Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou! - Chapter 69.3

——————- Part 3

“By no means it will work out by leaving it to Earl Baumeister and me either.” (Breithilde)

If he got such extra burden pushed on him even though there is the development of the Savage Lands, Margrave Breithilde would die from overwork. I would end up doing nothing but public works everyday, too.
Even before that, the royal family likely wouldn’t permit it since we would become far too powerful.
There are various things to consider, but it will be troublesome if the east doesn’t become somehow stable with a new Margrave Browig.

『Otherwise they cannot take it by force officially.』

Even our side didn’t intend to wave the reconciliation money or such as it would cause quite a few troubles.
At present we aren’t worried about money, however it won’t be a nuisance to get more of it either.
Also, even if the Browig household gets covered in debts by taking it forcibly until they are squeezed dry there won’t be any problem since they won’t go bankrupt that easily.
If going by my previous life, the American car manufacturer BIC 3 and the Japanese Tokyo Electric Power Company won’t go bankrupt for the same reason (T/N: Too big to fail, in other words I guess)
However, since it would also be a bother if a spoilt second Margrave Browig appeared here, it was necessary to make them picking a fight with us and them losing heavily to us known to the world.

『With the main army destroyed, the damage will probably grow even further.』

We have destroyed an army of 10.000 soldiers and almost all of them have become prisoners.
Even if it’s only the ransom, it will likely increase the burden excessively.
By doing something pointless, they also ended up increasing the losses.

『They will once again prepare military forces.』

『Unless Browig’s camp is absurdly stupid, I don’t think that they will do that.』

As Margrave Breithilde’s said, additional troops didn’t come, but likewise a messenger to resume the negotiations over the arbitration draft didn’t come either.
Margrave Breithilde became very weary with the governmental and military affairs, but I had free time once I simply created a mud wall and a trench to protect the horses of our encampment.
Thomas’ group left as assistants of the military officials in the occupied territories. Moritz’ group immersed itself in our protection and various routine tasks of a feudal army.

“That’s why there’s nothing to do except magic training. Show us your skill in archery.” (Wendelin)

“Earl Baumeister-sama, although I’m a prisoner…” (Karla)

“Even if you defeat one or two people by shooting them down this late in the game, it will only get much more disadvantageous in the arbitration, right? Here, your bow and arrows, Karla-san.” (Wendelin)

“You are a bold one, Earl Baumeister-sama.” (Karla)

Since I got tired of the tea party with the female camp + Karla, I set up an archery target at a tree standing close to our encampment and decided to have Karla, who’s renown for her mastery in archery, demonstrate her skill.
It’s a situation where it cannot be helped for me to be on standby even though I have free time thanks to the Browig household. This much of amusement should be tolerable.

“I will do it as well!” (Wendelin)

“Then, let me do it as well!” (Erwin)

“Wend-sama, me too.” (Wilma)

Deciding to change it into a contest format more or less, we make it a rule to fire 5 arrows from a position being around 50 meters away.
The points will be decided by how many arrows hit the target first and then how far away the arrows hit from the centre.
Given that the target itself is just a suitable board with a painting on it, it’s not like it is a formal archery target and thus it had a partial feeling of playing around.

“Let’s decide the order with lots.”

Choosing the order of shooting with simple lots made out of wooden sticks, the first to shoot 5 arrows will be Erw.

“That was so-so.”

Since all of the 5 arrows hit in an area within 30 cm of the target’s centre, it was proof of Erw’s excelling skill in archery.

“Or rather, if you aren’t able to do this much, you won’t eat any meat as brat of a rural noble.” (Erwin)

Because there are many rabbits amongst the prey the children hunt with bows, they won’t be able to eat meat if their accuracy isn’t at least at this level.

“If I didn’t catch several prey, my meat would be stolen by my elder brothers.” (Erwin)

His father and elder brothers would eat the caught prey first.
It’s not like they would always get results if they went hunting themselves and thus they would steal from Erw since he was a little boy.
Therefore Erw wouldn’t get anything to eat of his own spoil if he didn’t catch a lot of it.
That was the reason why he is more skilled at archery than me.

“Next it’s Wilma’s turn?”

“I got trained in archery.” (Wilma)

At the time when she was raised by Minister Edgar, she also had a teacher in archery.
There are reasons why it’s more effective to be able to handle various weapons to some extent, thus it seems there are many cases where fellow militaristic noble households lend teaching services to each other.

“Wilma and archery, eh…? Will you be alright?” (Erwin)

Until now we never saw her using it. Our image of her was that of a power fighter.
From Erw’s viewpoint it’s likely difficult to imagine Wilma drawing the bow accurately.

“I’m not skilled, but it’s not like I suck at it either.” (Wilma)

Saying that, she fired the 5 arrows in succession and all of them hit the target.
The spread from the centre is wider than in Erw’s case, but there doesn’t seem to be much difference in ability compared to me.

“How skilful.”

“However, in reality I use my own personal bow.” (Wilma)

“Somehow I’m able to imagine it…” (Erwin)

Continuing after Erw, I was also able to imagine it at once.
Wilma’s own personal bow is certainly a great bow that several people won’t be able to draw and the arrows she fires with it are likely made entirely out of iron.

“Lately you didn’t use it.”

“If aimed at people, it will apparently penetrate them.”

“It will penetrate several people even if they wear full plate.”

If Wilma draws a great bow with her superhuman strength, it will probably turn out like that.
It’s likely a great weapon if there’s a real war, but she apparently didn’t use it in this time’s 『dispute』 since it would have caused many casualties.

“Next it’s Wend-sama’s turn.” (Wilma)

“The pressure…” (Wendelin)

Since I recently focussed on magic training and skipped out on archery, I lacked in confidence a bit.
Even so, once I shot the arrows while concentrating, one went astray and the remaining four hit the target.

“Ack. I grew dull.” (Wendelin)

It might be because I put priority on magic training lately.

“Is that so? I think you are skilled.” (Breithilde)

Once I turned around because a voice suddenly resounded from behind, Margrave Breithilde stood there.
As usual his eyes have terrible shadows beneath them. He probably came to watch the archery contest as change of pace.

“Do you want to have a go as well, Margrave Breithilde-sama?” (Ina)

“No. I will refrain from that.” (Breithilde)

Margrave Breithilde refused the invitation from Ina, who went recovering the arrows stuck in the target.

“With my skill I won’t even hit once.” (Breithilde)

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The teacher, who taught me archery, said following: 『I wonder whether it would be advisable for you, Amadeus-sama, to abstain from drawing a bow when there are people around…』.” (Breithilde)

“That’s amazing of that teacher.”

“He pretty much tried to break it to me kindly. It will become a disaster if injured people and casualties are caused by accidental shooting.” (Breithilde)

Which reminds me, Margrave Breithilde was evaluated to have a minus talent at all martial arts.
Given that it’s fine for him to leave it to his retainers as Margrave, there’s no particular problem with it either.

“Rather than mine, I’d like to see Karla-san’s skill.” (Breithilde)

“Umm, is it really alright?” (Karla)

Since the big boss made an appearance, she was probably worried whether it would be really fine to display her archery as prisoner.

“To say nothing about there not being be any kind of benefit for you even if you hit me or Earl Baumeister with an arrow here, it would only worsen the position of the Browig household needlessly.” (Breithilde)

“There’s truth in that.” (Karla)

Agreeing with the answer by Margrave Breithilde, she begins to concentrate on nocking an arrow into the bow she received from me.

“It’s a nice bow.” (Karla)

“It has the taste of a rural noble.” (Wendelin)

I was better in archery than swordsmanship since my childhood. Since it’s not like I don’t have any money right now, I used quite the high-classed archery equipment even for practising.

“Well then…” (Karla)

Once Karla, who started to focus once again, released the arrow, it got stuck right down in the middle of the target.
Everyone has become speechless due to her overly divine technique.

“If it’s a spot close to the centre, a skilled person will hit to some extent. However, right down in the middle…”

Once she shoots the next two arrows one after the other, those arrows also hit right down in the middle and the arrow, which was stuck in there before, got flicked away and dropped to the ground from the target.

“How regrettable.” (Karla)

“Regrettable?” (Wendelin)

At first I didn’t understand the meaning of what she was saying, but I became able to identify it with the fifth shot.
The third and fourth shot also knocked down the arrow which was stuck down in the middle before, but the last shot hit the middle of the arrow shaft of the fourth arrow, split it it in half and made it fall to the ground.

“Umm, this is?”

“As it’s obvious when you hit right down in the middle, it’s the best outcome to make the previously shot arrow fall down by splitting it in two instead of it falling down by being knocked down.” (Karla)

Someone like us, who can be called skilled since archery is well-received in rural territories, could be only regarded as little children at the level of a master’s style.
『The female Nasu no Yoichi』, 『the female Robin Hood』, any of those nicknames are fine as she has a frightening skill.

“That’s amazing. I wonder whether you can teach me archery?” (Wendelin)

The emotion I felt most towards Karla was a 『feeling of reverence』.
Although I earnestly trained my archery since my childhood, I haven’t received any evaluation other than 『half-baked skill』 as I was trying to master two things at the same time with magic in the mix.
Therefore I felt that she, who possesses an ability to allow her to become runner-up at that martial arts tournament, was truly amazing.

“However, you aren’t serving under a lord even though you were the runner-up?”

“It’s because I’m a woman…”

Even so, up until before their marriage there are great places of employment for noble daughters as ceremonial personnel.
It’s in reality considered as one part of marriage training with only 2~3 years of employment, but it’s a narrow path where you won’t be able to get in unless you have suitable abilities.
I have a feeling that she will be able to serve under a lord if it’s Karla, however she was a daughter in hiding, albeit recognised.
It was likely impossible for her to actively ask for something like serving under a lord by herself.

“We will have free time until the messenger for the second arbitration turns up. Can I take lessons in archery from you, Karla-san?” (Wendelin)

“Though that’s fine…” (Karla)

“Though?” (Wendelin)

“As she is quite the beautiful person, it’s not allowed to think about making her your wife or such.” (Ina)

“That’s unthinkable. Going by our positions it’s probably impossible, but…” (Wendelin)

Don’t you trust me?
I have been given a warning by Ina for some reason.
And, there was another person who admires her skill in archery.

“Karla-sama, is it…? Her appearance as she shot the arrows was lovely…” (Erwin)

Erw gazed at the appearance of Karla shooting the arrows with a boa~~~~h expression.

“Hold on, Wend. That’s because Erw definitely has other feelings.” (Luise)

“Looks like it, eh…” (Wendelin)

“Karla-sama, you have a magnificent skill in archery. Someone like me is no match for you.” (Erwin)

“Erwin-san is very skilled as well.” (Karla)

“Well, not to that degree.” (Erwin)

Erw, who recovered from being an idiot, addresses Karla while showing a pointlessly refreshing smile. He doesn’t seem to be dissatisfied to be praised for his skill in archery by her either.
And, me and Luise, who saw his state, just stared at each other without judging the new problems that might pop up.