The Greatest Estate Designer - Chapter 1

Something novel-like happened to me. When I opened my eyes, I found myself inside a novel.

‘Iron-Blooded Knight’ is an indomitable epic led by the icy cold hero, Javier Asrahan. I transmigrated into the world of that grand story as the drunken young master whom Javier served when he was still unknown.

I didn’t know back then that this was the beginning of a story in which I, an ordinary civil engineering student, became the guardian of this world.

♣

[Relationship Point (RP) System has been activated.]

[You can acquire RP by improving relationships with key characters.]

[You can develop skills by investing the acquired RP.]

[Your current RP: 0]

Strange messages like an alarm rang inside my head. What is RP? What is skill development?

‘I’m tired. So sleepy’

On the bed, Suho frowned and tossed his body. It was annoying. Of course it was. I took classes during the day. At night, I worked hard at my part-time job. In the meantime, it was natural that I was tired because I read novels all night long. No, it’s almost karma.

‘But, I’ve done my homework.’

I could get up 30 minutes later than usual. A satisfied smile arose at the thought. However, Suho’s smile didn’t last long.

“…Please wake up.”

I heard an unfamiliar voice. The voice felt cold and sharp.

‘Is it a dream?’

Maybe it’s the sound that came from dreams. Suho tossed and turned to the opposite direction. But, even that gesture couldn’t stop the voice from being heard again.

“It’s late. It’s time to get up, Lloyd-nim.”

(tl/n: 님 or nim is a suffix used to address someone with respect)

….Huh? It was not a dream. There was definitely a voice coming from right next to me.

‘How?’

I dazedly came to my senses. This was a 2-pyeong goshiwon room12-pyeong goshiwon room: pyeong is a Korean unit of area and floorspace. 1 pyeong is about 3,305 square meter. Goshiwon is a small room filled with everything you can find in a normal house. It is originally a residential facility for exam takers.. I always locked the door. But, there was someone else who came inside and talked to me?

Suho carefully opened his eyes. His whole body stiffened without him even realizing it. 

“Are you awake? You woke up quickly today.”

“….”

A silver-haired handsome man was sitting neatly by the bed. I think he was about twenty. He had a face bereft of a smile. His figure looked as good as a blade forged from ice frost.

“Javier… Asrahan?”, Suho murmured unconsciously. His murmur could be heard clearly. 

In the ‘Iron-Blooded Knight’ novel that I read all night long last night, there was an illustration of the novel’s protagonist, Javier Asrahan, who looked like the man in front of me. No, it was exactly the same, even to his smile with only one corner raised that looked like an elegant painting.

“You finally remembered my name, thank you.”

“….”

Just by looking at your face, I could tell you didn’t appreciate it at all.

“But, why are you here?” I spat out unconsciously. Javier’s face grew a little darker.

“Because the Lord has entrusted me to be your escort.”

“The Lord? Escort?”

“Right.”

“Why?”

“Just in case something like last night happened again.”

“Last night, I…”

“You were so drunk you couldn’t walk. You went on a rampage in the tavern and destroyed three tables, six chairs, nineteen plates, and six candlesticks. Oh, you also wrecked the buffalo horn ornament the owner used to love.

… I am innocent. I meant it. I only read books at goshiwon last night.

My head was throbbing. Getting hungover because of alcohol I didn’t even drink, it was a little unfair.

“Hoo, then give me some water first.”

I wanted to get myself together first. I looked around the bedroom while gulping down the water Javier had brought me. It was an unfamiliar, clean, and spacious bedroom. It was different from my 2-pyeong goshiwon room where the yellow wallpaper was in shambles.

‘This is a little crazy.’

Could it really be possession like the plot of a novel? And, I possessed a nobleman? Suho accepted this reality readily. This was paradise compared to a life full of anxiety without family at goshiwon. But, there was something that caught his eyes.

“What is that?”

Suho pointed to the cabinet on the other side of the bed. There was a red piece of paper attached to the cabinet that looked odd. It wasn’t just there. It’s on the big bookshelf, on the refreshment table, on the chair where Javier sat, and even on his bed. Everything called furniture had a red label pasted on it.

‘This can’t be.’

Suho gulped down dryly. My conjecture was confirmed by Javier.

“Have you forgotten already? It’s a foreclosure sign that was sticked yesterday.”

“….”

That was a concise answer. Thanks to that, it suddenly occurred to me. The baron whom Javier served fell at the beginning of the novel. The baron and his wife were swindled by a vicious scammer and then they committed suicide after losing all of their possessions and land. What about the Baron’s eldest son, Lloyd? He fell ill and died because of alcohol intoxication. Afterward, Javier built Lloyd’s grave and left the territory. That was the prologue of the grand story where the protagonist, Javier Asrahan, took the first step into the world.

“So I possessed the young master who died at the beginning because of alcohol? Me?”

The joy from becoming an aristocrat soon cooled down.

This felt like a huge problem.

♣

“Whoa, this is real. Truly.”

A few hours later Suho, no, Lloyd, was facing a mirror. On the full-length mirror with a red foreclosure label pasted on just like other furniture, there stood a smooth-looking black-haired man. It was Lloyd.

“That’s me now.”

In fact, I still couldn’t believe it. I didn’t hate it though.

No, to be honest, I liked it. Life in Korea was hard.

‘I’ve had a hard time.’

Originally, I was the only son of an ordinary family. I took the CSAT exam like everyone else. I became a civil engineering student in college. But when I was in the army, the shadow of real estate investment scam strangled my parents. My parents, who died like that, left me with only a large amount of debt. The house and all of the properties were confiscated. In order to not take on the remaining debts, I had to give up my inheritance. 

‘I wouldn’t have been able to go to school without the scholarship for the low-income class.’

At least, I did well in my studies. However, living expenses other than tuition fees were another problem. I had to move back and forth between part-time jobs. It wasn’t easy to maintain my grades while working.

In the 2-pyeong cramped goshiwon room, I had nosebleeds seven times a week. The free rice and kimchi provided by the goshiwon were the last barrier of my endurance. So, Suho survived like a crook until yesterday. 

‘By becoming a nobleman in a fantasy novel I’ve read, I could catch my breath for the first time in a while.’

He wasn’t a grand aristocrat like a duke or a count. He was just a baron in the countryside with a single country estate, but Lloyd liked it more.

‘You won’t get caught in a big trouble. For example, something like treason.’

Whenever he watched historical or medieval dramas, that had always been a problem. No matter how prominent the aristocrats were, if they got tangled up in the treason, it was over. They literally would get decapitated without any excuse given.

‘I’d rather be a baron on the periphery than that. It’s a niche position on its own.’

There was no way I’d ever get involved with big incidents such as treason. I can live in luxury and prosperity in the countryside as the heir to a countryside baron. Wouldn’t I be able to live contentedly in such a place?

‘Of course, it’s after settling the Baron’s debts.’

That was the problem.

‘I can’t believe now is the time I transmigrated.’

Javier’s explanation came to mind. The date of the foreclosure was yesterday.

In other words, what if the possession took place just a month or two earlier? I could’ve stopped the con-artist from approaching the Baron. I really wanted to grab the novel author by the collar.

‘Still, It has already happened so we just have to fix it.’

Otherwise, the Baron couple would commit suicide next year. Then, the mansion and estate would be sold and he’d become a villain

‘It would turn out the same as when I was in Korea.’

It was a nightmare. I just wanted to avoid that. I didn’t want to go through the same mess again. 

To do that, I had to make money somehow. Money to pay off the Baron’s debt. I stared at the mirror for a long time. Then suddenly, something came to mind.

Lloyd turned to Javier, who stood beside him.

“Hey.”

“Yes, Lloyd-nim.”

“Is our fiefdom rich?”

“Yes?”

“How much would it be if I collect money from the fief?”

“Are you talking about taxes?”

“No, not like that.”

“Then?”

“Like IMF’s gold-raising campaign. Huft, no. It won’t work.”

Lloyd shook his head. He had wondered if collecting money from people in the fief would be useful, but thinking about it, it wouldn’t. If the money was collected without any justification, it was obvious that there would be a huge backlash.

‘And that’s still not enough to pay all of the debt in one sitting.’

I remembered the contents of the novel’s beginning. The deadline to pay off the debt was within two years but before that time came, the Baron couple killed themselves. The continual pressure because of the debt. The rising interest. The piling debt so high there was no way to repay. Because of these, the couple loses all hope.

‘That’s exactly a year from now on.’

Five months after that, Lloyd died while throwing up blood inside his favorite tavern’s room. That was mentioned in the prologue of Iron-Blooded Knight.

‘Damn it. This isn’t some decalcomania.’

How can it be so similar to what he experienced in Korea? The more he thought about it, the worse he felt.

“Tsk. Let’s go on a walk.”

It was best to take a walk when your head was a mess. Walking had been his habit since he was still Kim Suho of South Korea. No, maybe it’s almost the only relief he could afford because a walk didn’t cost any money.

So, he left the room with Javier. When he got to the mansion’s hallway, he ran into a woman who was coming from the other side. She was a fine middle-aged woman with an aura full of refinement and grace.

‘Don’t tell me?’

Suddenly there was a name that popped into mind. Marbella Frontera. The baron’s mistress and Lloyd Frontera’s mother. She was the only middle-aged woman in this mansion who had that kind of atmosphere. Lloyd swallowed dryly.

‘I’ve run into you, out of all people.’

Were there any parents who didn’t recognize their children? He might get caught just like this. 

Fortunately, such worries were groundless. It was because as soon as the baroness saw him, she clicked her tongue.

“Are you going out for another drink?”

“….”

The woman gazed at him. Her expression was filled with sorrow and concern. Who would look happy if your son only drank and played every day even though the family was falling apart?! I didn’t know anyone like that.

“Enjoy it in moderation. It’s not good for your health.”

“….”

The woman passed by with a small sigh. Lloyd had to stroke his chest secretly.

‘I didn’t get caught. Should I say that it’s fortunate?’

Lloyd Frontera was a man who drank every day since he opened his eyes. Thanks to that, Lloyd’s mother seemed to be concerned about him with such prejudice.

‘It felt a bit bitter though.’

Suddenly, I remembered when I was a freshman at college. It was a time when my family was still well off. I was just a freshman who didn’t know anything. I remembered drinking at OT2OT: Student orientation in Korea, a welcoming event for freshmen. and MT3MT: Membership Training, an event where every student from the same major from freshman to senior spent time at the same place. everyday, Whenever that happened, my mother made me dried pollack soup without saying anything. Now, it was already in the past and I couldn’t turn back time.

Lloyd bit hard on his lower lip. His stride grew by leaps and bounds. Maybe that’s why as soon as they saw him on the road, the villagers hurriedly retreated to the side of the road. Everyone lowered their heads to avoid eye contact. A woman trembled with her hands clenched tightly. Some farmers even had their complexions turned pale. Thanks to this, he was able to realize his situation at once.

‘Yes, this is what kind of person Lloyd is.’

The contents of the novel came to mind again. The son of Baron Frontera was named Lloyd Frontera. When he was drunk, he often broke or threw things. Violent assault and verbal abuse against one’s subordinates were the basics. In short, he was a trashy human being with truly worst qualities.

‘That’s why everyone hated me so much. It seems that I’m totally hated.’

I laugh bitterly.

“Hey.”

I asked Javier who was by my side.

“What’s wrong with everybody? You don’t usually treat your lord’s son like that, do you?”

That was common sense. The Lord was the most powerful man in the region. So what if the Lord’s son was a mess? They should just smile and pretend to respect him at least in front of his face. They had to try to do that. Just like the owner of a chicken restaurant serving the son of the building owner who stopped by the store, or like a permanent manager who became a ‘yesman’ to the son of the boss who joined the company as an employee. Wouldn’t that be the case for the people here too?

“In general, yes.”

“In general? Only?”

“Yes.”

“Then what about now?”

Javier answered coldly. “It’s an emergency.”

“An emergency?”

“In general, a territorial emergency refers to a time when there’s a great threat to the people’s livelihood, to the well-being of the people, and to the safety of the people.”

“….. And that’s me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s quite straightforward.”

“What’s straightforward?”

“Oh, you hit the bullseye with facts.” (tl/n: Here, the author used 뼈 때린다구, a Korean slang which meant ‘to point out a fact that causes mental suffering; ex: a weakness of another person.)

“….”

Javier stared at him with an expression that said ‘what the hell are you talking about?’. Even so, his appearance was still as cold and elegant as a painting.

‘Yeah, it was this guy. Javier.’

Javier was a noble and honorable knight. He was a man who doesn’t compromise with any injustice, a hero who is literally the specimen of knights in the novel. Javier’s fame later rose throughout the entire Loracian continent. Of course, his personality wouldn’t change just because he was unpopular right now.

“That’s kind of embarrassing. I swear I never assaulted Lloyd-nim.”

“Have you?”

“No.”

“Don’t you know about factual assault?”

“I don’t know.”

“By any chance, have you ever hated me?”

“No, never.”

… no, you looked like you had enough. Lloyd was able to realize that.

‘He hates me too.’

Javier was a noble knight who valued honor. So, it was only natural for him to hate rascals like Lloyd. Nevertheless, it was this guy who stood by Lloyd’s side until he died. He kept his loyalty to the baron, who was his main master, to the end.

‘What a great guy.’

A swordmaster who would create history in the continent of Loracian. The Greatest Swordmaster of all time. That’s the kind of guy my faithful escort would be in the future.

Feeling a little strange, Lloyd kept on walking. As a result, he ended up standing in front of a shabby building.

“Where are we?”

“It’s a tavern.”

“A tavern?”

“Yes. This is where Lloyd-nim spent more time than the mansion.”

“Is this my regular pub?”

“Of course. Unless Lloyd-nim used another tavern behind my back.”

“….”

Oh my God. Lloyd clicked his tongue inward. He was just walking aimlessly. After all that, the place he visited was his regular pub. How many times did he come and go to this place? Even though the soul changed, his body automatically came all the way here.

‘This isn’t some kind of homing instinct. Are you a puppy? Spawning salmon? Or General Kim Yu-shin?’

He lashed out at the eldest son of the baron who was the original owner of this body and then turned away.

‘I can’t drink during the day, though.’

Lloyd would’ve enjoyed it, but not him. There was already a lot to think about but he didn’t have the slightest intention to drink alcohol.

“Are you going back like this?”

“Of course.”

I replied to Javier’s question right away. However, Javier’s reply was unexpected.

“I’m disappointed, then.”

“… What?”

“Just as I said, I’m disappointed in Lloyd-nim.”

“Did you expect me to drink during the day?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I thought Lloyd-nim came here to apologize and make amends for what happened last night.”

“So you’re disappointed I just turned around?”

“Yes, It’s the duty of a nobleman to be responsible, befitting of one’s status”

“…..”

This guy, I’ve felt this for a while but his straightforwardness is no joke. Even then it hits hard. In other words, Javier had a strange talent for carefully and painfully inserting advice inside his words.

“The tavern is a home the owner has been building his whole life, even if it’s a shabby place. Last night, Lloyd-nim caused a riot and damaged the furniture in such a precious space.”

“…”

“Besides that, Lloyd-nim, he took care of his old mother alone.”

“His mother?”

“Yes. She has been in poor health lately. So the tavern owner was even more worried.”

“So, I’ve been torturing that poor guy?

“Yes.”

“…..”

It’s something I didn’t even commit, but Javier’s straight jabs made of facts kept coming.

“Actually, the owner appealed to me last night. He said he felt like dying because his mother had suffered so much from the cold and then was faced with this kind of misconduct.”

“….”

“You mustn’t run away. After all, Lloyd-nim is the future owner of this estate…”

“Wait a moment. That’s it.”

Lloyd cut off Javier. Is it hard to hear more? No, it wasn’t. It was because listening to what Javier said made him ponder about something.

“The tavern owner’s mother is having a hard time from the late winter cold?”

“Yes, young master.”

“Then, why don’t you just warm the floor with firewood?”

“Pardon?”

“The people here… Don’t they know how to heat things up?”

“…..”

I don’t know. That’s what he said from the look in his eyes. The moment I realized that, Lloyd suddenly remembered.

‘Come to think of it, there was nothing like that in my bedroom at the Baron’s mansion.’

He was a civil engineer. It was his habit to look at the structure of the building wherever he went. Thanks to this, he was able to quickly grasp the structure of the baron’s mansion. There were no heating facilities, such as circular heating system or the so-called ondol4Ondol: underfloor heating; a Korean traditional architecture..

Instead, did the fireplace occupy one side of the bedroom? If that’s the case, maybe the tavern owner’s house is similar.

No, unlike an aristocrat’s mansion with fireplaces in each room, one fireplace placed in the kitchen would cover for the entire house.

‘Of course it’s cold. The fireplace has more heat loss compared to the ondol.’

But obviously, it wasn’t without flaws.

How to implement a good ondol heating system? The building’s floor should be completely replaced or rebuilt. The insulation of the building should also be reinforced. We would have to deal with the monstrous consumption of firewood. But, both of these shortcomings….

‘I can overcome it. No, rather, I can use that. It’s possible if it’s me.’

What if I used my major’s knowledge?

While thinking of the grim reality on how to pay off the enormous debt, I came up with a plan to raise a large sum of money.

The plan was already settled, so then I drew the bigger picture.

‘This is it. It won’t be over with just the tavern owner’s house. It’s a bigger large-scale construction project. There are plenty of chances.’

I was determined to make the big picture that came to mind a reality. So, I went straight into the tavern.