Note: The Novel Will Be Corrected Until Chapter 105, After That Chapter It Will Be All MTL
C58 - 59 - 60
Chapter 58: The Howl that Sent Shivers Down the Spine
With a bone-chilling howl, dozens of wolves with long black horns on their foreheads burst out of the forest, charging toward the center of the knight squadron. These creatures, markedly faster and more than half again as large as ordinary wolves, were classified as lower-middle rank monsters. Although falling into this category meant they were not generally considered a serious threat, facing a pack of them could prove far more dangerous, elevating their threat level significantly.
“Horned wolves! Form up!”
The knights’ response differed from their usual engagements with goblins. The targets of the horned wolves swiftly banded together in groups of three, back to back, to confront the oncoming beasts.
“Kiieeek!”
“Keeang!”
“Kyaoooh!”
No matter how ferocious the horned wolves were, they were not a match for a multitude of knights.
As a few of the pack were quickly dispatched, spurred by a howl from one of the larger beasts, the remaining wolves bypassed the knights and headed straight for the rear.
Unlike the goblins, these creatures showed no fear in the face of over a thousand humans, but the soldiers remained equally undaunted.
“Deploy the crossbow cavalry!”
“Aye!”
“Fire!”
The soldiers, tense but obedient, followed their orders. Yet the downpour of bolts failed to play their intended role.
“Awooouuuu!”
As the pack leader howled, the barrage of incoming bolts seemed to slow dramatically in the air. Though none changed course erratically, the diminished volley proved too weak to pierce through the thick hide of the horned wolves and landed harmlessly on the ground.
In the brief moment that the volley passed, the horned wolves had closed the distance right up to the soldiers’ formation.
“Swordsmen, take your positions!”
“Form ranks!”
“Let none through!”
The faces of the knights, once pallid with dread and tension, now flushed with fervor at Logan’s loud command.
“Taaah!”
Led by Viktor at the forefront, the waiting swordsmen swung their swords and spears in unison. In the background, a pair of red eyes closely watched the scene unfold.
“Euaahhp!”
“Kyao!”
With indiscernible cries that were either battle roars or screams of pain, spears and swords were brandished. At the moment Viktor’s front line clashed with the leader of the horned wolves, the rest of the pack leaped, aiming to breach the soldiers’ lines.
The horned wolves numbered only twenty-one, but the three hundred soldiers struggled to respond effectively to the breach.
“Euaaak!”
Crunch.
As one soldier was struck by a horn and fumbled his sword in confusion, the sharp teeth of a horned wolf sank into his leg. Despite their comrade’s cries as he fell, most of the surrounding soldiers were petrified, unable to act.
But there were a few who reacted differently.
“Die, beast!”
Thwack.
Crack!
A spear, held by a soldier with not enough strength, failed to fully penetrate the thick hide of the horned wolf, leaving an impact like a club. Yet, it was enough to stagger the beast that had dealt a fatal blow to one of their own.
Seeing this, the formerly paralyzed soldiers found their courage and began to wave their weapons again, albeit with pale faces. Similar scenes unfolded elsewhere on the battlefield.
Logan intervened only where the bravest soldiers were absent; in other words, where entire groups had been completely subdued by the ferocity of the monsters.
Fwssh.
“Kiee…”
Thud.
“You. You. You. Everyone else, fall back!”
Logan’s menacing presence alone was enough to chase away the beasts and spring the soldiers’ limbs into action. Logan’s brow furrowed slightly as he moved to aid the soldiers plunged into crisis.
Even amidst this chaos, he paid close attention to the scramble with the few remaining horned wolves and assessed the soldiers’ reactions.
In fact, Logan didn’t really need to exert himself. The difference between the soldiers he had noticed and those he hadn’t was glaringly obvious.
‘Surely, they fight well.’
Trey, who had previously demonstrated beast-like sight, now showed a monster-like reflex in dodging attacks a beat quicker, while Adam, with his astounding hearing, was nimble enough to evade assaults from behind.
Others, who had shown at least some potential in harnessing the Force, outshone their peers in combat prowess, even though their skills were still lacking.
Most of those who had excelled were among the top hundred selected during the sensory test. But Logan realized a key point: even among the lower ranks, there were soldiers who stood out with potential.
With the insights gained by closely observing these battles, Logan identified a pattern.
‘It’s right to select based on senses, not just physical stamina…’
That was no different from the Empire’s criteria for soldier selection. But, focusing on those who had absorbed even a faint hint of the Force, Logan discovered another factor.
‘That has nothing to do with sight or hearing, strictly speaking.’
Those capable of dodging monster attacks from blind spots or of instinctively counter-attacking demonstrated it wasn’t just exceptional vision or hearing. Even soldiers from the lower ranks of the sensory test exhibited these traits.
‘Tactile senses, perhaps? Or could it be intuition? Hmm…’
Logan had not enough data to be certain. He simply pocketed the fact that those his own senses identified did indeed show promising qualities.
The significance of this reconnaissance alone gave meaning to the battle.
Before the soldiers’ formation could crumble further, Logan shouted thunderously.
“Clayton!”
At his call, Clayton, a fifth circle mage who had been preparing magic ever since the horned wolves had charged, responded.
“Answer my call, powers of the earth. Stone Edge!”
Boom!
The stone spikes that surged at the precise location of the horned wolves killed nearly half of the twenty in a single stroke, leaving most of the others severely wounded.
Even the pack leader, who had completely dodged the magic, met its end.
“Woaaah!”
Thump.
“Kyaooh…”
A well-aimed slash from Viktor’s sword plunged into its eye, sealing its fate.
Panting heavily, the sweat-soaked Viktor pulled his bloodied sword from the carcass, a rare bright smile on his face. It was a sinister sight that sent shivers through the surrounding soldiers.
Chik.
As black blood dripped from Viktor’s blade, scorching the ground, the fellow soldiers unconsciously stepped away from him.
Logan, however, couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
‘He’s definitely shed his shell. It seems there isn’t much time left.’
The future Aura user was nearing the completion of his foundation.
“Well done, Viktor! Monster blood is toxic, so clean it off quickly and be careful not to get it on you. Keep it up. I’ll review your swordsmanship after this is over.”
As Logan commended him, the onlookers’ view of Viktor changed once again.
Riding the momentum, Logan declared.
“Those who ran first earlier, I’ve got my eye on all of you! If you pull that stunt again, you won’t find it amusing!”
The soldiers’ complexions hardened at the fierce threat, surpassing even that of the monsters.
Logan’s gaze swept over his soldiers with the predatory intensity of a beast sighting its prey.
* * *
The knights continued to miss their targets from time to time.
It turned out that the southern woods had a greater number of middle-rank monsters than anticipated.
Still, there were no major issues.
A handful of mid or high-mid-rank monsters were dealt with by the appropriate knight squadron leaders, Heinikel, and Patrick.
The majority of middle and lower-rank monsters were managed by the knight squadrons themselves.
“Ha!”
Sshk.
“Keeek!”
With a forceful cry, Anthony, a mere knight, cleaved a 2-meter-tall werewolf in half with a blow that would’ve once been unthinkable.
‘Thrilling.’
The swordsmanship he learned through grueling training with the lord, previously only effective on trees, now unleashed its fierce might against monsters, exciting him instead of tiring him out.
This thrilling sensation was mutual among his fellow knights.
“Let’s have a consistent flow of these lower-middle-ranks!”
“Mid-ranks are okay too!”
“Man, that’s a bit…”
“Shut it! We can take ’em!”
“Roaaar! Kill them all!”
The knights’ sword strikes grew sharper as time passed, though the soldiers’ battles were increasingly laborious.
“Behind!”
“Be careful!”
“Ugh!”
“Dammit! Move!”
Goblins and similar kobolds could be managed with crossbow fire alone, but monsters like human werewolves or giant spiders were a different story.
Eventually, it came to where even golems used for transporting wood had to form a barrier to ward off approaching monsters for the soldiers.
Fighting persisted throughout half a day.
Despite the fatigue and injuries, Logan clenched his fist firmly, fueled by what he’d observed in the soldiers.
‘It’s clear… An exceptional sense, especially a tactile one, is close to a talent for the Force. How do I design a test for this?’
Despite the limited data, he felt he was on to something.
‘It’s enough to work with the current soldiers for now. After starting the civil war this winter…’
If the civil war proceeds as expected, MacLaine could use this information to experience a terrifying growth.
‘We can increase knightly strength before the Empire wars begin.’
A buoyant laugh was uncontrollable.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Now, with sufficient lumber, we must finish MacLaine Town. Spring is a month away. We must be done before the actual development begins. Is it possible?”
“…Understood.”
Hammer’s expression hinted he had more to say, but his response was positive.
“That’s really possible? It was just a suggestion, but…”
“It seems feasible. The mages lend their strength, and since the dam, laborers are more motivated than ever. With ample food distributed and uniform housing construction, efficiency increases with time.”
“Don’t forget the central tower in town.”
“Of course.”
Hammer sounded reliable, and Logan affirmed.
‘Pushing isn’t always the best strategy.’
He gained a better understanding of how to manage Hammer.
Thus, the grand MacLaine Town, predicted to dwarf MacLaine Castle in size, slowly but surely took shape as anticipated.
---------------------
Episode 59
“…Earth Wall!”
At the soft incantation from Clayton, a 100-meter-long dirt wall rose along the marked boundary of the village.
Woooom.
Thud.
“Wowwww!”
The cheering of the workers filled with admiration at the spectacle.
Before their cheers had even ended, the foremen shouted from all around.
“What are you all doing! Compact the dirt!”
The earth wall, one meter thick and three meters high, began to shrink in size as the workers shoveled, but it grew denser, eventually forming a solid outer wall with a consistent hardness.
Logan bowed politely to Clayton, who was sweating to maintain the spell.
“Thank you once again for accepting our demanding conditions.”
His thanks were not merely for the extended collaboration on the construction project beyond contractual obligations.
Offering the heart of a fledgling settlement, not firmly established within well-built city walls, to someone wishing to construct a Mage Tower, was unheard of.
It could have been taken as an insult, suitable for outrage, but Clayton readily accepted the offer, dismissing all conventional expectations.
“Lord Logan, you exaggerate. A yearly grant of ten million gold is promised; whether it’s for a city or a village matters not.”
“Ha-ha. Thank you for thinking so.”
“The heart of the kingdom’s largest settlement, even bigger than a city. Quite fascinating. I have no complaints.”
Clayton’s words came out with a blurry smile but serious tone, making it clear without much thought that he meant every word.
Indeed, the concept of a settlement where large numbers of peasants lived together was new to him.
Aside from main cities like Kail, used for trade, the typical model involved the Lord’s estate and its castle as the central symbol, with villages scattered about for the residents to live their independent lives.
Only the Lord’s retainers, knights, soldiers, and certain essential craftsmen like blacksmiths lived within the castle; the majority lived outside.
Building a village larger than a castle, where the territory’s residents would all live together, was unheard of.
“If things proceed as Master Logan plans, this settlement called ‘MacLaine Town’ will become the central hub of the domain, even surpassing MacLaine Castle and Teslon Castle. Typically, you would build a castle in the middle of a plain like this…”
“Why bother? It would be a waste of time. It’s enough to make it comfortable for the domain’s residents to farm and live.”
“Indeed…”
“Hm?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
The possibility of rebellion rises when many residents are gathered in one place.
Common estates often split the population into several villages to minimize this risk.
Logan answered simply to this unspoken concern.
“If we don’t exploit the citizens, there won’t be any uprising. Who would rebel when they’re promised a good life?”
“Truly… remarkable.”
A warm smile crossed Clayton’s austere face.
‘His way of thinking is fundamentally different from other nobles.’
For Logan, it was merely following in the footsteps of the successful policies of the future empire, but to Clayton, Logan was an extraordinary young man.
Feeling burdened by the admiration in Logan’s eyes, Clayton tactfully changed the subject.
“Regardless of construction or Mage Tower matters, if you ever need anything, let me know. I will provide support as soon as possible.”
Maintaining a positive relationship with someone as supportive as Logan required reciprocal gestures of good will.
However…
“It’s unlikely, but if this ‘Town’ project fails and it becomes a ghost town, please be a bit more attentive to our school. I wouldn’t want it to be lonely… Haha, just kidding. No laughter?”
The joke failed to amuse, and the atmosphere turned stiff.
“Ahem. My apologies. I have no talent for jokes… Ah, but seriously, will this earthen wall really be sufficient? If by any chance this place were to be invaded…”
Clayton trailed off, but Logan’s answer was swift and decisive.
“Ha-ha, don’t worry. There won’t be any battles here.”
“A bad day for me to spout off useless worries, I guess.”
“No. Really, there won’t be any wars here. I won’t allow it. This place will simply remain as the heart of MacLaine.”
“Truly, your concern for the people’s welfare is…”
If Clayton knew Logan’s true thoughts, he would not have smiled.
‘Before that happens, we’ll make our move against others.’
Smiling awkwardly, Logan gazed towards the sky.
Clayton could misunderstand all he wanted; the satisfaction of their progress moving ahead faster than planned was what mattered to Logan.
* * *
Most of the tasks requiring Logan’s direct involvement were either already in motion or off to a stable start.
The familiar duties of acting as Lord, as well as his other responsibilities, were completed more swiftly over time.
“Checked this.”
Thud.
“And this, checked.”
Thud.
“Well, I’m off to practice…”
“Your Highness. Did you properly review these before stamping them?!”
“If there’s any issue after you double-check Dwain, bring it to me again!”
“Tsch, he’s already gone…”
Thump.
“Damn boy, ruins our family name more than his old man… But, no, not yet. Argh, my damn fate…”
Of course, this was possible because of the involuntary sacrifice of a single public official.
‘All I need now is to become stronger!’
Fortunately, Logan’s wish was being fulfilled smoothly.
Woooom.
Zap.
A small sound was followed by a golden streak shot from the tip of Logan’s sword.
That brief burst of light penetrated a massive rock and several large trees before vanishing.
All that remained on the rock and the trees were puncture wounds the size of coins.
But Logan had no doubt that those marks could easily punch through steel as well.
Divine Sword Secret Technique, Second Form.
Iron-Cleaving Cut (斷金斬, Dan Geum Cham).
Having executed a powerful blow that ordinary knights and Force users couldn’t even dream of, Logan was able to smile brightly despite the sweat dripping down his face.
Just a month later.
“The 3,000 homes built in the center of MacLaine Town have been completed, and the workers who participated in construction are gradually moving in.”
Ruben, who had been in charge of the city walls, lost weight from the sudden increase in duties.
But Logan, thinking that Ruben’s weight loss might be good for his health, paid little mind to his forlorn appearance. He was just pleased with the progress report.
“Faster than expected? You’re starting land reclamation immediately, right?”
“Yes. Thanks to the proactive cooperation from the mages, progress is faster than anticipated. In about two weeks, when Hamar visits to inspect, we expect to complete the target of four sections, a total of 10,000 homes.”
“Excellent…”
Though Clayton and other Golem School mages were effectively ‘labor specialists’—a nickname perfectly befitting their productive nature—Logan felt a sense of apology.
“Magic is indeed wonderful.”
Pleased with the thought, Logan then recalled a peculiar term from the report.
“But… coming for inspection? Isn’t Hamar there right now?”
“He left soon after starting the Mage Tower construction and showing a sample of about ten wooden houses. Wasn’t it on your orders, Sir?”
“No, I didn’t mention it. As long as work is done efficiently, there’s no issue. But still, it’s an important village matter…”
“Oh, he’s busy making that weapon…”
“Ah, that’s why.”
Quickly grasping the situation, Logan nodded.
The crossbows for the existing and new soldiers totaled 1,300.
Considering past progress, finishing them would take another three months at least.
‘He’s got a lot to handle. Once the crossbow production is over, we’ll need to start making weapons for the knights. I should console him soon.’
Logan stood up with a content smile.
* * *
Scritch-scratch.
Creak.
Click.
“Phew…”
Joseph, the smith working at MacLaine Castle, completed another crossbow and smiled with pride.
Learning new work at his age, over forty, wasn’t easy, but making these new weapons made him feel he was advancing even in middle age, leaving him without complaints.
‘I thought I’d be making parts forever.’
Joseph and five colleagues had been summoned to Dwarf Hamar’s workshop, and a month ago, they began actively participating in weapons manufacturing.
Besides making parts, now they were assembling weaponry.
Truthfully, it was an unexpected fortune.
Even after this work, as long as they remembered the production process, hunger would no longer worry them.
‘Perhaps I might even strike it rich.’
But that was still just a dream.
Joseph shook off such thoughts of a rosy future and approached Hamar with his finished work.
“Master Hamar, another one is done. So that should be today’s quota…”
“Life is enjoy~ Ah, is that so? Put it over there then and take a break.”
The Dwarf, who had been singing to himself while carving a small piece of metal at his desk, barely glanced up, pointing his toe at the storage area while continuing his meticulous carving.
It was amusing to see Hamar stretching out his short legs to point while still carefully working on his craft.
“Still, making only two a day and resting… Feels like I’m being paid for doing nothing.”
“That’s alright. As long as you guys together reach our monthly quota of 200 pieces, there’s no problem.”
The response—still without shifting his gaze—was decisive.
“But still…”
“The faster we finish, the more work that devil of a boss will find for us. People need some leisure. He thinks since he doesn’t rest, others shouldn’t either. We’ve got to pace ourselves for better efficiency.”
“Ha-ha. Right, I guess tha… Eh?!”
Laughing, Joseph suddenly felt a firm grip on his shoulder that left him gasping.
As he turned, he locked eyes with a person motioning for silence with a finger to their lips, and Joseph froze.
Hamar didn’t look up as Joseph made strange noises, too absorbed in the vivid memories of his first love, Noir, from two hundred years ago.
He couldn’t afford to be distracted while carving those beautiful eyes.
“Should I really be resting during work that needs my best effort?”
“Doing your best isn’t just about work. It’s about properly pacing yourself to meet deadlines. Right?”
“Ah, so that’s why you’re not at the ‘Town’ construction site.”
“Right. I did the design, built some fundamental housing as a model—that should be enough. I don’t need to be there all day. Efficiency is key. But why suddenly cut your words short?”
Originally verbose Joseph’s abrupt silence annoyed him, but Hamar, in a good mood recently, decided to let it pass.
“Wouldn’t it finish faster if we helped more rather than resting?”
“Oh, how many times do I have to explain? We just need to meet our deadlines. But there’s something off with the way you talk. You’re not using honorifics. It’s irritating…”
“Oh, my bad. Guess I should have set a tighter schedule. Yeah, my fault.”
“That’s right-… Ugh?!”
Finally sensing something wrong, Hamar bolted upright, which damaged the beautiful eyes of Noir in the carving, but that wasn’t what mattered.
A chill ran down his spine as he turned his stiff head towards a sense of foreboding.
The lord, either supposed to be fighting paperwork at the estate or practicing swordsmanship, stood there with strangely flashing red eyes and twitching corners—his hand cringing as if ready to punch at any second.
“Ma, Master… Why bother coming all the way here? Ha, hahaha.”
“Our dear Hamar, with plump cheeks glowing in health. Seems life’s comfortable these days?”
He was smiling, yet the sight was terrifying.
“I’m here like a fool, carrying beer and food because I thought you were working hard. What an idiot.”
Peering behind his lord, Hamar saw barrels of beer and what looked like a barbecued pig.
Why hadn’t he smelled it sooner?
If he had, he could’ve at least pretended to be working.
‘Beautiful Noir. Your memory clouded my perception, leading me to… Alas.’
He bowed his head, gripped by a grim premonition.
“Hey. Don’t cry, our efficient master blacksmith. Enjoy yourself some more. Other blacksmiths, take a break and drink up. Today’s work is done!”
Laughing merrily and swinging his shoulder, the red glow between his fingers sent out an intense malice.
“This month, finish all the crossbows and round up the ‘Town’ construction. I’ll give you one month. Fail, and…”
Swoosh.
Watching the lord trace his neck with his thumb, Hamar trembled uncontrollably.
----------------
Chapter 60
“Proper rest my foot. People must be wrung out to be productive.”
“What? Why such frightening words all of a sudden?”
Dwain, who had been organizing approved documents, asked with a startled expression.
“Ah, no. Just absurd occurrences.”
As Logan ruminated over his feelings of betrayal, the daily life of a certain dwarf in the workshop became increasingly arduous.
Although minor variables arose in the crossbow production, overall, there were no significant issues.
In fact, the progress had quickened.
Hamar, with dark circles under his eyes that had spread across his eyelids, managed to produce crossbows for all soldiers in just a few weeks.
As a result, the soldiers’ training began to gain momentum.
Most importantly, the achievement of settling residents from two territories into the newly completed 10,000-household facilities of Maclaine Town, as planned, was the greatest success.
“Wow! Mom! Is this our house?!”
“Wow! It’s huge! Are we really going to live here?”
“Ye-yes, that seems to be the case. How did they…?”
A woman, carrying a baby on her front and back, burst into tears at her children’s words.
A wooden two-story house.
The awkward layout, being very close to neighboring houses and barely the size of 20 pyeong per floor, was irrelevant.
Compared to the leaky straw-roofed houses they had lived in all their lives, it might as well have been a palace.
“I was worried about how we’d survive this winter. This is truly a relief.”
The tears streaming down her face were those of someone pushed to the brink, now relieved by a ray of hope.
“But Mom…”
“Hmm? What is it, child?”
“Will Dad be able to find our new house?”
“…Yes. If our Anna listens to Mom well, eats and grows well, your father will also return safely.”
“Really? For real?”
“Yes.”
A conversation between a four-year-old sister and her mother.
The 12-year-old firstborn, now slightly aware of death, frivolously covered his eyes as he looked to the sky.
His mother, seeing this, clutched at her aching heart again.
Until a few months ago, she had only thought about dying following her deceased husband.
‘We’re given food, a place like this to live, and even land to cultivate…’
Now, she had newfound hope.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
She bowed again and again, grateful to the nobles far away whom she could neither see nor hear.
The resentment toward the nobles who had caused needless wars began to fade a little.
The relocated residents, mostly those who had been struggling in the two previous territories, were all satisfied with the new settlement and cheered enthusiastically.
Each voice did not carry far, but together, their cheers filled the town, creating an overall bright atmosphere.
The very person they were so grateful for could distinctly feel this uplifting mood.
“Having lots of people around seems to liven things up. It’s nice to see.”
Clayton remarked, and Logan nodded in agreement.
“But it still needs to grow. I can see more space suitable for houses.”
Maclaine Town was set to become the central hub for the growing territory.
From the top of the Mage Tower, Logan looked down at the town with a bright smile.
* * *
“Now that the village construction is complete, the crossbows will be finished by the end of the month as promised.”
“Good work.”
“…”
“What’s wrong, why aren’t you leaving?”
“It’s just that…”
“Ah, right. I have to give this to you.”
Thud.
Before the hesitating Hamar, Logan placed down a huge ingot of silver metal.
“What is this all about?”
“What do you mean? It’s mithril. Make some weapons for the knights.”
“…”
“What’s wrong? Isn’t working with rare metals a dwarf’s romance?”
“Uh, well… romance…”
“Why, isn’t it?”
“Ah, yes. Yes, of course, it’s romantic.”
“Right? That’s the spirit! Then take all the vacation you want. Six months is enough, right?”
“Vacation? Six months of vacation?!”
“You don’t like long vacations?”
“No, no, that’s not it at all! Thank you!”
“Enjoy it. Experience the true essence of romance while processing mithril. I’m looking forward to seeing what splendid weapons you’ll produce.”
“…Weapons?”
“Yeah. A romantic vacation with mithril. You should be able to make at least 80 pieces in six months, right?”
“Ha… Damn…”
“What?”
“No, nothing.”
The dwarf bowed his head, trembling but ultimately unable to say anything more.
With spring approaching, preparations for a leap forward were steadily progressing.
* * *
“The land clearing is going smoothly. If anything, we have a manpower shortage considering the size of the land.”
“Does that matter?”
“Not really. I’m actually looking forward to this year’s harvest.”
Field manager Rugel Haze’s bald head shone in the spring sunlight, reflecting the bright spirit of Maclaine.
“Rumors of our plains and town have even spread to other regions.”
“What?”
Logan took unexpected interest in the passing comment, to which Rugel explained with a slight confusion.
“…Yesterday, dozens of refugees came to the town. They seemed to be slash-and-burn farmers, having heard about us from the merchant groups that supply us with food.”
“Hm. Quicker than I thought.”
“Yes. It seems they’re refugees, after all. They probably came out of a ‘just in case’ mentality.”
In this era, most commoners belonged to a country or territory, living and paying taxes based on their earnings. But not all rulers were wise, nor were all territories livable.
Where tyrannical overlords reigned or war broke out, residents would flee troubled territories, take to the mountains, and become slash-and-burn farmers. Hitting a limit or discovered by other rulers, they would wander aimlessly as roaming refugees.
Just hearing rumors of vast new farmland and flocking to it indicated they must have been in dire straits.
And if such numbers continued to increase…
“Huh…”
“Why are you laughing so ominously, sir?”
Dwain, who stood beside Logan, shivered with an unknown anxiety and asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“It doesn’t seem like ‘nothing.’”
“Ignore it. You took in those refugees, right?”
“…Yes.”
With land to spare, accepting refugees was no big deal.
“Any precautions?”
“They’ve been briefed on the basic laws of the territory, and they’ve been told that causing trouble could lead to expulsion. We plan to handle future refugees in the same manner.”
“Good. Well done.”
“I’m still not comforted…”
Ignoring Dwain’s murmurs, Logan merely smiled.
The news that Maclaine was welcoming refugees quickly began to spread among the slash-and-burn farmers and tenant farmers in the kingdom’s southwestern region.
By early summer, months later, nearly 5,000 refugees had settled in the town.
This caused neighboring territories to react sensitively to the trend.
* * *
“Maclaine?”
“Yes. Maclaine Castle has reclaimed the wasteland to the west.”
“Huh. That barren land?”
The report from his subordinate left Marquis Max Ferretta speechless in disbelief.
When Thesron foolishly started a war and got devoured by Maclaine instead, it was surprising, but he thought it was possible. Padric Maclaine was a formidable force in terms of military prowess, even if he was considered a madman for operating a knight order of fifty from the desolate Maclaine Castle.
At the time, he had considered it a ridiculous move by Thesron to trouble that land.
But this was different and unbelievable.
“They could reclaim that land?”
“I was curious, so I checked. They dug into the mountain to divert water from the Luter River.”
“…They dug through a mountain? Madmen, truly. They’ve reclaimed wasteland with that insanity?”
“Yes. Scouts confirm it’s true.”
“Haha. How did they even think of such a task, let alone afford it? Did Maclaine have the money?”
“There’s a rumor that Thesron had surplus funds, or that the Duke’s son made some profitable business deal. There are also rumors of a gold mine strike and even divine money falling from the sky…”
Max Ferretta waved off his subordinate’s continuation.
“Whatever outlandish rumors there may be, let’s focus on the tangible facts. Reclamation is confirmed, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And how does this reclaimed land compare to ours?”
“At least three times larger than ours, sir.”
“Hm. Even if yields are less because it was once wasteland, it’s twice ours.”
“That’s right.”
Overnight, their neighbor had become rich. To sit back and cheer would be unbecoming of true nobility. At least by the standards he knew.
“Hm. We can’t just leave it… Do we have any pretext?”
“There’s no need to create one. Some serfs escaped to their pioneering village. With the excuse of apprehending them, we could enter their territory.”
At the Marquis’ question, his subordinate Rihalt hurriedly responded.
“Oh, serfs of ours, my property? That gives us a legitimate reason. What shall we demand in return?”
“As you wish, either that land or the plains adjacent to Thesron. The only problem is…”
Rihalt’s voice trailed off, but the Marquis understood him perfectly.
“Tsk. Alone, it could be risky, could it not?”
Max Ferretta clicked his tongue, although he didn’t seem too worried.
Ferretta’s forces were incomparable to the trampled Thesron, numbering over 120 knights and nearly 2000 regular soldiers. On top of that, they had two towns with nearly 40,000 permanent residents.
He proudly believed his position to be stronger in every aspect than the plains adjacent to Thesron Castle.
But.
“Soto Sylvan. That’s the problem.”
“That’s right. It would be painful to get stabbed in the back.”
“A pain would be a best-case scenario.”
Max Ferretta chuckled dryly, remembering his northern rival.
Although his peer only held one castle, the military force there was not far off from those garrisoned across his two castles.
Moreover, that castle now bordered the territory of Maclaine, which once belonged to Thesron.
An eternal thorn in his side.
“Damn, it’s become troublesome. As much as I became an upper-class knight, Padric would be too much to handle, right?”
“Uh!”
Subdued by the Marquis’s sudden burst of energy, Rihalt paled but nodded.
“Yes. Padric Maclaine became an upper-class knight 20 years ago. To confront him personally would be problematic. If you act alone against Maclaine, it will cost blood. Then, if Sylvan strikes from behind…”
“Yes, I share the sentiment. Good insight, you have.”
“I’m honored.”
While others might have construed this as contempt for a ruler, Max Ferretta was not only ambitious but cautious.
Though he believed Maclaine could not have recovered so quickly from its injuries, nor become stronger in just one year, he wanted to be prepared for any slim chance.
“Contact Sylvan. They charge as high taxes as us. Surely, many have fled from there, too, no?”
“Of course. It’s obvious what those rabble think.”
Ferretta and Sylvan were among the territories in the kingdom with the highest tax rates at 70%.
If they lured them in, they could swallow Maclaine with ease.
‘A coalition of two lords. Whether Maclaine gets seized entirely or mostly isn’t for them to decide anymore.’
Max Ferretta felt like the fruitful land was already within his grasp.
“Going there just because the tax rate is lower… How naive. Anyhow, they’re sure to raise the taxes substantially after the land is cultivated. Tsk, tsk, short-sighted fools.”
“Isn’t that the limit of commoners?”
“Yes, that’s why we’re the rulers. Well, proceed.”
“Yes!”
“As much as I hate to share the spoils, it can’t be helped.”
“A wise choice.”
Even if Maclaine was intact or had grown stronger, an alliance between the two lords would be impossible to stop.
The sudden prosperity of Maclaine was nothing more than a feast laid out before them.
At least, that’s what everyone in the room believed.