Episode 18: Hot Dog
In the end, I couldn’t think of any effective plan other than taking the initiative to improve Cornelia’s reputation among the populace. So, I instructed Old Man to inform the people before any negative rumors about Cornelia could spread.
After that, I also instructed the standing soldiers who participated in the Goblin subjugation with us to spread positive rumors about Cornelia.
Achim and the others might tend to forget due to the strong impression of Cornelia’s attacks, but if Cornelia hadn’t been there, they would have been killed by the Goblins. I directly worked on changing their perception regarding that, so it should be fine.
Haa, I’m tired… I should follow Cornelia’s example and go to bed early too.
Leaving the office I’d grown accustomed to, I stopped by Cornelia’s room before heading to my bedroom.
Knock, knock, knock. When I opened the door, I saw Delia sitting quietly in a corner of the room. It seemed she was on a break. That means Cornelia must already be asleep.
I gestured for Delia, who was about to stand up, to stay seated, and walked towards the bed where Cornelia was sleeping.
“Ria…”
Sitting on the chair placed beside the bed, I gently stroked Cornelia’s head. Her silver hair, like silver threads, was soft and sparkled as it caught the daylight.
Since returning to the manor, I’ve been tired from the journey, from thinking about Cornelia’s skills, and from devising countermeasures to protect Cornelia from malice.
But seeing Cornelia sleeping so peacefully makes me feel like I can keep going, no matter what.
“Well then, back to work, I guess. Goodnight, Ria.”
Muttering softly, I left Cornelia’s room.
◇
“Dispel.”
I proceeded to remove the curses from the mountain of cursed items before me. My Gift’s level is maxed out. There’s no need to raise my Gift’s level anymore, but this is necessary work to earn foreign currency.
Once the curses are dispelled, they can be used as normal items. Among those, I have Cornelia and Achim’s group of standing soldiers use the ones in good condition.
Because of that, not only Cornelia, but Achim and the others also have quite good equipment.
Why do I let not only Cornelia but also Achim and the others use good equipment? It’s not because I’ve suddenly awakened to philanthropy. It’s because people are precious in the Baumgarten Territory.
I provide education to children and sell them to other territories. It’s fine for now, but we’ll likely face a labor shortage eventually. People are only leaving, after all. Young people, in particular, will become quite valuable.
From now on, instead of selling all human resources to other territories, I need to keep at least enough so that the territory’s population remains stable.
Originally, we only have barren land unsuitable for farming. There’s a limit to the number of people we can support with agriculture alone. I need to maintain that number.
It’s ironic, but among the populace, because they know I’ll take care of their babies after they raise them to the age of three, the practice of abandoning infants to reduce the number of mouths to feed, like before, has decreased. And the birth rate has risen compared to before.
It’s probably because there’s less anxiety about child-rearing.
As for me, I’m all for an increase in “products.” I want them to keep having more and more.
“Bou-chama, it is time for dinner.”
“Understood.”
I wonder what’s for dinner today?
◇
“Let’s eat.”
“Let’s eat!”
In the shabby dining hall, we siblings began our meal. Apparently, one is supposed to give thanks to God, but in our household, it’s a hassle, so we skip it.
Today’s main course was two long sausages. Since there are no pigs in the Baumgarten Territory, I’m pretty sure these were bought from a merchant. I’m a little excited for pork after so long.
“Hot?! But, it’s delishioush…”
It seems Cornelia liked it too. She’s gobbling down the sausages.
I ran my knife through a piece of black bread and stuffed it into my mouth like a hot dog.
“Hmm…”
The bread is dry and sour, and I really wish I had some ketchup at least, but well, it’s passable, I guess.
“Onii-sama? That’s a rather strange way you’re eating.”
“If you do it like this, you can eat it all at once. It’s easy.”
“Bou-chama, isn’t that a bit unrefined?”
“I’ll do it too!”
“Even Ojousama…”
I can hear Old Man’s lament from behind me, but I ignore such things.
“Ah…”
Just as Cornelia tried to imitate me by running her knife through her black bread, she let out a very sad sound. She had a deeply downcast expression, and it looked as if tears were about to spill from those ruby-red gems any moment.
Just seeing Cornelia looking sad made my heart ache as if it were being squeezed.
Looking at Cornelia’s plate, there were no sausages left. She must have eaten both of them. She can’t make a hot dog like this.
“Old Man, give this to Ria.”
“Bou-chama, are you sure?”
“I don’t mind. Hurry up.”
Before my resolve could waver, I had Old Man bring the plate with the sausage on it. Of course, it was the sausage I had saved to eat later.
I wanted to eat it, but I can’t win against a tearful Cornelia.
“Ojousama, please have this.”
“But, this is Onii-sama’s…”
“It’s fine if it’s me. Now, eat it quickly before it gets cold.”
“…Okay! Thank you, Onii-sama. I love you!”
I averted my gaze from Cornelia and, unable to help myself, made a fist pump under the table. Crap, I think I’m about to grin like an idiot.
“Onii-sama?”
“It’s nothing.”
I said, desperately forcing a smile.