Ch.146146. Wait, Why Are You Coming Out of There?

“The number of tourists continues to increase. More and more people are also making plans to relocate here.”

“Since there are plenty of people wanting to move here anyway, let’s be thorough in screening who we accept.”

“By screening, you mean…?”

“People with high credit scores would be good, and obviously no criminal records.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It’s already been a week since I returned to Lake Territory.

The number of tourists has actually increased, to the point where there’s barely room to move.

I continued speaking while looking at the documents Federicks handed me.

“The defensive walls have been restored?”

“All defensive walls, including the southern ones that suffered the most damage, have been fully restored.”

“Then all that’s left is to build additional defensive walls in the safer northern area.”

“…Pardon?”

“There are many people wanting to relocate, but Lake Territory lacks sufficient land, so we need to expand now.”

Federicks nodded as if it made sense, but his expression remained bewildered nonetheless.

“It will be quite a difficult construction project.”

“But isn’t the north the safest area among the remaining lands we were granted? Should we expand to the south instead?”

“T-that’s in the direction of the Forest of Death, isn’t it?”

During the monster wave, everything would have poured out from there, so the Forest of Death is essentially just that—a dead forest.

Of course, there might still be monster remains that need to be cleared, which is why I chose the relatively safer northern area.

I stared at Federicks’ tense expression and smirked.

“See? The north is the best option, right?”

“…I suppose that’s true.”

“This expansion isn’t anything extraordinary. We’re just building several dozen houses for people to move into.”

“What about inns, taverns, and restaurants?”

“Wouldn’t about two of each be sufficient? The original marketplace isn’t that far away anyway, right?”

After spreading the map of Lake Territory on the desk and explaining enthusiastically, Federicks seemed to understand and let out an exclamation.

“In other words, we’re just creating the basic framework for people to live in?”

“Exactly, we can fill in whatever else is needed as we go.”

“Understood. I’ll select the construction personnel right away.”

“Good.”

Having finished his business, Federicks’ gaze immediately turns toward the sofa in the study.

There, Leonard was sprawled out on the sofa.

“By the way, how long will Young Master Leonard be staying here?”

“Well, I’m planning to send him back after some mental reconditioning.”

“His face and body are seriously injured…”

“It’s fine, I’ll send him back once he heals.”

“Ah, I understand!”

“And please ask Rio to come in.”

After sending Federicks away, I let out a short sigh and raised my voice.

“Brother.”

At that, Leonard wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and abruptly sat up.

“A-already? Is break time over already?”

“That’s not it. Didn’t we agree to take the afternoon off today?”

Hearing my words, he nodded vigorously with gleaming eyes.

“Right!! We agreed not to train this afternoon, didn’t we!?”

“Yes, unless you want to train more? Just say the word. I can arrange it anytime.”

“N-no!! I’m good!”

I’ve been putting Leonard through non-stop training for a week.

How satisfying it was to see his pained face…

It felt like all the frustration I’d been holding in was instantly relieved.

And on top of that.

After running him ragged, his sparring partner was none other than Rio Sergan.

Getting beaten up was the inevitable outcome regardless.

The one fortunate thing was that Leonard wasn’t completely devoid of talent in swordsmanship.

I looked at Leonard sitting on the sofa and grinned.

“It’s really fortunate that you enjoy training so much, Brother.”

“…When can I go home? Father and Mother will worry if I’m away for too long…”

“Don’t worry, I already told Father that you’re helping with the restoration of Lake Territory.”

For some reason, Leonard’s expression was one of despair.

Can’t be helped.

If he’s going to face Evander, I need to at least build a foundation for him, otherwise he’ll be slaughtered.

“…My Seri Familia will worry about me.”

“You mean your wife?”

“Y-yes! How worried must she be with her one and only husband away for so long!?”

I tilted my chin at Leonard, who wore an urgent expression.

“You still haven’t consummated your marriage, have you?”

“How did you know that…?”

“Your wife seems like someone who prefers masculine men, just by looking at her.”

“Masculine? Well… I am manly.”

I shook my head at Leonard, who still hadn’t come to his senses.

“That’s not what I meant. Have you shown any masculine qualities lately?”

“No…?”

“That might be why you haven’t shared a bed yet.”

When I provoked him slightly, Leonard’s veins bulged in his neck.

“You said before that she was refusing because she wasn’t adjusted yet!!”

“That might have been true at first. But maybe she doesn’t find you sexually attractive because you haven’t shown any growth.”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘growth’?”

“Continuous self-improvement toward becoming the family head, wouldn’t you say?”

Leonard hesitated before continuing.

“I train my knights and practice individually just like Brother Evander!”

“The same way?”

“W-well, not exactly, but I try hard in my own—”

“You entered the succession race much later than Brother Evander, and you’re saying you do even less than him?”

Leonard cleared his throat in embarrassment.

“Ahem!! Now that I think about it, I’ve been in the wrong.”

“You need to get your act together. Shouldn’t you show yourself worthy of being an Alphonse family head candidate when you leave Lake Territory?”

“…Do you think I’ll ever be able to catch up to even the tip of Brother Evander’s toes if I keep trying?”

This was like coaxing and comforting a child.

Leonard wasn’t originally this lacking in confidence.

But he must have realized it after confronting reality directly.

The gap between himself and Evander Alphonse, who had been preparing to be the family head since childhood…

That’s why he keeps relying on me.

Leonard’s shoulders slumped, and he didn’t even respond.

Just as I was about to say something more, Rio Sergan entered with a knock.

“…I heard you called for me.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Rio Sergan’s face was as battered as Leonard’s.

He looked visibly exhausted.

Understandable, since he’d been training intensely with me every day.

His only respite was when he sparred with Leonard.

“Instead of training with me this afternoon, you should spar with Brother Leonard.”

Rio Sergan’s face suddenly lit up.

Of course, Leonard’s expression was the complete opposite.

“Why! You said today’s afternoon would be rest instead of training!”

“I don’t think this is the time for you to be resting, Brother.”

“C-come on, why don’t we go somewhere quiet together, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and have a drink?”

How much time would I need to invest to knock some sense into this guy?

Should I just support Miria Alphonse for the family head position instead?

Haaa…

Miria Alphonse is the only sibling I’ve actually grown fond of.

I can’t force her to do something she doesn’t want to do and make her unhappy.

It’s a hundred times better to just keep drilling Leonard.

After staring at Leonard, who refused to budge from the sofa, I turned my gaze to Rio.

“Take him to the training ground right now. I’ll be watching, so don’t think about taking it easy.”

“H-how can I possibly drag the young master out on my own…?”

I curled up the corners of my mouth at Rio, who wore a troubled expression.

“Then would you prefer to train with me instead?”

At that, Rio suddenly adopted an extremely resolute expression and pulled on Leonard’s arm.

“Young Master, please forgive me.”

“L-let go of me!?”

“I have no choice. I’m sorry.”

In an instant, Rio dragged Leonard off to the training ground.

Left alone in the study, I let out a deep sigh.

“Haaa… what a life.”

What can I do if Leonard is a fool?

If I can at least make him function properly as a person, I’ll naturally distance myself from Evander Alphonse’s sight.

It’s distasteful and dirty, but it must be done.

As I was gritting my teeth and making this resolution, another knock sounded.

I reflexively turned my head.

“Come in.”

Federicks hurriedly entered the study and spoke.

“There’s a visitor for you.”

“Who is it?”

“Someone named Dennis.”

“Tell him to come in.”

If there was bad news, there seemed to be good news as well.

Gaining Dennis was like getting a lower-tier version of Rio Sergan.

And if I train him myself?

It would be no different from me, like a protagonist, gaining a comrade of the heavenly army.

I stood up and spread my arms to welcome Dennis.

“Welcome to Lake Territory!”

For some reason, Dennis’s expression wasn’t entirely bright as he entered the study.

Rather, he awkwardly stood by the door as if waiting for someone, looking uncomfortable.

“Did someone else come with you?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, a woman entered the study.

A familiar atmosphere, a familiar face.

I blinked my eyes and covered my mouth.

‘Wait, why are you here?’