Episode 30

"......What?"

Everyone was stunned once more by Logan's words.

Though Logan's image had drastically changed due to this war, most of those present still remembered how he had acted during the annulment incident. The impression that Logan loved money hadn't faded.

"I'm not saying I won't accept a reward. I just don't want it in gold."

At that, everyone nodded as if to say, Of course. But what followed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠left them stunned all over again.

"Instead of gold, I'd like land."

"......Are you saying you want to establish private land within the territory?"

Even Patrick's endlessly favorable expression stiffened slightly.

Yet Logan's demeanor remained unchanged.

"Yes."

"Hah......"

A deep sigh escaped Patrick as the officials erupted in fierce opposition.

"This is absurd! Private land in our territory's current state?!"

"No matter how great the Grand Prince's achievements, granting land is out of the question. In such a small territory—"

"That was only possible back in the days of the earldom—"

Some even invoked forbidden terms, drawing sharp glares.

But unlike before, when such a proposal would have been dismissed outright, Patrick first calmed the room.

"Let's hear him out first. Why are you suddenly asking for land?"

Logan smiled, acutely aware of how much his reputation had shifted.

"I know the territory still needs funds. Use that gold for the territory's sake. In exchange, I'd like to take one of the barren hills in the western wasteland and develop it."

"Wasteland? A hill?"

"Yes. Just one hill near the river bordering the Tesron territory will suffice."

Though the MacLaine territory was desolate in every direction, the western wasteland was second only to the monster-infested south in uselessness.

Calling it a "hill" was generous—it was a barren stretch where even trees were scarce.

"......Why there of all places?"

"Is there something there?"

"What could possibly be there?"

"Then why...?"

The officials' confusion was understandable—Patrick felt the same.

"You intend to develop that land?"

"Do you think there's gold buried there or something?"

Everyone stared at Logan in bewilderment.

"This territory's gold mines were already exploited by the royal family... No, never mind. Why am I even explaining? You just want that land, don't you?"

As the lord massaged his temples in exasperation, Logan nodded without hesitation.

"Yes."

The vassals shook their heads in disbelief.

To them, this was just another of the Grand Prince's incomprehensible whims.

Soon, everyone arrived at the same conclusion:

It's useless land anyway. The Grand Prince gets what he wants, and we save funds. What's the harm?

"Fine. Logan's reward shall be that hill... Dwain, bring the map. Let's mark exactly which one... Hmm, yes. This mountain is hereby granted as private land."

With that, all opposition vanished, and approval came far too easily.

Got it!

Logan clenched his fist under the table, unnoticed.

This land is far more important than a measly 300,000 gold.

Just overcoming the territorial war already made his heart swell with pride, but he couldn't afford to linger in that feeling.

Nine years from now...

The mere thought of the impending catastrophe tightened his chest.

A mere border noble family—and he, just one of its sons—had to become the decisive variable in holding back the Empire's assault.

And before that, the disasters brewing within the kingdom were no small matter either.

There's still a long way to go.

Both he and his family had mountains yet to climb.

This choice, too, was made to proactively overcome those looming calamities.

It's more efficient for me to take control than leave it to the family.

The meeting soon concluded, and Logan walked away with everything he wanted.

Shortly after leaving the conference room, Logan faced another burden that had weighed on him for a long time.

And as always, that burden bared its fangs at him.

"What in the world are you thinking?"

"Mother!"

"What kind of scheme is this?! Do you think I'll be fooled when others might?!"

Despite Ronian's attempts to hold her back, his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stepmother's bloodshot eyes and pale complexion made her look almost pitiable as she shouted.

"Mother! Please!! Brother, I'm sorry. Mother's been distraught over matters with her family—"

"It's fine, Ron. It's alright."

Logan smiled gently at his flustered brother before turning back to his stepmother.

Though their long-standing resentment remained, she was now just a powerless matriarch.

No longer a threat—no longer an obstacle.

And precisely because of that, this was the perfect moment to mend their twisted relationship.

In this situation, she might accept a sincere apology rather than dismissing it as an excuse.

It wasn't as if he felt entirely at ease, but steeling his resolve wasn't difficult.

Logan took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and spoke calmly.

"Mother. I know my actions over the past few years have given you no reason to trust me. The things I did out of jealousy and inferiority—I deeply regret them."

"See, Ronian?! Even he admits it! That bastard—"

"Mother! Please stop!"

Ronian clung to Marian's waist, his eyes pleading as he looked at Logan.

"Brother, Mother isn't herself right now. This isn't the time—"

"Just listen, Ronian MacLaine. The one I truly owe an apology to is you."

"Huh...?"

"I've said I was sorry since returning, but I never explained why. Decades of regret still couldn't easily overcome my cowardly nature."

"......Brother?"

Ronian stared blankly, unable to comprehend.

"But you knew, didn't you, Ron? You're not a fool."

With those words, Ronian's expression froze like stone.

"For years, I hated you."

The blunt, unvarnished confession left even Marian speechless. Ronian's face paled.

Logan smiled bitterly at the sight.

"I tried to escape my own inadequacy by hating you. And now, I sincerely regret those pathetic years, Ronian."

Logan forced himself to meet his brother's gaze directly.

"Ronian, my brother. At long last, I formally apologize to you. I'm truly sorry."

His stepmother's eyes widened in shock, and Ronian's awkward expression made it hard to look at him directly.

Just speaking the words made emotions surge uncontrollably.

For decades, he had regretted not saying this simple thing.

Only after returning to the past and overcoming the family's crisis did he find the courage for this honest apology.

You can't cover up wrongs with good deeds. Still so immature, Logan MacLaine.

A self-deprecating laugh escaped him despite the relief.

"It's alright, Brother."

After a moment of stillness, Ronian smiled brightly.

"I was fine back then too."

"......What?"

Neither in his past life nor now had Logan ever expected such words.

"I believed that if I did well, someday, the brother I knew would return. And now, here you are... Haha."

Logan could only chuckle dryly at his brother's smiling face.

Why did I hesitate for so long over something so simple?

Meeting his stepmother's still-disbelieving gaze, Logan spoke as if making a vow.

"Mother. If I had truly wanted to harm Ronian, I had plenty of opportunities during this war alone."

"That's—"

"He even saved me. Didn't you, Brother?"

"......My concern for Ronian is genuine. So is my hope that he will one day become the heir."

"Huh? Brother, that's—"

"I know asking for your trust right away is too much. So just watch. Watch how I act."

His stepmother didn't respond, but that was enough for Logan.

Though the rewards had been settled, the MacLaine leadership remained swamped with post-war affairs.

The most pressing issue was persuading the captured knights and soldiers to switch allegiances.

The soldiers required little convincing, but the knights needed time.

In their society, loyalty was the most sacred duty of a knight.

Abandoning one's lord to serve another was tantamount to branding oneself a traitor—a shackle that barred all paths to social advancement.

But since both lords served the same kingdom and king, there was room for persuasion. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The flimsy logic was that their fundamental loyalty remained to the same crown—only the immediate master had changed. Yet such justifications mattered deeply to each knight.

Without even that pretense, they'd face death or infamy.

With this justification, they'll choose defection even if the pay's worse.

Knights were still human, and Haman Tesron was far from a good lord by any measure.

Of course, some would haggle for pride's sake—that would take time.

Logan couldn't fathom why, but such things mattered to some.

Beyond that, there were administrative issues between Tesron and MacLaine territories, security and troop deployments, taxes, revenue—

Every remaining problem was one that couldn't be resolved overnight.

Yet Logan, still without an official position, moved freely along his own path.

This is why being heir is a pain. I'd be buried under paperwork right now.

After barely overcoming a life-or-death crisis, he'd have had no time to savor the moment before drowning in documents.

More importantly, I can't afford that now.

A fierce light burned in Logan's eyes, belying his calm exterior.

They had barely weathered a small wave, but the storm that would engulf the family—and the entire kingdom—was only beginning.

If the Empire's invasion was the final calamity that doomed the nation, the event set for next winter would mark the beginning of its decline.

The death of the current king, Samuel von Grandia.

No matter how weakened the royal family had become, the king was the kingdom's rightful ruler.

His sudden, unexplained death sent shockwaves through the entire nation.

The psychological impact on the citizens was negligible.

But the war that erupted in the capital, Grandia, following the king's abrupt demise—the civil war that split factions along succession lines—dragged on for three years, gutting the kingdom's strength.

And before it could recover, the Empire's invasion began.

In truth, this was the first domino that doomed the nation.

The MacLaine territory, with no particular factional allegiance, might have weathered the storm by remaining neutral and keeping its head down.

They could have watched the countless heroes and villains of the civil war from the sidelines like spectators.

But I can't let that opportunity slip away.

Logan intended to use the chaos to aggressively expand the family's influence.

To reclaim the lost earldom lands and restore their position as lords of the southwestern region—as quickly as possible.

And if feasible, to become the card that tipped the scales and ended the stalemated civil war.

Or perhaps even more...

Snap.

Get a grip. I've barely crossed one hurdle. Being able to even consider this is a blessing.

Logan snapped himself out of his spiraling thoughts and refocused on immediate tasks.

Whether it's expanding military power or instigating territorial wars, suggesting it now would just get me labeled insane again.

From Logan's perspective, this was the time to build strength—but he had no way to persuade others.

So first...

He needed to secure that and take control of the family's finances.

Whether it was expanding arms or hiring talent, no one could object if he used his personal funds.

Now was the time to prepare for that.

If the family refuses territorial war, then I'll—

"Where exactly are you going?"

Just as his thoughts began to spiral, a voice snapped Logan back to reality.

Turning, he saw a disgruntled dwarf slowly trailing behind him.

The sight made him smirk.

"You've rested enough. It's time to get back to work."

"I'm uneasy, damn it—uneasy! When the master smiles like that, I remember being squeezed dry—"

"Don't worry. This time, it's something you'll love."

"And what would I love?"

Despite the surly response, Logan's smile didn't fade.

Unlike humans, whose preferences varied wildly, the forgotten races had shared tastes.

And Logan ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was certain that what he was about to do would align perfectly with this dwarf's inclinations.

"Stop complaining and follow me. You won't be disappointed."

"Then why are we heading to the prison? You're not locking me up just because I took a break—"

"Don't imagine nonsense, Hamar. We're picking up the people who'll be working with you."

"To the prison, you say?"

"Yes."

Hamar looked baffled, but those words soon became reality.

In the depths of MacLaine Castle's prison, behind heavy iron doors meant for knights, a group of shaggy middle-aged men—clearly no fighters—huddled together.

"Whoa! He really came! That young master!"

"Oho! It's really him!"

"But what's that beside him? That's not human—"

"A d-dwarf!"

"What?! A dwarf?!"

Their eyes lit up at the sight of Hamar accompanying Logan.

"W-what's with these humans?!"

Even in the slave markets, Hamar had never faced such intense stares.

And the fact that they were all shaggy middle-aged men made his beard practically bristle.

"Self-proclaimed geologists or mining experts—but to me, they're just digging-obsessed lunatics."

"......Miners? Why miners all of a sudden?"

"Because I need them."

"Huh?"

"I plan to develop a mine."

"WHAAAT?!"

Logan grinned at the dwarf's stunned expression.