The original starting point of "The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reborn in a Count's Family" has arrived.
Kyle Pruckus, the protagonist of the novel "Baekhwan," occasionally leaves the mansion to wander around the city. Having reached the level of an Expert, Kyle realizes that training alone isn't enough to elevate his skills further, so he ventures outside the mansion to seek clues for his training.
During his outing, he encounters a female adventurer and gains information about her. The problem is that the woman was being chased by a band of thieves. She had encountered the thieves during her adventure, killed them, and fled to the city of Petheris.
The female adventurer did nothing wrong. In fact, she deserved praise for killing the thieves. If she hadn't escaped, her future would have been bleak—either killed or sold into slavery. Fleeing to a large city was the right decision. No matter how reckless the thieves were, they couldn't act like beasts in a major city.
'The problem is that the female adventurer got involved with Kyle, the second son of the Pruckus Count family.'
Kyle had a righteous personality. Ignoring a woman in danger? That would go against his principles.
Moreover, Kyle had the power to help. He didn't even consider using the influence of the Pruckus family for such a matter. He intended to handle the thieves alone. And as an Aura Expert, Kyle naturally succeeded.
Many citizens of the city learned that Kyle was an Aura Expert. His actions against the thieves were just, and it was only natural for the citizens to praise him as a hero.
'But now, the eldest son of the Pruckus family, Zent, has returned to the mansion.'
Zent must have felt a sense of crisis. Kyle had reached the level of an Aura Expert at a younger age than Zent, and the citizens were singing his praises. Kyle's achievements were gradually spreading not just throughout the city but across the entire territory.
If Zent were the official heir, he might not have cared. However, the successor of the Pruckus family had not yet been decided. Zent was merely the most likely candidate at the moment.
'Zent made a political move.'
Kyle Pruckus is currently imprisoned in the family's dungeon.
There are two apparent reasons for this. One is that he fought the thieves within the city, potentially endangering the citizens. The other is that he acted independently without informing the family.
The reason Elaine decided to imprison Kyle was more about the second reason than the first. Of course, the biggest reason was Zent's behind-the-scenes efforts.
'Well, it's just a matter of being locked up for a few days.'
The servants will take care of Kyle throughout, so it's not a real prison life. Not only will he have a bed and blankets, but magical tools will also keep the dungeon warm. He'll even eat food prepared by the head chef. It's just a matter of staying in the dungeon for a while.
Elaine simply ordered Kyle to spend a few days in the dungeon as punishment for acting independently without informing the family.
'The dungeon had already been cleared out beforehand.'
Originally, the dungeon housed members of the Ferek bandits and a low-ranking parasitic demon named Saphin, who were being tortured.
'Knowing the original story was about to begin, I couldn't just leave them there.'
Officially, they were reported as executed, but they were secretly relocated. No one cared about the execution of bandits, so it was easy to move them.
Currently, the Ferek bandits and Saphin are likely still being tortured in a house located on the outskirts of the city. I installed cameras, so I can monitor them remotely via a laptop.
"Yuria."
I stood up from my chair and called for Yuria.
"Yes, Master."
Yuria approached and adjusted my attire. I accepted her touch as a matter of habit.
"What about the woman?"
The woman I was asking about was the adventurer Kyle had helped.
Her name is Claudia Raybre. She's a tall woman with red hair who wields dual swords. Her adventurer rank is Silver, and her current strength is at the peak of Aura User level.
She's also one of the five heroines in the original story.
I haven't seen her myself. When the incident happened yesterday, I was lounging in bed with Yuria.
"She left the city last night. Should I have someone follow her?"
"No. It's fine."
Claudia doesn't know that Kyle has been imprisoned. It's not a good thing, so Elaine has tightly sealed the information.
I didn't do anything to Claudia because I didn't want my actions to disrupt the future. Kyle will meet Claudia later and grow stronger because of it. Claudia is a significant character in the original story, as befits a heroine.
'According to the original story, Claudia will be active in the labyrinth city of Rhabit.'
Since I know her location, there's no need to have someone follow her.
"Let's go to the dungeon. I need to see Kyle."
•••
Yuria and I headed to the dungeon. As expected, the servants were busy moving about, doing their best to ensure Kyle's comfort.
I'm Kyle's younger brother. Without being stopped by the servants, I could go to the deepest part of the dungeon where Kyle was imprisoned.
Kyle was sitting on the hard stone floor, meditating with his eyes closed, instead of on the plush bed.
"Brother Kyle."
I called out to him. Kyle slowly opened his eyes. He looked at me first, then noticed Yuria beside me.
"Eugene…! What brings you here?"
"I was worried about you, but… you seem perfectly fine? Guess I didn't need to come."
"It's thanks to the servants taking care of me. Still, I'm grateful you came. And Yuria too."
I noticed Kyle's gaze lingered on Yuria for an unusually long time.
I recently found out that Kyle has a crush on Yuria.
'Considering Kyle's tastes, it makes sense that it's Yuria.'
Yuria is exceptionally beautiful in appearance. She's elegant and perfectly handles her duties. Kyle himself doesn't seem to realize it, but he's definitely harbouring feelings for Yuria.
'But that Yuria spends every day with me… Hehe.'
All Kyle knows about Yuria is her outward appearance. He doesn't know that Yuria is an assassin on par with an Aura Expert, that despite her gentle appearance she's ruthlessly capable of torture, or how she moans beneath me.
'This guy's so dense he probably doesn't even realize he has a crush on Yuria. Unless someone tells him, it'll take him forever to figure it out on his own.'
Kyle is incredibly dense when it comes to romantic relationships.
I inwardly laughed at Kyle while placing my hand on Yuria's shoulder. It's still a bit awkward since Yuria is taller than me, but it's not a problem. Yuria stood still, showing no reaction.
'Hehehe.'
I didn't miss the twitch in Kyle's eyebrow.
"...Eugene. Why are you suddenly holding Yuria's shoulder?"
"Ah. I suddenly felt dizzy…"
"Dizzy? You're an Aura User who can manipulate mana."
"That's true, but having mana doesn't cure heart disease. Yuria. Is this uncomfortable?"
"No. It's fine. Supporting Young Master Eugene is part of my duties as his personal maid."
"...."
Kyle shut his mouth. Since Yuria said it was fine, he had no grounds to intervene.
"Uh, uh… I, I suddenly feel dizzy…"
I looked at Kyle and deliberately staggered, leaning toward Yuria's chest.
Yuria didn't avoid me this time either. Instead, she grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into her embrace. The back of my head touched her chest.
"If you collapse here, it'll be a big problem. Let me support you, Young Master Eugene."
"Ah. Thank you."
I glanced at Kyle. His expression was far from pleasant. It was as if he'd swallowed something rotten. He probably didn't even realize how bad his expression looked.
'Let's stop teasing him for now…'
I pulled out a key from my pocket. A key to an ancient warrior training ground that I found in this dungeon years ago. It's an ancient artifact.
This was originally something Kyle was supposed to find in the story, but I took it first. I've been using it well, and thanks to it, both Yuria and I have significantly improved our skills.
"That key…?"
"It's an ancient artifact. It allows access to an ancient warrior training ground. Brother Kyle, you like training, right? Since you're stuck in the dungeon, I thought you might feel stifled, so I'll lend this to you. Use it for a while. Even after you leave the dungeon, you don't have to return it right away."
"An ancient artifact is an incredibly precious item. You're lending it to me…?"
"Brother Kyle. We're brothers, aren't we?"
"Eugene…!"
Kyle immediately looked touched. He knows how valuable ancient artifacts are. They're treasures that even family members would hesitate to lend.
"Here. Use this to train. I'll let the servants know. You can even pretend to be in bed if you want."
"Thank you, Eugene. I'll never forget this."
"It's nothing."
That's right. Never forget that I lent you a priceless treasure.
I laughed inwardly.
I'm not lending Kyle the key out of goodwill. Kyle needs to grow stronger to be useful. A weak Kyle is as good as nonexistent. The ancient warrior training ground will make Kyle stronger quickly, just as it did in the original story.
'Most importantly, I can obtain Kyle's combat data.'
I am the master of the ancient warrior training ground's Kartman. Using the AI Kartman, I can collect Kyle's combat data. With this data, I can analyze or even dissect Kyle's Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
'The moment Kyle escapes my control… I'll have to kill him.'
If I can't control him, it's better to eliminate him cleanly.
"Ugh!"
I staggered.
"Young Master Eugene!"
Yuria tightly held me to prevent me from falling.
"Sorry, Yuria. I'm feeling a bit weak today. Brother Kyle, I think I need to go rest."
"Take care of yourself and rest well."
Kyle's gaze as he watched us was complicated.
With Yuria's support, I walked away from Kyle.
When we were out of earshot, I touched Yuria's ample chest and said.
"Yuria. Front or back. Which would you prefer?"
Yuria smiled slightly at my question.
"…Whatever Master desires. I'm fine with either."
"Then let's do both."
It looks like we'll have another hot night.
***
"Damn it."
My face twisted in frustration as I left Elaine's office. A curse slipped out of my mouth.
Something unexpected happened today.
I'm not annoyed or angry because of Elaine. Elaine merely relayed the message to me.
'Count Ention Pruckus. Is this how you're going to treat me?!'
In conclusion, I've been granted a barony and a territory by Ention.
The territory I've been granted is the port city of Tebura. It's relatively close to Petheris, where the Pruckus mansion is located, about half a day's journey by carriage.
To be precise, in a month, when Ention returns to the mansion, I'll officially receive the barony and have to leave for Tebura.
Protesting is impossible. Ention has already made his decision, and it's final. Given my position, I have no choice but to accept Ention's decision.
Unless something extraordinary happens, the chance of Ention reversing his decision is… less than 1%.
'This means I'm being completely excluded from the succession of the Pruckus family.'
This happened because I showed too much competence. I brought modern items to accumulate wealth and even purchased mana awakening potions. These achievements were accomplished solely through my own abilities, without the family's support.
Seeing these accomplishments, Ention judged me suitable to become a lord and granted me the small port city of Tebura, with a population of only 5,000.
'Damn it. How did it come to this?!'
Tebura isn't a good city. Although it's by the sea, ships don't come here because of the nearby port city of Slawed, owned by Count Slawed. Slawed is a major city that Tebura can't compare to.
Since Tebura is part of the Pruckus territory, it's sustained, but that's about it. From what I can see, Tebura has no potential for development.
'I can't give up on the Pruckus countship here. I need to find a way…'
My angry strides came to a halt.
I ran into Zent in the hallway.
Zent, with his bearded face, smirked and waved at me.
"Eugene. What's wrong? You don't look too happy."
"...."
The moment I heard Zent's annoying voice, a light flashed in my head.
It's him.
He's the one who influenced Ention.
***
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