What Happens When He Gets Disappointed
“The social circle?”
“Yes, that is correct, Duke Lordrian.”
Duke Lordrian was receiving his butler’s report. He had ordered the butler to keep watch over Legrian Territory and gather information about it. In the process, the butler had discovered that Elena Legrian would be attending a social party hosted by the Kai family.
“She intends to attend a social party……”
“It is unusual. Until now, Elena Legrian has received numerous invitations to social parties but has always declined. After attending one several years ago and returning after being mocked and scorned, she has consistently refused. Yet this time she has expressed her willingness to attend.”
Hearing this, Duke Lordrian fell into thought. Why would she accept an invitation she would have previously rejected? It warranted investigation.
“Hosted by the Kai family?”
“Yes.”
“An invitation must have come to us as well, then?”
“Of course.”
The Pomeranian ducal house was the most powerful family supporting the kingdom. Naturally, an invitation had arrived.
“Inform them that we will attend as well.”
“Surely you do not intend to go in person, Your Grace?”
“No.”
It would not look proper for the duke himself to attend such a social gathering. It could invite unnecessary misunderstandings.
“We will send Bahun.”
“Lord Bahun?”
“Yes.”
Bahun, the second son of the Pomeranian family, had turned eighteen this year. His attendance at a count’s social party would raise no eyebrows.
“But would that be wise? Forgive me for saying so, but Lord Bahun’s temperament……”
“It does not matter.”
“However, if he causes trouble at the party, it could damage the family’s honor.”
Duke Lordrian knew exactly what the butler was worried about. Bahun’s personality was far from pleasant. Whether it stemmed from growing up wielding immense power or from his inherent nature, he was violent and hot-tempered. If he stirred up trouble at the social party, it could tarnish the ducal house’s reputation.
“It does not matter. In fact, that is precisely what I want.”
The butler’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
“What do you mean……”
“It would be better if he picks a fight. Tell Bahun he may do as he pleases this time. However, if he intends to provoke someone, he must target the Legrian family.”
“……I understand.”
Only then did the butler grasp what Duke Lordrian desired. He wanted to uncover the reason behind the Legrian family’s transformation. This social party was unlikely to proceed smoothly.
“Father wishes it?”
“Yes.”
“Hah, why the hell should I go to a place like that? It’s a bother.”
“Duke Lordrian specifically ordered your attendance.”
At the butler’s words, Bahun furrowed his brow. He did not particularly enjoy social parties. The gatherings where nobles laughed and chattered while eating were ill-suited to his temperament.
“I……”
“He said you may do as you wish.”
“What?”
“He said that no matter what you do there, he will handle it, so you should act freely.”
At the butler’s words, Bahun tilted his head in confusion.
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly as stated. He said there is no need to restrain your personality. However—”
“However, what?”
“If you must provoke someone, he instructed that you target the Legrian family.”
“Father said that himself?”
“Yes.”
At the butler’s words, Bahun grinned. He did not know why such an order had been given, but if that was the case, there was no reason to refuse attendance.
“Fine, I’ll attend.”
“Then I shall convey that accordingly.”
Indeed, this social party was unlikely to proceed smoothly.
What exactly was a social party? In movies, noble social parties appeared to be harmonious gatherings where people enjoyed themselves—drinking, laughing, discussing politics, or dancing to pleasant music in pairs. But reality was different.
“That place is a complete battlefield.”
[Is it really that serious?]
“Exactly. It’s called a party, but it’s hell.”
Albert shivered slightly. He had made his debut in high society and attended several social parties himself. The people there were no different from hyenas. The moment they spotted a weakness, they would tear into it, gossiping and belittling without mercy. On the surface, they wore calm masks and smiled, but the faces hidden behind those masks were vicious.
“I went a few times, but never again after that. It disgusted me.”
To survive there, Albert had to give it his all.
“It’s the Amazon.”
A jungle. One moment of carelessness and you were done for. A noble’s social party was a place where even trusted allies could turn into enemies and stab you in the back without warning.
[Is it really that dangerous?]
[I’ve only read about it in books……]
“Reality is always cruel.”
Albert sank into thought. The nanny had told him what happened. After Albert disappeared and their parents died, when the family collapsed under absurd charges, Elena had attended social parties to build connections and save the territory. Unlike others, however, Elena had been nothing more than prey. She had far too many vulnerabilities.
‘A fallen house, a missing brother, dead parents…… She must have been an easy target.’
The nanny had said that when Elena returned that day, she had been in terrible shape. To protect the family’s honor, Elena had challenged someone to a duel and lost. She had come back severely injured. If not for potions, the wounds would have left permanent scars.
Grind.
The moment he heard that, Albert felt his head boil with rage. If the System had not used a skill to calm him down, he would have taken a taxi and gone on a rampage right then. But Albert held back.
‘I’m not a thug.’
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If they hurt you, you pay them back the same way, right?”
Grin—
A wicked smile twisted across Albert’s lips. He was not the type to endure being wronged. Especially not when his beloved little sister had suffered such humiliation there. He had no intention of letting it slide.
[So what exactly are you planning to do?]
“What else? Pay them back and show them.”
[Show them what?]
“What happens when they look down on our family…… and make sure they can never do it again.”
He intended to make it crystal clear. So that no one would ever dare slight the Legrian family again. So that no one would ever look down on his sister again.
Albert’s first plan was to use the Red Bear pelts to make coats. There was not a single dress in Elena’s wardrobe suitable for a social party. It could not be helped.
‘She sold everything.’
To save the territory, they had liquidated all their possessions, including clothing. As a result, there was nothing left to wear to the party. Even after Albert’s return and the influx of money into the territory, Elena only knew how to invest in the land—she had no idea how to spend on herself.
“First, we need to solve the clothing problem. This pelt……”
[If you wish to commission work with that pelt, I recommend the Carnival family.]
“Carnival? Why them?”
[According to what I read in a book, the tailors of the Carnival family specialize in handling pelts.]
“A book? What book?”
[Everything About Fur Coats! With This, You Too Can Become a Fur Master!]
[That was the title.]
Somehow, the title sounded exactly like the kind of books he used to see in the other world. Regardless—
“It said that in the book?”
[Yes.]
[It mentioned that the Carnival family has tailors with a long tradition of working with pelts.]
“Really?”
Albert nodded. He had already been planning to visit the Carnival family to collect payment anyway. This was perfect timing.
“If we go there, the crafting fee will be free.”
He knew that making a fur coat cost a considerable amount of money. But with the Carnival family, even the fee would be waived.
[Even after squeezing them so much…… you’re still thinking of squeezing them more?]
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
Albert spoke as if the question were absurd.
“I’ll keep squeezing them forever. I have to keep the straw in them, don’t I? Not just them—their descendants too…… forever……”
Unless the Carnival family went extinct, they would remain the Legrian family’s personal wallet for eternity. The destination was set. With little time left before the social party, they had to move quickly. Albert raised his hand with practiced ease.
“Taxi!! Take me to the Carnival family!! Double fare!!”
Double zero was still zero.
“Haa……”
Now the head of the Carnival family, Delren sat in his office and let out a sigh. His complexion was poor. Whether from lack of proper sleep due to heavy workloads, dark circles hung heavily beneath his eyes.
“Is something not going well?”
“……Sir Robert……”
The knight Robert entered the office and placed a cup of warm tea before him with a gentle smile.
“Reveria tea.”
“Ah…… Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
“Haa…… Still, drinking tea makes me feel a bit better.”
Delren’s expression, previously crumpled with fatigue, softened slightly. He had wanted tea, and Robert had brought it with perfect timing.
“You seem quite exhausted.”
“Well, yes.”
“Please take it a little easier. Overworking will harm your health.”
“I want to, but I can’t.”
Delren stared at the piled-up documents with a look of dread before letting out a habitual sigh. Even if he did not want to push himself, he had no choice. After his father collapsed, the Carnival family had been utterly devastated. Numerous knights had died, causing a massive loss in strength, and a huge hole had opened in their finances.
“Other families began turning their backs once they learned what happened to Father. To fill that hole, I cannot afford to stop.”
“Lord Delren……”
Robert’s gaze toward Delren had changed significantly from before. It was only natural. Unlike the arrogant, power-hungry youth he had once been, the current Delren had matured. Though still inexperienced, he was changing for the sake of the territory as its new head.
‘I will always believe in you, Lord Delren.’
Robert had now sworn his loyalty to Delren.
“Lord Delren, I may not be able to help with other matters, but—”
To demonstrate his loyalty, he placed his hand on his sword hilt and radiated a strong fighting spirit.
“No matter what danger comes, I will protect you.”
“……Thank you, Sir Robert. I’ll be counting on you.”
“I will protect you even at the cost of my life.”
He could not afford to lose his lord again. Such disgrace was enough for one lifetime.
“Then……”
“My, what admirable loyalty. Impressive~ Clap clap clap.”
“……”
At that moment, a voice that should never have been heard in the office echoed through the room. The instant they heard it, both men felt chills run down their spines. The sensation was so intense that the hairs on their bodies stood on end.
“Th…… This voice……”
“Surely not……”
The two turned toward the source of the voice. Leaning casually against the open office door stood an annoyingly handsome man with ominous black hair and black eyes. Albert was there. The moment they confirmed his presence, an overwhelming sense of dread washed over them. A powerful threat that seemed to pierce the soul pressed down on them.
“Albert…… Legrian……”
“Hey~ Long time no see~ Nice to see you again. But why the faces? You look like you’ve seen something unpleasant.”
[From their perspective, meeting Lord Albert would hardly be pleasant.]
Seeing the two men’s unwelcoming expressions, Albert frowned slightly in displeasure.
“How disappointing.”
In that instant, along with a chilling sensation, the air around his body distorted. The next moment, with a sharp crack, the windows in the hallway shattered.
“I got so disappointed that you didn’t welcome me that I accidentally broke the glass. How are you going to take responsibility?”
“R-Responsibility……? Th-that glass was broken by……”
“Why? Are you saying it’s my fault?”
“……No, it is not.”
Delren lowered his head. That damned bandit. He broke it himself and blamed others.
‘Bastard.’
“So…… what brings you here……”
“Ah, this.”
Albert pulled the Red Bear corpses out of his dimensional storage. Their heads had been cleanly severed, and the pelts were in pristine condition.
“This is……”
“Red Bears!?”
Both men’s faces paled in shock. A Red Bear was a vicious monster that required five knights to hunt. And there were five of them.
‘Moreover, these Red Bears have no wounds except for their severed necks…… That means……’
It was terrifying. They already knew how strong he was, but the realization sent another shiver down their spines.
“Why…… this……”
“From what I’ve heard, your family is supposedly the best at making fur coats?”
“That is…… well……”
“The best among all noble houses, apparently.”
When Albert subtly praised the family, Delren’s lowered head lifted slightly. His slumped shoulders strangely gained a bit of strength.
“Ahem, though it may sound presumptuous, it is true that……”
“Aaah, enough of that talk.”
The moment Albert cut him off just as he was about to boast about the family, Delren’s shoulders drooped again. Ignoring that, Albert continued.
“Make two fur coats out of these.”
“You mean coats made from Red Bear pelts?”
“Yeah. Possible?”
“That is…… possible, but……”
“In two days.”
“Fur coats!? You want Red Bear pelts turned into coats in just two days!? That’s!!”
It was absurd.
“Making a fur coat is no simple task! It requires a master craftsman pouring their heart and soul into it. It would take at least ten days…… and Red Bear pelts are special, so they require even more time!”
“So you’re saying it’s impossible?”
“That is!”
“If it’s impossible, I think I’ll be very disappointed.”
“……”
In that instant, Delren felt his entire body go cold. Even without Albert explaining what would happen if he was disappointed, the image formed automatically in his mind. He had witnessed it with his own eyes—Albert’s strength, his cruelty. The man who had slaughtered dozens of knights without so much as blinking. If someone like that became disappointed?
‘It could lead to the family’s destruction……’
Extreme terror surged through him like a storm. Desperate, Delren turned to Robert, sending a silent plea for help.
‘Sir Robert, help me! You said you’d protect me no matter what danger came! You’re a knight! Help me!’
He sent an urgent SOS signal, but Robert, who received it, simply turned his head away.
‘I hereby resign from my position as a knight, effective immediately.’
A knight had to stay alive first. This was not an ordinary danger—it was a natural disaster. Human strength could not stop it. If he tried, he might end up bedridden for life. Before Albert’s power, even knighthood lost its meaning.
“Then make sure it’s done in two days. Otherwise, I might get so disappointed that I do something drastic.”
“……Could you perhaps elaborate on what that ‘something drastic’ might be……”
“It’d be a shame to separate father and son. Lying side by side with your father would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
“……”
Should I lay you down next to your dad too? Incidentally, Delren’s father was currently lying in bed in a vegetative state. In other words, Albert meant to make Delren the same. A chill ran down his spine. How could he make such a threat with such a refreshing expression? This was clearly not his first time.
“……Then, regarding the payment……”
“Well then, I’ll be going. Good luck.”
The moment the topic of payment came up, Albert vanished like the wind, just as he had appeared.
“……”
“Lord Delren…… It seems we’re in serious trouble.”
“You’re in trouble too, Sir Robert.”
“Why me……?”
“Didn’t you say you were resigning? Since you’re unemployed now, you’ll have to find another job, won’t you?”
“……”
Even telepathy working too well was a problem.