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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 3: The Knights Are Discontent
『Rikain Bach』
He is the commander of the Cron family’s knights, a veteran in his 50s with brown hair and a sturdy build.
In the World Archive, he isn’t an SSR but is a solid SR character.
In terms of leadership, he possesses abilities comparable to an SSR-rank character, and his combat power, combined with magical tools and support characters, allows him to even take on SSR opponents.
He has served the Cron family faithfully since the previous lord’s time—almost 20 years.
It’s no exaggeration to say he has dedicated more than half his life to protecting the Cron family.
Although he has always been unwaveringly loyal to the Cron family, recently his heart has been troubled.
“Did it really have to come to this, Commander?”
“What are you talking about?”
Rikain quietly observed as the soldiers returning from their night shift gathered and openly voiced their complaints.
“They say the salt farm workers’ wages got doubled.”
“That’s what I heard too.”
“So, what about our pay?”
The soldiers voiced their dissatisfaction.
After news spread that the salt field workers’ wages had doubled, dissatisfaction began to grow not only among the soldiers but also among the knights.
The soldiers spent their days training and guarding the territory.
Yet, overnight, the salt field workers suddenly received double pay.
Even though the knights earned more than twice what the workers did, the fact that the workers got a raise while their own pay remained the same left a bitter taste.
“We risk our lives for this land too, but only those people get double pay? How does that make sense?”
Rikain understood the soldiers’ feelings.
But as commander of the Cron family’s knights, he could not allow the order and discipline of the knights to collapse, no matter their complaints.
“Enough of this!”
As their commander, he raised his voice firmly.
“The lord’s decision must have a reason. We knights fight for honor. Don’t sulk over a few coins.”
The soldiers fell silent.
But even Rikain’s own heart wavered.
‘Shouldn’t our knights deserve better treatment as well?’
A bitter thought settled deep inside him.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Lord, how do you plan to use the increased profits?”
Hart’s question made me scratch my head.
Thanks to the workers’ efforts, we had gained a large surplus.
If I didn’t spend this money quickly, it would just get stolen by rival forces and benefit them instead.
How should I use it...?
How can I spend it so that while winning the people's hearts, rumors say I'm incompetent?
While I was thinking, Hart cautiously suggested.
“Lord, how about using this opportunity to renovate the castle magnificently? The Cron family’s castle is too old to suit your status.”
Hart proposed renovating the castle in grandeur.
I rejected it outright.
“No luxury.”
The moment I start indulging in luxury and my reputation falls, my chances of dying go up too.
I needed a way to spend money that would raise morale without wasting resources.
While pondering, I looked outside the castle.
I saw peasants, workers, merchants, and knights in training.
‘Now that I think about it…’
Suddenly, I recalled a lesson from history class in my past life.
It was about Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, who didn’t pay his officials, leading them to take bribes.
I slapped my hand on my thigh in realization.
‘Yes, let’s invest in the knights!’
After all, I am the lord.
I must not ignore that one of my power bases comes from the knights.
If the knights don’t receive proper rewards, they start committing corruption, which eventually brings suffering to the people—that’s what history taught me.
By gaining the knights’ favor, freeing the people from corruption, and wisely spending money, it’s truly a three-birds-one-stone plan.
But simply handing out money might cause strange side effects, so I decided to support the knights in a different way.
“Hart.”
“Yes, my lord.”
I told Hart about my plan to support the knights.
Go! Hart!
And don’t just charge in blindly—make sure to support the knights properly!
＊ ＊ ＊
Hart, under my orders, began full-scale reforms for the Cron family’s knights.
First, we replaced the knights’ equipment.
All the old swords and armor—rusted and worn to the point where it was impossible to tell iron from copper—were sent to the forge.
We supplied brand-new, shining swords, spears, armor, and shields made from the finest iron ore.
We expanded the stables for raising horses and provided dedicated warhorses to the knights.
According to Calyx’s knowledge, at this time, warhorses for knight commanders were managed at their own expense, which was a burden.
We reorganized this so that the estate would cover these costs.
Second, we improved the knights’ living conditions.
We renovated the barracks used by soldiers and knights to provide clean living spaces.
Lower-ranked soldiers and regular knights were living in collapsing wooden houses that were over fifty years old.
If left as-is, it seemed like the Black Death might break out, so I ordered immediate improvements as a priority.
Lastly, we guaranteed the knights’ futures.
Unused land in the estate was distributed to the knights as private property.
This was Hart’s idea—If knights could own land and farm it themselves instead of idling, they could secure their futures after retirement and cultivate the unused land.
It reminded me of the ‘tuntian’ system from the Three Kingdoms I learned about in my past life, and I immediately approved it, recognizing it as a smart solution.
Thus, the ‘wasteful spending’—no, the reforms—progressed smoothly.
Instead of simply handing money directly to the knights, we changed their entire way of life.
This way, the money would be well spent, and the knights’ loyalty would be earned as well.
Thinking this, I sipped my tea while watching the sunset.
This time, it was a perfect plan.
＊ ＊ ＊
Rikain and the other knights of the Cron family could hardly believe what was happening.
Though they were initially tense about the sudden reforms from the lord, they soon felt as if they had stepped into paradise.
“Commander! All our equipment has been replaced with new gear!”
“Commander!! From now on, the stables and warhorses will be maintained by the estate!”
“Commander!!! The barracks have been repaired to look brand new!!! No more leaks when it rains!!!”
The long-standing grievances of the knights were being completely resolved.
And that wasn’t all.
“Is this really our land?”
“Yes, from here to over there—that is the land the lord has granted to the knights.”
They had been granted land.
Though the fields hadn’t yet been cultivated, the land was close to the village and had good soil, making it perfectly suitable for farming.
“To think… land for us…”
“I can’t believe it, Commander!”
The other knights looked around their new land in disbelief.
No matter how noble or prestigious the role of a knight seemed, it was still a dangerous job with early retirement always looming.
Because of this, everyone hoped for a stable income after retirement, and having land to farm was the best retirement plan they could ask for.
Rikain’s heart trembled with gratitude toward the lord’s thoughtful care.
A knight must not be greedy; loyalty to their lord was their highest virtue.
If a knight showed greed, their honor would be deeply tarnished, making it impossible to act selfishly.
Understanding this, Calyx protected the knights’ honor while granting them everything they desired.
‘Ah… to think such a great man is ours…’
Rikain felt ashamed.
The young lord who had suddenly ascended after the sudden death of his predecessor was often mocked.
Rather than receiving support, many sought only to exploit him.
Those who had benefited from the lord’s reforms and the happiness of the people thought only of what they themselves had not received.
Including Rikain himself.
Yet the lord had clearly been thinking of them all along, even protecting their honor and looking after their welfare.
Overwhelmed by emotion and shame, Rikain drew his sword and firmly planted it into the ground.
In the sunset’s glow, the sword’s shadow cast a cross on the ground.
There, Rikain knelt on one knee and swore the Knight’s Oath to Lord Calyx.
“I swear to Ashron, God of Knights and Honor, that I, Rikain Bach, will remain loyal to Lord Calyx until my last breath, pierced by the enemy’s blade.”
⋮
『The Knight’s Oath』
An absolute vow sworn to Ashron, God of Knights and Honor.
Those who break this oath are said to be pierced by Ashron’s spear even after death, mocked until the end of days.
⋮
This oath is made only to the lord a knight has chosen; Rikain swore it before all to Lord Calyx—an oath even not sworn to the former lord.
Seeing Rikain’s vow, one by one the other knights followed suit, pledging their loyalty to Lord Calyx.
This was the birth of the 『Cron Knights』, a force whose loyalty and spirit would terrify other lords far beyond anyone’s expectations.
＊ ＊ ＊
As I was using up all the extra profits from the salt fields on reforming the knights, I was once again wondering how to spend money wastefully.
Just then, Hart came rushing in.
“My lord!”
“What’s the matter, Hart?”
He arrived looking very surprised.
Feeling uneasy, I asked cautiously, and Hart handed me a report and spoke.
“The domain’s profits have increased again!”
“…Again!?”
No way, what the hell is it this time!?
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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