Chapter : 10

A few days passed after that.

Treasurer Palmer, who in the meantime had experienced ‘Do it over’ several times, something any modern office worker would have heard countless times, entered my office with a firm expression. His resolve to finally pass today seemed solid.

“My Lord. Here are the documents you requested.”

Bowing his head, Treasurer Palmer handed me the documents.

He looked gaunt from the hardship of working day and night for the past few days. His once-shiny head was now full of grease, shining brightly.

He looked rather pitiful.

However, I ignored it and instead asked Treasurer Palmer back coolly.

“Hmm…. Are you sure? If it’s a mess like before, I might really not be able to tolerate it.

So I’ll give you one more chance. How about you review it one more time and bring it back?”

At that, Treasurer Palmer jumped up and said.

“No! My Lord. I really got help from a merchant who came from the south and processed it this time. It will probably…. No, you will surely be pleased with it.”

Startled, he was desperately hoping to pass safely this time. Treasurer Palmer was. I looked at the treasurer and smirked.

‘Did I push him a bit too hard?’

But I couldn’t just let it slide, could I?

In fact, this work was not just for my own convenience. In the end, the standardization and simplification of administrative documents played a very important role in increasing the efficiency of the domain’s administration.

Well, seeing his reaction, it seemed he had managed to meet my request.

I told him I understood and that he could leave, then picked up the documents alone.

If there were any shortcomings, I was thinking of considering them and making corrections myself.

However, from a quick glance at the documents, I couldn't find any parts that I needed to correct.

“Oh?”

This wasn’t bad at all.

The various administrative documents were neatly standardized, and the various figures were also organized in a table for easy viewing at a glance.

With just a single sheet of paper, I could tell that the nobles had supported 300 soldiers and donated a large sum of 5,000 gold.

At the same time, I was also able to grasp the estimated amount needed for the employment of various artisans such as blacksmiths, masons, and carpenters, and for the purchase of materials for the reclamation industry.

Although it lacked detail, the necessary and seemingly important information was all compiled for easy viewing at a glance.

‘This is actually pretty good, isn't it? No, considering the medieval standards, it's amazing.’

Considering the administrative documents that were all over the place before, it was truly a leap forward.

And it seemed I wasn't the only one thinking this.

The system immediately began to react.

-Tiriring.

The familiar notification sound was heard.

[The administrative system has been reformed.]

[A systemized administrative system has brought transparency to finance and administration. Now, greedy officials will have to put in a lot of effort to commit corruption.]

[Notification: Corruption level decreases.]

[Notification: Administrative efficiency increases, leading to higher productivity.]

[You have achieved the great feat of compressing a large number of documents into a single sheet using a table.]

[Through the merchants who visited the domain and confirmed the document, your achievement will spread throughout the continent. However, the story of you squeezing Treasurer Palmer will also spread widely, and your infamy among administrators will rise.]

[Notification: Prestige increases.]

[Notification: The interest of merchants and scholars rises.]

[Notification: Relationship with administrators slightly decreases.]

[Notification: The probability of outstanding scholars and merchants visiting the domain increases.]

At the same time, numerous notification windows appeared one after another, dazzling my eyes.

Notifications of various stat increases and beneficial effects.

And after reading them, I couldn't help but say with a satisfied expression words that would have made Treasurer Palmer faint if he had heard them.

“See, pushing them works. There’s nothing that can’t be done. If you do it, it gets done.”

The immutable truth of all ages.

Perhaps this was it?

* * *

Once the administrative system was established, everything went smoothly.

Treasurer Palmer and the administrators under him were now quite skilled and were handling their tasks without a hitch. Now, there was no need for me to intervene in detail.

All I had to do was give the final review of the documents they submitted and stamp my seal.

Thanks to this, I finished a long period of heavy work and was able to enjoy a sweet break, at least for a while.

At least until they came….

“Do I really have to do this?”

The training ground inside the inner castle.

I was now standing here, dragged by Chamberlain Hamil and Biden.

Wearing a thick gambeson to avoid injury and holding a longsword.

“Hahaha. My Lord. Didn't you decide to lead the soldiers out yourself?

Of course, you must. Otherwise, you might become a laughingstock. You must practice swordsmanship every hour from now on.”

Chamberlain Hamil then said firmly.

I couldn't refute his words.

Damn [Pangea Universalise].

I couldn't understand why a commander had to stand at the front and fight. If the commander died, wouldn't that battle be lost? For it to be a natural culture that a commander must fight bravely on the front line.

Sighs escaped me.

But what could I do?

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

“Ugh…. I understand.”

I grumbled and walked over to stand in front of Biden.

Today's training was said to be conducted by Biden.

“Here. Hold the sword like this. I noticed you were holding it a bit strangely last time. Is it because you haven't held a sword in a long time…?”

Biden came up next to me, corrected my longsword grip, and tilted his head.

I flinched at his words.

At times like this, I was truly grateful for the reputation of being a carefree loafer. Because even if he noticed something strange, everyone would understand if I just said I was a loafer.

“Then shall we begin the training, My Lord?”

As I corrected my longsword grip, Biden said so and slowly raised his sword, approaching me.

“Longsword swordsmanship is not particularly difficult. You just need to understand the basics. First, the four basic stances.”

Biden then took the four stances in order.

High guard, middle guard, low guard, and the counter stance.

Soon after, Biden returned to the first high guard stance and continued his words.

“And the five cuts that are linked to them….”

Swish-. Swish, swish.

With the sound of the wind being cut, the sword was swung continuously without the slightest error.

I couldn't help but let out an exclamation of admiration at such machine-like continuous movements.

“Lastly, there is a binding technique for close quarters, but since that is not something you can do right away, let’s start with the basic stances. Now, raise your sword, My Lord.”

“Huh? Is the demonstration over?”

“Yes. There's nothing particularly spectacular. In the end, the application of the basics is the most important thing in longsword swordsmanship. Now then, please try to follow the stances and cuts I just performed. If there are any incorrect parts, I will slowly guide you.”

I awkwardly got up and took a stance just as Biden had. And soon after, I slowly moved my body, mulling over the movements Biden had performed.

High guard, middle guard, low guard, and the counter stance.

Immediately returning to the high guard and continuing with the five cuts. It was awkward at first, but as I went on, the wavering tip of my sword was swung towards a single point.

‘This is more fun than I thought?’

Should I say my body moved as it wished? It was the same during the last battle, but using a weapon felt so natural.

Thanks to that, I got excited and repeated the stances in succession once more.

Swish. Swish, swish. Swish.

At some point, the rough sound of the sword cutting the wind became orderly and sharp.

My sword strikes began to be as clean and precise as Biden’s.

* * *

Biden, in fact, had not had high expectations.

It had already been 10 years since he started serving the lord.

During that time, Biden had never seen the lord he served practice swordsmanship. Hadn't he even forgotten how to grip a longsword?

So Biden’s goal was just to get him to have the basics down to the point where he wouldn't be embarrassed in front of the nobles and soldiers.

However.

“Um….”

Looking at the lord lost in a state of self-forgetfulness, Biden had to let out a groan.

That breathing.

That stance.

That movement.

Who would think that was someone holding a sword for the first time?

The blockheaded lord was gone, and in his place was a skilled swordsman. The lord's clean movements were so excellent that he could not be seen as a beginner.

Wondering if he was mistaken, he immediately looked at his father, but his father was the same.

He was looking at the lord with a considerably bewildered expression.

‘Is he a… swordsmanship genius?’

There were sometimes people like that. Blessed individuals who were given talents far superior to others.

Hadn't Biden himself often met young soldiers or knights who were tricky to deal with on the battlefield?

‘But still, that is….’

It was far too extraordinary.

To follow something he had seen only once perfectly.

It was something Biden would not have believed if he had not seen it himself.

‘Still…. Just in case, shall I check?’

Biden, who had wrinkled his nose for a moment, soon made up his mind.

It was insolent, but he decided to test the lord.

If his thoughts were correct, this could be a tremendous event for the Bellua Margraviate

* * *

“Stop. Stop for a moment, My Lord.”

Biden stopped me as I was lost in a state of self-forgetfulness. I, who had been sighing in disappointment, finally grasped the situation and laughed awkwardly.

“Ahaha, I got excited and without realizing….”

“No, sir. You did well.”

“Re-really? Is there anything to correct? Actually, I think I swung too recklessly because I was excited…. I think I did it messily.”

“No, sir. I say again, you did well.”

Biden said so and dragged a pile of logs in front of me. It was a target used by knights for swordsmanship training.

Tapping it, Biden said.

“Let’s move on to the next step and try hitting this.”

“How should I hit it?”

“You can swing the cutting motions you learned earlier at this thing continuously. Continuous motions with a target will be a bit different from before. You don't cut all the way through, but you have to stop midway, come back, and swing again, My Lord.”

“Aha. I understand.”

I thought I roughly knew what he meant.

Wasn't he telling me to use the repulsive force to perform continuous cuts?

I nodded and stood in front of the pile of logs.

And after slowly steadying my breathing, I swung the sword in succession.

Thwack-thwack-thwack. Thwack, thwack.

Like a flash of light, the longsword was swung at the pile of logs in succession.

A clean sword strike, just like a moment ago.

It wavered once due to the stronger-than-expected repulsive force of the log, but I was satisfied nonetheless. I asked my surroundings with a proud expression.

“How is it? Is it okay?”

“……”

“……”

At that, no one answered.

Instead, Biden and Chamberlain Hamil were looking at me with incredibly shocked expressions. As if… they had seen a monster or a ghost.

‘Uh, what is it? Did I do something wrong?’

Thanks to that, I was just puzzled.