Badlands Saga: Reincarnation in a Different World with Extreme Charisma - Chapter 37

Chapter 37   Inner Animal 5

A few days after the chick of the phoenix arrived at the castle, I became absorbed in refining the oil.

Oil, when refined, can be processed into various flammable materials and products, making it an exceptional resource with almost no waste.

That said, there were limits to what I could do alone in a small laboratory…

To maximize the use of this oil resource, I decided to swallow my pride for a moment and apply for an additional loan from a merchant of Makiano.

Then, for some reason, I was able to secure a large sum of money immediately. I decided to use that capital to call in craftsmen to expand the refining and storage facilities.

“…So, have you already sent the letter that Kodara wrote to the rock-dwelling dwarves in Nanban?”

“Yeah, I asked the Neyakashi Trading Company. After all, the rock-dwelling dwarves are exceptional in crafting.”

In my laboratory, which was constantly heating water all day using a dragon egg that radiated enough heat to cause burns on contact, summer twilight filtered through the window.

Harriett and I were working on writing at the desk.

To bring craftsmen to this wasteland, I first had Kodara, a blacksmith from the rock-dwelling dwarves, write a job offer letter to some acquaintances of his among the dwarves.

I hoped that at least one of those acquaintances would come, but honestly, I had serious doubts about whether anyone would be willing to come to such an unattractive land.

So, I also decided to reach out to acquaintances of Kodara’s from the grassy Makiano side, whom he met during my previous journey to Makiano.

For that reason, I was currently having Kodara rewrite the letter in the Makiano language.

Just in case no one came, I also had some former orphans under Kodara’s supervision learning blacksmithing… but I would like to secure at least one more professional if possible.

As I drank my tea nervously and set my cup down, the phoenix chick that had been sleeping in a straw basket on the desk woke up with the noise and looked around curiously.

“Still, going into debt just to gather people… you must have put in quite an effort, huh?”

“I want to be able to use the oil as soon as possible, so the people won’t freeze in the winter.”

“That’s fine, but with such generous rewards, the town will be overrun with rock-dwelling dwarves.”

Harriett said this while tracing her finger along the text of the letter.

“It would be easier for me if that were to happen. In reality, no matter how many letters I send, there might not be a single rock-dwelling dwarf willing to come to such a remote place.”

“Is that really the case? This welfare… um, you don’t really need to distribute alcohol, do you? The rock-dwelling dwarves are the kind of folks who are already intoxicated by their work even in normal times; there’s no need to get them drunk too.”

“Is that so?”

“The people are better off being a little hungry. Excessive indulgence only leads to arrogance.”

A little hunger for the people, huh…

She probably has the correct perspective as a noble, having been raised in the great nation of Makiano and educated as the daughter of the great leader.

However, as a poor noble who has constantly wished to save the people from hunger, I couldn’t help but feel that it might not necessarily be the same for me.

“…Hey, Ria.”

“Oh, I thought you had forgotten that nickname.”

It’s true that I had avoided calling her that.

I had trouble grasping her, so to speak…

There was something inscrutable about her.

“I’ve been thinking for a while now, can’t you respect people a bit more?”

“Respect, huh? I do respect some people. A little, at least.”

Her eyes showed no hint of guilt as she said this.

“You know, us nobles don’t really create anything. We rely on the work of farmers, merchants, and blacksmiths to sustain us.”

Having become a noble myself, I deeply understand the difficulties that come with it…

However, from the people’s perspective, nobles are likely viewed as nothing more than a waste of resources that would be better off not existing.

In this era, where sources of information are limited, it’s unreasonable to expect the people to understand the suffering of the rulers.

Yet, is it not arrogant for us, who have been granted various privileges as rulers, to dismiss the respect and gratitude we owe to them as unnecessary?

“Ria, I’m not saying that you should flatter them… I just wish you could respect their work a little more.”

“Farmers, merchants, blacksmiths—those who protect the land even at the cost of their lives, gather materials regardless of the situation, and in times of crisis endure resentment from the small to save the greater good. That is the role of a noble. You shouldn’t judge those with different responsibilities from the same perspective.”

“But we’re all human. Just as commoners can become nobles, nobles can also become commoners. If we can think from each other’s perspectives, I’m sure we can reduce the seeds of discord.”

In my previous life, I lived in a democratic country.

A nation where the people aspired to become rulers, and rulers would step down to become commoners.

The divide between the people and their rulers was likely much lower than it is in this world.

Knowing such a country, I simply couldn’t bring myself to become a cold-hearted ruler.

Not only that, but I also didn’t want her to become that way.

“There’s a saying: ‘Form is emptiness.’ All things are uncertain, and there is no fixed shape. No one knows what the future holds.”

“That’s a nice saying. Is it from that world you mentioned, the one that existed before you were born?”

“…Yeah.”

I see, she had heard that story as well.

“I think it’s a very good saying, but… I’m sorry.”

Harriet smiled a little sadly and tilted her head.

“Unlike everyone else… I don’t think I can change with your words. Even if I were to be born again like you, whether I end up as a farmer or a slave, I believe I would live the same way.”

“That’s not true…”

She stopped me with her hand as I tried to deny it, then guided that hand to the center of her chest.

“Inside my heart, there’s always a voice.”

“…A voice?”

“Yes, the dark bird inside me has been asking me all along.”

Saying this, she looked directly into my eyes.

Her expression was the most beautiful and stern I had ever seen.

“The one right in front of you… are they above or below me?”

The beast inside her chest… that was no joke or sophistry, as conveyed by her sharply focused eyes, resembling those of a raptor.

“…Can you only see people as being above or below you? Can no one stand beside you?”

“No one has ever stood beside me before… but I suppose that’s true.”

Harriet stood up, placing her hands on the desk and leaning closer to me…

With a slight twist of her lips, she declared:

“The bird beast says, those who stand below me suffer not.”

“……….”

“The bird beast says, those who stand above me must have the resolve to do so.”

Then she grabbed my collar and pulled me closer, her face breaking into a grin as if baring her fangs, and she continued:

“And I, Harriet, say that I want those who fly in the same sky as me to be my mate.”

“……….”

She suddenly released my collar and stepped back.

“Even now, the bird beast is asking. Are you above me or below me?”

In stark contrast to her earlier impression, she now smiled quietly…

With an enchanting smile, I took a moment to gather my thoughts and asked her:

“…What do you think I should be?”

In response to my pathetic question, she replied as if it were nothing.

“It doesn’t really matter. If you stand above me, I will support you as your wife. If you stand below me, I will protect you as your wife. Honestly, I don’t mind either way.”

“Why is that…?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’ll take care of you.”

With an attitude as calm as a great leader, she spoke those words…

I couldn’t help but feel that while I might end up beneath her, there would never be a time when I would stand above her.

…That said, my pride as a man is not something I can easily dismiss.

“Harriet. I vow here, as Fushanklan, no… as your husband, to stand by your side and live together.”

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Both she and I are still young.

What we don’t understand, we can come to understand in time.

We can bridge the gaps that seem insurmountable as best we can.

For today, I’ll be satisfied with having caught a glimpse of what’s in her heart.

Watching our exchange, only the little bird in the cage seemed genuinely intrigued, staring intently at us.