Episode 152: The Beginning of Nobility
My mansion.
This place feels like it was an old mansion used back when Count Missgancia… when House Mortimer was still just a regional power, which I’ve renovated for my use.
As for House Mortimer itself, as time went on, they apparently built a castle? A manor? Anyway, a sturdier and grander building in the center of the developed town, and started using that.
Besides, Count Missgancia himself is always flying around various parts of the Missgancia region for work. Well, he’s not some king NPC in an RPG, so of course, important people go on business trips.
So… about the mansion.
My living space is in the main wing.
The apothecary and infirmary are in a separate wing.
And all the vacant wings were turned into warehouses.
Old buildings were demolished to make way for my hobby flower garden and a small vegetable patch.
I also made a small pond, partly as a precaution against fire.
There’s also a stable, and that’s where the usual Artificial Magic Beast Steed is…
That’s about it.
However, aside from the parts I live in directly, the renovations were rather neglected, you could say…
Since it’s quite large, for places that seemed to have been used as Servant rooms in the past, I’d only done enough to patch up holes in the walls and floors.
This time, with several Servants suddenly arriving! I hurriedly placed some chests of drawers and Beds, but that was about it. I’d barely done anything.
Even so, the Servants didn’t complain at all, so I decided, only now, to make various improvements…
…Although, it’ll all be finished in an instant.
Because I have magic.
Combining the ‘Creation’ and ‘Shaping’ magic allows simple structures like bread ovens or fireplaces suitable for cooking to be made right away.
So, while the Servants were out, I installed a bread oven and a fireplace in the dormitory wing they use.
By the way, I don’t think there are nearly enough rooms, what’s the deal with this…?
“The two Knights each have their own private room, Lulaiya and I share one room, and everyone else sleeps in the main hall.”
Um, uh, uh, the concept of privacy…?
That’s really just too pitiful, and the dining space and sleeping space should be separate, so I added more Beds to the vacant rooms. Made them into shared bedrooms.
Also, I put in tables and chairs, and added writing desks too.
And clothes! Changes of clothes!
Apparently, they even sleep in their usual clothes…
Clothes are expensive in this world, after all. There are no sewing machines or spinning machines.
So, I prepared some casual clothes for each of them, like pajamas or tracksuits.
Toilets and running water are also necessary. It’s not just out of my meager kindness or because I felt sorry for them, but simply for hygiene…
If I don’t do at least this much, there are just too many people in this world who don’t meet my standards for ‘living as a human’.
No, seriously, things like “Water is wasteful!” or “Soap is wasteful!” are completely irrelevant. I want them to wash their hands and gargle, brush their teeth, and take baths.
I want them to use designated places for toilets, properly treat sewage, and keep dining and sleeping areas separate.
Is this not kindness, but my own selfishness?
Anyway, I made the Servants thoroughly practice daily bathing, handwashing, and teeth brushing. I can’t stand having grimy people wandering around inside my mansion.
Of course, I enforced this on the attendants the Knights brought with them too.
The trick here is to order the Knights, their masters, not the individuals themselves.
Why?
Because a Retainer has no obligation to obey their master’s master! It’s a crappy system where even a king can’t command his vassal’s vassal! That kind of tangled chain of command is the default.
A top-down organizational structure really is a feat of civilization, isn’t it…
So, I summoned the two Knights who are supposed to be serving me and gave the order.
“”Yes, understood.””
Hmm… looks like they’ll listen?
Since they’re connected to Count Missgancia, I thought there was a chance they wouldn’t listen…
Basically, I’m disliked, right? I’m just a newcomer among Count Missgancia’s subordinates…
“It’s helpful that you agreed so readily. Now I don’t have to complain to Count Missgancia.”
Then the two Knights looked at each other, before saying…
“Um, Master. With all due respect, although we were ordered by Count Missgancia-sama to serve you, we hold no ill feelings.”
“Me too, Master. We even received Fiefs, which is a great promotion. It’s normally impossible for low-ranking Knights like us to receive Fiefs…”
Hmm.
“I haven’t given you any Fiefs though…?”
I glanced towards Tris.
“Um… here are the land deeds we received from Count Missgancia-sama…”
“You received land?”
“Yes… As I thought, have you forgotten? I did report it before, but… you told me, ‘Dealing with those procedures is a pain, so just handle it’…”
…Apparently, on paper at least, I’ve become a landholding noble.
The land I hold seems to be some villages in the north, developed through one of Count Missgancia’s frequent pioneering projects.
The total population is around several hundred people (You should at least make a family register!), and there are about five villages? Apparently.
It seems each of the two Knights has been granted one of those villages…
First time hearing this… No, wait, did I just tune it out? Then it’s my fault. But… yeah, I’ll say it anyway, this is the first I’m hearing of it!!!