Chapter 34

* * *

The Haines estate was one of the vastest in terms of area.

Given its size, it was impossible to encircle the entire estate with walls, so only a small area, including the lord's castle, was surrounded by a narrow inner wall, while the rest was maintained as a vast plain.

"Quite an impressive estate."

-But the management is a complete mess.

Perhaps because it was an old and dilapidated estate, parts of the wall surrounding the inner estate had eroded to the point where their shape could no longer be discerned, and grass grew sparsely in some areas.

The gate, which should have been firmly closed, had either eroded and disappeared, and was now blocked by a makeshift wooden fence.

-At least there's someone guarding it, which is fortunate.

"If this is a border area where monsters appear in the forest, and there was no vigilante group, it wouldn't have been able to hold out."

"Stop! This is the Haines estate! Please show your identification!"

"This is Prince David, who has just been appointed to the Haines estate! Clear the way!"

Before anyone could step forward, the elderly gentleman leading the procession sternly shouted.

They must have noticed that this was no ordinary procession.

"Please... wait a moment. I'll inform the vigilante group leader..."

"Tsk! Do you intend to keep the prince waiting!"

"Enough, we need to follow the procedures. I haven't officially received the authority of the estate yet."

While it's true that I received the authority of the estate by royal decree, the authority is temporarily held by a deputy estate manager when the lord is absent.

The system is that after the noble becomes the lord, they receive a handover from the manager to officially become the lord.

"Your Highness."

"Let's not be so formal, we're all family now."

As I said this while getting out of the carriage, he quietly nodded.

"Forgive my rudeness, Your Highness."

"Ah... I greet the little sun of the kingdom."

Though they didn't recognize my face, perhaps due to the noble blood flowing through me, the guards bowed deeply upon realizing I was the lord mentioned by the elderly gentleman and the prince of this country.

"Stand up. What are you going to do by bowing when you're supposed to be on guard?"

At my words, the two guards looked bewildered.

"Excuse me?"

"The guards themselves are excellent, but why is the castle in such a state?"

I asked calmly, and they nervously looked around.

At that moment,

A middle-aged man in light armor hurriedly ran out from inside the castle walls.

"Vigilante group leader!"

"Your Highness! I apologize for not greeting you earlier! I received the message two days ago, but I was late in welcoming you! Please forgive me!"

I narrowed my eyes at his trembling, bowed figure.

Now I noticed strange traces.

Monster attacks.

There were signs of a monster attack that had occurred within the past day.

No wonder the atmosphere felt chaotic.

"When did the messenger arrive?"

"Two days ago, Your Highness."

"Was there a monster attack after that?"

"Ah, ah! How did Your Highness know...?"

I smiled at his surprised look.

"Bloodstains alone show that there was a recent attack. If it was an emergency, you made the right decision."

"Your Highness..."

"What's the point of such formalities? Let's go in first. I'll hear the details inside."

He looked at me in surprise at my words.

"And, have the deputy estate manager, who handles internal affairs, come as well."

The man, who had been trembling in fear, let out a sigh of relief and bowed deeply.

* * *

When Hercules taught me survival skills, the first thing he taught me was observation.

From a distance, I couldn't see, but I noticed bloodstains and broken weapons that hadn't been recovered in time around the walls.

There were no bodies, but the bloodstains were still fresh.

The smell of blood and the faint scent of a fight were barely perceptible.

How did I smell it?

Even without a complete transformation, after reaching the Master level in the divine realm, I can amplify my senses to this degree.

The surrounding gazes seemed surprised that I noticed the signs of battle.

Why are they so surprised? This is something that can be noticed with just a bit of attention.

-You sometimes forget how absurd your talent is. In layman's terms, it's like having bad luck. Even at that level, those with insufficient talent would usually miss such clues...

‘That’s why I said it, didn’t I?’

-Even without hearing, I can feel it. Do you want to punch me?

"I am Monmider, who has been in charge of the estate's military authority as the vigilante group leader in the absence of the lord."

"The estate manager?"

"That... is..."

He bowed his head again, stammering.

"Originally, someone else was in charge, but after a recent attack... now, this... this fellow is in charge."

He was handling both internal affairs and the vigilante group. He doesn't seem greedy, but he is quite talented.

-If you recruit such a person, he will surely be of great help.

‘If he has the ability to revive a nearly dead estate over five years, he is trustworthy.’

As I sat silently, he looked at me with an anxious expression.

He was afraid. Worried that I might cause trouble due to the poor state of the estate or the dilapidated lord's castle.

On the contrary, there was a humble yet defiant look in his eyes.

"You've worked hard."

After entering and seeing the broken houses and the common people, it was clear that they didn't welcome the new lord who had suddenly been appointed.

It was a natural reaction, considering the current state of the Laun Kingdom, where nobles often exploit the common people.

Perhaps they were also afraid.

It would be problematic if they were already so frightened.

I looked at the middle-aged man, Monmider, with these thoughts in mind.

"To manage the estate, you need to be able to read, right?"

"Though I am a lowly person, I have learned to read a little from my elders."

‘A talent to be discovered.’

I couldn't help but think.

"Now that Your Highness has come..."

"Keep working."

"Excuse me?"

"You said you were the vigilante group leader, right? I want you to upgrade it to a formal estate guard and organize it properly. Berman, who was a former guard captain, will help with the training."

"I will follow Your Highness's orders."

"Me?!"

He looked up at me with a shocked face.

"Who else? If you improve, I can appoint you as a knight and grant you a title. I have that authority."

In response to his question, I casually scratched my ear and said.

"But this fellow is of common birth..."

"I hire based on ability. That's my principle."

His face showed surprise at my words.

* * *

There was a goblin attack.

About 100 goblins. Their bodies are the size of a child, with low intelligence and strength comparable to a child.

Their only advantage is their prolific breeding.

Regardless of species, their numbers are so vast that they don't easily decrease even when killed.

That's why estates where goblins appear often have a hard time.

They are nocturnal monsters that can't communicate.

Originally, they were known for hiding in the mountains and occasionally appearing to steal livestock, children, or maidens from houses, but this was the first time they had gathered in such a large group.

It would be strange if they hadn't been exterminated by the orc tribes, who call themselves warriors and live in the same forest.

As the estate's desolation spread to the forest, the frequency of goblin attacks increased.

The elders of the estate said it was because the land was cursed, but Monmider couldn't easily believe it.

Meanwhile, a manager from the royal palace arrived.

The manager, who was in charge of the vigilante group and the estate's affairs, was told in a very arrogant tone that the 1st prince of the kingdom would be appointed as the new lord and then left.

It was as if they didn't want to be in such a remote and desolate place. Monmider, a commoner who deeply distrusted nobles, had learned to read from his father and had some basic education.

He disliked all nobles except for the late Baron Alisard, who had once managed the estate.

They were arrogant and wanted to be above everyone else.

What about a prince? A damn prince of the kingdom, what more could there be to say.

He thought. Just seeing the state of the estate and not getting angry and cutting his own throat would be fortunate.

He was afraid. But he didn't want to be cowardly. The bigger problem was that he couldn't bear to see such a person come and rule his already precarious hometown.

Just then, another goblin attack occurred.

This time, it was almost 150 goblins.

It was unknown how such a large number had increased, but it seemed like all the goblins in the Haines estate area had gathered.

No matter how bravely the trained vigilante group fought, they would eventually tire from the continuous battles.

In fact, some estate residents had been taken away by the fleeing goblins.

A clear defeat.

They were plundered.

The estate residents seemed disappointed that the state, which was supposed to protect them, offered no support.

The kingdom's support had been cut off for 10 years. The late Baron Alisard and his lady had passed away long ago.

Then he came.

He looked like a small boy, not even half my age.

While legally, one becomes an adult at 16, most people who act like adults are 20 or older.

In the end, he was just a green youth.

Young nobles have strong egos.

Moreover, a prince who grew up in the royal palace would surely lack experience.

He was already dizzy thinking about how much he would be pressured.

However,

He casually noticed the signs of their battle from the previous day and praised their efforts.

Though he thought it was a lie, his face was extremely calm.

As if it was the most natural thing to do.

He looked up at him with a dazed face, but he even praised the vigilante group member who had tried to stop him.

His eyes and tone seemed to have noticed everything.

Lying to him felt strangely instinctively rejected.

Despite the difficult journey, he immediately called for the practical manager to check the state of the estate, so he confessed everything.

After hearing my story, he stood up and said casually,

"Let's clean up the goblins before dealing with the curse that's turning this place into a wasteland."

Despite hearing about hundreds of goblins, he spoke as if he was just sweeping away dust in the house.