Right at the time when they got to Breitburg to stock up on salt, a messenger from the Margrave Breithilde household suddenly came.
“It was a routine event of the vassals at the eastern border to get into disputes. Although we hadn’t tried to go on a campaign, the previous generation’s Margrave Breithilde told us 『At least one time』.” (Klaus)
Since the previous generation’s Margrave Breithilde knew that Klaus’ group was at that time in the city, it was beneficial for him to call them.
Klaus, having the highest social standing as son of a village headman, was assigned as temporary junior commander. It was the birth of a Baumeister territorial army with 6 people in total, just like paper mâché.
“The swords, spears, and armors, all of it was borrowed. The horse and the food as well.” (Klaus)
Even that horse, it was different of a farming horse and only Klaus could mount it.
Because it was nothing more but a rental horse anyway, Klaus used it.
“For Margrave Breithilde-sama. likely only the fact of the Baumeister territorial army participating in the battle was important.” (Klaus)
Just as they were told they moved to the eastern border and confronted the opposing troops.
But it was a quarrel over a tiny plot of land between fellow minor feudal lords after all. It was a fight over the allocation ratio of firewood and edible wild plants harvested in the forest.
If they seriously clashed, they would end up exceeding their budget.
That’s because it is normal for the feudal lord to give monetary consolation to wounded and the bereaved families.
“The aim was to appeal 『These concessions are mine!』. On the contrary, if they didn’t do anything, it would result in them completely approving the other side’s demands.” (Klaus)
There was no way they couldn’t do anything, but they wanted to excuse themselves from clashing with each other as well.
It seems there were various troublesome circumstances.
Even so, if they got excited by the appealing battle, it would occasionally lead to combat.
“In order to not produce corpses, they would win if they made the opponent fall of their horse with training weapons.” (Klaus)
But even then, people died occasionally.
“Given that they are still human, it will occasionally turn into a full-blown combat due to their boiling emotions.” (Klaus)
The cause was ambiguous after all, but it seems the battle, Klaus’ troops participated in, changed into an all-out battle.
“Although both sides earnestly tried to stop their supreme commanders, around 100 people died.” (Klaus)
Klaus held out the spear with all his power towards the approaching enemy forces.
Even now he can’t recall what he did afterwards due to his excessive mental strain.
“As second son of a village headman I did train. Sure enough it was uncertain whether any of that was helpful in an actual war.” (Klaus)
Nevertheless he received a reward and letter of recommendation from Margrave Breithilde for defeating and killing several people.
Although he couldn’t recall it himself, it was apparently witnessed by a high-ranked person of the Breithilde feudal army.
“For the time being I became the target for getting a reward.” (Klaus)
The battle’s expansion was troublesome, but the people, who actually obtained war results, were commended and given a reward, as it is natural for nobles.
Even if you say he defeated and killed them, it was unknown whether they actually really died.
Rather, it would be better if they didn’t die.
“With the received reward, I increased the amount of salt and other souvenirs, but…” (Klaus)
Once he returned to the territory, he was reprimanded by the previous generation’s family head (feudal lord), his father and his elder brother.
“The cause was that I stood out too much. Even though I was risking my life here, they talked me down mercilessly.” (Klaus)
Because it is a conservative territory in the countryside, you could even say it was an example of hammering in the nail that sticks out.
Although he brought back larger portion of salt than usual, he received such intolerable reprimanding.
“Even if such thing happened, life won’t change. Several years later, elder brother died from illness…” (Klaus)
That eldest son had no children. In a hurry the second son, Klaus, was called back home and succeeded as village headman.
That was because his father was also on the verge of death due to the same illness.
“When thinking about such things like being village headman, I soon considered it to be painful but I also thought it was fine as I didn’t have to pull the tray any more. Those were complicated feelings.” (Klaus)
At the same time he was the only one among his friends, who was able to break away from that life and thus felt regret.
Even so, he was sure he could do something once he became the village headman.
It would take time, but first he ran about for the sake of a merchant group regularly coming to the territory.