The incompetent baron was the seventh son.
The succession would go to the eldest or second son anyway.
If they were talented, even the third son or younger, or the eldest daughter, could be kept at the main residence as a spare in case something happened to the eldest or second son.
If they were incompetent, it was to promote the name of the barony (family) in a good public image.
They were sent to the border, close to the territories of the war-mongering eastern small countries.
In line with the defense of the Western Grabum Kingdom, it was treated as a glorious death in battle.
If it was a glorious death in battle, the living expenses incurred in raising them and the funds used to cover up scandals would be recovered to some extent.
“A barony is just like that, isn’t it…”
“Please! I told you the truth honestly. Spare me—gugeh.”
The sixth time leading troops… the lord’s private soldiers were incapacitated.
Hearing about the incompetent baron, their master, they were killed as they were no longer needed.
The first attackers were not killed.
They were safely delivered to a reasonably sized town with a garrison.
And then…
“You assaulted our colleagues?! You guys!”
” ” “Arrest—! Practicing for the first time in a while~~~♪!” ” ”
They were attacked.
Moreover, even the town residents were in on it and attacked.
Was this a bandit town!? I was surprised, but I fought them off.
They said they’d spare us if we gave them food. Even though I killed some soldiers as a warning, to show what would happen if anyone spoke or informed on them.
In three days, we were attacked a second time. And this time, their equipment was several grades better.
After leaving a few people in critical condition, I interrogated them, and they spilled everything.
The ones I spared contacted them.
Thanks to that, from the second attack onwards, we were attacked every few days, trying to take our lives.
However, just fighting them off was becoming irritating.
So, I’m gathering information about the baron’s territory and the seventh son’s barony like this.
The more I hear, the more rotten it is. Well, labeled as incompetent and having such neighbors, a war-monger, right next to a powder keg.
It must have eroded their spirit. But I wish they wouldn’t involve me. I sympathize, but they attacked us this far.
“I won’t let you complain even if you’re killed.”
” “Will you kill our people too?” ”
Shifuru and Tarune watched the soldiers disguised as bandits, their teeth chattering, begging for their lives with their eyes.
“They’ll just say the same thing anyway.”
” “Well then, kill—” ”
” “Waiiiiit a miiiiinute!” ”
A flash of a blade at the throat. They died, squeezing out their voices.
Aiz-chan and the others… they’re amazing♪
Without staining their habits with blood, they slaughtered the attackers. So intense! ♪
My son is boiling with hot magma♪
Their possessions were stripped.
The arms and armor bearing the baron’s family crest were turned into iron ingots with Earth Magic.
“Well then, let’s eat the food that won’t keep.”
As usual. Yes, they had become accustomed to dealing with the aftermath of attacks.
The corpses were fed to Honey, the Rock Lizard.
I wanted to make them a little tastier, but alas, they were monsters. Covered in dirt or whatever, they gobbled them up, hair and all, with a crunch.
“We’ve gotten richer again, haven’t we?”
As Aiz-chan said.
We are well-off. It’s amazing that the attackers carry so much money. Why don’t they just deposit it, anywhere?
It’s no good in the small countries we visit.
Gold and silver are apparently traded by weight, but they rip you off considerably.
“If they rip us off♪”
“We’ll kick their testicles♪”
“Y-You’re so reliable…♪”
My body instinctively goes pigeon-toed. I’m not a masochist. Not a sadist either.
Maybe I’m a bit extreme, but not a masochist.
We moved away from the bloody attack scene and set up camp.
There were two people on watch in shifts.
Security measures were also put in place.
They said there wouldn’t be a night raid, but…
If the report from those guys didn’t arrive, there might be.
“I’ll be on watch all night tonight!”
” “They’re fired up…” ”
It looked like their possessed magic power had become visible. I need to suppress it.
I’ll use it on the attackers♪
“There!”
“Gufuh”
An assassin had been sent.
We’ve really come to an annoying territory.
I wish they’d send a female assassin.
Rayos and the others fumed.
The incompetent baron.
A group of travelers entered the territory from the southwest.
“What have you been doing for ten days!!”
The executive office desk creaked as it was slammed.
The incompetent baron, as a consequence of his usual laziness, invited a reasonably beautiful woman to his bedroom before sleeping.
In the morning, the beautiful woman was destined to become a cold corpse.
“Kyaaaaaa…”
“Hmph, nothing is going well!”
The management of the territory involved attacks from the small countries.
Repair costs for small border fortresses. Recruitment of personnel.
Both are being managed by threatening the residents, but…
There’s a limit. Recently, merchants have become defiant, saying they want money more than their lives.
The threats don’t work. Even torturing and killing a few people as a show of force had no effect.
This is only increasing the deficits.
Repair costs are being negotiated. But I don’t like paying money.
The incompetent baron would be furious tomorrow morning upon hearing the report of the assassination attempt’s failure, sent by Rayos and the others. He would then stab to death the person reporting it.
“You! You! Is there no one, anyone, who can solve all these problems!?”
You dislike capable people, don’t you?
Deliberately assigning them to duty at the border fortress, ordering them to inspect the fortress.
Those remaining at the residence were flatterers, sycophants, and general yes-men, all smooth-talkers.
Frankly, they were useless. Instead, to reduce unnecessary pay, they should be dismissed immediately.
“Ah, I’m so irritated. Hey! Someone, bring me a woman.”
The servants who had cleaned up the previous night’s mess from that morning immediately followed their master’s orders.
Although they had many thoughts inwardly, if they let slip a word, they would be transferred to the border fortress.
Silently, they headed to a villa where beauties gathered from within the territory were confined, and pulled out a suitable sacrifice.
“I don’t want to!”
“Is it for your parents?” “Will you replace her with another girl?”
Empty promises. To get their consent to go.
The servants used rhetoric, threats, and a mix of coercion and appeasement to deliver a beauty to their master at that early hour.
” “Feel free to hate us.” ”
From the other side of the door, they listened to the sounds and voices of the master assaulting the beauty, biting their lips.
Standing in front of the door were those who were not suffering from atonement or guilt.
They were ordered by the master to stand by, to prevent the beauty from escaping.
“Don’t run!”
“Ow! It hurts, don’t hit me anymore—”
Slam! Thud! Thump!
The beauty’s screams were loud and clear for several minutes, but after an hour, only groans could be heard.
The servants prayed to the god of death for the beauty’s death, that she would not suffer.
