Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 104

I’ve decided to write a book.

It may seem sudden, but it’s my only option.

I vividly recall the priest from the monastery library where I grew up, who used to write manuscripts while watching over me as a child.

Unlike the esteemed possessions of others, such as Lord Faust’s famous horse Flügel, the full suit of plate armor provided by Princess Anastasia, or the greatsword handed down through my family, I have nothing noteworthy.

All I possess is a small personal fortune, including a hidden dagger; everything else has been confiscated.

The only thing I can truly boast of is the ancient knowledge and intelligence, orchestrated for me by my mother, Caroline, and the priest.

And my guardian, Lord Faust, has direct contacts within the royal family.

There are ways to forge connections, and I can demonstrate my worth to the royalty.

Thus, a book it is.

For me, the daughter of a traitor, to gain renown in Anhalt, this is the sole path.

For a nine-year-old girl named Martina, who owns nothing, it seemed the only means to ascend in society.

Writing this book and leveraging it to facilitate my job search seemed like the most effective way to highlight my capabilities.

And there’s no reason to conceal this plan from Lord Faust.

I have disclosed all my intentions to him.

“That sounds like a good idea,” Lord Faust affirmed my entire plan.

“However, what will the book be about? I know Martina is intelligent. Once written, you could present it to Queen Liesenlotte, or even to Princess Anastasia and Duchess Astarte.”

“I have considered a few topics.”

There’s much I could write about.

It could cover the culture and customs of the Kingdom of Anhalt.

The form of the monarchy, military strength, types of armed forces, armaments, and the reputation of nobility.

About history up to now.

I’m confident I can write about anything.

But such subjects, while they may be appreciated by historians and novelists in years to come, are trivial to the current Queen Liesenlotte and Princess Anastasia.

To tell them things they already know and are directly responsible for would only make me appear foolish.

“The theme should be focused. Personally, I think it’s fine to state the conclusion first and detail the content later.”

“Do you think the more shocking the beginning, the better? It might come across as somewhat rough.”

“This approach might not be well-received… but yes, as Martina said, that is my opinion. It should be done, even if the rhetoric is a bit harsh.”

The theme of the book is decided.

And so is the content.

But I’m still undecided about the narrative style.

Since it’s for job hunting, the primary aim should be flattery and praise towards Queen Liesenlotte.

That was my initial thought, but perhaps I should go with what Lord Faust suggests.

“Lord Faust, I will do as you say. At this point, I might as well discard any pretentious rhetoric or flattery.”

“What do you intend to write?”

“I’ll tell you shortly. But first, there’s something I need to ask.”

Even if I bend my own principles a bit to accommodate Lord Faust’s opinions.

Because I need him to be a co-author.

I understand that such a small matter won’t upset Lord Faust.

“I need your wisdom and name. The book wouldn’t be complete without your opinions and name included.”

“I can lend you as much wisdom as you need. Is just Martina’s name too weak?”

“Having your name, Lord Faust, would ensure the top executives read the book.”

Duchess Astarte might not mind reading a book written by a nine-year-old.

But it’s doubtful whether the other two royals would.

Not only that, but I also intended to incorporate a lot of Lord Faust’s insights.

Not just lending his name, but truly having him as a co-author.

“I want to create this book with you, Lord Faust.”

I might not be able to bear Lord Faust’s child.

For my own desires, I will make every effort.

But even so, the chances of my wishes being fulfilled are slim.

My position is too weak.

If my hopes do not come true, having created a book together.

It could even be considered a substitute for the child I couldn’t have.

That’s why I wanted to create this book with Lord Faust.

“If that is what you desire, Martina, I shall assist you,” Lord Faust responded, his voice kind yet marked by a trace of unease.

“But do you truly require my wisdom? I’ve pondered this before, but I am not as wise as you, Martina. Of course, I will help.”

“Lord Faust, I do not understand why you doubt yourself so, but your ideas and insights are beyond the reach of ordinary minds.”

I am aware that he feels secure only in matters of warfare, excessively so.

It’s perplexing why he deems himself inadequate in other aspects.

“Martina, you might be questioning why I lack confidence. I often wonder the same. However, there are monsters in this world who somehow succeed with the worst of plans, and fools who ruin even the best ones. I am neither. I am merely a superhuman with a sword, and an ordinary man in terms of intellect. My most useful role is to obey the orders of Princess Anastasia and Duchess Astarte, wielding my sword.”

I suspect Lord Faust’s self-criticism will not change in his lifetime.

But that is acceptable.

I cherish him just as he is.

“Martina, your puzzlement over my lack of confidence compels me to speak. I regard you as extraordinary, Martina. I view you as the mightiest being, born of your mother, Caroline. Compared to you, I am merely a common talent. No matter how far I walk, my life will end merely as a warrior. But you, Martina, you are different.”

“Lord Faust.”

“I have promised to be honest about everything before. It’s embarrassing, but I will be honest, Martina. I find you endearing. I think of you as my own daughter. Even now, I believe it might have been better if you were entrusted to Duchess Astarte. I even think that would be better for your future.”

What is he saying?

Had I been entrusted to Duchess Astarte, by now I might have ended my life with my hidden dagger, overwhelmed by the burden of my sins.

Faust has no idea about this.

Ah.

Indeed, Lord Faust is not a perfect being.

God has bestowed upon him a twisted talent.

“But still, I wish to raise you. Will you forgive me?”

“…”

It is precisely because of that twist.

I find myself troubled.

I harbor terribly indecent fantasies that I cannot present to God.

“I forgive you. So, let us do everything. Let us create this book together!”

I raised my voice deliberately, attempting to disguise my blushing cheeks.

Lord Faust, understanding my wish to shift the conversation, steered it back.

“Yes, let’s proceed. So, what will you write about? If it’s mediocre, it won’t appeal to the Queen or the royals. Countless knights have risen through the ranks on the battlefield, but I’ve never heard of a bureaucrat who advanced through writing.”

“That’s a bias of yours, Lord Faust. There are indeed such bureaucrats, though they may not be as celebrated.”

It’s no surprise that those who have made significant contributions on the battlefield stand out.

After all, the primary role of a knight is to fight.

But there are also bureaucrats who manage governance and internal affairs.

Their efforts should be acknowledged, I insisted.

But what I want to write about is…

“Lord Faust, I want to write about the future of the battlefield.”

“The future of the battlefield? Are you referring to our discussions during mock battles?”

“Yes. I’ve wanted to sit down and discuss this with you.”

With the advent of firearms, the battlefield will change dramatically.

But this doesn’t mean that cavalry, spearmen, or other troops become unnecessary.

It’s not that simple.

Cavalry, spearmen, archers, riflemen, artillery.

And in the current Holy Gusten Empire, the mercenaries who will shape the future of the battlefield, such as the Landsknechts, must be mentioned.

Each troop type has its weaknesses, which they evolve to compensate for.

This process repeats endlessly.

So what if guns have been introduced?

So what?

There is no simple victory where one troop type can defeat all others.

If that were the case, then tactics would be irrelevant in this world.

Even if that were to become a reality, it’s a conversation for the future.

The real game-changer isn’t rifles.

It’s artillery.

The ideal form Lord Faust imagines, a unilateral capacity for massive destruction.

“Firearms, the likes of which I have never seen before, will certainly become the decisive weapon that changes the face of war.”

He raises a finger.

There is no doubt about this speculation.

However.

“What about the strategy to utilize them? The tactics? The military organization? And the technical challenges? Simply using firearms, just having guns, doesn’t make one strong. If it’s just about range, bows still surpass them.”

“Well, that might be true.”

Lord Faust, who has previously thought a lot about this topic, nods earnestly.

That’s good.

I quickly express my doubts.

“First of all, what about the cost? The Cologne Sect knows the manufacturing process and is mass-producing, but what about the price of saltpeter? Everything is shrouded in mystery. On the battlefield, even human lives are merely a cost.”

I am indeed curious about the development status of the Cologne Sect’s firearms.

The Cologne Sect!

That mad yet—I have not forgotten the merciful act performed by my mother Caroline.

A being of great depth will surely do something.

No, they are plotting something.

According to the doctrine, everything belongs to their community.

Just as I imagined, musket bullets packed into some container, scattered by the blast of a cannon.

They must be developing a weapon to dominate the battlefield for mass slaughter.

That’s what I think.

“Lord Faust, I have thought about writing a book for personal advancement. But at the same time, there is something I must know. Is my intelligence truly looking into the future?”

Yes.

Are my baseless speculations, which could be dismissed as delusions under current circumstances, correct?

Are all the ideas presented by Lord Faust merely naive, empty delusions?

I want to know.

That’s why I’m writing this book.

“By writing this book, I believe some answers can be found to all the questions presented by myself and Lord Faust. Are they already considered and implemented? Or, just as our delusions suggest, has no one yet realized these achievements?”

I don’t mind being laughed at.

If Lord Faust and I are laughed at together, then that’s acceptable.

This feeling might be incomprehensible to anyone else.

I feel it’s okay to be insulted alongside Lord Faust.

“Throwing a stone into a well, I think this act will tell us if a sound echoes back immediately, or if the well is endlessly deep. Will Queen Liesenlotte say that the sound echoes back right away, or will there be no sound at all? This is something a nine-year-old Martina cannot understand.”

Yes.

I don’t understand anything.

However, there was a need to throw that stone.

“Just because no sound is heard doesn’t mean the well is dry.”

I think the well itself isn’t dry.

If there’s water, then.

The ripples from the stone’s splash must trigger some reaction.

Whether small or large, I don’t know.

“Martina, do you believe your talents can reach anywhere in reality?”

Lord Faust’s question.

I answer honestly.

“I was born as the daughter of my mother Caroline and was raised under the education of a priest. Now, I ask Lord Faust about many things. And I have never doubted any of that education.”

I hold my chest.

Yes!

Perhaps my mother lacked scholarship.

Perhaps the priest lacked the power to protect me.

Lord Faust might not be considered fully confident.

Yet, none of them are mistaken.

Where could there be falsehood mixed into all the education they gave me?

Where could there be a flaw in this crystallization?

“I might still be lacking. But in the book I’m about to write, I intend to pour in all my abilities and declare that here stands Martina von Bösel, a remarkable person! How will the world respond to this!!”

I am alive thanks to everyone standing here.

There’s no flaw in shouting here.

“Martina, even if the first book you write is rejected, I want you to keep writing. Don’t worry about one failure. There will be chances for a second and third time.”

Lord Faust smiles kindly.

On the desk, I spread out all the paper prepared for the real pervert, Duchess Astarte.

And I mutter.

“Then, let’s begin writing.”