Now that I had already fucked up, there was no point in trying to be a good employer.
I cleared my throat, letting malice drip into my tone.
"Old man, your age is getting to you. How could you not recognize your own Lord?"
The moment the words left my mouth, Baldy nearly choked on air.
His sunken eyes bulged, and for a moment, I thought the poor bastard was going to die on the spot.
Struggling, he tried to sit up, but I waved my hand dismissively.
He got the message and stayed put.
Tauriel stepped in, her voice soft yet determined.
"Grandpa, Lord Einar has given me work in his castle," she explained. "I wanted to ask for your permission before accepting."
Baldy let out a dry chuckle, his lips curling into something between a smile and a grimace.
"I'm already dying, Taury," he rasped. "I don't have much time left. If, in my last moments, I can see my granddaughter with a stable job, I can die in peace."
I raised a brow. Stable job?
Oh? That was directed at me, wasn't it?
Smart old bastard.
I tilted my head, letting my voice soften—just a little.
"Don't worry, old man," I said. "Her work will be a long and exhausting one. She won't get any sleep—from work."
…
Silence.
Tauriel's face turned pale.
Baldy nearly coughed up his lungs.
The old man even fell off the bed, hacking furiously as he tried to process what I had just said.
Tauriel looked like she was on the verge of tears.
'…I should've worded that better. But this is fun too. Hehehehe.'
[ (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ ]
'Overreaction.'
Ignoring the crying system and the horrified people, I decided to clarify before they buried me alive.
"I want her to rear babies," I said casually. "You know, rearing babies is an exhausting job."
The room fell dead silent again.
But this time—
I wasn't even trying to mess with them.
Pure, unfiltered accident.
And yet—
The last sliver of light in the old man's eyes vanished like smoke.
He stared at me, mouth hanging open.
Tauriel looked like she wanted to jump out of the window.
Baldy, suddenly fueled by sheer willpower, pushed himself up, his frail body shaking.
His lips trembled.
"A-Are you…" he stammered. "A-asking… for… m-my granddaughter's hand… my Lord?"
…
Wait.
Oh.
OH.
They thought I meant my babies—
Shit.
Clearing my throat, I quickly corrected, "Animal babies."
The room defrosted instantly.
The tension in the air lightened.
Tauriel exhaled sharply, and for some reason, she looked… oddly relieved.
That kinda hurt, not gonna lie.
But whatever. Moving on.
On the way here, I had already found a way to use her abilities.
The plan was simple—
Instead of rearing livestock, she would rear monstrous creatures.
Their body parts rake in gold.
Raise them, butcher them when they get older.
Just like normal livestock in my previous world.
If she could actively control them, even better.
An army of creatures defending the miners?
Not a bad idea.
It was a win-win situation—if Tauriel agreed.
The old man, now back on his feet, suddenly bowed deeply.
"If only you say the word, my Lord," he said, voice solemn. "This old man would be glad to give my granddaughter to you. Please, take care of her."
I flashed him a knowing smile.
"Trust me," I said. "I will take care of her."
…
I really controlled my intrusive thoughts there.
Couldn't save the old man—he was already a goner.
But at least I could reassure him about his granddaughter's safety in his final moments.
Tauriel was in tears.
Understandable.
Her only family was on his deathbed, possibly dying within the next few days.
'A hero's life is such a tragedy. Good thing I'm not a hero.'
Clearing my throat, I spoke.
"Tauriel, I'll be waiting outside. Say your goodbyes."
With that, I turned on my heel and left the shack.
...
As soon as Einar stepped out, the air inside the house grew somber.
The old man coughed, his voice weak but steady.
"Tauriel, work hard, okay?" he said. "Don't let your Lord be disappointed. It's a fortune that I can see you getting work before I go. Better than the hellish mines, at least."
…
But strangely—
Tauriel, who had been teary-eyed just seconds before—
Now, she looked completely different.
Her expression was cold.
Not the sad kind of cold—
The kind of coldness you give to vermin.
Something wretched. Grotesque. Disgusting.
She tried to mask it—
But she couldn't.
The old man's chuckle died in his throat.
His eyes narrowed.
"What's wrong, Taury?" he asked. "You don't… like him? I mean, I know nobody likes him, but—"
Schk.
His words cut off mid-sentence.
His eyes widened.
A sharp pin—drenched in venom—was embedded in his neck.
His lips trembled, but no words came.
His eyes, those aged, weary eyes, stared at Tauriel—
His beloved granddaughter.
And yet—
Tauriel's face showed nothing.
Just indifference.
The old man collapsed, his body lifeless before he even hit the ground.
No sign of struggle.
No sign of harm.
Just a frail, dying elder—who had simply passed away due to illness.
Or so it would seem.
Tauriel stared at his corpse, her voice a whisper.
"I have avenged you, Mother. Father. Don't worry," she murmured. "My revenge has just begun."
She crouched, gently lifting the old man's body, placing him neatly on the bed.
For a moment—
She resisted the urge to spit on him.
Instead, she whispered.
"One down," she said. "But many still live. Don't worry, Mother. Father. With that fool of a Lord in my hands, I will have my revenge."
Then—
She wiped her face.
Took a deep breath.
And switched back.
Her cries erupted, loud and gut-wrenching, shaking the walls of the tiny home.
Einar heard.
And he returned.
The moment he stepped inside, he understood.
The old man was dead.
Tauriel was weeping over his body.
…
Einar didn't say anything.
Didn't comfort her.
Just let her cry until her tears dried up.
Once she finally calmed down, he gave her a simple command.
"You can come to the castle tomorrow," I said. "Take care of your old man's body. Cremate it or something."
And with that, he turned to leave.
Not sparing her a single glance.
As Einar walked away, Tauriel wiped her tears.
Her expression darkened.
Watching his retreating figure, she murmured.
"Maybe controlling this idiot Lord won't be as easy as I thought."
She clenched her fists.
"But either way—"
Her eyes glowed with cold determination.
"He has to be. For my revenge."