If they were to give all of that away, the Earldom of Erce would be reduced to a territory only slightly larger than Schrantz, excluding the pioneering village.
Tax revenues would shrink even further.
The Earldom of Erce had started with that much land, and it had taken a full 150 years to expand to its current size.
Through alliances with families who disliked Schrantz, mergers, and constant territorial wars, they had slowly grown their holdings.
This document contained terms that would wipe out 150 years of the Earldom of Erce’s achievements in a single stroke.
‘If we agree to Schrantz’s demands, there will be no hope left.’
If their territory were reduced to that extent, they would never be able to reconquer Schrantz, which had grown wealthy through the pioneering village and was clearly poised for further growth.
Thus, they had hoped to negotiate slightly more lenient terms to plan for the future.
“Stop whining like a child.”
“…What?”
Ian, who had been sitting next to Hubert, propped his chin on his hand and crossed his legs.
Though it was unseemly for Ian, who wasn’t leading the negotiations, to behave this way in front of others, Hubert didn’t mind.
Hubert intended to give Ian a voice, given his significant contributions to the war.
Of course, Hubert was somewhat taken aback by Ian’s behaviour, but he assumed there was some intent behind it.
In truth, Ian was simply annoyed by the Earl of Erce’s attitude.
“Did anyone hold a sword to your throat and force you to start this war? You decided, of your own will, to use this opportunity to destroy Schrantz. You should have considered the consequences of defeat.”
They had never even considered the possibility of defeat.
With a numerical advantage of five to one, they had believed the war was unwinnable for Schrantz.
“And our demands are limited solely to reclaiming Schrantz’s rightful territories.”
Ian’s expression darkened as he stood up and glared at the Earl of Erce.
“Unlike you, we have no intention of erasing your house from the map. Schrantz has shown the last vestiges of mercy by allowing you to survive. But if even this is too much for you to accept, then there’s no reason for us to hold back.”
Ian turned to Hubert and bowed his head.
“Lord Hubert, acting head of Schrantz. It seems the Earl of Erce has decided to continue fighting us. Please order the troops to prepare for immediate deployment!”
Ian, uncharacteristically using formal language, made a strong appeal to Hubert.
The sight was somewhat unfamiliar and disconcerting, but in an official setting, Hubert couldn’t show any signs of hesitation.
“We will conquer them immediately and ensure not a single inch of their territory remains!”
Ian raised his head, his eyes locking with Hubert’s, signaling his intent.
Understanding the cue, Hubert nodded.
“Yes, Brother. Do as you see fit. Let those who reject our generous offer learn what happens. Schrantz will now embark on a war of conquest. March on the Earldom of Erce!”
“Yes!”
With a resounding reply, Ian strode out of the negotiation room, leaving the Earl of Erce visibly shaken.
‘What? Do they still have the strength to deploy?’
The Earl of Erce had raised his voice because he believed Schrantz didn’t have enough troops left to launch another campaign.
Even if Schrantz had suffered fewer losses, the proportion of their losses wasn’t insignificant.
That’s why he thought they couldn’t possibly have the strength to deploy.
‘Do they really have enough strength to decide on an invasion so easily?’
The Earl of Erce’s mind was in turmoil.
‘Is this a bluff? Or have they really hired mercenaries?’
He couldn’t be sure anymore.
After being deceived by Ian throughout the war, he couldn’t trust his own judgment.
He wanted to think it was a bluff, but seeing Ian’s readiness to deploy immediately shook his confidence.
Hebel smiled as he thought of Ian, who had already left the negotiation room.
‘Thanks to Brother, this will be easier.’
In reality, Schrantz didn’t have the strength to march on and fully conquer the Earldom of Erce.
This was nothing more than a bluff by Ian.
After all, Schrantz had prepared for a defensive war, not an offensive one.
‘They still seem confused. Then I’ll make sure they decide quickly.’
Hebel immediately called for the soldiers.
“It seems the Earl of Erce has decided to fight us to the end. Move him back to the guest room.”
Though he was a noble and a lord with a title, unlike Hubert, even the superficial courtesies were now gone.
Hebel had made it clear that the Earl of Erce was an unyielding enemy who refused to admit defeat.
“W-wait! Listen to me for a moment!”
The Earl of Erce seemed to want to explain himself, but Hubert had no intention of letting him off the hook, especially given his earlier insolence.
“Why are you moving so slowly? Get him out of my sight.”
Hubert ignored the Earl of Erce’s desperate cries and calmly watched as the soldiers dragged him away.
Once he was out of the negotiation room, Hubert turned to the other lords, who had turned pale, and smiled.
“So, what will the rest of you do? Do you share the Earl of Erce’s sentiments?”
“……”
“……”
There was no answer. But their hands were already signing the surrender documents.
Having witnessed what happened to those who protested, no one dared to raise their voice.
Indeed, such an atmosphere of fear was necessary.
“Count Duser, it seems you haven’t signed yet. Do you not intend to sign?”
Count Duser, who had been singled out, flinched and shook his head vigorously.
“N-no, not at all. I was just reviewing the terms to ensure there were no issues.”
“Is that so? Feel free to review them as much as you like. Our advisors have already checked them multiple times, so there should be no problems.”
Count Duser had been about to protest upon seeing the reparations demanded from the other lords, realizing his own were excessively high.
But after seeing the Earl of Erce being dragged away, he couldn’t bring himself to protest.
Fearing he might meet the same fate, he remained silent and, like the other lords, had no choice but to sign the surrender document.
With the signatures of all the lords except the Earl of Erce secured, Hubert smiled.
Now, he intended to call Ian back and thank him for making the signing process so smooth.
“Young Master Ian? He’s already left for deployment.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t you grant him permission to deploy, Young Master Hubert? He took the entire cavalry and marched east.”
So, it wasn’t an act? He had actually requested permission to deploy for real?
“That… that lunatic?!”
It was a historic day, as even Hubert, who had never cursed in front of others, let slip a swear word.
In the village of Gins within the Earldom of Erce, there was a villa belonging to the Earl of Erce.
And now, an unexpected commotion had broken out there.
At the main gate of the villa stood thirty cavalrymen.
However, the flag they carried was not one used by the Earldom of Erce.
It was a flag bearing the emblem of a roaring bear.
There was only one family that used such a flag—Schrantz.
“This can’t be! The rumors were true after all!”
“Th-the rumors that Schrantz captured the lords… they were true! And now they’re retaliating!”
Given that this place was very close to the site of the battle near Dobina Village, it was inevitable that they would hear the rumors first.
However, they hadn’t believed them.
After all, it was a fight between an alliance of four families with over 1,000 soldiers and a single family with just over 200.
To anyone, it seemed obvious that the Great Schrantz Alliance would win.
But then, strange rumors began circulating in Gins Village.
That Schrantz had achieved a great victory. That their lords had suffered a crushing defeat in the territorial war!
When they first heard the rumors, they thought Schrantz was spreading false information.
But what was this?
A cavalry unit from Schrantz was boldly standing at the main gate of the villa.
The soldiers guarding the villa had gathered at the gate and formed a defensive line, but it seemed futile.
And of course it was.
No matter how well the infantry formed their ranks, how could they possibly stop fully armed cavalry?
And at the forefront of that cavalry unit stood…
“I am Ian von Schrantz! Lay down your weapons and surrender! Open the gates immediately! If you don’t, I’ll force my way in!”
The faces of the villa’s steward, Lutherus, and his family turned pale.
Ian von Schrantz.
A member of the Schrantz family had come in person.
They hadn’t anticipated such a situation, and their minds went blank.
The infamous troublemaker.
They had heard rumors that he had changed recently, but having only heard about it secondhand, they couldn’t be sure.
Even if he had changed, it was hard to imagine a member of the Schrantz family approaching the servants of the Earldom of Erce with a smile.
The Earldom of Erce and the Earldom of Schrantz were bitter enemies.
Their relationship wasn’t just bad—it was the kind where only the complete destruction of one side would bring satisfaction.
It was unlikely that the vassals of such families would view each other favorably.
“A-are those all the soldiers we have?”
Lutherus considered mobilizing all the soldiers in the villa to try and hold them off, but…
“Yes, that’s all we have.”
“What about the village defense force?”
“Most of them were taken by the lord. If the rumors are true, they’re probably dead or captured…”
The number of soldiers guarding the villa had been reduced to less than half, leaving only about ten.
Moreover, most of the village’s defense force had been sent to the territorial war, leaving their numbers pitifully low.
In reality, there were only about twenty soldiers left to defend the entire village.
Even if all the soldiers had been gathered, it would have been impossible to resist thirty cavalrymen.
If they decided to charge, it was clear they would be swept away.
“W-we should hold out until reinforcements arrive…”
But Ian wasn’t going to wait for them.
Ian had no intention of negotiating in the first place.
“I have little patience. The village defense force has already surrendered. If you’re thinking of stalling or calling for help, change your plans now!”
Ian shattered any remaining hope they had.
“You have two choices. First, open the gates and surrender. Second, lock the gates and resist. Whatever you choose, I will respect your decision. I’ll give you ten seconds. Remember, your fate depends on what you decide after that! Ten…!”
Thud!
“Nine…!”
Thud!!
As Ian began the countdown, the cavalrymen slammed their lances into the ground in unison.
Watching this, everyone’s faces turned deathly pale.
As the numbers decreased, the growing noise and pressure began to weigh heavily on them.
Even the soldiers were no exception.
They couldn’t guarantee what horrors would unfold if they defied his words.
Lutherus realized there was no way to buy time.
The thought that he and everyone in the villa might be slaughtered crossed his mind.
“W-we’ll open the gates! Soldiers, lay down your weapons and welcome Young Master Ian!”
Lutherus rushed out.
A mere steward, faced with the blades pointed at him, couldn’t even dream of resisting.
As Lutherus personally opened the gates, the knights finally entered.
“You there! Summon my personal maid here.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Ian ordered the lowest-ranking person he could see, and they immediately began riding toward Rosen.
In any case, without much trouble, Gins Village fell smoothly into Ian’s hands.
“W-what will happen to us now?”
Ian could see the servants still trembling with fear, watching his every move.
“Continue doing what you’ve been doing here. Of course, if you try anything behind my back, things will change.”
“W-we’re just ordinary servants.”
“Then there’s no problem if you keep doing your jobs. Your safety will be guaranteed, so rest assured.”
Then he turned his gaze to the soldiers sitting in one corner.
They, too, were curious about how they would be treated.
“The same goes for you. You will soon become soldiers of the Earldom of Schrantz. I have no intention of mistreating you, so rest easy.”
Only then did the soldiers let out sighs of relief.
As long as they continued doing their usual tasks, Ian had no intention of interfering.
With his assurance that no harm would come to them, they could finally relax.
“By the way, lead me to the villa’s warehouse. All of you, come with me.”
“Of course, Young Master.”
