#60
They faced each other, unable to speak a word in the suffocating silence that passed between them.
And predictably, it was Lucas who broke the silence. Saying it was late and they should talk tomorrow, he patted Noah’s shoulder a few times and left the reception room. Noah then collapsed into a chair as if his legs had given out.
With such poor improvisational skills…
It was all because of the snow that had just started falling. While thinking about what he wanted to do, white snowflakes began appearing one by one in the dark sky. Naturally, his thoughts turned to winter and snow, and his mind filled with foods that must be eaten in winter.
Although this world was full of delicious new foods, Noah always missed the simple street foods from his previous life.
On this snowy night, he remembered the roasted sweet potatoes and chestnuts he had sold with friends, stamping their feet in the cold. To celebrate their middle school graduation, they had planned to travel together before winter break ended, and boldly started their first business venture to raise travel funds—which failed spectacularly.
Since they were selling in their neighborhood, they gave some away to passing schoolmates, ate some to check if they were roasted well, ate more because they were cold, and occasionally burned some. With more self-consumption than sales, it was naturally a structure that couldn’t generate profit.
After a month of taking turns selling, the money they had left was easily settled with one meal at a nearby buffet.
Travel? In the end, they got money from their wealthy parents and went on a group overnight trip to see the sunrise at Jeongdongjin. They ate enthusiastically the entire night train journey, and continued snacking while waiting for the sunrise.
Anyway, after recalling memories that consisted only of eating, Noah’s mouth moved on its own, leaving nothing but a long silence behind.
Since one never knows how life will turn out, he might accidentally—miraculously—become the Grand Duke of the North someday. Yet when asked what he wanted to do as a lord, he immediately said he would sell roasted sweet potatoes. For a young man to have such a humble dream…
“…The crown jewel of winter sports. I’ll build a ski resort! Thank goodness I didn’t say that.”
Noah tapped his lips with his fingertips, punishing them for speaking without permission, then turned his gaze to the window. Watching the snow dancing delicately as it fell made him crave fish-shaped pastries and hotteok. If Loren had been in a critical condition, he wouldn’t be having such fantasies.
Although Lucas had dismissed it as nothing serious, perhaps she really had been in danger when they called for him. It would be good for her to recuperate in a warmer place rather than this cold region. Derik was also in the southern region, and Noah could frequently visit using his parents as an excuse.
“Ah, I want steamed dumplings too. I want to eat everything grilled.”
Shaking his head, filled with thoughts of food and worries about Loren, Noah slowly rose from his seat. Perhaps he would leave the academy even before Derik did.
Trudging back to his room, Noah looked around at the space filled with a chilly atmosphere. Large logs were burning in the fireplace, but they couldn’t warm the entire room.
After developing the magic stone mine and gaining economic prosperity, Lucas had extensively renovated Schwein Castle, but it still didn’t meet Noah’s standards. They had created something like an electric heating pad by infusing heat-related magic into the magic stones from the mine, but what Noah wanted was the warmth of an ondol floor.
“Why didn’t I major in architecture?”
Grumbling, Noah rummaged through his room and found a plan he had written when he was younger, then sat leaning against the headboard of his bed. It was filled with things that seemed impossible yet somehow plausible. This made sense considering he had already accomplished one of the many things written there.
His journey to find hot springs had been successful, and the place had now become a location frequently visited by the people of Austen. Soaking in the hot water that made the whole body relax not only relieved accumulated fatigue but also had some healing effects.
The knights of Schwein Castle enjoyed the hot springs as a matter of course after completing all their training, and as Noah had suggested on his first visit, Lucas built convenient facilities near the springs, including shower rooms and lounges. He even improved the path to the hot springs to enhance safety.
Although it was a good place worthy of such investment, the hot springs located at the foot of the mountain had a rough path that was difficult for Loren to travel. Thanks to Lucas, who, true to his reputation as a devoted lover, had additionally installed a warp to the hot springs at the warp zone in Schwein Castle, Noah also visited frequently when staying at the castle.
While Lucas had exceptional skills in mining operations and monster subjugation, he seemed to have no interest in tourism, so the hot springs remained like the exclusive property of the villagers.
With a little more work, it could easily become a famous attraction in the Austen region that everyone would fantasize about.
“Should I really take on this challenge? I think I could manage if Lucas is away from the castle and I can persuade the estate manager properly.”
Quickly spinning a pen between his fingers, Noah seriously revised the notes he had made, and didn’t let go of the pen and paper until he fell asleep.
“Have you thought about it?”
At a time when he would normally be in an academy classroom, Noah was in Lucas’s study.
“Pardon?”
“You said you wanted to try running a business. You’ll need to sort out your academy matters first, of course.”
As Lucas calmly brought up the subject while picking up a stack of papers from his desk, Noah just blinked his large eyes.
“Ah… well, I mean…”
“At your young age, it’s good to try different things. Since you didn’t major in knighthood, it would be difficult for you to lead a subjugation team, and systematically teaching mine management would also be challenging. So if you want to try, go ahead. Make a business plan and I’ll review it and provide the necessary funds.”
Whoa, whoa. Just a moment, father.
Things are progressing so quickly that my mind can’t keep up, so please give me some time to think.
The roasted sweet potato business was just something that slipped out of my mouth, and besides, I left without properly saying goodbye to my academy friends. I left with Elisa like I was fleeing in the middle of the night. I should at least meet with Derik and Raymond, if no one else.
Standing beside the desk, blinking his eyes, Noah unconsciously let out the breath he had been holding.
“Now that I’m offering support, are you getting scared?”
“Ah… no, that’s not it. Then, where should I do it?”
“You should decide the place to sell the food you’re thinking of. That’s why you need a business plan. I believe you learned this in your business management class.”
“But what about the academy…”
“Do you want to continue attending?”
Standing beside Lucas’s desk, Noah could see the file he was holding without any effort. Seeing that the file’s contents were about Loren’s health and finding the best recuperation place for her, Noah slightly shook his head.
“If I do well with this, you’ll let me do other things too, right?”
Although he was about to end up selling roasted sweet potatoes unintentionally, if he could prove his abilities through this and be allowed to do other things he wanted in the future, nothing would be better. He probably wouldn’t postpone or give up what he wanted to do just because Lucas discouraged him, but it seemed good to get formal confirmation from him.
While waiting for Lucas’s answer and glancing at the documents he was reviewing, Noah slightly waved the hand he had been lowering to greet the presence that brushed against his leg as it approached.
Then, without needing to bend down to look, Noah slowly stroked Aeongi’s head with his hand as he sat beside him.
“You wouldn’t stop just because I tell you not to.”
Just as Noah prided himself on knowing a lot about Lucas, Lucas also knew Noah quite well. It wasn’t a conversation flowing as smoothly as water with an affectionate voice. There were long silences and words that came out abruptly, but both their faces wore subtle smiles.
“Nyaa.”
Late at night, when Lucas and Noah were working or talking in the study, Aeongi would usually lie near the fireplace and sleep. But today, he kept touching Noah’s hand. Whether he wanted to go out, he gently bit Noah’s fingertips and wandered around, until the estate manager arrived and Noah was kicked out of the study along with Aeongi.
“How’s mom?”
Noah felt a lump in his throat seeing Aeongi, who hadn’t come to his room last night but spent the night with his mother. Do even speechless beasts know? Perhaps animals understand such things even better.
“Nyaa~”
To Noah’s formal question, knowing she was fine, Aeongi answered in the cutest voice, more adorable than ever. And at that moment, watching Aeongi walking in step with him, Noah’s head tilted slightly.
“But why… is your size so arbitrary?”
When they hurriedly left the dormitory, Aeongi had definitely been with Noah on the wide bed. He had been in his original size to serve as a comfortable pillow, but somehow had shrunk small enough to fit in Noah’s pocket. At the time, Noah had been too flustered to think about it and just brought him along, but now Aeongi was the intermediate size set by the Dean.
Whoosh—
With that question, Aeongi instantly disappeared into the distance.
Noah blankly stared at Aeongi’s back as he ran outside like mad without looking back, as if something terrible had happened.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
