The next morning.
“What… did you just say?”
“I want to go beyond the Bladehook Mountain Range.”
Carlos, lifting his teacup, looked at Rudell with a surprised expression.
Seeing his reaction, Rudell calmly replied again.
“What do you mean suddenly!? Do you even know where that is!?”
“It’s the territory where the Nord Clan lives.”
The Weinstein Count’s Domain is regarded as a remote area even within the Kingdom.
Beyond it lies the Bladehook Mountain Range, leading to endless snowy plains.
A field of eternal winter.
Unlike the Count’s Domain, which has warm weather for about half the year, this region is covered in snow and ice all year round.
The people living there are the Nord Clan.
“Absolutely not! What do you plan to do in such a dangerous place!?”
“That’s…”
Well, I expected this reaction.
Looking at Carlos, who was shaking his head and shouting, Rudell had a perplexed expression.
After all, among most citizens of the Kingdom, the image of the Nord Clan was that of crazy warriors and marauders.
In the original work, they were the ones who would raid neighboring territories whenever they had the chance.
Given that, Rudell anticipated that Carlos would not allow him to go.
Of course, he didn’t expect him to react this strongly.
“Dear, let’s hear him out first.”
At that moment, Maria, who had been listening to Rudell, said so.
“You…!!”
“You know this child has been gifted since he was young. He must have a plan.”
“Hmm…”
At her persuasion, a low groan escaped Carlos’s lips.
“Rudell, to be honest, I don’t want to allow you to go there either.”
From a parent’s perspective, that’s the natural response…
If he were to put himself in their shoes, Rudell couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t oppose his future child if they said something similar.
“But you also know he wouldn’t say something like that without any thought. Can you tell us what you’re thinking?”
“I want to trade with them.”
“Trade…?”
At those words, Carlos looked at him in disbelief, then let out a short sigh.
“Rudell, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but they are not a clan that understands language. You know what the situation is like in the territories of the other nobles bordering them, right?”
“I know the situation in other territories.”
Unlike the Weinstein Count’s Domain, which is blocked by the Bladehook Mountain Range, the territories of other nobles that border the plains are suffering due to the annual invasions by the Nord Clan.
If they tried to suppress them, they’d gather in large numbers as soon as they heard news of a war, going crazy for a fight. But if left alone, they basically turned into a thorn in the eyes of nearby lords due to their yearly pillaging.
If it weren’t for the Bladehook Mountain Range, the Weinstein Count’s Domain might have faced a similar situation.
“Yet you want to trade with them!?”
“Yes.”
As Carlos shouted, Rudell nodded.
If we get down to it, Carlos had some valid points.
The Nord Clan has a nature that is fierce, enjoying fighting and looting.
The idea of trading with such people didn’t make sense…
But that was just the view from an ordinary citizen of the kingdom.
‘Most tribes beyond the Bladehook Mountain Range are smaller tribes.’
The culture of the Nord Clan is about the survival of the fittest—where the strong take everything.
In the central regions, strong and large tribes exist, while in the harsh and difficult outer areas, weaker tribes struggle just to survive.
The tribes beyond the Bladehook Mountain Range belonged to the latter category.
“You might find this hard to believe, but the Nord tribes beyond the Bladehook Mountain Range are weak tribes that have been pushed out in survival competition. While they also belong to the Nord clan, if their immediate survival is at stake, wouldn’t there at least be some basic communication possible?”
“Where did you hear that kind of thing?”
“From the Academy.”
He didn’t remember learning that at the Academy, but what was needed now wasn’t the truth.
He needed a reason Carlos could accept.
At this moment, that’s all Rudell needed.
“…”
Carlos’s expression softened at Rudell’s answer. After a moment’s contemplation, he asked Rudell.
“Alright, let’s say we negotiate with them. What will we give them, and what can they give us?”
“What we can give is simple: a bit of food and some essentials.”
What do the ones pushed out in a survival competition need the most?
Rudell confidently answered that it was the essentials for living.
Why else do people tie the three things necessary for living into one concept?
“Then, conversely, what can we receive?”
“Byproducts of monstrous beasts.”
“…!!”
At those words, shock crossed Carlos’s eyes.
Monstrous beasts.
Some monsters evolve into stronger creatures possessing magic power.
And such monsters fall into a separate category called monstrous beasts, becoming far more dangerous and ferocious.
Because they hold magic power, the value of their byproducts dwarfs those of ordinary monsters.
Armor made from their hides is as sturdy as steel armor crafted by the kingdom’s artisans, and their teeth or bones can be used as powerful weapons or tools.
Byproducts such as eyes or hearts are imbued with strong magic power, making them indispensable to mages who might not be able to get their hands on them.
If one can hunt them, they are like walking piles of money.
That is the nature of monstrous beasts.
“I was taught that the Nord Clan survives by hunting monstrous beasts when not waging raiding wars. If we can broker a deal with them, we could get our hands on those byproducts, right?”
For some reason, monstrous beasts roamed the eternal winter plains frequently.
Even though it was a land nearly impossible for humans to live in, it was precisely the existence of these beasts that allowed the Nord Clan to survive there.
Livestock, game, war weaponry, and companions all at once.
Monstrous beasts and the Nord Clan were basically inseparable.
“If that’s possible, even the trading guilds that are dragging their feet over payment deadlines or pricing would be willing to come to the table.”
“…”
At Rudell’s words, Carlos fell deep into thought with a serious expression.
If it were not for his cautious nature, he would probably have pushed to pursue trade with the Nord Clan long ago.
He would not only solve the domain’s financial issues but could also put those large trading guilds that were practically squeezing them for everything they could out of business legally?
From Rudell’s perspective, Carlos was already over 99.9% convinced.
“Dear.”
At that moment.
“Let’s give Rudell’s story a chance. It’d be rude not to trust him when he’s gone this far.”
“Hm…”
At Maria’s words, which broke the silence, Carlos let out a low groan.
How long elapsed after that…
“I grant my permission; go do what you want.”
“Thank you, Father, Mother.”
*
After Carlos’s permission was granted, things proceeded rapidly.
Several days after receiving Carlos’s approval, on an early morning when all preparations were complete.
On the outskirts of the Weinstein Count’s Domain.
Due to the wind blowing from the Bladehook Mountain Range, even though it was midsummer, a chill could be felt in the air, where many people had gathered.
Carlos, Maria, and others from the Count’s Domain…
Everyone came to see Rudell off.
“Don’t forget, Rudell. If something dangerous happens, turn back without looking back.”
“Remember to eat your meals, and in cold areas, keeping your body temperature is the most important thing. Do you understand?”
“Both of you… I’m an adult now…”
As Maria tightened Rudell’s coat, he let out a low laugh.
In the past world, he could still be considered a young child, but at least here he was treated as an adult.
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes, young master. Everything is prepared as you said.”
At his question, Kyle bowed his head, behind him were three large carts waiting for a signal.
Carts filled with a bit of food, medical supplies, and essentials.
Feeling the pressure of a significant expenditure, Rudell couldn’t help but feel anxious.
This deal had to go well…
While looking at the carts, Rudell thought so, then shook his head.
Now wasn’t the time to show any signs of anxiety.
With a short sigh, Rudell steadied his breath and…
“Let’s depart.”
“Understood.”
Accompanied by Rudell’s words, Kyle nodded toward the workers waiting behind.
At the same time, the horses, dressed in thick clothing, whinnied and began to pull the carts forward.
“Well then, I’ll be off!”
As he gradually moved away from his parents and the people of the Count’s Domain, Rudell shouted.
