Episode 9: Request for Troop Deployment

The purge of the magistrates was complete, and the reforms in the territory were progressing smoothly. It was at such a time that a visitor arrived at the Kreving Count’s estate.

In a room of the Kreving Count’s mansion, a lavish guest chamber prepared for receiving visitors, I sat in a chair facing a man dressed in opulent clothing. A middle-aged man with a meticulously groomed brown beard, he exuded the very image of a noble. His name was Patrick von Arving.

The Arving family is distantly related to our Kreving family—in other words, kin. Their title is that of a marquis, meaning their noble rank surpasses that of our Kreving Count’s household.

“I’ve brought tea.”

Fine served tea to me and Patrick before promptly leaving the room. Her movements were brisk yet retained an impeccable grace—a flawless display.

“Now then, might you share the reason for your visit to our household, Lord Patrick?”

I flashed a smile at Patrick. A smile that seemed kind at first glance… but could there be something sinister lurking beneath? No, perhaps he’s a good man after all? It was the kind of smile a cunning villain from a manga or anime might wear, designed to keep readers guessing.

“Very well… no need for unnecessary preamble. I’ll get straight to the point.”

Patrick leaned forward slightly.

“I’d like you to deploy the Kreving Count’s soldiers to my territory.”

“Oh? Troop deployment, you say?”

“Indeed. You see, a rebellion by beastmen has broken out in my territory.”

Beastmen. As the name suggests, they are a race with beast-like ears and tails. Aside from those features, they resemble humans, but they often live in valleys or grasslands, cultivating their own distinct cultures.

“There’s a beastmen settlement on the outskirts of my Arving family’s territory… but about twenty days ago, they suddenly rose up in arms and turned against us. Honestly, the nerve of those savage beastmen…!”

“Why did the beastmen rebel? Is there some reason behind it?”

“…Who knows? I haven’t the faintest idea. Why should I care about what beastmen think?”

Patrick’s words were evasive. Hmm… there’s definitely something more to this.

“At any rate… we moved to suppress them immediately. But the beastmen’s resistance has been unexpectedly fierce. Both my soldiers and the beastmen have suffered heavy losses. We’re currently at a stalemate. That’s why I’m asking you to send troops to help bring this conflict to an end.”

“If you need reinforcements, why not request aid from the kingdom?”

The kingdom—namely, the Kirchhen Kingdom, the nation to which we belong. Asking them for reinforcements would be the simplest solution. But Patrick’s face twisted in displeasure at my suggestion.

“You’re a noble yourself, so you should understand, Count Siegfried von Kreving. The Arving family has its pride. If word got out that we couldn’t quell a rebellion on our own and had to rely on the royal house, we’d be a laughingstock.”

“So, you’d rather keep this discreet and borrow the strength of our Kreving family instead… is that it?”

Inwardly, I sneered at Patrick. If you can’t suppress the rebellion, what’s the point of clinging to your pride?

For a moment, I considered saying that outright… but no, I decided to fully embrace the role of the cunning villain for now and kept my smile firmly in place.

Indeed, playing the cunning villain isn’t something you can do just anytime. Against crude opponents like Gessler or the bandits from before, it wouldn’t have the same effect. But with someone like Patrick, who at least outwardly carries himself as a proper noble, the role of the scheming villain truly shines.

“Listen, Lord Siegfried. This isn’t a bad deal for you either. The beastmen are already significantly weakened. If you send troops now, victory is all but guaranteed. You… you’ve yet to experience battle, haven’t you?”

“Indeed.”

Well, I’ve already killed plenty of magistrates and bandits, but still.

“Then let this rebellion’s suppression be your first campaign. A guaranteed victory for your debut—how fortunate is that, hmm?”

Patrick puffed out his chest, as if to say he’d personally arranged this perfect stage for me and that I should be grateful. But when I didn’t show the gratitude he expected, his tone shifted, his voice lowering in an attempt to intimidate.

“Lord Siegfried, you’ve only just become the head of your house. As a noble patriarch, you’re still a novice. It would be in your best interest to cooperate with the Arving family, wouldn’t it?”

“Hypothetically speaking… what would happen to the Kreving family if I refused to send troops to aid the Arving family?”

“Well now…”

Patrick spoke slowly, each word dripping with menace.

“In the noble society of the Kirchhen Kingdom, the Kreving Count’s family would find itself isolated. We are marquises. You are counts. Who holds the higher rank, who wields greater influence… you understand, don’t you?”

Leaning back deeply in his chair, Patrick glared at me. I met his gaze, maintaining my cunning villain’s smile.

“Understood, Lord Patrick. For the sake of quelling the rebellion in your territory, I shall deploy my troops.”

At my response, Patrick’s expression softened.

“Hahaha! So, you’ll send troops? Excellent. I may have said some threatening things, but… that was all in jest. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Patrick laughed, but his eyes didn’t. They remained fixed on me, scrutinizing my expression as if searching for something.

 

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Having secured my promise of troop deployment, Patrick boarded his carriage and returned to his territory. After seeing him off, I immediately issued orders to my trusted right-hand man, an elderly gentleman.

“We’ll assist in suppressing the rebellion in the Arving Marquis’s territory. Summon the Kreving Count’s soldiers, Evan.”

“Understood…”

Though he acknowledged the command, Evan posed a question.

“But… are you certain this is wise?”

“What do you mean?”

“Forgive my impertinence, but I’ve heard that Patrick von Arving is a man who has expanded his territory through cunning schemes. Moreover, our Kreving family and the Arving family have clashed over territorial disputes in the past. Despite our kinship, the Kreving and Arving families are hardly on amicable terms.”

“So, you suspect there’s some ulterior motive behind his request for troops?”

“I believe it’s a possibility worth considering, at the very least.”

“You’re right. For someone dealing with a rebellion in his own territory, Patrick seemed awfully composed. There’s undoubtedly something more to his request for reinforcements. Heh…”

Patrick. You thought you could fool me, but my eyes see through you. You… you’re a villain.

What schemes are you plotting? And are you a villain worthy of my attention? I’ll be the one to judge that.