“What do you think of the new lord?”

“I don’t know. But I heard he’s quite young…”

“Ha, figures.”

The residents of Hestia territory couldn’t hide their unease.

When a new lord appeared, there was a glimmer of hope that the territory might finally change.

“We’ve endured so much hardship because of that acting lord…”

“A complete scumbag.”

At the mention of the acting lord, one of the residents spat on the ground.

The acting lord was trash.

No one understood how someone like him had become the acting lord in the first place.

The man was the embodiment of a tyrant.

In a territory already struggling with poor harvests and famine, he raised taxes.

Even after collecting taxes, instead of using them to manage the land, he neglected the territory entirely.

As a result, public safety worsened.

The few knights present in the area were corrupted by his influence and began accepting bribes.

Look at the palisade.

Being adjacent to the Forest of Beasts, the palisade required constant maintenance and repair.

Yet, the acting lord showed no intention of addressing this.

Instead, he was preoccupied with lining his own pockets.

“We’re starving and struggling… Meanwhile, that bastard of an acting lord is just filling his belly…”

“This year’s crops have failed again. Nothing has grown since last year.”

“Should we run away…?”

“But still, with a new lord in place, won’t things be different this time?”

“Do you still trust the lord? And he’s so young. It’s obvious he’s been sent here as punishment for being a disgrace to his family…”

If even experienced, older nobles couldn’t endure here, how could a young lord possibly manage?

Hestia territory was doomed.

“Just like the crumbling palisade, this territory is also…”

Thud.

It was at that moment.

The resident, who had been looking at the palisade with a sullen expression, felt a faint tremor.

“What, what’s this!?”

“What’s going on!?”

Something incredible was happening.

A faint light flickered around the palisade.

The next moment, the shimmering light grew brighter, and within it, fairies began to appear one after another.

The faces of the residents, who had been conversing, shifted from surprise to shock.

Fairies, of all things!

These were beings one might only encounter in fairy tales, rumors, or ancient texts.

“To think… Fairies…”

“Are they real fairies?”

“Seeing a fairy with my own eyes… But…”

Something felt off.

The fairies described in books were mystical beings who rarely appeared in human settlements.

Actual sightings of fairies were so rare they could be counted on one hand.

A pair of wings.

Small enough to resemble sparrows, and at a glance, they looked like children.

But these fairies…

“Why… are they holding hammers?”

“What’s with the bandanas on their heads? And their clothes… What do you call that?”

“Work uniforms?”

“Yeah! They’re wearing outfits like what architects might wear. Why?”

The question of “why” wouldn’t leave their minds.

Why had fairies appeared here?

Why were they dressed like construction workers?

Why were they carrying hammers?

Tweet-tweet!

One of the fairies, who seemed to be the leader, blew a loud whistle and pointed at the palisade.

A swarm of fairies flew quickly toward the palisade and began hammering at an incredible speed.

“…”

“…”

Two residents—no, all the other residents who had come out, startled by the noise and light, were speechless at the sight.

What on earth was happening?

Thirty minutes passed like that.

“My goodness… The palisade…”

“It looks sturdier now.”

“Wow, that hole was patched up!”

“And it seems taller too.”

Everyone was full of amazement.

In just thirty minutes.

Not only had the palisade been completely repaired in such a short time, but it had also become sturdier.

Even with the naked eye, it was clear the shabby palisade had transformed into something as strong as a mountain.

When the work was finished, the fairies nodded in satisfaction and disappeared in a burst of light.

“What in the world… just happened?”

Those words echoed the thoughts of everyone present.

---

[The construction of Palisade LV. 1 has been completed.]
[Quest, ‘Try Using the Store,’ has been accomplished.]
[Title, ‘Palisade Owner,’ has been acquired.]

[Palisade Owner: Increases the durability and defense of palisades.]

The quest was cleared.

A new title had been obtained, but there was something even more important right now.

“What on earth was that?”

Aiden, who had been observing the transformation of the palisade from the office, had witnessed everything from start to finish.

As the message appeared, Aiden posed a question to clear up his doubts.

“That is the power of the Building Owner. A Building Owner can construct any building they desire within their domain.”

The response came with a kind smile.

“Buildings constructed by the Building Owner are imbued with special powers. For instance, that palisade likely has durability and defensive power on a completely different level compared to ordinary ones.”

“…It’s like a game.”

“It’s similar. Additionally, the Building Owner can appraise the buildings they create.”

“Appraise?”

“Yes, just say the word ‘appraise’ while looking at it.”

Aiden turned his gaze toward the distant palisade and uttered the word “appraise,” as instructed by Alfredo.

Just as Alfredo said, a message appeared.

---

[Palisade LV. 1]

A palisade blessed by fairies possesses durability far superior to ordinary wood.
It has heightened resistance against both physical and magical attacks and is highly fire-resistant.
It exhibits strong resistance against siege weapons or equivalent attacks.

---

“Oh.”

The message detailed the characteristics and abilities of the palisade.

It truly was akin to game mechanics—a power that allowed for the construction of desired buildings within one’s domain to steadily develop and grow.

Even though Aiden’s current personal strength was lacking, utilizing this Building Owner trait could potentially lead to great progress.

Hope began to flicker.

‘With this trait, it might be possible to establish myself here properly.’

Although he hadn’t fully explored its capabilities, the portions he had seen so far were enough to convince him of its potential.

‘I can do this.’

In the original story, the Hestia territory failed to withstand the beasts pouring out of the Forest of Beasts and was annihilated.
No one survived.

If events had followed the original, Aiden would have died, and Bianca would have perished as well.

‘That fool wouldn’t have survived, lacking both talent and ability. Making it through the Forest of Beasts would have been impossible for him.’

But with the Building Owner trait, survival seemed within reach.
By utilizing the trait to construct necessary buildings and recruiting talent using knowledge from the original story, it might be possible to protect the territory and fend off the beasts.

‘If I can turn this run-down estate into a thriving one…’

“I might even secure a pleasant retirement.”

Whether it was as a Building Owner or a lord, the management principles were fundamentally similar, differing only in scope.

A Building Owner collects rent.
A lord collects taxes.

He could already envision it.

A life of luxury funded by tax revenue, indulging in fine dining, leisurely enjoyment, and a carefree existence.
Becoming a wealthy man of leisure.

It was the life he had always dreamed of.

‘It’s achievable. But for that to happen, I need to make this territory fully functional.’

Moreover, he wasn’t alone this time.
He had Bianca.

Though still unfamiliar, perhaps due to their blood relation, Aiden wanted to take good care of her.
Having spent a month together already, he had grown attached.

“Alfredo.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Are you on my side?”

“Of course. I am a being summoned by your trait. Naturally, I am loyal to you.”

He knelt and lowered his head, his posture radiating unwavering loyalty.

Though Aiden wasn’t entirely sure, he had read that beings summoned by one’s trait were incapable of betrayal, so he decided to trust him.

“Good. From now on, call me ‘Lord’ instead of ‘Master.’”

“As you wish, my lord.”

The next thing he needed was money.

To make the territory functional, an initial investment was required.
Utilizing the Building Owner trait also demanded gold.

---

<Building Owner’s Shop>

• Palisade LV. 2 – 6,000 gold
• Guardhouse LV. 1 – 3,000 gold
• Herbal Garden LV. 1 – 3,000 gold
• Soldier Training Ground LV. 1 – 3,000 gold
• Blacksmith LV. 1 – 3,000 gold
• Spirit Garden LV. 1 – 3,000 gold
• Clinic LV. 1 – 3,000 gold

---

The basic prices started at 3,000 gold.
The next upgrade for the palisade cost 6,000 gold.

While these amounts might not strain the budget of an ordinary noble, they were significant for Aiden at the moment.
Even the gold he had received from his family would soon run out after a few purchases.

He needed money.

‘To strengthen the territory against the Forest of Beasts, I might need tens or even hundreds of thousands of gold.’

Not just a little money—a lot of it.

Considering the state of the territory, collecting taxes seemed impossible for now.

‘Farming doesn’t seem viable here. There aren’t any notable specialty products, either.’

Aiden sank into thought as he sat in his chair.
Although he still had 2,000 gold left, it wasn’t enough to make any meaningful progress.

With his knowledge of the original story, there were countless ways to generate wealth.
However, he couldn’t currently put those methods into action.

‘In that case, I’ll have to rely on the stipend from the family…’

“Wait a second, a stipend?”

The bare minimum of 5,000 gold sent monthly by the family!
If he could secure that, it might suffice to extinguish the immediate crisis.

The former lord’s proxy, Rex.
Aiden began to organize his thoughts regarding him.

‘Now that I think about it, didn’t the protagonists discover an accounting ledger in the underground vault during their investigation in the original?’

“Embezzlement…”

Although 5,000 gold was a considerable amount for commoners, it was a meager sum for a lord managing a territory.
While it might be insufficient for bold initiatives, it should have been enough to maintain the status quo.

‘Considering the current state of affairs, which is far earlier than when the original story unfolded, if things are already like this…’

It could only mean that Rex, the lord’s proxy, had been embezzling the stipend.
Money that should have been invested in the territory was lining someone else’s pockets, leading to the territory’s current plight.

It was audacious behavior.
Embezzling funds from a ducal family.

Of course, such negligence from the family, born of their disinterest in the territory, made it possible.

‘After all, who pays attention to a place meant for exile?’

Who would care about an exile’s domain?

Under the kingdom’s law, providing the minimum support fund is sufficient.

“But if he embezzled it, wouldn’t he have spent it all?”

“No, it’s somewhere.”

Aiden knew people like Rex well.

Those kinds of people, even if they squander money extravagantly, are bound to save some for the future.

It was certain he had hidden slush funds somewhere.

And it wouldn’t just be a small sum.

‘If I can get that money, I can build whatever I want.’

“If we catch the criminal, no one would blame me for taking the money he left behind, would they?”

Aiden’s lips curled into a sinister smile, greed filling his expression.

Watching him laugh with such a face, Alfredo shook his head.

As he had thought earlier:

‘I feel like I got the wrong master this time.’

He already wanted to resign.

---

“This is a bit troublesome.”

Rex, the acting lord, seemed unaware of what was happening upstairs.

He was in the mansion’s basement.

In the basement, knights loyal to him lounged lazily on chairs.

At first, they had been loyal knights, but over time, they became corrupt.

The saying goes that the upper waters must be clear for the lower waters to stay clean.

Here, the upper water was rotten, and so the lower water had rotted as well.

“Tch, the lord is here.”

“Rex-nim, what’s going to happen to us now?”

“Does this mean we can’t touch the support funds anymore?”

“Exactly, now that the noble himself has arrived.”

The knights clicked their tongues in disappointment.

It seemed they deeply regretted not being able to take from the support funds anymore.

Well, a knight’s salary, though higher than a commoner’s, was only about 300 gold per month.

In comparison, the support fund was 5,000 gold.

The support fund, which was originally supposed to be used for the domain, was shared under Rex’s direction.

Rex took a larger portion, while the knights took the rest.

It had been a very lucrative arrangement.

Now that it seemed they couldn’t continue, it was natural for them to feel regretful.

“That’s not going to happen.”

Rex had no intention of giving up the support funds.

“You’ve all seen the new lord who arrived, right?”

“His name was Aiden, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, Aiden. From what I heard, he’s called the incompetent of the Saronton family.”

“Incompetent? Is there really an incompetent person in the Saronton family?”

“That’s what I heard from the person who brought the support funds. You all know how this Hestia domain is treated, don’t you?”

The knights silently nodded.

The Hestia domain, outwardly described as a forward base defending against monsters from the Monster Forest and fulfilling the noble mission of border defense, was known to those in the know as a place of exile, used to dispose of useless individuals via monsters, a death sentence.

Would a precious person be sent to such a place?

Of course not.

“Then…”

“The family sent him here to kill him.”

The knights’ eyes glimmered.

It was a plausible claim.

If he were precious, he wouldn’t have been sent to such a place. If sent, he would have been accompanied by knights.

However, the boy had arrived with only a coachman.

“And we don’t need to care much about the girl, either. If she’s been sent here, she’s treated the same way.”

Rex began to scheme.

“He’s still a kid. A naïve boy who doesn’t know the ways of the world. If we coax him properly, we can handle him however we want.”

At 17, he wasn’t exactly a kid.

Still, having just left the family to step into the harsh world, he was practically a child.

By now, the oppressive atmosphere of the domain and the eerie energy from the Monster Forest would surely have him scared out of his wits.

With a little encouragement and guidance from an adult like Rex, the boy would have no choice but to rely on him.

Using that, Rex could ensure the boy wouldn’t touch the support funds.

Then he could continue to live lavishly off the funds while amassing wealth.

‘Just two more years should be enough. After that, I’ll escape to another kingdom.’

In the meantime, he planned to use the boy as a puppet lord, manipulating him from the shadows.

Things that couldn’t be done as an acting lord could be done under the guise of the lord’s authority.

It would allow him to accumulate even more wealth than now.

“But what if that boy doesn’t listen to you?”

At a knight’s question, Rex adjusted his expression.

Though the boy was young, he was still a noble.

If he didn’t listen to Rex and insisted on doing things his own way, it could cause problems.

At the question, Rex’s face broke into a sinister smile.

“In that case, what else can we do but deal with him in our way?”

But at that moment, Rex was still unaware.

The boy he thought of as a naïve greenhorn was, in fact, someone who had been through all sorts of trials and tribulations.

A true veteran.

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