The Damn Family Is Back Again

249. Designation of Patron (2)**

“Why is there such a tedious custom of waiting for a long time… tsk. Anyway, I’m fine. Young Master.”

As expected.

His reaction was different from that of the other nobles.

It wasn’t a lie that I had kept him waiting.

A considerable amount of time was consumed during the transition from the duke’s residence to this meeting, and the appearance of other sub-episodes had delayed the time we were supposed to meet.

Given that the achievement level wasn’t particularly low, it wasn’t excessively late, but still, considering the etiquette of noble society that Harni had taught me, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to show an annoyed reaction since he was a noble.

‘But this person shows no such reaction at all.’

He addressed Karsein with the honorific title of “Master” and treated him with respect. That alone was a significant difference.

There were plenty of people who openly avoided using honorifics.

Due to Karsein’s commoner background, they tried to downplay it, often calling me by my name instead of using the term “Master” under the pretext of favoring age in social gatherings.

There were even those who prioritized age over status, casually speaking to me in a familiar tone, and while some at least adhered to etiquette by using polite language, they would deliberately refer to him as “Sir Karsein” like the knights.

In the worst cases, there were those who completely disregarded honorifics and treated me without any respect.

In contrast to such individuals, Duke Ptoah displayed his attitude towards me through both words and actions.

His response indicated that he didn’t mind being a little late.

He recognized me as a member of the Bagland Duke’s family, referring to me as “Young Master” rather than “Master Karsein.”

And despite being much older, he stood up immediately to welcome me as soon as I arrived.

In either case, it was safe to say that the possibility of him being an enemy was zero.

‘Well, I could tell just by looking at the status window that popped up.’

Thanks to that, I was able to respond comfortably, just as I had in the game.

First, I had him sit down, suggesting we talk, and I wrote down my options to naturally progress the conversation.

[ 3. What business do you have that made you want to meet me? ]☑

“What business do you have that made you want to meet me?”

At those words, Duke Ptoah swallowed hard.

He must have needed to be cautious.

Duke Ptoah was a person of great insight. Coming from a position that was nearly at the bottom of the noble society as a fallen noble, he had entered the service of the Bagland Duke by leveraging his exceptional discernment.

The fact that he chose me meant he had some demands.

His face grew serious.

After clearing his throat once, he calmly replied to me.

“I want to become a patron who supports you, Young Master.”

—

Roughly, it was the answer I had expected.

But.

“Is that all?”

I want more than that.

***

At the question of whether that was all, Count Ptoah seemed taken aback, his lips twitching.

‘W-what, did I do something wrong?’

Karsein’s reaction was far too different from what I had anticipated.

That meant he felt he had done something wrong…

Deep in thought, Count Ptoah reflected on his own words and actions.

He treated Karsein with respect. Acknowledging him as a member of the duke’s family, he addressed him with the title of “young master,” and, prioritizing status over age, he stood up first and sat down later.

There was clearly nothing wrong.

Then was there an issue elsewhere?

‘That can’t be.’

No matter how I thought about it, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong.

So then, why?

Why did it feel like he might reject this proposal at any moment?

“I’m disappointed. If that’s all there is, I will not accept this proposal.”

“Please, just wait a moment, young master!”

Count Ptoah, suddenly frightened, grasped Karsein.

“Did you receive another sponsor’s proposal? If that’s the case…!”

“No other sponsors have come to me. Do you think there’s anyone who would want to support me?”

“If it’s a contract issue… you can adjust the contract! I will give you full authority over the contract, so feel free to adjust it as you wish!”

“What good would it do to receive full authority over the contract?”

Even so, Karsein showed no interest at all.

What on earth was the problem?

All the cards were laid out, yet he kept trying to leave the table.

‘I have to find a way to hold on…’

Count Ptoah’s insight was not wrong.

Surely, this man would become a significant figure in the empire.

—

However, with the first button not even fastened, the current feeling was nothing short of suffocating.

Just then, Karsein sighed and asked.

“Ha. I’ll ask again. Is that all there is?”

“…?”

Once again, I found myself in such a bewildering situation.

Suddenly, a question took root in the mind of Count Ptoah.

Isn’t it strange?

No matter what card I showed, Karsein did not react.

No, it felt as if he didn’t even have the slightest interest to begin with.

Even though he was fully aware that there was no one to support him and no one would come, why was he not pushing this away?

Clearly, it was a contradiction.

‘Could it be…’

With a faint guess at Karsein’s intentions, Count Ptoah swallowed hard.

“I chose the iron industry while everyone else jumped into the magical engineering business, artifact business, and imprinting business, solving existing weapons and armor with magic stones. Therefore, I am confident that I know more about the iron industry than anyone in this era.”

There was no certainty.

No matter how many cards I revealed, if he wasn’t willing to grasp them, then Karsein’s purpose must lie elsewhere.

However, there was one hint.

“Is that really all there is?” Karsein had repeated this phrase.

“However, I have recently acquired new knowledge. It was knowledge that had never been noticed anywhere else.”

If this is true…

This young man was testing me right now.

“The agricultural tools in the Shatren territory broke and were destroyed far too easily. Over time, they rusted and corroded. However, since you took office as lord, that has not been the case.”

So, I will take this test.

Even if it’s not a test, I will trace the answer that has faintly come to mind.

“Not long ago, you revealed that there was an issue with acidic soil. After the acidic soil problem was resolved, you also showed data indicating that the number of broken agricultural tools significantly decreased. So I ask, did you already know? The conditions under which metal agricultural tools corrode.”

Still, there was no certainty.

But I was vaguely speculating.

That’s why I wanted to seek out Karsein even more.

– Swallow.

Count Ptoah, filled with tension, awaited the answer.

This statement is merely an answer to why he sought out Carseine.

But if it was a test with the intention of revealing that.

If the question was not to show the cards but to ask what purpose he had come for.

I suspect an answer will come back.

When a drop of cold sweat fell to the quiet room’s floor.

He chuckled softly.

“That’s right. The problem with the corroded farming tools was solved by galvanizing them. This way, the oxidized zinc protects the iron, maintaining its durability.”

“Y-you mean to say…?”

“You guessed well. That I’m giving you a test.”

Count Ptoah’s mouth fell open.

‘This, this can’t be…’

Goodness.

I was covered in goosebumps.

It truly means that everything was a test.

“I’m going to carry out a very secret plan. If you don’t step up to this level, it will be troublesome.”

Only now did Count Ptoah understand Carseine’s intentions.

‘Haha… not just a business, but a plan.’

This man.

I thought he was unusual from the start.

But this is beyond imagination.

I can’t even fathom how far he is looking ahead.

However, Count Ptoah would not let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away.

“What can I do, young master?”

He wasn’t foolish enough to miss out on the opportunity right in front of him.

***

Originally, the process of accepting Count Ptoah as a sponsor was essential.

In a situation where it was difficult to accept any sponsor, there was considerable gain from a count who came of his own accord.

However, that was only in the game.

I could not be satisfied with just that.

A simple sponsorship agreement with the count would not suffice.

Using modern information to break the rules of this place and connect it to business was essential.

I had to earn money through a faster business and expedite my escape plan.

And.

I had to move, not just settle for the options available.

“Then, I’ll go prepare the items to support the young master.”

“Alright.”

– Ding!

▶ Designated Count Ptoah as a sponsor! ◀

▶ The intimacy level with the target is above a certain threshold. Additional support can be received. ◀

[ Current Level: 45% ]

Thus, the trial I set for him was complete.

Count Ptoah, designated as a sponsor, would provide support throughout the competition.

Since I was also running a business, to show higher sales… what remained was my ranking.

‘I didn’t plan to be this strict, but for the sake of the plan, it’s better to secure a higher rank.’

With the sponsor designated, I had no interest in this venue anymore.

While participants in the martial arts competition could have multiple sponsors, there was no need to increase the number of people and take on more risk.

It would be good to go back and loosen up a bit.

Just as I resolved to turn back, I noticed something.

‘…What’s that?’

An object on the floor radiating a bright light.

Right. This was a memorial.

The information I confirmed after picking up the memorial wasn’t as lengthy as I expected.

▶ Acquired Foundation Scissors Memorial. ◀

– You just slandered me!

– What nonsense are you talking about? Who heard that?

In the brief moment I was separated from my family, Carsein became a target for some nobles. After that, he started throwing punches.

The family rushed in at the sudden commotion.

An act that couldn’t be caught due to the lack of evidence.

Carsein was forced to bow his head to the opponent by his family.

It was obvious that such a memorial would be shown.

—

Soon, it means that such a situation will come to me as well.

However.

“Oh my, to come all dressed up like that…!”

“It’s obvious she’s trying to seduce the men, right?”

“She said she had a fiancé… Well, that makes sense. You can’t hide your true nature, can you?”

“Who is she trying to charm this time?”

I didn’t want to just listen to this irritating chatter and let it pass.

No. It would be more accurate to say I couldn’t let it pass.

The young ladies huddled around one pillar were gossiping about someone with familiar remarks.

My eyes instinctively followed their gaze.

There, dressed to the nines, was my fiancée.

“Hmph. She’s just a b*stard child, after all. No matter how high and mighty she acts, she’s just a worthless thing that couldn’t even be properly raised in her own family, right?”

A man’s voice cutting through the gossip of the young ladies scratched at my nerves.

“She has no abilities or assets, so she’s trying to cling to that commoner from the Duke of Bagrand’s family to become a mere puppet wife. Just let her be. Heh heh.”

…I thought that only experiences similar to reality would make me feel this way about myself.

But it’s not just that.

—Hey. That Seo Ji-eun has no abilities or anything anyway. She’s a child that was thrown away by her own family. Later, what? She’ll probably just seduce a man with that body and get married. Like a puppet.

Yeah. I had heard them gossiping about Ji-eun back then too.

And Ji-eun…

“…”

Just like now, she had pretended not to hear it.

Ha. How is it that everything fits together like this?

No abilities? Nothing to her name?

How can that brat, who doesn’t even know how hard she’s worked, spout such nonsense so carelessly?

I didn’t want to let this go.

—Ding!

▶Warning! If you harm another noble, it could escalate into an incident!◀

“Hey.”

“Uh? What is it, Karse… Gah?!”

Warning? Incident? Screw that.

I moved just like I do now.

For my one and only friend.

I swung my fist, bracing myself against the threats around me and the scolding from my family.