Clunk. Clunk.
Having concluded our journey to Huge Snow Mountain, we were now returning to Count Prucus's Estate. Inside the carriage, I stared blankly out the window.
The rapidly changing scenery had initially seemed novel, but now it was utterly monotonous.
The biggest flaw of this world is the lack of entertainment.
I glanced around the carriage.
Yuria sat rigidly upright beside me, while Lucy leaned against the carriage wall, fast asleep. Kyle was deep in thought, his brow furrowed.
I shouldn't have invited Kyle. I should have come alone with Yuria.
If so, I could have spent the journey teasing Yuria and enjoying myself.
"Hmm. I've decided," Kyle suddenly announced. I turned to him, tilting my head in confusion.
"Kyle, what are you talking about all of a sudden? What have you decided?"
"This trip made me realize something. I want to learn more about the world. I want to see and experience things firsthand."
"You're going to become a traveler?"
"Yeah... Sung Yujin, you're not even surprised. I thought you'd be shocked."
I shrugged.
"I kind of expected it. It just seemed like something you'd do, Kyle."
It was simply unfolding as it had in the original story. Kyle had just made up his mind a little sooner than I'd anticipated. The trip to Huge Snow Mountain must have been the catalyst.
"Do you have any plans?"
"...For now, I'll live as an adventurer. Traveling adventurers are relatively common, right?"
Kyle will wander across the continent before eventually heading to Labyrinth City Rabit.
There, he will reunite with Claudia, one of the heroines, and they will work together as companions, eventually returning to Count Prucus's Estate.
He'll be much more mature by then.
I have no intention of simply letting Kyle run wild. If I leave him completely unchecked, he'll become an overpowered prodigy beyond my control.
At the very least, I need to delay his ascension to Aura Master. If he returns to the estate as an Aura Master, just like in the original story, the Count's Title will inevitably fall to him.
In the original story, Gent tried to scheme his way into securing the heirship from Kyle after he became an Aura Master, but his plans backfired, leading to his death.
I must prevent Kyle from becoming an Aura Master at all costs.
"Become an Aura Master after I become Count Prucus."
Given Kyle's personality, he would never betray me. Instead, he would become my loyal vassal, a precious tactical asset moving according to my will.
"Our first destination is the Kingdom of Cuto. I want to see the Sky Plains there with my own eyes."
Cuto was one of the kingdoms located south of the Kingdom of Rapelli.
The Sky Plains, true to its name, was a plain as vast as the sky itself. It was said to be so immense that it overwhelmed anyone who gazed upon it.
"Your journey, brother... I like it. But how will you persuade Mother?"
Kyle fell silent.
Elaine was a rational woman. If given a valid reason, she would likely permit Kyle's journey.
"The problem is, there's no legitimate reason for it."
If Kyle were just the son of an ordinary noble, Elaine might have granted him permission for his journey.
But Kyle is the second son of the Prucus Family, the son of the Great Lord. Moreover, the family's heir has yet to be determined.
"The only reason I was allowed to travel to Huge Snow Mountain was because it served as my appointment as Lord of Tebura, and because it had a fixed itinerary under Elaine's control."
Kyle's proposed journey has no end in sight. What's more, he intends to travel alone, working as an adventurer. There's no way Elaine would ever approve.
"Uh, how... Is there no way?" Kyle asked me, his voice tinged with panic.
"I don't know. There isn't one. The only thing I'm certain of is that you can't persuade Mother with words."
Kyle wasn't particularly eloquent. Elaine, on the other hand, was an intermediate-level mage who managed the family's internal affairs. Half-baked logic would only be easily refuted.
"Is there really no way?"
"At least, I can't think of any way."
"Ugh..."
In the end, Kyle would inevitably sneak away from home, just as he did in the original story.
Elaine wouldn't dispatch knights or soldiers to capture Kyle after his escape, as that would tarnish the family's reputation.
Instead, she would secretly assign someone to monitor him continuously.
"Anyway, I respect your decision, Brother. If you need my help during your travels, don't hesitate to ask. I'll drop everything to assist you."
"Sung Yujin...! Thank you."
"What's with that? We're brothers, closer than anyone else. Even if we only share half our blood."
"Sung Yujin, don't say things like that. We're not half-blooded brothers we're brothers by blood. You're my only younger brother."
"Hyung, you'd help me if I was in danger, right?"
"Of course! Just say the word, and I'll be there to help you right away!"
I smiled, already imagining the future where I'd manipulate this gullible fool right before my eyes.
The investiture ceremony was a modest affair.
It was just the granting of a barony, the lowest of the five noble ranks: duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron.
Even as the son of a Great Lord, I couldn't possibly throw a banquet for such a minor honor. It would be downright embarrassing.
For once, I'm grateful to Ention.
Elaine had insisted on holding a banquet, but Ention, as Head of the Household, refused, arguing that it would be inappropriate to celebrate such a trivial occasion.
Thus, the title conferment ceremony was attended only by the direct family members of the Prucus Family and a few retainers.
Dressed in ceremonial robes, I knelt before Ention, lifting only my head to gaze at him. The tedious formalities were already complete; this was the final part of the ceremony.
"Sung Yujin Prucus. Are you prepared to dedicate your entire being to the Kingdom?"
"Yes. As a noble of the Kingdom of Rapelli, I pledge my utmost loyalty and respect to His Majesty the King of Rapelli. I will not neglect the duties entrusted to me, and I swear that my soul will willingly serve the Kingdom of Rapelli."
These words contained zero sincerity.
I had made five oaths today alone. This was the last one, and I had no intention of keeping any of them.
They were merely ceremonial rituals masquerading as oaths.
"Sung Yujin Prucus, by the authority vested in me by His Majesty the King of Rapelli, and in the name of Count Prucus, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Baron and grant you dominion over the territory."
Ention handed me a ring. I carefully accepted it and placed it on the index finger of my left hand.
This ring symbolized my status as the Lord of Tebra.
Well, this is just symbolic. I'll need to get the official documents from Elaine later.
The paperwork was far more important than this mere ring.
"With this, the investiture ceremony concludes."
Ention's solemn declaration was met with applause from his retainers.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Among the clapping retainers, I spotted Gent. He was clapping half-heartedly, a mocking grin on his face.
I had to restrain myself from punching that smug face.
I'll remember this... I'll never forget it.
I stroked the ring on my left index finger, repeating the vow to myself.
I'm leaving this mansion tomorrow.
***
As Kyle walked toward the private training grounds, as he always did, he encountered Yuria in the corridor.
Kyle felt his body tense up and was bewildered. They were merely facing each other in the corridor, yet why was he so nervous?
Have I been this aware of Yuria all along?
Come to think of it, this was the first time they had been alone together. Whenever he encountered Yuria, there was almost always someone else nearby.
Yuria lowered her head in a bow. She was just a servant; he could simply acknowledge her greeting and pass by. But Kyle couldn't tear his gaze away from her and found himself asking,
"Yuria, what are you doing?"
What are you doing? Even he thought his question sounded pathetic.
"I was checking the luggage loaded onto the carriage and returning to my room."
"Ah, you're leaving for Tebra with Sung Yujin tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. We plan to depart immediately after breakfast."
"Yuria, you don't really need to go, do you? Your relative, House Steward Hassent, is staying at the mansion anyway."
Kyle was startled by his own question. Yuria was his younger brother's personal maid, and he had no right to tell her what to do.
"No. I am Young Master Sung Yujin's personal maid. Since Young Master Sung Yujin is going to Tebra, it's only natural that I accompany him."
"...I see," Kyle managed to reply. It might have been his imagination, but Yuria's eyes seemed to sparkle when she spoke Sung Yujin's name.
For a moment, I almost hated Sung Yujin. Is this... jealousy? Do I like Yuria?
But Kyle quickly shook his head.
...That can't be true.
Kyle and Yuria weren't particularly close. They exchanged greetings when they happened to cross paths, and that was about it. Love at first sight? Kyle didn't believe in such things.
"That brooch... I've always thought it was exceptionally beautiful. May I take a closer look?"
"Ah, this brooch?"
It was a plum blossom-shaped golden brooch he had received from Sung Yujin long ago. Kyle, who loved plum blossoms, almost always wore it pinned to his collar.
"Sure, here."
Kyle detached the brooch and handed it to Yuria. Their hands brushed in the process, and a faint blush rose to Kyle's cheeks. He awkwardly looked away.
"It's even more exquisite up close. And it's been so well-maintained."
"I cherish it dearly because it was a gift from Sung Yujin."
"I see."
As Yuria examined the brooch, a white handkerchief slipped from her pocket and fell to the ground. Kyle instinctively bent down and reached for it.
"Ah, Young Master Kyle, you don't need to..."
"No, it's fine. It's nothing."
Despite her flustered tone, Yuria's face remained expressionless. Her hands moved swiftly, opening the hidden back of the golden brooch to replace a small battery.
By the time Kyle straightened up, the battery had already been perfectly replaced.
"Here's your handkerchief."
"I'm so sorry, Young Master Kyle. I didn't mean to make you bow..."
"It's nothing, don't worry about it. If you're free later, would you like to have tea with me? Lucy mentioned they recently got some excellent tea."
"I'm afraid I can't. I need to prepare Young Master Sung Yujin's tea time later."
"If you have other plans, I understand."
"Here's your brooch back."
Kyle accepted the brooch. Yuria bowed to him and turned to leave. Kyle watched her composed figure retreat, letting out a sigh.
Why did I even suggest having tea together...? What was I thinking?
It was a casual suggestion. Kyle scratched his head awkwardly and headed toward the private training grounds.
It's probably just because I won't see Yuria again. It doesn't mean anything.
As the newly appointed Baron of Tebra, I felt a sense of despair.
I had visited Tebra several times before to oversee the Frost Hammer Clan dwarves, who were building my manor, and to check on the Korea Merchant Guild's operations.
This hopeless territory is now mine...
I couldn't afford to do nothing. Having refused to relinquish my claim to Count Prucus's Estate, I needed to demonstrate my capabilities to Ention and my retainers.
And the only way to prove my competence was to transform this territory into a dazzling success.
If anyone can do it, it's me. Absolutely. Developing a territory like this is child's play.
I can bring modern technology here, and I also have 88 Dwarf slaves.
Let's look on the bright side. I'm the king here. I don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks.
That doesn't mean I can act like a tyrant. Ention and Elaine are likely monitoring my every move.
That bastard Gent probably planted spies here.
Still, being the top dog here is a huge advantage.
Yuria and I headed to the mansion where I would be staying.
But the mansion wasn't finished. Even after giving them two whole weeks, it was only about 70% complete.
"These damn dwarves!"
Eighty-eight dwarves, the so-called "master craftsmen," had descended upon a single mansion. With such a force of men, women, and children, shouldn't they have finished the job in a week?
I glared at Phesus, who was barking orders at the dwarves, and called out, "Phesus!"
"H-huh! Master!"
"Don't call me 'Master'! Your gravelly voice is grating on my ears!"
"T-then what should I call you?"
"Call me Young Master Sung Yujin."
"Yes, Young Master Sung Yujin! Welcome! I heard you were coming today, but I didn't expect you so soon..."
I kicked the slave dwarf to the ground.
"Stand up straight, Phesus."
"...Yes, Young Master Sung Yujin."
Phesus jolted upright and froze in place.
"Why isn't the mansion finished yet?"
"W-well, you see... the mansion we're building is just too massive. It's five stories tall with an underground level...
Over a hundred rooms in total, making it even larger than most grand estates... And since concrete is such an unfamiliar material..."
I began stomping on Phesus with my foot. This bastard, posing as a slave manager, wasn't even doing his job properly.
"You Dwarves talk too much! If you hadn't been slacking off, the mansion would be much further along by now!"