95. Finally, the First Step
‘This should be enough to take the first step.’
Just like when I escaped from that house, I definitely need funds in order to become independent. In any case, there’s no way to survive without taking care of food, clothing, and shelter, and the money needed to secure those things is the same in any world.
Therefore, the first step to escaping the Vagrant Duke’s family is the same.
Even in this place, which is nothing more than a Tsukuru game, money is absolutely necessary in order to make Karsein independent. In fact, even when I was playing the game, I couldn’t see any future for myself without earning money.
So how do I make money here?
It all starts with this Rusmayer Territory as the foundation.
Build up a certain amount of affinity.
Complete several sub-episodes for the territory’s people to build up trust.
Once you’ve raised your recognition to a reputation rank, and built up your rank to a certain extent, then they will truly allow you to remain as the lord of the territory.
Once Karsein becomes the lord and is able to collect taxes from them, then he will finally have his own private funds. That was the method of raising funds that I had discovered.
The required rank for a lord to issue orders is C. You have to raise your rank from the lowest rank of F to at least C, but my current rank has reached B by completing this episode. This means that I have a high enough rank to put my plan into action.
First, I handed over the money I had taken from Hemnen to Barak.
“Spend all of this money by the end of today. You need to buy food, supplies, and repair materials to deal with mazoku from other territories.”
“All of this… in just one day?”
“Yes. You have to buy everything, even if you have to bring all of the territory’s people with you.”
“May I ask why? This is enough money to last several months if we’re careful…”
Barak is no fool.
He must have been working hard to develop this territory. If he weren’t capable of even this simple arithmetic, he wouldn’t have been able to become the village chief.
No, to be more precise, it might be because of this man that the territory has been able to survive.
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But things are different now.
“As soon as the other territories hear about this, they’ll probably try to isolate Rusmayer all over again.”
“…What?!”
“If it is known that you have money, the market price will fluctuate rapidly. Then, this money will be scattered in the air.”
Even Rusmeyer is in a position to buy goods from other territories. Forcibly changing the market price will damage all the surrounding territories, but since they are nobles, there is a high possibility that they will control public sentiment by returning it.
In this case, only Rusmeyer will be clean again.
“To prevent that situation, you have no choice but to use it all up in one day. The same goes for after receiving the tolls. Give up the idea that you can buy it at a reasonable price in the place where you originally lived.”
“That’s impossible… Our territory is difficult to live in. We need to have enough trade…”
“That’s why you need to get in touch with a new village.”
“A new village?”
I pointed my finger at Barak, who looked bewildered.
“Over there.”
“Isn’t that just Mount Waglu? It looks like there’s nothing there…”
“Don’t tell me you’re asking me to contact another village behind that mountain?”
“Why are you asking when you know it well?”
Then the territorial people expressed their displeasure.
“My Lord. It is impossible to go around that mountain. It’s not far from where the demons appear, but even so, I can’t go over that rugged mountain to get things.”
“Isn’t it better to solve the problem by receiving tolls even if it means using the garbage dump?”
“Isn’t there a way for us to raise the tolls on our side?”
On the surface, it’s not wrong.
However, if we respond in that way, there will be nothing to hinder them on the other side, so it will be more like a thank you. Compared to the nobles who are satisfied only by securing the passage, the more isolated we are, the harder it will be for us.
In extreme cases, they might even tell us to stop trading with Rusmeyer altogether.
So there is only one answer.
“Weren’t you a village of sculptors in the past?”
“How did Your Highness…?”
Click.
I gestured to Camilla with my chin.
“I see. Lady Camilla… But what does that mean? We can’t do sculpture anymore.”
All the territorial people have gloomy expressions. Barak, the village chief of Remten Village, continued to speak with difficulty.
“We’re busy trying to make a living, aren’t we? Regardless of size or shape, from simple things to those located in building interiors, the main consumers are nobles. But now, all the statues are being operated mainly by brands occupied by nobles. Besides…”
Barak sighed deeply and continued speaking.
“Moreover, since sculpture is an art form and follows trends, it can disappear overnight. From Rusmeyer’s point of view, who lost their jobs, they had no choice but to let go of this work.”
“Well. What if this was what the nobles intended?”
“…What?”
“Rusmeyer has a long history and tradition, and it is said that they surpass the art of nobles. How do you think the nobles would feel if they saw such outstanding people selling sculptures for cheap?”
Of course, all those arrogant bastards would be pissed off.
Just using something equal to those far below them is enough to make them grit their teeth.
“That’s why the nobles tried to wipe you out of this land completely. The history of this territory, its traditions. They tried to cover up the fact that there was sculpture here.”
“That’s impossible…”
“That’s not all. Even I knew about Rusmeyer’s sculptures, so it is possible that they did it to hide the fact that they were backward.”
“…”
In the midst of the silence, the territorial people were filled with anger.
It is not just a mere job; the fact that such a tradition-rich technique was covered up for such a reason.
To the landholders of Rusmeyer, I proposed a single new possibility.
“That mountain is a huge stone mountain made of a single bedrock. So, ────.”
The landholders were astonished when they heard those words.
Some must have felt like they were hearing nonsense, and some might have clicked their tongues, wondering if I was crazy. There might even have been some who rebelled, saying that I was just as crazy as everyone else.
But none of them opened their mouths to me.
The only thing that came out of their mouths after a quick discussion was.
“…It seems quite possible.”
It was an answer that said they could do it.
***
That night, I stayed at Rusmeyer instead of returning to the ducal house.
If you deal with the demons and put pressure on the nobles, the episode of repelling the hand will be cleared.
However, it is important to consider that the timing of this game is set only for Carsein, and there may be other variables because this episode has been brought forward.
I wanted to choose to return in the morning rather than at night because I needed to watch a little longer.
As a result of watching, there were no major problems.
No one seemed to complain about the instructions because of B-Rank’s reputation, and I saw with my own eyes that Barak persuaded the residents to buy as many supplies as possible from other territories.
As for the tolls, although the nobles looked displeased, they could not treat them recklessly after it became known that it was Carsein’s territory, and when the demons attacked once, they defended well. This time, they collected the spoils of war.
The guards are a bit uneasy, but if they are really uneasy, I can send a few knights from the ducal house.
Either way, it was a relief to finish.
Compared to the existing route, it was solved much better, and this episode will not be solved in a short period of time anyway.
It was time to return to the ducal house, so I could return with peace of mind.
However, there was one question that I could not get rid of.
Snow Blossom Festival.
I had the ring I got at that time. It is the first ring of the Kingdom of Wederos, which I put on as proof that I am a lover of Harnié.
I thought no one would be interested.
I thought they wouldn’t care about that in this territory.
However, contrary to my expectations, there was an old man who seemed to know about this ring.
When I was about to leave the room after packing my things.
An old man came to visit me.
-My Lord. By any chance, that ring… May I see it for a moment?
I told him he could see it anytime.
And the old man was shocked.
-This is from the Kingdom of Wederos…! My Lord, have you not had any adverse reactions after wearing this?
-Hmm? No, I haven’t?
-No… you haven’t?!
The old man was shocked again.
Before I could ask why, he asked me to wait a moment, and after running somewhere, he brought Delphina.
-Delphina can use Appraisal Magic. For a moment, just hold out your hand like this and wait.
The old man handed Delphina a scroll with Appraisal Magic inscribed on it, and Delphina used the magic as the old man instructed.
When the Appraisal Magic Circle was inscribed, the ring began to glow brightly.
A pattern was drawn in the void.
The old man muttered, staring blankly at the pattern.
-This is… real, the real Kingdom of Wederos…!
After that, he kept repeating how this could have happened, how this was nonsense. I couldn’t ask any more questions. The old man, who had been muttering as if he had lost his soul, soon collapsed, shivering.
I should have gotten an answer that it was just a great shock… but it bothers me.
Judging from the word ‘real’, does that mean there are fakes of this Kingdom of Wederos First Ring that I got as a bonus?
And what does ‘rejection reaction’ mean?
I still don’t know.
◆Kingdom of Wederos First Ring
In my eyes, it just looks like an item with no description.
-Tiring!
▶The Late Homecoming Event occurs!◀
In the meantime, the carriage arrived at the Duke’s residence.
As soon as I got out of the carriage, the status window popped up, and the familiar event occurrence text appeared.
This is an event that occurs normally anyway. I had to accept it, since every time Chapter 2 finds and clears an episode, I end up coming home late or staying out overnight.
So the problem is who came out to greet me.
“You’re coming back when it’s almost morning? Hey, where did you go and come back now? And when you stay out overnight, you should at least say you’re staying out overnight. What is this, making your family worry like this?”
I can see my second sister, with her arms crossed and a displeased look on her face.
Of all times, Claire had to be the one to come out when I stayed out overnight.
My luck is terrible.
In the case of staying out overnight, Claire eats away the most intimacy and gives difficult choices.
The only consolation is that the intimacy is high. It’s a bit of a loss, but whatever.
“What does it matter to you what I do?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“That’s for me to say. You never cared before, so why are you interfering so much these days?”
The stronger the choices, the more intimacy is lost. However, Karsein’s action power, stamina, and time are less reduced, so this was better.
Well… This isn’t a game, so I should be prepared to get punched by Claire.
As I expected, my second sister approached me with a ferocious expression.
“Karsein. Watch your words. Is it interference to be worried about your family?”
“Isn’t it the truth? It’s just useless interference. Oh, or did you want to make a fuss about this?”
“You! You go out for a day without a word and come back like this?”
-Tiring!
“You really don’t see us as family at all, do you?”
“Think whatever you want.”
I said that and walked past Claire.
What about the status window that just popped up? Anyway, Claire’s intimacy must have dropped. There’s nothing to check.
***
Since all the unpleasant things that happened in the Duke’s family were caused by Flora, Claire, who had been scolding Karsein, who had been making a lot of noise, didn’t feel so good either.
It was natural to punish Flora.
However, it was not easy to easily resolve the emotions that were in Claire’s heart. She couldn’t answer Flora’s question of what to do either.
In the meantime, I heard that Carsein had gone out.
The timing was bad.
I was just about to meet him to talk about it, but he happened to be away.
He’ll be back soon, though.
He’ll be back at the ducal palace when the time comes, so I’ll talk to him then.
Right. Mealtime.
That would be the best time.
He’ll definitely be hungry when he gets back, so I’ll have the food prepared in advance. Since the Eastern Nobles’ Assembly is just around the corner, I had something to say about the Shatran estate.
‘I have to tell him to stop paying for the Shatran estate every month…’
Claire was sending her own money to the people involved in the so-called Shatran scandal to help them out.
Carsein would most likely get angry whenever the estate was mentioned, so this time, I planned to tell him to stick by my side at the Eastern Nobles’ Assembly.
Also, if Flora said she regretted what she did, Carsein would accept her back. Carsein has changed a lot.
With a slightly heavy heart, but also with a sense of relief.
That’s how Claire waited for Carsein.
However, even as time passed, Carsein did not return.
Apparently, he still hadn’t arrived by the time dawn broke. The servants had not heard any reports, and the butler shook his head.
The only one who knew anything about Carsein’s whereabouts was the head maid, Tasha. Even she had only heard that he had gone out with his personal maid, Camilla, on an important errand and that he would not be back for the night.
I don’t know how many times I asked Tasha if she was sure about what she was saying. It was only after Tasha reassured me several times that I was able to fall asleep, and even then, I still had trouble sleeping.
Morning came.
Carsein got out of the carriage with a clatter.
Claire opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for him.
“You’re just getting back now that it’s almost morning? Hey, where did you go? You should have at least told us you were going to be out all night. What is this? Are you trying to worry your family?”
I thought I should scold him first. He had worried everyone by not telling us where he was going or informing the household.
But that’s enough scolding.
I don’t know what he was doing, but I didn’t want to just scold him now.
But then.
“Why do you care where I go or what I do?”
Carsein’s words turned the warmth into a cold chill.
And then a fire flared up inside me.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“That’s what I should be asking you. You used to not care at all, so why are you suddenly so nosy?”
Nosy?
As soon as I heard that, I suddenly got angry at Carsein.
“Carsein. Watch what you say. Is it nosy to be worried about your family?”
“That’s exactly what it is. It’s just nosiness. Oh, or maybe you’re just trying to pick a fight with me?”
Once I started getting angry, there was no going back.
Just like always. I was getting annoyed again.
“What! You just go out for the whole day without saying anything and then you come back and talk to me like that?”
Causing problems.
And making us worry.
It was annoying to dismiss the family’s concerns as pointless meddling.
So, she ended up shouting again.
“Do you really not see us as your family even a tiny bit?”
When she asked sharply like that. Claire felt the air freeze in an instant.
It was a mistake.
It was something she shouldn’t have said carelessly.
She had to take it back right away…!
“Think as you like.”
The moment Carsein replied indifferently.
-Clack.
Claire felt as if something had snapped in her head at that moment.
The heated atmosphere cooled down.
It felt like a cold chill was enveloping her.
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To those words telling her to think as she likes without showing any expression.
Claire blankly watched Carsein pass her by from her spot.
She didn’t grab him.
No. She couldn’t grab him.
She didn’t have the slightest thought of scolding or hitting him like usual.
Her heart felt like it was shrinking from this strange and eerie feeling that suddenly came over her.
‘What… is this feeling…?’
-Ding!
[ Claire Vagrant ]
[ Intimacy: 47% ]
Well…he doesn’t.