86. A Superior Younger Brother? I Never Heard Of Such A Thing, Isn’t It?

The story goes back in time a little.

The place is the former Golden Dawn, now Zaid Village.

The protagonist is, of course…

◆

My name is Zaid Gandarl Veil Road.

I am the second son of Viscount Veil Road, who rules the largest territory in the Kingdom of Maugalria.

My mother was the second wife, Bela.

When the first wife, Ilmina, died, my mother, Bela became the current lawful wife. Even so, my father seems to favor Ilmina’s children.

But!

The one most suitable to be the next Viscount is none other than me, who is more capable than anyone else!?

Since I inherited my father’s blood, favoritism is unacceptable!

Not only do I have the achievements of governing a part of the Viscount’s territory, but with Bela’s advice, I have taken over the land abandoned by my brother Kyle!

In this situation, where I should be evaluated, all I hear are praises for Kyle!

What kind of trickery is he up to?

A younger brother surpassing his older brother is intolerable!

However, indeed, Kyle’s accomplishments are indeed impressive.

Though, they are likely hollow achievements with no substance, even without investigation.

Therefore, I must also produce impressive results.

As I pondered over these thoughts, there was finally a knock on the door.

“Did you call, Zaid-sama?”

“You’re late! Jabil!”

The one who entered the room is the alchemist Jabil, who serves me… well, that’s not entirely accurate, but close enough.

Jabil used to have a mature and nice body that I liked, but due to a failed experiment, her body changed to that of a child. It was surprising the first time I saw it, but more than that, it was a waste.

Yet, despite her appearance, her intellect remains outstanding. Except for her inflexibility and selfishness.

“I am busy writing my thesis.”

Jabir continued, “It’s because that fool keeps sending new methods one after another.”

“Hmm? Did you say something? Your voice is too low.”

“I was talking to myself.”

I snorted.

“I don’t know what use your thesis will be, but have you finished the healing potions I asked for?”

“Of course. But what do you plan to do with so many healing potions? As I mentioned before, I won’t let them be used for sales.”

“I remember our contract. Rest assured. These are for the soldiers.”

“Even so, that’s a lot.”

“Hmm. I might as well tell you, soon we will wipe out the monsters in the marshlands!”

“What?”

Zaid snorted again, looking pleased at Jabil’s surprised face.

However, there was a gap between Zaid’s feelings and Jabil’s reason for surprise.

“Zaid-sama, that is a bit reckless. The area is vast, even the Golden Dawn gave up on exterminating the monsters…”

I clapped my hands strongly.

What Jabir said last is the key point.

“Exactly! The fact that Kyle deemed it impossible is crucial!”

I interrupted Jabil’s words and spread my arms happily.

Jabir swallowed her next words.

“Sorry, let me rephrase. Rather than giving up, it’s more that Kyle refrained from developing the marshlands because they are closer to Zaid Village.”

I snorted again.

“Hmph. The claim to the frontier goes to the first who develops it. From Kyle’s village, the marshlands might be distant, but they’re not exactly right under our noses either. If he withdrew, it means he gave up!”

I proclaimed the truth and correctness.

I was convinced that I had finally outargued Jabir, but this girl sighed and put her hands on her hips.

“As for the plan to exterminate the marshland monsters, from what I’ve heard from my apprentice, with the current strength of the Golden Dawn, it’s definitely possible. So, the reason they haven’t acted yet is likely due to lack of interest or preparation…”

“Hah! They must be frightened! If we can cultivate the marshlands, we can get a large amount of rice and solve our food problems!”

“Right now, there’s a large farm involved with my foolish apprentice, so they’re not struggling with food…”

“Silence, Jabil! I don’t know what tricks Kyle has been using, but he gave up after achieving impressive results! Normally, wouldn’t you think that clearing the marshlands is easier than slaying a dragon?!”

Exactly!

No matter how you think about it, the difficulty of clearing the marshlands is lower compared to dragon slaying. This is proof that Kyle used some trickery or foul play in dragon slaying!

“No, considering the distance, it wouldn’t be easy to send a large force, and we have to wipe out the numerous powerful Hydras scattered throughout the vast marshlands. It’s clearly more troublesome than dragon slaying. Given the current scale of the Golden Dawn, they’re probably fully occupied with defense and surrounding clearances… hmm, you’re not listening.”

Who listens to your nonsense!?

Always full of excuses, you can’t see the truth!

“By accomplishing the cultivation of the marshlands, I will reveal that Kyle’s achievements have been exaggerated, and demonstrate my own excellence both inside and outside! There’s no reason not to do it!”

Jabir was speechless again.

It seemed she finally understood my words. I nodded in satisfaction.

“I will deploy all 300 of my private soldiers. After reducing the monster numbers to some extent, we will proceed with thorough extermination over time! Originally, I planned to wipe them out all at once, but the captain of the soldiers advised against it. Hmph. Though overly cautious, we must ensure success.”

“Wa-wait! Are you not going to hire adventurers for this subjugation?”

“Hmm? Of course not. Most of the adventurers coming in and out of this village are unfortunately registered with Kyle’s village.”

Indeed.

Most adventurers visiting my village are either hired as escorts for merchant caravans or hunting Hydras in the marshlands.

They only stay in this village for lodging.

No adventurers are based here.

Probably, the captain’s advice was a roundabout way of saying it was impossible.

Jabir could only sympathize with the soldiers.

“Zaid-sama. Is that already decided? Maybe the captain’s advice was a way to gently say it’s impossible?”

“My soldiers are not weaklings!”

Jabil let out a small sigh.

“Understood. Then I’ll provide the stamina potions my foolish apprentice made. Take them with you.”

Jabil’s foolish apprentice… that must be Craft!

His stamina potions are valuable!?

“What? They’re quite valuable, you know? Are you going to distribute them to the soldiers?”

“If you plan to sell them, I won’t provide any. They’re my personal property.”

“Hmm… those are potions you can’t make yourself. It’s a bit regrettable, but I’ll arrange it.”

“Yes. They were given to me as a gift and sample from my foolish apprentice… considering the soldiers’ safety, I’m sure he will forgive me.”

Jabil let out a deep, deep sigh.

“Well, I won’t have trouble getting my daily dose. The thesis is already submitted, so there’s no problem even if there are no samples left. More importantly, increasing the chances of reducing casualties is crucial.”

“I don’t care about the details. Just give them to me… Can’t you tell Craft to provide more stamina potions for sale?”

“If you insist on that, I can no longer stay under you, Zaid-sama.”

“…Understood. Forget it.”

Hmph. You’re quite thoughtful about your apprentice in trivial matters.

Difficult to deal with.

Well, no matter. It’s my era from now on!

Thus, my elite troops bravely set out for the marshlands.

They set out, but…

◆

“What is this!? What’s going on!?”

The soldiers who returned were battered and bruised. It was a wonder there were no fatalities.

The captain, wrapped in bandages, knelt respectfully.

“Zaid-sama I apologize! We gave it our all, but the swamp was vast, and the endless assaults by the hydras forced us to retreat!”

“What… what did you say!? That’s impossible! Don’t the adventurers from Kyle’s village hunt them like common materials!?”

“We witnessed those adventurers in action at the site, and they are extraordinary! They seem to match the prowess of Gandarl’s B-rank adventurers!”

“They’re just adventurers! Are you saying you, trained soldiers on my payroll, are inferior to a bunch of rogues!?”

The captain gritted his teeth.

“…The adventurer parties had mages and priests with crests, making them well-balanced. Their goal was the hydra’s magic stones and materials, so they moved after hunting a few, unlike us, who aimed to eradicate the enemy entirely…”

Arms crossed, I pondered his words.

It’s easy to call my soldiers useless, but my pride wouldn’t allow me to admit they’re inferior to adventurers.

Moreover, their reasoning wasn’t entirely incorrect.

Especially since this was our first attempt at the campaign. A good leader should be somewhat lenient.

“Then, rework your strategy! You are my soldiers! It’s unacceptable to be outdone by adventurers!”

“Yes, sir! Absolutely!”

The soldiers bowed their heads in unison.

Hmm. By not holding them accountable this time, they’ll be grateful and show even more loyalty. They’ll undoubtedly succeed in the next campaign.

I truly am an exceptional leader!

“Zaid-sama…”

I turned at the voice. It was Jabil.

“What is it, Jabil? I assigned you to treat the soldiers.”

This girl knows medicine as well as alchemy. If I don’t use her now, there’s no point in keeping her.

“Of course, I’m doing that. But seeing this situation, are you going to repeat it without a plan?”

“Devising a strategy is the soldiers’ job! Are you dissatisfied that I’m not blaming them!?”

“Hmm…”

Jabil crossed her arms and groaned, then lifted her head as if resolved.

“Zaid-sama. I’ve said it many times, but the swamp is vast. Indeed, success would be a great achievement, but this force is simply insufficient.”

“Hmph. That’s precisely why it’s an achievement. If I can accomplish what Kyle couldn’t, I’ll surpass even him.”

“But…”

“Enough, Jabil! This is final!”

“…Understood.”

Jabir sighed heavily and returned to her laboratory, muttering to herself.

“Well… I’ll have to abandon my research for a while and make more potions for the soldiers.”

Hmph. She should’ve just kept making potions from the start.

Still, having Jabil sulk would indeed be problematic. She’s a troublesome child.

Surrounded by my difficult subordinates, I headed to my office to fulfill my noble duties.

Then…

“Z-Zaid-sama! It’s terrible!”

“What’s all this noise?”

It was a few days after the soldiers returned.

As I was working on some paperwork, a scribe burst into my office, looking frantic.

“T-this. Please look at this!”

The scribe held a stack of wooden tablets. They didn’t seem important, as they weren’t written on parchment.

I picked up a tablet and read it, my face draining of color.

They were resignation letters from the soldiers.

I grabbed one tablet after another.

“These… these are all resignation letters! What is going on, scribe!?”

“What’s going on is that they are regular resignations… All of them want to quit immediately, even forfeiting their severance pay and pensions.”

My blood, which had run cold, began to boil.

“W-what the hell! Call the captain at once!”

“Well, the tablet you’re holding is the captain’s resignation letter…”

The scribe pointed, his face pale.

I felt something snap in my mind.

“I see… I see… all of them…”

I couldn’t help but laugh, even though I didn’t mean to.

“Fine… if they want to quit, I’ll let them. I’ll even pay their severance.”

“Eh…?”

The scribe blinked in confusion.

“But! Only after the swamp is cleared! They can’t leave until every last monster is eradicated! If they still want to quit, they’ll be executed for desertion!”

“T-that… While they are private soldiers, desertion in wartime is a capital offense, but in the current situation…!”

“Can you clearly state we’re not engaged with the swamp monsters!?”

“T-that… but… this seems excessive…”

“Silence! We are in a state of conflict, and no resignations will be accepted! Inform everyone immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

“And…”

I took the famed sword hanging on the wall.

A single-edged, slender saber with a large handguard.

It was a gift from my father on my coming-of-age day, a magical sword made with ample mithril.

It could cut through stone like butter.

I drew the saber for the first time in a while, swinging it.

A faint magical trail followed the blade.

“Tell them I’m joining the campaign.”

I must prove I’m superior to Kyle, in politics and combat!

The next day, donning my armor for the first time in a while, I mounted my horse.

Facing the assembled soldiers, I raised my saber high.

“We march to exterminate the vile monsters infesting our lands!”

“““Ooohhh!!!”””

The soldiers roared, and the townspeople cheered with expectant eyes.

Yes!

This praise is exactly what I need and deserve!

Thus, I led three hundred soldiers to the swamp.

Of course.

I had no idea what awaited us.