash things for foolish reasons like raising one¡¯s brownie points.

    Ganche wasn¡¯t able to come up with any good ideas on how to help with Meissen¡¯s financial difficulties. Since he wasn¡¯t able to help Ernst here, then he wanted to find some other way to help.

    Ganche stood from his chair, and said to Ernst:

    ¡°Lord Ernst. How about I repair the holes in the estate?¡±

    A slightly surprised expression appeared on Ernst¡¯s face when he heard Ganche¡¯s proposal. He agreed to it.

    ¡°Even if you say you¡¯re going to repair the estate, no matter how I think about it, just how are you going to¡­¡±

    ¡°It sure is an extremely ambitious project for fixing up, isn¡¯t it.¡±

    ¡°If you make it that misshapen, Lord Ernst¡¯s going to get angry.¡±

    Ignoring the noisy commentary, Ganche swung an axe with one hand. The tree that he had carried over became logs. Some of it was piled up to be made into firewood.

    ¡°Ya have to pack the rocks according to the formation of the rocks inside, or it won¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°That sounds right. Looks like you have to carve the rocks.¡±

    ¡°Ya probably don¡¯t know this, but the rocks actually have something like eyes. If ya aim for those eyes, the stone¡¯ll break easily, y¡¯see.¡±

    ¡°This rock formation or whatever is something that needs some experience. We should really leave it to an expert, yeah?¡±

    ¡°¡­so if you do it like this, ya should be able to break it open like paper¡­¡±

    Today¡¯s training had ended in the morning. Although there was work to do in the fields, the militia had 157 adult men. Ganche didn¡¯t have as many men as the captain or vice-captain, but there were still a plentiful number of hands. They spent one hour working on the lord of the land¡¯s fields before they were finished.

    As a result, the militiamen who had plenty of time on their hands were always on the lookout for anything interesting to do.

    ¡°¡­Quiet! If you¡¯re not going to help, break it up.¡±

    Though Ganche glared at them, they had spent three months in close contact. Up until Ganche had become Ernst¡¯s partner, he had slept in the barracks with them.

    By now, there wasn¡¯t anyone who was afraid of Ganche.

    ¡°No no no no no. I¡¯m worried that you might mess something up.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just plugging up a hole. How exactly is he supposed to mess that up?¡±

    ¡°You yourself told me it was easy, so are you now saying this simple thing is actually difficult?¡±

    The soldiers of the fourth platoon said, ¡®That¡¯s right! That¡¯s right!¡¯, all of them nodding their heads with know-it-all expressions on their face.

    This was why Ganche hated the people of Schell continent.

    Since they lived for 200 years, by the time someone became an independent adult, they were already past 40 years old.

    To them, Ganche was the same as a baby.

    ¡®You may not know this, but-¡¯ they said, flaunting their knowledge; the ones who didn¡¯t have any academic background talked about their experience.

    There wasn¡¯t any room for Ganche to cut in when these people, who had been around before his parents, and before his parents¡¯ parents, talked to him about their experience. The difference between what he and they had experienced was far too great.

    In his opinion, the people of the Schell races would never be a match for the Grude in terms of physical power, so they clung to their one point of living for twice as long and used it to bask in a sense of superiority.

    Ganche had that sort of cynical perspective.

    Before you start quibbling about your theories, why don¡¯t you lift a finger and test it? Though Ganche always thought this, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to say it aloud.

    If he said something like that, they would nag him twice as much as before.

    Even so, that dialogue baked into his brain, ready to be unleashed.

    ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡±

    A new voice joined in. Knowing that this was Targes, the militiamen corrected their behavior. After undergoing training every day, they were finally able to conduct themselves like soldiers.

    ¡°You can see it if you use your eyes. I¡¯m fixing the estate.¡±

    Ganche answered glumly.

    Although Ganche was just a common soldier, he didn¡¯t belong to any platoon, and his position was the same as the captain¡¯s.

    In the beginning, he had made a contract with the captain, Targes, to be hired as part of the militia. The contract lasted for one year, and during that time, the rank of Ganche would be equal to that of his employer, Targes.

    At present, Ganche had made a contract of companionship with Ernst, so his contract of employment with Targes had been destroyed.

    Since his rank had been equal, even if the other person was the captain, Ganche didn¡¯t salute or use formal language. It was only when Ernst was around that Ganche changed the way he behaved.

    He was like a kid who acted like a good boy in front of his parents.

    When Targes had told him that, cackling, Ganche had gone to smack him ¨C but as if he¡¯d predicted that would happen, Targes had just barely dodged out of the way.

    ¡°I know that you¡¯re trying to patch the hole, but¡­ is it really okay like that?¡±

    All Ganche was doing was taking the planks that he¡¯d chopped with the axe and nailing them to the wall around the hole.

    Originally, the stone foundation had been layered with wood, which then had wallpaper pasted on top of it. After many years, the wind and snow had peeled off the wallpaper, rotted off the wood planks, and weakened the exposed stone foundation, causing holes when the stones fell off.

    As the militiamen had said, it would be better to inlay a stone that was the same size as the hole, but Ganche didn¡¯t have any method for creating a stone that was the hole¡¯s dimensions. He had forcibly filled the hole with thick poles and rocks, then nailed on some planks to add support to the top, but after being asked so many times whether this was really okay like this, he felt depressed.

    They were right ¨C Ernst wouldn¡¯t be happy with something as clumsy and unsightly as this.

    He had started off these repairs in triumphant spirits, but maybe it would be better if he just gave up¡­

    ¡°Everyone¡¯s gathered around here ¨C is something happening?¡±

    Upon hearing the light voice of a boy drift over, the militiamen who had been teasing Ganche now quieted down.

    ¡°No¡­ uh¡­ the wall¡­¡±

    Targes answered, inching in front of the misshapen wall repairs to hide them with his own body.

    ¡°Aah, so you¡¯re fixing the wall. Is everyone helping to fix it?¡±

    Speaking with a cheerful voice, a small face suddenly popped up amidst the soldiers.

    When those blue eyes saw the wall that Ganche had repaired, they slowly opened wide in surprise.

    ¡°Um¡­ Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    Ganche trembled with fear as he opened his mouth. Ernst turned to look at him, and then a smile split across his face.

    ¡°How wonderful. Ganche, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to come up with a solution like this myself.¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­? It¡¯s so haphazard; are you really fine with it?¡±

    When Targes asked him this in disbelief, Ernst answered nonchalantly.

    ¡°The hole is closed, so I¡¯m satisfied¡­ I had been under the impression that, in order to repair the estate, I would need the appropriate amount of money to commission an expert in carpentry to do so. Yet nevertheless, all I wanted was for the holes to be closed.¡±

    He kneeled and traced the site of the repairs with his white hands.

    ¡°Ganche, you have a very flexible way of thinking.¡±

    As he said that, a kind smile rose over Ernst¡¯s face.

    Perhaps it was because they wanted to earn Ernst¡¯s praise, but the militiamen scrambled to start repairing the estate. In the blink of an eye, they had fixed all of the defects.

    Upon seeing those repairs that were just as unsightly as Ganche¡¯s, the head butler threw a fit and acted like he was about to faint, but since the Lord himself had given his approval, there wasn¡¯t any problem with them.

    ¡°Lord Ernst seems like a pretty surprising person, doesn¡¯t he?¡±

    After they had finished training, Targes asked this to Ganche, who had been drinking alcohol with Aldo.

    ¡°Since they hate even just training, they try to take it easy whenever they can. But he was able to make those guys who have laziness soaked into the marrow of their bones do all of that work in just a snap¡­ and without even giving them an order.¡±

    He plonked himself down on the chair and helped himself to a drink.

    ¡°Certainly¡­¡±

    Aldo murmured.

    ¡°All Lord Ernst did was admire what Ganche had done. That was all it took to make those soldiers get up and move like it was a fight.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Once I came here, I learned full well just how hard it was to get those soldiers to want to do anything. No matter if you screamed at them or coaxed them, they wouldn¡¯t move at all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m very sorry for that¡­¡±

    Before Targes had become the captain of the militia, that role had been filled by Aldo.

    Although Targes had spent over fifty years moving from place to place as a mercenary, before that, he had been a knight in the Rintz Kingdom¡¯s army.

    Those who could become knights in Rintz Kingdom were limited to those who had been born with the title of knights. Their rank was second only to the nobility, and Aldo, in respect to Targes¡¯ accomplishments and title, had ceded to him the position of captain.

    However, Ganche thought.

    When he looked at the fief¡¯s soldiers, he understood Aldo¡¯s previous hardships. He wondered if, when Targes appeared, Aldo saw it as a blessing from the heavens and threw in the towel.

    Although Targes had firmly refused him countless times, it seemed like he¡¯d been shoved into that position before even realizing it.

    Targes sometimes whispered into people¡¯s ears, Even though he has the face of a good person, you can never be too careful with Aldo.

    ¡°I thought that it was impossible to motivate Meissen¡¯s troops, but Lord Ernst was able to do it so easily. Those troops, deep inside, they want someone to acknowledge them and make them feel like they¡¯re needed. He was able to see that in an instant¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­Wait. Lord Ernst is certainly an amazing person, but what you guys are saying is that he¡¯s the kind of person who manipulates others into acting as he pleases?¡±

    At this rate, Ernst was going to seem like just some sort of scheming tactician.

    ¡°Well¡­ you have a point. He was royalty, after all.¡±

    Targes kept on drinking.

    ¡°When I was a knight, I served at His Majesty¡¯s side. When I was a mercenary, I also served the royalty of other countries. The people of royalty¡­ in general, they don¡¯t pay any mind to the feelings of other people. Especially in places like Rintz Kingdom where there are only two royals, their status and authority in the kingdom are as high as the sun in the sky, becoming existences that others aren¡¯t able to trespass upon. Lord Ernst had been the crown prince up until half a year ago. Only a select few were allowed to speak with him, and he couldn¡¯t leave the royal palace. Lord Ernst wouldn¡¯t have the need to pay any mind to the motives of other people.¡±

    ¡°¡­When you think about it that way, he seems like a pure person.¡±

    Aldo murmured admiringly.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s why I feel that he¡¯s rather scary.¡±

    Targes said, his greenish-blue eyes laughing happily.

    ¡°¡­What he did, he didn¡¯t plan at all.¡±

    When Ganche told him about the conversation of that afternoon, a hollow expression came over Ernst¡¯s face.

    ¡°But, it was thanks to everyone working that it became so easy to take care of.¡±

    Certainly, no matter where you walked in the manors of the estate, you would no longer feel a cold wind. Ernst had also stopped wearing his cloak.

    ¡°With all due respect¡­¡±

    They were seated in front of the fireplace, and when Ganche spoke those words to the small body perched upon his knee, Ernst giggled.

    ¡°You¡¯re my companion, Ganche. You don¡¯t have to be afraid of saying anything.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ Lord Ernst, you won¡¯t become angry?¡±

    ¡°What should I be angry about?¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst had been the crown prince, and now you are the noble Lord of the fief, too. Yet even so, everyone just speaks to you as they like, and I wondered if that wasn¡¯t terribly impolite¡­¡±

    When Ganche had been a mercenary, most of the people he had served had been nobles. No matter what country¡¯s or what territory¡¯s nobles they were, they more or less shared the same conduct: they disdained the lower classes.

    The people surrounding them always acted with courtesy and moderation so as to not upset the nobles.

    Because Meissen was such a remote region, the militia and the servants who were just common people treated Ernst with incredibly crude manners.

    ¡°Humm¡­ Well, isn¡¯t it fine like that?¡±

    Fufufu, Ernst giggled, leaning back on Ganche.

    ¡°It¡¯s a valuable thing for people to be able to speak to me without hesitation. If everyone reveres me and carefully selects the information they want to give me, then I might end up choosing the wrong path to walk on¡­ Though sometimes I might be surprised by it, even if they just hurled profanities at me, I feel like it would be to my benefit.¡±

    He turned around, his blue eyes reflecting Ganche.

    ¡°Besides, since Ganche will always get angry for me first, there¡¯s nothing for me to be upset over¡­ I have to apologize, but the fact that Ganche¡¯s heart can be thrown into such disarray over me makes me feel so happy.¡±

    Unable to hold himself back, Ganche kissed those mischievously smiling pale red lips.

    He greedily devoured that small body. It had been one month since the last time they indulged in each other.

    Ernst¡¯s slender body was still unaccustomed to it, but although Ganche couldn¡¯t savor him to his heart¡¯s content, these days where he could deeply intertwine himself with Ernst made Ganche feel the joy of supreme bliss.

    As they lay beneath the bedsheets, Ganche loosely gathered in his arms that beloved body which continued to sweetly pant.

    ¡°The words that the lord says might also lead his subjects astray.¡±

    Ernst whispered this quietly.

    A Dunbertian¡¯s eyes were able to see well even without much light. Though the room was shrouded in darkness, Ganche¡¯s eyes were able to make out Ernst¡¯s face, which still contained traces of passion.

    ¡°People interpret things according to what¡¯s convenient for them. Thus, they will bend what was actually said to fit within their own selfish interpretations, and share that with other people¡­ this propagation can¡¯t be underestimated. After passing through several people, the shape of the message will break down, changing into a piercing sword that will be turned against me. Or, it may become a rope which ties my hands.¡±

    He lowered his eyes, his thin fingers rubbing Ganche¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Ganche, you seem to think that everyone acts as if they aren¡¯t aware that I was formerly royalty, but¡­ perhaps, out of everyone, the people of Meissen are the ones who most view me as the former crown prince.¡±

    His boyish face twisted with self-deprecation.

    ¡°Since I¡¯m the former crown prince, nothing should be impossible for me. They all think this¡­ It¡¯s as if they believe I carry a magic wand.¡±

    Ganche had also felt uneasy about this. When he conversed with the militia troops, there were times where he could tell they thought this way.

    It wasn¡¯t just one or two soldiers who had absurdly said to him, ¡®Why don¡¯t you just try bringing it up with Lord Ernst?¡¯

    ¡°¡­I also believe that, if Lord Ernst sets his mind to it, anything is possible. But I feel this way not because you are the former crown prince, but because Lord Ernst is Lord Ernst.¡±

    As if weighing the true meaning of his words, those barely-visible blue eyes gazed up at Ganche in the darkness.

    ¡°The overpowering light which radiated from your body had instantly pierced my heart, but in the bathing chamber, when I saw the unfathomable depths of your blue eyes, my heart had been captured and bound to you.¡±

    Those blue eyes widened. They became slightly glossy with tears before slowly falling shut.

    ¡°Ganche, you are truly amazing. You were able to heal my melancholic mood, just like that.¡±

    He smiled, and when he opened his eyes again, they no longer showed any signs of tears.

    ¡°Ganche¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I want to tell you about what I imagine the future of Meissen to be. I can¡¯t speak of this to anyone until I can clearly see the path which leads to it, but I want to tell you, at least, Ganche¡­ Even if it might just end as a pipe dream of mine.¡±

    Ganche hugged that slender body in his arms.

    ¡°I will stay by Lord Ernst¡¯s side until the end. Though I have no education, and I may not understand the complexities, if Lord Ernst has a use for me then I will work myself to the bone to fulfill it¡­ however, even if this story ends as a pipe dream, I believe it will be fine. If it is a dream that Lord Ernst and I look at together, then I believe it will be a happy dream, no matter what it is.¡±

    ¡°¡­Ganche, you¡¯re like rain which falls upon parched earth. Your words fill up my heart and take my breath away again and again.¡±

    Ernst reached out his small hands and hugged him tightly.

    The Dunberts were people of destruction.

    They lived in battle and died in battle. They didn¡¯t possess the culture to create, and they moved according to fleeting emotions.

    They were a people who despised boredom, and who chased after a moment¡¯s exaltation.

    Yet even so, if he was with Ernst, and if he walked alongside Ernst toward the future they had looked at together, then he would never feel bored even if he spent the rest of his life in this quiet and tranquil land.

    Ganche was drawn into the future Ernst spoke of.

    The future of Meissen, which no one had ever imagined before, unfurled before his eyes there.

 Chapter 27

    ¡°What do you think is the primary problem faced by my fief of Meissen?¡±

    As he laid in the thick bedding woven out of feathers and became comfortable playing with his partner¡¯s large fingers, the seventeenth Lord of Meissen, the Duke Ernst Gille Farson Rintz Kleber, asked this question.

    ¡°The primary¡­ I am not too sure of this myself, but would it be, money?¡±

    Ernst¡¯s partner, the Dunbertian named Ganche, answered while slightly tilting his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s true that the fief of Meissen suffers greatly from financial difficulties. However, I don¡¯t believe that is its most dire problem.¡±

    Ernst grasped the man¡¯s muscular arm and thought over this answer whilst guiding that arm toward the center of his legs.

    Those thick fingers promptly inserted inside of him, and as Ernst let out a sweet pant, he opened his mouth to explore his developing thoughts.

    ¡°Do you know how many people reside in Meissen?¡±

    ¡°695 people.¡±

    ¡°And the number of militia?¡±

    ¡°It has 157 people.¡±

    This immediate reply came from within the bedding.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The number of militia under the captain¡¯s command amounts to 157 people. The population of Meissen, including the militia, is 695 people. Now then, are these numbers reasonable¡­¡±

    Ernst felt his small manhood become captured in the hot, sticky heat of the man¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Of the 695 people, about 150 of them have developed Kleber¡¯s disease. Of the remaining 550 people, 100 of them are children who are unable to work, and 80 of them are elderly. Of the remaining 370 people, 157 of them are in the militia.¡±

    ¡°¡­That means, a third of the adults who aren¡¯t suffering from disease have joined the militia? I feel like that¡¯s a very high number¡­¡±

    Ganche poked his head out from the covers, his thick fingers still inside of Ernst.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a very high number. Yet, we can¡¯t say that it¡¯s an unnecessarily high one.¡±

    Ernst stroked the man¡¯s brown hair.

    ¡°The Kingdom mandates that Meissen must have a militia of 200 troops.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ an impossible number, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an unjustifiable number when you take Meissen¡¯s circumstances into account. However, by no means has the Kingdom set this demand down for no reason. The justification for it lies in the fact that our neighbor, the Lux Kingdom¡¯s fief of Caprix, has a militia of 300 people.¡±

    The two fingers that Ganche had been massaging him with stopped their movements.

    ¡°Ngh¡­ move. It¡¯s not as if those 300 soldiers are attacking right now.¡±

    When Ernst felt those fingers begin moving again, he pressed a kiss to the man¡¯s muscular arm.

    ¡°The fief of Caprix has a population of 1200, and the fief of Rintz has a population of 1000. In the past, Meissen once had a population of 1100 people. At that time, the number of patients with Kleber¡¯s disease was 100 people. It had more citizens than it does now, and fewer people afflicted with disease.¡±

    He reached out his slender arm to grasp his partner¡¯s thick manhood. It was already hard and hot enough.

    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s stop talking. Ganche¡­ Put this in me.¡±

    As Ernst arched his back, Ganche sucked on the nubs on his thin chest. Ernst was lifted onto his partner¡¯s muscular stomach, and that beloved part of his breached Ernst¡¯s small rear.

    It wasn¡¯t so easy for Ernst to rid himself of the things that the royal palace had imprinted in him for 60 years. He operated by exact times as if an actual clock had been built into his body.

    After eating breakfast, Ernst promptly entered his office and shut himself away in there until lunch. He read the documents on Meissen that had been given to him when he had first taken up his post, analyzing them.

    After lunch, he walked around the mansion. The enormous estate had just the right amount of space for exercising after lunch. Though he should actually be walking around outside, Ernst still wasn¡¯t used to walking in the snow, so he had quickly given up on that.

    When he approached the usual corridor, Ernst looked down to watch the militia¡¯s training. When Ganche noticed him, a smile lit up his face. The surrounding militia troops also became aware of him and sketched out clumsy salutes.

    Ernst raised his thin arm, gesturing for them to not pay him any mind and continue.

    As he watched them resume their training once more, he felt slightly relieved.

    Compared to how helpless they had been when Ernst had first come into office, these troops had become incredibly robust, Ernst thought.

    ¡°For how many villages is this estate within a child¡¯s walking distance?¡±

    Ernst asked the head butler.

    ¡°For how many¡­? I think, if the child is about 10 years old, there are around three. If the snow was a little shallower, then that might be possible for about one more.¡±

    ¡°Humm. And along with that, there is also the town that is closest to the estate, so there are three villages and one town.¡±

    ¡°That, what is this for?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking of having the children commute to the estate so they can learn how to write.¡±

    The head butler wasn¡¯t able to hide his annoyance toward Ernst¡¯s words.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make that kind of face. I¡¯ll be the one teaching them. Nothing will be any different for you and the others.¡±

    Ernst said this to the head butler with a wry smile.

    In the Kingdom of Rintz, the schools which taught reading and writing demanded an immense tuition. Only nobles and affluent merchants were able to attend.

    Once could say that this was to make the farmers, the people who lived in the mountains, and the people who lived by rivers, all of those lower classes, have to submit unconditionally to the words of the upper classes.

    Much of what they knew was passed on through word of mouth, meaning that they were unable to directly experience the thinking of the original source.

    The majority of Meissen¡¯s current population was peasant folk, and Ernst didn¡¯t think that any of them would know how to read. Even the butlers who served in the estate weren¡¯t proficient when it came to handling letters.

    And in the first place, Meissen didn¡¯t have a school. Even when one read through the history of Meissen, there was no record of it ever having a school.

    Ernst wanted to give them knowledge, and to allow them to think for themselves. He didn¡¯t want to let them make their lives depend on the orders of their lord, and for them to stop and become lost in the absence of a lord.

    But, before that could happen, they had to learn letters, Ernst thought.

    When they learned letters, they could read books. They could read books that were correct as well as books which were inaccurate.

    He wanted them to be able to think not of today, or of tomorrow, but to set their sights on the matters of ten years or a hundred years in the future.

    This was the manner in which Meissen could be saved; this was what Ernst wished for.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­ Are you not tired?¡±

    Ganche¡¯s large hands rubbed Ernst beneath his ears as if to help him relax.

    ¡°Even though Lord Ernst spends three days a week teaching the children letters, you already have your hands unbearably full with your duties as lord¡­ And moreover, recently it isn¡¯t just children who call upon you, but adults, as well¡­¡±

    ¡°Aah, I quite agree. When everyone is motivated, I feel remarkably hopeful.¡±

    ¡°But Lord Ernst. When you meet the people who come to the estate so early, you¡¯re unable to even take your noon meal¡­ And also, there are those people who think of Lord Ernst like a doctor, aren¡¯t there? There are soldiers and villagers who immediately turn to Lord Ernst when something happens to them.¡±

    Primarily, in the Rintz Kingdom, the children would inherit their mothers¡¯ place. If the mother was a farmer, the child would be a farmer; if the mother was a doctor, the child would be a doctor.

    Only in extremely rare cases where the parents had signed a contract of partnership would their child be able to take on the standing of either of the parents.

    Doctors used medicinal herbs to cure their patients, but the knowledge of how to use those herbs was only passed down between doctors. The doctors picked their own herbs to turn them into medicine.

    It was for this reason that, even if the cures were made of weeds that people sometimes trampled over as they walked, the people of this country would even fall into debt to buy them from doctors.

    Presently, there were no doctors in Meissen. A hundred years ago, after the death of Ernst¡¯s predecessor, the previous lord, not a single doctor could be found in Meissen after a few days.

    When they fell ill, the people here could only hope for their illness to heal on its own. It was perhaps because of the lack of doctors that, over the course of a hundred years, the population of Meissen fell by 400 people.

    Once people heard that Ernst was had expertise with medicinal plants, they immediately rushed to the estate as soon as they had even the slightest of conditions. When the soldiers received even the tiniest of scratches, they went to Ernst to have him take a look at it.

    Far too many times, Ernst was called out of his day-to-day work in his office by the common people and shaken awake at midnight by the militia soldiers.

    These were people who, up until now, had not had even the faintest hopes of seeing a doctor. And unlike doctors, Ernst never demanded any payment when they relied on him, so it wasn¡¯t as if anyone could blame them.

    Ernst held Ganche¡¯s worried face between his hands, looking straightforwardly into the man¡¯s copper eyes.

    ¡°Ganche, do you know how many people reside in the Rintz Kingdom?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°About ten million people.¡±

    He pressed a kiss to his lover¡¯s kind lips.

    ¡°I was raised to carry the lives of ten million people on my back. How can I be afraid of supporting the seven hundred people of Meissen?¡±

    As if to reassure his beloved partner, Ernst deeply, thoroughly kissed him.

    ¡°Yet, if at some point the burden became too much for me to bear, then¡­ At that time, would you support me?¡±

    Rather than answering aloud with a Yes, a thick tongue plunged into Ernst¡¯s mouth.

 Chapter 28

    There were two kinds of people who visited the estate.

    Those who strove to learn and study letters, and those who only wanted to converse with Ernst. The adults were often the latter.

    And both of those were people whom Ernst met in the estate.

    ¡°In the old days, this was still a place where you could make a living. But nowadays, that ain¡¯t the case anymore¡­?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. How¡¯re the children s¡¯posed to live from here on¡­¡±

    The ones currently chatting in front of Ernst were people from the Kata and Latelle villages. These two groups were people who lived nearby and were able to reach the estate after walking one hour on foot.

    Of course, this sense of distance was according to Meissen¡¯s standards.

    ¡°Back when us few were kids, we had winter work to do in the winter. But now, there ain¡¯t any¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. It¡¯s ¡®cause of that, all I¡¯m doin¡¯ now is drinking tea all carefree.¡±

    ¡°You guys, watch your tongues. If I were the Lord right now, I wouldn¡¯t give ya permission to set a single foot in my estate.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. And besides, this ain¡¯t tea but hot water.¡±

    At that, the adults roared with laughter, and Ernst smiled wryly.

    He would have liked to serve them tea, but Ernst had never drunk any tea or the like ever since coming to Meissen. Meissen¡¯s financial problems were worse than Ernst had anticipated, and there weren¡¯t any luxury items at all.

    ¡°What was the work you performed during the winter?¡±

    ¡°Well, that was a whole buncha stuff. Like growin¡¯ wheat¡­¡±

    ¡°But ya could do that now, couldn¡¯t ya?¡±

    One of the farmers teased.

    ¡°In Meissen, if ya don¡¯t work all year round, ya won¡¯t be able to eat. Grow some wheat, grow some potatoes. But, in the past, there were more jobs to go around.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, money-makin¡¯ jobs.¡±

    ¡°Ya could weave baskets with the wheat straw, or weave nets¡­ but nowadays, if ya don¡¯t use it as kindling for the fireplace instead, you¡¯ll freeze in the winter¡­

    ¡°You can¡¯t make kindling out of the trees?¡±

    ¡°We would chop ¡®em down before winter came, but¡­ in the past, there were more people goin¡¯ out to do it. Nowadays there¡¯re less people in the village, and it¡¯s harder to get enough firewood for everyone.¡±

    ¡°Well, for us, we lost our jobs.¡±

    The women started talking with determination.

    ¡°In the winter, we took the sheep¡¯s wool that we¡¯d sheared earlier in the spring so we could weave and knit it, and that in itself kept us busy. Meissen¡¯s wool could fetch a good price over in Rintz fief, and even in the Caprix fief over in Lux Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°Aah, back in those times I could even buy some firewood for myself.¡±

    ¡°So you own some sheep?¡±

    ¡°In the past, we did. Up until when, I wonder~? Think I kept them up until seventy years ago, or so.¡±

    ¡°Humm. Did you end up having to eat them?¡±

    Around that time, Ernst was certain that the wheat crop had been particularly poor.

    ¡°Well¡­ that was part of it, yeah. But the biggest reason was the Caralime village.

    At the women¡¯s words, the remaining villagers didn¡¯t disguise the scowls on their faces.

    Ernst looked down, watching the militia¡¯s training.

    Recently, the soldiers had achieved remarkable growth.

    It was because the leadership had come out. Once the captain gave a single command, they were able to quickly carry it through.

    All of these people had become soldiers because they had been poor.

    If they joined the militia, they would be given food and a place to sleep. Moreover, if they were in the militia, they would be exempt from taxes. The villages sent out their able men to the militia so that the burden of taxes on those villages would be lighter.

    And, of course, it was also a way to reduce the number of mouths to feed.

    The people of the town also came to Ernst¡¯s audience hall. The town was made up of people who had the rank of merchants.

    ¡°Still, up until about 50 years ago, trade was still a viable business, too.¡±

    The traders of the town of Saiquani grumbled.

    ¡°I sold clothes, I sold confectioneries. I also sold books.¡±

    ¡°Books?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Well, that said, in Meissen there wasn¡¯t anyone who bought books other than the lord. He sure bought a whole lot of different kinds of books¡­¡±

    The man sent Ernst a meaningful glance.

    It seemed to be saying either ¡®Do you know the contents of those books?¡¯ or ¡®Ernst can also buy books from me¡¯.

    ¡°Currently, our business partnership with the estate is quite significant.¡±

    ¡°Although I am not very certain of this, it isn¡¯t viable if this estate is your only business partner, is it?¡±

    If there was anyone who best understood Meissen¡¯s financial straits, it would be Ernst.

    ¡°Uhm, well¡­¡±

    ¡°In the past, there was greater non-domestic trade, correct?¡±

    After all, the villagers had told him that Meissen¡¯s wool had sold for a good price.

    ¡°Yes, that ¨C is how it was. I purchased crops, firewood, handicrafts, and the like from the villagers, then went to sell them in other fiefs. Then, I would bring items I had purchased from the outside to sell in Meissen. But currently, trade isn¡¯t as lively as it was in the past.¡±

    ¡°The reason for that is because right now, few of our villages in Meissen have produced enough surplus that they can afford to sell.¡±

    ¡°Even so, villages like Dada, Kata, Latelle, Hrike, and Sounica will sell the items they¡¯ve produced.¡±

    ¡°Humm. So it seems that those five villages have built up a way of living.¡±

    ¡°Well, they are still villages of Meissen. They¡¯re only just barely managing to keep things that way.¡±

    The people who had come to visit the estate were limited to the villages of Kata and Latelle, as well as the people of Saiquani. The remaining villages and towns were too distant from the estate to feel free to visit.

    When Ernst thought back to the time he had first entered Meissen, and specifically the villages he had visited along the way to the estate, he remembered the emaciation of the villagers as well as the inadequate clothing they wore on their bodies.

    The people of Meissen had to put forth their best efforts just to be able to live.

    ¡°But whether you¡¯re a farmer, a hunter, or a merchant, money is absolutely important for all of us.¡±

    ¡°And other than us merchants, if someone wants to sell something, they can only sell to a merchant¡­¡±

    The merchants proudly nodded their heads.

    The Rintz Kingdom had exceptionally high class discrimination compared to any other territory or country.

    Citizens who were not merchants were not allowed to sell the items that they had harvested or produced to other people. They were only allowed to sell to a single recipient: the merchants.

    Furthermore, the class that each person belonged was rigidly, severely decided.

    In other words, someone who was born to merchants could only a merchant, and also someone who was born as a peasant could only be a peasant.

    If someone were to seek to reach a standing other than what they were born with, then on top of having to prepare complicated, complex official documents, they would also need a large sum of money.

    However, there were many things regarding the changing of one¡¯s position that couldn¡¯t be approved with money.

    That was the thing which no one could dare to transgress: the national law.

    Furthermore, there was another national law in Rintz Kingdom that placed a heavy burden on its people.

    Everyone had to pay a toll of money to the lord who presided over their lands. But of course, on top of that, the hunters and woodsmen had to also pay firewood and meat, and the farmers had to pay with their crops. Since artisans and merchants didn¡¯t produce their own goods, they had to pay a higher tax.

    Ernst strongly wished to do something about the taxes, but he couldn¡¯t find any loopholes to exploit in the tax law.

    All the lord could do was change the rate of his taxes.

    But even that wasn¡¯t allowed to move down, only up.

    ¡°Then for the people in your town, are you able to keep yourselves fed with your business?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not! We can¡¯t make a living just with what we gain through trade.¡±

    ¡°Yes, completely agreed. The money we earn all goes into purchasing the things we need to live, like firewood and food.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. First and foremost, from the money we earn through trade, we have to store away the portion that will be used to pay our taxes. What remains can be used for buying our life necessities. But recently, things are extremely difficult¡­¡±

    ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s extremely difficult, so we have no choice but to start ploughing our gardens and the outskirts of our town to do farmwork.¡±

    ¡°The farmers make fun of us because of it, too¡­¡±

    The men laughed self-deprecatingly.

    ¡°How did things get this way?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, well, it¡¯s probably because of Yakiya village, I¡¯d think.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that sounds about right. Before we knew it, the Yakiya and Maine villages were doing something quite splendid, weren¡¯t they.¡±

    ¡°But, well¡­ nowadays, the Maine village¡­ you know?¡±

    Saying that, the merchants all laughed in ridicule at this village that only Ernst didn¡¯t know.

    The children who were returning to their homes were handed a thinly-cut piece of wood. Though this wood had come from a huge tree, it was only a small slice. Its width was merely the same as three of Ernst¡¯s arms lined side by side.

    Each of those pieces of wood had a single character written at the top. This was so that the children would be able to continue to study even after they had gone home. The children could carve the wood with rocks to practice writing and remembering the word.

    Once they had finished writing over the one sheet of wood that Ernst had given them, they were allowed to throw it in the fire. Of these children who traveled to Ernst three days a week, some of them had parents with faces that weren¡¯t exactly happy.

    But, for the sake of that one thin board of wood that Ernst handed out, those parents didn¡¯t say anything.

 Chapter 29

    ¡°What kind of villages are Caralime and Yakiya?¡±

    In his office, Ernst asked this question to the head butler.

    ¡°Caralime village is¡­ aah, it¡¯s that Kleber¡¯s disease village. Because they have Kleber¡¯s disease, they¡¯re all lazy asses¡­ ah, please excuse my rudeness.¡±

    The head butler, Sington, hastily shut his mouth that had begun to slip.

    ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about that. Continue.¡±

    Ernst leaned back in his large chair.

    ¡°¡­That village is, the village where they abandoned their fields.¡±

    ¡°Their fields?¡±

    ¡°Yes. They said that they could live just by using it as pastureland, so they stopped cultivating their fields. Well, shepherds do have it easier.¡±

    Was that so? Ernst, who had never cultivated fields or used them for grazing, didn¡¯t have anything to contribute.

    ¡°Because of that, Meissen¡¯s villages started letting go of their livestock.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    The tall-standing Sington continued to look down toward Ernst, who asked this question.

    ¡°Because a single village had a large quantity of sheep allowed to graze. The amount of wool they gathered from this wasn¡¯t small. When they harvested an abundance of wool, they could sell for a lower price. The other villages couldn¡¯t compete with the price of Caralime¡¯s wool.¡±

    So was that why the Kata and Latelle villages let go of their livestock?

    Ernst, however, didn¡¯t believe so simply that this was the only reason why their life became so pressured.

    ¡°Then, how about Yakiya village?¡±

    ¡°That one is¡­ aah, the Lux Kingdom¡¯s village.¡±

    He said something strange. Ernst made a doubtful expression as he asked:

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a village of Meissen?¡±

    ¡°Eeh, well, that¡¯s true, but¡­ the people of Meissen think of them as Lux¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Unlike when he was discussing Caralime, the fluidity of the head butler¡¯s words disappeared.

    ¡°The Bastelis river that serves as the border to Lux Kingdom doesn¡¯t rage all year round. Every year, there are two months where boats can cross. The people of Yakiya village take on this job of crossing the river.¡±

    Farmers were unable to pursue anything other than agriculture. Only riverfolk could take on the job of handling boats.

    ¡°Are the people of Yakiya not farmers, but riverfolk?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ the previous lord had approved of their request to revise their position. Thus, several people of Yakiya aren¡¯t farmers, but riverfolk.¡±

    The reason why they didn¡¯t all become riverfolk was most likely because the job of crossing the river could only be done for two months. And so, for the reason that they couldn¡¯t fully change over, this roughly impossible had occurred.

    ¡°But why, then, is it called a village of Lux?¡±

    Although the two countries were mutually keeping each other in check, they hadn¡¯t cut off their diplomatic relations. On the surface, Lux Kingdom had was a friend of Rintz Kingdom.

    When you took into account Meissen¡¯s geographical location, if you were able to use boats, then rather than having to cross steep cliffs to enter your own country¡¯s Rintz fief, it was much easier to cross the river to Lux Kingdom to sell your goods.

    Be that as it may, since the Bastelis river could only be crossed two months a year, they wouldn¡¯t sell all goods to the neighboring country; as such, Ernst didn¡¯t understand why Yakiya village, which was the only one that met the river, would be ridiculed as being a village of Lux Kingdom.

    ¡°Yakiya village doesn¡¯t sell their products to Meissen¡¯s merchants, but to Lux¡¯s merchants.¡±

    ¡°To Lux¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°Yes. For that reason, Meissen¡¯s merchants no longer do business with them.¡±

    For the first time, Ernst set foot upon the militia¡¯s training grounds, which he had always watched from above. Ganche promptly noticed and rushed to meet him.

    ¡°Lord Ernst. Has something happened?¡±

    ¡°No, nothing major¡­ Could you tell me where the captain is?¡±

    To give some reassurance to Ganche¡¯s worries, Ernst gently touched his muscular arm. He was slightly damp with sweat.

    Even though it was snowing, they continued to train so fiercely to the point that they were sweating.

    Just like with his citizens, Ernst had to protect his troops, too.

    Protected by Ganche, Ernst walked between the training militia soldiers who were unaware of his presence. Though their swords resonated with metal clangs every time they met, Ernst didn¡¯t feel it was scary at all.

    With Ganche by his side, Ernst had nothing to fear.

    ¡°Is something the matter?¡±

    As always, Captain Targes was training the new recruits. The look in his gaze was as sharp as always, and even with Ernst in front of him, he didn¡¯t bow to his knees.

    ¡°I just want to have a small chat. Do you have time?¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s very strange to ask that. You could just order me to do so.¡±

    ¡°That may be true. But if I always hand out orders all the time, won¡¯t they become meaningless when they matter most?¡±

    At Ernst¡¯s words, Targes and Ganche exchanged a look with their eyes. Those significant gazes they exchanged several heads above Ernst made something bitter unfurl in his stomach.

    ¡°You can take as many hours of mine as you like. Now then, where should we go?¡±

    This is something that we can¡¯t talk about here, right? his eyes said. This man was able to guess this correctly, and to Ernst, it felt like he was able to see through even the jealousy in Ernst¡¯s heart.

    Ernst slightly diverted his gaze and grasped the arm of Ganche, who stood behind him.

    ¡°In that case, please meet me in my office. Aah, but you don¡¯t have to come in a hurry.¡±

    Targes chuckled, his laugh showing in his blue eyes that were particular to Kleber, as Ernst left. The militia soldiers lightly saluted around him.

    Ernst adhered himself to Ganche¡¯s large body without checking if he had closed the door to his office.

    Over here, there was only one man who would be able to guess Ernst¡¯s heart. He swiftly lifted up Ernst¡¯s small body.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything¡­ I know.¡±

    Ernst brought his nose to that wide neck, breathing in to fill his chest with that beloved scent.

    Ernst didn¡¯t feel any pity for himself.

    All he could do was feel jealous over everyone around Ganche.

    No matter who it was, anyone who stood next to Ganche ended up looking like they were well-suited to him in Ernst¡¯s eyes. This too-small body of Ernst¡¯s wasn¡¯t able to match up, and it was all too easy for those other people to leave Ernst in the dust.

    Taking Ganche with them.

    He kissed under Ganche¡¯s ear with his tongue. Then his throat, and the point of his chin. He kissed Ganche¡¯s cheeks, and from a close distance, he peered into Ganche¡¯s copper eyes.

    As Ganche gazed back into Ernst¡¯s blue eyes, he returned Ernst¡¯s kisses, deeply pulling him in with his mouth.

    Tasting Ganche¡¯s thick, hot tongue, Ernst closed his eyes, peace of mind finally settling over him.

    One of Ganche¡¯s muscular arms embraced Ernst as the two of them kissed each other, their breaths mingling into one. Then a loud noise interrupted them, breaking their romantic spell.

    Ernst instinctively glared daggers over at the door. Seeing that, Ganche stifled a smile and softly lowered Ernst onto the floor.

    The noise sounded once more. Ernst let out a sigh, and turning to the door, he called out:

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    Captain Targes entered the room. His eyes held a strange laughter. He had probably been able to figure out why Ernst had changed his mind and expressly added that he wasn¡¯t in a hurry to see him.

    It was so that he could have a moment to enjoy some time with Ganche.

    ¡°Now then, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±

    Ganche said this to Ernst and Targes before exiting the room.

    ¡°¡­So he¡¯s not going to sit in with us, then.¡±

    Targes asked this to Ernst, a surprised air around him.

    ¡°Although his standing may be the same as the captain¡¯s, Ganche is still merely a foot soldier. However, if I judge it to be necessary, then I will inform him later.¡±

    The members of Meissen¡¯s militia must live in the barracks built on the premises of the lord¡¯s estate. Only the captain was allowed to live together with his family. The ones who could live in detached houses with multiple rooms were platoon leaders or higher. Everyone below that had to live together in the barracks, which had been divided into rooms.

    Ganche, who was just a foot soldier, also had to live in the barracks. Though it was cramped for that giant body of his, he managed to live there.

    But now he lived in the lord¡¯s mansion with Ernst. Ernst was the one who had broken the rules of the militia. He wasn¡¯t able to stand living even a short distance apart from Ganche.

    Although Ganche¡¯s social position could be considered to be equal to the captain¡¯s, Ernst wanted to make sure not to worsen Ganche¡¯s position.

    There were several situations where he might be distrusted for being the partner of the lord. A mere rumor or speculation that passed through the militia¡¯s army could be believed to be true, thereby becoming an invisible blade turned against Ganche.

    To that end, Ernst paid particular attention to the way he handled matters so as to not bring Ganche under others¡¯ suspicions.

    ¡°I was thinking of going around the Caralime, Arruca, Yakiya, and also the Iben and Eitt villages in the near future.¡±

    Targes¡¯ eyes widened.

    ¡°All of those villages are far away? Shouldn¡¯t you wait until the snow melts, at least?¡±

    ¡°Though I also considered that, it would be better not to leave it for so long of a time.¡±

    ¡°¡­Why is that?¡±

    ¡°If possible, I want to listen to the stories of people over 150. What happened over these past 100 years, is what I want to find out.¡±

    ¡°¡­They desperately tried to survive, is what I think they¡¯ll tell you.¡±

    His voice was laced with sarcasm.

    Targes had settled in Meissen last summer, brought his swordsmanship skills to the militia, then became the captain a few days before Ernst took up his post as lord.

    Ernst had heard that he had once been a soldier of the Rintz national army. Even now, his rank was that of a knight¡¯s.

    It was said that for 50 years before arriving in Meissen, he had been a mercenary, like Ganche.

    Ernst didn¡¯t know what circumstances had made him leave his highly-paid position in the national army and throw himself into becoming a mercenary. What sort of daily lives did mercenaries live?

    But, he knew that people in positions of power didn¡¯t have very many pleasant memories of it.

    ¡°Humm. The people of Meissen used their utmost efforts to live on with their own power. That process is something which I also want to know.¡±

    Ernst said this quietly, looking up at Targes.

    Targes was silent for a while, then gave a shallow nod of his head.

    ¡°¡­Then let¡¯s send out some of the troops. It¡¯s a good opportunity. We can do marching training with the newcomers in the center.¡±

    Targes suggested this, his usual fearless smile on his face.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, are you taking a look around your territory?¡±

    ¡°Aah¡­ I am. That said, I¡¯m only looking at the villages that are far from this estate.¡±

    ¡°How far do you mean?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a ten-hour walk to Caralime village, the furthest village from the estate. It seems to be about six hours to Arruca and Eitt.¡±

    ¡°¡­I can also¡­ accompany you, right?¡±

    Ganche, who never commented on Ernst¡¯s decisions in his position as lord, now made a rare request.

    ¡°Humm. Of course; I had also intended for that.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much!¡±

    Seeing Ganche¡¯s face break into a wide smile, Ernst was unable to hold back and pressed a kiss onto that large mouth.

    Although compared to Ernst who could only be said to look like a boy, Ganche¡¯s age matched his large form, Ganche really did carry a sense of youthfulness inside. He wasn¡¯t like Ernst, who had lived for 60 years; he had the youth of someone who had lived for less than 30 years.

    To Ernst, this was also something that made him so lovable, and beloved.

    ¡°Each village is in a completely different place, so it won¡¯t be possible to visit them all at once. If the travel to visit each one takes one to two days, and we take two days to stay, then it will take at most six days to see a single village. To finish seeing all five villages will take two months.¡±

    As if following the villages of Meissen, Ernst circled his thin finger over Ganche¡¯s compact stomach. Ganche laughed, seeming ticklish.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t I be able to stay with Lord Ernst all day?¡±

    He said something so cute.

    Ernst used his tongue to lick and taste that proudly-standing, dark red giant. Ganche¡¯s fragrance, his scent which Ernst would never be able to have his fill of, diffused in his mouth.

    ¡°Hngh¡­ nn¡­ it¡¯s snowing right now, so you might not be able to use a carriage. In that case, I¡¯m more than willing to carry Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ganche said this so eagerly that Ernst unintentionally nodded along with him.

    ¡°I would also like for that¡­ Unfortunately, the carriages in Meissen seem to have been made to be able to run on snow.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is that so¡­¡±

    Seeing Ganche¡¯s completely saddened and desolate state, Ernst was filled with the urge to do something about it.

    But, Targes had said that this would double as training for the new recruits. The inclusion of the new recruits gave him the good reason of bringing along Ganche to instruct them. For Ernst¡¯s sake, he was bringing Ganche along with him.

    Ernst couldn¡¯t disturb the matters of the unit any more than this.

    ¡°But we¡¯ll still be together; that hasn¡¯t changed. Even if I had to leave Ganche behind at the estate, if it were for such a long time, I don¡¯t think that I would be able to stand letting you go, after all.¡±

    ¡°You think so?¡±

    He finally cheered up after Ernst comforted him.

    Perhaps it was because Ganche had to stand on equal footing with people who were two or even three times older than he was in the militia, around Ernst, when it was just the two of them, he became particularly childlike.

    But even that was so cute that Ernst could barely stand it.

    Ernst gripped Ganche¡¯s cock with his small hands and brought it to his mouth.

    Seeing it standing, hard with arousal, made a tingling feeling spread out in Ernst¡¯s hips. Ernst¡¯s body knew well the joy of being hollowed out around its brutal girth.

    Ernst crept his tongue along the veins protruding from Ganche¡¯s dark red cock. How many people had he stuck this into, for it to become this color.

    He despised those people whose faces he didn¡¯t even know; how sad he was.

    Ernst only knew Ganche. Ernst¡¯s small cock only knew the inside of Ganche¡¯s mouth. Even if it was now 60 years old, this faintly flower-colored thing of his could only dangle, small and quiet, from his hairless lower half.

    He stuffed his mouth and cheeks full of Ganche¡¯s thick cock. Though he took it in so deeply that he started to gag around it, he wasn¡¯t satisfied with just holding the tip in his mouth.

    Ernst was amazed by Ganche¡¯s thickness and length, but the fact that people other than him would be able to bring just as much, no, even more pleasure to Ganche with their skill, was frustrating.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    Ganche¡¯s voice drifted down, brimming with satisfaction as he gently stroked Ernst¡¯s hair.

    All of a sudden, a powerful sense of attachment to Ganche welled up inside of Ernst.

    This man is mine. He is my partner, the man who exchanged vows with me.

    I won¡¯t hand him over to anyone.

    Ernst gripped Ganche¡¯s large, weighty balls, massaging them. That delicious liquor seeped into Ernst¡¯s mouth. Ernst drank down and savored that fine liquor which overflowed from his mouth.

    Between Ernst¡¯s legs, he felt his small manhood start to give its best effort to assert itself.

    Translator¡¯s Note

    Ernst is no longer using ¡®manhood¡¯ to describe Ganche¡¯s parts. I¡¯m not sure if I should celebrate.

    Lately I¡¯ve been binge-reading everything on  (Reborn as a System is so much fun!) and also on (currently reading Who Touched My Tail, which is really filling me up with its huge and plentiful chapters). I¡¯m not caught up on any of the stories being translated recently¡­ What are you guys reading? Send me recs~!

 Chapter 30

    Five days later, they finished preparations to leave the estate.

    Ernst¡¯s entourage included a butler, Mais, the captain of the militia, Targes, the 2nd platoon leader, Al, and the 22 people in the 2nd platoon, plus the new recruits, totaling 48 people. Of course, there was also Ganche.

    The head butler was in charge during Ernst¡¯s absence, while the Vice-Captain of the militia, Aldo, was in charge during Targes¡¯ absence.

    First, they would head for the furthest village from the estate, Caralime.

    The village of Caralime was located southwest of the estate.

    It was located in the exact center between the valley Ernst had crossed which bordered the Rintz fief, the forest which lead to that valley, and the mountains which lead into Rintz fief. These mountains were tall, steep, and impassible.

    The village had once engaged in farming, grazing, and hunting.

    Ernst completely had no idea of how the village was doing now. According to the census conducted 50 years ago, all of the adults of the village had Kleber¡¯s disease.

    The butler Mais drove Ernst¡¯s carriage. The militia soldiers, naturally, walked on foot. Only the captain, Targes, and the 2nd platoon leader, Al, rode on horses.

    Before their departure, Ernst had asked Mais about Caralime village. But other than the village¡¯s name and location, Mais didn¡¯t know anything about it.

    Mais was still young. He had also only served the estate for a short time. It wasn¡¯t improbably for him not to know anything about other villages.

    However, Ernst thought.

    Whether they were the people of the Kata or Latelle villages close to the estate, the merchants of Saiquani town, or the people who worked at the estate like Mais, the people of Meissen generally had a very narrow field of view.

    They only perceived the happenings of their own villages. Or otherwise, like the Kata and Latelle villages, they had a strong tendency to only think about the people they could easily keep in touch with.

    Even though they were all residents of Meissen, they were deeply uninterested in the people who lived in villages that were too far away.

    In the center between Caralime village and the estate was a small mansion owned by the lord. Since Meissen encompassed such a huge expanse of land, it was scattered with several mansions just like this one.

    They departed from the estate early in the morning, and they arrived at the mansion after noon.

    ¡°It really was the right choice to bring some from the manor.¡±

    Mais said, looking around the inside of the mansion.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t a single piece of firewood.¡±

    This was normally a mansion that wouldn¡¯t be used at all. It was obvious that this would be the case.

    ¡°How are the militia¡¯s troops?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure why, but the Captain seems to be angry.¡±

    ¡°He is?¡±

    ¡°Yes. And the militia members are looking downright depressed and miserable.¡±

    ¡°Did you call for me?¡±

    Targes came to meet Ernst, who had taken a seat upon a creaking chair in the mansion.

    ¡°Yes; please take a seat.¡±

    Targes sat down on the chair Ernst pointed at, which let out a similar creak.

    ¡°¡­Is it really alright? All this.¡±

    ¡°Who knows. This is a mansion that hasn¡¯t been in use for a hundred years. No matter where you go you¡¯ll find something wrong; it¡¯s causing Mais a lot of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ it really seems that way.¡±

    Targes looked at the floorboards, then looked up at the ceiilng. The floorboards were coming unstuck in some places, and holes had opened in the ceiling.

    ¡°If Meissen ever has anything to spare then this can be repaired, but for now it will remain as is.¡±

    Depending on the situation in the future, Ernst thought that it might even be better to dismantle the mansion itself and build a small cabin in its stead.

    ¡°In any case, what did you need me for?¡±

    ¡°Aah, that¡¯s right. When we arrived at the mansion, Mais mentioned that the Captain was angry¡­ I wanted to ask, did something happen? Ah, no, but, it isn¡¯t that I particularly want to meddle with the inner affairs of the militia¡­ I¡¯m just, a little curious.¡±

    He didn¡¯t intend to poke his nose in, but he couldn¡¯t help but ask.

    If the troops were in low spirits, then maybe Ganche was in low spirits, too. It was better if he knew the circumstances so that he could comfort him, was what Ernst was thinking.

    ¡°¡­Please rest assured. I did discipline them a little strongly, but it doesn¡¯t have anything to do with Ganche.¡±

    When those blue eyes brimming with laughter turned on him, Ernst forced a cough in reply.

    ¡°The new recruits seem to be completely lacking in awareness. Though there¡¯s nothing that can be said other than, ¡®No wonder.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Awareness?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Lord Ernst has also noticed, right? Despite Meissen being a border, its army is shabby.¡±

    Ernst lightly folded his slender hands.

    ¡°Although we¡¯ve fought against Lux Kingdom and Silus Kingdom before, we have never been invaded across the Bastelis river. What that means is that despite Meissen being a border territory, it has never faced battle even once in its history.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. None of the country¡¯s official army has been stationed here, and neither the citizens nor the militia are conscious of this being a border territory.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Yet even so, this land is¡­¡±

    ¡°A solitary island.¡±

    Targes grinned at Ernst¡¯s words.

    ¡°In the winter, the path to the Rintz fief disappears. Even in the summer, the only way to cross is by sidling over that rock wall. If Lux Kingdom wished, they could easily force Meissen to capitulate. Though the general population seems to think it¡¯s the Bastelis river which protects them.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s actually protecting Meissen is its border with Rintz fief, the Rintz valley. Even if the Lux Kingdom¡¯s soldiers crowded into the snow, in order to cross that valley, they would have to send each soldier across one by one. There is no way they could do that with thousands, or tens of thousands of soldiers.¡±

    ¡°It is for that reason why Lux Kingdom will not pass through Meissen in order to attack our Kingdom of Rintz.¡±

    ¡°Yet even if that¡¯s the case, that doesn¡¯t mean that we can just let the militia act as carefree as they please. Along the way here, I was watching how the militia conducted itself. All of them acted like they were going on a stroll¡­ all happy-go-lucky. They chatted amongst each other, and they started discussing current events and circumstances with the peasants they passed. There were even some who forgot their weapons, can you believe that? Those damn guys, the first thing they should do is remember to bring their weapon with them.¡±

    Although to Ernst¡¯s untrained eye it seemed that the militia¡¯s movements had improved through their training, what he saw wasn¡¯t necessarily how things actually were.

    ¡°Compared to the newcomers, the second platoon seems to be at a somewhat better level.¡±

    ¡°Is that so¡­ Meissen has many problems to work on. The militia is also one of those problems. But I believe if we work on this patiently and steadily, it will be possible to resolve. At the very least, don¡¯t you think that the sense of urgency the Captain carries has helped the militia overcome half of their obstacles?¡±

    Ernst said quietly, and when he looked up, he saw that those usually fearless eyes were now swimming with moisture.

    It seemed that this captain of the militia was unexpectedly a very shy person.

    The members of the militia didn¡¯t think of themselves as defenders of the border. Even Ernst could see that from the start.

    That was why he had decided to entrust the captain with strengthening and disciplining the soldiers.

    Though the King sat at the highest position of the army, he did not receive any training as a soldier. On the contrary, he would never hold a sword in his life.

    Ernst was the same. Ernst, who had never held a sword and had never experienced marching with the soldiers, couldn¡¯t think of any words to say to the militia.

    Now that Ernst had confirmed that the captain leading the militia carried the same feelings Ernst did, he concluded that he could leave everything up to Targes without having to worry over it.

    Ernst felt that one of the burdens he carried had become lighter.

    ¡­However,

    What was protecting Meissen were the Bastelis River and Rintz Valley.

    That was what Ernst had said to Targes, but Ernst realized that there was one more thing which protected Meissen.

    As ironic as it was, that thing was Meissen¡¯s greatest defense, and its strongest shield.

    Even though they had been badly beaten down and fallen into low spirits because of the captain, after just an hour, they were completely back to normal. Since this was what one meant when one said they had no awareness, it couldn¡¯t be helped.

    Ernst let out a light sigh, gazing at the troops surround him from a distance.

    He instantly found Ganche. It was because he stood two heads taller than everyone else.

    Ganche also sought out Ernst, and he came jogging over.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    His whole face lit up with a smile.

    ¡°Is the carriage alright? It¡¯s not shaking, is it? Is it not making you tired? ¡­Perhaps you ought to leave it to me to carry you, after all?¡±

    He held Ernst¡¯s small hand within both of his, making Ernst have to brace himself as he listened.

    ¡°Humm. My answer to all of those questions is, ¡®I¡¯m alright.¡¯¡±

    That large body became discouraged, his muscular shoulders falling.

    ¡°Is it alright at the moment? You don¡¯t have training to do or anything?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We have put up the tents, and I will be on meal duty tomorrow morning. Since I am not on fire duty tonight, I am free until morning.¡±

    ¡°Is that so.¡±

    As if he was anticipating Ernst¡¯s next words, Ganche¡¯s large hands rubbed Ernst¡¯s arms.

    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll allow you to carry me to the mansion.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    In a merry mood, Ganche easily lifted Ernst up and began to walk.

 Chapter 31

    On the next day, they departed early in the morning again, and they arrived in Caralime village just before noon.

    Though Ernst watched them from the window of his carriage, he couldn¡¯t really see if the militia¡¯s movements were any different from how they were yesterday. It seemed like this wasn¡¯t something with such a straightforward fix.

    Caralime Village was even worse than expected.

    This village, which was three hours away on foot from Arruca, the first village Ernst had ever set foot in when he arrived in Meissen, really deserved to be called the village of Kleber¡¯s disease.

    Of the thirty villagers, not counting the seven children, all twenty-three adults were affected by the disease.

    ¡°When did this village first start seeing a rise in Kleber¡¯s disease?¡±

    In the village head¡¯s house, Ernst met with the four elders of the village. Though they were called elders, they were all 140 to 170 years of age, which in the capital would still be considered working age.

    ¡°Well, let me see¡­ back when I was a child, my mother was a normal adult¡­ so maybe it was about 160 years ago.¡±

    ¡°Very well, then; what this means is that up until at least 160 years ago, there were people who didn¡¯t contract the disease?¡±

    The villagers nodded. If a bystander watched this scene, then including Ernst, this would only look like a group of little boys gathering around to conspire over something.

    ¡°Just what had happened to cause this situation, I wonder.¡±

    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be able to know that. We don¡¯t even know what causes Kleber¡¯s disease, after all.¡±

    Hearing the villager say those words as if distancing himself from them, Ernst smiled wryly and nodded in agreement.

    He was right; no one had found the cause of the disease.

    However, if every single villager had Kleber¡¯s disease, which was said to occur in 1 of every 100 people, then he had to consider that there might be something causing it in the village.

    But it seemed that rather than trying to investigate the cause of the disease, they had to focus on giving their all to survive each and every day.

    ¡°I had heard that this village focuses on shepherding?¡±

    At Ernst¡¯s words, the villagers smiled cynically.

    ¡°Hmm. Did the other villages say something to you?¡±

    ¡°Something like that you were lazy¡­¡±

    ¡°Those guys don¡¯t know anything at all, but they always act so smugly, always making fools of us.¡±

    After they spent some time cursing the other villages, one of the villagers turned to Ernst.

    ¡°Honorable Lord, have you ever ploughed a field?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    ¡°Then, how about shepherding?¡±

    Ernst lightly shook his head to deny it.

    ¡°Working on the fields isn¡¯t a job that you can say you¡¯ll only do over the summer. It¡¯s impossible to cultivate enough food for the entire year in just the short summer season. That¡¯s why, in the winter, you would have to plant winter crops.¡±

    This was also what the Kata and Latelle villages had told him. They grew wheat over the summer and root vegetables over the winter.

    ¡°Ploughing the frozen fields over the winter is a very power-intensive job. I believe that the honorable Lord should understand why this would be a difficult task for us¡­¡±

    The men discreetly looked at Ernst. The people who had fallen ill with Kleber¡¯s disease would only be able to exert the same power as a little boy or girl throughout their entire lifetime.

    ¡°More and more of the villagers contracted Kleber¡¯s disease, burdening our parents. Though they had ploughed wide fields, if things continued like this then we, their children, would struggle to work on them.¡±

    ¡°That was why we left them to become pastureland. When it comes to pasturage, you can just ride on the back of a donkey while you work.¡±

    ¡°That said, it isn¡¯t as if it¡¯s all easy. We have to take many things into consideration when we work as shepherds. Which kinds of grass can we let them eat, when should we move the sheep, how many animals can we take care of before they start to starve¡­ many things¡­ Honestly, we have to think about so many things.¡±

    ¡°How we can calm the sheep down with our limited strength, how we can shear the wool as quickly as possible, which sheep we should breed more of¡­ we had to think about these kinds of matters.¡±

    ¡°In spring, in summer, in fall, in winter, we followed after the sheep. That was how we, in our own way, worked as hard as we possibly could.¡±

    The men looked away with distant eyes, as if remembering the faraway past.

    ¡°But in the end¡­ all of our efforts were for nothing, all because of that damned Arruca village. Because those bastards were so sloppy with their work, no one would even take a look at Meissen¡¯s wool anymore! And those other villages, without even knowing anything, all blamed us for it!¡±

    This was a village on the outskirts of a land that was already on the outskirts. Not a single one of the villagers has ever received an education.

    The villagers had tried to keep in mind to speak politely to Ernst in the beginning, but once their emotions grew more and more intense, they began to forget.

    The only people in this place were Ernst, his butler Mais, and the villagers. But once the villagers¡¯ voices could be heard outside, the door quietly opened to reveal Targes¡¯ figure.

    The villagers hadn¡¯t noticed Targes¡¯ appearance; Ernst sent him an order with his eyes, and Targes withdrew.

    ¡°What did the Arruca village do?¡±

    When the villagers¡¯ emotions had somewhat subsided, Ernst quietly asked this.

    ¡°Those bastards¡­ they copied us.¡±

    ¡°Copied?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ those bastards abandoned ploughing their farmland, migrated over to where they are now, and started shepherding, just like us.¡±

    Farmers weren¡¯t allowed to change their lands.

    But that only applied to migrating between territories. It wasn¡¯t illegal to change land within the same fief.

    ¡°But those bastards, they didn¡¯t think over how to care for their sheep as much as we did.¡±

    ¡°Those guys just kept increasing how many sheep with low-quality wool they had. Once they sold their low-quality wool to the other fiefs, no one would buy for a high price anymore. The prices of Meissen¡¯s wool were smashed all at once.¡±

    ¡°And on top of that, Arruca Village¡¯s shepherding was sloppy, too. They let the sheep eat up all the grass, so the sheep eventually starved¡­¡±

    ¡°Those bastards walked however many hours it took to get to our pastures and let their sheep eat our grass. And because of that, our sheep starved¡­¡±

    Tearing up, the villager squeezed out these words.

    After stepping foot in Caralime Village, Ernst found it very surprising.

    He had heard that it was a village of pastures, but he barely saw any sheep. He had wondered if maybe their pastures were far away, but apparently, that wasn¡¯t the case.

    Just like the town of Saiquani, which was now unable to live off of trade, this village of Caralime was now unable to live off of their shepherding.

    ¡°Up until now, how did you get by?¡±

    ¡°We depend on the migrant workers. Every year, ten of our people leave the village to go find work. With that, we¡¯re somehow able to pay the taxes and eat.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s also becoming harder to do. Starting next year, if fifteen people don¡¯t leave to find work, then we won¡¯t be able to survive¡­¡±

    The villagers sighed and looked down.

    By the time Ernst exited the village head¡¯s house, the outside was covered in only a very dim light. Even though they had spoken for barely half a day, it felt like many times more than that.

    Ernst was very, no, extremely tired.

    The only soldiers who had accompanied him to the village included the captain, twelve of the new recruits, and Ganche.

    When they noticed Ernst, they lined up.

    ¡°Sorry. I kept you waiting.¡±

    It was hard to make out the expression of Targes, who stood two heads taller than Ernst. Even though it took half a day to travel here, they wouldn¡¯t be able to return to the mansion in this amount of time.

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to return right now.¡±

    ¡°It seems so¡­ if we left now, then it would be midnight by the time we returned to the mansion. We¡¯d still be coming back here tomorrow, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct; I still want to look around a little more.¡±

    He wanted to look around the village tomorrow.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll just camp outdoors. Lord Ernst, are you alright with that?¡±

    Of course, he nodded.

    He might have predicted this would happen. When Targes had left the mansion, he had brought with him enough firewood and food for one night.

    On top of that, in the daytime he had been ordering the soldiers to find a place where they would be able to set up camp.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we stay inside the village?¡±

    One of the troops asked Targes.

    ¡°Just at a glance you can see how exhausted this village is; they can¡¯t afford to accept this many people. And besides, you guys need to learn how to camp outside.¡±

    That was certainly true, Ernst thought. Over here, the only people who had camped outdoors before were Targes, Ganche, and Ernst.

    Even though Ernst, the former crown prince and now lord, knew how to camp outdoors, somehow not a single one of these militiamen had ever slept outside before.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let the fire go out, or else wolves might come near.¡±

    Targes said this while smiling, and the soldiers frantically rushed to stoke the fire with kindling.

    ¡°How was it? The village.¡±

    They were a total of fifteen people, so they lit three fires.

    Ernst, Targes, and Ganche, these three people surrounded one of those fires.

    ¡°Humm. It seems like these villagers live by cooperating well with each other.¡±

    The soldiers had lit their fires a little further away, and as they surrounded the flames, they chatted loudly. Their continuously playful attitude worried Targes.

    ¡°These thirty villagers seem to live in three groups.¡±

    ¡°I also confirmed this. In the past, it seems like they used to live each on their own. They had several houses, they said, as well as several cottages here and there, but they decayed and broke down. Now they live inside of the more sturdily-built houses in three groups.¡±

    During the time Ernst had been talking with the villagers, Targes had ordered the new recruits to train while he himself nonchalantly took a look around the village.

    ¡°I see. Every year, this village sends out ten people to leave and find work outside, so it seems like the entire village shares everything like one big family.¡±

    ¡°It certainly seems that way. Even though there are seven children in this village, their mothers don¡¯t have to worry about leaving to find work since the children will live alongside the elderly villagers.¡±

    It was unusual for the common people of Rintz Kingdom to bind themselves in the form of marriage. Even if a child is born from freely lovemaking, no one minded.

    Especially in poorer regions like Meissen, children were treated as treasures whom all of the villagers worked together to raise.

    Although all of the Schell races were similar in that their bodies were less likely to become pregnant and they rarely had children, in remote places, their particular customs became more prominent.

    ¡°This village may be impoverished, but I feel that it¡¯s moving in the right direction.¡±

    After some time, the militia soldiers had quieted down. Even though they had been told not to let the fire die out, they had all fallen asleep.

    ¡°Those guys¡­ they¡¯re really stuffed full of complacency all the way up to their heads.¡±

    Sighing, Targes stood. He walked a few steps away, then turned to look back.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to go watch over that fire over there, so Ganche, you keep an eye on this fire here¡­ Since I¡¯m going over there, I¡¯m not going to come back, so you two feel free to do whatever you like later.¡±

    Grinning with a smirk, he headed off into the distance.

    Even if they were told ¡®you two feel free to do whatever you like¡¯, considering they were by the fire, they wouldn¡¯t be able to hide anything and Targes would still be able to see them.

    It didn¡¯t matter to Ernst if he was seen, but he worried that it would worsen Ganche¡¯s position. They wouldn¡¯t be able to spend time as usual in this kind of place.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, whenever you feel like getting some rest, please do so.¡±

    Ganche said this while adding kindling to the flame.

    Even though they were this close to each other, and their scents were mingling, and he had immediately come to Ernst¡¯s side, he seemed to composed and unaffected now. Even though for Ernst, he always spent every night wishing he could feel Ganche.

    ¡°Lord Ernst?¡±

    Though Ganche let out a puzzled voice, Ernst disregarded his concern. He stood up and brought himself over to Ganche, who had been sitting cross-legged atop a cloth sheet he had carried with him. Ernst set himself down upon Ganche¡¯s lap.

    He rested his back on Ganche¡¯s wide chest.

    ¡°Humm. This is better.¡±

    Hugging Ganche¡¯s muscular arm, Ernst closed his eyes. Ganche brought his free hand to gently stroke Ernst¡¯s head.

    It had been a long, long day.

 Chapter 32 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    The next day, Ernst looked around the village. There were very few sheep, but all of them were well-fed and healthy.

    ¡°Since the price of Meissen¡¯s wool fell, we¡¯re unable to raise any more than this.¡±

    ¡°But we still have the same pastures as before. Each and every one of them gets to eat well and become plump.¡±

    Different from the villagers Ernst had spoken with earlier, today, a young villager explained this to Ernst.

    ¡°With this many people, are you able to maintain your grasslands?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible, unfortunately. Because of that, our pastures shrink a little every year.¡±

    The villager spoke with frustration in his voice.

    ¡°What would happen if you increased how many sheep you have?¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t that we need more hands for shepherding. We¡¯ve developed techniques for herding our sheep, after all. Our problem lies in shearing the wool. We need to use our own hands to shear the wool, that¡¯s why¡­ if we increased how many sheep we took care of, then we increase how many sheep everyone has to shear together in the spring. However, there are villagers who have left to find work who can¡¯t return during the shearing season.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t shear a sheep¡¯s wool, it can suffocate when its wool grows too long. This is especially the case for our Caralime sheep, which have especially fine, long wool. For these guys, we absolutely have to shear them all before the snow melts.¡±

    Ernst¡¯s feet paused at the words the dark-skinned villager spoke, and he looked over at the sheep grazing in the distance.

    They dug through the snow by themselves to eat the grass hidden beneath it. In the area of Schell Continent where Meissen was located, even if the snow fell, even if the earth froze, the vegetation living beneath it would absolutely never wither.

    One of the reasons why Caralime Village turned to shepherding was because it was easy to secure food for the sheep in the winter.

    Even if they weren¡¯t given feed to eat, the sheep that lived in this land would dig up the snow on their own to find some. The villagers, like the people of other territories, didn¡¯t need to harvest large amounts of grass in the summer, and neither did they have to prepare for winter.

    To reach Arruca Village, it was faster to leave from Caralime Village than it was to return to the estate first.

    During the two days that Ernst spent in Caralime Village, the new recruits of the 2nd platoon that had been left behind at the mansion were sent back to the estate, and the 1st and 3rd platoons proceeded to Caralime Village in their place. From there, the 3rd platoon escorted the new recruits who had been brought to Caralime Village back to the estate.

    Mais also returned to the estate with the carriage Ernst had ridden. Though Ernst had been told that the snow this year would be deep, it was deeper than he had expected, so Ernst judged that it would be better not to bring Mais with him.

    Mais came from the town that was nearby the estate, Saiquani, and his parental grandfather had served the previous lord of the fief.

    All of the people working at the estate were people whose parents and whose grandparents had worked at the estate in the past. The head butler was the only person who had directly served Ernst¡¯s predecessor.

    There were two things that Ernst looked for in the people who worked at the estate.

    One was to handle the miscellaneous manners of the estate.

    The other was to assist Ernst and strengthen Meissen by helping him manage and maintain it.

    Ordinarily, the lord of the fief would have several administrative officials working under him to ensure the management of the fief would go smoothly. But Meissen didn¡¯t have anyone in that position, and in Meissen¡¯s current state, Ernst didn¡¯t think there was anyone who was currently fit for the task.

    Mais was still young, at 40 years old. From here on, he would be able to learn many things under Ernst, and Ernst had also thought about giving him some responsibilities in the future. For that reason, Ernst had brought him from the estate.

    But Mais had the same flaw as other people who had grown up near the estate.

    And this flaw was that when he faced people who lived in villages far from the estate, he held disdain for them in his heart. Without any reason, he scorned and looked down on them. He was unable to hide that attitude of his.

    If Ernst brought along Mais like this, all that would happen was that the villagers¡¯ hearts would harden.

    Ernst wanted to change Meissen. To that end, he keenly felt that he had to first change the hearts of the people living there.

    Yet, it wasn¡¯t all that easy to change someone¡¯s heart.

    ¨C

    Ernst, Targes, Ganche, and the 1st platoon, a total of 25 people, set off toward Arruca Village.

    In the winter, no one traveled the road between Caralime and Arruca. The snow fell deeply, reaching up to the militia troops¡¯ calves. Ernst¡¯s knees were completely buried.

    The snow that fell over Meissen was light and fluffy.

    Ernst had restrained Ganche from trying to carry him, but after Ernst tried to take three steps without moving forward at all, he gave in. No matter how much he tried, it was impossible for Ernst to travel there on his own feet.

    Once Ganche lifted him up, Ernst¡¯s field of vision widened all at once. From his high vantage point he could see far into the distance, but all he saw was the vast, uniform expanse of the snowfield, as well as a deciduous tree that hadn¡¯t lost its leaves even in the winter.

    ¡°Is that tree from the Grude Continent?¡±

    Ernst murmured, letting out a white breath.

    ¡°No, there isn¡¯t any tree like that in the lands of Grude. That land only has things that are full of thorns, after all.¡±

    ¡°Then in that case, is it true that Meissen¡¯s trees have some Grude influence in them?¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Without disturbing the marching ranks of the troops, the 1st platoon leader, Brez, shyly joined the conversation Ernst had been having with Ganche.

    ¡°I come from the village of Iben. When I was a child, the trees that people carried back from the Ekse Mountain were dead in the winter.¡±

    ¡°Humm. Then around when did they become like this, not losing their leaves even in winter?¡±

    ¡°After the New Year next month, I will be 97 years old. I first noticed this when I was 64, so I believe the trees must have been in this state for at least 33 years.¡±

    Surpassing Ernst¡¯s expectations, Brez was able to clearly list out the number of years.

    Noticing Ernst¡¯s expression, Brez continued.

    ¡°I was 30 when I volunteered to join the militia and began my service at the estate. After that, there was also a period where I left to become a mercenary for the sake of my village. When I was around 60 I returned to Meissen and once again joined the militia. Then, after three years, I was allowed to return home to visit my parents. At 64, a child I had with a woman in Kata Village was born¡­ it was when I returned with my child to my village that I noticed the trees. I remember it very well.¡±

    It was under those circumstances that the sight had been carved into his memory, Ernst thought, nodding.

    Ganche walked through that deep snow without any trouble at all. The militia troops following after him also tried their hardest to keep up, but in the end, there were still some stragglers.

    Even the horses that Targes and Brez rode seemed to hate the snow that buried their feet.

    Ernst rested his cheek on the Ganche¡¯s mantle. It was made of animal leather, and was part of the militia¡¯s equipment. From the thick nape of his neck drifted the beloved scent of the forest.

    When Ernst looked at the foliage spread out above his head and breathed in Ganche¡¯s scent, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like they weren¡¯t really in the midst of winter.

    Deciduous trees that didn¡¯t die in the winter.

    Someone must have noticed that this wasn¡¯t normal.

    By the time they caught sight of Arruca Village, even Targes¡¯ horse was out of breath.

    The militia soldiers seemed like they were going to sit down in protest at any moment.

    Under these circumstances, only Ganche remained unruffled.

    ¡°You¡¯re not tired?¡±

    Leaving behind the straggling militia soldiers, Ganche kept walking forward, briskly passing through the snow.

    ¡°Not at all¡­ When I breathe in Lord Ernst¡¯s scent, I become stronger than anyone.¡±

    Ernst immediately stopped himself from speaking more. After taking a quick glance around the perimeter, he pressed a light kiss to the tip of Ganche¡¯s manly chin.

    ¡°What a coincidence. When I smell Ganche¡¯s scent, I also become stronger.¡±

    Ernst smiled, and Ganche smiled back.

    ¡°And besides, Lord Ernst is like a feather¡­ you¡¯re lighter than my sword.¡±

    Although Ganche said this in jest, Ernst knew it to actually be true. Before, Ernst had tried to hold Ganche¡¯s sword for fun, but he hadn¡¯t been able to budge it a single bit.

    ¡°I¡¯d have to eat all of the crops in the whole of Meissen to be heavier than that sword.¡±

    Seeing Ernst knit his thin eyebrows together, Ganche threw his head back and laughed.

 Chapter 33 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    When Ernst entered Meissen, the first village he visited was Arruca. This was the village where he had parted with the hunters.

    Two months had passed since then.

    Once they were beside the village, Ernst separated from Ganche and walked into Arruca on his own two feet.

    The village head that Ernst had previously met tottered over toward him.

    He was 147 years old¡­ Ernst remembered from two months ago.

    The head butler of the estate, Sington, had said that he was 151 years old.

    Up until Ernst had been made lord, Sington had taken on the role of connecting the lord-less Meissen with the neighboring Rintz fief. His main task was to collect the taxes and pass them over to the government officials who came from Rintz fief.

    Ernst looked at the village head in front of him.

    He was about the same height as Ernst, whose body had stopped growing after boyhood. But this village head had grown old. He didn¡¯t have Kleber¡¯s disease. In spite of that, he still had the same height as Ernst.

    His harsh and severe life had robbed the village head of his youth.

    ¡°Do you remember me?¡±

    Ernst tried to speak in a quiet voice so as not to sound intimidating.

    The village head slowly nodded his head and invited Ernst to his house.

    Arruca Village seemed to be in far more dire straits than Caralime Village.

    Arruca Village had a population of 36 people. There were 5 children, and of the 31 adults, 27 of them had Kleber¡¯s disease.

    ¡°Does Arruca Village still engage in shepherding?¡±

    Though there was a fireplace, there was no fire. The house seemed to have begun falling apart, but they couldn¡¯t fix it.

    As such, a cold wind blew inside.

    ¡°Haa¡­ in the old days, we used to do a lot of shepherding¡­¡±

    In the village head¡¯s house, seven elderly villagers including the village head spoke with Ernst, who was accompanied by Targes.

    ¡°Humm. Then do you no longer tend to sheep anymore?¡±

    The seven villagers exchanged looks with each other. Who was going to be the one to speak? They looked as if they were trying to pressure or compromise others into speaking.

    ¡°Nowadays¡­ we only tend to five of them¡­¡±

    The village head answered.

    ¡°In that case, do you do farming?¡±

    The villagers looked at each other.

    It was much easier to get the people of Caralime Village to talk, Ernst thought.

    Arruca Village didn¡¯t seem to have a clear leader. The village head might have just been called that simply because he was the eldest.

    ¡°We farm¡­ but that said, we only grow wheat¡­¡±

    The village head reluctantly answered.

    ¡°Humm. You¡¯re not able to stay fed this way, are you?¡±

    Once again, silence pervaded as the villagers kept themselves quiet.

    ¡°The young people left the village to find work¡­ so¡­.¡±

    The village head answered, grumbling.

    ¡°I see. Then when I had first entered Meissen, was that before they had gone to find work?¡±

    At that time, there were more villagers than there were now. Presently, only the seven eldery villagers and the five children were in the village.

    ¡°What will you do to get firewood? Will you buy it?¡±

    The other six villagers looked down at the floor, willing the village head to do all the speaking for them.

    ¡°Firewood¡­ we¡­ can¡¯t buy any¡­ in the forest, we peel off tree bark¡­ and like that¡­¡±

    At the village head¡¯s words, Ernst subtly glanced at the fireplace. There wasn¡¯t anything in there that could be said to be called firewood.

    Arruca Village was at the edge of the forest. This forest was the same forest that Ernst had passed through. It was the kind of forest that had far more evergreen trees than deciduous trees.

    He wondered if the Grude influence was stronger in the evergreen trees. The forest was filled with enormous and towering trees.

    Just as that hunter had said, the people who lived in Arruca wouldn¡¯t be able to cut down those trees.

    ¡°Was life in Arruca Village difficult even under the rule of the previous lord?¡±

    Ernst asked this, though he thought that perhaps the 146-year-old village head might not remember those times.

    ¡°Before¡­ things weren¡¯t like this.¡±

    The village head said in a subdued voice.

    ¡°When I was a child, we grew plenty of crops and had more than enough to eat. In those days, no one left the village to go to work.¡±

    His emaciated body trembling, one of the villagers spoke.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, you went to Caralime Village first, right? Those guys, what did they tell you about us¡­!? No matter what, they must have been slandering us and saying all sorts of wretched things about us!¡±

    The villagers who had been sitting quietly like dolls suddenly came alive, sparked by their anger.

    ¡°Those guys were doing something amazing. But they wanted to keep it all to themselves!! ¡­No matter how many times we bowed our heads them, they refused to tell us anything.¡±

    ¡°Over, and over, and over again, we bowed our heads and begged them¡­ There was even a time where the entire village came to bow to them. But those guys, all they did was jeer at us¡­! The entire village came to bow to them, and they just laughed¡­¡±

    Just like yesterday, the villagers were overcome with emotions, and their eyes welled with tears.

    When did this story happen? Although Ernst wasn¡¯t too sure of what exactly they were speaking of in the first place, he quietly sat there and listened to the villagers¡¯ indignation.

    ¡°That was why we had to think over how to take care of the sheep by ourselves. Even though we put in our all¡­ our sheep¡¯s wool was dry and frizzy¡­¡±

    ¡°The quality was bad, so we could only sell for low prices to the merchants¡­ And in order for us to feed the whole village, the only thing we could do was raise more sheep¡­¡±

    ¡°This land was supposed to be a rich pasture. The forest didn¡¯t die even in winter, and as soon as you dug under the snow, you¡¯d find lush grass growing.¡±

    Even now, the forest hadn¡¯t withered.

    ¡°Yet despite that¡­ at some point, the trees of the forest kept growing bigger and bigger, and more of them kept showing up¡­ and then the trees grew into our pastures.¡±

    ¡°We desperately tried to cut down the young trees so that the forest wouldn¡¯t spread any more than it already had. But after so many people contracted Kleber¡¯s disease, we didn¡¯t have enough manpower¡­¡±

    ¡°Even now, the forest is spreading. There isn¡¯t enough grass to feed the sheep as we thought. Now, at best, we can keep and feed ten of them.¡±

    To Ernst, it felt as though the passion of these villagers as they fervently let out their grief melted the cold atmosphere of Meissen, making it disappear.

    ¡°Even if we wanted to return to our old lands, those bastards of Dada Village are there¡­ Those guys, even when we bowed our heads to them, they refused to leave our lands.¡±

    The head of the village sighed, powerless and resigned.

    A feeling of hopelessness pervaded the village of Arruca.

    Wanting to have the same success as Caralime Village that had dedicated itself to shepherding, Arruca had abandoned their old lands; but when the place they had migrated to turned out to be unsuitable for grazing, when they tried to return to their old lands, they had found that the Dada Village had expanded and taken their farmlands.

    No matter which village they desperately and earnestly begged, both of them flatly refused to help. No matter how many times they refused to give up and continued to ask, they were always completely shot down.

    Like that, Arruca Village became a village that had given up on everything.

 Chapter 34 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    Though Ernst and his entourage had wanted to camp outside here as well, the villagers stopped them.

    Most of the village had left to find work. The villagers told them that they could stay in the vacant houses.

    Though they hesitated over selfishly intruding in someone else¡¯s house while they were away, the villagers just gave a laugh. Don¡¯t worry about it. It wouldn¡¯t matter if anyone went inside, they said.

    When Ernst timidly entered one of the houses, he found that there was certainly almost nothing inside. There was only a shabby bed, as well as tableware carved clumsily out of wood.

    Ernst gratefully accepted the villagers¡¯ offer.

    Ernst¡¯s party consisted of 25 people, so they decided to use 5 houses. They didn¡¯t have enough firewood or bedding, so they would have to directly lay on the floor to sleep, but just having walls to shield them from the open air was a great help.

    In this village, there really was nothing at all.

    Yet even so, the village head wanted to somehow offer Ernst something to eat.

    Unfortunately, until their migrant workers returned safely in the spring, the villagers themselves didn¡¯t know if they would be able to eat.

    But in spite of this, they took their food that had enough to feed seven elders and five children for one meal and added snow to it over the fire, turning it into a thin, thin soup.

    Ernst approached Targes, who had been chatting with Brez, and spoke in a low voice.

    ¡°I would like you to take two pieces of the dried meat we had brought from the mansion, and after finely chopping it up, to add it to that soup.¡±

    ¡°Two pieces¡­ you say? That would only be enough of a serving for a single soldier of the militia.¡±

    Their current march would end at Arruca Village. They would stay in the village tomorrow, and they would return to the estate the day after tomorrow. The food they had brought should be enough to last them for four more days.

    ¡°Humm. But that amount is exactly right. If this kind of soup is what they always eat, then if they suddenly ingest too much meat, it will poison their bodies.¡±

    After being convinced by Ernst¡¯s words, Targes nodded.

    ¡°That¡­ does sound about right. In their state, having a stomach breakdown would be a matter of life or death for them.

    After all, he was someone who had been a mercenary for many long years. The captain had most likely experienced how it felt to be on the verge of extreme hunger, as well.

    ¡°When you add the meat, don¡¯t let the villagers find out if at all possible.¡±

    As Ernst took his leave, he added these parting words.

    It seemed that Targes had executed this well.

    The pieces of meat that had been mixed into the soup were chopped so finely that even when he knew they were there, Ernst couldn¡¯t them unless he carefully studied the soup. Judging by the villagers¡¯ appearances, they weren¡¯t aware of what happened at all.

    Ernst, the villagers, and the militiamen encircled the fire lit in the town square. The villagers seemed quite pleased by this giant fire that the militiamen had prepared.

    Everyone drank the thin soup together, happiness on their faces.

    The happiness that others gave to you was like rain falling in a drought.

    Even if it was a life-saving and blessed rain, if it was fickle and given at a whim, then it wasn¡¯t truly something that was saved people. If people relied on something like that, then none of their problems would actually be solved.

    The people of Arruca village had gotten used to giving up. They might even have lost their sense of worth as human beings.

    It wouldn¡¯t be difficult for Ernst to hand out food to Arruca Village. It would be easy to give them the twenty-five people¡¯s four days worth of food which he currently possessed.

    But in the long run, he would be failing these villagers.

    As they were now, they would accept what Ernst gave them as a matter of course, then request for another.

    Like that, the other people of the fief would covet what only the Arruca village received, envying them.

    They couldn¡¯t be allowed to become used to being given things by other people.

    If they did, then what they were given would become a poison which killed them.

    As the villagers murmured and chatted in low voices with each other, Ernst watched them quietly.

    The next day, Ernst took a look around Arruca Village.

    Five sheep were digging their noses into the snow and eating grass. These sheep looked somehow different from the ones in Caralime Village.

    ¡°Is this the same type of sheep as the ones in Caralime Village?¡±

    Ernst asked the young boy who had come with him. The seven elders had weak legs, so they left the village less often.

    ¡°They¡¯re different from Caralime¡¯s, or so I heard.¡±

    The boy had said that he would be turning 30 on the New Year. He was half Ernst¡¯s age, but he looked around the same as Ernst.

    Would this person also develop Kleber¡¯s disease? Ernst pondered over this boy¡¯s near future.

    ¡°Humm. In that case, is there a reason why you raise a different one?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really know, but¡­ the Caralime¡¯s sheep is one that Caralime made, and it¡¯s a really good sheep, but since Caralime absolutely wouldn¡¯t hand any over, we don¡¯t have any here.¡±

    ¡°So is this sheep the kind that Arruca village has always kept?¡±

    ¡°Yes. This one¡¯s wool is short, but it¡¯s thin and glossy.¡±

    As the boy said this, he lovingly petted the sheep. Ernst guessed that all five of these sheep were cared for by this boy. Except for this boy, the other four children of Arruca Village were all under 10 years old.

    ¡°But even if it¡¯s glossy, it¡¯s hard to make yarn out of this wool. That¡¯s why Arruca¡¯s wool has such a super low price. And on top of that, this sheep has very little hair. I heard that just one of Caralime¡¯s sheep can fill a whole bag, but it takes three of ours to fill one bag.¡±

    As the boy smiled wryly, one of the sheep pushed its head into his hand. The boy softly patted the sheep¡¯s head as if soothing it.

    This sheep¡¯s white hair certainly did look shiny. This boy probably raised them extremely carefully, but they lacked the same luster as the sheep in Caralime.

    Ernst gently reached his hand out toward the sheep.

    The boy stared at Ernst as if he was gobsmacked.

    ¡°Caralime Village sold its wool as it was, but is that also the case for Arruca?¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­ ah¡­ no¡­ even if we wanted to sell this sheep¡¯s wool, it wouldn¡¯t be worth even the price of the jute bag we would use to pack it¡­ so, we just use it to make rugs for the village¡­¡±

    The boy¡¯s earlier openheartedness disappeared, and he answered falteringly.

    ¡°Rugs?¡±

    Though Ernst wondered about the change in the boy¡¯s attitude, he didn¡¯t bring it up and asked another question.

    ¡°Yes¡­ um¡­ to make that small little rug at the bottom of the bed, it takes ten of these guys to make one. Since there are only five of them right now¡­ after saving up for two years, you can end up making one piece somehow¡­¡±

    In the royal palace, there were many beautiful rugs, but the ones beneath the bed and the ones used for footrests were very small. If those took ten of this sheep¡¯s wool to make, then even if this village wanted to sell rugs, there was no way it would work out on an economic scale.

    The effort put into painstakingly raising ten of these animals didn¡¯t match up to the price of that one small piece of rug.

    Those five sheep kept on eating without a care in the world.

    In that way, they resembled Arruca Village itself, working hard just to be able to eat.

    On the night of the second day, they once again received the villagers¡¯ all-out hospitality. Without letting the villagers know, Targes mixed tiny pieces of meat into the thin, watery soup. They gathered around the fire and ate together.

    Ernst thought back to the days of traveling with the hunters. The wood burned, letting off atmospheric sounds. The children of the village had gotten used to Ernst and the militia, and bit by bit, they started chatting again.

    This might have been the first time the people of Arruca Village had ever seen a Dunbertian, so the children always crowded around Ganche. The five children grabbed onto Ganche¡¯s arms, and he lifted them up all at once. The villagers and the militiamen were also chatting up a storm.

    The voices of delighted children echoed across the night sky over the snowfield.

    They decided to depart after breakfast the next day. It was six hours from Arruca Village to the estate. A little bit of snow had begun to fall.

    All of the villagers had gathered to send them off. The boy who cared for the sheep looked at Ernst with a crying face. Although their ages were completely different, it had been a long time since Ernst had met someone who shared his same height and physique.

    Ernst grasped the boy¡¯s thin hand and gripped it. The hand of this boy, whose body jumped and stiffened in surprise, was a rough hand made of only skin and bone.

    The snow kept on falling. Ernst wondered if this village would continue to be engulfed in an air of despair until its migrant villagers returned.

    Ernst prayed that they would be able to return safely in the spring. And then, he forged a resolution in his heart that just like last night, he must be able to let this village laugh even in the midst of winter.

    As if trying to convey his determination, Ernst firmly grasped the boy¡¯s hand.

    This boy, who was so bewildered that his eyes had been darting around as if seeking guidance on what he should do, now steadily met Ernst¡¯s gaze, and he returned Ernst¡¯s grip.

    Though Ernst had the strength of a boy because of his unchanging appearance, in comparison, the strength of this boy was far greater than this.

 Chapter 35 - Interlude Gancheâ€™s Bath

    ¡°Aah, this one. Bring down this one for me, will ya?¡±

    ¡°Nah, check out the one over here. This bad boy lets off a nice smell when it burns.¡±

    ¡°Ya got a point. That one¡¯s good for when you¡¯re smoking stuff to cook. But it¡¯s better to use this one for the fireplace. It takes its time burning.¡±

    ¡°Then how about we just chop down both of ¡®em? Well then, Ganche, please go ahead.¡±

    Ganche, who had been in the middle of cutting up the wood of a giant tree he had felled ten days ago, paused in his chopping.

    ¡°Piss off! If you want it chopped down, use your own hands and chop it down yourselves.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with you! You¡¯re really gonna make aging old people like us work?¡±

    ¡°Who the hell is an aging old person. Think about your ages after dividing them in half. You 90-year old guys are 45. 45-year olds aren¡¯t aging and old!¡±

    When Ganche said this to him, Itor, a member of the 2nd platoon, laughed without any trace of shyness.

    The Lord¡¯s estate possessed a splendid bathing room. It didn¡¯t lack in size even when compared to the Crown Prince¡¯s bathing chambers.

    When Ganche asked the head butler why it wasn¡¯t being used, he was told, ¡®There¡¯s no fuel¡¯. Though they could have used wood that had rotted off in the forest for fuel, the people of this estate were too lazy to prepare wood for anything other than for cooking and fireplaces.

    Since they were like this, it was no wonder the forest kept steadily expanding further and further, Ganche thought.

    In any case, he couldn¡¯t allow for this splendid bathing room to not be put to use. Ganche knew that Ernst enjoyed soaking in hot water more than anything.

    Ganche had immediately brought back trees he had cut down from the lord¡¯s forest.

    This was a bath that hadn¡¯t been used for a hundred years. He spent a whole day meticulously polishing it. After that, he gathered some snow into the bathtub, then lit the fire.

    He fretfully kept checking over it, worrying that the bath might have some defect after all this time, but the water grew hot after one hour.

    Jumping for joy, Ganche had gone to go call for Ernst ¨C when he suddenly stopped in his tracks, realizing: the bath worked, but he had no soap.

    Ganche spun on his heel and ran to Saiquani Town.

    They didn¡¯t have anything as top-quality as what he¡¯d used in the royal palace, but at least he had gotten some soap at all.

    Ganche urged Ernst to come with him. When he brought Ernst to the bathing room, Ernst looked up at him in surprise. Then, a wide smile dawned over Ernst¡¯s face.

    After that, Ganche heated up a bath every day.

    The forest contained plenty of fuel. A single large tree could provide heating for five days.

    So that the wood could dry and catch fire more easily, he gathered the chopped trees and left them in the forest. Every five days, he could haul out one of them.

    Today, too, he¡¯d come to the forest to pick up some wood, but for some reason the militia troops had followed him.

    The five people who had come with him pointed at the trees in the forest while thinking about what they would do with them, then made a racket telling Ganche to chop them down.

    ¡°You brought your axe, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Each member of the militia was equipped with an axe.

    The militia¡¯s job included gathering firewood for the estate¡¯s use. There were about enough axes for each person located inside the barracks¡¯ tool shed. But it should also be said that all of those axes¡¯ blades were now dulled over time.

    ¡°Can such an elderly person like me really bring down a giant tree like this¡­¡±

    So grieved Tite, a soldier of the 1st platoon. On the New Year, this guy would be certainly be turning 72. But when converted to Dunbertian years, he was 36.

    ¡°¡­So split it between two people.¡±

    Lately, the militiamen started bringing up their ages as a pretext to foist all of the hard work on Ganche.

    ¡°C¡¯mon, isn¡¯t it fine? Just whack at it a little with your axe and bring it down for us. Besides, it¡¯s not like us guys won¡¯t be able to carry it back on our own.¡±

    Ganche let out a sigh, then got to work.

    They would only get more annoying if he kept ignoring them. Besides, they said they could carry the trees back themselves. Now that he was chopping the trees down for them, they had better actually follow through.

    It was a simple task to carry one or even two of those trees, but it was a one-hour walk from this forest to the estate. Since he also had to bring back wood for the bath, he would end up having to make two round trips.

    Just transporting it alone would take up 3 hours, so by the time he got around to heating up the bath, it would already be far too late in the day.

    ¡°¡­Move out of the way.¡±

    Ganche looked at the tree, which looked like it would amount to enough wood for three soldiers to carry in their arms. Since it had been half-heartedly chopped at, there were axe-marks left behind on its surface. Even if it was littered with notches from the axe¡¯s blade, it wasn¡¯t a big deal for this wood to be a little chipped, Ganche thought.

    Once Ganche saw that the soldiers had moved away from the tree, he walked ten paces away the tree he was going to bring down and readied his aim.

    ¡°¡­Hey?¡±

    Itor called out in bewilderment, watching as Ganche tossed aside his axe and bent his knees.

    Ganche pushed with his legs and charged, aiming straight for the tree. He angled his shoulder, ready to strike it with all he had.

    Boom.

    The tree shook, struck with a loud sound. Birds burst and fled from the treetops, and piles of snow fell from the sky.

    He once again distanced himself, then rushed forward.

    Boom.

    The tree leaned to the side.

    Ganche rammed it with his shoulder just one more time.

    The enormous tree let out its final groan as it slowly fell over.

    ¡°¡­You sure showed us an unimaginable way to bring down a tree¡­¡±

    Tite murmured, letting out a tightly-wound breath.

    Well then next up, please carry this back for us. Before those militiamen could have the opportunity to say that kind of thing to him, Ganche easily lifted the whole giant tree meant to be used as bath fuel onto his shoulder.

    Then, he quickly returned to the estate, leaving the dumbfounded soldiers behind him.

    ¡°I was wondering, isn¡¯t it difficult to have to heat up the water every day?¡±

    Ganche gently stripped off the clothes so as to not damage this top-quality silk, which had come from those days of being the crown prince.

    ¡°No, not at all. It¡¯s nothing of the sort.¡±

    As he kneeled in the small room which led to the bathing room, Ganche took off Ernst¡¯s underwear. It was just as enjoyable as taking the peel off of a ripe peach.

    ¡°I see¡­ Though I¡¯m happy to be able to take a hot bath every day, Ganche¡¯s body is the most important to me.¡±

    Ernst extended his slender fingers, stroking Ganche¡¯s cheek.

    The care and worry in his blue eyes made something warm spread through Ganche¡¯s chest.

    Ganche knew that when the militia troops pushed him around to do work for them, it was a result of how close and friendly they felt toward him ¨C but in all honesty, he felt like it was a pain in the ass.

    But Ernst ¨C Ernst always cared about Ganche.

    Even though just like the militiamen, he was a Kleber of the Schell race, Ernst still thought about Ganche as if he were the same kind of person he was, no matter if Ganche was Dunbertian.

    ¡°Since I¡¯m a Dunbertian, I¡¯m strong enough to handle it, right?¡±

    ¡°I know that Ganche is strong, but even Dunbertians can feel tired, can¡¯t they? Ganche, whenever you feel exhausted, don¡¯t push yourself, please. I hope that you can tell me when that happens.¡±

    As Ernst gently stroked Ganche¡¯s head, Ganche brought his mouth to kiss the stomach in front of him. He left a mark on that white skin as if trying to convey the happiness he felt, and he stripped the last piece of clothing on Ernst¡¯s body.

    He brought Ernst¡¯s slender and small parts into his mouth. Ganche rolled them atop his tongue, feeling his own cock slowly rise and harden.

    ¡°Aah¡­¡±

    He heard Ernst¡¯s sweet moans and felt Ernst pull the curls of his hair.

    ¡°Ganche¡­ let¡¯s head into the bath. We shouldn¡¯t let the water you heated go to waste.¡±

    Ganche released Ernst from his mouth, giving one last lick to those palely-colored parts before embracing Ernst¡¯s small body.

    He had learned how to conduct himself as a bathing attendant while serving in the bathing chamber of the royal palace.

    What was different compared to back then was that now, Ganche had also stripped bare, and he entered the bathtub together with Ernst.

    Then, he was allowed to bring his finger deep into the pucker of Ernst¡¯s small bottom.

    ¡°Haa¡­¡±

    Ernst panted seductively, clutching Ganche¡¯s shoulder. Within the warm water, his slender body stirred.

    ¡°Lord Ernst. How are you doing?¡±

    Ganche crept his fingers along Ernst¡¯s slender nape, and perhaps because of that, Ernst felt hotter than usual.

    ¡°I think, I¡¯m feeling a little dizzy¡­¡±

    ¡°Shall we get out, then?¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯d like for us to stay in the bath, just a little while longer.¡±

    Chuckling, Ganche pulled Ernst up from the water.

    Ernst¡¯s legs were soaked only up to his knees as Ganche gently set down Ernst¡¯s upper body on the floor. Ganche supported Ernst¡¯s head with his palm so that it wouldn¡¯t be hit in the process.

    The floor of the bathing room was made out of stone. It seemed that a giant rock had been leveled into a flat surface, laid out over the ground, and turned into a stone floor.

    Seeming as if he found the stone floor soothing, Ernst pressed his cheek to the stone and spread both of his hands on it.

    ¡°Is it not cold?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ This stone is probably Linua stone. It¡¯s a rock that conducts heat; the stone of the bathtub likely transferred the water temperature to the stone floor. It¡¯s very warm.¡±

    Ernst closed his eyes to enjoy the sensation, a sight that delighted Ganche, as well.

    Ganche gently and rhythmically rubbed from Ernst¡¯s small knee to his thigh, watching the gentle cadence of Ernst¡¯s pale belly rising and falling.

    He felt like the challenges thrust before Ernst kept growing with each passing day.

    After he solved one problem, another that was even harder popped out.

    It was almost as if some unseen force was trying to test the limits of what Ernst could do.

    The front which Ernst showed his people was unperturbed by everything, capable of handling matters without needing anyone¡¯s worry; yet from the back, Ganche knew that his small body clamored with rising complaints.

    Lately, Ernst¡¯s body began to tense up every now and then.

    Only in front of Ganche would he relax every muscle of his body, his eyes falling half-lidded.

    For the sake of providing Ernst a place where he could rest his mind, Ganche vowed that even if he broke one or both of his arms, he must go out and heat up a bath for Ernst every single day.

    Ganche gently rested his head upon Ernst¡¯s slender thighs. When he rubbed his cheek against Ernst¡¯s inner thigh, feeling just how soft it was, Ernst brought his small hand to stroke through Ganche¡¯s hair.

    Ernst often patted and stroked Ganche¡¯s head. In Ganche¡¯s memory, he did not recall his parents ever having patted his head for him.

    He never realized that this was actually something that could feel so nice. Or did it feel that way simply because it was Ernst who was doing it to him?

    When Ganche tried to bring his face into the area hidden between Ernst¡¯s pale thighs, Ernst spread his slender legs for him.

    Ganche brought the small, limply-hanging manhood into his mouth. He also swallowed down the sack behind it, rolling them in his mouth together.

    As he continued on to insert his fingers down below, inside of his mouth, Ernst¡¯s parts grew slightly stiffer.

    When he brought them out of his mouth and took a look, he saw that Ernst¡¯s palely-colored thing had grown invigorated, becoming slightly erect.

    Ernst clutched his little manhood with both hands, hastily looking up at him ¨C a sight that wrecked Ganche¡¯s senses.

    He nibbled on Ernst¡¯s soft belly, then licked at the hairless area around his member. He deliberately avoided touching it directly, instead licking circles around it with the scorching tip of his tongue.

    ¡°Aah¡­¡±

    Thin fingers pulled at Ganche¡¯s hair.

    He increased the count of his sheathed fingers to two, and slid the tip of his tongue between the gap of those fingers. When he looked up from his position down below, he saw that Ernst¡¯s small sack had lifted slightly.

    In the past, those underdeveloped genitals reacted only to the feeling of Ganche¡¯s semen as it was unloaded deep within Ernst¡¯s body; yet now, they trembled from Ganche¡¯s teasing.

    It was so adorable, so darling, so irresistible, that he couldn¡¯t help but latch on.

    ¡°Aaah¡­!¡±

    In this bathroom lit by a wavering candlelight, a wet sound rang out.

    Squelching sounds came from the place where Ernst¡¯s body swallowed up Ganche¡¯s fingers. As Ganche swallowed down Ernst¡¯s member, sucks and swallows filled the air.

    They overlapped with Ernst¡¯s aroused voice as he panted out captivating moans; in the hot water, Ganche¡¯s lower half swelled enormously.

    He wanted to take out his fingers right now, and bring himself inside.

    Yet Ernst¡¯s length let Ganche taste an enthralling nectar, making it difficult for him to let go.

    Ernst¡¯s scent was that of an unripe fruit.

    And his watery semen had the taste of a rose apple. [1]

    The continent of Sout was abundant with fruit. It was a temperate land, and most of it consisted of ocean. On the islands which dotted those seas, the people grew fruit, especially peaches.

    There were thousands of varieties of peaches, which were Sout¡¯s primary commercial item. The one that Ganche liked the most out of all of them was the rose apple.

    In Sout Continent, there were two countries that had long been at war. In this war which had dragged on for 200 years and continued to this day, Ganche had participated as a mercenary.

    During his one-year contracted term, Ganche had been able to experience the delightful taste of the rose apple.

    Though rose apples were the best-tasting, they weren¡¯t uncommon and they could be found all throughout Sout. However, they were incredibly fragile, and they rotted a single day after harvesting.

    For this reason, it could only be eaten in Sout Continent. In the eyes of other lands, the rose apple was a fruit you could only find in dreams.

    When Ganche¡¯s contract was up and it came time to leave Sout, what saddened him the most was that he would no longer be able to enjoy that peach.

    When Ernst had let out his nectar for the first time in his life, Ganche had the extraordinary luck of once again tasting that flavor. Even now, Ganche clearly recalled the sense of joy, as well as the shock, he had experienced at that time.

    It was the exact same taste ¨C no, it was an even better taste than the rose apple Ganche had enjoyed in the past.

    Ernst¡¯s small body was unable to take Ganche every night. But every night, Ernst was willing to give his nectar to Ganche.

    Ganche reverently held him in his mouth, indulging in the flowing nectar every night.

    Ernst¡¯s immature length trembled slightly, squeezing out nectar.

    Though his body had begun showing sexual responses, he wasn¡¯t able to shoot out the way Ganche could. The way his member looked, like a sheltered princess gently crying, was so graceful, so restrained, that Ganche couldn¡¯t hold himself back.

    Ganche wrapped his tongue around Ernst and sucked. He pressed on the sack with the tip of his tongue, sucking as if he were squeezing out every last drop.

    Though the refreshing sweetness which spread through his mouth gradually faded, he continued to suck without giving up.

    ¡°Ganche¡­ Ganche.¡±

    A small hand pulled at his hair, making Ganche raise his head.

    ¡°No more is going to come out.¡±

    Ernst had sat up, saying this with teary eyes. As he spoke, he looked fastidiously at that place which had turned red and swollen after Ganche had thoroughly ravished it. It dangled down powerlessly.

    ¡°I¡­ I owe you my deepest apologies. I had gone too far and forgotten myself¡­ Does it hurt?¡±

    As he gently rubbed it, Ernst¡¯s small hands covered his.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. It aches a little, but it doesn¡¯t hurt. I would give you more if I could¡­ sorry.¡±

    He grabbed one of Ganche¡¯s apologetic fingers, bringing the fingertip into his mouth.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, you¡¯re always giving me so many things.¡±

    Ganche gently embraced him, bringing Ernst¡¯s chilled body back into the bathtub. The slender body within Ganche¡¯s arms leaned on him, relieved.

    Ernst sat on Ganche¡¯s thigh, his legs splayed on either side of it, as he rested his cheek on Ganche¡¯s broad chest.

    His blue eyes looked up at Ganche from below.

    ¡°Ganche¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Today isn¡¯t good¡­?¡±

    His thin arm dipped into the water, and he rubbed Ganche¡¯s towering erection.

    ¡°You mustn¡¯t overexert yourself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not overexerting myself. I¡­ always want to feel Ganche inside me.¡±

    He touched the head, stroking the swollen tip.

    Furrowing his brow, Ganche considered it. The last time he had guided it into Ernst was five days ago.

    Wanting to check, Ganche dropped the hand he had been using to stroke Ernst¡¯s thin back and slid his finger into Ernst¡¯s small hole.

    One, then two. Perhaps because of Ganche¡¯s prior teasing, Ernst¡¯s body hadn¡¯t tensed even with two fingers inside of him. He didn¡¯t seem as if he was hiding any pain, either.

    Ganche gently increased the number of fingers to three.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    Ernst clung to Ganche, letting out an alluring moan.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    His voice as he whispered was low, murmuring.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our room.¡±

    Ganche lifted Ernst up, bringing him out of the water.

    After wiping off Ernst¡¯s body in the small room, Ganche first dressed Ernst with a robe which resembled a thin coat, loosely tying a sash around his thin waist.

    Though this robe was meant to be worn after bathing, recently, it had also become bedclothes. It was only worn between moving from this small room to the bedroom. They took it off as soon as they entered the bedroom, and they went to bed to sleep curled up together without a single stitch of clothing separating their skin.

    They always went to sleep this way, whether it was a night where they had connected or not.

    Ernst sat himself on an ottoman as Ganche also put on a robe. Ernst looked up at his figure with rapt attention.

    ¡°Ganche is always so amazing.¡±

    Ganche¡¯s hands paused in tying the robe, and he turned around to face Ernst.

    ¡°I wish I could grow larger, like you¡­¡±

    When Ganche approached the seated Ernst, Ernst stretched out a thin finger, touching that thing which stood so tall that it nearly touched Ganche¡¯s stomach.

    ¡°It¡¯s not bothering you?¡±

    ¡°A lot of blood has gathered there, and that¡¯s why it¡¯s hot, or so I¡¯ve heard¡­ There is a throbbing, sore feeling.¡±

    Though one could say that Ernst had experienced arousal and sexual pleasure, his own parts were yet immature. He showed curiosity over the usual state of excitement that a fully-grown man displayed.

    Ganche tried to respond as accurately as he could to the questions Ernst posed in his pursuit of knowledge.

    ¡°Is that so¡­ when Ganche touches me, it¡¯s as if my body feels numb. When I let it out, I feel as if something is being sucked out from a thin tube.¡±

    Ganche smiled wryly at Ernst¡¯s words.

    ¡°It sounds like that is because I suck on you too strongly.¡±

    Ganche reached out his hand, scooping up his own sack.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, do you see these?¡±

    Ernst¡¯s small hands dutifully touched Ganche¡¯s sack. Ganche let Ernst hold it atop his palms.

    ¡°Heavy¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes. When the body becomes more aroused, these swell and grow heavier, like this. When the feeling grows stronger, it stands the way mine is now.¡±

    ¡°The sack?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Yours become that way as well, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Aah¡­ I wonder if mine is like this, even with the way I am.¡±

    ¡°It does. Lord Ernst¡¯s is small and very cute, but it does stand up a little bit.¡±

    His cheeks slightly red, Ernst laughed as if he felt that his situation wasn¡¯t all that bad anymore.

    ¡°When these are emptied, they soften¡­ Maybe someday, it¡¯ll be possible to pour it out into Lord Ernst¡¯s body until they¡¯re completely empty.¡±

    Ganche gently reached out his hand, touching the golden threads of Ernst¡¯s hair.

    ¡°If that day is going to come, then I wish it would come sooner.¡±

    Ernst grasped Ganche¡¯s hand, resting his cheek upon the large palm as he closed his eyes.

    In a room enveloped in darkness, Ganche embraced the body within his arms.

    Ernst slept, a soothed expression on his small face.

    Ganche had never before made love over and over again with one specific person. Up until now, he had only had loves for a single night. No; that wasn¡¯t love at all. That was just a treatment of sexual desire. It was just an act of reproduction.

    Ganche pressed a kiss to Ernst¡¯s prominent forehead. The love he felt for Ernst spilled out within his heart.

    No matter how many times he made love to him, it wasn¡¯t enough. Though his body was one that Ganche could only meet once every few days, he never felt that this was insufficient. Not to mention how he wasn¡¯t even able to think about anyone else.

    Unless it was for Ernst, Ganche was unable to feel passion for anyone.

    He hugged Ernst¡¯s slender body, filling his chest with the scent of Ernst¡¯s hair.

    The him who had been serving in the royal palace would¡¯ve never guessed that the day would come where he could touch Ernst freely, without hesitation.

    Ganche thanked his body for wielding so much luck inside of it.

    For the sake of protecting this luck, Ganche would do whatever it took. He would heat up a bath every day and, if Ernst commanded it, he would cut down whoever dared to bring Ernst pain.

    For Ganche, there was nothing that could ever be more important than Ernst.

    He stooped his body to kiss the sleeping Ernst.

    He adjusted his angle and kissed him again and again, and after countless kisses, Ganche finally fell to sleep.

    [1] The fruit here is called Ë®ÌÒ, which are the words for ¡°water peach¡±. A quick google search brought up a bell-shaped red fruit called the rose apple, which is what I decided to use.

 Chapter 36 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    After returning to the estate to greet the New Year, Ernst and his entourage departed for Iben Village. Iben Village was a 7-hour walking distance away from the estate.

    Targes, Ganche, and the 5th platoon accompanied him. The carriage Ernst rode on was driven by another butler, Arker.

    Ernst had heard that Arker had just turned 52 years old. His grandmother had previously worked at the estate. He had come from the town of Saiquani, and his mother was a merchant.

    He had also been working as a merchant up until Ernst had become lord.

    Around the royal capital, people were considered adults by age 40, and they began working at age 45.

    However, here in Meissen, people began to work at age 30. Of course, children brought up by merchants, like Arker, were relatively well-off. Ernst had been told that Arker had started working after he had turned 37.

    Iben Village was located in the south of the estate. Its population of 46 included 3 children and 34 people with Kleber¡¯s disease.

    This was the village where the 1st platoon leader, Brez, hailed from, but Ernst hadn¡¯t brought Brez to accompany him.

    So that everything went smoothly this time, Ernst took care to not bring along anyone who came from the village.

    Without any preconceptions, he wanted to look at these villages with his own eyes.

    They stopped for a night at the mansion they had used the last time, then headed toward Iben Village the next day. Their legs moved quickly because they hadn¡¯t brought along any new recruits. They arrived at the village just before noon.

    ¡°The sheep in this village are also different from the ones in Caralime, it seems.¡±

    Ernst spoke with three of the villagers, including the village head, in a vacant house. Targes and Arker were with him.

    ¡°Caralime never brings any out of their village, so we don¡¯t have any.¡±

    The village head smiled bitterly.

    Iben Village didn¡¯t have much land that could be considered pasture. The sheep went inside of the village boundaries to eat grass.

    Before speaking with the village head, Ernst took a look at the sheep. If the boy of Arruca Village hadn¡¯t explained it to him, Ernst wouldn¡¯t have been aware of the different qualities of the sheep¡¯s hair. The sheep of Iben Village were different from Arruca¡¯s.

    Their hair didn¡¯t have any luster, and Ernst also had the impression that the color was weaker.

    ¡°Back then, we wanted to try using wool to keep ourselves fed, so we raised plenty of animals. It worked out so well for Caralime, after all. It could for us too, right? But with the sheep we have here, it couldn¡¯t happen.¡±

    The head of Iben village was a 132-year old woman. In the past, she had left the village to work and live in the household of an affluent merchant. Though she was no longer able to work after she grew older, she had sent all of the money she had earned back to Iben Village as a remittance to be saved away.

    In this village as well, the villagers lived by working together to support each other. Half of the villagers left to find work while the other half remained to care for the children and the elderly.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t it work out?¡±

    ¡°Because their hair is bad. If we¡¯re talking length, well, it sure has some, but the color isn¡¯t good. Back in the old days, we somehow got t¡¯ sell it after we dyed the wool, but Caralime¡¯s ¨C boy, Caralime¡¯s sure was good, wasn¡¯t it? The hair was long, and the color was nice and white. Over there, they just had to let their sheep eat grass, then cut the wool once a year. There was no way we over here could compete with that kind of effortless and easy wool. For us, we wouldn¡¯t be able to sell our wool for a decent price unless we dyed it. But, even if we had enough hands and labor to dye our wool, we wouldn¡¯t want to sell it for the same price as one bag of Caralime¡¯s wool.¡±

    ¡°If we sold it for the price of that bag, we would go into debt each time we sold wool.¡±

    As the village head spoke on and on, the villagers chimed in with agreement.

    ¡°In that case, what do you do with those sheep?¡±

    ¡°Well, we can eat them when things go south, or for a celebration feast. We use the harvested wool to make clothes for the villagers. All they do is eat the grass that¡¯s out there, so we just leave ¡®em be.¡±

    Once Ernst started talking with a woman, the conversation flowed easily. Unlike men, they didn¡¯t hesitate to speak or try to hide things for appearances as often.

    ¡°If that is so, what is your current means of living?¡±

    ¡°We rely on the people who leave the village to work. The land here isn¡¯t very good. When it comes to crops, it doesn¡¯t yield very much. We have a limited amount of land¡­ it isn¡¯t enough to fill the bellies of all the villagers. Later, we started selling firewood collected from the mountain. Half of the people in our village are farmers, and the other half are mountaineers.¡±

    Mount Ekse, which served as the border to Rintz fief, loomed near Iben Village. The mountain was so steep that it was impossible to climb over it to reach Rintz.

    ¡°But in recent times, several issues piled up and bit by bit, we weren¡¯t able to chop down trees anymore. More and more people had Kleber¡¯s disease and weren¡¯t able to do hard labor, and the blades of our tools grew dull. We were just about only able to bring down young saplings. Well, even with all of that, we could sell surplus wood after we¡¯d gathered enough for us to use sparingly over a year.¡±

    The village head said this with a laugh. Though there weren¡¯t any women left in Arruca Village, in Caralime Village, the women there had also smiled and laughed even in the midst of their impoverished living circumstances.

    Women were strong.

    Yet, in order for these women to continue smiling, their circumstances had to change.

    The village head spoke about the things Ernst asked, as well as the things Ernst didn¡¯t ask. In Caralime Village and Arruca Village the conversations were like pulling out teeth, and the villagers would rather do anything other than talk to him about what happened, but that wasn¡¯t the case for Iben Village.

    Perhaps because they were starved for the chance to converse with someone who came from outside the village, they let out a stream of words without holding back. They spoke so much that Ernst even had trouble keeping up with them.

    ¡°That sure was amazing.¡±

    As Ernst exited the vacant house of the meeting and headed toward the location of the 5th platoon, Targes said this, astonished.

    ¡°The lady said that she had served in a merchant¡¯s house in Rintz fief, after all. You have to have that amount of influence if you¡¯re going to be in a merchant¡¯s house.¡±

    Arker chimed in with a self-satisfied look on his face, saying, ¡°It was a good thing that this finished up quickly.¡± Ernst guessed that he had heard something from Mais.

    In the beginning, the discussion in Caralime Village had been incredibly stagnant. Whenever Ernst asked a question, they answered with only ¡®Yes¡¯, or ¡®No¡¯, so he barely made any progress at all.

    Ernst had been willing to patiently wait for their words, but he knew that Mais, who had been accompanying him at the side, had grown frustrated. He had stamped his feet in irritation, and sometimes he had even clicked his tongue.

    On the other hand, when the Caralime villagers began cursing out Arruca Village, he had listened in with a face brimming with interest.

    Since the conversation with the head of Iben Village had progressed at a rapid pace, Arker hadn¡¯t shown the same set of behaviors as Mais did. But it seemed that even so, Arker shared the same faults Mais had.

    One couldn¡¯t confine themselves into thinking that only a fast and flowing conversation was good. They had to carefully sit back and listen to the other side¡¯s story. If they hated the thought of that, then it simply wouldn¡¯t do.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, will we be able to return to the estate tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°No; tomorrow I¡¯ll be going to check out Mount Ekse.¡±

    Arker showed a grimace at Ernst¡¯s words.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to make that face, Arker. It¡¯s fine if you stay behind here with the 5th platoon.¡±

    Ernst said, smiling woodenly. The moment Arker heard those words, his face flipped to a smile. Though he couldn¡¯t say that Arker wasn¡¯t honest all the way down to his roots, unfortunately, just that wasn¡¯t enough to serve Ernst¡¯s needs.

    Iben Village offered them the use of the vacant houses. The militia squad split up into five of the houses and went to bed. Ernst and Ganche together took one of the houses for their own use.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, are you tired?¡±

    Ganche sat directly on the hard floor, so Ernst perched himself upon Ganche¡¯s toned thigh. The bed was so shabby that it seemed like it would break as soon as Ganche sat on it.

    ¡°If you relaxed on the bed, wouldn¡¯t you be able to have a better rest?¡±

    ¡°I feel more comfortable when I¡¯m touching Ganche.¡±

    Saying that, Ernst adhered himself to Ganche¡¯s broad chest. A light laugh drifted down as Ganche¡¯s muscular arms hugged Ernst.

    ¡°It seems that Caralime Village is a bit of an insular village.¡±

    ¡°Is that the first village you went to?¡±

    Ernst nodded in confirmation.

    The stories that Ernst had heard from the three villages all jumbled together within him. They tangled with the thought in Ernst¡¯s mind of wanting to better Meissen.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t as if Caralime, Arruca, and Iben are located that far from each other. Even Arruca and Iben are only separated by a day¡¯s worth of walking. Despite this, the sheep kept by each of these three villages are completely different.¡±

    In Arruca they used tree bark as firewood, but in Iben, they used proper pieces of wood. But there was very little, and the fire seemed like it was about to flicker out.

    Ganche draped his own coat over Ernst¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°Caralime Village seems to be quite an industrious village. What I believe roughly happened was that they bred Arruca¡¯s sheep with Iben¡¯s, thus creating the sheep they have now.¡±

    ¡°Really, you think so?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t quite say for sure since I have never kept sheep myself, but¡­ the glossy sheen of Arruca, and the length of Iben. After crossbreeding the two of them, then selectively continuing to breed the children which display both of those characteristics, don¡¯t you think that you would end up with a Caralime sheep after several generations?¡±

    ¡°That does sound right¡­¡±

    ¡°Though it is possible for them to have bred in other varieties of sheep, we can¡¯t forget how extremely difficult it would be to procure sheep from Rintz fief and send them across the valley. One could bring lambs across by carrying them on one¡¯s back, but it isn¡¯t always possible to do that. Though this alone doesn¡¯t prove that they only used sheep located within Meissen. There are also ways to procure sheep from Lux Kingdom, but I heard that the sheep from Lux aren¡¯t particularly good.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see what you¡¯re saying. So in the end, it seems that Caralime¡¯s sheep were achieved by breeding the varieties of sheep which originally came from Meissen?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I believe.¡±

    But that wasn¡¯t something known to anyone outside of their own village.

    When Ernst visited the villages, in what manner did the villagers act when they started to speak with him, and how did they treat him on their first meeting? Ernst had quietly observed their behaviors and actions.

    Iben Village had accepted Ernst with the village head¡¯s cheerful nature. Arruca Village had tried their best to provide a warm welcome to their visitors even though they didn¡¯t have the means to do so, and this in itself made a warm feeling spread through people¡¯s chests.

    Yet Caralime Village had remained unyielding ¡®til the end. Since Caralime had been the very first village he had visited, Ernst had thought that all of the villages would be this way, but the two Ernst had later visited told him that this wasn¡¯t the case.

    As such, this begged the question: for what reason was Caralime Village so resistant? Even though Ernst and his party had camped on the village outskirts for two days, the people of Caralime didn¡¯t even come near them.

    The reason why Caralime Village so stubbornly rejected all outsiders, Ernst thought, was probably because they were trying to protect their sheep.

    ¡°Ganche, tomorrow I want to go up the mountain with you and Targes.¡±

    ¡°Just us three?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯ll also have a villager as our guide, but the 5th platoon and Arker will stay here.¡±

    Mount Ekse was arduous and steep. It wasn¡¯t a place where a large group of people could go.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that there are beasts, but even if a wolf jumps out, it will be fine as long as Ganche is there, right?¡±

    Ernst peered up at Ganche with a little laugh. Ganche¡¯s large body curled over as if covering Ernst, dropping a kiss upon Ernst¡¯s lips.

    ¡°If a wolf dares to try and attack Lord Ernst, I will beat it down and end it.¡±

    What a dependable man he was. Ernst clung to him, tasting his tongue.

    Translator¡¯s Note

    I¡¯m currently trying to build up a stock of translated chapters. Once I have enough, I¡¯ll release them on a regular schedule. At least for this arc. Hehe. (?£þ¨Œ£þ)?

 Chapter 37 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    Come the next day, the weather continued to be pleasant. Ernst thought that they had been blessed with good weather, but it seemed that his assumptions had been incorrect.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably because of Mount Ekze. There are very few snowstorms around these parts.¡±

    So said the villager who served to guide them through the mountain.

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®cause of that, this place is suited for raising sheep.¡±

    So that¡¯s how it is, Ernst nodded admiringly.

    In the three villages Ernst had visited, not a single person knew how to read. Yet no matter which village they were from, they all possessed the wisdom of life, even without any formal education.

    No matter many difficult books Ernst studiously read, none of them would grant Ernst the ability to survive a single winter in this village on his own.

    ¡°Has Iben Village tended to sheep in the past?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. Ah, here we go ¨C once you look out from over here, you¡¯ll understand.¡±

    The villager stopped walking and climbed up a bit of rock which jutted out. Ernst also climbed up the same way.

    He felt Ganche quickly come to stand behind him. Ernst guessed that if the rock he stood on crumbled beneath his feet, Ganche was prepared to save him.

    Trusting in Ganche¡¯s presence, Ernst stood atop the rock without any worry.

    ¡°That place over there where all of the trees are growing is around where Iben Village is. It¡¯s small and cramped without much open space, right?¡±

    It was certainly more compact than the other two villages Ernst had visited. It might even be smaller than the village of Kata, which was close to the estate.

    ¡°It¡¯s said that waaay back when, it used to be more spacious, but¡­ at some point, those trees took over and expanded so much that they were as vast as Caralime¡¯s pastures. Though, it¡¯s not as if Caralime has enough sheep nowadays for that much pasture, anyway.¡±

    Saying that, the villager lightly descended from the rock.

    Ernst went to follow him down, but when he saw how high up he was, his feet paused in their steps. He didn¡¯t feel it while he was climbing, but he was at a surprisingly tall height.

    As Ernst hesitated, a large hand extended out to him. Ganche¡¯s copper eyes smiled gently at him. Ernst took Ganche¡¯s hand, and Ganche easily lifted him from the rock and set him down.

    ¡°In that case, how did you keep yourselves fed in the past?¡±

    Ernst continued to question the villager guide. The further they advanced on the mountain, the steeper it became.

    ¡°I heard that we kept sheep so that we could use them to pay the Lord¡¯s taxes. The village sustained itself by selling crops and firewood, as well as selling the meat of animals we hunted. But when Caralime Village grew successful, it affected Iben greatly¡­ we wanted to raise more sheep. We sold our farming tools so that we could buy lambs from Rintz fief and Lux Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°Your farming tools?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. If we could sustain ourselves with sheep, we wouldn¡¯t need to cultivate our fields¡­ it was a mistake. The few farming tools we have left aren¡¯t enough to protect our village¡¯s farmlands.¡±

    The villager was accustomed to traveling on the mountain, so he walked quickly. Ernst had to give his all just to be able to keep up.

    ¡°Right now, we gather crops from the fields, pick nuts from Mount Ekze, hunt deer, and make firewood, but it¡¯s impossible to keep the entire village fed with just this. That¡¯s why, we have no choice but to send people out of the village to find work¡­ next year, I¡¯ll also be leaving the village to work.¡±

    Ernst was told that half of Iben Village alternated between staying and going out to find work. Even so, it was difficult, and there were some people like the village head who stayed out for decades in order to establish themselves and earn some income.

    The villager guiding them was a young man who looked to be the same age as Arker. At this age, he had already experienced leaving the village to work many times.

    Ernst had never experienced what it meant to have to leave one¡¯s lands in order to find work and bring back money.

    But even Ernst could imagine that such an experience wasn¡¯t an enjoyable one at all.

    ¡°If we were able to harvest just a little more from this mountain, things would be so much easier¡­¡±

    The villager stopped in his tracks and looked up at the mountain¡¯s trees. Ernst also looked up with him. This forest was different from the one around Arruca; the trees were deciduous here. But just like the ones seen around Caralime, there were very few trees that had lost their leaves.

    ¡°Do these, not¡­ bear any, nuts?¡±

    Ernst was out of breath.

    ¡°They do have nuts, but it takes a lot of time and work to eat them. You have to soak them in water for a long while, then grind them¡­ but it¡¯s still good to be able to eat them. You won¡¯t find any edible nuts when you go up further than this.¡±

    From the looks of it, there weren¡¯t any fruits or things like raspberries to gather on Mount Ekze.

    The villager continued on steadily. It seemed like he was going to show them how to climb up as far as they could go.

    Regardless of whether the village head had ordered him to do this or not, Ernst was happy that the young man was generous enough to lead them this far; it was only his feet that voiced their complaints at being pushed to their limits.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ganche softly called out to him from behind, then lifted up Ernst¡¯s body. Though normally Ernst would refuse to be carried, this time, he was grateful for it.

    ¡°Ah, was I going too fast?¡±

    Flustered, the villager slowed his steps. That wasn¡¯t the problem at all, Ernst wanted to say, even as he smiled wryly and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

    ¡°I wanted to bring you to climb up over here as well, but the village head said that we should leave this area for later¡­¡±

    As he said this, the villager walked down a slope and went off the path, stepping onto a grassy area. There isn¡¯t any snow in this direction? Ernst wondered curiously, just as the villager stopped walking and pointed ahead.

    ¡°Do you see the steam over there? That¡¯s from the hot spring.¡±

    Hot spring.

    Ernst had read in books that this was water which had been heated by nature, but Ernst himself had never entered a hot spring, or even seen one. So Meissen had hot springs too, huh.

    Unable to contain his restless excitement, Ernst leaned forward while still held in Ganche¡¯s arms.

    ¡°There are a couple of hot springs in the village, but this place is pretty far away and, more importantly, you have to climb up to get to it. Because of that, this is a hot spring that¡¯s never been used by the village. The village head told me to guide you here so that you may feel welcome to enjoy it, she said.¡±

    Ernst had arrived at the hot spring while the villager was explaining. Ernst set his feet on the ground and gingerly brought his fingertip to touch the water. It wasn¡¯t too hot; the water was just the right temperature.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go wait over there, so everyone, please go ahead and enjoy.¡±

    Saying that, the villager returned down the path he had taken to bring them here.

    Three people stood on the mountain, enveloped in slight, hazy clouds of steam.

    Ernst was so wrapped up in his ecstasy that he didn¡¯t even notice the intense stare Ganche directed at Targes. After Ernst had arrived in Meissen, he had keenly felt how the use of hot water was a true luxury.

    The waters of the hot spring surged copiously, filling up this bathtub which seemed to have been made of the simple rocks of the surroundings. With this much hot water, he would be able to use as much as he pleased ¨C just the thought of that made Ernst¡¯s heart jump.

    As Ernst cheerfully brought his hands to his clothes, Ganche softly placed a hand on his shoulder.

    What is it? Ernst looked up at him only to find himself held against Ganche¡¯s broad chest.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    He heard Targes¡¯ voice from far behind him.

    ¡°The two of you, please do partake in the hot water. I¡¯ll just go ahead and join that villager in returning to the village first, so¡­ Ganche, have lots of fun with Lord Ernst.¡±

    Since Ernst was pressed against Ganche¡¯s chest, he couldn¡¯t perceive Ganche¡¯s expression, but for some reason, he felt like Targes¡¯ voice held laughter in it.

    ¡°Was something the matter with Targes?¡±

    Ganche had stripped naked first, and as he undressed Ernst¡¯s clothes, Ernst asked this question.

    ¡°He passed up on such a rare opportunity to enter a hot spring, after all. Does he, perhaps, dislike hot water?¡±

    Ernst loved to submerge himself in hot water. He always felt like water melted away all of the tension in his body. Was there really anyone who could dislike this?

    ¡°Who knows¡­ maybe he has something to to take care of.¡±

    After having his coat stripped off, Ernst shivered from the cold chill licking at his skin.

    ¡°In this village?¡±

    ¡°Maybe he went to go supervise the 5th platoon¡¯s training.¡±

    ¡°Aah, that¡¯s right. The 5th platoon is still in the village. Targes is quite the diligent captain.¡±

    Once Ganche mentioned them, Ernst remembered that the 5th platoon and Arker existed.

    The villager had generously showed them the parts of the village they used, as well as the whole of Mount Ekze. Because of that, despite how Ernst had planned to depart the village after breakfast, the sky had now darkened from the approaching dusk.

    Ernst had been so enraptured by what the villager had explained to him that he had forgotten all about the people left behind in the village.

    While Ernst was talking, Ganche had stripped every piece of his clothing until he was bare. Ernst had learned to take off his own clothing once he had left the royal palace, but after he met up with Ganche again, he ended up reverting to old habits. Every morning and every night, Ganche dressed and undressed Ernst.

    Ganche embraced Ernst¡¯s small body after it began to tremble, having nothing to shield it from the cold. Even though Ganche had stripped bare before Ernst had, his large body didn¡¯t seem like it was affected by the cold at all. The skin touching Ernst felt hot.

    ¡°You don¡¯t, feel cold?¡±

    Ernst¡¯s teeth chattered, making it difficult to speak well.

    ¡°Dunbertians are strong in several ways.¡±

    Ganche laughed, lifting Ernst into his arms before slowly sliding into the hot water. Though the heat was painful at first, once Ernst got used to it, he let out a long sigh.

    ¡°What do you mean by several ways?¡±

    ¡°We are able to adjust our sense of pain ¨C or rather, our sense of touch at our own discretion.¡±

    ¡°Sense of touch¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I can make it so that I can feel neither heat nor cold, and I can also block all forms of pain from my senses.¡±

    Ernst looked up at Ganche¡¯s masculine face, trailing both of his hands over the raised muscles of his chest.

    ¡°That¡­ sounds like it¡¯s convenient, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°In order to survive, it is vital to use each and every sense. To be unable to feel life-threatening heat or cold is to put yourself in extraordinary danger. It is better to feel pain if it means being able to protect yourself.¡±

    ¡°I see ¨C that makes sense.¡±

    ¡°We are able to make ourselves feel, but on the battlefield, we can also block ourselves from feeling. I suppose since we can control this intentionally, it really is convenient.¡±

    ¡°The bodies of the Dunbertian people really do seem as if they were made for fighting, don¡¯t they.¡±

    Ernst glided his fingertips across the swell of the muscles on Ganche¡¯s shoulder. Embracing Ganche¡¯s thick arm, he kissed those fingertips which always moved so skillfully. Ganche¡¯s tight and compact stomach was bumpy with firm muscle, and it didn¡¯t have a single trace of soft or droopy flesh.

    ¡°If Dunbertian¡¯s don¡¯t actively train themselves, will they lose their muscle in the same way that Kleber do?¡±

    ¡°That is¡­ a good question. In Grude Continent, there are people who don¡¯t fight, and among them there are also the elderly, but all of them are toned with muscle, as far as I know. I suppose that we always have a certain amount of muscle, regardless of whether we train or not.¡±

    Among the race which resides in Grude Continent, there are four types of people. The Grudes, the Dayers, the Gaia, and finally, the Dunbertians.

    All of them are races of war, and both the men and women throw themselves into battle. Once a child turns 10 years old, they must become independent. They may be hired by a wealthy merchant as a mercenary, or they may be like Ganche and be hired as a mercenary for a noble in some country or another.

    If not that, then they may sign up to become soldiers in the national army of a country. Otherwise, they might become involved in a criminal group, attacking the very same targets that others of their same race protect as mercenaries.

    No matter which choice they make, there is not a single person of the Grude race who has ended their life without having fought at least once, and on that matter, there were very few of them who died of old age.

    ¡°The land of the Grude¡­ just what kind of place is it, really?¡±

    Warm water enveloped Ernst¡¯s entire body, the comfortable feeling making him sleepy.

    ¡°Grude is¡­ a place that is very harsh for children. The weight of your body when you walk on Schell land becomes ten times heavier when you walk on Grude¡¯s. When I was little, I couldn¡¯t even stand up. If I wanted to get anywhere, I had to move by crawling on the ground.¡±

    When Ernst¡¯s slender shoulders rose from the water, Ganche gently poured some hot water over them.

    ¡°At any right, just sitting was enough to exhaust me. It felt like there were ten people riding on my shoulders.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s ¨C really incredible.¡±

    Ernst wasn¡¯t even able to imagine it.

    ¡°If Lord Ernst were to ever visit Grude Continent, then from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave, I wish to carry you to wherever you want to go. The land there is very strange, so it would be better if your feet never touch the ground.¡±

    ¡°My feet?¡±

    ¡°Yes. No matter if it is your feet or your hands, if any part of your body touches the earth on Grude, a weight will press down on your body. However, this won¡¯t happen if not a single part of you touches the ground. That is why newborn children are always carried around by someone.¡±

    It kept getting harder and harder to understand. Just how exactly did this work?

    Ernst had naturally only experienced the Schell Continent.Though he had read about other continents in books, once he started doubting whether the contents of the books were actually true, there were many things that he could only think of as strange or mysterious.

    ¡°Ganche, you were born on the Grude Continent, correct?¡±

    ¡°I was. For the Grude race, no matter where the child was conceived, they will always return to Grude Continent to give birth. This is because there is a belief that children who aren¡¯t brought up on the land of Grude will be weak. I myself have never met someone born anywhere other than Grude, so I cannot say for sure whether that is true or not, but for my people, being considered weak is the most shameful thing of all.¡±

    ¡°Ganche is strong.¡±

    ¡°There are many people who are more powerful than I am¡­ But, if I¡¯m protecting Lord Ernst, then I¡¯ll surely be stronger than anyone else¡­¡±

    Ganche¡¯s muscular arms hugged Ernst, and he pressed a kiss to Ernst¡¯s lips.

    After being pecked by his kiss, Ernst lifted his body to chase after Ganche¡¯s composed lips, sucking on them. He held Ganche¡¯s large face between his hands, pulling at Ganche¡¯s brown curls with his fingers.

    His heart greedily demanded for more, deeper ¨C so Ernst moved to fulfill its desires. He curled both of his arms behind Ganche¡¯s head, embracing him. Ganche¡¯s hair brushed against the warm skin of Ernst¡¯s arms, sending a shiver down Ernst¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ganche pulled away, but Ernst chased after him, licking at his thick lips.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    Hearing Ganche call his name in distress, Ernst looked up and met his gaze.

    ¡°We can¡¯t¡­?¡±

    Lust was laced into the sound of Ernst¡¯s voice. The thin fingertips on Ganche¡¯s broad shoulders began to tremble.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to¡­?¡±

    Ganche didn¡¯t answer Ernst¡¯s question, but he didn¡¯t separate himself from Ernst, either. His thick fingers strayed down to between Ernst¡¯s legs. They twined around Ernst¡¯s soft and limp member, stroking him up and down as if coaxing him.

    ¡°Mmn¡­¡±

    Ernst¡¯s eyes fell shut as Ganche teased him, his back arching.

    ¡°If we just do it once¡­ would that be okay?¡±

    Ernst stared at Ganche with watery eyes. He felt his lower half quavering wretchedly, wishing to take Ganche deep inside of it.

    Bending over, Ernst gently took Ganche¡¯s into his hands. It was a mass that was even hotter than the scalding water of the hot springs. When Ernst glided his fingertips over the sticky head, something slick spilled over his fingers.

    Ernst moved his hips, guiding it to rest against his entrance.

    ¡°Can¡¯t we¡­?¡±

    Ernst lowered his hips onto it, looking up at Ganche. His hole twitched and mouthed against Ganche¡¯s enormous thing, repeatedly kissing it, inviting it deep inside.

    ¡°¡­Ngh! ¡­Lord Ernst¡­ if we do, will you allow me to carry you back from here to the village?¡±

    The animal nature mixing into Ganche¡¯s copper eyes didn¡¯t escape Ernst¡¯s notice.

    ¡°Mhm, I¡¯ll allow it.¡±

    Ganche embraced him with backbreaking strength, his thick tongue ravaging Ernst¡¯s mouth.

    Steam billowed with each wave of splashing water. A thick and wide spear ran through Ernst¡¯s body. He arched his back, unable to endure.

    Thick arms rubbed against Ernst¡¯s soft stomach. Ernst¡¯s small member did its best to stand tall as Ganche gently massaged its tip, each of his movements in concert with the deep thrusts which struck all the way into Ernst¡¯s body.

    Ernst leaned his pale back onto Ganche¡¯s taut stomach, his head resting upon Ganche¡¯s broad chest, his golden hair disheveled.

    At some point, darkness had fallen around them. Moonlight spilled over them from between the trees.

    It was a quiet and beautiful night, with only the sounds of rough breathing and rippling water filling the silence.

    ¡°Ganche! Ganche¡­ mn!¡±

    As his body trembled, jostled by wild movements, hot water splashed on Ernst¡¯s face. Ganche secured Ernst¡¯s body with one of his arms, moving him up and down.

    Ernst¡¯s body was too small to take Ganche every night. But if Ernst were to tell the truth, he didn¡¯t want to let pass a single minute of opportunity. Ernst tightened his hole, holding Ganche as if trying to keep him inside. It was as if he wanted to engrave this shape, this heat into his body.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­!¡±

    Ganche¡¯s voice roughened. Ernst felt Ganche grow much hotter inside of him, and he knew that Ganche was reaching his end.

    ¡°Inside of me¡­ Ganche, I want it all¡­ inside¡­!¡±

    Ganche¡¯s hips rammed against him, pressing tightly as if to fulfill Ernst¡¯s wishes.

    ¡°¡­ngh!¡±

    Ernst felt Ganche rumble a low moan on his nape. The insides of Ernst¡¯s body lit up with heat. Ganche shot out inside of Ernst, filling Ernst up so much that he felt like his stomach was going to swell. The intoxicating feeling carried Ernst away, bringing him to a slow release.

    Ernst¡¯s small member now belonged to Ganche, so even if it was small, it still stood erect. By now, even just a kiss from Ganche was enough to make it hard.

    Yet still, it didn¡¯t shoot out the same way Ganche¡¯s did. His release slowly trickled out from the tip.

    It looked as if it were crying. To Ernst, it was a shameful, unseemly sight, but Ganche had told him that it looked so adorable that he couldn¡¯t bear it.

    Of course, if it pleased Ganche, then Ernst no longer had any misgivings about it.

    As Ernst¡¯s body went limp and his mind blank, the cold air felt soothing to him. Ganche quickly redressed Ernst, then put on his own clothes. Even now, Ernst¡¯s body trembled with pleasure, and he let out a hot-breathed sigh as Ganche gently lifted him up.

    Ernst rubbed his cheek against Ganche¡¯s hard militia coat. Ganche pressed a kiss to Ernst¡¯s hair, chuckling a little.

    Ernst felt Ganche¡¯s heat still within his body. He clenched his body, trying to keep it from flowing down his legs.

    If he could keep all of Ganche¡¯s copious release in his body, Ernst felt like he would be able to gain a little bit of the Dunbertian¡¯s strength.

    Held within these arms which were safer than anywhere in the world, Ernst dazedly shut his eyes.

    They left Iben Village the next day. This village, too, had tried its utmost to host Ernst and his entourage well. It didn¡¯t seem as if this was because Ernst was the lord; rather, he had a feeling that they would treat anyone who visited their village with a warm reception.

    They soup and bread they had offered was better than that of Arruca Village¡¯s.

    But, in the face of these humble dishes and tableware, Arker had openly furrowed his brows and refused to partake no matter what. Seeing the grim expression Arker showed the villagers, the lively village head came over to appease him.

    Yet Arker disregarded the amiable village head who had come to chat with him, and he sat walling himself away from the soldiers, as well as the villagers. Since Ernst had prohibited eating the food they had brought from the estate, Arker sullenly kept silent while hugging his knees.

    The militia soldiers completely didn¡¯t pay any attention at all to Arker, and they ate the food that the villagers treated them to.

    For them, they had all come from poor homes. As the children of peasants they were unable to eat well, so they had to become soldiers. They might have felt that the taste of Iben Village¡¯s food reminded them of home.

    Ernst watched them quietly, observing and taking everything in without saying a word.

 Chapter 38 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    Ernst had planned to head to Eitt Village the moment he returned from Iben. The moment he arrived back at the estate, however, a snowstorm began to blow as if it had been lying in wait.

    This was Ernst¡¯s first time seeing a snowstorm since he had arrived in Meissen. It truly looked as if the snow had imprisoned them.

    Despite this, Targes still ordered the militia troops to train. It wasn¡¯t as if their enemies would subside just because the weather was bad, he reasoned.

    The troops were burdened with complaints, but now that they were starting to become disciplined, they knew that Targes¡¯ words were right. They all followed their captain, fully throwing themselves into training.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, did you call for me?¡±

    It seemed that when Targes returned just now, he had left an extreme cold. Targes entered the room, his breath turning white in the air.

    Ernst encouraged him to take a seat in front of the fireplace and handed him some hot water. Ernst still couldn¡¯t buy tea leaves yet.

    ¡°How was the training?¡±

    ¡°I want to say that the newcomers are getting up to speed, but¡­ whenever they can find a way to take it easy, they¡¯ll do it.¡±

    ¡°Take it easy¡­ you say?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Since it¡¯s hard to see through the snowstorm, they probably thought that no one would know that they left their positions during the march and just waited for the rest of the squad to come back around.¡±

    When that image drifted in front of his mind, Ernst¡¯s lips quirked up with a smile.

    ¡°What they didn¡¯t know was that even with a snowstorm blowing around, Ganche¡¯s eyes see just as clearly as on a sunny day. So when he found those soldiers, he snatched them by the scruffs of their necks and hurled them back into line.¡±

    Ernst laughed aloud.

    ¡°That sounds like a lot of fun.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ yeah, I guess so.¡±

    Targes smiled wryly.

    The soldiers¡¯ lack of eagerness to train seriously was a mark of the peaceful times.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean that they could afford to shirk their training.

    ¡°Well then, as for the reason why I called for you despite how busy you are.¡±

    Targes corrected his posture and turned toward Ernst.

    He changed greatly from his first impression, now becoming the extremely capable and reliable Captain Targes.

    ¡°There is just one thing I would like to ask of you.¡±

    As Ernst said this, he placed a small bag on top of the desk.

    Ten days afterward, they were able to depart for Eitt Village.

    Ernst set off with Targes, Ganche, and the 7th platoon accompanying him.

    This time, he didn¡¯t bring anyone to serve as his butler. Ernst wanted to avoid any conflicts with the villagers. At this point, he wouldn¡¯t gain anything by bringing someone who was unable to conduct themselves properly. Ernst politely refused Ganche¡¯s offer to carry him, and one of the soldiers drove Ernst¡¯s carriage instead.

    Of course Ernst wished for nothing more than to touch and be held by Ganche. When Ganche¡¯s scent enveloped him, Ernst felt that he had nothing to fear.

    However, he took care to not make others see him so quickly as someone who was always touching his partner irrespective of the situation.

    Ernst was the Lord who commanded Meissen.

    The Lord must not treat anyone preferentially, for both Meissen and Ganche¡¯s sake.

    There may be someone out there who will think about harming Ganche. Ernst couldn¡¯t afford to close his eyes to the dark side of humanity.

    This was one of the lessons Ernst had learned in the royal palace.

    Eitt Village was located 6 hours away on foot to the east of the estate. It was located in the middle of a sprawling forest, with Grude Continent situated nearby. It had a population of 37 people, 5 of which were children and 8 of which had Kleber¡¯s disease.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t snow over here?¡±

    Ernst asked this to the villagers who had come out to greet him.

    ¡°Yes, there isn¡¯t any snow. Because of the Grude Continent¡¯s influence, it snows less and less each year. These past ten years, it hasn¡¯t snowed at all.¡±

    In the house of one of the people who had come to meet him, Ernst conversed with two villagers. Targes accompanied him again this time. Ernst¡¯s impression of him was that this person had a quite keen sense of tact.

    ¡°Since it doesn¡¯t snow here, we have very little water. We suffer from a lack of water during the winter season especially.¡±

    The villager¡¯s expression turned cloudy.

    ¡°I see. Where do you usually find water?¡±

    ¡°We draw water from the springs and streams in the forest. But, since more than half of the village has left to find work, the only ones left are children and older people like me¡­ gathering water is very demanding work.¡±

    ¡°Because of the walk to gather the water?¡±

    ¡°No, I keep a goat for that. It takes one hour to get to the forest, but as you might expect, the streams dry up in the winter. There¡¯s also less water in the springs, so there¡¯s not enough to gather. There¡¯s nothing we can do about it, so we have to go to Maine Village.¡±

    ¡°Maine Village?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It takes two hours to walk over there, but that¡¯s where it¡¯s snowing. We go over there so that we can bring back snow.¡±

    The village of Maine was located in between Yakiya Village, which was located near the Bastelis river, and Eitt Village, where they were now.

    In the past, that village had primarily dealt in lumber and wood.

    ¡°But lately, Maine Village has started demanding money¡­¡±

    ¡°Money?¡±

    ¡°They want us to pay for collecting snow. But us, we don¡¯t have any money, so¡­ We have no choice but to go to Dada Village. But it takes four hours to walk to Dada¡­¡±

    Can you really demand money for the snow which falls from the sky? Ernst knit his brows at his inner thoughts, then urged the villager to continue.

    ¡°How do the people in this village make a living? Do you grow crops?¡±

    ¡°In the past, we lived off of timber. We made firewood to sell in Meissen, and we also made furniture. But in recent years, the trees in the forest have grown too large, and we were no longer able to cut them down. Nowadays, we chop down the relatively thin trees to make firewood, and we¡¯re somehow able to sell it¡­ But only, just barely.¡±

    Saying that, the villager smiled as if embarrassed. Ernst smiled a little with him.

    Even though it didn¡¯t snow here, it was still just as cold. Or rather, the cold became even starker here on this land without snow.

    But as long as they were able to gather enough firewood, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry. The fireplaces in the village were all lit even though it wasn¡¯t nighttime yet, confirming this.

    ¡°What about crops?¡±

    ¡°There isn¡¯t enough water for them. The ground here isn¡¯t very fertile, either¡­ we¡¯re only just barely able to grow potatoes and wheat.¡±

    ¡°Then this means you must have trouble finding food.¡±

    ¡°Yes. That is why it¡¯s so important for the people of the village to leave and find work. There aren¡¯t many nuts in that forest, and there aren¡¯t any fruits, either¡­ In the past, we used to go hunting. But just like the trees, the beasts have grown so enormously that we¡¯re no longer able to hunt them down¡­ Ah, but we¡¯re able to catch and eat rabbits and the like. Even the rabbits are huge these days.¡±

    The villager motioned how big they were with his hands. It was about as big as a large dog.

    ¡°So in Eitt Village, the main diet one eats is primarily animal meat?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. We were never able to grow many crops here, even in the old days. We¡¯re also mountaineers, and not farmers. So we hunt as many young animals as we can, then make dried jerky to last us through the winter.¡±

    ¡°But even if they¡¯re bigger than before, a rabbit is still a rabbit. They¡¯re even faster than deer, so we can only successfully catch very few of them. We buy food and water with the money earned by the people who left to find work, and the money we earn by selling firewood¡­ and of course, we also pay our taxes.¡±

    The cooperation between villagers was strong in Eitt Village as well.

    In the first place, in Schell Continent, it was very rare for a family unit to be based around a married couple. Most of the time, families were centered around mothers and their children.

    But in Meissen, the villages were all one big family. Like in Eitt Village, there were many villagers who left to find work, and the number of children conceived by those migrant workers was also high.

    The mother gives birth to her child, and after leaving this child in the care of the villagers, once again leaves to find work. The villagers didn¡¯t care about which child came from who or where, and they showered every child equally with love.

    And when someone grew old, the entire village came together to care for them. As such, the money earned by the people who left to work was never spent for themselves.

    Everything was communal property, and everyone in the village supported the lives of all of the villagers.

    ¡°Everyone seems to cooperate with each other very well. Furthermore, they seem to have thoroughly considered how to seamlessly manage society in the village.¡±

    As Targes walked down a step toward him, Ernst addressed him and said this.

    ¡°That looks to be the case. I¡¯ve been to see many places in other territories before, but I¡¯ve never seen a land where the villagers are united and help each out like this.¡±

    ¡°I see. So the villages are cooperating exceptionally well.¡±

    How good it would be if they could extend this cooperation throughout the entirety of Meissen,Ernst thought.

 zChapter 39 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    The next day, Ernst took a look at the fields encircling Eitt Village.

    Even though the snow around the estate was deep after the New Year had passed, Ernst really didn¡¯t see any snow near Eitt Village. Instead of snow, there was the terrible sight of dust clouds kicked up from the cracked, parched fields.

    ¡°It seems that it would be immensely difficult to grow crops on fields such as these.¡±

    ¡°We can choose to grow things which don¡¯t need much water, like wheat and millet¡­ and during summer, we can¡¯t grow anything other than potatoes and tomatoes.¡±

    ¡°Was the land here like this in the past, as well?¡±

    The villagers had given Ernst a piece of cloth, and Ernst brought it to his face before he opened his mouth.

    ¡°No; when I was a child, the land used to be a little better. The entire village used to be able to eat well on the animals we hunted and the crops we grew.¡±

    The elderly villager swayed as if he was being flapped around by the wind. Targes stabilized him with one hand.

    Ernst also lost his footing when a gust of wind blew against him. Ganche nonchalantly went to stand upwind of him.

    ¡°Humm. Then in that case, approximately when did things become like this?¡±

    ¡°Let me think¡­ when I was an adult, my mother left the village to work, so around that time, I think. That should be about 100 years back or so, I think.¡±

    Ernst bent down, grabbing some of the soil to take a better look. The clod he had picked up crumbled at the slightest pressure, bits and pieces of it being carried away by the gusts. It didn¡¯t look as if it contained a single trace of moisture.

    Just like the sky before it began to snow, dark and gloomy clouds covered Ernst¡¯s heart. Was it impossible to wish for lands abundant with flourishing greenery in Meissen? Ernst wished there was someone he could ask that to.

    He stood, letting out a small sigh, and accidentally locked gazes with the villager, who looked at him in shock. Why did he look so surprised? Ernst wondered, completely puzzled, but both of the villagers who had come to guide him only just stared at him with wide eyes.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ no¡­ that is¡­¡±

    They avoided answering Ernst¡¯s question, their eyes darting around like they didn¡¯t know where to look.

    Though he still didn¡¯t really know why, Ernst stopped pursuing the matter. Instead, he asked them to guide him to the forest which served as the border to Grude Continent, the Weiss Forest.

    Although the dry land extended even up to the outskirts of the forest, the deep color of greenery in Weiss Forest showed how abundant it was, even when viewed from afar.

    Strangely enough, there was a clear boundary between the inside of the forest and the outside, as if a line had been drawn to separate them.

    The dusty land which held no water, after crossing that single boundary, became a dense forest.

    ¡°So there are plants and greenery in this forest.¡±

    ¡°Yes. In the forest, there isn¡¯t a single thing that withers.¡±

    As they proceeded step by step into the forest, the wind lessened until it came to a still.

    ¡°This forest is very quiet.¡±

    ¡°The wind is always blowing around outside like that. I also feel that it¡¯s very calm and quiet in this forest.¡±

    ¡°But if you prick your ears, you¡¯ll be able to hear the sounds.¡±

    ¡°The sound of the wind?¡±

    ¡°No, the animal cries. The calls of the birds and deer, for example. At night, you can hear the wolves howl.¡±

    At those words, Ernst unwittingly paused his steps. The phobia of wolves he had developed during his stay in Rintz fief made his small body tremble with fear, even now.

    ¡°There are¡­ wolves, here?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re around wherever there are deer, aren¡¯t they? Since they¡¯re good food. Besides, if there weren¡¯t wolves, we¡¯d be in trouble.¡±

    Ganche softly placed a hand on Ernst¡¯s shoulder. Encouraged by his warm hand, Ernst started to walk forward again.

    ¡°Why would you be in trouble?¡±

    ¡°This was back when I had left the village and gone to Meridie fief to work, but¡­ in that land, because wolves had hunted their livestock, they killed all of the wolves. Because of that, deer started overcrowding the forests and mountains, and they ate all of the trees until there was nothing left. When I was working over there, they even started going for the crops, so we had to go and fight against the deer. The deer were like pests attacking the fields all year round, even coming to attack at night¡­ we couldn¡¯t hold up against them.¡±

    So that was why¡­

    Ernst had thought that it would be a good thing if there weren¡¯t any wolves, because that would make crossing the forest very easy to do.

    But if there weren¡¯t any wolves, there wouldn¡¯t be anything to weed out the deer. No matter if it were a plant or an animal, it would never be good if there were too much of it, and neither would it be good if there weren¡¯t any at all.

    Ernst stopped in his tracks, looked around at the quiet forest. As the villager said, if you used your ears, you could hear the birds singing and the deer crying shrilly.

    He heard the rustle of the leaves. There were insects, too.

    ¡°In this forest, if there weren¡¯t wolves then the deer would eat the young trees, too, making it much harder for us to get firewood. Even deer like the young trees better than the mature, giant trees ¨C they¡¯re probably softer and taste better.¡±

    When Ernst looked carefully, he saw that the bark of the trees looked like they had been peeled off by the deer. But it wasn¡¯t enough to the point of felling the tree. Before the deer could kill the trees, the wolves thinned out their numbers.

    Ernst quietly breathed in the air of the forest. It had the deep scent of greenery. It smelled like the scent Ernst loved the most.

    There was nothing created by nature which didn¡¯t serve some purpose. The lives of all living beings were interconnected.

    The villagers explained to Ernst as they advanced through the forest. The further they went, the bigger the trees became. Some of them were so enormous that it would take ten Kleber people holding hands to encircle them.

    ¡°In the Grude Continent, would trees like these be considered normal?¡±

    Ernst turned back, asking this to Ganche.

    ¡°Not quite. In Grude, a tree like this would still be considered a young.¡±

    At Ganche¡¯s words, the villagers stopped in their tracks.

    ¡°Then¡­ the trees here are going to grow even bigger than they are now¡­?¡±

    They looked up at Ganche, lost expressions on their faces.

    ¡°Well, I wonder¡­ Grude Continent is always at a hot temperature, and unlike this land, there is no winter season where it becomes colder, so it might be that the trees won¡¯t grow as much.¡±

    Ganche forced a smile, his masculine brows furrowed. Though he had said those things to calm the villagers, Ganche himself probably didn¡¯t know whether his words were true or not.

    Just two hundred years ago, no one would have imagined that the trees in Weiss Forest would grow to be so gigantic, or that Eitt Village¡¯s fields would dry up like this.

    Just what would they become one hundred years from now? In this world, not a single person would possibly know.

    Ernst slowly walked through the woods. The trees were big, the leaves were big, and the ground he stepped on was soft. There weren¡¯t any places that felt like rock beneath his feet, which was what the ground around Iben Village and Mount Ekze had felt like.

    The terrain here was gentle and easy on the feet. Some leaves might have fallen every now and then, so there were large dead leaves that had fallen on the ground. And there was probably moss, too. A soft and full cover of plants blanketed the ground, hugging Ernst¡¯s ankles.

    Ernst heard a light voice in the air, one which he had previously heard in the villa.

    ¡°That voice, does it come from a little bird?¡±

    When Ernst asked this question, the villager nodded.

    ¡°It should be a little bird, though its size isn¡¯t so little.¡±

    ¡°Humm. So there are Grude birds, too.¡±

    ¡°It looks the same as a little songbird you might find in Meissen. But, its size is¡­ about the same as a chicken. It¡¯s delicious when you roast it.¡±

    ¡°Are you able to hunt the birds?¡±

    ¡°We can. The deer, though, are completely impossible for us. The blades of our weapons can¡¯t even cut it.¡±

    ¡°I wonder ¨C what would you say is the success rate of your hunting? Every time you go out to hunt, will you always be able to bring something down?¡±

    After pondering over Ernst¡¯s question, the younger villager responded.

    ¡°Our weapons aren¡¯t very good, is the thing¡­ even though we do maintain them, they¡¯re old and worn out¡­ once a blade breaks, we aren¡¯t able to repair it ourselves. As such, there are many times where we go out to hunt but aren¡¯t able to bring down anything. About once every three times, we¡¯re able to catch a bird or a rabbit¡­ it¡¯s not possible to fill the stomachs of everyone in the village with that.¡¯

    So they have to eke out a living using those dried-up fields, the food they can just barely manage to hunt down from the Weiss forest, and the money from their migrant workers. Judging by the looks of Eitt Village, if they were no longer able to depend on any one of those three, they wouldn¡¯t be able to survive.

    They quietly delved further into the forest. Weiss Forest had many animals. They were all animals that had either come from Grude, or were affected by its influence. In other words, the forest abounded with gigantic, dangerous creatures.

    As the villagers explained this to Ernst, their voices were naturally very quiet and low so as to not attract attention.

    Everything in the Weiss Forest was enormous. Massive tree trunks rose up into the sky, their branches spreading out far above Ernst¡¯s head. Even the fallen leaves on the ground were so big that they were taller than Ernst.

    Even though the forest was dim, sunlight still reached the roots of the plants. Several kinds of grass sprung up from the ground, mixing in with the deep layer of moss.

    Ernst grabbed some of those pieces of grass, looking over them carefully. He pulled out some moss and sniffed it.

    ¡°Milord?¡±

    Ernst looked over his shoulder and saw that the villagers had stopped in their tracks. He stood up.

    ¡°Are you able to harvest anything from this forest other than animals?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­¡±

    Not understanding what Ernst was asking, the villagers awkwardly shook their heads.

    ¡°What I mean is, do you eat any nuts, or any grass like this kind here?¡±

    He simplified his words.

    ¡°Oh¡­ tree nuts. We used to eat them in the past, but they¡¯re all the way up there at the top, aren¡¯t they? We can wait for them to fall naturally, but that¡¯s also very troublesome¡­ the amount of labor it takes to eat them is just too much.¡±

    Ernst looked up at the top of the tree, where the villager was pointing toward. There was certainly something growing there. But from this distance, it looked like its size would be the same as a small rock if it were right in front of him.

    ¡°What about the grass?¡±

    ¡°You mean this grass? This stuff isn¡¯t edible. I¡¯ve seen deer eat it before, so I decided to try it out once, but it was far too bitter¡­ it isn¡¯t something we can eat.¡±

    When the villager spoke, Ernst stayed quiet and nodded.

    Since Ernst had said that he wanted to see where they drew their water, the villagers guided him to the river. It was a small stream with only a little bit of water trickling through it.

    ¡°The river is a little bigger in the summer¡­¡±

    It did seem so. From the way the rocks and soil were dug out, Ernst could see the size the river would be in the summer.

    ¡°In this forest, are there other rivers like this?¡±

    ¡°Yes. There are a few of them, and they¡¯re all around this size. This river is the closest one to the village, but since there are wolves as well as some deer that are so big that they¡¯re dangerous, we don¡¯t go to draw water from anywhere further than here.¡±

    ¡°How far does this river travel?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s somewhat of a mystery¡­ the place where it¡¯s supposed to flow out of the forest is cut off.¡±

    ¡°The river is cut off?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ there¡¯s a rocky area, and when the water reaches it, that¡¯s where it disappears. The entire village has tried to move the rocks out of the way, but since they¡¯re so big, it¡¯s impossible.¡±

    If there is water flowing, then there must certainly be a place where the water will stream out. The water will always flow toward that location. Ernst had never heard of water just abruptly disappearing like that.

    ¡°What about the other rivers?¡±

    ¡°The others are all the same way. Of course, we weren¡¯t able to check all of the rivers in the forest, but the rivers we know about are all like this.¡±

    The greenery around the river was particularly dense and vibrant. It felt warmer in the forest than it did in Eitt Village. Though one could say that this was because the wind was blocked here, even if it weren¡¯t, the air would still be quite warm.

    It was said that the climate in Grude Continent was an eternal summer. It was a land of parched, dry air and scorching heat.

    Ernst quietly surveyed the forest.

    Yellow flowers bloomed on the riverbank. There were also some purple flowers blooming there.

    These were the first flowers Ernst had seen since he had come to Meissen.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ganche gently pulled him closer.

    Ernst looked up at Ganche¡¯s large body. When he saw Ganche¡¯s masculine face gazing over to somewhere else, Ernst followed his gaze.

    A giant deer was watching them, standing in place. It was a stag that had grown magnificent horns.

    The villagers also noticed, sucking in their breaths. Though usually one could just say offhandedly ¡®Oh, it¡¯s a deer¡¯, that was only when that deer was normal-sized. The enormous size of this deer struck terror which couldn¡¯t be captured with those words. It was much, much bigger than the deer Ernst had once seen in the Arruca forest. For this deer, it could easily raise its head and peek through the second story window of the mansion Ernst lived in.

    Ernst made himself smaller, watching the deer¡¯s movements.

    Eventually, the deer seemed to lose interest, and it began to eat the grass at its feet. The distance between them, as well as the small size of the people, might have made the deer lose its caution.

    Ernst¡¯s shoulders relaxed with relief.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go slow and stick close to the ground from here on.¡±

    A villager said this to Ernst in a low voice.

    Ernst gave a shallow nod. He was about to retreat when his back collided with Ganche¡¯s hard stomach.

    ¡°Ganche?¡±

    Ernst looked up at him. Ganche¡¯s copper eyes, which had been staring at the deer, looked down toward Ernst with a slight chuckle. Ganche gently pushed Ernst¡¯s slender shoulders, bringing him toward Targes.

    ¡°Would you kindly be able to watch over Lord Ernst for a short while?¡±

    After he saw Targes nod, Ganche swiftly moved.

    Not knowing what Ganche was planning to do, Ernst knit his brows, a worried expression on his face. Seeing that, Targes grinned at him. Though Targes¡¯ smile eased some of his worry, a slight bit of uneasiness still roamed in Ernst¡¯s chest.

    Even though Ernst didn¡¯t understand Ganche¡¯s intentions, was there something between those two that let them understand each other even without sharing words?

    For the first time, Ernst felt like he had swallowed a heavy stone, a discomfort he couldn¡¯t express with words sitting in his stomach.

    Weaving between the giant trees, Ganche quickly and silently approached the deer, his footsteps not making a single sound. When he was just a short distance away, he lowered his body and watched the deer.

    He was hunting the deer. Even Ernst understood what Ganche was trying to do. But to be honest, he didn¡¯t think there was any way for Ganche to actually bring down that deer. The only weapon Ganche possessed was the greatsword that he always used. He didn¡¯t have a bow and he didn¡¯t have a spear ¨C would he be able to bring down that deer with just his sword?

    No matter how big the Dunbertian was, he was tiny compared to that deer. In front of that deer, which had stooped its head to eat grass, Ganche was only as big as a pebble.

    Every time the deer waved its enormous horns, fear gripped Ernst¡¯s chest.

    Ganche could get hurt. He wanted Ganche to stop, but he couldn¡¯t make himself shout. When he thought of how the deer could turn on Ganche as he followed Ernst¡¯s order and ran, Ernst¡¯s throat felt like it was stuck closed, and he couldn¡¯t let out a single sound.

    As the deer searched for grass, it turned its head.

    The exact moment it turned its back to Ganche, Ganche¡¯s body moved. His actions were so fast that Ernst¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t able to comprehend what had happened at all.

    By the time Ernst caught up, Ganche had caught the giant deer¡¯s neck with both arms, tightly wringing its neck.

    Distressed, the deer stomped on the ground with its enormous feet. It dug trenches in the ground, kicking up soil. Ernst saw a single kick of the deer¡¯s foot make a hole in one of the gigantic trees. Yet it wasn¡¯t able to touch Ganche, who was right behind it.

    The struggle for its life continued for a long time. Gradually, however, the deer¡¯s movements grew weaker. Finally, its time slowly came to an end.

    Shouts of joy erupted from the villagers. Laughing, Targes softly patted Ernst¡¯s shoulder.

    It was only then that Ernst realized how ragged his breathing had become. He cycled through some shallow breathing. His heart was pounding fast.

    The fingertips of his thin, clasped hands were cold.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Slinging the enormous deer over his shoulders, Ganche returned with a spring in his step. He lifted this deer, which could fit who-knows-how-many of Ernst inside of it, under one of his arms, a triumphant and smug air around him as if saying, ¡®What do you think?¡¯

    There were so many things that Ernst wanted to say. He wanted to be angry and scold, Why did you do something so dangerous! But in front of that childlike smile Ganche showed him, Ernst couldn¡¯t find anything to say.

    Ernst stood as tall as he could on his tiptoes, stretching out his hand. Ganche bent down, wanting to receive his prize.

    Ernst¡¯s small, still-cold hand went patpat as it pet Ganche¡¯s brown, curly hair.

    ¡°You did very well. The villagers are happy.¡±

    Ernst said, smiling with a cool face that wouldn¡¯t break a sweat. Then, he added:

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy, too.¡±

    Ganche¡¯s masculine face beamed with a bright smile.

    Even if Ernst considered what he did to be dangerous based on Ernst¡¯s own ability, it was a simple and easy matter for someone with Ganche¡¯s ability.

    Ernst couldn¡¯t help but worry. After all, he loved Ganche. It was natural for him to wish for the safety and happiness of the one and only person he loved. Yet, no matter how uneasy Ernst felt, he should never say something that would clip Ganche¡¯s wings.

    As he stood in front of Ganche, who openly radiated joy after receiving Ernst¡¯s praise, Ernst warned himself of this.

    The deer Ganche brought back to Eitt village was an unexpected good fortune. The militia soldiers were so shocked by its colossal size that their legs turned to jelly; the villagers, on the other hand, paid no mind as they gleefully began to dismantle it.

    ¡°There¡¯s so much, we¡¯ll be able to eat this until summer.¡±

    Even the villagers whose legs were so weak that they wobbled when they walked were laughing as they took out their dull knives. The children excitedly ran around, and there were also people who lit up a fire, ready to hurry up and roast the meat so that they could eat it.

    ¡°I really didn¡¯t think that you¡¯d bring it down with just your bare hands.¡±

    Targes clapped Ganche on the back. Ernst, too, had thought that Ganche would use his sword.

    ¡°When the deer is only that big, I can strangle it.¡±

    Ganche proudly stuck out his chest.

    Even after the villagers and soldiers had eaten their fill of the enormous deer, most of it was still left over. What remained would be made into dried meat, improving Eitt Village¡¯s situation. The villagers made use of everything, even the viscera, fur, bones, horns, and hooves.

    They were all blessings from nature, so none of them could be wasted.

    On the occasion of Ernst¡¯s departure from Eitt Village, Ernst handed over a small pouch to the village head. After relaying some instructions to the village head, Ernst left the village.

    For a long time, the children of the village followed after them. Ganche was popular with the children in this village, as well.

    Ernst stealthily peeked at him from the window of the carriage.

    In the Schell Continent, there were three countries which belonged to the people of the Schell race. They were Lux Kingdom, Silus Kingdom, and Rintz Kingdom. Of those three, Rintz Kingdom was quite exclusionary, so of the Schell people which resided within it, the Kleber made up the majority of the population.

    The Kleber had white skin, golden hair, and blue eyes.

    Although they belonged to the same race, the people of Fell and the people of Lux could have white or yellow skin, and their hair could be blond or white. The color of their eyes could also be blue, green, or purple, and wasn¡¯t fixed to any one color.

    Only the Kleber could be clearly distinguished by their outer appearance. Regardless of whether they were born in the upper class or the lower class, as long as they were Kleber, they would have white skin, blond hair, and blue eyes.

    And also, for some reason, there were many Kleber who believed that their appearances were the most sublime and beautiful of them all, and that their bodies had the highest natural talent.

    As a result, the people of Rintz Kingdom, which had a population that was 90% Kleber, held a deep-rooted discrimination toward not only people of other races, but even the Fell and Lux people of their same race.

    And within Rintz Kingdom, remote regions such as Meissen were even more insular and exclusionary. Even when meeting fellow Kleber, they found it difficult to be familiar with people who didn¡¯t come from the same lands they did.

    Even though Ernst had become the Lord of the lands, there were still many people who weren¡¯t able to accept him in their hearts. People like Ganche, who was Dunbertian, would especially feel the wall between themselves and the people of Meissen.

    As if trying to tell the soldiers to come back to the village, the children clung to Ganche¡¯s hands, dangling from his arms like they were reluctant to part with him.

    Seeing him like that, Ernst chuckled.

    Though part of the reason why Ernst wanted to bring Ganche on all of his marches was because he wanted his partner to be by his side, Ernst¡¯s primary purpose was to introduce Ganche to the people of Meissen, setting the stage for them to accept his appearance, body build, and temperament.

    Once Ernst exchanged the contract, he had no intention of parting with Ganche. Even if Ernst, as Lord of Meissen, buried this land under the bones of his people, he thought that Ganche would still wish to always live with him ¨C even in that land.

    Dunbertians were the kind of people who would never choose to chain themselves to a single place, yet Ganche had told him: for the rest of his life, he wished to live by Ernst¡¯s side in Meissen.

    In order to make Ganche feel as much at home as possible, Ernst wished for the people of Meissen to quickly accept him.

    The children had finally given up, saying their goodbyes to the soldiers at the end of the road. When Ganche turned around to wave at them, the children waved back so wildly that their arms might fly off.

    One of Ernst¡¯s goals had been accomplished.

 zChapter 40 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    Ernst returned to the estate from Eitt Village, and several days after, he began making his way to Yakiya Village.

    This was the village next to the Bastelis River, which served as the border to Lux Kingdom.

    It was an eight-hour walk to the north of the estate.

    Ernst departed from the estate with Targes, Ganche, and the 4th platoon.

    He didn¡¯t allow his butlers to accompany him since it was likely that they would start complaining. Instead, Ernst assigned them duties. Along with doing their usual work on the estate, Arker would have to teach the children mathematics while Mais would have to recite words to teach them letters.

    Neither of them were willing, but they nodded.

    Teaching another person wasn¡¯t an easy task.

    You might think you know something, only to realize that you were uncertain of the details and understood much less than you thought. This experience would also teach perseverance and patience.

    Those two were still quite young. In Ernst¡¯s mind, he wanted to present them an opportunity to once again re-examine themselves and, hopefully, find room for improvement.

    In between Yakiya Village and the estate was yet another mansion built for the Lord.

    But this one was even more beaten-down and collapsing than the mansion on the south side that they had used before. When one of the militiamen timidly touched the grand front door, it fell off.

    Since that option was thoroughly crossed off, all they could do was camp outdoors.

    A month had passed since they celebrated the New Year. Ernst felt like there was less snow falling, now.

    ¡°Will spring be coming soon?¡±

    They sat around the fire, eating dinner as they kept warm. They ate roasted dried meat and bread. In Meissen, vegetables rarely appeared in meals. Even the Lord had few opportunities to put vegetables in his mouth.

    ¡°Spring won¡¯t be coming for a long while.¡±

    The leader of the 4th platoon, Cobo, answered.

    ¡°Every year after the first month passes, there are some days where there¡¯s less snow. But after about ten days of that, the snowstorm starts up again. But we consider that blizzard to be a sign of spring, since the weather starts to warm up after about a month of blizzarding.¡±

    ¡°The snowstorm lasts for an entire month?!¡± Targes blurted in surprise.

    Targes had been in living in Meissen since the summer of last year, and Ganche, since the end of fall. Like Ernst, they had no clue what Meissen¡¯s weather was like throughout the year.

    ¡°To be honest, this spring-heralding snowstorm is the worst and most dangerous one of all.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°It makes tons of heavy, watery snow, and once the spring sunlight starts to shine, it¡¯s very easy to cause an avalanche. There was a huge avalanche some years back. Maine Village got buried beneath it.¡±

    ¡°How extensive was the damage?¡±

    When Ernst asked this question, Cobo turned away.

    ¡°Thankfully, none of the villagers were hurt at all. But the people of that village were mountaineers, and they lived off of wood and timber. When the avalanche happened, it tore down many of their trees.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then how is Maine Village able sustain itself¡­?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    Cobo hesitated to speak. His gaze cut to another militia soldier who sat around a different fire. The person he was looking at was one of the foot soldiers of the 4th platoon, Siska.

    If Ernst recalled correctly, Siska was from Maine Village.

    ¡°Siska.¡±

    Ernst¡¯s resounding voice cut through the cold air.

    Upon hearing his name being called, the soldier jumped in his seat, fearfully turning around to look at Ernst. He hadn¡¯t heard the conversation they were having over here. Without any idea why his name was suddenly called, he began to walk over, trembling with fear.

    ¡°Y¡­you called for me¡­?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so nervous.¡±

    Ernst put on a smile, gesturing for him to take a seat by the fire.

    Siska made himself small and sat on his knees, looking first at Cobo, then at Targes, with a gaze that begged them to save him.

    ¡°I just want to hear about Maine Village.¡±

    ¡°Maine Village¡­ you say?¡±

    Ernst¡¯s blue eyes caught the way Siska¡¯s body slightly stiffened.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard that in the past, Maine Village maintained its livelihood through lumber. How much forestry does it do now?¡±

    ¡°How much¡­¡±

    Seeing how nervous Siska was as he spoke, Cobo stepped in to help him out.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡¯s question means, if before there used to be ten, how much would there be now?¡±

    ¡°Ooh¡­ um¡­ about five, I think¡­?¡±

    Even though Ernst was the one who asked the question, Siska looked at Cobo and answered. Moreover, he answered the question in a way that sounded like he was asking a question.

    ¡°In that case, what means does Maine Village use to sustain itself?¡±

    ¡°Nowadays¡­ it¡¯s¡­ forestry and farming.¡±

    Maybe it was simply because he was sitting before Ernst, but Siska¡¯s tense figure seemed strange.

    Back when Ernst had been watching the militia train, he had noticed that Siska was always moving around. Even though he had been a soldier of the militia for 32 years, he took the initiative to seek out Ganche for training, and also often went to watch the newcomers train, as well.

    The hesitant Siska in front of him felt like a different person.

    ¡°In that case, they¡¯re able to make a living by selling firewood in Meissen and by cultivating fields?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ yes¡­¡±

    There it was again. Siska¡¯s blue eyes flicked around restlessly, and he fiddled with his fingers.

    ¡°¡­But perhaps that¡¯s not correct?¡±

    When Ernst quietly posed this question, Siska¡¯s head jumped up and he wildly shook his head from side to side.

    ¡°No! No! ¡­.Tha¡­That¡¯s exactly how things are.¡±

    Saying that, Siska once again hunched over, his body rigid and stiff.

    After allowing Siska to return to the other soldiers, Ernst quietly observed the situation. Even though the soldiers had been happily conversing just a short while ago, now only scattered murmurs reached Ernst¡¯s ears,

    Ernst observed Siska¡¯s actions from the corner of his eye, but he made sure not to look directly at him.

    Whether Ernst intended for it or not, his position as the former crown prince exuded heavy pressure.

    Ernst decided: he would wait perseveringly and patiently until Siska found the courage to speak with him.

    Finally, after one, and then two soldiers dropped off to sleep, Siska trudged back toward Ernst.

    ¡°Uh¡­ Uhm¡­ Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    He spoke in a voice so small that you could barely hear it.

    ¡°I have something¡­ I would like to tell you¡­¡±

    Though Ernst knew that Siska¡¯s entire body was packed with nervousness, he nodded, acting like he hadn¡¯t noticed. He added a fresh piece of firewood to the flame and prompted Siska to take a seat.

    After settling down next to the fire, Siska still wasn¡¯t quite ready to begin talking. Cobo, as Siska¡¯s direct superior, was afraid of Ernst losing patience and growing angry. He wanted to urge Siska to hurry and speak, but Ernst stopped him with a glance.

    Judging by Cobo¡¯s current appearance, he likely knew something about Maine Village¡¯s circumstances. The soldiers who were supposed to be sleeping also looked somewhat stiff and awkward.

    ¡°I think that sooner or later, you would figure this out, but¡­ the thing is, Maine Village¡­it took on, um¡­ a merchant¡¯s standing¡­¡±

    The wood in the fire snapped, and the fire crackled.

    ¡°They changed their rank?¡±

    The changing of one¡¯s rank in society was not so easily done. Just preparing the documents for the application was impossible for the villagers, who had no education.

    But even before that, one would have to request a change in rank from the lord who ruled the lands. It was no good to request it from a lord of a neighboring fief who only temporarily ruled the supplicant¡¯s lands.

    Meissen had no ruler for a hundred years, so just who did the villagers request the change in rank from?

    ¡°The riverfolk of Yakiya village had changed their standing and become merchants. So Maine Village also thought, ¡®We should become merchants too¡¯¡­ Yakiya Village told us how we could do it.¡±

    In the documents Ernst had received, neither Yakiya nor Maine Village had any people listed as merchants. Once someone became a merchant, they would have to pay the merchant¡¯s tax. But none of the people in either of those villages made more money than the base tax that merchants had to pay.

    After hearing Siska¡¯s story, Ernst¡¯s thin brows pulled together.

    ¡°Humm¡­ Let me ask, for what reason did you want to become merchants?¡±

    He didn¡¯t touch on the matter of them changing their social rank; instead, he asked why they wanted it.

    ¡°There¡¯s this tree called the Kalia Tree in Maine Village. It becomes very light once it¡¯s dried, and when it¡¯s put into a fire, it burns for a long time and lets out a nice smell. It sold really well in Lux Kingdom and Rintz Kingdom¡­ but, at some point, one of the people in our village noticed something. We sold one tree to the merchants for 500 aquia, and then they sold it to Lux Kingdom for 1500 aquia.¡±

    Siska¡¯s hands tightened, and he turned a powerful gaze on Ernst.

    ¡°Since it¡¯s those guys¡¯ damn job it¡¯s not like we didn¡¯t get that they¡¯re gonna sell it for more than what they paid us. But, fucking selling it for three times the price¡­!¡±

    Cobo was about to scold Siska to watch his language, but Ernst made him stand down. There was nothing profane in these grievances which spilled from the heart.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we asked the merchants to buy from us at a higher price. But those guys just turned their noses up at us¡­ no matter what good things we managed to harvest, our only option was to sell to those merchants. No matter if we were mountaineers or farmers, we could only sell to merchants. That¡¯s why, we went to Yakiya Village after they had changed their ranks to merchants and asked them to tell us how we could do it.¡±

    ¡°What process was it?¡±

    ¡°A lot of money was needed¡­ To change one person¡¯s rank, the village would have to prepare over a thousand sitts.¡±

    1 sitt was a thousand aquia. In Meissen, the tax that one citizen paid each year was 5 sitts. In the case of Maine Village, which had 46 villagers, that amount was the same as 5 years of taxes.

    ¡°That sounds like it was a very large sum, wasn¡¯t it? Was Maine Village able to prepare it?¡±

    ¡°We borrowed it from the merchants¡­¡±

    ¡°And with that, you were able to change ranks?¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ but, in the beginning, it turned out very good.¡±

    For the first time, a smile spread across Siska¡¯s face.

    ¡°We brought the Kalia trees to Lux Kingdom. Even though we could only change the rank of one person, anyone could help transport the trees. I also went to help out many times. Back then, I hadn¡¯t joined the militia yet. We sold for a very high price in Lux Kingdom. The royalty, nobles, and rich merchants all bought it from us¡­ I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not, but I heard that they used the wood for an aphrodisiac.¡±

    Ernst, of course, had also read this about Kalia wood in his books. As for actual experience with it, he had none. If one thought it was true, then it would become true. The wood was probably used in brothels and other places like that.

    ¡°We sold it so fast, it was nearly flying away¡­ of course, we didn¡¯t sell one tree for 500 aquia. We sold it for 1 sitt. Normal merchants sold it for 1 sitt and 500 aquia, right. Since we were selling the trees that we cut down ourselves, we didn¡¯t want to lose out to the merchants. All we thought was to just keep selling and selling, and then we¡¯d more than make up for the thousand sitts we paid to change ranks.¡±

    One tree for one sitt. Ernst reckoned that if they cut down 200 trees per year, they would make back their money in 5 years. But then, the village also needed to sustain its livelihood. They wouldn¡¯t be able to use all of their earnings for repaying their loans.

    ¡°But¡­ things didn¡¯t get better immediately, like we thought it would¡­¡±

    Siska whispered, subdued.

    ¡°From the start, the Kalia tree was a slow-growing tree. It was also difficult to take root¡­ but even so, we cut down too many of them. After three years, there wasn¡¯t a single Kalia tree in all of the mountains around Maine Village.¡±

    It was as what was written in the plant encyclopedia Ernst had looked at in the royal palace.

    The Kalia tree was a tree whose roots weren¡¯t very stable. The young trees were especially weak. It was said that the tree would only germinate and bear fruit if all of its conditions were perfectly met. Therefore, it did not bud every year.

    ¡°We worked with all our might to make more Kalia trees. We built a hut for budding Kalia trees, and we planted the saplings in the mountain.¡±

    Ernst was surprised. What were the circumstances which let the Kalia tree bud? Did they learn through experience?

    ¡°Then, 20 years passed since we started planting trees. There were as many¡­ no, there were more Kalia trees on the mountain than before. There were enough that we could start chopping some down next year, so we were finally able to feel relieved. Up until then, we¡¯d had to scrape by on selling cedar and oak, which only sold in Meissen.¡±

    Sparks danced around the bonfire.

    ¡°That moment was when the avalanche happened¡­ in just an instant, all of the Kalia trees were washed away. So that we could plant Kalia trees, and so that we could make a living, we had cut down the cedars, oaks, and pines¡­ the Kalia trees and the few other remaining trees weren¡¯t enough to support the mountain.¡±

    The Kalia tree, with its shallow roots, wasn¡¯t able to hold back the falling snow.

    ¡°The Kalia trees ran with the snow into the Bastelis river¡­ the hut where we grew the Kalia sprouts was also washed away¡­¡±

    Siska turned a weary gaze on Ernst.

    ¡°Everything was gone¡­ all we were left with was the loan.¡±

    The less villagers they had, the less taxes they would have to pay. Villagers who joined the militia would be exempt from taxes. Ernst now understood why there were so many soldiers who had come from Maine Village.

    All of the villages in Meissen were destitute, but Maine Village might be the only one burdened by loans.

    ¡°Is there still debt left to be paid?¡±

    ¡°¡­Eh?¡±

    Siska sent a pleading glance to Cobo, as if he didn¡¯t understand the meaning of Ernst¡¯s words. But Cobo also didn¡¯t understand the meaning of ¡®debt¡¯, so he looked up at Targes.

    ¡°The question he asked is how much of the borrowed money do you still have left to pay back.¡±

    ¡°Aah, um¡­ we borrowed a thousand sitts, and we returned 283 sitts over two years¡­ um¡­¡±

    Seeing Siska counting on his fingers, Ernst helped him out.

    ¡°It should be 717 sitts.¡±

    ¡°Aah, that¡¯s right. We had about 700 left.¡±

    ¡°Humm¡­ was there not an interest rate on the debt?¡±

    This time, he didn¡¯t know the meaning of ¡®interest rate¡¯. He looked at Cobo again, and Cobo turned to Targes.

    ¡°¡­Was it decided that you would return more money than what you borrowed?¡±

    ¡°Aah, that¡¯s right! It¡¯s so terrible! After this year, the amount of money we had to return was over a thousand sitt, isn¡¯t that cruel? Even though we returned 283 sitt, so all we had left to return should have been around 700. That¡¯s why after the new year, all of the villagers went to go shout at the merchants we borrowed from, but we weren¡¯t able to have a conversation about it at all¡­¡±

    ¡°After borrowing money, it¡¯s a given that you¡¯ll have to return more than what you borrowed.¡±

    Targes told him, an admonishing tone in his voice.

    ¡°Eh¡­? How come¡­?¡±

    ¡°If not, why should they lend you money? It¡¯s not like they¡¯re a charity¡­ ah, no¡­ it¡¯s not like they¡¯re lending you money out of the kindness of their hearts? They¡¯re not your family or your friends. Let¡¯s say I lend someone 1 sitt. When it comes time to pay me back, they¡¯ll give me 1 sitt and 100 aquia. Since I know that I¡¯ll make a profit, I¡¯ll be willing to lend my money to the other person.¡±

    Siska hung his head; it seemed that he understood Targes¡¯ explanation. He now knew that the current debt that the village was burdened with was the correct amount of money.

    Siska had joined the militia about 30 years ago. Since that time was around when they took their loans, the interest rate over 30 years was 300 sitts. The interest plan should be roughly around a 10 sitt increase per year.

    ¡°Did people leave the village to find work?¡±

    If they didn¡¯t, it would be impossible for them to pay back the borrowed loans.

    ¡°Yes¡­ every year, about 30 people leave. There are 15 people who are always gone¡­ the person who¡¯s been away the longest has spent 30 years always working outside the village.¡±

    Of the 46 villagers, 9 were supposed to be children. Of the 37 adults, 30 of them left the village to work, showing just how dire the situation was in Maine Village. The older children may even be working to make firewood to sell in Meissen, as well.

    ¡°You said that you borrowed the money from merchants. Where were those merchants from? Saiquani? Or from Folea?¡±

    Saiquani Town was close to the estate and primarily did business with Lux Kingdom. Folea Town was close to Arruca Village, and it did a lot of trade with Linz fief.

    ¡°None of them. The only merchants rich enough to lend us a thousand sitts were the merchants of Lux Kingdom.¡±

    After letting Siska return, Ernst quietly gazed into the fire.

    The soldiers who had been pretending to be sleeping, along with Siska, had now fallen asleep.

    Ernst sat on a thick rug, leaning back on Ganche who sat behind him.

    Targes and Cobo kept quiet, as if waiting for Ernst. But Ernst didn¡¯t have anything to tell them.

    In every village, the people cooperated together, shared their wisdom with each other, and did their best to keep living.

    Even though everyone was struggling at their very limits just to be able to survive, the problem was like a tangle of many threads. No matter how hard he searched, Ernst couldn¡¯t find the place that would unravel them.

    Translator¡¯s Note

    Hello!!! Good news!!

    I contacted the author, Tsukiya-sensei! She is super, super sweet and kind, and she very generously gave me permission to translate this story T_T)b

    In celebration of the successful contact, I¡¯ll be releasing translations daily up until chapter 46, after which I¡¯ll resume the weekly upload schedule. We¡¯re going to start seeing some progress soon! Everything we¡¯ve been reading until now, particularly the relationships between villages and the reasons why each village is poor, all comes into play very soon.

    Also¡­ So this is really embarrassing, but¡­¡­.. I realized while translating chapter 49 that I¡¯ve been misreading some names. The country of Rintz Kingdom (and also Ernst¡¯s last name) is spelled ¥ê¥ó¥¹ [ri n su]. The fief next to Meissen which has that valley is called ¥ê¥ó¥Ä [ri n tsu]¡­¡­ this is so shameful. orz. I am secretly a villager of Meissen and don¡¯t know how to read¡­ I¡¯ve already fixed these instances in previous chapters. From now on, the neighboring fief and the valley will be referred to as Linz. Very sorry for the confusion!

 zChapter 41 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    Yakiya Village looked prosperous. Of course, this was by Meissen¡¯s standards.

    It had 33 villagers, 7 of which were children.

    Of special note was the fact that there was only 1 person in this village who suffered from Kleber¡¯s disease.

    ¡°In this village, only one person has Kleber¡¯s disease?¡±

    The village head responded to Ernst¡¯s surprise with a smug air.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a dirty pauper¡¯s disease, after all.¡±

    After the people beside him prodded him, the village head hastily tried to smooth over the words he had just spoken. Ernst smiled and accepted his attempts. The people of Rintz commonly believed that Kleber¡¯s disease was something that only the poor contracted.

    ¡°There aren¡¯t any people who leave the village to work?¡±

    ¡°Ehm¡­ that¡¯s right¡­¡±

    The village head nervously answered.

    Even if Ernst was no longer royalty and was now only nobility, the village head was well aware that he could be cut down for the disrespect he displayed in his previous statement.

    ¡°Humm. I have heard that the work of riverfolk involves ferrying across the river. Are you able to make a living with the income you earn by ferrying the village¡¯s crops?

    As if he still didn¡¯t believe that Ernst had let his slip of the tongue go, the village head nervously glanced around as he spoke.

    ¡°¡­Yes. We go to Lux Kingdom to sell our village¡¯s goods. We¡¯re able to pay our taxes that way.¡±

    ¡°What manner of goods does your village produce?¡±

    ¡°The earth is rich and fertile here, so we¡¯re able to produce an abundance of crops. The land of our neighbor, the fief of Caprix, is quite poor, so they¡¯re not able to grow much. We¡¯re able to sell them the wheat, vegetables, and potatoes grown from our Yakiya Village.¡±

    After finally calming down, the village head answered Ernst fluently. His manner of speaking was undoubtedly like that of a merchant.

    ¡°So you bring your crops over to them.¡±

    ¡°At the moment, that is the case, yes.¡±

    ¡°At the moment? So it was different in the past?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The primary product sold by Yakiya Village used to be honey. In the past, we filled up bottles of honey and stacked them up in the boats, our boats always sailing back and forth with the booming business. But we always sold completely out in the end.¡±

    ¡°Do you no longer sell honey?¡±

    ¡°¡­We aren¡¯t able to gather any more¡­ the bees have died, so we¡¯re unable to gather honey.¡±

    ¡°The bees have¡­? What caused it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Maine Village¡¯s fault. Because those guys foolishly chopped down all of the Kalia trees, all of our bees in Yakiya starved and died.¡±

    Kalia trees blossomed throughout the year. Ernst thought back to the road he had traveled to get to Yakiya, and then to the climate of Meissen.

    Most of the trees around Yakiya village bloomed from spring to summer. They had also planted some Kalia trees, but the number was so few that you could count them.

    ¡°I was under the impression that bees stopped working in the winter.¡±

    Certainly, this was the information that had been written in the books.

    ¡°You know quite a bit.¡±

    The village head looked at Ernst with admiring eyes. Ernst had the feeling that he was being made a fool of somewhere.

    Royals and nobles lived at ease; he probably thought of Ernst as one of them, those kinds of people who lived in ignorance far above others, and who knew and cared nothing of the way the people below them lived.

    ¡°For normal bees, it¡¯s certainly the case where they cease their activities over the winter. But Yakiya Village¡¯s bees are different. The bees of Yakiya are alert and active all year round. Because of that, rather than having only one harvest a year, Yakiya Village can have three harvests.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite incredible.¡±

    ¡°We were able to make our bees like this after a long time of work.¡±

    The village head puffed his chest, making him seem as if he was looking down upon Ernst¡¯s small build. The villagers at his side also looked very proud.

    This village, too, had diligently worked hard in order to breed the kind of bee they wanted.

    ¡°After countless decades, we were finally able to produce the kinds of bees we had imagined¡­ but because of Maine Village, all of that went to waste.¡±

    Hatred filled the village head¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°We¡¯ll definitely return the favor to those bastards¡­ because of them, everything is over!¡±

    A villager who sat beside the village head spat this out in a restrained, resentful murmur.

    When Ernst went into Yakiya Village, he only brought Targes and Ganche with him.

    While Ernst met with the village head, Ganche waited for him outside. It wasn¡¯t with the intention of excluding him, but simply because Ganche¡¯s body couldn¡¯t fit inside the village head¡¯s house.

    After leaving the house, Ernst saw Ganche standing imposingly there. The village head left the house just as he did, only for Ganche¡¯s staggeringly intimidating figure to direct a glare at him.

    The village head flinched and faltered back. Ernst glanced at him from the corner of his eye. When he saw that the village head had no idea of what he had done to deserve this, Ernst gave a wry smile and approached Ganche. He touched Ganche¡¯s arm, soothing him.

    A Dunbertian¡¯s eyes perceived even the slightest traces of light in the darkness of night. Their ears, also, captured sounds that a Kleber could never hear.

    Both of these were abilities that could be adjusted according to the owner¡¯s intentions.

    At this moment, it seemed that when Ernst left him to enter the house, Ganche feared for Ernst¡¯s safety and put his ears to work.

    Ernst had to praise Ganche for not leaping into the house and beating the village head when he spoke ill of those who had Kleber¡¯s disease. Compared to when he had first met Ganche, Ernst felt that Ganche¡¯s self-control had grown stronger.

    They stayed at Yakiya Village for one day.

    Though Ernst had only been told that their soil was fertile, the village¡¯s fields were ripe with abundance. They needed to buy their firewood, but they could obtain all other life necessities from around the periphery of the village.

    Inside of the forest a short distance away from the village, they had placed a box ¨C a man-made beehive. Though they had said that the bees died, the bees hadn¡¯t been eradicated to extinction. Compared to their previous golden age, the ratio of bees had diminished from 100 down to 1, but the bees continued to make honey even now. Kalia trees had been planted in Yakiya Village to serve as food for the bees over winter, but they hadn¡¯t taken root very well.

    In conclusion, after the number of bees fell sharply, their population was now around the same as 50 years ago.

    ¡°So we¡¯re not staying at Yakiya village, eh?¡±

    Targes, who was walking in front, turned back to ask.

    After convincing Ernst by saying that there weren¡¯t any militiamen around, Ganche held Ernst in his arms and together they followed after Targes. The snow fell deeply, and if Ernst were walking, it would reach up to his thighs.

    ¡°Humm. This way, we can leave the lifestyle of Yakiya Village somewhat up to their imaginations.¡±

    ¡°Aah¡­ I see your point.¡±

    That lifestyle was the average way of life for the majority of Rintz Kingdom¡¯s villages. In Meissen it would be called a wealthy village, but by Rintz Kingdom standards it would be just average, or a bit below average.

    ¡°Besides, we¡¯ve kept those soldiers waiting.¡±

    ¡°Why weren¡¯t they allowed to come along?¡± Ganche asked.

    Perhaps because he always kept in mind his rank as a common foot soldier, Ganche did his utmost to never, ever, open his mouth whenever Ernst was around another person. Right now there was only Targes around, so he was willing to ask.

    ¡°Humm¡­¡±

    Because both Targes and Ganche had unyieldingly stopped him, Ernst could only hold himself back and take a peek at the beehive in the box. The bees in Yakiya village were very big, as big as Ernst¡¯s palm.

    From the documents that had been stored in the estate, Ernst knew that Meissen had once been a honey-producing area. The primary producer was Yakiya Village. However, upon calculating the population and scale of Yakiya Village, the amount of honey they collected was far higher than seemed feasible.

    They had to look after the bees. Increasing their numbers wasn¡¯t as easy as simply adding more boxes for beehives.

    Ganche¡¯s copper eyes watched Ernst, who had sunken into his thoughts.

    Ernst chuckled and picked up on where he had left off speaking.

    ¡°The 4th platoon is made of people who had come from Arruca Village, Iben Village, and also Eitt Village. Those villages are particularly poor, even in Meissen¡­ It would be better to not let them see what Yakiya Village is really like.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ On the side of the receiving party, if there is not enough tolerance for acceptance, then too much knowledge can prove harmful.¡±

    Targes said this without turning back, and Ernst nodded his agreement in silence.

    It was incorrect to believe that disclosing all information available to decision-makers was the right thing to do. In some situations, it would be like continuously dangling an unattainable carrot in front of a horse.

    In other situations, the people may not be able to bear knowledge of the disastrous circumstances. Pushed into the depths of despair, they might completely lose sight of the future.

    And moreover¡­ Ernst sank into his thoughts.

    In order for Yakiya Village to succeed in their plan to increase the amount of honey they produced, they had to either work toward increasing their number of bees or improving the size of their bees. Ernst didn¡¯t think that it had been possible for them to increase both of those things, but the wisdom that the people of Meissen gleaned through their experience was a truly surprising thing.

    However, after pushing so hard to improve their bees, they had forgotten the most crucial and most simple thing.

    In Meissen, which was buried in snow for most of the year, the only tree which bloomed all year round was the Kalia tree.

    When the village of Maine tried to acquire a mercantile rank, it was for the Kalia trees, and there was no way they could repay their hefty loan other than felling their Kalia trees.

    But the best feeding ground for the bees of Yakiya Village were Maine Village¡¯s Kalia trees. The people of Yakiya Village had completely forgotten about that.

    By the time Yakiya Village realized it, it was already too late. One of the causes for the sharp decline of their bees was also because of them. In truth, they should already know this.

    It was loathsome and mortifying. Even though they wanted to blame someone else, they knew that if they wretchedly shoved the blame on others, they would be counterattacked with ¡®You guys were at fault, too, weren¡¯t you?!¡¯. They were the only village in all of Meissen that could be considered well-off. It was probable that in Meissen, all of the other villages and towns begrudged them for this.

    Of all the villages Ernst had visited up until now, the villagers of Yakiya Village were the ones who most gave him the impression that they all stuck together as one.

    It wasn¡¯t unity forged to overcome the difficulties of life; rather, it was a solidity made to protect against an external enemy.

    As for the only village in Meissen to carry debts. Maine Village.

    Their acquisition of the merchant rank may have caused them to become a target of envy to the other people of Meissen. But after obtaining the merchant rank, the once-thriving village suffered a series of failures, and now they were burdened under a large amount of debt.

    The rise and fall of Maine Village drew the laughing scorn of others, and even now they may still be ridiculed.

    Though one could say that this was what they had asked for, Ernst believed that the true cause for Maine Village ending up being burdened with a large loan wasn¡¯t because of Maine Village¡¯s choices, but because of Yakiya Village¡¯s vengeance.

    That was what Ernst wanted to believe.

    When it came to the people of Meissen, within their own villages and towns, they would desperately come to each other¡¯s aid and protect each other. Yet, the moment they went a single step beyond their own communities, they became cold and indifferent.

    When others suffered failure, they laughed and ridiculed them; when others enjoyed fortune, they envied and begrudged them.

    Ernst looked up at the sky. The snow fluttered down, sparkling in the sky. As Cobo had said, the snow would fall one more time, and then a late spring would come.

    Ernst clung to Ganche¡¯s thick neck, breathing in and filling his chest with Ganche¡¯s scent. A large hand promptly held and comforted him.

    Enveloped in this beloved scent, Ernst firmly tried to gather up his crumbling heart.

    Ernst wanted a heart that was strong.

    He wanted a body that was strong.

    Like the Dunbertians who stood on their powerful earth, he wanted to become a tenacious, strong man who would not be shaken by anything.

    He returned to the estate, lost in his thoughts.

    He worried over what he should do for several days until finally, Ernst came to a decision.

 zChapter 42 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    Inside of Ernst¡¯s office, the head butler, Sington, sat in one of the chairs around the large desk.

    On his other side was the commander of the militia, Targes, and next to him sat the vice-captain, Aldo.

    Ganche sat down in his own chair that had been made exclusively for him.

    Ernst stood by the window, gazing at the garden which spread out below him.

    Though he called it a garden, it hadn¡¯t been well-maintained. It was completely covered in snow, so it was simply a white snowscape. It would likely be a meadow in the summer. Beyond the vast snowfield lay the deep and unfathomable forest.

    The ground was still thick with snow, but the snow was starting to fall less. Ernst could even walk leisurely in it, a sure sign that spring was approaching.

    Ernst turned around and looked at each person that he had gathered. Each of them carried obedient expressions on their faces. Perhaps it was because there was something in how Ernst looked which hadn¡¯t always been there.

    ¡°This is what I have decided.¡±

    Ernst sat in the chair at his desk and quietly issued his proclamation.

    ¡°Twenty days from now, the head and one other person of each village and town must gather at the estate. Eleven villages, two towns ¨C all of them. Twenty-six people in total. I appoint Sington to manage their care and hospitality.¡±

    Sington opened his mouth in alarm, but Ernst held up his hand and stopped him.

    ¡°The term has not yet been decided. They may return after three days, or they may stay for more than ten days. During that time, spare no expense to ensure that they feel welcomed and lack for nothing during their stay.¡±

    Sington was over 150 years old, his face full of wrinkles. That wrinkled face now paled, then reddened, panic and dismay written all over his features. Ernst smiled sardonically at the sight, then turned to Targes and Aldo.

    ¡°During the time that the village heads gather at the estate, send the militia to each of the villages to ensure that the daily work can continue. The militia should similarly be dispatched to the towns. The number of soldiers we deploy should be twice as many as the people we gathered; in other words, select a minimum of 52 troops to send out¡­ Pick the people who would serve the most use as possible for the task.¡±

    Aldo smiled bitterly at the last words of Ernst¡¯s speech. Aldo, who had served as the captain for fifteen years before Targes arrived, best knew the character of each of the troops.

    ¡°I will be making use of the grand banquet hall, so we will first have to make preparations before carrying out what I have commanded.¡±

    Targes grinned with a satisfied expression and nodded.

    ¡°L¡­.Lord Ernst. W, w, w, why, are you doing such a¡­! If you gather twenty-six people, the estate won¡¯t be able to hold up¡­!¡±

    After finally reviving himself, Sington shouted.

    The head butler was capable of welcoming a small number of people, but regrettably, they lacked the capacity to handle more. For the lords of other lands, they could invite even fifty people just for a tea ceremony.

    ¡°It will be alright. There are plenty of rooms in the estate. We will not lack in rooms even if we assign one to each person. Though bedding and such will need to be prepared, the people will not complain even if the bedding is not anything luxurious. If at any point there is not enough, then you can simply use the ones given to the militia.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. Our current number of soldiers is not at the maximum, so there are many pieces of unused bedding.¡±

    Aldo said this to Sington as if trying to calm him down.

    ¡°Wha¡­ what about the tableware? Aah, and also, the meals and¡­ aah, and then, the firewood¡­¡±

    Seeing Sington wringing his hands and counting off on his fingers, the captain and vice-captain of the militia both smiled wryly at him.

    ¡°It will be fine. If there is not enough tableware, what the militia troops use is fine. As for firewood, we can begin gathering it now. Ganche, I¡¯d like to ask you to handle the matter of the firewood.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I can also take the opportunity to gather food, as well.¡±

    Ganche nodded vigorously, like he was happy that he had been given a role.

    ¡°You¡¯ll¡­ gather food¡­ but, how? Anything you plant right now will be impossible to harvest twenty days from now¡­¡±

    Sington looked imploringly at Ganche, who was over a hundred years younger than him.

    ¡°I can do it. While I prepare firewood in the forest, I can catch some deer and boar. From those, we can make dried meat.¡±

    ¡°There is no need to prepare a feast. Moreover, a feast would only poison the people of Meissen. It will be fine to present them with food that is merely slightly better than what is normally eaten here. We should take care to not injure their stomachs.¡±

    ¡°Aah¡­ that is true¡­¡±

    After being reassured countless times, Sington calmed down.

    ¡°Ganche will prepare the meat. The rest of the food shall be purchased from the villages of Meissen.

    ¡°Eh¡­ but, the villages of Meissen only have just enough to feed themselves. For them to have anything to sell¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that all of the villages only produce enough for their own consumption.¡±

    Once Ernst said that, the names of several villages arose in Sington¡¯s mind, and he nodded.

    ¡°There is not much time until the gathering of my subjects, so everyone, I ask that you move swiftly.¡±

    The three soldiers leapt from their chairs, performing a beautifully synchronized salute before leaving the room. Sington, who was still muttering to himself as he wrung and counted his fingers, followed after them.

    Now alone in his office, Ernst quietly let out a breath.

    This limited period of time without snow was Meissen¡¯s busiest season. The migrant workers who had left to find work would also return at this time, something which made every village abound with liveliness. By the time it was over, Ernst wanted to unify the hearts of the people of Meissen so that they could travel together on one path.

    Nothing might come of gathering the people of Meissen together here. Their displeasure with each other might erupt, creating irreparable consequences.

    Would Meissen continue as it was, eventually dying beneath its dull, clouded weather? Or would it seek out a new sky to live under?

    It was very important to know the answer to this.

    The militia soldiers-turned-messengers ran around Meissen. Though there were people who were displeased by the order, the messengers carried with them the Lord¡¯s formal summons. These villagers, who were unable to read well, were struck with fear by this single striking sheet of paper, and they hastened to join the gathering.

    They were not allowed to refuse to leave. Though Ernst was sorry to have to force them, it would all be meaningless if even a single one of them did not come.

    The preparations progressed steadily.

    After he had recovered from his panic, the head butler worked splendidly. Relying on his memories of the past, he dug up bedroom furnishings in the estate one after the other. It seemed that this time, they wouldn¡¯t have to borrow any from the barracks.

    The logs that Ganche had cut down were stacked high next to the stables, the pile now growing even taller than the building.

    He always came back carrying a log on his right shoulder and a deer on his left shoulder. He did this several times a day. Sometimes the deer on his shoulder was a boar instead.

    The sole cook employed at the estate wasn¡¯t able to handle all of it, so the militia troops also helped to take out the animals, prepare them, and dry their meat.

    While Aldo selected his troops, Targes prepared the banquet hall.

    The militia troops played an active role here as well, carrying a large table into the spacious but completely empty banquet hall. They also gathered thirty chairs. The large fireplace hadn¡¯t been used for a hundred years; as they thoroughly cleaned and swept it, they knocked clouds of soot from its chamber.

    There were two butlers and three maids. The estate had too few servants, so the militia troops had to compensate for the lack of hands.

    For the militia troops of Meissen, most of the work they did was more like a manservant¡¯s than that of a soldier¡¯s. They gathered firewood, cultivated the fields, and also did the power-intensive work around the estate. Yet even so, the only ones who were paid wages were the platoon leaders and above.

    It was quite unfair, considering that the butlers and maids were also paid with wages.

    The butlers and maids came from towns. The militia troops were formerly impoverished peasantfolk, so in their minds, they were satisfied as long as they had something to eat. This point was also something that Ernst wished to change.

    An enormous chunk of meat sat on a plate in front of Ganche. In the blink of an eye, the roasted meat settled into Ganche¡¯s stomach.

    Ernst fondly watched Ganche eat. He took a drink from his wine glass filled with plain boiled water. It was said that in the past, Meissen had once grown grapes and made wine from them.

    ¡°Starting tomorrow, we may not be able to eat together for a while.¡±

    ¡°Are you changing the time of your meals? Lord Ernst¡¯s meals, I mean?¡±

    Ernst always moved according to punctual, set times. By now, the people of the estate also moved according to his schedule.

    Seeing how surprised Ganche was, Ernst couldn¡¯t stop smiling wryly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to decide that after I see the situation¡­ I¡¯m actually just playing it by ear.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    Ganche had been in the middle of cutting the meat, but he now stopped moving his knife as if he had just lost his appetite.

    ¡°Ganche, you don¡¯t have to mind it. Just keep moving according to your schedule. I may also have to sleep late, but no matter how late it gets, I¡¯ll be sleeping by your side¡­ Though I may end up waking you up.¡±

    Ganche looked up in a flash and said:

    ¡°Such a thing, there is absolutely no need to worry about it at all!¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Laughing, Ernst touched Ganche¡¯s hand.

    At first, Ernst took his meals on an enormous, rectangular desk. When he ate together with Ganche, they also used this desk. But when they each sat on opposite ends, they felt so distant from each other that Ernst couldn¡¯t stand it.

    After that they gradually got closer and closer, and now they ate together on a small desk. If Ernst stretched out his hand, Ganche would easily be in reach.

    Before changing his dining table, Ernst first changed the dining etiquette.

    The proper way of doing things was that when the Lord took his meals, there must always be a butler and maid standing by in the room. They were there in order to wait on his table, but their presence made it a little too awkward for him to be able to enjoy chatting with Ganche to his heart¡¯s content.

    For that reason, Ernst changed the dining etiquette, declaring that it would not be necessary for anyone to stand in the room to wait on him as he dined.

    Now, the butlers and maids left after preparing both Ernst¡¯s and Ganche¡¯s meals, leaving them alone.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, how are you going to bring everyone together?¡±

    Ganche asked as he resumed eating.

    Ganche¡¯s plate only had meat on it. Sometimes there were also potatoes and such, but since Dunbertians were completely carnivorous, they wouldn¡¯t receive much energy from eating anything else.

    Thanks to Ganche, the people in the estate were able to eat meat much more often. Ernst¡¯s plate also had meat on it. But, since Ernst habitually ate very little, he was only able to eat half of the thin piece of meat before he set down his hands.

    ¡°Humm. First of all, they will be able to meet and understand others who also live in Meissen, just as they do. Through this, these people who have isolated themselves in the small worlds of their villages and towns will experience a broadening of their horizons.¡±

    ¡°Aah, that sounds like a good plan.¡±

    ¡°You think so?¡±

    ¡°Yes. From what I¡¯ve seen, I believe the villagers who live on opposite sides of Meissen have never met before.¡±

    After quickly finishing up his meat, Ganche gulped down a glass of boiled water. As he refilled his glass with the water pitcher, he took the plate Ernst offered him.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly it. Even though they all live together in Meissen, they know very little about each other. In my opinion, this causes them great harm.¡±

    Ganche cleaned Ernst¡¯s leftover meat and vegetables into his stomach.

    ¡°But that isn¡¯t all you planned, is it?¡±

    Ganche abruptly raised his head. Ernst wiped at his dirty mouth with his finger.

    ¡°Humm¡­ You understand quite well.¡±

    Licking at the sauce on his finger, Ernst laughed.

    ¡°My plan is to allow them to meet, discuss, and come to understand each other. Then, if it seems that they will be able to accept it, I¡¯ll try to show that destination to them.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ destination?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that destination. What I want is to show them a small part of the future of Meissen that I had once told you, Ganche.¡±

    Ganche¡¯s copper eyes lit up with a smile.

    It was the dream that the two of them had once spoken of together.

    But as for whether they could take a step toward making that dream a reality depended on the people of Meissen.

 zChapter 43 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    The twenty-six people took their seats.

    Ernst sat in the seat of honor at the head of the table. To his right sat the people from Saiquani Town, and to his left sat the people of Folea Town. These people took the seats beside him naturally, as if that was where they were supposed to be.

    Just who was it that decided the rank of a merchant should be higher than that of a peasant? As he thought this, Ernst silently watched their actions.

    The people who came from the villages all looked at each other, then gingerly sat in their seats.

    Interestingly enough, the people who came from the villages which surrounded Saiquani Town also sat on the side of the Saiquani merchants. The villages of Kata, Latelle, and Sounica sat lined up after Saiquani.

    When Ernst looked at Folea Town¡¯s side, he saw Caralime sitting next to Folea.

    But the people of Arruca Village, which was only a two-hour walk away from Folea Town, sat down next to Sounica Village as if avoiding Caralime. Likewise, Iben Village also avoided Caralime and sat down next to Arruca.

    With this, all of the seats on the right side were filled up.

    Yakiya Village and Maine Village had not yet taken their seats. Ernst watched them, waiting to see what they would do.

    Ever since they entered the room, the people of the two villages didn¡¯t meet each other¡¯s eyes. After seeing that Yakiya Village had taken a seat next to Caralime Village, Maine Village sat at the very end of the left side of the table.

    Without any other choice, Dada Village, Eitt Village, and Hrike Village sat down in the gap between them.

    Once he saw that everyone had taken a seat, Ernst began to speak.

    ¡°I apologize for gathering you all for a meeting during this busy time. Though this may be the first time for some of you to meet face-to-face, all of you are the same in that you live together in Meissen.¡±

    The twenty-six people looked at Ernst. They all looked at him doubtfully, but Ernst continued on.

    ¡°Despite living in the same territory together, it is possible for people to never meet each other throughout their entire lifetimes. I would like all of you to discuss together as both individuals, and as representatives of your villages and towns.¡±

    ¡°Talk together¡­ about what?¡±

    One of the merchants of Saiquani said with a careless tone of voice. He had visited the estate many times and was acquainted with Ernst.

    Of all the people in this room, he was probably the one who had the most positive experiences with Ernst. The other people in the room revealed scornful and mocking expressions toward the points of Ernst¡¯s speech.

    ¡°All manners of things. How things have been up until now, how things are presently, and how they will be later on. The current matters of your own villages or towns which you would like the other villages and towns to know. Even any requests that you would like to make to people who live in other lands is fine. Proposals and suggestions, also. Anything is fine.¡±

    The pairs of people from each village and town shared glances with each other.

    ¡°But¡­ if we¡¯re just talking with each other¡­ there¡¯s not much that we can talk about in just a single day.¡±

    The merchant from Folea spoke nervously.

    Folea Town, which Ernst had briefly stopped in while returning from Arruca Village, looked extremely different from Saiquani Town. Its houses were lined up like shops on a street, except they didn¡¯t look much like stores. It was about halfway between a town and a village.

    ¡°I understand that all of you are busy. It is for this reason that I have sent out the troops of the militia to each of your villages and towns in order for them to work in your stead. I would like for you to stay here without needing to worry.¡±

    They had tried to send in people who had originally come from those places as often as they could.

    As if Ernst¡¯s words had made them give up, his people now hesitantly turned toward each other, running assessing gazes over one another.

    When Ernst had said that he wanted them to talk, he didn¡¯t expect for them to launch into a lively discussion.

    Ernst patiently waited for the first person to speak.

    As he expected, the first person to open a conversation was the head of Iben Village.

    This time, Ernst had made certain arrangements for the people who would come to this meeting.

    If the leader of the village or town was a man, then the other representative would be a woman; if the leader were a woman, then the remaining representative would be a man. This way, the group would not lean toward any specific gender.

    After the female head of Iben Village broke through the heavy atmosphere, the woman from Eitt village followed with a reply.

    For a while, the women continued to gossip peacefully. They spoke openly about the hardships they experienced and the wisdoms they learned through their day-to-day living. Once the women began chatting about cooking meals for raising the villages¡¯ children, the men reprimanded them to make them stop speaking about it.

    But once the women stopped speaking, none of the men were willing to bring up a new subject.

    After a moment where everything fell completely silent, the women once again began twittering with each other.

    Ernst observed their behavior. He watched the women as they chatted energetically, though all he could do was smile awkwardly when they began speaking about the men they met while they worked away from Meissen.

    The women looked as if they didn¡¯t care from which village the others were from, or whether they were merchants or peasants.

    After overcoming their initial reservations, even the women of the villages who had grudges against each other such as Caralime, Arruca, and Iben, as well as Yakiya and Maine, happily chatted with each other as if they were old friends.

    Then Ernst peeked at the men¡¯s behavior.

    The men were completely silent, only glaring at each other.

    It was as if the women were in a flower field, while the men were ready to break into a fight. A strong light flashed through their eyes every time their glances met.

    The first day ended with the women having a friendly chat.

    After finding that those who lived only a day away from the estate lived the exact same lives as they did, the women began to relate to each other. Whenever they found an unexpected difference in customs, they were surprised.

    What was particularly curious to Ernst was the behavior of the woman from Yakiya Village, which was comparatively wealthy by Meissen¡¯s standards. Ernst had expected her to show a feeling of repulsion toward the women of the other villages, yet that feeling didn¡¯t actually sprout at all.

    The image of the man of Yakiya Village turning his nose up out of his sense of superiority, as well as of the merchants of the two villages laughing mockingly at the peasants, had been running through Ernst¡¯s mind.

    The women continued chatting on the second day.

    But gradually, the men began prying their mouths open. They spoke without a trace of joy, their words mixed with sarcasm. The men of the villages who had been struck by the sarcasm then counterattacked, and the scene of them being scolded by the women began to occur more and more frequently.

    Ernst only silently watched their behavior.

 zChapter 44 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    On the third day, the discontent making the men simmer with gloom now erupted.

    It was difficult to tell what had caused it; after carefully tracing through his memories, Ernst found that it was the accumulation of several small ripples which lead to the outbreak of rage. The women who had been chatting like friends for three days also joined in, shouting and swearing with the men.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Caralime¡¯s fault for lowering the price of wool in the first place!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! You guys drove down the price for your own gain, so isn¡¯t that why the price of ours dropped to rock bottom?!¡±

    ¡°The hell do you mean, ¡®for our own gain¡¯¡­! If you didn¡¯t want to sell so low, then you should¡¯ve used it to make some profit.¡±

    ¡°If you guys sold one of your bags for 10 aquia, there was no way we could sell ours for 50 aquia.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, who the hell¡¯s gonna buy it, right? In the first place, Saiquani was in the wrong for buying it at that price.¡±

    ¡°The hell are you saying! If we can buy it cheap then of course we¡¯ll do it!¡±

    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is that even if you bought it cheap from Caralime, you didn¡¯t have to sell it for cheap to other people.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. Even if you bought it for a low price from Caralime, you could¡¯ve just sold it normally. That would have made you guys money, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°And if you did, then you could¡¯ve just kept buying our wool as usual, and it¡¯d all have been fine.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. I¡¯m telling you, you guys know nothing about the world. Over in Lux Kingdom¡¯s Caprix fief, they sell a bag of wool for 30 aquia, alright? We don¡¯t have any choice but to sell for low, too.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s one for 30 aquia, the quality of the wool has to be bad. Are you saying you can¡¯t do anything against that?¡±

    ¡°Hah! For you guys to be saying that¡­ you Arruca villagers. Weren¡¯t you guys putting your low-quality wool on the market?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Arruca¡¯s wool was so short it couldn¡¯t be woven so it had a bad reputation.¡±

    ¡°Our sheep have always been like that! It isn¡¯t like it was short because we slacked off in caring for them¡­ That¡¯s why we went to beg Caralime to give us some of their sheep.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. I don¡¯t know how many times we went over to Caralime to bow and scrape to them.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. Who the hell would give over such precious sheep to you lot?¡±

    ¡°¡­So because that low-quality wool went on the market, none of Meissen¡¯s wool would sell anymore. You think you can still laugh? When you eventually weren¡¯t even able to feed yourselves, you ate that oh-so-precious Caralime sheep of yours, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yakiya Village¡­ I bet you¡¯re glad that you didn¡¯t have to rely on sheep since you have such fertile lands in your hands.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, exactly. And since you guys have a merchant¡¯s rank, you can even earn money by yourselves¡­ But when you think about it, how were peasantfolk like you able to change your standing in the first place?¡±

    ¡°Because the quality of our brains is different from yours.¡±

    ¡°The hell did you say!!¡±

    When the situation blew up too much and was on the verge of sparking a fistfight, Ernst called for Targes and Ganche.

    Their piercing gazes and Ganche¡¯s towering physique intimidated the room, quelling the explosive situation and making everyone stay seated in their chairs, only daring to exchange insults throughout.

    On the fourth day, Targes and Ganche were present in the room.

    Targes was left to attend as he was; for Ganche, Ernst had to instruct him repeatedly. No matter what words anyone said, he must absolutely never raise his hand to anyone. Furthermore, Ernst explained to him, he must not interrupt anyone.

    All Ernst worried over was whether Ganche would be able to hold himself back when people condemned and criticized Ernst.

    In truth, during the discussion on the third day, there were a number of times when someone looked to Ernst to mediate the situation, and several times, Ernst had seen someone attempt to make him lend his support to their site of the argument.

    But no matter what, Ernst never joined the discussion. These situations repeated several times until gradually, they began treating Ernst as if he was just a doll, and they even started casually insulting him.

    Yet even so, Ernst never protested or defended himself. Whenever they turned their attacks on him, Ernst only remained silent as he closed his eyes and waited for it to pass.

    During those times, Ganche had not yet entered the room.

    When Ganche encountered such a scene, would he be able to maintain his composure and cope with it? Thinking about it, Ernst felt anxious.

    On this day, as well, everyone immediately started insulting each other.

    The subject gradually turned from sheep over to bees.

    ¡°Our bees died because you guys cut down too many Kalia trees!¡±

    ¡°What are you saying? The only thing we can sell is Kalia wood. You knew about that when you told us how to change ranks to merchants.¡±

    ¡°But Maine Village had more trees than just the Kalias. So why did you choose to only cut down and sell the Kalia trees!?¡±

    ¡°Kalia wood sells for the highest price, and since it¡¯s so light, it¡¯s easy to transport. Our mountain was full of Kalia trees, so why should we have chosen to cut down and sell anything other than Kalia?!¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure. Maine Village¡¯s Kalia trees sold for a high price¡­ but, once you emptied them out in two years, you sure were in a great situation weren¡¯t you? Huh? Just how much money do you still owe?¡±

    ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t you dare talk about our village!¡±

    ¡°Hummph. If we knew that we could change our status to merchants with money, then we could have changed our ranks, too.¡±

    ¡°Haa? Do you think people like you can gather that much money?¡±

    ¡°What are you looking so proud for? You didn¡¯t have the money for it, right? You just loaned it from the merchants.¡±

    ¡°They choose the people they want to lend to. If you guys wanted to borrow from them, they¡¯d know that you¡¯d never be able to return it, so no one would ever want to lend to you.¡±

    ¡°Hahah. That¡¯s rich coming from you, people of Maine Village!¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you try paying back your loan quickly?¡±

    ¡°Aah, exactly. Exactly right. The longer it takes you guys to pay back your loans, the worse our reputation gets. They¡¯ll say that if you loan to a Meissen Village, you¡¯ll never get it back.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough from all of you! The position of merchants belongs only to merchants! Even if you guys wanted to become merchants, you don¡¯t know anything about commerce. You can¡¯t even read ¨C so don¡¯t go talking as if you¡¯re so great! Go ahead and speak after you learn how to calculate numbers in your head!¡±

    ¡°Who gives a shit about the merchant rank! For a dirt-poor village like yours, even if you turned into merchants, you wouldn¡¯t have a single thing damn thing to sell, right!? More important is the Kalia trees! You have to bring back the Kalia trees right now!¡±

    ¡°If we could do that, we wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer so much!¡±

    ¡°And the hell do you mean by ¡®a dirt-poor village¡¯!¡±

    The meeting of the fourth day ended in a screaming match between the eleven villages and two towns.

    Though Ganche had wanted to step in several times, Targes stopped him with a glance.

    As he sat in the midst of this group of people who tore into each other with scathing words and insults, Ernst merely watched.

 zChapter 45 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    It was the fifth day. All twenty-six people looked tired.

    But, they still let out a detailed stream of complaints.

    ¡°Snow is something that falls from the sky. You guys didn¡¯t make it, or anything. So why do you want us to pay you for it?¡±

    ¡°Because even a small amount of money is crucial for Maine Village.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t live if we don¡¯t have water. You guys might not know this, but it doesn¡¯t snow over in Eitt Village. Even if we want to gather water from the forest, the Weiss forest is too dangerous to enter in the winter when all of our young people are gone.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t have anything to do with us. Besides, if there¡¯s water in the forest, why don¡¯t you just make it flow toward your village? Use your heads and use your bodies to help yourselves.¡±

    ¡°Just how are we supposed to do that without any tools¡­ Are you telling us to dig from Weiss Forest to our village using our hands?¡±

    ¡°If you need money to buy tools, then how about I lend you some? Since we¡¯re both people who live in Meissen, I can give you a special, discounted interest rate¡­ It won¡¯t be anything like the enormous interest that Maine Village over there had been fooled into taking.¡±

    ¡°¡­What did you say? So we really were tricked after all?! Those damn Lux merchants!¡±

    ¡°No, aren¡¯t you going a bit too far? I don¡¯t particularly think that it was an unfair amount¡­¡±

    ¡°Hah! That¡¯s why you lot aren¡¯t good at conducting business. Don¡¯t you know of the phrase ¡®small profits and quick returns¡¯? You Folea merchants.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. In the first place, isn¡¯t ¡®small profits and quick returns¡¯ only used when talking about buying and selling!? Can you really use it to refer to lending money?¡±

    ¡°Moneylending is also a fine business. Rather than overcharging one person with an enormous interest rate, it is better to charge a small interest to a large group of people, don¡¯t you think? If you force a huge interest rate on someone, then they¡¯ll eventually run away¡­ But then, it isn¡¯t as if Folea has any money to spare for lending to peasants.¡±

    ¡°¡­Kuh! ¡­But the whole reason why things are like this was because you guys stuck your noses into our business with Linz fief, isn¡¯t it!? Saiquani was supposed to handle business with the Caprix fief of Lux Kingdom. Business with Linz fief was supposed to be ours¡­¡±

    ¡°Who ever decided that? If someone wants to do business somewhere, then as long as they have the status of a merchant, nothing else matters.¡±

    ¡°Who decided it¡­ that¡¯s just how it¡¯s been ever since long ago.¡±

    ¡°Huumm. How idiotic. If it was written down anywhere, then show me the evidence. Can you pull out a contract, or anything of the sort? Come on, bring it over.¡±

    ¡°Damn you! I¡¯m telling you, our ancestors have operated business this way for generations!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m. Telling. You. Evidence. Show me some proof.¡±

    Ernst could hear the Folea merchant grind his teeth. The peasantfolk snickered as they watched the merchants argue with each other.

    On that day, as well, Ernst didn¡¯t speak a single word. All he did was watch.

    The sixth day. The weariness on their expressions grew more visible.

    Even though they didn¡¯t look as if they had the energy to speak anymore, they still grumbled out a stream of complaints.

    However, whenever someone interjected with a sarcastic comment, it seemed that no one had the energy to respond as alertly as they had before.

    There was no longer a need to keep Targes and Ganche around.

    After determining this, Ernst let the two stand down.

    The seventh day. They continued to let out their dissatisfaction on this day, too.

    Each and every one of them began to passionately complain about the individual hardships they suffered in each of their situations.

    Just earlier, they grew angry whenever another person mocked their village or town, but now they quarreled over which of Meissen¡¯s villages or towns forced people to live the most miserable and suffering lives.

    And then, as if remembering Ernst, they turned back to look at him like they were asking him to support their claims.

    Hey, the way we¡¯re forced to live is absolutely terrible, right? We have to endure more than anyone else, right?

    When they asked him to agree with them like that, Ernst merely closed his eyes, not providing them with a single response.

    The eighth day. As expected, they continued to boast over their misfortune.

    Whenever someone talked about the woes they suffered, someone else jumped in to shout about how they had been through something much worse.

    Bit by bit, as if they were regaining energy, people started shouting at whoever cut in while someone else was speaking.

    You shut up! A number of times, Ernst witnessed the scene of people shouting these words.

    The ninth day.

    When it came to bragging over their hardships, Yakiya Village was out of the running. No matter how they thought about it, they were the wealthiest village in Meissen. They might even be better off than Saiquani Town.

    But even so, Yakiya Village scraped together the ills they suffered and joined in the war.

    Ernst watched them do this, silently observing.

    Did they want to have good fortune, or did they wish for bad fortune, instead?

    As he pondered over such vague questions, Ernst merely silently watched his people.

    The tenth day. On this day, as if they had all agreed on this beforehand, they all pressed toward Ernst and hounded him for answers.

    Just whose side are you on! The village that is the worst off in all of Meissen is Arruca Village, isn¡¯t it! No, it¡¯s Caralime Village since all of our villagers have Kleber¡¯s disease! Maine Village is the worst off since we¡¯re the only ones who owe loans! It¡¯s Eitt Village that¡¯s menaced by Grude beasts! We can¡¯t do enough business, so we have no choice but to do unfamiliar fieldwork, so it¡¯s Saiquani! No, it¡¯s Folea, whose business was stolen!

    All of their bellows and roars flew toward Ernst. It was as if the flames of anger rose from each person¡¯s entire body. Had Ernst been captured as their mutual enemy?

    Everyone was made to eat their meals in the same room.

    Sharing meals together was said to be the most enjoyable and relaxing way for living beings to bond, and it was possible to have casual conversations over trivial things which they normally wouldn¡¯t speak of in a place like this. Thinking that, Ernst had decided that everyone would eat together in the same room.

    In the beginning, only people of the same village or town spoke to each other. By now, however, Sington reported to Ernst that at times he heard laughter bubble up in the room.

    But judging by their appearances today, Ernst understood that what Sington said wasn¡¯t likely all that it was. Probably, it was also a place where they could let out their complaints about Ernst.

    Ernst stared at them all with sharp eyes, which he then closed. No matter what they said to him, no matter how rude the things they shouted to him were, he never opened his mouth to respond.

    The eleventh day.

    Ernst always arrived before everyone, taking his seat and waiting for everyone else to be ready. Today the people here looked at him, then openly scoffed in his face.

    Every single fucking day, all this lord does is shut up and sit down there. The lord sure has a ton of free time on his hands. Someone said this, and everyone laughed.

    He¡¯s always the first one to take a seat, and then he waits for the rest of us to come in. Does he really want to watch us shout at each other so badly? Just what the hell is this?! Just what did he bring us all here for? Is it that much fun to watch us fight with each other? In the end, this is just entertainment to relieve the boredom of an oh-so-dignified noble, isn¡¯t it. Ridiculous!

    As they shouted this, everyone left the room early.

    In this room which had no one else inside it, Ernst only kept quiet and continued to sit.

    The twelfth day. The people who sat next to each other slowly began having conversations together.

    Rather than have some meaningless conversation about the weather as one might expect, they instead began talking about their cultivation techniques for this year¡¯s crops.

    Though the conversation started between people who sat beside each other, it gradually widened, finally becoming a friendly chat. It wasn¡¯t a conversation only between women, like it had been in the beginning. The men also joined in.

    Only Ernst did not join in the circle, and the people also acted as if no one was sitting in Ernst¡¯s place.

    Ernst quietly looked at the happy appearances of these people.

    The thirteenth day.

    On this day, Ernst noticed that the way people walked was lighter than before.

    For as long as they could remember, they lived a lives of hard labor. They had likely never before been able to eat their fill and not have to work for such a long period of time.

    Every morning, Ernst listened to the head butler, Sington, describe how their meals went.

    When they ate their three meals a day, did they leave anything behind, or did they not? Were they eating like they were uncomfortable, or did they look like they were enjoying the food? He even confirmed how quickly they left the room after eating.

    In the beginning, people left the room as soon as they had finished their own meals.

    He said that people like the ones from Arruca Village, which didn¡¯t have enough food on a daily basis, didn¡¯t eat all of the food presented to them.

    But starting from the morning of three days ago, people started staying behind even after they had finished eating their meals.

    No one had suggested they do this, yet somehow things turned out this way. As they became caught up in their conversations, people started leaving the room later.

    Finally, during last night¡¯s dinner, Sington reported that everyone had finished eating their food.

    The people most likely hadn¡¯t noticed it, but the amount of food they ate had been gradually increasing.

    Compared to the very first breakfast served at the estate, the breakfast served this morning was twice the amount. Currently, the amount served to the people was the same amount Ernst ate.

    All of the people ate this amount, and none of them showed any signs of their stomachs having a breakdown.

    Ernst observed his people attentively.

    Their complexions seemed to have gotten better, he thought.

    He felt as if they were brimming with life and spirit.

 zChapter 46 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    The fourteenth day.

    After making sure that everyone had taken a seat, Ernst opened his mouth and spoke.

    ¡°I believe that you all have discussed well with each other. Though it may not have been enough, compared to when you all first arrived here, I believe that you now understand much more about each other.¡±

    Ernst had always sat there like a doll, not reacting even the slightest bit ¨C so when they heard him now speak, everyone looked at him with baffled expressions.

    ¡°During the winter, I traveled around to view the villages and towns. All of you did your best to help one another, sharing your wisdom amongst each other and living with indomitable wills which refused to be overcome by anything. I began thinking. Every single person in Meissen put forth their utmost effort in order to live. Yet, despite all of this, why did Meissen continue to be so poor?¡±

    Everyone¡¯s faces warped. He felt as if he could hear a scoffing voice saying, And just what would a high-and-mighty noble know?

    ¡°And then, I discovered something quite strange. Everyone knew of the other villages and towns which also made up the land of Meissen. Yet, it could not be said that anyone had ever tried to forge a deep understanding between the villages or towns.¡±

    Ernst placed his hand on the large table which he and the twenty-six other people sat around. He drummed his fingers on its surface.

    ¡°For example, this table. It was Eitt Village that created this table. Because of the influence of the Grude Continent on the forest near Eitt Village, the trees grow enormous in size. This table was made out of a single tree.¡±

    A stir erupted from the other villages as they imagined just how colossal the tree must have originally been if even the table was this size.

    ¡°Furthermore, that carpet.¡±

    Ernst pointed a finger at the carpet laid out in front of the fireplace.

    ¡°That there was made with wool contributed by Caralime Village, dyed by Iben Village, and woven by Arruca Village.¡±

    The people from Caralime and Iben stood from their chairs and went over to take a look.

    The people of Caralime Village who only sold wool couldn¡¯t tell, of course, but as people who worked with dyes, the representatives of Iben Village were somewhat able to recognize the colors.

    ¡°The bordering on the carpet was made with Arruca Village¡¯s wool. Although the wool from Arruca Village is certainly short, it has a magnificent luster to it. It glitters with the same glossiness as silk¡­ Now then. How much would you be willing to buy this carpet for?¡±

    Ernst directed this question to the merchants of Saiquani and Folea who sat on either side of him. The four merchants stood from their chairs, touching the carpet with their hands to thoroughly evaluate its weight, its reverse side, and the tint of its colors.

    ¡°This would be about 150 aquia, I suppose¡­¡±

    ¡°For us, we¡¯d give 170 aquias for this.¡±

    When they heard the amount of money the merchants cited, the heads of the people of Arruca Village snapped up like broken strings.

    ¡°The amount of wool used was two bags of Caralime wool. The original cost is 20 aquia. Even when you add the cost of coloring by Iben Village and the price of Arruca Village¡¯s wool and weaving, the total amount isn¡¯t more than 50 aquia.¡±

    Ernst stood from his seat, then walked toward the fireplace.

    He passed by the side of the people of Caralime and Iben, who had dumbfounded expressions on their faces as they touched the carpet. Ernst took in his hand a piece of firewood which was piled up separately from the firewood currently burning in the hearth.

    ¡°This is the Kalia wood which came from Maine Village. It is very light and easy to carry. And¡­¡±

    Ernst threw the piece of wood into the fireplace.

    ¡°It has a wonderful scent.¡±

    A gentle fragrance wafted through the room. Everyone closed their eyes in a daze.

    After confirming everyone¡¯s appearances, Ernst took the piece of candle wax that had been set above the fireplace, stuck it into a candlestand, then lit the candle using the flame of the fireplace.

    ¡°This is beeswax made by Yakiya village¡­ This, too, emits a pleasant scent.¡±

    Ernst quietly set the candlestand down on the large table which everyone sat around. A fragrance similar to that of the Kalia wood drifted from the candle. Although its scent was faint, it made one¡¯s heart feel at ease.

    ¡°The meals everyone ate every day were made with food purchased from the villages of Latelle, Kata, Sounica, Hrike, and Dada.¡±

    Ernst quietly sat in his seat.

    ¡°Unlike our Kingdom of Rintz, the Kingdom of Lux has a strong national power, and its economic activity is also vigorous. I have heard that the merchants of that Kingdom are fearless veterans of business who have experienced countless battles in their trade. In order to be able to compete with such merchants, quick-wittedness and skill in the art of conversation are indispensable.¡±

    Ernst turned to his right, toward the merchants of Saiquani town.

    ¡°I understand that against such merchants, the people of Saiquani Town have competed to their fullest extent. Although the products representative of Meissen such as its wool and honey have already disappeared from the market, when it comes to wheat, potatoes, and other crops, as well as firewood and the like, we can see that the prices of these products have remained unchanged for 100 years. The reason why Meissen¡¯s products were not crushed to low prices was because of the merchants of Saiquani Town, who did not allow anyone to take advantage of Meissen for being a poor territory.¡±

    Ernst turned his gaze to his left.

    ¡°Everyone knows the way to get to Linz fief. One must cross that sheer cliff and pass through that forest where wolves dwell. No one knows better than the people who live in Meissen just how difficult it is to cross that cliff, clinging to its surface and making your way across one by one, all the while carrying heavy luggage on your back. The firewood made in Meissen is also sold in Linz fief. Only the merchants of Folea Town are capable of carrying such heavy firewood on their backs as they cross that cliff. That skill is something which the merchants of other towns do not possess.¡±

    In this spacious room that had fallen completely silent, only the crackles of the burning firewood sounded.

    The gentle fragrance of the Kalia wood filled the room, calming the hearts of the twenty-six people.

    In the middle of the large desk, the soft light of the beeswax candle¡¯s flame wavered.

    ¡°Just as people of the same village aid each other, could you not think of Meissen as one, and aid each other as people who live together in the same lands?¡±

    Ernst addressed them quietly.

    An unknown amount of time passed.

    When the single piece of firewood burned out, the head of Caralime Village came to a decision. He opened his mouth as if it were heavy and spoke.

    ¡°Our village is full of Kleber¡¯s disease. Our bodies can¡¯t handle intensive farmwork. But¡­ we are able to care for sheep. No matter how many sheep we tend to, we won¡¯t let any of them starve, and we¡¯re able to harvest a great amount of wool.¡±

    The head of Caralime nervously met the eyes of the heads of Iben and Arruca.

    ¡°Would you be able to turn our wool into rugs like that one¡­? When it¡¯s worked, its price becomes much higher. We had only thought about packing it into bags and selling it. Once we finished harvesting the wool, we stopped working. But if we can sell it for higher once someone has worked on it¡­ then I want to try it.¡±

    The two village heads he proposed this to looked at each other, then both nodded at the same time. The head of Iben Village laughed as she spoke.

    ¡°You know, I was also hoping for that. Somehow, we¡¯re not so good at raising our sheep. But, you know, we sure do have some nice hot springs. It¡¯s absolutely perfect for working with dyes. Besides, up ¡®til now, we weren¡¯t able to sell anything if it weren¡¯t dyed. Actually, even when it was dyed, we still weren¡¯t able to sell for a nice price. If we can team up with Caralime Village and Arruca Village to make those kinds of carpets and sell for a high price, then we¡¯ll work with you for however long you want.¡±

    ¡°On our side, we¡¯re also agreed. We also have many people with Kleber¡¯s disease. But the fellows who have that disease always have thin fingers, and as a plus their eyes always stay good no matter how old they get, so their fingers move the most skillfully. Our village has also been weaving since long ago, so we have various techniques. Rather than trying to continue herding even though we¡¯re not familiar with it or trying to cultivate our poor fields, wouldn¡¯t it be good if we could earn money by weaving textiles?¡±

    Seeing how readily the two other villages agreed, the head of Caralime Village showed a bright and cheerful smile.

    ¡°In that case, Caralime will also look after the care of Arruca¡¯s sheep. The sheen of their wool is certainly splendid.¡±

    The people of the three villages stood from their seats, then gathered around the rug and sat on the floor to speak with each other.

    The merchants of Folea Town excitedly joined in, quickly confirming the completion date for the carpets and beginning negotiations for the price.

 zChapter 47 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon

    The next one to make a move was Yakiya Village.

    ¡°To our bees, the Kalia tree is indispensable. Although the fact that this tree blooms in winter makes it precious, the fragrance is what really makes it so important.¡±

    As he spoke, he looked at the head of Maine Village. For a moment, his gaze faltered as if he was unsure of what to do, but then, he grew more resolved and spoke.

    ¡°I understand that you¡¯re suffering a difficult situation¡­ so how about this? For each Kalia tree you don¡¯t cut down, we¡¯ll pay you 50 aquia.¡±

    ¡°But if we do that, then our loan¡­¡±

    ¡°Right now, how much do you have left?¡±

    One of the merchants of Saiquani Town asked.

    ¡°1,017 sitts.¡±

    The merchants of Saiquani crossed their arms and pondered for a while, then suddenly came up with a proposal.

    ¡°In that case, Saiquani will buy that credit.¡±

    Not understanding what he was saying, the people of Maine Village looked at the merchant.

    ¡°What that means is, I¡¯m saying we will take over your loans.¡±

    Even though what he just said was unbelievable, the faces of Maine Village¡¯s people lit up with great joy.

    ¡°However, there are conditions. First, you have to plant more Kalia trees. You have as many trees as you once had before everything happened, right? Increase the numbers of your trees to how many you had 20, 30 years from then. Once you¡¯ve increased them to that point, you should have enough to harvest.¡±

    ¡°But if they cut them down, then we¡¯ll be the ones in trouble.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Because of that, there should always be a number of trees left behind for Yakiya Village. Maine Village has probably also learned from their experience. You should know what happens if you cut down too many of your trees. As such, about how many trees would be feasible to cut down every year?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right¡­ about 100 trees should be alright.¡±

    ¡°In that case, sell 100 of your trees to Saiquani. We¡¯ll buy the wood of one Kalia tree for 1 sitt.¡±

    ¡°¡­Really? Before, you bought them for 500 aquia, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I apologize for that. This time, we¡¯ll buy them for 1 sitt. I ask that you put your faith in the merchants of Saiquani.¡±

    A doubt-filled expression appeared on the head of Maine¡¯s face, but a woman of Latelle Village spoke up just in time to help Saiquani.

    ¡°You ought to try believing in them just once, don¡¯t you think? However way it works out, since they said they¡¯ll take over your loans for you, I don¡¯t think this is such a bad deal for your end.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I suppose you have a point¡­¡±

    ¡°Very well, then. We¡¯ve completed our negotiations.¡±

    The merchants of Saiquani forcibly wrung out a promise from them.

    As Ernst carefully watched over them, he smiled wryly at how flustered Maine Village looked.

    ¡°Next, Yakiya Village.¡±

    ¡°¡­What is it?¡±

    ¡°I would like to ask you to sell your honey to Saiquani.¡±

    As soon as he said that, the head of Yakiya Village scowled.

    ¡°Why should we sell it to you? We can go to sell it by ourselves.¡±

    As a stormy atmosphere crackled between the two of them, Ernst cut into the conversation.

    ¡°Humm¡­ As far as that goes.¡±

    He continued to look between Yakiya and Maine Villages.

    ¡°On the matter of your two villages holding the merchant rank, I believe you might be mistaking something.¡±

    Confusion overcame both of the village heads as they studied Ernst.

    ¡°On this occasion, I had asked for both of your villages to bring with you the documents for your change in rank. When I looked at them, however, both of your documents contained some deficiencies.¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­? W, what sort of¡­?¡±

    ¡°Humm. First, I would like to ask, to where did your two villages submit your applications?¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­ a, application¡­?¡±

    ¡°Correct; that is, where did you report this to? In other words, after preparing your documents, to whom did you hand them over?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯d be the noble Lord.¡±

    ¡°The Lord of where?¡±

    ¡°Caprix fief¡¯s¡­¡±

    All of the other people in the room were shocked by Yakiya Village¡¯s words.

    ¡°Caprix fief? Isn¡¯t that a territory of Lux Kingdom? Why would you hand it to Caprix fief¡¯s lord?¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­? Caprix fief might be part of Lux Kingdom, but I had been told that since we were doing business in Caprix fief, we should get our position approved by Caprix¡¯s lord¡­¡±

    After being told by the people around him that something was off, the voice of Yakiya Village¡¯s head wilted.

    ¡°Who was the one who told you of this? What I would like to know is, when Yakiya Village first tried to change rank, who provided you your instructions?¡±

    Ernst asked in a gentle and quiet tone of voice, so as to not make it seem as if he was pressing for answers.

    ¡°That is¡­ we asked the Lux merchants we usually made deals with¡­¡±

    The merchants of Saiquani looked with pitying eyes at Yakiya Village.

    ¡°They had cheated you.¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­ no way¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, you should be glad, right? Even though you weren¡¯t able to change your rank, you were always selling your wares over in Caprix fief, right? As such, you should be happy for your luck. No one caught you even once.¡±

    The woman of Kata Village said this consolingly.

    It was strictly forbidden for someone who wasn¡¯t a merchant to do business. If you were found out, you would be forced to do hard labor for over ten years. Lux Kingdom had similar punishments.

    Seeing that the two villages looked as if they still couldn¡¯t believe this situation, Ernst explained definitively what had gone wrong.

    ¡°In the applications you submitted to request the change in rank, there are clear defects. In both of them, the name of the village was wrong. There were also mistakes in the body of the text. Moreover, the paper is crude and would never be used for an official document, and on the surface of this paper, there are no engraved ornamentations which serve as the critical watermarks proving the authenticity of the application.¡±

    The lord¡¯s seal of certification was also completely wrong. Though it likely attempted to mimic the seal of the lord of Caprix, it ended up as something which didn¡¯t bear even the slightest resemblance.

    ¡°It is understandable that both of your villages believed this. You were lured with deceitful words, and official documents and the like are things which you usually would not have seen. Moreover, when they changed the lettering, they employed a trick which made the document unreadable unless looked at carefully.¡±

    In truth, the contents of the text and the handwriting were very childish, but Ernst didn¡¯t want to invite the rest of Meissen to mock them by saying that they hadn¡¯t noticed the name of their own village was written wrongly.

    Even if they themselves were unable to read, there would certainly be people who would laugh at the illiteracy of others.

    ¡°S¡­ so that was what happened¡­¡±

    If Maine Village paid a price of a thousand sitts to change their rank, then Yakiya Village must have also paid the same amount. Completely depressed, the head of Yakiya Village hung his head.

    ¡°Ah! ¡­If that¡¯s true, then we don¡¯t actually owe any loans, do we¡­¡±

    ¡°I am sorry to have to say this, but that is impossible.¡±

    When the woman of Maine Village raised her voice with delight, Ernst gave a rueful smile and held back her expectations.

    ¡°The documents for the loans were all correct. It was not specified what the loan would be used for, but it stated the money to be loaned as well as its interest rate. Seeing that you had borrowed the money, even if it was as a result of deception, the loan will not be invalid so long as the documentation is correct.¡±

    Maine Village had brought the documents for the debt they carried along with the documents for their change in rank. It was a formal promissary note, completely different from the change in rank¡¯s crude excuse of a document.

    ¡°W¡­ well, shouldn¡¯t you be glad? If this was really the case, then Yakiya Village and Maine Village would have become criminals, right? ¡­Ah¡­ speaking of, Lord Ernst is the Honorable Lord, right¡­ um, is this¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll overlook it.¡±

    The head of Sounica Village fearfully posed this question to Ernst. Ernst just waved his hand to settle the matter.

    This problem wouldn¡¯t have happened if there had been a Lord ruling Meissen. If one wanted to say that these two villages had committed a crime, then one must also question the fault of the Kingdom, which had allowed the territory to go so many years without a Lord.

    A relieved atmosphere filled the room, and everyone laughed at how the village head of Sounica had actually forgotten that Ernst was the Lord.

    Affected by the joy in the air, Ernst also laughed, a warm feeling spreading in chest. Yakiya Village and Maine Village. When all of the other villages and towns saw the distress those two were in, they felt sympathy from the bottoms of their hearts and comforted them.

    The formerly fractured Meissen was going to become whole.

    ¡°So then, would you be willing to sell your honey and beeswax to Saiquani?¡±

    The Saiquani merchant gleefully resumed his negotiations. A wry smile coming over her face, the woman of Yakiya Village nodded.

    ¡°It seems like we have no other choice, right? Since we¡¯re not merchants after all.¡±

    When she said that, everyone shared a laugh together.

    ¡°But how much would you be willing to buy it for?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ you guys were selling one bottle of honey for 200 aquia, I recall. In that case, we¡¯ll pay 210 aquia for it. For the beeswax candlesticks, we¡¯ll pay 5 aquia each.¡±

    Crossing his arms, the head of Yakiya Village thought it over. Even if they had mistaken the legitimacy of their position, they were still a village who had worked as merchants for many years. They were able to calculate and figure out how to best make money.

    ¡°But we were selling one bottle for 200 aquia to the Caprix fief, right? If Saiquani buys from us for 210 aquia and then goes to sell in Caprix, that¡¯d be a loss of 10 aquia, wouldn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Heh. That¡¯s why you guys were unseasoned merchants¡­ You really think we would sell a bottle for 200 aquia?¡±

    The merchant of Saiquani grinned cheekily as he said:

    ¡°We¡¯ll be selling for 300 aquia.¡±

    ¡°¡­! Can you really sell that?!¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll see. I¡¯m going to try selling it with a little twist.¡±

    ¡°What are you planning to do?¡±

    The merchant of Folea, who had been calculating how to make money off of the carpets, joined the conversation.

    ¡°¡­This isn¡¯t something I should be telling a business competitor, but¡­ well, fine. Folea won¡¯t do business over in Caprix fief, right? I¡¯ve thought it over. Since it¡¯s a good opportunity for us, I figure ¨C how about we abide by that differentiation you guys talked about? Saiquani will only do business with Caprix fief, Folea with Linz fief.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ well, fine. I won¡¯t disagree.¡±

    ¡°Good¡­ so, are you ready? The bees of Yakiya Village make their honey using the Kalia tree¡¯s flowers as their primary ingredient. People say that when you burn the wood of the Kalia, its fragrance has an aphrodisiac effect. As such, I want to advantage of that as much as possible. In other words, I want people to come up with the idea that if they eat this honey with the person they like, their feelings will be realized ¨C or something like that. The candles, too, can be lit when you want to create a nice, romantic atmosphere.¡±

    Ernst felt it was interesting how unyielding the merchant was. The merchants of Saiquani certainly had to have strong hearts in order to compete with the merchants of Lux Kingdom.

    ¡°But¡­ the Kalia trees are a problem.¡±

    The head of Maine Village now spoke after having kept silent while listening to the honey negotiations.

    ¡°Even if we try to plant new Kalia trees, the seedlings won¡¯t be able to grow. We tried building cottages to serve as nurseries for them, but that didn¡¯t work very well, either. We had to always keep burning fuel to keep the temperature stable, but humidity was important, too¡­ so if we kept burning wood in the cottage to keep the temperature warm, then the moisture in the air would dry up, and it wouldn¡¯t be any good.¡±

    ¡°Aah, that¡¯s very true¡­ even if we planted a hundred Kalia seeds, only ten of them would sprout. Even if we carefully raised those ten sprouts, after a year passed, there would only be a single one left alive in the cottage.¡±

    The two people of Maine Village heaved heavy sighs. The head of Eitt Village then turned to them and said:

    ¡°You¡¯ve been to Eitt Village once, right? Our forest is warm all year round. When we talked about our drought, it is only our village which suffers a lack of water. Inside the forest, moss is always growing.¡±

    ¡°Moss is¡­ so does that mean that there is humidity there?¡±

    The head of Dada village asked this to Maine.

    ¡°That¡¯d be swell! We¡¯ll have to bring the people of our village over to take a look immediately. If it looks good then we can grow our saplings in Eitt Village, then plant them in the mountains of Maine Village.

    ¡°Yes, exactly. Only when they¡¯re saplings, they need heat and humidity. When they reach up to about my knees, that¡¯s when they have to be planted on the mountain. Once they get to that stage, it¡¯s the opposite. They need coldness and snow.¡±

    ¡°¡­So then, we¡¯ll do it like this. Our Maine Village will grow the saplings in Eitt Village¡¯s Weiss Forest. In order to care for our Kalia trees, Maine Village will have to travel back and forth to Eitt Village many times. When we do, we¡¯ll bring snow with us. How does that sound?¡±

    ¡°That would be an enormous help. In that case, when the people of Maine Village are staying with us, we¡¯ll take care of feeding them. Though for us, we only have dried meat and such.¡±

    ¡°Ooh, that would help us greatly, thank you¡­ Of course, the biggest problem is whether the Kalia seeds can safely sprout into saplings¡­¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true enough. You¡¯ll just have to watch over them carefully.¡±

    The female head of Eitt Village gave a hearty laugh.

    The fifteenth day.

    On this day, everyone had been allowed to return home for half a day. They returned in the afternoon.

    Everyone had bright and sunny expressions on their faces.

    ¡°For having taken part in this discussion and bearing with my request for so long, I must give you all my thanks.¡±

    Ernst stood from his chair, and after looking around at each person, he slowly lowered his head and bowed.

    The twenty-six people all hurriedly stood, their chairs clattering.

    A chuckle slipped from Ernst as he urged them to sit back down.

    ¡°As all of you already know, the tax levied upon each person in Meissen is the minimum amount of five sitts. This is something the merchants already know quite well, but between the tax collected from all of Meissen and the tax which I must pay to the King lies a deficit of five-hundred and one sitts per year. But there are other expenses beyond that, as well. Expenditures such as the repair of Meissen¡¯s roads and the wages paid to the servants of the estate¡­ among others. Every year, all of those lead to a deficit of eight-hundred to a thousand sitts.¡±

    Everyone turned pale with fright upon hearing that amount of money.

    ¡°However, for the next ten years, I am willing to maintain this situation and endure anything which may happen as a result. Once those ten years come to an end, the tax levied upon each person will increase to eight sitts¡­ During this period of ten years, I wish for each of your villages and towns to grow strong.¡±

    Ernst met each and every person¡¯s eyes, as if showing them his determination.

    The people in the room looked hesitant, unsure ¨C but the moment they looked at Ernst and met his gaze, all of of them returned strong, decisive nods.

 zChapter 48 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon Chapter 21

    ¡°They sure went home with bright and sunny smiles, eh?¡±

    ¡°That was the first time I saw such motivation on their faces.¡±

    After Targes spoke, Sington replied to him.

    Although Sington didn¡¯t know what had occurred within the banquet hall, the face of the head butler who was always worrying over something or another was now cheerful, as well, as if he had caught this mood from the people of the fief.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, were you successful?¡±

    ¡°Do you even know what sort of discussions they¡¯d been having in there?¡±

    Targes teased Aldo for happily asking that question.

    Up until the day they began, Ernst had agonized over whether he should invite Targes and Sington, as well as Ganche, to his talks with the people of his fief.

    In the end, he finally decided to not allow anyone else to enter the room. The only time Targes and Ganche were allowed to enter was those two tempestuous days where Ernst alone couldn¡¯t manage the people¡¯s rising tempers.

    He had several reasons for this.

    One reason was, Ernst judged that Sington¡¯s presence in the meetings would create an atmosphere too heavy and serious for his people to speak their minds freely.

    During the absence of a Lord, it was Sington who connected Meissen with the lord of Linz fief. It was as if Sington acted as the deputy Lord.

    Although Sington had acted as the deputy Lord for less than 50 years, during that period, Sington¡¯s actions, words, and deeds were things which would never be praised.

    Another reason lay in Targes and Ganche¡¯s outward appearances.

    Just the fact that Targes held the rank of a knight lent him an unapproachable atmosphere. Since Targes also did not originate from Meissen, the people of Meissen still did not feel familiar with him yet.

    Meanwhile, Ganche¡¯s appearance let off an intimidating air.

    ¡°Lord Ernst. What were you all discussing?¡±

    Targes asked, having only witnessed the most discordant scene of the whole process. It was impossible to imagine what sort of conclusion they could have reached when he only had that moment to work off of.

    ¡°Humm¡­¡±

    Ganche was the only person with a calm expression, and that calmness felt like a triumphant look in the eyes of the other three who had absolutely no idea about anything.

    He must have spoken to Ganche about it. What happened that day?? We want to know too!

    Although Ernst hadn¡¯t gone into much detail, he couldn¡¯t help but tell Ganche a few things. Ganche had been able to glean the rest from how intertwined he was with Ernst¡¯s thoughts, and as such, he more or less understood what had happened.

    ¡°How Meissen will be able to feed itself from now on, and matters like that.¡±

    When Ernst answered like that, Sington nodded with a look that said, ¡®Exactly as I thought.¡¯

    ¡°Certainly¡­ if Meissen continues on this way, the land will surely start to suffer famine all year round. Aah, so that was why. When you treated these people to meals, those meals were all prepared with crops from Meissen¡­ You were trying to tell them something like this, right? ¡®We¡¯re able to harvest at least this much food in Meissen, so put more effort into working.¡¯ In other words, you were inciting them to not slack off, I see.¡±

    Ernst nodded ambiguously.

    ¡°Peasants really can¡¯t do a single thing without a leader to guide them. Those guys might have bodies, but they¡¯re lacking heads. Lord Ernst, it will be your duty to serve as their head from now on. I¡¯ll leave it up to you.¡±

    After saying, Sington stood up and exited the office.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ganche. Sington could be considered as the person who had been ruling Meissen up until now. Being the way he is, he must have worried himself sick over the current state of Meissen.¡±

    Ernst soothed Ganche, smiling wryly.

    ¡°¡­So what Lord Ernst is saying is, what actually happened was something else? What did you speak to the people of Meissen about?¡±

    Targes asked the question once again.

    ¡°Although Sington is prone to worrying¡­ when enormous beings begin to move, the existence of such concerned people are absolutely necessary. If not, then when those enormous beings are put in motion, there will be no one to stop them.¡±

    ¡°By enormous beings, are you speaking of countries?¡±

    This was the viewpoint of Targes, who had formerly signed up as a member of the King¡¯s Army.

    ¡°Precisely. There is significance in deliberately arranging for these such people, who perpetually seek out worries. Yet for a small territory such as Meissen, it cannot always be said to be beneficial.¡±

    Ernst stood from his office chair and walked to the other side of the desk, taking a seat at in one of the guest chairs where Targes and the others sat.

    ¡°I am unable to predict what sorts of actions Sington will take when he succumbs to his worry.¡±

    The three soldiers kept their mouths shut as they waited for Ernst to continue speaking.

    ¡°¡­Targes. Previously, there was something we had discussed¡­ What protects Meissen from an invasion by Lux Kingdom?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I remember. They were the Bastelis River and the Linz Valley.¡±

    Aldo also seemed to share Targes¡¯ opinion, and he nodded alongside Targes¡¯ words.

    ¡°That is correct. After crossing the Bastelis River, it is impossible for a large force to pass through the Linz Valley¡­¡±

    Folding his fingers, Ernst lowered his gaze, falling into contemplation.

    One piece of firewood in the hearth completely burnt out while Ernst reflected on his thoughts.

    The soldiers neither rushed him nor grew impatient, merely waiting quietly until Ernst finished his reflection.

    ¡°At that time, what I didn¡¯t say was that Meissen carries another, even stronger shield protecting it.¡±

    Ernst raised his head, continuing to speak slowly and deliberately.

    ¡°That shield is poverty.¡±

    Not understanding Ernst¡¯s words, the three soldiers exchanged glances.

    ¡°If Meissen were to have value, what would happen? What that means is that Lux Kingdom will come to seize only Meissen. If Lux Kingdom judges that the benefits gained from seizing Meissen outweigh the possibility of breaking out into war with Rintz Kingdom, then they will cross the Bastelis River and launch an assault.¡±

    ¡°That is¡­ I can¡¯t refute that it sounds possible, but would they really do that¡­?¡±

    Targes was unusually dismayed.

    ¡°At this moment, Meissen does not hold value to that extent. However, would Meissen remain a poor and impoverished land forever? Let us consider how Lux Kingdom holds only half the amount of land as our Rintz Kingdom. The majority of the open flatland in that country has developed into towns for commerce. It is no exaggeration to say that this country has abandoned agriculture, and it procures nearly all of its food from both our Kingdom and the Kingdom of Silus.¡±

    In Lux Kingdom lives a kind of spider called the Lux Spider which produces a golden-threaded silk.

    In Rintz Kingdom and Silus Kingdom, the precious few pieces of golden cloth made from this thread are sold for very high prices, being ten times more expensive than silk made by ordinary silkworms.

    These spiders, which were Lux Kingdom¡¯s leading commercial industry, were very particular with their territory. They required an expansive forest on flat, even ground with no ups or downs whatsoever.

    ¡°Lux Kingdom is certainly a wealthy country. The golden cloth made from the Lux spider brings the country great wealth. With that money, Lux Kingdom is able to arrange its military, allowing it to possess a huge and powerful army¡­ Yet nevertheless, in this world, those who are most powerful are those who hold access to food. No matter how much authority and power I may possess, since I am unable to cultivate a field on my own, I would starve and perish after a month had passed. Rintz Kingdom¡¯s leading strong point is that it has set aside the greater part of its territory for agriculture, allowing it to supply two-thirds of Lux Kingdom¡¯s food supply.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s absolutely true, but¡­ what relation does this have with Meissen?¡±

    Aldo timidly asked.

    ¡°Meissen makes up one-twentieth of our Kingdom¡¯s land. However, Meissen¡¯s produce does not make up more than one-fiftieth of Rintz Kingdom¡¯s total agricultural production. Meissen possesses many fields which are no longer being cultivated, and there are not even enough tools for its people to work the fields. However, in a situation where all of Meissen¡¯s people were given farming tools and provided with water and serviceable roads, how much harvest could be obtained from Meissen? Even if the land is barren, they could choose crops that can grow there. The people of Meissen certainly know many things through experience. However, there is much more knowledge to be gained in the world. If the people of Meissen were to acquire that already-established knowledge, wouldn¡¯t you say that an agricultural revolution would occur?¡±

    When the population of an area grows, then an agricultural revolution will without a doubt follow.

    They would change the farming methods they had used, dramatically increasing the yield of their crops. Alternatively, they might improve the crops they grew, thereby increasing their yield.

    Either way will lead to a higher harvest, filling people¡¯s mouths and allowing them to begin increasing their numbers.

    ¡°In Meissen¡¯s current state, it is unable to sustain more than the six-hundred people currently living here. Yet in the past, Meissen had a population of a thousand people. There are no records of Meissen having purchased crops from other fiefs in the past. In other words, Meissen previously had the ability to keep at least its population of a thousand people fed. However, back then in Meissen, only one-tenth of the land was cultivated. Although the current Meissen is currently 70% mountains and forests, this was caused by the spread and growth of trees during its 100-year absence of a Lord. Considering that the mountains and forests are the sources from which our waters flow, we cannot so simply cut down all of the forests and flatten all of the mountains to make flatland, but at the very least, we can deforest the areas which had no trees a hundred years ago¡­ Presently, only 30% of Meissen is flat ground. If it returns to its state of a hundred years past, that number will increase to 60%. A thousand people were able to sustain themselves by cultivating 10% of Meissen¡¯s land¡­ If we were to cultivate all 30% of the lands we currently have, then thinking of it simply, wouldn¡¯t we be able to support three thousand people?¡±

    ¡°That certainly seems true¡­¡±

    ¡°But that alone wouldn¡¯t be enough. For instance, Gris Fief, which is called Rintz Kingdom¡¯s breadbasket, is a territory that is only one-fifteenth of Meissen¡¯s size. It is a territory that is even smaller than Meissen¡¯s current farmlands. Gris Fief is a particularly temperate region where snow does not fall, giving it the advantage of being able to harvest crops all year round¡­ But regardless, it may possess some farming methods which the people of Meissen do not know.¡±

    ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is¡­ if Meissen just changes its farming methods, then it¡¯s very likely that Meissen will reap many crops?¡±

    Aldo asked disbelievingly. Ever since Aldo had been born in Meissen, he had only known it to be a poor, impoverished land.

    ¡°Precisely. Eventually, I would like to select a young person from each village to go and study agriculture in thriving territories. That said¡­ if Meissen were to raise its crop production to a proper level, then Lux Kingdom will inevitably turn its sight on us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I suppose that¡¯s really how it is. Considering how vast Meissen¡¯s lands are, the amount of crops it produces should be the same as the whole agricultural production of their entire country, right?¡±

    Targes said this, closing his eyes as he ran the mental calculations.

    ¡°Yes, that is what I believe, too. At the very least, when Meissen can produce half of their output ¨C that is when Lux Kingdom will absolutely vie for Meissen. Even if the Bastelis river is too rough to cross, with Lux Kingdom¡¯s power, they are not unable to build a bridge across it. Once they calculate between purchasing their food from other countries versus building a bridge to procure food our country¡¯s territory, they will try to obtain Meissen. Other than the fact that both kingdoms¡¯ royalties are undergoing internal situations which have not yet settled, the reason why Lux Kingdom does not battle with Rintz Kingdom is because there is the issue of the food they purchase from Rintz Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°¡­I feel like it¡¯s possible for Meissen to increase its crop production. But will just that be enough to make Lux Kingdom come and attack¡­¡±

    He was unable to see the value in the land where he himself was born and raised. Ernst felt a little sad when Aldo asked that question.

    Not a single person in Meissen could take pride in where they came from.

    ¡°The matters which I will speak of from this point forward must absolutely never be revealed to anyone else.¡±

    Ernst looked into each of the three soldiers¡¯ eyes, as if strengthening his intention.

    All three of them nodded firmly ¨C Ganche, immediately; Targes, after he had made up his mind; and Aldo, like he was hesitating. It was only after Ernst saw them agree with his own eyes that he opened his mouth to speak.

    Ernst had decided to tell to Aldo, who was unable to take pride in his own homeland, of the vast potential and treasures which Meissen carried within its arms.

 zChapter 49 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon Chapter 22

    ¡°In Meissen, there exist treasures.¡±

    Ernst spoke facing Aldo, who sat beside Targes.

    ¡°¡­There¡¯s something like treasure in Meissen¡­?¡±

    ¡°For example, consider this mansion. It was made from good-quality wood.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? I thought this sort of wood was something you could find anywhere, though¡­¡±

    ¡°Precisely. In Meissen, the kind of tree this wood comes from can be found anywhere. As proof of that, even houses in poor villages are made from it¡­ However, this easily-obtained Ruifa tree wood is light and sturdy, burns well, and has a beautiful wood grain. In the houses of nobility, the more Ruifa wood that can be used for the flooring, the better, as it is a sign of the household¡¯s affluence. As such, this wood is usually traded at a higher price than normal timber.¡±

    ¡°Even though it¡¯s such a common tree¡­¡±

    Aldo spun around in his seat, looking around the room. It was understandable for him to be so surprised. Even the barracks and stables were made out of this kind of wood.

    However, the Ruifa trees, like the Kalia trees, had a narrow habitat.

    ¡°Also, the stone in the bathing room. That stone is linua stone. The linua stone is able to conduct and transfer heat, and is primarily used in the mansions of nobles and affluent merchants. Although the bathing chambers in the royal palace prioritized the aesthetic of tile for the floor, the highest quality flooring for a bathroom is said to be primarily linua stone.¡±

    ¡°¡­but, even if the Ruifa wood is supposed to be valuable, it¡¯s impossible to transport it, right? If it¡¯s supposed to be used as housing material, then its size will be important¡­ Let¡¯s say we want to sell it in Caprix fief, what are we supposed to do¡­? If we want to carry it on a boat¡­¡±

    Aldo crossed his arms, tilting his head as he thought.

    ¡°Similar to the problem of selling Ruifa wood to Caprix fief, there¡¯s the problem of what we would do with linua stone, no? Are we supposed to strip it off from the estate¡¯s bathing room and go sell it? And besides, once we¡¯ve finished selling everything we have, can we really call it Meissen¡¯s treasure?¡±

    Ernst¡¯s lips rose in a bittersweet smile at Targes¡¯ words.

    ¡°Although for the time being, the current plan is to sell the stone in the bathing chamber to raise money for our current financial difficulties¡­ after some thought, I wondered, didn¡¯t this linua stone come from Meissen?¡­The reason for linua stone¡¯s high price isn¡¯t only because of its characteristics, but because very little of it can be collected. In these past 250 years, no new source of linua has been found, meaning there is no supply to put on the market. As such, no matter how wealthy the noble, if they wish to have a bathing chamber made of linua stone, then it can only be half as big as the size of this office. The amount of money isn¡¯t the problem; rather, that is simply the best that is possible with the amount of linua stone that can be collected.¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst. The size of the bathing room in this estate is extremely large, I believe¡­?¡±

    Ganche asked in a strange tone of voice. This was something that Targes and Aldo, who had never seen the bathing room in the estate, absolutely wouldn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Correct, the bathing room in this estate is remarkably large. Not only the bathing room, but the attached dressing chamber is also covered in linua stone¡­ However, as far as I can see from the documents, that bathing chamber was made in the era of the previous Lord; in other words, it was created 130 years ago. However, there are no traces of such a large amount of money being moved, and neither are there any records of purchases made from other territories.¡±

    ¡°¡­In other words, do you mean¡­?¡±

    As if trying to put together what he was thinking, Targes lifted a hand to his forehead.

    ¡°In Rintz Kingdom, there has been no new discovery of a linua mine in approximately the past 250 years. There was nowhere to acquire linua stone for use in any estate, other than what was already available. And for that, a corresponding amount of money was necessary. However, without using any money, this estate was able to acquire a large quantity of linua stone to create the bathing room. That was 130 years ago¡­¡±

    ¡°What that means is that the linua stone was gathered in Meissen, and moreover, without spending any money, is what you¡¯re getting at¡­ So the question is, where did they dig up that linua stone to use¡­¡±

    ¡°Then if it¡¯s really as Lord Ernst says, there¡¯s actually a linua mine in Meissen? ¡­Wait, but, there haven¡¯t been any new sources found in the past 250 years, so¡­?¡±

    Seeing how much Targes and Aldo were struggling, Ernst gave them a helping hand.

    ¡°Meissen found a mine and used it for the estate. However, for some reason, they did not announce the discovery of a new linua mine.¡±

    Once Ernst said this, the two of them nodded several times in understanding.

    Ernst was able understand, somewhat, why his predecessor hadn¡¯t said anything.

    He recalled the line of portraits of the previous lords, the image of the last one decorating the hall, the 16th Lord, appearing in his mind.

    When he had been born, he had been expected to inherit the lineage of a marquis. He had taken on that position as a young man. After suffering a bitter defeat to his enemies, he had been sent off to become the Lord of a remote land, thus entering his old age. From what Ernst had read in the documents, he had felt sorry for himself and tossed the world aside, submerging himself in depravity and self-indulgence.

    By some stroke of luck, he managed to discover the linua stone.

    However, whatever the case, he didn¡¯t tell a single one of those nobles who had driven him off to Meissen about how he possessed this stone that everyone desperately desired, instead using it to luxuriously cover his own bathroom and immerse himself in a feeling of superiority over them.

    Ernst chuckled with a heheh.

    The person who would later become lord after him would be shocked when they visited the bathroom and found it covered in linua stone.

    Then, after considering where this stone could have come from, the only surprising conclusion they could arrive at would be that this had been a result of the previous Lord¡¯s ability.

    By leaving behind such slight hints, it felt as if he had decided that whether he lived or died, he would be able to watch and enjoy from the world of the afterlife.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­?¡±

    Targes¡¯ voice pulled Ernst back to reality after he had once again fallen into his thoughts. Even when there were people around him, he had the terrible habit of falling too deeply into contemplation.

    ¡°The Ruifa trees and linua stone alone are enough to beget enormous wealth upon Meissen. Yet Meissen has yet another, significant treasure¡­ Or rather, it should be called the potential for treasure. What I speak of is the Weiss Forest around Eitt Village.¡±

    ¡°That is the forest affected by the Grude Continent¡¯s influence?¡±

    ¡°Precisely. That forest hides an enormous potential within.¡±

    Targes and Ganche had accompanied Ernst when he had gone to visit that forest.

    The two turned to each other, trying to share thoughts back and forth, but neither of them could come up with what that potential could be.

    ¡°Because of the Grude influence on that forest, all of its vegetation grows to an enormous size. Also, its greenery flourishes all year round, with no snow falling over it. In other words, the Weiss forest is able to grow certain plants all year round¡­ And, when I went to go see it, I noticed a great number of medicinal herbs growing in that forest.¡±

    ¡°Medicinal herbs¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, medicinal herbs. Let¡¯s say that you wish to pick enough herbs to create a full dose of medicine. No matter what kind of medicine, it would require some labor to pick the herbs necessary to create a full dose. Above all, if the ingredients were something which one could only gather a little of, then it wouldn¡¯t be possible to gather enough to create a full dose. But in the Grude-influenced Weiss Forest, the medicinal plants which can be gathered there are larger than what is normally harvested in Schell continent ¨C the herbs there grow from two and up to ten times bigger.¡±

    ¡°Though, are medicinal herbs something that can be sold¡­?¡±

    ¡°We can sell them. Medicinal herbs are something which doctors gather themselves away from the public eye, so as to not reveal their secrets. That is why there is very little quantity, and the cost is high. However, if Meissen were able to process a large quantity of medicinal herbs, what would happen if we sold them for a low price? Meissen itself would become an enormous doctor. Of course, it would be better if we sold them to actual doctors.¡±

    ¡°¡­However, what sort of effect do they have? What if it¡¯s only their size which is affected by the Grude influence?¡±

    ¡°Humm. A good question, Targes. I had also considered their efficacy as the primary problem. Just because they were the same medicinal herbs did not mean they would have the same benefit. The reason for that is because of the difference in environment of Schell Continent and Grude Continent¡­ That¡¯s why, I performed an experiment with them.¡±

    ¡°An experiment, you say?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I took some medicinal herbs back with me from Weiss Forest, then tested them for their efficacy.¡±

    ¡°¡­and how, exactly, did you do that¡­?¡±

    Without hiding his uneasiness, Ganche asked that question.

    Ernst, as if knowing that he was about to be scolded, averted his gaze from Ganche and quickly blurted out the words.

    ¡°I tested them out on myself¡­¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst! How could you do something so dangerous!¡±

    Sure enough, Ganche rocketed out of his chair, grasping both of Ernst¡¯s shoulders in a powerful grip.

    ¡°Calm down, Ganche. As you can see, nothing happened to me¡­ Besides, if I didn¡¯t test it out, I wouldn¡¯t know its effects, right? I just tested it out on some barely-mentionable cuts, stomachaches, and headaches, those kinds of simple things.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ but even so¡­ If you had just said the word, then I would have offered my own body to you¡­¡±

    Ganche¡¯s large body gently hugged him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ganche.¡±

    A Dunbertian¡¯s body was far too robust and sturdy to use as a test.

    Even if Ganche were injured with a sword, the cut would heal in a day. It would be completely impossible to tell whether it was the herbs or his constitution which had healed him.

    ¡°Er¡­ ahem. In any case¡­there are no problems with the medicinal herbs themselves, then?¡±

    After Targes forced a cough, the two of them separated.

    ¡°There are no problems with them; rather, what I observed was that their efficacy is higher than that of normal medicinal plants. I anticipate that the medicinal plants in Weiss Forest were influenced by the Grude Continent in not only their size, but in their high effectiveness as well¡­ Of course, before we can market these results, they must undergo much more verification by doctors¡­The only territories in Rintz Kingdom which border Grude Continent are our fief of Meissen, Siepp fief, and Pacas fief. However, unlike Meissen, the other two fiefs are near to the royal capital, and the King¡¯s army are stationed along their borders to serve as security. In preparation for any invaders, the ground there was flattened, and not even forests remain. Lux Kingdom and Silus Kingdom both do the same, so the only forest which borders against Grude Continent exists solely in Meissen¡­ The potential of the Weiss Forest is something which, without a doubt, can become a treasure which supports Meissen.¡±

    ¡°¡­Lord Ernst. For me, there¡¯s just one thing I don¡¯t quite understand¡­¡±

    After gathering up his courage, Aldo spoke.

    ¡°I think that it¡¯s good news for Meissen to have treasures in it, so I wonder why Lord Ernst doesn¡¯t want to tell anyone? The only people who know about what you¡¯ve said are the three of us here, right? And just earlier, Lord Ernst didn¡¯t correct the head butler¡¯s misunderstanding and let him leave so that he wouldn¡¯t find out, either.¡±

    Targes nodded along with Aldo.

    ¡°Lord Ernst had deliberately lead the head butler to leave the room¡­ And, he had also said that he didn¡¯t know what kind of actions someone who is prone to worry like him would take. But is there something he would worry over in what was talked about just now?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ There is something. If I remember correctly, Lord Ernst had said that what protected Meissen was its poverty. What that means is that if Meissen digs out its hidden treasures and becomes wealthy, there would no longer be anything protecting Meissen¡­¡±

    Ganche abruptly turned to Targes and Aldo, saying this.

    ¡°Aah, that¡¯s right. He had definitely said that¡­ By the way, Lord Ernst, what prices would we able to sell Ruifa wood and linua stone for¡­?¡±

    When Targes asked this, Ernst made a few calculations in his head.

    ¡°Humm¡­ let¡¯s see. Although the areas where Ruifa trees can be produced are limited, in Rintz Kingdom alone are 12 fiefs which produce them primarily. Lux Kingdom maintains twice as many areas of production as Rintz Kingdom. In other words, the Ruifa tree is not something which would afford that much wealth. Even if Meissen paid a high transportation fee, it would be impossible to carry Ruifa wood across the Linz Valley. As such, if we do business with Caprix fief in Lux Kingdom, then estimating generously, it would be about 5,000 sitts per year.¡±

    ¡°But that still easily exceeds the amount of yearly tax Meissen has to pay to the Kingdom, doesn¡¯t it¡­¡±

    ¡°That would be the case. However, the linua stone is an altogether different matter. If we say that all of the linua stone had been used for the estate, then this discussion will be over¡­However, if even after lavishly using this much of the stone, there still remained a sizeable amount left to be mined, then the wealth to be gained would be immeasurable. At the very least, the amount of linua stone this estate carries is enough to sell for¡­ one, no, ten ritters or so.¡±

    At Ernst¡¯s words, Targes sharply inhaled and Aldo trembled minutely.

    One ritter was over a thousand sitts.

    To Aldo, who had been born and raised in a remote land like Meissen, a ritter was an amount so enormous that he couldn¡¯t even fathom it. Ten ritters was enough money to support all 1.5 million members of the Rintz army for an entire month.

    ¡°I¡­if we have something so amazing like that¡­ that¡¯s, of course¡­ If they knew that Meissen had something like that, then of course Lux Kingdom would want to come steal it.¡±

    ¡°At present, the royal family of Lux Kingdom faces a critical situation where the heir is as of yet undecided. However, this issue should be resolved within a few years. Once they have settled the issues around their own feet, the next thing they will turn their eyes on are other countries. Perhaps they can expand our territory, is what they will think.¡±

    Ernst looked at the map of Meissen which hung on the wall. On that map, the Bastelis River looked insignificantly small.

    ¡°If Meissen continues to be as impoverished as it is now, then Lux Kingdom will not come to attack. However inferior Rintz Kingdom¡¯s strength is compared to Lux Kingdom¡¯s, the Kingdom of Silus also resides on the Schell continent. For many years, Rintz Kingdom and Silus Kingdom have built up an amicable relationship. Lux Kingdom does not have enough military strength to fight both of these kingdoms together¡­ However, that statement will no longer apply should Lux Kingdom¡¯s military grow more powerful than it is now. It is also possible for Lux Kingdom to hire the races of Grude continent, and it can also hire mercenaries from Sistica continent. Furthermore, it is also possible for them to win over Silus Kingdom.¡±

    Ernst turned his gaze from the map to the soldiers. The faces of the two Kleber were stiff.

    ¡°If we unearth Meissen¡¯s hidden treasures, or if we turn Meissen¡¯s potential into reality, then becoming a wealthy territory will be an easy matter. Its people will no longer starve¡­ However, if this were to happen, then we must be aware with certainty that Lux Kingdom will launch an assault. In some cases, Lux Kingdom and Silus Kingdom might come to attack together. At that time, Meissen will have to fight on its own. The reason for this is that the Linz Valley which is supposed to protect Meissen, also separates it from Rintz Kingdom, leaving it helpless.¡±

    Ganche¡¯s eyes began to shine. The copper color of his eyes changed to gold.

    It was said that when a Dunbertian experienced the thrill of the battlefield, their eyes changed color.

    ¡°Now then, I wish to hear everyone¡¯s opinion.¡±

    Once Ernst had judged that Targes and Aldo had settled, Ernst asked them a question.

    ¡°Should we prepare to confront Lux Kingdom so that we can bring wealth to Meissen, or should we continue to live in poverty?¡±

    A heavy silence fell over the room.

 zChapter 50 - Arc 2, Crescent Moon Chapter 23

    ¡°I think¡­ that this is a very difficult problem to solve.¡±

    It was Targes who broke the oppressive silence.

    ¡°I cannot say which one I find is the better option. Or rather, I am embarrassed to say that I completely don¡¯t know which one would be better.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the same for me. I was born and raised in Meissen. Ever since I was a child, we were always poor, and hunger was always with us. For everyone to no longer have to starve would be something like a dream world come to life for us. But, if we were attacked, I don¡¯t believe that us soldiers of the militia would be able to defend against it with our power.¡±

    ¡°There is not a single squadron in the Kingdom¡¯s army which can stand against a foe on its own. For example, if they know that after holding out for five days, allies will come to their aid, then they will be able to prepare and fight. Meissen, however, cannot hope for that. No matter how quickly our messenger runs, they will need ten days to reach Linz fief. In midwinter, crossing the valley won¡¯t even be possible.¡±

    Ernst once again moved his gaze onto the map.

    It took ten days to reach Linz fief. However, Linz fief had no military forces. From Linz fief, one would have to go to the royal capital, and then, the senate would assess the situation and discuss whether they should dispatch the kingdom¡¯s army to Meissen.

    Then, by the time the King had given his blessings to the order to dispatch the kingdom¡¯s army, how many days would have already passed?

    Even then, after the army had been dispatched, the would only be able to cross the Linz valley one by one. Even if they carefully crossed the valley one by one, would the valley be able to hold up long enough for all hundreds or thousands of soldiers to safely cross it?

    Finally, would the King even deign to dispatch some hundreds of the 1.5 million soldiers of the kingdom¡¯s army to such a remote place that was so distant from the royal capital?

    ¡°Lord Ernst, what are your thoughts on this situation?¡±

    When Targes asked this question, Ernst turned to face him. He took a short moment to come to come to a decision.

    His own predictions were, most likely, correct.

    And the soldiers in front of him, most likely, also had the capacity to accept these possibilities.

    ¡°Even if Lux Kingdom were to launch an attack on its own, and if Meissen¡¯s request for assistance were to immediately arrive at the King, it is almost certain that Meissen will be cut off from the rest of Rintz Kingdom.¡±

    Targes and Aldo sucked in their breaths.

    ¡°No matter how much wealth Meissen produces, it is not worth crossing that valley to protect such a far-off territory from the capital. Even if Rintz does decide to protect Meissen, Meissen does not have the power to maintain this protection. The reason for this is because there is not enough food on this land to sustain the tens of thousands of soldiers in the army.¡±

    Even if the hundreds of soldiers from the kingdom¡¯s army were to drive back the enemy, this would only be possible for the first battle. If the soldiers of Meissen were to fight, they would only be a match for negligent enemies who had been caught off guard.

    If they wanted to confront the army of another country who had come to launch an all-out offensive, then the Kingdom of Rintz would also have to put all of their efforts into battle.

    Although Ernst had said to Targes and the others a figure of tens of thousands of soldiers, if that situation were to actually occur, Ernst predicted that the number of people Meissen would need to be able to semi-permanently accept would be in the several hundreds of thousands range.

    ¡°¡­So does this mean that Lord Ernst thinks it would be better for Meissen to continue as poor as it is, going on this way without really living, but without being killed, either?¡±

    When Aldo spoke these words, Targes mentioned another possibility.

    ¡°¡­Does Meissen have to continue belonging to Rintz Kingdom, though? ¡­What if, say, Meissen submitted to Lux Kingdom¡­¡±

    ¡°Captain! What in the world are you saying!¡±

    ¡°Hold on, Aldo. I¡¯m not done explaining what I mean. From a topographical standpoint, Meissen is closer to the side of Lux Kingdom than it is to Rintz, so the ease and convenience would be higher, wouldn¡¯t it? For the merchants, it¡¯s also geographically easier to transport their goods to Lux Kingdom, right? And if it came to that, we would only have to defend the Rintz Valley against enemies¡­ I mean, from the opponents of Rintz Kingdom. We would be able to make quick work of them.¡±

    Once Targes had finished his proposal, Aldo was so overwhelmed that he wasn¡¯t able to speak another word.

    Ernst, on the other hand, had been quietly listening to the two¡¯s exchange.

    Targes¡¯ suggestion was a path Ernst had considered innumerable times.

    As of this moment, Ernst had considered several possibilities.

    There were three paths laid out before Meissen.

    The first was, to continue as they were without doing anything. To let the villages and the towns quarrel amongst each other, continuing to live as poor and impoverished as they were now. They would be ignored by the outside world, and those who lived within Meissen¡¯s borders would know only despair.

    The second was the path where the villages and towns cooperate and work with each other to live.

    If the environment around Meissen did not experience any significant changes, they would be protected from the outside. There would be less people leaving Meissen to find work in other territories, and its people would somehow be able to feed themselves.

    But that happiness would only have shallow roots, and would easy be affected by outside factors. They would not have the power to cope with unexpected natural disasters, not to mention that Lux Kingdom, Rintz Kingdom, or any large existences on the scale of countries could collapse Meissen with just a single cough.

    The final path was to unearth Meissen¡¯s wealth, and strengthen Meissen itself.

    If Ernst were to choose the final path, an infinite number of paths would branch out from that point forward. Which of those roads should he take, and where would those roads lead to? Ernst thought of each and every path, and considered all of them.

    No matter which one he chose, they were all roads full of thorns.

    Yet no matter what, to submit to another kingdom was not an option that he could take.

    ¡°¡­If we were to submit to Lux Kingdom, what would happen to Meissen¡¯s people? What I wish to protect is not the land of Meissen, but the people who are currently living and who will later be born upon these lands. If Meissen were to become a part of Lux Kingdom, would Lux Kingdom really allow the people of Meissen to continue living in this territory? What Lux Kingdom would desire would be the wealth which exists in Meissen¡¯s lands. It would not be the people who reside there.¡±

    Targes looked at Ernst, taken aback.

    ¡°Meissen¡¯s people might discretely be driven away. Or there is the possibility of being treated as servants or slaves. Even if they were lucky enough to be allowed as citizens, would they truly be accepted as people of Lux? Even if Meissen was poor, it had never been unfairly persecuted by Rintz Kingdom. Our circumstance was not one in which we had no other choice, and which would allow those looking from an outside perspective to sympathize with us, so to speak. In other words, we would have abandoned our country of our own will. Moreover, we would be people who had stolen the land we lived on from our own country; would the people of Lux truly be able to accept and trust us with all of their heart?¡­ Finally, if it is the case where the people of Meissen wish to return to Rintz Kingdom, would the Kingdom of Rintz be willing to accept these people who had once sold the land of their country to another kingdom?¡±

    Targes¡¯s large body shrank, ashamed.

    ¡°¡­I understand. It is exactly as Lord Ernst says.¡±

    ¡°Having said that, the way things are now, Meissen¡¯s people will remain in poverty. If we were to produce wealth, then there would be no path shielding us from Lux Kingdom¡¯s attack other than death. There is no point in indulging in a short period of happiness if it means being attacked by other countries¡­ In order to enrich Meissen, we must also build up defenses at the same time.¡±

    Ernst turned his gaze back upon the map on the wall.

    ¡°Does Lord Ernst have a plan of some sort?¡±

    Ganche asked happily. Excitement was written all over his face. His enormous body reacted the same way as a small child, making Ernst want to pet his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m unsure if it can be called a ¡®plan¡¯, per se¡­¡±

    Whispering that, he began to explain his reasoning.

    The first thing to do was to prevent his people from starving, and then increase their numbers. He also had to create schools and hire teachers. Give his people education, allowing each and every one of them to become strongly independent.

    He would hire doctors to allow his people to live healthily, trying to let their lifespans reach as close as possible to the average lifespan of the Kleber, which was 200 years.

    ¡°In the beginning, we would have to seek out these teachers and doctors from outside of Meissen, but eventually, the people of Meissen will be able to fill these positions. It would also be good if those people who came from outside wished to settle here, as well as if the people of Meissen wished to change their positions to those occupations. Of course, they must be people who are ambitious and enthusiastic in their education. The process for the change in rank must be followed as usual. It isn¡¯t something that can be pushed through simply because of the kindness of the Lord¡¯s heart.¡±

    ¡°Why is that? If we follow the normal procedures, then the people of Meissen would have to pay large fees to change their ranks.¡±

    Aldo posed this question, and Ernst answered.

    ¡°The reason for that large fee is to measure the person¡¯s determination while they gather that sum. Even if they wish to go through with it now, would that always be the case ten years later? Youths can sometimes be caught up in a strong moment of impulse. If they decide their lives on that impulse, they may later find that they regret their decision. After working ten years to gather the money necessary to change their position, and after continuously questioning themselves for ten years whether it was worth this money, they will be able to confirm their own true desires.¡±

    ¡°¡­So the one confirming their intentions is not Lord Ernst, but the person themselves.¡±

    That¡¯s right, Ernst nodded.

    Another person¡¯s intentions were not something one could ascertain just by trying. Even in the case where someone is unskilled at studying, there are times where that person can overcome their difficulties and complete their studies from their desire to succeed.

    There are also people who, even if they seem addleminded and distracted, are able to overcome their obstacles because of the strong feelings hidden within the depths of their hearts.

    A person¡¯s true intent is not something that can be measured by other people, but something that the person themselves should ascertain.

    And also, Ernst continued.

    ¡°We must increase the number of troops from the current count of 157 to at least 300, and they should be stationed along the Bastelis River where we come in contact with Lux. We¡¯ll have to purchase armaments which are specialized for defense and build up a protective barrier.¡±

    ¡°Do you want to build up a wall along the entire Bastelis River?¡±

    Targes asked, taken aback.

    ¡°Precisely. Though, it won¡¯t be built all at once. In the beginning, we¡¯ll plant trees. We¡¯ll plant trees between the Bastelis River and area planned for constructing the wall. They must not be planted in an organized row. They will have to be planted in an irregular fashion, as if to prevent a large army from marching across.¡±

    ¡°Aah, so we¡¯ll use the trees to impede their movements¡­ So does this mean that the people of Meissen should be prevented from trespassing into this forest?

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary. I want the people of Meissen to enter the forest in order to gather the firewood they need to live. The more people who enter the forest, the easier it will be to notice anything strange. Besides, a forest which only has few signs of being worked by people is still a young forest. This was something that the head of Maine Village had said¡­¡±

    The lives of the people of Maine Village, who were mountaineers, did not rely solely on the Kalia tree.

    After listening to them speak about their wealth of experience in raising pine trees, cypresses, cedars, and all kinds of trees which would sell for high prices, Ernst could only feel admiration for them.

    ¡°In the beginning, we¡¯ll plant trees. Once they¡¯ve grown tall enough to conceal Meissen from the other side, we can begin constructing the foundation for the defensive wall. This foundation should be solid, enough to build a wall that will be tall and thick enough to last for many months and years.¡±

    Ernst paused his words, turning his gaze on Targes and Aldo.

    ¡°Then, the troops will be split into two groups. Captain Targes and Vice-Captain Aldo. I would like one of you to command the group of soldiers to be stationed along the Bastelis River¡­ Your primary task will be to plant trees. This is to create a simple garrison in a way that will not alarm Lux Kingdom, making all of our efforts in vain. That said, we will gradually strengthen this encampment. We should aim to make this a garrison which can conceal arms by 50 years from now. Of course, the soldiers must also be trained sufficiently in these weapons.¡±

    Targes smiled bitterly.

    ¡°As you say. Even if we have the weapons, if no one can use them then there would be nothing we could say¡­ However, it takes strength to do mountain work. In our minds, this work could serve as training¡­ in the eyes of an outsider, it would only look as if we were planting trees, but it would actually be physical training in reality. This would also be feasible, wouldn¡¯t it¡­¡±

    Ernst continued to the next matter.

    He wanted to develop the Linz Valley in a way that would allow a large army to easily pass through.

    ¡°Developing the Linz Valley will take a massive amount of time and an astronomical amount of money. Of course, I would prefer to use the Kingdom¡¯s money for this, but if that isn¡¯t possible then I would like to negotiate for Linz fief to cover half of the cost. Yet even if Meissen must begin this development on its own, it must absolutely be done.¡±

    ¡°Is developing that valley even possible!?¡±

    ¡°If we gather people with the skill to do so, then it is possible. There were places that have been developed that were much more difficult than the Linz Valley. There is no reason why that valley alone would be impossible. The only issue is the amount of money. Yet even that matter would resolve immediately should the King decide that this development should be done.¡±

    Finally, Ernst spoke of one last thing as if ot harden his resolve.

    ¡°I will raise the taxes on the people of Meissen in ten years. Even if it is to 8 sitts, I do not believe that this will be enough to raise the suspicions of Lux Kingdom. However, if after 50 or a 100 years they turn back to compare to the past, they will be able to clearly see that Meissen has changed. It is inevitable that this will happen.¡±

    ¡°That is¡­ it¡¯s far too grand¡­ It¡¯s so grand that my head can¡¯t keep up with it¡­ Just the development of that valley is already nearly impossible, but when I think about how long the Bastelis River is, the time and money it would take to build a defensive wall along it¡­ just thinking about it makes my head spin.¡±

    Aldo exhaled a deep breath.

    ¡°That¡¯s true. However, it s only when you consider our present circumstances that it seems like a grand and improbable dream. In 300 years, it will be an ordinary, everyday scene¡­ In order for the future to become that way, we must begin by taking the first step right here.¡±

    When Ernst made this speech, Targes nodded, his eyes lit up as if he saw something truly dazzling.

    ¡°It would really be amazing if things turned out that way¡­¡±

    The two people left the room, leaving only Ernst and Ganche inside the office. With no one around to get in their way, Ernst sat on Ganche¡¯s lap in the chair.

    ¡°I also would like to see what it would look like fifty, or a hundred years from now¡­¡±

    Ernst clutched the arm that had been wrapped around his waist with a strong, painful grip.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say any more¡­ I will only feel more afraid.¡±

    Their lifespans were the biggest problem the two of them faced together.

    They were of different races. Because of this, the time they had to live was different.

    Ganche, who wasn¡¯t even 30 yet, would die in about 70 years. Even if he didn¡¯t lose his life in battle, as a Dunbertian, Ganche only had 70 years remaining of the time he had been given.

    On the other hand, Ernst had just turned 61 after the passing of the new year. The time he had left amounted to 139 years. After Ganche died, Ernst would have to live alone for nearly 70 more years.

    This was something that neither of them could do anything to change.

    ¡°That Ganche will no longer be here anymore¡­ just the thought of that is enough to make me feel as if I¡¯ll go mad. But, I¡­ I don¡¯t want to turn these days, this time that I¡¯m supposed to be spending together with you, into ones shrouded in sadness because I¡¯m afraid of losing you.¡±

    With his large hands, Ganche wiped at the tears that spilled from Ernst¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ernst was wrapped in a tight, firm hug.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, I am so grateful for how strong you are. For how, even though I would be leaving you first, you did not reject this me who is currently alive¡­ for how you had chosen to allow me to be the honor of being by your side. For all of this, I am eternally grateful.¡±

    ¡°It was because I knew without a doubt that I would be happy with Ganche. If I can spend as many joyful days as I can together with Ganche, then even when I am left alone, I will be able to live out the rest of my days satisfied¡­ That¡¯s why, Ganche, you have to stay with me for a long time. I want you to keep filling my heart until I¡¯m satisfied.¡±

    Ernst felt Ganche¡¯s kiss fall upon his hair. Ganche exhaled a hot sigh on the back of Ernst¡¯s neck.

    ¡°That¡­ would be difficult.¡±

    ¡°So this was a difficult request¡­¡±

    Ernst looked over his shoulder at his beloved person. Ganche kissed him, his thick lips covering Ernst¡¯s small ones as a skillful tongue slipped into Ernst¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°¡­Yes. The reason I say this is because I am always receiving many things from Lord Ernst, each of them always making me brim with joy. Yet I do not have the self-confidence to be able to offer to Lord Ernst the same things Lord Ernst has given to me¡­¡±

    ¡°What are you saying?¡±

    Ernst looked up at those copper-colored eyes from below.

    ¡°Ganche, you staying by my side is enough to make me stronger. Ever since I had come to Meissen, there were many times where I just wanted to run away¡­ But, what gave me the courage to stand up and face these hardships was just the thought of you, Ganche.¡±

    Ernst reached out his hand and stroked Ganche¡¯s cheek.

    ¡°Even if, later on, death will make the two of us part¡­ right now, with the time that the two of us have been given, let us live happily together.¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­¡±

    Ganche took Ernst¡¯s hand and pressed a reverent kiss to its back.

    Ernst straddled Ganche¡¯s knee. He brought both of his hands to cup Ganche¡¯s large face, and as his nose brushed against the tip of Ganche¡¯s, he whispered:

    ¡°This is¡­ my dream, you know. Right here, in my hands, is my dream come true.¡±

    Heheh. He chuckled for a bit.

    ¡°I will spend the rest of my life thinking about these days I spent together with you. Eventually, there will come a time where I no longer cry as I recall those days. When I instead think back on them and smile, that will be because I know that I will be meeting you again soon. In this estate, in that room where Ganche and I passed our days together, I will remember Ganche¡¯s voice, and scent, and warmth as I release my last breath¡­ That would be such a blissful scene, don¡¯t you think¡­?¡±

    Ganche kissed him deeply, sliding his hand beneath the hem of Ernst¡¯s coat. He changed the angle of his kisses several times, his impatient hand rubbing Ernst¡¯s slender chest.

    After his tongue had explored Ernst¡¯s mouth to its content, he suddenly pulled back. He wiped at Ernst¡¯s wet lips with the back of his thick finger.

    ¡°¡­When that time comes, I will go to meet you. I will be sure to have everything put in place to be ready for Lord Ernst¡¯s arrival.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to that, then.¡±

    As tears streaked down Ernst¡¯s cheeks, he laughed. Ganche gently licked away Ernst¡¯s tears.

    ¡°Although I still can¡¯t tell anyone about it¡­¡±

    To stop himself from continuing to be carried away by his emotions, Ernst brought up another matter.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking that I would like to prepare one more shield to protect Meissen.¡±

    ¡°A shield?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Even if we develop the valley so that the troops of Linz fief as well as the kingdom¡¯s army can come to meet us in our hour of need, this still won¡¯t be enough. If Lux Kingdom launches an attack on Meissen after we have opened the valley, then their enemy will be all of Rintz Kingdom. In other words, they will come with the conviction to fight against Rintz Kingdom¡¯s full army.¡±

    Ernst turned back, his gaze resting on the map on the wall.

    ¡°If time allows, I would like to go to Grude Continent ¨C or rather, Grude Country.¡±

    ¡°To Grude¡­¡±

    ¡°I want to go to Grude Country to seal an agreement. When Meissen sends for aid, Grude will provide military cooperation ¨C that is the pact I wish to form.¡±

    If they looked at the map of Meissen, anyone would be able to understand it.

    The place geographically closest to Meissen was not Rintz fief, nor was it Lux Kingdom; it was the Grude Continent.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡±

    Ganche hesitated to say.

    ¡°I know; this is an extraordinarily difficult road. Even if the nation of Grude is considered a country, it is completely different from the countries of Schell Continent. I suppose that nation, rather than being called a ¡®country¡¯, would more accurately be described as a collective community.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Grude Country¡­ seems more like a meeting place for the elderly people who had unintentionally survived to old age?¡±

    Ernst smiled wryly at Ganche¡¯s commentary.

    Grude Country consisted of only a few elders and soldiers.

    However, nobody was able to clearly perceive just what kind of country the nation of Grude was.

    The reason for this was because, like the Sistica Continent, Grude Continent was extremely difficult to go through. Since Grude Country was in close proximity to the countries of Sistica Continent, it had no history of forming diplomatic relations with countries other than Sistica¡¯s.

    For that reason, there had never been an instance of a kingdom trying to negotiate with Grude Country.

    As far as Ernst knew, there were no kingdoms that had sent out delegations to Grude Country, and neither had any kingdom received an envoy from Grude Country.

    ¡°It would be difficult to sign mercenary contracts one by one. We never know when Lux will launch their attack, after all. Yet even so, we cannot exchange contracts with tens or hundreds of people from Grude while waiting for that day to come. If we did, then no matter how wealthy Meissen would be, it would collapse just from the money needed for their contracts. That said, it isn¡¯t likely that I would be able to hurriedly contract them after Lux had begun attacking.¡±

    ¡°That does seem to be the case. Generally, since my people are spread out amongst the other continents, all who are left in Grude Continent are those who are no longer able to fight satisfactorily.¡±

    ¡°Yes, exactly ¨C there are those people. Even if Grude Continent is nearby, there would be no point in going if there was no one I could form a contract with there. Besides the people who are always fighting in other lands, there is no one else who can be considered Grude Country¡¯s soldiers other than those people who always remain in the continent.¡±

    Ganche hugged him, letting out an admiring sigh.

    ¡°As one might expect from you, Lord Ernst. I can only sigh before your deep insight.¡±

    Ernst couldn¡¯t stop his cheeks from reddening and growing hot from Ganche¡¯s compliemnt.

    ¡°Ganche¡­ Ganche, you always think too much of me. I am just a small, uninteresting person. Even if I say I want to forge a pact with Grude Country, doing so isn¡¯t as easy as saying it. I will be ridiculed as an idiot by even my own country, not to mention other countries, for going there to discuss¡­ Just, if there is a chance, then no matter how slight it is, I want to try and seize it.¡±

    While being hugged by Ganche, Ernst stared fixatedly at the map.

    ¡°If we are able to seal an agreement, then will this shield be enough to protect us? ¡­Is there anyone in this world who would be so reckless as to fight against an ally of the mighty Grude race¡­¡±

    Ganche¡¯s warmth heated Ernst from everywhere their bodies touched, filling Ernst¡¯s entire being.

    It made him feel as if there was nothing he had to be afraid of at all.

    Outside of the window, the last traces of snow were falling.

    It was a snow heavy with moisture. It would melt easily under the warmth of day, as spring quickly drew near.

    The seasons move in cycles.

    No matter how long winter lasts, the seasons will inevitably pass, and spring will come.

    The seasons revolve in cycles.

    As such, it should not be the case that Meissen alone will be trapped in an eternal, dark winter.

    It is inevitable that spring must come.

    No matter who it is, no matter which land they stand upon, as long as they steadily walk forward step-by-step, then it is an absolute certainty that in the place where they are, spring will come.

    Translator¡¯s Note

    Here¡¯s the final chapter of this arc! I actually cried a lot while reading Ernst and Ganche¡¯s conversation¡­ T~T Ganche, don¡¯t die and leave Ernst alone¡­

    I included some fanart I drew at the top! It¡¯s a scene from early in this arc. I thought the image of the leafy tree alone in the snow was really striking.

    There are a couple of interludes before the next arc starts. The first two are conversation chapters, but the three after that are very important~ They¡¯re some of my favorite chapters, so I hope you¡¯ll enjoy them too!

 zChapter 51 - Interlude A conversation between a lord and his retainer

    ¡°How should I say it¡­ please, have some discretion¡­ is what I mean.¡±

    ¡°Discretion? Targes, do you mean to say that I have no discretion?¡±

    ¡°No, well¡­ what I mean to say is¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it? You can say it clearly; I won¡¯t mind¡­ In other words, the message is that I have no such thing as propriety?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t exactly say you have ¡®no such thing¡¯¡­ Well, there is no problem with you being with Ganche, right? Discretion just means taking steps to not let the people around you take notice.¡±

    ¡°Is it not natural to be affectionate with one¡¯s partner? Furthermore, I have no recollection of letting news of our relationship be widespread.¡±

    ¡°No, that is, it is certainly good to be affectionate with your partner. It is absolutely wonderful that you have such a harmonious relationship¡­ It is true that Lord Ernst had never announced it. However, news still trickles out¡­ well, what I mean is that the people around you are being exposed to it.¡±

    ¡°Being exposed¡­?¡±

    ¡°Right. They¡¯re being exposed to your relationship. I am not affected by it at all, but it troubles the younger ones.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t the slightest idea what could be causing them trouble. I¡¯m sorry. Is there something off in my behavior?¡±

    ¡°You could say it¡¯s your behavior¡­ or you could say it¡¯s your speech and conduct¡­ Lord Ernst, let¡¯s say that you shared affection with Ganche on a certain night. The next day, if someone asked you about it, you would answer them truthfully, correct?¡±

    ¡°Of course I would. What purpose would lying serve?¡±

    ¡°No, well, normally, when it comes to that, people would gloss over and avoid the question.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Because it¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°What exactly is so embarrassing?¡±

    ¡°Normally, no one would ever tell someone that they¡­ had sex.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I understand¡­¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst, you would never let anyone else see you and Ganche having sex, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course not. This isn¡¯t the royal palace.¡±

    ¡°¡­So if you were in the royal palace, you would let other people see¡­?¡±

    ¡°If not, then what else? Who would be able to verify that the child the princess carried was the child of the king?¡±

    ¡°¡­I only ask this because I would like to know for reference, but in the royal palace, how was that act supposed to be done?¡±

    ¡°The King should lay on the bed, facing up. After doing so, a butler would make the King¡¯s instrument harden, whereafter the consort would sit upon it. That was all. In the case of a Queen, the positions were reversed.¡±

    ¡°¡­By the way, at that time, just how many people would be in the room, taking notes¡­?¡±

    ¡°There would be three each of the King¡¯s butlers and the princess¡¯s maids. Then, there would be the King¡¯s chief chamberlain along with the two administrative officials who would serve as witness, adding three more people. There would also be five doctors standing by in the unlikely event that anything were to happen. Thus, there would be at least fourteen or fifteen people in the room.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°However, the room where the King is meant to beget his children is quite spacious, so it would be no issue at all if there were more people than that.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Targes? Are you alright? Your expression doesn¡¯t look very well?¡±

    ¡°¡­Thank you for your concern. It¡¯s nothing. I had only just been hit by the realization once again that Lord Ernst is different from us people of the lower classes.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m the same as everyone else.¡±

    ¡°I beg to differ¡­¡±

    ¡°I understand that the way it is done is more or less different from how it is performed in the royal palace. Besides, I had also never taken part in such a scene. After all, my member had been unable to stand erect.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­. is that so¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah, no, it is able to harden now. When Ganche holds it in his mouth for me, my member becomes erect, though it remains small.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sure that must be a very happy matter.¡±

    ¡°When my member reacts that way, it pleases Ganche greatly. In the beginning, it wouldn¡¯t happen unless I felt Ganche within the deepest parts of my body, but now there are times where I harden with just a kiss¡­ Amazing, isn¡¯t he? Ganche, that is. No matter how many doctors the royal palace had gathered, none of them were able to do what Ganche had achieved.¡±

    ¡°That¡­ that sure is¡­ amazing, huh¡­?¡±

    ¡°It is a wonderful thing, isn¡¯t it.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ it sure is¡­¡±

    ¡°I have now gotten to the point where I feel shivers just from Ganche¡¯s touch. When he gently holds my member in his mouth, I¡­¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°You should refrain from providing such detailed descriptions¡­¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Ganche will butcher me.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Why, you ask¡­ Lord Ernst would also dislike it, right? If I knew about Ganche¡¯s most private area in such great detail.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see what you mean.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t glare at me like that. I¡¯m only talking theoretically. Though, of course, since we¡¯re both soldiers, there were times where we changed clothes in the same area, or went to go wash up at the same time. So we both saw what kind of thing was hanging on the other person.¡±

    ¡°Ganche¡¯s body is magnificent, isn¡¯t it? The perfect proportions of his body are beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Haa¡­ well, he certainly has a lot of musculature¡­ he¡¯s Dunbertian, after all.¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t because he¡¯s Dunbertian. Ganche himself is magnificent. As for myself, I had never seen a body which so beautifully abounds with vitality as his does.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°That which stands between his legs is magnificent as well, isn¡¯t it? It is always valiantly rising tall and lancing forth.¡±

    ¡°¡­If it¡¯s always erect like that, he¡¯ll keel over.¡±

    ¡°¡­Is that true? But Ganche is always hard.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s only because he¡¯s in front of Lord Ernst. When he¡¯s in front of us soldiers, it¡¯s docile¡­ well, it is still frighteningly gigantic, though.¡±

    ¡°Such a thing¡­! So you have seen a Ganche whose member is soft¡­!?¡±

    ¡°I have. But going back a step, you wouldn¡¯t exactly let other people see when your thing is hard, you know?¡±

    ¡°I had never seen Ganche any way other than that¡­ I see¡­ so Targes has¡­¡±

    ¡°Why do you look so agitated¡­? If it were me, wouldn¡¯t it be strange if I were erect in front of you?¡±

    ¡°Someone other than me has seen a Ganche that I myself have never been able to see¡­¡±

    ¡°Since he only acts like a nice, proper honors student in front of Lord Ernst, tch¡­ that guy¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing¡­ Next time, if Ganche is erect, please pour water over it.¡±

    ¡°Water?¡±

    ¡°If you make it feel cold, it¡¯ll calm down. Well, this might only work once, though. Since Dunbertians are strong¡­¡±

    ¡°Ganche is very strong.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the kind of strong I meant, but¡­ well, it¡¯s fine. Speaking of, how many times does Ganche usually let out his stuff?¡±

    ¡°Two or three times.¡±

    ¡°Surprisingly not a lot¡­ I thought it¡¯d be a lot more.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? I myself am unfamiliar with what is the norm.¡±

    ¡°By the way¡­ about how much time does it take?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°In other words, from when you start doing it to when you go to sleep, how much time passes?¡±

    ¡°Let me think¡­ there are many times where I end up falling asleep in the middle, so I can¡¯t say for sure, but¡­ if I¡¯m tired, then it lasts for about one hour. If not, then it goes on for two¡­ no, about three hours¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m only asking for reference, but¡­ you stated that you had never seen Ganche go soft, correct? ¡­so, in other words, throughout that entire time, do you mean to say that he¡¯s always hard¡­?¡±

    ¡°Naturally, that¡¯s what I¡¯m saying.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°In any case, Targes, should I cool him down while we are doing it?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Or would the morning be a better time for that?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Which one is it?¡±

    ¡°¡­How about you try attacking when he¡¯s sleeping in bed? If you do it before he gets his morning wood, maybe it¡¯ll go soft¡­¡±

    ¡°Is that so? While he¡¯s asleep, is it.¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°It sure is nice to be so blissful¡­¡±

    ¡°What? Did I do something else strange?¡±

    ¡°No, I just had the feeling that when Lord Ernst is so happy, Meissen will be in safe hands.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Only, please take care of your hips.¡±

    ¡°My hips? What do you mean? You¡¯re saying so many strange things today, Targes.¡±

    ¡°Nevermind, please don¡¯t mind me¡­¡±

    ¡°Targes.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°I tried it, but it didn¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°Milord?¡±

    ¡°You said to throw water on it to cool it down, yes? I tried doing that.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡­ really tried it¡­.¡±

    ¡°Oh, was it a joke?¡±

    ¡°No, that isn¡¯t the case¡­ I see¡­ I understand now.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡±

    ¡°Humm. Then, when Ganche went to sleep, I took a cloth that I had soaked in freezing water made out of thawed snow and tried gently covering his member with it. But it didn¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°Is¡­ is that so¡­¡±

    ¡°That was all. What do you think I should do next?¡±

    ¡°Next¡­ you say¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, next.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Incidentally, Targes. I¡¯ve been concerned about this since earlier, but what happened to your face? For such a large bruise to form¡­ could it be that you were injured in the midst of training?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ no¡­ well¡­ this isn¡¯t something to worry about.¡±

    ¡°How about I make a poultice for it? Would it be better to put something cold on it?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need¡­ this is, I suppose, karma coming back to bite me.¡±

    ¡°Was there something that happened?¡±

    ¡°No, it was my fault for interfering unnecessarily.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, but really, you don¡¯t have to worry¡­ that guy is going to glare holes into me from afar¡­¡±

    ¡°What was that? I didn¡¯t hear what you said at the end very well¡­?¡±

    ¡°This was a life lesson that I had to learn. Mm, a consequence of punishment for my own wrongdoings.¡±

    ¡°Humm. I don¡¯t really understand, but¡­ well, Targes, if you say it is fine, then¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes. Thank you very much for your worry.¡±

    ¡°In any case, Targes. Returning to our topic from earlier, what do you think I should do next?¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°If you would, I would humbly like to ask you to wait ten¡­ no, twenty years¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°After that much time has passed, the relationship between the two of you will have matured and calmed. By that time, you, too, will be able to see Ganche when he is soft.¡±

    ¡°¡­To have to wait that long¡­ Targes, do you not know of any other, better way?¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°I humbly ask for you to please forgive me.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°I have only accepted to receive a bruise on my right cheek. If my left cheek were to also be bruised, I would no longer be able to continue training the militia.¡±

    ¡°¡­Targes, you sometimes say such strange things. I cannot understand at all what you are trying to say.¡±

 zChapter 52 - Interlude Raised in the Capital vs Raised in Meissen

    ¡°It¡¯s milk, milk.¡±

    ¡°What the heck is that? ¡®Meelk¡¯¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m talking about milk, you know, from a cow.¡±

    ¡°Cow¡­?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no way it could be possible that¡­ you don¡¯t know what cows are?¡±

    ¡°Targes. There is no record of cows having ever been brought to Meissen fief. Cows are creatures which resemble horses. A cow is wider than a horse, and the sound of its call is also different.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®cause you never went outside of Meissen that you don¡¯t know such a thing. When I went out of Meissen to go work, I saw tons and tons of cows.¡±

    ¡°I see; if you don¡¯t leave Meissen, then you won¡¯t know what cows are¡­ So that¡¯s how it is. You won¡¯t be able to cross that Linz Valley while carrying a calf on your back, either.¡±

    ¡°Similarly, it¡¯s also difficult to bring any cross the Bastelis River.¡±

    ¡°How come? There¡¯re boats ¡®n stuff, right?¡±

    ¡°Quite so. Ships are able to cross the Bastelis River two times a year. The only problem is that there are no cows in the Caprix fief in Lux Kingdom, either. If someone wanted to bring cows to Meissen, they would have to go as far as the Dies fief in Lux Kingdom.

    ¡°Speaking of, how far way is Dies fief?¡±

    ¡°Humm. I would say 20 days of walking on foot. Lux Kingdom is not a particularly agricultural country, so they do not raise many cows or sheep there.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s so far away, it¡¯d be better to just give up.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, agreed.¡±

    ¡°Then, Captain, that meel¡­ that thing, what can you do with it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s milk. Well, if you have milk, then I think you should be able to make cheese.¡±

    ¡°Chee¡­?¡±

    ¡°It is a type of food processed from milk. The flavor is good on its own, but it is better accompanied by wine.¡±

    ¡°Aah, I agree. It¡¯s good like that, too. On my end, I also enjoy adding it to stew.¡±

    ¡°Humm. So it can be done that way, as well.¡±

    ¡°I wonder if there is anything that Lord Ernst prefers not to eat?¡±

    ¡°I suppose there might be, but I had been taught to stay quiet and eat whatever had been presented to me.¡±

    ¡°Aah¡­ I suppose that might be for the best. If Lord Ernst had ever asked any questions about his meals, all hell might have broken loose within the royal palace.¡±

    ¡°¡­Why would something like that happen if Lord Ernst asked anything?¡±

    ¡°You, all you¡¯d have to do is think about it to understand. The person who carries the meals to present before the Esteemed Crown Prince is a maid, right? But that maid doesn¡¯t know a single thing about the dish she¡¯s carrying. When the chefs plate up the food, they put a lid over it. The maids can only see that silver lid while they carry the dish. Then, the inner palace maid delivers this dish, and she respectfully presents it to the Esteemed Crown Prince. As she does that, she lowers her head, then quietly retreats to stand and wait beside the wall. After checking that the maid has placed her back to the wall, the head butler will silently remove the cover from the plate.¡±

    ¡°That is exactly how it goes. Targes knows quite well, it seems.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Is that, truly what happens? I had only spoken that earlier from my imagination¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the point in doing somethin¡¯ so troublesome? I feel like it¡¯d be fine if the maid who brought your food just put it in front of you normally.¡±

    ¡°Humm. Although I also don¡¯t quite know why, that is simply how the rules are.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. In the royal palace, there are tons of rules and regulations that can¡¯t be easily understood. If you guys were working there, you wouldn¡¯t even last half a day. You¡¯d commit some kind of discourteous or insolent behavior and get punished straight away.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯d be fine. After all, the Captain got out alive.¡±

    ¡°¡­The hell do you mean by that.¡±

    ¡°But even then, how¡¯s that supposed to explain why everyone¡¯d go crazy?¡±

    ¡°Alright then, listen up and I¡¯ll explain. Let¡¯s say Lord Ernst asks what the ingredients in his meal were. From there, the head butler will communicate this to the inner palace maid, who will tell this to the outer palace maid, who will finally deliver this message to the chef. But at the same time, speculation will start flying about how they had sent in something that had displeased the Crown Prince.¡±

    ¡°Aah, I understand that. Back when I had lived as a servant in a wealthy merchant¡¯s mansion, there was a time where I was nearly beaten because there had been a bug in the food we served him, or something. But it wasn¡¯t even a bug, it was just a seed, though.¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t just the wealthy merchants. The nobles are also the same way. As for me, I got told that he didn¡¯t like the color of the coat I had brought out, so I got punished by having my meals taken away.¡±

    ¡°For me, I heard from the women of my village, y¡¯know, that if the peasants who served at their employer¡¯s place got told that the food they made was bad, they¡¯d get hit with a bunch of hot soup, yeah?¡±

    ¡°Of course that would happen. That¡¯s ¡®cause the peasants are all stuck-up. They¡¯re not like us at all.¡±

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s true, but I¡¯m talkin¡¯ about the peasants from Rimied fief.¡±

    ¡°Whoaa! No way, that¡¯s amazin¡¯! You can set a high price for serving in Rimied fief, right?¡±

    ¡°The peasants there¡¯re completely different from Meissen¡¯s. Even if they¡¯re still called peasants, the houses they live in are made outta brick.¡±

    ¡°Ooooh! That¡¯s a frickin¡¯ mansion, ain¡¯t it. That¡¯s even fancier than our Lord¡¯s estate, right?¡±

    ¡°And on top of that, the cutlery they use is different. It¡¯s made outta silver, y¡¯know? Silver!¡±

    ¡°Ooooh! That¡¯s frickin¡¯ amazing! Doesn¡¯t our Lord only use dishes made outta wood?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ¡®cause Lord Ernst sold ¡®em all off.¡±

    ¡°Still¡­ that sure is a long way off. My village had to fight real hard, and there was a woman who gave her all when she set off on her own. But because she kept on going for 50 years, we were able to buy three hoes, y¡¯know? And what¡¯s more, they were made outta iron.¡±

    ¡°Oooooo!!!¡±

    ¡°Really, if ya gotta go somewhere to work, it¡¯s better to go work in the house of a peasant who¡¯s like us. At least you¡¯d understand the way they do things.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Just try and go to a rich merchant¡¯s or a noble¡¯s mansion. They¡¯ll have weird rules, and tons of things you¡¯re not supposed to look at.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. When I worked at a noble¡¯s place, they had a rule that the manservants weren¡¯t supposed to walk to the south part of the mansion.¡±

    ¡°Hah, the hell is that? For me, whenever the noble passed by and walked in front of ya, the servants had to lower their heads and bow to their backs.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just ¡®cause your face is too hard to look at. At the place where I served, they had a rule that the servants should just stay silent and listen to the butler¡¯s orders. Even if you wanted to fight back against what they told you to do, you weren¡¯t allowed to open your mouth when the butler was speaking, and you weren¡¯t even allowed to move.¡±

    ¡°Aah, I was told to do that kind of stuff too. At my place, I was even told that I wasn¡¯t allowed to breathe.¡±

    ¡°¡­You¡¯d have died, though¡­¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not kidding. He was a real nasty guy, and when he was speaking, he¡¯d hold up his hand in front of me, yeah? To check if I was breathing.¡±

    ¡°What happens if you were breathing?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯d shout, ¡®Impudent!¡¯ and beat me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s horrible¡­¡±

    ¡°But when it comes to that, if it¡¯s just a butler then they¡¯ll stop with just a beating, right? If it was a noble, then they¡¯d bring out a sword, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°But Lord Ernst is a noble, too, y¡¯know? D¡¯you think he¡¯d shout ¡®Impudent!¡¯ and wave a sword at you?¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst would absolutely swing a sword around. If he doesn¡¯t cut his own fingers first.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s only his fingers, he¡¯d still be fine. If he¡¯s too clumsy, the sword might fall on his own neck.¡±

    ¡°Besides, before Lord Ernst could go swinging it around, Ganche would come flyin¡¯ at ya.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you got that right. Wahaha!¡±

    ¡°Y¡­ you guys, what in the world are you saying in front of Lord Ernst. Lord Ernst? A, are you angry?¡±

    ¡°No. Though I am surprised.¡±

    ¡°If we had milk, we could add it to some black tea.¡±

    ¡°Aah, that would be nice. Especially with the tea leaves which come from Sourrier fief.¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst prefers the tea leaves which are very fragrant, I see. I tend to like ones which are refreshing, so the ones from Corra fief are to my taste.¡±

    ¡°Corra fief¡¯s¡­ humm, theirs are certainly delicious. Even within Corra fief, the subtle differences between the teas from the east and the ones from the west are very interesting. The east side¡¯s tea has a mellow flavor, and one can perceive a deep forest fragrance in its aftertaste. The tea from the west side, however, has a meadow fragrance.¡±

    ¡°I like the teas which come from the west.¡±

    ¡°Humm. If the tea from the west side of Corra is to your taste, then you probably also enjoy the ones from Kleda in Tonell fief.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very impressive, Lord Ernst. It is as you say. Although I especially enjoy the tea produced by Kleda, it is a bit hard to come by¡­¡±

    ¡°Very true. The Kleda mountain where the kleda tea is harvested is very severe, and it is difficult to cultivate the leaves, as well. However, the primary reason why it is difficult to obtain kleda tea is because of Tonell¡¯s quantity regulations.¡±

    ¡°Eh¡­ So that was the case.¡±

    ¡°The majority of teas considered to be precious often have their quantity adjusted during their growing period. Because the tea leaves are lightweight after being preserved, they are easy to transport to the capital no matter where they had been cultivated. For that reason, they are a good source of income.¡±

    ¡°Somehow, after hearing that, I feel as if I won¡¯t be able to purely enjoy it anymore¡­¡±

    ¡°Mm, I suppose not.¡±

    ¡°Then, is the white dew from Loury fief uncommon for the same reason?¡±

    ¡°No; for that one, it truly is difficult to cultivate. It requires a fixed climate and amount of rain throughout the entire year. It allows very little room for error; as such, one can hardly expect a plentiful harvest.¡±

    ¡°I see, so that¡¯s how it is. Although I was only ever able to drink white dew once, I could never forget its taste and fragrance.¡±

    ¡°I agree. White dew is wonderful. Its taste and fragrance are so full that there is no need to add in anything else, but if you were to mix in some newler from Tonn fief, it would have a completely different, yet still splendid taste.¡±

    ¡°When it comes to newler¡­ I feel that it goes well even with coguio from Bur fief.¡±

    ¡°Humm. Adding newler to coguio tastes quite good, though I think adding leunille from Kyge fief is also delicious.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I agree. Leunille is amazing. When it comes to leunille, Kyge fief¡¯s and Taique fief¡¯s taste different, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°That is a result of their climates. Between Kyge fief and Taique fief the only difference is in the taste, but in Lucas fief, the appearance also changes. The leunille in Kyge and Taique is brown, but it becomes black in Lucas.¡±

    ¡°Hee-h, I had no idea.¡±

    ¡°Hey, captain. What¡¯re you talking about?¡±

    ¡°? You were listening from the very beginning, so shouldn¡¯t you know? We¡¯re talking about tea leaves and cows.¡±

    ¡°¡­Up ¡®til where did you guys talk about tea and when did you start talking about cows, is what I totally don¡¯t get at all¡­¡±

 zChapter 53 - Interlude Targes and the Platinum Satchel, Part One

    His Majesty looked terribly old.

    His age of 217 years had crossed well beyond the limits of our lifespans. His Majesty the King¡¯s health had begun deteriorating fifty years ago, and he lived his life alternating between sleeping and waking up.

    The rule was that the succession to the throne would occur after the current reigning king passed away.

    That was why, even though everyone in the kingdom knew that it was really the Crown Prince performing the King¡¯s duties, it didn¡¯t change the fact that this sleeping elderly man before me was the ruler of the kingdom.

    ¡°You there, your name.¡±

    I had thought the King had been sleeping. When he spoke those words in his hoarse voice, I was so surprised that I almost choked and started coughing.

    The person whose name the king had asked for was me.

    I know this because in this room, there was no one else other than the king, who was laying down, and me, who was standing guard. It was a truly deficient level of protection for the current ruler of the kingdom.

    This past spring, I had become a royal guard serving His Majesty.

    At the time, I had been ecstatic over being chosen for such an important task; after a while, however, the king became just a nameless old man whose room I had to stand guard in all day as my job.

    But even though I had been serving at His Majesty¡¯s side for half a year, I had never once heard him speak. This was a matter of course. I didn¡¯t have the social status to directly receive His Majesty¡¯s words.

    So that I wouldn¡¯t show any of the panic in my heart, I fell into thought.

    Well then, what should I do. Would it not be considered blasphemy if I answered His Majesty¡¯s words, I wondered.

    ¡°It matters not, so answer.¡±

    His Majesty had already been able to tell I¡¯d been conflicted.

    ¡°Understood. If I may humbly speak¡­ Targes is what I am called.¡±

    ¡°Humm. Targes, you say¡­ I see. Targes¡­¡±

    His Majesty murmured my name as if rolling it around in his mouth, his lips mouthing the words.

    ¡°So then, where do you come from.¡±

    ¡°Respectfully¡­ I was born in the city of Your Majesty, here in the royal capital.¡±

    ¡°Hoo. Then, have you ever visited another city or such?¡±

    ¡°No, I was born and raised in this place. I have never left the royal capital.¡±

    ¡°How could that be¡­¡±

    His Majesty¡¯s words carried an air of disbelief. He stopped himself from continuing that phrase.

    ¡°Not even once? You have not left the capital even once? Not even to go traveling?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡±

    I answered briefly and bowed my head.

    I had absolutely no idea what His Majesty was so surprised over.

    It was common for people to meet the ends of their lives in the same place where they were born. Peasants, for example, were such a people.

    It was true that I, as a soldier of the kingdom¡¯s army, only needed a single order to head out anywhere in the world. But since I had not been a soldier for long, I still hadn¡¯t left the capital yet.

    I have also never traveled, or anything like that.

    My mother was a knight, just like I am. After she left me in the care of my grandmother, she moved all over the country, staying in different places up until she passed away.

    Yet until the end, she had never been the type of person who would bring me over to let me live together with her.

    I couldn¡¯t leave behind my elderly grandmother to go traveling, and as a result, I had never set foot outside the capital.

    ¡°I see¡­ so there exist people who are unable to move, even if their bodies are free¡­¡±

    His Majesty murmured as if releasing a sigh.

    The senior knight finally returned, and His Majesty, as always, began to sleep again.

    He had only spoken to me for a short period of time, but for some reason, his words remained in my mind like stones sunk into the bottom of a lake.

    What did His Majesty want to speak to me for, anyway?

    A few days later, I gathered up my courage and went to go talk to the platoon leader who was my superior.

    Surprisingly, the platoon leader neither looked surprised, nor did he scold me for speaking with His Majesty.

    The reason for this was because it was normal for His Majesty to speak to the soldiers who stood guard by him.

    He would ask where they were from, and if their answer wasn¡¯t the royal capital, then he would ask for stories about those places they came from. If they said that they had gone out on a journey, then the King would ask for stories from those travels; and if they said that they had been stationed in another land, then the King would ask about what it was like to live there.

    As long as it was a place that wasn¡¯t the royal capital, whether inside of the country or beyond the country¡¯s borders, His Majesty ask questions in fascination about it, listening to stories of those places at length.

    The platoon leader also taught me this:

    This might all be common knowledge amongst the guardsmen, but because of the worry over the rule that soldiers were not allowed to exchange words with His Majesty, the number of people standing guard over His Majesty would reduce to a single guard in order to allow them to speak.

    While seeming as if he was sleeping, His Majesty always watched the soldiers¡¯ movements. As soon as a soldier was alone, His Majesty spoke without caring how frightening it was.

    Nevertheless, I wasn¡¯t the kind of person who could satisfy His Majesty¡¯s interest.

    The duty of guarding the bedridden King wasn¡¯t the kind of position that had a lot of turnover.

    When I, a new face, had been assigned this duty, I wonder what ran through His Majesty¡¯s mind.

    Where did I come from, had I ever traveled to any unusual places, did I have any stories to tell him that would be unlike any he had ever heard before?

    As this elderly man had been quietly sleeping, on the inside, his heart had been secretly beating with excitement as he waited for whenever I would be alone.

    Yet nevertheless, I was only a boring, uninteresting person.

    Several days after that, the senior knight once again left his post on a whim. It seemed like he had something going on with one of the maids who served His Majesty.

    As if he had been watching for when I would be alone, His Majesty once again spoke.

    For a mere soldier like me, who had the lowest position in the Imperial Guard, to speak to the King would be such a reckless act that no one would comment if I were beheaded for it.

    But this time, I didn¡¯t have the feeling that I might commit some unknowable impiety.

    Just as I was able to confirm that this elderly man who looked like he was sleeping was actually awake, I was able to understand that I was allowed to speak to His Majesty.

    ¡°Your Majesty, respectfully, this is¡­¡±

    Saying that, I brought out the tea bowl that I had hidden in my pocket. It was small enough to hold in my palm.

    ¡°This is?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty. This is something used by the citizens of Qobou Country, a nation of the Hel people.¡±

    His Majesty sat up and took a hard look at what I carried in my palm.

    ¡°This is¡­ such a small object.¡±

    ¡°Yes. The people of Hel are a truly small people whose heights do not reach even up to my waist. Because of this, the tools they use are also small, like this one.¡±

    There was once a place called Hel Continent where the people of Hel lived.

    Yet after it had been swallowed up by the continents of Schell, Grude, and Sout, there was no longer a place that could clearly be defined as Hel Continent.

    The people of Hel had seven countries. Three of them were above ground, and four of them were underground.

    Qobou Country was a nation of the Hel people located above ground on Schell Continent.

    ¡°In the days where I had been able to walk on my own feet, there had been a time where a Helesian, an envoy from Yll Kingdom, had come to visit. Yet at that time, it was the Crown Prince who had gone to meet the envoy, not myself. I see. So the Helesians are like what was written in the books, a people with short stature¡­ Is that not inconvenient for them?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Of the countries they have founded, four of them are below ground. For them, a height that is too tall would be a hindrance to living underground.¡±

    His Majesty took the tea bowl I offered him from my hand, and he pantomimed drinking from the cup.

    ¡°Humm. So when it comes to living underground, there is no inconvenience for them. Even in this room, if one extinguished the candles, it would immediately fall dark. How could one get by underground? Or would it always be necessary to keep a fire lit?¡±

    ¡°They use something like a glowing moss. The moss exists underground, and it emits a faint green light on its own. The eyes of the Helesians are able to use that faint light given off by the moss to see.¡±

    ¡°Such a thing! Glowing moss, is it. So the moss gives off light¡­ I see. So there is something like that¡­¡±

    His Majesty seemed truly surprised to the core, and his completely-white eyebrows moved up and down.

    ¡°I see. I see¡­ Such a mysterious, intriguing thing it is.¡±

    It was just a crudely-made tea bowl that a commoner would use. I had gone searching the marketplace and had only bought this just to show him, but His Majesty seemed completely taken by it, and he imitated filling it with tea many times.

    Just like that, I had to leave that crude and shabby tea bowl in the residence of His Majesty.

    A few days later, as I was walking through the halls of the royal palace, I overheard a conversation between some maids.

    His Majesty was extremely fond of some child¡¯s toy tea bowl that came out of nowhere, and every day they would have to fill it up with tea. Since it was so small they had to keep refilling it over and over again. It was such a pain.

    Alone in the shadow of a pillar, I couldn¡¯t stop laughing to myself.

    Now, I eagerly waited for the senior knight to leave his post.

    At that time, I would hurriedly present to His Majesty the object I had purchased from the market, along with the story that I had heard from the weaseling merchant.

    Several days after I had shown His Majesty the tea bowl, I was once again left alone with His Majesty. His Majesty stirred beneath the bedding.

    It seemed like I wasn¡¯t alone in not being able to wait for this time.

    ¡°Your Majesty, please take a look at this.¡±

    I pulled out a single piece of paper from my pocket. It had been folded up, so I spread out the paper and handed it to His Majesty.

    ¡°This is¡­?¡±

    ¡°This is a picture depicting a country of Sout Continent, Souka Country.¡±

    Five days earlier, I had managed to find an artist who had gone to Souka Kingdom.

    As I urged the artist to hurry, he spent three days illustrating the image. Along the way, I was also able to hear about Souka Country.

    Of course, what I heard was not the national politics of Souka which His Majesty would know, but the details of the lives of the common people there. The picture also depicted the lives of ordinary people.

    As I had expected, His Majesty displayed immense interest, staring at the drawing as if devouring it.

    ¡°Hoo¡­ so they really do live in the water¡­ Just what manner of existence is the ¡®ocean¡¯, I wonder¡­ I had heard that it was something like water mixed with salt, but does something like that truly exist? For people to be able to live their lives in this water, just how vast must it be¡­¡±

    After His Majesty whispered these questions, I answered them with the information that I had hastily gathered.

    ¡°If I may¡­ The people there do not live their lives entirely within the water. They live half in the water and half on land. When they sleep, they leave only their faces in the water, and they rest their heads on the rocks. The ocean is extremely vast, even wider than our Schell continent. The continent of Sout refers to an area that is at least 80% ocean.¡±

    ¡°Then, does it truly taste of salt?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It is very salty to the point where it is undrinkable.¡±

    ¡°I see, I see¡­ So it isn¡¯t like freshwater at all. Souka Country is always at war with Souge Country, isn¡¯t it. I wonder what sort of life their people must lead. For them to have to live through a war that has lasted for so long, I wonder if they must be suffering¡­¡±

    Even though he had grown old, he truly was the King of a nation. He worried over the lives of the citizens in war-torn countries.

    In Sout Continent, there were two countries: Souka Country and Souge Country.

    The people who lived in the two countries had mingled and mixed together throughout the countries¡¯ long histories, so there were no differences between them.

    I was only recalling the stories that the painter had told me, and none of what I spoke was something that I had seen with my own eyes.

    ¡°The two countries have warred over those few pieces of land for several hundred years, and the war continues even now. Their borders are always shifting, and neither of them is able to establish new ground. However, that area is abundant with trade items, so even though these are war-stricken lands with uncertain borders, they are also extremely wealthy. As such, they use the money earned from trade to employ a large number of mercenaries from Grude and Sistica, and nearly all of their on-land battles are done via proxy, fought entirely by people hired from other lands.¡±

    The trade products sold by Sout Continent were primarily fruits. They were able to harvest fruits that couldn¡¯t be grown on other continents.

    But because growing those fruits naturally needed to be done on the ground, the countries fought back and forth over the distribution of the land in the continent.

    ¡°The people of Sout fight most of their battles underwater. However, their bodies are slightly different from ours, allowing them to spend time in the water more easily. They have very little muscle, so they are unable to wield swords or use them to inflict fatal wounds on their opponents. As such, even if they throw themselves into battle, they won¡¯t necessarily die ¨C and though their antipathy for the other side may deepen, it is rare for any of them to experience the grief of losing their family in battle.¡±

    The only ones dying in the front lines of battle were the mercenaries hired from other lands.

    ¡°¡­If that is the case, then the battle will never end, will it¡­ War, is something which must be avoided at all costs. If, however, there is a time where there is no other choice but to go to war, then that battle must be fought by the people of one¡¯s own country. The royals and the nobles who serve in the Senate must go to the front lines and lead the charge.¡±

    His Majesty quietly spoke this in a firm tone.

    ¡°Whether someone starts a war out of anger, or is forced into war against their wishes, it is inevitable that they will be sick of it by the time it is over. The citizens of the country, and even those people who were burdened with the country¡¯s decisions, will without a doubt detest the war.¡±

    These words didn¡¯t seem like they had come from someone who had departed from government for over fifty years. The man who was laying down in front of me truly wasn¡¯t just some old man.

    I had lowered my head without realizing it.

    Sout Continent¡¯s war would never end. It was a war where the people who started the fight weren¡¯t hurt, themselves.

    No matter how many hundreds of the Grude mercenaries died, no matter how many thousands of the Sistica people perished, as long as the only people who were able to end the war weren¡¯t hurt, it would never end.

    I had narrated the story that the painter had told me as if it were my own experience.

    But, when I had been listening to that story, I had only been thinking about how I would share it with His Majesty. I hadn¡¯t thought anything about it.

    I hadn¡¯t thought anything about what kind of battle the Sout Continent¡¯s war was, or why it had dragged on for so many centuries. I hadn¡¯t questioned it at all.

    Even when His Majesty had been reduced to a state like this, he was still thinking about the country, and about the people.

    Suddenly, a memory of a scene flashed before my eyes.

    The citizens of this country did not know this, but Rintz Kingdom had experienced countless crises where it was on the brink of being invaded by other countries. Every time, His Majesty the King had been able to overcome those crises.

    In order to protect the people of this Kingdom, and in order to preserve the position of Rintz Kingdom, His Majesty demonstrated genius tactical ability and crafty negotiation skills.

    That was what the captain of the imperial guards and the chief chamberlain who served His Majesty said. The two of them had chatted together with adoring expressions over His Majesty¡¯s greatness.

    His Majesty the King loved his people more than anyone, they said.

    At that time, I had looked at these mature middle-aged men with cold eyes, wondering what the hell they could be talking about.

    Just like before, the drawing that I brought remained in His Majesty¡¯s hands.

    There were many paintings on display in the royal palace which were drawn with the skills of famous painters. Yet even so, His Majesty adorned the side of his bed with this drawing made with cheap paint on coarse paper, occasionally taking it into his hands to gaze into it.

    Whether it was that tea bowl or that drawing, the maids who served His Majesty all cocked their heads in puzzlement over these crude objects that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

    The next time I was alone with His Majesty was also a few days after that.

    This time, I had sincerely requested the senior knights to allow me this time. Both of my seniors accepted my request.

    I carried a small basket in my hand as I began my guard.

    I was trembling inside as I worried over whether I would be reproached by my squad leader and the head butler, but anticlimactically, they quickly gave me their approval. They didn¡¯t even bother to look inside the basket.

    With the basket in hand, I approached His Majesty¡¯s bedside, where he lay on his bed. According to the maids, His Majesty hadn¡¯t been eating well as of late.

    As I gently peered at him, I felt that he had gotten thinner.

    Somewhere in my mind, I understood that His Majesty¡¯s life was coming to an end. Even the air around His Majesty felt like it had gotten heavier.

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    After I quietly called out to him, His Majesty slowly lifted his eyelids open.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t died yet.¡±

    He looked at me and laughed gently. I also laughed, then lifted up my basket.

    ¡°Today, I have brought this along with me.¡±

    As I spoke, His Majesty tried to sit up.

    I had heard that along with not eating, His Majesty was always sleeping and not sitting up in bed.

    Yet despite this, His Majesty showed an interest in the breath of the outside world that I brought with me. This, in itself, made me happier than any reward.

    I assisted His Majesty in raising his body, then took the cloth off of the basket.

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    Compared to the first time His Majesty had ever called out to me, his voice now barely had any energy. The tips of my fingers which were carrying the basket trembled, and I felt something sharp pierce my chest.

    In the past, when I had listened to the chief chamberlain and the others grieve and lament over His Majesty¡¯s body wasting away, I had only thought was that it was natural for an old man to go to his death.

    The me of that time had only been a fool of a young man who had gotten tired of standing around in a room all day.

    After having been spoken to by His Majesty, and after having shared conversation with His Majesty so many times, I felt a serious, weighing regret that I had not been able to serve His Majesty sooner, and even that I had not been able to serve him when he had been in good health.

    Each and every word His Majesty spoke weighed heavily inside of me.

    It was because in those words, I was able to feel the deep love His Majesty had for his people.

    ¡°This is called chapa. It can be purchased from the marketplace. It is a treat eaten by children.¡±

    Chapa was made from mixing wheat flour with water and salt. After the dough was stretched out thinly, it was baked. The pastry was then covered in honey and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

    In truth, it tasted best when it was freshly baked, but that ended up being impossible to bring. I arrived at my post right after buying freshly-made chapa from the market, but even though I had ran all the way to the palace, the chapa had already lost its steaminess.

    After receiving His Majesty¡¯s permission, I took a plate out from the basket and placed it upon his lap. I then cut the chapa into pieces on the plate with the accompanying skewer. His Majesty grasped the skewer with his withered fingers, his shaking arm delivering the chapa to his mouth.

    ¡°Hoo¡­ this¡­ how delicious it is.¡±

    I let out a sigh of relief, glad that it met the tastes of His Majesty, whose mouth was accustomed to lavish, palatial meals.

    Chapa had been my favorite treat when I had been a child. I had begged my generous and sweet grandmother for chapa many times, and every time we went to the market, she bought me some.

    After going to that marketplace for the first time in a long while, I tried to eat some out of nostalgia. By now, I found it far too sweet, so I was unable to eat it all.

    Was I really able to eat so much of this kind of thing? I wondered, and as I ate, the taste mingled with the memories of my now-departed grandmother, a wave of nostalgia washing over me.

    Did His Majesty enjoy sweet things? In the first place, would an elderly person with no appetite want to eat something like this?

    Up until this moment, I had been plagued with these sorts of worries, but I now watched a wide smile spread over His Majesty¡¯s face as he continued to leisurely eat the chapa.

    After His Majesty ate up all of the chapa on the plate, I respectfully offered him some tea.

    Of course, the tea was served in that tiny tea bowl.

    ¡°Aah, what a good flavor that had. This confection called ¡®chapa¡¯, is it something which can be eaten often by the people of this kingdom?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Chapa is simple and inexpensive treat. If a child pleads their parents for some, their parents can freely buy this sweet for them without needing to worry about it.¡±

    ¡°I see, I see. This is something which can make children happy, I see¡­¡±

    Saying that, His Majesty smiled, warm and soft.

    Six days after that, His Majesty fell into critical condition.

    The royal palace was stifled under an oppressive, heavy atmosphere, and the butlers and maids who served His Majesty came and went in a flurry, their faces turned down.

    But the Kingdom did not come to a stop.

    The Crown Prince, who had long performed the duties of the King, continued to smoothly conduct his affairs. The chief chamberlain who served the Crown Prince excitedly began preparing for the prince¡¯s coronation.

    There was nothing that a guardsman could do.

    Feeling as if the ground were sliding out from under my feet, I went to the market.

    I wanted to know the state of the market, the state of the common people of this kingdom.

    Nothing had changed in the market. They should have been informed that His Majesty the King was now on his deathbed.

    Yet, nothing had changed.

    Still dressed in my uniform, I stopped in at a shop and asked a question to the shopkeeper, pretending as if I wanted to gossip. Did you know that His Majesty is in critical condition, I asked. The shopkeeper turned a suspicious gaze on me. His Majesty the King is still young, ain¡¯t he, the shopkeeper said.

    What I felt upon hearing that, more than anger, more than anything, was only stupefaction.

    The shopkeeper thought that the Crown Prince was His Majesty. Now, as he laid on his bed hidden deep within the recesses of the royal palace, the existence of His Majesty had been entirely forgotten.

    This person, who had loved his people more than anyone, who had devoted his entire life for his kingdom, had already been long forgotten by that kingdom¡¯s people.

    The market was full of bustling noise.

    As I stood, my feet weighed to the ground like stones, children cried out shouts of joy as they ran past me.

    The merchantwomen called out to customers with shrill, high-pitched voices.

    The curtain of night came falling down, and people lined up along the bars of the taverns.

    The men who chatted like they were bellowing as they drank. The women who shrieked out piercing laughs. The barking merchants who tried to pull in customers, their voices like a whore¡¯s.

    No matter if it was morning, afternoon, or evening, the marketplace was always, unchangingly busy.

    None of them, not a single one of them, realized that the tall guardian tree who had protected them was now about to fall.

    The market was turbulent and active, even though nothing in it mattered at all.

    When I returned to the royal palace, I went to the guardroom where the knight guards gathered.

    The platoon leader saw that I was there even though I was off-duty, but he didn¡¯t say anything about it.

    I poured some hot water into my cup from the pot sitting over the fireplace, then drank tea.

    No one around here was taking their meal break. There were people who were sitting in chairs and sipping tea, people who were just sitting in their chairs, people sharpening and maintaining their swords, and people who were re-stringing their bows.

    Not a single person spoke.

    Everyone was passing time however they wished, all of us waiting for that time.

    The wood in the fireplace crackled as it burned. As the fire burst, it filled the room with popping, snapping sounds. Occasionally, embers flew out from the fireplace, then faded away.

    In my throat, it felt as if I had swallowed lead, or rather, as if my throat itself as it swallowed was made of lead.

    Not just me, but many others who were off duty were here. All of them were people who had served by His Majesty¡¯s side. That knight who had left his post to make a pass at the maid was here. Everyone had been spoken to by His Majesty before.

    In this room, all of the soldiers waited, their hearts filled with a helpless, powerless sense of loss. They waited for the moment when the great and all-embracing light flickered out.

    It was dawn when His Majesty drew his final breath.

    I had spent the entire night without sleeping, and barely moving.

    When the Captain of the Royal Guards himself brought word of what had happened, all of the soldiers in the guardroom silently stood, turned to the royal palace, and saluted.

    After opening his reddened eyes, the captain also saluted.

    Of all the salutes I had seen up until now, that one had been the most beautiful salute I had ever seen.

    The royal palace raised its flag at half-mast, and the word was immediately sent out to the common people.

    The market became only a little more restrained, but the merchants were dissatisfied. We can¡¯t do business like this, they complained.

    The people of the capital were also displeased. We can¡¯t go shopping, they grumbled.

    So His Majesty¡¯s great love for his people was that one-sided, was it?

    Disappointed, grieving, and angry, I drowned myself in alcohol.

    A few days after His Majesty had passed, my station changed, and I was sent off to guard the border.

    The day before I was supposed to leave the royal capital, I went to the markets on my off time.

    Sitting in front of a fountain, I watched people come and go through the market as they ate the sweet, fragrant chapa.

    The market was, as it always was, full of buzzing noise.

    Only one regiment was dispatched to the border.

    There wasn¡¯t any turbulence or unrest along the border; it was simply a shift in the guards.

    A dispatch order was to be carried out with a simple ceremony, but the supreme general of the army wouldn¡¯t come out for just a relocation.

    On that day, the lieutenant general of the army would carry out the ceremony.

    Before the ceremony, I had poked my head into the guardroom and exchanged farewells with the knights I was familiar with.

    His Majesty the Crown Prince would safely become His Highness the King, and for a while, the only person the guards would have to protect would be the King alone.

    The present King had long since invited his first consort, yet no matter how many consorts he had met with in the royal palace until now, none of them had gotten with child.

    The situation seemed to be that until a crown prince was born, the number of guards in the palace would be decreased.

    After I had finished giving my farewells and went to leave the guard room, my platoon leader called out to me, making me pause my steps.

    The captain is calling for you, he said.

    The captain of the guards, like the chief chamberlain who served the previous king, was spending the rest of his next few days wrapping up his duties.

    The two of them were retiring a little early, but both of them had requested that they wished only to serve the previous king, and their request had been accepted.

    This was my first time entering the captain¡¯s room. The room was just as big as the guards¡¯ room, but only one person lived here. The captain motioned for me to take a seat in the chair across from him.

    Even though the captain himself had specifically called for me, all the captain did was just stare piercingly at me, not saying a word.

    Yet even so, the atmosphere didn¡¯t wasn¡¯t heavy at all. He was looking at me like an elder appraising his grandson. The captain was still young, but over these past few days, he somehow gave the impression that he had grown old.

    Eventually, the captain smiled with a chuckle, then offered me a small satchel.

    It was a truly small satchel, not even as big as a pinky.

    ¡°I¡¯m entrusting this to you.¡±

    I took the offered satchel in my hand.

    Even though this bag was so tiny, even I could tell that it was made out of the finest silk.

    Gold-and-silver-threaded embroidery was carefully stitched over the platinum cloth. The thin thread which pulled the opening of the bag closed was also made of silk.

    ¡°I ask you to go out and, along with His Majesty, explore all that the world has to offer.¡±

    Saying that, the captain laughed.

    Within this small satchel was a single bundle of His Majesty¡¯s hair.

    This hair that the chief chamberlain had secretly cut was handed over to the captain of the guards, and then, finally, made its way to me.

    If I were ever released from my duty to the Kingdom, then he wanted me to go out and see the world in freedom.

    That had been His Majesty¡¯s wish. That had been his dying will.

    Other than to the chief chamberlain, His Majesty had told no one of this final, heartfelt request. It was this last wish that the chief chamberlain sought to fulfill.

 zChapter 54 - Interlude Targes and the Platinum Satchel, Part 2

    I left the royal capital for the first time on this mission, which sent me to a fief on the border of Silus Kingdom: the fief of Couto. [1]

    In this fief, a dry wind always blew over the arid land. The people of this land all wore cloth over their heads, walking with their eyes and faces turned downwards.

    The occasional raging bursts of wind whirled sand into the air, relentlessly buffeting me with sandy gales. In this state where I could barely open my eyes, I carried out my border duty despite the difficulty.

    Or rather, I should say that I got used to struggling through it.

    Rintz Kingdom and Silus Kingdom had built up a friendly relationship for many years.

    In the past, Silus Kingdom had never once invaded across the border, and the people of Couto fief had no sense of awareness of being people who lived along a border.

    All they did was live their lives, trying to evade the fierce winds.

    In the Couto fief, even if they tried to plant crops, the wind would just blow most of them away. As such, they primarily planted trees to harvest fruits.

    The trees also served to break up the wind. They planted thick crowds of trees around the villages, and the people who lived there passed their everyday lives in the restricted, confined space in the middle of the trees.

    It made me understand that what I knew about the world was very little.

    Even though I knew nothing beyond the royal capital, I had still felt as if I knew everything.

    Now, when I thought about it, I understood why His Majesty wanted so much to know about the outside world.

    I could feel, now, that my world was narrow. I knew that I lived in a confined, restricted world.

    I had been walking through life with my eyes closed, my ears covered, as I carried a heavy burden.

    I had been traveling down a path, never allowing my steps to deviate away from it.

    In the past, I was just as those words His Majesty had murmured described me to be.

    After that, my border duty assignments changed four more times, bringing me to different places. Each of those lands was completely different from the others.

    There were places which were so completely different that it made me want to ask whether they really belonged to the same country. There were lands full of wealth and prosperity, and there were lands full of povery and misfortune.

    There were Lords who crushed the souls of their people, and there were also Lords who imposed heavy taxes so that they themselves could live in luxury.

    There were things which ought to be seen, as well as things which weren¡¯t important to see.

    I was called out on occasion by the commander of the border guards, who was the leader of our mission, as well as by the squad captains.

    When my fellow guards saw just how many times I had been called out to talk to them, they condemned me behind my back as a bastard ass-kisser.

    No matter what my coworkers said about me, I didn¡¯t care at all. To me, I wanted to hear at all costs the stories that the commander and squad captains had to tell me.

    I wanted, as well, to share my own stories with the captains.

    All of them were people who, for some reason or another, carried some memories with His Majesty.

    There were people who had only met with him for just a short, transient moment of time, as well as people like me, who had served at his side.

    All of them wanted me to tell them again and again about His Majesty¡¯s last days, and then they would press their hands over the corners of their eyes.

    When His Majesty had passed away, the lives of the people living in the royal capital remained mostly unchanged.

    In the borderlands, it was even more apparent. Their daily routines were completely unaffected.

    There were many people who weren¡¯t even aware that a new king had been crowned.

    Every time I see people like that, it feels so unbearable that I can¡¯t stand it.

    How could someone who loved his people so much, who worked so hard for his entire life and gave everything he had for them, be forgotten by them, just like that?

    When I was like that, the conversations I had with the captains comforted my rattled heart.

    It was because I could see that everyone who had met that person, even if it was only once, was moved into such sadness as they reminisced over him.

    While on my fourth assignment, I heard that the previous commander of the royal guards had died. And just before I was sent out on my fifth mission, I caught wind that the chief chamberlain who had served the previous King had passed away.

    I felt like a dry wind blew over my heart.

    Just like that, will I lose the people that I can chat and reminisce with over the memories of His Majesty, I thought.

    While I was on my fifth mission to guard the border, Rintz Kingdom celebrated the birth of a new Crown Prince.

    Fifty years had already passed since His Majesty, the current King, had invited his first consort. In that time, many consorts had been sent up to the palace, yet not a single one of them had gotten with child.

    Now that the long-awaited crown prince had finally been born, the entire Kingdom of Rintz was in an uproar.

    Even in this borderland far from the capital, it was like a festival.

    The Lords of the fiefs wildly spent their money, whether it was to show their loyalty to the Kingdom or to shrewdly compete with other fiefs, and even the poor regions were steeped in an atmosphere of delight.

    In the middle of this crazed situation, I alone looked at this world with cold eyes.

    All of these people who couldn¡¯t give a damn when that person, who had borne through so many hardships, and who had loved his people so deeply, died¡­ were now rejoicing just because some baby was born.

    What an absolute farce.

    There was nothing that said this baby wouldn¡¯t be a disaster that destroyed the country.

    What would they do if that baby turned out to be an idiot?

    While the entire country celebrated, I morosely shut myself away in my room and just drank. As I kept on drinking, a single letter ¨C a set of orders ¨C arrived for me.

    It was an order to serve as a guard for the crown prince.

    As I drank down the last mouthful of alcohol in my glass, I glared at the sheet of paper that had those words written on it, and then, I tore up that letter in my hands and tossed it away.

    After the crown prince was born came a second child, then a third. As if a stopper had been pulled out, the King¡¯s children kept being born one by one; and as the entire country rejoiced and danced in celebration, I left the country.

    All of it was just ridiculous to me.

    They wouldn¡¯t pay their respects to the person who had spent his entire life protecting the kingdom, but they would throw themselves into applauding someone who¡¯d just been born.

    Why were they going so far to celebrate someone when they didn¡¯t even know what kind of person he would be?

    The poets wrote out sonnets about this baby who couldn¡¯t even hold his head steady as if he was some almighty, all-knowing person.

    The painters drew this baby, who was locked away and kept so deep in the royal palace that the common person would never lay eyes on him, as if he was someone who held all of the beauty in the world in his body.

    Toward all of this, I just felt numb.

    After leaving Rintz Kingdom, I took a look at Lux Kingdom and entered Silus Kingdom.

    Even though these countries were founded by people of the Schell race, just as Rintz was, the other two countries were bustling and flourishing.

    It made me understand just how poor Rintz Kingdom was. It also made me appreciate how well Rintz Kingdom had protected its self-reliance until now.

    The soldiers I passed carried their bodies differently.

    The quality of the weapons they carried was not the same as ours.

    Above all, the number of soldiers in their armies was incomparable.

    No matter how many times the Kingdom was exposed to danger, His Majesty had protected it with his savvy and skill.

    The words that the captain of the guards and the chief chamberlain had once said now resurfaced in my mind.

    Only now that I had seen the difference in power between our countries with my own eyes was I able to understand His Majesty¡¯s greatness.

    I was unable to believe that the present King would be able to accomplish what His Majesty had done. And for a newborn baby to be able to follow his footsteps was something I couldn¡¯t possibly fathom.

    I spent over ten years in those two countries, and then I departed from the Schell continent.

    Once you took a single step out of the Schell continent, it really was another world out there.

    I entered the Sout continent, and there, for the first time, I saw with my own eyes the ocean that I had told His Majesty about.

    The sky was a clear, bright blue, and the ocean sparkled, glinting light off of its azure surface. The Sout people, who had long limbs and thin membrances between their fingers, swam freely through the ocean.

    They swam as freely as birds flying through the air, and once they surfaced on land, they were like slugs.

    Their frames didn¡¯t seem to have any muscle at all. The softness of their bodies made them unable to stand on land. They walked slowly, and each and every one of their movements was languid.

    As a matter of course, they couldn¡¯t do something like farming on land.

    The ones who grew and even shipped the fruits that were Sout Continent¡¯s specialty product were actually people of the Schell race.

    I only found this out after I had come to this land, but mercenaries weren¡¯t the only ones who wandered here in search of a job. Just like the mercenaries, there were people who came here to find an employer who would contract them to do farmwork.

    Most of them were people who had been chased out from their homelands. There were people who had committed some sort of crime or sin, as well as people who carried deep wounds in their hearts after being abandoned by their homelands.

    The people of Sout, who had flourished from commerce, were a people who weren¡¯t hesitant at all to use other people.

    They were the kind of people who didn¡¯t bat an eyelid at using people from other races to fight out their war. They didn¡¯t care at all about other people¡¯s deaths, and they nonchalantly oppressed the people who worked on their farmlands.

    The lands of Sout were incredibly beautiful, and the people of Sout were also beautiful, but their hearts were hideous and distorted.

    I spent over ten years in this land as a mercenary. I tested the taste of the ocean, and I ate their peaches. The sea was salty, and the peaches were delicious.

    Back in the capital of Rintz Kingdom, I had eaten some of the peaches imported from Sout, but the taste had been exceptionally different from the ones I ate here.

    This was a taste I never would have experienced if I hadn¡¯t set foot here on my own.

    I ate enough peaches to last me a lifetime in Sout continent, then left for Sistica continent.

    I had already been a mercenary for decades by now.

    My intentions were to obtain the highest-quality armor and weapons when I went to the continent of Sistica.

    Sistica continent was a land that the people of Schell continent races could absolutely never enter.

    As I walked along the coast of the Sout continent, the land around me gradually changed. It went from a lush land of greenery to a land of solid, reddish-brown earth. The occasional tree only sprang up here and there, and there was no grass at all in sight.

    Beasts attacked me without making any sort of sound as a warning, and they were of shapes and sizes that I had never seen before in my life. Countless times, I had prepared myself to accept my death.

    But what made me unable to continue further was neither the beasts nor the natives of Sistica continent; it was the environment itself.

    No matter how I tried, it was impossible for me to make it past the freezing cold of day and the blistering heat of night.

    The difference in temperature only grew the further I went. If there were only one temperature to deal with, then I might have been able to overcome it, but I was assaulted by both each day.

    It was utterly impossible for fragile beings like the Kleber to inhabit a place like this.

    Once I had gotten what I came for, I quickly fled from Sistica continent.

    The world is vast.

    The people who live within it are varied, diverse, and fascinating.

    That was what His Majesty had told me as he looked at a map, a child-like expression of joy on his face.

    I mean, it was a given that the world was wide, right.

    People might be diverse, sure, but there was nothing interesting about them.

    The me who had thought that back then really was such an immature, close-minded youth who¡¯d been stuck in such a small, narrow world.

    After Sistica Continent, I decided that I wanted to see a country where the people of Hel lived.

    As anticipated, I couldn¡¯t go and visit their underground countries. I made my way to one of their countries on the surface.

    I headed for the country of Ruby, which straddled the border between Grude Continent and Sout Continent.

    The Helesians who lived in Ruby Country were called the Rubians.

    Just like with the people of Sout, the Helesians of different countries mingled together, so there were no firm differences between the people who lived in each country. I was completely unable to differentiate which Helesian belonged to what country.

    Yet, that said, this didn¡¯t meant that the countries of Hel were all on good terms with each other.

    The Helesians were mostly traders and craftsmen.

    Their bodies were too small to go into battle, so they hired mercenaries to secure their borders and maintain order within their countries.

    This protection was, however, only in regards to other races.

    If their opponent was another Helesian, then they would pick up a weapon and fight. However, this mainly happened underground, so I myself had never seen it happen.

    I spent over ten years in Ruby Country.

    No matter which Helesian country you went to, all of them carried wealth. They had gold, jewels, iron ¨C those kinds of valuable resources with high utility.

    Since the Helesians were less than a meter tall, thieves considered them to be easy targets. Because of that, the Helesians employed many mercenaries.

    The borders of a Hel country were so busy that the Rintz Kingdom¡¯s borders couldn¡¯t even compare.

    The Helesians were misers. They hated settling their bills, and they absolutely never offered up any of the treasures they owned.

    Even when their lives were about to end, they never let go of the money they possessed.

    When a family member died, the first thing the bereaved family did was not mourn or to be in shock, but to try and find out where the deceased would have hidden his money.

    In Helesian society, the people in higher positions would nonchalantly trample down on the people below them.

    The people who lived in lower positions would easily kill each other, even if they were relatives, all for even the smallest amount of money.

    From the perspective of a Kleber like me, their families were enormous, and they popped out children one after the other. A Helesian could easily become pregnant, and pregnancy lasted for only three months. Because of that, the connection they felt for blood relatives was extremely weak.

    Unable to bear the harsh world of Hel¡¯s society, I departed from Ruby Country.

    I kept walking west of Ruby Country, and at some point, I entered the Grude continent.

    Crossing the border here was even more incomprehensible than when I had crossed into Sistica from Sout continent.

    It felt like the trees were growing bigger. It felt like the animals were growing larger.

    I pondered over these things as I walked until finally, I noticed a clear change.

    All I can say is that my body sure was heavy.

    I glanced out of the corner of my eyes at the Grude races as they briskly walked by, while I, meanwhile, was literally crawled forward, flat on the ground.

    Every now and then, I was carried by some kind-hearted Grudes and Dayers.

    What was strange was that the moment my body was lifted from the ground, it became lighter. Whenever I asked to be let down because I was alright now, I once again fell flat to the ground.

    The continent of Grude was a strange land, as well.

    But the people of Grude were the most comfortable and easygoing people to be around.

    They were lively, cheerful, and straightforward. They thought of things not in terms of society or of family, but as individuals.

    Whether they joined a band of thieves or took part in a war between nations, the only standards they held to were in regards to the contents of their contracts and the amount of money they were paid.

    They also cared little for morals and principles.

    If I could take away the weight pressing over my body, I probably would have lived for as long as I wanted in that land which made me feel at home.

    What changed my mind as I was thinking that was a rumor I overheard while at the Grude continent¡¯s market.

    It was something that Dunbertian merchant who had just returned from Schell continent had told me.

    ¡®It seems like the crown prince of Rintz Kingdom is going to change,¡¯ he said.

    That couldn¡¯t be true.

    I laughed it off right on the spot. As a citizen of Rintz, I knew very well what the royal family of Rintz Kingdom was like.

    A person who was born royalty would remain royalty until death, and until then, they spent their entire lives within the royal palace. No matter how much the King himself might wish for it, he would never be able to leave the royal palace.

    I couldn¡¯t believe what he had told me, but the merchant, who had lost one of his arms in battle, continued.

    ¡®Apparently, the crown prince has an illness called Kleber¡¯s disease, and that¡¯s enough to make him stop being the crown prince,¡¯ he said.

    Kleber¡¯s disease.

    It was a disease that the Kleber living in Rintz Kingdom were deeply familiar with.

    But that disease was ridiculed as something that only affected poor people, since they were the only ones who contracted it. It was an illness that even merchants who weren¡¯t especially rich wouldn¡¯t suffer.

    Of all the people to have that disease, it was the crown prince?

    With disbelief running through my head, I returned to my homeland, once again setting foot in this country that I hadn¡¯t seen in sixty years.

    [1] The name of this fief is possibly inspired by/referencing a purple orchid, since it shares the same name (¥³¥¦¥È¥¦/koutou, written in katakana)

 zChapter 55 - Interlude Targes and the Platinum Satchel, Part 3

    The replacement of the crown prince should have been an event of serious magnitude, yet people were still going about their day like nothing had happened.

    When I saw these people and their unaffected demeanor, what ran through my mind was that, as I had thought, the info I had been given had been wrong.

    But, once I turned to an old contact and asked about the internal affairs of the palace, I found out that somehow, that rumor was actually true.

    The crown prince had Kleber¡¯s disease.

    That was a completely unthinkable turn of events.

    Yet even so, the market in the capital was completely calm.

    Just what the hell is going on?

    As I interrogated him, my former colleague who served as a guard for His Majesty, the King, said:

    ¡°The crown prince is changing, so we didn¡¯t hide that the previous prince had Kleber¡¯s disease. The people know ¡®bout it, sure, but it doesn¡¯t seem like anyone cares.¡±

    Over these sixty years, this country hadn¡¯t changed a single bit.

    It was far too harsh to those people who parted from it.

    Once again disgusted with my own homeland, I once more considered leaving and going on a journey, but then I felt like I wanted to go and see the crown prince who been sent out of the royal palace.

    That was someone who should have spent his entire life confined in the palace. Someone who, like His Majesty once did, could only dream about seeing the outside, and was never to actually accomplish it.

    I wondered ¨C would he be grieving over his situation, cursing it, or sulking over it?

    I found that I had an unconquerable urge to see just how that crown prince ended up.

    Which territory is the former crown prince going to be sent off to? I gathered information on this from all of my former contacts.

    The senate held countless discussions, and their decisions seesawed back and forth an equal number of times. By the time their discussions had finally reached a conclusion, two months had already passed since the former crown prince had been sent out of the palace.

    I immediately made my way to Meissen, which was said to have the highest chance of belonging to the Crown Prince-turned-Lord.

    Although I had heard the rumors, I never thought that things would be this bad.

    I¡¯d gone to see every kind of borderland, but I had never seen one as defenseless as this. They didn¡¯t have any armed forces at all. The people were starved, and they only had a poor excuse for a militia.

    Since there wasn¡¯t anyone who would be able to hire a mercenary, I had no choice but to volunteer for the militia. Even people who weren¡¯t citizens of this land were really still able to sign up, huh?

    I had gone to the lord¡¯s estate half as a joke, and the person who had recruited me with a single glance had been the captain of the militia at that time ¨C Aldo.

    The reason why I was recruited to the militia was, apparently, because of Aldo¡¯s resolute decision to recruit me the moment he saw the value of the sword I carried on my hip.

    Resolute decision¡­ Later, when the leader of the 1st platoon commented those words, I bust out laughing.

    I had planned to just hang around as a private in the militia until the lord arrived, and then, if I felt like it, I would set off on a journey again.

    I also had the thought that I wanted to let His Majesty see his grandson.

    I, too, wanted to see the person who had inherited His Majesty¡¯s blood.

    Someone who had been brought up pampered and sheltered as a crown prince, and who had never carried the burden of his country as a king. Someone who never had to persevere in his self-indulgence, and who did as he pleased while living in luxury, able to tread on the lives of others without batting an eye.

    I bet that he was probably someone like that.

    In every country, I had seen nobles and royalty who were corrupt to their bones. They were all generally people like that.

    The fact that I was able to meet His Majesty so early in my life was no less than a miracle. People like His Majesty were extraordinary; his character wasn¡¯t one that just anyone could embody.

    That was why, what I had thought was that after briefly meeting the former crown prince, I would head out and leave once I had seen his frivolous nature.

    All I wanted was to let His Majesty meet him for a bit.

    Aldo was to blame for completely wrecking my plans.

    While I was hearing out Aldo¡¯s small requests and errands, I got promoted from weapons manager to the general barracks manager, and then after I¡¯d turned into the drill leader for the militia¡¯s training, I¡¯d somehow, at some point, ended up captain of the militia.

    Simply put, it was all because of money.

    This top-quality sword and armor that I had gotten from Sistica Continent were, truly, so incredible that for a militia captain in such a remote place like this, they commanded respect at a single glance.

    But what was so incredible about them was their extraordinarily high cost.

    I had used all the money I had to buy them, and had gone to Ruby Country without a single scrap of money in my pocket. There, I¡¯d endured the circumstances and worked, and then afterward, I¡¯d gone to Grude Continent.

    As one might expect, in the land of Grude from which the warrior races came, there was no work for a mercenary. It was the people of Grude who had kept me from just leaving after seeing what it was like.

    I enjoyed talking with such cheerful, easygoing people, and while I drank and ate as I pleased, the inside of my pocket grew slimmer and sadder.

    Although I would have been fine with spending time as just one of Meissen¡¯s militia, it was a given that in a fief as poor as this, a regular private in the militia would have to work without pay.

    I had used up my money just getting to Meissen. Like this, even if I wanted to set off, I couldn¡¯t buy a single horse for the journey.

    Reluctantly, I accepted my position as captain if only because I had been told that I would be paid a wage.

    Meissen¡¯s militia was¡­ terrible.

    Once I¡¯d become the captain, I couldn¡¯t afford to only train the militia in handling swords and bows. It was also vital for them to have the ability to communicate information in a crisis.

    But the militia soldiers of Meissen were ¡®soldiers¡¯ in name only.

    The words I spoke to the first person changed by the time they reached the third, and by the time they reached the fifth, they became a completely different message altogether. Just how the hell was it this ridiculous?

    I stuck close to the first person from the fifth, listening in on the words they relayed.

    It made me feel like my head was about to break.

    Those guys took the liberty of passing on the message according to how they interpreted it.

    In the middle of passing on information, the worst ones started spreading gossip, so no one on either side knew just what they were supposed to pass on.

    I hunted down Aldo who was leisurely taking care of the horses, pinned him down by the scruff of his neck, and shouted, ¡®What the hell is this?!¡¯

    Aldo looked at me with a blank, puzzled expression, which then morphed into a laugh as he said, ¡®It¡¯s useless to try, you know?¡¯

    When I once again shouted, ¡®The hell do you mean by useless?¡¯, he replied, ¡®This is Meissen, after all.¡¯

    What¡¯s with that. So what the hell did it matter that ¡®this was Meissen¡¯?

    Losing all my strength, I hung my head as I dropped down to sit in front of the stables.

    Brrrr, a horse sounded, looking down on me. Though it may have been for a short moment, I had been a knight. Even if I talked for an entire day, I wouldn¡¯t run out of things to say when it came to the topic of what made for a good horse.

    But, what in the world was this horse supposed to be? I¡¯d heard that it was supposed to be for horseriding. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn¡¯t see it as anything other than a workhorse for farming.

    I looked at the fifteen horses in the shabby stables. You couldn¡¯t make a cavalry regiment with a count of fifteen.

    Moreover, two of these were for pulling the lord¡¯s carriage.

    A cavalry of thirteen¡­

    I seriously considered whether I should just quit.

    In any case, there was nothing I could do about it. I fell into deep thought.

    I¡¯d planned to ditch this place as soon as I¡¯d saved up enough money, but this border territory was so unsecured and careless that it made me feel ill at ease.

    I should at least do what I could for these soldiers while I was still here.

    Then, in front of my harried self appeared a single Dunbertian.

    A Dunbertian in a place like this. He stuck out, completely out of place. Both the common folk and the militia soldiers were so surprised at seeing a Dunbertian for the very first time that their legs went weak.

    What are you doing here? Since the head butler of the estate literally fell over and couldn¡¯t get up, I had to question the Dunbertian in his place.

    His answer shocked me.

    He said that he wanted to join Meissen¡¯s militia.

    You¡¯re joking, right? Even when I asked that, he replied that he wasn¡¯t joking.

    Aldo was purely delighted, but all I could wonder was why he would want to join the militia.

    I decided to write up a contract.

    To these guys, contracts weren¡¯t anything heavy and imposing. Through contracts, we would exchange the terms and form an agreement.

    The Dunbertian, Ganche, quickly accepted the contract with an air like he wasn¡¯t concerned at all.

    Only, penniless as I was, the money I offered him was just 10 aquia.

    Had there ever been anyone in the past who could hire a Dunbertian for a full year with just that little money?

    Ganche was handy to have around. I was able to leave all the training, except for that of the newcomers, to him.

    As for improving the transmission of information¡­ for now, I gave up on it.

    The soldiers looked down on Ganche just because of his Dunbertian appearance. It made me think that the insides of their heads had barely anything inside.

    What right did these people, who couldn¡¯t even read a single letter, think they had to use their mouths to spew such words? I was disgusted deep inside my heart.

    As people who took on jobs through contracts, all of the people of the Grude Continent races were excellent at reading and writing, and especially so with reading comprehension.

    Even in contracts where the true meaning was obfuscated and covered up by piles of words, they were able to read and pinpoint the exact intent. It was self-defense in order to ensure that they didn¡¯t take on a disadvantageous contract.

    I often saw the militia troops trying to shove off gathering firewood, fieldwork, and just about every labor-intensive task onto Ganche.

    If you wanted to hire this Dunbertian for a year, you¡¯d need half all the tax Meissen pays the country. If I told them that, I wondered just what sort of faces those troops would make.

    I was well aware that the estimated price for a one-year contract with a Dunbertian was 1500 sitt.

    Just what in the world was Ganche thinking when he closed a contract for 10 aquia ¨C the same amount you¡¯d give a child to spend?

    If I hadn¡¯t known just what kind of people Dunbertians were, I would have fallen into deep suspicion and paranoia over this abnormally dirt-poor price.

    It didn¡¯t take long for me to understand what Ganche was really after.

    The former crown prince who was said to have Kleber¡¯s disease looked like a young boy.

    Since he had Kleber¡¯s disease, that was a given.

    The crown prince had unreadable eyes with indecipherable emotions.

    According to the butler, the crown prince inspected the state of Meissen while on his way to the estate. I found that surprising, but nothing more than that.

    Those blue eyes of his were surprisingly tranquil, and they held not a single trace of anger, resignation, or feelings of coldness. Early the next morning, he took his place alone at the dining table. Apparently, until the chef got up, all he did was just sit there quietly.

    Promptly after breakfast, he came over, wanting to see the militia.

    This tiny lord who didn¡¯t even reach up to my chest looked up at me with a firm gaze as he spoke. His voice was quiet, and it reminded me nostalgically of His Majesty¡¯s.

    When I told him about the militia¡¯s current state, his eyes widened as if in surprise, and he quietly nodded. The meal that had been put before him, too, must have been extremely different from what he¡¯d been used to up until now, but he had just silently eaten it without complaint.

    When I thought about it, in order to get to this land, you had to cross those difficult mountain roads as well as that valley. Just how was this little lord able to cross them?

    There was no way that he¡¯d been able to get through on a carriage.

    What finally forced me to have to revise my perception of this former crown prince was that matter of him suddenly taking that giant man, the Dunbertian Ganche, as his companion.

    The world of people was greatly fascinating.

    It really was, Your Majesty.

    While living, you had no way to predict what was going to happen.

    Inside of my heart, I addressed these words to that person I fondly remembered.

    There was no way I would have thought that a former royal would have chosen someone of another race ¨C much less someone of the Grude Continent races, which were often scorned and disdained as being like animals ¨C as his life¡¯s companion.

    I stood as witness to their contract of companionship. Although this was my first time seeing a marriage contract, I didn¡¯t think that theirs was normal.

    The tiny lord had neglected all of his lord¡¯s duty-related work, and after five days, that contract which he had meticulously written and refined was¡­ gigantic.

    Normally, a marriage contract was something that could fit on a single sheet of paper.

    Compared to that, the number of pages in this one¡­

    Through that, I understood the deep love and tremendous attachment Lord Ernst felt for Ganche.

    But the same went for Ganche. At one point, I had grilled Ganche after he had accepted Lord Ernst¡¯s companionship contract.

    I was shocked.

    He told me that the two of them had previously met in the royal palace. I never knew that someone of the Grude races could keep thinking about a single person for several years, and even wholeheartedly chase after them. Even Ganche himself was surprised, so I, of course, was also surprised.

    But when I looked at the two of them, I felt that it wasn¡¯t bad to have someone with whom you shared a deep relationship.

    This former Crown Prince, Lord Ernst, was someone who went far beyond what I could have ever imagined.

    He spoke on his own to his people, who were of only peasant class. He kneeled down and put his knees in dirt, and he touched animals like sheep without batting an eye. He ate the same poor, shabby food as his people, and he held their calloused, rough-skinned hands.

    Even these folk who lived all the way out in these remote lands and who didn¡¯t know just what kind of people royalty were, understood that Lord Ernst wasn¡¯t normal.

    Royals did not speak to anyone other than a designated few. They did not put anything in their mouths other than something that had been carefully scrutinized. They did not come near animals and beasts, let alone touch them.

    It was said that in the past, there had been a king who had prepared a carriage so he could be driven around the palace as a form of play, but the butlers had prepared a large folding fan for whenever he boarded or departed the carriage so that his gaze would not have to touch the horse.

    The more I became acquainted and familiar with Lord Ernst, the more surprising he became.

    Even His Majesty had not been such an unreserved, unhesitating person.

    Even he hadn¡¯t been so persevering, and so broadminded of a person.

    The people of Meissen quickly got used to Lord Ernst.

    Or rather than ¡®got used to¡¯, I should say that they made light of him.

    As if they had completely forgotten that he was the former crown prince, they came over to speak to him whenever they pleased.

    When I saw this lord, who had been woken up in the middle of the night just because of a splinter that had gotten stuck and started to fester, even I started to feel sorry for him.

    When Lord Ernst had told me to gather his people, I had assented without really knowing what he meant to do.

    It was Meissen that had taught me what kind of territory a land would be when there was no one who could see the bigger picture.

    As I prepared the things Lord Ernst had ordered, I became overwhelmed by just how much thought that tiny lord fit inside of his small head, and the pace of my heart quickened.

    In the beginning, when he had told me to buy wool from Caralime, I had no idea what he meant.

    Then, when he told me to go bring it to Iben Village and then to Arruca Village, I had thought that this lord really was just another noble after all.

    He was just a foolish lord who ate up his people¡¯s taxes for his own hobbies.

    But now, I understood.

    The large table that the troops carried in, and that one piece of firewood that had nonchalantly been placed next to the pile of stacked-up wood. The candle that had been set down next to the candlestand.

    When I looked at this room, I understood just what Lord Ernst wanted to tell to his people.

    Even though he had gone all the way through such lengths, just how could they still spit at and curse this lord, who worried and fretted so much over his people?

    As I restrained Ganche with my eyes, I also had to hold myself back from stepping forward.

    Why was it that even though he loved his people so much, even though he loved them more than anyone, they still attacked him?

    Quietly, without letting anything affect his composure, Lord Ernst just closed his eyes, and as the slanderous, abusive words rained down on him, I saw His Majesty in Lord Ernst¡¯s figure.

    His Majesty had never been shouted at or beaten down by words like Lord Ernst.

    But I saw His Majesty, who had dedicated his entire life to his people, who had offered up his heart for a kingdom that didn¡¯t even care when it broke ¨C a kingdom that didn¡¯t even bother to grieve over his death.

    His Majesty, whose one-sided love which he had carried his entire life for his people had never been requited.

    His Majesty who, even in the deepest depths of the royal palace, still worried over his people, even though the people of this kingdom treated him as someone who didn¡¯t exist.

    Even though they loved their people to such an extent, just why was it that no one tried to understand them?

    I am but a bird in a gilded, blessed cage.

    I am presented with plenty of feed, water, and warm straw, and in my time of leisure, I acquaint myself with the world outside the cage.

    ¡®Tis because I know it not that it is something I may love.

    As he laughed mischievously, His Majesty had said those words.

    It was certainly possible that it was only because he had never directly seen the repulsive, ugly parts of his nation that His Majesty was able to love it.

    However, I couldn¡¯t help but think that wasn¡¯t the case.

    I had seen many lords. I had seen many nobles, and royals as well.

    That was why I couldn¡¯t help but disbelieve it.

    After all, it was difficult for someone to continue to hold strong feelings of love for a partner they couldn¡¯t see.

    Whether it was a new lord with tremendous resolve who was taking up his post or a king who wore on his head a crown of sorrow, with the passing of time, they would forget those feelings of the past.

    Was there ever anyone like his Majesty who, even on his deathbed, continued to worry over the his nation of people whose figures he could not even see?

    Over the course of three days, I watched Lord Ernst be beaten down.

    No matter what self-serving thing he was told, no matter what inappropriate insults were hurled at him, no matter the sneers and threats directed his way, Lord Ernst never once responded to them.

    Without even trembling from anger, all he did was merely quietly look at his people.

    Those eyes of his shared a great similarity with those of His Majesty.

    They were the eyes of someone who held concern, and who held love for his people.

    When everything wrapped up, the people of Meissen cheerily returned to their villages.

    It was the first time I had seen them with such eyes full of liveliness and vigor.

    Even the militia troops who didn¡¯t know anything about what was going on were delighted.

    After the head butler left the office in high spirits, he probably ordered people to start cleaning up.

    But at that time, a new and difficult problem was thrust before me, and my body shamefully went rigid with fear.

    In the past, I had also spent several decades as a border guard.

    I had already noticed that in Meissen, as a border territory, the Bastelis River wasn¡¯t all that reliable.

    Yet this tiny lord was still able to foresee many more points than I could.

    That which protected Meissen was its poverty. There was someone who was able to perceive Meissen¡¯s poverty in such a way.

    He said that Meissen had a future. That it was possible to develop that valley.

    I couldn¡¯t follow such a tremendous plan in my head at all. Aldo, seated next to me, was just the same.

    When I accidentally glanced over at him, I saw that Ganche was smiling with a grin. It seemed like that guy, at least, knew something.

    My head was so overstimulated that I couldn¡¯t sleep, so to cool down, I went to take a walk alone at the rear of the estate.

    Though you could say that it was getting closer to spring, I still tromped through the deep snow which fell over Meissen¡¯s land. With each step, I tread down, flattening the snow beneath my feet with a thick crunch.

    In Meissen, people¡¯s houses were built far apart. When I walked straight ahead from the mansion and approached the forest, the only light I could see at this late at night was the light from the moon.

    Bit by bit, I left the estate behind me.

    Step by step, I walked across the snow field of the night.

    My eyes grew accustomed to the dark.

    The snow was stunningly bright.

    On a night like this, just what was it reflecting to shine like that?

    I impulsively looked up, and all of a sudden, there it was: the round moon floated above me.

    The luminous, bright moon, which glowed with a gentle light.

    As I looked at the distant forest in the horizon, I saw that the moonlight fell straight over the trees.

    Lord Ernst was like the moon.

    I abruptly had that thought.

    For a land buried in snow like Meissen, the overbearing light of the sun was far too much. It would bring about avalanches, inducing great tribulation on the people.

    Lord Ernst, like the moonlight, revealed with clarity the path ahead under a gentle radiance.

    Lord Ernst was like the glow of the moon, enveloping his people and the land under his light as he pointed out a path for the people of Meissen. [1]

    Over this vast expanse of snow that was Meissen, which had neither landmarks nor directions for anyone to find their way, he was the light of the moon which glowed against the dark and illuminated a destination.

    I wanted to ride a horse through all of the scattered towns and villages of Meissen, waking all of the residents of this fief with my shouts.

    Oi, you! All of you! Do you even realize it!? Do you even know just how rare of a person you have as a Lord?!

    I wanted to run back to the barracks, shake the sleeping troops awake and shout at them.

    Oi, you guys! You have to protect him with everything you have! We might never find anyone like him again ¨C we have to keep him safe!

    Then, I wanted to scream at all of the citizens of Rintz Kingdom.

    Aaaah, what an atrocity you guys committed! If you¡¯d taken this person as King, this country would have flourished so quickly!

    I took the satchel out from my pocket.

    It was a small satchel that had accompanied me over many long months and years. The delicate embroidery had worn out, and the lustrous platinum now looked faded.

    I enveloped that tiny satchel with both of my hands.

    Your Majesty, would it be okay if I ended my journey here?

    I¡¯ve found that I want to keep watching over this land.

    I want to use what remains of my life as a wager so that I can see with my own eyes just how much that tiny Lord will be able to achieve.

    As I stood alone in that snowfield illuminated by the moonlight, I heard a dear and nostalgic voice echo in my ear, the voice speaking within my chest.

    That is well, that is well.

    The voice which spoke was full of warmth.

    [1] I felt like this area of Targes¡¯ thoughts had a lot of poetic sentiment, so I added lines which weren¡¯t written in the original in order to get across some of the feelings in the words he used. The word for moonlight is commonly ÔÂÃ÷ [tsukiakari], which was used previously in the paragraph. In this line, the word ÔÂÓ° [gekkei/tsukikage] is used. ÔÂÓ° can mean moonlight or the moon, and can also refer to the light of the moon that silhouettes people and things in the dark. This is the same word used in the title of the story, Setsugen no Gekkei/Tsukikage (Moonlight on the Snowfield). Targes¡¯ thoughts reveal that the title of the story refers to Ernst, who is the moonlight illuminating the field of snow that is Meissen, which has been trapped in a long, dark winter.

 zChapter 56 - Interlude Ganche and the Other Side of the Crescent Moon

    On that day, as well, Ernst had only returned to their room far into the night.

    Once he had finished meeting with the citizens of his fief and taking his supper, Ernst toiled through his Lordly duties.

    In Meissen, which was overwhelmingly lacking in skilled personnel, the Lord was not only an administrative official but also a mediator, a doctor, and now, a teacher as well.

    He listened to the requests of his citizens and he laid down his adjudications, and then he arbitrated the quarrels which would then once again crop up between the people. He complied with the mandates ordered by the kingdom and prepared the documents to respond to its inquiries.

    And on top of that was the problem of finances: no one in Meissen could accomplish calculations well enough, so no matter if the expenditure of money was large or small, all of it had to be handled by the Lord.

    The burden of work Ernst had to carry was far greater than anything his people could imagine.

    Yet no matter how hard-pressed Ernst was by his labor, he never changed his attitude. He continued on as calmly as before.

    It was this that allowed the people around him to misunderstand and think that because Ernst didn¡¯t seem to be under pressure, he must not be doing anything important.

    Ganche knew that the depth of Ernst¡¯s heart was tremendous and held an enormous capacity within, but still, he worried that if those conversations with the citizens continued on as they did now, they would cause Ernst uncharacteristic exhaustion.

    Ganche heard the patter of light footsteps in the corridor and from this, he understood that Ernst finally returned. He left their bedroom and lifted that small body into his arms.

    ¡°Welcome back.¡±

    He spoke those words after they had returned to the room and closed the door.

    The people in this estate went to sleep early. Even if the lord was up late at night, sequestered away in his office, the others always finished their work at the same time they always did and returned back to their own rooms.

    From Ganche¡¯s perspective, he couldn¡¯t help but think it was a show of disrespect ¨C but since Ernst himself forgave and allowed it, Ganche had no right to say anything.

    It was true enough that if someone who didn¡¯t have a good handle on letters hung around, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to help Ernst a whit.

    Rather than having to move forward by mutually consulting my thoughts with another person, it¡¯s more efficient to work alone ¨C Ernst whispered this into Ganche¡¯s ear with a playful laugh.

    He stayed behind to work late at night in his office, and he returned to his room while trying to walk as quietly as possible. This was yet another way he showed consideration for the people in this estate; he tried his best to not wake any of them.

    This was Ganche¡¯s first time seeing a Lord who paid so much care to his own servants.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s already so late.¡±

    On top of that, he even apologized to Ganche.

    ¡°Please do not worry for me. Dunbertians are fine going ten or even twenty days without sleep, after all.¡±

    As he spoke, he lowered Ernst in front of the fireplace.

    Candles were too valuable to be used wastefully, but Ganche could go to the forest and obtain as much wood as he wanted for the fireplace. For Ganche, the only thing he was in no want of gathering was wood.

    Within the dark room, the shadows cast by the flamelight of the hearth swayed.

    Ernst exhaled deeply at the warm fire. That breath seemed to exude the tiredness in his body.

    Yet no matter how exhausted he was, Ernst never allowed any of his citizens or servants at the estate perceive it. It was only in front of Ganche that he behaved according to his true physical condition.

    The shadow of the flames flickered and wavered over Ernst¡¯s face.

    From the sunken appearance of his closed eyelids, one could understand the depth of his fatigue.

    Ganche replenished the wood in the fireplace, then slipped Ernst¡¯s shoes off his feet. He moved on to pull the upper garments from Ernst¡¯s delicate shoulders and to strip the lower garments as well.

    Ernst was like a doll, moving however Ganche wanted him to move. Once Ernst had been stripped bare, Ganche covered his small body with a cloak to keep him from growing cold.

    Ganche brought over the tub resting next to the fireplace, and he mixed the water inside with some hot water from the pot above the fire. He added water carefully so as to use just the right amount of hot water.

    Although Ernst actually wanted nothing more than to take a nice soak in a hot bath, he couldn¡¯t bear to go through the trouble at this late at night. I mustn¡¯t wake everyone in the estate by moving about and making noise, was his reasoning.

    On Ganche¡¯s end, he felt that since Ernst was the Lord, he should feel more free to do and behave as he pleased ¨C but Ernst said that it is because he is Lord that he must be restrained.

    Ganche soaked a piece of cloth in the hot water, then tightly wrung it. After checking the cloth¡¯s temperature, he gently rubbed Ernst¡¯s face with it. When he saw that small face slacken as if its tension had ebbed away, Ganche, too, felt a relieved smile spread over his face.

    Ganche soaked the cloth in hot water once more, and he brought it to wipe against Ernst¡¯s nape, to his chest, his back, and his arms. He lifted Ernst and swabbed at his small, round buttocks. He wiped down Ernst¡¯s legs, and finally, he carefully scrubbed each of Ernst¡¯s toes, one by one.

    Ganche returned the fur cloak around Ernst¡¯s tiny body and lifted Ernst onto his knee, after which he soaked a different cloth, a softer one, into the hot water. He wrung it out, then used it to gently wrap around Ernst¡¯s small manhood.

    Perhaps because of how good the sensation of the warm cloth was, Ernst leaned back on Ganche to keep himself upright. All the while, Ganche slowly and gently rubbed with the cloth as if massaging him.

    Ganche went through the same process for Ernst¡¯s small sack, whereupon slender fingers grasped Ganche¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Ganche¡­ behind, as well¡­¡±

    Ganche licked his own finger to wet it, then slipped it into the small furl between Ernst¡¯s buttocks.

    ¡°Ngh¡­¡±

    Ernst rested his head on Ganche¡¯s chest, swaying and trembling.

    The inserted finger gently thrust in and out, occasionally curling up as if weakly grazing something. Bit by bit, the slender legs facing the fireplace gradually spread wide.

    ¡°¡­Ganche, I want you.¡±

    Ernst looked up at Ganche, his blue eyes dimly shining with tears. A wave of sweet intoxication crashed over Ganche, nearly sweeping him away.

    Yet Ganche anchored himself with his self-control, and managed to hold on to some restraint.

    ¡°I am afraid we musn¡¯t. Come tomorrow, you¡¯ll only be left in discomfort.¡±

    When Ganche chided Ernst as such, Ernst¡¯s slender fingers gripped Ganche¡¯s arm so strongly that his fingers dug into him.

    ¡°I care nothing for tomorrow. They¡¯re all so focused only on themselves that¡­! Why don¡¯t any of them try to understand one another?! Just why is it that even though we¡¯ve come all this way and are so close to making it, they can¡¯t become kinder to other people¡­¡±

    Droplets of tears rolled down Ernst¡¯s pale cheeks.

    ¡°Why do the merchants have to ridicule the peasants? Why is it that when the women start talking with each other, the men shout at them to shut their mouths? Just who in what twisted world decided that men are supposed to be above women. ¡­Why must they scream at each other. Why¡­ just why can¡¯t just talk to each other normally?¡±

    Ganche had only been inside that room for three days. At present, he was no longer allowed to enter. For this reason, he knew nothing about what sort of conversations now took place within that room.

    But even during the time Ganche had been present, the people of the fief had been quarreling and shouting insults at each other.

    No matter what happened, Ernst always simply listened, calm and composed.

    Even if someone wanted to hurl their displeasure at him, all Ernst did was close his eyes without defending himself or providing any response.

    He always bore the same stillness as the surface of a lake as he listened to the furious bellows of his people.

    That was why no one knew.

    No one knew just how much Ernst was hurt. Neither did they know how lost he felt.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, it will be alright. No one is attempting to thrash the other anymore, isn¡¯t that so? It will be alright. I¡¯m certain that they will come to an understanding.¡±

    In truth, all of these people who have made Ernst suffer ¨C who are, even now, able to sleep nice and cosy in this mansion all because they don¡¯t mind damning everyone if it means they can stay prissy and offended ¨C

    Ganche wants to batter them all beneath his fists and kill them.

    If Ernst only gave the order, Ganche would immediately move into actualizing that scenario; but Ganche shook his head to chase away that thought, and he hugged Ernst.

    ¡°It will be alright.¡±

    Yet even though Ernst¡¯s golden-haired head was turned down, Ganche heard the quiet voice from his mouth.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t know if it will turn out alright¡­¡±

    Only in front of Ganche did Ernst speak any complaints.

    Now that Ganche no longer had to stand in during the meetings with the fief¡¯s people, Ernst finally began to share and vent with him.

    ¡°The discussion was completely meaningless. Everyone only cared about their own situation and treated it as the most important thing, meanwhile, they couldn¡¯t care less about other people¡¯s circumstances. The people of Meissen will never be able to come to an understanding each other. They won¡¯t even consider coming together.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Take your time, and it will happen.¡±

    ¡°¡­I¡¯ve already become sick of standing in front of my people. I can¡¯t stand it ¨C the malicious gazes, the raised voices.¡±

    He shook his head ¡®no¡¯ like a spoiled child. When he did, the scent of unripe fruit drifted into Ganche¡¯s nose.

    ¡°It will be alright, Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ganche rubbed Ernst¡¯s thin arm encouragingly, and Ernst seized his hand.

    ¡°Ganche, Ganche¡­ have me, please. Please hold me, I¡¯m begging you. That way, come tomorrow, when I once again must stand before my people, I¡¯ll have a piece of your strength with me¡­¡±

    If there were a man who could resist his beloved as they rode him, nude, and begged him with such earnest eyes to take them ¨C he would be an unusual man indeed.

    Ganche embraced that small body in his arms, his hands racing to explore its slender back, stomach, legs, and arms.

    When they had begun their union, Ganche had thought, Only until the fire in the hearth burns out. Now, however, the flames of the fireplace had already long grown cold, and they had still not yet stopped.

    In the very beginning, it had been a struggle to even connect their bodies; Ernst¡¯s small form had gone through great pains to swallow even one of Ganche¡¯s fingers.

    From there, he had gradually loosened, progressing from being able to easily take those fingers to where he was now, able to take Ganche¡¯s body every day. If he was taken once, gently, then Ernst would even be able to have Ganche again the next day.

    That Ernst¡¯s small body grew more and more fitting to Ganche made Ganche feel such gladness and joy.

    Ever since the people of the fief had come to stay at the estate, Ganche and Ernst hadn¡¯t intermingled. Ganche struggled to restrain himself now that they finally had their tryst after such a long time.

    But Ernst didn¡¯t hold back. He greedily sought his pleasure from Ganche.

    When Ganche had released inside once, Ernst had knit his thin brows and, as if trying to make sure Ganche would never be able to slip out of him, clenched tightly.

    ¡°¡­gh! Lord Ernst¡­!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not to take it out.¡±

    Ernst clamped around him so tightly that Ganche felt as if his part would be eaten up and swallowed down.

    ¡°But¡­! Isn¡¯t ¨C isn¡¯t it painful for you¡­? We had to loosen you for so long because it had been such a while, hadn¡¯t we? We musn¡¯t overdo¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not overdoing it!¡±

    Ernst squeezed down even tighter, making it hard for Ganche to breathe.

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­! I shan¡¯t pull out, so please, loosen your grip a bit.¡±

    He rubbed Ernst¡¯s slender shoulder as he begged, and Ernst complied by slightly relaxing his hold.

    But the tightness remained the same. Regardless of Ernst¡¯s will, this was the price to be paid for breaching such a small form.

    Ganche put Ernst on his lap. He circled one hand around Ernst¡¯s back and and steadied the other on the floor, and he let out a deep exhale as if he had been taken aback.

    Ganche saw the back of Ernst as he was connected to Ganche. Even in this lightless room, Ganche¡¯s eyes could see it well.

    That small back of his was trembling.

    ¡°Lord Ernst.¡±

    Ganche reached up with the hand that had been resting on Ernst¡¯s hip, and stroked Ernst¡¯s trembling back.

    ¡°Ganche¡­ Ganche¡­ I¡¯m ¨C scared.¡±

    With his head bowed, Ernst spoke in the same low, quiet voice as someone whispering to a lover.

    ¡°I had believed that, no matter what happened, everything would turn out fine. I thought that I would be able to accept it, no matter what occurred or what was said to me. But I had been naive. Now, for me, I can¡¯t do anything other than be scared. I¡¯m scared of the eyes of my people as they insult and berate me. Their eyes as they scorn and laugh at me, those eyes are terrifying.¡±

    Ganche raised his body and, with gentleness, wrapped his arms around Ernst from behind.

    ¡°Ganche, tell me that you need me. That even if you¡¯re the only one who does, that you need me. ¡­I want you to please, tell me that it¡¯s fine for me to stay here¡­¡±

    So it had gotten to the point where he had been so worn down he could no longer find worth in his own existence?

    How could such a strong, and such a gentle person be driven and cornered to this point?

    Ganche held Ernst tightly in his arms.

    That small body of his had grown chilly and cold.

    ¡°My beloved Lord Ernst. This self of mine exists only for your sake. If this world did not have you, then my heart, like this world, would be barren. Lord Ernst¡­ for my sake, grant me your love, stay here by my side, I beg of you.¡±

    Ganche ran his hands down Ernst¡¯s thin arms. He wiped Ernst¡¯s small face. His fingers were wettened by the tears. When he licked away the droplets, the bittersweet taste of fruit spread over his tongue.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, why don¡¯t you try hanging on for just a little bit longer? How about¡­ you keep going for just one more day. And if, even after that, everything remains the same, I shall go and toss the whole lot of them out of the estate.¡±

    As he pressed a kiss to Ernst¡¯s small lips, they spilled out a chuckle.

    ¡°I suppose so. I will try my best for just one more day. ¡­And if no good comes of it, then I¡¯ll have to ask you to lend me your hand.¡±

    ¡°Yes. You have my word.¡±

    Ganche wrapped his arms around Ernst¡¯s thin waist and hugged him fiercely. The small body within Ganche¡¯s arms then let out a moan.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, my deepest apologies¡­! I¡¯m still inside of you, aren¡¯t I.¡±

    As he spoke, Ganche tried to pull out until Ernst¡¯s fingers clutched at his arm.

    ¡°Not yet. I¡¯m not satisfied until we¡¯ve done more for today.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡±

    ¡°Ganche, you worry far too much over my body. It isn¡¯t as if I¡¯ll remain inexperienced and unaccustomed to it forever. My body knows your shape now. By now, it won¡¯t hurt me if we¡¯ve done it once.¡±

    It has certainly been said that those who supposedly have bodily fluid compatibility are different in every circumstance from the norm. Usually, it would be impossible for two people with such a size disparity to join together.

    But Ernst¡¯s body could feel the sensation of Ganche¡¯s semen within it, and the deeper that sensation was, the more unbelievably addicting it felt. Ernst¡¯s body became loose, warm, and soft as it pressed around Ganche, swallowing around him to urge him to spill inside.

    Usually, if one spilled semen in such a place, absolutely nothing would happen.

    But Ernst¡¯s physical condition had never once suffered from it.

    When Ganche finished in his stomach, Ernst didn¡¯t feel any abdominal pains; rather, according to Ernst, what always happened was that he felt brimming with physical and mental energy afterward.

    To have bodily fluid compatibility was incredible in every way.

    ¡°In that case, Lord Ernst, we ought to go to bed. If we continue on like this, you¡¯ll be frozen by the cold air, won¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Mn¡­ Then I¡¯ll ask you to carry me over like this. I¡¯ve decided that tonight, I won¡¯t be separated from you.¡±

    Ernst¡¯s stubborn face stared up at Ganche. Even his blue Kleber eyes could faintly capture Ganche¡¯s silhouette, illuminated by the light the snow reflected through the window.

    ¡°I have no other choice, it seems,¡± Ganche murmured, embracing Ernst¡¯s small body in his arms.

    Though he played at reluctance, Ganche enjoyed this, as well. The wilfulness Ernst occasionally had was something he only revealed to Ganche, and this was something that made Ganche very happy.

    Even while they were still connected, Ganche easily lifted Ernst¡¯s small body. One hand pressed Ernst¡¯s thin hips to his own, and the other wrapped around Ernst¡¯s chest to hug him..

    ¡°Aah¡­!¡±

    Perhaps with the change of angle, Ganche had struck somewhere painful, for Ernst writhed, his golden hair thrown into dishevelment.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, are you alright¡­!¡±

    ¡°Aah¡­ I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just that you hit somewhere different from usual, Ganche¡­ aah, it feels quite good.¡±

    So that was it, Ganche smiled, relieved, and resumed walking.

    Every time Ganche took a step, the lightweight body he was connected to by a single part let out a groan. Ernst¡¯s thin legs swayed in the air.

    ¡°Ah¡­ aah¡­ mn.¡±

    A sweet scent filled the room.

    They laid down in bed, and Ganche gently ran his hand up Ernst¡¯s pale back.

    Although they had joined together from behind many times like this, this was the first time they had taken a position in this way. To have Ernst be on his hands and knees while Ganche looked down on him felt like a disrespect, and Ganche hadn¡¯t been able to bring himself to do it.

    But now, Ernst kneeled on his hands and knees on the bed.

    Propped up on all fours, Ernst rested his cheek against the bedding, his hips raised high. Sighing with moans of pleasure, he murmured Ganche¡¯s name without end.

    Ganche gently brushed his hand down Ernst¡¯s narrow back. He dropped a kiss on the slight downward curve of Ernst¡¯s nape and loosely nibbled on it. The delicate skin was sensitive to the touch of Ganche¡¯s teeth, and the thin neck shied away.

    As if making amends, Ganche ran his tongue over Ernst¡¯s neck as he slowly pushed his hips. He rocked in from below, as if burrowing inside. He did it over and over.

    As they rocked back and forth, yearning sighs continued to spill from Ernst¡¯s lips.

    ¡°Ganche¡­ Ganche¡­¡±

    As if to tell him, Enough, Ernst called out Ganche¡¯s name, then hugged the hand that Ganche had placed on Ernst¡¯s head. Ernst held Ganche¡¯s hand tightly, expressing how he couldn¡¯t take much more of this.

    Ganche pushed in with much more force than before.

    His free hand crept to Ernst¡¯s thin hips, which were pressed down so strongly to the bed that they were nearly sewn together. His fingers dug down and sought out the tip of Ernst¡¯s small member.

    Ganche pulled his hips away until he was nearly out, then pushed back in all at once. The force of Ganche¡¯s thrust rocked Ernst off balance.

    Even though he must have been exhausted, even though his small body was shouldered with many burdens, Ernst never told Ganche to stop. The precious, beloved lover of Ganche¡¯s used everything he had to take Ganche in.

    This person was always, in every occasion, working hard with his best effort.

    But, because of what he had been taught in the royal palace, he never outwardly expressed any of his inner turmoil. He also similarly hid any trace of how much sweat and blood he poured into his efforts.

    He always appeared calm and unaffected as he achieved things which were by no means simple to do.

    Ganche loosely held his precious treasure of a person.

    He pumped his hips with short thrusts, feeling that he would reach his climax soon.

    Should I pull out and come outside? ¨C He didn¡¯t say those mood-ruining words. His beloved had already told him that he wasn¡¯t allowed to do so.

    As their bodies were still connected like beasts, Ganche began moving his hips as wildly as an animal. The sound of flesh smacking flesh resounded in the dark room.

    A sweet, enticing fragrance drifted from Ernst¡¯s disheveled golden hair.

    Ganche gently gripped and covered Ernst¡¯s member with his hand. The small manhood trembled and shuddered against Ganche¡¯s palm. Even though it could no longer grow hard again after coming once, it twitched as if reacting to Ganche¡¯s frenzied desire.

    Ganche felt wetness in his hand, covering his fingers. He moved his wettened fingers in front of Ernst¡¯s face so that Ernst could see with his own eyes.

    And then, as they looked at each other, Ganche unhurriedly brought his fingers to his mouth. A sweet taste filled his senses. It didn¡¯t have the same viscous texture laced with sweetness as Ernst¡¯s first time coming, but instead had a fresh and clear taste.

    Ganche pulled his fingers out of his mouth. ¡°Wonderful,¡± he said, as he once again brought his fingers to twine around Ernst¡¯s member. He repeated this countless times until the flavor had run out.

    At the same time, the thrusts of his hips had never stopped. Ernst could feel the fluids dripping inside of him from the tip of the gigantic rod inside of him.

    Once he felt the nectar given to him in such a sensitive place by his partner with compatible fluids, all of his sense of reason had blown away. He kept moving his hips like he was about to break, to the point where the overflowing semen inside of him dripped out.

    Ernst lost all rationality once he felt newly burgeoning life erupting from Ganche.

    He crazily called out Ganche¡¯s name, his small ass clenching around Ganche like he wanted to be even more deeply connected together.

    Held inside so deeply, softly, and pleasurably, Ganche finally met his climax.

    He shot out streams without end, which mixed inside with the come from their last round. It filled Ernst and overflowed, the rest running out from a gap. It dripped and flowed down Ganche¡¯s thighs and Ernst¡¯s legs.

    Ernst¡¯s insides still twitched and squeezed, trying to squeeze every last drop from Ganche.

    This movement happened regardless of Ernst¡¯s conscious intentions, for the bodies of people with compatible fluids greedily sought to drink down the release of their fitting partners.

    Ganche stayed inside Ernst until Ernst¡¯s body was satisfied, allowing himself to be wrung dry.

    Finally, the movements of the small body gradually lessened, and fell quiet.

    After that, it became a comfortable and soft small room for Ganche¡¯s exclusive use.

    Ganche slowly, carefully pulled out so as to not force all of the release he had shot in Ernst to spill out. With a squelch, he separated and made it out.

    Although his cock had been squeezed dry, it still hadn¡¯t had nearly enough and remained hard. Ganche gave a bitter smile at that part of himself, and he stroked it a few times in appeasement.

    He quietly scooped Ernst up from where he laid face-down, and turned him around to face the ceiling.

    Ernst¡¯s small face showed an expression of peace of mind and contentment in his sleep.

    Relieved, Ganche pressed a kiss to Ernst¡¯s cheek.

    Regardless of however tomorrow might turn out, and no matter how difficult today was, he hoped that in sleep, at least, Ernst would feel freed of his worries and burdens.

    He once again laid Ernst down on the bed, and he gently covered Ernst with the bedding.

    As Ganche gently hugged Ernst from behind, the small body stirred to snuggle against Ganche¡¯s heart. Ernst fell back asleep with his nose brushing against Ganche¡¯s chest.

    His partner, older and so reliable, showed such a defenseless and vulnerable side in his sleep, and Ganche¡¯s face softened as he watched Ernst.

    Although his worries from last night had not yet disappeared, Ernst still woke come early morning the next day.

    Early to rise, late to bed.

    Ganche couldn¡¯t help but worry over whether Ernst¡¯s body would break down if this continued.

    As he dressed Ernst in his clothes, Ganche asked, ¡°Is your body feeling alright?¡±

    Ernst laughed. ¡°Some of you is still inside of me.¡±

    He lovingly rubbed his stomach for a while.

    ¡°If I think that you¡¯re encouraging me while with me in the deepest parts of myself, I feel like that¡¯ll keep me full of motivation to do my best.¡±

    Ernst pinched Ganche¡¯s cheeks with both of his small hands, and he pressed kisses to Ganche¡¯s forehead, nose, and mouth.

    ¡°Thank you, Ganche. I¡¯ll try my best to keep staying strong for just a little longer. I¡¯ll get through today.¡±

    Ernst smiled, soft, his expression seeming like it would melt under the morning sun¡¯s light streaming from the window.

    They took their breakfast together, and Ganche escorted Ernst to the reception hall.

    It was always the Lord who was first to enter the room, and who waited for his people to enter.

    Ganche felt as if Ernst¡¯s small body grew with each and every step he took.

    Hiding his hesitations, ignoring his fears, the small Lord advanced down the path of thorns.

    Ganche was always watching over Ernst¡¯s back.

    If he could only fulfill one wish in his life, then it would be for him to be allowed to stand as shield for his beloved person¡¯s back. It was for this reason that Ganche always, always, watched over Ernst on his path.

 zChapter 58 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon

    In the case of Meissen, the Lord gathered taxes from the fief¡¯s inhabitants at the New Year. The Lord then paid the King those taxes early in the season of summer, after the snow had melted.

    After deducting the wages for the head butler and the people who served the estate, the wages paid to the captain of the militia, and finally the portion used for miscellaneous everyday purchases, Meissen fell to a deficit of 800 sitt.

    Every day, and the next day, and the next, and the next, and the next, Ernst continued calculating the numbers.

    The head butler, Sington, felt sorry for how much the Lord worried and fretted, and tried to return his wages. Though Ernst was grateful for Sington¡¯s care, he didn¡¯t accept the offer. Compared to the people in other territories, Ernst didn¡¯t think that the people in his own were paid enough.

    If Sington went without pay, then even the butlers and maids would try to offer their wages. Though one could say that they were better-off than the peasant class, this didn¡¯t change the fact that they still had families in their hometowns whom they needed to support. Ernst couldn¡¯t allow them to suffer in life any more than they already did.

    Having said that, the missing portion would have to be scrounged up from somewhere. Although Ernst could hold off on receiving taxes from his people, it was utterly impossible for the Kingdom to wait on receiving taxes from the Lords.

    As such, somehow or another, he absolutely had to raise enough funds.

    When Ernst had left the royal palace, he had brought some money with him. His plan was to use it as insurance in case he fell into the worst-case scenario.

    After all, Ernst had promised his people that for the next ten years, he wouldn¡¯t raise their taxes.

    What that meant was that for the next ten years, Ernst would have to face this same situation every year.

    Each farmer paid 5 sitts as well as some crops to the Lord as taxes. First, Ernst decided to sell these crops. He was sorry to burden the militia with this work, but it was better to have the militia troops expand the estate¡¯s farm fields. That way, they could supply meals for the troops and for the estate¡¯s servants.

    Caralime Village paid taxes in wool, the mountaineer-filled Eitt Village paid in firewood, and Yakiya Village paid in honey. These, of course, were also sold to the merchants. The essentials used in the estate would have to be gathered by the militia.

    Since merchants made no crafted goods to supplement their taxes, they paid 20% of their income to the Lord along with the 5 sitt tax. Merchants who, like in Meissen, were unable to turn much of a profit, paid in the worst case an additional 1 sitt.

    Like this, Ernst was somehow able to gather 300 more sitt to offset the shortfall. The remainder was 500 sitt.

    Ernst went walking through every nook and cranny of the estate. He searched for everything, anything, that he could sell.

    He stepped into the library. In the end, this really was all that there was.

    Ernst made his decision with a single, resigned sigh.

    ¡°So you wish to sell these books, you say?¡±

    The merchants from Saiquani and Folea were in the library. Whether it was to Caprix fief in Lux or Linz fief in Rintz, they should be able to sell the books in either place.

    ¡°Not all of them. Only these are to be sold.¡± Ernst pointed to a large desk at the center of the library. Last night, with Ganche¡¯s help, he had pulled the books from their shelves and stacked them up into a mountain.

    Since the people who were currently learning how to read at the estate might want to come to the library someday in order to read books, Ernst had to leave some books which would be beneficial for them. He also left some books written with simple words which people who had only just started learning the alphabet could read. There were books which would come of use for the Meissen of the future, such as books on medical treatment, education books, and architectural books. Ernst had avoided any books which he deemed vital. The ones he intended to sell were his predecessor¡¯s strange ones.

    ¡°¡­These ones¡­you say¡­¡±

    The merchants took the books into their hands, and with pained faces, peered into their contents.

    Although Meissen¡¯s literacy rate was dirt poor, as one might expect of any merchant, the merchants of Meissen were able to read. After they flipped over a single page, their faces screwed up, and they looked at Ernst with peering eyes.

    I swear, the person with this fetish who gathered these books was not me. Feeling like he wanted to blurt out these words, Ernst tightly shut his mouth. Even if he wanted to clumsily offer some excuses at this point, it would only come off as unsightly.

    Finally, the Saiquani merchant let out a heavy sigh. It felt as if his face had a look of ¡®After all, as far as nobles go, this kind of thing¡­¡¯ pasted on it. ¡°This is very¡­ how should I put it¡­ since these are quite unique books¡­ I am unsure if I can market them in Caprix fief¡­¡±

    The Folea merchant followed, ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ I also don¡¯t know if these can be sold in Linz fief, either¡­¡±

    Ernst had already known what the merchants would answer. In the first place, buyers of these kinds of books would approach the sellers first and have them gather the books exclusively for the buyer. They aren¡¯t something that a merchant would bring out all of a sudden to sell. If they were displayed without a thought in a store, then people would doubt the dignity and propriety of the shopkeeper.

    ¡°I understand what the two of you are saying. Yet, I am afraid that I have no choice other than to insist¡­ thus, how ought we resolve this. For now, could you not try to see if you are able to sell them? If they can be sold, then allow them to be bought. If it is impossible to sell these as books, then why not let them be purchased as paper?¡±

    Paper was made from plant matter. After paper had been immersed in water for several days, it could return to its original form. Like that, they could return the books to paper anew.

    Of course, a book sold as a book would fetch a higher price. Yet Ernst was so poor that he was even willing to sell them as paper. To fill the remaining 500 sitt deficit, he had to take any amount of money he could, whether it was 50 sitt or 10.

    Once Ernst made his proposal, the merchants nodded, discomfited expressions on their faces.

 zChapter 59 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon

    Arc 3, Waxing Moon

    Ernst couldn¡¯t simply wait around while the merchants sought out prospects for those books. In the worst case scenario, if those books were sold as paper, then the amount of paper they would turn into would be worth 100 aquia at most. Although it didn¡¯t do much to offset the shortage, every one aquia they saved now would be an aquia they didn¡¯t have to gather later.

    ¡°I had never seen this storehouse opened in my time here,¡± Sington said, looking up at the warehouse.

    ¡°Huum. So no one knows just what had been placed inside, then.¡±

    It was a large warehouse with white walls.

    ¡°Yes, that should be the case. When I had been serving the previous Lord, at least, it had already been shut like this.¡±

    A number of warehouses had been built in the Lord¡¯s estate. The majority of them contained emergency stores of food and firewood for the winter. Yet, there was only one warehouse which showed no sign of being opened even before the 100-year absence of a ruling Lord ¨C perhaps because its key had been lost. At this moment, Ernst and Sington stood in front of this very unopened warehouse.

    ¡°Since we don¡¯t have the key, I think that it will be impossible to open it¡­ But even if we did get this open, I doubt that there would be anything inside. These warehouses are for the Lord¡¯s emergency stores, after all.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking the same, to be frank, however¡­ I feel that if there is even a one-in-a-million chance that something is inside, we ought to try for it.¡±

    He and Sington both looked up at the warehouse.

    A sturdy lock sealed the warehouse. It was made not of wood, but of iron.

    ¡°If it had been made of wood, we could have used an axe to break it, but it¡¯s impossible for an axe to work on such thick iron as this.¡±

    As Sington¡¯s words suggested, the depth of the lock was about the same size as one of Ernst¡¯s fists.

    ¡°Huum¡­ This really is quite difficult, I see.¡±

    ¡°What can be done¡­ Maybe Sir Ganche would be able to do something about¡­ but, no, never mind, no matter how strong Sir Ganche is, a lock this thick is¡­¡± Sington muttered, twisting his head around.

    Since Ganche was the partner of Ernst, the Lord, Sington very earnestly and seriously referred to Ganche with an honorific title. Though Ganche himself had said that being called this way didn¡¯t really suit him, Sington seemed unwilling to concede on this point. When Ernst thought about it, Sington was actually the only person in the estate who had served the previous Lord. In those days, the butlers and maids served the estate in a long and unbroken line of heritage, handing down the history of the estate to each new generation. Through that, Sington had mostly likely undergone rigid training when it came to courtesy.

    Yet nonetheless, Sington had only been able to serve the previous Lord for ten years before the Lord passed away; and before then, the previous Lord had shut himself away in his estate as a recluse, so there had not been a single opportunity for Sington to display that courteous behavior for his Lord.

    Sington himself thought that he had been trained in courtesy, but in Ernst¡¯s eyes, such training only seemed to draw alienating boundaries and limitations.

    But despite this, Sington still thought that he had to call the Lord and the Lord¡¯s partner and children with respectful honorifics, so even if Ganche pulled an awkward and uncomfortable face every time Sington called him, Sington still persisted in addressing him that way. [1]

    As the two of them loitered in front of the warehouse, Ganche and Aldo came over after having been called for by Ernst.

    ¡°Aldo, do you know where the key to this warehouse might be?¡± Sington asked. Aldo had served for many years at the estate as part of the militia.

    But Aldo¡¯s response was the same as what Sington had said before. ¡°No¡­ I had never even seen this warehouse opened before, either.¡±

    ¡°Ganche. Are you able to break this lock?¡± Ganche looked at the iron lock Ernst pointed at, and nodded.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡± Ganche said, and after he had made sure that Ernst stood a sufficiently safe distance away, he drew out the greatsword at his hip. Ganche gripped the handle using both hands, and as he bellowed out a ¡®hn¡¯ battle cry, swung down.

    After a flash that couldn¡¯t be perceived by the eye, a dull clang sounded as the iron lock split in two. The clumps of iron fell and sunk into the ground. Ganche easily scooped them up and tossed them away, and just as simply put a hand to the door handle and opened the heavy door.

    Ganche stood to the side, making way to follow Ernst, who took the lead to enter. In this warehouse which hadn¡¯t been opened for more than a hundred years, a somehow heavy atmosphere hung in the air. Perhaps it was because other than the one door that had been opened, there was no other path for the air to flow. This atmosphere, like that inside of a heavy cage, had a peculiar smell to it.

    Ernst stopped walking forward and waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The warehouse had no transom windows which would have let light inside. It was dimand dark, with no light other than the sunlight which spilled from the open door.

    ¡°There are some objects that have been kept inside this warehouse.¡±

    If anyone was going to say this, it would, of course, be a Dunbertian. Among the Kleber, not a single person¡¯s eyes had yet adjusted to the darkness, but Ganche¡¯s eyes could accurately see the insides of the warehouse.

    ¡°I see tableware and furniture, as well as what seem to be rugs and the like.¡±

    At this point, Ernst¡¯s eyes could also finally see. Just as Ganche said, the various objects used for the estate had been tidily tucked away here.

    ¡°This is¡­!¡±

    Sington rushed over to a shelf. It was no wonder; even from faraway, one could see just what kind of goods were there. At the very least, these goods could still be used even after they had been abandoned behind a lock whose key had been lost for over a hundred years. Ernst looked up at the mountain of goods, and he expressed his thanks to his previous generations of Lords.

    ¡°Lord Ernst. Seems like quite a lot of things have been brought out of that warehouse, eh?¡± Targes said as he passed the door into Ernst¡¯s office.

    Ernst paused in his writing, and he laughed. ¡°Yes, exactly so¡­ It seems that all of the Lords who have ruled Meissen enjoy leaving behind surprises for people.¡±

    ¡°¡­What do you mean by that?¡± Targes tilted his head. Ernst prompted him to take a seat in one of the chairs encircling the large desk, and as Ernst gathered a sheaf of papers in his hands, he sat on the other side of Targes.

    ¡°This is something which also came out of that warehouse.¡±

    He passed several papers over to Targes.

    Targes looked through every one of those papers, then lifted his head, surprise on his face. ¡°So that warehouse was actually planned as a treasure chest¡­¡± Targes murmured in wonder, and at those words, Ernst nodded.

    On each of these sheets of paper, the differing names of various Lords were written, accompanied by the same words: If the Lord of the next generation is ever faced by troubled times, make use of this.

    The Lords of the previous generations had all worried over the same thing, and they had left behind goods from each of their eras as gifts to help their future successors.

    ¡°Such incredibly tasteful people they were, were they not¡­ I, also, want to leave behind a gift for the Lord of the next era¡­ I have to try.¡± Ernst whispered those words, the last of them sounding as if he was trying to convince himself.

    These unexpected gifts from the previous eras had saved Ernst from his current predicament.

    ¡°Lord Ernst. If you sell these goods, will you stop collecting the citizens¡¯ tax?¡± Targes asked.

    Ernst shook his head.

    ¡°Why not? If you sold all of this, it seems to me that you wouldn¡¯t even need to collect taxes for the next ten years, and everything would be fine¡­¡±

    Ten years was an exaggeration; five years, at best, would be a better estimation. Nevertheless, for the people who were currently living in poverty it would be a blessing from above.

    However¡­

    ¡°No matter the situation, the tax must be imposed on the people¡­ It is certainly true that if all of those goods were sold, then even if no tax was collected from the citizens, the tax I must pay to the Kingdom would be covered. Yet doing so would not be for the good of the people¡­ Can those who do not have responsibility to shoulder truly grow to steady maturity?¡±

    He looked into Targes¡¯s eyes, which were the same blue as his own.

    ¡°A moderate struggle which must be overcome is what allows a person to grow. If the people no longer needed to pay taxes, they would feel that they were saved. They would rejoice. This joy, however, would vanish soon enough. They would take the favor they had been given for granted, and feel that it was only natural for them to ask for more. In this way, they would become people who only made demands of others.¡±

    He lowered his gaze to the sheaf of paper that had come from the warehouse. Although these papers listed objects from hundreds of years ago, because they had been stored in the tightly-shut warehouse, the papers¡¯ color had not faded over time. The ink was just as vivid and bold as if it had been written now. What those Lords had been thinking when they wrote down those words¨CErnst understood perfectly.

    The eras of those Lords who had contributed their goods could not have all been smooth and pleasant. All of these lords had saved and scrounged what they could so that someday, what they sent could save the future generations.

    ¡°¡­I see what you¡¯re saying. Something like that could actually happen. And besides, it isn¡¯t as if there were ever a merchant who made a huge profit in one part of his business, and that made him decide to give out his wares for free.¡±

    Ernst laughed at Targes¡¯ response.

    ¡°I¡¯ll set aside the gifts from my predecessors to cover the deficiency in the taxes for this year¡­ And as for the rest, they will be used for this.¡±

    Ernst handed the envelope beside him to Targes, and broached the real matter at hand.

    ¡°The reason I called you here, Targes, is because I would like to ask you to deliver this.¡±

    ¡°And this is¡­?¡±

    It was made of top quality paper and sealed with the mark of Meissen¡¯s lord. No matter who were to look at it, they would know that this was an official document meant for someone of authority or nobility.

    ¡°I would like you to deliver this to the ministry in the royal capital.¡±

    Targes¡¯ hands had been reaching for the envelope. When he heard Ernst¡¯s words, they froze. ¡°It¡¯s for the ministry¡­¡±

    At the center of this country was a Senate composed of thirteen nobles. Any requests to the Kingdom would first have to be discussed and approved by the Senate; otherwise, the demand would never reach the King¡¯s ears. However, before the matter could reach the floor of the Senate, it had to be approved by the ministry. The request had to be conveyed to the ministry through a written document, and only the approved cases would be sent over to the Senate. From there, the claimant of the case would be summoned to the court for the first time so that they may receive the Senate¡¯s questions, provide explanations, and earn their approval.

    A round trip from Meissen to the capital took about one month. And while one waited for their claim to pass through the ministry, they had to stay in the capital to anticipate the response. On top of that, if the Senate wanted to call a meeting with him, Ernst had to be present for it. This meant that it was necessary to prepare the travel and board expenses for at least two round trips. Yet given how much cost was involved in developing the canyon over the next twenty years, unless they were able to raise funds through a request to the kingdom, they wouldn¡¯t be able to do it, Ernst thought.

    ¡°In regards to the Linz Valley development, I want to begin by crossing over the first hurdle. I want to send someone who is familiar with the capital, and who will not be disadvantaged when faced with the ministry.¡± Ernst smiled. ¡°¡­In my land of Meissen, there is no one but you who meets these qualifications, Targes.¡±

    For a brief moment, Targes¡¯ expression wavered. ¡°The task is just to deliver a letter to the ministry, isn¡¯t it? ¡­ In that case, I¡¯m not necessarily the only¡­¡±

    ¡°No, that will not do. Although it might certainly be a simple matter of handing my letter over to the ministry, the people who are in charge of receiving such requests will, without a doubt, be observing the appearance of the carrier. If the recipients judge the carrier of the message to be unimportant, then the documents will be discarded without ever being sent to the ministry.¡±

    ¡°No, but¡­ if it¡¯s a letter from the ¨C the former crown prince, Lord Ernst, would there really be anyone who would thoughtlessly just tear it up¡­¡± As Ernst had predicted, Targes withdrew.

    ¡°It is because it is my letter that there is a high possibility of it being discarded. If a meager-looking person were to deliver the letter, then what would happen is that the letter would not be accepted because the problem would be attributed to the petitioner¡¯s own negligence. Even if the ministry were to end up looking at my letter, they would consider that to be all that was necessary. As such, to ensure that they cannot say that this is the fault of the petitioner, I must send in someone so exemplary that they will feel pressured just by looking at him.¡±

    Ernst heard a grunt from Targes¡¯ morosely closed mouth. Although it wasn¡¯t as if Ernst was giving Targes more credit than he deserved, Targes likely thought that Ernst was praising him too much.

    ¡°There is also the training of the militia corps, as well as the training for splitting the militia in two groups, as I had instructed you before. I understand how busy this makes you, but can I trust you with this?¡±

    Ernst tried to appeal to him. Targes¡¯ arms remained crossed.

    As a heavy atmosphere settled over them, Ernst internally let out a sigh. Unlike with Ganche, where Ernst could do anything to appease him, he had absolutely no idea what to do with Targes.

    ¡°If we do not pass through the ministry, then we cannot meet with the Senate. As for the Senate, I will do whatever I must, no matter what it takes, to pass my case. Yet when His Majesty the King passes his judgment, he can reject my proposal for any number of reasons. Even so, I want to do whatever I can for the sake of the people of Meissen.¡±

    Ernst peeked at Targes¡¯ face, far above Ernst. He had the slight impression that the hardness of Targes¡¯ expression had softened somewhat.

    ¡°It may not pass through in the first try. But I will keep submitting my requests no matter how many times it takes, even if I must attach myself to the Senate. I will never give up until His Majesty sends down his approval. So that I can pass the first stage of this process, I ask of you, would you be willing to lend me your aid¡­?¡±

    Ernst lowered his head, bowing deeply. Then, he heard Targes let out a heavy sigh.

    Slowly lifting his head, Ernst met Targes¡¯ eyes. Targes, with an expression like he¡¯d just swallowed a bitter-tasting bug, reluctantly nodded.

    [1] The honorific Sington uses is the Japanese suffix ¡¸˜”¡¹(sama). Specifically, this sentence here says that the Lord, Lord¡¯s partner, and Lord¡¯s children have to be addressed with ¡°-sama¡±.

 zChapter 60 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon

    Aldo, vice captain of the militia, Ganche, and the rest of the troops saw off the duo headed to the royal capital: Targes and the leader of the 1st platoon, Brez.

    They traveled to Arruca Village by horse, and after leaving the horses with the village, they crossed the valley with the help of a guide from Folea Town. Then, they bought new horses in Linz fief and galloped to the capital. Targes, who was in the knight caste, displayed magnificent form on horseback. By comparison, Brez¡¯s form was somewhat less impressive, but still, his training shone through.

    With the responsibility of Meissen on their shoulders, the shorter the travel, the better. Targes had said that he would rush to the capital as quickly as he could. Though Ernst has estimated that the timeframe for receiving a reply from the council would take a month, with how skillfully Targes and Brez rode on horseback, the time might even be reduced to twenty days.

    The letter Ernst entrusted to them should, without a doubt, be accepted by the ministry. The contents of the letter involved a scheme which would leave them unable to not accept.

    Ernst had not a single shred of worry over whether they would pass through the ministry. What most concerned him was passing through the Senate.

    Deep in thought, he watched the backs of those two people grow smaller and smaller in the distance.

    He had the impression that Targes had unpleasant memories he would rather avoid in the capital. For Targes¡¯ sake, as well, Ernst hoped that their request would pass on the first try.

    Twenty-one days later.

    Targes and Brez returned, and as Ernst had expected, they held a document stamped with the ministry¡¯s mark of approval.

    ¡°Will Lord Ernst be heading to the capital?¡± asked Ganche.

    He sat in the large chair for his exclusive use in Ernst¡¯s office.

    ¡°Humm. Although it isn¡¯t exactly necessary for the Lord to attend to negotiating with the Senate, in Meissen¡¯s case, it would be best if I were to go.¡±

    The request for developing the Linz Valley would not be easy to pass. The cost of such a project would be worth several years of the national budget. In order to somehow persuade the Senate not to toss out their request, it would be better for Ernst himself to go. And in any case, Ernst couldn¡¯t think of anyone in Meissen he could entrust with the task of being the Lord¡¯s proxy.

    ¡°Who will¡­ be escorting you?¡± As he asked, a trace of anxiety shook in Ganche¡¯s copper-colored eyes.

    ¡°First shall be¡­ Ganche, of course,¡± Ernst said, chuckling, and was met with Ganche¡¯s beaming smile. The abundant feelings of his partner who had only lived half as long as Ernst had were so cute, he couldn¡¯t help teasing.

    ¡°Next, Targes¡­ or otherwise, Aldo.¡± Judging by how Targes had looked, he might refuse to go to the capital a second time.

    ¡°After that would be a few troops. Going in too large of a group will increase the expenses, but this time we¡¯ll also be bringing along our taxes to the country. Having too few people would be useless.¡±

    As of late, Rintz Kingdom has been undergoing unrest.

    News had spread of many incidents where merchants, as well as servants of Lords who were transporting taxes, had been robbed along the highway leading to the capital. Although the military branch in charge of maintaining public order had stationed soldiers along each main road, it was impossible for them to monitor every path. It was said that the bandits would take advantage of even the slightest gap, and would appear out of nowhere to rob you in just a split second. It was to the point where the merchants who were unable to hire mercenaries were mercilessly robbed of everything but their lives, leaving them unable to conduct business.

    As if sensing Ernst¡¯s worries, Ganche smacked a fist to his own chest and said, ¡°Lord Ernst, there is nothing for you to fear. If any bandits come for us, I shall stomp them to the ground.¡±

    ¡°Humm. ¡­I have heard, though, that the bandits have Dunbertians and Grudes in their ranks. I know that you are strong, Ganche, but¡­ if among the bandits is someone you know, then¡­¡±

    ¡°There is no need to worry. The people of Grude Continent will fight even their parents and siblings without hesitation if they meet each other as enemies on the battlefield. I have also been raised this way, so there will be no problem.¡±

    At Ganche¡¯s words, Ernst smiled slightly and nodded, and he suddenly fell into thought.

    The idea of one¡¯s upbringing was truly a terrifying thing. Even if someone was raised wrongly, they would firmly believe that their manner was right, and would decide everything based on how they were taught. One¡¯s upbringing was almost certainly one¡¯s basis of judgment.

    Yet at the same time, one¡¯s upbringing was a fragile thing.

    The reason why one cannot put the education they learned at a desk to practical use is because the things in this world, including one¡¯s own emotions, are not as uniform and simple as what is taught through education.

    In the past, even though Ernst had believed in the correctness of sacrificing the lives of some of his people for the greater good of the country, regardless, he had still suffered a great impact from the sacrifice of a single horse.

    If, at that time, there had not been those hunters to guide him ¨C if Ernst had been on his own, then he felt that, even now, he would not be able to unhesitatingly choose the correct path, like they did.

    According to what Ernst had been taught through his upbringing, in order to protect his own life, he should sacrifice the horse.

    But in reality, it is not so easy to choose the path of sacrificing another living being in order to save himself.

    As Ganche had said, no matter who the opponent was you met on the battlefield, whether they be ally or enemy, you would have to fight them regardless.

    But was it really possible to immediately, and without hesitation, choose to do so?

    Ernst wasn¡¯t doubting Ganche. It was just, that Ganche was kind. Was it not possible that such kindness could create indecision in his heart and lead him into a situation that could even threaten his life? This was what worried Ernst.

    And moreover¡­ Ernst continued to worry.

    What if, among one of the bandits, was someone that Ganche had once loved before. Ernst worried about what might become of himself.

    Many people of many races gathered in the capital of Rintz Kingdom. Even if they weren¡¯t necessarily a bandit, there might be someone Ganche recognizes there. If that person turned out to be one of Ganche¡¯s past partners, Ernst wondered ¨C would he be able to maintain his composure?

    Twenty days after Targes had returned.

    With all of the preparations complete, Ernst set off on his journey to the capital.

    He started by taking a carriage to Arruca Village. The leader of the 1st platoon, Brez, served as the coachman. Four men on horses also encircled Ernst¡¯s carriage.

    At the vanguard was Targes. Although Targes had been deathly reluctant on the journey to petition the ministry, when he heard that Ernst was journeying to the capital, he was the first to sign up his name to be his escort.

    From the looks of it, Targes had judged that the journey to go to the capital and back would be extraordinarily dangerous.

    When Targes directed Ernst on who to choose as escorts, he unhesitatingly named himself, the 1st platoon leader Brez, the 1st company leader Mage, and the 2nd company leader Minaha. Ganche, of course, was also included.

    It had been a year since Ernst had last entered the capital. One year ago, the road from the capital to Linz fief had not been such a dangerous journey. Just what had happened over the past year for this to change?

    As he sat in the swaying carriage, Ernst¡¯s gaze dropped to the box placed under his feet. It was a box of a size that even Ernst could hold. It was carefully decorated with exquisite ornamentation, and the inside was lined with a beautiful silk.

    Within this box was the tax to be paid to the king. This was the precious earnings that the people of Meissen had gathered. This box, which was so heavy that Ernst was unable to lift it up, contained something even heavier inside ¨C the money that the people of Meissen had scraped and toiled for.

    At Arruca Village, Ernst disembarked from the carriage. The soldiers of the 2nd platoon that had accompanied them would return the carriage and horses to the estate.

    Although Rintz Kingdom was a well-known for its horses, since they were unable to cross the Linz Valley, the horses in Meissen were all purchased from Lux Kingdom. Although the horses were thin and had to be bought at expensive prices, Meissen had no choice but to buy them. They allowed the horses to breed, and while the number of horses eventually increased, at present there were only fifteen.

    Ernst looked up at the horse that Ganche rode. It was an exceptionally large and splendid horse. Both of its parents should have been skinny horses purchased for too-high prices. This horse must have been cherished and preciously raised by the militia soldiers in charge of the horses for it to have grown so big.

    Although it was only for a short time, Ernst took a look around Arruca. The migrant workers had just begun returning to the village. By the looks of it, they had been told about the village¡¯s cooperation with Caralime and Iben. The villagers had hauled out their decrepit looms and begun repairing them. No one knew if the rugs they would sell in the other fiefs, or if they would sell for a high price. Yet even so, the villagers bustled about, clinging to the glimmer of hope before them.

    Ernst felt that, little by little, his people were moving in the right direction.

    Although they had seemed unified at the estate, Ernst had feared that once they returned to their villages, they would forget that resolution in their hearts.

    But when they returned to their villages, they must have persuaded their fellow villagers. Although what they had to say must have had things that were difficult to speak about, as well, they persevered through it and convinced the other villagers.

    With Arruca Village at his back, Ernst stepped into the forest.

    His people had accomplished so much, and Ernst had to learn from their example.

    No matter how thick of a wall the Senate was, he must break through it.

    More than seventy people left Meissen through the Linz Valley in order to find work outside of their homeland.

    However, not everyone could safely make it through the valley. Every ten years, someone tragically lost their life to this valley.

    Once the Linz Valley was developed, it would be easy to transport horses and goods, and people would be able to cross it safely.

    In the midst of a winter with heavy snow, if even children could lightheartedly cross the valley without worry, then perhaps the people of Meissen would no longer turn to Lux Kingdom, but to Rintz.

 zChapter 61 - Chapter 4 Arc 3, Waxing Moon

    As early summer approached, only a shadow of snow remained in the forest.

    The grass swayed from the breeze of Ernst¡¯s footsteps, and the warm scent of life abounded in the forest.

    In the past, Ernst had passed through this forest at the beginning of winter.

    The Ernst of that time had known nothing; he had believed the teachings of the Royal Palace were everything in the world, and he himself had not experienced a thing.

    But now, after having spent almost a year here in Meissen, he looked at this forest by Arruca Village with fresh eyes. Now, it looked to him as a rich and abundant forest. If nothing else, it seemed much easier to manage in comparison to the Weiss Forest by Eitt Village, which was strongly influenced by the neighboring Grude Continent. Although the trees here had seemed enormous to him in the past, they looked small now that he had experienced the Weiss Forest¡¯s gigantic trees.

    ¡°For trees like these, perhaps they can be felled so long as adequate tools are available,¡± Ernst murmured, lost in thought. Ahead, Mage, the leader of the 1st company, turned back toward him.

    Mage was currently seventy years old, and he had his position of company commander thanks to Targes selecting him for the post. Apparently, other than him, there was no one else who was young enough who could handle spears on horseback.

    ¡°Yes, that is so, sir. The trees in the Lord¡¯s forest are just as large as these, but we are able to chop them down as well.¡±

    Ernst himself had never stepped foot in the so-called Lord¡¯s forest, which was the forest personally owned by the Lord of Meissen. Although Ganche had carried him around the entrance before, they had never gone deep into the forest.

    ¡°Humm¡­ What can you tell me about the kinds of tools used by the militia?¡±

    ¡°We use axes, but¡­ all of them are worn out. Although we have looked into trying to temper them somehow, we aren¡¯t able to find any ways to heat the iron enough to let us temper the metal,¡± said Minaha. Minaha walked alongside Mage, and he was the commander of the 2nd company. He had turned fifty-two at the turn of the year. At times of battle, the seven platoons would organize into three companies, and the three company commanders would lead each of the groups.

    Half a year after Targes had become the militia¡¯s captain, he had appointed these two as company commanders. Although both of them were younger than the seven platoon leaders, they both had better weapon proficiency and leadership skills than each of the others. As well, Minaha carried a large longbow on his back. He was said to be a master of the bow.

    Ernst pondered, and he thought: I want to procure our tools from Sistica Continent.

    Iron, as an underground resource, was mined by Helesians. Helesians, whose heights did not exceed 1 meter, originally lived in a place known as Hel Continent. At present, however, Hel Continent had been swallowed up by the neighboring territories of Sistica, Schell, and Grude Continents, and its presence above ground had nearly disappeared. Currently, each of those continents contained a few known Helesian cities, totaling 3 above ground and 4 underground. Those underground were known as Hel Continent.

    While every continent had resources hidden underground, only the Helesians were able to mine them. Those resources were located beneath a bedrock so hard that even the Grude races were probably unable to break it.

    It was said that this was ¡®probably¡¯ the case, however, because no one other than the Helesians knew of either the location of the ores or the method to mine them. Somehow, the Helesians located the ores, mined them out, and sold them to make profits.

    Whether making weapons or creating farming tools and the like, all of them required iron.

    However, only in the countries of Sistica Continent could that iron be forged to become even stronger. The environment of Sistica Continent provided natural sources of powerful, blazing fire, which the continent¡¯s people had learned to operate for their own use.

    Hunting tools, weapons, and swords were made in Rintz Kingdom as well, of course. But when Ernst considered the strength of the tools, he felt that it truly would be better to procure them from Sistica Continent. Ernst was only willing to buy expensive goods if they were high-quality, and he could not afford to cut costs for things like farming tools, which would be used just about until they broke.

    Ernst¡¯s gaze fell upon the weapons carried by the troops around him.

    Ganche¡¯s weapons ¨C his greatsword, spear, and everything else ¨C were all made in Sistica; and moreover, they were made in Leucurias Country, which was said to forge the finest-quality work.

    Targes¡¯ sword, like Ganche¡¯s, was also made in Leucurias.

    Mage and Minaha¡¯s spear and bow were supposedly given to them by Targes and Vice-Captain Aldo; as Ernst had suspected, they were Sistica-made weapons.

    Aldo wielded a sword that had been forged in Mutea Country of Sistica Continent. For this occasion, Brez borrowed Aldo¡¯s sword and carried it with him. However, when it came to armor, there was nothing that they could do; other than Targes and Ganche, the militia troops could only make do with the poor and shabby armor assigned to them.

    Ganche had vaguely recalled how much it cost to commission weapons and armor, and he had calculated how much money was necessary to outfit all of Meissen¡¯s troops. Even if they sold all of the goods bequeathed to them by the former lords, it was still impossibly far from what they would need.

    They waited for night to pass in front of the valley, and come the next morning, they began crossing through. It seemed safer to cross now compared to how dangerous it was during the early winter; but as always, the bottom of the valley was a long fall down, and the wind¡¯s pull was strong.

    ¡°I will take the lead in crossing over first, pardon me,¡± Brez said, tying a rope around his waist. He safely crossed over the valley, even as tiny rocks dislodged and fell from around his feet.

    Unlike during winter, the rocks were not frozen and would not cause your feet to slide off of them ¨C but on the other hand, bits and pieces of rock fell from each of your steps. If you put your foot on the wrong place, the rock would tremble and shake beneath you.

    Even Brez, who had formerly worked as a migrant mercenary and had crossed this valley innumerable times, could not avoid this.

    Perhaps the reason for this was because he was burdened by both his armor and the wicker basket carried on his back. Yet Minaha, Mage, and Targes would each have to cross while carrying the same burdens. And when it came to Ganche, he not only had his armor and basket, but he also had to carry the wooden box filled with money.

    ¡°The route Brez used to cross is safe, so Lord Ernst, could you see if you can cross over the same way?¡± Targes asked him. Despite the nervousness stiffening his neck, Ernst managed to nod.

    Yet, when Targes made to tie the rope around Ernst¡¯s waist, Ganche stopped him and lifted Ernst in his arms.

    ¡°There is no need. I shall transport Lord Ernst over.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Ganche. ¡­How in the world are you going to get across that narrow cliff face? My plan was for you to go last, you know. You¡¯re already carrying more than the rest of us as it is. With all that weight on you, I¡¯m worried that the valley¡¯s not going to be able to hold up if you step on it!¡±

    Targes hurriedly tried to stop him. Ganche, without paying him any heed, just stood at the valley while carrying Ernst in his arms.

    When Ernst peered into the valley from his position in Ganche¡¯s arms, he felt how long of a fall it would be even more deeply.

    Yet strangely, Ernst didn¡¯t feel afraid at all. If Ganche said that there was nothing to fear, then there was nothing for him to fear.

    ¡°Very well. Ganche, I am counting on you.¡± As Ernst spoke, he clung tightly to Ganche.

    Ganche carried Ernst in the same way he always did, with Ernst sitting on and held in one of his arms. Ganche lifted the wrist of the arm Ernst perched on, and he firmly held Ernst with his large hand.

    A happy smile on his face, Ganche said, ¡°Then, let us go.¡± He quickly crouched, and exploded into a leap.

    Ernst watched Targes, Minaha, and Mage¡¯s shocked faces recede into the distance. Ernst¡¯s golden hair rippled in the wind, and a cold breeze rushed over his cheeks.

    Am I flying in the sky? Ernst wondered. The logic in his brain said to him that he was not flying in the sky, but rather, flying over the valley. The long fall of the valley¡¯s abyss now gaped beneath him.

    Yet even so, Ernst did not feel afraid in the slightest.

    From the corner of his eye, Ernst saw that Ganche was laughing. He was making a face like a child happily jumping over a puddle.

    Ernst somehow felt the thrill and fun of the situation and laughed together with him.

    ¡°¡­ I thought, that my heart was going to stop¡­¡±

    Later, when Targes came over, this was the first thing he muttered to them as he laughed.

    It took a Kleber thirty steps to cross this valley, which Ganche had leaped over with a single push from the rock face.

    ¡°Dunbertians are also called as the wolves of the moon, after all. The name comes from the fact that our eyes see well at night, and that we have excellent leaping strength. While the Dayers are better at jumping vertically, us Dunbertians have an edge in leaping forward to advance, as I just did. We are also able to run up rock faces, as well.¡±

    ¡°It was an incredible leap. It made me feel as if I had become the wind.¡± Since Ganche looked so proud of it, Ernst earnestly shared some words of praise for him.

    Ganche stooped his body as if to say that he wanted Ernst to praise him more, so Ernst reached up and stood on his tiptoes to pet Ganche¡¯s brown-haired head.

    Once Mage and Minaha crossed over, they watched as Ernst pet Ganche¡¯s head while Targes looked at them, exasperated.

    When Ernst had crossed this rocky plain in the past, the gusts were so strong that he thought his body would be blown away by the wind. Yet now, surprisingly, the area became a flower garden. Small flowers of many colors swayed in the breeze as if they were all enjoying a short spring together.

    He paid a visit with great gratitude to the hunters¡¯ cottage. It seemed, however, that from spring to autumn the mountaineer hunters were especially busy. The cottage was empty, so Ernst decided to wait. During the time he spent inside the cottage, the sunlight waned and dimmed tremendously.

    Although they would still have to spend a few days within the forest regardless, if Ernst kept waiting like this, they wouldn¡¯t be able to proceed at all.

    By the time the sun set in the reddened sky over the distant mountains, the four hunters had returned.

    They looked over in Ernst¡¯s direction with vigilance, their footsteps pausing, but when Ernst called out to them, the hunters came over with quick steps.

    It¡¯s been a while! Are you well? They exchanged such idle pleasantries as they shook hands. Their hands were the same as before, dry hands with rough skin that were full of strength.

    The hunters welcomed them with a feast.

    If we¡¯d known you¡¯d coming before, we would have gotten better things to bring out, they said, but the food they provided was already a luxurious banquet by Meissen¡¯s standards.

    There was meat such as bird, deer, boar, and rabbit, as well as plentiful roast and boiled vegetables, all of which were seasoned with spices. Although he would have considered this a simple meal in the past, after having spent over half a year in Meissen, Ernst could only think of it as magnificent cuisine.

    The five soldiers, Ernst, and the four hunters wouldn¡¯t be able to fit inside the hut. They shared this lively meal outside beneath the starry sky, sitting together around a large fire.

    The mountain air was perfectly clear, and the stars, big and small, were brilliantly sparkling. Although early summer approached, the night air was still cold; yet because everyone sat around the fire, they were warm.

    Ernst spoke about his life in Meissen, and listened to the hunters speak about how they passed the winter in the mountains. He listened to them speak about their life in Linz fief, and spoke in turn about his plans to develop the Linz Valley.

    Once the valley was developed, the number of people coming and going would increase. Ernst worried that this would disturb the hunters¡¯ lifestyle, but surprisingly, the hunters welcomed this prospect.

    A life with four men stuck in each others¡¯ faces on the mountain is stifling. It would be great if more people came and went, the four of them laughed.

    And besides, the eldest hunter continued.

    I don¡¯t want to see anyone die in that valley anymore.

    At those words, the other hunters, as well as the Meissen-born troops such as Brez, nodded solemnly.

    They fell silent, and to honor their acquaintances who had fallen in the valley, downed a drink of alcohol.

    The hunters sent them off halfway through the mountain, where they continued their journey.

    Back in Meissen, the surroundings of the estate were still buried under snow. Here, however, the snow had completely disappeared. Where before, Ernst had been unable to proceed through this mountain without being carried on horseback, he now walked on his own two feet.

    The plentiful trees in Linz fief¡¯s mountain were of ordinary height and width. Since summer was soon to arrive, wherever Ernst looked, he saw dense signs of animal life.

    The forest looked completely different from the last time he has passed through it. Ernst wanted to walk through the forest on his own so as to prove to himself that he could do it, yet in just a short amount of time, his breathing grew so ragged that he could barely walk.

    Walking uphill is much more strenuous than walking downhill, sir, Brez said, trying to comfort him, but Ernst could only feel how miserable and pathetic his lack of physical power was.

    With a wry smile, Ganche lifted up the now-depressed Ernst.

    They spent two nights in the mountain. Ganche carried Ernst during the day as they advanced, and on the third night, they reached a town of Linz fief.

 zChapter 62 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon Chapter 5

    They rested overnight at the town¡¯s inn, and in the morning, Ernst changed out of his traveling clothes to meet with the Lord of Linz fief.

    When they had arrived in town late last night, Ernst had sent Mage to carry his message to the Lord. Yet even so, Ernst was made to wait as a guest until the afternoon.

    Served only a single pot of tea and without being presented with any form of lunch, Ernst and Targes waited on and on as time passed by.

    ¡°Just how long are they going to make us wait¡­ . Lord Ernst, do we really have to meet with them even when they they treat you this way?¡± Annoyed, Targes tapped his fingers on the table.

    ¡°If we wish to develop the Linz Valley, we cannot proceed without the Lord of Linz¡¯s cooperation. Even if we were to bring our discussion to the Senate, the first thing they would request would be the approval of the Lord of Linz fief.¡±

    Ernst had somewhat predicted that he would be made to wait like this.

    Ernst had left Meissen twenty days after Targes had returned with the ministry¡¯s response. This was enough time for the ministry to send word to the Senate, and for the nobles comprising the Senate who were close to the Lord of Linz to whisper into his ear.

    However, that he left Ernst waiting for this long may be a sign that even as of now, he had not yet settled on a decision.

    Yesterday, when Ernst had sent Mage to announce his arrival, he hadn¡¯t presented the reason behind his visit. What Mage had informed them was that since Linz fief was on the way to the capital, they were simply paying a visit to the neighboring Lord.

    Thus, this meant that since Ernst had been left waiting for this long, there was no doubt that the Lord of Linz knew the true reason behind Ernst coming to visit him, and that the discussion with his administrative officials over what kind of manner he ought to meet Ernst with must be continuing even now.

    In the case that the kingdom wouldn¡¯t fund the valley¡¯s development, it would be very desirable for Meissen if the cost could be split with Linz fief.

    Of course, if by any chance neither Linz fief nor the kingdom were willing to provide any funding, Ernst had every intention to carry it out by himself.

    He had to go through with these negotiations, however, to avoid that kind of worst-case scenario where the others meddled and interfered without putting in any money for the trouble.

    Unused to being left waiting for this long, Targes paced around the room, and he restlessly drummed his fingers on the table.

    Ernst himself merely kept silent as he watched Targes¡¯ behavior, the thoughts within his mind continuing to turn.

    Going by how long Ernst had been made to wait, as well as some previous information he had obtained, Ernst was able to predict the temperament of the Lord of Linz.

    Ernst pondered over various responses he could exchange with the Lord of Linz. The road Ernst traveled hinged upon the Lord¡¯s reply. Ernst thought over the various paths which branched from here.

    After he had pondered over twenty paths, a smile slowly formed in the depths of Ernst¡¯s heart.

    The Lord of Linz was easy to defeat.

    After concluding this, Ernst¡¯s heart quickly turned toward the Senate.

    In the end, Ernst and Targes left the Lord¡¯s mansion and returned to the inn deep into the night, when the rest of town was already completely asleep.

    Ganche and the others were still awake, waiting for them.

    The long period of waiting had pushed Targes¡¯ anger to its limits. In the blink of an eye, he devoured the meal prepared by the inn to satisfy the ravenous hunger he felt from not eating for an entire day.

    Ernst¡¯s hands quickly paused, and without saying a word, he held out his own plate full of meat.

    Targes reached for it for a moment, then stopped himself, saying, ¡°No, no¨C¡±, but Ernst just set the plate in front of him.

    Ernst was already plentifully full from the bread and hearty soup, and more than anything, his heart was also full from the satisfaction of a job well done.

    The Lord of Linz, with his character being as Ernst had guessed, narrated the words Ernst had predicted he would say, proceeding along the path Ernst had hypothesized and toward the agreement Ernst lead him into.

    When the Lord met with Ernst, he first said that Linz fief didn¡¯t have the money for developing the Linz Valley, and moreover, he was hesitant to move onto this project without the understanding of his people; after Ernst had spoke with him for half a day, however, his attitude had undergone a complete change.

    The development of the Linz Valley has always been the dearest wish of the people of Linz, and no matter how much time and money we must spend, we will absolutely see this done, he had said whilst tightly gripping Ernst¡¯s hand, tears even springing into his eyes.

    Of course, it was Ernst who had softly pulled the man¡¯s hand to guide him into these thoughts, but the Lord of Linz did not realize this at all.

    Even the people who sat with the Lord of Linz ¨C his administrative officials, chief butler, and even the captain of the Linz militia ¨C did not realize this fact.

    However, Targes, seated next to Ernst, looked over with a meaningful glance, showing that the militia captain of Meissen had caught wind of his plans.

    He was heartened with such savvy people by his side, Ernst thought.

    It was because even while Ernst had been discussing with the Lord of Linz, his eyes firmly capturing the Lord in his sights, he had used all of his senses to perceive the other people of Linz fief ¨C and as Ernst lead the Lord along, he did the same with the others.

    Even if someone on the same level as Ernst visited Meissen and tried to lead Ernst¡¯s people in the same way, if there were people as discerning as Targes, then it would be no easy task.

    On their way back, when Targes had indirectly asked about what Ernst had been doing, Ernst had relayed this thought to him, making Targes huff a breath of laughter. Then, Targes said something that Ernst couldn¡¯t comprehend: If there were another person in this country who has a mind like Lord Ernst¡¯s, I¡¯ll walk on my hands from one end of Meissen to the other.

    In any case, the pending issue of Linz fief had been resolved.

    When a group of people were of one mind, there was a high probability of their decision becoming much stronger.

    Tomorrow, too, as well as the following days in the future, they would discuss the development of the Linz Valley; through this, it truly would become the greatest goal of the fief of Linz.

    Targes hungrily gobbled down his food as he explained what happened that day from beginning to end, and when the soldiers cheered for the success of Ernst¡¯s persuasion, Ernst raised a toast to celebrate passing through the second barrier of their mission.

    They purchased horses and a carriage from Linz fief, then proceeded on the main road.

    Brez drove the carriage while Targes took up position on the carriage¡¯s right, Mage and Minaha on the left, and Ganche guarding the rear.

    Ernst was alone, and as he was rocked in the carriage, he felt the tension from the troops thick in the air.

    The main road was dotted with small dwellings which Ernst hadn¡¯t seen the last time he has passed through here, as well as the figures of the Kingdom¡¯s soldiers.

    It would seem that of the various main roads which connected to the royal capital, this road, which ran from Linz fief to the fiefs of Gris and Mutica, had few sightings of bandits.

    The reason for this was because it would be difficult to call any of the territories connected to this road as ¡®wealthy¡¯ ones, given their lack of large cities, and because the merchants here would more often be carrying crops rather than any sort of highly-priced artisanal goods; and moreover, the merchants wouldn¡¯t carry much money on them, either.

    The road which passed through Sminacca fief faced the opposite situation as the busiest road in the Kingdom.

    Sminacca fief consisted of a city with a population of over 1.5 million people, and with its Lord being Kataliner, the grandfather of the current Crown Prince, this territory was second only to the royal family in terms of wealth.

    From the carriage window, Ernst looked out over the abundant and rich fields of Grad fief.

    It should have been about two hours since they had last passed in front of the kingdom¡¯s soldiers on the road, but Ernst still couldn¡¯t see where the next station of soldiers was supposed to be.

    Even if few bandits appeared here, there seemed to be far too little vigilance set up in this stretch of the road.

    Last night, Targes had gathered the militia troops and showed them some points on a map using the information he had gathered from his last trip through here.

    In all of the places where bandits had once appeared, the kingdom¡¯s troops were now stationed.

    Nevertheless, Targes¡¯ vigilance toward the threat of bandits did not decrease; yet the younger Mage and Minaha¡¯s tensions had already relaxed.

    There wasn¡¯t much that could be done, in any case ¨C these two had never left Meissen before and were enraptured by the sights of new fiefs.

    It was understandable, Ernst thought. If someone only had experience with Meissen¡¯s farmland, then the sight of this land¡¯s abundant wheat fields which stretched so far that you couldn¡¯t see their end would be something they had never seen before in their life.

    After passing by a single village and seeing the vast expanse of farmland which followed it, it would make one think that the people of Grad fief must be incredibly efficient at plowing and tending to their fields.

    The population of Gris fief was exactly 2,100 people. About 80% of them were field workers, so around 1,700 people tended to the fields.

    Gris fief was about one-tenth the size of Meissen, which itself held enough territory to be one-twentieth of the entire Kingdom.

    Ernst reminisced over the sight of the villager he had seen through the carriage window when he passed the village.

    He was a farmer with stocky body and a cheerful expression on his face. He had carried in his hand a farm tool with iron metal at its end.

    The farming tools carried by the people of Meissen were made entirely of wood.

    Iron was expensive, and so they were unable to attach any to their tools.

    If the people of Meissen were given the same farming tools as the ones here, Ernst wondered if Meissen¡¯s farmland would be double what it was now. Even if its soil had grown infertile, there were still ways to enrich it again.

    If the lands of Meissen were able to bear crops as rich and plentiful as the lands of Grad fief could, would the people of Meissen be like those of Grad fief, their bodies well and strong, and able to smile so happily?

    The plains of the wheat fields glittered in the golden light of the sunset, the austere beauty of this sight washing over Ernst.

    ¡°The forests in Gris fief had been felled to make way for new fields, so it is full of open spaces. Even if a bandit wanted to ambush someone here, there would be nowhere for them to hide. ¡­The place where we must be our most vigilant will be in the next fief, Mutica.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, isn¡¯t it¡­ That forest at the border of Gris and Mutica will be dangerous, won¡¯t it.¡±

    ¡°Exactly; I was also thinking about the traps that forest might have. ¡­That forest is at the border of both Gris and Mutica, but the people of both fiefs have been fighting over its possession for a long time. That¡¯s why it has become dangerous for people of either place to enter, even if there is an implicit truce now that their negotiations are over.¡±

    At the inn, the militia troops gathered around the map to discuss the road they would take from here. Ernst was unable to keep up with their discussion of military strategy and tactics. He sat in a chair and, keeping silent, listened in on their conversation.

    ¡°We could reach this forest by tomorrow, but night would have fallen by the time we left the forest, which won¡¯t work,¡± said Brez, who had gone with Targes to deliver the letter to the ministry.

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right¡­ Last time we passed through here, our horses galloped half a day from town to the forest. This time, Lord Ernst is present with us, so we can¡¯t proceed that way.¡±

    For the knight-born Targes to have galloped his way through, that must have meant that he sped his horse past like a burst of wind. Ernst hoped that the villagers he had passed along the way hadn¡¯t been startled.

    ¡°So then, we should rest the night before going through the forest, then continue on in the morning?¡±

    ¡°I think that sounds right. It would be best to avoid encountering any bandits in an unfamiliar forest at night, where the visibility is low. During the day, there are still ways to cope with the situation if we are to be attacked.¡±

    ¡°¡­Yeah, that¡¯s right. Lord Ernst, we may have to take a day longer ¨C would that be alright?¡± The soldiers¡¯ discussion stopped as Targes sought out Ernst¡¯s approval.

    Ernst nodded his affirmation.

    There was a limited period of time to pay tax to the Kingdom. The tax had to be paid this month, and with today, they were halfway through the month.

    The travel from here to the capital was about two days. If nothing unexpected happened, there would be no problem.

    Although it appeared that there was room for them to relax, if they were pressed into the worst situation of having been robbed of their money, then they would lose everything.

    In Gris fief, people did not struggle to even just find something to eat.

    Although one wouldn¡¯t meet someone dressed up in expensive clothing, and the merchants here weren¡¯t adorned in precious metals, they all had faces that said their stomachs had been filled. Their skin was glossy, and more than anything, their eyes showed life in them.

    The people of Meissen, especially the villagers who lived far from the estate, were always hungry, their skin chapped and rough, their bodies aged and older past their actual years, and their eyes were dull and gray, without any dreams or aspirations in them at all.

    Although the development of the valley was important to prepare against Lux Kingdom, what Ernst wanted most first and foremost was to be able to fill the stomachs of his people.

    How much money would it take to furnish all of the people of Meissen with iron tools like the ones made in Gris fief?

    Then, Ernst pondered over what reason he could present for giving these tools.

    They could not be left to think that the tools had just come out of nowhere for them, all because of the Lord¡¯s whims.

    The people of Meissen were not only farmers. The people of other classes could not be left envious of them.

    And then, for the farmers themselves, Ernst wanted them not to debase themselves by saying that this was the Lord¡¯s favor, but to accept the tools with their backs straight with pride, realizing their duty to pave the way for the future.

    What Ernst wanted was to give the farmers of Meissen a sense of pride and duty as they developed their lands, expanded them, and made them flourish with abundance.

 zChapter 63 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon Chapter 6

    They resumed traveling just before noon, and as they had previously decided, stopped at the village in front of the forest to rest the night.

    It came as a surprise to Ernst that despite this being only a village, it held an inn for travelers to rest.

    Merchants were the ones who held the right to manage inns. When farmers or mountainfolk gathered together, they formed ¡®villages¡¯, whereas when merchants congregated, they formed ¡®towns¡¯ or ¡®cities¡¯. The merchants who owned this inn seemed to be the only ones with this business, and they also managed a small shop attached to the inn.

    This place could not be considered a midway point between ¡®villages¡¯ and ¡®towns¡¯, but neither was it strictly defined as solely a village.

    The few merchants in this village did not do business with their fellow villagers, but rather traded with the travelers who passed by, and the goods they had on sale were often products for the road. In essence, the fact that so many travelers stopped for the night at this village told that the forest ahead was very dangerous indeed.

    ¡°Well, it seems like the number of bandit sightings really has increased since this spring.¡± Mage returned, sharing the info he had gotten from the innkeeper. ¡°Even with all of the lords who pass on this road being too dirt poor to¡­¡±

    Minaha rushed to block Mage¡¯s mouth as he spoke. Ernst smiled wryly; he nodded to indicate that he didn¡¯t mind, and for Mage to continue.

    ¡°Um¡­ er, I mean¡­ being unable to¡­ spare the funds to hire mercenaries, and their militia troops also being not too strong¡­ that is¡­ it¡¯s, easy for them to be targeted by bandits, it seems.¡±

    That sounds about right, Ernst thought.

    All of the territories north of Linz fief, including Meissen, were poor territories.

    For border territories such as Meissen, at least, they were still required to have a certain number of trained troops, but that was the exception; in other territories, the militia were soldiers in name only and functioned more like handservants for the Lord.

    This was especially the case for territories like Linz fief, which was surrounded by its own country on all borders, or in places like Gris fief, with its wide open plains, where if you asked its people what they might need protection from, the only things to come to mind would be wolves or boars. In such places, there wouldn¡¯t seem to be any point in having soldiers..

    From the Lord¡¯s perspective, it would be better to reduce the number of militia to as few people as possibly needed, since every person in the militia was someone who not only didn¡¯t have to pay taxes, but also had to be paid wages instead.

    Brez asked in a low voice, ¡°How many attacks have there been so far?¡±

    There were several other guests staying at this inn. By the looks of them, none of them were villagers ¨C they were all other travelers.

    Yet it cannot be said that just because they seemed the part, that meant they really were actual travelers.

    The possibility of bandits mixing into the crowd could not be ruled out.

    ¡°From the start of the new year to early spring, two servants of Lords had been attacked, and of those two, one of them had all of their Lord¡¯s taxes seized. From spring until now, seven servants of Lords and eight merchants have been attacked; three of those servants lost everything, and five of the merchants had all of their good and money stolen. ¡­And, in the half year that has passed since the start of the year, sixteen people have been killed.¡±

    Such high numbers made Ernst draw a breath.

    ¡°Just what are the kingdom¡¯s soldiers even doing¡­¡±

    Ernst had unintentionally muttered his thoughts, and in response, a scornful smile rose on Targes¡¯ face. But that smile wasn¡¯t directed at Ernst.

    ¡°¡­ They probably set this road up as bait.¡±

    ¡°Bait? ¡­ I see¡­¡±

    When Ernst thought of all the roads connecting to the royal capital, Ernst came to the same understanding as what Targes had spoken.

    There were five main roads which extended from the royal capital.

    The road which stretched from the capital through Sminacca fief was, of course, the road used by Sminacca, which paid the most tax out of the entire Kingdom.

    The road which passed through Sisic fief connected to Silus Kingdom, and a large number of merchants traveled on it.

    Similarly, the road which passed through Ananique fief to Lux Kingdom had many Luxian merchants, and the road through Alatania fief had merchants from the Helesian country of Cobo traveling on it.

    If the merchants from other countries frequently suffered attacks, then business with other countries would cease, and Rintz Kingdom¡¯s financial problems would instantly mount.

    Moreover, Sminacca fief was a metropolis whose power was second only to the King¡¯s. If its taxes were stolen, there was a high likelihood that its Lord, Marquis Kataliner, would take advantage to delay the payment of his fief¡¯s taxes.

    The road which would do the least damage even if it were attacked was precisely the road Ernst was on, the road which extended from Mutica fief.

    Rintz Kingdom wouldn¡¯t suffer a hard blow even if the taxes along this road were stolen, and moreover, the powerless Lords along this road could be censured for having allowed themselves to be robbed, and thus be made to pay twice the amount.

    ¡°The taxes that Sminacca fief pays must be more than all the taxes of the Lords on this road combined, huh.¡±

    Ernst recalled the numbers that had been driven into his head back in his days as the Crown Prince, specifically regarding the tax payments of each fief. That statement was exactly the case; in the eyes of the kingdom, the people who used this road were the least significant.

    ¡°How can you say that¡­! Even though this year, Lord Ernst is bringing the tax to be paid¡­¡± Brez said in a bitter and reproachful tone, and Ernst had refrained from saying to him, That¡¯s exactly why this is the case.

    Especially as the former Crown Prince, he must absolutely never delay his tax payments to the country.

    If such an instance were to ever happen, then all sorts of people would come scurrying out to attack him at that critical time.

    It was only a matter of course that Ernst as an individual would be attacked, but there may also be people whose attacks would reflect on his status as a former royal.

    In order to protect the status of both the King and the new Crown Prince, Ernst was in a position where he had to pay his taxes no matter what circumstances were to befall him.

    Yet in front of these troops who were ready to lay down their lives to protect him, Ernst couldn¡¯t speak such self-demeaning words.

    Ernst internally let out a sigh of self-derision.

    He wondered if there was anyone who could put up with being dethroned over the illness they were afflicted with, driven out and abandoned their kingdom¡¯s most remote area, and having to live with this body of his.

    The fact that those beings Ernst had only vaguely realized existed had gone to such lengths to ostracize Ernst made his chest feel empty, hollowed out.

    ¡°Um¡­ excuse me¡­¡±

    At the sound of the trembling voice calling out to them, Ernst turned his head to see a man standing alone. He looked exactly like a man from the country who had done his utmost to dress fashionably.

    ¡°I am very and truly deeply sorry for having called out to you so suddenly, but may I ask, are you also the servants of a Lord?¡±

    With faltering and stuttering polite speech, the man looked at Targes with his face lowered. It was no surprise, seeing as how Targes looked the most outstanding of them all.

    Targes glanced at Ernst, What should I do? written in his eyes.

    ¡°Our group belongs to the fief of Meissen,¡± Ernst spoke up, and the man startled with a surprised expression. The way his emotions showed so openly on his face reminded Ernst of the simple folk of Meissen.

    ¡°Ah¡­ I am sorry, that was rude of me. U-um¡­ would you happen to be the son of the honorable Lord?¡±

    ¡°Forgive me for my lateness in introducing myself.¡± Ernst stood from his chair and performed a light bow. ¡°I am the seventeenth Lord of Meissen, the Duke Ernst Gille Farson Rintz Kleber.¡±

    The man seemed to be either a butler or a militia soldier who hadn¡¯t yet received much training.

    Although when it came to social status, Ernst¡¯s was far above the man¡¯s, in this meeting they were both people who carried the weight of the lands they came from on their backs. Ernst thought it best to show courtesy.

    ¡°Eh¡­! The Lord himself¡­! I, I have truly spoken a great wrong to you.¡±

    The man hurriedly took a step back, and he bent over to lower his head in a deep bow.

    ¡°There is no need to go that far; the matter is not that important. I am no more than a Lord from the countryside, after all.¡±

    Even among the people of Rintz Kingdom who were accustomed to the sight of Kleber¡¯s disease, when they saw a person with the appearance of a young boy or girl, they would think that person was a child.

    Besides, no one would think that a noble would contract a disease said to be caused by poverty. Ernst encouraged the man, who had shrunk back in shame, and inquired after the reason why the man had called out to them.

    ¡°My name is Toscatey, and I am a servant of Nibe fief. I was traveling to pay Nibe fief¡¯s yearly taxes, but to be honest, I have been waiting to find other people who will pass through the forest. I deeply apologize for this incredibly rude and unbecoming request, but¡­ when you pass through the forest, may I humbly be permitted to maybe come with you¡­?¡±

    The militia troops instinctively shared glances with each other.

    ¡°That is¡­ this is actually my second time carrying Nibe fief¡¯s taxes for this year. My first time, I was attacked by bandits and had the taxes stolen from me. The Lord of Nibe fief forgave me and just said that it was just good that I had managed to survive, but we still must pay taxes to His Majesty the King no matter what. We somehow managed to scrape together more money so that I can try to transport the taxes again this time, but I were attacked again¡­ that¡¯s why¡­¡±

    Toscatey tightly held his own stomach with both arms. It was in that area that he must be carrying the money.

    Even without carefully observing him, when considering the thinness of his arms and neck, the swell of his belly was unnatural. He had tightly wrapped the heavy gold and copper coins onto himself, then protected them as he made his journey all the way up to here.

    ¡°We had given everything we possibly could in order to gather this money, and Milord was unable to send anyone else besides me. I have to take this money to the capital somehow. Milord gave me his trust, and he entrusted everything we have to me. Even if I have to give up my life to do it, I must bring this to the capital no matter what.¡±

    Bandits were not the only ones who could steal the Lords¡¯ taxes.

    It was not uncommon for servants and soldiers to betray the Lords and steal from them.

    Therefore, the Lord had to choose several people to transport the taxes. In order to make sure they kept watch on each other and safely carried their cargo, the Lord might even choose people who never got along to go with each other.

    As such, there were even Lords who thought that even if they fought and killed each other during the journey, as long as the money was safe, nothing else mattered.

    ¡°Humm¡­ Targes, what do you think? If we bring Toscatey with us, will we be able to make it out of the forest?¡±

    Targes crossed his arms and thought it over, then opened his mouth.

    ¡°It will be quite¡­ difficult, is what I think. In truth, I had intended to request Lord Ernst to leave the carriage behind in this village, as the carriage would have difficulty riding through the forest. As such, what I had planned for Lord Ernst¡¯s transportation had been to invite you to ride one of our horses.¡± [2]

    As had been mentioned in the earlier conversation, if people did not regularly go into the forest, then the forest may not be well-maintained. Although it wouldn¡¯t be as much of a problem for the horses, the road might be too rough for a carriage to run at full speed.

    ¡°Protecting the wooden box with the tax inside would be left to Ganche, while I would take on the duty of guarding Lord Ernst, and thus request that Lord Ernst ride alongside me on my horse¡­¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with that?! I shall be the one protecting Lord Ernst!¡± Ganche said, full of enthusiasm for his preferred task, but Targes halted him.

    ¡°That won¡¯t work. You¡¯ll be the one handling the bandits. We have no idea just how many of them will come at us. It¡¯s better if Lord Ernst isn¡¯t with you so that you can swing your sword and your spear at will. It doesn¡¯t matter how much damage the wooden box takes, but we can¡¯t let Lord Ernst get wounded, can we?¡±

    After Targes¡¯ scolding, Ganche reluctantly nodded his head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Lord Ernst will be safe as long as you defeat the bandits. Whatever leftovers you leave behind, I¡¯ll clean them up,¡± Targes said with a huff of laughter, as if trying to reassure Ganche. He then turned to Ernst. ¡°It is for this reason that we are unable to protect yet another person. Unfortunately, neither Brez, Mage, nor Minaha currently possess the skills to have another person ride with them and still keep control of their horse as they fight. If Toscatey can ride a horse, then I can come up with another plan, but¡­¡±

    With each of their names brought up, the three militia troops looked over at Toscatey with sorry expressions.

    Ernst had also never seen any of the militia undergoing training on horseback. In the first place, there weren¡¯t enough horses in Meissen to form a cavalry.

    ¡°¡­ I, I am unable to ride a horse¡­¡±

    As he looked at Toscate, who had hung his head, Ernst thought, as seemed to be the case.

    Toscatey¡¯s shoes were dirty and broken. Nibe fief was located several fiefs over from Linz fief. Most probably, it had taken Toscatey over a month of walking in order to reach this point.

    ¡°I have an idea. There is one plan which may work; however, this will only be possible should Toscatey put his trust in me.¡±

    Although it was much more fortunate than Meissen, Nibe fief, also, could not be said to be a wealthy territory. It had about a thousand residents, and its primary product was rock salt.

    ¡°It is to allow me to carry the taxes of Nibe fief in your stead.¡±

    When Ernst looked at Toscatey¡¯s face, which had been well-tanned by the sun, it made him remember the people of Meissen. It was a face that had endured a simple and difficult life.

    Ernst no longer carried any such notions that people living in remote areas were pure and genuine folk.

    There were times where they might cheat or deceive others in order to somehow improve their difficult lives. In places such as Meissen, where there was no education to instill principles of right and wrong, they were unable to judge what was undignified for a human being.

    Toscatey looked as if he was lost.

    It was because he wasn¡¯t pure that he knew to distrust other people.

    That was by no means a bad thing.

    The only people who knew nothing about distrust were a handful who had grown up happy, protected behind tall and sturdy walls.

    One was unable to live without knowing how to doubt.

    That was how it was for people who lived normally.

    ¡°We can count the amount of Nibe fief¡¯s tax that Toscatey has brought here, to this place, at this time, and when that has been ascertained, I shall write down the amount. If by any chance a notice comes from the Kingdom that the tax has not been paid, then you can show them that paper. After doing so, the bill for Nibe fief¡¯s taxes shall be sent to me.¡±

    ¡°Lord Ernst¡­¡± Targes, who had been listening quietly, now spoke up with anxiousness in his voice.

    ¡°Fortunately, I have brought with me the papers used for official documents, as well as my stamp of lordship. I am able to write up an official document tonight to hand over to you, Toscatey. Furthermore, there is still room within the wooden box we are using to carry Meissen¡¯s tax. We should be able to if the money for Nibe¡¯s tax within. Ganche will be guarding the box, will you not? In that case, there is no further need to worry over its safety.¡±

    After Ernst spoke, Targes sighed in defeat, a wry smile on his face.

    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. No one knows better than Ganche what Lord Ernst had been feeling while collecting Meissen¡¯s taxes. ¡­No matter what happens, you¡¯ll protect it, right?¡±

    ¡°Naturally.¡± With a single word full of reliability, Ganche gave a forceful nod.

    Toscatey seemed unable to follow the flow of the conversation, his eyes swimming.

    The tax was something that someone from each fief had to carry and transport to the capital. In lands without a Lord, such as Meissen in the past, the Lords of the neighboring fiefs would gather that land¡¯s taxes and pay it alongside their own.

    It was unheard of for there to be such a splendid Lord that other fiefs would entrust their taxes to them.

    ¡°Um¡­ is it really, okay to do that¡­?¡± Toscatey timidly asked, as if unable to decide on his own.

    ¡°It is. Since Lord Ernst said it¡¯s possible, then it will be fine. That¡¯s because our Lord is more familiar with the laws of this Kingdom than anyone else.¡±

    At Brez¡¯s words, Ernst smiled wryly and nodded his head.

    ¡°There is no need to worry. Although the law says that tax must be paid, nowhere in the national law is written any mention of whose hands ought to be delivering them. As proof of that, Toscatey, when you had previously delivered taxes to the royal capital¡¯s officials, had they ever tried to confirm whether or not you were a resident of Nibe fief?¡±

    ¡°¡­That¡¯s right¡­ All I had to do was say it was Nibe fief¡¯s taxes and hand over a tax payment certificate with Nibe fief written on it. Then the officials just counted the money. They never looked at my face.¡±

    ¡°It is as simple as that.¡±

    As if finally relieved, Toscatey showed a smile for the first time.

    The next day, Ernst invited Toscatey to his room and showed him the document he had drafted the previous night.

    Since Toscatey served as a butler in Nibe fief, he was able to read words. Ernst internally sighed in relief.

    If he were like the butlers in Meissen, who were unable to fluently read words well, then no matter how precise of a document Ernst wrote, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to judge whether it was correct or not.

    He asked Toscatey to confirm the words of the document, and to verify the count of Nibe fief¡¯s taxes.

    After Ernst, Toscatey, and then Targes had verified the sum of money, Ernst wrote the number into the document and stamped it with the mark of Meissen¡¯s Lord.

    The document was placed inside a thick envelope, which was then sealed with wax.

    Now released from that money which had weighed him down in every sense, Toscatey stored the letter in his pocket and laughed, as happy as a child.

    [1] The servant is trying to speak in keigo, a very difficult but extremely polite and respectful way of speaking in Japanese. He is doing his best.

    [2] Although Targes always speaks to Ernst respectfully, you still get a bit of a close feeling. In front of the outsider, he¡¯s doubling up and using fully respectful and proper language, like the difference between ¡°Alright Lord Ernst, please get on this horse¡± to ¡°Lord Ernst, if you may, please ride this horse¡±. I can¡¯t get it across well in English, but imagining Targes as a very proper knight dutifully attending to his Lord (because someone else is watching) is super funny to me. Especially because in the interludes with the other militia soldiers, he¡¯s always like 5 seconds away from smacking someone upside the head. For the record, Ganche is always suuuuuuper polite in his speech as well (to Ernst only).

 zChapter 64 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon Chapter 7

    The carriage was sold to the village merchants, and Ernst rode upon Targes¡¯ horse. It was Ganche who lifted him carefully into the saddle. Ernst smiled wryly at all of the troops as they kept coming up to Targes, who was seated behind Ernst, and worriedly telling him, ¡°We¡¯re counting on you¨Cdon¡¯t allow him to be hurt!¡±

    All of the militia troops wore armor on their bodies. Brez, Mage, and Minaha wore the armor of the Meissen militia, while Targes and Ganche were clad in their personal armors.

    The militia armor was more like materials that had been cobbled together in the shape of armor, given that the lack of money made it impossible for the troops to have theirs forged. Even through the eyes of an amateur, it was clear that their armor was made of thin iron with defects at the joints. Mage lifted and lowered his arms many times as if particularly worried over the shoulder area.

    Targes told him, ¡°If you¡¯re that worried about it, just take it off. Better to go bare than be stuck in armor too stiff to move.¡±

    At that, both Mage and Minaha cut the strings tied to the tops of their shoulders, removing the armor clad over their arms. These two youths wielded a bow and a spear as their weapons. If either of them were unable to move their arms well, then their fighting strength would be halved.

    Targes and Ganche wore armor commissioned during their times as mercenaries.

    Neither of them had scrimped on the cost of their armor. Targes¡¯ armor had black as its primary color, and his sword also rested within a black sheath.

    Ganche¡¯s armor was blood red.

    His armor was a red so bright it was like fire, and it had an exquisite pattern of intertwining gold and black applied to it.

    This was the first time Ernst had ever seen Ganche wearing his armor. Ganche¡¯s giant body seemed even larger and even more majestic than it had before. There was not a single scratch in that beautiful armor. A complex red cord twined the pieces of armor together, and the cord at his shoulder was also tied with a golden tassel. The crimson helmet had a black faceguard attached to it. There was even armor applied to the tops of the thick gloves. Ganche moved his fingers several times, confirming that the armor moved smoothly.

    Back when they had been in their room at the inn, Ernst had stared, enchanted, at Ganche, who had casually donned his armor as easily as breathing. Once Ganche¡¯s entire body had been clad in armor, Ernst had even forgotten to let out his breath.

    The crimson armor had glowed, illuminated by the morning sunlight drifting in from the window.

    As he stood in his warrior¡¯s stance, so dignified and imposing, Ernst felt that Ganche looked so godlike that he hesitated to touch him.

    Ganche carried his broadsword at his waist, and at Ernst¡¯s request, put on his helmet and lowered his black faceguard.

    All it took was Ernst seeing those eyes, the copper color starting to tinge golden with the taste of battle, for a numbing feeling to strike him and carve into his core.

    It was the same intoxicating feeling as when Ganche embraced him, striking deep and powerfully into Ernst¡¯s body.

    Ernst let out a soft and indulgent sigh, then slowly reached out with his fingers. Ganche descended on one knee and grasped Ernst¡¯s hand, and then, reverently, kissed it through the black faceguard.

    The thick cloth of Ganche¡¯s gloves had been delicately sewn with minute and complex patterns.

    ¡°Ganche¡­ how magnificent you are. You¡¯ve stolen my heart away¡­¡± Ernst had murmured.

    Unwilling to lose, the younger man had whispered in reply, slightly muffled, ¡°And as for myself, Lord Ernst occupies each and every one of my thoughts, with room for nothing else.¡±

    Ganche easily swung onto his black horse.

    This black horse was the largest and most expensive one that they had purchased from Gris fief. It was a fine horse, like what one would expect from Rintz Kingdom, which was known for its thoroughbreeds. It had the heavy wooden box tied to it, and didn¡¯t startle even when Ganche, with all his armor, swung onto it.

    With a single light kick from Ganche to the horse¡¯s belly, the large black horse broke into a gallant run.

    Ganche lead the way on his black horse, and Ernst watched as he sat atop the dappled gray horse that Targes rode. Targes steadied Ernst from behind with a tight arm around his waist, but Ernst¡¯s body was still violently jostled up and down.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, if you would, please make sure to keep your mouth firmly closed. If not, you may end up biting your tongue.¡±

    Targes sounded somewhat amused. Ernst was dizzy, his head shaking so much that his teeth clacked, yet still managed to come up with the sudden runaway thought that born-knights really were different from the rest.

    The troops had formed their encirclement; to the right of Targes was Minaha; to the left, Mage, and at the rear, Brez.

    Once they had reached about halfway through the forest, Targes switched to holding the reins only with his left hand, and he pulled out his sword.

    The hand gripping the reins still firmly held Ernst in place, but Ernst¡¯s own hands moved to tightly grip the saddle.

    A forest without human influence was, it seemed, a forest overgrown with trees.

    Although it did not have gigantic, towering trees such as those of Meissen, the leaves of the tall and short trees together wove deep shadows, blocking nearly all light despite it being daytime.

    If the daytime was already like this, then there was no need to talk about how dangerous it would be at night. The troops¡¯ accurate judgment had saved them.

    The protruding roots broke up the paths, leaving no flat road to take. It would be impossible to dash through here on carriage, and the merchants¡¯ wagons would also have no way to pass. This truly was a forest which created easy targets for bandits.

    Shouldn¡¯t the Kingdom¡¯s soldiers be stationed in this forest? Ernst recalled the face of the commander of the Kingdom¡¯s military affairs, the Golden Lion General called Marquis Artica. He was a man with a masculine face, sharp-eyed and cold. He was the kind of man who would not be bothered no matter how many deaths of small merchants or servants of countryside lords were on his hands. To the Golden Lion General, his most important priority was His Majesty the King, and after that, his own subordinates.

    Due to the Senate¡¯s decision, there was no choice but to send the army soldiers out to protect the roads, but the fact was that he did not want to lose a single soldier. He would never consider stationing any soldiers in this forest, where anyone had a high chance of being attacked.

    Rintz Kingdom¡¯s soldiers, the soldiers of the King, were nothing more than the Golden Lion General Marquis Artica¡¯s dolls, after all.

    Those were the words that one of Ernst¡¯s former professors had unwittingly murmured during a lecture on military strategy.

    Marquis Artica did not think of the soldier¡¯s lives as precious; rather, he was simply a general with a strange and peculiar sense of aesthetic, one who believed that the greater number of soldiers he collected, the more beautiful his collection was.

    Ganche lead the way through the forest as the vanguard. Suddenly, his horse stopped.

    Targes reacted in an instant, reining his dappled gray to a stop.

    Mage, Minaha, and Brez belatedly stopped their horses. The horses whinnied in complaint from having their reins so suddenly pulled.

    Ernst¡¯s vision registered Minaha¡¯s movements to his right.

    To Ernst, it looked as if Minaha was glaring in the direction that Ganche stared at, when Minaha gripped the bow from his back and nocked an arrow with a swift burst of movement.

    He pulled the string as tightly as possible, then unleashed the arrow sharply into darkness of the forest, the light so dim that Ernst saw nothing other than shadow.

    And that, was the signal that started it all.

 zChapter 65 - Arc 3, Waxing Moon Chapter 8

    War cries erupted from the direction Minaha had shot his arrow, and the bandits came rushing out.

    Dozens of them rode on horseback. The galloping of hooves echoed in the forest. Birds screeched and flew off from the treetops.

    Some of the bandits shot off arrows, the projectiles whipping through the air, but Ganche quickly grabbed the spear tied to his horse and knocked all of them away.

    For the bandits, it seemed they needed more training to learn to continue firing arrows, for as soon as Ganche stopped the barrage, he aimed his spear at the bandits and launched it.

    The spear, with its sharpened, immense blade, shot through the air and grazed past the group, only to pierce straight through the face of one of the men in the back.

    The bandits who stood in the path between Ganche and the man who now fell over, the scarlet spear through his head, all clutched at their faces or shoulders, falling to their knees as they groaned in pain.

    The cleave of Ganche¡¯s spear was so powerful that it robbed the bandits of their will to fight just by nicking them.

    The air was still for a moment. Then, the bandits roared in anger as they grasped their swords and spears in hand. Their numbers must have ranged in the dozens; at some point, they had surrounded Ernst and his companions in a fan-shaped formation.

    If Ganche had not noticed the signs and Minaha had not let loose with his bow, then the hidden bandits would have filled their bodies with arrows.

    From the moment Ganche had halted his horse until now, only a sliver of time had passed.

    Had the bandits truly been able to surround them in such a short period of time? It seemed unlikely to Ernst that these bandits were a disorganized group.

    ¡°Targes, does it not seem as if a leader is somewhere among them?¡± Ernst asked in a low whisper directed behind him.

    ¡°I believe so, as well. Cutting off the head won¡¯t take a group like this down, however. It¡¯s more likely that their organized coordination ended when they surrounded us.¡±

    As Targes had said, the bandits restlessly jostled each other as they packed closer, seeming as if they were all keeping each other in check, not wanting others to make the first move.

    It seemed that in the near future, the bandits would turn on and rob each other, as well.

    Staring into the glimmering eyes of the bandits, Ernst felt cold sweat trail down his back.

    Ganche, astride his horse, barred the way between Ernst and the bandits. After he had launched his spear, his greatsword remained hilted at his waist. As if the bandits had sensed something amiss, none of them approached to attack.

    The Dunbertian, clad in his crimson armor, seemed to grow larger with every passing moment.

    As the two forces glared at each other, Ernst felt gratitude in his heart that, at the least, these bandits weren¡¯t headed by a powerful leader.

    If a formidable leader commanded them, then their stolen goods would be distributed equally, and would also be used for strategic purposes. If that were the case, then the likelihood of them having hired Grude tribesfolk or Sistican swordmasters would have been much higher.

    If this group had added mercenaries into their mix, then Ganche alone might not have been enough to fight against them. But to hire people of Grude or Sistica as mercenaries ¨C people who only operated under contracts stipulated by money ¨C required an enormous sum of funds.

    Three bandits who wore competent armor gathered their spirits, then advanced on their horses.

    Their glares were focused on the box tied to Ganche¡¯s black horse. They knew, from experience, just what contents such an ornamented wooden box would hold.

    Each of them gripped their swords in hand. The way the sunlight played against the blades of the swords told that the weapons were Sistica-made.

    Had these men worked as mercenaries long enough for them to be able to obtain Sistican swords? Or were those blades from the multitudes of robberies they had committed?

    Ganche, too, slowly drew out the sword at his hip. The sword was enormous, as tall as Ernst¡¯s entire body.

    Gripping the reins in his left hand, Ganche turned his horse toward the center bandit.

    As Ganche¡¯s horse advanced a few steps, Ernst knew that on the man¡¯s face was a smile.

    Ernst could only see Ganche¡¯s back, though even if he saw Ganche from the front, the black faceguard completely obscured his facial expressions. Yet even so, Ernst knew that Ganche was smiling.

    A crimson helm with a black faceguard. All that was visible from the outside were the eyes. Those copper eyes which whirled with expressions like those of a child must now be glowing a fierce gold.

    When the people of the Dunbertian race became agitated, their eyes changed to a golden color.

    The bandits who had ventured forth with courage now stepped back, pinned by Ganche¡¯s golden gaze. Regardless of how determined their riders were, the horses were frightened.

    Ganche did not let the retreat of the bandits¡¯ horses slip from him.

    He launched his horse into a gallop with a single kick, and with a flick of his right wrist, that enormous and heavy greatsword swung in his hand.

    Half of the head of the bandit on his right went flying off, and as he returned his swing, he cleaved through the chest of the bandit to his left.

    Without his horse slowing down in the slightest, he cut the torso of the bandit in front of him in half and dashed past the scattered body, his hand gripping the spear that he himself had thrown.

    With a heh, Ganche used a single tug to pull out the spear. He directed his horse to turn its head through only the movement of his legs, and then, the five bandits surrounding him collapsed off their steeds.

    Ganche only had to brandish his spear to cleave through poorly-made armor. Two of the fallen bandits had already lost their lives.

    ¡°The battle is decided, I see,¡± Targes murmured in relief.

    ¡°But there are still twenty people left.¡± Even as he said this, Ernst also realized that this battle had been won.

    Ganche, with his spear in his left hand and greatsword in his right, did not have a single bandit approach him.

    To the bandits, the crimson of Ganche¡¯s armor looked a bloody, doomful color. Even Ganche¡¯s black horse, stomping its hooves violently on the ground, struck fear in the horses of the bandits.

    ¡°Since you wish to die, come face me. You started this ¨C so don¡¯t make me chase you.¡±

    As Ganche spoke, the bandits retreated in alarm. At the end, six of them were dead, eight so wounded they were unable to move, all of their bodies scattered across the area.

    ¡°Lord Ernst, what would you like us to do with this lot?¡± Targes asked.

    This commander of his occasionally did this, wanting to try things the way Ernst directed.

    In this instance, however, Ernst felt as if Targes was actually testing him.

    Are you truly able to bear the burden for your people?

    Are you capable of choosing the correct course of action for them to take?

    That was what the question seemed to be.

    From his position on the horse, Ernst looked down toward the bandits who groaned in pain.

    With a shallow inhale, Ernst came to a decision, and he gave his order to Ganche.

    ¡°Finish it.¡±

    At those words, Ganche swung his spear down.

    They safely exited the forest and reached Mutica fief.

    Ganche had not been touched by even a single drop of the blood he had spilled.

    Mutica fief, rather than being a land of agriculture, was better known as a fief of craftsmen.

    With its forest being in the state they had just seen, it was apparent that Mutica fief did not clear the forests for farmland as Gris fief did. In this territory there were several places for bandits to hide, such as in this forest at the border between fiefs.

    The militia troops advanced through Mutica fief, and they did not take off a single piece of their armor.

    After they had traveled for half a day, Targes abruptly tried to strike up a conversation.

    The way he spoke was as if he had unconsciously mumbled something to himself, so Ernst hadn¡¯t realized that Targes had actually been addressing him, at first.

    ¡°It was surprising to me.¡±

    ¡°¡­What was?¡±

    ¡°I had wondered if you would try to help them, Lord Ernst.¡±

    It took a bit of time for Ernst to realize he was talking about the bandits.

    ¡°Humm¡­ If I had spared them, then what of the money, or rather, the lives they would covet next?¡±

    It was impossible to believe that after being shown Ganche¡¯s strength, they would have had a change of heart. In the first place, if such exceptional people existed, they would not have become bandits.

    The next time they faced each other, they would only be enemies seeking revenge against Ganche.

    And that which would deal Ganche the greatest blow ¨C

    Would be to hurt Ernst.

    ¡°Besides, even if I had not given the order, you had already ordered it done, had you not, Targes? ¡­You ordered Brez to do it.¡±

    Ernst looked back at Targes and saw the man¡¯s wry smile.

    Ernst faced forward. He said, resolute, ¡°I made the decision to take their lives. There is no need for you or anyone else to bear the burden of this responsibility.¡± He reached out to grasp Targes¡¯ hand, which clutched the horse¡¯s reins.

    Even soldiers could not become accustomed to taking another person¡¯s life. Ernst had no desire for soldiers who would become accustomed to such a thing. Such people were nothing more than murderers.

    Ganche enjoyed battle.

    However, he did not wish to meaninglessly slaughter other people. It was only that, just as he could block his sense of heat, cold, and pain of his own will, so too could he temporarily block his sense of guilt.

    Ganche had never spoken of this, but Ernst thought this was the case.

    Ernst understood that the road he must walk as a lord was not a primrose one.

    If there were people who stood as obstacles in his path, like the bandits from earlier, then Ernst had the conviction to reject any thought of encouraging them.

    The heavy weight of deciding to kill another person was a burden Ernst wished to carry alone.

    The burden of executing this decision fell on Ganche.

    If Ernst had the power to freely swing about a sword as Targes and the others did, then he would take the execution of it into his own hands, he thought. But with Ernst¡¯s weakness, no matter how hard or often he trained, he would only result in inflicting needless pain to the person whose life he attempted to take.

    He had no choice but to order Ganche, unforgivably involving him in Ernst¡¯s responsibility.

    However, if Ernst had given his order to anyone other than Ganche, then Ganche would have taken it as a deep and sundering wound.

    Ordering Ganche to do this, was also providing salvation to Ganche.

    Ernst felt that he had done Ganche a heavy wrong. But this was the path that he and Ernst had to take.