4 – New Beginning
＜Chapter 4 – New Beginning＞
My name is Elwin.
I am a transmigrator in this world.
My position is the Frontier Lord.
And my occupation is a farmer.
“Farmer…”
After obtaining the occupation, I pondered for a few days.
How to make use of it.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a maid appeared.
“Madam is looking for you.”
“For me?”
I followed the maid to the meeting room.
She sat at the head of the table,
and those on her left and right arranged themselves.
“Welcome. Elwin.”
“Did you call for me, Mother?”
“Do you know the rumors circulating in the world?”
Rumors circulating in the world?
I haven’t been out for several days.
With no allies in the mansion, no one would tell me.
“I don’t know.”
“Hmm…”
“Ahem…”
Those who approached me responded with uncomfortable coughs.
Their expressions alone told me everything.
Blatant disregard for Lady Soyoung.
They didn’t hide such behavior; it was openly displayed.
Seemingly their way of expressing loyalty.
Towards Brida.
“Elwin, as Lady Soyoung, you should take an interest in the territory. Allow me to explain this time.”
According to Brida’s words, my reputation in the territory is quite unfavorable.
‘Why? How is that possible?’
When I walked out of the pile of corpses,
The people of the territory cheered.
They thanked the gods for my resurrection.
That incident happened, and only a few days had passed.
“Black Oak pretended to be scared to death, didn’t he? Only getting up from his seat after arriving at South Castle?”
‘Huh…?’
It was unbelievable.
Did I pretend to be dead?
The sensation of the axe was still vivid.
Intense pain, too.
Even the fading sensation of that pain was etched in my mind.
“Are you saying I pretended to be dead? Do you really think so?”
Brilda’s eyes sharpened.
Even the departed ones wore surprised expressions.
I was no different.
When Brilda spoke, I used to respond with ‘yes’ or ‘understood.’
Unpleasant tasks, troublesome ones, I did them all if Brilda ordered.
But now, according to her words?
Me?
Would my personality change after experiencing death?
Or…
There was a point to consider.
Dying to Black Oak and waking up.
Fragments of memory remained.
I had made a significant decision.
The problem was that I couldn’t remember that decision.
“I will ask again, Mother. Do you think I pretended to be dead?”
“…Elwin, what are you doing?”
“I don’t understand. You didn’t even confirm my death? Could it be that you didn’t bother to check if I was alive and just left me among the corpses?!”
“Elwin, sir!”
“Elwin, sir! She is your mother!”
“Elwin, sir!!! Show some respect!!”
The people on both sides shouted.
I looked each of them in the eye.
Among them was Wilson, who had fought alongside me during the Black Oak suppression.
“Captain Wilson. You were with me on the battlefield. After the battle, didn’t you check on me? Didn’t you even confirm my breathing?” I asked.
Wilson was momentarily taken aback.
Naturally.
If he were to say that he had confirmed my death, it would mean that Brida’s words were wrong.
On the other hand, if he were to say that he hadn’t confirmed it, that would be a problem in itself.
He didn’t check on the commander’s condition after the battle.
Or even the state of the princess.
In place of the bewildered Wilson, Brida stepped forward.
“Stop. Everyone stop. I didn’t call you here to cover up the truth. The rumor that the Young Lord of the Yeongji Territory is a coward has already spread. So, you’re going to become the Chief of the South Guard…”
“No, thank you.”
Brilda was at a loss for words at Elwin’s clear and firm rejection.
The people around were no different.
‘Refreshing.’
She didn’t know refusing could be so refreshing to the heart.
Why did she only say, ‘I understand,’ until now?
Saying ‘no’ feels so liberating.
“Elwin, did I hear you wrong? You refuse? Is that what you’re saying to me?”
“I understand that I’ll die if I refuse. I don’t have the ability to take on the role of Chief of the Guard. So, I say it firmly. I refuse.”
The mistress of the Frontier Clan.
Brilda Frontier.
The Young Lady of the Frontier Clan.
Elwin Frontier.
A war between two nobles without a spear.
The gods watching over this.
“Lord Elwin!!!!! Admirable!!!!!”
It’s you again, Wilson?
Wilson shouted loudly.
It seemed like an attempt to make up for the mistake a little while ago.
However,
I have no intention of silently letting it pass.
Always answering ‘yes,’ Elwin, who used to respond that way, died at the hands of the Black Orc.
I.
Have changed.
“Sir Wilson!!! Why do you address me like that!!!!”
Thud. Thud.
Stood in front of Wilson.
Surprised when the arrow was aimed at him.
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“How do you address your father!!”
“Of course… it’s my lord.”
“Then I am!!”
“Lord Elwin.”
“Why is father my lord, and I am Lord Elwin! Whether you call father by name or address me by title. Be consistent! Understand!!”
…”
They know why they call me Elwin and not Lady Soryeongju.
They refuse to acknowledge me as Lady Soryeongju.
Because they all belong to the side of Bleda.
“What are you doing!! Sir Wilson, call me again!!”
“…”
Wilson’s eyes trembled.
Then he turned to the right.
If he looked in that direction, he would have seen Brilda.
After a moment, Wilson spoke.
“I apologize, Lady Soyoung. I will unify the titles from now on.”
Tap. Tap.
He returned to the center of the conference room.
“Mother, being the head of security is not my role. So, please help me with something else.”
“Something else? What is it?”
He couldn’t say farming.
If he mentioned farming on Monster Island, everyone would think he was crazy.
“I want to build a blacksmith and produce weapons.”
So, the idea that came to mind was a blacksmith.
Once he got the support of manpower and funds,
there would be a way to farm somehow.
After succeeding in farming, no one would say anything.
But, he faced difficulties right from the start.
“No.”
“Mother!”
“There’s no additional capacity to support. It’s difficult to maintain the current territory. Don’t you know why we’re struggling?”
This time, it was difficult to refute.
As she said, the Frontier Territory is impoverished.
Land contaminated by magic.
Monster Island.
You can’t cultivate crops on Monster Island.
So, you have to import from the continent.
The sea is filled with marine monsters, making it impossible for merchant ships to pass through.
The only passage is the Vampyres Bridge, connecting Monster Island to the continent.
“Is it because of the Kalas Demesne?”
“That’s right.”
The Vampyres Bridge.
The bridge extending from the Vampyres Duchy connects to the continent.
That place is the Kalas Demesne.
To trade with the continent, you must pass through the Kalas Demesne,
and they charge a very high toll for it.
When exporting monster by-products, the main source of income,
you pay a high toll.
When importing essential goods like food,
you have to pay high tolls again.
As a result, the frontier territory is impoverished.
If the price of monster by-products in Ireland wasn’t so high,
even this might not have endured.
“If you understand the situation, appoint me as the captain of the guard, as I suggested…”
“No. If you have nothing more to say, I’ll leave.”
Sulk. Sulk.
While leaving the conference room,
not a single person opened their mouth.
.
.
Returned to the room.
In an instant, as the tension released, sank into the chair.
“Ha…”
Hands trembled.
Heart beating rapidly.
Breath was rough.
But strangely, the heart felt relieved.
Something that had been oppressing the chest had crumbled.
“It’s relieving, but…”
In today’s meeting
I didn’t get what I wanted.
With just one land recovery skill, I can’t cultivate the fields.
From Noble mtl dot com
I need land, and I need people.
I also need seeds to plant in the land.
“The place I can ask for help is…”
I can’t use the capital of Frontier.
Because Brilda tightly controls internal politics.
Absolutely not allowed.
If I erase Brilda,
there’s another option.
One is Alencia.
And the other one is…
Knock. Knock.
“What’s going on?”
“A guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
“It’s Alencia Vampirus.”
The moment I heard the name, my heart skipped a beat.
I hurriedly stood in front of the mirror.
I straightened out my disheveled clothes.
Thump. Thump.
Her heart raced.
“Miss, please calm down.”
“Calm down? I’m already calm.”
Even as she spoke, she paid attention to her expression.
‘To think you brought me all the way here.’
As usual, she was immersed in the competition between the first-born Venia and the Duke’s faction.
Then, a piece of news came from the west.
The death of Elwin Frontier.
Her mind went blank.
Setting aside everything, she departed for the Frontier Lordship.
In the midst of that, new information arrived.
The resurrection of Elwin Frontier.
Only then did her heart truly calm.
Her mind started working.
And she remembered the promise.
By now, she should have been meeting with Clan Kent.
Since she had parted ways with Elwin, she needed a new partner.
For that, she had to build a friendship with the Kent family.
“What have I done… But I’ve come this far…”
There was no other reason.
He had come to the Frontier House because the whole street was there.
Even if he had broken up with Elwin, his relationship with them was important.
“Why haven’t you come yet?”
“Miss, it hasn’t even been a minute since the maid left.”
“That’s all?”
Why does the time waiting for Elwin pass so slowly?
“I should have turned back halfway.”
The reception door opened,
And Elwin appeared.
All thoughts vanished just a moment ago.
I was relieved to see him looking healthy.
I feel like I can focus on my work even if I go back.
I confirmed Elwin’s face.
