Chapter 487: The First Family’s Circumstances 2

Chapter 487: The First Family’s Circumstances 2 The First Family’s Circumstances 2

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Fortunately, he had a plan to ‘do something’.

The development of the Great Grassland of Beginnings—which he had repeatedly suggested to his father.

In other words, to start a Kodorokizo ore mining business.

Kalamaruyu used his connections from his days as a researcher to immediately get in touch with a mining company.

Things progressed smoothly.

The final survey to confirm the existence of the ore deposit could begin any day now.

But.

But!

...That woman—Shimegamamo—became an obstacle!

It started at his father’s funeral.

Shimegamamo, who came to pay her respects, was dressed like a barbarian and stood out, but she behaved normally.

Kalamaruyu originally knew her from childhood.

The daughter of a clan that has lived in the grassland for generations, living by some unique rules.

Unlike his brother, who used to play with her, he only had that much superficial knowledge about her, and he only thought of her as ‘a neighbor’.

So in the middle of a conversation, he let it slip.

Kalamaruyu told Shimegamamo about his plans to develop the Great Grassland of Beginnings.

That’s when it happened.

Shimegamamo’s atmosphere suddenly turned incredibly dangerous.

The funeral hall instantly fell silent, because of her 【Intimidation】, and all the timid people collapsed.

Kalamaruyu, dumbfounded, could only blink his eyes, his mouth flapping open and closed.

Shimegamamo, immediately retracting her 【Intimidation】 and putting on a gentle smile, said those words, the same ones she said earlier today—

‘Stop ‘ravaging’ the Great Grassland of Beginnings’, she said.

And then, she said something even more unexpected, ‘I’m your brother, Wakiteryu’s wife, and your family. You listen to what your family tells you’.

Kalamaruyu had never heard of that!

It wasn’t written in his father’s letter, and there shouldn’t have been any official notice to the country!

Looking at the other mourners, it seems that ‘the fact that his brother and this woman were close’ was true, but legally, his brother and Shimegamamo aren’t married.

Even when he told her that, Shimegamamo insisted that ‘according to her clan’s rules, Wakiteryu is already her husband’.

‘Clan rules’, she’s brandishing that incomprehensible reason, trying to restrict Kalamaruyu’s actions!

Kalamaruyu couldn’t stand it.

Suddenly acting like she’s his family!

Imposing that incomprehensible reason!

She knows nothing about the First Viscounty’s financial crisis!

The development of the Great Grassland of Beginnings is practically the only way to save this region!

Should he hire more guards?

No, that won’t work either.

He doesn’t have the money.

And there’s no guarantee that the Adventurer’s Guild would even side with him...

“Damn... Damn...”

Kalamaruyu pulled himself out of the office chair and reached for the bottle to pour some alcohol into his empty glass.

But the bottle was strangely light.

Even when he shook it, it didn’t make a sound.

It’s empty.

“Ahh! Damn it!!”

Kalamaruyu, irritated, threw the empty bottle.

The bottle hit the stone wall and shattered, making a high-pitched sound.

And then... it was at that moment.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked on his office door.

And the one who opened the door unceremoniously, without waiting for Kalamaruyu’s reply, was the old steward serving the First family.

“Young master, there’s a... visitor.”

The old steward said that timidly, hesitantly.

“Haa!? What time do you think it is!? ...Tell them to go home!”

Kalamaruyu snapped, his face red.

But the old steward—

“But, well... I’ve already shown them to the reception room...”

He said that, scratching his head troubledly.

“Haaa...”

Kalamaruyu sighed, scratching his head, and reluctantly stood up.

It’s pointless to try to reason with the people in this rural town.

Thinking that, he stood up with a resigned look on his face.

“So? Who is this visitor?”

“Well... I don’t know her... but she’s a woman...”

“Why did you show a complete stranger, who came at this late hour, to the reception room!?”

“B-But I asked for her name!”

“Of course you did!! So, who is she!? What’s her name!?”

And then, as Kalamaruyu irritably ran a comb through his hair and adjusted his clothes, the old steward, looking apologetic, said the visitor’s name.

“...She called herself Saint Ad Bahns.”