Chapter 2

In the hall, two knights and a mage stood.

Although I hadn't been introduced to them yet, their faces were familiar, and I knew who they were.

'Winter, Autumn, and Summer... the three commanders.'

Class: Infantry

Physical: D (C)

Mental: D (C)

Sensory: F (D)

Trait: Training

[Autumn Esco

Class: Cavalry

Physical: D (C)

Mental: D (C)

Sensory: F (D)

Trait: Construction

[Summer Flower

Class: Mage

Physical: E (D)

Mental: C (B)

Sensory: D (C)

Trait: Administration]

A semi-transparent small information window appeared next to each character.

The Training trait increases training effectiveness by about 10%.

The Construction trait makes buildings and walls stronger and reduces construction time by about 10%.

The Administration trait saves on finances by about 10%.

None of them had impressive stats.

Meanwhile, their gazes on me were not very friendly.

Since I was not yet the lord and had no dignity or intimacy, it was natural.

"Please wait here for a moment. I will inform the lord and return."

Dudden disappeared, and an awkward silence followed.

I didn't want to be the first to speak, so I stood still, looking around.

The interior of the lord's castle was exactly the same as what I had seen in the game, but seeing it in real life felt very different.

A moment later, a middle-aged man in heavy armor appeared with three young men.

They were my father and brothers.

Class: Cavalry

Physical: B (A)

Mental: C (B)

Sensory: D (C)

Trait: Wicked Knight

Standing over 190 centimeters tall, Bandaike had excellent physical stats.

Frankly, just looking at him, I couldn't believe I was his son.

The Wicked Knight trait allows him to exert more power when performing evil deeds.

Bandaike ruled a mountainous region in the east of the empire, and the region was named after our family, Berger.

Bandaike glared at me with a terrifying look and sat on the throne.

"Are you John?"

John is a common name in this game, like a servant in an inn.

It was the name my mother gave me, as I was born without a father.

"Hmph! Bandaike's son is John? Sounds like a stray dog's bone or a peasant's son!"

"Kuk."

The three brothers on either side of my father chuckled.

Ha! How ridiculous.

Bandaike! You abandoned me. That's why my mother had to name me this.

Ah! You didn't even think I would exist, so it doesn't matter?

"I will give you a new name. From now on, you will be called Stark. Stark, that is your name."

Points: 0

Class: Infantry

Physical: FF (FF)

Mental: SS (SS)

Sensory: FF (FF)

Trait: Great Genius (SS)

Status: Emaciated, malnourished, cold extremities, chronic headache, chronic fatigue, respiratory disease, nosebleed, loss of motivation, intermittent pulse

The status window's name changed.

My class also became Infantry.

"..."

"Why don't you answer?"

"Cough, cough. Understood."

"From now on, always address me as 'Lord' after your response."

'Lord' instead of 'Father'?

He reluctantly acknowledged me as his son but didn't want to call me 'Father' because he had no affection for me.

"Cough, cough. Understood, Lord. Ugh!"

I had another nosebleed.

"Ugh, you look like you're about to die. My son is so weak. Are you really my son?"

"..."

You know, right? Why are you asking me?

"Hmm, we've received news that giants have appeared in the Tartar Valley. We need to prepare and leave immediately."

Bandaike suddenly raised his voice.

"Dudden? Dudden!"

"Yes, Lord!"

Dudden hurried over at the urgent call.

"Is the bride selection ready?"

"I have prepared some suitable women from the village."

"How many?"

"Three."

Bandaike looked at me meaningfully.

"Choose one before I return. You must!"

The brides were for me.

Actually, they were for Bandaike, but he had a plan.

He reluctantly acknowledged me as his son but didn't want me living in the castle or being a potential heir. His plan was to marry me off and make me independent.

By 'independent,' he meant giving me a small amount of property and sending me away from the estate.

That's why he emphasized the 'must.'

His three sons from his first wife hadn't married yet, but he wanted to deal with me, the youngest, first.

"Hmm, while I and your brothers are away, you, as my son, must act as the lord's representative and protect this place. Do you understand?"

Son and lord's representative.

It was a natural role, but he shouldn't have said it.

Because this statement would make me the lord without any dispute after Bandaike and his sons died.

He had Dudden bring me here and acknowledge me as his son, but this was the first time he officially declared it in front of the three commanders.

If he hadn't said it, the three commanders might have questioned my lineage after Bandaike's death.

"Yes, Lord."

"Show Stark his room and teach him about noble etiquette. Understood?"

"Yes, Lord."

"Preparations for the expedition are busy, so take him quickly!"

Bandaike waved his hand as if I was a nuisance, and I had to leave the hall with Dudden.

A short while later, I arrived at my room, which was quite small and felt like a dormitory.

Actually, it was worse than a dormitory.

The walls were cold stone.

There was only a bed, no other furniture.

'Sigh, this is where I froze to death without any preparation.'

Back then, the setting wasn't this harsh, but I still died.

'So, what now...'

When I played the game, I didn't think much about it, but now that I had to live here, the cold, the lack of a smartphone, TV, or internet, and the monastic life I had to lead made my heart heavy.

"Hmm, Master? There are no empty rooms in the castle, so this is the only one available."

Lies.

There are many empty rooms.

Bandaike probably ordered this one for me.

He wanted me to freeze to death in the cold winter, and I had died here before.

That's why this moment was crucial.

"Cough, cough. I'm sensitive to the cold. Please, at least give me a thick coat..."

I didn't want to sound weak, but I had to beg.

If I didn't, I would freeze to death.

I wanted to be moved to a better room, but that wasn't possible. However, a coat was something Dudden could provide.

He didn't ignore my plea, despite my coughing and nosebleed.

If he didn't feel sorry for me, he wouldn't be human.

"...I will prepare a coat. And you must address me formally. I am just a butler."

It was something he shouldn't have given, but Dudden wasn't that cruel.

"I understand, but..."

I was used to addressing older people formally, even though he told me to use formal language.

In the game, it was different, but addressing someone in front of me informally was hard.

"If the Lord finds out you are addressing me formally, I will be severely punished. I might even be whipped."

"Cough, cough. Whipped?"

I blurted out informally, surprised.

But given Bandaike's authoritarian nature, it was entirely possible.

When I played as Bandaike, I never whipped my subordinates.

Ah!

I remembered the option to 'whip' when subordinates made mistakes.

"You should only address the Lord and your three brothers formally."

"Cough, cough. What about my stepmother?"

In the game, the lord's wife was dead.

I couldn't pretend to know and left it open for him to speak.

"Don't you know? She died 20 years ago, giving birth to your third brother. Since then, the Lord hasn't been close to any women, but that day was a mistake..."

That day must have been when he fathered me.

Even though it wasn't my real mother, it still didn't feel good to hear.

"Ah! I'm sorry."

Dudden quickly apologized when he saw my face stiffen.

At that moment, a loud noise came from outside.

"Oh, are they leaving already? Master, please wait a moment. I will bring you a change of clothes."

Dudden rushed out and returned a short while later with my clothes.

"Quickly, put them on. You need to go out now."

"Cough, cough. Go where?"

"You need to see the Lord off. If you're late, it will be a big problem. Hurry up!"

Dudden urged me, and I quickly changed my clothes.

Panting, I followed Dudden outside.

The soldiers were already heading out of the castle gates, and Bandaike and my three brothers were riding their horses.

"Hey, Lord! Lord!"

Dudden called out, almost out of breath.

Bandaike turned his head slightly.

"What is it?"

"Master hasn't had a chance to say goodbye..."

"What? Wasn't that earlier a goodbye?"

"N-no, I mean, a proper send-off..."

"Enough! Teach him proper dining etiquette until I return! If he makes a mistake, there will be punishment."

"Yes!"

Dudden shuddered at the mention of punishment.

But I wasn't afraid.

'You won't come back.'

This is how my father and three brothers left.

The ones left behind were me, Dudden, and the two knights and one mage.

'I need to get along with them.'

After Bandaike's death, Winter, Autumn, and Summer would decide their futures.

They could stay or leave.

***

Despite Bandaike's threats, Dudden felt sorry for me and brought a thick coat and let me rest for the day.

That evening, after dinner, I was alone in my room, suffering from the cold, headache, and fatigue, but I struggled to try to leave the game.

And... I gave up.

In such a miserable state, nothing would work.

'Damn, only one last option, but I can't...'

What is the last option?

Death.

But if I die and don't leave the game, I just die.

It's not about lacking courage; it's about not wanting to take a reckless risk.

Life is precious.

'There is one more option.'

Seeing the ending.

The ending means the end of the game, so seeing it should send me back to reality.