Ch.6565. Meeting the In-Laws like Storm

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Armin Campbell was a baron whom no one in his domain would speak ill of.

He was always on the front lines handling difficult tasks, constantly looking after his subordinates, and efficiently managing official duties with a cool and calm demeanor—a capable and approachable lord.

And Armin was proving in real-time exactly why he deserved such an assessment.

The fact that he wasn’t running away from the person before him would be enough for any resident of his domain to agree that he was living up to his reputation.

“…Is the tea to your liking?”

In truth, considering who was being asked, the question itself was absurdly inadequate.

True to his reputation as a lord with no connection to luxury, he had simply brewed old tea leaves and herbs in a somewhat crude teapot.

He hadn’t stocked proper hospitality items since visitors from other domains never came. He had instead spent that money on replacing the farmers’ tools with new ones.

“It’s fine.”

However.

The person who had likely tasted every delicacy the Empire had to offer simply responded with those words.

Gideon Gaelstard La Tristan.

The Empire’s most powerful figure, with only the Emperor above him.

No matter how one looked at it, this was not someone who would suddenly visit a domain, especially alone without any attendants.

‘The Tristan Duchess was already pushing the limit…!’

To think that the Tristan Grand Duke himself would visit.

What in the world was happening?

Armin mentally broke into a cold sweat as he looked the man up and down.

His appearance didn’t match what one would expect of a great noble.

Bandages wrapped around his entire body. Completely tattered clothes. A single sword hanging at his side, and a body and muscles trained like rock.

Rather than a great noble, he looked like a wandering swordsman who had devoted himself solely to training, far removed from worldly connections.

“…I apologize, Grand Duke. I’m ashamed that this backwater countryside has nothing proper to offer, and I’d like to apologize for—”

“No.”

Gideon drained his teacup as he answered.

Despite the tea undoubtedly being crude and bitter, he acted as if such things didn’t bother him at all.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“…”

Armin blinked in confusion.

“On my way here, I saw that all the domain residents were smiling. Even in such a peaceful place, it’s not easy for everyone to wear such expressions.”

That alone would make it obvious how Armin Campbell treated the people of his domain.

“It means you’re sacrificing a lot. You should be proud, Baron Campbell.”

At the very least, it was clear that this baron governing a small domain on the frontier was far better than those beasts who only thought of noble rights and forgot their obligations.

How long had it been since he’d met a “real” noble like this?

Gideon nodded with that thought.

“So your son must have grown into quite a remarkable person as well.”

“…Pardon?”

Armin gave a blank response to the sudden comment.

Why was his son suddenly being mentioned here?

“…If I may ask, what is your relationship with Darwood…?”

“He’s my master.”

Armin’s jaw dropped.

Good heavens. His son had been acknowledged as a disciple by none other than the Tristan Grand Duke?

He always thought his son was smart from a young age, but he never imagined the boy’s talents were that extraordinary!

‘I made the right decision sending him to the Academy…!’

Armin marveled at his past decision.

It was truly the right choice to have squeezed out resources from their struggling domain to give his son such an opportunity. He had only provided educational opportunities hoping it would help the domain residents in the future, but to think it would create such an incredible connection.

“I’m truly grateful, Grand Duke Tristan. To think you would give my son such a precious opportunity. As for how I should repay you—”

“…No.”

Gideon frowned as he answered.

“I don’t know what you’re misunderstanding, but I am the disciple.”

“…”

Armin’s expression went blank.

It felt as if his brain functions had momentarily stopped.

What on earth was this person saying?

“I visited the domain this time for a mid-term evaluation.”

“…”

“He assigned me a task, and I’ve managed to achieve some results. It’s time for me to receive a new assignment.”

“…”

“I sincerely hope that the efforts I’ve made have been in the right direction.”

As Gideon spoke with a bitter smile, a lightning bolt of shock struck Armin’s brain again.

Right now.

The Tristan Grand Duke.

Was nervous about showing his “results” to Armin’s son.

Like a student getting his assignment checked by a professor.

“…”

After being frozen for a while, Armin’s brain finally started working again.

Let’s sort out the situation.

He had been so overwhelmed that he hadn’t properly processed it, but his son had entered the domain bringing both the Kendrid Margrave’s adopted daughter and the Tristan Duchess.

In this situation, the Grand Duke himself was saying he was his son’s disciple. With his own mouth.

‘Son… what exactly have you been doing?’

He had clearly said he would live inconspicuously when he left home…!

Such a scream echoed like a wail inside Armin.

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“…”

“…I promise I won’t get hurt anymore.”

“…”

Elnore tightened the bandage without responding.

It was such a forceful action that a shallow groan escaped my mouth without me realizing it.

“You seem to enjoy worrying others.”

Elnore muttered while glaring at me.

“If you want to get hurt so badly, just tell me. I’ll beat you thoroughly without leaving any aftereffects.”

“No, this time I really couldn’t help—”

Elnore slapped my back.

I guess that meant no talking back.

“…”

That really hurt.

She seemed to have held back, but the impact was so intense that I momentarily couldn’t breathe.

“…On second thought, don’t make such requests.”

“…Excuse me?”

“After trying to hit you once, I feel more sorry than expected. I won’t be able to fulfill such a request even if you ask.”

“…”

If you say so.

I didn’t even feel like responding, so I just decided to check what I needed to check.

First, my “expenses.”

◎ Restore Potion

[ Item: Consumable ]

[ Price: 15,000pt ]

[ Slowly restores damaged body. Not very effective for critical injuries where life is in danger. ]

[ Remaining points: 1,000pt ]

This is ridiculously expensive.

This is what I poured into my right arm. With just this one item, most of the points I had carefully accumulated from Gift rewards and completing main quests were gone.

Considering I used it to gain favor with the Kendrid Margrave, it might be considered a bargain.

From the position of being able to participate in monster and dungeon subjugation by obtaining a domain, the “Northern Border Region” controlled by Krat is truly a gold mine. Most of the artifacts rumored to be powerful in the game are concentrated there.

‘Shadow Step, Immovable Veil, Earth Shatterer…’

When I think about the list of overpowered artifacts that can be farmed there, giving up my right arm seems like a small price to pay.

Since Elia visited my hometown as part of the pilgrimage event, I have plenty of justification to visit her place during the next vacation. I can aim for those artifacts then.

“We seem to have arrived.”

As the carriage stopped, Elnore made that comment.

Anyway, now that we’ve finished all our business in Viscount Goldic’s domain, we’ve returned to my domain to continue with “tasks” here.

“…”

If I want to be optimistic,

I’d like to interpret this as everyone wanting to relax and have fun together during vacation.

Please.

No more serious talk.

With such thoughts, I got out of the carriage and saw Krat and Elia also getting out of the carriage next to us.

Our eyes meet.

Immediately, Elia’s face turned red to the tips of her ears, and she quickly turned her head away.

She’s been like this ever since the confrontation with Krat earlier.

“…Good grief.”

And seeing this, Krat’s face instantly became displeased.

“He’s clearly playing both sides. Is that right, Elia?”

“…I’ll handle this myself, Margrave.”

With a prim tone, Elia said that and quickly ran into the lord’s castle.

Her face was still red to the tips of her ears.

“…”

After silently watching her, I call up a window.

< Gift Related Person Alert >

▼ Elia Krisanax

[ Interest Level 4 ] >>> [ Trust Level 1 ]

[ Rewards available! ]

It’s certainly impressive that her favor level has evolved by jumping two stages at once, but this itself doesn’t bring any major changes for me.

From my experience so far, I know that favor level changes from good-aligned characters only give points.

What concerns me more are the sentences written below.

[ Negative Imprint 3 stacks → Negative Imprint removed ]

[ A new status is granted as a result of the removal. ]

[ Target is in a state of ‘Enchantment’ towards you. ]

[ The effect of ‘Gift#1: Fateful Attraction’ now applies to the target as well! ]

“…”

So.

This character, despite being good-aligned, receives the same favor increase effect towards me as evil-aligned characters. This probably also means that if she succeeds in growing and gaining other skills, those functions will be shared with me through the Enlightenment skill.

And after that, there’s:

[ You have enchanted a good-aligned character who was negatively affected by ‘Negative Imprint’! ]

[ You meet the enhancement condition for ‘Gift #2: Close to Ink, Close to Black’! ]

[ If you fulfill the same condition once more, this Gift will be enhanced! ]

The effect I gained when my first Gift was enhanced—the Enlightenment skill—is already one of the most overpowered abilities I have.

I can’t help but wonder what will pop up when this one gets enhanced.

“…”

As I scan through the window while entering the lord’s castle, I notice:

The atmosphere is still frozen.

Elia is walking inside with a face that shows no signs of losing its redness, Krat is following behind with a displeased expression, and Elnore is moving along with a gloomy face, glaring at Elia.

It’s similar to the atmosphere when we first arrived here, with everyone moving without saying a word to each other. It might even be worse than that.

“…”

This is strange.

Didn’t we all improve our mood by beating up Viscount Goldic together?

Why is the atmosphere this devastated?

“…I’ll have to monitor more carefully from now on.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t even imagine how many more people you’ll bring in like this when you don’t even understand what the problem is. I was thinking of overlooking some things as long as you remembered the priorities, but with this lack of self-awareness…”

“…Self-awareness?”

“You should be thankful you haven’t been eaten alive by someone yet.”

“…”

“Even I find it hard to hold back at times.”

Feeling a chill, I enter the castle without being able to respond.

Thanks to this, it feels like we’re all walking together in silence, savoring the suffocating atmosphere.

The problem is that unlike before, there’s nothing to break this thin ice.

With such thoughts, I dejectedly enter my father’s office.

“…I’m back—”

[ Crisis situation detected. ]

[ An event that threatens life merely by being nearby is about to occur. ]

[ Applying skill: Dire Straits at A-rank. ]

Why is this suddenly activating?

I was blinking with such curiosity, but that curiosity was quickly resolved.

“…Gideon?”

“…Krat?”

The Kendrid Margrave and the Tristan Grand Duke.

Those two, known to have one of the worst relationships in the Empire, met each other’s eyes.

They blinked at each other. They clearly hadn’t expected to meet here.

And then.

-…

-…

-…!!!!

A murderous intent that would make everyone’s face turn pale wafted around them.

“…”

The first thought that instantly came to mind was:

‘…Why didn’t it activate at EX rank?’

These two “directly” meeting is undoubtedly a disaster.

In many ways.

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