Became the Owner of a Poor Estate
Chapter 30
“Mmm! Now this is the taste.”
She ate with such relish that commoners watching her couldn’t help but gulp in envy.
Donghee, who had been slurping down the ramen happily, suddenly paused and lifted her head.
Dozens of pairs of eyes were fixed on her. They were all looking at Chloe with expressions tangled with worry and curiosity.
“Aren’t you going to eat? Should I take it back?”
“Heh! No, milady!”
“Thank you!”
At Donghee’s words, the workers began moving their forks as if they had been waiting for that very signal.
The temporary dining hall became rowdy with the clattering of forks against bowls and the sound of everyone slurping noodles just like Chloe.
The sight of grown men, not children, eating ramen with forks was awkward yet strangely novel.
“Hot! It’s hot!”
“Whoa! This is truly delicious!”
“It’s so spicy!”
“It’s spicy, but I can’t stop.”
- Likability of the territory residents has increased by 10.
- Likability of the territory residents has increased by 10.
- Likability of the territory residents has increased by 10.
Exclamations of delight from the ramen and notification chimes for increased likability erupted incessantly from all directions.
Even as the workers ate heartily, ramen was being boiled continuously on one side.
The head chef and the assistants standing before the hot furnaces were drenched in sweat, but their faces were full of joy. The fact that they could generously share the food they made with others seemed to provide them with great comfort and a sense of accomplishment.
It felt like the most rewarding day they had experienced in their years working at Grace Castle.
Besides those inside the temporary dining hall, quite a few people were waiting in line outside.
The delicious scent wafting out of the dining hall filled the faces of those waiting with anticipation. Among them were many who had already eaten their fill of Dural dishes but joined the line out of curiosity for this never-before-seen food.
Since the food the Lord was providing today was free, they seemed determined to eat until their stomachs burst.
The young children, in particular, stood in line with satisfied expressions, patting their protruding bellies on their thin frames.
“I’ve never eaten anything this delicious in my life!”
“It’s truly wonderful.”
Even though beads of sweat formed on their noses from the heat, the workers finished every last drop of the broth.
It went without saying that work efficiency skyrocketed after the lunch break.
- The loyalty of the workers is piercing the heavens.
You, who are taking immense credit for mere ramen. I see the potential of a wicked employer in you. Heh!
‘Hey, I’m not a wicked employer.’
‘Ramen is the most delicious food in the world. I just wanted to feed them something incredibly tasty.’
When she protested her unfair treatment, the status window quickly changed the subject.
- 500 Hidden Points are awarded to the magnificent Lord. *Wink!*
The stingy status window had become bold. The word ‘Wink’ at the end was grating, but she felt she could let that much slide.
Anyway, 500 points.
Donghee quickly opened the Hidden Shop before the status window could change its mind.
*Chrrrrrrrrrrr!*
Just like last time, the status window displayed a variety of items available for purchase in the Hidden Shop, unfolding them one by one before her eyes with a loud sound.
With a fluttering heart, Donghee scanned the list of the Hidden Shop opened by the status window.
1. Attention-Grabbing Whistle / Can focus the attention of at least 200 people at once. (-60p)
sold out
3. Thermal Cloak / Helps maintain body temperature in extreme cold. (Based on 1 person / Effect halved when used by 2 people) (-60p)
.
.
sold out
- Terrain Information related to Agriculture: (Level 1) / (-500p)
- Terrain Information related to Construction: (Level 1) / (-500p)
29. Resource Information / Level 1: Grace Territory underground resources / (-400p)
30. Weather Information / Level 1: Weather forecast near Grace Territory, within 24 hours / (-1,000p)
Even though she had the same 1,000 points as before, two new items that hadn't been there last time had been added. It seemed they were information available for purchase because she had acquired Terrain Information Level 1.
Donghee’s eyes widened at the new list.
Agriculture and Construction.
Feeling a slight thrill, Donghee carefully examined the list and decided to buy what would be most helpful for the development of the territory.
‘I’ll buy the knowledge in the fields of agriculture and construction.’
She had originally intended to increase her inventory space, but she thought it would be better to fix the fundamental issues in the long run. She couldn't keep putting food into their mouths like baby birds forever.
Donghee stared at the status window with a sense of pride.
- Allocating 500 points each to Agriculture and Construction to purchase professional knowledge.
Would you like to begin the acquisition of Agriculture Information (Level 1) and Construction Information (Level 1) purchased with Hidden Points? Please answer with Yes or No.
She remembered the terrible headache and nausea she had suffered after mindlessly answering 'Yes' last time.
It was a bit scary, but she could endure that much side effect. It was a pain with a set end, and an enormous reward followed once it was over.
However, if she performed the forced acquisition here, she might make a scene in front of the people who were eating happily. Donghee quietly stood up from her seat.
As Donghee rose, the butler Handsome and the two escort knights who were guarding her side moved as well.
“I’m going to rest in the carriage for a bit. You all stay here, eat, and rest.”
“We shall escort you.”
Donghee was about to say it wasn't necessary, but since it was a bit of a walk to the carriage, she left Handsome, who was eating ramen, and walked toward the carriage with only the two knights.
As Chloe moved, the eyes of the people of Morta Village moved with her. Their gazes were full of favor.
*Ding, ding, ding!*
- Likability of the territory resident has increased by 10.
- Likability of the territory resident has increased by 10.
The notification chimes for increased likability rang incessantly. It seemed the people of Morta Village now gained likability just by looking at Chloe.
If she could maintain this just a little longer, she might be able to lessen the blow even if her likability dropped to the negatives when she opened up other villages.
Donghee moved to the carriage as slowly as possible, as if to enjoy the opportunity given to her.
She had never imagined a day would come when she would enjoy the gaze of others this much. She felt like a celebrity.
The interior of the carriage she entered was quite cozy.
On the first day she went out to inspect the territory at Morta Village, cold wind had whistled through the closed carriage doors, and the windows hadn't closed perfectly, letting the chill right in.
But today, even though the temperature had dropped much lower, the inside of the carriage was warm with heat.
Thelma had placed well-heated stones inside the carriage to warm the air, and Builder had repaired the worn parts to prevent drafts.
He had seemed busy with the village construction so she hadn't mentioned it to him, but it appeared Scrooge had gone to find him and made the request.
Donghee sat inside the warm carriage and carefully inspected the neatly repaired interior.
Warm furs and blankets that hadn't been seen until recently were placed on the seats.
Donghee stroked the white, soft fur spread over the seat with her palm and took a deep breath.
“Open the Hidden Shop.”
- Would you like to begin the acquisition of Agriculture Information (Level 1) and Construction Information (Level 1) purchased with Hidden Points? Please answer with Yes or No.
The question she hadn't finished because she was moving appeared before her eyes again.
Donghee took a deep breath and slowly nodded her head.
- You have selected forced acquisition. The acquisition process will take approximately 10 minutes, and please be advised that slight nausea and headaches may occur during the forced acquisition.
Donghee stared at the words sprawled on the floor with a worried gaze.
The letters presented by the status window squirmed like living insects. It was the first time in her life she had felt terror while looking at writing.
“Ugh!”
Just looking at the letters made her feel like the nausea was already rising.
While she was tensing up in anticipation of when it would start, the letters that had been squirming like insects began to fly toward the space between Donghee’s brows with a *whoosh*.
“Urp!”
She felt like the ramen she had just eaten was about to come up, but Donghee squeezed her eyes shut, trying her best not to vomit. She couldn't hideously vomit on the fur they had laid out for her sake.
Nor did she feel like running outside where everyone could see to throw up.
“I have to endure. Urp!”
Her fingertips trembled as she strained with all her might.
‘If I had known this, I wouldn't have eaten the ramen!’
The insane nausea and the headache that felt like her head was being split open hit her all at once, making her feel like her whole body was becoming a rag.
“Eeeeeee.”
Donghee covered her mouth tightly so that no sound would leak out of the carriage and squeezed her eyes shut.
‘I have to endure. Just a little more.’
The space between her brows felt cool yet slippery.
She thought about touching it, but she suppressed the urge, fearing the forced acquisition might fail if she did.
Perhaps because she was acquiring two things at once, it was only after suffering for a longer time than last time that the nausea and headache began to subside.
“Uuugh!”
Her whole body felt drained of strength as if she had been beaten, and cold sweat poured down her skin.
It was certainly more difficult, proportional to the increased time compared to last time.
“Next time, I’m only doing one at a time.”
Thinking it was twice as hard because she did two at once, Donghee shook her head and made a vow.
She hadn't expected the Level 1 agricultural knowledge obtained with just over 500 points to be anything grand.
Still, she thought she might be able to get the basic things needed immediately.
However, the knowledge that poured into her head with such a fuss was a bit different from what Donghee had imagined.
