Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: 134. Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Guard in the Count's Family
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Clack. Clack.
On the way back to the Pruckers Count family estate after finishing our trip to the Hughes Snow Mountains, I stared blankly out the carriage window. The passing scenery had been novel at first, but now it was utterly boring.
'The biggest downside of this world is the lack of entertainment.'
I looked around the inside of the carriage.
Yuria sat rigidly beside me in perfect posture. Lucy was leaning against the carriage wall, asleep, and Kyle was lost in deep thought.
'I shouldn't have brought Kyle along. I should have come alone with Yuria.'
If I had, I could've spent the time teasing Yuria and having some fun inside the carriage.
"Yeah. I've decided."
Kyle suddenly spoke up. I tilted my head at him, puzzled.
"Kyle bro. What're you talking about out of nowhere? Decided what?"
"This trip made me realize something. I want to learn about this world. I want to see and feel things for myself."
"Gonna become a traveler?"
"Yeah... Eugene, you're not surprised. I thought you'd freak out hearing this."
I shrugged once.
"I saw it coming. Figured you might say something like that, Kyle bro."
It was just following the original story. Kyle had made up his mind a bit faster than I'd expected. This Hughes Snow Mountains trip must have been the trigger.
"Got any plans?"
"...Planning to live as an adventurer for now. Traveling adventurers are pretty common, right?"
Kyle would wander the continent and eventually head to the labyrinth city of Rabit. There, he'd reunite with one of the heroines, Claudia, join her as a companion, and return to the Pruckers estate.
'A lot more mature by then.'
I had no intention of just leaving Kyle alone. If I didn't interfere at all, he'd become an uncontrollable munchkin.
At the very least, I had to delay him becoming an Aura Master. If he returned to the estate as an Aura Master like in the original story, the count's title would be his.
'In the original, Gent schemes to steal the successor position from the Aura Master Kyle but screws up and dies.'
I had to prevent Kyle from becoming an Aura Master no matter what.
'I'll become one after I take over as Pruckers Count.'
Given Kyle's personality, he'd never rebel against me. Plus, he'd make a valuable tactical weapon, loyally following my orders as my vassal.
"First destination's the Kuto Kingdom. I want to see the Sky Plains with my own eyes."
It was one of the kingdoms south of the Kuto Kingdom.
The Sky Plains lived up to its name as a vast plain as wide as the sky itself. It was said to be so immense it overwhelmed anyone who beheld it.
"Your trip, huh... Sounds good. But how're you gonna convince Mom?"
"......"
Kyle shut his mouth.
Elaine was a reasonable woman. She'd allow Kyle's trip if there was a good reason.
'The problem is there isn't one.'
If he were just some ordinary noble's son, Elaine might have permitted it. But Kyle was the second son of the Pruckers family—the son of a grand noble. And the successor hadn't been decided yet.
'I got permission for this Hughes trip partly because I'd become Tevra's lord, but mostly because it had a clear schedule and I stayed under Elaine's oversight.'
Kyle's trip had no set end. And he'd be traveling alone as an adventurer. No way Elaine would approve.
"Uh, somehow. Isn't there a way?"
Kyle asked me in a panic.
"Dunno. No. One thing's for sure—you can't talk your way out of this with Mom."
Kyle wasn't great with words. Elaine, on the other hand, was a mid-level mage who'd handled the family's internal affairs. Any half-baked logic would just get shot down.
"There has to be something!"
"Not that I can think of."
"Ugh..."
In the end, Kyle would run away from home just like in the original story.
Elaine wouldn't send knights or soldiers to drag back a son who'd gone that far—it'd tarnish the family's reputation. Instead, she'd secretly assign someone to monitor him continuously.
"Anyway, I respect your decision, bro. If you need my help during your travels, just say the word. I'll jump right in."
"Eugene...! Thanks."
"No biggie. We're brothers, after all. Even if we only share half our blood."
"Eugene, don't say that. It's not half-blood brothers— we're brothers bound by blood. You're my one and only little brother."
"You'd help me if I were in danger, right?"
"Of course. Just say the word—I'll be there!"
I smiled.
In my head, I was picturing a future where I exploited this pushover right in front of me.
???
The title conferral ceremony was modest.
It was granting the barony—the lowest of the five ranks from duke down to baron.
Even as the grand noble's son, I couldn't throw a party for just a barony. It'd be embarrassing.
'Gotta thank Ention this time.'
Elaine had insisted on holding a banquet anyway, but family head Ention refused, saying a party for something this minor was unbecoming.
Thus, the ceremony was attended only by direct family and a few vassals.
Dressed in ceremonial robes, I knelt before Ention, lifting only my head to look at him. The tedious rituals were done. This was the final part.
"Eugene Pruckers. Are you prepared to devote all you have to the kingdom?"
"Yes. As a noble of the Rapelli Kingdom, I pledge all my loyalty and respect to His Majesty King Rapelli. I will not neglect my duties, and I swear my soul shall gladly serve the Rapelli Kingdom."
Not a shred of sincerity in those words.
I'd sworn oaths five times today already. This was the last one, and I had zero intention of keeping it. It was just ritual formality.
"Eugene Pruckers. By the authority of His Majesty King Rapelli, in the name of Count Pruckers, I bestow upon you the title of baron and the associated territory."
Ention handed me a ring. I carefully took it and slipped it onto the index finger of my left hand.
It symbolized my lordship over Tevra.
'Symbolic, sure. But I'll need the official documents from Elaine later.'
The paperwork mattered way more than some ring.
"With this, the conferral ceremony is concluded."
As Ention declared solemnly, the vassals began clapping.
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Amid the clapping vassals, I spotted Gent. He was smirking at me mockingly, clapping half-heartedly with no effort.
I had to restrain the urge to punch that smug face.
'I'll... remember this.'
I stroked the ring on my left index finger, repeating it to myself.
I'd be leaving this mansion tomorrow.
???
Walking to the private training grounds as usual, Kyle ran into Yuria in the hallway.
He felt his body tense up and was flustered. They were just alone in the hallway. Why was he so nervous?
'Have I always been this aware of Yuria?'
Thinking about it, this was their first time alone together. Whenever they crossed paths, someone else was always nearby.
Yuria bowed her head in greeting. She was just a servant. A quick nod and he'd be on his way. But Kyle couldn't tear his eyes from her and opened his mouth with a question.
"Yuria. What're you up to?"
What a lame question—even he thought so.
"I was checking the luggage loaded onto the carriage and heading back to my room."
"Ah. You're leaving for Tevra with Eugene tomorrow?"
"Yes. We're scheduled to depart right after breakfast."
"You don't have to go, do you? Your relative, Head Butler Hasent, is staying at the mansion."
Kyle was shocked by his own words. Yuria was his little brother's exclusive maid. He had no right to tell her what to do.
"No. I'm Young Master Eugene's exclusive maid. It's only natural I go with him to Tevra."
"......Right."
Kyle barely managed a reply. Maybe it was his imagination, but Yuria's eyes sparkled when she said Eugene's name.
'I almost hated Eugene for a second there. Is this... jealousy? Do I like Yuria?'
But Kyle shook his head soon after.
'...No way.'
He and Yuria weren't that close. They just exchanged greetings if they bumped into each other. Love at first sight? Kyle didn't buy that stuff.
"That brooch... I've always thought it was beautiful. Mind if I take a closer look?"
"Oh, this brooch?"
It was the plum blossom-shaped gold brooch Eugene had given him sometime ago. Kyle, who loved plum blossoms, wore it on his collar almost every day.
"Sure. Here."
Kyle removed the brooch and handed it to Yuria. Their hands brushed in the process. Kyle's face flushed slightly. He pretended to look away awkwardly.
"It's even more beautiful up close. And well-maintained."
"It's a gift from Eugene, so I treasure it."
"I see."
As Yuria examined the brooch from different angles, a white handkerchief slipped from her pocket and fell. Kyle instinctively bent down to pick it up.
"Ah, Young Master Kyle, no need for—"
"It's fine. No big deal."
Her voice sounded flustered, but Yuria's face was expressionless. Her hand moved swiftly. She opened the hidden back of the gold brooch and swapped out the tiny battery.
By the time Kyle looked up, she'd already replaced it perfectly.
"Here, your handkerchief."
"......I'm so sorry. To make Young Master Kyle bend down like that..."
"Don't worry about it. Hey, if you're free later, wanna have some tea together? I heard from Lucy that some good tea just came in."
"I'm sorry. I have to prepare Young Master Eugene's tea time later..."
"Can't be helped if you've got plans."
"Here's your brooch back."
Kyle took the brooch. Yuria bowed to him and headed back to her room. Kyle watched her calm retreating figure and sighed.
'Tea together... Why'd I even suggest that?'
It had slipped out naturally. Kyle scratched his head awkwardly and headed to the training grounds.
'Probably because I won't see her anymore. Nothing deeper.'
???
Having become a baron and arrived in Tevra, I felt a sense of dread.
I'd visited Tevra several times before. I needed to check on the Frost Hammer tribe dwarf slaves building my mansion and the Korea Merchant Group's progress.
'This hopeless territory is mine now...'
I couldn't just do nothing. Having not given up on the Pruckers successor position, I needed to impress Ention and the vassals with my competence as much as possible.
And the way to prove competence was to develop this territory dazzlingly.
'I can do it. Easy peasy. Developing a dump like this is child's play.'
I could bring modern items here. Plus, I had 88 dwarf slaves.
'Look on the bright side. Here, I'm king. No need to watch anyone else's mood.'
That didn't mean I could go wild. Ention or Elaine probably had eyes on my every move.
'That Gent bastard definitely planted someone.'
Still, being the big boss here was a huge perk.
I headed to the mansion where I'd be staying with Yuria.
But the mansion wasn't finished. Even after giving them a full two weeks, it was only about 70% done.
"These... damn dwarves...!"
88 master craftsmen dwarves—all ages and genders—working on one mansion. They should've whipped it up in a week!
I shot a fierce glare at Perses, who was directing the dwarves, and called out.
"Perses!"
"Gasp! Master!"
"Don't call me master. Your raspy voice is rotting my ears!"
"Th-then what should I call you?"
"Call me Lord Eugene."
"Yes, Lord Eugene! You're here! I heard you'd come today, but so soon..."
I kicked the slave dwarf, sending him tumbling.
"Stand straight, Perses."
"...Yes, Lord Eugene."
Perses sprang up into a rigid stance.
"Why isn't the mansion done yet?"
"W-well. The mansion's huge. Five stories plus a basement... Over 100 rooms, bigger than most grand mansions... And the concrete material is all new to us..."
I started stomping on Perses. This guy had no shame as a slave overseer, slacking off.
"You dwarves talk too much! If you hadn't been slacking, it'd be way further along!"