Chapter 95

"Are you telling me not to overwork the prisoners?"

While discussing the treatment of the prisoners who had been moved to the settlement for the development, Makronis was greatly perplexed by what Sōma had told him.

What Sōma had announced was a strict prohibition against treating the prisoners as slaves. Not only that, but detailed instructions to prevent abuse, including the prohibition of punishment by the supervisors of the settlement using whips and the guarantee of three meals a day.

Unlike the modern world, where the human rights of prisoners of war are protected by various treaties, on the Seldias continent, prisoners of war were considered one of the spoils of war.

If they were the children of nobles or wealthy merchants, they could become important hostages for ransom. However, the majority of common soldiers, if captured, would typically be overworked as slaves in mines or on farmland, or sold to other countries. This was also considered the rightful privilege of the victors.

Of course, Makronis had no taste for abusing former soldiers of the same Holmea army. However, he believed that the prisoners should be overworked to some extent and the quality and quantity of their food should be restricted.

This was not simply for the sake of profit.

If profit alone were considered, it would be more beneficial in the long run to maintain the health of the prisoners by giving them proper meals and moderating harsh labor.

However, the harsh conditions were intended to deprive the prisoners of the energy and strength to rebel. If they were left with the leisure and strength to think, the prisoners, who were originally enemies, would plot rebellion or escape. To prevent this, they were subjected to harsh labor and restricted food.

However, Sōma was telling him not to do this.

It was only natural that even Makronis was perplexed.

In response, Sōma tapped his chest and said, "I have a plan." With some doubt, Makronis and Setius gathered the prisoners in front of Sōma on the day they were transferred to the settlement.

Standing on a platform in front of the hundreds of prisoners transferred to this settlement, Sōma began as follows:

"Anyone who wants to escape, feel free to do so."

This statement made not only the prisoners but also Makronis and Setius look up at Sōma in surprise.

Noticing that everyone was surprised, Sōma continued with a feigned nonchalance.

"Of course, we won't chase after you. If you follow the path you came, you can reach the town. If you get lost, aim for the triangular mountain in that direction."

The prisoners began to murmur as he even explained the escape route in detail.

"Oh, and I forgot to mention, if you reach the town of Bornis, we will have to catch you. If possible, please walk straight east without stopping in the town, and we will be grateful."

At this, Sōma showed a malicious smile.

"If you walk without rest for ten or twenty days, you can return to Holmea. Please try your best."

At this, Makronis and others who were perceptive realized Sōma's intention.

"However, please do not attack or steal from the settlers or travelers if you get hungry. If you do, we will have to send people after you. In this vast plain, unless you have the confidence to evade the excellent warriors of Zoan, I do not recommend it."

By this point, most of the prisoners had realized Sōma's intention and were taken aback. In front of such prisoners, Sōma continued with even more enthusiasm.

"Also, when you spend the night on the plain, make sure not to let the fire go out. Due to years of war, there are many ferocious wolves that have learned the taste of human flesh. If you are attacked by them, you will be in grave danger. The thought of being eaten alive is terrifying."

Sōma even hugged his own shoulders and shivered to act out his point, which was that if you escape from this settlement, you will likely lose your life in vain.

Furthermore, what Sōma announced was not just a threat.

"Don't worry, the Zoan warriors who are familiar with such wolves are guarding this settlement."

Then, he raised his right hand with fingers spread wide.

"Five years!"

The prisoners' eyes were drawn to Sōma's right hand.

"Work for five years, and we will set you free! Not only that, we will provide you with some food and money. We will also promise to shorten the period and increase the food and money given at the time of release for those who work well!"

At this, a murmur arose among the prisoners.

In front of this scene, Makronis let out a sigh of admiration.

After showing the reality that they could not escape, he dangled the carrot of safety and early release if they stayed in the settlement. It might be called despicable, but it was a clever move.

After finishing his explanation and descending from the platform, Makronis greeted Sōma with a wry smile.

"As always, you have a bad character."

◆◇◆◇◆

However, there are always those who, the more they are suppressed, the more they rebel.

"Damn it. I will definitely escape."

This was the firm vow of a young prisoner named Dag. Originally the third son of a poor farmer, he had become a soldier of Holmea due to lack of food. With a strong will and a robust physique, he had confidence in his strength and had risen through the ranks in the Holmea army, even leading a squad despite his humble origins.

However, it seemed his luck had run out, and Dag was captured by Sōma in the "Battle of Bornis," his first major engagement.

Since he had been captured without much of a fight, Dag did not think he had lost but that the Holmea army had lost on its own. Therefore, he was even more resistant to being overworked in the development.

"Hey, you guys. We're going to escape from here."

Stealthily, Dag called out to his fellow prisoners while avoiding the eyes of the non-human supervisors.

"But how?"

"That's something we'll figure out later. For now, we'll act obediently to make them let their guard down and prepare for the escape."

Dag was frustrated by the hesitant attitude of his fellow prisoners, who were only looking around in fear of punishment.

"Are you guys okay with this? We'll be working here until we die, you know?!"

One of his fellow prisoners timidly replied to this.

"But, if we work hard for five years, they said they'll set us free."

However, Dag did not trust this at all.

"That's a lie! I won't be fooled!"

The other prisoners seemed to want to say more, but the supervisors began assigning tasks to the prisoners, and the conversation ended there.

The young and strong Dag was assigned to dig up the hard ground. Although he inwardly lamented his bad luck, when the supervisors handed him a pickaxe, he examined it closely.

"Is this made of iron? This is a good pickaxe."

Until now, the best pickaxe Dag had known was one with a metal tip that he borrowed when working as a tenant farmer for a wealthy farmer. His own family only had a pickaxe with a sharp stone tied to a wooden handle.

It was a rather ironic situation that he had better farming tools as a prisoner than he did before.

However, no matter how good the farming tools were, Dag had no motivation. He only moved his hands to avoid being caught slacking off.

While continuing this half-hearted work, Dag subtly observed his surroundings.

Where exactly is this place? How many supervisors are there?

He was trying to gather as much information as possible to plan his escape.

However, he accidentally made eye contact with a dwarf supervisor.

Oh no, did he notice me?

It seemed his suspicion was correct, as the dwarf, with a bearded face twisted in displeasure, approached with heavy steps.

Dag braced himself for a whipping, but the dwarf suddenly snatched the pickaxe from his hands. While Dag was prepared for a whipping, he did not expect to be disciplined with an iron farming tool.

However, the dwarf, with a loud snort, began to pat his own body, from his hand holding the pickaxe to his arm, shoulder, waist, and thighs. Then, he stood firmly with his feet shoulder-width apart and swung the pickaxe into the ground, making a satisfying thud as it dug deep. He then lifted it using the handle as a lever, demonstrating how to dig up the hard earth.

After another loud snort, the dwarf handed the pickaxe back to Dag.

Not quite understanding what had happened, Dag took the pickaxe back. However, the dwarf, having returned the pickaxe, crossed his arms and did not return to his original position. Realizing he was being watched, Dag decided to work more seriously.

However, after swinging the pickaxe a few times, it was taken from him again by the dwarf. The dwarf then repeated the same gesture of patting his body and demonstrating how to use the pickaxe, before handing it back to Dag.

After this happened a few times, the dwarf sighed dramatically. Dag was irritated by this show of disappointment but, as a prisoner, could only endure. He tried to act meek and small to get through it.

"Hmm! Hmm!"

However, the dwarf, without giving any punishment, pointed to another group of workers and waved his hand at Dag as if shooing away a puppy.

"What the hell is that dwarf up to?"

Dag cursed under his breath but, not wanting to risk punishment over such a small matter, obediently went to the place he was directed.

The next task Dag was assigned was to load the soil broken up with the pickaxe into a wheelbarrow using a hoe.

"What's up, Dag?"

A familiar face called out to Dag as he arrived.

"I don't know, but they told me to do this."

"Don't attract too much attention."

Saying this, the man handed Dag a hoe, which made Dag frown.

"What is this? I've never seen a hoe like this before."

The hoe Dag knew had a metal blade attached to a wooden board. However, the one in his hand now had a spoon-shaped blade. Upon closer inspection, the edges behind the blade on both sides of the handle were rounded, designed to be stepped on.

"Yeah. -- It's apparently called a 'talking' hoe or something."

After learning how to use the oddly shaped hoe, Dag started working and was surprised by how well it performed. The iron spoon-shaped blade, sharp like a sword, easily dug into the hard soil when stepped on. The spoon shape also made it easy to scoop up the soil.

If I could bring this back to my village, how much easier would farming be?

While thinking about this, Dag's mind wandered, and his work became even more lackadaisical.

The dwarf in charge of the area noticed this and approached with heavy steps, just like before, and took the hoe from Dag, repeating the same actions as the previous dwarf.

Dag then realized something.

Could this be some kind of work instruction?

However, he quickly dismissed this thought. Who would instruct prisoners on how to work? But it seemed like he was being instructed.

Noticing Dag's distracted state, the dwarf planted the hoe into the ground with a frustrated thud. Realizing he was about to be punished, Dag braced himself, but the dwarf only sighed dramatically.

Dag