Haze spoke with conviction, and I could feel the determination burning within her. She was truly like a sunflower, always looking at me. She embodied the very essence of "devotion," a special trait that made her give everything to the one she was devoted to, even her life or heart. Nothing was an exception.
'Once I finish understanding the estate, I need to find a more suitable role for Haze. Her special trait is too valuable for her to remain just a maid.' I thought about finding a position that matched her potential. Although she was doing her maid duties perfectly, her potential was too great to be wasted in that role. In managing the estate, having a talented individual is more important than having a skilled maid.
"Haze, when you bring the soy meat, please also bring all the organized estate and vassal documents," I asked Haze for an additional favor beyond cooking. I planned to delve deeply into understanding the internal workings of the estate as soon as the meal was over.
"Shall we eat first?" Despite not being fond of the menu, I picked up my fork and loaded it with vegetables. "Ugh, I hate the smell of cucumbers." "Oh no, there's eggplant too?" "This carrot is really bitter!" "There's not a single killer, just petty criminals. Ugh, do I really have to eat like this?"
I had made a firm decision, but when it came to eating, the meal was full of vegetables I disliked. "I want to cry, seriously." Half-sobbing, I forced myself to shove the vegetables into my mouth and started chewing. As I did, strange flavors burst forth with a sharp aroma.
It was okay until I ate familiar vegetables, but then... "Ugh...! What is this? It's like chewing on rotten cheese that's been left out!" "This smells like something you'd expect from an armpit in the middle of summer..."
These unique plants only existed in the world of <Paradiso> and had to be eaten because they amplified the effects of dieting. But every time I ate them, the taste was unbearable. It was like chewing on a live caterpillar that only ate rotten tree bark, or biting into a weird texture like snot mixed with boogers. It was as nauseating as sticking my nose into spoiled milk mixed with fermented soybean paste.
Even thinking of it as eating to survive, the taste was so bad it made me furious. "Ugh!" In the end, I couldn't hold it in and spat everything out. It was a relief I didn't throw up, considering how awful it tasted.
"No, I can't start like this. Let's try again, and endure it." I slapped my cheeks hard and renewed my determination. "Ugh. Ugh. Ugh." And for a long time, the sound of my gagging didn't stop in the office.
[The effect of eating Melin herbs enhances the 'fat breakdown activation' state obtained through acupuncture.] [The effect of eating Aspa leaves puts you in a 'metabolism boost' state. You will burn more than twice the usual calories!] [Intense stimulation is activated. 450g of fat has been immediately broken down and expelled!]
"Wow, I lost weight again!" As soon as I finished eating, a system message appeared, and I lost weight. The vegetarian meal was worth it. The system gave a definite reward of weight loss. Especially the Melin herbs and Aspa leaves, which tasted terrible and made me curse while eating, were the main contributors to fat breakdown. As they say, medicine that's good for you tastes bitter.
Fortunately, by the end of the meal, the soy meat dish Haze prepared was so delicious that the bad memory of the vegetarian meal vanished. For the time being, I planned to order Haze's special stir-fried soy meat for every meal.
While I was soothing the disappointment of the meal with a cup of tea, Haze came into the office. Her small hands were carrying a pile of folders. "Sorry, my body and hands are small..." Just as she said, Haze was petite, with hands as thin and small as a child's. Well, not everything about her was small, but anyway!
"Give it here. You can hand it to me." I casually took the documents from her. But Haze seemed startled. "Lord! I'm sorry! I should be doing my job properly..."
"Why? If you're short-handed, I can help. Don't worry about it." "It's just that the previous lord used to..." Haze trailed off. I immediately understood what she meant because I was the one who had wronged her before. I used to be a tyrant who would get mad at the slightest inconvenience that required me to lift a finger. But that was the old me, and I was determined never to be like that again.
"You've had a hard time, haven't you? I'm sorry, Haze. That won't happen anymore. If I've wronged you in the past, I take this opportunity to apologize again." I sincerely bowed my head to apologize to her. It wasn't just words. It was an expression of gratitude for her devotion, despite my past behavior.
"Lord... I'm sorry. I'm so moved that I'm crying." "Many things will change from now on. You'll have a lot of responsibilities, so stay alert." "Yes, Lord! Please feel free to rely on me anytime!"
Haze was full of energy and determination. Seeing her brimming with energy, I thought she would be a great help as I tried to understand the estate's situation, which required checking numerous things.
A few hours later. Creak, creak. "Ugh, seriously." I stood up irritably from the chair where I had been reviewing documents. The chair was tight against my backside because of the weight I had gained. So I plopped down on the floor and continued to go through the documents.
These documents, which I had Haze bring, contained organized information about the estate. As I read them, my expression gradually hardened. By the time I confirmed the estate's location on the map, I remembered what kind of estate this was. "I remember now. This estate... I think I'm in big trouble. Sigh."
A deep sigh escaped me. This place, where I was the lord, was the Crivia Estate. It was classified as an F-grade estate. To put it simply, words like cold, barren, despair, monsters, poverty, plunder, raids, escape, nightmare came to mind. Do you see any positive words? If not, then you're seeing it correctly.
Crivia Estate is located at the northernmost part of the Nas Continent. Half the year is winter, and the other half barely escapes the cold with early spring-like weather. Farming? Of course not. Seeds freeze as soon as they're sown, and even if they sprout in good weather, pests kill them quickly. Therefore, the estate's main income wasn't from agriculture or commerce but from external economic activities.
The list is as follows: First, collecting taxes and tolls from monster hunters who come to the "Forest of Nightmares" northeast of Crivia Estate. Second, receiving a portion of taxes and profits from the estate's direct trading company. That's all the estate's income.
I looked out the window at the sky and spoke as if blaming it. 'Oh God, did you reincarnate me to die twice?' The sky over this cursed estate was gloomy and eerie. They say there are only a handful of sunny days in a year.
'If time passes like this, I'm 100% doomed. No, I might die twice. Once from natural causes and then be torn apart by the estate's people in a rebellion!' Bang! Bang! Bang! I couldn't hold back my anger and pounded the floor with my fist. My body and even the estate—nothing was satisfactory.
'No, wait. I think there was some trick related to an outlying estate like Crivia.' At first, I couldn't remember, but as I thought about it, a few memories came back. Estates like Crivia, located at the continent's far north, are barren but have tricks that can be used in other ways. For example, there's an underground resource event where you can claim special minerals that others haven't discovered!
If you can sell those minerals at a high price, you can make a fortune. But... 'Damn it, the level is the problem. At level 1, I can't even start those tricks.' I sighed again. I remembered so many tricks, and there were so many good things for the estate! But I can't use them in my current state. Leveling up is necessary, and for that, conquering dungeons is essential. However, except for magic and wisdom, my stats are at the lowest level.
To put it in terms of a historical strategy simulation game, my stats were so poor that you'd forget I existed, tucked away in some corner. 'I'm really in a perfect extra position.' I chuckled bitterly. I always thought of myself as the protagonist of my life, but in the world of <Paradiso>, I'm a perfect extra. It's a relief that I have a name, "Jared," instead of being called something like "Extra Lord 69."
'Let's outline the plan. There's no time to lament my situation. If I don't quickly adapt to this world, I'll be left behind.' In my past life, I died from overwork, like a disposable item at a company. It was a truly futile end. I didn't want to face such an absurd death in this life. Nor did I want to be consumed and disappear as one of the many extras in the world of <Paradiso>. I didn't want to face a humiliating end where another lord captured me and laughed while ordering my execution!
'First, let's solve the morbid obesity issue. Having a charisma stat of 0 as a lord who commands others is the worst. No one would want to work under me.' [Morbid Obesity] I looked at the warning on my status screen and thought. I need to get rid of the morbid obesity status to lift the curse of zero charisma. In my current state, anyone who sees me would frown, and I wouldn't be attractive in any way, personally or sexually. It's like not being treated as a person, and I can't accept that.
'First, prioritize solving the morbid obesity issue. I'm already using acupuncture for weight loss tricks, so let's make sure to add exercise to it.' Goal one, weight loss. It's the biggest challenge and something I must resolve. 'If I don't solve this, I'm trash. Complete trash!' I gave myself a strong pep talk.
'Second, I must use the bug list and tricks I know to become stronger. Diet and insight tricks are just the beginning. I won't hesitate to use any means to get stronger!' Goal two, stat growth. I need to grow my current stats, which are almost useless, to at least a decent level. If the people I govern find out I'm weak, small estates often experience rebellions.
In <Paradiso>, I frequently heard news of rebellions and coups in small estates. Each time, I shook my head at how quickly the names of lords changed, wondering how poorly they managed their estates to lose their lives so easily. But now, I'm in no position to talk. I'm in the perfect situation for that to happen to me.
'Third, I need many talented people to support me. With the current state of the estate... if a war breaks out, the butler would have to go out and lead.' Goal three, recruiting talent. The talent pool in the estate is as bleak as the estate's condition. Because "that guy" before I awakened managed the estate so poorly, there's no competent talent around. I need to recruit talent, whether they're F-grade or S-grade.
Even if they're not fully developed talents, it's possible to nurture them by my side. I've had a lot of experience recruiting and nurturing hidden gem-like NPCs in <Paradiso>. I have a particularly satisfying memory of growing someone others called F-grade to A-grade. Growing people is a complex and challenging process, but I have various proven routes and methods from <Paradiso> that I can leverage.
'Fourth, once I've recruited enough talent, I'll focus all efforts on strengthening the estate. It's the so-called "rich country, strong army" project!' Goal four, estate growth. This part is currently the most challenging. Transforming an estate with unfavorable climate, population, and location is a very difficult challenge. Of course, there are tricks, but at my current level, they're just dreams.
'If I steadily take steps in these four main areas, at least ten years from now, when the main story begins, I should be able to withstand the demon attacks. Then, won't the protagonist handle the rest? After all, they're the protagonist, right?' I concluded my thoughts that way. The situation is too dire to feel like the protagonist right now, as I need to worry about immediate survival.
Some might point fingers, saying I'm leaving all the hard work to the story's protagonist and thinking only of myself. But for now, this is the best plan. Because right now, I'm thoroughly an extra in this world.
'Okay, let's start! Jared, you need to be reborn first! That's the priority!' Thus, my ambitious plan to adapt to this life began.