Virgin Knight Who Is the Frontier Lord in the Gender Switched World - Chapter 42

The Reckenber residence boasts a vast garden.

In the realms of politics, the military, and the battlefield.

For Reckenber, who has demonstrated outstanding performance in all three fields, only the finest mansion was prepared.

The garden even includes a practice range for archery.

The distance to the target is roughly 600 meters.

“The target is far away.”

“To surpass the range of the composite bow used by the nomadic tribes, this distance is necessary.”

“Flügel, I’m counting on you.”

I mounted on my beloved horse Flügel, brought to me by the chief retainer Helga to the Reckenber estate. I received the magical longbow favoured by Claudia von Reckenber from Miss Nina.

“Well then.”

“The bow’s draw weight is immensely heavy. Rather than lessening this weight, my mother, Claudia, opted to increase the bow’s power and range through magical engravings.”

“That makes sense.”

I draw the string to my elbow.

It’s not heavy.

It would be impossibly heavy for an ordinary person.

But not for me.

“You can draw it. As expected of the superhuman who defeated my mother.”

“I can draw it.”

I pull the string, reminiscing about the Virendorf campaign.

Lady Claudia indeed drew the string up to her chest.

I wonder how far I can draw it.

Up to my ear.

I can draw it this far.

“Lord Polydoro?”

“I wish to test its power with a draw up to this ear.”

If the distance is 600 meters, drawing to the chest would suffice.

However, I want to explore the potential of this magical longbow.

For some reason, Miss Nina answers with a pleased smile.

“Please do.”

While still mounted on Flügel, I release the arrow.

It flies towards the target and hits the centre, piercing the surface and penetrating through it.

Should this arrow meet an enemy soldier, it could penetrate even the stoutest armor of the heavy cavalry.

“Can all superhumans do the same?”

600 meters away.

With my eyesight, I can see the target, marked with several similar penetrations.

Likely, Lady Claudia had done the same.

I answer Miss Nina’s question.

“Practice is necessary.”

It’s not a stationary target.

While mounted on a galloping Flügel.

Hitting a moving target, like a nomadic tribe member on horseback, would require some practice.

And in that case, it’s best to limit the draw to the chest.

I learn from Lady Claudia’s actions in real combat.

“I promised Queen Katarina that I would lend you the longbow if you could draw it. I’ll come to retrieve it when I turn 16.”

“I’ll borrow it until then. Please teach me about its maintenance as well.”

The maintenance list grows as I entrust another item to Ingritt, the merchant.

Maintenance is costly but necessary.

Next year’s military service will not be against mere bandits.

Most likely against the nomadic tribes.

Now that peace negotiations with Virendorf have been established, the Electorate of Anhalt has little concern for neighbouring states.

The only remaining threat from the north.

The Kingdom of Anhalt will put forth nearly all its effort to crush the nomadic tribes.

The prospect of participating is a nuisance I’d prefer to avoid, hoping instead to leverage my privileges as the Second Princess’s Advisor.

I could fulfill my military duty by dealing with small bandits.

“Well, that’s unlikely.”

My name has become too well-known.

Why is Lord Faust von Polydoro not on this battlefield, chasing after small-time bandits instead?

It would be troublesome to hear such remarks.

Moreover, Lady Valiere, as the commander of the Second Princess’s personal guard, will likely head to quell the nomadic tribes.

Even Anastasia, the First Princess, or Duchess Astarte might join, depending on the situation.

I have no choice but to go.

Ah, what a hassle.

Considering this, acquiring the longbow capable of taking down a tribe’s chief in one strike is a stroke of luck.

I’ll take a cue from Claudia von Reckenber’s tactics against the nomadic tribes.

Shoot through the tribe chief, then the archers.

I’ll make the Parthian shot impossible.

However, I wish for more arrows.

I want a cavalry that can carry and replenish many arrows and a reliable partner at my side.

As I ponder these thoughts.

“If Claudia von Reckenber or Faust von Polydoro were in our country,”

From the direction of the mansion, someone speaks as if addressing someone else, yet it sounds like a murmur to oneself.

“Would our country not have perished?”

A tall woman with black hair appears. She is neither from Anhalt nor Virendorf, clearly identifiable as an Easterner by her low nose yet beautiful features. Her bust is ample. Our gazes meet, and she bows deeply.

In her hands, she carries a longbow similar to mine, with the same magical engravings.

“That is a spare owned by my mother, intended for Queen Katarina to lend it.”

“Is she from the East?”

“Yes, she has come from far beyond the Silk Road.”

Miss Nina boasts proudly, puffing up her immature chest. She says the woman was a warlord from the East, akin to a knight in our country. After her country was destroyed, she wandered the Silk Road with her horse and ended up in Virendorf.

“I had the honor of meeting Queen Katarina. Now, I have been granted the status of a guest in the Reckenber household.”

“So, the loan of the longbow means”

“Yes. It implies that with this bow, I am to take down the nomadic tribes in place of Lord Reckenber.”

Even if it’s only in terms of archery, this implies she’s a formidable force.

“I wish to witness your prowess.”

“Snow Raven.”

“?”

Responding to my voice, she calls out a name. I wonder what it means for a moment, but then a white horse that had been crouching nearby stands and runs towards us. Ah, it’s the name of the horse. She mounts the white horse and draws the longbow with ease, not betraying the intense draw weight. She extends the string to her ear and releases the arrow, which penetrates the target just like mine did.

“Excellent.”

“This is the only skill I have.”

“Excuse my rudeness, I haven’t asked for your name yet. As you might know, I am Faust von Polydoro. And you are?”

After a moment of hesitation, she murmurs her name.

“My name is Yue, which means ‘moon’ here.”

“Pardon my intrusion, but your family name?”

“My family name,” she pauses with a sad look, as if recalling something painful, “I abandoned it when my country was destroyed, as I failed to protect my home.”

“I’m sorry. As mentioned earlier,”

Miss Nina also mentioned the country was destroyed. Why? Well, I’m not familiar with the far reaches of the Silk Road.

“Forgive my blunt question. Your country was destroyed by?”

“The nomadic tribes, no,”

Lady Yue answers with a distant look.

“It was destroyed by what could be called a nomadic nation-state.”

“A nomadic nation-state?”

I can’t help but think, “Impossible,” yet there are similarities with the world I once knew. In a world where for every ten children born, nine are girls and only one is a boy, the gender ratio is skewed 1:9 in a seemingly irrational world. I was reborn into this world.

If there’s a god, they have a peculiar sense of humor. Magic and miracles exist, as do legends. Yet, this world shares certain similarities with the world I previously lived in.

I live in an area resembling medieval Europe, where there’s something like the Holy Roman Empire called the Holy Gusten Empire. Anhalt and Virendorf are two of the seven electors.

Anhalt and Virendorf suffer from the raids of northern nomadic tribes. There’s a vast plain where intensive agriculture is difficult, suitable only for pastoralism, a dry area that struggles with settlement.

So I wonder, “Impossible?”

Thus, I ask.

Interpreting the nomadic state as a nation-state of horseback riders is accurate. “A nomadic equestrian nation-state, indeed. A group of nomads adept in horseback riding, from the old to the young. But they are not just about mobility; they’ve also developed tactics to conquer fortress cities. We were utterly defeated without recourse.”

My query was redundant, merely a change in terminology. Calm down, Faust von Polydoro. Yet, some information was gleaned. If one were to consider an enemy in this world, the thought of an empire similar to the Mongols is daunting, let alone their possible existence and western expansion.

Even if they come, it might not be for decades. Yet, assuming so would be foolish. It’s beyond my judgment. I seek information, something to present to wiser and more powerful individuals.

This information is for Queen Liesenlotte, Princess Anastasia, and Duchess Astarte. Hearing the name of Yue’s fallen dynasty here would likely yield a different name. How long did it take for the Jin Dynasty to submit and the Mongol Empire to reach Germany and Poland in my previous life?

Remembering that serves no purpose in this life. What to do now? First, a question for Miss Nina.

“Is this a gift for the peace negotiation completion, a present from Queen Katarina? Were there any instructions?”

“I cannot answer that.”

Her response is as good as an affirmation. It’s a proposal from Queen Katarina for a joint defense against the nomadic equestrian nation-state, preparing by introducing me to Lady Yue at the Reckenber estate. The threat might be closer than we think. This information sharing likely means that the Holy Gusten Empire has information from beyond the Silk Road, unknown to me, and has been shared with the electorates of Anhalt and Virendorf.

Yet, Anhalt seems unaware of the warrior who has arrived from a fallen dynasty, not taking the threat seriously. It suggests I should communicate this directly, given my position.

“Lord Faust, if you’re dissatisfied with Anhalt’s response, you’re always welcome in Virendorf. Together, we can fight.”

Her words suggest that if Anhalt is sluggish in its measures, I should abandon them and flee to her side. Queen Katarina is enticing me. But fleeing and abandoning my lands is not an option.

“I appreciate the sentiment. Tell me more about the equestrian nomadic nation-state.”

“Very well.”

As Lady Yue speaks, her black hair flutters gently in the breeze. How much useful information can I glean? And will it be useful? Nevertheless, I must relay everything. Meanwhile, what are Anhalt’s top leaders doing?

Thinking further is futile; it’s time to return. More importantly, there’s another person I need to speak with here.

“And Lady Valiere?”

“She was guided to a guesthouse but seems unavailable to come out just yet.”

“I’ll call for her. I’d like her to hear this conversation as well.”

I whisper to Miss Nina.

“Is she of any use? She turned into a clown during the negotiations.”

Miss Nina appears skeptical of Lady Valiere’s abilities. The foolery was my doing. My apologies, Lady Valiere.

“She’s necessary. At the very least, we must report together to Queen Liesenlotte. Remember, I’m just a minor lord knight with 300 vassals.”

Although I have direct access to Queen Liesenlotte as the Second Princess’s Advisor, this is only when Lady Valiere is present. Without her or the Queen’s explicit permission, direct communication is difficult.

“Anhalt can be troublesome. That’s why I dislike it.”

“Countries have different natures.”

Every country has its strengths and weaknesses. As a superhuman, I find Virendorf more livable, but a life where everything goes as planned can be dull. With these thoughts, I follow Miss Nina to the guesthouse, contemplating what Lady Valiere might be doing now.

“Order. Lynch Sabine.”

In the Reckenber family’s guesthouse garden, Lady Valiere commands her personal guard to lynch Lady Sabine.

“What did I do wrong?”

“You said Faust should marry you, which is absurd! And to make you the second wife, what does that mean?”

“It’s not absurd. It’s logical, based on reasoned judgment.”

What were they discussing? I plan to stop them, considering it’s unseemly in front of Miss Nina and Lady Yue.

“As a result of that judgment, I merely wished to enjoy pleasures in bed with the revered Lady Valiere and Lord Polydoro.”

Let it be. Such a statement seems to justify the lynching. Even after their first battle, Sabine remains unchanged. Lord Polydoro slightly lowers his opinion of Sabine, but since she’s endowed, his judgment remains lenient.