Lord of Caldera - Chapter 301

Chapter 301: Chapter 301 Peculiar Situation Of The South

Sylas nodded in understanding. If loyalty wasn’t expected, then the lords likely used their knights to their fullest capacity. That kind of treatment would sever any bond that might have otherwise formed.

“Some of the closest vassals may be exceptions, particularly those who have stood by the lord since succession struggles. But in the South, personal loyalty is rare.”

“I see.”

Sylas recalled the knight Isaac had killed, who had cried out about loyalty and honor. Reflecting on it, that man was likely a close confidant of an enemy lord, which was why he met such a fate. Isaac couldn’t have executed every knight who opposed him; doing so would have been impractical. Instead, only the truly significant figures were sent to the gallows.

“Well, if that’s the case, there’s no need for hesitation,” Sylas decided. He felt confident that no one would act recklessly in his absence. Christoph, knowing that any direct interference would result in accusations of heresy, would likely remain quiet.

Now, all that remained was resolving Toby’s issue.

“We’re heading to Malossi! Prepare yourselves!”

“Yes, my lord!”

At Sylas’s declaration, the vassals rose as one. Their eyes burned with determination. This would be the first time blood was spilled in the South.

Sylas’s decision to head to Malossi with only a small group caused a stir among the local officials.

“Four of you are going to Malossi?” an official asked, incredulous.

“With my servant included, that makes five,” Sylas corrected.

The official was appalled. Malossi, bordering Esslingen, was already a contentious region, and now Sylas intended to go there with only five people?

“Are you not taking soldiers?” the official pressed.

“Do you think I’m going there to start a war?” Sylas replied, unimpressed.

“B-but, if the lord of Malossi provokes you, it could lead to war immediately!”

“A war? Against me? Are you suggesting they’d commit treason?”

“….!”

The official suddenly remembered Sylas’s position. Though Sylas was temporarily managing Christoph’s duties, his real title was Count of Drakenfels. From a hierarchical standpoint, the lord of Malossi wouldn’t dare challenge him. At least, not officially.

Who would recognize a powerless superior whose authority was only on paper?

“Understood. Safe travels.”

The official, indifferent to anything beyond his duties, quickly made the necessary preparations for the journey as Sylas requested. With provisions ready, Sylas mounted his horse, accompanied by his vassals. The proximity of their destination meant they arrived in just half a day at full gallop.

“We’re almost there. It’s nearby,” Toby announced.

“This is outside the castle walls. Isn’t it supposed to be within the castle grounds?” Sylas asked.

“My father disliked unnecessary commotion. More importantly, living inside the castle meant more interference from the lord and more bothersome invitations,” Toby replied, guiding them up a hill.

As they crossed the ridge, a quiet village outside the castle came into view. It wasn’t large, but it wasn’t small either. In one corner of the village, they saw a large plot of land—nothing but the remnants of what used to be a mansion. The ruins were burned and collapsed, leaving only faint traces of its former grandeur.

“What in the world…!”

Toby’s hands trembled with fury, a clear sign of the emotional attachment he had to his old home and hometown. His anger seemed to boil over, and he was about to shout when a voice called out hesitantly.

“Y-young master?”

An elderly man holding a basket of herbs stood frozen, staring at Toby as if he were a ghost.

“Young master? Are you Toby? Toby, the young master?”

“Hans? Old man Hans?”

“My word! It really is you, young master!”

Toby, eyes wide with recognition, jumped off his horse and approached the old man, who had dropped his basket and rushed toward him.

“I never thought I’d see you again! You’ve come back home!”

“Not entirely. I’ve found a lord to serve,” Toby replied.

“A lord? You mean the lord of this land? Oh, that’s wonderful news! You’ve done well for yourself!”

“Yes, I’ve done well. But I have to ask… what happened here?” Toby pointed at the ruins with a conflicted expression. While joy at seeing a familiar face surged within him, it was overshadowed by his fury at the sight of the burned mansion.

“What happened to my family’s home? How did it end up like this?”

At Toby’s question, Hans’s face contorted with despair. He hesitated, his mouth opening and closing as if struggling to find the words.

“Well… it was the new lord….”

At the mention of a “new lord,” Sylas and the others stiffened. A commoner referring to a lord without any honorifics? Normally, even in places ignored by the nobility, people would address lords with titles like “my lord” or “sir.” You never knew who might overhear. But to omit such titles outright usually meant one thing.

“So, the new lord has no respect at all. What could they have done to deserve such disdain?” Sylas thought.

But Hans couldn’t bring himself to continue. As he faltered, Toby struck his chest in frustration.

“I’ve heard rumors. That the new lord burned down our home. Why? What reason could there be? We never had any grievances with the lords of this region!”

“None at all, young master. None,” Hans replied, shaking his head.

“Then why? Tell me the reason!”

Hans hung his head low before finally speaking.

In the , lords fell into two categories: those formally granted titles by the Imperial Court and those who ruled over lands without any official titles. The latter only existed in times of chaos, and yet the current state of the South had made this unusual system possible.

“If you didn’t unify Drakenfels, you can’t be recognized as the true successor of the late Count. Naturally, that means you can’t inherit the title.”

There was only one title, but many competitors. The problem lay in the fact that the claimants had each carved out profitable territories for themselves, and the prolonged civil war had created a peculiar situation. They wielded the wealth, land, and military strength of viscounts or higher, yet none held an official title.