Chapter 417
Chapter 417
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 417
Chapter Title: 417. Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"I, Yujin, am disappointed in you all."
I slowly turned my head and looked around. The dwarves gathered before me tensed up as they watched me.
I usually left the dwarves to their own devices. As long as they met their quota, I didn't care what they did. Drinking was fine, gambling was fine.
With maids in the mansion who were within arm's reach and obeyed my every command, there was no reason for me to pay attention to these grubby, sweat-stinking dwarves.
"Step forward, Phesus."
"Yes!"
Phesus, who had been trampled and kicked until he was covered in dirt, quickly ran over.
"Phesus. Do you understand why I'm disappointed in you all?"
Phesus swallowed hard. He was the chieftain of the Frost Hammer Tribe and the slave overseer, but that position wasn't special. It could change at my whim anytime.
His eyes darted around. He sought help from the dwarf mage Malef, but even Malef looked clueless.
"You still don't know why I'm disappointed?"
"A-Are our creations not to your liking, sir?"
Phesus spoke cautiously, gauging my reaction. He braced for a kick, but I nodded instead.
"That's right. Lately, you've been making things sloppily."
"No, sir! We've done our absolute best!"
"Don't talk back."
"Gah!"
I kneed him in the gut. Phesus dropped to his knees on the floor.
Part of me wanted to just kill them all, but replacing dwarves would be difficult and a hassle.
"Last time, I met another dwarf tribe. The Ironroot Dwarves. Unlike you, they were diligent and skilled."
The dwarves' gazes hardened as they stared at me. Comparisons always pissed them off the most. Especially dwarves, with their immense pride in blacksmithing.
"I boasted to the Ironroot Dwarves about the swords you made. I had no doubt they'd be impressed. But all I got was ridicule. You made me a laughingstock!"
"......"
I didn't actually get ridiculed, but their reaction had been insulting enough.
"The Ironroot Dwarves said you could make better swords but didn't bother trying. That you're vermin without any artisan spirit! They called you a disgrace to dwarves."
"S-Sir..."
"What, Phesus?"
"Where are those Ironroot bastards? We have our pride too. We can overlook a lot, but not being called vermin without artisan spirit!"
"What bullshit. It's the truth, and you can't handle it? Are you defying me, Phesus?!"
I kneed him again.
"Gah! Forgive me! I spoke without thinking!"
"The Ironroot Dwarves are far away. So far you'd have to prepare seriously to go find them. But I have items they made. If you call yourselves artisans, you can judge their quality by the swords."
I pulled a sword from my inventory.
"This is the sword you made. The one the Ironroot Dwarves said might not even kill a goblin properly!"
"......"
Phesus's face darkened as he examined the sword. As expected of a dwarf, he had an eye for it. He knew this was one of their half-assed jobs.
"And these are the sword and armor made by the Ironroot Dwarves!"
"......!! C-Could I examine them more closely?"
"Go ahead."
Phesus inspected the armor and sword, letting out a groan. He especially couldn't tear his eyes away from the armor, recognizing it as a rare masterpiece.
I showed the armor and sword to the other dwarves too.
The mood in the Frost Hammer Tribe grew heavy. The clear difference in quality crushed their spirits.
"Now you get how disappointed I am, right? Huh?"
"W-We can do it too!"
Phesus clenched his fist and shouted, his face flushing red with anger.
"You can do it, but haven't until now?"
"...Th-That's our fault! But if we put our minds to it, we can make swords and armor far superior to those Ironroot bastards'!"
Phesus's eyes burned with fire. A glance showed the other dwarves were the same.
My original plan was to discipline the Frost Hammer dwarves. Step on them occasionally, then crush their spirits completely with a full quality inspection.
But it looked like I wouldn't need to.
"Fine. Prove it."
"Sir. Hate to admit it, but the Ironroot Dwarves aren't pushovers. To make better quality armor and swords, we'll need special materials!"
"Special materials?"
"We can't make things like this with ordinary iron!"
I nodded in agreement.
Phesus was spot on. The Ironroot armor and sword weren't made from iron ore, but ironwood.
"Alright. I'll look into it. But if you make any more garbage, I won't forgive you."
"We'll give it our all!"
"Not your all. Show me results."
???
As a lord, my duties were minimal. I'd set up systems in the territory, so I didn't need to intervene unless it was major.
The citizens of Tevra I ruled kept themselves in check. My notoriety was known to everyone in the city.
Even major issues were mostly handled by Yuria.
So I had no real need to work. But occasionally, I did some for a change of pace—even if it wasn't lordly business.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but we're closed today. Please leave."
"What the hell! Suddenly closed? You said open all year, so why close now! I see the girls inside getting ready!"
In front of 'Sea Haven,' Tevra's most famous brothel—now dubbed the kingdom's top one—a drunken man argued with a middle-aged woman.
"Closed today, no matter what you say. This is for your sake. Don't make a scene and leave."
The blonde middle-aged woman, Madam Katarina of Sea Haven, glared venomously at the man. Three armed guards flanked her.
But the drunk didn't back down. Maybe from seafaring, he had no fear—or the booze had taken over.
"Fuck this! I'm a customer! Call Ulla now! Ulla! Bring her out!"
"You're too drunk. We don't serve blackout customers. Leave. This is your last warning... Eek!"
The madam startled at my sudden appearance from behind. I'd arrived much earlier than notified.
The drunk turned too. Our eyes met, and he dropped to his knees.
"L-Lord...!"
"Drunk and still recognize me? I rented out Sea Haven today. Got a problem?"
"No, sir! I lost my mind to the booze. Forgive me!"
"Beg forgiveness in hell."
Bzzt!
I electrocuted the man dead.
"Madam. Clean up the body."
"Yes, of course. Sorry, we should've handled it without troubling you."
"This is nothing."
I passed her. The brothel had expanded massively, now rivaling a noble mansion. Over 200 prostitutes worked here.
I headed to the basement VVIP rooms for rich merchants and nobles.
I sank into the plush sofa. Naked women began setting the table. The madam stood by, explaining Sea Haven's earnings.
"More than I thought."
"Sales are steadily rising. But constant expansion means net profit is dropping. Sir, I think we should pause investments now."
"No. Keep growing Sea Haven. Until it's the greatest brothel in history!"
"......Honestly, it's getting hard to manage. This is the limit of my abilities."
"Hire more people then. Madam, don't try to do everything alone. I never told you to."
"......Yes."
Table set, seven beauties entered. Their dresses clung tightly, accentuating seductive curves. Ordinary whores would smile coyly, but their faces were stiff.
I visited roughly monthly for the initiation of new prostitutes. They needed my "blessing" to work officially.
The seven lined up against the wall.
I inspected every inch of their bodies. Each had distinct charms. This initiation looked promising—all virgins.
No beauties worthy of maid status.
Today was for enjoying the rite.
I beckoned, and they approached to serve me. They giggled at my lame jokes, stayed silent as my hands wandered intimately.
Judging the mood ripe, I stood abruptly.
The beauties knew what was coming.
"Undress one by one. I'll teach you the taste of a man today."
???
Even my eternally peaceful territory faced a major issue.
"Pirates appeared?"
I asked Yuria. She placed sorted documents on my desk.
"Yes. As Tevra develops and Koria Merchant Group's fame spreads to other kingdoms, trade ships increased, drawing pirates."
I checked the papers. Many merchant groups hit. Basic looting, even full ship captures.
"These pirates don't fear me."
"Ignorant fools. Better eliminate them for the future."
Pirates were a headache. Sea-dwellers who mocked land forces. No proper navy in this world made them bolder.
"Do we have a navy?"
"No."
I scratched my cheek at Yuria's curt reply. No navy let pirates raid my domain mockingly.
Ships could be bought with money, but training a navy took time. Repurposing soldiers would just cause losses.
Couldn't ignore it. Damage so far was huge; future losses would ruin sleep.
Flipping documents casually, my hand stopped.
This one detailed pirate bases and forces.
"Yuria. You think we should subjugate them ourselves?"
"Yes. Subjugate pirates quickly. Trade losses hurt, but damage to your prestige is worst. You can't be hindered by mere pirates. If you personally wipe them out, your fame will soar."
"Me personally... That fits my goal?"
"Yes. Perfect military merit."
My goal.
Becoming Count Prokus.
I lacked military achievements most. Prokus was a military house. No notable feats yet. Pirate subjugation would be ideal, as Yuria said.
"Sigh... Guess I have to pacify the outer seas."
"Ready in a week. Draft some soldiers, take AM Unit—you'll handle pirates easily. I'll assist by your side."
I stood and embraced the impeccably poised Yuria. Our eyes met; she smiled softly.
A week passed like that.