Chapter 124

“…”

When I opened my eyes, the ceiling I saw was different from the previous one.

The unfamiliar ceiling I saw for the first time.

This place was probably not the Duke’s Mansion.

Not only had the previous spasms subsided, but my body had returned to normal and I could move.

There were no problems with my voice or vision, and dizziness, headaches, and extreme cold—all of these had completely vanished.

It was a relief that all symptoms had subsided, but the most relieving thing was that it wasn’t the Duke’s Mansion.

“Haa.”

While I really wanted to curse the creator for making me go through such an experience because of one setting, what was even more unpleasant was the memory that came flooding back.

Back then, after my family returned from their trip, I was still suffering from the fever.

The pain I felt was just as chilling.

Headaches, dizziness, and muscle aches made it hard to speak, and nerve pain made my vision so blurry that crawling outside was nearly the limit.

Moreover, the chills that pierced through my bones wouldn’t stop, constantly cooling my blood.

It was literally the same situation I was facing now.

After several days of alternating between fainting and sleeping, when I woke up…

“Kim Min-hyuk, you damn idiot! If you’re sick, say so instead of stubbornly sitting there!”

My family, who had returned from their journey. Among them, the nagging of the second sister came.

Thinking about it now, it was truly terrifying. After that, I couldn’t go out for a while, and naturally, my part-time job was cut off, leading to a significant drop in the progress of my plan.

Even now, just thinking about it makes my head shake involuntarily.

I sighed and muttered to myself.

“It’s fortunate that the second sister isn’t nagging this time.”

Although I felt disgusted, I could at least take comfort in the fact that things hadn’t reached their worst.

As I got up from the bed, I heard footsteps approaching.

“Who could it be?”

It definitely wasn’t Harnei.

Since this is Rusmaier, it must be Barak, right?

Or perhaps someone hired from another territory by spending money?

Well, it didn’t matter which one it was.

But.

The moment the door opened, I couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

“Now you’re awake? You foolish man.”

*Ding!*

▶A problem has occurred in the existing sub-episode!◀

▶An error has occurred!◀

▶Deciding on an alternative…◀

…

…

▶Due to the importance of this episode in the game’s progression, it can no longer be treated as a sub-episode and will be upgraded to a main episode.◀

▶The conditions for clearing Main Episode IV have changed.◀

▶Calculating results…◀

*Ding!*

▶Episode IV: The Foolish Bear starts.◀

▶Successfully conclude your conversation with Claire.◀

▶If your affinity drops by even 1%, you will fail!◀

[Success: Clear the episode and continue with the original storyline.]

[Failure: You will no longer be able to stay in Rusmaier, and your deal with Pollux will be canceled, leading to your capture at the Duke’s Mansion.]

Damn. What a jerk the creator is.

***

How could I think it was a blessing that my family didn’t know about this situation?

What? Suddenly a sub-episode becomes a main episode?

And if I fail, being dragged to the Duke’s Mansion cancels the deal, which is practically a dead flag.

That means losing everything Carsein had and plummeting into the worst scenario.

This would be one of the most common bad endings in Chapter 2.

Therefore, this episode must definitely be cleared…

“Why do I have to know this kind of thing?!”

My head was already throbbing.

First, calm down.

I need to calmly gather information.

[1. Foolish? Saying that to someone who just woke up after a good sleep?]

“Foolish? Saying that to someone who just woke up after a good sleep?”

It might upset them, but it’s the best choice to gather information.

From the outside, I just woke up from the bed.

Claire’s eyebrows twitched.

“What? Woke up well? You think you can say that to me?!”

…Wait, what?

The tone implies that waking up shouldn’t be a problem.

No, logically, it doesn’t make sense.

Unless…

“You’ve been sleeping for three days straight! How can you say you woke up well, you fool?!”

“Three days?”

“Yes, three days! Why, did you think it was just a day since you woke up fully rested?”

So that’s why she was angry.

She was angry because it wasn’t just one day, but three days.

But here I am, having slept for three days, and seeing the second sister right away.

…My mouth tasted bitter. It felt exactly like that terrible past.

I tried to hide my annoyance and asked.

“So, what do you want to say?”

Claire’s eyes twitched momentarily, but it was brief.

She brushed her pink hair behind her ear and sat down in a chair, glaring at me fiercely.

“You. Did you secretly visit the western part of the Empire? Why are you infected with Defeshan Syndrome here?”

Starting with this?

At least I confirmed that Claire knows about Defeshan Syndrome. And the person who checked and treated my condition wasn’t from Rusmaier…

“Claire, definitely.”

Wasn’t it because of this sub-episode?

I was unlucky, very unlucky.

There were several choices to dodge the question, but I judged that it would be better not to lie.

“It’s true.”

“Ha, you’re crazy? Why would you go to such a dangerous place?! Didn’t you come back bruised before when you went to the west?”

Another clue.

I had apparently gone to the west before.

I didn’t particularly want to mention why I went there.

But.

“Hey, Carsein. You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”

Claire glared at me fiercely and said,

*Ding!*

Choices popped up.

“Tell me straight. What are you hiding?”

[1. Hide what?]

[2. Is that why you came? Just because I was a bit sick, I could have slept well too. Why are you suddenly spouting nonsense?]

[3. Interrogating a patient like this? Wouldn’t it be better if you left?]

These choices are new since I haven’t been through this main episode before.

But somehow, I feel like I know the answer.

[5. Yes, I am.]

“Yes, I am.”

“…”

This was a question to test me.

Just like how the second sister tested me before.

With another firm belief, words flowed out of my mouth.

“I deliberately became the Lord of Rusmaier. And since I saw firsthand the symptoms related to Defeshan Syndrome, I met the people despised by the Imperial/Noble House-Line calling them Yarikin.”

“No, then you…! The Lord of Rusmaier…”

“Why, is it wrong that I met the Yarikin?”

“…No, it’s not that. It’s just…”

“Yes, it seems strange. Even hearing that I became the Lord of Rusmaier out of nowhere is strange enough, but visiting the western region, which is overrun by magic, and trading with the Marquis House of Aiferos. Isn’t it curious why I’d do something like that?”

Claire hesitated for a moment but urged me to continue.

Although she didn’t have any information about my past visits to the western region, there was a suitable choice available.

[7. All of this is to take the exam to manage the territory at the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting.] ☑

“All of this is to take the exam to manage the territory at the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting.”

For a moment, silence reigned.

In that silence, a massive earthquake seemed to occur in Claire’s eyes.

“Are you crazy, you fool?! Do you know what you’re going to hear when you say you want to take charge of the territory again?!”

Claire jumped up, her voice rising sharply.

“You don’t have the ability to manage the territory. I saw it last year! How could you accept the fall of the once prosperous Shatren territory? Stop talking nonsense!”

Claire raised her voice, as if saying she didn’t want to be seen by the royal family or become a laughingstock among the nobles.

Nevertheless, I answered calmly.

“When you came here, you probably thought Rusmaier was close to a slum, right?”

“Where did this conversation come from all of a sudden?!”

I didn’t say anything.

I just stared at Claire.

But at that moment, the anger in Claire’s face disappeared.

She turned her head calmly and began looking at the territory through the window.

A long silence fell over us.

There must be a lot she can see in that field of vision. Claire is also someone who runs a boutique and has experience managing territories under the imperial examination.

Meanwhile, near me, an object was shining.

It was the Memorial.

I thought it would be hidden somewhere, but it turned out to be this item.

“Wait a moment.”

Claire, hearing my words, seemed to decide to look closely at the situation in the territory and went outside.

Although I could choose the final option based on my experience, more information is always better.

“Let’s see. What other tricks did you play?”

There must be a reason why this Memorial appeared at this point. It must be related to the current situation.

*Ding!*

▶Obtained the Memorial for Blue Innerwear Medicine!◀

***

*Flip, flip.*

Pages of a book quickly flipped through Carsein’s hands.

Despite sweating profusely, his hand didn’t stop, as he knew there was something important he needed to do, even while flipping through a thick plant guide.

“Surely, surely it should be here…! With this, I can prove it to Shatren Territory…”

Shatren Territory.

The most prosperous territory in Bargrand, where Carsein currently manages the territory at the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting, was hit by a rare famine.

The harvest period extended, and the quality and quantity of the crops harvested significantly decreased.

Fortunately, Carsein managed to discover this fact by diligently studying books. This was akin to the latent stage of a disease, and if measures were taken promptly, it could return to normal.

Carsein ordered the residents of the territory to take certain measures, but immediately after hearing this order, a worse famine struck.

Ironically, the famine occurred the moment Carsein took action.

From that moment, the residents of Shatren lost faith in Carsein.

No matter how much they pleaded not to be swayed by the famine in front of their eyes, their response remained the same.

“Sorry, but we can’t follow Young Master’s orders anymore!”

Carsein Bargrand.

The notoriety associated with this name ran deep.

Those who had lived in Shatren for decades not only believed the rumors spread among the nobles but also trusted the tales whispered among the commoners.

Despite being the one in charge of managing the territory, Carsein had his opinions dismissed.

However, he didn’t give up.

He tried to take some measures.

Thus, he started searching through a plant guide.

He found something crucial for Shatren.

“If I can find this and return…! Shatren can be saved!”

Carsein, full of hope, headed towards the west.

The land was infested with monsters and cursed by the corrupted magic. But if he could find this herb, it might convince people to believe him.

However.

“Filthy Empire scum! How dare you step foot here!”

“Get out of here right now!”

On the Empire’s border.

A tribe residing in this land despised the nobles.

They were treated like barbarians, similar to the Yarikin.

Thanks to this, Carsein couldn’t be a guest here.

“Guh!”

“Didn’t I tell you to get lost?!”

“Dogs of the Empire!”

“Just this one…! Just let me trade this! I don’t ask for anything else. Please! I’ll even offer my stomach if you want money!!”

Despite lowering his stance and pleading, their anger towards the nobles didn’t subside and turned towards the stern Carsein.

Suddenly, a man stepped forward and stopped the beating.

“Did you just say you want to trade?”

“Yeah.”

Even after getting beaten up, Carsein nodded.

This item was that necessary to him.

Seeing the spark in his eyes, the man immediately asked.

“You need Rohia seeds, right? It’s odd that you want to trade for them. What are you planning to use them for?”

“To sow them in the soil of a territory.”

“Soil? Can those seeds be used for that?”

“I read it in a book. These seeds, when planted in the soil rather than cultivated as crops, release magic. I thought using this property as fertilizer could change the nature of the soil.”

Everyone looked puzzled at this unheard-of use.

But the man sensed the spark in Carsein’s eyes.

“Fine, I’ll trade with you.”

“Really?”

“But, we’ll change the terms. We don’t want money like the Empire does.”

The man introducing himself as Count Rilfetten promised to send the seeds to the Duke’s House as soon as he received them. In exchange, he requested that the status of his people, who were not recognized as Empire citizens, be improved.

This was good news for Carsein.

He didn’t need much; proving the effectiveness of the seeds would greatly improve Count Rilfetten’s position. They would be the ones who revived the territory of Bargrand, Shatren.

The deal was made, and Carsein left with hope.

However, contrary to his expectations, his appearance upon returning didn’t indicate a successful deal. The marks of his beating couldn’t be erased.

Upon arriving at the Duke’s House, these marks became a problem.

“What happened, Carsein? Where did you wander around to end up looking like this?”

“Cl-Claire…”

“No, it’s not just wandering around. You look like you got into a fight with some nobles, right? Come on, follow me.”

Unluckily, he encountered Claire while sneaking in.

His injured body was immediately treated by Sheiden, but due to Claire’s insistence on knowing the details, Carsein couldn’t hide his actions.

“The western region? That place is overrun by magic, right? You had to go there and take this medicine?”

“For now, yes… If taken properly, there won’t be any major issues…”

“Enough. The answer is clear. This guy sneaked into the House of Rilfetten.”

Claire’s eyes widened.

“Hey, you’re done for. I’m going to report this in detail to Mom.”

“Cl-Claire…! I didn’t sneak in. I went there for a deal…!”

“Go lie down and rest. Fool!”

Still, Carsein felt relieved.

While there would be a big fuss, the deal wouldn’t be canceled.

If the residents saw him use the seeds in front of them as soon as he arrived at the House of Rilfetten, the effects would be immediate. Later, he could claim he visited the place to prove the effect and buy more seeds, thus gaining legitimacy.

Waiting for his body to recover, he took the Blue Innerwear Medicine.

However, Carsein received a letter the next day.

Seeing the handwriting stating “House of Rilfetten,” anxiety crept up on him.

When he opened the letter, a single object fell out.

It was the Rohia seed that Carsein had been longing for.

“Rot…?”

Count Rilfetten said.

If rotten Rohia seeds were delivered, it meant the trust was broken.

This letter meant the deal with Carsein was canceled.

‘Indeed, you’re no different from them. Our relationship is like this rotten seed.’ – Count Rilfetten

Holding the letter filled with unease, Carsein realized the situation had reached its worst.

Claire leaned against the wall and sneered, snatching the letter and reading its contents.

“Ha, Rilfetten, that little punk is giving you hell this time?”

Claire clicked her tongue.

“Never again will I make deals with nobles. Every time you come back injured, it gets annoying. I’ll only make deals with the permission of my older sister.”

“Cl-Claire, what did you do?”

“What do you mean? I just gave a clear warning to those who underestimate Bargrand! Shouldn’t we avoid dealing with unknowns and risk getting beaten up?”

Claire warned.

‘That means…’

The Rohia seeds can only be grown by the House of Rilfetten. And if they can’t trade with them, what will happen to Shatren Territory?

Despair filled young Carsein’s eyes.