Chapter 05
** Ropes or Baskets**
[Name: Cliff Elimeas]
[Level: 1]
[Dignity: 1]
[Grace: 1]
[Virtue: 1]
[Remaining Points: 1]
A small status window on the left.
Here was his own name.
This was probably the Lord Status Window.
Next to each stat was a (+).
*‘It looks like I can press them, but where should I put it?’*
Just looking at the names of each stat, he could guess to some extent.
But when it came down to investing his single point, he hesitated. So, his gaze naturally shifted to the side.
Unlike the Lord Status Window, it was a large, wide screen.
—
[Elimeas Territory (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]
—
Information displayed on the Territory Status Window.
Economy, Military, Culture, Environment, Mana, Special, Diplomacy, Education.
Eight categories in total.
The first thing he chose among them was, naturally, Economy.
—
[Economy (Lv. 1)]
—
The number changed.
Wondering what might change, the moment he pressed it, a new window appeared in his vision.
—
– **Seed of Life (Lv. 0):** Increases the probability of seeds germinating and increases survival rates even in harsh environments.
– **Birth of Minerals (Lv. 0):** Creates minerals within the territory or increases existing deposits.
– **Merchant’s Visit (Lv. 0):** Increases the probability of merchants visiting the territory.
– **Artisan’s Touch (Lv. 0):** Improves the quality of goods produced in the territory and reduces the chance of failure.
—
*‘Jackpot!’*
It was a jackpot.
No, at this level, it was a super jackpot.
Of course, it was still hard to be certain about this phenomenon. But then, he just needed to test it.
By raising the Economy level, he had gained a total of 3 skill points.
*‘If I invest this in Seed of Life, does it mean seeds that can survive even in our environment will appear?’*
For any territory, the foundation was agriculture.
But until now, that hadn’t been possible here.
Even when seeds were sown, crops wouldn’t grow properly. It seemed like that phenomenon could be changed.
If he obtained the Seed of Life, he might be able to change that.
Instead, he invested all 3 points into **Artisan’s Touch**.
*‘Seed of Life, my foot. How many years would it take to build a foundation by investing in that?’*
Agriculture is a yearly affair.
Too slow.
It would be too late to see results from that. Hence, Artisan’s Touch. If there was a way for the territory to find a lifeline the fastest, this was it.
He wasn’t even collecting taxes this year.
*‘And…’*
Another window visible next to the Territory Status Window.
—
**<Mission>**
[In Progress (0/1)]
[Available: None]
**<Quest>**
[In Progress (0/1)]
[Available: None]
—
It seemed he could raise the Lord and Territory levels through missions and quests.
Did the fact that they were separate mean the experience points they gave were different?
“……I’ll find out later.”
For now, there were no available quests or missions.
Ah, just then, one appeared.
—
**<Quest>**
[In Progress (0/1)]
[Available: 1]
Check available quests.
—
**<Proof as Lord>**
**Content:** The commoners have now accepted you as their master. However, you have yet to prove anything to those who are loyal to you. Prove your worth as their lord.
**Condition:**
– Achieve economic profit (0.00 Gold / 50.00 Gold)
**Rewards:**
– Lord Experience: 50
– Territory Experience: 100
—
Reading the content, the corner of Cliff’s mouth turned up.
—
* * *
Cliff’s speech.
It had moved many people. Among them was Nigel.
This underdeveloped territory that showed no sign of potential.
*‘There’s a way for us to survive too. If finally the homeland… helps us!’*
Perhaps Baron Elimeas’s strategy had succeeded.
Priscilla had been a great help by marrying Cliff. Also, Baron Elimeas himself had now advanced into central politics, so it would surely be a great help to the territory.
That expectation continued until he went to see Cliff.
“……Old man, do you really think the homeland will support the Yusta Peninsula, and especially this territory buried deep in the boonies?”
“Eh?”
Cliff’s counter-question after hearing Nigel’s hopeful voice.
At that question, Nigel felt his mind go cold.
*‘If they’ll provide support? Of course they will…’*
He recalled the words Cliff had confidently declared just a while ago.
But now, Cliff was looking at him with a rather bewildered face.
*‘Ah.’*
It was a lie.
Nigel finally realized the chilling reality.
There was no support.
In fact, this was only natural.
“This territory is like a bottomless pot. No matter how much water you pour, it won’t fill up. Even if we received support, there’s no possibility of it becoming self-sustaining.”
Cliff’s cold words.
These were facts Nigel knew even better.
He realized. If Cliff had had that much power to begin with, he wouldn’t have come to this territory.
There was no outside support.
“Th-then why on earth did you say such things?”
As great as the emotion had been, the sense of betrayal was just as great.
Nigel asked Cliff resentfully.
If the commoners found out about this, the shock would be immense. Having tasted hope once, they might fall into even greater despair.
But Cliff was confident.
“Did I ever say even once that support would come from the kingdom?”
“W-well, that…”
Nigel searched his memory.
Cliff’s shameless face.
Perhaps it was true that he had never mentioned support from the kingdom. He had just boasted. And induced them to misunderstand on their own…
*‘This is…’*
Nigel realized his mistake.
Cliff was young, but he came from a central noble family steeped in schemes.
“But once they find out there is no support, the commoners will no longer trust you, Acting Lord.”
“Probably.”
“It might even… lead to an uprising.”
“That could happen too.”
“No, this is not something you can speak of so nonchalantly…”
*Shhh.*
Cliff brought his index finger to his lips.
“So, this is a secret between you and me, old man.”
“Of course. This old man has no intention of mentioning this anywhere either. But will it stay hidden just because we hide it?”
“It will.”
The Acting Lord was truly nonchalant.
He opened his mouth.
“Anyway, for now, the commoners would be putty in my hands, wouldn’t they?”
Cliff didn’t seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation at all.
Rather, his cheerful voice only frustrated Nigel.
“……They probably would.”
For now, whatever the lord ordered, they would actively comply.
Cliff smirked, the corner of his mouth turning up.
“Then I should call them again and put them to work. I can’t collect taxes this year, so I’ll have to make up for it by making them do plenty of corvée labor.”
“Ugh.”
Nigel groaned at Cliff’s words.
As expected, a noble wouldn’t care about the circumstances of commoners. He had thought otherwise because of Cliff’s previous attitude, but apparently not.
Greed is fundamental for nobles.
There’s no way they would accept losses when dealing with commoners.
“Gather the commoners.”
“……How many should I call?”
“Just tell them the lord has work for them tomorrow. They’ll probably gather on their own, won’t they? Don’t force them to come. You can just tell them that only those who want to come should come.”
“……I shall do so.”
The young Acting Lord had just come of age.
That’s what he thought.
But Cliff was as experienced as his age would belie.
Even now, he accurately grasped the psychology of the territory and its people. As he said, there was no need to forcibly conscript a few.
Even though the lord was telling them to perform corvée labor.
“They say the lord is summoning us. This time it’s voluntary participation. Are you going?”
“Of course I’m going.”
“No, you could rest. You’re deliberately going to work?”
“Didn’t you hear what the lord said last time? He said he would soon see the sincerity of our loyalty. We need to show our loyalty this time to receive benefits from the support that will come through the lord.”
The people flocked together.
“There are 88 men and 91 women.”
“Have the young men go to the mountains and forests to cut lumber.”
“That’s not a difficult task, but why on earth… No. I will follow your orders.”
Nigel swallowed the question that arose again.
He looked somewhat resigned. He sent the able-bodied men to the forests and mountains.
But he was concerned.
*‘The trees growing around here are useless as lumber…’*
The work continued steadily.
Cliff first had the gathered women assist the working men.
Things like cooking meals and preparing water.
But this was only for a while.
“From now on, you will make ropes, baskets, and the like.”
Making ropes or baskets wasn’t particularly difficult.
To be precise, they were items people already made and used for themselves.
“Huh?”
However, those who were weaving ropes and baskets under the lord’s orders tilted their heads.
*‘Why is it going so well?’*
Their condition was good.
It felt as if their hands moved naturally on their own.
Results appeared faster than usual.
*‘It seems twice as fast as usual… but the finished product is better?’*
Thus, under the lord’s direction, a corvée factory(?) continued.
Even those learning for the first time quickly mastered making baskets and ropes.
It was smooth. The high-quality baskets and ropes produced this way steadily piled up in the territory’s storehouse.
“……It’s strange.”
Nigel came to find Cliff and spoke.
“What is?”
“The quality of the items the commoners are making is better than expected. Also, they’re making such good items, and they’re fast.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It is, but…”
Nigel answered, wearing an awkward expression.
Despite the smooth results, Nigel was frustrated.
*‘Why are you making these things? And by now, whispers are starting among the commoners asking when the support you promised is coming…’*
People’s patience doesn’t last long.
People were starting to expect the support Cliff had mentioned.
That’s why they had participated in the non-compulsory corvée labor. To maybe get a little something extra from the future support.
But there was no news of support.
“Hoo. More than that… it’s a shame.”
Nigel looked at the goods piled in the storehouse and spoke.
Cliff also knew what he meant.
“Ropes and baskets are daily necessities we can use, but our territory doesn’t need this much quantity. If only a merchant would come, we could sell them…”
The internal market of the territory couldn’t consume all these ropes and baskets.
They were well-made items, which made it even more regrettable.
If only a trading merchant would come, if only they could sell these items outside, nothing could be better.
“Acting Lord, how about trying to establish a trading company within the territory itself?”
How desperate must Nigel be to make such a suggestion?
Did Cliff not think of that?
But Cliff was cynical.
“And if the person in charge of the trading company runs off with the money?”
“That’s…”
Still, it was something that had to be done.
That was Nigel’s thought. The territory currently had nothing but these items.
They had to sell even these.
Cliff spoke.
“Wait and see. I’m the protagonist, so a clue to solving the problem will probably come on its own soon. More than that, was there anyone with particularly outstanding skill during this work?”
“Hoo.”
Cliff was truly a frustrating lord.
At least, that’s how Nigel saw him.
But Nigel’s opinion was about to change. A report came in. At the northern side path, the only route between the territory and the outside world.
A large procession of carts was entering.
Merchants were coming.
*‘How…?’*
