The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 06: We tried going on a date in the great outdoors

Chapter 06: We tried going on a date in the great outdoors

The Brave territory is home to a vast mountain range nearby, rich in rare herbs and mines.

The reason for the poverty in the face of such abundant nature is the overwhelming presence of monsters. 

In addition to the countless monsters, neighboring countries also attack regularly. 

This prevents any significant development, and occasionally, the monster population grows too much, leading to disasters. 

Despite the forest being extremely dangerous, it remains untouched by humans, preserving its natural beauty.

There are plants and minerals here that are unheard of and unseen in the royal capital. 

I once dreamed of eradicating the monsters using modern knowledge cheats to make a name for myself in this world. However, being the third son with no knowledge of advanced civilization and only knowing about battles, I realized I couldn’t possibly conquer nature.

“This Ydaina mountain range is beyond human control.”

I explained to Alicia as we ventured into the mountains together, and she looked exhausted.

Was she tired from walking the animal trails? 

But it’s impressive she could make it this far, truly befitting a ducal daughter who received higher education.

My intention was to tire her out so she couldn’t think too much, but I reconsidered my approach.

“What are you going to do, bringing me to such a dangerous place…?”

“I wouldn’t disgrace the Brave family by killing my fiancée.”

Running away like a coward would be one thing, but if I decided to kill, I would do it quickly without any hassle.

There are killings meant to instill fear, but doing so in a one-on-one situation is utterly pointless.

“I thought we were going to walk around the town, not in the middle of the mountains… Maybe visit some shops or introduce me to local specialties made from nature…”

“Hahaha, we don’t have anything like that.”

“Yeah…”

When I showed Alicia the Sebas smile, taught by Sebas himself, she looked utterly exhausted.

Is this how he feels when he tries to smile at me? It’s somewhat amusing.

“You saw it on our way here, right? The town is basically full of rough types, isn’t it?” 

While there are many adventurers, their goal isn’t tourism but monsters.

Services catered to them are more about practicality than glamour. 

As long as they can eat, drink, and maintain their weapons, they’re satisfied. 

Being able to buy equipment and trade the spoils of their hunts is what matters. 

They’re not the type to care for public safety, and tourism doesn’t flourish here. 

Rich nobles are too scared to come, and if they do, it’s bound to cause trouble.

But it’s convenient since they’ll undertake campaigns for the right price.

“Even if we tried to spruce up the territory, the rough crowd wouldn’t accept it now, and if we appear too appealing to enemies, it would only increase our troubles, right?”

If asked why there are constant skirmishes, it’s because they’re being provoked. 

It’s arranged by those higher up to ensure that the fighting forces don’t go elsewhere. 

That’s why the capital remains peaceful.

I don’t have solid proof, but I believe there’s a secret agreement between nations.

In return, we get support like substandard food that’s barely better than pig feed and the provision of equipment, specifically for adventurers.

Haha, it’s funny how we’re just letting off steam even though people are dying. 

What a strange story.

It feels like we’re just sacrifices to keep the game or the stage setting moving.

I can’t help but feel that way. 

“Ah, but betting on who will survive or die is quite popular here, you know?”

“I-is that so…”

“Someone made a profit betting on my father’s death in battle a month ago.”

“…”

I made a disgusted face, but it’s a fact, so I can’t help it.

Maybe I chose the wrong topic to bring up?

“This isn’t something I should be discussing with a lady, my apologies.”

“No, it’s okay. If that’s normal here…”

It seems like she’s trying to fit in, so I should probably say this.

“It may be normal here, but I wonder if it’s really good to get too accustomed to this kind of ‘normal’.” 

“What! Just when I was trying to accept this place!”

“Thinking you can just accept it doesn’t mean it’s easy, hahaha.”

I laughed at Alicia as she struggled to breathe.

“What’s with you…”

Throughout our journey, I hadn’t talked much, but I shared what I could, little by little.

I couldn’t ask what happened at the royal academy, so instead, I mentioned things like how this place burned down about ten years ago, how the black marks on this stone wall are from a drunkard burnt to a shadow by a dragon’s breath, and other harmless bits of information about my town. 

Alicia listened quietly to my stories, occasionally shifting her gaze from the carriage window, showing she wasn’t entirely disinterested. 

She seemed confused, but for a first-timer, isn’t that pretty good? 

Or maybe not?

“Sigh…”

As Alicia leaned against a tree, wiping the sweat from her forehead, I told her, 

“I still haven’t accepted it myself. If I did, I’d be dead.”

This place is overrun with monsters, and it’s normal for people to get killed when neighboring countries attack. It’s not something you just accept.

If anything, we’re resisting, trying to survive.

“But, it’s important to understand things deeply.”

“Understand, you say…”

That’s how the Brave family sees things. 

“Both enemies and allies live on the same earth, so without underestimating or overestimating, get to know both deeply—if you want to survive.”

It’s like the saying, know your enemy and know yourself, and you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.

“Lady Alicia, this land might be hard to accept, but understanding it deeply can make it bearable.”

Why we fight, for whom we fight.

Why we win, why we lose. 

It’s important to know. 

The reason I don’t show much sorrow over family members dying in battle is precisely that. 

Everyone fights with pride in their hearts, and they die for that cause. 

Knowing that makes a difference.

“Everyone here has chosen to fight after understanding all this. They’ve made their decisions themselves.” 

“Right… I’ve been looking at the faces of those who live here. It wasn’t like what I heard in the stories…”

“The people of the Brave territory don’t take their decisions lightly after much thought.” 

Interestingly, even the rough types value this aspect.

“Did it get all somber again? It’s okay to laugh about it. We’re in a place where life and death are turned into jokes, right?”

“You say to laugh, then say not to. It’s confusing…”

Alicia was complaining, but her expression had softened a bit.

“Doesn’t that mean just living in the moment?”

I wish the people here would save money for their future, but given the uncertainty of life in this place, spending is reckless. 

It’s a rough summary, but there’s a sense of liking this land where neighbors help each other out.

“Ah, we’re almost there, Lady Alicia.”

As we talked and climbed the mountain, Alicia’s breath grew heavy, and I took her hand.

It was soft, white, and light. 

Ideally, for the Brave family, a healthier woman is preferred. 

Let’s feed her, fatten her up.

“Hah… Hah… I can’t trust your words anymore, saying we’re almost there ever since we entered the mountain… Hah.”

“We really are almost there. I guess you’re not used to climbing mountains and cliffs since noble families don’t do this.”

“I don’t think I want to get used to it…”

“But, getting used to things is what we humans do…”

I had been excited about this fantasy world, but the reality is a bloody one where human life is incredibly cheap. 

Sadly, I’ve gotten used to it, even though I was supposed to be a modern city boy.

“Sorry to ruin your resigned expression, but could you pull me up quickly?”

“Oops, my apologies.”

I had forgotten about Alicia, hanging in mid-air by my hand as we climbed the cliff. 

It just goes to show how extraordinary this adventure into another world has been. 

I remember having the same pale face as Alicia now.

“Wah…” 

Alicia let out such a sound as I pulled her up from the cliff. 

In front of us, the mountain range still towered high, but turning around, we could see the entire Brave territory spread out beyond the forest we had walked through.

“This is my favorite spot. It might not compare to the royal capital and seems like a view you could find anywhere, but I really like it.”

The view from halfway up the mountain feels even more expansive due to the height, making buildings and rivers look tiny and creating a diorama-like effect. 

Isn’t it nice to have nothing in the way?

Maybe because I lived through a stressful society in my previous life, views like this feel cleansing to my soul. 

Someday, I’d like to make a paraglider and jump off from here. 

Now that I’m a lord, maybe trying to make one could be interesting?

“Lady Alicia, you must be hungry after our walk. Shall we have a snack here?”

I suggested as she clenched her hands at her chest and silently stared at the scenery.

“So tiny…” 

“Right? The buildings look so small from here, like you could knock them over with a flick of your finger. Oh, and by the way, that ruined house over there was actually destroyed by a monster called Giganotos with just a flick of its finger.”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

I guess I was wrong.

It was a Brave family-style monster joke, but I guess I don’t understand a maiden’s heart.

“Lord Ragna, I want to ask you something.” 

“You can just call me by my name. No one really uses ‘lord’ with me, so I’m not used to it.”

It’s because of Sebas that everyone’s gotten used to calling me ‘young master’ without adding ‘lord’ even though I’m set to inherit the family leadership.

My family, who used to call me without honorifics, is all gone.

“Then you can call me by my name too, no need for formalities.”

“Well, that might be a bit much.”

“It’s not a big deal here, right?”

Alicia said this with a slight smile. 

It felt like a good sign, as the magic worms were fading away like dust.

“Maybe you’re right.”

Deciding to address her by her name without formality, I thought we could skip the rules, except in public.

“Hey, Ragna. After agonizing over a decision and resolving to accept the outcome, what would you do if you still ended up regretting it, hopelessly?”

Her smile vanished, and it seemed like the magic worms were coming back to life.