Chapter 166

One day had passed.

I came back to this place after receiving a message to till the strawberry field, but really…

-Ding!

-Investigation of the strawberry field has been completed.

-Progress of Shatren Territory investigation: 6%

“Only 6%…”

This is a filthy low number.

It took me hours just to till one field.

Considering that, I should be getting at least 5 times that, 30%, filled up.

“In games you have to fill this in one by one… doing it yourself is really tough.”

It’s crazy to think about tilling a field with just farming tools and no help from anyone.

I can feel how quickly Karsein’s HP and Action Power dropped in the game.

“Well… I guess I can’t just not do it?”

-Current Main Episode VII is progressing through choice points.

-The second week’s Main Episode will be designated based on the progress of Shatren Territory investigation.

The system message is telling me that if I don’t fill up the investigation progress, things will get tough.

Saying it’s designated is an understatement; it’s practically forced.

The Eastern Nobles’ Meeting basically uses the ‘meeting’ format.

It’s a discussion among nobles on how to develop the territory and provide a prosperous life to commoners.

Due to this reason, nobles who attend the symposium discuss the process every week and explain what they’ve investigated and done in the territory during that time.

So, how does this approach the player?

It’s obvious.

“Choices, right?”

If you answer that you didn’t properly investigate your territory in that place…

Well, it’s obvious what would happen.

The game reflected this by making the query and response into choices.

If you can’t answer the numerous questions flying in from the nobles, your grade automatically drops, getting closer to a Dead Flag. Conversely, if you gather enough investigation progress to give proper answers, you’ll be given rebuttal choices.

In other words, to increase your investigation progress and secure even one more choice is the biggest factor in determining your symposium grade.

After numerous retries, I got this answer.

“But even knowing that answer, the conditions of Shatren Territory aren’t smiling upon Karsein.”

Temporary lords generally give light orders to the residents to prioritize investigating their territories.

However, Karsein can’t use this method.

Shatren Territory has such deep resistance towards Karsein that asking for cooperation would likely result in non-cooperation.

Orders could still be issued, but considering that it would further lower recognition, Karsein used engravings to command, and the residents are unlikely to comply with these orders.

With already low recognition and affinity levels, either way, it’s awkward to take action.

But there is a way.

Here it is.

■Possessed Items■

◆Shatren Territory Report 1

[Kamilia’s report on the territory.]

◆Shatren Territory Report 2

[Harnier’s report on the territory.]

Comparing the information I obtained by tilling the strawberry field just now with the contents of these two reports, there were some consistent points. It was clearly more serious than what was known in the past and what was seen in-game text.

“If this is the case, the choices coming in the first week shouldn’t be too difficult… but who knows.”

Since there’s a chance of trouble, it seems better to get more investigation progress for a few more days first.

“Wait, what’s this?”

I muttered as I held something I found while tilling the strawberry field.

◆???

Judging from the status window popping up, it looks like an item, but it has a question mark for its name and no description.

What could this be?

I’ve never seen anything like this in the game before, so I’m clueless.

“From the look of it, it feels like a tree trunk… Then that’s strange, isn’t it?”

No matter how you look at it, it’s strange.

There’s no way such an oddly shaped trunk would appear in this strawberry field. Also, judging from how hard it is, it seems like someone cut a piece of another tree and brought it here, which doesn’t seem out of place.

It’s odd in many ways.

I need to investigate more…

-Ding!

“…Ah.”

-What schedule would you like to change next?

Well, this isn’t the time.

Now, I need to meet another source of information given to me.

-[Move to section 4.4 and meet Ferdy.]

***

“Master!”

When I reached a secluded alley where people wouldn’t easily notice, Ferdy ran over recognizing me.

There are many variables in Shatren Territory, so I checked the affinity window once again.

[Mindless Faith: 38%]

Even though a day has passed, the affinity side doesn’t seem to have any issues.

It seems the influence of danger level within the territory hasn’t reached this far yet.

“I’m sorry for meeting here, but there was no other choice.”

Ferdy added, looking around cautiously before moving through hidden alleys to a place with a wooden door.

At first glance, it looked normal, but when boxes were moved, a door appeared. It seemed like she had planned to hide this.

‘That means… she wants to show me something?’

No, more accurately, it’s something left by Karsein.

Something left by the past Karsein, not me.

The door creaked open.

As Ferdy lit a small lamp inside, the surroundings slowly became visible.

She then carefully pulled out a dusty drawer and started handing me its contents one by one.

Each time something was placed on the creaking wooden table, a squeak could be heard, and items began stacking up.

“All of these are things I left behind?”

“Yes!”

It seemed strange, but Ferdy answered without hesitation.

“I put all the things master collected in this secret base. Not a single thing is missing!”

“…”

While it felt like just a bunch of junk to me, the item window did pop up, albeit with vague descriptions.

Dusty. Shabby. Worn. Broken. Cracked.

These adjectives made it hard to consider them items.

Still, I checked them out considering the effort Ferdy put in. There seemed to be a message hidden in these items, or perhaps she meant it more sincerely this way.

Her message was quite straightforward in showing me this.

“What do you think? Is there anything helpful here?”

“Hmm…”

First off, I could tell this much from looking at books or notebooks.

Karsein’s handwriting was slightly present, and it matched the handwriting I was accustomed to. It was indeed Karsein’s.

The habit of handling objects differs from person to person, but seeing Ferdy’s habits, it made sense.

However…

None of these seemed to offer substantial help to me. Not just Karsein’s things, but Ferdy’s implied message was also unhelpful.

‘I already know these are internal enemies, Ferdy.’

The information here wasn’t significant enough, even with the information gained from the game.

“Thanks for gathering these, but I doubt they’re useful beyond this.”

“Oh… Really? Then I wasted my time…”

“At least this much is enough. Past records might be useful in certain situations.”

Though it’s old, it’s usable. This record might come in handy for choices coming from the first week’s conference hall.

“Oh, right. There’s something else.”

“Hmm?”

“Just a moment!”

Ferdy reached into a pile of miscellaneous boxes and started pulling out something again.

And I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“This!”

“This…?”

Isn’t this the wooden log?

Did the past Karsein leave this behind?

“I don’t remember exactly, but master suddenly picked this up and said something mysterious.”

“…What did he say?”

“He said there was a problem with the soil of Shatren.”

“…”

***

Upon hearing that there was a problem with the soil of Shatren, I examined the items again and read the records and reports left by Karsein from the past.

More meticulously.

Checking for anything missed.

I read it twice, thrice.

But nothing stood out.

“…Phew.”

◆???

Why did she make such a definite conclusion just from this wooden log?

No matter how much I tried to find an answer, none came up.

For now, this is my limit.

Trying to find out more with limited information is futile.

First, I need to go outside and gather more information.

Before I could inform Ferdy to return, however.

“Master…”

She called out from afar, clenching her fists, and bowed her head deeply.

Eyes full of distrust poured onto me.

Then they started yelling at me.

“You told Ferdy to meet here, didn’t you?”

“What more do you want to say by luring this innocent child?”

“Do you plan to cause more trouble even if you don’t give orders?!”

They spat out accusations.

“That’s not true! I, I…”

“Be quiet, this brat.”

“Ugh!”

Despite Ferdy’s struggles, she was immediately subdued by the adults.

It seemed the villagers were taking advantage of this opportunity.

‘Well, I didn’t expect everything to be resolved smoothly.’

Part of it was expected.

-Ding!

-Shatren Territory demands an explanation from you.

-How would you like to respond?

The familiar status window appeared again.

The message to choose a response popped up.

The best choice would be…

-[3. Trisha collapsed, right? Since she’s friends with this girl, she might deliver medicine. That’s why I asked to meet.]

This would be it.

Trisha, who generally shows no hostility toward Karsein and helped Karsein initially, provides a valid reason.

Choosing this would get me through the crisis easily.

“Quiet down, kid!”

“Even so, you got caught stealing and ended up here. Are you going to cause trouble now?”

“Especially since you caused a bigger debt in Rusmaier!”

“You’re a thief anyway. Ugh! You truly are the only blemish in this Shatren. Do you understand?”

Her future seems bleak.

Given that the villagers already despise Karsein for the debt incurred through theft at the carriage from Rusmaier, revealing that I tried to help would make anything happen to me seem reasonable.

Moreover, since she’s an orphan without parents, there’s no one to protect her, and she doesn’t complain about her thieving habits.

Looking at it from this angle, even if our first meeting goes wrong, this development won’t change.

Ultimately, she will meet her fate of being beaten to death by adults while I’m here. Karsein will use this to eliminate internal enemies and raise his recognition within the territory.

The reason…

A minor character who appeared briefly in a short episode to help, then revealed information about an internal enemy and died tragically.

Because Ferdy was a disposable character like that.

-I’m… already a blemish anyway. It’s okay… I was already considered a blemish in this territory, right?

-Thank you for helping… Master. No, Lord. With this, Shatren…

Thinking of that scene makes my teeth grind.

The only blemish. Only you noticed the fact that there was an internal enemy in the territory.

“I don’t see why you’d deserve to hear that, Ferdy.”

Seeing someone who did the right thing not get recognized makes me angry.

My body reacts involuntarily.

No, you shouldn’t die.

Let the others die instead.

-Smack!

“Guhk?!”

The man flew towards the boxes, grunting as he hit his abdomen.

“Did you kick him?”

“What did you just do to him?!”

I calmly replied.

“Stealing was worse for him.”

-[5. (Kicking the man’s abdomen) Stealing was something you did too.]