Elaine's cold voice came through the crystal ball on the table. Though slightly tinged with anger, she maintained her composure.
I had to endure Elaine's nagging for a while.
"Yes, Mother."
I replied with a bitter smile. One month of confinement. That was much longer than I had anticipated.
Once I returned to the estate, I would be confined to my room for a month. Well, I could probably make excuses to go for walks.
Confinement was a light punishment. I could just rest for a month. If necessary, I could let time pass automatically.
<…Lastly. You did well in exterminating the bandits. You are, after all, a noble of the Pruckus family.>
"Of course, Mother. Ah, I would like to request that the handling of the captured Pfprek Bandits be left to me."
Elaine acknowledged my merit.
Exterminating the bandits was a noble deed. This would slightly improve my reputation.
"Thank you, Mother."
After some more conversation, the communication ended.
She said she would send troops and carriages to transport the bandits tomorrow morning. And a carriage for me as well.
According to the plan, I would arrive at the estate tomorrow afternoon. The long-neglected prison would also be put to use.
'When did Hassent even prepare this?'
I picked up the magic communication device on the table. It was something Hassent had prepared. Truly, a meticulous butler.
I then looked across the table. Yuria was there, hiding her appearance under a black coat and cloth. In front of her was the porridge I had given her. It was obvious she was malnourished, so I couldn't give her something as greasy as samgyeopsal.
"You left some. Didn't it suit your taste?"
"No. I will finish it properly."
"I didn't mean to force you to eat. It's natural that you can't eat much after starving for so long. But eat this."
I handed her a palm-sized container.
"What is this?"
"Super Vitamin. Lemon flavor. It contains all the nutrients a person needs. Take one a day. Remember, you must wait 24 hours after taking one before taking another."
It was an item I got from a random draw. The container held 99 pills. I had taken one and left the rest untouched. I always had plenty of food, and with my high stamina stat, I didn't need it.
I watched Yuria swallow the pill and stood up.
"I'll go eat and come back. Stay here."
"Yes, Master."
***
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!
The samgyeopsal placed on the large pot lid began to cook deliciously. Under the pot lid, a bonfire was blazing.
I swallowed my saliva as I smelled the kimchi cooking. In my opinion, kimchi cooked in pork fat was the best.
I glanced around. The knights and villagers seated here and there were also swallowing their saliva as they watched the pot lid.
I had invited not only the knights but also the villagers to gain a reputation for showing mercy to commoners. Additionally, if they spread the word about pot lid samgyeopsal, it would benefit me.
If rumors spread, I could even sell pot lids and kimchi!
'I wanted to introduce Yuria to the taste of Korean barbecue… What a pity.'
It was obvious it would be bad for her health, so I couldn't force her to eat.
"Is it still not ready?!"
A desperate voice beside me asked.
"Not yet, Sir Martin. Now, let's cut it."
Martin was the least experienced among the six knights gathered here. Of course, I, as a noble, was an exception, and Head Butler Hassent held the title of baron.
"Yes. Leave it to me."
Martin confidently picked up the long strip of samgyeopsal with tongs and began cutting it with scissors.
I clicked my tongue. His movements were clumsy.
'Ugh! This is frustrating.'
I understood. It was probably his first time cutting samgyeopsal.
"…Sir Martin. Give me the tongs and scissors. Let me show you how to cut it."
I stood up. I was too short to do it while sitting. The gazes of the people at the other tables focused on me. They would follow my example.
"This is how you cut it."
I held the tongs in my left hand and the scissors in my right.
I enjoyed grilling meat, including samgyeopsal. Not only did I eat it at restaurants, but I also occasionally grilled it at home.
With practiced movements, I began cutting the meat. There was none of Martin's awkwardness.
After cutting it with the scissors, I grilled the samgyeopsal a bit more.
"Now. Let's eat."
I demonstrated first. I picked up the well-grilled kimchi and samgyeopsal with chopsticks and placed them on a plate. After letting them cool slightly, I put them in my mouth.
I shivered. Samgyeopsal and kimchi were always a delicious combination. The others began eating, following my lead.
"I heard samgyeopsal is pork belly… I never knew such a delicious part existed!"
"Is this food called kimchi? It's a bit spicy, but it suits my taste perfectly!"
"Ugh. I can't stop using my chopsticks!"
The knights exclaimed in admiration as they picked up samgyeopsal with their chopsticks. I had taught them how to use chopsticks when we ate ramen last time. Since they didn't use chopsticks often, they were still clumsy.
"Young Master. What is that?"
"Ah. This is called ssam. You wrap the samgyeopsal with lettuce and ssamjang."
I demonstratively put the lettuce wrap into my mouth.
The knights hurriedly followed, holding lettuce in one hand and wrapping the ssam.
"Oh... Ohhh! Just wrapping greens around meat creates such a flavor!"
"This ssamjang sauce goes so well with samgyeopsal! Is this ssamjang delicious on its own?"
"Young Master! What is this ssamjang?!"
"Ah. This is called Korea Magic Sauce."
"Korea Magic Sauce! So it's a sauce made with magic!"
"...Sure."
I skipped the detailed explanation.
Even if I explained, how much would they understand? The important thing was that ssamjang was delicious.
The meat on the pot lid was gone in an instant. These were hearty men who had fought a battle today. It would be strange if they didn't eat a lot.
"I'll grill the meat, Young Master."
Just as I was about to pick up the scissors again, Hassent stepped forward. Hassent's movements were not clumsy at all.
"Everyone, raise your soju glasses! We can't let this good day pass without a toast!"
"As expected of the Young Master!"
"Let me teach you the toasting method of ancient Korea. Follow me."
The people looked at me, holding their soju glasses.
I raised my soju glass high and shouted.
"National Pride!"
The knights began to follow me.
"National Pride!"
"Nationaal Priide!"
"Natiooonal Priiide!"
I listened to their cries of national pride and downed my soju in one shot. Soju was indeed the best with samgyeopsal.
'This is otherworldly national pride.'
I shivered with excitement.
"National Pride Coin, let's gooooo!"
I shouted without thinking.
And the people followed my words without understanding their meaning.
"National Pride Coin, let's gooooo!"
"National Pride Coin, let's gooooooo!"
"National Pride Coin, let's gooooooooo!"
Cries of national pride echoed everywhere.
***
After finishing the meal, I talked with the knights until late and then returned to my temporary residence.
The cleanest and best house in Artel Village was where I was staying. Entering the room, I saw Yuria asleep on a chair.
'...Because she's mine, I'll do this.'
I approached her and picked her up. Yuria had offered everything to me in exchange for revenge. And I knew how to take care of what was mine.
"...."
Yuria's eyes snapped open. She was quite sensitive.
"Close your eyes and just sleep."
After laying Yuria on the bed, I left the room. I couldn't sleep yet because there was one more thing I had to do.
Leaving the house, I spoke to the knight on guard.
"Sir Martin. You've worked hard."
"Not at all, Young Master. Aren't you going to sleep?"
"I have something to discuss with the head butler. Do you know where he is?"
"Head Butler Hassent is staying in the next house."
"Thank you."
I headed to the next house.
I was nervous. Hassent was no fool. I had no idea what he wanted from me.
"Head Butler. Are you inside?"
"Yes. Please come in, Young Master."
Opening the door, I saw the old butler standing straight. I was always impressed by his impeccable posture.
"Head Butler Hassent. Do you have something to say to me?"
"Young Master Eugene. Your heart condition has improved, hasn't it?"
Hassent's words made my heart drop.
"No. What are you talking about? As you know, my congenital heart condition is not ordinary. Even the highest-grade potions couldn't cure it, and renowned healers and healing mages have given up."
If it could have been cured, it would have been done long ago. With the power of the Pruckus Count's family, even the Magic Tower Lord could have been summoned.
But the heart condition remained uncured. Haruel Delishik, the first wife of Count Pruckus and Eugene Pruxus's biological mother, had died from the same heart condition. If it could have been cured, Count Pruckus wouldn't have let her die.
"You had a seizure not long ago."
"My condition has improved recently, but seizures still occur occasionally."
"Young Master Eugene. You speak well, but you're not good at pretending to be sick. The servants might have been fooled, but… to someone with my discernment, your act was obvious."
"...."
I stopped trying to make excuses. Hassent was already certain. I didn't remember pretending to have a seizure in front of Hassent… He must have been watching me from outside my sight.
I sighed.
"Yes. My heart condition has been cured. One day, it suddenly disappeared."
"One day, suddenly?"
"I know it's hard to believe. But it truly disappeared one day."
"Are you referring to the day your attitude changed?"
"...Yes. Well, that's right."
I felt an odd discomfort. The day my attitude changed? I didn't know what he meant. When I first started this game, I was quiet for a while to gather information.
"Young Master, have you been chosen by Serion?"
"...What?"
I tilted my head at the sudden, out-of-place question.
Serion was the only god in this world. She was said to be the goddess who created the world and possessed omnipotent power. There was a religious order that believed in and followed Serion, but it was weak compared to the Magic Tower.
Serion didn't appear in the original story, so I didn't know if she truly existed.
"Young Master, you've suddenly become more mature. Of course, there are times when you do things I can't understand, but the knowledge you possess is beyond what can be gained simply by reading books."
The other servants and vassals just accepted it. They weren't particularly interested in me. On the other hand, Hassent must have sensed something strange and investigated me.
"Young Master, you said you discovered my identity in the study. But there is no evidence in the study that could lead to my identity. I wouldn't make such a rookie mistake. Only the family head, madam, and a few vassals know my identity."
"...."
I scratched the back of my head with one hand. I had tried to use Hassent carelessly and got caught.
'I don't think I can kill Hassent with my current abilities. What should I do? Use an Emotion Control device? …No. It's too precious to use on an old butler.'
My head was spinning.
"Young Master, you knew about Artel Village. Most importantly, you knew that the Ferek Bandits, disguised as mercenaries, would attack the village. And Yuria Grace. Isn't she the illegitimate child of the Helbrit Duke?"
"...Head Butler. I admit defeat. No matter what I say, you won't believe me. What do you want from me?"
"One thing. Answer me truthfully and properly."
Hassent's deep, cold gray eyes stared at me intently. I met his gaze without flinching.
"Young Master, have you been chosen by Serion, like the legendary prophet Nophil?"
"Yes. That's exactly it."
After all, this was a medieval fantasy.
***
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