Chapter 32

Count Edelweiss.

The emergence of this upstart noble sent ripples through high society.

Established noble houses, particularly those who wielded influence through social connections rather than the sword, openly expressed their hostility toward Count Edelweiss.

“Isn’t this disrupting the established order?”

“It’s disrespectful to Viscount Forlang’s house, isn’t it?”

Even if Iban Elethia von Carman had purged those who followed his uncle, plenty of nobles whose tongues were sharper than their blades remained.

And they didn’t get along with the truly skilled noble houses.

That said, the skilled nobles weren’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat for Count Edelweiss either.

“Did you see that flurry of dozens of sword strikes in an instant?”

“Who knew Viscount Forlang’s house had talent like that.”

“…Stand out too much, and you’ll draw eyes.”

The entrenched nobles had no interest in welcoming a genius into their midst.

And a house newly approved by the Church after twenty years? Wasn’t the spotlight a bit too bright?

Rarely, the skilled nobles and the social butterflies found common ground.

Count Edelweiss needed to be put in his place.

I never imagined I’d become a landowner in my lifetime.

Sure, I could’ve owned property back in Korea, but as someone who made more raiding gates, I never bothered.

And no, owning real estate there didn’t come with a parade of maids and attendants!

“The mansion’s interior was cleaned before your arrival. Still, prepared in haste, there may be shortcomings.”

The butler cautiously introduced the massive mansion—easily several hundred pyeong.

“The previous owner had no need for such a large estate, so it feels a bit modest…”

“It’s fine.”

Any bigger, and it’d be a sports field. I waved him off. A few rooms for me and quarters for the staff were plenty.

My place back home wasn’t tiny, but nothing like this.

“Shall we start with a meal, then?”

The butler looked genuinely relieved. I nodded.

After that came a full hotel-style pampering: bathing attendants, massages, the works. Finally, I escaped the maids’ clutches.

Lying in bed, I felt like I was melting away. The blankets, warmed with hot water bottles, enveloped me welcomingly.

Exhausted, I dozed off mid-chat.

A few days of sweet luxury later, I figured out that unfinished chat message.

My foggy, unprepared mind slammed into a tough problem.

“Family Head.”

From morning, the butler and knights rushed in, reporting in unison.

“All roads into the territory now levy tolls on merchant caravans heading to our house.”

“Tolls?”

What nonsense was this? Some street thug shaking down passersby?

“…They weren’t charging before, but now they are?”

“Yes.”

The butler looked troubled. I beckoned him.

“Find out exactly which territory lords started this.”

This was harassment, plain and simple.

Come at me, then?

Enemies identified; time for the list.

“Understood.”

“And you?”

I pointed to the fidgeting knight beside the butler.

Why are you standing there like a puppy needing to pee?

“Monster activity in the territory is suspicious!”

“?”

Fine for nobles, but monsters too? I raised an eyebrow.

“This is a message from that one whose name cannot be spoken, to be relayed to you yesterday.”

That one whose name…?

Ah, got it.

The map from the knight bore a scrawled ‘S’—Shin Jae-heon’s initial.

“A map?”

Unfolding it revealed a detailed chart of Edelweiss territory.

Letters like ‘E’, ‘D’ dotted mountains and forests.

Familiar format… oh.

“Monster ranks, huh.”

Simplified with ranks for my benefit. The knight bowed silently.

“Yes.”

Mostly C-rank and below.

Not bad, right?

“Any issues here?”

The knight bowed again.

“Some monsters’ levels have spiked dramatically. Especially here… and here…”

Marked ‘F’ and ‘E’. I raised my eyebrow higher.

“To what extent?”

“Knights report monsters comparable to those in Meltane Forest.”

“Meltane, huh.”

Lower on the map, a ‘D’ rank. I could sweep that solo.

Problem: regular soldiers couldn’t handle it.

Edelweiss troops over the past days: mostly E-rank soldiers, A-rank knights.

High knight quality thanks to Shin Jae-heon’s sends.

“Knights available to move now?”

A-ranks could handle it, even if dungeon-inexperienced.

But the knight looked pained.

“Minimum to guard the mansion are posted; all others deployed. Even sending regular soldiers…”

“Not viable.”

I rolled my shoulders.

Time for a workout after days of lounging?

“I’ll go myself.”

D-rank perfect for warming up.

I pulled up my status.

Misc quests plus dailies over days yielded this.

Morning dailies alone gave 10% vitality bonus. Insane.

My rank was still D, but stats were pulling away.

“Yes?”

I beckoned the stunned knight.

“Prep to go.”

Horse, provisions, whatever.

Scanning the map, monsters spiked near rival borders.

Coincidence?

Doubt it.

—KABOOM!

How often do you get an S-rank thrill fighting D-ranks?

While I hunted, the butler compiled the tolling culprits.

[Count Hasiel, Marquis Tellet, Viscount Iksiel…]

They matched border territories with monster spikes.

“No doubt those bastards messed with us.”

Can’t fight monsters directly, so pump them up with mana stones? Sneaky.

Mana stones could empower beasts, but pricey and risky—not just monsters boosted.

They tossed expensive ones to screw me. No proof yet, but 100%.

“Real scum.”

Scum had uses.

Monsters matched my rank, dropping Galaxy Shop coins nicely.

Sub-quests cleared in droves.

They meant to screw me; I got candy instead.

Time for skill keys at home!

Gacha’s best done home, reverently.

—Shing!

My final thrust felled the screeching monster.

Sub-quests cleared fully.

Vitality snowballing with dailies. Compared to my stored S-rank, cute—but from 10 HP start? Progress!

Doors slamming nearly killed me once. Good job, Shin Yuri!

“But rank-up’s stubborn.”

I tilted my head.

Quests smashed, no C-rank promotion quest.

Shin Jae-heon said: need desperation.

A burning reason to rank up.

Beyond smashing Hunter Association heads?

“Family Head, shall I prepare the carriage?”

The knight approached cautiously as I eyed my D-rank status. I shook my head.

“Nah, ride back.”

Carriages too stuffy.

After training with my cute B-rank knight, we returned.

Tolls, monsters—everything.

I handled monsters; tolls should’ve been trouble, but not for me.

Answers are close: stabbed the disloyal via chat to His Majesty.

Tolls vanished soon after.

They’ll wonder forever how Edelweiss reached the palace.

“Accidentally” wipe territories? Real?

The emperor tacitly approved—went further.

This RP dungeon world’s this chaotic? Fine?

As I clung to my humanity, another incident hit.

“Family Head!”

The butler rushed in pale, like days ago.

“Contact from the High Priests of the Shinsian Church.”

“What?”

Before crusties cleared, absurd news.

“God’s will demands the temple in Edelweiss territory be demolished.”

“Huh?”

God’s will’s asleep in chat—what baloney?