[Your likeability with Javier Asrahan has increased by two points. Current RP with Javier Asrahan: -29]
[You have earned 36 RP by improving relationships with a key character. Current RP: 36]
[Investing in RP will allow you to develop special skills]
What is this now? A mid-air message floated in front of him.
Somehow, it didn't feel unfamiliar. Come to think of it, he saw something like this when he first arrived here. It was when Javier first woke him up. He heard a voice saying something about RP then too. He thought it was just a silly dream. But that didn't seem to be the case anymore.
No matter, it was baffling. He wondered what this RP and special skills were all about. Approval? Improve relationships with the main character?
Lloyd moved his eyes rapidly. He confirmed the message was in front of him. It wasn't hard to understand.
"My approval rating with Javier went up, and our relationship slightly improved. Therefore, I can use this RP I earned to develop my skills?"
Lloyd stopped walking, and Javier turned to face him.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"What were you thinking just now?"
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"I bet you just judged or made some comment about me in your head, didn't you? Something like, 'I thought this guy totally sucked, but it turns out he's not a complete piece of trash.'"
"I never thought that."
"Yes, you did."
"I did not."
"Really? You didn't think I was a complete piece of trash earlier?"
"Yes," Javier said with a sincere expression. "There is not one person who is pure trash in this world. No matter how much of a mess they are, everyone has at least a shred of human kindness somewhere deep in their hearts. That is what I believe."
"That's very comforting."
To reiterate, Javier had a talent for straightforwardly and carefully making his every word be felt to your bones… no, to your very marrow. Even before you realized it.
"Tsk, let's just head home." They started walking toward the manor again.
He sent Javier to his quarters and closed his bedroom door once he was alone. He opened the message related to skills and read it in earnest.
The way to open it was simple. "Skill window." He tried just to be sure.
[Loading the skill window]
"Dang, it really works."
He thought events that felt like fiction had been taking place since he came into the world of the novel. However, what was happening now seemed even more fantastic.
Lloyd looked admiringly at the skill window in front of him.
"Log of special skills that can be developed."
[Survey skill to identify terrain and space detected.]
[Soil mechanics skill detected.]
[Hydraulics skill detected.]
[These can be combined into a "basic surveying" skill.]
[RP needed for skill development = 15]
"What?!"
Surveying. A survey was done before designing a structure to identify the topography and expanse of the land. As the word itself suggested, it was one of the basics of civil engineering. That was because surveying was the start of construction. Yet, I can develop surveying as a skill?
It seemed that his existing knowledge and talent significantly impacted what skills he could develop. Lloyd confirmed this thought while looking at the continually emerging messages.
[Material mechanics skill detected.]
[Statics skill of handling stationary objects detected.]
[Structural mechanics skill detected.]
[Water supply and sewage theory skill detected.]
[Steel structure design and concrete design skill detected.]
[Experience and skill in CAD programming detected.]
[The abilities above can be combined into a "basic design" skill.]
[RP needed for skill development = 20]
Not only was there surveying, but there was also design. These were all things he tirelessly studied in school.
Lloyd tightly squeezed his fist without realizing it. Awesome.
In any case, he was planning to start construction soon to relieve the baron's debt and earn a fortune. He was even thinking of creating a large-scale construction business in the future. What he needed most were precise surveys and designs.
But there wasn't any equipment available here. He couldn't even dream of a GPS surveyor, and designing was even more hopeless. He had to draw the design for the heated flooring system by hand.
At that moment, he missed the CAD software he had conveniently used in South Korea. However, those skills equipped him to do all of these things.
Lloyd made a bold decision. Let's develop basic surveying and design skills. He invested 15 RP for now.
The response was immediate.
[Basic surveying skill has been developed.]
[Skill Name: Basic Surveying]
[Consumes a small amount of mana. You can use your eyes to calculate the exact figures of a land's terrain, area, and altitude. Additionally, you can get a rough insight on the properties of the soil and water that make up a topographic surface.]
[Area that can be measured at once: 330 square feet]
"Is this real?" Lloyd pinched himself.
He couldn't believe he could survey 33 feet all at once with his bare eyes. He could even grasp the properties of the soil and bodies of water within range. It almost felt like cheating.
"Let's check it out first."
He opened his window. Fortunately, his bedroom was on the second floor, and he could see all of the manor's courtyard. He used his skill while looking around the courtyard.
"Basic surveying."
[Surveying will begin.]
The message rang out loud. At the same time, part of his view changed into an augmented reality view. Thirty-three feet by thirty-three feet. Countless numbers and data points appeared overlaid on the given area.
"Amazing." It was as if he had turned on a 3D map in his head.
While he was at it, he invested 20 RP into developing basic design skills.
[Basic design skill has been developed.]
[Skill Name: Basic Design Skill]
[Consumes a small amount of mana. You can visualize your desired design drawing in the air through three-dimensional forms of dots, lines, and surfaces. Any modeling errors in the drawing will be automatically corrected.]
[Volume of structure that can be projected at once: 3,300 cubic feet]
"Let's test this out." He immediately put the skill to use.
A virtual pitch-black space formed in the air before his eyes. Inside it, he could freely manipulate the 3D dots, lines, and surfaces. He could even recall the land's topography he had just identified with the basic surveying skill!
"It was like being able to limitlessly use a futuristic three-dimensional hologram version of the CAD design program."
"Oh man. This is nuts." He was swooning at this point. "Is this what it feels like to become the god of architecture?"
Although the area of surveying and design is certainly still a bit small, that issue will naturally resolve as I develop more skills in the future.
However, Lloyd felt slightly upset. It would've been nice if he had a skill for heavy machinery or construction equipment. If he did, he could have even made his own construction equipment. But he did not have that skill. He was a civil engineer, not a mechanical engineer.
Lloyd wistfully licked his lips while looking through the skill window. Then, his eyes suddenly focused on one spot.
"What's this?"
[Random Summon Game]
[Send RP to pick a summon.]
[A strong and unique summon partner will provide their unwavering loyalty along with a wide range of skills to their master.]
That was the introduction message written down.
"Is this like some sort of mobile lottery game? There are all kinds of things here. I want to try it if possible. But I can't because I don't have enough RP."
[1 Turn = 50 RP]
"Tsk, as if."
He had used up most of his RP while acquiring two skills just now and only had one RP point left. "I need to collect more RP."
He already knew how to. He needed to win the favor of the main characters around him to improve his relationships with them. There actually were many ways to accomplish this, especially now.
It was at this exact time. He suddenly remembered the first part of the novel The Knight of Blood and Iron. It was during the time when Javier was still working at the baron's manor. Lord Frontera was severely struggling with the debt collectors who came by every day. That might happen today too. He called the maid and quietly asked.
The maid nodded her head. "Ah, yes, young master. There were guests who came looking for the lord earlier."
As I expected. Why else would there be a guest at this time? Lloyd smiled. Perfect timing. How great of them to come right when I need them.
Another way to earn more RP came to his mind. Lloyd left his bedroom and headed toward the baron's office.
****
"So… what are you going to do now!?"
As Lloyd reached the front of the office, an enraged voice leaked into the hallway. Whether it was because the old manor wasn't properly soundproofed or the uproar inside was greater than he thought, he could only tell it was the latter once he opened the door.
"Lord, how much longer are you going to delay this? Hasn't it been over five days since the promised date?"
"He's right. We won't stay still if you keep dragging this on."
There were two debt collectors there. A pudgy man with a potbelly and a bony man who had a sickly pale complexion. The two men had their hands on their hips and their chins raised.
And Lord Frontera? He was sitting in his chair, sighing deeply. His drooping shoulders and face made him look like a guilty criminal.
Well, his feelings are understandable.
The potbellied man and the bony man who came today were vicious loan sharks. They never gave up on collecting money. They were the type of people who would try to make more money by selling off their debtor's corpses if they died.
Of course, they might meet their ends while pulling that sort of stunt while Javier slashes their throats.
That event would occur in the distant future, one year from now, after the baron's suicide.
"Tsk, how did they end up borrowing money from people like them?" He clicked his tongue without realizing it and took a step forward.
He spoke in a subdued voice. "No matter what anyone says, Lord Frontera is the owner of this manor. If you came as a guest, please be polite."
They must've noticed his existence only just then. The two loan sharks turned their heads toward him. The baron lifted his head.
"Lloyd?" He spoke in a surprised voice.
Lloyd lowered his head slightly toward him.
The potbellied man tilted his head and interrupted them. "Who are you?"
"I'm the eldest son of this family."
"Eldest son?"
"Yes."
"Aha, the eldest son with the particular manners?"
"I'm a bit famous thanks to that."
"Is that why you are so rudely interrupting our discussion like this?"
"It's for the honor of this manor's owner, the baron's family."
"That's a problem."
"Why so?"
"The owner of this manor will change soon."
"Time will tell whether the owner changes or not."
He smiled. "Show me your warrant now."
"What…?" The potbellied man furrowed his eyebrows.
Lloyd sneered even harder at him and asked, "Don't you have a warrant?"
"What warrant are you asking for?"
"The Royal Family and Nobility Act, Article 3, Clause 6. All nobles of the kingdom, regardless of status or rank, have appropriate rights and honors as vassals of the king. An aristocrat may exercise their right to protect their personal interests."
"What…?"
"I'm saying, strictly according to the laws of the kingdom… entry into the residence of a noble family without a warrant is considered trespassing under aristocratic law."
"What are you saying? Are you saying we are trespassing?"
"Ah, did you finally understand?" He clapped his hands.
In reality, no one followed this law. However, it was one that clearly existed.
He suddenly remembered the delightful scene at the beginning of the novel The Knight of Blood and Iron. It was immediately after the Frontera couple's suicide. A funeral was held at the baron's mansion, and the two loan sharks had come. They caused an uproar, demanding the corpses of the baron and baroness because they needed to sell them.
Right then, Javier pulled out his sword. He asserted the law and slashed the two in one stroke.
Afterward, Javier was brought before a judge but luckily didn't receive any punishment. It was because that law did indeed exist, and the two loan sharks had come without an invitation and caused a great uproar.
Of course, I can't just kill them since they aren't acting as badly right now. But it was the perfect excuse to kick them out.
"Take care then. I hope you learn some manners before your next visit."
"Do you think you'll get away with this?"
"Time will tell the answer to that as well."
The two snarling loan sharks looked ridiculous. They left the office trembling with rage.
Lloyd sent them off with a burst of mocking laughter. That was when he finally heard Lord Frontera's urgent voice. "What… have you done?"
When he turned around, the baron's face was completely frozen. Well, it was understandable. After all, the least they could do was appease the spirited debt collectors, let alone provoke them and kick them out.
A bitter laugh escaped him. Those hyena-like bastards.
Painful memories from South Korea resurfaced in his mind. His parents became victims of insurance fraud. The debt collectors who came every day. His father faded away day by day under their constant harassment.
"I won't ever be put in that position again."
The more you weakly cowered, the more you'd be pushed around. That was especially true with bastards like them. However, the baron was in a tough situation. It was much more difficult than you'd think to be confident during hard times. Realistically it was almost impossible.
"Answer my question. What have you just done?" The baron's face had crumpled somewhere along the line. He probably believed his clueless son made a huge mess of things. It was better to show instead of tell in these situations.
He took out a pouch from his arms and placed it on the baron's desk. There was a heavy jingling sound.
"Don't worry."
"What?"
"This should be more than enough to cover this month's interest. Resolve it with this. Things will quiet down for the time being."
"What… is this?"
It was the down payments from the heated floors he sold today. However, he did not explain it himself. There was someone else who, at least for now, was more trusted than him.
"If you're curious, ask Sir Asrahan for the answer."
Lloyd lowered his head to the baron and quickly left the office before he could be stopped.
Whew. He finally released the breath he was holding. He shook his head once to brush off his pounding heart. He didn't head toward his bedroom. He went toward the training hall in the back instead.
The training hall was full of moonlight instead of people. He briefly strolled while waiting for about an hour. The alert should come right about now.
Just when he had that thought, the alert he was waiting for came.
Ding Dong.
[Your likeability with Arcos Frontera has increased by six points.]
[Current RP with Arcos Frontera: -14]
[You have earned 60 RP by improving relationships with main characters.]
[Current RP: 61]
Perfect. He clenched his fist.
As expected, the baron seemed to have called in Javier. He must've heard about Lloyd's recent doings through Javier's explanation. All is going as planned.
It was less effective to speak of your own good deeds. This was even more true if the good deed came from a guy who had previously acted like nothing more than trash.
"Good job, Javier."
Javier likely gave a cold and objective explanation, which would've made the account even more believable. Thanks to you, I have 61 RP in total.
It had paid off to wait purposefully in the empty training hall. Finally, it was time to draw his first summon partner.
Translator: https://bettertranslation9.wordpress.com