[122] Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated in a Count's Family [28]

Zent spends most of the year living with Ention at Utrein Castle. His goal, of course, is to curry favour with Ention to secure the position of heir. 

Zent currently serves a role close to that of Ention's aide. This means he can feed Ention information tailored to his own preferences.

'I purchased a mana awakening potion solely through my own abilities. I earned an astronomical amount of money. It's only natural that Zent would be wary of me.'

Unlike Kyle, I am Zent's pure-blooded younger brother. The same blood flows through our veins. However, that doesn't mean Zent has any reason to go easy on me. 

Power isn't something that can be shared amicably, even among family.

"You look terrifying. Did you catch a heart disease or something, my dear brother?" 

"...."

Hearing this, I was certain. 

This bastard came here just to mock me.

"...Was this your doing, Brother Zent?"

I maintained my composure. The fact that no curses slipped out shows just how rational I am. However, the hostility in my voice was impossible to hide. No, I didn't even try to hide it. There was no need to.

As proof, Zent was grinning at me.

"I don't know what you're talking about." 

"Did you advise Father to grant me a title and territory?" 

"Yes. Your abilities are quite exceptional. Even Father acknowledged your talent for making money. It's a shame to let such talent go to waste as the youngest son of the family." 

"You're mistaken." 

"Mistaken… Why are you so angry? You should be thanking me. Thanks to me, you've been granted a barony and a territory." 

"I never wanted a title or territory." 

"Is that so?"

Zent wiped the smile off his face and looked at me. His black eyes were cold.

"But I've been hearing strange rumours. That you've been meeting with vassals and gifting them things like spices and clocks." 

"Those are just gifts." 

"Really? From what I've seen, it doesn't look that way."

Zent approached me. He patted my shoulder and said.

"Little brother, you once told me. That you had no interest in the position of head of the Pruckus family and that I should take it. That you would support me fully. That I, as the eldest son, am the rightful heir." 

"...."

I had told Zent several times that I had no interest in the position of family head. However, I had never said I would support him. What Zent is referring to must have been before I became Eugene Pruckus.

"But you haven't been supporting me at all. In fact, you've been hindering me. I understand. As you grow older and your heart disease seems to be improving, it's natural for ambition to arise." 

"...That's not it."

At my response, Zent let out a scoffing laugh. 

"That might be the case. Anyway, little brother. The Pruckus county is mine. I am the rightful heir to the Pruckus family. I have no intention of casting you out. Your abilities are exceptional. A moment of greed… I can understand that at your age. Be content with the barony and Tebura." 

"Brother Zent, are you that afraid of me? Enough to banish your only brother to a small territory?" 

"Eugene Pruckus. Don't misunderstand. I'm not banishing you because I'm afraid of you. This is a test. The results of this test will be revealed to you on the day I inherit the Pruckus county."

With those words, Zent walked past me. His final words lingered in my ears. 

"I hope you become my loyal vassal. I look forward to it."

Grinding my teeth. 

Crackling!

The mana in my body uncontrollably transformed into lightning, writhing.

***

I explained the situation to Yuria. If I were to leave the mansion, naturally, Yuria, as my personal maid, would have to accompany me to Tebura. 

I had no intention of going to Tebura alone without Yuria. She had already become too convenient for me. A life in Tebura without her? I didn't even want to imagine it.

"There must be someone who incited Young Master Zent. It's probably Baron Quwait."

Yuria said. 

I was a bit surprised. I had thought it was entirely Zent's doing.

"Baron Quwait… Is he a vassal who follows Zent?" 

"Yes. He's one of the administrators at Utrein Castle. He doesn't own any territory, but he runs a small trading company."

I've never met Baron Quwait in person. But it's obvious that he's the type to bet everything on Zent. As an administrator who also runs a trading company, he must have sensed the scent of money from me and advised Zent to keep me in check.

'Zent must have heard rumours about me… So he's been wary of me.'

Right now, I feel like killing Baron Quwait.

'But I can't kill him right now.' 

If Baron Quwait were to die now, Zent would undoubtedly suspect me. Moreover, Baron Quwait is at Utrein Castle, making assassination difficult. The security at Utrein Castle, where Ention resides, is among the best in the kingdom.

"Master, if Baron Quwait really bothers you… Attacking the trading partners of his company could be an option." 

"Trading partners… No. Let's drop it for now."

What's urgent right now isn't venting my anger. I have to prepare to leave the mansion for Tebura in a month. 

The only assassins I can control are Hassent and Yuria. Hassent, due to his position as head butler, can't easily leave the mansion, and life without Yuria would be too inconvenient.

'I can't take Hassent to Tebura. And it's actually beneficial for Hassent to remain at the mansion. He can provide high-level information about the mansion.'

I haven't given up on Pruckus county. Although I've been banished to Tebura, the heir hasn't been decided yet. Moreover, Tebura is only half a day's carriage ride from Petheris, where the mansion is located.

'Zent probably wanted to distance me as much as possible. But the fact that it's Tebura means Ention hasn't completely excluded me from the succession.'

I have knowledge of the future. If I use this knowledge to its fullest… I can inherit the county.

"Yuria, we'll need to go to Tebura tomorrow." 

"Yes. I'll prepare the carriage."

Elaine will likely allow it. There's no reason to oppose me visiting the city I'll be governing.

'Alright. Damn it. Since it's come to this, I'll make Tebura an outstanding territory. A paradise on earth! Heaven itself! Tebura!'

I can do it. 

With modern items and knowledge, I can make it happen.

***

Clatter, clatter!

I taught Yuria the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in the carriage. Given that Yuria is the greatest genius in this world, she might grasp the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in a unique way. 

It wouldn't be bad for Yuria to learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. 

However, Yuria shook her head and refused.

"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art doesn't suit me. My Shadow Magic and Yeongcheon Style are more than enough. Trying to learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art here would only complicate things." 

"But the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is a peerless martial art?"

The King Demons. A martial art created by a god whose true name is unknown. Its power is beyond question.

"I don't think the Yeongcheon Style is inferior to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art." 

"...Really?" 

"Yes."

This was quite unexpected. To me, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art seemed superior to the Yeongcheon Style.

"Then what do you think I should do to learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?" 

"I'm not sure." 

"Hmm." 

"But I don't think Master needs to be so fixated on the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Martial arts are just martial arts. If you keep training, you'll surely master the Heavenly Demon Divine Art eventually."

I nodded. Yuria was right. Eventually, I'll master the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

It would be a lie to say I'm not impatient, but I have something even greater than the Heavenly Demon Divine Art—the Play Life app.

Clatter, clatter!

I looked at Yuria sitting across from me. Even in the roughly shaking carriage, Yuria sat upright with perfect posture.

'She's always so proper.' 

Come to think of it, I've never seen Yuria slouch or sit improperly. Except when she's playing with me.

'It would be so convenient if I could bring her to the real world.'

Then it hit me. 

I remembered that the Play Life app had a "Character Summon" feature. Since there were no characters available to summon, I had forgotten about it.

'Characters must refer to fictional individuals.'

Yuria, sitting in front of me, is also a character. 

Our eyes met. Yuria smiled at me. I stuck out my tongue slightly toward her. In response, Yuria leaned forward and kissed me. Our tongues intertwined wetly.

'There must be conditions to summon Yuria to the real world.'

I think those conditions are likely related to "bonds." Unless the purpose of bonds is to give me bonus points.

"Haaaah!"

Reflexively, I groped Yuria's ample breasts and thought.

'If I could bring Yuria to the real world… It would be more beneficial for Yuria to grow stronger than for me to grow stronger in this world.'

If I make Yuria as strong as possible and summon her to the real world as an Aura Master?

'Wouldn't that be the ultimate cheat in life?' 

"Ahhh… Master…"

I licked Yuria's nape and changed the goal of this playthrough. 

The first goal of this playthrough was the mana awakening potion, and the next goal was to steal Kyle's opportunities to grow stronger. But Yuria's talent surpasses mine. The efficiency would be entirely different if she were to receive the same opportunities.

'And Yuria is my personal maid.'

The main goal of "Plum Blossom SwordsmanReincarnated in a Count's Family" is now to raise Yuria.

'…Raising Yuria sounds a bit lame.' 

"...Master, I'm going to put it in."

Yuria lifted her long skirt and moved her panties to the side. Beneath her secret place was my erect member, standing stiffly. 

When I nodded, Yuria sat down on me.

"Haaaaah…" 

No matter how many times we do this, her pussy fits me perfectly. Feeling the tight walls of her vagina, I thought.

'Maid Maker. If I add "Project" to the front… It sounds pretty impressive.'

Project Maid Maker. 

It feels like we're already halfway through, but they say the real start is from the halfway point, so today marks the official beginning.

"Yuria, I'll make you the greatest maid." 

"Yes, yes! Ahhh!"

***

The port city of Tebura has two advantages. 

One is that it's by the sea. The sea is a treasure trove of resources. You can obtain all kinds of food, including fish. You can also trade with other regions via the sea. 

The other is that it's close enough to Petheris to be just half a day's journey.

'Aside from these two, everything else is trash.' 

A population of 5,000. That's small for a city. 

And the entire city is underdeveloped. The roads aren't even paved, likely due to poor management.

"H-Here is the mansion used by the previous lord!" 

Locke, the captain of Tebura's guard, said. 

In his mid-thirties, he serves as the captain of the guard. His strength is at the lowest level of an Aura Expert.

"Is that so? Good work. You may go." 

"Yes! I'll take my leave!" 

Locke ran off in a fluster back to the guard post. It seems I made him extremely uncomfortable. 

I clicked my tongue as I looked at the mansion he had guided us to.

"It looks like it could collapse at any moment. It seems like it was built 50 years ago, and there's been no maintenance." 

"According to records, it was built 66 years ago. It appears to have been abandoned after the death of Baron Gultian, the lord of Tebura 20 years ago."

Yuria said. 

We had gathered some information about Tebura before coming here.

"You expect me to live in this dump? Bullshit. I can't live in a place like this." 

I decided to tear it down and build a new one.

"Yuria, let's head to the city hall." 

"Yes, Master."

The city hall was just a 10-minute walk away.

"…Who are you?"

A city hall employee stammered as he looked at us. I ignored him and walked into the inner part of the city hall. I forcefully opened the door to what seemed like the best room. A man who had been drinking looked up at me in surprise.

"...Gasp! Young Master Eugene Pruckus?!" 

"Do you know who I am?" 

"Yes, yes. How could I not? But what brings you here today…"

He bowed obsequiously. It seems he hadn't yet heard that I would become the lord of this place in a month. 

I looked around and then stared at his desk.

"Drinking in broad daylight. You're living the good life." 

"N-No, this is… a gift…" 

"A gift?"

I smirked. That alcohol was probably a bribe.

"Yuria, search the place." 

"Yes, Young Master."

Yuria began searching the office.

"How dare a maid! Do you know where you are?!" 

"Where? Isn't this a tavern? It reeks of alcohol, so it must be a tavern." 

"N-No, Young Master. Even if you are the Young Master, this is too much! I will formally protest to Countess Elaine!" 

"Go ahead."

I looked at Yuria. She pushed aside a bookshelf and used her aura to break the lock on a safe. She skillfully destroyed only the locking mechanism.

"Found it." 

"You crazy bitch! Get out of the way!"

He tried to rush at Yuria.

"You stay put."

I grabbed the back of his head and slammed him back onto the desk.

"A bribery ledger. You've been receiving regular payments from the Black Tiger Trading Company."

I looked at him. He shouted at me with a stiff face.

"There's a reason for this! Young Master! Please hear me out!"

I nodded. And then I said to him.

"You're sentenced to death."

***

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