NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1
In this other world, many protagonists usually want to live a comfortable and healing life.
It’s the complete opposite of the laid-back life in 21st century Korea.
I have been living a life here without any discomfort for almost 20 years.
The lack of electricity was the biggest issue, though.
“Is this the end of living leisurely?”
Once I step through that door and hear the short notification from my Father, my life will change 180 degrees.
But there’s no escaping this moment.
“Father, I’m going in.”
I knocked on the door three times and walked straight into the room.
My father’s serious gaze directed me to sit down.
“This will take a while. Sit down.”
“Yes.”
“Uh, your brother’s formal inauguration ceremony finished yesterday. So, I’m no longer the head of the Medici Baron Clan.”
Even though he stepped down from the position, it was only half a facade.
My brother, the eldest son, is just a 30-year-old kid, so he’ll need a lot of help from my father.
“According to tradition, you, now that you are an adult, must leave this house. I don’t believe you would dare covet your brother’s baron title, but… life is full of surprises.”
“Yes, understood.”
Suddenly being told to leave the house, I couldn’t really oppose it.
If I did, I’d be labeled as a traitor to the clan aiming for the baron title and face a mysterious death.
It feels weird actually experiencing the exile scene often found in web novels.
However, the father in front of me is not the type to throw me out just because I’m the second son without any talents.
“Fabio, even though you are the second son, you are still my precious child. So, I will, or rather, the Medici Baron Clan will support you as much as we can. If you want to go to the Academy, you can go; if you want to be a soldier, I will open the path to become an officer. I will generously allocate wealth from the clan.”
Though he mentioned the Academy, it’s certainly not the kind with plenty of pretty girls like in web novels.
It’s a place where 100% of the students are male, providing qualifications that could land a job as a level-five public servant back in Korea upon graduation.
Having qualifications doesn’t guarantee employment, so appropriate donation funds for job applications are included too.
Becoming an officer likely means being placed in a good position using the clan’s connections.
Naturally, it’s not fair, but this is how competitive exams and jobs work in a fantasy world.
Regardless of which path I choose, there will be considerable expenses from the clan, but as long as the parents aren’t complete trash, it’s supposed to be the bare minimum that nobles provide.
A rich dad can’t stand to see their kid suffering due to a lack of money.
“What do you intend to do? Whatever your choice, I will support you completely.”
Neither option particularly appeals to me.
Knowing full well the army’s and civil service’s paths rely solely on the clan and money without any legitimate competition is clear as day.
If a superior says to bring them a drink or dinner girl, they expect you to pay out of pocket, and if you get hit for absurd reasons, there’s no one to complain to.
No, it’s even labeled as “benevolent education” from the seniors and subtly encouraged.
And here I am, entering this chaotic world with memories from my past life?
I’ll probably go insane in a few years.
“I want to become a merchant like our founder, Cosimo.”
“Wanting to be a lowly merchant, huh? Fine, let’s hear your reasons.”
My father’s brows furrowed as he said he wanted to hear my reasons.
His fists were clenched; it seems like he plans to listen to my story and then belt me a few times.
It’s understandable; fantasy merchants are practically gangsters.
Creating a guild to divide the spoils and if a rookie is doing well, sending goons to half-crush them.
They sell nice goods to nobles while brutally undercutting the peasants and if anyone complains, they’ll initiate a dialogue with their fists.
Getting your nose bitten off in the process is just a daily routine for these scoundrels.
Wise commoners generally avoid buying goods from merchants if possible.
Who would be happy about their child wanting to become mafia?
“I know it sounds childish, but I thought about making and selling stuff since I was young. But until now, I held onto those thoughts for my brother and the clan.”
There’s no use in pulling out some business plan here.
Even if our family’s main focus isn’t territory management, running a sizable trading group is still the case.
“I’ve wanted to start as a merchant and make a name for myself since I was little. However, until now, I kept those thoughts to myself thinking of my brother and the clan. Now that I’m becoming independent, I want to take a chance.”
To be honest, I had thoughts about changing the world through trade ever since I was reborn in this realm.
It’s a dream a rookie would have, but isn’t it cool?
A life challenging how much I can change the world with the technology and experience of the 21st century.
And I’ve successfully come up with several techniques that could shake this world, but because of my status as the second son, I hadn’t been able to attempt anything until now.
If I achieved more than the capable first son, I might get shunned by the powerful father and clan.
“Please give me just one opportunity.”
Even pulling out something like a business plan won’t be effective.
I have zero achievements to my name right now.
Thus, I decided to appeal to emotions for the initial support.
Just showing even a tiny possibility would help in garnering more assistance later on.
Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that?
Creating something from 0 to 1 is thousands of times harder than making something from 1 to 2.
“Fabio, you, who have never given me a headache, want to do this? I will support you. But, there’s one condition.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Show me at least a convincing possibility. If you can’t, you will go to the Academy or become an officer.”
It’s a declaration that while I can try, if I fail to produce massive results, he will exercise his right to refuse in any way possible…
“I will absolutely bring back good results.”
Now, my mind is filled with countless successful outcomes filtered through the failures of many people.
Failure? That’s not an option.
*
In this fantasy world, the Toscan Empire, if you want to do business, you absolutely must engage in political collusion.
From small bakery owners baking bread in remote villages to large merchants owning dozens of stores, it applies universally.
If a merchant doesn’t pay a respectful donation to the officials, their store could get smashed for absurd excuses.
In Korean history textbooks, this type of refined control is sometimes referred to as “Gyeongnanjeon-gwon.”
“To change the world, I need to create innovative products, but if the higher-ups don’t like it, it’s all for nothing, so I should start with things they would appreciate.”
Although I have the sturdy backing of the Medici Baron Clan, until I can assure them of my independent success, they will not provide any assistance.
Going to the Academy or receiving a position in the army is akin to being granted a golden ticket to Seoul National University’s medical school back in Korea.
Do you think a child who refuses that will be seen positively by a merchant?
“Nobles in this world thrive on extravagance, so creating new luxury goods is the best route.”
Nobles need to indulge or get devoured in this cutthroat environment.
If a noble brags about frugality, other clans will look down on them and try to take their share.
Thus, they uphold a facade of wealth using taxes collected from the populace to indulge.
It’s only seen as normal for them to accumulate debt with merchants while indulging in luxury.
Therefore, leading new trends in luxury goods translates into establishing more chances to bond with the nobles.
“I need to create a new luxury item to show potential… but what should I make?”
Glass crafts are already rampant, and trying to spread concepts like Rococo architecture or similar art forms?
That would be so out of trend that the failure rate would be 99%.
In art, if you can’t keep up with trends, you’re bound to fail.
And only those at the emperor or duke levels dictate those trends.
“In the end, there’s no answer other than making pretty food.”
As is the case in this fantasy empire, the nobles of the Toscan Empire attend glamorous banquets and engage in power struggles most of the time, aside from eating and sleeping…
So just introducing one fresh dish at a banquet would bring a breath of fresh air.
A fluffy, sweet white dish beloved by tons of women…
“Let’s start with a cake made of whipped cream?”
A cake with a white background topped with colorful fruits is not only visually appealing but is also the ultimate luxury with heaps of sugar and fruit.
It will undoubtedly be a hit.
There’s absolutely no chance of failure.