My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 9

§ 9 – The Necromantic Territory, Ruben (2)

Sian’s mind was blank.

Sian checked the notification window that popped up on his smartphone screen again.

[Sturdy Palisade Lv.1 (5,000G)]

A palisade being sold for a whopping 5,000G.

Considering that the living expenses for a family of four are 30G based on the Empire’s cost of living, it was a very expensive amount.

Even considering it was a territory facility, it was quite pricey.

‘It would have to be made of Elfwood [a type of strong, magical wood] for that price,’ Sian thought.

But the image showed nothing more than ordinary wood.

That’s why it was a price that deserved to be called a scam.

“Hmm…”

Sian didn’t simply think that way.

That’s because he bought an S-rank equipment for 3,000G.

Didn’t he directly confirm how good its performance was?

‘This palisade would surely boast performance comparable to that,’ he reasoned.

Sian rummaged through his pockets to check his money pouch.

The amount he confirmed was… 6,900G.

Enough to buy the palisade.

Sian put the money pouch back in his pocket.

Then he checked his smartphone again.

‘First of all…’ he mused.

The palisade visible beyond the screen looked quite sturdy at first glance.

Moreover, it didn’t just have defensive functions as described.

There were facilities to go up and attack enemies beyond the palisade, of course.

Logs with sharpened points were placed in the front to prevent enemies from approaching easily.

Frankly, it was more like a wooden fortress than a palisade.

‘Maybe with this…’

It might be possible.

It might be possible to defeat the hundreds of goblin hordes.

The magical beasts dwelling in the Dark Forest are more ferocious than ordinary monsters due to OverDrive [a magical enhancement].

However, their reasoning is diminished as much.

If the defense is sufficient,

If the advantage of defense can be utilized,

Even with a numerical difference, defense was sufficiently possible.

But Sian couldn’t do it alone.

There had to be people to fight with.

The minimum number of people to defend the palisade,

And to counter the attack.

Sian turned his head.

“Hans. Can I ask you a favor?”

“Please tell me, my lord.”

Sian slowly opened his mouth.

“Could you go and call the territory residents?”

“The territory residents… you mean?”

Sian nodded.

“Go and bring the territory residents. Tell them I want to talk.”

“……”

Hans closed his mouth for a moment at Sian’s firm request.

The request to bring the territory residents.

Because he could glimpse Sian’s will in that request.

A firm will to fight without running away.

“But…”

That’s why Hans couldn’t answer easily.

To be honest, he was thinking it was meaningless.

Because he thought there was no way.

There were hundreds of goblins.

Moreover, goblins dwelling in the Dark Forest.

Blocking them, winning is impossible.

Fighting was no different from choosing to die.

Even if the territory residents’ strength is added, nothing will change.

Impossible is impossible.

What can’t be done can’t be done.

That was the reality Hans realized in his long mercenary life.

That’s why running away was a wise decision…

“I’m asking you, Hans. I have something to do for a while.”

The look in Sian’s eyes was sparkling with something.

Not the timid eyes that always looked around.

Not the eyes that were always afraid and terrified.

The eyes of fighting spirit to face it head-on.

“…… I understand.”

Hans couldn’t bring himself to say anything else.

“Thank you, Hans.”

Sian gave a small smile.

As Hans left.

“Then shall we begin?”

Sian immediately held up his smartphone.

Then, without hesitation, he pressed the purchase button for ‘Sturdy Palisade Lv.1’.

Click.

《Purchase complete!》

Whirrrrr!

Then, along with the rising notification window, gold coins began to disappear from the money pouch without fail.

Gold coins flying into the air and disappearing.

Sian blocked the entrance of the pouch just in case.

But as if saying, ‘No way!’,

The gold coins began to evaporate from inside the pouch.

“… It takes it no matter what.”

That’s how 5,000G disappeared.

Whoosh!

As before, a bright cluster of light burst out in front of Sian’s vision.

And after a little time, when the cluster of light disappeared.

At the same time, when the vision recovered to some extent.

“… Wow.”

Sian couldn’t help but exclaim.

That’s because of the sight in front of him.

The logs were well-trimmed and piled up high,

And on one side, the logs were moving on their own to make a palisade.

A palisade being automatically constructed on its own.

“Magic?”

No, this was difficult even with magic.

To be exact, he had never even heard of such magic.

Sian lowered his gaze and looked at his smartphone.

An artifact that far exceeded the realm of common sense.

He strongly felt that it really could be an artifact left by Arnise [a legendary figure].

Right then.

Ding!

《Sturdy Palisade Lv.1 is under construction.》

《D – 3 until construction is complete》

In an instant, a new notification window popped up along with the notification sound.

“D-3? Does that mean it takes 3 days to build?”

It seemed like it took time to build after all.

Well, it wouldn’t make sense if it was created with a pop! as soon as you bought it.

In fact, it didn’t make sense that it was being built automatically right now.

Besides, 3 days was quite fast.

But.

“3 days is too late…”

The problem was that there was no time right now.

The goblins were attacking tomorrow.

3 days was far too late.

It was useless at the point when it was needed right now.

“This is troublesome…”

Was there no other way?

Sian rummaged through his smartphone.

But of course, there was no such thing as reducing the construction time─.

It was right then.

Ding!

In an instant, a notification sound was heard.

As if reading Sian’s mind.

A window popped up anew on the screen.

[Instant Completion Ticket – 1,500G]

“Instant… Completion Ticket?”

Does that mean it instantly completes the construction as it says?

Just as he was thinking that.

Ding!

《When you’re stuck while progressing, try spending money!》

“……”

Sian’s thoughts stopped for a moment.

#

“You want to talk?”

Grayson looked at the old man in front of him.

Grayson, the de facto leader of the residents of Ruben.

Grayson was a very skilled hunter.

In the first place, a hunter living in the Dark Forest.

In order for this statement to be true, he couldn’t be unskilled.

In fact, Grayson could live alone in the Dark Forest.

Hunting the magical beasts dwelling in the Dark Forest,

He could live abundantly with the byproducts.

But Grayson didn’t do that.

He couldn’t.

The abandoned people of Ruben.

And the daughter he had to protect.

Grayson couldn’t turn away from the people.

Above all, he couldn’t live a wandering life with his daughter, who had just shed her girlhood.

That’s why Grayson was protecting his life in Ruben.

“That’s right. The young lord wants to talk to you.”

Grayson quietly looked at the old man.

The old man with a sharp impression.

It was a face he remembered.

None other than earlier.

He had seen him next to the good-for-nothing who was acting like a lord.

‘Was it Hans?’ Grayson wondered.

Grayson let go of the fragments of memory that came to mind and opened his mouth.

“No business.”

Soon, Grayson turned his back resolutely.

Right then.

“Since when could a territory resident refuse the lord’s order?”

Hans’ cold words were heard from beyond his back.

Grayson slowly turned around.

A sharp aura was emanating from Hans’ appearance.

“Did the Imperial Law look so easy?”

“… Are you threatening me now?”

Grayson hardened his face.

A silence that briefly settled down.

Soon, Hans slowly opened his mouth.

“Is it that difficult to just have a conversation?”

“It’s not a conversation, it’s coercion. In the end, that guy is the same as all the Elan D’Ors [a noble family name].”

Grayson sneered mockingly.

It was always like this.

The nobles.

If things didn’t go their way, they would bring up their status.

It wasn’t just the good-for-nothing named Sian.

All the guys who came to Ruben as lords did that.

At first, they would say things like they were thinking of the territory residents.

That they would revive the territory, etc.

They would spew out all kinds of sweet words, but in the end, they would run away at the important moment.

And they were eaten by the Dark Forest and never returned.

So what would be different about the good-for-nothing named Sian?

Sian was just the same noble in the end.

No, he was an Elan D’Or who ignored and abandoned the people of Ruben.

Grayson had no intention of talking to Sian.

“If you’re going to bring up the Imperial Law, do as you please. Anyway…”

“I promise. There will be no coercion whatsoever in the conversation.”

“Ha, promises like that are just words─.”

“I promise on my life.”

“……”

Grayson’s words were cut off.

Soon, he looked at Hans.

The wrinkled face was filled with the depth of time.

At the same time, the seriousness in his eyes showed his sincerity.

Grayson could tell that Hans’ words about risking his life were not a lie.

‘Does he believe in that good-for-nothing?’

But that was only for a moment.

Grayson shook his head slightly.

‘He’s still an Elan D’Or bloodline after all,’ he thought.

‘They use you if you’re useful, but in the end, they abandon you.’

Perhaps the old man named Hans was being kept around because he was still useful.

Hans didn’t seem to realize that yet.

But that would be soon.

That’s why he didn’t believe in Elan D’Or, but…

“… Only a conversation.”

Grayson nodded calmly.

Soon, Grayson followed Hans and moved his steps.

The road leading to where Sian was.

To be honest, Grayson didn’t have much expectation.

That’s because Sian, whom Grayson saw, was really just a good-for-nothing.

A good-for-nothing from the Marquis family.

Not just rumors, but Sian, whom Grayson saw, was really pathetic.

About the level of a hothouse flower that grew up well in a noble family.

No, he wasn’t even a flower.

What could such an incompetent person do?

Grayson was thinking of just pretending to have a conversation and then returning.

To be exact.

“…!!!!”

Until he saw the huge palisade surrounding the territory.

“W, what is this…!”

Grayson’s eyes widened as if they were tearing.

At the same time, his expression was distorted with shock.

Wasn’t there nothing until just now…?

To be exact, it was Ruben, which was no different from ruins.

But what Ruben showed now was…

“H, how could this…”

A scene that he couldn’t believe even after seeing it with his own eyes.

And that wasn’t just Grayson.

“W, what is this…!”

A voice filled with shock was heard next to Grayson.

Slowly turning his head to look.

“How on earth did this happen…!”

There, Hans was gaping with shock.

‘No, why are you surprised?’

Grayson wondered for a moment what this was.

Looking at it, it seemed like Hans didn’t know either…

Like that, Grayson and Hans.

The two were stuck in place, blankly.

And right then.

“You came?”

Sian’s voice was heard from inside the palisade.