"Eyes like polished agate."
"Skin smooth and white as silk."
"Lips sewn tightly as if with red silk thread."
"...."
"...."
It wasn't even a high-quality lifelike doll painstakingly crafted by a master artisan.
The only thing that marked the doll's gender as 'female' was the ribbon tied to its right temple — just a cheap stuffed doll that children from ordinary families might have played with when they were young.
"So… does Baron Yandel feel love toward the doll?"
At the moment Ragna cautiously asked, a wave of shame flooded me, blood rushing to my head.
It felt as if my hair was falling out in real time.
'…I want to die.'
It was strange.
Even in the Goblin Forest, even at Ice Rock, no matter what hardships I faced, I had never thought like this before.
"Y-Yes."
I forced myself to nod in agreement, and another noble muttered in admiration.
"No wonder! Despite having so many women around him, there wasn't much talk about it…!"
He seemed to sincerely believe that the real reason I wasn't married yet was because of that doll.
Well… fortunately(?) such people were in the minority.
"Be quiet."
A noble next to the one who said that, who spoke so naïvely, sharply scolded him to watch his manners.
That {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} was why I hadn't brought a sophisticated doll.
If I had brought one actually made stitch by stitch by a real artisan, more nobles like that would have appeared.
Ah, of course, the most important was the reaction of the marquis.
"...."
Holding the small doll tightly in one hand, I cast my gaze toward the marquis.
At first, like the other nobles, he seemed dazed, but soon he regained his composure.
"To say you love a doll…"
The marquis muttered meaningfully, glancing between the doll and me.
"If it's like you… then it's fitting."
He didn't mean that loving a doll was 'like me' in essence.
He probably meant that coming up with this kind of solution was typical of me.
'…How will he respond now?'
Whether the marquis believed me or not was irrelevant.
No, I hadn't said it expecting him to believe me in the first place.
Like when Duke Kearlunus and Marquis Terserion exchanged words as if reading from a script.
Every statement was followed by political calculation.
And my earlier remark was no different.
I had subtly expressed my determination not to marry anyone in this way.
"Hmm…"
The question was whether that effort had worked on the marquis…
Waiting silently for his reply, the marquis finally answered, seeming to have finished organizing his thoughts.
"Your confession that you love a doll was quite shocking and embarrassing to me. But I believe there are many ways people express love."
"…So?"
"I will respect your choice."
At first glance, these words sounded very positive, but, unsurprisingly, they were followed by pointed remarks.
"This is a gathering of ministers who illuminate the future of the kingdom. I trust you know the responsibility that follows your words."
Simply put, if I don't keep what I just said, I will be held accountable somehow.
"Still, since you showed such sincerity, it is only proper as an adult to support your decision."
However, the marquis seemed to think it unwise to corner me too much and offered a compromise.
"But as the kingdom's chancellor, I ask you to have children when the time comes. Both to continue your family line and because it would be a great loss for this country if someone like you leaves without offspring."
When the time comes.
"It seems there are some fine female warriors, too."
He would tolerate marriage within our people and having children.
I replied to the marquis's proposal.
"…I will consider it."
Though I said that, it basically meant I understood.
After all, it would be ridiculous to suddenly say yes here.
"Now then, let's conclude this discussion here… Everyone has waited long enough. We shall proceed with the ninth agenda."
For now, it seemed I had gotten through this well.
Honestly, I had never planned to make such a declaration of lifelong bachelorhood.
Only the choice not to marry anyone.
And that choice was not born out of fear of conflict with the marquis.
Maybe it was a convenient excuse?
The moment I finished talking with Uncle Yong, I made up my mind.
'What marriage?'
It might have been a betrayal of my standing in this city and those who follow me.
But so what?
Some might say I still have a long way to shed my modern ways.
But to me, marriage was something sacred.
I could not make a vow to spend life together without even truly knowing my own heart, let alone having children.
'Especially when I don't even know when I might die.'
Ah, but it wasn't just emotional reasons behind this decision.
I was focusing on survival.
Perhaps marriage might help along the way, but after much calculation, I concluded:
'The drawbacks equal the benefits.'
Marrying someone politically advantageous may seem good at first glance, but inevitably creates enemies.
If I receive help, it means I must also help others in return.
"Then, with this, I conclude this meeting. Thank you all sincerely for coming."
Lost in thought, the ninth agenda finished quickly, and the royal council ended.
And then…
'Why is the exit order reversed this time?'
Instead of everyone leaving at once, one by one left the hall in order from those closest to the head seat.
With two-minute intervals.
'…They really discriminate over the strangest things.'
Oddly, after experiencing this discrimination, I felt a strange desire to improve my rank in the royal council.
Hmm, maybe it's a well-made tradition?
If even I have the desire to climb the ranks, imagine how much the power-hungry monsters want it.
Thud.
Soon, everyone had left and the hall was empty.
Feeling an inexplicable loneliness, I stood and exited the hall.
Now I was about to go home.
"…Wait a moment."
Someone called me from behind.
"Ragna…"
Well, better to keep distance since others might see.
"Haven't left yet, Lady Peprok."
"There's no one nearby, so you can call me by name as usual."
"Still, better to be cautious about these things, Lady."
"...."
Yeah, I still call Amelia 'Emily' just in case I slip up somewhere.
"But so… did you wait for me?"
"Yes, I have something to say."
"Something to say?"
"That doll earlier."
Ragna mentioned the doll with an unpleasant look but continued.
"Ah, don't worry, I don't really believe what I said earlier. At first I almost misunderstood, but… I heard from Father… no, Marquis Terserion. I realize I still have much to learn about politics."
"So, what do you want to say?"
"Um…"
Ragna hesitated a long moment, then closed her eyes tightly like when I came out, and spoke.
"Baron, do you dislike me?"
"What…?"
"I'm asking if you dislike me so much that you'd reject me despite such a humiliating experience."
Uh…
That question caught me a bit off guard.
But to be honest, I answered.
"I think you've misunderstood. I don't dislike you at all."
Of course, if you ask if we are a suitable match for marriage, I can firmly say no.
But…
"The main reason I rejected the marquis's proposal was political."
"Political… you mean?"
"Yes. If we marry, do you think the other nobles will stand idly by?"
The marquis faction was already rising alone in Rapdonia's politics.
If I join in now?
The noble coalition centered on Duke Kearlunus and House Kaislan, plus the neutral-aligned Count Alminous's faction, wouldn't just watch.
They would try to protect themselves by forming alliances.
"We can stop that."
"That might be true. But I don't want to get involved in such political headaches in the first place."
"I see..."
"So you understand."
"Yes. I understand. You're saying you had to refuse because of your current status."
Uh… that could be interpreted that way?
The nuance felt a bit off, but on closer inspection, it wasn't exactly wrong…
"Well, I'll be going now. Bjorn Yandel, you must be tired, so please rest soon."
"Yes, it was nice to meet you. See you later."
"Yes."
After brief farewells, we parted ways.
Then, as I left the palace and headed toward the carriage stand—
"…Hmm?"
Suddenly sensing a presence, I glanced toward an alley and saw someone standing silently in the shadows.
About 170 cm tall.
Slender build.
Wearing gloves and a thick robe that covered every inch of skin from head to toe.
At first, I thought maybe an assassin was sent.
But thinking it through, that made no sense.
Not just anywhere, but in Hwangdo Karnon.
No sane person would send a single assassin to try to deal with me.
'What is this at this hour?'
The figure looked suspicious, but I thought it unrelated and tried to continue walking.
Step.
The mysterious figure stepped forward toward the streetlight.
And at the same time—
Swoosh.
They threw back the robe covering their face, forcing me to stop.
A plain black mask.
But its shape, curves, and the aura perfectly matched something in my mind.
'…Black Mask.'
But I, Bjorn Yandel, not a community investigator or Lee Hansoo, narrowed my eyes trying to keep a poker face.
"What do you want? Assassin?"
In the briefest moment, that was the most natural reaction I could think of.
But the masked figure shook their head.
And then…
"No, of course not."
A strangely familiar female voice accompanied the words.
Whoosh.
The mask was removed, revealing the face.
Black hair and black eyes.
Features and skin close to Asian.
"Harine Suebui."
No, more precisely, the evil spirit that had taken over Harine Suebui's body.
Korean Kang Hyunbyul.
She smiled silently at me.
A chill ran down my spine, but I hid it and asked calmly.
"Why are you here? Did Ragna send you?"
"No."
"Then why…?"
"I told you before. I'm going to do as I please now. So let's meet outside."
Of course, I knew Hyunbyul sent me a note like that before.
But out of habit—
"What does that mean—"
—was about to ask.
"Ah, I didn't expect you to wait this long back then."
Hyunbyul interrupted, shrugging off the thick robe that covered her whole body with a frustrated motion.
And then…
"Still, I'm glad you came."
She stepped closer with her long legs.
'No wonder she seemed taller than before.'
Step.
"Bjorn Yandel."
Step.
"No, Hansoo oppa."
How does she even know that?
-x-X-x-
I had known for a long time that Hyunbyul suspected my true identity.
After all, she had even openly asked Ibaekho that question when I wasn't around.
[She kept asking if you really are Bjorn Yandel.]
Later, when I pressed her, Hyunbyul's reasons boiled down to three main points.
[…I know exactly when you came here.]
The timing.
[Among the explorers who arrived at that time, none had grown as much as Bjorn Yandel.]
The growth.
[…You often talked about games to me, too. Saying Shield Baba is the best, and all.]
Shield Baba.
Many clues pointed to my identity being Bjorn Yandel.
But still, it wasn't convincing enough.
"Why aren't you answering, oppa?"
It would be impossible to come at me like that without certainty if she had met 'Bjorn Yandel' directly.
How could Hyunbyul have gained such confidence?
"What? You're scanning me up and down again, trying to think of a way to run away?"
Or was she just testing the waters?
I thought so, but knowing Hyunbyul's personality, that was unlikely.
'Ah, but I can't just bash the head of the evil spirit either…'
That awkward stalemate continued.
"I gave you plenty of clues, so you can't possibly not know who I am… Is it really so hard to take off your mask in front of me?"
I finally made a decision.
Honestly, there weren't just one or two people who knew Bjorn Yandel was possessed by an evil spirit.
And Hyunbyul wasn't someone I couldn't trust.
Step.
I stepped closer quietly to avoid making noise, pressed close to Hyunbyul, and asked.
"How exactly did you find out?"
As I removed the invisible mask I wore on my face and asked my question, Hyunbyul chuckled and shrugged.
"To be honest, I wasn't certain until the very end."
"…What?"
But she did something so risky?
If she had investigated me, she would also know about the secret security agent who was carried off after spying on me.
"Don't look at me like I'm pathetic. At least I wore a mask and prepared."
"Oh, by the way, what was that mask for?"
"Didn't you already notice?"
"Are you really Black?"
"Yes, that's right."
A truly shocking truth.
Regardless of how she entered the Round Table, why hadn't I known this until now?
"Anyway, I expected some kind of reaction while wearing the mask. And I got it."
"…I reacted?"
"Yes. You still do, you know? When surprised, you close your eyes for a moment first."
"Uh…"
Did I really have such a habit?
I don't know, but I should be careful from now on.
"Anyway, thanks to that reaction, I got a bit more courage. Otherwise, I might have just turned and run."
"…Why go to such lengths?"
"Then why did you?"
"What did I do?"
"You scared me and pressured me harshly, asking who I worked under. With a look like you were ready to kill someone."
Uh…
That was true.
But that was because I worried I might corrupt her…
"Well, it doesn't mean I disliked that…"
Hyunbyul looked up at me resolutely.
"But you were the one who crossed the line first."
"...."
With that, I had nothing to say.
No matter the reason, it's kind of funny to get mad just because someone tries to find out your identity after you forced them to do the same.
"Hah…"
Instead of blaming Hyunbyul, I decided to do something more productive.
Like, for example—
"So how did you get into the Round Table? Did you get help from the GM?"
"Yes. I asked for help, thinking it would help uncover your identity and found a way to join."
"What about the info from the Round Table? Did you get all that from # Nоvеlight # the GM, too?"
"No. I found all that out myself."
I recalled the information the Black Mask had spilled at the Round Table.
Two pieces stood out the most.
[Besides opening the Abyssal Gate, another way to return to Earth is dimensional magic.]
[It was exactly this method Auril Garvis used to come to Earth.]
Oh, now that I think about it, there were other pieces too…
[Bjorn Yandel and… Misha Kalstein… were they really dating as rumored?]
That wasn't information, but a question asked to me at the end, so I skipped it.
'…She was almost certain from that time.'
Still, how could Hyunbyul, not even an explorer, have gotten such high-level info?
"I told you before. Lady Peprok trusts me a lot. I help her with everything and get a lot of chances to gather information."
"…I see."
It seemed possible to get such information with trust, and knowing Hyunbyul's skill, she probably handled it well on her own.
I nodded in understanding.
"Oppa."
Suddenly, Hyunbyul declared solemnly.
"I'm different from scoundrels like Ibaekho."
A bit abrupt, but I understood what she meant from her explanation.
"I have no intention of leaning on you like he does. So don't cause trouble and behave yourself."
Then she looked at me firmly.
"I'll find a way to take you back no matter what."
Just hearing that was reassuring.
But…
'I don't really want to go back…'
How should I say that…?
To sum up, I didn't say it.
Not at the beginning, and now especially, I had no desire to return to reality.
If I said it clearly, it would just cause trouble.
'…I'll say it later, later.'
Even if I delay, nothing would change.
Whether I return or not, Hyunbyul must find a way back.
"But how did the marriage proposal go? I don't know what happened in there while you were waiting to meet him."
"Ah… about that…?"
How could I explain this?
My head ached, so I just told the result.
"I refused the proposal."
"Oh… really?"
"Ask him about the details later. He seems to tell you everything."
"Indeed… lately you're more like a friend than a subordinate, huh?"
Hyunbyul said that and hurried up the conversation, worried we'd be noticed if we talked long here.
"Here, take this first."
"…What's this?"
"If we're seen meeting privately, it won't be good for either of us."
"…So what is this?"
"You'll see."
She tore a piece of paper in half and gave me one half, then wrote something with a pen on the other.
Then…
[Got it?]
The writing on her half appeared on mine, too.
"I feel like I've seen something similar in an old fantasy movie…"
"People think alike. Anyway, it takes a day for this to erase once written, so it's inconvenient for long messages."
"So we can use it to communicate meeting times and places when we need to talk."
"Yes, exactly."
It was some magical item I'd never seen before.
Curious, I asked its name, and Hyunbyul scratched her cheek.
"It's called Love Paper."
"…What?"
"Yeah, that's really its name. I heard a mage made it for dating."
"Really?"
Anyway, Love Paper…
If translated literally to the late 21st century, maybe "Love Note"?
"So that's all you have for me?"
"Yes, that's it. But I have one last thing to say."
"Spit it out quickly. I'm scared someone will come."
Looking around nervously, Hyunbyul hurried to say—
"Don't get too close to Lady Peprok."
"…Huh?"
"That woman hides a very big secret. Not just that she's the marquis's illegitimate child. Something very dangerous might happen."
Dangerous situation…
"…Understood. I'll keep an eye out."
"Well, that's all for today. I'll contact you later."
Hyunbyul disappeared deeper into the alley, and I quickly left for the sanctuary.
A few days later.
"Chief! Something came for you!"
A suspicious package arrived in my name.
No sender indicated.
But from the contents, it was easy to tell who sent it.
Black hair and black eyes.
A cheap doll without particular features, but its legs were painted black.
"Huh…"
I was so dumbfounded I pulled out the paper Hyunbyul gave me to say something.
And at the same time—
Swoosh—
On the blank paper appeared hieroglyphics no Rapdonia resident could understand.
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
… I want to die.
Several days passed after the royal council meeting, but surprisingly, no huge fallout occurred.
Maybe because of the location?
News about Ragna and my marriage proposal,
And my shocking confession there,
Did not spread to the city or the public at all.
Well, no secret lasts forever, and the news will slowly leak until those who need to know find out.
'But this side is the real mess…'
Immediately after the council ended, the labyrinth closure policy was enforced citywide.
As expected, the explorers' public opinion was poor, and extremists protested in the square, getting arrested.
Also, the commoner residents of Rabigion were more terrified than ever, evident just walking the streets.
'Well, given the Noark invasion, Viphron incident… now the labyrinth is sealed too, it's no wonder.'
Even without that, closing the labyrinth dealt a huge blow to the economy.
The value of goods would skyrocket exponentially, and consumer spending would shrink drastically.
Still, the royal family kept issuing tax cuts and new policies to reassure people daily.
But how effective that is, I don't know.
'…I'll just focus on my own duties.'
With that in mind, today I left the sanctuary to meet Melbes's sect leader, an old man.
We met alone, and I told him everything about the royal council meeting.
Though I knew it wouldn't help me much, other noble families in Melbes had different situations.
"…Thank you. The information the baron shared today will surely help navigate the upcoming chaos. I will never forget this favor and repay it."
Being a royal council attendee.
I thought maybe that's why all nobles covet this title.
Just attending and listening gives influence over other nobles, which equals power.
Like this.
"Oh, and as I said before, I won't be getting married."
"Don't worry about that. Honestly, we're grateful you pushed back the marquis's proposal."
"Then…?"
"Not immediately, but I will make sure the entire Melbes moves in your favor."
"Hmm…"
"Don't worry. This contract will be handled so the Yandel baron family gets it."
It was a bit surprising.
Just attending the royal council instantly pushed aside the dwarven count family that had handled construction business for over a thousand years, letting me take their place.
Anyway, this will make it easier to bring up the topic.
"By the way, sect leader."
"Yes?"
"I heard the Yandel baron family will be awarded the contract… isn't the current situation too chaotic?"
"Is that so?"
Seeing the sect leader's expectant look, I spoke bluntly.
"Now that we can't enter the labyrinth anymore, there's plenty of time."
When I worked at a company, I learned the laws of the world studying stock charts.
"Want to make big money with me?"
Sometimes crisis can be opportunity.
-x-X-x-
Maybe it was because I sounded too much like a scammer when making the proposal.
"Big money… you say?"
The sect leader narrowed his eyes with a skeptical voice.
If I weren't the one speaking, I'm sure he would have kicked me out immediately.
"Well, just say it. How do you plan to make big money?"
Since he allowed me to speak, I quickly added explanation before his negative image of me grew.
"This is an investment opportunity."
"…Investment? Do you have a merchant guild in mind?"
"No, it's not investing in a guild."
"Then…?"
"Invest in the land in District 7."
"Land… you say?"
The sect leader reacted as if I was spouting nonsense again, but it wasn't surprising.
I had expected as much.
In this world, buying land is not very attractive. Or more precisely, as an 'investment product,' it's not.
Land ownership is only possible for nobles…
And is basically a financial product that provides steady 'monthly rent' income.
Most nobles with spare land lease their properties and collect rent.
And they rarely profit from price appreciation.
That's only natural.
In this bizarre city where magic stones replace all resources and consumption and circulation happen simultaneously, the value of money rarely fluctuates.
So Rapdonia's real estate prices always remain stable at a high level.
But…
"As you know, the situation in District 7 is far worse than you can say. If you buy now, you can get it cheap."
"Isn't that too simple a view? Surely they know District 7 will be rebuilt within years. No one will sell at a loss."
That's true.
Most nobles would choose to hold out.
If it were a normal situation.
"Well, aren't you looking at it too simply?"
The labyrinth closure was a huge event.
And District 7 borders Viphron, which Noark forces occupy.
"I've heard many families are trying to save money and not spend lately."
Uncertainty about the future.
And anxiety from that.
I explained this clearly with confidence.
"If you look carefully, there will definitely be nobles wanting to sell. Once consumption drops sharply, noble businesses will take a big hit."
"Indeed… more people will need money urgently."
The sect leader seemed to agree with me now.
Though it didn't mean I had convinced him fully.
"But the same applies to us. Even if we buy cheap land, the investment won't pay off for a long time."
"Right."
"As you said, in these uncertain times, we don't have the luxury to wait. Neither I nor anyone else."
A sharp comment from the experienced sect leader.
Just like other noble families eager to sell land, the Melbes families were also in need of money.
So they couldn't afford long-term investments.
But…
'Looks like he's almost convinced.'
I grinned and lowered my voice.
"What if you could buy land and immediately secure that money? What then?"
For a lifelong Rapdonia native like him, this probably sounded like the delusion of a mere barbarian.
His reaction was predictable.
"That's… a meaningless assumption."
"Still, answer me. What would you do if that were true?"
Under my persistent questioning, the sect leader had no choice but to answer.
"Why ask me? If that were possible, no noble would refuse."
"Hmm, I see."
"But how could that be realistic? Buying land and still preserving your money? There's no way to get land for free."
Watching him mumble skeptically, I spoke firmly.
"There is."
Strictly speaking, it's not free land, but almost the same.
"Then tell me. What is this method?"
"Lease out the land without charging rent."
No monthly or yearly rent at all.
"What? No rent? That sounds absurd—"
Hey, stop interrupting.
"Listen to the end."
I cut him off and continued.
"You don't charge rent on purchased land. Instead, you charge a sum equivalent to the land's value and give them the right to use it freely."
The sect leader, listening seriously, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Ha! You mean proxy land purchase? That's clearly against the kingdom's land laws!"
Proxy land purchase is a method wealthy merchants or rich people use secretly to hold land.
Since there's almost no crackdown, it's rarely caught, but can cause problems if someone objects.
But…
"Strictly speaking, it's not illegal. Proxy purchase contracts must specify permanent rights to the land, but I don't plan to include such clauses."
"…Then couldn't this be interpreted that way? But who would enter like that? Just paying rent is cheaper and better."
"They will enter. Unlike proxy purchase which demands triple the price, I don't intend to take any premium at all…"
"...."
"And when the contract ends, the money is returned."
"What?!"
Unfortunately, the lifelong Rapdonia native didn't grasp this new concept at all.
"Return the money? So they rent the land free without paying rent?"
'Hmm… Is this really so hard to understand?'
The sect leader only thought this method would cause losses for us, so I had to spend more time explaining.
"Sect leader, listen carefully just once."
Even Koreans interested in real estate are divided on whether this is good or bad.
Why jeonse (long-term deposit leasing) benefits us.
My plan was simple.
Buy land in District 7 from noble families in need of money.
Then rent it out to guilds or wealthy people for a large deposit without charging rent.
And…
'Use that money to buy more land.'
Repeat the same process.
The sect leader doubted if this would work, but after persuasion, he accepted.
"Certainly… if proper buildings are erected on ruined land, it won't be hard to find tenants willing to sign contracts. Long term, it's much cheaper."
Jeonse requires a large lump sum upfront.
But if you have enough money, it's economically advantageous.
'Because you don't pay monthly rent.'
Besides, this isn't a world where banks pay interest on deposits, right?
If my guess is right, some might even take loans from banks to pay monthly rent and choose jeonse.
"I plan to coordinate this with Count Alminous, the bank president, to see if ordinary people can get loans backed by the contract for money return—."
"T-That's… nonsense…"
When the explanation was about halfway, the sect leader muttered that.
But the tone was different from before.
Before it was critical; now it was more like amazement.
"The royal family agreed to bear most of the cost for rebuilding ruined buildings!"
"Right?"
"If this plan goes well… with money enough to buy a small street, we might buy all of District 7…!"
Though a bit rigid in thinking from being local-born, the sect leader was also business-savvy, and seemed to understand the 'business' I described.
Well, not perfect in my eyes though.
"It seems you misunderstand, sect leader. My goal isn't to buy all of District 7."
"...?"
"To buy all of District 7 and then sell it later when prices rise."
"...!!!"
This was the core of the plan.
Because just buying land and renting it out at jeonse wouldn't bring me any benefit.
If land prices don't rise, I'd only lose money.
But if prices rise, the profits could be huge.
"Sect leader, you know too, right? Once the situation calms and District 7 normalizes, prices will return to previous levels."
This was a surefire win.
If only the Noark bastards don't come out beyond the walls again and wipe out District 7.
'Uh…'
That really won't happen, right?
I shook off the anxious thought.
"Anyway, think about it, viscount. How much do you think we'd make then?"
"...…What can I do to help?"
'Okay, that look tells me no more persuasion is needed…'
I honestly told him everything I needed.
This plan was impossible to execute without the active support of this sect leader.
From finding nobles willing to sell land, to funds for purchase, to capital to hold until buildings go up and tenants come…
Everything required his help.
Since I don't have many connections, I'd get stuck at finding sellers.
"Once again, don't buy unless you're sure not to sell cheap. There's no sane person besides us trying to buy land now."
"Don't worry about that. I've done countless negotiations like that."
Yes, this was it.
A family with thousands of years of history, their network.
And seasoned political and business negotiation skills. I expected the sect leader to handle things as hoped.
"However, it's hard to make such a big decision now. [N O V E L I G H T] I'll think more and contact you."
Though he tried to back out subtly at the end, I nodded coolly.
I could tell his eyes were already turned.
"Do so."
Surely I'll hear from him soon.
**
Creating the jeonse system in Rapdonia.
It was sure to bring me definite profit.
My only worry was whether such capitalist moves might look too evil…
'It's not even a special technique; jeonse is something anyone can think of.'
Of course, Koreans familiar with jeonse might be suspicious of my move.
But…
'There are only three Koreans here anyway.'
Ibaekho, Hyunbyul, and me.
Though there might be others hiding somewhere in this world…
That risk was worth taking.
I wasn't the same me who trembled before the evil spirit hunters of the secret security agency.
Now I had at least the minimum means to protect myself.
Above all, I had laid some insurance.
"Is this all really your idea, Baron Yandel?"
"Of course not! Our chief administrative officer came up with this! Building houses at the sanctuary made his mind work that way!"
"Administrative officer Shabin Emur, you mean?"
"Yes. He was recently promoted."
"...I just don't get it. Is it luck these talented people gather around Baron Yandel? Or do they shine because they are by his side?"
There was a hint of envy mixed in the sect leader's gaze, making me slightly embarrassed.
But a seasoned warrior never misses any opportunity.
"Well, we'll see which it is directly."
I smiled and added a closing remark.
"You're one of my people now."
Surprisingly, emotional words like that work well on elders who have seen all kinds of hardship.
-x-X-x-
After finishing my talk with the sect leader, I went to find the dwarf after a long time.
"Hikurod Murad."
"Bjooorrn! Why only now…? Why did you only come now…? I've sent so many letters…!"
The dwarf's reaction to our reunion was more intense than ever. Understandably so — his forge had suffered from the recent chaos and he was out of work.
That's why we were meeting at the Commelby Inn lobby, a place neither of us was used to.
"Sorry. I wanted to come earlier, but I was busy."
"Busy? You've been back over a month!"
"Yeah, busy, I said."
"...."
Honestly, I could have made time anytime, but kept postponing until now.
'Looks like most of the assets, including the Mistium I entrusted, were preserved intact.'
So it wasn't that dire?
According to the letters, as soon as the trouble began, despite the chaos, they managed to take all important assets and evacuate.
Though, they couldn't avoid losing the forge.
"So, Hikurod, how have you been?"
"Hmph… I'm keeping an eye on things for now. I considered using all my connections to repair the forge… but as you know, no business will run well reopening the forge now. So I'm thinking maybe I'll start fresh in Commelby."
"And?"
"Recently, average monthly rents in Commelby and other districts shot up. Seems many share my thoughts. I heard from a merchant I know that the number of explorers wanting to open shops is increasing dramatically."
Oh, that was new info to me.
Maybe because people from Districts 7 and 13 are flowing into other districts, combined with the labyrinth closure?
'…Even the noble landowners must be desperate for money.'
The saying that in chaotic times the commoners suffer is exactly right.
"So, before making any decision, I wanted to hear your thoughts… Do you know how this situation will turn out?"
…By the way, was the dwarf always this small?
His discreet tone was like a stock expert asking for hot tips.
Well, I suppose he thought as a noble, I might know something.
"I don't know when it will end."
"Hmph… I thought so…"
"But if you plan to reopen the forge, do it in District 7 as soon as possible."
"Why?"
"Reconstruction will start soon. Even just supplying rebar and shovels will let you break even. Maybe I can funnel work your way."
When I told him I would participate in the bidding representing Melbes, his expression changed.
He knew that government-related business always made big money.
"Ah! Then I must hurry! Trust me! I'll work hard!"
"But there's no need to rush now."
"Huh…? No need to rush?"
Seeing him tilt his head, I took the chance to explain the 'jeonse' system.
"What? There's a way to lease without paying monthly rent?!"
"Yes. If you buy land soon, just sign contracts as I explained. Until then, just think about how to build."
I patted his shoulder, knowing he had suffered recently. Tears welled in his eyes.
"Bjorn…! Even though we're close, this is such a huge favor…! Thank you! Truly thank you!"
People in this world are really naive.
Our conversation went on.
Though he had become a merchant, he asked me all sorts of questions about exploring the labyrinth's first basement floor.
Ah, I guess anyone living in this city would be curious.
Anyway.
"On the first basement floor is a silver sea. Above it float items abandoned when the labyrinth closed."
The dwarf had a light mouth, so I avoided secret info and focused on things he could share.
But…
"A silver sea… If that friend had seen it, he might have liked it."
"He would have liked it even if it wasn't really a sea. He was so curious."
"Yeah…"
Suddenly, the dwarf's joyful eyes grew somber.
He stared blankly as if recalling his youth over drinks.
"Bjorn, what do you think?"
"What do you mean?"
"If… that incident hadn't happened, do you think I'd still be exploring?"
His voice was filled with deep regret and sorrow.
I hesitated to answer, then jokingly said,
"Maybe, but even then, you wouldn't have gone exploring with me."
"Huh?"
"I'm not the kind to drag along a lagging companion."
The dwarf chuckled.
"A lagging companion… I can't argue seeing you now. I would have struggled to keep up. Maybe your friend though."
"Well, honestly, Dwalke, I think you had more potential than him."
"Ha, really? Anyway, either way, we would have followed you."
"No, what have you been hearing? They never intended to accept me."
"That friend is joking. You're not the kind to abandon comrades."
Joking, huh.
Actually, just before the incident, I was thinking of disbanding the half-assed team.
That's why I regretted so much later.
I should have made that decision sooner.
"...."
After a brief silence, the dwarf brought up a new topic.
"But it's relieving to have all the forge destroyed."
"Relieving? Do you have a headache?"
"Not exactly. It's just that it feels like your friend is pushing me forward. Telling me to leave the past behind and move on."
That made me involuntarily solemn.
Come to think of it, that forge was originally Dwalke's home.
Later, the dwarf spoke of plans to build a bigger, better-equipped forge.
And how much time passed?
"I don't know why I talk so much when I see you. Sorry. But can I ask one last thing?"
"Of course."
"What do you think your friend would say if he saw you now?"
"...?"
"Not an explorer or a blacksmith… but just a mere merchant. Would he think it pathetic?"
His trembling voice made me chuckle despite myself.
Sorry for joking at such a serious moment.
"He'd probably think it's pathetic."
"…I thought you thought—"
"I'd say that's a useless worry."
Curious what nonsense he'd say next, I started wrapping up as time had passed.
Then, standing up,
"Oh, and this must not be known yet."
I whispered in the dwarf's ear.
"Spirit Slayer, Rigal Baggos."
"...!"
At the name, he flinched like a trauma was triggered.
That reaction wiped away my lingering hesitation.
"Don't worry about him anymore."
The fewer who know the secret, the better.
But this guy deserved to hear it.
"He's no longer in this world."
Maybe he never showed it but deeply hoped for this inside.
And that hope was basically fulfilled.
"I see..."
Still, the dwarf only remained silent after that.
Why he was like that.
How I knew that fact.
Did you?
Not a word.
As if understanding my situation.
After a long silence, the only word he finally spoke was,
"…Thanks."
At that, I awkwardly turned my back.
"...…Thanks."
I still had many debts to repay.
As expected, it didn't take long to hear back from the sect leader.
About four days.
That was enough time to return home and sort my thoughts, then contact him.
'He said he'll start scouting for nobles selling land tomorrow, so I can leave that part to him…'
After his reply, I arranged a meeting with Count Alminous.
"Truly a brilliant idea. Shabin Emur, was it? Why did I only learn of such talent now?"
Regardless of wanting to covet our administrative officer.
We smiled amicably and took a photo, then the count gave advice on the clauses for the jeonse contract I devised.
And…
"If these clauses are mandatory in the contract, good. Using your 'deposit' as collateral, people would get loans treated like regular secured loans."
He gave a firm answer about today's visit.
Honestly, I felt a bit uneasy.
Was I too surprised by how smoothly things were going?
So I asked around subtly, and surprisingly, Count Alminous answered openly.
"Do you think the business will succeed? Honestly, it's fifty-fifty. The business suits the times, but also the times make nothing certain."
"Hmm…"
"With big gains come big losses if it fails. My house currently lacks the means for such investment."
Up to here, I didn't fully understand.
"Then wouldn't it make sense not to approve the collateral loan?"
Getting collateral loans from Alminous Bank
Essentially, the count shared the same risk with me.
Why then did he choose this?
"I judged there was no risk of loss."
"…Why?"
"Because you're involved."
The count's gaze was so blatant it made me instinctively cover my chest with both hands.
"If the business fails, you'll owe me a huge debt."
"...."
"I'm just judging from a businessman's perspective. I believe you can repay that debt safely."
"...."
"Even if it takes a lifetime."
That last phrase cleared my doubts.
"Oh..."
Even if I lose money, I'll be his lifelong slave, so it's worth it.
A chill ran down my spine.
But…
"How about it? Do you still want my help?"
"Of course."
Without hesitation, I nodded, and the count burst into a hearty laugh.
"I knew you'd say that. But once you get used to it, these talks become much easier."
"What do you mean?"
"Conversations like these. No hiding, no dragging it out, saves time and energy. Efficient. I wish everyone else was like you…"
Having lived a life full of schemes and manipulation, the count found this barbarian-style business refreshing and pleasing.
"Well, I'll be going now."
"Not even having a meal?"
"I ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) have another appointment!"
"Ha ha, come next time free. I surprisingly enjoy talking with you."
"Alright."
After finishing with the count, I headed straight to the chancellor's mansion.
"Baron Yandel…?"
The butler looked very surprised to see me suddenly.
"Excuse me, but the Marquis did not notify me of any visit…"
Well, who else but me would come unannounced in this noble world?
Especially targeting the second highest noble family.
"Don't look so apologetic. Of course, you wouldn't get notice."
"…Yes?"
"Is the marquis home?"
"H-He is out on official business."
"Oh, then I'll wait inside. Please show me in!"
"W-Well, the marquis is busy with state affairs and we don't know when he'll return. It's better to set another appointment and come back later—."
What nonsense.
I was about to make an appointment anyway, but since all had ignored me, I came directly.
"That's enough! The marquis and I don't care about such formalities! I'll wait inside comfortably!"
I pushed past the baffled butler and entered.
With things unfolding this way, the butler reluctantly accepted me as a guest.
And…
One day, two days, three days…
Well, I hadn't planned to wait this long, but whatever.
I ignored the butler's pleas to leave.
From the second day, they stopped serving me meals, so I survived on jerky, silently enduring all the knights' interference trying to force me out.
"Ha… I don't have much time, so speak quickly. What's your business to go this far?"
Finally, the marquis appeared.
-x-X-x-
The Chancellor of Rapdonia, Marquis Terserion, sighed deeply the moment he saw me.
Such behavior—sighing right in someone's face—is generally considered rude in noble circles, but maybe because it was me, the heir of the nation, this old man no longer cared.
"Won't you speak?"
"May I ask just one question first?"
"Go ahead."
"Why have you been avoiding me all this time?"
Admittedly, it was a somewhat weak line even by my own standards, but I felt I had to ask it face to face.
"Avoiding? What do you mean?"
"I tried to arrange meetings saying I wanted to see you, but you ignored all my messages."
If the Marquis wasn't intentionally avoiding me, it was impossible to understand his behavior.
Was he playing some kind of game of push and pull?
Just recently, he had given me a seat at the royal council and even showed interest in marrying off his ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don't copy, read here) own daughter.
The truth I heard from the Marquis was very simple.
"I was busy."
"Busy to the point you couldn't even reply?"
"I didn't even know you tried to contact me. For the past few days, I've been stuck inside the palace."
Looking at the Marquis again, I noticed deep fatigue under his eyes that he clearly couldn't hide.
Maybe that was why his voice sounded sharper and more sensitive than usual.
"I heard even your steward explained this to you?"
"Uh…"
I had heard the explanation, but never thought it would be genuine rather than an excuse.
Embarrassed, I kept silent, and the Marquis looked at me as if incredulous.
"You're strange too. You come looking for me accusing me of avoiding you. Isn't that a bit arrogant?"
"…Huh?"
"Don't think everyone will drop everything just because you want to meet."
"Alright, I apologize this time."
"Not an apology. Promise me. Don't come looking for me like this again. Some rudeness can be excused as cultural difference, but this is outright disrespect."
"…I said I understand."
Maybe because I came in a pitiful state, his stern words scared me into silence.
'…I wonder why he's been so busy lately.'
Why would the Marquis commuting from Hwangdo Karnon be so busy that he couldn't leave the palace for days?
I was curious but never asked, as he never gave me the chance.
"Now, tell me your business. I can't waste any more of my precious rest."
Having seen him emphasize his tiredness and lack of time several times during our short talk, I got straight to the point.
"I came to ask that the reconstruction of District 7 be assigned to our Yandel family."
Maybe because I was so shameless, or because no one expected someone like me to make a request.
"…Huh?"
The Marquis gave an incredulous exhale and asked,
"Is this really necessary? I don't know what tricks you used, but I've already heard Melbes picked you as their representative."
That was true.
With Melbes' backing, I wasn't likely to lose in a legitimate bidding competition.
But business is business.
"There is a sure way to handle it, so why not take that route?"
"I agree with your way of thinking, but…"
The Marquis frowned.
"I cannot agree with your attitude of coming just to reclaim what's been entrusted."
This was a side of him I had never seen before.
Even when joking about smashing my head earlier, he hadn't sounded this irritated.
'Did I come at the worst possible time?'
Regret came too late, but I tried to think positively.
What else could I do?
Had I waited too long, I might never have gotten the chance to meet and talk like this.
"Tell me, why should I grant your request?"
I responded brazenly with consistent shamelessness.
"Consider it a gift for my lifelong bachelorhood."
"A gift for being single…?"
The Marquis tilted his head, puzzled by a word he had never heard before.
That's old people for you.
"Since I'll never marry, isn't a little gift the least you can give me?"
Before I was brought here, our society had cases like that.
After all, single people are unfairly treated, right?
They give wedding money but never get any in return.
"…"
The Marquis paused, seemingly considering my logic.
Though it sounded like a stretch, as the one who blocked my marriage, he couldn't just brush it off.
"You have a point."
Luckily, the Marquis understood the give-and-take principle well.
"But I can't just decide state affairs on my own. What to do…"
He muttered as if troubled, but I didn't sympathize.
This Marquis was a power-hungry old monster who did whatever he pleased as the nation's second-in-command.
His complaints were just grease to smooth the way before the main topic.
Like this.
"Ah, how about this?"
Sure enough, he offered a compromise soon after.
"I'll give you a fair chance to compete."
"A chance…?"
"Actually, five families including yours are the top candidates under consideration. But your chances are extremely slim."
I had expected as much.
Yandel family had never shown anything about construction before.
Without Melbes' support, we wouldn't even be among the candidates.
I didn't try to wait quietly and meet the Marquis because I knew that well.
"So? What exactly do you mean by giving a chance?"
"Exactly as I said. I'll lay the stage, so you prove your qualifications yourself."
How exactly would he 'lay the stage'?
It was hard to picture, but hearing his explanation was truly astonishing.
"To summarize… the five families gather and have a building contest?"
"Well, it's not exactly a contest. It will be more like a demonstration in front of people showing what each family does well and their strengths."
Sounds like the same thing, but his following words gave me some relief.
"I'll ensure you produce some results so my reputation isn't ruined. Then the contract will go to the Yandel family."
It felt strange.
Though it fizzled out somehow, I recalled Melbes once tried something similar with a dwarf family.
"Alright, let me know when the date's fixed."
…Who knew construction labor competitions would become a thing?
After finishing with the Marquis, I returned to the sanctuary, where our chief administrative officer was still working late with the lights on.
Hmm, or was it?
"Shabin, what are you reading so hard?"
"Oh… it's a letter. The branch manager of Alminous Bank is asking if I want to transfer there… It's strange, I don't even know the person…"
What was that?
Could it be the Count Alminous sending a scouting offer?
'This old man…'
"Just ignore it. He's probably a scammer."
"…That really hurts my pride all of a sudden."
"Just your imagination."
"So, what's the reason for coming at this hour?"
"Do I only come when there's something?"
"Yes. I know you usually avoid this place because you think I'll make you work."
Oh… she already knew everything.
Feeling embarrassed, I quickly got to the point.
"I just had a talk with the Chancellor."
"…The Chancellor?"
"Why do you look at me like that?"
"Just saying, that kind of person is impressive, but…"
Shabin hesitated awkwardly, but today wasn't the day for such talk.
After sharing the conversation with the Marquis, I declared that tomorrow I would personally assess our warriors' labor skills.
"Tomorrow… really…?"
Shabin's trembling voice carried a certain intensity, so I hurriedly explained.
"You don't have to call many. But don't just call the best — call them all so you can get an average."
"Hmm… that's not too hard then."
"No need to be too worried. Just want to see their skills and analyze what else to prepare."
"Got it. I'll prepare accordingly."
Okay, I'll see for myself tomorrow then…
After finishing, I talked more with Shabin about our tribal work, then secretly went back to my temporary quarters and fell asleep.
The next morning…
"Ooooooh!"
"The strongest warrior of the tribe is here to see our skills!!"
"It's time to show off my strength!"
"Behe—laaaaaaah!"
For some reason, from early morning, the barbarians gathered enthusiastically for the test.
It was completely unexpected.
I wasn't even there to watch fighting skills.
'Since when did they get so serious about construction?'
Curious, I asked Ainard quietly and got an unexpected answer. Or rather…
"It's thanks to the administrative officer's brainwashing."
As tribe chief, I couldn't ignore that word.
"Brainwashing?"
"Shabin said with proper rewards and constant praise, even goblin beliefs can be changed."
I wondered what that meant, so I listened more.
It seemed Shabin worked hard to change the warriors' mindset.
She gave them rewards after tasks, praised them highly in front of everyone, and fulfilled their desire for recognition.
'Fulfilling the need for approval…'
She nailed exactly what drove barbarians wild.
Why do warriors get so hyped about strength? It's not just because strength is important in daily life…
At its core, it's because their need for recognition is fulfilled.
Because everyone recognizes the strong, our warriors sweat and bleed every day.
"I'm not sure, but recently we even had a fast-building competition! The winner gets more popularity from the opposite sex, but I found it tough!"
"…"
"Too bad! If I hadn't entered the labyrinth and learned building skills, I'd be better!"
Even Ainard was mixing up priorities, so no need to explain how high construction's status was in the tribe…
'Is this good or bad…?'
As chief, I worried a bit but tried to focus on the positive.
If building skills develop, there will be ways to make a living besides being a warrior.
More options is always good.
'…Maybe I can actually expect something here?'
I watched from afar as Shabin Emur prepared a demo building project, evaluating our warriors' skills.
"I can carry three rebars!!"
"No, I can do four!!"
For carrying ability.
"Behe—laaaah!"
For speed.
"What are you doing?! Just stick it in roughly!"
For detail.
"…Kirita, second son of Mwolka! This window doesn't fit here. What should I do?!"
For advanced technique.
"Keep it up! If we finish today, the chief will pay 10,000 stones each!"
For labor cost.
Some notable points:
They can only build rectangular structures.
Don't know how to make round roofs.
Work fast but often make mistakes.
Can't read blueprints at all…
'Is this it…?'
Seeing clear flaws as well as strengths, I licked my lips.
"Ugh…"
…What should I do now?
-x-X-x-
After a comprehensive evaluation and much deliberation, I decided to ask for help from the Goldbeard Count family.
After all, I was representing Melves in the competition hosted by the Marquis.
There was no reason to rely solely on barbarians to compete.
In fact, once we won the contract, all of Melves' construction-related businesses would cooperate on the project.
"The problem is that man's pride…"
Because the chairman had unilaterally made the Yandel Baron family the representatives of Melves.
That situation worried me, in case something unexpected happened, but fortunately, the Goldbeard Count dispatched experts the very same day I made the request.
Like a true noble, he valued practical benefit over pride.
Even if the Yandel Barons became the core, everyone would share the additional ripple effects.
"Hahaha! How is it! This is the house we built!"
"Surprisingly… it's not bad at all…"
The construction technicians sent initially looked down on the barbarians as having nothing to do with building, but seeing their work speed and the results, their expressions turned to admiration.
"The technique is crude, but since they're all former explorers with strong bones, they're overwhelmingly powerful when it comes to physical labor."
"If they take on simple tasks that require no skill but take a long time…"
"The working hours will definitely be drastically reduced!"
Without hesitation, the dispatched technicians began dividing roles.
Simple manual labor was assigned to the barbarians.
Tasks requiring construction knowledge or craftsmanship were for the dwarves.
It was regrettable as the tribal chief that the warriors couldn't learn skills by watching over the shoulder…
But for now, this was the most efficient way.
Winning the competition was the urgent priority.
"The speed is fast, but they rely a bit too much on brute strength."
"They won't last long like this, not even for a few days."
"Training is necessary."
The technicians who identified the barbarians' biggest problems immediately started special training to fix them.
"Watch carefully. When lifting rebar, grip tightly here, then use your back strength here… like this!"
"Oh…!"
"When putting it down, first lower this part at this angle. How is it? It's smooth even without much effort, right?"
"Ohhh…!"
"When raising a pillar, it's better to have two people, but if you must do it alone, follow this posture."
"Ohhh…!!"
The dwarves shared their hard-earned know-how from the construction field, and the barbarians eagerly learned.
From what I saw, their learning speed wasn't bad.
Maybe not so much in other areas, but as for physical work, they were naturally gifted.
"Not there, use the strength on this side—"
"Oh! So that's how it's done?"
"…Exactly! That's the way…"
After roughly setting the training curriculum, we discussed and finalized the work methods with the technicians.
The decided method was one dwarf technician acting as foreman, supervising ten barbarians on site…
'Someday, our barbarians will be able to do everything on their own.'
That's how it usually goes in any technical field.
Starting with menial work and gradually learning step by step.
Eventually, becoming an expert.
"Tomorrow, I will report to the Count so that more technicians can be dispatched. We can't handle this many people alone."
"Thanks."
"So, could you tell me more details about the competition hosted by the Prime Minister? We need to prepare accordingly."
After explaining how the competition would be conducted, I entrusted the entire preparation to the dwarves, trusting their professionalism.
"…I appreciate the trust, but is it really okay to leave such an important matter entirely to us?"
"Because it's important, I'm entrusting it to you. You're the best experts in this field."
"…The Baron is quite different from what I heard. I will do my best to meet your expectations."
"I'm counting on you."
It may seem like I've left everything to the dwarves, but in reality, I just delegated part of it.
There was already a mountain of other tasks to do.
"Shabin, I'm going to the city then."
Phew… when will I get all this done?
Raphdonia is a barbaric city that treats human life lightly but surprisingly modern in some aspects.
There's a bank, although no interest is given.
Beneath the city lies a huge water supply and sewage system.
Since magic exists, there are everyday items impossible with just science, which can be surprising at times.
Anyway, putting that aside…
As expected from Raphdonia's strong public authority, starting a business requires a series of preparations.
It's impossible to just buy land, build, and trade however you want.
Especially in my complicated case.
'Fortunately, this time the approval was granted.'
After Shabin Emur helped with preparations, the business application, rejected twice, was finally approved today.
It was rare for a noble with a confirmed identity to receive approval with such difficulty, but there was no way around it.
"Congratulations on establishing the Yandel Trading Company. To reiterate, the maximum number of registered employees is 10,000…"
It was unusual to start a business at such a large scale.
Naturally, there were many things to review and numerous documents to submit.
But starting small was impossible.
First, the barbarians had to be registered as employees to be put to work.
The dwarves, having their own companies, could be subcontracted, but…
Our barbarians had no such system.
No, in all history, none ever existed.
'The first company founded by barbarians…'
Though it became a new achievement somehow, that was a minor point.
Over several days, after registering the warriors as employees, I started caring for the Viphron residents.
It would be wasteful to leave so many people idle.
I was already covering their taxes and living expenses.
"Shabin, from today, teach all the young men construction work."
"Huh? I'm already doing that."
"…Is that so?"
"It's not a common opportunity. I told them to watch and learn carefully from the dwarves' technicians. If someday they can take over that role, that would be the best."
"And what about the women?"
"The women are already working behind the scenes on site. They even prepared all the meals distributed yesterday."
I had nothing to say.
The instructions I was about to give were already underway.
"Oh, and thanks to the education, most children can read. When there's time, we'll provide proper education and have them take on office work."
"…I see."
Suddenly, I remembered what the chairman once said to me.
[I can't tell. Are those talents lucky to be gathered around Baron Yandel, or did they shine because they were with the Baron?]
Honestly, I didn't feel much then.
After all, I was the one who actually devised the 'leasehold' system.
But now I seriously reconsider the matter.
Which is Shabin? The former or the latter?
I pondered but concluded it's meaningless to distinguish.
Meeting Shabin, who is so capable, was my fortune.
Giving that Shabin a position and removing restrictions so they could do anything was my doing.
"Uh… are you angry about something?"
While thinking that, Shabin suddenly asked out of the blue.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"No, your expression stiffened, so I wondered. Maybe I pushed ahead with things without permission—"
"Don't worry, not at all. The stiff expression was because I'm glad I brought you here."
"…That's a relief."
Shabin, usually composed, suddenly spoke shyly with a rare smile.
"I also think it was the right choice…."
"…Hmm?"
"Though busy, I'm glad I quit my old job to follow you, Yandel. There… are many good people here…"
No wonder the expression looked like a girl's.
"For example, someone like Rotmiller?"
I chuckled, and Shabin's eyes widened in surprise.
"Eek? How did you know?!"
"I didn't. Until just now."
"…!"
Shabin made a distressed face and covered their mouth.
Then after a long silence.
"You have to keep it a secret… okay? Otherwise, I'll quit everything—administration, office, everything."
That was the most terrifying threat I'd heard.
"O-of course. I'll keep it secret, don't worry."
"Good… then."
"But why keep it secret? It looks like Rotmiller is interested in you—"
"Really?! Did Rotmiller say he likes me?"
"Not said, felt! I just felt that way!"
"…What, you're not messing with me?"
Now that I think about it, it wasn't just a vibe.
Whether Rotmiller feels that or not, Shabin seemed to have moved straight into unrequited love…
'I've never seen this side before.'
I felt unfamiliar watching this strange side.
Knock knock.
There was a knock at the door, and Shabin quickly fixed their hair.
"Why are you doing that?"
"It's Rotmiller knocking!"
"…Hmm?"
"…Shall I let him in?"
After Shabin composed their voice, the door slowly opened and Rotmiller indeed came in.
"Yandel? You here too?"
"Ah, just for °• N 𝑜 v l i g h t •° a bit of work. I was just about to leave."
"It's rare, so come chat for a bit—"
"I'm busy. We'll talk later, just the two of you!"
I escaped from the office as if running away.
'…They'll manage somehow.'
No matter how I think about it, I'm not one to meddle in someone else's love life.
Time always flies.
Isn't that right?
No matter how busy or relaxed I was, looking back, it always passed in an instant.
This time was no different.
'Why am I busier than when I was in the labyrinth…'
I met the noble introduced by the former chairman turned real estate agent, got summoned by Count Alminos for business coordination, and investigated how other families preparing to participate in the Marquis's competition were doing.
If we won the contract, we had to decide how to split profits with the Goldbeard Count family and other cooperating families.
"Sir, are you awake?"
"Hurry up and get ready. We'll be late."
Days without proper sleep passed quickly, and dawn came.
The day had come.
"Ah! Today's the day, isn't it?"
"Yeah! The day to show the world our warriors' innate superiority!"
As I prepared and headed to the meeting place, I saw warriors gathered in the open field, holding shovels.
Ninety barbarians and ten dwarves.
The top 100 elite carefully selected by competition rules from among our warriors.
'What a reassuring and gallant sight.'
Seeing each person's fierce eyes, I said nothing more.
"What are you waiting for? Grab your tools."
I'd wanted to say that line at least once.
-x-X-x-
A roar erupted from all sides like a raging storm—a sound I had never heard even on the day of the improvement meal.
"Waaaaaahhhhh—!!!"
…How many people are here, anyway?
No matter which direction I looked—east, west, south, or north—there were only people, people, and more people. Because of that, even the barbarians seemed to be tensing their shoulders and back muscles excessively.
'I didn't expect this event to be this huge…'
I had heard from the marquis that the scale would be large, but seeing it with my own eyes and feeling it on my skin made it a whole different reality.
'This is no joke.'
Amid chaotic international affairs and an uncertain future.
Perhaps because this was a rare entertainment event born in such times?
The marquis's extensive publicity certainly helped, but I believe these combined factors made this event a huge success.
Well, the event itself was interesting, too.
I mean, who wouldn't be curious if those noble families with construction skills were competing?
"You're handsome!! Bjorn Yandel…!!"
"Kyaaaaahhh!"
Still, I felt a bit awkward since I didn't expect such a festival-like atmosphere.
Well, I didn't plan to stand stiff like a wooden statue and leave.
「Character has cast [Transcendence].」
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
I shouted at the top of my lungs, inflating my body to be clearly visible even to the distant audience.
"Behe—laaaaaaaaaaa—!!!"
The cheers covering the entire stage cut through the noise made by tens of thousands of spectators.
As expected, the reaction was explosive.
"Waaaaaahhhhh—!!!"
"Kyaaaaahhhhhhh!!"
"It's the giant!!"
The passionate cheers echoed back.
「Character's fame increased by +1.」
「Character's fame increased by +1.」
「Character's fame increased by +1.」
「Character's fame increased······.」
「······.」
Hmm, maybe my fame went up a bit?
I couldn't read the system log, so I wasn't sure, but even if it didn't rise, it didn't matter.
Since I was already playing the clown, I might as well give a proper fan service.
Everyone's going through hard times, after all.
We need something to enjoy.
"Now, all the technicians from the Yandel Barony have completed their entrance!"
As I and the technicians took our places, the MC naturally began the event.
A brief introduction of the five families, the purpose of this competition, and the details on how the competition would be conducted.
'Please let it be something easy…'
After the rough explanation ended, the drawing started immediately.
Each family drew a ball to decide the test theme for this competition…
"The first box contains balls with the number of floors the building must have today. I wonder what the result will be…!"
Unfortunately, the first to draw was Viscount Kiembrota, who pulled the number 4.
"Four floors! The technicians must build a four-story building for today's competition. Right from the start, it's a very difficult setting!"
Considering five floors was the maximum, this was basically like getting a four-star difficulty.
"The second box contains the main building materials that must be used today."
There are two main types: stone buildings and wooden buildings.
But if you go into details, there are many different materials: bricks, synthetic clay, logs, wooden boards…
"Reinforced stone!"
"Huh…!"
As soon as the material was announced, groans erupted here and there.
That's because reinforced stone is the hardest material to handle.
It's heavy and difficult to process physically.
But…
'This might actually be good for us.'
If the material had been something like synthetic clay—which behaves like cement in this world—that would have been even more difficult.
Barbarians can't handle such delicate work.
Anyway, the drawing proceeded quickly, and soon the test theme was fully decided.
A four-story building made of reinforced stone.
"The third box's ball… is 8!"
Each floor must have at least eight windows…
"A residential building! It's a residential building!"
The building's purpose is residential, not commercial.
And…
"The ball you, Baron Yandel, will draw now contains the artistic theme of the building to be constructed. By the way, some balls contain traits like elegance, softness, and imposing nature, which will be major judgment criteria… Ah! The ball just came out!"
The building's theme is…
"Happiness! Happiness!"
…Tsk.
For some reason, the theme that is the furthest from me came out.
The total construction period for this competition is three days.
Considering it's a four-story building, the schedule is extremely tight…
'Maybe it has to be that way to be properly evaluated.'
Since they're all professionals, if given plenty of time, everyone would build a complete building.
Then it would only be an artistic evaluation event.
'What matters is how well you build a decent building in a short time.'
"Let's start by digging the ground! Whatever four-story building you build, you have to do foundation work first!"
As the competition started, I had the warriors start digging while I gathered with the technicians for a brief discussion.
"If we modify the blueprints we prepared a bit, I think it'll work. What do you all think?"
"I think it's better to base it on this blueprint."
"The theme is happiness, right? Even if it means fewer rooms, wouldn't it be better to make the rooms bigger?"
The discussion about the test proceeded quickly.
Listening quietly, I felt everyone was obsessed with the theme of 'happiness.'
"Do you think just making it big will make people happy? It needs to give off a comfortable atmosphere!"
"Nah, I think it's better to create a cool layout that everyone envies."
"Hey! Let's decorate the kid's room nicely."
People's feelings about happiness differ.
So, to me, those worries were pointless.
'It's an art score from the start, isn't it?'
To me, it all comes down to interpretation.
Isn't there a saying? The most important skill in modern art is persuasion.
And from that perspective.
"How about this structure?"
"…Huh? Anyone can see this is far from happiness."
When I proposed a new structure, the technicians tilted their heads.
But after I explained why I chose this structure and gave my artistic interpretation, they reluctantly agreed.
Though it sounded like sophistry, it made some sense.
"Sure… even if it doesn't get an art score, this method will be rated highly."
"The goal of this competition isn't to build a beautiful building anyway."
"Besides, I heard that on the last day, the audience's evaluation also counts… maybe we'll get a high score then."
Maybe because I'm the overall head of this competition?
After I asserted myself a bit more strongly, the technicians, though looking uncertain, accepted the decision.
"…So, this blueprint is the final decision?"
"Do it. I like it very much."
After about an hour of discussion, the blueprint was completed, and the basic excavation finished just in time.
"Warriors, start carrying the materials!"
"We're working on the sewage system!"
"The structure is simple for the competition, so it'll be done quickly!"
Then the dwarf technicians started sewer construction, while the barbarians tirelessly carried materials.
Almost as if competing, they worked passionately.
"Carrying two of those big ones at once…?"
"Hey! That one is carrying three!"
"That one is running…"
"Oh! Look! Four! Someone is carrying four… Ah! They all dropped them…"
Excited by the crowd's attention for the first time, they overexerted themselves, making lots of noise, but I expected that.
I had no intention of reprimanding them.
Soon, they wouldn't act like that anymore.
As construction officially began, the massive crowd noticeably thinned at a rapid pace.
"They're revealing the finished building the day after tomorrow, right?"
"I'll have to come back then."
No matter how noble or competitive the event is, the essence is still a construction site.
"Oh! People are leaving!"
"Could it be because we're bad?"
"Five! This time we'll try five! So don't leave and keep watching!"
The warriors tried even harder to keep the crowd, but as the entertainment ran out, most of the crowd, having enjoyed enough, left without hesitation.
"Ah, ah… everyone left…!"
"I, I'm not worthy of being a warrior…!"
Suddenly, their motivation dropped drastically.
Since the warriors' spirits were down, I had no choice but to intervene.
"It's normal for most people to leave around now, so don't worry! The second and third days will be closed to the public anyway!"
"Oh, so it's not because we're bad that they left?!"
"Of course not! So work hard! When you show the finished building on the morning of the fourth day, the crowd will be packed again! Will you disappoint them?"
"Nooo!"
"Behe—laaaaaa—!!"
Okay, that's enough mental care…
Afterwards, I observed other families' construction and waited nearby, ready to advise if there was any feedback for our work.
But what was this?
"I've never seen a barbarian doing construction before."
"I wonder if it'll collapse on the last day."
I saw workers from other families whispering nearby, full of disdain and prejudice toward the barbarians.
"We did it! Successfully carried four at once!!"
Luckily, our barbarians were too focused on their work to hear it…
"Tch, construction isn't just about brute strength."
"Haha, don't blame them too much for their ignorance. They're poor souls who have no way to make money in their tribe, so they came all this way."
The comments gradually grew harsher.
It wasn't anger I felt, but confusion.
'What on earth do these boneless fools think they're doing?'
What if young warriors hear this and throw down their shovels?
Are they hiding some secret strength?
But watching them carry materials, that didn't seem likely…
"Ahem!"
I cleared my throat sharply; the whispering workers were startled and returned to their spots.
Fearing an accident might happen, I kept watch to keep other workers away.
And time flew by in an instant…
One day, two days, three days.
"The work is finished. Until tomorrow's judging, no ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ one is to touch it, and any cheating will result in immediate disqualification, according to the Marquis."
At the stroke of midnight on the third day, the construction was exactly finished, and the exhausted workers collapsed on the ground.
Our warriors were no different.
They hadn't slept properly for three days but worked hard, and got results matching their effort.
"But… even now, I wonder if this is really okay."
"Isn't this the Baron's order? Let's not think about it."
The dwarf technicians still looked uncertain.
Anyway.
Shaaahhhh—
Strong wind and sharp rain soaked the dust-filled construction site.
"Good work, everyone! I think we've clearly won over there!"
"I didn't expect such an unrefined building to come out of such a big competition…"
"Haha! That was their best, wasn't it?"
I didn't rebut the workers from other families mocking the building made by our warriors.
The calm before the storm.
Whether they're right or we are, the results will tell.
-x-X-x-