“An important noble house that cannot be easily discarded, huh…”
“Yes. Even if I were welcomed into the Northwest Faction as an ‘outstanding young noble who accomplished the eradication of bandits,’ I would still be a viscount. If I were ever to come into conflict with Count Kivileft, there’s no denying that you might choose to discard me.”
Marquis Bechtelshaim wanted to say that wouldn’t happen, that he would protect him as a fellow faction member, but his weighty responsibility as the leader of the Northwest Faction prevented him from doing so.
Count Kivileft belongs to the faction in the southeast of the kingdom. The northern part of the kingdom, with its primary industry in mining development, traditionally has a poor relationship with the southern part, which thrives on maritime trade.
If the Earlkvist territory were to come into conflict with Count Kivileft’s domain, it could easily escalate into a confrontation between the Northwest Faction and the Southeast Faction.
Moreover, the kingdom is more developed in the south, as it flourishes through trade with the southern continent. In a serious conflict, the Northwest would find itself at a disadvantage. If that were the case, they might discard the Earlkvist territory to ensure the stability of the Northwest as a whole.
“That’s why I tried to become one of the central nobles in the Northwest Faction by providing many gifts and contributing to the military and social development of the Northwest. I intended from the beginning to offer the crossbows and potatoes to rise from a state of having no connections to an important figure within the faction.”
“I see… Indeed, if the crossbows and potatoes transform this Northwest, your position in the Northwest Faction will be solid.”
“Yes. Moreover, since the matter of crossbows and potatoes will eventually leak outside my territory, I thought it best to provide them to close allies in the faction to spread the word quickly before it reaches unfamiliar nobles. It’s better to strengthen oneself through nearby friends rather than distant strangers.”
Noein’s smile took on a slightly mischievous tone.
“Additionally, by promoting the widespread use of powerful weapons and establishing stable food supplies, I aim for the Northwest to develop and gain authority surpassing that of other factions.”
“You want to make the Northwest itself a robust shield for your territory while also securing an important position within the faction to attain peace. Is that correct?”
“To be blunt, yes, that is my genuine intention. I plan to continue providing the technology and knowledge generated in my territory to the faction based on this belief.”
In other words, Noein was saying to the Northwest Faction, “Become strong and act as my backing for protection. I will offer you the technology and knowledge to achieve that.”
Though it was a rather audacious way of thinking, given that he had established mass production of crossbows and efficient cultivation methods for potatoes in less than two years while developing the frontier, it was certainly not mere boasting.
“…Hahaha! Your way of thinking is interesting! Your excessive desire for peace in your territory seems quite cowardly, but your decisiveness in generously releasing the seeds of profit to obtain that peace appears brave. It’s not very noble-like, but I like it.”
“Thank you. I’m not noble by birth, after all. I just want to protect the peace of myself and my subjects and live happily.”
“I see. Then, as the leader of the Northwest Faction, I will protect your peace. I will make meaningful use of the technology and information you provide to the faction. Let us develop the Northwest Faction together.”
“Yes, I may still be inexperienced, but I will do my best to contribute to the Northwest Faction.”
Marquis Bechtelshaim and Noein exchanged a firm handshake while looking each other in the eyes.
After finishing his contract with the nobles, talking with Marquis Bechtelshaim, and accepting an invitation to dinner from the marquis, Noein and Mathilda returned to their inn late at night.
“Noein-sama, welcome back~”
“You look quite exhausted.”
Greeting them were Rosetta and Pence, who was on guard duty that day at the inn.
“I’m tired… really tired. I can’t do anything today. Just negotiating with the nobles was exhausting, and on top of that, Marquis Bechtelshaim probed into my innermost thoughts. I’ve never been so nervous before.”
As he said this, Noein tossed off his cloak and collapsed onto the bed.
“Was Marquis Bechtelshaim really that formidable?”
“Yes. To me, Viscount Keinitz seemed like a mere weakling in comparison. I sensed a fierce determination from him to extract my true intentions by any means necessary.”
Seeing Noein genuinely fatigued, Pence asked, and Mathilda replied, “I see… That sounds quite tough. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you, Pence… Really, the leader of the Northwest Faction is frightening. As expected of the greatest noble in this region. It’s a relief that he turned out to be an ally.”
It was fortunate that Marquis Bechtelshaim valued practicality over formality; otherwise, if he were the type to say, “How dare a lower noble try to use the faction!” Noein’s plans would have been in jeopardy.
Having heard from Viscount Keinitz about the marquis’s character in advance and assessing his demeanor during the dinner, he hadn’t worried too much about today’s conversation. Nevertheless, he couldn’t let his guard down until the results were confirmed. Noein had no way of knowing where a great noble’s wrath might lie.
“It’s tough being a lord~”
“Absolutely. There’s no way I could ever imitate that.”
“If I could, I’d prefer to stay holed up in the capital, Noeina, without dealing with all this troublesome socializing. But since our territory is still small, we need to strengthen our ties with other nobles… I think things will get a lot easier from now on thanks to this success.”
Noein was recognized by the leader of the Northwest faction, earning favor among the nobles within that faction, and securing a strong position for himself. This marked Noein’s rise from an unnamed minor noble to a respected and powerful noble in the region.
Despite the many worries he had, his participation in the banquet and conversation with Marquis Behitlursheim was undeniably a great success.
“By the way… while I was working hard, it seems like you two really enjoyed the sights of Behitlia. I was the only one who got a day off!”
As he waited for Noein to return, Pence and Rosetta were enjoying what looked like baked sweets and a tea with a unique aroma for a late-night snack. Noein shot them a side-eye and said:
“Thanks to you, I really enjoyed the big city. Look at these souvenirs!”
“Would you like some tea and sweets, Noein-sama and Mathilda~?”
“I’ll take some. Mathilda, come sit next to me.”
“Yes, Noein-sama.”
With Mathilda at his side, Noein munched on the baked goods, finally taking a breather to relieve the fatigue of the day.
…
Exactly ten days after leaving to attend the banquet, as the end of the year approached, Noein and his group safely returned to the capital, Noeina.
“My beloved home!”
“We’re back~!”
As the carriage arrived in front of the mansion, Noein hopped down excitedly, followed by a similarly cheerful Rosetta, and finally, Mathilda, who disembarked with her usual expressionless face.
“For someone returning as lord after a long time, that was quite a childish entrance.”
Welcoming them with his usual exasperated look was Yuri, the chief servant who had acted as lord in Noein’s absence.
Alongside him were the subordinates who had managed the territory during Noein’s absence, including Mary and Kimberly, the maids who maintained the mansion.
“Well, it’s the first time I’ve been away from the Earlkvist territory for such a long time since becoming a lord. It’s only natural to miss my territory.”
“I see. Well, I’m just glad you’re back safe. How will you report to the knights?”
“Since everyone’s gathered, I might as well do it now… In short, it was a huge success.”
“That’s great to hear.”
With a grin, Noein received greetings from the others who came to welcome him.
“Welcome back, Noein-sama!”
“Thank you for your hard work. Socializing with so many nobles must have been tough.”
“Thanks. The results were significant, but it was indeed quite challenging. I don’t want to do it again for a while.”
Receiving words of encouragement from Anna and Edgar, he sighed.
“I worked hard while you were away, Noein-sama! I have new reports too!”
“We’ve been making crossbows in bulk, ready for export at any time!”
“You two have been working hard. I appreciate your dedication, but are you getting enough sleep?”
He gently chided the workaholic Christy and Damian, whose eyes looked a bit too sharp.
“Noein-sama! The mansion is sparkling clean!”
“You can take breaks, enjoy baths, and have meals whenever you wish.”
“Thank you for your hard work. It seems Rosetta bought you both a lot of souvenirs, so look forward to that.”
He smiled at the cheerful Mary and serious Kimberly.
Surrounded by his loyal knights, slaves, and servants, Noein entered the mansion.
Noein’s first real diplomatic experience had come to a close, accompanied by significant achievements and fatigue.
