"First, let me apologize honestly for making fun of your profession: ....... You have done your job well, even without the power of your profession. Well, without a doubt, you are the best in your clan. ......, excellent. ......"


    When I saw my brother Geisel again at Castle Nayvle, he was still not smiling. It was probably because the one who had been picking on him all these years had achieved too much.


    It was a sign that he was blind to the fact that he had made fun of those who were not stupid. In other words, Geisel''s pride was hurt. Suck on that.


    There is no merit in offending Geisel here at all, so I''m going to take the low blow.


    "It was the lord''s brother who took the liberty of sending the lord''s younger brother to the fortress in danger. This is the result of your calculations. Your late father must have admired it."


    "Oh, yeah. ....... Well, that''s the way it''s going to be ......."


    Geisel was easily pleased. I imagine it must be easy for the vassals to deal with such a simple man.


    "Now, I have to reward you for your achievement. So far I''ve only given you half of the territory of the small village of Harth. I will give you the whole of that village and the villages on either side. That makes you lord of three villages. And I will give you a baronetcy. You can call yourself Baron Harth after the village.


    "Thank you for your happiness. I will fight for Nevre even more.


    The title of baron, unlike that of viscount, is not hereditary. Therefore, there is no problem in giving them away as rewards. Also, the minor lords do not have the right to share the title of baron since they are still barons.


    And Viscount Nevre himself is only a small lord with one county and half a county to his name.


    The Kingdom of Thirlwil is divided into prefectures. There are about ten counties within each province.


    Basically, a lord who owns more than half of the land in a province is a count, while a lord who owns only one county is a viscount.


    Therefore, the Viscounts of Nevre are a force that could be destroyed at any moment, not to say that they will blow up in the wind.


    To tell the truth, I want to get rid of my brother as soon as possible and take over the position of Viscount. It is partly because I dislike my brother, but it is simply because if I have an ordinary person as my lord, my life will be in danger if he comes to me with an order to defend the fort to the death.


    But it is too much to ask for an immediate rebellion and victory. And we have no cause.


    --Don''t be hasty. We must first lay the groundwork to become the High King. It''s hard work to get the first province, but it''s easy to turn five prefectures into ten. The time will come. The High King would not have all of Owari until after he had defeated Imagawa Yoshimoto.


    My heart has been telling me so, so I will believe it. I don''t know what the proper nouns mean.


    But this guy must be really harmless. I feel like I read about these whispering demons when I was a kid: .......


    --I''m afraid I don''t have that kind of power. I can only enjoy watching you become the High King.


    You don''t seem to be a blatant deceiver.


    After my meeting with my brother, I decided to take control of my newly acquired lands.


    Three villages, as lords go, but I am treated better than before, so that''s good.


    Returning to my house, I first visited my sister Altia.


    "Brother, I never thought I''d see you again. ......"


    When I met my sister, she immediately burst into tears.


    "Oh, come on, you don''t trust me, do you?"


    "Because it was a very unhelpful operation. ......"


    Altia''s attitude was not exaggerated, but entirely appropriate. I had crossed a dangerous bridge, and I had crossed it.


    "I think I can reassure you a little more from now on."


    "Yes ...... brother ......"


    I''d like to move to a more airy place for my sister who is sick a lot.


    Well, that''s a good idea.


    I changed the house to a higher ground in the village, ostensibly to take care of my sister.


    My reputation in the local community had grown considerably, so the construction went very smoothly.


    It is true that I did it for my sister''s sake, but at the same time, I was able to greatly improve the defense function by putting the house on a higher ground. If the need arises, we can hunker down here and fight.


    The new building has a dry and fresh breeze, and Altia is happy. My health seems to be better than before.


    And, just as the building was being completed, another piece of good news arrived.


    Sivik, the old general who had defended the fort with me, came to my house.


    "The fort has stabilized, so I''ve come back to replace him with someone else.


    It''s been a long time. It''s good to see you again.


    "So, if it is possible, I would like to serve as Master Arsrod''s advisor."


    Civique is in the service of her lord. In the strict sense of the word, he cannot serve me, his vassal. Therefore, he wants to assist me, his vassal, in the form of a yoriki. It is not surprising for an influential vassal to have such a yoriki.


    I understand. No problem on my part. You can make your own offer to my brother.


    "Ha ha!　I am thankfully happy!　I am ready to die for you, old bone Sivik, Master Arsrod!"


    Permission was granted without incident, and Siviq became my de facto vassal. This further enhanced my reputation. Sivik had also defended the fort for a long time and was well-liked.


    Some of the men who had fought with Sivik for a long time came to me. For a man of valor, it seemed worthwhile to serve me now.


    More and more of the swordsmen living in the area wanted to become my vassals. Those who do not have a direct lord-servant relationship with the lord have no problem being included in my vassalage.


    Through Raviara''s contacts, relatives of Raviara and others have come to serve as my lieutenants. It is said that they have come to rely on me after hearing of my successes.


    Especially the elven family on Lhaviala''s mother''s side supported me. The other elves followed suit, and the power of the elves in the county is almost under my control.


    Because of all this, my power has grown to the point where I am second only to Geisel, the lord''s brother, in the lands of Nevre.


    I have always been a vassal in the service of small and medium-sized lords. Three villages is a pretty big one. And since several of my peers came to me as vassals, it was only natural that my influence became stronger.