Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Subjugation Preparations
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In the freezing northern region, what's most important for getting through winter?
Obviously, it's not about enduring the cold so you don't freeze to death...
'Northerners have such ridiculous specs that there's no need to worry about that.'
Even this mansion relied on inefficient fireplaces for heating, but it wasn't an issue.
Because the vast majority of people living here were northerners.
For some reason, people from the empire's northern territories had bodies far more resilient to this kind of cold than those from other regions.
So even I, having possessed Cassius Winterguard—a northerner—didn't feel particularly cold right now.
Rumble rumble...
Even as a massive blizzard raged wildly outside, it only felt like a bit of flower frost chill. No coughing, no shivering.
'Especially the Winterguard family—rumor has it they received some kind of blessing in the past or something.'
Of course, it was a major ordeal for Yelena, who hailed from the southwest. But it wasn't like I could suddenly whip out modern knowledge like ondol heating.
Unlike the hyper-competent protagonists in other stories, I didn't have a perfect grasp of that stuff anyway.
So what should one do during winter?
Monster subjugation, obviously.
'In the original story, he got so distracted by Yelena's arrival that he failed to conduct subjugations on schedule.'
The original went exactly like this:
Monsters whose numbers hadn't dwindled over winter began assaulting people across the territory the moment the weather thawed.
The territory guards and vigilantes fought back, but without orders from Cassius—the supreme commander— the battles dragged on inefficiently.
Then one day, Yelena managed to slip outside the mansion by chance and saved a civilian in peril. That only intensified Cassius's obsession and confinement of her...
In the end, just handling it in advance would've fixed everything.
The Winterguard family earned their title as guardians of Estia's northern frontier precisely because they kept the monsters infesting those distant, sprawling mountain ranges from invading the empire.
In other words, this lunatic Cassius had neglected the family's core duty—monster subjugation—because he was too fixated on a woman.
"There are other minor things to fix too... but this is the top priority for now."
After sorting out my plans in my head, I summoned the butler.
Knock knock.
A moment later, someone knocked on the door and entered.
"You called for me, Master?"
"Alf."
The elderly butler, with his dignified bearing, approached with smooth yet precise movements.
"When was the last subjugation with the Storm Knight Order?"
As I mentioned the family knight order, Alf rattled off the details without so much as a flicker in his expression.
"Three weeks ago, just before departing for the Astria family."
"Which mountain?"
"Arseta Mountain."
"Then... we'll handle the remaining two mountains at one-week intervals. Inform the knight order."
"Understood. When do you plan to begin the first one?"
"In two days."
"I'll relay it to the knight order captain."
"That should stabilize the monster situation... Any major issues in the territory otherwise?"
"Some villages and the main trade routes used by merchant caravans have frozen over due to the blizzard, making passage difficult."
"I see... How did the previous duke handle it?"
"He hired mages to temporarily prevent the ice from forming."
"Then can we do the same this time?"
"...May I speak frankly?"
Our conversation had been flowing smoothly until then, but Alf fell silent for a moment and posed the question.
I felt a twinge of doubt, then naturally recalled a certain face.
"...The Astria family's debt?"
"Precisely. Wiping out the Astria viscount family's debts required diverting this winter's mage hiring fees, along with part of the other budget."
This was insane.
It was a situation born from two intertwined problems.
First off, despite their status as a ducal house, the Winterguards didn't possess vast wealth.
The territory's climate and conditions simply weren't conducive to steadily building riches.
Take the mage hiring issue: it was an expense other regions never had to worry about, yet here money poured out endlessly— all while monsters kept invading.
As a result, the Winterguards maintained just enough wealth to uphold a noble facade.
Of course, that didn't make them paupers.
Instead, their strengths lay in non-liquid assets: an elite knight order, mountains brimming with resources, and high-quality monster byproducts.
'The byproducts from those two subjugations should cover it.'
And second, the Astria viscount family's debt was staggeringly large.
This came up in the original story too—Yelena herself questioned Cassius's decision to pay it off.
That money? In exchange for me? Why?
It was such an enormous sum that even Yelena, a member of that family, couldn't fathom it.
Without Cassius, the family would've been shredded by other nobles or outright ruined, reduced to commoners forever hounded by creditors.
With those two factors colliding, Alf had no choice but to speak his mind.
"......"
"......"
"I'll give that some more thought. Worst case, we'll supplement the family funds by selling the mages exclusive rights to the subjugation byproducts."
I could sense Alf's eyes widening ever so slightly, though he tried to hide it.
It must've been an unexpected call—even I'd think so.
That lunatic making a sensible decision?
The guy who'd squandered money like water on a woman was suddenly acting rational.
"...Understood."
That wrapped up the territory business. As I prepared to dismiss Alf, he spoke up first.
"Master, if I may ask one thing...?"
Alf had served the previous Winterguard Duke since childhood, an exceptionally capable butler.
Having attended him for decades, he naturally took on the role for the duke's only son, Cassius Winterguard.
But to be frank, Cassius Winterguard was a genius.
Blessed with the Winterguard clan's signature ironclad physique and strength, at just thirteen, he'd single-handedly slain a wolf-type monster that had descended from the mountains.
Even the elite Storm Knight Order needed two or three members working together to take it down.
So Alf and the other Winterguard retainers had high hopes: with Cassius, the family's prestige would only grow stronger.
But that all changed five years ago, when the previous duke and duchess perished in an accident.
After their deaths, the already frigid Winterguard mansion echoed with no laughter.
Part of it was the servants' grief, but mostly pity and fear for the broken Cassius.
Having lost both parents so suddenly, Cassius shattered.
The vibrant young heir meant to shoulder the north's future vanished, leaving only a lost, aimless boy.
Alf and others tried to pull him back, but it was impossible.
The silver lining, if any, was that he still handled territory duties at minimum.
It was all the more heartbreaking because he seemed to strive to uphold his father's will.
Yet no one could breach the walls Cassius had built around his heart.
...Until a few months ago, when he became obsessed with a certain woman.
She was the young daughter of the Astria viscount family, just turning twenty.
For whatever reason, Cassius fixated intensely on her, three years his junior.
Before Alf could intervene, Cassius had brought her to this frigid northern land, paying off her family's debts as the condition.
That was only yesterday.
And a few hours ago, servants reported that Cassius had entered Yelena's room...
Then he summoned Alf and began seriously discussing territory matters.
Which left Alf no choice but to ask.
About why he was suddenly acting so composed.
"Have you... taken Lady Yelena to your bed?"
He had to know, to plan the aftermath.
If Cassius wished it, they'd prepare a formal wedding, invite other houses, host a feast, and so on...
"What kind of nonsense is that? Taken her?"
"Pardon?"
But the response was pure bewilderment.
In that instant, Alf gleaned it from his demeanor.
'...Nothing happened?'
Then what on earth had transpired with that Astria girl to snap him out of it?
'Could she... have opened Master's heart...?'
...If that was true, they couldn't let the moment slip.
She was the one person who could restore the master, the family—nay, the entire territory.
Alf mentally elevated Yelena's importance.
The next day, after clearing some piled-up work in the study, I wandered the mansion and witnessed a bizarre sight.
A dead bear, twitching and shambling about, lurking through the halls.
But I quickly realized what it was.
"...Yelena?"
"...!!"
She flinched and turned toward me.
Then, as I approached, she suddenly bared her teeth.
"Grrr..."
...??
The heroine, whom I'd seen just a day prior, was growling like some beast.