Chapter 108

In this war, I have gone beyond merely crippling the battle will and future combat capabilities of Maxburg; I have completely eliminated any chance of recovery by using the Northern Alliance and the Emperor of Romania.

As a result, my reputation is sure to have resonated across all of Europa, and our domain no longer needs to fear attacks from Maxburg.

Additionally, I have received 500,000 gold coins from Maxburg, which will allow me to attempt numerous ventures with that money.

Considering such aspects, I have succeeded in achieving a result in this war that is close to the best I could accomplish.

However, the flower of victory in war always grows by drinking the blood of both allies and enemies.

“The Count is here! Everyone, pay your respects!”

With those words, the doors to the audience chamber, where the distribution of rewards would be announced, opened, and all the barons and knights inside simultaneously knelt to show their reverence.

I crossed over them and sat in the chair at the center of the audience chamber, then spoke.

“Everyone, raise your heads.”

At my words, all the nobles present in the audience chamber raised their heads in unison to gaze at me.

“Before honoring the merits of this war, I wish to let you all know the number of those who sacrificed themselves for this war and the weight of their blood. Let us begin.”

The herald in front of me began to read carefully as the signal was given.

“During the battle of the Lothringen Plain, 200 infantry soldiers were killed, 250 were severely wounded, and 400 were lightly injured. Among the knights, including the men-at-arms, 30 were killed, 30 were severely wounded, and 20 were lightly injured, Your Excellency.”

Compared to the enemy soldiers we have defeated, it is nothing more than a drop in the bucket, but their deaths are not simply just personal tragedies.

Just as I have a father, mother, and Ela waiting for my return, they also have a vixen-like wife and bunny-like children waiting for their return.

Moreover, soldiers’ families often rely economically on their husbands, and when those husbands die, their widows are pushed to the streets, forced to sell their bodies just to survive.

No, it would be fortunate if they could live like that… If the widowed wives can’t get into a tavern, they will end up selling themselves to a slave trader.

So, I decided that once I arrived in Blueport, I would announce a new policy I had prepared.

“A considerable number of soldiers and knights have died. Let us first observe a moment of silence to honor their sacrifices.”

At my words, everyone bowed their heads to honor the dead, and some even wept for their fallen family members within the audience chamber.

“Enough. Before we proceed to the distribution of rewards, I will announce the policy I have prepared for them. From now on, regardless of status, I shall support the children of those who died fighting for Croilet to attend orphanages and schools according to their circumstances, with some differences according to their rank or status during their lifetime. At the same time, I will provide a pension of a fixed amount until their death to widows who do not have a territory. By doing this, I will not allow the families of those who fought for Croilet to be driven into horrific conditions. If anyone has an objection, speak up immediately.”

Even though I said this, with the justification being so perfect in front of my absolute power, no fool would dare oppose me.

Especially since knights, who value honor on the battlefield, would not likely oppose policies for the fallen soldiers and officers…

If they oppose me, their family reputation could plummet.

And, as I expected, no one opposed me.

“Now, let’s truly begin the distribution of rewards. Before that, I have something I wish to present to all officers of lieutenant and above. Bring it out.”

With those words, a servant behind me brought forward a white mannequin dressed in a white blazer with a red silk lining and white trousers, which closely resembled the outfit I typically wore for work.

Perhaps because of this, everyone inside cheered in delight.

“It certainly looks magnificent. Your Excellency, this is how a man’s military uniform should be!”

“Long live Count Croilet!”

And with a smile, I said, “The basic design is like this, but the decorations will vary slightly according to rank. All officers of lieutenant and above will have to measure their sizes, and it will be ready within one to two months. So, you all should wear these to attend my wedding.”

That outfit costs only about half a gold coin, yet the reaction was as if they had received ten gold coins.

Moving forward, rather than give gold coins as rewards to the officers, it would be more cost-effective to present meaningful items.

“Let’s start the distribution of rewards. First, to Baron Frost, in charge of the center, I grant the surrounding ten villages and 30,000 gold coins from Frost’s territory. To Baron Balt, in charge of the right wing, I grant the surrounding seven villages and 20,000 gold coins, and to Colonel Beerman, who stood at the rear and suppressed the enemy knights, I grant the entire Crescent Baron’s territory, making him a baron.”

Then, I would send Beerman elsewhere and bring Balt closer to me.

Baron Frost mentioned that Balt is good for combat but poor in territory management… So I should assign Balt to manage my direct troops while having other administrators brought from the academy manage his territory.

Since he would need to manage the territory while on the battlefield, I can take his work of territory management away and let others do it, pretending he’s managing the troops under my command.

Other nobles might hate this move, but Balt, who detests administration and paperwork more than anyone else, would probably cheer if I just didn’t strip or reduce his territory.

“I have already reviewed and approved the promotions for individuals below the rank of colonel as suggested by each baron, so after this distribution of rewards is over, please inform them directly. In place of territories, I will grant them medals and gold coins, starting with the Golden Knight Sword Medal awarded to Colonel Walter Model!”

At those words, Walter, who had been in the corner of the audience chamber, stepped forward to stand before me.

“You have fought valiantly as part of the vanguard and captured Baron Santoburg, who was in charge of the infantry right wing, slaying three knights under his command. In honor of this merit, I award you the Golden Knight Sword Medal and promote you to colonel. As a special benefit of the medal, your original salary will be augmented by three gold coins each month, and I grant you 200 gold coins. Additionally, I promise that your subordinates will also receive appropriate medals and benefits according to their merits.”

The salary for a colonel is about three gold coins, so essentially, his pay will double.

Furthermore, receiving that medal will grant him the right to wear it on his conquests and uniform, ensuring that superiors and other soldiers will envy him.

Moreover, although I will not grant territories for significant merits to nobles below the rank of colonel, I can secure a wide direct lordship, making this a win-win situation.

And I specifically mentioned those who achieved notable merits by name, rewarding them with medals, and by the time the sun began to set, I was able to finish the distribution of rewards.

**

Originally, I intended to spend the time after the distribution of rewards with Ela, but the exhaustion from this war had not yet faded, so we ended up sleeping in separate rooms.

Today, when Ela said she would sleep alone in another room, I asked her to stay with me, unlike the previous times during other wars…

However, after the hardships of the battlefield, I simply had no energy left to burn hot through the night, and I declined.

I planned to rest fully today and spend the next week with Ela…

As I thought this and lay down on the bed to sleep, a maid knocked on the door and said.

“Your Excellency the Count, Your Excellency. Bailiff Chris Belladora wishes to see you urgently. What shall we do?”

I rather wanted to send her away, but since Chris, who had deliberately feigned downgrading to assign an important task, came to see me at this hour…

It seems I have finally found someone who can bury Maxburg alive.

No matter how tired I am, this is an urgent matter. I must get up…

“Bring Chris to this room in ten minutes.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

The maid said this and then left my room with a gentle demeanor.

In the meantime, I took off my pajamas and changed into my everyday clothes hanging in my room.

A little later, there was a tapping sound along with Chris’s voice.

“This is Bailiff Chris Belladora. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

Shortly afterward, the door opened, and Chris entered.

Unlike before, she had grown her hair a considerable length and was wearing a blue dress made of silk instead of her previous men’s clothing.

Seeing her like this after a long time since the hunt for Schwabin made me a bit flustered, but I didn’t show it and said.

“What was the reaction of those who saw the Eyes of Deus that I wrote?”

“Naturally, I hid the fact that it was written by you and showed it to them, and the majority burned it, saying it was a heretical book. However, the newly dispatched priests, who came from the ranks of wandering preachers, were generally favorable to this story.”

Unless one is a person like Jan Hus, John Wycliffe, or Martin Luther, high-ranking priests would see the book I wrote as an unhealthy book that threatens their status.

However, for those who observe the realities and dislike them, or those unable to enter that ownership, my book would appear as a guide illuminating the path they should take.

Because in the book I wrote, there are all the core doctrines written by real religious reformers who played a major role in bringing down the Holy Roman Empire throughout history despite lacking power.

And the ones who practically practiced almost all the contents in the book I sent as priests are precisely the wandering preachers… It would be too obvious for them.

“Perfect, truly perfect. So, how many do you think will support our plan? I’d be satisfied with about 50, no, even 100 would be great…”

At my words, Chris leaned in to whisper in my ear.

“About one in ten of the priests who worked closely with the serfs… roughly 300 have responded positively to Your Excellency’s proposal.”

I thought that sending just 50 would devastate Maxburg, but 300?

With this number, I could set ablaze not only Maxburg, the Elector of the Holy Romania, but the entire Romania.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. I have already secured all 300 signatures.”

“Chris Belladora, then who represents them and where is that person?”

At this, Chris replied proudly, her chest puffed out.

“It is the senior priest Harry Wycliffe, who has been mentioned as a candidate for the auxiliary bishop of Nante. He has said he would be willing to convert for this plan. He is currently in the reception room.”

A senior priest is just one level away from receiving baron status, but I never expected that such a high-ranking individual would want to help those pitiful fellows of Maxburg…

Faith among religious people sometimes leads to actions that are utterly incomprehensible…

“I will go meet him immediately. And Chris, consider this moment as reinstating you as my secretary.”

“I shall follow your command.”

With Chris Belladora’s capabilities, I believe she will succeed in this endeavor, and if she does, I planned to elevate her to inspector and then marry her suitably to make her a success story…

However, the merit achieved in this matter is of such a scale that it cannot simply be buried, so perhaps giving her a last chance might not be a bad idea.

In any case, for the next few months, I will be under attack from many nobles, including several barons, but once the confidential information is opened…

They will be convinced of Chris’s rise in status.