Chapter 377
**Diplomacy.** It was something I had considered since the stage of aiming to acquire territory and become independent.
Currently, I don't have anyone specifically in charge of diplomacy here; it's basically me serving as the direct point of contact.
"The more I hear, the more chaotic it sounds."
"Absolutely. At first, they paid no mind to some insolent young commoner driven out to an uncivilized frontier. But the moment it became clear there were profits to be made, they either swarmed or started hindering. It's truly disgusting."
Eventually, I want to hand over this position to someone else, but that just means facing the challenge of nurturing such personnel.
"Thank you for your hard work. On our end, so far, the only interference attempts resembling those from nobles or merchants have been bandit-like groups."
"Did they show up?"
"Yes, though you could only call them something like that. In such a remote place, where this is the only village, people had settled and built a base in a cave. I sent our forces for a 'discussion,' and they turned out to be ruffians hired by some noble. Well, the hiring party wasn't stupid, of course; they used intermediaries so we couldn't tell who exactly hired them."
Owning land and supporting people probably means dealing with such things.
Just as the saying goes, 'The grass is always greener on the other side,' once we started doing incredible things, people began contacting us through both overt and covert means.
"Didn't any merchants come? Or messengers from nobles?"
"There are no merchants with the guts to cross unmaintained, terrible roads to get here just yet. As for nobles, messengers came about four times, and I turned them all away with 'Please go through Duke Edelgard in the royal capital.'"
"Your Excellency, it was likely the likes of Viscount JuJu."
"Ah, them. I did receive complaints about being refused at the gate."
"It's a 'so what if you're a noble' situation. I dislike that kind of entanglement, which is why I got His Majesty the King's approval, became independent, and am aiming for self-sufficiency."
Covertly, there are ruffians, misbehaving adventurers. Overtly, though few for now, there are noble messengers.
"That handling is something I'd appreciate you taking charge of from now on."
"I can see a future where, after establishing an embassy here to solidify connections, matters start flooding to me."
"Well then, why not assign it to someone else and let them fight with me? Not to boast, but I don't feel like I'd lose."
"Is there no future of getting along?"
"After being shown such a letter, what do you think?"
Even those few nobles can hardly be called proper.
We moved to a reception room inside the fortress. Lady Esmeralda stood behind me, Duke Edelgard and Maddeto sat opposite, with guards and Lotus standing behind them for a formal discussion.
I quietly took a document from my Magic Bag, placed one letter on the table, and showed it to the Duke and Maddeto.
"Even for a letter of complete surrender, they should prepare something a bit more proper."
"...... Sigh."
"It's content that wouldn't be strange to call a slave contract."
First the Duke, then Maddeto, read it in turn. The Duke, who read it first, let out a heavy sigh, and Maddeto, who read it next, voiced his frank impression.
"The nasty thing is, that letter has no seal. And the messenger who brought it was dressed in a way that made it impossible to tell which noble he was from."
"It's a common tactic to shift blame if a dispute with Liberta arises."
"Yes, a means to make excuses like 'I was framed' or 'I never sent such a messenger.' They would probably insist even this letter is a forgery."
They both frowned, agreeing it was a typical noble tactic.
It's probably because they think I'm just a commoner who only owns one town that they can act so boldly.
Few have an accurate grasp of my true capabilities.
That's likely due to rumors spreading on their own without reliable information being disseminated, and also because the king of this country is being underestimated.
That's why they can act on the simplistic notion that the solid power of nobility can handle it. You'd think they'd quickly realize someone who can build city walls so easily isn't ordinary, but their past record of handling things clouds that judgment.
"So, as meddling is starting to increase, I fully support the idea of you, Your Excellency, whom I can trust, coming here to take sole charge of such matters. In fact, I'm willing to offer a little assistance beyond the material support and helping Maddeto-san with medicine production."
"Oh?"
Because of that, I also agree with setting up an embassy here to handle such matters and take responsibility for preventing recurrences.
It's precisely because it's Duke Edelgard, whom I can trust and rely on, that I agree. And the Duke understands that.
Hearing 'assistance,' Duke Edelgard, who has a future of hardship awaiting him, leaned forward slightly and adopted a listening posture.
"In the future, I plan to create an environment here to take in orphans and people of low social status and nurture them. We'll start by training educators, but well, we'll manage that somehow."
"Educators based on Liberta's knowledge... That sounds terrifying down the line."
"After hearing about the Elixir matter, I can't help but think the content you would teach surpasses that of any scholar in the royal capital."
While it's not that grand, you can't think by this world's standards.
By real-world standards, the Duke's and Maddeto's reactions are probably correct.
"I can't make combat-related or administration-related training publicly available, as we'll conduct aptitude tests, interviews, and consider multiple viewpoints before providing education. However, for producer fields like blacksmithing, agriculture, and medicine, I can prepare a 'foreign exchange student' framework."
"I see. That's attractive."
"...... Duke Edelgard, this framework..."
"Ah, if used well, it could be a means to unite factions."
They would receive an education far exceeding this world's standards.
That is undoubtedly a significant merit.
As nobles, they probably desire knowledge in combat, administration, and even construction—the department supporting this frontier village developing at an insane speed. But I can't hand that over so easily.
I told Duke Edelgard's private soldiers after that incident to level up on their own, and it's the same for the other heroes.
I'll nurture my own people properly, but I can't possibly look after outsiders.
Amidst that, I offered to create a framework where I would periodically look after a select few. The looks in the Duke's and Maddeto's eyes changed.
"That's why I have such plans, so I'd like you to staff the embassy with reliable personnel. Ideally, people without ambition who can earnestly fulfill their duties."
"Leave it to me. I'll prepare the best personnel. With Iris at the head, I'll arrange capable individuals for practical affairs to ensure everything is perfect."
"Duke Edelgard, the Cazes house would also like to be of service. Shall we establish a cooperative framework here?"
"It would be reassuring to have the cooperation of your house, which is strong in medical affairs. But is that alright? Your house maintains a neutral stance; getting close to my house will draw prying eyes from the surroundings."
"I believe it would be fine if it's a relationship of equals, not subordination. I trust you, Duke Edelgard, who knows about the Elixir matter, to handle that aspect appropriately."
"I see."
Noble relationships can be based on sentiment or connected by interests.
Knowing both are important, I don't interfere with the exchange happening before me.
For me, completely severing ties with the nobility would cause problems for future activities, so accepting exchange students has merits in maintaining necessary connections.
However, I'd like to be spared from accepting spoiled young masters who just want to flaunt their status, and I'd rather not be asked to 'correct' them either.
Having a diplomatic window managed by these two, whom I can trust, to adjust that balance is significant.
And with the tag team of Duke Edelgard, head of the leading ducal house, and Marquis Maddeto Cazes, trusted in medical affairs, they can stand against other noble houses, and even the King probably couldn't interfere so easily.
"Now, regarding our future policy, first we aim to complete the town. After that, we'll shift our focus to either mining development or harbor development, and then plan to build the great wall that will form the border of this territory and the country."
I disclose this information to the two of them.
The two, who had been getting excited about the student exchange talk, straightened up and began to focus on my words.
"The great wall... So you are anticipating an invasion by the country after all?"
"I'm considering that possibility, yes. More than that, it's a measure against illegal immigrants. It's remote now, so no one would go to the trouble of coming here, but if it develops, people with such designs will come. So I want to physically block it with a wall, clearly show the national border, and create an environment where we can judge anyone who forcibly enters."
"It's something every noble thinks of doing but can't. That I feel like *you* could do it evokes indescribable feelings."
Building a mining city or a harbor city, and concurrently constructing a border wall.
The reasons for the wall are to expand defensive capabilities, insure against monsters, and, above all, deal with nobles. Expanding this territory further might not even be necessary, given agreements with the country and the population size.
But even if we have temple officials establish the border, I feel those nobles would make various excuses and try to seize this frontier land.
They might even use illegal immigrants, have them settle and develop land without permission, and then claim, 'Those people are residents of my territory, meaning that developed land is part of my territory.'
"Hearing that reason and not being able to say it's impossible is sad."
When I explained that aspect, the Duke averted his eyes slightly.
"Yes, I've heard of that method. In fact, someone once tried to do the same at a medicinal herb garden my family managed."
"Ah, right. That was the house that got crushed over that matter."
The nobles of this world truly cause too many incidents.
With few exceptions, they are nothing but a harmful presence.
"How did you resolve it?"
"I spoke about it publicly at a soirée, saying, 'We had this happen, and it's been terrible.' Then, a certain house that had led the illegal immigrants came to apologize with anxious faces."
"A classic example of making an enemy of medical support being a bad idea. There are cases where brute force works, and then there are cases like that."
These two have probably faced such opponents more times than they'd care to remember.
That's why the Duke nodded in understanding, Maddeto responded with a bitter smile, and they shared a moment of mutual sympathy.
"I see. I'll use that as a reference."
That's precisely why I thought I'd take their advice and use it for future responses, but...
"Liberta. If anything really happens, consult with us without hesitation, alright? Absolutely. Absolutely, you hear me?"
Duke Edelgard reacted by leaning forward intensely.
His face was serious, without a trace of doubt.
"That's right. I, too, though my power is modest, will offer my assistance. So, for any consultations regarding 'noble' matters, please consult me without hesitation as well."
Maddeto chimed in following the Duke's lead.
Both were serious, and even Lotus standing behind them was nodding.
Their reaction seemed almost as if they were saying they must not let me handle things with full force.
"...... I'll show proper restraint, you know?"
"Even what you consider restraint is excessive to us."
I almost frowned at the Duke's words for being rude, but then reconsidered: maybe someone who breaks common sense by building a fortress has no right to say that?
"Really?"
"It depends on the time and circumstances, I suppose."
As a final check, I turned back and asked Lady Esmeralda, only to be met with a smiling evasion.