92. Shatran’s Figure (6)
-Thwack!
As he swung the axe, the thick log split in two and fell apart. He must have used too much force, as it fell to the floor with a thud.
Seeing that, he would have picked up the protruding firewood again, put it on top of the bottom, and scratched his cheek while saying that it was still difficult to control the strength of the weapon.
However, he didn’t have any such thoughts as he picked up the pieces of wood.
“…How did this happen?”
Really.
He didn’t know how it had come to this.
For various reasons, the Rusmayer territory episode, which was to be carried out in advance of the Eastern Aristocratic Assembly, did not deviate from the big picture.
In this isolated territory, he had to catch and punish the knights who were running rampant, build trust, and rebuild the territory.
However, the biggest obstacle in carrying out this episode was time.
No matter how much he investigated, it was not easy to gain the trust of the villagers who had been hurt by the nobles, and even if he showed signs of helping them, it was likely to be taken as hypocrisy.
That’s why he needed time.
Time to slowly make Carsein realize that he was someone they could trust.
At this time, Carsein had to show little kindnesses, starting from Remten Village, the central village of Rusmayer, and wait until they noticed and changed their perception.
Even if he dealt with the knights directly, it would be the same.
There was no way to suddenlythe entangled vigilance of these people who had only been hurt so far.
In a word, it was a matter of going through the steps.
Therefore, he raised Kiyan’s affinity in the party hall in advance, and then raised the affinity of Kiyan’s friends, Melik and Tony.
After doing that, he would finally raise Diana’s affinity, and only then would the news reach Remten Village and the Rusmayer territory, and he would have to carefully select and solve the choices that appeared.
Then the people of the territory would speak with one voice.
Saying that they also needed time.
The scene would not be visible after this.
However, Carsein should not act hastily at this time and should postpone entering the village until the next day. Of course, I tried to go back myself because I chose a different option here.
Anyway, only after spending a few days like that could he enter Rusmayer. It meant that he could only become the lord of Rusmayer and change their perception after spending enough time with the people of the territory here.
So for now, I should go back to the Duke’s castle, wait for their anger to cool down, and visit them the next day…
“…”
▶Current location: Remten Village, Ruthmayer Territory.◀
If I turn my head slightly, I can see this window.
That’s right. I have already entered the Ruthmayer Territory.
In the game, I had never progressed far enough to help these characters, Dienne and Delphine.
-Clang!
However, I managed to enter the Ruthmayer Territory as I had hoped, but I am chopping firewood in their front yard.
‘It’s not a bad situation. I saved time, and my perception has risen to the point of being classified by rank. The area I can move around in is still restricted, but…’
Still, it bothers me.
The fact that I have entered Ruthmayer without taking any risks from the very first day.
The thing I am most worried about is that an unforeseen development could pop up.
Considering the environment of this game, where even a tiny change can affect a branch or choice, it seems difficult to simply enjoy it.
‘There is only one answer. I have no choice but to investigate this town more thoroughly.’
Wasn’t that true of the test hidden in the glass of milk?
More meticulously and thoroughly.
I had to reach out to every area of choice that could arise here.
‘I was told to stay for a day, and it shouldn’t be difficult to borrow a room to use as an office. I need to dig up all the information I can about this town in the meantime.’
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
I am not chopping firewood for that purpose, but I decided to finish this task first.
-Ding!
“Huh?”
▶Urgent Mission!◀
▶Your stat gains and passive skill proficiency will increase depending on the results of chopping firewood!◀
“Oh, really. How shameless.”
Are they treating this as exercise because it is physically demanding, and thus my stats will increase?
Even though I am swinging an axe and not a sword, they are treating it as weapon handling?
“…Well, I guess it would be nice if I could do it well.”
I might as well do two things at once.
***
“The days are getting longer, so it’s finally nice enough to go outside during the day.”
“This winter has been unusually cold… Oh my. The dress code was all about covering up.”
“At least Lady Claire introduced new fashions, or we might all have gotten sick.”
“And the technique to extend the duration of the warming enchantment on our clothes was great, wasn’t it?”
“Without that, we wouldn’t have been able to attend any parties. Come to think of it, that was also Lady Claire’s doing?”
“Hohoho. Of course.”
The ladies are gathered together, chatting.
Laughing and chattering, they are reminiscing about the past winter as the weather gradually approaches spring.
However, their gazes are all fixed on one person.
“…”
Among them, the third daughter of the Vagrant Duke’s family, who had enjoyed these gatherings the most, was keeping her mouth shut and remaining silent, so they were watching her every move.
“If we hurt Lady Flora’s feelings, it won’t end as a simple tea party, ladies!”
“But she’s not even listening to us when we talk to her like this…”
“There must be a reason! Haven’t you all heard anything?”
“I don’t know. What is it? What on earth is the problem?”
Whispering nervously, trying not to be overheard by Flora, they soon reached a conclusion.
“W-what did you just say? Lady Flora was already like that when she got out of the carriage?”
“Yes, yes. I greeted her as we got off at about the same time, but… Lady Flora was already in that state.”
“So she was already in a bad mood when she left the Duke’s mansion!”
“Oh my!”
“We finally figured it out.”
The young ladies felt a sense of relief as if a stuffy room had suddenly been ventilated.
She was in that state when she got out of the carriage.
That meant this tea party wasn’t boring to her; she had been in that state ever since she left the Duke’s mansion.
So what could have happened at the Duke’s mansion to put her in a bad mood?
They all thought to themselves, “It’s obvious.”
They thought of one person.
A boy who was completely unbefitting of the Vagrant’s status.
A commoner, not a noble.
A stain on the Duke’s family, a beggar that Flora would never consider family.
Karsein Vagrant.
Nothing like this would happen if it weren’t for him.
Hadn’t Flora always badmouthed and gossiped about him at tea parties?
It was clear that Karsein was the one who had upset Flora so much.
The young ladies exchanged knowing glances and focused on Flora, who had been avoiding eye contact and saying nothing for a long time.
“Um, Lady Flora?”
“…Oh, yes?”
“You seem to be in a very bad mood today. You usually seem so lively at tea parties.”
“Oh, no. It’s not like that… It’s just…”
As Flora averted her gaze and tried to evade the question, the young lady next to her took her hand.
“Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t matter. It’s not because our tea party isn’t fun, is it?”
“That’s right. Lady Flora must have her own worries.”
“I’m sure you have more worries than the rest of us at the Duke’s mansion. In fact, I’m sure you have even deeper worries because you’re from the Duke’s family.”
As if to say, “Don’t worry.”
As if to say, “We understand that it’s not because of this tea party.”
They had definitely captured Flora’s attention.
The young ladies exchanged glances.
They checked each other’s gazes and then smiled, as if to say, “Let’s do it.”
“Actually, it was a bit boring. It didn’t feel very lively.”
“Well, then, shall we invite one more person to our next tea party?”
“A…person?”
“Yes. You may bring another friend or, if you have someone you’d like to introduce, that’s even better. It would be nice for everyone to bring one person. It’s boring just talking among ourselves, isn’t it?”
“Whether it’s bragging or not, it would be a good topic of conversation. We could also use it as a chance to socialize, couldn’t we?”
“Socialize…”
Flora muttered and pondered over it.
The world still hadn’t changed its view of Karsein.
It was the same here.
He was still known as a commoner and someone who didn’t belong in a duke’s family.
The reason for that was obviously herself.
However, the words “socialize” made her think of something.
‘I’ve always criticized Karsein here. But what if I brought him here and told them that he actually saved me? What if I told them that Theo and Emma were the bad guys?’
Their view of Karsein might change.
In fact, by saying that something like this happened, she could change their perception of him, even if only a little.
With her own hands.
She could directly reduce Karsein’s notoriety.
A glimmer of light began to shine in Flora’s eyes.
“Yes. At the next tea party, each of us will bring one person!”
Would that be enough to make them trust her a little?
Full of anticipation, Flora looked forward to the next tea party.
Without knowing what those young ladies meant by making such a suggestion.
***
As I finished chopping the firewood, a few drops of sweat came along with the small reward of accomplishment.
I didn’t think anything of it while I was doing it, but I felt a little proud of myself after I was done. After all, it would be used as firewood for the village.
However, as I finished my work and was cooling down a bit, Deanna’s mother approached me, fidgeting anxiously.
“I-I didn’t mean to ask you to do all of this… I’m sorry! I only meant to ask you to chop enough to warm yourself up…”
It seemed that she was worried because she had asked me to chop firewood even though she should have been preparing warm food and heating up a room for me to stay in, due to the lack of manpower.
So, when she saw me neatly stacking enough firewood for all the villagers to use, she didn’t know what to do.
-Ting!
‘…The situation I was worried about has come up.’
A choice appeared before me, one that I didn’t know I had.
Fortunately, the content itself didn’t seem too difficult, but still. I wondered what would happen if this situation continued and I encountered another situation.
First, I should make a rational choice. I should also consider going into that house to get away from the danger.
From Noble mtl dot com
So, this choice is the correct one.
[ 1. Consider it payment for the expenses. ] ☑
“I prepared all that firewood in the hopes that you would give me a small room to use as an office. How about I cover the cost of the food as well? Consider it payment for the accommodation and food.”
“B-but…how can I accept such a thing from the Lord…”
“I haven’t been recognized as the Lord yet. If you put it that way, I’m a guest. I should work for what I receive.”
“Please don’t say that.”
Deanna’s mother waved her hands, but her eyes flared up at the word “guest” instead of “Lord”.
As if she didn’t like being treated as a mere guest.
It could be.
For other people, I don’t know, but from her perspective, Carstein would be someone who helped Dhyana Delfina.
If so, I just need to find a compromise.
“Then give me a small room. I’ve already brought the lumber, so I can share it with the manor’s people.”
-Ting!
▶Accommodation has been decided!◀
▶You can reduce fatigue and sleep status abnormalities at this place!◀
As if the choice had been made, she didn’t say anything until this point.
Later, she realized that there was a reason for this when she saw the warm bathwater prepared in the bathroom.
After washing her body in the bathroom, she had to go outside again with a map of the town.
‘I need to know more about the manor people’s behavior.’
The situation of the Rusmayer Manor that Camilla told me was very detailed and accurate. So I don’t disbelieve it, but there will definitely be differences.
Even the choices I made have already undergone major changes, and instead of Dhyana, Delfina drank the milk. Considering that I’m staying here, there may be other variables, so it was natural to grasp the dynamics of the townspeople.
In addition, it was necessary to meticulously check what was different from the information about Rusmayer that Camilla told me, and if there was a difference, how much of a difference there was.
As I went outside, Camilla was suddenly standing there.
“My lord, you really… I can’t even fathom what you’ve done, even though I serve you as my master.”
Before I could ask when she came or why she came, Camilla said that.
…But what does that mean?
You can’t even fathom what I’ve done?
As I was wondering, flames flared up from one side of the town. Soon, the shouts of men echoed.
“This is all because of you, my lord.”
“Camilla, explain this to me in more detail. What does that mean?”
“Rusmayer is periodically attacked by demons. Right now, at this hour.”
“…Demons?”
At that moment, I flinched at the word demon and turned my head toward the place where their voices reached.
They were making spears by awkwardly sharpening sticks into blades, and they were shouting once again.
Compared to the disciplined knights, they were shabby, but if I assumed that they were about to fight, they might have considerable morale.
Camilla, who followed me, smiled.
“When I was in charge of the Rusmayer territory, I never saw them take the initiative. At this hour, they would frown and pray for good luck.”
But now, they were shouting and shaking off their fear, even though they were about to fight demons.
I think I know what Camilla is talking about.
Those who always acted passively and depended on outsiders have now taken up spears themselves. It means they figured out what they had to do.
‘They’ve finally found the right path.’
I didn’t like it very much, but it’s true that I wanted to help them to some extent.
Of course. It shouldn’t be like throwing an egg at a rock.
“Camilla. Which way are the demons coming from?”
“Are you going to go yourself, my lord?”
“Well, just this once. It’s not good to have unnecessary casualties.”
Camilla smiled faintly and showed me the path where the demons would appear.