Dragon Knight Chronicles ~ From a mere mercenary, rise to success through tactics! A small harem with the princess and the lord's daughter!? I'll also develop my territory! ~ - Chapter 59

Chapter 59   Becoming Marquis Shinker

“I’ll take your head!”

“Who dares?!”

As the high-ranking noble turned to face me, I delivered a heavy blow to his torso. It seemed he was wearing a metal plate mail under his flamboyant cape, as my strike was met with a dull, reverberating sound.

“…Ugh!”

Though the blade was deflected, the impact of the blow clearly reached him, as a groan escaped from the mounted noble. While aiming for his head might have ended it in one strike, my instincts as a mercenary drove me to capture him for ransom instead.

“Who are you?!”

His guards hastily turned their horses around, but I swiftly delivered a second strike to the noble. He tumbled off his horse, crashing to the ground.

“General! Are you alright?”

“Yes, bind him up!”

“Understood!”

My guards quickly arrived, and together we knocked his remaining guards off their horses.

“Bind them all! Take them to the camp! I’m heading into the enemy lines!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Follow me!”

I urged Comet forward and, alongside the dragon knights led by Nataraja, plunged back into the enemy ranks. By this point, the enemy had already begun to collapse, turning the battle into a pursuit.

“Chase them down! Don’t let a single one escape!”

“Yes!”

The emboldened soldiers of the kingdom relentlessly pursued the fleeing Republic troops. By the time the sun set and the pursuit ended, the exhausted Republic soldiers had been captured one by one.

“Victory shout!”

“Ei-ei-oh!”

Thus, the Battle of Lamour Plains ended in a decisive victory for the Owen Alliance Kingdom. The kingdom’s casualties numbered 2,000, while the Republic’s losses reached 4,000, with nearly 10,000 Republic soldiers captured by the kingdom’s forces.

◇◇◇◇◇

After the Battle—

With Queen Charlotte leading the way, we passed through the gates of Shampur and entered the city. It had been reduced to a desolate wasteland, with only the charred remains of pillars and the rubble of stone buildings scattered around.

“Your Majesty, thank goodness you are safe!”

Chancellor Fischer, who had been holed up in the royal palace, greeted the Queen with a group of soldiers.

“…Indeed. But what a dreadful sight this is. To think our ancestral capital could be destroyed to such an extent…”

The great cathedral, a symbol of the royal family’s heritage, along with many other ancient structures, had been reduced to ashes. Of course, the homes of wealthy merchants and countless ordinary citizens had also been turned to rubble. The Queen and her retainers seemed to be shedding tears of sorrow.

“Reconstruction will begin tomorrow, but first, we must reward those who distinguished themselves in battle! Those who have earned great merit, step forward!”

To me, war is about rewards… I led the noble-looking man from earlier to the tent where the Queen awaited.

“…What, is it you again, Shinker?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Queen looked at me with a slightly exasperated smile as if I was once again seeking a reward. But when she saw the man’s face, her expression, and those of everyone else, changed.

“…Isn’t this Duke Collette?!”

Chancellor Fischer’s voice rang out in astonishment.

…Huh? Who?

I had no idea who this person was, so I must have had a puzzled look on my face. The Chancellor kindly explained.

“Count Rillburn, are you not aware? This is the younger brother of the head of the Fletcher Republic and the commander of their forces in this campaign…”

“…I see.”

I feigned surprise, but even with that knowledge, I still didn’t understand the full significance of this man.

“Forgive me, Count, but we must take custody of this man in the royal palace! In exchange, you shall be richly rewarded!”

With that, the Chancellor conferred with the chamberlain and others. Shortly after, something heavy was carried out and placed before me.

“These are rewards from Her Majesty. Please accept them!”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Eight servants respectfully carried in a large item covered with an expensive-looking purple cloth. It might have been against proper etiquette, but I couldn’t resist lifting the cloth a bit to peek inside.

“…What the—”

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Inside, placed on a pedestal, were six large gold ingots. I had never seen gold this massive before. It could easily be worth around 100,000 gold coins.

“Count Rillburn, the captive you brought has this much value. Accept it with confidence,” the Chancellor said.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” I replied, deciding to accept the extraordinary reward.

“…Ugh?”

To my embarrassment, it was too heavy for me to lift.

“Even the mighty Shinker can’t lift it?” Queen Charlotte chuckled softly.

“Don’t strain yourself,” advised the Chancellor. But I waved off his concern and, with sheer determination, managed to carry it back to my tent.

The next day, I left the ruined royal capital of Shampur. Being of common birth with no connection to the royal family, I couldn’t share in the deep sorrow of those around me and felt out of place.

◇◇◇◇◇

In September of the Year 565 of the Unified Calendar—

The previous war had left the eastern regions of the kingdom in such devastation that many areas were unable to harvest crops. Due to this man-made famine, large numbers of refugees and beggars emerged. For me, it was a harsh lesson in the importance of never allowing the enemy to invade our territory.

“General! A messenger from the royal palace has arrived!”

“Oh, let them in!”

“Yes, sir!”

I received the royal messenger at Lebe Castle.

“…For your outstanding achievements in the recent battle, you, Count Rillburn, are hereby promoted to Marquis. Additionally, you are granted a fiefdom in the south of Shampur worth 50,000 dinars!”

“I am deeply honored!”

At last, I, a former mercenary, had been elevated to the rank of Marquis. With the added land, my total holdings were now worth 200,000 dinars—a yield equivalent to that of a small country.

Furthermore, since there were no Dukes in the kingdom at present, Marquis was the highest rank one could achieve as a subject of the crown. Even I was overwhelmed with emotion.

“…However, as a condition…”

…Huh?

A condition for my reward?

Please, no conditions on a reward…