Chapter 81
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Making a Name (3)
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“From time immemorial, We, along with many of Our predecessors, have devoted ourselves tirelessly to the peace and comfort of the nobles, citizens, and all Our subjects. Moreover, We have lived with the belief that it is Our responsibility to provide the foundation upon which the people can live without worry.”
With a crisp snap!
The edict unfurled with a bright sound.
The herald's solemn voice drilled right into his ears.
So Lloyd sat there quietly, lost in thought.
'Ah, shit. This means I'm going.'
Lloyd knelt respectfully before the herald.
His head was bowed low, which was a good thing.
At least the herald wouldn't see the complicated expression on his face.
'A royal edict from the Queen, huh. This feels like a double-edged sword.'
He glanced sideways.
The baron knelt beside him, one knee on the ground.
Lloyd could see the baron's eyelids and lashes trembling as he showed his respect.
An overwhelming surge of glory.
Boundless joy and happiness blooming within.
He looked just like someone clutching a lottery jackpot ticket, sitting in front of a bank teller window.
Well, it was understandable.
This was the countryside.
A backwater barony tucked away in the eastern boonies.
Unless a massive war broke out and the Queen personally led the army, or some history-making disaster drew her for an inspection, she'd never set foot here in her lifetime.
It was that kind of podunk place.
Yet a royal herald had come here.
A royal edict penned in the Queen's own hand had arrived.
'It'll be a family glory to boast about for generations. From the baron's perspective.'
What greater joy and honor could there be for a noble?
Lloyd's expression grew even more complicated, unbeknownst to others.
'Yeah, it's an honor. A useful one, if used right.'
The herald had come to deliver the Queen's edict.
That alone painted a rough picture of the situation.
'Probably because of what happened in Creemo.'
He'd snagged a big construction project from the count.
Successfully built an artificial sea platform.
Then took down the Gigatitan that attacked the city.
His feats must have reached the Queen's ears.
So this was her way of praising his merits and bestowing a reward.
'Feels good, but... tch. This is why I didn't want to fight that Gigatitan.'
Lloyd's brow furrowed.
It was true.
It would've been best to wrap up the construction perfectly and head home.
Pocket the payment, leverage that connection through the Creemo count to land more projects from big-city influencers. Build a solid reputation as a contractor and rake in steady profits.
That was the plan Lloyd had drawn up.
And he hadn't planned to go beyond that.
'It should've stopped there. That was the sweet spot. A few more years of solid projects, and I figured the debt to the moneylenders would be paid off.'
That was his calculation.
He'd already paid off half the debt.
Interest payments had dropped sharply as a result.
Plus, he was collecting water taxes monthly from the neighboring Rionero Racona Viscounty.
That alone covered the interest with surplus for savings.
So he hadn't wanted more.
Pushing further would be overkill.
'As long as I pay off the debt. No need to blow things up too big. If I do, even after clearing the debt, I might end up stuck working forever.'
All this current hustle was just to pay off the debt.
Once it was gone?
He didn't want to work.
Didn't want to live diligently.
He'd already burned out on grinding to death back in Korea.
No desire to do it for life here too. He wasn't chasing riches or glory. Just wanted to laze as a country noble, sucking honey forever.
'Three square meals a day. Lounging with a book. Ride a horse when bored. Marry a compatible woman. Kids, without overdoing it. Live comfortably, moderately well-off. That's my ideal life.'
But now?
An unexpected variable had crashed into his picture.
The unwanted fight with the Gigatitan. Rolling to survive, he'd accidentally built a massive achievement.
Now he'd stamped himself firmly in the Queen's eyes.
'Whew. What to do about this.'
It felt good, but also awkward.
Memories from his army days suddenly resurfaced.
'Was the same in the military. Cruising middle-of-the-pack is safest and best, but back then I didn't know.'
True story.
Back when he was a private, maybe.
First day after basic training, assigned to his unit.
The company clerk asked right away.
'Huh? Civil engineering major? You dig ditches or what?'
So he answered.
Planted firm in the admin office chair.
Bellowing with newbie stiffness,
'Yes, sir!'
'That started all the misery.'
Lloyd sighed deeply.
That thoughtless shout.
It kicked off his self-inflicted misfortune.
From that day, he became the clerk's personal summon(?). Called out for every chore.
Started with drainage ditches, then guard post repairs, perimeter fence fixes, company volleyball court build, fitness yard or laundry rack maintenance, battalion trash site construction, all sorts of repairs, projects, more repairs.
'Later they even dragged me for weed whacking and welding!'
Thanks to that, he even mastered welding out of nowhere.
A rear-echelon mechanized unit in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, yet he spent more time on labor than squad tactics or firefights.
Rode wheelbarrows more than armored vehicles.
Held shovels way more than rifles.
Ended up half construction worker for his whole service.
'And as discharge neared, they slyly tried tempting me to hammer stakes forever!'
He'd even gotten subtle offers to stay as a sergeant, a non-com.
Of course, he hated the army and stakes alike.
Declined flat out.
Kinda regretted it later when life got tough.
'Anyway, point is, don't stand out too much. Bad if your rep for being good spreads too far. Then superiors hound you nonstop.'
And now it felt like that was happening to him.
Listening to the herald tirelessly reading the edict made it clearer.
“And thus, upon hearing of the incident in Creemo, We could not shake Our worries... blah blah blah... Amidst it all, the astonishing courage and sacrificial spirit shown by the young noble and his guard knight brought Us great joy... such and such... Therefore, We shall specially honor these two for their deeds.”
'Hah. Please no.'
He still had to sort the Marez Reclaimed Land.
Coal business just starting.
Already swamped like crazy.
So please, don't summon me to the capital.
Or if you must, at least wait till I'm free later.
Lloyd sincerely prayed to the Queen.
But the herald's solemn voice offered no mercy.
“By Our command. To honor their deeds, Lloyd Frontera and Haviel Asrahan are summoned to the capital. The two shall proceed immediately to the capital alongside this herald delivering the edict. Proclaimed this 1st day of January, Imperial Year 617, in the capital Magentano by Queen Alicia Termina Magentano.”
Snap, thud!
The scroll bearing the edict rolled up crisply.
The herald's motion was so flawless, one might think he'd practiced it all day.
At the same time, the baron kneeling beside him trembled with emotion. Tears streamed between his bowed head.
“Uh... hngh! Sniff, hngh!”
“Baron Arkos Frontera, raise your head.”
“Sniff, hngh! Hngh!”
“A son to be proud of. Truly an outstanding boy.”
“Y-Yes, Your Gr-grace, hngh! Sniff!”
Ding-dong.
[Arkos Frontera's favorability toward you has increased by +9.]
[Current relationship with Arkos Frontera: +56]
[Major relationship improvement with a key figure grants 90 RP.]
[Current RP: 2,036]
'Hah.'
Lloyd exhaled heavily.
At this point, no choice left.
Irreversible now.
'Might as well go big since it's come to this.'
Maximize gains from the changed situation.
Accelerate debt payoff completely.
Not a bad option.
No, depending on how he played it, way better.
Lloyd finished his calculations in a flash and lifted his beaming face.
“Lloyd Frontera receives His Majesty's great edict.”
And so, his lightning trip to the capital—like topping the bar exam—was set.
♣
A festival broke out in Frontera Barony.
Perfect timing, midwinter when farm labor was light. Territory folk who'd been lounging by warm ondol floors gathered in droves.
Felt just like the village producing a bar exam top scorer.
'Just hang some banners on the entrance poles, and it'd be perfect.'
Lloyd mused while watching the festivities.
The vibe was no joke.
And it made sense.
A rural backwater with no dreams or hopes. The young master there drank all day and caused trouble.
Then one day, he completely changed.
Seemed to get his act together.
Started working hard.
Took on projects.
Every one succeeded.
Made money from nothing, like magic. Cleared the gloom from the moneylender scam.
Now, even received a royal edict.
Summoned to the capital for a big reward, no less.
Simple country folk couldn't help but puff up with pride.
And it wasn't just pride—real benefits coming their way too.
“It will boost the territory residents' pride. And that's not all. When dealing with outsiders, they'll get better treatment. No more easy dismissals, and even small gains in bartering.”
“Hmm, so less 'who do you think you are, from that backwater' nonsense.”
“Exactly.”
Lloyd nodded at Haviel's reply.
Sounded plausible.
'This territory is their whole world.'
Frontera was home and livelihood.
Now its prestige rose.
Became a territory honored with a royal edict.
Gained a title outsiders couldn't ignore easily.
'Plenty reason for pride. People get hyped just if their fave soccer or baseball team wins.'
He'd seen it plenty in modern Korea.
A team wins Champions League.
Star player scores winner and carries the final.
Online forums explode that day.
'Even with zero personal gain.'
Fans go wild for players on the other side of the planet, no ties at all.
But this event?
Directly benefited them.
And since he—the honoree—would be lord someday, even more so.
So they partied genuinely happy.
Eyes sparkling like K-pop stans spotting BTS whenever they saw him.
'Well, thanks to that, extra RP banked.'
100 from the baroness.
30 from Sir Bayern.
70 from the territory folk total.
He'd stacked it all away carefully.
Tempted to level Mana Heart, but held off—not knowing when crisis might hit.
'Just pumping Mana Heart or raw power won't cut it.'
Tailor skills to the threat. Custom growth for proper response. Ant nest, Gigatitan fight—proved it.
Lloyd hoarded RP like a half-moon bear prepping for hibernation.
Only splurge: bit of RP for phantasmal species transformations.
[You have purchased 100 Sunflower Seed Sets.]
[Purchase cost: 100 RP]
[Current RP: 2,136]
Thus, Lloyd steadily prepped for the capital journey.
Not just quietly, though.
Prepped a bigger picture.
'Queen laid the board, so sucking it dry to the last drop is only polite(?).'
He resolved.
Burned nights plotting.
Finally, departure day to the capital dawned.
The day his grand plan—to wipe the baron's family debt clean en route—kicked into gear.