Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Swordsman in a Count Family
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Zent spends most of the year living with Ention at Utren Castle. His goal, naturally, is to cozy up to Ention in hopes of securing the successor position.
And right now, Zent is practically functioning as Ention's adjutant. That means he can filter the information he feeds Ention to suit his tastes.
'I bought the mana awakening potion with my own abilities. I earned an astronomical amount of money. It's only natural that Zent is wary of me.'
Unlike Kyle, I'm Zent's blood brother. The same blood runs through our veins. But that doesn't mean Zent has any reason to go easy on me.
Power isn't something you share amicably just because you're family.
"Your face looks terrifying. Got heart disease or something, my dear little brother?"
"……."
Hearing that confirmed it.
This bastard came here just to mock me.
"……Was it you, Brother Zent?"
I'm keeping my cool. The fact that no curses are flying out of my mouth is proof of how rational I'm being. Still, I couldn't hide the hostility in my voice. No, I didn't even try to hide it. There was no need.
As evidence, Zent is grinning ear to ear at me.
"No idea what you're talking about."
"Did you advise Father to grant me a title and territory?"
"Yeah. Your abilities are exceptional, aren't they? Even Father acknowledged your talent for making money. It's a shame to let our family's youngest just sit idle with gifts like that."
"You're making a mistake."
"A mistake...? Why get so angry? You should be grateful to me. Thanks to me, you get a barony and some land."
"I've never wanted a title or territory."
"Really?"
Zent wiped the smile from his face and stared at me. His black eyes were chilling.
"But strange rumors have reached my ears. Apparently, you're meeting with vassals and giving them gifts like spices or clocks."
"They're just presents."
"Is that so? Didn't look that way to me."
Zent approached me. He patted my shoulder and said,
"Little brother. You told me before that you had no interest in the head of house position, that I should take it. That you'd support me fully. That as the eldest son, I'm the rightful heir."
"……."
I had told Zent a few times that I wasn't interested in the family head role. But I'd never once said I'd help him. What he's referring to must be something from before I became Eugene Prukus.
"Yet you're not helping me at all. You're actually checking me. I get it. You're growing up, your heart condition seems better, so greed's kicking in."
"……That's not it."
Zent snorted at my response.
"Maybe. Anyway, little brother. The Prukus countship is mine. I'm the count of the Prukus family and the legitimate successor. I have no intention of casting you out. Your abilities are top-notch. A bit of youthful greed... I can forgive it once since you're at that age. Be content with your barony and Tebra."
"Am I that scary to you, Brother Zent? Enough to exile your only brother to some backwater fief?"
"Eugene Prukus. Don't misunderstand. It's not fear. This is a test. I'll reveal the results of the test on the day I officially take the Prukus countship."
Zent said that as he brushed past me. His final words lingered in my ears.
"I hope you'll become my loyal vassal. Looking forward to it."
Grind.
My teeth ground together.
Crackle.
Mana in my body spontaneously turned to brain lightning and writhed.
???
I explained the situation to Yuria. If I leave the mansion, my exclusive maid Yuria would naturally come with me to Tebra.
I had no intention of going to Tebra without her. She'd become far too convenient for me. Life in Tebra without Yuria? Can't even imagine it.
"Someone must have egged on Young Master Zent. Probably Baron Kuwait."
Yuria said.
I was a bit surprised. I'd thought it was just Zent acting on his own.
"Baron Kuwait... One of Zent's vassals?"
"Yes. He's one of the administrators at Utren Castle. No territory of his own, but he runs a small merchant guild."
I'd never met Baron Kuwait in person. But it's obvious he's the type who's bet everything on Zent. As an administrator running a merchant guild, he must have smelled money on me and told Zent to keep me in check.
'Zent must have heard the rumors about me too... So he was already wary.'
To be honest, I wanted to kill Baron Kuwait right now.
'But I can't just kill him off immediately.'
If Baron Kuwait dies now, Zent will definitely suspect me. And since he's at Utren Castle, assassination is tough. The security there, with Ention around, is among the best in the kingdom.
"Master. If Baron Kuwait truly displeases you... One option is to target the trade partners of his merchant guild."
"Trade partners...? No. Let's hold off for now."
Venting isn't the priority. I need to prepare since I'm leaving for Tebra in a month.
The assassins I can use are just Hasent and Yuria. Hasent can't easily leave the mansion due to his position as head butler, and life without Yuria by my side would be too inconvenient.
'Can't take Hasent to Tebra. And it's actually better if he stays at the mansion. I can get high-level info on the mansion through him.'
I haven't given up on the Prukus countship. Even though I've been chased off to Tebra, no successor has been officially decided yet. Plus, Pterus City, where the mansion is, is only half a day's carriage ride from Tebra.
'Zent probably tried to shove me far away. But giving me Tebra means Ention hasn't completely excluded me from the successor race.'
I have information about the future. If I exploit it to the max... I can inherit the countship.
"Yuria. We head to Tebra tomorrow."
"Yes. I'll prepare the carriage."
Elrain will allow it too. No reason for her to object since I'm just going to see the city I'll rule.
'Yeah. Fuck it. Since it's come to this, I'll turn Tebra into the ultimate fief. Paradise on earth! Tebra Heaven!'
I can do it.
With modern goods and knowledge, I can pull it off.
???
Rumble rumble.
I taught Yuria the Heavenly Demon Divine Art inside the carriage. As the world's top genius, she might adapt to it differently.
Having Yuria learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art wasn't a bad idea.
But Yuria shook her head and refused.
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art doesn't suit me. Yeongcheon Style and shadow magic are enough. Adding Heavenly Demon Divine Art now would just make things messy."
"But it's a peerless martial art?"
The art created by the Demon King Macheon, a god whose true name is unknown. Its power is legendary.
"I don't think Yeongcheon Style is inferior to it."
"……Really?"
"Yes."
It was quite unexpected. To me, Heavenly Demon Divine Art seemed superior to Yeongcheon Style.
"Then what do I need to do to learn Heavenly Demon Divine Art?"
"I'm not sure."
"Hmm."
"But Master, you don't need to obsess over it. Martial arts are just martial arts. With steady training, you'll master Heavenly Demon Divine Art eventually."
I nodded. She's right. I'll learn it someday.
It'd be a lie to say I'm not impatient, but I have the even greater Playful Life app.
Rumble rumble.
I looked at Yuria sitting across from me. Even in the roughly shaking carriage, she sat ramrod straight.
'She's always got perfect posture.'
Thinking about it, I'd never seen Yuria slouch or stand lazily. Except when we're playing around.
'If I could bring her to the real world, it'd be so convenient.'
Then it hit me.
I remembered the 'Character Summon' menu in the Playful Life app. I'd forgotten about it since no summonable characters had appeared yet.
'Characters must mean people from fictional worlds.'
Yuria right in front of me is a character.
Our eyes met. Yuria smiled at me. I puckered my lips toward her. She leaned in, pressing her lips to mine. Our tongues sloppily intertwined.
'Summoning Yuria to reality would require conditions.'
Probably 'fate' or something. Assuming the fate's purpose isn't just bonus points for me.
"Haaah... ahh."
Reflexively groping Yuria's ample breasts, I thought.
'If I could bring Yuria to reality... Her growth would benefit me more than mine in this world.'
What if I max her out, make her an Aura Master, then summon her to reality?
'Wouldn't that make life insanely sweet?'
"Ahh... Master... "
Licking Yuria's nape, I changed the goal of this playthrough.
The first goal was the mana awakening potion, then snatching Kyle's opportunities to grow strong. But Yuria's talent outshines mine. The same opportunity would yield far better results for her.
'And Yuria's my exclusive maid.'
The main goal for Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Swordsman in a Count Family is now raising Yuria.
'...Raising Yuria sounds kinda lame.'
"……Master. I'm putting it in."
Yuria hiked up her long skirt and shifted her panties aside. Beneath her secret place stood my rigidly erect member.
I nodded, and she straddled me.
"Haaaa... "
No matter how many times, it feels incredible—her pussy fits my cock perfectly. Feeling her clenching walls, I thought.
'Maid Maker. Add "Project" in front... Sounds pretty cool.'
Project Maid Maker.
It's already more than halfway done, but as they say, starting is half the battle—so today marks the official launch.
"Yuria. I'll make you the ultimate maid."
"Y-Yes! Ahh!"
???
Port city Tebra has two advantages.
One is the sea. The ocean is a treasure trove of resources. Fish and all sorts of food, plus trade with other regions.
The other is its proximity to Pterus—only half a day's carriage ride.
'Everything else is total garbage.'
Population: 5,000. Low for a city.
And the whole place is rundown. Roads aren't even properly maintained.
"Th-This is the mansion the previous lord used!"
Locke, captain of Tebra's guards, said.
Mid-30s, handling guard captain duties. Strength: low-tier Aura Expert.
"Got it. Thanks. You can go."
"Yes! I'll be off!"
Locke bolted back to his guards like his life depended on it. I must've made him uncomfortable.
I clicked my tongue at the mansion he'd shown me.
"It could collapse any second. Looks 50 years old, and no one's maintained it."
"Records say it was built 66 years ago. After the last lord of Tebra, Baron Gultian, died 20 years ago, the mansion was essentially abandoned."
Yuria said.
We'd gathered some info on Tebra before coming.
"Live here? Bullshit. No way I'm staying in this dump."
I'll tear it down and build new.
"Yuria. To city hall."
"Yes, Master."
City hall was a 10-minute walk.
"...Who might you be?"
A clerk stammered at us. I ignored him and strode into the back. I flung open the door to what looked like the best office. A man froze mid-drink, staring at me.
"……Gasp! Lord Eugene Prukus?!"
"You know who I am?"
"Y-Yes. How could I not? But what brings you here today...?"
He bowed and scraped. He clearly hadn't heard I'd be the new lord in a month.
I glanced around, then at his desk.
"Drinking in broad daylight. Nice life."
"N-No. This is... a gift... "
"A gift?"
I smirked. That booze is probably a bribe.
"Yuria. Search it."
"Yes, Young Master."
Yuria started rummaging through the office.
"How dare a maid! Do you know where you are?!"
"Here? Isn't it a bar? Smells like booze."
"N-No, Young Master. Even for you, this is too much! I'll formally complain to Lady Elrain!"
"Go ahead."
I watched Yuria. She shoved the bookshelf aside and used aura to smash open the safe's door—neatly destroying just the lock.
"Found it."
"You crazy bitch! Get out now?!"
He lunged at Yuria.
"Stay put."
I grabbed his head and slammed him back onto the desk.
"Bribe ledger. Regular payments from Black Tiger Merchant Guild."
I stared at him. His face rigid, he shouted,
"There's a reason! Young Master! Hear me out first!"
I nodded. Then told him,
"Death sentence."