Chapter 212: Noblesse Oblige

Even after Claudia and Lutz, Josel stared at the door with dissatisfaction.

“What’s wrong, Josel? Unhappy?”

Gerhardt asked, not in a reproachful tone but with a somewhat amused expression.

“Letting a commoner woman berate you like that and just letting her leave in silence… it doesn’t sit well with me.”

“A blacksmith employed by the Count’s family, the wife of a knight-equivalent, calling her a commoner is a bit delicate.”

“It’s only a temporary title. It won’t be inherited for generations.”

“If you start saying that, even I am a commoner.”

“But Master, you hold the important position of the Count’s advisor, so it’s not the same treatment.”

“It is the same. Switching between nobility and commoners based on convenience is ridiculous.”

“Hmm,” Josel groaned. It seemed he was still far from being convinced.

Seeing him like that, Gerhardt smiled wryly. Rigidity and seriousness could sometimes become vices. On the other hand, Gerhardt felt that these qualities were what defined Josel.

“First of all, what’s so great about nobility? If you trace their family trees all the way up, they’re mostly pirates or bandits.”

“…Don’t say that anywhere else.”

“I know. I, too, am aware of how to choose my words.”

With a bright laugh, Gerhardt looked at Josel with suspicion. It was a part of him that wasn’t entirely trustworthy.

“Nobles protect and lead the people. That’s why they are precious.”

“Impressive. But this time, we haven’t done that.”

Gerhardt said with a faint smile. While he believed that the management of the territory required the education of a noble from a young age, he didn’t sanctify it.

They simply had that role, nothing more.

“Hey, Josel. What have you been doing this past week?”

“Even if you ask me that… I’ve been patrolling the town as usual, handling paperwork, and practicing enchantments.”

“Right, so basically, we’ve done nothing about monster-slaying. Neither have I, nor have you.”

“But, we didn’t know that the monster was evolving…”

“That’s right, Claudia-san probably sees it as irresponsible and indifferent. ” 

Gerhardt continued, creaking his chair.

“As rulers, we can’t get involved in personal vendettas. Regarding what Lutz and the others did on their own, that’s true. However, the fact remains that we lacked initiative and a sense of crisis. The monster  retreated to the labyrinth, and the declaration of the end from the Count made us feel like it was over somehow.”

He had kept the existence of the monster in the back of his mind, but he hadn’t done anything beyond that.

Assisting Lutz and others by lending crossbows or enchanting new swords was like helping them accomplish something that should have been the responsibility of the count’s family to lead.

“Hey, Josel, you’re a man who jumps out to the neighboring territory to help the people oppressed by orcs. You take pride in being a knight and try to fulfill your duties, I know that well.”

“…I’m honored.”

“If the monster had continued to rampage within the territory instead of retreating to the labyrinth, you would have undoubtedly gone to fight it. There’s no lack of courage and loyalty. However, this time, our perception was truly lacking.”

The words “did nothing” now weighed heavily on Josel’s shoulders.

“We’ve strayed from the path. If we acknowledge our mistake, we shouldn’t clutter our words with ‘buts’ or ‘howevers.’ Such things should be kept within our own hearts.”

Now then, Gerhardt murmured as he slapped his painless lower back and stood up.

“I’ll go persuade the count to provide the money. With a bit of sarcasm mixed in.”

“Can you really get him to provide it?”

The financial situation of Count Zander’s family was by no means easy. Knowing that, Josel asked with unease.

“I’ll make him provide it. If I don’t do something like this, I’m truly useless.”

Waving his hands, Gerhardt left. Left alone in the eerily quiet room, Josel bowed his head, looking intently at his own hands.

“Did nothing, huh…”

It’s easy to say that there’s no other way, but would the people be satisfied with that? And would he himself be satisfied?

Drawing his companion, “Night Killer,” leaning against the wall, he stared at it and asked, what is the true essence of a knight?

Reflected on the blade was the pitiful face of a man that didn’t seem like a splendid knight at all.

“Master!”

Josel suddenly shouted and stood up, chasing after Gerhardt.

He didn’t know what he could do himself. But he wanted to be present for the negotiation with the Count. And he wanted to request the money himself.

…During the orc extermination, he had charged in without thinking. Now, why hesitate? True knighthood lies in taking action.

When he expressed his intention to catch up with Gerhardt and be present at the negotiation, Gerhardt simply said, “Yeah,” and nodded without asking for details. It seemed as if Gerhardt had anticipated Josel’s actions.

One week later, Josel, with a bag of gold coins on the back of his horse, visited Lutz’s workshop.

Claudia, who handled the matter, checked the contents of the bag and looked impressed.

“Despite requesting it myself, you managed to get quite a sum.”

“It’s the result of Master’s three-hour persuasive speech.”

“Having Gerhardt-san badgering the Count for three hours must have been unbearable.”

Smiling wryly at Claudia’s remark, Josel laughed along, but he quickly returned to a serious expression.

“Don’t think the Count is unusually stingy. Money for managing the territory doesn’t flow endlessly. If something is prioritized, something else has to be cut. If we made a wrong decision in the judgment of choosing or abandoning, it’s our fault for not fully grasping the threat of the monster.”

“I understand. … At least, I think I do.”

He wasn’t entirely convinced emotionally. However, he wanted to understand that nobles had their own troubles.

“Speaking presumptuously about the Lord is inappropriate, but I think it’s good that the Count doesn’t easily resort to increasing taxes just because there’s no money.”

“Yes, indeed. Unless you have the awareness that raising taxes by one copper coin would lead to the death of thousands, you won’t understand.”

There was dissatisfaction. But Gerhardt, Josel, and even the Count were people who could be understood through conversation. Therefore, Claudia didn’t intend to say anything more.

“I’m grateful for this incident. And, I apologize.”

With just these words, Josel left after placing the bag of gold coins.

Putting the bag inside the house, Claudia muttered while scratching her head.

“Well, it’s not a bad town, after all.”

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