I’m the Main Villain but the Heroines Are Obsessed With Me

18 – 8. Lord Volkanov’s Decree (2)

After checking the message, Ian used teleportation to move to Ashlan first.

Ideally, he would have gone to Trisha, where Volkanov’s main residence was. But it wasn’t connected via teleportation.

So, he decided to travel to the main house by carriage.

As Ian looked out the window in the rattling carriage, a heavy sigh escaped his lips.

“It’s grim…”

All he could see was white mountain ranges. There was no separate picturesque view… On one hand, he wondered if people could live in such a place.

It would be a perfect tourist destination, but in Ian’s pressured perspective, developing it was an overwhelming task.

“There’s a lot to do.”

Managing Ariel and the heroines’ affairs was already giving him a headache. Now, he had to deal with the territory being corrupted…

Eventually, Ian turned his gaze inside the carriage. Watching those views would drive him crazy.

Feeling stifled, he glanced at Eri sitting next to him.

“I used to be really anxious… about when she might show her true self and come after me with a dagger…”

She had made him nervous, forcing him to stay on edge. But in a situation like this, there was no stronger presence than hers.

As if it were in her heart, he was on the verge of wanting to hold her hand and give thanks with a hug.

“Compared to the pitiful servants of the wretched Volkanov estate, she is like a fairy.”

His heart may be uneasy, but at least one task was certain.

That alone was undoubtedly better than the servants of the gods.

Even when he played the original, Ian never forgot the bizarre things they had uploaded to the planning drawer.

They’re trying to farm in the harsh northern climate. We’re already struggling to make ends meet. They go far away to gather seafood for Ariel.

“These guys shouldn’t think for themselves. They should work as if they have no brains at all.”

That’s why Ian knew how to manage them.

There’s only one way: to assign tasks one by one so they don’t make their own judgments.

Of course, this kind of task delegation often led to resistance…

“Isn’t that my job?”

The more they resist, the harder he can push.

“That’s why I brought Ariel with me.”

Her unique ability to work quickly would undoubtedly shine.

While she handles the overflowing documents, he can rebuild the future vision of the ruined Kilaine family.

What Ian prepared wasn’t the end of Ariel.

Ian looked at Igor, who was sitting in front of him, diligently scribbling on the problem.

“Ugh… Did this professor really assign this kind of thing as homework? And why is the carriage shaking so much…”

Igor, who had neatly treated the injuries he received from Durahan, also headed to the Volkanov estate.

To be honest, there was no reason to bring him… When the squad leader works hard, the squad members can rest comfortably.

The squad leader and the squad members are a team in their own right.

“When the servants work carelessly, just put him by the side. His appearance is rugged, so it’s enough.”

Observation tower. Igor’s value would be enough when used to that extent.

Thinking like that, how much time had passed?

Ian spotted a huge mansion through a crack in the window.

A man with disheveled hair standing in front of the mansion.

“We’ve arrived at Trissla.”

It was the moment when Ian set foot in the Volkanov Viscount.

***

As expected, there was no reception.

The only one who welcomed Ian despite his long journey to handle the deputy duties was the housekeeper, Shulkin Jajak.

It was a pitiful situation compared to Ariel, who would summon the knights as soon as she heard the word “homecoming.”

Ian decided not to pay attention to it.

“Why should I bother even if the housekeeper has come?”

After all, he was a neglected child. It would be foolish to expect a warm welcome.

From their perspective, he was just a figurehead as well.

Perhaps they thought he would temporarily stay in the family and return to the academy on weekdays.

To prove that fact, Shulkin also showed a surprised reaction when he saw two people beside Ian.

He probably didn’t expect Ian to bring someone along.

Shulkin alternately looked at Ian, Eri, and Igor, then bowed deeply.

“You’ve had a long journey. I apologize for the suddenness of the situation, but please understand.”

“It’s nothing. So how is the state of the family at the moment?”

While walking towards the main building, Shulkin answered Ian’s question nonchalantly.

“To be honest, Lord Ian doesn’t have that much to do. The people who have come will handle everything, so you just need to give your approval in the end.”

“Just give my approval…”

“Isn’t that more convenient for Lord Ian? Since you usually weren’t in the family… It would be overwhelming to jump straight into work.”

Housekeeper Shulkin showed a kind smile while saying that.

However, Ian clearly saw what thoughts were behind that smile.

“If you don’t even know how to properly do your job, why are you being so arrogant… Just stay quiet…”

That must be what he meant… But Shulkin overlooked something.

First, Ian was not accustomed to such consideration.

And secondly, Ian was better at handling tasks than anyone in the family.

“What nonsense.”

“…. My Lord?”

Shulkin’s shoulders trembled at Ian’s sudden rough swearing.

He stood still and turned to look at Ian.

Only then did he realize.

“You should watch your language… I’ll give you two hours. Bring everything.”

“Um, excuse me… What exactly should we bring?”

“Everything that you’ve been working on. And the plans that Father was making… Turn them all into reports and bring them within two hours.”

Ian Volkunov. He, who was once an invisible man, has returned as a tyrant.

***

When Ian said to produce and submit the report within two hours, Shulkin thought it was a joke.

He couldn’t help but think how much work Volkunov Viscountcy had.

Management of the territory, food issues, and tasks that were practically the main business of Volkunov. And even supervising the mines and barbarian tribes.

It was not an easy task to turn such tasks into a report.

On top of that, the volume was not insignificant. It was data that amounted to about 400 pages… How in the world did he expect to bring it all?

That’s why Shulkin asked again.

“Do my words sound like a joke?”

In the end, due to Ian’s cold gaze, Shulkin had no choice but to make the report with a resigned feeling.

Recalling the piles of documents that Ian handed over, Shulkin trembled.

It wasn’t the first time he had shown such a reaction.

“Oh… How can he give orders in such a haphazard manner…”

“Is it okay to just leave Ian alone? He doesn’t even know how to properly read a single document, so why is he asking for a report?”

“At this rate… Isn’t he destroying what the ancestors have achieved… It’s deeply worrisome.”

Those who worked with Shulkin were also trembling at Ian’s orders.

Shulkin remembered Ian who quietly confirmed the report.

“What is he thinking…”

Although he usually had a rather favorable view of Ian, this time he thought it was a bit too much.

To be honest… It was beyond reasonable doubt.

Documents with a length of 400 pages. It was a volume that even capable divine beings would have to stay up all night to handle. How could he possibly confirm them all?

“He should return to Hwanguo after the weekend…”

There were two days left. It would be exhausting enough to confirm that report one by one within that time frame.

After thinking for a while, Shulkin came to a conclusion.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was only one reason why Ian would go to such lengths.

“Does he want to be acknowledged?”

Without realizing, Shulkin’s head had turned white. But he still had memories of Ian Volkunov from his childhood when he closed his eyes.

A young child who followed his lord everywhere… He usually had such stubborn eyes, but he was a child who held his parents dear.

In Shulkin’s memories, Ian was always a child who was rejected by his parents. Despite experiencing such pain, he tried to gain recognition from his parents.

As he looked at that figure, it felt like his heart was being squeezed, but… sadly, he couldn’t help Ian.

He was the steward of Volkanov, practically the right hand of the master. In such a situation, it was impossible for him to take Ian’s side.

“Sigh…”

Shulkin, who was thinking of Ian, returned to reality once again.

He probably had only one reason to risk his life like that.

To lead Volkanov well until the master recovers. To make an effort to regain recognition.

But Shulkin thought it was impossible.

“Excessive determination is nothing but arrogance…”

There had always been a saying that willpower makes everything possible. However, even if willpower is overflowing, if it becomes excessive, it turns into arrogance.

From Shulkin’s perspective, Ian was too pitiful.

***

“Captain. It seems we can finish processing the backlog of reports by today.”

“Already done?”

All those documents?

Ian, surprised by Eri’s words, looked at her with wide eyes.

He knew that her work speed was fast, but he never thought she would complete the tasks so quickly.

He expected it to take at least a day, but Eri managed to process about 350 documents in just 4 hours.

Impressed by her extraordinary speed, Ian couldn’t help but admire.

“Impressive… I’m glad I brought you.”

“You’re giving me too much credit. I could do it with the help of the spirits. Besides, I didn’t do it all by myself.”

Kind-hearted Eri gave credit to everyone.

“Igor-san also helped a lot.”

She shifted her gaze to her fingertip, and there was Igor, diligently scribbling with a pen.

“E…nn… Volka…nov…”

Eri’s method was simple. If the spirits and the documents she inspected were deemed fine, she would pass them to Igor, and Igor would write Ian’s signature on the documents she inspected.

Of course, signing wasn’t a difficult task, but if the quantity exceeded 400, and he had to replicate Ian’s handwriting perfectly, it was no easy job.

Looking at Igor, who was sweating profusely while writing, Ian felt sympathy.

“If he’s going to do that much for me, I should make sure to reward him properly.”

If only it were a carrot instead of a whip. It tends to bend and gradually break.

Once things are somewhat under control, I should give some appropriate rewards. Just providing a decent meal would make them ecstatic.

Ian, who had just solved the formidable enemy called a report, refocused on his work.

“The biggest hurdle, the paperwork, has been resolved with Eri’s help…”

Now, all that’s left is worrying about Volkanov’s future.

Thud.

While Eri sipped her Taon coffee, Ian trembled as he held the planning document in his hand.

“Mr. Kilian… If we continue to handle things like this, the family won’t survive…”

He knew it was a mess from the start, but this was a bit too much.

There wasn’t a single part that was functioning properly.

First and foremost, the current state of the family’s finances was the main issue.

“We’re running out of money… It’s bad.”

In reality, Volkanov wasn’t as wealthy as its reputation suggested.

The Barony of Volkanov was, from the beginning, not a terrain that could generate much wealth.

Its barren land and harsh climate were lands of death for living creatures.

While there was land with a warm climate, like where Ian stayed in Ashlanthor, it wasn’t suitable for farming due to the arid climate.

The problem was the constant raids by the northern barbarians as Ian tried to survive while blocking the Marquises and savages.

“We’ve been able to get tax benefits and fend off the marquises and savages by obtaining the position of White Knight, but…”

How long can this be sustained?

What Volkanov’s domain needed right now wasn’t something else. It needed something to suck in money. That was clear.

What was even more problematic in this situation was that there were still many people who hadn’t come to their senses.

“The farmers are rushing to offer suggestions, saying that they need to come up with a solution because it seems like farming will fail… But if they don’t find a solution, what’s the point?”

Seasoned farmers could be considered experts when it came to upland farming. There was no solution unless they accepted their advice…

In the end, Ian had no choice but to draw his sword.

“Sigh… I didn’t want it to come to this.”

There was only one way to turn the situation around. Ian looked at Eri, who stood by his side.

“Eri.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Go get some potatoes.”

“Potatoes, you say?”

“Sure, it’s about potatoes.”

Upon Ian’s words, urging her to fetch potatoes, Eri tilted her head but immediately moved her body.

After opening the door and seeing her, Ian let out a deep sigh.

“I have no choice.”

A cash crop. It was time to resort to a money-making means that could somewhat boost the initial management of the territory.