Chapter 25
* * *
The Serpens’ Guildmaster had reached out to several talented individuals besides Amy. But in the end, she was the only one who accepted my invitation.
‘I thought I’d narrowed it down to the truly desperate... But even to them, Hebron must not have seemed appealing.’
Even persuading people on behalf of the Serpens Trading Company came at a cost. And naturally, the farther they lived, the more expensive it became.
‘It’s better to start with the ones I’m sure of.’
Hebron had expanded its territory after swallowing up Nurha.
I had retained Nurha’s knights, soldiers, and retainers, but none of them caught my eye.
“Lord Baryan has arrived.”
He was one of the three I had been eagerly awaiting.
With Amy and now Baryan summoned, only Dante remained.
Baryan was a man in his late thirties.
He had a sturdy build, and burn scars on various parts of his body.
It was only natural—he was a blacksmith, one who worked with fire and steel.
“Baryan, it’s an honor to meet you.”
I greeted him with proper courtesy.
I only gave a slight nod, but Baryan, startled, immediately fell flat on the ground.
“I-I am not worthy of such treatment…”
“I heard that your prosthetic leg gave hope to a knight who had lost his own. As a citizen of the Kingdom of Xenon, where knights are honored and chivalry is admired, it’s only right that I express my gratitude to you.”
Baryan’s prosthetic leg was sold in the capital. Though he had been its creator, fame hadn’t translated into fortune for him.
It was because he was a commoner.
Baryan wasn’t the only blacksmith who barely made a living by paying massive taxes. Most commoners lived in poverty, just as he did.
“I don’t know what to say…”
“Then leave your speechlessness here, in Hebron.”
It was my way of telling him to move here.
Convincing someone to leave the capital for the countryside was never easy. Taxes in the capital were relatively low, and Baryan had a steady stream of customers placing orders there.
“I’ve heard a bit from the guildmaster. But what exactly do you wish me to do?”
“I’ve been looking for the person who designed the Rainbow Bridge.”
“That was a rejected design from the contest.”
“The House of Count Torrent had deliberated between the Rainbow Bridge design and the one used for the Bethany Bridge.”
The Bethany Bridge had ultimately been built over the Toil River, on land owned by Count Torrent.
The lower reaches of Toil River was fast-flowing and had shifting depths, so the count wanted a bridge that didn’t require pillars driven into the riverbed.
From a design standpoint, Bethany’s plan had been far superior. That project had made Bethany a celebrated architect in the capital, while Baryan had been left to take on small jobs—prosthetics and the occasional structure—just to make a living.
“I-I didn’t know that…”
Tears welled up in Baryan’s eyes.
He had never been truly recognized and appreciated as an architect.
The Bethany Bridge was held up by magic. Only nobles and wealthy merchants could cross it. Baryan, in contrast, had designed a bridge that could span a long distance using pure engineering alone.
“I need your Rainbow Bridge.”
Baryan clenched his jaw and nodded. His face looked like he would make any sacrifice if it meant bringing that bridge to life.
“There’s a place I want to show you.”
I took Baryan to the western cliffs.
A cloud bridge now stood there, and Serpens Trading Company merchants were crossing it as we arrived.
“It’s an impressive bridge. I heard the old one here had collapsed. Did you build this?”
“Not long ago. The wind spirit helped carry the ropes across.”
“That’s a clever idea.”
“It keeps swaying, though.”
“Well, that’s to be expec…”
I raised a hand to stop him mid-sentence.
Using an architect’s talent without offering proper compensation—that was something I would not allow in Hebron.
That kind of treatment would never cultivate true talent.
“I’m formally commissioning you. I’ll pay you properly, and I’ll provide a home and a forge for you to work in.”
“M-Me? A mere commoner…?”
“Your talent is anything but common.”
Baryan’s open mouth quivered.
“Your talent will transform Hebron. I’m investing in that talent.”
He couldn’t reply. He lowered his head, tears began to spill down his cheeks.
Perhaps afraid I might change my mind, he suddenly burst into sobs and nodded with all his might.
He bowed deeply, then stood straight.
“Once you’ve reinforced the cloud bridge, build one of your legs—your prosthetic—for someone. The Rainbow Bridge will come after that.”
His tears now somewhat under control, Baryan looked up at me with bloodshot eyes.
“Who’s the user of the prosthetic leg?”
“Ambrod de Zylson. I’ll make sure you meet him later.”
“I will follow your orders.”
“This is an advance. I heard you have a family. Use this money to take care of them.”
I handed Baryan 20 gold coins. For a commoner, it was a sum impossible to imagine. After spending over a month crafting a prosthetic leg, Baryan would normally receive just 2 gold after taxes.
Subtracting the material costs, he's usually left with just one.
“Th-thank you! I—I swear I will devote my entire being to serving House Hebron!”
“Enough with the words.”
“Yes, my lord! I’ll prove it through action!”
* * *
I had ransacked the warehouse of Baron Nurha and secured a total of 1,100 gold coins, but absorbing the barony cost me 700 gold in taxes and bribes.
With the remainder, I focused on repairing public infrastructure in the two territories and reinforcing security.
‘There’s no end to the places that need funding.’
It was my first time running a territory.
And the first time I’d watched the treasury run dry.
Louis de Hebron was no stranger to poverty, but managing a domain was an entirely different matter.
The soldiers diligently trained in the Monolith Spear Technique, and Hebron’s knights had grown to include Brown, Solon, and Adol.
The old knight Alberto was appointed as the soldiers’ training instructor.
Even the slave-soldiers earnestly followed my training routine. Aside from the few selected as mages or spirit summoners, all 96 of them had awakened the modified Hebron Aura Breathing Technique and learned the Sardian swordsmanship.
El had shed her status as a slave and was given a home near the lord’s manor. She showed greater dedication than I had hoped, and it seemed she’d soon be capable of forming a contract with a mid-tier spirit. Inspired by her accomplishments, the other slave-soldiers trained even harder to earn my recognition.
Thanks to the cloud bridge connecting us to Zylson, tax revenues had increased, but Hebron was still poor. Without Administrator Amy’s involvement in financial affairs, Hebron might have collapsed under its own weight.
Amy was currently combing through old documents, looking for anything that might bring in some money.
I was beginning to think I might have to lead a hunting party for wild beasts when the Serpens’ guildmaster arrived, carrying a chest filled with gold coins.
“…What’s this money for?”
“It’s the proceeds from selling Baron Hebron’s clothing, my lord!”
“491 gold?”
“Yes, my lord! Zylson is in an uproar! Your clothes are in such high demand, they can’t even keep up with orders!”
I’d somewhat expected this. My father had exceptional craftsmanship, and he had accepted my design suggestions well. The finished products were on par with those worn by nobles of House Brieo.
When we first displayed the clothes at the Nurha market, the response had been lukewarm.
But Zylson was different. There, people actually understood the capital’s fashion.
“Did you tell my father?”
“Yes, young master.”
“That explains why he’s so giddy.”
Now that I thought about it, there had been loud thumping from the upper floor for some time. It was the sound of my father’s elated footsteps.
Just earlier, he’d been lingering outside my office, clearly waiting for the right moment to come in.
As soon as the room fell silent, my father peeked through the door and stuck his head in. His face was positively glowing.
“Ahem! My son!”
“Come in, Father.”
“Son, did you hear the news?”
“Yes, Father. Congratulations.”
“Ahem! I wonder if I’ve been of any help to the territory.”
“You saved us from ruin. You’ve accomplished something incredible.”
He was deeply moved, tears brimming in his eyes.
It seemed it wasn’t just children who were touched by a parent’s recognition.
Parents, too, were moved when acknowledged by their children.
I had originally planned to support his dream once Hebron’s poverty was solved.
But in the end, it was his dream that saved Hebron.
“Since things have come to this, we should open a store in Zylson. I’ll speak with the Viscount of Zylson and work out the details.”
“A store? You mean a shop under my name?”
“Yes. While we’re at it, I’d like to create a proper brand. Do you think that’s possible?”
“W-Wait just a moment!”
My father was so excited he forgot all about maintaining noble composure.
But even as he lost himself in excitement, I didn’t frown.
Instead, a smile crept across my face without me even realizing.
“You’re adorable, Father.”
He returned from his workshop upstairs, carrying a large book.
It was a book I had never seen before.
“Here, take a look at this.”
He placed the book on my desk. Inside were sketches of various designs he had created, as well as drawings of my mother’s measurements and figures.
Toward the end of the book, there were pages filled with brand logos. It seemed he had been preparing for this day, patiently crafting his own brand all along.
I carefully looked over each one.
I pointed to the most eye-catching logo among them.
It was a simple drawing of a pair of wings, with the word Hebron written in cursive beneath it.
“I think this one would be the best.”
“I thought the same! Truly, my son has inherited my eye for style! Hahaha!”
“Please discuss the specifics with the guildmaster. How many clothes have you made so far?”
“Seventeen dresses, eight dress shirts, seven pairs of pants, six skirts, and four long vest jackets.”
It hadn’t even been two weeks since the Serpens Trading Company had taken away a carriage load of clothing, yet my father had diligently filled his time with work. His effort could only be described as incredible.
“I’d also like to request a suit. I’ll need formal attire to visit and meet with Viscount Zylson.”
For a moment, my father’s expression changed. Like a knight preparing for a life-or-death duel, his gaze turned razor-sharp as he scanned me from head to toe.
He pulled me to my feet.
Somehow, a measuring tape had appeared in his hand.
“My son, you’ve grown so much. Your chest has broadened, and your legs have gotten longer. Ah, when did you grow up so big…”
“It’s all thanks to how well you raised me, Father.”
“Then it’s only right that you become the bearer of the seal.”
I blinked, stunned.
Since I had been reborn from Louis de Breio into Louis de Hebron, I had not heard anything more shocking.
My father spoke casually, like handing out candy to a child from his pocket.
“That seal never really suited me anyway.”
“W-What do you mean? Are you saying you’re giving me the barony? Just like that?”
That was something unthinkable in House Breio.
No—regardless of whether it was a Duke’s house or a lowly barony, it was common for father and son to draw swords over a title.
But Father showed not a hint of regret in giving up his baronial title.
“Thanks to you, I’ve found what I’m truly suited for. I made the clothes you suggested, and people loved them. That’s never happened in my life. I’m going to keep rowing while the tide is with me. You take the seal.”
It was such an incomprehensible way of doing things—truly the Hebron way.
I looked out the window at the sky.
A laugh escaped before I realized it.
“Ha, haha! Hahahahaha!”
“Yes, that’s it! Smile at the heavens! Hahaha!”
The father and son of House Hebron laughed until their bellies hurt.
Just like the ancestors would have wanted.
