Power is truly amazing. While casually pondering such thoughts, I took off my coat.
Now, this place is a large inn catering to the nobility, located about two days’ travel from the Imperial Capital. Along the main road of the Threefold Empire, such inns, worthy of noble houses, are scattered at regular intervals.
It’s all due to the political system where the nobility, with their blue blood, gather in the capital during the social season, similar to the alternate attendance system. They generally wouldn’t think of sleeping in carriages or tents in the wild without a very good reason.
The fact that we could stay at an inn immediately after our big adventure was all thanks to Lady Agrippina’s authority. Announcing herself to the visiting inspectors, showing them a token, writing an introduction, and dumping all the tedious tasks on them. Then, under the guard of several fierce inspector knights, we arrived at tonight’s lodging — a top room we were able to secure, even at such short notice.
Normally, having been accosted by bandits so conspicuously, we wouldn’t have been let off so easily. It’s suspicious, after all. We should have been taken to the inspectors’ outpost and prepared for several days of questioning.
But in a monarchic society where authority reigns, power transcends law. Laws are made to support power, after all. The notion of law constraining power is a concept that only recently came to fruition in modern times. Here, law serves more as a curb on corruption and power struggles, making them harder.
Law constrains power only when wielded by a greater power. Japan from my previous life was similar, but in a land ruled by a sovereign, this dynamic is even more pronounced.
There was no way someone whose careless actions could cost not only our heads but also those of our families would be invited to the outpost simply because of some rules. Instead, they were sent off with a “thank you for your cooperation” filled with suppressed emotions, and here we were.
Yeah, power really is incredible. It’s so blatant sometimes that it makes you not even want it.
“Hmm… the quality’s not bad, but it’s still inferior to the workshop, isn’t it? It’s about comfort, or the lack of anxiety.”
Lady Agrippina sprawled out on the couch the moment we entered the grand room for nobility, which was equipped with various facilities — even a separate room for the servants to sleep. As I thought, why does she insist on using couches or hammocks instead of beds?
Proclaiming herself a thorough recluse, she carelessly kicked off her boots and let down her bound hair. I’ve grown so accustomed to this eccentricity from my employer that it no longer surprises or bores me. Still, isn’t it improper for noble young ladies to reveal their feet in public?
Ah, no, I guess I’m just not being seen as a man.
Having handled all the arrangements, we were now at the stage where all we had to do was have a meal delivered to the room. I was then beckoned by Lady Agrippina.
Wandering over to the couch, Lady Agrippina, still lying lazily, twirled her pipe in her hand before speaking. Her words were finally getting to the purpose of this journey — the essential reason for dealing with the bandits disguised as assassins.
Lady Agrippina seemed to have resolved herself. Her pursuit as a mage, something she had intended to slowly track over the span of hundreds of years, was apparently intended to be a long-term endeavor, not something immediately necessary. From her mutterings about how “the time spent will pay for itself,” I gathered her purpose to some extent.
Essentially, it’s about recovering the time spent. For a long-lived species, for whom time isn’t a constraint, the pursuit of something tangible like this… well, it’s quite pedestrian, isn’t it?
Still, the situation had changed. Lady Agrippina had wanted to continue her research peacefully as a mere researcher for her own sake.
What a decadent story this is. To simplify it, it’s akin to a university student who just wants to keep writing novels indefinitely.
… Wait? Isn’t that what happens in Heaven?
I shook my mind out of its descent into idle musings and refocused as my employer shared her experience of being pushed into a professorship, something she complained bitterly about. Though impressive by title, being a noble is a job that comes with an overwhelming amount of obligations instead of wealth. For anyone not work-driven, it’s a joyless task, akin to being a foundation stone buried deep in the basement of a building. Such a life of merely pursuing what you want clearly doesn’t suit someone like Lady Agrippina.
However, in a monarchy, failing to fulfill the role once thrust upon you becomes your responsibility.
After much deliberation, Lady Agrippina came to the conclusion that merely cooperating and being used to an extent would be the most “leisurely” option.
Thus, as part of the groundwork for doing this job carelessly, the current journey was planned.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve never been interested in worldly things like promotion, success, or fame. As long as I can peacefully spend my time doing what I like, that’s all I need.”
She tapped the ashes from her pipe, saying she might have been happiest if she had been born as the third daughter of some human noble family.
“Just casually married off in a political marriage, casually attending to her husband, occasionally visiting salons, leaving the kids to a governess, finding hobbies like embroidery or gardening, that would have been a peaceful life, wouldn’t it?”
“… Honestly, I can’t picture you quietly sitting by the window doing embroidery.”
“Rude, young man. I assure you, I can do it. Despite appearances.”
As she filled her pipe with new leaves, she smiled, explaining that she has sufficient embroidery skills to fulfill the customs of her homeland, such as stitching handkerchiefs for her husband.
“Mourning one’s fate while stitching silk with threads drawn from a nasty man’s guts is far too taxing. It’s more enjoyable to take the easier route and earnestly play the role of Countess.”
I definitely thought this was a lie, seeing how exhausted Lord Raizenitz looked, but I was no fool to stir up a hornet’s nest. The wise apprentice nods in understanding while the master vents.
“Making full use of noble privileges to advance my research, and leveraging the connections of a court count and professor to the extent that the royal court and the Magic Academy will die of exhaustion — that will be my life.”
At this point, all I can do is solemnly pray for the repose of His Majesty and Lord Raizenitz. Though one of them is already dead, contemplating how he might still be laboring after death in this cruel world was sobering.
Ah, how troublesome. It seems that even fantasy worlds can be more harsh than my previous life. Being dead and still forced to work is no joke.
… A strange chill ran down my spine, but it was probably just exhaustion, wasn’t it?
“So then, this is a proposal and a request.”
Exhaling sweet tobacco smoke, Lady Agrippina unusually straightened her expression and faced me.
“Erich, would you consider becoming my knight once you come of age? As a count, I’m authorized to bestow knighthoods. I’ll elevate you to an imperial knight, and eventually you could even adopt my name as ‘foster son’ and succeed the House of Count Ubiorum?”
I was so startled that I couldn’t even manage a “huh?”
What is she talking about all of a sudden?
“To be honest, you make for a far too convenient resource. You’re adept at being a servant, you’re capable enough to send on missions, and you’re skilled enough to be hard to kill even when targeted. Now that I think about it, it’d be a pity to let you go.”
“Could you, at least, phrase that more elegantly?”
I was certainly aware that I was quite the “handyman.” Self-defense, basic literacy, comprehension of noble culture and unspoken rules, and even a decent skill set as a mage.
In strategic simulation games, you’d be that key player from the early game to the late game who’s constantly pushed to exhaustion doing things you can’t spare too many resources on, like flood control projects in various domains. You’re that guy.
Still, there’s a certain… lack of poise, isn’t there?
“At this point, it doesn’t matter how I phrase things. You know what I’m thinking anyway. Honesty saves time.”
With a groan, she sat up, looking me in the eye and extending her hand.
“Alright, how about I entrust you with three profitable estates as a start? An annual stipend of around 200 drakmas, and a preparation fund of about 500 drakmas should get you a fine set of plate armor. We could even start a private army if you’d like?”
Managing three estates is quite the accomplishment. It’s probably on par with the level of Lord Thuringian, who governs my hometown. For the fourth son of a farmer, this is an offer no one could refuse. The highest success possible. Tales of this advancement could echo in the halls of Königsstuhl Manor for all time.
“You’re no ordinary child, something I’ve noticed and gotten used to already, so I won’t go into detail. It doesn’t matter if you’re human or something touched by divine essence. It’s all trivial differences.”
With a sweet tobacco flavor that carries an intoxicating allure, poisonous words slipped through. From the day we first met, her face remains unchanged, radiating a beauty that borders on divine but oozes worldly charm until the very end.
“Come serve me. I’ll use you completely, to your fullest potential.”
Her sincere words hit home in a way embellishments could never. Clear employment terms and well-defined promotions.
Above all, I know she doesn’t skimp on rewards.
It’s not impossible for a commoner from the lower classes to be knighted in the Threefold Empire, but achieving proper noble status within one generation is rare. If achieved, the story could be immortalized in poems across the land. Perhaps even a festival celebrating me could be established in an estate.
But…
“No, thanks. Sounds like too much work.”
“Ah, I see?”
“Obviously.”
My employer and mentor burst into carefree laughter that left me with nothing but an exasperated look.
A title with a fiefdom means taking on deputies and bureaucrats previously managed by the crown. These people belong to the land, not the person.
This concept may be hard for modern people to grasp, but it’s important in a monarchy.
From Japan’s Sengoku period, one could think of the difference between family retainers and local warriors.
Family retainers receive their income from their lord and are thus loyal to him. Local warriors, on the other hand, are tied to their land and, while affiliated to the lord, can easily change masters due to their roots in maintaining estates and villages.
Officials managing crown lands are appointed in the name of the royal family and owe their loyalty to the state. The lands they oversee aren’t necessarily tied to a specific noble, so a change in the lord wouldn’t affect their mindset much.
For managing estates, trustworthy and loyal subordinates are invaluable.
Knighthoods come with relatively modest stipends. Knights serve as both land managers and warriors, maintaining military readiness, all funded from their annual incomes, the concept of which is vaguely outlined.
While lords provide enough income from the estate and additional goods, knights must manage resources carefully when maintaining their prestige through cavalry — typically numbering a few, or even ten at most for wealthier families — and supporting troops with training.
For a better quality of life, some form of “extra income” is needed.
Arranging for funds directly from the estate or colluding with merchants in convenient ways is generally overlooked, provided it doesn’t significantly impact the lord’s finances. Otherwise, it diminishes the loyalty tied to the land.
That said, allowing everyone free rein would reduce estate profits, thereby affecting overall tax revenues, so there’s still need for oversight.
Thus, individuals loyal to their lord and diligent in their duties are highly valued. They’re worked to the bone, though.
No matter how much money I’d get, this seems like a losing proposition. I’ll pass!
“It’s deeply regrettable, but let’s give it a miss. I wouldn’t want to work under someone who’s secretly got an ulterior motive.”
“… That you’re holding a grudge is admirable.”
“Because provoking you won’t yield any benefits, right?”
“I know you’d be formidable if you explode,” she laughed again, before straightening her hair and rising.
“Well, now that you’ve declined, let’s head back to the workshop.”
“Eh? What about dinner?”
“You have it. For rest, there’s nothing like my own bed.”
It seems she’s ready to teleport back home. With a casual excuse that she’ll return in the morning, Lady Agrippina disappeared into the “tear” in space.
… Ah, I get it. If home’s more comfortable, then off she goes.
Left alone with a jumble of emotions, I sighed yet again, unsure which one it was this time.
I prayed to the gods. For mercy on whoever might be the next unfortunate soul targeted to be worked to exhaustion.
Forgive me, but I care for my well-being after Eliza and friends…
Human resource management within administrative regions doesn’t solely depend on the lord’s whims, and there’s no law forbidding side jobs for the nobility.
In other news, Agrippina has vowed to dedicate her efforts to mischief-making. She appears determined to drain resources from anyone, be it her lord or mentor.
Most troublesome questions are deftly sidestepped with excuses about consultations with the imperial court and requiring teacher’s approval.
A brute move par excellence.
Additionally, the signed book campaign has started. If you want to see my worm-like signature, check out @Overlaps_Bunko Twitter. With few copies out there yet, this is your chance to grab a free copy of the book!
Moreover, I’ve received, quite honorably, two fan letters.
To send a letter in this information age moved me so much that it prompted a faster posting pace.
I deeply thank everyone using this platform.
