I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 113

Chapter 113: The House of Ipheros (6)

Honestly, when I received the episode objective to revitalize Lusmire, I was at a loss.

Dealing with the nobles was one thing, something I could handle with relative ease.

The monsters were another; with some foresight and preparation, I could minimize the damage.

But even with the funds I had secured from the Bagrand Duchy after clearing Chapter 1, Lusmire's revival was beyond my reach.

The territory needed a source of income, a way to generate consistent revenue.

And that’s when I realized…

All they had was Mount Waglu, a seemingly worthless mountain that, in this situation, held the key to their salvation.

Monsters.

Creatures that threatened humanity, fantastical beasts born from the creative liberties of this world.

From a player’s perspective, they were simply monsters. But in this game's lore, the outer regions of the Pesselus Empire were plagued by these creatures.

What if… I could use them to my advantage?

What if… I could strike a deal with those who needed protection from them?

That’s how I cleared this branch in the past.

Those who built fortresses and maintained a constant defense against monsters, wouldn’t see these rocks as mere rubble.

“Selling… rocks?”

“Wait, I think I heard something about them building fortresses on the outer edges of the Empire.”

“And nobles constructing taller buildings.”

“So we can sell them as building materials!”

“Yes! We can finally be self-sufficient!”

Barak, radiating an Archimedes-like aura, returned to the villagers, his face beaming with excitement.

But one man voiced his concerns.

“But what happens when we’ve sold all the rocks from Mount Waglu? Will we be back to being poor?”

His words sparked a wave of anxiety among the villagers.

He wasn't wrong.

But this was a worry they didn't need to harbor.

“Hey, don't you remember what the Lord asked us to do?”

“Uh… now that you mention it…”

“He told us to sculpt the mountain, didn’t he?”

“If we were just supposed to excavate, he would have given us pickaxes. Why would he bother with all that specialized equipment?”

Exactly.

If I only needed the rocks, I could have simply bought them a ton of pickaxes.

The reason I had devised this elaborate plan, ordering them to sculpt the mountain into a specific shape…

“It looks like a giant tunnel, doesn’t it? Why do you think I asked you to create a tunnel that cuts through the entire mountain?”

“A path! It’s a path!”

“Ooh, I see! A passageway!”

“Yes! A road that cuts through Mount Waglu!”

The goal was to improve their inconvenient geographical location.

The atmosphere shifted once again.

Smiles bloomed on the villagers’ faces as they grasped the true intent of his plan.

The idea of a road through Mount Waglu wasn’t new. Even the nobles had discussed it. Arina and Claire had even expressed their concerns.

But a tunnel…

A tunnel would attract merchants and nobles alike.

A permanent shortcut through a treacherous mountain range…

The perfect location for toll collection.

‘That’s how I’ll generate revenue.’

Once the tunnel was complete, Lusmire would have a consistent source of income.

And with that income, they could repay the debt they owed to the Duchy.

Just like I had done with my earnings from my part-time jobs.

Of course, the tolls alone wouldn’t be enough to cover everything – Carsein’s living expenses, the debt he had incurred in Shatrain, which Claire was secretly repaying, and his allowance.

But a disadvantage wasn't always a disadvantage. The medieval setting, unlike the modern world, presented opportunities for growth and profit.

The slow pace of development in this world meant there were more ways to generate wealth. And I had the knowledge, the textbooks stored in my mind, to exploit those opportunities. I could learn and adapt to the game’s mechanics and the intricacies of this world.

My plan was simple.

Accumulate a reasonable sum, enough to satisfy the Duchy, and then leave.

Just like I had done in my previous life.

“It’s getting late. Barak will show you to your room. Get some rest, Harnie.”

“What? Oh, right.”

After instructing Harnie, I returned to my desk, picking up my pen.

***

-Click.

Claire, arms crossed, paced back and forth across the room, her anxiety growing with each passing moment. She pulled back the curtains, revealing the darkened sky.

Night had fallen.

And her brother's door remained closed.

Carsein hadn't returned.

“Haa…”

She sighed, her gaze fixed on the twilight sky.

He hadn't informed them about his plans, but it was clear he wasn’t coming back tonight.

He wouldn’t want to, after the events of today.

Phitea Gelgenton of the Gelgenton family.

The gathering of nobles.

The nightmare of the Kelbia fruit.

He had been an unwelcome guest at that tea party.

“And maybe… maybe it was the same back then, when he went with Flora.”

No, it wasn’t a maybe. It was a certainty.

Carsein, sent to Viscount Gelgenton's villa with the hope of enjoying a healthy meal, had encountered the same insidious trap.

And unlike today, he had consumed the poisoned food, returning home furious, vowing to never go out with Flora again.

And what had happened then?

She closed her eyes, the memories flooding back.

She had reprimanded him.

She had witnessed their family scolding him, their words harsh and unforgiving.

She hadn’t even bothered to listen to his side of the story.

She had heard from Shaiden that he had fallen ill, but even then, she hadn't cared.

“….”

Her jaw clenched.

How must he have felt, reliving that nightmare at the tea party?

He had been forced to attend, against his will, and subjected to their cruelty for no reason.

It was the same as before. A situation created by Flora. The resentment he must be harboring was unimaginable.

And the thought of him choosing to stay out all night, afraid of facing their anger, made her heart ache.

There was only one thing she could do.

“…At least I can prevent them from yelling at him.”

The same situation, repeating itself.

He would undoubtedly be reprimanded by their mother and sister.

So, Claire headed towards their mother’s room.

To clear his name.

To protect him.

-Knock. Knock.

“Mother, it’s me. I need to talk to you.”

She would tell her everything, about Phitea’s actions, about her own misunderstanding.

It was the least she could do.

***

-Thud.

The pen stopped mid-sentence, interrupted by a knock at the door.

“C-Carsein? Are you awake?”

Harnie’s voice, laced with uncertainty, drifted through the door.

It was late. She should be asleep by now… What was going on?

“Come in.”

I had to let her in.

Her expression, just like her voice, was filled with distress.

“What’s wrong? I thought you’d be asleep by now. You seemed exhausted earlier.”

“N-No! That’s not…! ”

She stopped mid-sentence, clearing her throat.

Her sharp gaze flickered towards me before she finally spoke.

“Yes, I’m tired. And yes, I fell asleep. And yes, I’d love to be sleeping right now. But I can’t.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“It’s just… ”

She explained that she had asked Barak for a room, just as I had instructed.

But…

“He said he couldn’t give you a room?”

“…Yes.”

“But why?”

She was the lord’s guest, and she hadn't done anything to offend the villagers. Her kind nature and willingness to interact with commoners had worked in her favor.

So why would they refuse to give her a room?

It didn't make sense.

It wasn’t as if they were trying to chase her away because she was a noble.

She sighed.

“It’s not that they don’t want to give me a room. It’s that… they don’t have any rooms for guests.”

“…You’re telling me… there are literally no spare rooms?”

She nodded.

Unbelievable.

They weren't refusing her request. They simply didn't have a room to offer.

‘Now that I think about it…’

It was the same for me.

The room I was currently occupying was originally a storage room.

They had barely managed to clear it out for me.

I had underestimated the situation.

In other territories, there might have been spare rooms, but Lusmire had been plundered by neighboring nobles, by Hemnon Modric and his cronies.

And with frequent monster attacks, they probably didn't have the resources to build guest rooms.

There was only one option.

“You can sleep in this room.”

“What?!”

“It can’t be helped. This is the only spare room.”

“B-But… where will you sleep…?”

Harnie asked, her voice laced with concern.

The answer was obvious.

“Outside, of course.”

“O-Outside?! That’s absurd!”

“I can’t exactly sleep in the same room with you.”

I reached for the doorknob, but her hand shot out, grasping mine.

“You can’t sleep outside! Not in this weather!”

“…Then what? We can’t exactly share a bed.”

She looked from the bed to the neatly folded blankets, her eyes filled with conflict. Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.

“Y-You… You can sleep on the bed.”

“What?”

“I’m the one who’s imposing. So… you sleep on the bed.”

She picked up one of the blankets and placed it on the floor, indicating her intention to sleep there.

“…Are you sure? We’re alone in this room.”

She nodded, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.

She seemed fine with it.

But I wasn't.

-Thud.

“What are you doing? That’s my spot.”

“Let’s change the terms. If you’re staying in this room, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“No, why? I’m the one who’s imposing. I came here unannounced and asked for a room.”

“Then I’ll sleep outside.”

Harnie fell silent, her jaw clenched.

After a moment of tense silence, she finally sat down on the bed, resigned.

“Why…?”

Her voice was softer now, almost… expectant.

“I have work to finish.”

“…Work?”

“Yes. It would be distracting to see you sleeping on the floor while I’m trying to concentrate.”

“…!!”

She pulled the blanket over her head, burying herself under the covers.

“I-I’m going to sleep now!”

…I wasn’t done talking.

But, if she wanted to sleep, I would let her.

She was already being incredibly accommodating.

I had spent nights outside before, locked out of my room by my younger sister, so this wasn’t a big deal.

Still…

‘Sleeping in the same room with someone else… ’

It was a strange feeling.

And it wasn’t just anyone, it was a woman.

Being with Harnie always seemed to bring unexpected challenges.