Chapter 6

### How to Live as the Third Young Master of a Failed Work - Chapter 6 (6/278)

How to Live as the Third Young Master of a Failed Work Chapter 6

Chapter 3: Preparations and the Mountain Range

Rumors spread quickly within the castle, just like a word without legs can travel a thousand miles.

"What? A grand duel between Ross and Holn?"

And now.

Knight Commander Gillain, summoned by the viscount, rushed to the study, feeling as if he were sitting on a bed of thorns.

"Yes."

"Did they perhaps break any rules?"

"No issues."

"What was the result? But, there's no need to ask, is there? The skills of my knights are clear to all."

After hearing the detailed account, the viscount's mind began to race.

Regardless of the process, the result was that Holn had made a mistake, and Cain had punished him. No one could deny this.

However, this incident was not over yet.

Viscount Lindair leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin.

"How badly is Holn injured? Did you cut off his limbs or something?"

"No, but he suffered severe injuries and will need to convalesce for a while."

"Severe injuries?"

"......His limbs, including his teeth, are all broken, and he can't even drink water properly."

"Damn. What has Cain's head turned into?"

The viscount sighed deeply, as if he couldn't believe it.

Of course, the Berg family is not worth worrying about. A minor family like that wouldn't dare to challenge the viscount's family.

The problem is the next heir of the viscount's family, Dain Lindair, who is recognized by all.

The support of the viscount's family's power is a significant factor in the selection of the heir.

Dain, who has long received the support of the majority of knights and nobles. Touching the Berg family, Dain's ally, is ...

'What is he thinking?'

At first, I thought it was just a rebellious act of a young boy who doesn't want to get married. But considering his subsequent actions, it's not that simple.

If you look at it out of context, it seems like he's starting the heir battle.

"Steward, what is he doing now?"

"The third young master requested a few weapons last night."

"Weapons?"

"Three sets of hard leather armor, three warhorses, and one longsword."

"What for? Is he going to be a mercenary?"

"I also thought so and inquired with all the guilds in the city, but it doesn't seem like he has any contracts."

"Future plans?"

"I don't know. He has a servant who follows him like a personal attendant, but..."

"Personal attendant? What kind of child is he?"

"His name is Leo. He takes care of the horses."

"Really? A stable boy is assisting Cain? And he took a vow of silence?"

Indeed, Cain, who was educated to find any fault and punish it, has made a vow of silence with a mere stable boy?

If the child were a girl, I might suspect something, but the situation is still unclear.

"By the way, wasn't Ross Meyer a serf by birth?"

In response to the viscount's question, Knight Commander Gillain answered.

"Yes. He is skilled, but as you might think, he is still ignorant of noble etiquette."

"A commoner knight and a stable boy. What does he plan to do with them?"

"Is he planning to start a business?"

"Ridiculous. What is the specialty of our territory?"

"Fox fur, right... Oh!"

Fur is greatly affected by the external environment, so to preserve its quality, a carriage and a professional manager are essential.

Gillain, who suddenly remembered that Cain had only requested three warhorses, tilted his head.

If he were to pull a carriage, it would be for simple transportation. If he were to use it privately, he would be immediately sanctioned.

"If it's not a mercenary job or a business, what is he planning to do?"

"I don't know. He can't be planning to run away, can he?"

"Sir Ross, though of humble birth, is as loyal as any other knight. He will serve the young master well."

"Exactly. That's why it's even stranger. Unless he's a fool, he would choose a knight of noble birth with connections for mercenary work or business. Why Ross Meyer?"

The silence was broken by the steward.

"Should we continue with the wedding and other detailed plans as scheduled?"

"Of course. I feel foolish for having hoped. Cain will never earn gold within a month. Proceed as planned."

"Understood. What about the third young master's request?"

"Leather armor, three longswords, and warhorses, right?"

"Yes."

"At least we should provide him with the minimum equipment. He needs to survive on the streets. Give it to him."

"Understood."

"And call Dain."

"The first young master? Understood."

* * *

Clunk, clunk...

In the back of the carriage, I basked in the sunlight coming through the window, gazing at the outside scenery.

The streets of Windnest, the central city where the castle is located, filled my view.

The noisy stalls, the carts loaded with milk, the women carrying groceries, the children running in groups...

The newness of the scene was fleeting.

My mind was continuously planning the future.

'How to earn 1,500 gold coins.'

Dig up artifacts buried in the ground and sell them?

No, that's not feasible.

How can someone like me, who can't do anything, become a treasure hunter? There's not enough time to learn the skills.

Then, make money through business?

As I said, business isn't for everyone. You need business acumen.

'I have one knight, 10 gold coins, and one month of time.'

With this, there's only one thing I can do to earn 1,500 gold coins.

Utilize information.

By information, I mean the events that will happen in the future, as described in the novel.

At least until the novel's conclusion, the content up to the final stages is clear in my mind, and I need to use this well.

'If so, it has to be Kerrwin, no one else.'

The reason I hired Ross Meyer, who is well-versed in the Voloom Mountains, instead of another knight.

It's because of Kerrwin Aphenn.

"The Great Sage Kerrwin Aphenn is in seclusion on the highest peak of the Voloom Mountains. The reason she withdrew from the world is simple. A hundred years ago, she predicted a bloody storm that would hit the kingdom, but the royal family dismissed her as a senile old woman."

This is the introduction of the Great Sage Kerrwin in the novel.

Kerrwin is both a sage and a great mage.

She is a founding hero of the kingdom that unified the continent, the Great Emperor Belankas, and a woman who loved him.

She couldn't stand to see the kingdom he founded fall and went to the royal family to offer advice, but...

'They treated her like a madwoman, not knowing she was a benefactor of the kingdom.'

If they had only paid a little attention to her story, they could have saved the crumbling kingdom with her help.

'Well, what's the point of worrying about that now?'

What I need to think about now is meeting her.

And getting money from her.

How to get it?

I've said it many times, but I'm a setting enthusiast. I know all the minor details that others don't even bother to look at.

'Even if she is a sage, she is a mage first, and she must be crazy for new knowledge. Especially if it's magic...'

I plan to sell her knowledge.

A hundred-year-old, rotting great mage who doesn't know new and special magic knowledge.

It's a warm day with the sun high in the sky.

While I was half-dozing in the sunlight, Leo's voice came from the driver's seat.

"We have arrived."

"Hmm? Is this the right place?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to go to the largest magic shop in the city?"

"That's true, but is this it?"

I answered casually and looked out the window at the building.

<Magic Shop>

What a simple name.

The exterior was even simpler. The worm-eaten boards and the half-tilted signboard clearly indicated that business was not good.

'Even if it's a knight's territory...'

It's understandable that it's not a city with a magic tower or the capital where the royal family is located.

Still, the appearance is worse than a local mill, and I couldn't help but click my tongue.

Leo, who tilted his head at my expression, spoke.

"Master, what should we do?"

"Wait here. I'll be back soon."

Creak-

I shook my head and opened the door, entering the shop. As expected, the inside was not just quiet but empty.

"Welcome... Huh!"

A woman who was dusting the shelves gasped when she saw me. Then, she looked out the window at the carriage and opened her mouth wide.

Of course, the carriage had the Lindair family's symbol, a gray hawk, prominently displayed.

Moreover, even though my outer clothes were modest, the gray hair, a characteristic of the Lindair family, couldn't be hidden, so it was natural for her to recognize me as a young master.

"Y-Your Highness!"

Thud!

Goodness, is someone going to eat her? Her knees must be very painful.

Seeing the woman almost fall to her knees, I scratched the back of my neck.

I sighed at the noble life I had to adapt to and gestured for her to stand up.

"Order."

"Y-Yes?"

"Are you not taking orders?"

"We don't have any alcohol here..."

What? Why is she talking about alcohol in a magic shop?

Anyway, wherever I go, people see me as a drunken troublemaker, which makes me irritated.

"I never said I was drinking."

"Y-Yes? Then, why are you here..."

"To buy magic items, of course."

"Ah, I see! I'll get the item list..."

Just as she was about to rush to get it, I stopped her.

"No need for the list."

"Then, what would you like..."

"Can you remember everything?"

"I can remember most items."

Really?

"Two pairs of Fairy wings, five vials of Moonlight Essence, 5 grams of crystal powder, 10 grams of low-grade mana stone fragments, 5 grams of elemental crystals, 10 grams of magic powder, and one bottle of purified water..."

"Wait, just a moment!"

The woman, who was momentarily stunned, hurriedly got a quill and paper.

She then repeated what I had said and started writing it down.

"Lastly, one Scroll of Search."

"Ah, I see!"

"How much is it in total?"

The woman, who was writing it down, nodded.

"Thirty gold coins, Your Highness."

"..."

I only have ten gold coins.

Moreover, why is everything so expensive? It's not even a large quantity, just a few grams.

"Why is it so expensive?"

"One Scroll of Search costs twenty gold coins. As you know, the northern region is far from the magic tower, so even low-grade magic scrolls are hard to come by..."

It's way over budget.

Even if I buy this, how will I get the money for the supplies needed to climb the mountain?

Credit is not an option.

The viscount's order has already been issued throughout the territory, prohibiting anyone from giving me any goods or loans without payment.

Just as I was thinking about this dilemma,

'Wait, why am I worrying about this?'

If the money I have is not enough, I can gather it from other reliable sources.

"Wait."

I turned and left the shop, heading for the carriage.

"Master, are you done already?"

Leo, who was dozing off in the driver's seat, woke up with a start and opened his eyes wide when he saw me.

"Leo."

"Yes, Master."

"How old are you this year?"

"Twenty-one. Why do you ask...?"

"You're almost of marriageable age."

Leo twisted his body and scratched the back of his neck.

"Y-Yes. The problem is that I haven't found a suitable bride yet..."

"But you must be preparing diligently, right?"

"Yes. I've been saving my salary carefully since I was young."

Since he was young.

He has been a servant of the family since he was seven or eight, so it's been over a decade.

Moreover, if it's for marriage, it must be a considerable amount.

"How much?"

"About a small bag of gold coins."

Did he sense something was off? Leo's bottom slowly moved backward.

But it was too late.

"Very good."

"Y-Yes?"

"Leo."

"Y-Yes?"

I smiled and extended my hand to Leo.

"Would you consider investing in me?"

"Y-Yes?"

"Lend me some money. Twenty gold coins."

"W-What...?"

"I'll pay you back."

"Y-Your Highness?"

"I will pay you back, I promise."

As I raised my eyebrows, Leo's shoulders shrank. I felt a twinge of guilt, but what could I do?

"And you. You took a vow of silence, right? Don't go telling anyone that I borrowed money."

Power is everything.