HTLCCBFT Chapter 7

　　The essential tools Oliver needed were all stored in the game backpack that came with him. Therefore, when he actually went out, all he needed to bring was his overly cautious steward.

　　However, after witnessing his sudden fainting episode the day before, Fosse came fully prepared—aside from Johan, he brought along three personal male servants from the castle and even the few knights that had remained after Cameron’s forceful opposition.

　　After exiting the castle gate and walking about three miles forward, they reached the river that flowed through the forest outside Laina.

　　As they walked through the dense forest, Oliver’s attention was caught by something, and he couldn’t help but slow down.

　　The berries and wild fruits scattered on the ground seemed like piles of glittering ‘foraging’ experience points to him.

　　Although ‘Foraging’ as a skill was easiest to level up through logging, …… but the sight of so many wild fruits was too tempting to ignore.

　　After a brief moment of hesitation, Oliver decisively set aside his pride.

　　Knowing he was bathed in the loving and indulgent gazes of Fosse and the others, he still blushed slightly as he dismounted and lowered his head to begin patiently picking up the fruits.

　　Fosse was slightly surprised but soon found himself smiling softly, his light brown eyes reflecting the image of his adorable young master.

　　With his loyal and valiant knights standing guard, he didn’t need to worry about his young master’s safety.

　　Moreover, in his opinion, ever since the sudden death of the old king, with the hypocritical elder princes fighting viciously among themselves and not sparing even the least threatening younger brother, forcing Oliver to be cruelly exiled from the capital, his young master had become much quieter.

　　The beautiful profile in contemplation showed a maturity and melancholy that were unfamiliar compared to the carefree innocence Fosse knew of.

　　After seeing Oliver’s decision just now, Fosse, while relieved at his young master’s rapid growth, felt even more heartache.

　　Though picking wild fruits off the ground might not seem very noble… as long as his young master was happy, that was all that mattered.

　　Thus, as Oliver bent over to pick up each plump berry, Fosse graciously accepted them, placing them in a bamboo basket prepared in advance.

　　The forest was vast—although Oliver didn’t touch those still hanging from the branches, just collecting those that had fallen to the ground in a small area quickly filled three baskets.

　　Originally, Oliver was just a bit greedy for the experience points presented to him and certainly didn’t intend to pick every single fruit in the forest.

　　After collecting the fruits within sight, he estimated that the experience points gathered would be enough for leveling up, so he chose to stop while he was ahead.

　　As he accepted a wet cloth from the attentive Fosse to clean his fingers, he casually asked, “Why does nobody pick these wild fruits in the forest?”

　　Fosse replied gently, “Whether it’s the fields, the forest, or the river, everything within Laina belongs solely to the lord.”

　　Only after the lord has fully utilized them, do the freemen on the estate, after paying their taxes each season, get the privilege to enter the forest and collect a small amount of resources.

　　For serfs, such an opportunity was beyond their wildest dreams.

　　In fact, during the coldest days of the recent winter, a serf, desperate to save his six-year-old daughter from freezing, had no choice but to cut down a tree in the forest belonging to the lord under cover of night.

　　The fire they lit was their hope against the cold night but also a clear evidence of their crime—ironically, before he could warm up his daughter with her bluish complexion, another serf reported them to gain the overseer’s favor, braving the cold wind.

　　Upon learning that his property was stolen by a despicable serf, the overseer Anderson, who was leisurely enjoying stolen beer by a warm stove, flew into a rage.

　　Perhaps fearing the brutal lord would blame him if he found out, or angered at having to punish a damned serf in such freezing conditions… Anderson furiously grabbed his whip and approached the hated criminal, cursing and lashing without even a word of inquiry.

　　Knowing his fate was sealed upon hearing Anderson’s approaching footsteps, the serf could only stealthily push his barely alive daughter, Lucy, into the care of a neighbor he was on good terms with.

　　As Lucy, feverish and too weak to cry, watched, her father was brutally beaten to death before her eyes.

　　The other serfs watched with identical numb expressions on their faces.

　　Such was their fate as serfs.

　　Scenes even more tragic than this, driven by food shortages and harsh winters, were not new and certainly wouldn’t be the last.

　　Fortunately, Lucy’s cries were very faint, not enough to further infuriate Anderson, who, after cursing and shaking the blood off his whip, nonchalantly returned to his warm home.

　　—Just another presumptuous serf dead.

　　While Fosse might appear indifferent, he was not unaware of the serfs’ tragic fates.

　　Having been in the castle for only a couple of days, his sources were incredibly reliable: after all, the castle was full of old servants eager to show their loyalty to the new lord.

　　According to the estate’s laws, which were never strictly enforced, a serf daring to steal the lord’s property—even just cutting down a small tree—would not be flogged to death but would certainly face severe punishment.

　　But such a bloody and horrifying act would surely arouse the young, kind-hearted duke’s sympathy for the serfs, perhaps even frightening him.

　　Fosse thought it best not to bring it up unless the duke specifically asked.

　　Oliver was naturally unaware of Lucy’s father and other serfs’ tragic fate.

　　After hearing the reason given by Fosse, he felt somewhat helpless, but he was no longer surprised.

　　However, the old rules didn’t matter anymore.

　　The lord of Laina was now him—in this wilderness scorned even by the royal tax collectors, he could drastically change the existing ‘norms’ and it was unlikely anyone could stop  him.

　　“The benevolent God bestowed rain and fruits, not just for my own admiration, did he not?” Oliver said casually, without blinking, “Since it’s a generous gift from God, let everyone in the territory enjoy the fruits before they return to the earth.”

　　Letting ripe fruits rot on the ground without allowing the emaciated serfs to pick them for sustenance— despite after having his memories integrated, Oliver’s expectations of the noble’s morals had been lowered over and over again, he still despised such inhuman acts.

　　”Yes, Your Highness.”

　　Fosse anticipated the development of the situation as early as when Oliver opened his mouth to inquire.

　　After he calmly answered, while he followed the gracefully remounted Angelic Duke with his gaze, he stopped Johan, who attempted to take the basket of fruits from his hand, and sternly said, “The kind and generous lord has given his instructions, hurry now.”

　　Johan, momentarily stunned, quickly responded, “Understood, sir Fosse.”

　　Fosse coldly watched him as he darted in the direction of the castle and snorted.

　　The fruit that His Highness had personally picked and placed into the basket was a  gift that belonged to him alone.

　　—How could he let this ambitious brat covet it!

　　Accompanied closely by his attendants, Oliver rode only a short distance before reaching the riverbank, the destination of their trip.

　　The moss-stained water wasn’t particularly rapid, and occasionally, lively fish jumped out, their splashing creating snow-white droplets that refracted sunlight, compelling people to squint.

　　Even without the game system’s cheat fishing rod, it was quite a suitable stretch for fishing.

　　Oliver had just taken the basic fishing rod out of the game backpack when he couldn’t help but freeze.

　　After he had repeatedly demonstrated his miraculous abilities, the servants, who would have been called fools of faith, were only mildly surprised by his sudden production of a fishing rod, and quickly adapted.

　　But… he hadn’t expected that he would forget to prepare bait!

　　Before Oliver could feel distressed, the far more capable and considerate steward, Fosse, as if by magic, naturally had the other servants bring out a jar of worms that he had, at some unknown time, had the children of the territory dig up from the ground.

　　Oliver watched in silence as a servant unblinkingly took out a worm, resembling an earthworm, and diligently hooked it—Fosse obviously wouldn’t allow his angelic young master to directly touch such filthy things.

　　—Fosse, forever a legend.¹——福斯，永远滴神。internet slang, a more literal translation would be: “Fosse, the eternal god.”

　　Oliver sighed internally, no longer dwelling on the meticulous care he received, and calmly cast the line.

　　Among those present, the ones who could truly be considered closest and most familiar with Duke Oliver were, of course, steward Fosse and the knight commander Noel.

　　In terms of their treatment of Oliver, the two men of completely different ages surprisingly maintained an astonishing unity: even at the cost of their lives, they were absolutely determined to fulfill the Angelic Duke’s wishes.

　　Whether it was Oliver’s whimsical decision to pick fruits personally or his sudden idea to go fishing with people, both displayed almost identical doting smiles on their faces, doing their utmost to help realize it.

　　But they were also equally convinced that even with the blessing of the gods, for an absolute beginner to catch fish in the river was utterly—

　　“Splash, splash”

　　This thought still lingered in their minds when a series of clear, startling sounds made everyone involuntarily widen their eyes in disbelief.

　　As the float suddenly sank, a dark gray and plump shadow of a fish ferociously bit the hook, engaging in a fierce battle with Oliver, who was fully prepared for the battle!

TL Here, I would much appreciate it if you would consider donating to my ko-fi ♥

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  ——福斯，永远滴神。internet slang, a more literal translation would be: “Fosse, the eternal god.”