Show Me Your Stats! - Chapter 49.0

Chapter 49

Near the main gate, there was a carriage waiting to take Ayra on a ride. Bloom stood straight and tall next to the vehicle, face full of concern.

A business trip to Sobleche.

There were many reasons why Ayra wanted to go to Sobleche, but the primary motive was to ask for assistance from his mother’s side of the family, the Jobun Family. Neither Ginas nor Ayra had big expectations for this business trip, though. They merely wanted to make the trip, even if the probability was low, since their situation was so horrible. Even if this territory were to starve themselves, there was nothing for them to offer.

Ayra, the lord, had virtually no choice but to go there himself. Sending the incompetent administrator, Lan Graphney, was out of the question, and the talented governor couldn’t go because he was too capable. There was still a lot of work to be done within the fiefdom, and the governor would be able to finish more work than Ayra in that respect.

It was also a ridiculous idea to send Bloom, the Knight Commander, outside of the territory as well. Their territory was lacking military prowess as it was. After hearing how the wooden blockades were well fixed from Ginas and how skilled Bloom was, Ayra had no intention of sending Bloom away.

Furthermore, Ayra was asking for help; it wouldn’t hurt to show some sincerity and vulnerability to his blood relatives. 

‘On top of that, we’ll need to find a stonemason for the castle wall construction; we’re running low on food and various supplies, so we should find a new merchant who offers their wares for cheaper prices. While we’re at it, I should gather some information as well. It would be great if accomplishing these tasks would also boost my approval rating.’

Ayra manifested his quest window. His approval rating had risen from 12 to 13 percent. The rating had been fluctuating between 12 and 13 percent these days, and he needed to go over 15 percent in order to move onto the next level.

As the young lord headed to the carriage with a resolute heart, Bloom, with a stern expression, said earnestly, “My lord, if you just give me the word now, I’ll immediately set off with a horse. Please, grant me the leave to be your escort.”

Bloom was just as nervous as he was when Bolney’s troops had marched upon them. However, when Ayra asked, ‘Is this insubordinance?’ Bloom immediately conceded defeat. Ayra looked at Ginas and gestured towards the Knight Commander, but Ginas didn’t even lift an eyebrow…

As soon as the final inspection was completed, the few attendants present stood side by side and bowed to Ayra, “May you have a safe trip, my lord.”

Ayra looked over the attendants for a moment. It felt strange yet precious to see these servants who remained faithful and affectionate in spite of the impending ruin of this debt-ridden fiefdom. After waving at them, Ayra entered the carriage. Greeting the breaking dawn with the loud clops of horse hooves, the carriage began to depart.

Solar’s attendants looked at the carriage until it was distant–a mere dot on the horizon–before dispersing, each carrying their own concerns.

219 days left until the destruction of the territory.

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“Nngh… My butt.” 

When the coachman stopped the carriage and opened the door, Ayra dismounted with a groan. 

The coachman, who had faithfully rode his horse this entire way, bowed deeply, “My Lord, I will be over at that inn, so please call me whenever you need me.”

“Yeah–you’ve done well getting here,” Ayra sighed wearily and took out a tiny mana stone, telling the coachman to eat well.

It was about a ten day drive from Solar to Sobleche. His whole body ached and throbbed as he was carried in the uncomfortable carriage the whole while with little rest. Fortunately, unlike when he was headed for Dallum Gorge, no assassins seeking his life appeared.

As he stretched, Ayra looked around and released a deep sigh, “So, this is the capital city of Sobleche, hm?”

Unlike Solar, where one could hardly find a developed commercial district except for the beloved restaurant specializing in meat-filled buns, Sobleche was bustling with activity. As a coastal port city, the smell of exotic spices mixed with the sea filled the air. This was a city known for vibrant commerce, with jewelry stores, general stores, high-end restaurants, and various exotic goods to go alongside their active maritime trade.

If Ayra had lived in Solar his whole life after birth, he would have eagerly looked around in surprise. But for him, who had been to the metropolis Trastasa–it would not be an exaggeration to call it the most bustling city on the continent–this commercial port wasn’t such an amazing sight.

‘Sobleche didn’t have much to say about the interest.’

Even when the deadline for repaying the interest was approaching, their reaction was almost indifferent. Did they not covet ‘something’ in Solar as Bolney did? Ayra wanted to know why Sobleche and Bolney’s attitudes were so different.

The young lord set out to find his mother’s family, the Jobun household. It was his first time visiting here, so he didn’t know the way…But, he had a very competent spirit. Stroking the back of his hand, Ayra asked softly, “Our intelligent Pebble, where is the House of Jobun located?”

After about 10 minutes of loading, Pebble manifested a translucent map that detailed geographical data and also what the people thought of the Jobun family. The map indicated the household was located about a half-hour walk away. Ayra, who was stiff all over because he had been riding in the carriage for such a long time, relaxed his tense muscles and began walking leisurely.

On the way to the Jobun ancestral home, he sightsaw Sobleche and compared the territory to Solar. The climate was warmer. Nothing, from the cloth used in clothing to the colorful foodstuffs being sold, lost to Solar. He wouldn’t have paid much attention in the past, but now, as a lord, his pride was slightly hurt.

While he leisurely walked around, a notification window suddenly popped up.

Ayra’s steps suddenly stopped; he couldn’t ignore the message. Rumors about a dragon? His brows furrowed as he stared at the notification window. At that moment, a new quest popped up.

Although it was labeled as a subquest, Ayra couldn’t walk away from those rewards. Besides, the quest didn’t seem that difficult either. Ayra approached some store owners, who were sweeping their storefront, with a slightly awkward yet friendly smile…as if he were a lost stranger. “Excuse me, how do I get to the largest market in the city?”

After merely five interactions, Ayra was easily able to obtain 20 affection from them due to his elegant appearance and eloquent way of speaking. 

As he munched on some steamed buns he bought from the last merchant, Ayra thought, ‘Still, my fief wins out on steamed buns.’

He finished eating as he waited; after a brief loading period, Pebble floated a quest completion window followed by a new information window–a screen he had never seen before.

As he read through the information windows, Ayra unintentionally murmured, ‘Isn’t this crazy?’ to himself. “There’s no way all these rumors are real.”

It was just chilling to think about. Dragons settling in Sobleche and Bolney? It was hard to believe. If either of the two territories had truly harbored dragons, not only would Solar have been destroyed long ago, but all the surrounding territories as well. Furthermore, if the rumor about Sobleche Lord’s daughter being the dragon’s companion were true, wouldn’t the Lord have made an official announcement by now?

Nevertheless, Ayra couldn’t completely ignore the contents of the windows before him, so he kept these three rumors in mind. After all, there’s no smoke without fire; the rumors must hold some kernel of truth.

Just as he thought that, his appetite suddenly dropped. He sighed at his half-eaten steamed bun. It truly wasn’t tasty…

With the leftover steamed bun hanging from his mouth, Ayra walked with fervor and reached the Jobun family home. The mage had expected the worst–he expected to be turned away at the gate. But, for some reason, he was taken quite courteously to the guest room. Ayra thought they were treating him well because he was the grandchild of the elder–Ayra’s maternal grandfather–of this family. He awaited his grandfather, but, surprisingly the young successor of the family–Kalima Jobun–came out and greeted him.

After brief pleasantries, Ayra asked about his maternal grandfather; apparently, the man had died of illness not too long ago. Although the young mage hadn’t ever seen the man’s face, he still sincerely expressed condolences.

Ayra quickly continued the conversation. To summarize their fairly lengthy yet distantly polite conversation:

‘Dear cousin, I’m in need of money. Could you lend me some?’

‘I heard that your fief is facing ruin. Why don’t you, instead, come to my family after you lose your land? We’ll treat you well.’

That is to say, Kalima wouldn’t lend money to the lord of a ruined estate because there was a chance he wouldn’t recover the loan, but he would be willing to take good care of his family if his cousin were to be set free after the estate’s destruction.

After they finished conversing with smiles fixed on their faces, Ayra sighed and swept his hair back. ‘Haah, as always, skilled mages often find themselves in troublesome, headache-inducing situations like this.’

Ayra ignored Pebble’s tip, acting as if he hadn’t seen it.