Knights, Let’s Smash Them

86 – The Melancholy of Baron Kirten (1)

“Whoa… ….”

From noble mtl dot com.

Baron Kirten Mexis put one hand on his chin and let out a deep sigh.

A few months have passed since we met in Alroy and Tiffen Village in Luvern.

The summer when the sun was hot is slowly fading away, and the season when a chilly wind blows once again has come to Rupel Mansion.

Since then, quite a bit of time has passed.

In the meantime, Lubern’s magistrate held a Rupel cooking contest to publicize the name of the territory throughout the Volibert Empire.

Identified the cause of the earthquake that occurred along the mountain ranges of the Duchy of Hebron and northern Rupel, and even raised the record of subduing the dragon.

As a reward, not only was he awarded the title of baron, but he also heard the shocking news that he occupied the 8th seat in addition to the existing vassals.

Of course, it was a criminal record.

Who the hell could have doubts about Lubern’s abilities?

Is it only the major?

Alroy of Luvern was showing great achievements as an administrator of the Knights.

The ‘Knights of the Snow Leopard’, which even its own Knights Templar was implicitly ignoring, expanded its staff a few weeks ago and became the undisputed ‘Knights of the Count’.

In addition, the construction of the ‘Iron Road’, a highway linking Jarhed, Petaronto, and his own Monterto, is progressing steadily.

Rumor has it that Marco Firenze, the legendary colossus who single-handedly raised the Free City of San Mariano, claimed to be his patron.

Even though it’s been less than a year since he was appointed to the territory, Lubern is doing great things.

But the more he read such news, the more the baron was swallowed up by an emptiness as bitter as joy.

Because that was the life that Kirten Mexis really wanted.

Even until Count Dionaos Rupel returned from a major defeat in the first expedition, he thought that it was his destiny to make Baron Kirten even richer and stronger to support the county.

So I worked even harder.

Finally, as he had hoped, the free city of Monterto became a wealthy city comparable to that of other large cities in the territory.

The situation in Count Rupel has not improved at all.

Every business you try is prone to collapse.

The merchants never showed mercy to the weakened lord, and the count’s treasury became empty day by day.

In the end, it’s up to Kirten Mexis to fill the spot.

However, unlike himself who had declared that he would dedicate his whole life to Count Rupel, the officials of Monterto began to express conspicuous dissatisfaction towards the vassals who only exploited them without doing anything for them.

In a way, it is natural.

Monterto was a city that stood up alone without the support of the county, and they were proud of being the creators of the free city.

So Kirten had to remain as the lord of the barony. It was clear that the moment he himself returned to the Count’s household, the discontent of the residents of Monterto would never subside.

However, now that all the adversity has been resolved and the situation of Yeongji is gradually improving.

Baron Kirten Mexis fell into endless boredom.

Here he no longer has his own business.

Inhabitants have made their own lives, and enterprising scientists and wizards continue to make great discoveries in the free city of Monterto.

Merchants brought in new products without a day off, and the city officials who managed the merchants handled their official duties skillfully and reliably.

Now, in Monterto, the lord Kirten Mexis has become nothing more than a ‘symbolic figure’ who governs the region.

When I thought that, I lost my strength.

‘Do I have to retire soon?’

If he steps down from the position of manager of the baronial territory, he will naturally return to Peta Ronto as Count Rupel’s family member for generations.

It was unknown whether he would be able to rise to the position of a vassal, but he would be able to directly help his monarch in some way.

Around the time when Kirten Mexis was seriously thinking about ‘beating the lord’.

A graceful maid’s voice came from outside the study’s closed door.

“Master, we have guests from Petalonto.”

“Ah, are you here already? Leave right now.”

Kerten jumped up from his seat, put on the coat he had hung on his hanger, and headed straight for the lobby of the mansion.

Lubern Alroy.

He finally arrived at the free city of Monterto.

***

“Long time no see, Chen. After becoming a member of the People’s Knights, you are living quite well.”

“That’s right. Now I know why the mercenaries sing the Knights Templar song.”

She, who was once a vigilante and resident mercenary in Tiffen Village, smiles with her ears pricked up.

Just after the massive overthrow of the People’s Knights of the Baron’s last time.

She quickly cooperated with the other members who were suffering from the tyrannical Franken, and succeeded in firmly uniting the Minjung Knights.

Thanks to that, the security of the city has greatly improved, and I have heard the good news that the reputation of the residents, who have been crawling on the floor due to the people’s knights, is getting better day by day.

She succeeded in establishing herself in Monterto, a completely free city.

Yeah, what did I say?

It was a cotyledon that you could just look at.

“But even the administrative officer has become enlightened. Isn’t that right, Baron Alroy of Luverne?”

When Chen stretched out the corner of her eyes and smiled mischievously, I replied with a smile.

“I am now officially Sir Alroy of Luverne. Where is Baron Cham Kirten Mexis?”

“You will be back soon. The maid just went to pick me up.”

“Baron Alroy of Luvern.”

I heard that even a tiger will come when I say it.

I was afraid to talk with Chen when Baron Kirten Mexis came down the Y-shaped stairs and greeted me in the lobby.

“Welcome to the Free City of Monterto and the Barony.”

“As expected, Monterto. It was my first time visiting, but I was pleasantly surprised. It reminds me of the capital of the empire.”

“Ha ha ha! You are exaggerating. Of course, I have the confidence that I will never be pushed back compared to any big city.”

“The people of the territory with a wise ruler will be happy.”

Baron Kirten hesitated for a moment at my words, then replied with a bitter expression.

“No. Eat inside first. We have prepared the best quality tea produced in our estate.”

With that said, the baron turns around and leads the way.

Is there something deeply troubling?

I followed him to the waiting room.

The reception room was a room that came right out of the lobby on the first floor.

Even though it was a two-story mansion, the entire space was open and looked very spacious.

To be honest, the living space itself looks much more luxurious than the Count’s house in Petalonto.

What…… It might be because Count Dionaos Rupel is so thrifty, and the scale of the free city of Monterto is much larger than that of Petaronto.

As I sat down with a very personal impression, the scent of fragrant tea lightly tickled the bridge of my nose.

“You can go out now.”

As Baron Kirten beckoned lightly, the servants nodded and disappeared.

“How are you, Baron? This variety is grown in the tea fields south of Monterto. There is no black tea that tastes better than adding a spoonful of raspberry jam to hot tea.”

Is it Baryenie? Before taking office as administrator of Rupel Manor, he had once eaten in the Duchy of Hebron, where he was visiting for official business.

‘It was pretty good.’

As the baron said, I spread the jam from the luxurious dish on top of the tea.

I carefully raised the glass and tasted it.

The first thing you notice is the bitter taste.

The refreshing yet sweet taste of raspberry jam quickly wraps around the tongue.

“Oh, this is quite the stuff.”

“Isn’t it?”

Baron Kirten Mexis nodded in satisfaction.

“The Free City of Monterto and the lands of this barony are very fertile. Even though the tea culture originally requires a certain amount of economic support, it has become an environment where anyone in Monterto can enjoy it without difficulty.”

It wasn’t for nothing that the barony was once supporting the county’s economy by itself. Jarhead’s iron ore industry is obviously huge, but the mining industry alone is not enough for one territory to run.

Right now, the main source of food for the territory is Baron Kirten.

I even savored the taste of the tea and raised my thumb toward Baron Kirten.

“You can be proud enough.”

“No. It’s not because of me, but because of the hard work of the residents.”

“I think excessive humility is poison, but… ….”

“Isn’t Baron Luberne the one who practices that excessive humility more than anyone else?”

No…… It’s not that I’m humble, it’s because it’s burdensome for me to float by the side for no reason.

Originally, the more expectations, the bigger the disappointment.

In case people will be greatly disappointed, it is wise to constantly lay out the groundwork.

Someone said, “What is Lubern’s cock?” And confidently say, “I always said I was a dick, you f*cking bastards!!” It is ready to respond back with the logic of

The only part that can be confidently said that it is a little hit is the administrative work.

That’s why whenever I hear about the Lechenberg Plain, I react like I have measles.

That’s not administration, it’s strategy tactics.

If you put weight on such things for no reason, the arrow will come back later in some way.

I’m not a black-haired general, and I don’t have the ability to lead to victory in every battle I participate in.

“But are you worried about something? He had a similar reaction earlier.”

“Ah… ….”

Baron Kirten tried to look away from my words. It’s clear something is going on.

Kirten Mexis was a capable lord no matter who saw it.

At the very least, it would have been helpful to help Baron Kirten develop to this extent, and he would have never held back his ankles.

Then, is there a problem with the nearby dungeon?

From noble mtl dot com.

Or that the recent increase in the number of people flowing into the entire Rupel estate has caused some problems in the city’s social system.

Around the time when I had a bad feeling about the fact that Kirten Mexis was worried, not anyone else.

Kirten Mexis sipped the tea in front of me in silence.

As if he had made up his mind on something, he looked straight at me and opened his mouth.

“…… Baron Alroy of Luvern.”

“Yes.”

“Are you thinking of becoming a lord?”