Back to the County
Roughly three days later, Rudell and the merchant party returned to the Weinstein County.
"This is Weinstein County."
"It looks like a peaceful land."
Kurt gave his brief impression as he saw the vast county spread out before him.
His eyes scanned the county, seemingly unfamiliar with the sight of a civilized world, which he was seeing for the first time in his life.
Compared to the Plain of Eternal Winter, where all life was connected to a struggle for survival, Weinstein County was literally a paradise.
"Compared to the Eternal Winter Plains, it certainly is a peaceful place."
Rudell chuckled at his reaction and entered the main road.
It had only been a little over a week since he had left the county, but it felt like months to Rudell.
It also meant that this task had been difficult and tiring.
Thus, Rudell proceeded along the road with the merchant party…
"Young Master."
Kyle, who was walking along the road, pointed somewhere as if he had discovered something.
And as Rudell turned his head following his finger, what he saw was…
"Rudell!"
"You're back!"
"Mother! Father!"
It was his parents, Maria and Carlos Weinstein.
Rudell hurriedly rode his horse toward them, dismounted, and embraced them.
Maria and Carlos also warmly welcomed him…
"I'm back."
"Yes, everything went well?"
"Yes, everything went well."
"I'm so glad you returned safely."
"It hasn't even been that long."
Responding to Maria and Carlos, Rudell broke free from their embrace and looked at them with a faint smile.
"Kyle, you've worked hard too."
"Thank you, Count."
"Everyone has worked hard. And who is this…?"
Following that, Maria and Carlos looked at Kurt, who was among the merchant party, with puzzled expressions.
Why is a Nord tribesman here?
Their expressions seemed to say just that.
"This is Kurt, a new friend I made on this trip."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kurt. I'm Rudell's friend."
"I see. You must be tired from your long journey, so let's talk later."
Kurt bowed to Maria and Carlos at Rudell's introduction, and they spoke with kind smiles.
"I'd like to hear about the results, but I think it's best to postpone that for now."
"Thank you, Father."
Rudell bowed his head slightly towards Carlos, who spoke those words.
Rudell needed time to catch his breath anyway.
It was only natural, considering he had crossed the notoriously harsh Blade Ring Mountains twice in a week…
"Now, let's all return to the castle."
Saying so, Carlos and Maria boarded the carriage, and the merchant party began to move forward.
* * *
It was afternoon, a few hours after Rudell and the merchant party arrived at Weinstein Castle.
"I'm very proud of you, Rudell."
Carlos, who was looking at Rudell's report in his office, said with an expression of disbelief.
It was no wonder, as even a rough estimate of the profits the county would gain from this deal was equivalent to the county's monthly budget.
Since they had agreed to trade every three months, the county's income had jumped by nearly 40%.
Moreover, it was easy to predict that the income would increase further if they could increase the number of tribes they traded with through the cooperation of the Winterfang tribe.
"It was nothing."
"Have a little more confidence, you deserve it."
Carlos said with a faint smile towards him, who spoke in a humble tone.
Rudell nodded at his words, and Carlos smiled again as he turned his gaze back to the report.
"When are you planning to summon the merchants?"
"I'll have to summon them right away. Of course, it will take some time for them to gather."
"I suppose so."
The merchants who had been acting arrogantly wouldn't readily respond to the summons.
At least a fortnight, even at the shortest estimate.
That's what Rudell was expecting.
"Father."
"Tell me."
"Can I take the lead in the negotiations with the merchants this time?"
"You?"
Carlos looked at him with surprised eyes, taking his gaze away from the report at his words.
It was only natural, as Rudell was only fifteen years old.
There was no other way to describe it than to say he was too young to be involved in such matters.
"May I ask what you're thinking?"
"Well… It's nothing special. Since we've been wronged, shouldn't we pay them back accordingly?"
Through this trade, Rudell intended to completely break the arrogance of the large merchant guilds.
Now that they had become a proper upper-class noble family, they had to make a strong impression on other nobles.
In that sense, this trade deal was the perfect stage.
"Hmm…"
Carlos let out a low groan at his words.
Of course, even if he refused, there was nothing he could do about it.
He was simply too young at the moment.
Thinking so, Rudell looked at him with a determined face.
And, a moment later.
"Alright. If that's what you want, I'll delegate full authority to you."
"Thank you, Father. And one more thing, if you don't mind?"
"Tell me, I'll help you with anything I can."
"Could you write a letter of recommendation for Kurt to enter the academy?"
"Kurt, you say?"
Carlos asked with a puzzled expression at his following words.
"Yes, for someone who's not a student to transfer in the middle of the semester, they need a letter of recommendation written directly by a noble of Count rank or higher…"
"Hmm… Now that our family is a Count family, it's not a difficult task, but… Is that child worth that much?"
He was just a Nord boy.
It was understandable that Carlos would think that way.
The image of the Nord tribe was already solidified as barbarians within the kingdom.
Of course, now that they were an important trading partner, Carlos's perception would be different, but even so, it wasn't easy to break the prejudice that had been built up over a long time.
"Yes, he is."
"Alright. If that's what you want, I'll write you a letter of recommendation."
"Thank you, Father. Then I'll take my leave."
Rudell bowed to Carlos and, as he exited the room, gave a thumbs-up to Kurt, who was standing next to him.
Seeing Kurt nod without saying anything, Rudell let out a chuckle.
"Are you sure about this? It won't be easy."
"I don't care, as long as I can become stronger."
"You'll definitely become stronger."
If he doesn't become stronger, it'll be troublesome for us.
With that thought, Rudell recalled his future plans in his mind.
First, he had to deal with the merchants, apply for Kurt's admission to the academy, and…
'I have to visit the Duke's territory too…'
Come to think of it, the deadline on the Duke's invitation was approaching.
If he ignored his invitation by mistake, it would be a straight path to a bad ending.
"Kyle. Are you there?"
"Yes, Young Master."
Kyle emerged from the shadows of the hallway at Rudell's voice.
Seeing him, Kurt looked at him with a face that said he hadn't noticed him at all…
"I'll write you a letter, so could you send it to the Duke's territory? I think I'll have to visit soon."
"Understood. I'll deliver it immediately."
Kyle bowed at Rudell's words.
Following that, his figure disappeared into the darkness, and silence returned to the hallway.
"Rudellheit."
Just then, Kurt spoke, looking in the direction Kyle had disappeared.
"Yes? Why?"
"Is Kyle strong?"
"Yes, he's strong, definitely."
At this point, excluding Leje, if Rudell had to choose the strongest person he knew, it would be Kyle.
Even in the original story, there were many situations where the novel would have gone straight to a bad ending if it weren't for him.
"Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"I want to be trained by Kyle."
"By Kyle?"
Rudell made a puzzled expression at his words.
In the original story, Kyle and his compatibility were literally 'the worst.'
It couldn't be helped, as Kyle was an assassin and Kurt was a warrior.
Not only did their fighting styles not match, but assassination was considered a dishonorable act that was absolutely unacceptable among the Nord tribe.
Naturally, the relationship between Kyle, the assassin, and Kurt, the warrior, was so hostile that they would have tried to tear each other apart if it weren't for the protagonist, and it was only when Kyle met his heroic end in the last chapter that Kurt acknowledged him and the animosity between them was resolved.
"Are you sure? Kyle's fighting style, in your way of speaking, is a dishonorable method?"
"I don't care. I can accept anything to become stronger."
Kurt replied nonchalantly to Rudell's question.
This was also a change from the original story due to Rudell's intervention.
Rudell, who was looking at Kurt with a surprised expression, smiled faintly and said,
"Alright, if that's what you want, I'll talk to Kyle."
"Thank you, Rudellheit."
"You're welcome, we're friends."
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