Chapter 113

“After receiving the episode to revitalize the Rusmaier territory while playing this game, in fact, there were many difficult parts from my standpoint.”

“The nobles can be somewhat resolved with my own hands, and monsters can also be handled early on, reducing the damage.”

“However, even if I clear chapter one and obtain funds from the House of Bargrand, it’s still not enough to save Rusmaier.”

“There must be at least one type of action implemented for Rusmaier to gain territorial-level revenue.”

“And then I remembered this.”

“Though they only have Waglew Mountain, at this moment, it’s the biggest pile of money.”

“Demons, monsters.”

“Beings that threaten humanity and exist as virtual creatures allowed by fantasy.”

“From the player’s perspective, these monsters are called demons in-game settings, always causing headaches in the outer regions of the Peselros Empire.”

“What if we could help them?”

“If we could make some sort of deal with them?”

“With this thought, I managed to overcome this branch.”

“For those who need to build camps under solid walls and steadily eliminate monsters, this isn’t just a pile of stones.”

“Stone selling?”

“Come to think of it… there was talk about building walls in the outer regions.”

“I heard the nobles also talk about stacking buildings higher.”

“So either way, we can sell them as construction materials!”

“That’s right! We can now be self-sufficient!”

“Barak rushed out like Archimedes, cheerfully laughing with the residents.”

“Suddenly, a man expressed concern.”

“But what if we dig out all of Waglew Mountain, won’t we end up living like beggars again?”

“A few residents expressed worry upon hearing this.”

“It’s true.”

“But, there’s no need to worry.”

“Hey, you. We’re not just digging out Waglew Mountain. Don’t you remember the task given to us?”

“Oh… now that you mention it…”

“Didn’t the Young Master assign tasks piece by piece?”

“If we were going to dig out the mountain, we would’ve just used pickaxes. Why would we need such work equipment otherwise?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“If it were just for clearing the episode to get gravel, I would’ve just given them a bunch of pickaxes.”

“By changing the plan, I ordered them to shape the mountain into a certain form.”

“Looks like a big cave. The reason I ordered to dig through and make a tunnel to the other side is…”

“It’s a path!”

“Oh! It’s a passage!”

“Yes! A very large path through Waglew Mountain will be made.”

“To improve the inconvenient geographical conditions around Waglew Mountain.”

“The atmosphere changed once more.”

“Led by Barak, the residents were in high spirits.”

“Thinking back, it seemed there was talk among the nobles about making a road through Waglew Mountain. Even Arina and Claire had complained about it.”

“But if we make a tunnel here, merchants and nobles will pass through.”

“A permanent passage in a place where you’d have to take a long detour.”

“It’s perfect for collecting tolls.”

“I’ve figured out how to gather money.”

“Once the tunnel through Waglew Mountain is finished, we’ll have the means to raise funds ourselves.”

“With this money, we can pay off the debts to the duke’s house bit by bit.”

“Just like when I started working part-time to collect money.”

“Of course, relying solely on tolls won’t be enough to repay the money Karsein spends on food and sleep. Considering the cost of Claire covering the expenses for the Shatren territory and Karsein’s allowance, the amount will pile up.”

“But is an adverse condition always bad? This medieval setting isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

“In a world with slow development, there are more ways to inflate this money. All of this will be solved with the textbook knowledge in my head and time.”

“So my only plan is to prepare a fair amount of money that won’t give them any reason to complain before leaving the duke’s house.”

“Like in reality.”

“It’s late. Barak will guide you to your room. Go to bed first, Harnier.”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“After saying that to Harnier, I picked up my pen again.”

—

*Click.*

Claire, with her arms crossed, wandered the hall and pulled back the curtains.

As she pulled back the curtains, the sunset sky became visible.

It was already night time.

And Karsein’s brother’s door hadn’t opened yet.

This meant Karsein hadn’t returned by this time.

*Sigh…*

Looking at the sunset sky, I couldn’t help but sigh.

If he doesn’t come back this late, it’s a definite overnight stay. Even though he didn’t announce it, Karsein’s emotional state wouldn’t make him want to return home.

Given today’s events.

Pitea Gelgetten from the Gelgetten House.

The gathering of nobles.

The nightmare of Kelbia fruit.

Karsein was an uninvited guest at that tea party.

“And maybe… back then, when he went with Flora, it was the same.”

No. It wasn’t “maybe.” It was definitely the case.

When he sent Karsein to eat healthy food at the Gelgetten House, he ended up facing Kelbia fruit again.

Unlike last time, after eating a lot of those foods and returning, Karsein shouted he wouldn’t go out with Flora ever again.

What happened that day?

His eyes tightly shut.

He was scolded by Karsein.

He saw his family scolding him even more harshly as he explained everything.

He didn’t even listen to Karsein’s side of the story.

Later, he heard from Sheiden that Karsein had fallen ill, but he didn’t care much.

“…”

His lips clenched tight.

What kind of feelings did Karsein have when he faced the nightmare of Kelbia fruit again at the tea party?

There’s no reason for him to suffer such humiliation involuntarily.

Considering the same old reasons, I can’t even guess how much resentment he might feel due to this situation caused by Flora.

And thinking that he would be scolded by his family if he came back like this, his heart ached.

If there was anything he could do in this situation,

It was just one thing.

“…I shouldn’t get scolded by Mom and my sister.”

The same situation as before.

Karsein was bound to be scolded by his sister and mother.

So, Claire went to her mother’s room.

To ensure Harnei wouldn’t be wronged.

To explain properly.

*Knock knock.*

“Mom, I have something to say. Can I come in?”

Incidentally, let me inform her about Pitea Gelgetten’s actions and clear up any misunderstandings with my sister.

That’s the best action I can take now.

—

*Thump.*

The pen stopped writing as a knock sounded from outside.

“Excuse me… Karsein? Can I come in for a moment?”

Harnier said from outside with a troubled voice.

It should be sleeping time… What could be happening?

It’s better to let her in first, so I told her to come in.

Not only her voice but her expression looked very troubled.

“What’s the matter? I thought you were tired and had gone to sleep since it’s late.”

“No, no! Forget that!”

She tried to speak but stopped herself and cleared her throat.

Her sharp gaze briefly turned towards me, but she got straight to the point.

“Yes, I was tired, and I did fall asleep. It is late, and I really want to sleep, but I can’t.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“That is…”

Harnier asked for a small room to stay in, as I had hinted beforehand.

But Barak, the village chief, refused to provide a room, saying it was impossible.

“You can’t provide a room?”

“…Yes.”

“Why not?”

She was a guest of the Young Master, and she wasn’t particularly disliked by the villagers. Her gentle personality, despite being a noble, allowed her to get along well with commoners.

Why refuse to provide a room suddenly?

It’s abnormal.

Surely, they wouldn’t start chasing her away just because she’s a noble now.

Then Harnier sighed deeply.

“She says there’s no room for her because this territory doesn’t welcome guests well.”

“…No way. You mean there really is no room?”

Nodding.

Oh my.

It’s not that they don’t want to provide a room; there simply isn’t one.

“Come to think of it…”

I experienced the same thing, too?

The room I’m staying in was originally a storeroom.

I was barely able to use it after cleaning it up.

Even the village chief seemed to overlook the fact that there weren’t suitable conditions for accommodating others.

Well, I might have been too optimistic.

Perhaps there would be a room in another territory, but here, all the rooms were taken by the likes of Hemnan Modrich and surrounding nobles.

Moreover, frequent monster attacks made it difficult to prepare guest rooms.

There’s no choice.

“You can sleep in this room.”

“Huh?!”

“There’s no other option. There’s only one spare room here.”

“But… If I sleep here, where will you sleep…?”

Harnier asked worriedly.

Isn’t this obvious?

“Outside, of course.”

“Out… outside?! That’s ridiculous!”

“Since I can’t share the bed with you, right?”

As I replied and reached for the doorknob to leave, her white hand covered mine.

“I never said you had to sleep outside!”

“…Then what should we do? We can’t both sleep in this situation.”

After looking back and forth between the bed and neatly folded blankets, she closed her eyes and reopened them.

“You should sleep on the bed.”

“Huh?”

“Because I’m causing trouble. So… you should sleep on the bed.”

Then she placed one of the blankets on the floor.

She meant she would sleep on the floor.

“Is it okay? It’s just the two of us in this room.”

Nodding slightly, Harnier agreed.

This much was fine.

But I wasn’t okay with it.

*Swoosh.*

“What are you doing? That’s where I’m supposed to sleep.”

“Let’s switch. If you’re going to sleep here, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“No, why? I’m the one causing trouble. I suddenly asked to borrow your room.”

“Then I’ll go outside.”

Harnier pursed her lips tightly, then after a brief silence, sat down obediently on the bed.

“What’s the reason…?”

Her voice was different from before.

There was a hint of expectation, perhaps due to my mood?

Deciding to speak, I said:

“Because I haven’t finished my work yet.”

“…Work?”

“Yes. If I see you sleeping on the floor, I won’t be able to focus.”

“!!”

Then Harnier covered herself with the blanket.

“I’ll go to sleep first!”

…I haven’t finished talking yet.

Well, if she wants to sleep, let her.

This much shows how considerate Harnier has been.

Well, even though I had to stay outside all night because the third sibling didn’t open the door, I thought I could handle this.

Still, this is pretty decent.

‘But sharing a room with someone else…’

This is a strange feeling.

Not a man, but a woman.

Indeed, when I’m with Harnier, only awkward things seem to happen.