Chapter 34

"Hmm..."

Even after the New Year, winter was still deep, and the time spent mostly indoors continued. Noein was in the living room, buried in a pile of papers, reading through them.

These papers contained the accumulation of knowledge Noein had gained throughout his life—essentially, notes of the knowledge he had read in books while living in the annex of the Kivireft family estate.

Noein had anticipated that he would eventually be expelled from the noble family and had already planned his future.

He expected to be given a severance payment and cut off from the family, so he thought he might become a merchant or perhaps cultivate the land and engage in farming. In any case, he believed he would have to make a living on his own.

So, Noein read all the books available in the noble family's mansion, memorized the knowledge, and wrote down the details he couldn't remember on paper. This was possible thanks to his father Maximilian, who, as a high-ranking noble, had an extensive collection of books that he hardly read himself.

Now, Noein was reading through these papers.

"Master Noein, are you alright?"

Anna, who was doing paperwork at the end of the large table in the living room, asked with a slightly exasperated voice. She, too, was working in the living room to stay warm instead of in the freezing cold office for the retainers.

"Not really. I think I'm a bit tired from overusing my brain. I'll take a break."

"That's a good idea."

"Then I'll make some tea. Would you like some, Anna?"

"Yes, thank you, Matilda."

Matilda, who had been helping Anna with her paperwork, stood up and left the living room to make tea.

"So, have you finalized the plans for the development after winter?"

"I have a few ideas, but they all take time and require a lot of preparation. Each has its pros and cons."

Noein was reviewing a large number of notes, thinking about the plans for the development of the territory after winter.

The lapis lazuli ore vein was still far from being exhausted. For the foreseeable future, it would generate 1.2 million rebo each month, providing ample funds for development. So, Noein was searching through the knowledge he had accumulated for new industries that could be established in the Arquvist territory.

He found a few promising leads, but each required considerable effort.

"Maybe you should just start with what interests you without worrying too much about the effort. You have time and money, after all."

"…You're right. There's no need to rush."

Noein agreed with Anna. After all, it was only the second year of development after winter, and Noein was only 16 years old. There was no reason to rush. He had been cooped up in the room, overusing his brain, which had made his thinking rigid.

While they were talking, Matilda brought in the tea, and Noein and the others took a break.

...

In the dead of winter, many people stay indoors, but some must go out to work.

Radley, a retainer serving the Arquvist family, was one of them. He was responsible for patrolling the area around the capital Noena even during winter.

Some monsters remain active and do not hibernate during winter. Although not at the same pace as other seasons, regular patrols were necessary to check for signs of monster activity and to hunt any that were found.

"Ugh, it's still ridiculously cold, as always."

"Is it? I think this is still manageable."

"Radley is exceptionally strong, so he doesn't feel the cold as much as others."

Radley, who had particularly strong physical abilities and experience working as a survey team in the Restio Mountains, led Rick and Dant, who were assisting him, while they talked and left the grounds of the capital Noena.

The patrols around Noena were almost entirely entrusted to Radley, recognizing his robustness.

Radley was born with a strong body. He had never been sick since childhood, and even when hit in a fight, he hardly felt pain and his wounds healed quickly. He was also resistant to both heat and cold. His distinctive appearance had even led to jokes about him having orc blood.

In battles, his strong body had saved his life in situations where others would have died.

"Well, thanks to this body, I've been able to rise to the rank of retainer."

Because of his strong body, he could excel in physical tasks among the retainers of the Arquvist territory, despite his lack of education and intelligence.

He was lucky, and he felt he must repay the favor to Lord Noein, who had given him this good fortune. With this in mind, Radley faced the harsh task of patrolling the winter forest.

...

"Ah, it's so cold."

Bart, another retainer, grumbled as he walked the road to Retvik, bundled up in thick fur. Behind him, a horse pulled a cart loaded with lapis lazuli ore, and two male citizens followed to assist him.

Like Radley, Bart was one of those who had to work outdoors in the dead of winter. However, his job was only once a month during winter.

The workshops in the city did not stop operations during winter, so the lapis lazuli ore had to be delivered monthly.

The ore was not delivered in bulk before winter to prevent trouble and to ensure that someone from the Arquvist territory visited Retvik at least once a month, as Noein had decided.

In return, Bart and his team received a significant special allowance from Noein.

The northern part of the kingdom was colder than the south, but the roads were not closed by snow for long periods. On clear, snow-free days, travel between the capital Noena and Retvik was possible, though it was not a job anyone would volunteer for.

"Even in winter, I don't want to be a supply transport officer..."

"Someone has to do it, and there are girls in Retvik waiting for you, aren't there?"

"Hehe. Well, that's true."

Bart chuckled in response to the young citizen who had answered his complaint.

Bart was chosen as the head of the supply transport team between Retvik and the Arquvist territory because of his good looks, friendly demeanor, and his ability as a former mercenary to guard the supplies.

Many young women, including employees of the shops with close ties to the Arquvist territory and the staff of the restaurant where Bart often ate in Retvik, looked forward to his visits.

Given his good impression on people of all ages, Bart was the perfect choice for this role.

So, Bart was walking the road to Retvik, even in winter.