Became the Owner of a Poor Estate
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Donghee tried her best not to look pathetic, but the question was inherently so.
“Of course, it may be a trivial amount to you, My Lord, but there are countless commoners who live on 5 Bron a month.”
Just how much is 1 Bron in Korean won?
Donghee racked her brain, but no answer came to mind. Left with no choice, she opted to play the fool once more.
“What can one buy with 1 Bron?”
“Hmm… about three slices of bread, a jug of goat milk, and half a sack of coarse wheat?”
Since three slices of bread cost 1 Bron, it seemed to be roughly equivalent to ten thousand won.
Then they live on fifty thousand won a month?
Surprised for a moment, Donghee quickly understood as she reflected on her own life. There was a time when she, too, had lived on a monthly food budget of forty thousand won.
It was common for her to cook a single pack of ramen in the morning, save the broth, and then reheat it in the evening to eat with rice. Because of those memories, the grueling lives of the fief’s people felt all the more real to her.
When Chloe remained silent, Scrooge continued speaking, his frustrated expression unchanged.
“But even that is not easy due to the long drought. It has likely been a long time since they’ve held even 1 Bron in their hands, let alone five.”
Donghee’s gaze shifted back out the carriage window.
This place was filled with vast coniferous forests, but in the wide fields, not a speck of green was to be seen—only overgrown, withered weeds. Neither the weather nor the soil seemed suitable for farming.
Ah! Right! The knowledge regarding the Grace terrain!
Staring blankly at the vast land in her frustration, Donghee remembered the knowledge she had purchased with Hidden Points not long ago.
She stole a glance at Scrooge, who had fallen silent, and called out for the status window in her mind.
—Would you like to view the Terrain Information (Level 1) recently purchased with Hidden Points?
As if reading her thoughts, the status window asked exactly what she needed.
Donghee nodded quickly.
Churururururuk!
With a noisy clatter, the status window began unfolding square panels downward, one by one.
Donghee looked closely at the small squares and was startled by the dense text written inside them.
Do I seriously have to read and memorize all of this?
—Hardly. Based on an analysis of the user, it is estimated that it would take approximately 5 years to read and acquire Level 1 terrain knowledge. For efficient knowledge transfer, the system will batch-save it into the user’s mind.
No matter how I look at it, it feels like it’s mocking my intelligence.
However, since it wasn't exactly wrong, Donghee kept her mouth shut and glared at the busy status window.
After unfolding the squares for quite a while, the status window finally stopped moving after about ten minutes.
The squares that had spilled onto the floor by then were more than enough to cover the carriage's entire surface.
The layers of squares stacked on the floor even covered the tops of Scrooge’s feet.
Much like the status window itself, it seemed no one but Donghee could see this.
—Would you like to begin acquisition? Please answer with Yes or No.
There was no reason to hesitate.
Yes.
—You have selected Forced Acquisition. The acquisition process will take approximately 10 minutes and…
What? Forced acquisition?
The words used by the status window were unsettling. Grusome mental images of her skull being pried open and knowledge being shoved in against her will naturally came to mind.
While she fretted, unable to do anything about the rapidly rising anxiety, the status window’s explanation continued.
—Please be advised that slight nausea and headaches may be induced during the forced acquisition process.
Thinking the side effects were better than expected, she took a deep breath. If it was about enduring pain, she was more confident than anyone. Donghee’s greatest talent was pretending she wasn't in pain. It was a skill born of sorrow, learned from the many times she had to force a smile despite being hurting just to keep from being fired from her part-time jobs.
A moment later, the letters from the status window scattered on the floor began to wriggle like ants. Then, with a shuuuuuuuung sound, they flew toward the space between Donghee’s brows as if being sucked in by a vacuum cleaner.
Uh? Oh!
When the first letters touched her, it actually felt refreshing.
Feeling relieved that the side effects might not apply to her, a single letter suddenly got thump stuck between her brows.
“Uuuurgh!”
At that moment, an unbearable wave of nausea surged over her.
“My Lord! Stop the carriage!”
A startled Scrooge jumped up to check on Chloe’s condition and pounded rapidly on the carriage wall.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Every time Scrooge hammered on the carriage, her head felt like it was splitting open. It felt as if someone were striking the crown of her head with a hand axe. Clang! Clang!
This is a 'slight' headache?
“You lowlife, scamming bastard! Uuuurgh!”
“M-My Lord?”
Startled by the shout Donghee let out while clutching her head, Scrooge, who had been supporting her, slumped down onto the carriage floor in shock.
The headache stopped exactly ten minutes later.
For ten minutes, she had continuously gagged like someone with morning sickness, clutching her head in agony, only to repeat the gagging all over again.
Scrooge suggested they turn back immediately to be examined by a physician, but Donghee firmly refused.
“My Lord, are you alright?”
Looking at Chloe, who was slumped in the carriage seat like an exhausted person, Scrooge asked in a worried voice.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
Though her face was pale and beads of sweat dotted her forehead, the Lord certainly seemed to be in better condition than moments ago.
“How about we turn back even now?”
Inspecting the fief was important, but if the Lord’s health was poor, they couldn't force the matter.
“I’m really okay.”
Donghee even managed a grin as she answered.
Scrooge’s eyes were still full of worry, but since the Lord said she was fine, he had no choice but to nod and speak.
“Understood. However, you must be examined by a physician later. I will not compromise on this.”
Scrooge spoke firmly.
“Yeah. I will.”
How long had it been since she had heard someone worry about her?
Donghee still had no strength in her body, but seeing Scrooge’s expression as he looked at her with concern as if they were family, the lingering remnants of her headache vanished in an instant.
Though it was only Level 1 knowledge, the information that had entered her mind was truly a staggering amount.
That aside, the status window was incredibly spiteful for brushing off such immense pain as a 'slight headache.' But there was nothing she could do, so Donghee took a deep breath and recalled the knowledge she had gained by enduring the pain.
After searching through the information to see what terrain knowledge she could utilize best right now, Donghee found several things.
<Grace Territory Terrain Information Level 1>
- Terrain corresponding to Level 1 is limited to Morta and parts of the Kondal region. Includes some climate information.
- Four seasons exist. (Caution: Cool summers, harsh winters)
- Developed coniferous forests.
- Low water evaporation due to the cold climate. Rainfall is low, but water is plentiful due to the dense forests. (Note: Riverbeds are currently exposed due to the recent drought)
- Soil is not suitable for agriculture. (Possible in some areas)
- Moving north, more than half of the area is covered in snowfields.
- A small number of fief residents live in the snowfield areas. Inhabited by reindeer, snow rabbits, snow-flower foxes, etc.
[Terrain Characteristics of the Morta Region]
1. The soil is not suitable for farming, but after specific work is carried out, the soil quality can be changed to grow various field crops.
2. Possession of the Healing Forest - A massive coniferous forest known as the Black Forest or the Forest of Monsters. The green sap that can be collected from the cross-sections of Needle Trees has excellent effects on wounds, but the smell is foul and can negatively affect vision and the respiratory system.
3. Possession of a natural Dural cultivation area - The main food source for lower-tier monsters, but safe for human consumption.
4. Stay away from the Black Forest when darkness falls.
5. The resources obtainable from the Land of Pure White reach 00 types.
6. Look for groundwater (streams starting from the snowfields) and wet ground in the middle of the desolate fields.
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30. Numerous Moh Moss habitats.
[Terrain Characteristics of the Kondal Region]
1. Mostly flat land.
2. The soil is dry and low in nutrients, making it unsuitable for farming. Certain items can be cultivated.
3. Groundwater flows over a solid foundation beneath well-draining soil.
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30. If Moh Moss habitats are cleared and used as fields, Dural cultivation is possible.
There was a lot of knowledge, but the thing that caught Donghee’s eye the most was the plant called ‘Dural.’
It’s edible?
But the name was strange.
“Dural? What is this? Does it look like testicles or something? Because if it does, I don't think I'll want to eat it.”
For Level 1 knowledge, there was quite a lot of useful information.
While she was happily contemplating which of these to use first, the carriage carrying Donghee finally arrived at the entrance of Morta Village.
As the Lord’s carriage came to a halt, the villagers swarmed toward it as if they had been waiting.
“The Lord has come!”
“My Lord!”
Donghee watched with dazed eyes as people greeted her warmly with loud voices, even as they were being held back by the knights.
It was the first time anyone had ever welcomed her like this.
