Chapter 4
Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: A New Beginning
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My name is Elwin.
I'm a transmigrator in another world.
My position is Frontier Heir.
And my job is farmer.
"Farmer..."
After getting the job, I spent several days agonizing over it.
How to make use of it.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a maid appeared.
"Madam is looking for you."
"Me?"
The place I followed the maid to was the meeting room.
Brilda sat at the head of the table,
with retainers lined up on either side of her.
"Come in, Elwin."
"You called for me, Stepmother?"
"Do you know the rumors going around?"
Rumors going around?
I hadn't gone out at all for several days.
No one in the mansion was on my side to tell me anything.
"I'm not sure."
"Ahem..."
"Hem hem..."
The retainers let out uncomfortable coughs at my words.
I could tell just from their expressions.
It was clear disdain toward the heir.
They weren't even hiding it.
It seemed like their own way of showing loyalty.
To Brilda.
"Elwin, as the heir, you need to take an interest in the territory. This time, I'll explain it to you."
According to Brilda, my reputation in the territory was terrible.
'Why? How could that be?'
When I walked out from that pile of corpses,
the territory's people had cheered.
They thanked the gods that I had come back to life.
It had only been a few days since then.
"They say you pretended to be dead out of fear of the black orcs? And only got up after reaching South Castle?"
'Ha...?'
I was dumbfounded.
That I pretended to be dead?
The feel of that axe was still vivid.
The intense pain.
And the sensation of that pain fading, all etched into my brain.
"You think I pretended to be dead? Do you really believe that?"
Brilda's eyes sharpened.
The retainers looked shocked too.
I was the same.
The old me would always reply "Yes" or "Understood" to Brilda.
I did whatever she ordered, even the unpleasant or dirty jobs.
Yet now I was challenging her words?
Me?
Maybe my personality changed after experiencing death?
Or...
There was something that came to mind.
When I died to the black orc and woke up.
Fragments of memories remained.
I had made some great resolve.
The problem was, I couldn't remember what it was.
"Let me ask again, Stepmother. Do you think I pretended to be dead?"
"...Elwin, what do you think you're doing?"
"I just don't understand. You didn't even check if I was dead? Did you really just leave me, the heir, in that pile of bodies without confirming?!"
"Heir!"
"Heir!! She's your stepmother!"
"Heir!!! Mind your manners!!"
The retainers on both sides shouted.
I met each of their eyes one by one.
Among them was Sir Wilson, who had been with me on the black orc subjugation.
"Sir Wilson. You were on the battlefield with me. Didn't you check on me after the battle? Didn't you confirm my breathing?!"
Wilson faltered for a moment.
Of course he did.
If he said he confirmed my death, it would mean Brilda was wrong.
If he said he didn't check, that was a problem too.
Not checking on the commander's condition after battle.
The heir's condition, no less.
Brilda stepped in in place of the flustered Wilson.
"Enough. All of you, stop. I didn't call you here to determine the truth. The rumor that the heir is a coward has already spread through the territory. So, you'll become the South Guard Captain..."
"No."
Brilda was at a loss for words at the clear, firm refusal.
The surrounding retainers were the same.
'Feels good.'
I never knew refusing could make my chest feel so refreshed.
Why had I only ever said "Understood" until now?
When saying "No" felt this liberating.
"Elwin, did I hear wrong? No? Are you saying that to me?"
"I died to the black orcs. Now I get it. I don't have the ability to be a guard captain. So I'm telling you clearly. I re.fuse."
The matriarch of the Frontier family.
Brilda Frontier.
The heir of the Frontier family.
Elwin Frontier.
A war between two nobles, without swords or spears.
The retainers watching it unfold.
"Heir!!!!! How insolent!!!!!"
You again, Wilson?
Wilson shouted loudly.
It felt like a desperate attempt to cover his earlier mistake.
But
I had no intention of letting it slide quietly.
The Elwin who always answered "Yes" died to the black orcs.
I
had changed.
"Sir Wilson!!!! Why do you address me that way!!!!"
Thud. Thud.
I stood in front of Wilson.
His eyes widened in surprise as the arrow turned toward him.
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"How do you address my father!!"
"Of course... Lord."
"Then me!!"
"Elwin-nim."
"Why is Father 'Lord' and I'm 'Elwin-nim'?! Call Father by name, or call me by my title too. Make it consistent! Got it!!"
"..."
I knew why the retainers called me Elwin instead of Heir.
They didn't recognize me as the heir.
All of them were Brilda's side.
"What are you doing!! Sir Wilson, address me again!!"
"..."
Wilson's eyes wavered.
Then he looked to the right.
That direction must have been toward Brilda.
A moment later, Wilson opened his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Heir. I'll use the proper title from now on."
Thud. Thud.
I returned to the center of the meeting room.
"Stepmother, guard captain isn't for me. Help me with something else."
"Something else? What is it?"
I couldn't say farming.
They'd think I was crazy if I said I wanted to farm on Monster Island.
"I want to build a forge and produce weapons."
That was the idea I came up with.
Once I got manpower and funds,
somehow a way to farm would open up.
No one would complain after I succeeded at farming.
But I hit a snag right from the start.
"No."
"Stepmother!"
"We don't have the capacity to provide more support. The territory is struggling just to maintain the status quo. You know why we're in this state."
This time, it was hard to argue back.
The Frontier territory was poor, just as she said.
Land contaminated by demonic energy.
Monster Island.
You couldn't farm on Monster Island.
So we had to import from the continent.
The sea was full of sea monsters, so no merchant ships could pass.
The only route was Vampire's Bridge connecting Monster Island to the continent.
"Because of Callas Viscount?"
"Yes."
Vampire's Bridge.
The bridge extending from Vampire Duke territory connected to the continent.
There lay Callas Viscounty.
To trade with the continent, we had to pass through Callas Viscounty,
and the viscount charged exorbitant tolls for it.
When exporting monster byproducts, our main source of income,
we paid high tolls.
When importing essential consumer goods like food,
we paid high tolls again.
That was why the Frontier territory was poor.
If monster byproduct prices weren't high,
we wouldn't have lasted this long.
"If you understand the situation, then do as I say and become the guard captain..."
"No. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Thud. Thud.
No one opened their mouth as I left the meeting room.
.
.
I returned to my room.
My strength gave out, and I slumped into the chair.
"Ha..."
My hands were shaking.
My heart was racing.
My breathing was rough.
But my mind felt relieved.
Something that had been suffocating my chest had crumbled away.
"It feels good, but..."
I hadn't gotten what I wanted from today's meeting.
With just the Earth Restoration skill, I couldn't farm.
I needed land, people.
And seeds to plant.
"Who can I ask for help..."
I couldn't use Frontier capital.
Brilda had internal politics locked down tight.
She'd never allow it.
If I pushed Brilda out,
other options came to mind.
One was Alensia.
And the other one...
Knock. Knock.
"What is it?"
"A guest has arrived."
"A guest?"
"It's Lady Alensia Vampire."
The moment I heard the name, my chest stung.
I hurried to the mirror.
I straightened my disheveled clothes.
Thump. Thump.
My heart raced.
"Miss, calm down."
"Calm? I'm already calm."
Even as I said it, I paid attention to my expression.
'He made me come all the way here.'
I had been focused on competing with my eldest sister Benia for the duke's seat as usual.
Then news came from the west.
Elwin Frontier's death.
My mind went blank.
I dropped everything and headed to Frontier Viscounty.
On the way, new news arrived.
Elwin Frontier's resurrection.
Only then did my heart settle.
My mind started working again.
And I remembered the promise.
By now, I should have been meeting Clan Kent.
I had broken off my engagement with Elwin, so I needed a new partner.
I had to build ties with the Kent family for that.
'What have I done... But I've come this far, so...'
There was no other reason.
I had come this distance, so I was just visiting the Frontier family.
Even after breaking off with Elwin, relations with them were important.
"Why hasn't he come yet?"
"Miss, it's been less than a minute since the maid left."
"Only that much?"
Why did the time waiting for Elwin pass so slowly?
'I should have turned back midway.'
The reception room door opened,
and Elwin appeared.
All my thoughts up to that moment vanished.
I felt relieved seeing him healthy.
Now I could focus on work even if I went back.
Since I had confirmed Elwin's face.