Chapter 19: Protecting
I was in the bedroom, accessible directly from the office. It was a room solely for sleeping, with nothing in it but a bed. Lying there in the pitch darkness, I let my thoughts wander.
Currently, the Baumgarten Territory is supported by two main pillars: the buying and selling of uncursed items, and skimming a percentage off the salaries of the educated residents we’ve trained.
For now, the former brings in more profit. That’s because we occasionally find real bargains. Sometimes, surprisingly expensive items are mixed in. Well, since they can’t be used in their cursed state, we can acquire them cheaply. This price difference is significant.
Now, if you ask whether we can stop “selling” our residents, that’s a bit difficult. It makes management easier because we can forcibly adjust the number of people. We’ve even hired graduates to act as teachers. As time passes and the system becomes more established, it will likely become even easier.
It seems there’s persistent opposition from some mothers, but the merits are great enough to push through it.
In terms of overall finances, we still don’t have enough leeway to repay our debts, but we’ve managed to create a temporary state of stability. Little by little, savings are accumulating.
I’d like to use these savings as capital to start a new industry or something… but it’s quite difficult.
The Baumgarten Territory’s western third is barren land where crops grow poorly, while the eastern two-thirds are covered by an untouched, deep forest.
I’d like to try some slash-and-burn agriculture, but apparently, if we burn the forest, the monsters that lose their habitat will cause a stampede. Even if I want to, I can’t.
For now, we’re at our limit just using it for small-scale logging in the East Village.
“Haa… If only we could utilize the eastern forest…”
Knock, knock, knock!
Just as I muttered that, the sound of knocking reached me. It didn’t sound hurried. It probably wasn’t an emergency. Who could it be?
“Onii-sama… Are you already asleep…?”
“Ria? I’m still awake. Come in.”
The door clicked open, and Cornelia appeared, illuminated by a Lightstone emitting a steady, pale blue light. Behind Cornelia, Delia’s figure could also be seen.
“What’s wrong, at this hour?”
“Um… I can’t sleep… Can I sleep with you too?”
“Sure. Come on.”
“Yay!”
Cornelia climbed onto my bed as if she’d been launched.
She probably took a nap today, so she’s not sleepy yet.
“Excuse me for intruding!”
Cornelia energetically lay down next to me. Her warmth slowly seeped into me.
Cornelia is alive. Just that alone makes me so happy I feel like I could cry.
I’m so happy I feel like I could forgive anything, any sin.
Except for you, Anna. You’re no good.
“Ehehe.”
We shared the large pillow, looking at each other. I felt a little embarrassed somehow.
To hide my embarrassment, I patted Cornelia’s head. The silky feel of her hair was pleasant.
“Ria, how were you yesterday?”
“Yesterday?”
“You know, you defeated a lot of Goblins, right? Did you feel nauseous or sick or anything?”
I phrased it vaguely as “defeated,” but it doesn’t change the fact that Cornelia took the lives of over a hundred Goblins.
Goblins bear no resemblance to humans, but they are still humanoid monsters. I wonder if she feels any pangs of conscience for taking their lives?
“I’m okay, though? It was a little scary, though…”
Cornelia said, laughing shyly.
That’s right. Over a hundred Goblins were closing in to take Cornelia’s life. There’s no way it wasn’t scary.
Under the covers, I squeezed Cornelia’s hand.
“I’m sorry for making you go through something scary. If you say you don’t want to anymore, Ria, you don’t have to force yourself to come on expeditions anymore…”
“Nuh-uh! I’ll go!”
“Ria?”
“If my power can be of use to Onii-sama, I’ll go anywhere!”
“Ria…”
“It was the first time I could be useful to Onii-sama! I’ll definitely go!”
“I’m happy about your feelings, Ria. But you don’t have to worry about such things. You can do more of what you like, you know? What was her name again…? You made a friend, right?”
“You mean Eliza?”
“Yes. You can play with Eliza, you know?”
As for me, I was uneasy about taking Cornelia to dangerous places. The battle with the large Goblin army yesterday was completely unexpected. I worried, would I someday send Cornelia to her death? I resent my own incompetence.
“No, I’m still going with Onii-sama. Because I will protect Onii-sama!”
“!!?”
Cornelia protecting me? I had never even imagined such a thing.
But that’s because I knew Cornelia when she was suffering from the curse. I was made to realize that my image of Cornelia had remained stuck as a frail existence that I had to protect.
“You see, Onii-sama. I always want to be with you. And, this time, I will protect you, Onii-sama!”
“Ria…”
I had misjudged Cornelia’s resolve. Her desire to protect me was just as strong as my wish to protect her.