The Lord Whom the Barbarians Are Obsessed With
The wind howled fiercely!!!
“Haa… It’s really cold.”
A fierce blizzard raged, cold air seeping into my bones.
When I turned my head to stare blankly at the windows outside the mansion, I saw the vast white snowfield and the gloomy faces of the villagers.
“This place… is my territory.”
I had returned to the territory after receiving the lord’s letter, but a sigh escaped me at the dark situation here.
My faction I reincarnated into is a weak force based in the northern snow plains.
At the moment when the empire splits and the beast races cause chaos and a great war erupts, this land will be burned without a trace.
“Still, there’s a chance.”
But even if it’s predetermined destruction, I have to utilize this territory to the fullest to find a way to survive.
“…Is the heating working well here?”
At least the lord’s castle I’m living in is better than the other villagers’ houses, but it doesn’t look particularly sturdy.
For now… I need to build up my forces to the point where I can at least protect myself and Wilhelmina.
“…The total military strength is only about 50 people at best.”
But among all the forces, I’m the weakest.
With the military strength of my territory now, it seems difficult to even stop common barbarians.
“Where, how about my stats?”
At least, if there’s a way, I can use part of the game system here as well.
Ding!
Frey
Might: A-
Intelligence: F
Charm: S+
Diplomacy: E
Loyalty: None
Description: A lord ruling the harsh snowy plains.
Skills: Swordsmanship B, Martial Arts, Health Increase C
It seemed like the tutorial was over, and now it finally showed me a proper status window.
If it’s going to show, better to show it sooner… Even now, better than nothing.
“Combat and charm are high.”
My stats don’t reach the Four Heavenly Dragons, but considering that a normal warrior’s combat is C-rank, it’s quite decent.
Moreover, the highest charm will help in recruiting talent.
“…But why is intelligence F?”
However, the completely ruined intelligence stat didn’t make sense at all.
Did I just doze off a few times during class time?
“I’m in trouble alone.”
And there’s only one servant in this mansion, and no decent warrior.
Knock knock.
- Lord, are you there?
“Come in.”
“The bath water was heated just now, so you can enter the bathroom.”
“Thanks, Frizia.”
There’s still the head maid who stayed with the family until the end… But with the bishojo mod, she’s only young in appearance, and she’s an old maid nearing retirement.
New talent recruitment is essentially necessary.
Splash!
“Hoo, it’s warm.”
No matter what, I submerge my body in the lukewarm bath water prepared by Frizia and sink into thought.
“…I’m glad Wilhelmina is there.”
Of course, I don’t have subordinates.
There was a retainer who accompanied me through my childhood days and wandered all over the world.
But there’s a slight problem…
- Master? May I enter?
“No.”
“What do you mean? You wouldn’t be trying to monopolize the precious hot water alone, would you?”
“I said not to come.”
“Then I’ll come in.”
“…”
Screeech.
Ignoring my grumbling, someone opened the bathroom door and barged in without permission.
“You’re an adult now, so entering carelessly is problematic.”
“What are you talking about? We haven’t bathed together since the old days?”
The woman who entered with just a towel wrapped around her is my subordinate Wilhelmina.
Her voluptuous figure that couldn’t be covered by a single towel, sturdy thighs, cool yet seductive figure gave off a cat-like arrogant aura.
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
“We’re all grown up now…”
“Is there a problem?”
Perhaps because I’ve gotten too close to the guy. I couldn’t find any rational tension.
Splash!
“Hoo, it’s warm.”
She had entered the bath without hesitation and leaned on my shoulder with a comfortable expression.
Wilhelmina
Might: C
Intelligence: B
Charm: B
Diplomacy: D
Loyalty: S+
Description: Childhood friend who has been with me since childhood.
Skills: Archery B, Administration C
“Um…”
By the way, Wilhelmina’s stats are now visible too.
I don’t know if it’s a player-only ability, but it’s likely that I can see others’ status windows as well.
“…”
As a side note, I stared at her appearance that had entered my arms.
Her silver hair, wet from the water, was neatly styled, and her red eyes sparkled with a seductive light.
Also, the faint fragrance wafting from her body tickled the nose, and her tempting breasts floated on the water.
The little Wilhelmina had suddenly grown and become a mature woman’s figure.
“Master.”
“Hm? Why?”
Swoosh.
At that moment, Wilhelmina, noticing my gaze, grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear.
“Shouldn’t we sleep together today…?”
However, what kept bothering me was her obsession that deepened after I lost to the Earth Dragon.
Her cheeks were as red as her eyes, and she looked at me with trembling eyes.
“You’re not a kid anymore, so stop acting spoiled.”
“…”
But I thought that if I pampered her too much, she’d get spoiled, so I had no choice but to refuse.
“Hmph!”
Puff puff…
For some reason, after my considerate answer, Wilhelmina pouted and submerged her head all the way into the bath.
…If this happens, she’ll sulk and not talk for the whole day.
“Alright. Let’s sleep together for the first time in a while.”
“Hmmm…”
In the end, after I surrendered in the standoff, I stroked her head floating on the water and said so, and Wilhelmina hummed in delight.
*
After the bath, we dressed together in the changing room and talked.
“You seem to be quite worried lately.”
“Caught on?”
“I understand. This territory is like a lamp in the wind right now.”
“Farming isn’t working, and the only thing I can do is hunting… this worthless land…”
No matter how I think about it, the picture of unifying the continent with this insignificant territory doesn’t come to mind.
No proper foundation and lacking talent — an extreme starting point.
“May I tie your tie?”
Snap!
“Kehe?!”
In the moment I was lost in gloomy thoughts, Wilhelmina grabbed my tie and tightened it, startling me.
“Lord is a capable man, trust yourself.”
“… Thanks.”
Still, it felt good to have someone supporting me.
Since the territory’s foundation isn’t nothing, I have to do something at least.
Knock knock.
“Lord Frey, Miss… It’s time to eat.”
At the right time when my stomach was growling, Frizia knocked on the door with food.
“Oh, it’s my favorite consomme with smoked meat.”
“There’s not much livestock here, is there?”
“Lord’s face didn’t look good, so I had to exert some effort…”
Clatter.
Finally, we picked up the utensils while looking at the simple menu she prepared.
No, this is the most abundant meal in this territory.
My villagers are surviving on a bowl of porridge and a few pieces of stone bread.
“Speaking of which, the scout said he found something unusual in the area.”
“What is it?”
While eating, Wilhelmina, chewing the meat in her mouth, reported something serious to me.
“He said he found a white stone fragment with a salty taste.”
“Salt?!”
However, the news was surprisingly shocking, so I asked in surprise.
Salt.
It’s essential for pickling meat or making preservation methods, and in some places, it’s used as currency — a precious resource.
If the soldier discovered a real salt mine, the territory might develop on a different scale from now.
“Ah… yes, it’s very likely rock salt…”
“Is there a problem?”
However, when Wilhelmina brought up the story, she didn’t look particularly happy.
“The barbarians have set up a camp nearby.”
I finally realized why her expression was dark.
Since it was already owned land, I would have to fight to take it.
“Want to hear my plan?”
“It’s going to be wiped out anyway.”
“…Not that.”
But I talked about a rather peaceful solution rather than blindly charging in.
“First, try to make peace and test trade, and request the development of the mine from them.”
“Are you planning to cooperate with the barbarians?”
“Yes, and we sell salt instead and do intermediary trade. Slowly integrate them as villagers by continuing exchanges.”
“It’s not impossible…”
Wilhelmina cautiously spoke after hearing my opinion.
“Do you know what the previous lord said to them?”
“What?”
“They said they wouldn’t listen to the words of a chief weaker than themselves.”
Hmm, that’s why the ancestors failed.
“The barbarians are fierce warriors, but the previous lord had a frail body and couldn’t lead an army…”
“Sounds doable.”
“Eh?”
But I can do it.
Even though I look like this, I’ve lived quite roughly, so I had confidence in fighting.
“Just one fight and it’s over.”
“Wait… wait, with the troops in this territory right now…”
Wilhelmina was shocked by my words, but I grinned and said.
“I win.”
“…Understood.”
She sighed deeply after seeing my confident appearance and nodded.
“First, pass it to the scout.”
“Thanks.”
“…”
But even while nodding, she approached me with a dissatisfied face…
Thud!
“If you die again this time, I’ll really kill you.”
“Eh, yeah…”
She poked my stomach with her fist, and after hearing the answer, she left with a huff.
…Why is she like that?