As soon as I heard the condition—“Get married and produce heirs”—I couldn’t help but lose my composure for a moment, but thinking it over, it was a condition that the chairman grandfather could reasonably bring up.

“What Baron Yandel has achieved over these years is something no hero could match. That, no one can deny. But—”

The chairman grandfather paused and snapped his fingers.

“That could vanish at any moment.”

The Yandel family still has no heir.

Simply put, the moment I die, our baronial house will fall into ruin.

It wasn’t wrong even to my ears.

After all, I have no children, nor any close relatives.

“If something happens to the baron now, the Yandel house will disappear that very day. Most of the baron’s possessions will be confiscated back to the royal treasury.”

For the chairman grandfather who was planning to push me seriously, this was naturally the greatest worry.

At least some risk management, one might say.

If I faltered, all plans would definitely go awry, but if the Yandel house alone could survive, Melves—with its many affiliated houses—could minimize losses...

“...What if I have no intention to marry right now?”

“Then regrettably, this proposal must be put on hold. If even this condition is not met, no matter who I am, it will be impossible to persuade the other houses.”

I tentatively tested the waters, but the answer came back far stronger than expected.

There was no push-and-pull here.

“However, even so, our Welbait Marquisate will support you. But... as I said before, gaining the full backing of all Melves houses will come much later.”

“...I see.”

Nodding roughly to buy some time to think, the chairman grandfather added in a coaxing tone.

“Also, the heir need not be a barbarian. Given Melves’s nature, it’s preferable they not be human... but I have no intention to enforce that. The top priority is to avoid the Yandel house falling into the royal family’s hands.”

In other words, my marriage partner need not be barbarian.

“Ah, of course, marrying a woman of the same tribe is the best choice. The first child should inherit proper blood, so there will be fewer disputes among multiple heirs.”

Perhaps from living long in the noble circles until his hair turned white, the grandfather spoke so rationally that I first thought he was genuinely reasonable rather than meddlesome.

But...

“...I will take care of that issue myself.”

“May I take that as acceptance of the proposal?”

“I said I will consider it.”

A very noncommittal, evasive barbarian-style phrasing, leaving plenty of room to escape.

“I see.”

Yet the chairman grandfather smiled and continued, as if that was enough.

“If you have no partner, our family’s granddaughter—”

Geez, where did this old man come from now.

“Enough.”

“If you don’t like beastfolk, I could look for daughters of other houses...”

“Didn’t I just say enough?”

Sighing as if exasperated, the chairman’s eyes darkened meaningfully.

It was not the disappointment of an answer falling short of expectations.

“You do have a partner, then? When I heard the proposal, you must have already thought of someone.”

Then the chairman smiled kindly and nodded.

“That will be all for today.”

...Experience cannot be ignored.

After the marriage topic was settled,

Just as if waiting for a topic to close, the door opened and a servant brought tea, and we drank while discussing another matter.

“Baron, have you checked on the status of the Yandel family estate under construction in District 7?”

“...I have.”

It was still a terrible sight, even in memory.

The roof was beautifully raised, and from the look of it, the house was nearly complete.

If only it hadn’t been shattered so badly.

‘Looks like the move-in date is delayed again...’

When will the Yandel family estate ever be finished?

It felt hopeless, but I chose to think positively. If it had been completed as originally designed, it would probably have been quite cramped in its current state.

“Given how things are, you’d better buy some nearby land. Your household has grown unexpectedly.”

“That seems necessary. But wasn’t it the case that earlier the chairman promised to buy land because he knew I needed it?”

“Heh, it’s not easy to read Baron Yandel’s thoughts. I wanted to hear it clearly.”

“Next time just ask directly. It’ll be easier for both of us.”

“Oh, then. How large a plot do you want? Given the current times, you might be able to buy land at a very reasonable price.”

After that, we spent time chatting and discussing minor details like old friends.

And then...

“Let me know as soon as you’ve decided. There’s much to prepare for a grand wedding.”

After finishing the private meeting with the chairman, I rode back to the holy land by carriage, staring blankly out the window.

“Marriage, huh...”

It was a topic I had never seriously considered.

Or rather, I had thought about it a few times, but then dismissed the idea as absurd for someone like me.

There was one time I truly thought about it sincerely, but...

It didn’t end well.

“Haah...”

My head felt cluttered.

My chest wasn’t tight, but for some reason, I kept sighing.

It was like facing a huge mountain I would have to cross someday.

Marriage, marriage, marriage.

Those two words left by the chairman suddenly echoed persistently in my mind.

Clatter.

Even on the rocking carriage.

“The chief! The chief has returned!”

Even when welcomed by the warriors back at the holy land.

“...The Viphron residents settled well, no major issues yet. But it seems a waste to leave so much labor idle, so from tomorrow I’m thinking of deploying them on various tasks in the holy land. Is that okay?”

Even while listening to the administrative officer’s report in the office.

And...

“Hehe, sir, try some more of this.”

“Thank you.”

“...How is it? I added a bit more lemon juice today, does it suit your taste?”

“Delicious.”

“You don’t look good. Did something bad happen there?”

“No.”

Even while eating with my comrades.

That two-letter word lodged like a thorn in my throat, and I couldn’t focus on the conversation.

“Marriage, huh...”

What should I do about it?

Should I do it, or should I not?

I have no intention of a political marriage or anything like that, but the thought kept coming back.

“...!!”

“...?!!”

“...??”

If I don’t plan to return to Earth anyway.

If I intend to stay and live in this world.

Eventually, I will have to marry someone, won’t I?

‘So I can have children, grandchildren, and live peacefully with them all my life—’

Hmm, maybe that’s not so bad.

“...Maybe it’s not so bad after all.”

Without realizing it, I said that aloud.

Suddenly realizing, a strange silence fell deeply in the room.

“.......”

“.......”

Not everyone was looking at me.

Some sat frozen holding their spoons, others dropped their spoons.

“...Hic!”

Someone even hiccupped as if choking.

“...Oh?”

Amid that, someone busily chewing swallowed and let out an odd sound of surprise.

And from that moment—

“Bjorn Yandel.”

“Huh?”

“...What did you just say?”

“Y-You said marry! Marry, didn’t you?!”

The gazes gathering on me were full of questions.

“I-I also said it might not be so bad!”

Realizing I was talking to myself too late, I was lost for words, when Auyen cautiously spoke up beside me.

“It’s certainly time to find a partner. Actually, the whole city wonders why you haven’t yet. But...”

“But?”

“Did you suddenly bring up such a topic... Is there someone you’re planning to marry?”

The blunt question felt like a spear thrust; everyone at the table swallowed hard.

Understandably so.

No matter what might happen in the future, right now we were practically a community of fate.

So...

‘In this case, it’s better to be honest.’

I put down my spoon on the table.

Calming my breath, I told them about Melves’s proposal.

It wasn’t a long story.

Get married and produce # Nоvеlight # heirs quickly.

Then the entire Melves will mobilize to support the Yandel house.

It doesn’t matter if the spouse is not barbarian.

That was a proposal simple enough to be summed in a few lines.

But the reactions of my comrades to that were too many to summarize in just a few lines.

“Ah... so that’s what happened?”

“The old man was just being foolish.”

“So what will you do, sir? If you need a partner no matter what...”

“Oh! A son of Bjorn! Surely he’ll have tremendous potential! I’ll train him to be a great warrior!”

“Ainard, what do you mean by that?”

“Yes. I can’t just ignore that. Ainard said he would raise the old man’s son?”

“Huh? What’s wrong with that? If he’s Bjorn’s son, he’s like my own child.”

“No, I mean...!”

“Stop it! I don’t think he meant it like that!”

“Haa...”

It was a situation too confusing to even call that.

Yet the tension was quelled from a most unexpected place.

Strictly speaking, not truly quelled but entering a temporary lull.

“So... are you accepting that proposal?”

Amelia asked bluntly, and the room grew quiet.

“.......”

“.......”

“.......”

Even a recreational instructor used to public speaking would have difficulty opening their mouth with such intense focus.

I smiled bitterly and answered honestly once again.

“I’m going to think about it first.”

“...Just think?”

“Uh, yes, just think.”

“...But why? Why only think?”

Still a strange question.

I’m not a hermaphrodite barbarian or anything.

“Well...”

“...Well?”

“The other party’s consent is needed, isn’t it!”

That outburst hung over the table in an awkward silence again.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

How long did that silence last?

“So... you mean you’ll seek consent in the future?”

“Uh...”

“I may be mistaken, but what you said earlier sounded like you already have someone chosen—”

The moment Auyen asked, I jumped up.

As a warrior, I knew well.

A clever warrior must choose the battlefield himself.

Therefore...

“My stomach’s full; I’m sleepy!”

“...What?”

“I’m going to bed now!!”

Barbarian-style, I dashed safely to my room.

Then locked the door and lay on the bed, wrapping myself in the blanket, feeling somewhat at ease.

Though showing such a hurried escape to my comrades was a bit embarrassing, it couldn’t be helped.

A warrior overcomes any adversity.

Even a barbarian’s honesty is a virtue.

But as a K-barbarian with Confucian spirit engraved in my soul, how else could I have spoken?

[You have a partner? When I heard the proposal, you must have already thought of someone.]

Yeah, that’s something I can never tell anyone.

‘Get a grip, Hansu...’

I wasn’t the only one who thought of it.