Oh no! After I Reincarnated, My Moms Became Son-cons! - Volume 9 - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Karana didn’t say anything else to me after that . She left after leading me to my room, so that I could get a good rest . We were going to talk again tomorrow .

The room wasn’t large . It was very simple . It was as though it was reserved for an ascetic monk . Philes and Shusia were on the other side . Although Philes wanted to stay with me, I turned him down .

It should be very safe in Socina City . That’s what my subconscious told me .

It was the first time I sat on a bed in another nation at peace . I looked at the room which only had a candle swaying . The baths here weren’t as wide . Next to the fire was a large wooden tub . Once the lid was removed, the steam would fill the entire room .

I removed my gear . It had been several days since I finally got to immerse myself in hot water . I leaned onto the wooden tub, and let out a comforted moan as my entire body went limp on the side of the tub . I looked at the ceiling that didn’t look as though it was cleaned and spaced out .

“The people of the city are the city’s lord, are they not?”

‘She said that a little too soon…’

I shook my head with a smile . Karana is a highly idealistic lord . She understood that the simplest principle in this world was, at the same time, the most difficult to fathom . That was what helped her persevere in her battle for her ideals . Her idea doesn’t fit with this era of imperialism . She can only see a small ray of hope no matter how hard she tries . In fact, sometimes, she won’t even see hope .

Despite that, she still worked hard, nonetheless . She made her residence the same as residences outside . She distributed all of her money to her people . She’s a very excellent lord and very smart woman; however, she gave everything to the city . She’s different to Nara . Nara leads Karnashun herself, while Karana wants to serve her people wholeheartedly .

However, this will not help Socina rise . The city on the snowy mountain was dull as ever . The people weren’t living in prosperity . Based off of the numbed and stern expressions of the people today, I could tell that the lives of the people in this city were by no means superior to those outside of it .

There were also the elders who couldn’t understand her . As a matter of fact, they publicly opposed her . If I decided to be cruel back then, she would’ve lost everything .

‘Is she lost?’

‘Does she feel that the path she treads is wrong?’

‘Does she feel that her efforts are futile? Does she cry to herself at night?’

‘I don’t know . ’

‘But there’s one thing I know, and that is the path she is walking is correct . ’

‘Perhaps there will be some minor mistakes and troubles . Perhaps she’ll reach a strange path . Perhaps her ideas will not be accepted in this world . Perhaps all of the nations will oppose her . ’

‘What I do know, though, is that there was a country who took the same path as she is taking . ’

‘That country is now standing strong in the east . It rose up and became a glorious nation from rock bottom . Karana’s thinking isn’t wrong . Karana’s vision lies further beyond any other, but she’s suffering, too, for she is doing the right thing in the wrong era . She’s chasing a light in the distance that can’t be reached in this dimension of darkness . ‘

‘She has a great ideal and the prospects look good; sadly, her timing is wrong . She’s in an era where the battle is the hardest, saddest, most confusing and despairing . Revolutionising this society’s systems and thinking is not attainable in a short timeframe . Karana might not see her ideal come to fruition . In fact, she might not even see a ray of it . ’

‘I wonder if she’ll give up . ’

I discovered the water had become slightly cold after I slightly opened my eyes . Luckily, I returned to reality, or I’d be ill tomorrow, without a doubt… ‘I don’t get sick as a half-elf, do I…?’ I stood up in the tub then wiped myself dry and lay down on the bed . The hard wooden board on my back made me feel nostalgic . It felt as though I returned to my room in my bedroom back then .

Perhaps it was the nostalgic feeling that made my first night in Socina City feel so comfortable, allowing me to have a particularly restful sleep .

A maid woke me up the next day . Philes, Shusia and I went downstairs together and headed to the dining hall . Philes massaged his neck uncomfortably . He softly said, “What is this place…? The bed is less comfortable than our beds at Troy City… It’s basically a plank of wood! Your Majesty, are we not welcome here…? This is no way to treat guests!”

“If we could see Karana’s room, I’m willing to bet it’s even worse . ”

I pat Philes on his shoulder and solemnly said, “Philes, your task is to protect me, not to come here on a holiday . Why are you complaining about your treatment already? Philes, have you mistaken your duty?”

“No, Your Majesty . It is just that ever since being on jobs with you, even Karnashun provided us with very good treatment . I never imagined that we would be treated this way here, which is why it has thrown me off…”

Philes glanced toward Shusia with concern .

‘Oh, so your heart was aching, because your sweetheart didn’t get a good night‘s rest, huh, you little punk?!’

I laughed, “My room was the same as yours . We’re all living in the same conditions . This is Socina we’re talking about . We’ve all seen that the living conditions here aren’t good, so don’t complain . After all, I was sleeping when you were sleeping on the wooden boards, as well . Karana was sleeping, too . Nobody abandoned you . ”

“True… If you are not complaining, we, indeed, should not be complaining either . ”

Philes nodded, and then asked, “So, what is your schedule for today, Your Majesty?”

“I’m going to go and discuss some business with Karana, which I estimate will last until noon . Go and buy some clothes with the guards during this time . While not everybody can buy a new suit, you can get thicker scarfs and gloves . Here’s my wallet . Go ahead and spend it . ”

I handed Philes my rattling wallet . Philes lingered for a moment before waving his hand and rejecting me, “No, no, no, we cannot use your money, Your Majesty . We…”

“What do you have? Didn’t that come from the salary I pay you? Moreover, it was my mistake for not preparing thicker clothing for you all, so it’s only fair that I should be responsible for getting you sufficiently warm clothing . If you’re all quivering, you won’t be able to protect me, either; so take it . ”

I shoved my wallet onto Philes chest . I checked to ensure that nobody was around before leaning over to his ear and whispering, “Remember to save some for yourself . Shusia is your girlfriend, after all . Buy her a hairpin or something . Don’t be stupid and spend it all for the guys . Give your girlfriend something . ”

“Your Majesty that is not such a good…”

“You’ll be fine if nobody knows!”

I looked at Philes’ dumbfounded face . Boy, did I want to give him a punch or roughly rub his cheeks – ideally both .

‘If you lack EQ that badly, your only choice will be to go for the innocent Valkyries . ’

“Ah, Your Majesty . Good morning . Did you rest well last night? Ah, I asked an unnecessary question . Seeing you look so energetic, it appears that you slept well last night . ”

As soon as we arrived at the main hall, we saw Karana in her purple dress . It was a very simple piece of clothing without any patterns, and she didn’t have any ornaments on . She only had a sapphire chest emblem at her chest .

I looked at her with a smile and responded, “I slept very well . Thank you for looking after me, Karana . ”

“Not at all . I am aware that the living conditions are simple and crude to you . I am glad that you have no complaints . Now then, please come and have breakfast with us . While we both have things to say to each other, let us maintain a lighthearted atmosphere for this final relaxing breakfast!”