I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 5

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 005

5. Rope or Basket

[Name: Cliff Elimis]

[Level: 1]

[Dignity: 1]

[Grace: 1]

[Virtue: 1]

[Remaining Points: 1]

The small status window on the left.

Here was his own name.

This was probably the lord status window.

Each stat had a (+) next to it.

‘It seems like I can click on them, but which one should I raise?’

Just looking at the names of each stat, he could roughly guess their meaning.

But when it came to actually investing his only point, he felt hesitant. So he naturally turned his gaze to the side.

A large, wide screen different from the lord status window.

[Ellemis Domain (Lv. 1)]

[Economy (Lv. 0)] [Military (Lv. 0)]

[Culture (Lv. 0)] [Environment (Lv. 0)]

[Mana (Lv. 0)] [Special (Lv. 0)]

[Diplomacy (Lv. 0)] [Education (Lv. 0)]

[Remaining Points: 1]

The information displayed in the domain status window.

Economy, Military, Culture, Environment, Mana, Special, Diplomacy, Education.

A total of 8 categories.

Among them, the first one he chose was naturally Economy.

[Economy (Lv. 1)]

The number changed.

He wondered what would change, but the moment he clicked on it, a new window appeared in his vision.

-Seeds of Life (Lv. 0): Increases the probability of seeds sprouting and improves survival rate even in harsh environments.

-Birth of Minerals (Lv. 0): Generates minerals within the domain or increases existing deposits.

-Merchant Visits (Lv. 0): Increases the probability of merchants visiting the domain.

-Artisan’s Touch (Lv. 0): Improves the quality of goods produced in the domain and reduces failure rates.

‘Jackpot!’

It was a jackpot.

No, this was more than a jackpot.

Of course, it was still hard to be certain about this phenomenon. But then he could just test it out.

By raising the Economy level, he gained a total of 3 skill points.

‘If I invest this in Seeds of Life, I can get seeds that can survive in our environment?’

Agriculture was the foundation of any domain.

However, this domain had never been able to achieve that until now.

Even when seeds were planted, crops couldn’t grow properly. It seemed like this phenomenon could be changed.

If he obtained Seeds of Life, he might be able to change this.

So he invested all 3 points into ‘Artisan’s Touch’.

‘Seeds of Life? How long would it take to build a foundation by investing in that?’

Agriculture was a year-long endeavor.

Too slow.

It would be too late to see results from that. So Artisan’s Touch it was. If there was a way for the domain to find a path to survival most quickly, this was it.

Especially since he couldn’t even collect taxes this time.

‘And…’

Another window visible next to the domain status window.

【Mission】

[In Progress (0/1)]

[Available: None]

【Quest】

[In Progress (0/1)]

[Available: None]

It seemed like he could raise both lord and domain levels through Missions and Quests.

The fact that they were separated meant they probably gave different types of experience points?

“…I’ll figure it out later.”

Right now, there were no available Quests or Missions to take.

Oh, one just appeared.

【Quest】

[In Progress (0/1)]

[Available: 1]

He checked the available one.

【Proof as a Lord】

Content: Now the commoners have acknowledged you as their master.

However, you have yet to prove anything to those who are loyal to you.

Prove your worth as their lord.

Conditions

-Achieve economic profit (0.00 gold/50.00 gold)

Rewards

-Lord Experience 50

-Domain Experience 100

The corners of Cliff’s mouth rose as he read the content.

Cliff’s speech.

It had moved many people. Nigel was among them.

This backward domain with no visible potential whatsoever.

‘We have a way to survive too. Finally, the mainland will… help us!’

He didn’t know if Ellemis Baron’s strategy had succeeded.

Priscilla’s marriage to Cliff had been a great help. Also, Ellemis Baron himself had immediately entered central politics, so it would surely be of great help to the domain.

That expectation continued until he went to find Cliff.

“…Do you think the mainland would support the Yusta Peninsula, and especially this domain stuck in the middle of nowhere?”

“Huh?”

It was Cliff’s questioning response as he listened to Nigel’s hopeful voice.

At that question, Nigel felt his mind go cold.

‘Do I think they’ll provide support? Of course they will…’

The words Cliff had confidently declared just moments ago came to mind.

But now Cliff was looking at him with a bewildered expression instead.

‘Ah.’

It was a lie.

Nigel finally realized the cold, harsh reality.

There would be no support.

In fact, this was only natural.

“This domain is like a bucket with a hole in the bottom. No matter how much water you pour, it won’t fill up. There’s no point in supporting it because it has no potential for self-sufficiency.”

Cliff’s cold words.

This was a fact that Nigel knew even better.

He realized that if Cliff had that kind of power in the first place, he wouldn’t have come to this domain.

There would be no external support.

“Th-then why on earth did you say such things?”

The greater the elation had been, the greater the sense of betrayal.

Nigel asked Cliff resentfully.

If the commoners learned of this fact, their shock would be great too. Having tasted hope once, they might despair even more greatly.

However, Cliff was confident.

“When did I ever say even a single word about support coming from the Kingdom?”

“Th-that is…”

Nigel searched his memory.

Cliff’s shameless face.

Perhaps he really hadn’t mentioned the Kingdom’s support. He had just boasted. And led them to misunderstand on their own…

‘What is this.’

Nigel realized his mistake.

Cliff was young, but he was from the Central Nobility overflowing with schemes.

“But if the commoners learn there’s no support, they won’t trust you anymore, Lord Deputy.”

“That’s right.”

“Perhaps… it might even lead to an uprising.”

“That could happen too.”

“No, you can’t speak so calmly about…”

Shh.

Cliff brought his index finger to his lips.

“So this is a secret only you and I know, old man.”

“Of course. This old man has no intention whatsoever of mentioning this anywhere. But can it really be hidden just by hiding it?”

“It can be hidden.”

The Lord Deputy was truly carefree.

He opened his mouth.

“That aside, right now the commoners would be completely devoted to my words, wouldn’t they?”

Cliff seemed completely unaware of this seriousness.

Rather, his cheerful tone only made Nigel more frustrated.

“…They would.”

Right now they would actively respond to whatever the lord commanded.

Cliff raised the corners of his mouth in a grin.

“Then I should call them back and put them to work. We can’t even collect taxes this year, so we need to make up for it by working them hard in labor service.”

“Mmm.”

At Cliff’s words, Nigel made a pained groaning sound.

As expected, there was no way a noble would care about commoners’ circumstances. He had thought Cliff might be different based on his earlier attitude.

Greed was indeed basic for nobles.

How could they suffer losses dealing with commoners.

“Gather the commoners.”

“…How many should I call?”

“Just say the lord has work for them tomorrow. They’ll probably gather on their own, won’t they? Don’t force them to come, just tell them only those who want to come should come.”

“…I will do so.”

A young Lord Deputy who had just come of age.

That’s what he had thought.

But Cliff was experienced beyond belief for his age.

Even now he accurately grasped the psychology of the estate and commoners. As he said, there was no need to conscript anyone by force.

Despite the lord saying he would impose labor service.

“The lord is calling. This time it’s voluntary participation, but are you going?”

“Of course I have to go.”

“No, you could rest but you’re going to work?”

“Didn’t you hear what the lord said last time? He said he’d soon see our sincere loyalty to him. We need to show our loyalty this time to benefit from the support coming through the lord.”

People gathered in droves.

“There are 88 men and 91 women.”

“Have the young men go to the mountains and forests to cut timber.”

“That’s not difficult work, but why specifically… No, I’ll follow your orders.”

Nigel swallowed the question that came up again.

He looked somewhat resigned. He sent the able-bodied men to the forests and mountains.

However, he was troubled.

‘The trees growing around here are useless as timber though…’

The work continued steadily.

Cliff first had the gathered women tend to the working men.

Roughly cooking meals and preparing water, and such.

But this was only temporary.

“From now on, you’ll make ropes and baskets.”

Ropes and baskets weren’t particularly difficult work.

To be precise, they were items each person already made and used.

“Huh?”

However, those weaving ropes and baskets under the lord’s orders tilted their heads.

‘Why is this going so well?’

They were in good condition.

It felt like their hands moved well on their own.

The finished products were completed earlier than usual.

‘It seems about twice as fast as usual… but the finished items are better quality?’

Thus the labor factory(?) continued under the lord’s orders.

Even those learning for the first time quickly mastered how to make baskets and ropes.

It went smoothly. The high-quality baskets and ropes produced this way were neatly stacked in the estate’s warehouse.

“…How curious.”

Nigel came to find Cliff and said.

“What is?”

“The quality of items the commoners are making is better than expected. Also, they’re making such good items quickly too.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is, but.”

Nigel made an awkward expression as he answered.

However, despite the smooth results, Nigel was frustrated.

‘So why are you making these things? Also, rumors are starting to circulate among the commoners about when the support the Lord Deputy promised will come…’

People’s patience wasn’t long.

People were gradually expecting the support Cliff had mentioned.

That’s why they participated in the non-mandatory labor service. To receive something more from the subsequent support.

But no news of support was heard.

“Sigh. More than that, it’s truly… regrettable.”

Nigel said while looking at the goods stacked in the warehouse.

Cliff also knew what he was talking about.

“Ropes and baskets are daily necessities that can be used in everyday life, but our estate doesn’t need this much quantity. If only merchants would come, we could sell them…”

The estate’s domestic market couldn’t consume these ropes and baskets.

They were well-made items, which made it more regrettable.

If only trading merchants would come, if only we could sell these items outside, nothing would be better.

“Lord Deputy, how about we try creating a trading guild for the estate itself?”

For Nigel to make such a proposal, he must be quite desperate.

Could Cliff not have thought of that?

But Cliff was cynical.

“What if the person in charge of the trading guild runs away with the money?”

“That’s…”

Still, it was something that had to be done.

That was Nigel’s thinking. Right now, the estate had nothing except these goods.

They had to sell at least these items.

Cliff said.

“Wait and see. Since I’m the protagonist, won’t a clue to solve the problem come along soon? More importantly, wasn’t there anyone with particularly outstanding skills in this recent work?”

“Sigh.”

Cliff was truly a frustrating lord.

That’s how it seemed to Nigel.

But Nigel’s thoughts quickly changed. A report came in. The Northern Shortcut, the only passage between the estate and the outside world.

A procession of many wagons was entering from there.

Merchants were coming.

‘H-how…?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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