Unbending Tasks And Inviolable Principles (5)

It was none of my business whether the world was noisy or not. No, to be more precise, it would be correct to say that I could not afford to pay attention.

First, my head was spinning due to the backstab sent from the Imperial Family through Princess Riana, and I was able to receive an explanation regarding the reason they had to make such a decision.

As I felt Princess Riana’s gaze watching me with an expression of extreme guilt as she brought the bundle of documents, the purpose of the documents I read through was twofold.

“So you are asking me to support the supplies, are you not? Under the pretext that humans must be prioritized over beastkin. Is that correct?”

“For now…. they say so. They say that once the war stabilizes, the Empire will repay you for this…”

Yes, it was content also written in the documents. The total compensation was a rank promotion along with territory, but it was unnecessary compensation, and the next problem was the order to support them with troops.

“Did you notify me while thinking that I would accept both?”

“I think… there is some degree of compulsion. Because there is the pretext of an Imperial crisis.”

“No matter how I look at it, there seems to be no part that would be considered an Imperial crisis. What happens if I do not accept?”

“You will be committing a crime. A fine could be imposed, but I think the domain could also be confiscated. As shown in the documents, it is merely a conscription order as a supply unit for rear support. You will never be sent to the front lines.”

That was something the princess did not know. To put it bluntly, the most dangerous unit is the supply unit. Although it is said to be a unit active in the rear, there was no way she did not know that attempts to infiltrate the rear and cut off supply routes were made constantly.

It was likely just something the princess said because she had nothing else to say, even though she knew this as well.

“I understand that land granted to a lord cannot be confiscated under any pretext. If it is a fine, I will be able to handle it, so I should go with refusing. And… I would like you to know that if they try to compel us in this manner, we have no choice but to show a reaction in our own way.”

“That is a dangerous statement. It is something that could be framed as treason!”

The princess was right. However, whether I was dragged away like this or framed for treason, I thought that resisting was the right way if both options were similar. Furthermore, what if I accelerated the production of firearms and enclosed a certain range as a fortress?

It was certain that they would not be able to do anything against us with standard tactics. Moreover, even if a large army invaded through the harbor, I judged that there was nothing to fear because a large number of whale beastkin lived there.

I could see that the Ingrad Domain could exert quite powerful strength when focused solely on defense.

“I am very grateful that Your Highness the Princess has taken steps, but we cannot follow this order. Our circumstances are not good, and the fact that they are taking away that many people is literally no different from telling all the foundations of the domain to stop. I wish to refuse gently, but I would like you to know that a response that would satisfy the Imperial Family cannot come from the gentle line I can take.”

Eventually, I handed the bundle of documents to the princess, and at that moment, several knights behind the princess showed a reaction, but Demina was inside the room.

In an instant, Demina came out, moved in front of the princess, and gave a low growl.

“Was there perhaps an order to seize me or something?”

“….Why are you going this far?”

The princess was saying something naive. To put it bluntly, if I were to contribute 10,000 troops as written in the documents, there was nothing I could not do. However, the problem was that it meant I had to provide funds or food capable of supporting 300,000 people to be sent to the war; saying it is for 300,000 people sounds nice, but in reality, it is not a volume that a viscounty can handle.

The currently known total population of our domain was 70,000. Even that had only increased by tens of thousands as refugees generated during the war between Atoon and the Empire recently flowed in.

There was no way they would follow leadership well, and even if such people were sent out, I would not hear anything good. Then, should I mobilize the beastkin?

Then it was certain they would try to send them to the front lines no matter what to grind them down. It was certain that promises would be broken as easily as tearing a piece of paper.

All circumstances were disadvantageous to us. However, what if we held out here for the sole purpose of defense?

I was confident that I could hold out for years or even decades.

I had gained confidence in the development of firearms. Furthermore, I was in the middle of drawing things like cannons and various other weapons whenever I rested lately, in order to try manufacturing them as well.

“I also do not want to be like this. I just want to live an ordinary life, hidden in the shade of the Empire and enjoying myself. However, the one picking a fight is not me, but the Empire that issued an order that cannot be handled. It means they made it so that I have no choice but to resist.”

“….What could have been the problem?”

Leaving behind a single sentence, Princess Riana turned around and walked away without lingering. So I also followed Princess Riana at a suitable distance and was able to confirm her departure through the lord’s manor, and at that moment, I called everyone, including Vincent, and spoke.

“Pack your bags and everyone leave the lord’s manor. And from now on, the place where you will live will be the Inner Keep. Do you understand?”

At those words, the maids and the Vincents moved quickly without even asking the reason. And first, using Construction, I began to seal the space where the teleportation magic circle was located by using a large amount of mana.

Using Construction in a way that covered all the spaces with walls, I blocked even the entrance, leaving only enough space for one person’s face to peek through, and began to seal the lord’s manor as I withdrew.

Since things had turned out this way, I thought I just needed to prepare thoroughly.

After that, once I had organized the entire manor, I went to find Richard immediately, and he welcomed me with a haggard appearance.

“Are you very tired?”

“I am tired. But if it is like these days, I am so happy that I have nothing more to wish for!”

It was a considerable amount of time since I gave the order. When I asked how many firearms had been manufactured, Richard spoke proudly.

“Thanks to shortening the process of engraving magic circles with the help of artisans, approximately 1,500 units have been completed.”

It was an unexpected story. Estimating the time, it meant that approximately 150 units were manufactured per day.

It meant he had pushed himself tremendously, and I thought that the production speed could be slowed down now. Although the situation was bad, I thought time would be needed until the Empire showed a reaction.

It was certain they would not act extremely from the beginning, but I intended to prepare just in case.

“For now, let us not manufacture more than 50 units a day. There is nothing good about overdoing it.”

“Is funding the problem?”

“No, it is because I think the situation will turn out in a way that gives me a headache. I will call everyone and explain later, so listen to the story then and we shall decide the future schedule.”

Was it because I spoke with a fairly serious atmosphere?

Richard’s expression was colorful. Anyway, leaving such a Richard behind, I contemplated what would be needed for the domain in the future and began to take measures to resolve things before problems with the Imperial Family arose.

I called everyone who held important roles in the domain and explained the current situation in one place.

“….So for now, I have refused everything. If a fine is simply imposed, that will certainly become a problem in its own way, but right now I wish to solidify the defense of the domain. What are your thoughts?”

After hearing my words, Matilda, who had a serious expression, asked the first question.

“If we end up going to war, can we win?”

“First, there was testimony from Wijel that even with the strength of the beastkin alone, we can handle the Empire’s hundreds of thousands of troops. He said that the quality of the beastkin now is even more excellent than at the time of the war with the Empire. Is that correct, Wijel?”

“That is correct. At the time of the war with the Empire, we waged war against 400,000 Imperial troops with 50,000 beastkin, and we were able to be victorious. After that, because even more human armies poured in, there were circumstances where we eventually had to acknowledge defeat and come under the Empire, but now there are many more powerful beastkin to the point where it cannot even be compared to that time. Even if war breaks out, there is absolutely no reason to lose.”

“So he says.”

Afterward, Matilda spread out a map, pointed at a few places, and spoke.

“These are the locations considered strategic points that I discussed with Linda before. I judged that a fortress is necessary for at least these four places, even if not elsewhere. And if possible, I would like to connect the fortresses with a barrier; is that possible?”

At Matilda’s words, I said it was possible since it was something I was also thinking about. However, the construction period also needed adjustment, and since it was a part where I might have to push myself significantly, a few conditions would be attached, but what was possible was possible.

“If that is the case, I think there is no reason to think only of defeat even if war breaks out. If the Empire’s circumstances are urgent, they will try to pay more attention to the demons than to us.”

At those words of Matilda, this time Linda raised her hand and spoke.

“Matilda’s words are also correct, but I think they will try to resolve it with a fine somehow this time.”

“Why is that?”

“It is because of the characteristics unique to our domain. And there is one rumor I would like to spread.”

“What kind of rumor do you mean?”

“It is to create a pretext for why you had no choice but to refuse. And we make everyone side with us.”

I nodded at Linda’s words and asked for the details.

“First, write down here the contents requested by the Empire that the Lord had no choice but to refuse. Then, we spread this throughout the entire Empire through the Information Guild. And we spread the rumor that because of such threats, we can do nothing and have no choice but to stop manufacturing medicine, resulting in being unable to help many people.”

“Ah. Is it a plan to turn the people who have no choice but to rely on our domain into allies?”

Linda gave a faint, cynical smile. She was a shrewd woman. So I began to set the course toward preparing for war steadily while writing down a few detailed items.

“Richard’s role is the most important. And I am sorry for making an unreasonable request when it has not been long since you were recruited.”

“No. It is just more important to me that I can do what I want to my heart’s content. You just need to make it so that I can make plenty of even more interesting items later.”

“I understand. Then, we will go with the plan to increase the firearms to 5,000 units finally. As I said earlier, if we set the course toward manufacturing 50 units a day, the production will be completed before anything happens, so it will be possible, right?”

“It is sufficient. If I think the situation is turning out urgently, I will push a bit more.”

“I will give you autonomy within the limit of not overdoing it. And Linda, would you please deliver the news to the Dust of Sands Trading Company and the Lilith Trading Company while you are at it spreading rumors?”

Linda tilted her head at my words, and after thinking for a moment, I said a few things to her.

“First, tell them to deliver all materials by sea through the Lilith Trading Company, then ask the Lilith Trading Company if they can procure about 150 more ships, and finally, ask them for the favor of returning the princess to Briden.”

I wondered if the princess of Briden might not become a master stroke.