How a Second Life Knight Lives

33. The Inspector Goes to the Barracks.

Master Johan was grumbling, unlike his usual self.

“That guy declared that he would visit the barracks tomorrow and left. I don’t like his smirk, but the Count insists on using him.”

“Our young master has a good eye for people, so trust him, senior.”

Sara lightly enjoyed the scent while holding a hot teacup and spoke to Master Johan as if scolding him.

However, Master Johan rather glared and frowned.

“He’s definitely not an ordinary guy. Even though everyone was glaring at him as if they would eat him alive and pressuring him, he said everything he wanted to say and looked down on us. Who would believe that such a guy is a country bumpkin who just came to the city? I understand why our guys say he’s suspicious. He has never rolled on the battlefield, nor has he led others, but if he’s like that, it’s innate. I’m curious about what kind of monster he will become later. But that guy, could he possibly have impure intentions towards our Count?”

“The young master’s standards are high.”

“That’s why it’s more of a problem. Such a guy is rare.”

“Senior, please take it easy. Is our young master a child?”

Sara didn’t like the senior’s fuss, which was unlike usual.

It meant that William’s appearance was also a shock to Master Johan.

And Master Johan seemed to be more worried because he was one of the few people who knew Countess Linnea’s plan.

“No, Sister Sara. According to you, William’s skills are immeasurable, so isn’t it natural to worry? If he were just a good fighter with a bad head, we could use him appropriately and give him a lot of wealth. If he doesn’t like money, we could throw him a title. But that guy’s brain isn’t ordinary. Look at how he caught the mercenaries who ran away in just a few hours. The guards were completely overturned.”

“If you’re worried, just handle him well when he comes to the barracks tomorrow. Isn’t that what you’re good at, senior?”

“Breaking young guys and comforting them with drinks works only on those who can be handled. A guy of that size would just scoff. Besides, you said his skills are immeasurable, so I’m also unsure how far I should go. People don’t know, but in terms of skills in the territory, you’re next after me.”

Sara took a sip of tea and fell into thought for a moment.

Although they were a fallen noble family, their name still held some value, so his father, who had settled in the Count of Kalmar’s household, had two disciples whom he trained in various martial arts.

Himself and his senior brother, Johan.

Although she was a woman and lacked talent, her senior brother was a born warrior.

Her senior brother was a living example of a disciple who surpassed their master.

After her father passed away, her senior brother opened up the martial arts school and trained capable individuals.

Even Countess Linnea learned martial arts from her senior brother since she was a toddler.

One of the reasons Countess Linnea could maintain her position without much disturbance when she suddenly inherited the title was thanks to that.

We are all brothers of the same school.

Sara swallowed her tea.

“Senior brother, be careful. That young man named William is no ordinary person.”

“Last time, you only said that and kept silent, so when I asked the disciples, they said he was beaten one-sidedly.”

“That’s because those girls don’t have an eye for such things.”

Johan’s face grew serious.

“Sister Sara, was there something strange?”

“I thought I could handle him with my civilian sword since he seemed capable of taking down a knight or two, but he blocked it with ease, only scratching his leather bracer.”

“His strength is said to be great, but his skills are also excellent. Civilian swords are difficult to handle, but even harder to block.”

Sara shook her head.

“His skills are not just excellent. He must have held back because the young lady was in front. When he got angry and exuded killing intent, it felt like my father was standing in front of me.”

“What? He reminded you of our master?”

Master Johan looked incredulous.

“Yes. To show I had no intention of fighting, I immediately released the pull string of my civilian sword. If the knights hadn’t been waiting outside, I would have just helped the young lady escape and bought time. Fortunately, the young lady noticed the situation and immediately requested help, otherwise, if we had tried to suppress him as planned, it could have been a disaster.”

“That’s really suspicious. According to the investigation, Sir Burrows, William’s father, was just a somewhat skilled knight, but William himself surpasses you, Sara… Could he have encountered some mystery? Like me?”

“Mysteries are usually interesting but not very useful, though there are cases like yours, senior brother, so who knows.”

At Sara’s words, Master Johan stood up.

Sitting and worrying about it wouldn’t solve anything.

His philosophy was that solutions come from facing things head-on. Thinking comes next.

“I’ll find out more when I go to the barracks tomorrow.”

“Don’t overdo it. He may act like a merchant despite being from a knightly family, but his bloodline doesn’t lie.”

“Got it. Since we’re on the same boat, I won’t force him.”

Master Johan drank his cold tea in one gulp and left.

There was much to prepare for William’s visit tomorrow.

Especially considering the knights who were excitedly preparing for a duel, it was urgent to secure a few skilled doctors in advance.

“No, the Count should moderate his theatrics. Acting so realistically and driving the knights mad… Surely, it can’t be real?”

Master Johan grumbled as he left the lord’s castle, just as he always did.

* * *

The city of Kalmar and its surroundings are the fiefdom of Count Linnea of Kalmar.

Naturally, the fief’s army is recruited not only from the city of Kalmar but also from the surrounding rural and mountain villages.

This recruitment is not done through conscription but rather through tradition and custom, where those who will serve in the fief’s army come to the city of Kalmar for a certain period.

Some serve as non-commissioned officers for two months in exchange for tax exemption,

Some serve as cavalry for three months in exchange for tenant land,

Some serve as senior soldiers for two and a half months in exchange for supplying firewood to the village,

Some serve as scouts for three months, including expeditions, in exchange for permission to hunt a certain quantity in the forest.

The conditions, timing, and duration vary for each person.

The reason for this chaos is that the fief’s soldiers are recruited with conditions or privileges each time, and these privileges are inherited from father to son.

After two or three hundred years, it becomes complete chaos.

The fief’s army roster has over two thousand names, but since the service periods and durations are all different, unified movements or training become impossible.

In reality, the number of personnel on standby within the fief does not exceed 20%.

One might think that it would be better to abolish all conditions and privileges, and organize a fief’s army that receives regular pay, despite the opposition.

This is a normal thought for modern people.

Because they have lived in such a world.

However, in this place, it is impossible to maintain such a paid army.

The reason is simple.

There is no money.

The army is like a money-eating monster.

Without war, it is nothing more than a useless consumer group.

So, in this world based on agriculture, except for a few commercial cities, it is common sense that there is no room to maintain a paid army all year round.

If a battle occurs, the fief’s army with remaining service periods is summoned, contract mercenaries are hired with money, and knights who are somewhere between administrators and retainers are mobilized.

Everyone does it this way.

So, when I visited the fief’s army barracks, there were only about 150 fief soldiers on standby. Of course, this number excludes the 30 or so knights who were waiting for me.

And they showed through their attitude that they did not have good feelings towards me.

However, I had no intention of overturning the territorial army.

This was because one of the three red dots from yesterday was on a security officer, and the other two were on city council members.

I had already entered the territorial army as the loyal subordinates of Countess Linnea, trusting the guarantee of the status window.

So, I only checked the state of the territorial army’s armament and supplies, and how quickly they could be mobilized in case of war.

It seemed strange to Master Johan.

“Sir William. Weren’t you here to investigate traitors?”

“How can I investigate traitors when there are none? The Count also said that the territorial army is trustworthy and told me to go encourage them.”

“No, it sounds different from yesterday. Then why are you here? Yesterday, you seemed ready to catch traitors immediately.”

“I understand that the inspector’s duty is to generally inspect whether the institution is functioning well. So, I am faithfully performing my duty. I will report to the Count on the elite nature of the territorial army and the abilities of the knights. Besides, there will soon be an opportunity to demonstrate the territorial army’s skills, won’t there?”

“Indeed. There will be an opportunity to show how capable the knights of Kalmar are.”

Master Johan seemed pleased to receive confirmation that the traitors were not related to the territorial army.

He, who had been frowning at me until a moment ago, now patted my shoulder with a smiling face and even made jokes.

It was a friendly demeanor that did not match his reputation as the best in Kalmar.

However, unlike the relaxed Master Johan, the atmosphere among the waiting knights was not good.

After hearing the Count’s message declaring trust in the territorial army, the atmosphere worsened.

It was as if the anger they had been suppressing was about to explode.

I could understand.

I am the Count’s ‘beloved one.’

Eighteen years old.

Young, unmarried, and a beautiful countess.

It was natural for the knights to idealize her as a romantic target.

Moreover, if they hit the jackpot, they could change their fate.

But suddenly, a country bumpkin appeared and hovered around their idol, how could they not hate it?

Being the target of jealousy is like a tax that famous people have to pay, and it seems I have to pay quite a heavy tax here.

“Sir William. I understand you reviewing documents and inspecting weapons, but it’s hard to understand you assessing the knights’ abilities. Even if you are an inspector, you need to have the skills to make such judgments, don’t you?”

A knight, who looked sturdier than the others, suddenly intervened between Master Johan and me.

It seemed the first tax collector had appeared.