Chapter 216
(Kyle Calendar Year 512: Age 19)
The Year of Calamity
Translator : PolterGlast
The New Year of Kyle
Calendar Year 512 has arrived. These next two years—this one and the
next—will be the most critical battle of my life.
Normally, the entire
area, including the Estol region, would be destined to be struck by a
massive drought, yet there are still no signs of it.
Since proceeding
with irrigation works to avoid famine caused by the drought—the first calamity
twelve years ago—countermeasures have been advancing not only in the Estol
area, but also in Count Gorman's territory and Viscount Cornell's
territory, which includes the former Hiyorimi lands.
Even if the damage
spreads to the surroundings like during previous historical alterations, the
surrounding territories are also advancing their countermeasures. My only worry
lies with the new territories held by my father, Count Solis, and Count
Gorman, but it seems preparations and measures are beginning to reach them
as well.
After the customary
banquet celebrating the New Year, the key members gathered to confirm and share
the current situation.
"Now then,
rainfall will likely be scarce this year. What is the status of countermeasures
in each region?"
"Yes. Teigoon,
Aegis, and Ishtar are three regions that can expect blessings
from Mt. Teigoon in the form of spring water and snowmelt. In addition
to that, irrigation works and water storage in moats have been prepared, so
there shouldn't be significant damage."
Sasha, a Water
Mage who studied in the Royal Capital and joined the core members
with Mary after graduating, answered.
"The biggest
problem is... Gaia?"
"Yes. Gaia
and Dimos rely on rainwater and river water. Although reservoirs and the
like are prepared, if the rivers dry up, they will suffer a fair amount of
damage."
"Sasha,
are there any countermeasures for that?"
"Yes. In
regions likely to be affected, we have instructed them to plant crops with
different harvest times, drought-resistant tubers, and drought-resistant beans
I learned about in the Royal Capital. We have already purchased seeds
and seed potatoes from merchants and distributed them. Fortunately, thanks to
the popularity of curry and croquettes, Baron potatoes are being planted on a
large scale."
"I see. So even
if grains like wheat decrease, we can cope with alternative crops?"
Here, Astor
raised his hand.
"We plan to
proceed with rice cultivation in Aegis on a large scale this year as
well, utilizing the spring water from Mt. Teigoon, which is less
affected by drought. Even without issues, rice consumption is expected to grow
significantly this year... However, since rainwater will be scarce, I would
like to borrow the power of the Water Mages to spray water on the
sugarcane fields."
"Sasha,
regarding Astor's request, please organize the Water Mages to
cooperate. We can get the water itself from the irrigation canals, but spraying
it is labor-intensive."
"In Ishtar,
the immigrants from the Imperial Kingdom are taking the lead in
advancing rice cultivation and the growing of tubers and beans. Rice
cultivation is a new endeavor, but since tubers and beans were staples in the Imperial
Kingdom, they seem to handle them easily."
"Thank you, Alexis.
Please have Astor share information from Aegis, where they have a
track record with rice, to the immigrants from the Imperial Kingdom so
they can proceed in coordination. By the way, what is the status of grain
stockpiles in each region?"
"Food
stockpiles are sufficient from last year's harvest. We have been diligently
collecting until the warehouses of the Commodity Exchange and the charity
granaries in various places are nearly full. Depending on the damage from the
drought, we have enough margin to provide relief supplies or sell according to
market prices."
Yoltia
reported with pride. I know she has been working desperately to secure food
stockpiles and inventory for trading. Her family home, a merchant house in Est,
was ruined after missing the boat on fluctuating grain prices in the past,
suffering massive losses. That was the trigger for her falling into the
brothel. Therefore, she has been proceeding with this particularly sensitively
and carefully.
"Then, I ask
everyone to continue proceeding with the response. It's not just our territory.
If the power of the southern frontier lords declines, it will affect the war
with the Empire beyond. I want you to deal with other territories as if
they were our own."
Everyone nodded
powerfully.
Coordination with
Mother, Count Solis's steward, and Count Gorman is already
sufficient, but there is still room to strengthen relations with Viscount
Cornell. The same goes for the southeastern frontier region, starting with Viscount
Kyrias. We must absolutely avoid a decline in military power in that area.
In the previous
timeline, I was desperate just to handle my own territory and didn't know much
about the situation in other lands, but I feel like the drought occurred on a
large scale, so caution is necessary there.
"Since the year
has changed and our system is solidifying, I will be granting peerages to some
individuals to have them act as quasi-nobles. Whether in domestic
administration or military affairs, involvement with other territories will
increase. This also aims to prevent unnecessary interference and increase
everyone's influence, so please accept without hesitation."
Yuka had been
made an Associate Baroness for her achievements during the previous
civil war, but my four wives were naturally without titles. However, when
accepting the mission as special envoys to the Principality of Fearalt accompanying Claire
and Yoltia, His Majesty granted them titles.
『If the envoy's wives are without rank or
title, your wives who hail from commoner backgrounds would feel small.
Including the two accompanying you and the two remaining behind, I shall grant
them the rank of Associate Baroness for their merits in suppressing the civil
war. Henceforth, they are permitted to use the name 'Von'. 』
Thanks to His
Majesty's consideration, all five wives (one is prospective) had become Baronesses.
Furthermore, a
feudal lord has the authority to appoint a number of subordinates corresponding
to their rank as Knights (lifetime peerage).
In the past, when my
father was a Baron, he appointed two people as Knights and entrusted them with
the governance of towns as magistrates. Originally, the town of Dimos
was also governed by one of those Knights, and after the territory distribution
agreement, he transferred to become the magistrate governing a part of the
territory my father newly acquired.
As someone treated
as a Marquis (equal to a Margrave), I can appoint up to 16 Knights. For now, I
decided to grant titles only to the upper commander class, reorganizing their
positions and chain of command.
"Gale, Christoph,
Elan, Bart, Raphael. You five will become Commanders and
Administrators, taking positions to direct other commanders and supervisors.
Starting today, you receive the rank of Knight within the Demon
Territory Count's domain, and I ask you to take a surname and the title
'Von'."
"Eeeehh?!"
No, you don't have
to be that surprised. Even if called quasi-nobles, nothing changes between
us...
Gale:
"No... for a laborer like me to be a noble..." Christoph:
"..." Elan: "I... I mean, I'm from the slums, is that
really okay?" Bart: "No, I... I'm an orphan..." Raphael:
"Isn't a noble with this kind of appearance strange? If it were me, I'd
name myself a 'Bandit Noble', but wouldn't that lower the Demon Territory
Count's dignity..."
"Well,
everyone, our territory exists as it is today because of your activities so
far, so please don't worry about it. Think of it as encouragement and a goal
for everyone else."
Yeah, their
reactions were so unexpected it was funny. Seeing the five bewildered, everyone
else laughed. Especially at Raphael's remark.
<Four Newly Appointed Baronesses>
Demon Territory
Count Steward (Miseri) Possesses the authority to act as a proxy for
all the Lord's powers, excluding military aspects. Also holds the authority to
independently appoint Supervisors, a position second only to the executive
Administrators. Financially, Takuhir has essentially handed everything
over to her, and she manages the vast assets of the Demon Territory Count
single-handedly.
Territorial
Safety Administrator (Anne) Manages all security guards, sentries,
the Lord's direct escort units, and mansion staff such as maids and butlers
within the territory, holding the authority to command them.
External Affairs
Administrator (Claire) Manages the Supervisors placed at reception
offices throughout the territory, holding authority to operate many duties
ranging from resident information to job placement, immigrant support, and the
operation of shooting ranges.
Commercial
Department Administrator (Yoltia) In addition to operating the
Commodity Exchange, she manages buying and selling with merchants within the
territory, commercial permits, and charity granaries in various places. She is
granted a large budget and authority regarding commercial transactions. She
concurrently serves as the Public Order Maintenance Supervisor, building
and operating the internal intelligence organization, and holds authority for
investigation, capture, and interrogation.
<Five Newly Appointed Knights>
Garrison Army
Commander (Gale) Commands all soldiers in the garrison army
excluding Ishtar, leading the Vice-Commanders Gold, Mars,
and Danke. He holds authority for new recruitment of soldiers,
incorporation into the standing army, and promotion/demotion of ranks.
Defense Army Commander
(Christoph) Leads the 500 Longbowmen deployed in Aegis, as well
as Masrur (Colonial Militia Captain) and Isaac (Vigilante Corps
Captain), holding the authority to move them freely.
Construction
Project Administrator (Elan) Manages Mary and Sasha (Urban
Planning Supervisors) and Carleen (Urban Development Supervisor),
serving as the fully responsible person for development construction in the Demon
Territory Count's domain.
Trade Project
Administrator (Bart) In wartime, he supervises Walrus
(Logistics Department Captain), and in peacetime, he holds full authority
regarding negotiations and sales such as trade and material transport.
Intelligence
Department Administrator (Raphael) Supervises foreign intelligence,
intelligence activities within the territory, and the units engaged in them.
The Vigilante Corps' night watch unit also falls under his command. He
possesses the authority, personnel, and budget to independently carry out
necessary investigations beyond direct requests from me. Like Yoltia, he
concurrently serves as Public Order Maintenance Supervisor, granted
independent authority for investigation, capture, and interrogation.
<Others>
Aside from them,
there are three others in the Demon Territory Count's domain who hold
special status.
Baron Weiss,
who is entrusted with military affairs and serves as Commander-in-Chief. He
holds the authority to freely move not only the Frontier Knights branch
but also soldiers held by any commander.
Alexis (Associate
Baron Bauner), entrusted with the internal administration and defense of Ishtar.
He is the Ishtar Administrator and Eastern Defense Commander,
commanding 500 Longbowmen and the garrison led by Aral (Eastern Garrison
Captain).
Rosa,
appointed by the Church as an Honorary Bishop of the Central Church.
Comparing her position in the church to nobility: a local church priest is
about equal to a Knight, but a Central Church Bishop jumps up to be equivalent
to a Count. Well, it's an honorary position so there is no substantial
authority, but the influence is still significant. Setting aside her status in
the church, she has also been awarded the rank of Knight.
In addition to these
three, twelve people become the control tower for decision-making within the Demon
Territory Count's domain. Along with the Captains and Supervisors, these
are the personnel who will participate in regular meetings as core members.
We were finally able
to organize the positions that had been somewhat half-baked or had overlapping
authorities until now. With this, we will walk into the future with a new
system.
·
Steward (Lord's Proxy): Miseri
(Associate Baroness)
·
Commander-in-Chief (Branch Captain): Weiss
(Baron)
·
Territorial Safety Administrator: Anne
(Associate Baroness)
·
External Affairs Administrator: Claire
(Associate Baroness)
·
Commercial Department Administrator: Yoltia
(Associate Baroness)
·
Construction Project Administrator: Elan
(Knight)
·
Trade Project Administrator: Bart
(Knight)
·
Intelligence Department Administrator: Raphael
(Knight)
·
Infirmary Operations Administrator: Rosa
(Knight + Honorary Bishop)
·
Urban Development Supervisor: Carleen
·
Urban Planning Supervisor: Mary
·
Urban Planning Supervisor: Sasha
·
Industrial Development Department Supervisor:
Carl
·
Aegis Development Supervisor: Astor
·
Dimos Development Supervisor: Lyla
Other Civil
Service Positions: Steward Assistant, Education Project Supervisor, Finance
Department Supervisor, Shooting Range Operations Supervisor, Mining Project
Supervisor... etc. Civil officials under Miseri bear responsibility for
these.
·
Eastern Defense Commander: Alexis
(Associate Baron)
·
Defense Army Commander: Christoph
(Knight)
·
Garrison Army Commander: Gale
(Knight)
o Captain:
Gold
o Captain:
Mars
o Captain:
Danke
·
Eastern Garrison Captain: Aral
·
Colonial Militia Captain: Masrur
·
Vigilante Corps Captain: Isaac
·
Mercenary Corps Captain: Kira
·
Relief Unit Captain: Marianne
·
Logistics Department Captain: Walrus
·
Magic Combat Captain: Lilia
Start of Kyle Year 512 – Budget Balance
o Personal Gold
Coins
·
Carryover from Previous Year: 10,000
·
Period Income: 3,500 (Top-tier tournament
bookmaker profits, personal sales, etc.)
·
Period Expenses: 3,000 (Royal Capital stay
costs, various Mage dispatch costs, etc.)
o Remaining
Balance: Approx. 14,500 Gold Coins
o Territory Owned
Gold Coins
·
Carryover from Previous Year: 258,300
·
Development Expenses: ▲83,000
·
Operating Expenses: ▲79,000 (All employee
personnel costs, expenses)
·
Other: ▲500
·
Manufacturing Commission Fees: ▲16,000 (Ordering
arms, etc.)
·
Debt Repayment: ▲1,500 (Repayment to Margrave)
·
Sales Income: 15,000 (Arms)
·
One-time Revenue: 9,000 (Land sales, etc.)
·
One-time Revenue: 8,000 (Principality sale
profit, Empire trade-related)
·
Sale Profit: 6,000 (Monster materials, etc.)
·
Merchandise Revenue: 16,000 (Honey, Sugar, etc.)
·
King's Request: 10,000 (Principality event
reward)
·
Gold Mine Grant: 6,000 (Rights money from
Kingdom)
·
Territory Tax Revenue, etc.: 60,000 (Tax
revenue includes: Poll tax, trade tax, rent, Commodity Exchange sales profit,
public ranch sales profit, agricultural products, mining profits, etc.)
o Remaining
Balance: Approx. 208,300 Gold Coins
Remaining Debt:
Paid in Full
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