Reincarnated as the Descendant of a Fallen Noble

Chapter 65: The Reconstruction of Mudside. (1)

A few days later, at midday.

Just a few days ago, the coastline of Mudside had been nothing short of a wasteland.

“Ughh-yaaah!”

“Bring the wood over here!”

“Coming through, let’s go.”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The knights of Daphne carried massive logs on their shoulders, stacking them one by one near the shoreline.

‘Why are we doing this kind of work…’

‘…Tch, I just want to rest.’

None of them looked particularly pleased.

 You guys, from today, cut down the nearby trees and bring them over here.

 Huh? Us?

 Just think of it as part of your training. One way or another, it’ll improve your stamina.

 But still…

Since returning from the Kreveion Subjugation, they had been put to work under the guise of training at Hardin’s “suggestion.”

Already exhausted to death, not even given time to rest, the bitterness welled up from deep inside.

“Damniiiit… I just wanna rest…”

Mikkelsen, wobbling like a slug with a log in his hands, stumbled along.

“Move.”

Whoosh!

Instructor Manton passed by his side.

At that, Mikkelsen scrunched his brow tightly and spoke.

“Sir Knight… If you’re in that condition, please take a break.”

“What’s wrong with my condition?”

“Do I really have to explain it? Just look at yourself, it’s obvious. Working like this is just a nuisance to everyone!”

Mikkelsen shouted in disbelief, sweeping his palm over Manton’s body from top to bottom.

His face was bruised a dark blue, and one arm was wrapped tightly in bandages.

“I’m fine. Only one arm’s injured anyway.”

“That’s exactly the problem!”

If someone already hurt is working this hard, what does that make the rest of us?

Mikkelsen sighed deeply, shaking his head in frustration.

Of course, it wasn’t just the knights and mercenaries doing the work.

“Hey, bring the saw!”

“This nail isn’t in properly. Do it again!”

The villagers were sawing and planing the stacked wood around them.

Some were digging the ground with shovels, leveling the foundation, and raising timber columns with rope.

Their faces were set with seriousness and determination.

They were building the place they’d be living in from now on, so they were putting their hearts into it.

“Place the support beam here. And block off the area from there to there.”

“Ah, yes, understood.”

Meanwhile, Third Young Master Malion walked around the site with the village chief, pointing out precautions and carefully inspecting everything.

He wasn’t just trying to build the village efficiently—he was laying the groundwork to eventually construct a port here.

“Is this part done properly?”

“You’re doing well.”

Additionally, carpenters and craftsmen brought from Calpion and Daphne were helping out here and there as well.

Everyone present was completely absorbed in the reconstruction of Mudside, with no time to even blink.

For the first time in ages, the place was bustling with energy.

“Phew, another one done.”

Thanks to everyone sweating buckets and working hard, the log houses were beginning to take shape one by one.

They were a bit rough around the edges, given how quickly they were built, but compared to the tents the slash-and-burn farmers had lived in before, this was a hundred, no, a thousand times better.

While everyone was too busy to even blink—

“Hey, hurry up! Move it!”

At the rear of the reconstruction site.

Hardin lay slouched somewhere between a bed and a chair, grinning smugly.

A piece of jerky stuck halfway out of his mouth, and a bottle of liquor sat on the side table next to him.

Even his clothes gave off a full vacation vibe—light and relaxed.

Truly, fully armed in a different sense.

‘Ahhh, how long has it been since I had a break like this.’

Hardin’s grin didn’t look like it would fade anytime soon.

‘I want a drink too…’

‘He looks real comfortable, haha…’

Glances.

The mercenaries and knights cast him looks mixed with annoyance and envy.

But what could they do?

‘If you’re jealous, try becoming a Young Master too. I’ve been through plenty myself, you know.’

Just then, a familiar voice sounded next to Hardin.

“Whoa, did you really take down the Kreveion?”

“Told you, didn’t I? I turned it into steamed crab.”

It was Lord Cobalt and Mulgybson.

After hearing the news of the successful Kreveion subjugation, they had rushed over, saying they had to see it for themselves.

“Incredible, Young Master. To reclaim Mudside like this…”

Mulgybson, after surveying the area himself, was so moved he even sniffled with emotion.

On the other hand, Viscount Cobalt’s face was filled with astonishment.

‘He really did take down the Kreveion…’

He had thought it was dangerous, something completely unreasonable.

This time, even Hardin, he figured, would give up halfway.

The malevolent spider crab, Kreveion.

He’d heard countless rumors—like how an entire merchant guild was wiped out by it, or how a pirate crew was annihilated trying to kill it…

But Hardin had pulled it off.

There were injuries, sure—but not a single death. A flawless success.

‘…He’s really something. Truly amazing.’

Viscount Cobalt looked around at the people with sentimental eyes.

“Come on, let’s get moving, faster!”

“Over here too, come cut this one!”

Even though the work was hard, smiles crept onto people’s faces.

“Aaargh! I’m gonna die from this!”

“Wheeeze… wheeze!”

Of course, the knights and mercenaries’ faces were twisted in agony.

‘Well, that much is just a minor thing.’

In life, when you have to make certain sacrifices, your expression might sour from fatigue.

Still, everyone was probably doing it willingly.

No doubt about it.

Viscount Cobalt let out a needless cough and nodded to himself.

‘It’s been years since this matter tormented the family…’

The chronic issue that had long plagued Daphne, making it an impoverished territory.

Despite being a coastal land, it had no port—let alone any access to marine resources.

They had tried every possible means to solve it, but each attempt ended in failure. Eventually, everyone began to accept it as a matter of course.

And yet, that very problem had now been resolved so easily by Hardin’s hands.

‘Could it really be that God Faeron is helping us?’

Of course, he knew it wasn’t a god but Hardin who had done it all.

Still, each miracle Hardin brought forth felt so brilliant and extraordinary, it could almost be mistaken for divine power.

Cobalt nodded several times, then spoke in a voice that trembled faintly.

“Well done, Hardin. Once again… you’ve accomplished something incredible.”

“Of course I did. I did great.”

“Truly amazing.”

“Isn’t it though? Hahaha!”

At that moment, Hardin took a sip of liquor and got to his feet.

Thud!

Then, placing a hand on Cobalt’s shoulder, he gave a slight smile.

“But don’t be too happy just yet. This is only the beginning.”

“What do you mean?”

“Close your eyes for a second.”

“Why the eyes…?”

“Just close them, will you?”

“Ahem, alright.”

As Viscount Cobalt tightly shut his eyes, Hardin stretched out his arm and spoke in an overly dramatic tone.

“Now that that damn crab is gone, the fish will soon return to the sea. The catch volume will increase several times—no, several dozens of times. Just imagine it. Fishing boats coming back fully loaded, and the fishermen grinning ear to ear. Can you see it?”

“Oooooh, I see it!”

“There’ll be more tributes, and no more need for relief rations.”

“Yes, yes!”

I see it, I truly see it.

Cobalt nodded, a pleased smile curling his lips, and Hardin, now excited, continued.

“Once the village is restored, we’ll build a large port on that coast.”

“A port, yes, that’s a splendid idea.”

“And then we’ll all be happy, right? Just imagine it—dozens of ships arriving each day.”

“Ooooh…”

With Cobalt’s enthusiastic response, the image of an ideal port city began to take shape in Hardin’s mind.

Massive trade ships coming and going, a bustling port city teeming with people constantly on the move.

Countless foreigners arriving, and specialty goods made in Daphne being sold at high prices to the outside world through this port. Rare trade goods from the Fabian Empire would fetch outrageous prices abroad.

On top of that—

‘It’s a prime location, truly prime.’

The coast of Mudside wasn’t just connected to the sea. Part of its waters linked to a river that extended deep into the heart of the Fabian Empire like tentacles.

In other words, once a port was built, they could transport goods inland via waterway.

And since there were no sizable ports nearby, if they just built one…

‘It’s a jackpot.’

From port usage fees to the money spent by port users at inns and restaurants.

Not only would it open new avenues for income, but it would also allow them to extend their influence far and wide.

Once the port was built, for Daphne, it would be like giving wings to a lion.

It was then—

Flash!

Cobalt opened his eyes wide and, his face brimming with excitement, firmly grabbed Hardin’s hand and exclaimed.

“Good! Let’s go ahead and push for the port construction too, Hardin!”

“Right? We have to, don’t we?”

“Yes! Of course we do!”

Hardin grinned slyly, and beside him, former commander Mulgybson watched with a warm, pleased smile.

‘Truly admirable… I never imagined the Young Master would grow into someone this incredible…’

Everyone was in high spirits, when—

“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Brother.”

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Malion?”

As they turned their heads, they saw Malion, holding a bundle of parchments, adjusting his glasses and staring intently in their direction.

Hardin smirked and asked.

“Busy?”

“Yes, trying to finish everything you asked me to do… it’s not easy.”

“Don’t be such a baby.”

“Do I look like I’m whining?”

As Malion chuckled faintly, Hardin waved a hand dismissively.

“Enough nonsense. Did you look into what I asked?”

“You mean the magical artifact?”

“Yeah.”

From Cobalt to Malion—

Everyone’s expressions darkened for a moment.

The red magical orb found in Kreveion’s nest.

As soon as the mission ended, Malion had requested an appraisal from magicians in the nearby free city.

“Just as you suspected, it was enchanted with enchantment-type magic. Most likely, that’s what attracted the Kreveion.”

“Were you able to find out who did it?”

“No, not that far… We couldn’t identify the source of the artifact, and even after investigating from several angles, we found no related information. It appears to be a privately crafted item made in secret.”

Viscount Cobalt’s face grew grim.

“Who on earth would do such a thing…”

“…”

The issue of Mudside that had plagued the family for years.

They had always believed it was a natural disaster, but now, realizing it had been orchestrated by someone made their stomachs churn.

If someone with malicious intent had done this, then it wouldn’t be strange for such a thing to happen again.

Hardin stroked his chin in thought.

‘I’ll have to find out.’

Creating something like that couldn’t have been cheap. For someone to go that far meant they were clearly harboring intense malice toward the family.

Someone who once stabbed you in the back could easily do it again.

Now that he knew there was a threat, no matter how long it took, he needed to root it out.

Just as the atmosphere turned heavy—

“Everyone, come eat!”

“It’s all ready!”

From the far side of the coast, the women waved their hands and called out.

“…Food.”

“Phewww, let’s go eat.”

Those who had been working put down their tools and logs and began trudging toward the source of the voice.

‘Great timing.’

Hardin chuckled quietly, then pointed his thumb in the direction of the women and said.

“Everyone’s going to eat, right?”

“There’s no need for us to intrude and disrupt their meal… What do you think, Mulgybson?”

“I’ll follow your lead, Lord.”

As Cobalt and Mulgybson hesitated, Malion quietly stepped in.

“For reference, the food here is delicious. Lots of seafood too.”

“Ahem, then we’d best eat quietly so we don’t disturb anyone.”

“Wise words indeed.”

What a quick shift in tone…

Hardin snickered internally and let out a light laugh.

“Well then, shall we?”

A warm smile spread across everyone’s faces.