INMDR 13

Chapter 13

From that day on, my father began the mining development project in earnest.

“From now on, Ktun, you should attend the meetings as well. It’s time for you to take responsibility for the family’s affairs too.”

“I’ll do my best.”

I answered happily.

What? Don’t I hate work?

But this is a family business.

“Not a company like family, but an actual family company.”

And the money earned from the mining development would be used to enrich my life.

Of course, even so, there wasn’t much I had to do.

“Sir Balt, to explore the vein properly, we’ll probably need an expedition team…”

“I’ve already taken care of that. Do you remember Molt, who fought with us during the kingdom’s war?”

“That drunk? He’s not dead?”

“Yes. He started a trading company. They mostly handle minerals and weapons, but they also have experience in mining. I plan to contact them.”

“Alright, handle it as you see fit…”

All the complicated tasks were taken care of by my father and Sir Balt. If there was ever a need for me to act as the estate’s representative, Wilhelm would step in.

Then my role?

“Totem.”

Just sitting in on meetings was all I had to do.

One day, while I was enjoying this peaceful routine, my father called me.

“Ktun.”

“Yes, Father.”

“The situation is sorted out, so I think it’s about time I tell you something as well.”

What could it be?

‘A secret about my birth?’

But I already knew.

I tilted my head in curiosity, but it wasn’t the birth secret I had expected.

“Come in.”

Who’s he calling?

I tilted my head again, and two men entered the room.

One of them looked familiar.

‘It’s him. Zik, isn’t it?’

The nemesis of Golgoli!

Golgoli howls in the underground!

I reflexively grabbed my sword, filled with boiling revenge, but suddenly the two men knelt before me.

“Young Master Ktun, please accept our loyalty.”

“Please accept our loyalty.”

Huh? Accept what?

Blinking in confusion, my father spoke.

“I’ve done some checking over the past few weeks. They are from the famous Man-at-Arms mercenary group. They haven’t been knighted separately, but… judging by their deeds around here, they are fairly loyal men.”

“Then…”

“For someone of this caliber, I think it wouldn’t be bad to take them in.”

My ancestors would have had a fit, agreeing silently.

‘Not bad my foot! Do you think it’s easy to find swordsmen of that caliber in this rural mountain backwater? Sure, they’re from a mercenary group, not wandering knights, but there are no knights born as knights!’

Seemingly going along with the flow, Zik bowed even deeper.

“Master. The moment you treated this lowly swordsman as a knight, I resolved to become your knight.”

“I will follow the same path as Zik.”

“Hehe.”

For some reason, my father looked on with a satisfied smile.

And subtly, it seemed as if he hoped I would accept the two immediately…

‘…Is this the romance of knighthood?’

I felt like the protagonist of a heroic saga.

But that feeling lasted only a moment.

I gave a small smile.

“I’ll take the sentiment only.”

“Ah! Thank you…!”

“No, I said I’ll take only the sentiment.”

“……?”

“……?”

The two knights looked at me, bewildered.

My father and ancestors were the same.

“What are you talking about, son?”

‘Son, are you crazy? Skilled swordsmen like that are rare!’

Crazy?

In my eyes, the crazy ones were them.

What? Accept their loyalty?

‘Loyalty, huh…’

I knew.

Knights in this world weren’t that romantic.

One only had to look at our father’s knight—Sir Balt, the estate’s cash cow, famous for his high salary—to know that.

I wasn’t sure if Sir Balt actually got paid as much as rumored, but one thing was certain: knights are cash cows.

“Young Master, may I… understand your reason?”

I smiled gently at Zik’s earnest question.

“I am not yet worthy.”

Well… money is a form of worth, too.

After I left the room, the baron followed, equally flustered.

With just the two of them remaining, Zik replayed my words with a dazed look.

―I am not yet worthy.

Not worthy?

“What do you think he meant by that, Milo?”

“I… don’t know.”

I had experienced the opposite plenty of times.

When mercenaries encountered a noble they truly wanted to serve, those nobles often mocked them.

―Do you think you are worthy, you vulgar swordsmen?

It was humiliating treatment, but they understood.

They were non-bloodline ability users, not trained under prestigious knightly orders.

If I had spoken of worth, they would have walked away without hesitation. The sting would have been familiar.

But that wasn’t the case.

“Worth… what lack of worth are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you just politely refuse because you didn’t like us?”

“Ktun is not that kind of person.”

“Hmm.”

How much have you seen?

…I wanted to ask, but Milo quietly lowered his gaze.

Because Zik’s eyes were half-crazed.

‘Hmm, this is troublesome.’

Honestly, Milo wasn’t as sincere as Zik.

He had grown tired of wandering life, and Zik had found a decent noble, so Milo tagged along.

But now with Zik like this…

‘What to do?’

Milo wondered how he could convince this comrade.

He had just failed a mission for Viscount Hadion and had barely enough money to pay his ransom. He needed a new job soon.

‘Damn, I should have left with the others.’

The rest of the companions had gone to find new work. Some even returned to the Man-at-Arms mercenary group.

As Milo pondered his situation, a thought crossed his mind:

“Ah, could it be that?”

“Be what?”

“The succession! The hierarchy of heirs!”

“Succession… hierarchy?”

“Exactly!”

In the past few days, Viscount Palaon had not been the only one investigating them.

They themselves also checked who they would serve and what the estate was like.

And the result:

“Currently, Young Master Ktun has an older brother. From what I know, that brother hasn’t made a name for himself. He has some talent, but Ktun is the one who acted in the war.”

“True, but so what?”

“In this situation, if Ktun were to take in two knights, how would the eldest see it?”

“Of course…”

Simple. He would feel threatened.

“So that’s why… ‘not yet’ worthy… Milo, you’re sharp as always.”

“You’re foolish… I mean, thanks for the compliment. Hmm, so what now? Looks like we’re not in a position to be accepted.”

“That’s…”

Zik’s expression darkened further.

Milo was right. If they were refused because of the delicate succession dynamics, there was nothing they could do.

Then it happened.

“Milo.”

“Yes?”

“But why did the baron introduce us to Ktun? He must know about this delicate situation.”

“Well, that’s…”

“Perhaps the baron has already decided the succession in his heart?”

“Uh…”

Milo paused, tilting his head.

It made sense, but… ‘Is that really true?’

Something felt off.

In any case, the succession of this small estate wasn’t our concern.

The urgent matter was to find work before running out of money.

“Hmph, even so, what can we really do?”

“Why not?”

Milo tilted his head.

“……? What can we do?”

“Listen.”

Zik shared his plan. When he finished, Milo shouted in frustration.

“Are you crazy?! You want me to…!”

Milo shivered as Zik stared at him with a slightly angry look.

“Milo, did you just call me crazy?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that, it’s just that you…”

“We need to discuss this. Milo, grit your teeth. Think while taking the hit. Decide whether to follow my plan or not.”

Milo watched the approaching fist, thinking:

‘Damn, I should’ve left.’

He had stepped in it.

Meanwhile, in Viscount Palaon’s study,

The baron sighed deeply as he spoke with his second son, realizing his true intentions.

“So you’re saying… the reason you won’t accept the knights is because of money?”

“Yes.”

“Just for that…?”

“Just for that? What could be more important?”

Even today money is scary, but in Ktun’s perspective, money was even scarier in this fantasy world.

In the modern world, people don’t kill over ten thousand won.

The baron’s chest ached.

“If that’s the problem… I will support you. Until you can afford the knights’ wages, I will cover it. I can do that.”

“No, it’s fine.”

With our current situation, we couldn’t even find a necromancer mentor.

Besides…

‘We already have Sir Balt. Is it really necessary?’

Sir Balt, who earns a lot, could handle two or three people’s worth. Even modern office workers can handle multiple people’s work without extra help; our superhuman Sir Balt could do even more.

Of course, this was Ktun’s naive thought.

A necromancer mentor?

We were looking for one.

After opening the mining development project and allocating the budget, Viscount Palaon’s first task was to locate a necromancer mentor.

The problem was just that it was hard to find one.

Regardless, the budget could handle two knights and a necromancer mentor.

Thus,

“If that’s the case, I will…”

The baron began persuading Ktun again when a knock sounded at the door.

Knock, knock.

“Baron, Sir Zik and Sir Milo are here.”

“Ah, let them in.”

When Zik and Milo entered, the baron flinched.

‘What’s with that face…?’

Milo’s face was swollen like a puppy stung by bees.

Before he could ask what happened, Zik pressed Milo’s head down and bowed.

“Baron, please allow us to become soldiers of the Palaon estate.”

“……What?”

“If Young Master Ktun is not yet worthy, it is a vassal’s duty to wait until he is. Please, do not refuse this request.”

Zik thought:

‘When he later ascends to the heir’s position.’

I will support him.

The baron sensed some misunderstanding.

“No, I think something is….”

At that moment, Ktun spoke:

“No, Father. To ignore this request would not be right. I humbly ask you to grant their wish.”

“What? Ktun, you…”

“Father, please, I beg you!”

Ktun knelt, pleading.

Please, don’t say anything.

Seeing this, Zik quietly wiped away tears.

‘Ah, I’ve understood my lord’s intentions perfectly!’

In Zik’s mind, the grand plan… the big picture… became clear.