Chapter 22

Han Ji-hyuk stood at the door of the pastry shop, took a deep breath, and firmly held the envelope containing the secret letter from his mother.

‘He really came at exactly 4 o’clock.’

For a fraudster, he’s quite diligent.

The room was the second to last at the very end.

It’s not a place often visited by nobles who prefer the most secluded and best seats.

I ordered a cake and quietly listened to Han Ji-hyuk’s boastful talk.

“Sir Kun, the knight, is a very cautious person and doesn’t accept other investors... Ah, what kind of business are we in? I’ve prepared a seat for you.”

“Your seat?”

“Yes, but the amount is fixed. One hundred thousand gold.”

“O, one hundred thousand?!”

“Ah, I can’t accept any larger amount. No matter how noble you are, that’s impossible.”

“One hundred thousand...”

“How will you invest?”

Han Ji-hyuk asked in a subtle voice, and the other party let out a thoughtful hum.

But then the other party slammed the table.

“Alright!”

“You’ve made a good decision! When will the money be ready—”

“I’ll discuss it with my wife!”

“...What?”

“Ah, such matters need to be discussed with my wife. If I do something she forbids, there’s always trouble. Ha ha! I’ll go and ask her right away.”

Then the sound of the other party quickly gathering his things and leaving was heard.

There was silence in the next room for a while.

And after a while.

“Damn...”

A curse was heard.

Han Ji-hyuk, grinding his teeth, muttered.

“I thought I could completely swindle him, but his wife is so well-educated?”

Han Ji-hyuk let out a deep sigh.

Then the sound of flipping through a notebook was heard.

“Sir Hok failed. Then Lord Mashas...”

“Are you going to swindle Lord Mashas to death?”

“What, what!”

At my words, Han Ji-hyuk seemed to be startled.

I felt around the wall under the chair.

When I pressed what I felt, a hole big enough for a child to pass through appeared.

I crawled through the hole.

Han Ji-hyuk, who suddenly appeared under the chair, gasped.

“You, you, what—”

“Shh.”

I quickly covered Han Ji-hyuk’s mouth.

“Be quiet. The maids will hear.”

Han Ji-hyuk, shaking his head to free himself from my hand, frowned.

“How did you know about that space?”

“From the novel.”

There’s a hole here, so I deliberately chose this room.

If the person I’m swindling seems dangerous, I put a weapon in that hole.

At my words, Han Ji-hyuk’s expression stiffened.

“What nonsense. Don’t interfere with my work. Get lost—”

“Since you reincarnated too, is it strange that I reincarnated?”

“What?!”

I smiled at the wide-eyed Han Ji-hyuk.

And I said,

“Choose one.”

“What...”

“1. Hand over all the information about the people you’ve swindled so far and ruin them.”

“What?”

“2. Work with me legally to make a big score.”

Han Ji-hyuk’s mouth dropped open.

I watched as his face turned pale, then white, and his mouth gaped open.

“Of course, the initial capital is on you.”

Let’s share the swindled money.

I’m only three years old and don’t have much money.

* * *

Han Ji-hyuk glared at me with his arms crossed.

Then he whispered, looking around the door, “So this is a novel, I’m a character in it, and you’re a reincarnated person?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

I swirled the iced tea he had left untouched and said,

“Han Ji-hyuk. Before reincarnation, you were twenty. You died after getting drunk at a freshman orientation. Your biggest regret is not emptying your external hard drive... But why is the external hard drive a regret?”

As I recited Han Ji-hyuk’s personal details, his face turned pale.

With such detailed recitation, there was no choice but to acknowledge it.

That I, too, was a reincarnated person.

Han Ji-hyuk swallowed hard.

“...Because there was a lot of important data.”

“Important... Ah, I see.”

I smiled, and Han Ji-hyuk’s face turned red.

“What do you know, you little brat!”

“I’ll pretend I don’t know.”

“Don’t make that innocent face!”

“Sure, sure.”

Han Ji-hyuk gnashed his teeth.

Then he said, grinding his teeth, “You write all sorts of things in the novel.”

“I understand the collaboration part. But if I’m providing the initial capital, the ratio is 9 to 1. I get 9, of course.”

Who would expect a fraudster to have such a messed-up ratio?

Even though he’s providing the initial capital, I have the information. Very accurate information.

‘I was going to take 3 out of 7, but...’

This changes my mind.

“You get 9, I get 1.”

At that, Han Ji-hyuk jumped up.

“Are you crazy? Who do you think I am—”

He tried to stand up, so I propped my chin on my hands.

“The one-eyed mercenary group is still looking for you, right?”

At the mention of the most terrifying person he had swindled, Han Ji-hyuk sat down again.

He said with a very aggrieved look,

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Three million gold. That’s the money you can take with just a 1% share.”

“Lies... How can I believe a spoiled brat like you!”

“I may be spoiled, but I don’t swindle.”

“...”

“Think about it and contact me.”

“Who are you, and where will you contact me?”

“I’m Erirot of Astra.”

“...!”

At the sound of my name, Han Ji-hyuk stiffened.

There is only one type of person who can use the Astra surname.

The direct descendants of the Duke of Astra.

And among the direct descendants, there is only one child this young.

“Daemon Astra’s daughter...”

I smiled and stood up.

“Some people suffered and escaped from an alcoholic and violent woodcutter father, while others are the young lady of a ducal family...”

Leaving the grumbling Han Ji-hyuk, I crawled through the hole again.

But then.

“...Miss?”

Betty and Heidi stopped when they saw me come out of the hole.

The two, tilting their heads, asked me.

“Why are you there...”

‘I’m doomed.’

I rolled my eyes.

“Oh, it’s, it’s—”

“...?”

No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t come up with an excuse, so I said with a resigned look,

“Erirot, I’m a puppy.”

Pretending to be cute, a laugh burst out from Han Ji-hyuk’s room.

‘He must have heard everything.’

I had such a cool conversation until now...

Damn.

* * *

I got into the carriage with the maids and Mosko.

To go to the Daemon-controlled city, we approached the checkpoint in the commercial district.

But even after a long time, the carriage didn’t move.

I tilted my head and asked,

“Why isn’t it moving?”

Heidi answered,

“There are unusually many people today, so the inspection is taking time.”

“Why are there so many people today?”

“Oh, right. Miss, you wouldn’t know. It’s the ‘Day of Evaluation’ soon.”

“The Day of Evaluation...?”

As I pondered Heidi’s words, I was startled.

‘Right, the Day of Evaluation!’

There was such a setting in <Bing.Heuk.Son>.

The day when the ducal castle sends people to each controlled city for operational evaluation.

To check if the controlled territory is being managed properly.

And the evaluation determines the budget for the second half of the year.

‘That’s why Father didn’t come with us today.’

He’s extremely busy.

Now that I think about it, he’s been holding onto documents ever since we returned to the controlled city.

He even received Enzo’s report during meals.

‘I forgot about the Day of Evaluation because it’s not important in the 12th Tower.’

I asked Heidi,

“How much time is left until the Day of Evaluation?”

“Let me see... It’s the 23rd, so ten days.”

‘I’m doomed.’

How can I prepare in ten days?

The first thing the evaluation committee will see is the controlled city.

If the city is in a mess, the impression will be bad from the start.

Especially since the budget was cut in the first half of the year, if it continues in the second half...

‘Our controlled territory will be ruined.’

If the territory is ruined, the direct descendants will look down on me. Then I’ll be in danger of being bullied again.

The carriage finally started moving.

I was lost in thought the whole way back.

‘I need to inspect the city. If Heidi and Betty help, it might be enough to entertain the evaluation committee... No, it won’t work.’

I rubbed my face with my small hands.

Heidi and Betty are quick and meticulous, but they lack charisma.

They don’t have much experience either.

It will be difficult to manage the servants.

Most importantly, there are too few servants. There are not enough to run the city.

‘Then...’

While I was thinking, the carriage arrived at the Daemon-controlled city.

It was already night, and the city was brightly lit.

I sighed inwardly as I entered.

But then.

‘Huh?’

I blinked as I entered the courtyard.

Heidi, Betty, and Mosko, who came with me, also looked around the courtyard with wide eyes.

Someone was walking on a long carpet laid out in the courtyard.

Then he bowed deeply to me.

“Welcome back, Miss.”

Michelang, the symbol of loyalty and ability, greeted me in a tuxedo.

The badge of the Daemon-controlled territory, an eagle and a rose, was pinned to his chest.

Michelang said,

“I am Michelang Log, the butler of the Daemon-controlled city.”

“Ah...”

“It’s an honor to serve you.”

“Ah!”

My face brightened as I grabbed Michelang and jumped up and down.

I knew he would become the butler of our castle because he helped bring the remains of the former empress.

‘But I thought it would take a while.’

The land given by the former empress needed to be prepared for her tomb and the surrounding area.

“Why are you here so early?”

“There’s work to be done in this castle.”

He must know about the Day of Evaluation.

‘Hmm.’

Indeed, it’s Michelang.

The castle was very clean.

“The servants have ranks. They’re all different colors?”

At my words, Michelang whispered in a playful voice,

“They are ranked. Their salaries will also differ according to their rank. This way, they will strive to move up a rank.”

It was a method to achieve maximum efficiency with limited manpower.

The courtyard was perfect. There was not a speck of dust, and the decorations I didn’t like were all removed.

Instead, beautiful paintings were hung, distracting from the old parts of the castle.

“Michelang, you’re the best!”

I jumped into Michelang’s arms, and he caught me with an “Oh.”

Then he looked at Heidi and Betty behind me.

“You must be Heidi and Betty.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Yes, that’s us.”

“Answer once, and don’t stutter. Follow me. I’ll show you what you need to do as Miss’s dedicated maids.”

Michelang sent me to my room and took the maids with him.

‘With Michelang, I don’t have to worry about entertaining the evaluation committee.’

I smiled.

Conrad at the ducal castle.

Michelang at the controlled city.

I successfully placed capable assistants.

‘Then what’s left...’

Only Han Ji-hyuk to be placed outside.

* * *

A few days later, at night.

Han Ji-hyuk looked out the window of the inn where he was staying.

Outside, it was deathly quiet.

‘No one is around. Good.’

Han Ji-hyuk started packing his bag quickly.

‘Did you think I would cooperate so easily?’

What makes you think that?

What if I take the initial capital and run?

What if the investment fails?

The precious money I’ve accumulated through countless life-threatening situations will be gone.

‘Whether it’s reincarnation or transmigration, I don’t care. What I know is that I will never get involved with nobles again.’

A lot of time has passed since his reincarnation.

He can barely remember his former face as Han Ji-hyuk.

He took out a suitcase from under the bed. When he carefully opened it, his beloved gold coins, shining brightly, were inside.

‘If I gather another million gold, I’ll have five million.’

If I gather five million gold, I’ll leave this place.

I’ll settle in a resort-like place and live like a noble, commanding people.

Han Ji-hyuk, grinning, slung the suitcase and carried his bag.

He hurried to the inn’s lobby.

The innkeeper, who was dozing off, woke up with a start.

“What?”

“Is there a carriage leaving Astra? When will it arrive?”

“What carriage at this hour? If you want to go, come at dawn.”

He waved his hand, annoyed.

Han Ji-hyuk frowned.

“Can’t I get a horse?”

“The only horses here are for moving luggage. Are you leaving now? Have you settled your bill?”

“...Yes.”

Han Ji-hyuk clicked his tongue and turned around.

There’s no other way.

‘I’ll go to the commercial district and buy a horse. It will be expensive, but there’s no choice...’

“Do we need to settle something?”

Han Ji-hyuk’s expression darkened. Then he said in an irritated tone,

“I said I’ve settled the bill... Huh!”

Turning his head, he saw large figures entering the inn.

A one-eyed man with a patch on one eye chuckled.

“Is paying the bill enough? You also owe me one hundred thousand gold.”

“Leader...”

The one-eyed mercenary group.

They were the first people he swindled.

The large men of the mercenary group grabbed his neck.

Han Ji-hyuk asked the innkeeper for help, but the innkeeper only pretended not to see and sweated.

In the end, Han Ji-hyuk was dragged outside.

The large men of the mercenary group threw him to the ground roughly