Isaac sat in the jolting carriage bound for Royal Capital, thinking about the FAQ pinned in his Study: "What's a good way to lead people?" "Build trust little by little."
(Seriously... FAQ, my ass... utterly useless.)
The handbook Lord had left him said nothing beyond "do it steadily." Not a single useful hint for what Isaac actually wanted to accomplish.
Winter passed in a haze of disappointment, and his fourth year ended quietly, unremarkable.
He kept active with Patrick, running and playing for health, and even did step exercises to strengthen his heart and lungs without overstraining his still-developing body.
He bonded with Tiffany and Lisa, learning naturally from the maids what girls liked. At the same time, he collected low-key intelligence on what his own family preferred and what pleased them.
He spent hours studying the kingdom and the Wellrod territory, analyzing surrounding political situations. None of it was wasted—everything was mundane but necessary. Yet Isaac remained unsatisfied.
(The real problem... I still don't know how to get the Vassal Nobles on my side... what do I do?)
He was fired up, thinking "I'll do it!", but the path ahead was unclear. Of course, he couldn't ask anyone for advice; he had to find the answers himself.
(So that's it... first, hit hard, then go with the flow?)
Even imagining that strategy made him feel helpless. In his previous life, the only time he'd "led" anyone was deciding shifts at the izakaya chain where he worked part-time. He had never truly managed people.
If only he had lived five more years, maybe it would have been different.
But even with experience, he knew the casual style of an izakaya wouldn't command Nobles. He would have to learn on the fly.
The carriage jolted sharply.
The streets were cobbled, but years of use left dents and uneven stones that sent the carriage bouncing.
Isaac's thoughts were so absorbed that speaking risked biting his tongue.
Lucia, sitting beside him, remained silent as well.
Even if Randolph alternated every other day between this carriage and Melinda's, silence would fall once the journey started.
(Right... the car suspension... what do I do about that?)
Isaac had once bought a convertible just because he heard, "If you drive it at 60 km/h, the wind feels like touching your chest." He didn't know much about mechanics.
How springs worked, how to fix suspension—that was beyond him.
He wouldn't even think to examine a car's suspension in detail.
(Damn... I had an idea that could make money...)
If he could develop a suspension for carriages, he could have gained fame and fortune among the Nobles who relied on them. But even if he explained it to Royal Capital's craftsmen, they wouldn't understand. Isaac slumped in his seat.
(Wait... this might not be bad.)
Not the carriage, the roads themselves.
(The roads are terrible... improving them could work.)
Land routes were the foundation of any kingdom.
No matter how many planes or ships moved goods, trucks—or in this world, carts—still had to bring goods to each household.
In the inland kingdom of Reed, roads mattered even more than in Japan.
If Isaac used road improvement as an incentive, he could gain the favor of the Nobles.
In this world, commoners paid taxes and performed labor.
But it wasn't to line anyone's pockets with double taxation. Public works like road paving and riverbank reinforcement directly affected the people's lives.
Without professionals, heavy rain could ruin roads, just like in Japan.
Pave the roads, and the labor disappears—or is drastically reduced, letting more time go to farming and increasing future income.
This was real profit—enough to sway Nobles. Isaac nodded in satisfaction.
(Yes... this works. I can do this!)
It wasn't just about gaining allies. Expanding roads and easing army movement could serve as invasion routes toward Royal Capital.
Of course, defenses would be needed in case forces from Royal Capital retaliated, but the benefits were clear.
The Wellrod Marquis estate sat in the southeast of Reed Kingdom.
At the southern edge of their lands was a salt mine.
Though salt was monopolized by the crown, merchants passed through Wellrod lands for trade.
If the roads were improved, Isaac could impress these merchants too.
Better roads meant fewer wagon breakdowns, easier transport, and more commercial activity.
Wealth would grow, drawing more people, creating even more wealth—and with wealth came power.
Isaac congratulated himself: "Perfect calculation."
(Sure, we'll have to mix concrete manually since there's no mixer, but that's fine. Now, materials... concrete, asphalt... what?)
He hit a fundamental stumbling block.
Road improvements were a good idea, but he didn't know what materials to use.
The only thing he remembered from trivia was a friend saying, "Asphalt is like leftover residue from making gasoline."
He didn't know where to get crude oil or how to make cement.
(Internet... I need the internet.)
A simple search for "how to make ___" could give him answers instantly.
In his previous life, he never bothered with such technical knowledge. Now, he wanted to explore practical skills he'd ignored.
Things often overlooked until they're lost revealed their value.
Isaac smiled at a new idea, but then fell into sadness.
Even if he thought of a good plan, he couldn't execute it.
(Ah... that's why I failed before...)
――Why he, an ordinary student, had been unable to find employment.
Only now did he realize he had never excelled at anything special.
He'd assumed he could learn on the job, but he could never surpass those trained in their fields.
Falling behind in job hunting was natural.
The only knowledge useful in this world was about war—but even that was only from history books and manga.
The political aspects that might help him now were too confusing to follow, and he skimmed them.
He hadn't studied to learn, only to graduate.
He played, made friends, indulged in hobbies—that was normal.
Here, it was worthless.
He should have learned a practical skill beforehand.
――Regret comes too late.
That thought dominated Isaac's mind.
(No... not yet! I won't give up yet!)
Though he had been close to tears, a surge of determination returned to his face.
(I just can't figure out the solution yet, but I do know how to bring profit to the Nobles. Even if it's not possible right now, meeting more people along the way might reveal the answer. I haven't even reached Royal Capital yet. It's too early to give up.)
Isaac refused to surrender. He didn't yet know the world well enough to despair. If he was going to lament, it could wait until he had a full grasp of things. Meanwhile, he could search for other methods and see if his current ideas could lead to solutions. Slowly, he began to think more positively.
(Sure, I may be ordinary, not cut out to be king. But at least I've realized here that I'm not all-powerful—just an ordinary person. Then I'll start from here, in my own way.)
Isaac steeled himself once more. Even when he felt like giving up, the weight of his grand ambitions supported him.
As his thoughts began to settle, the carriage stopped. He realized they had arrived at the place where they would spend the night.
(From past experience, this must be the house of a Noble in this town.)
Members of the Marquis and Count families did not stay at inns; they lodged at the homes of Nobles overseeing each town. Even the act of staying over was a chance for networking—exactly the sort of interaction Isaac had hoped for. Yet, after a long carriage ride, he couldn't help but want to rest. A sigh escaped him.
"Mother, the carriage ride was tiring," Isaac murmured.
"Yes... it never gets easier," Lucia replied with a long exhale. She, too, seemed worn from the journey.
"Isaac... your expression kept changing. What were you thinking?"
"Eh..."
Isaac froze, caught off guard by her observation.
(Crap... it showed on my face!)
Now that she mentioned it, he realized his emotions—joy, disappointment—must have flickered across his features. But he hadn't expected anyone to notice so clearly.
"Well... I was just wondering if I could make new friends in Royal Capital..." Isaac stammered, improvising an answer that sounded plausible. Oddly enough, it made his response feel even more genuine.
"I see... I'm sorry," Lucia said softly, hugging him with a sad expression.
She had been worried that Isaac had no male friends. His hesitation about making new friends in Royal Capital she took as anxiety over whether he could form bonds. She misread his alternating expressions of hope and concern as a reflection of his feelings.
All of this, she believed, was because Melinda disliked her, and that her son was being made sad by it. Her face carried a weight of sorrow.
"It's alright. There are plenty of people in Royal Capital, right? I'll make friends for sure," Isaac said confidently.
"Do your best. I'll be cheering for you," Lucia replied, a gentle smile softening her expression.
As she spoke, she also began thinking about her own network of acquaintances, wondering if there were boys of the right age to introduce.
(That's right. She must have a boy around the same age too. Once we reach Royal Capital, I should try to get in touch.)
Lucia remembered a classmate from her Royal Academy days. If Isaac could make a friend his own age, surely he would be happy. Thinking this, her face relaxed just a little.
Notes:
• Ran - She is a gentle orphan, appeared as Mobu's close friend, surviving the demon attack in their secret hideout.