CH 2

Second Run, If it’s just a Dream then let it be a Dream

“Since it is April of the year 500……..I’m 3 years back in the past huh.”

Klein once died and his territory was destroyed.

Right now he’s operating under that premise.

When he takes a look at the newspaper, the article on its front page is featuring the conclusion of a major purge in the royal capital.

“I see, come to think of it, I guess back then……it was around the time the first purge ended huh.”

Klein’s territory is not in the countryside but it is not located in the central area either.

Since his territory is located around that halfway point, there’s a slight delay before the information from the capital reaches him.

Even the newspaper he’s reading right now is not the latest issue.

He will have a slight time lag when it comes to receiving information.

However, even if he doesn’t know the exact date, he still remembers the uproar that will happen after this incident.

About a month ago from today, the second prince and the first princess, in addition to several of the king’s relatives, were poisoned.

“Ah, I remember this. Once this purge ended, I remember that there will be another big incident right afterward right? I don’t know what it’s about though.”

Even if there was a major incident going on at the capital, the Asgard territory would remain peaceful.

Just like how Klein is spending his day right now, nothing will change.

After all, the first time he learned of this incident…..the only thing Klein did last time was ordering his men to tighten the security.

“The people way above my league are fighting each other in a place so far away from me after all.”

With that line of thinking, such incidents went almost unnoticed by the past Klein.

That’s why even though he doesn’t know the details, he now understands how such incidents involve the destruction of Asgard territory.

If this is the reality then, first he must sort out the situation.

Thinking so, Klein started writing.

“If I remember correctly, the purged houses’ assets and lands will be absorbed after this. The problem stemmed from this should emerge again after a year or so.”

Around this time at the royal palace, there should be an ugly succession war going on to decide the next king.

It seems that assassination plots are a daily occurrence there.

Klein organizes the information he has by listing the facts that he can remember.

“I thought that it was the first prince’s plot to assassinate the second prince but he was also poisoned and he was in critical condition for a while. Perhaps, they were all targeted and it was just an act of terrorism?”

Perhaps the preparator planned to assassinate all the princes but because the first prince alone managed to recover, the succession war came to an end.

However, problems still occur after this.

With the power struggle over the succession right settled by the death of the second prince, in addition to the property of those who were likely to be the main culprit of the poisoning incident, the property that belonged to the people in the second prince faction was also taken.

Because of that, although it was not a large-scale one, the situation has developed into a civil war.

This is a story that Klein saw and heard of in the future.

“Then after the rebels were quelled, the second purge happened. And after several houses gain more and more power because of that—–it will lead to that day.”

Due to the purge that started one month ago as well as the second one, Marquis Laguna’s influence will grow significantly.

With his enemy’s decline, the Marquis will grow more and more powerful through the absorption of aristocrats’ territories and merchants’ assets.

“Well, I wouldn’t dare get myself involved in a conspiracy like that in the first place.”

In addition to the Laguna house, there were other houses that clearly profited from the purges and civil war.

Even Klein who is not keen on politics could catch the smell of conspiracy from that.

Still, he has no intention of sticking his head into such a thing.

The only thing that matters is his own territory.

“If I have no plan to involve myself with the matters at the capital. Then my primary objectives should be…..”

Using his pen, Klein writes down his policies.

“First, avoid my death. Second, prevent my subjects from being slaughtered. Third, keep my territory away from destruction. I guess.”

Fourth, beat up Marquis Laguna. He wanted to add that but…..

At the moment, there is a difference of several dozens of times in their total forces. Moreover, the gap will continue to widen in the next three years.

Judging from the difference in the productivity of their territories, Klein concluded that revenge would be practically impossible.

So, in general.

Let’s grasp a happy future where no one has to die.

That’s the basis of his future policy.

“Still, isn’t this too much already…..?”

There is too much difference in the territories between a viscount house and a marquis house.

Even if Klein gives it his all to govern his territory, he can’t picture a future where he can beat back Marquis Laguna let alone stalling him.

Be it commerce or agriculture, troops or status, he can’t picture any area that he would be able to win against him at all.

“But if I don’t do anything, I would only be waiting for the destruction of my territory…….. but what should I do?”

Klein was anxious because he can’t find a solution at all.

Even after he keeps groaning in front of his desk for dozens of minutes, he still can’t come up with any good plan.

It was around noon and he couldn’t come up with anything so he decided to look out the window.

Beyond the table, Marie, along with several other maids are doing laundry in the garden.

“H, Hey Tom-san! Please stop him!”

“Hahaha, he must have taken a liking to you, Marie.”

“It’s, it’s not funny okay…..AHH! Stop!”

Tom, a peddler, is having a small talk with one of the maids.

It seems that his horse was playing with Marie by poking its nose at her head.

“……how peaceful.”

A noble at the capital might even dismiss their servants if they were shown a display like this.

But in Asgard territory, this is a normal sight. It is a place that exudes the rural atmosphere that is surrounded by large unexplored forests expanding to the south side of the territory.

Since most of the family heads were pretty relaxed, this land is a place where a nobleman has a friendly relationship with their subjects.

“Come to think of it, Marie, you were scolded for sneak-eating again right.”

“Wh, what are you talking about? I’ve never done something like that you know–”

Klein doesn’t mind his servant sneaking out food.

That’s why they don’t mind chatting about such a thing even while they are working.

The only one who would get noisy about such things would be Klaus, his head butler.

“Haa…….you will get fat before you know it you know.”

“That’s rude! That much wouldn’t——I won’t get fat okay!”

Both the conversation they are having and the atmosphere around them is peace itself.

Seeing that, Klein unintentionally smiles.

“Marie, you just admitted to it you know.”

In three years, this place will be destroyed.

No one would have dreamt of it.

The only one who can do something about it is Klein alone.

After renewing his determination, Klein stretched and turned back to his desk again.

“I have to do something…..Now, what can I do.”

After he was suddenly being dragged into a war and witnessing the slaughter, Klein was in shock.

But after seeing the peaceful exchange in the garden, it seems that he finally managed to calm down.

“If this is a dream then let it be a dream. But…..if it turns out to be a reality, everyone should have the right to be happy as they can be right.”

Perhaps because he managed to rid himself of the weight on his mind, his head feels refreshed.

Several ideas finally came to him.

And a few minutes later.

He decided to take action immediately after he came up with a good idea.

“That’s right, let’s get married.”