Chapter 109
[You have displayed heroic courage and determination, risking your life for the residents of both the Frontera Estate and the Lacona Viscounty.]
[As a result, the residents of both territories have been deeply moved and are sending you their praise.]
[A new Praise has been generated for you.]
“…….”
Hmm, finally.
A message suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Instead of being surprised, Lloyd calmly read through the message.
‘As expected.’
He was now quite used to messages popping up at times like this.
Ever since he eradicated the threat of the locust swarm, he had secretly been hoping for this.
‘It was clear I’d get a new Praise.’
He had risked his life to save the territory.
But if he didn’t get at least one Praise for that, it would’ve been disappointing.
In fact, that was why he deliberately shouted things like Captain Frontera, openly letting everyone know he was the one saving them.
‘Otherwise, no one would properly know who saved them. Why achieve something if nobody recognizes it?’
Truly, these days self-promotion is everything.
With that in mind, Lloyd examined the messages that kept appearing.
Ding-dong.
[A new Praise, <Savior of the Bells>, has been generated.]
[Savior of the Bells]
[Praise Grade: Regional Folklore]
Dark clouds covered the eastern sky.
Wings that brought the end rained down.
Livestock died, and homes collapsed.
People wept, and swords broke.
And in that moment, when death shrouded everyone’s hearts,
when all the people of both territories struggled in despair,
one powerful ringing of the bell.
Deng. Livestock were saved.
Deng. People were raised up.
Deng. The end was driven away.
We shout out loud and call that person our savior.
[Praise Effect: All residents of the Frontera Estate and Lacona Viscounty who experienced the locust swarm disaster will revere you as their lifelong benefactor. In addition, all insect-type monsters will instinctively feel wary and terrified at the sight of you, greatly shrinking back.]
[Praise Region: Frontera Estate, Lacona Viscounty]
[Praise Duration: 110 years]
[The effect of the Praise will apply for 24 hours within the designated region and period. Depending on your future deeds, the area and duration of the Praise may be expanded, extended, reduced, or shortened.]
[CP provided monthly by Praise: 3]
[Current CP held: 2]
‘Whoa.’
Savior of the Bells, huh.
The name was as grand as its effect.
‘Does this mean I’ve become the most respected person in the region?’
But that wasn’t all.
‘To sum up the option effect, it means I automatically intimidate all insect-type monsters.’
Thinking about it, that was an amazing thing.
There was no detailed definition of monster size or anything like that in the option description.
‘That means there’s no size or other standard. As long as it’s an insect-like form, they all get affected by this option. In other words, even that Gigatitan I fought in Cremo would shrink back and act cautious if it saw me.’
If this were South Korea, even X-Co would be drooling over someone like this.
No, even here, this option would be useful for a long time.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve had a lot of trouble with insect-type monsters. Up to now.’
It really was true.
The wild ants.
The Gigatitan.
The locust swarm.
They all brought the greatest crises.
If he’d had this Praise’s option when he had conflicts with them?
He could have won much more easily.
There would have been far fewer life-threatening moments.
‘And it’d be perfect for catching mosquitoes that come into my bedroom at night.’
Maybe that’s actually the best feature.
Lloyd smiled contentedly and closed the message window.
He looked across the table.
There sat the Baron and his wife, having dinner.
Both the Baron and Baroness looked delighted.
They were enjoying a peaceful evening, moving their forks with joy.
It made sense.
The estate had faced an unprecedented disaster.
In such a desperate situation, their son had performed heroically.
How could they not be happy?
How could they not be proud?
Lloyd could fully understand how the Baron and his wife felt.
But that was that, and he still had to plan ahead.
That was why.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry to say this, but it’s not over yet.”
He spoke, his eyes on the empty salad plate.
The Baron couple’s cheerful conversation came to a halt.
He could feel their gaze turning his way.
A worried voice from the Baroness as well.
“Oh dear. Do you want more salad?”
“…….”
“You should have said so. It’s not over, you say. Well, I suppose that’s not enough for you. You must still be tired from traveling all the way from the capital.”
Rustle, the Baroness took his plate and piled on salad.
Looking at the returned plate, there was far more meat than vegetables.
“If you need more, just say so. You’ve worked so hard again today.”
“Uh, um, I didn’t mean that it’s not over because of this……”
“Should I give you more sausage too?”
“…….”
His heart swelled, unbidden.
Memories are troublesome for this reason.
Why are mothers always like this?
He forcibly put aside the thought of his mother that suddenly surfaced.
He coughed loudly, forcing an awkward expression away.
“Ahem, hmm! No, that’s not it. Actually, there’s something I wanted to say to you both.”
“A message, you say?”
The Baron asked.
The Baroness stopped her salad tongs.
They both seemed to sense this wasn’t just about food.
Lloyd spoke to the Baron and Baroness.
“I’m sorry to bring this up when you’re happy and relieved. I feel like I’m raining on your parade. But I think it’s best for us to save our joy and relief for later. For both of you and for me.”
“……Is there something else going on?”
“Yes.”
“Something that will happen?”
“Yes.”
“Can you explain in detail?”
“Of course.”
The Baron’s eyes turned serious.
Meeting those eyes, Lloyd began to speak.
“Yesterday’s disaster was truly terrifying. Thankfully, we managed to get through it. But now is when the real beginning starts. If I may explain the reasons and circumstances in detail……”
He explained carefully.
Just like when he’d told Queen Alicia Termina Magentano about the incident in the capital.
Using what he’d learned from reading Iron Blooded Knight.
Analyzing and reasoning based on that knowledge.
He organized his thoughts step by step.
He explained everything clearly and thoroughly.
“……So from now on, there will be several more invasions like the last one.”
“Several more?”
“Yes.”
“How many……?”
“I expect at least three to as many as seven times.”
“…….”
The Baron couple’s faces turned pale.
A moment ago, dinner was warm and peaceful. Now, it felt like the suspense of a disaster film.
“Huh. What should we do… Then what about just leaving the estate?”
“That won’t work.”
Lloyd shook his head firmly.
“You must keep this in mind. If you lose the estate, it’s all over.”
“All over?”
“Yes.”
It was the truth.
He couldn’t just abandon the estate and run away.
This place was his dream, hope, the honey jar holding his peaceful future and prosperous old age.
But if he gave up just because monsters were coming?
If he let it get destroyed, with all the residents dead or gone?
‘He’d lose the estate. Someone might say they can just escape and rebuild the territory later, but this isn’t a game. That’s impossible.’
If the lord’s family gave up on the estate.
If they didn’t face the danger and retreated.
If they ran just to save their own lives.
If that happened, no resident would ever trust that lord’s family again.
No matter how much money was spent restoring farmland or rebuilding, people just wouldn’t return.
No, even before that, the royal family would certainly demand an explanation.
‘The estate is, after all, land granted to a vassal by the Queen.’
It’s land entrusted to them by Her Majesty the Queen to manage in her stead.
But if you abandon it and run away?
That’s no different than giving up your right to govern the land.
You’d lose the estate forever.
“So running away should be left as a last resort, only if you really have no other option. For now, our top priority is to protect the estate, no matter what.”
He didn’t want to lose the estate.
He didn’t want to become someone forced back to the capital, landless.
If that happened, he’d end up receiving a meaningless position from Her Majesty the Queen, living out his days doing whatever she ordered.
He absolutely didn’t want that.
He’d already had enough of barely scraping by to survive in South Korea.
Maybe his strong determination was felt.
The Baron nodded firmly with a resolute expression.
“I understand. Now that I hear it, you are absolutely right.”
“Exactly.”
Good.
The Baron, who’d seemed a bit scared, steeled his heart.
Now they had a real chance.
But, this time, the Baron seemed a little ‘too’ resolute.
“In that case, you should run away.”
“……Pardon?”
“You just said countless monsters and beasts will come again, just like the locusts. That’s why.”
“What……”
“If you need to do surveys and design defenses, do only that. As quickly as possible.”
“Are you telling me to do that and then run away, leaving the construction behind?”
“That’s right.”
The Baron said it as if it were obvious.
“Do you really have to risk your life again? You’ve already put yourself in enough danger. No, I’m already sorry and ashamed for that. So from now on, stay safe. Don’t be reckless. Leave the danger to me.”
It was a rare stern tone from the Baron.
And so Lloyd could clearly feel how he truly felt.
He wanted to keep Lloyd safe, even if it meant risking himself.
“…….”
Once again, his heart tightened.
Why did thoughts of his father always come up at times like this?
Despite carrying so much debt, his father always told him not to worry and just focus on studying in university, that he’d handle everything.
His father always said it so sternly, even though he must have been the most frightened and exhausted.
‘Maybe it’s just what fathers do—trying to shoulder everything alone.’
Lloyd took a deep breath.
He forced down the emotions that threatened to spill out.
Then he turned to the Baron.
“But that wouldn’t be enough.”
“Not enough… you say?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I can’t protect the estate?”
“That’s not it. But—”
“But?”
“It’ll be much easier if we protect it together. So, let me promise you this.”
“A promise? What sort?”
“If it ever truly becomes dangerous, I’ll be the first to run away. Without looking back. Far, far away to a safe place. How about that?”
“……Will you keep that promise?”
“Of course.”
Of course.
No matter how much the estate meant to him, it wasn’t more important than his life.
If it ever really looked like he’d die, he’d be the first to run.
With that thought, Lloyd said,
“So please, don’t tell me to run away ahead of time. Instead, I have a request.”
“A request? What is it?”
“Please gather as many workers as possible.”
“To reduce the time needed to build defenses?”
“Yes. We’ll need more hands, not just the residents and the engineer corps. Especially strong and sturdy workers. That’s why.”
Lloyd looked at the Baron.
He smiled, and calmly said something that would make the Baron jump.
“After dinner, call the commander of the White Lancers. Let him know that starting tomorrow, every single White Lancer is being assigned to our estate’s engineer corps.”
“……What?”
Gulp.
The Baron’s resolve to do whatever it took to protect the estate faltered for a moment.
‘Sure, I’ve received command authority as the lord, but can I really just assign the Queen’s personal forces like that?’
Wouldn’t the commander be furious?
But Lloyd only became more brazen.
“I’m sure you’re worried about how to say it. But this is something I can’t request as anyone but the lord. It’s something you ‘must’ do.”
“Must? Why?”
“Because it’s a rare chance to get five hundred strong workers.”
Lloyd continued.
“Very soon, another horde of monsters will come after the locusts. We’ll need those men to dig. A lot.”
“To dig?”
“Yes. And not just for now. For the bigger plan I have for the future, they need to get good at digging. They need to get used to it now. So you absolutely must convince them. And if their commander gets angry…”
“If he gets angry?”
The Baron hurriedly asked, hoping his son had a clever solution.
Lloyd grinned.
“Just brazen it out.”
“…….”
“You can do it.”
“…….”
“Good luck.”
“…….”
Can I really do something like that?
The Baron’s throat bobbed up and down.