“O~~~hoho! I’m Honourable a.s.sociate Baron Katharina von Waigel who is called the best of the West. I challenge you magicians of the Browig household to a duel with magic!” (Katharina)

Early morning of the next day after we accepted Klaus’ plan, just right at the halfway point between the two armies facing each other, Katharina made an oath while laughing loudly.

Though I call it like that, it’s not such a complicated strategy either.
The one-on-one battles between fellow young knights will soon run out of personnel to be used for those. So this time we just changed it to magic.

“Katharina looks happy.”

“It’s a chance to gain fame after all.”

She succeeded in the revival of the Waigel household, but she is likely looking at the future prospects.

A dispute of this scale is rare. Gaining military exploits in this kind of place is connected to the honour of a n.o.ble.

No, in fact there is, but since she herself is a magician, who are exceptions as they are few in numbers, it will count as military exploit if she defeats a magician as opponent.

However, it’s also wrong to forget the irrational aspect that in the case the female magician isn’t a n.o.ble, she won’t be able to become a n.o.ble and can only receive honour and money.
There are big restrictions for woman to move up in society in this country after all.

“The ransom for magicians is high, right?”

“It seems so.”

The amount of ransom changes according to the social standing of the caught party.

Klaus plan, simply put, was that we wanted Katharina to capture a magician of Browig’s camp.

“Isn’t it possible that the other side won’t come out?” (Ina)

Ina’s concern was reasonable, but the wicked part of this plan was that we actually wouldn’t even mind that happening.

“The good aspect of a dispute like this is that it will be a great disgrace if no one appears once being challenged to a duel by the other side.” (Klaus)

Although being n.o.bles, they didn’t reply to the challenge of their opponents.
For what reason are they preparing troops regularly then? It seems that they will be ridiculed by their surroundings.

“But, you know. As there are no absolutes in such situations, isn’t it possible that a magician, who is stronger than Katharina, appears?”

“I can’t fully deny that, but for the time being it will be alright, I think.” (Klaus)

Burkhart-san said so before, but currently the East is lacking excellent magicians.
“Therefore there shouldn’t be a magician who could threaten Katharina”, Klaus explained.

“That’s right. The good part is that the employed magicians of the Margrave Browig household are at intermediate level. If they had employed an outstanding magician from outside, information about that should have reached master. If she doesn’t make quite a blunder, Katharina-jou-chan won’t loose.” (Burkhart)

Burkhart-san seems to have the same opinion as Klaus.

Moreover, those kind of strategies mostly don’t pa.s.s at one-on-one fights with a 『Ni~ce bam!』 like this time.
The way of casting lots of simple and powerful spells is overwhelmingly predominant.

“I shall take you up on that duel! I’m the head magician of the Margrave Browig household. Bianko Rocker, the 『Squall』.” (Bianko)

A single magician from Browig’s camp introduces himself due to Katharina’s challenge.

The robed middle-aged man you can find anywhere squares off against Katharina while preparing his wand.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Earl-sama?”

“That person, with such a terrible…”

Saying it like this might be rude, but compared to Burkhart-san, who is likewise an employed head magician, he felt remarkably inferior in ability.

“That place is compensating with numbers after all.”

Since there hasn’t appeared any excellent magicians in the East for a while now, the Margrave Browig household has failed at hiring a magician possessing an advanced level of mana.
Accordingly it’s no more than a.s.signing the person, who can skilfully lead the others, or the one most senior among the many intermediate magicians as temporary head.

“Meaning he wasn’t appointed as head magician due to having overwhelming ability like Burkhart-sama?” (Elise)

“That’s how it is.” (Burkhart)

Elise asks while handing tea to Burkhart-san and he answers while taking a sip of the tea.

Therefore, besides us, all of our allied n.o.bles are drinking tea, eating the sweets on the tables and are watching the situation while sitting in the chairs at their own encampments.
Currently the time is exactly 10 o’clock in the morning. It had the feeling of what would be called a morning snack on earth.

“Can that magician of Browig’s camp win against Katharina?” (Erwin)

“No, he can’t.”

“If that’s the case, why has he come out?” (Erwin)

From Erw’s viewpoint, he apparently can’t understand well why the head magician accepted the duel if he can’t win.

Putting aside the outcome of the duel, something like not answering to the request for a duel by the opponent will be more disgraceful than losing to Browig’s camp.

“Come at me, it’s a regular duel!” (Bianko)

After both of them introduced themselves, the duel between Katharina and 『Squall』 begins.

The part of creating two tornado spells at the same time from both hands can be expected of a skilled magician, I thought.

“However… With Katharina as opponent, that level of wind magic is…”

Katharina immediately deploys a tornado around her and negates the tornadoes released at her by 『Squall』.

“There’s still much more to come!”

Next 『Squall』 continues to release tornadoes with both arms, but all of them are repelled by the tornado Katharina has deployed around her.

“I guess you saw it. In such duels only the power of the spell and the amount of mana decides the outcome.”

“Only, you say?”

“Right. Other factors don’t play a role!”

In the end 『Squall』, who used up his mana by continuing to release a series of tornadoes, gives up. This duel has finished.
He surrendered and gave his wand to Katharina.

“Likewise, I’m Roy Zalnier, the 『Flame Whip』, employed by the Browig household. I challenge you to a regular duel!” (Roy)

Next Katharina begins to fight with a 30-years old magician who can be considered to be of intermediate level and calls himself 『Flame Whip』.

The flame whips swoop down on Katharina with various timings.

Next, if she defends against attacks from her blind spot, the flame whip approaches at the same spot once again right away.
『Flame Whip』 has properly researched and trained this spell and has made it his own.

“But, well…”

“Eeh! Isn’t he amazing?”

“『Flame Whip』 won’t have chance if he fights in these conditions.”

As a matter of fact, those skilful attacks, which used continuous. .h.i.ts and feints with the flame whips, were completely warded off by the water wall Katharina has cast.
No matter from where he attacks, he can’t break through the water wall. They were just fruitlessly raising water vapour with an evaporation sound of 『sizzling』.

“The magic of the fire attribute used by 『Flame Whip』 is his strongest attribute as it was mastered through long training. On the other hand Katharina-jou-chan belongs to the category of being bad at the water attribute.” (Burkhart)

Nevertheless Katharina’s water attribute is superior in regards to its power.
This is the wall between intermediate and advanced level that can’t be exceeded at all.

“He isn’t that different in strength to 『Squall』 from before. It’s evidence that the Margrave Browig household keeps employing several intermediate levelled magicians.”

After a few minutes 『Flame Whip』 ended up getting surrounded by a water wall deployed by Katharina as counter-attack and surrendered after throwing his wand away.

“Did you see my ability?” (Katharina)

Katharina returns together with the two magicians of the Browig household who became prisoners while having a proud expression.

There were still several employed magicians who belonged to either the Browig household or the Breithilde household.

Because they are able to obtain honour and rewards if they win, there were many magicians challenging to duels as it’s only allowed in such place.

“You didn’t have any troubles.” (Luise)

“Luise-san, it might be enjoyable for people who are looking forward to troubles, but for me that intolerable…” (Katharina)

“How to call it? It wasn’t dangerous at all.” (Luise)

“It’s that kind of duel after all.” (Katharina)

Luise begins to talk with Katharina, who came back, while pa.s.sing her some tea.

“In combat there’s also the matter of losing if you are suddenly hit in a weak point, even as advanced level, but…”

Since one fights after a signal facing the opponent from the front in this kind of formal duels, it’s natural for the ones with strong magic power winning most of the times.
Rather you could even say that Katharina’s victories were inevitable.

“Taking by surprise is a good move.” (Ina)

“In actual combat that’s how it is, however these are one-on-one fights where you wager your honour.”

If you did something like a surprise attack in such one-on-one fight, it would result in you being treated as coward or similar.
“Since that’s the case, I would rather not suffer that”, Katharina explained to Ina.

“Hey, won’t Burkhart-san and Wend go for it?”

“I will pa.s.s.” (Burkhart)

Burkhart-san is the head of the employed magicians of the Margrave Breithilde household.
Seeing that the current Browig household doesn’t have a magician who could win against him, it’s necessary for him to yield the privilege to hold duels to those below.

“In the first place, what’s the point of me winning in this now?” (Burkhart)

If it’s achievements and honour, Burkhart-san has already obtained plenty of those.
As there’s no reason to especially fight against magicians who are of intermediate level and below, he will only get hated if he considered stealing the chances of the people below him.

“It’s the same for Wend as well, huh…?”

My achievements are plenty already. We have caught n.o.bles, main retainers and soldiers of more than 40 household in this time’s battle.
It’s to the extent that I have been told 『It’s fine for you to rest now』 by Breithilde.

“What about dous.h.i.+?” (Erwin)

“There’s no way he will come here, right?” (Wendelin)

It will become troublesome if the Royal Head Magician appears at a dispute between n.o.bles of the East and South.

If it’s that person, I couldn’t deny the possibility of him coming to partic.i.p.ate in the duels since it seems to be fun.

“Besides, the Browig household’s side will cry.”

Given that he should naturally join our side as we are his acquaintances if dous.h.i.+ comes, the balance of war potential will s.h.i.+ft into hopelessness and it will likely become terrible in that case.

“Umm, Wendelin-san, what’s my reward?” (Katharina)

“There isn’t any.” (Wendelin)

“Why!?” (Katharina)

“Wai-! You are a n.o.ble as well, right!?” (Wendelin)

Katharina’s current position is that of the female family head of the Waigel household which are relatives of the Earl Baumeister household. She partic.i.p.ated in the battle in accordance to Margrave Breithilde’s request.
Although she can’t send troops, she serves by raising achievements and helping out as excellent magician.

“The n.o.bles, soldiers and magician caught by you will turn into profit due to the ransom, Katharina. It would be weird if you got a reward from me.” (Wendelin)

“Now that you mention it, that’s true…” (Katharina)

Even though she became the family head of a n.o.ble household, albeit temporarily, Katharina had somehow a weak awareness of that.

“Aren’t there many on the side of ransoms that lack an outline in some parts? As for the negotiations, it will be fine if we leave it to Heinz’ son who is acting as governor.” (Wendelin)

“That’s true! I will contact him right away!” (Katharina)

Knowing that increasing the money will make it possible to put it in the development of the a.s.sociate Baron Waigel household’s territory, Katharina began to drink her tea in a good mood.

“Katharina has it nice. I wanted to try the one-on-one battles, too.” (Luise)

“Wend-sama, I want to fight as well.” (Wilma)

“This is a battlefield, therefore it’s basically not allowed for a woman to partic.i.p.ate.” (Ina)

Wilma and Luise, who haven’t done anything but being on cooking duty and training in the current dispute, have started to say that they also want to fight.
However, they were rebuked by Ina since it’s of course impossible.

“Before that even matters, for the guys, who would fight with Luise-jou-chan and Wilma-jou-chan, it will probably end in a disaster.” (Burkhart)

As Burkhart-san has said, if a grown man was to be utterly defeated in combat with Luise and Wilma, who can’t be regarded as anything but children, in the unlikely event they were allowed to fight, that person will have a fatal stain on his personal history as knight and n.o.ble.
Or rather, if you consider the abilities of Luise and Wilma, it will end with an utter defeat almost without any doubt.

“How about making an appearance after disguising myself as man?” (Luise)

“Luise, that’s a great idea.” (Wilma)

“Please stop it. It will be pitiful for your opponent.” (Burkhart)

Being chided by Burkhart-san, both of them finally gave up on joining the one-on-one fights.

“However, when will this end?” (Wendelin)

Seeing that a true clash of armies is impossible, there’s nothing much left but a stand-off once the duels of the few magicians finish.
It’s probably also necessary to compete with willpower, but that will turn into a pointless waste of money and food.

“Such things are a contest of endurance, my grandfather-sama said in the past.” (Elise)

While pouring a refill of tea, Elise answers my question.
I hear that there were similar disputes in Cardinal Hohenheim’s youth. It seems he has campaign experience as priest.

“The side which gets impatient first will apparently be in disadvantage if they are the ones saying 『Let’s have an arbitration』.”

At the current point in time, Browig’s camp has suffered a large defeat.
The crucial dispute areas in various locations have been occupied by our side even including the concessions and territories the n.o.bles of Browig’s camp held before the war. Also many n.o.bles and their military forces lost and have been captured by us.

“The Browig household’s side still has the motivation to persist this late in the game.”

“That’s because it can’t get any worse anymore after all.”

Even if they are more or less handicapped in the one-on-one battles, it’s not like the Margrave Browig main army has fallen apart.
Since it’s not possible for a true clash to happen, they are just trying to obtain advantageous conditions, even if only by a bit, for the arbitration by holding out.

“No, not at all. It won’t be an utter defeat anymore if the n.o.bles of the concession disputes stay in touch with the original border.”

Before that even matters, it has been an overwhelming defeat in the disputed areas except for the main army.
I wasn’t able to comprehend the meaning in confronting the other main army by not giving in here.

“Isn’t it the time to withdraw with the current state of affairs?” (Wendelin)

At any rate, this time’s dispatch of troops by Browig’s camp has many incomprehensible aspects.

There are rumours that he is ill, but as result of that, to what extent was he influencing this dispatch then?

Is it possible to have an arbitration like this?

In the end no messenger came to request an arbitration from the Browig household’s side. It looked like they wanted to continue the confrontation of both armies for a bit longer.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Earl Baumeister, don’t you have some good idea?” (Breithilde)

Given that Katharina captured the leader and the number 2 magician of the Browig household in the duels among fellow magicians, it was decided to judge this as win for Breithilde’s camp.

With Margrave Breithilde feeling impatient as can be expected, he has come to ask whether I don’t know a good strategy to discourage the warriors on the opposing side.

“I’m not sure whether it will lower their morale, but is it allowed to cause a bit of turmoil among the other side?” (Wendelin)

“Are you going to fire off a spell?” (Breithilde)

“No way, I won’t do something that futile.” (Wendelin)

After I got Margrave Breithilde’s permission more or less, I put the strategy into practise.

“Wilma, were you able to write it?” (Wendelin)

“I have plenty of confidence.” (Wilma)

“Certainly, it’s beautiful.” (Wendelin)

I call out to Wilma who wrote characters on a large cloth in the troop headquarters of the Earl Baumeister household.

In a feudal army, that usually hasn’t many women around, the female camp, except Katharina who is a temporary family head as magician, prepares the meals for the soldiers and serves tea to Margrave Breithilde’s group. Elise pa.s.sed her time as temporary priest of the campaign.
Wilma is as usually acting as Elise’s guard, but since her job of healing decreased during the long confrontation, she is helping me like this now.

“It’s true. It’s very skilful.”

“Luise sucks at writing, you know.”

“It’s different. My characters are creative.” (Luise)

Elise is skilled at writing as well, though it’s not to the degree of Wilma. It added to her legend as perfect superwoman.

And Luise was at the point of it taking a bit time to decipher since she was quite bad at it.

“My letters might be helpful as codes in times of disputes like this.” (Luise)

“No, that’s not going to work.” (Wendelin)

Given that neither the enemy nor her allies can read it, it won’t do its job as code.

“You are rude, Wend. So, what’s this?” (Luise)

“A help wanted advertis.e.m.e.nt!” (Wendelin)

The idea, I came up with, to induce turmoil amongst the enemy was to invite new people into serving us in this place.

For the time being we have written five help wanted advertis.e.m.e.nts, but the plan was to use all of them if they reach the employment criterion"s.

Although it’s mortifying, it’s impossible for me to win against the experienced Klaus in regards to judging a character.

“Hee, you will employ the excellent ones among the mercenaries?” (Burkhart)

Burkhart-san praised it as great idea.

It’s fine to not employ them if they are no good. Even if the recruitment yields zero, it won’t be a drawback for us.
At any rate, I had free time for three days here with the only exception being magic training.

“We will agitate the other side’s mercenaries by showing the composure to do our usual work.”

Although it’s possible to get an interview if they are partic.i.p.ating on the side of the Breithilde household, that’s impossible since they are on Browig’s side.
Albeit them being only mercenaries, I thought that the possibility of the other side’s warriors to get discouraged was high.

“Ah, we will accept interviews and employment examinations for both sides.”

“Are you serious!? You are doing something unprecedented. However, it’s not a bad idea, huh…?”

A few minutes later Wilma is holding up a help wanted advertis.e.m.e.nt, written on a big cloth, between both armies.

◆◇◆◇◆

Come! Applicants for governmental service! The Earl Baumeister household is carrying out special employment examinations without the necessity of a letter of introduction.

Salary: Will be explained at the interview.

Note: Currently it’s also possible for the people, who are on Browig’s side, to sit in on the employment examination.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Somehow it’s amazing…”

Immediately after we presented those help wanted advertis.e.m.e.nts almost all mercenaries from both armies rushed in.

The location was the gra.s.slands between both armies where the one-on-one battles were held. We checked their martial arts skills, had written examinations of their calculation and writing style and lastly held interviews with the choice being made by Moritz and Klaus.

In such war where people won’t die and with no other customs or rules besides that, there’s also no law prohibiting to invite mercenaries to employment examinations until now. There was no foundation to make complaints towards me either.

“In short, it means that it’s beyond expectations.” (Breithilde)

Margrave Breithilde laughed while looking at the state of the hurriedly started employment examinations.

“Certainly, even the mercenaries hired by us have ended up heading to the employment examinations of the Earl Baumeister household…”

They get a place to eat as well as sleep and they will receive a letter of commendation and rewards if they capture an enemy knight in a one-on-one battle or such, but mercenaries basically aren’t expected to do anything but to boost the numbers of the military forces.

Even so, the mercenaries of Browig’s side are employed until this disputes finishes.

As for the plan to spread turmoil and bewilderment amongst them, I believe it to be effective.

“I will be happy if they bring up the topic of arbitration with this, but…”

In the end we have employed 86 mercenaries at the employment examination taking place for over 2 days.
With a trial period of a half year, they would start from the lowest position in the beginning, however they were very happy.

“Even those lower positions are usually un.o.btainable unless you have connections and a letter of introduction.”

The young people of retainers and the fief’s population get preference before a new stranger gets chosen.

“However, it was an amazing spectacle.”

The newly employed 86 people boarded a magic airs.h.i.+p today in the early morning and headed to the Baumeister Earldom.

If there are no issues after half a year, they will become official government servants.

Be that as it may, it’s not possible to dismiss them.
If they leave, the low-cost military forces will decrease.

“From the viewpoint of Browig’s side, mercenaries, who leave in the middle to partic.i.p.ate in the enemy’s employment examination, don’t deserve any trust, I think, however as it was a chance for the mercenaries, there must be a reason they weren’t accepted, too.”

The morale of Browig’s camp has fallen once again from this.
Although the plan was successful, I wished from the bottom of my heart that they would start the arbitration as soon as possible.