Chapter 15

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Chapter 15

The soldiers at the west gate of Letvik have already remembered their faces, so they usually pass through without giving their name, but today they were stopped by the soldiers.

“Your Excellency, Baron Arkvist. His Excellency Konitz would like to see you. I’ll send someone to show you the way, so please proceed to the Viscount’s residence.”

“……I understand”

Noein replied. He wondered what it was for, as he was led by one of the soldiers to the residence of Viscount Konitz.

He hadn’t seen the Viscount since three months ago, when he arrived in Retvik to greet him.

He was taken to the reception room in a magnificent mansion that was obviously a jump for tent-dwelling Baron’s group. Sitting diagonally behind Noein on the sofa was Matilda, his bodyguard and attendant.

Soon after, Viscount Konitz also entered the reception room, and Noein stood up.

“It’s been a while, Viscount Konitz.”

“Yes, Baron Arkvist. I’m glad to see that you’re doing well. I heard that the development is going well?”

“Well I too am also a member of the nobility of the kingdom, although I am young, I am doing my best.”

Noein replied to Viscount Konitz, wondering if he was being probed about his situation after all.

He came to Retvik regularly to buy groceries, and he talked about the increase in the number of residents while showing his affection to them. If Viscount Konitz, the lord of Retvik, could gather a little information, he could easily see that Noein’s settlement was on the right track for the time being.

“So, what can I do for you today?”

“Yes, actually …”

Viscount Konitz told Noein about the twenty-four refugees who had recently arrived in Retvik.

“I see. You are asking me if I would be willing to accept these refugees into my territory?”

“Yes, it saves me the trouble as you surely understand.”

“I understand that it is difficult to accept a large number of refugees in Retvik, considering the emotions of the residents. My territory is in need of people, hence I am glad that our interests are aligned. I would be happy to accept them.”

Looking at Noein with a cheerful expression, Arnold thinks to himself about how wise Noein is for his age.

If it were possible, he would have liked to owe him a favor by saying, ‘I’ll take the refugees in to help you with the problem,’ but he emphasized that ‘he was only taking refugees under him based on mutual interests’. He must have known that we were having a hard time dealing with the refugees.

Does that mean you don’t intend to be easily indebted?

Even so, he didn’t try to gain the upper hand by saying, ‘I know you’re having trouble dealing with the refugees, so we’ll take them in’. As a weak lord, he knows his place and does not show any intention to fight with us, which may or may not be good.

It is questionable whether they can afford to suddenly accept more than 20 refugees in the forest settlement, but this guy has already stated that he will accept them…. After which, even if all of them end up starving in the territory of Arkvist, I won’t know anything about it.

“Very well. Thank you.”

Wearing a smile, the two lords concluded their discussion by saying so.

・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・

As Noein left the mansion, he also explained to Pence and Mai that he had decided to accept new refugees, and told them to finish their purchases and wait for him at the west gate before leaving.

He took Matilda and was led by the Viscount’s soldiers to the South Gate.

As they exited the gate, a few tents could be seen standing a short distance away from the gate, sticking to the outside of the wall surrounding the city.

It’s not often that monsters appear in the vicinity of a city, and at this distance, even if something happened, they could escape right into the city. I guess they couldn’t complain.

The refugees who noticed them came up close. With a lot of energy they came jumping and skipping as if wanting to cling onto them.

“Noein-sama!”, Matilda immediately stepped forward to protect Noein, and one of the guide soldiers yelled at the refugees, “Will you guys back off! You’re in the presence of a nobleman!”

The eyes of the refugees were clearly on Noein. They seemed to know about Noein. I wonder if they had already been told that ‘A young nobleman from a neighbouring territory might accept refugees.’

Noein said to Matilda, “Don’t worry,” as he stepped forward and faced the refugees.

“Does this group have a representative?”

Noein asked, and a man stepped forward. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties.

“That would be me. My name is Edgar, His Excellency, Baron Arkvist.”

‘Oh so he’s even told them my name beforehand,’ Noein cursed at the Viscount Konitz in his head. I think you rely too much on me before I even confirmed that I will accept the refugees.

“I’ve heard that you’re from the south of here, but I’d like to hear more about the details directly.”

“Yes, we were living in a pioneer village just south of here, near the border with the Kingdom of Lancel. It’s on the southern edge of the Great Forest of Bezel.

“…… Oh, that part. You were forced to leave your village because of the conflict?”

“Yes. I was ordered to flee the village with a group of young villagers, and while looking for a territory that would accept us, we ended up here in Retvik.”

The Bezel Forest becomes thinner and thinner the further south you go, and eventually the Kingdom of Lordberg and the Kingdom of Lancel come into contact with each other on the plains. Noein knew that it had been a conflict zone for several years.

He looked around at the refugees, he wondered how hard it had been for them being caught up in the conflict and having been forced to flee.

As the representative had said, ‘They escaped with the young villagers.’ The older ones in the group were in their thirties at most, and the younger ones were children as young as ten. They were all scrawny, but not so weak as to be in danger of dying, probably because the church was providing them with food.

“There are no small children here.”

“…Some mothers with young children were the only ones who were accepted in the cities along the way, though many died because they could not endure the long hours of travel, camping and starvation. Adults also died, starting with those who were weak. There were over fifty of us when we left the village, but this is everyone that made it this far.”

As he said this, Edgar shook his clenched fist. As the leader of the refugees, does he feel the responsibility of their death?

‘It’s disgusting. What’s fun about raiding villages and putting farmers in poverty?’

Holding his frustration inwards, Noein made the kindest expression possible conjure up at the moment.

“Well, it looks like all of you have struggled through alot. Fortunately, I can accept you into my territory. I’d like you to start a new life as my subjects.”

Edgar’s eyes widened as he heard those words. There was a scream among the refugees listening behind him.

“Huh, are you sure you are okay with this …?”

“Yes. If everyone is physically fit, we can leave for our territory tomorrow itself. What do you think?”

“Of course! We will be ready to leave tomorrow. Thank you very much, his Excellency, Baron Arlkvist.”

In front of all the refugees who bowed their heads in thanks, Edgar was the only one who bowed down on one knee in a neat posture. How he carried himself was quite impressive for a mere peasant. He seemed to be used to dealing with nobles.

“You seem to be used to talking to noblemen, were you of high rank in the village?”

“My father was the village chief, and as his heir, I was taught to be polite to the nobility. My father died, I think, trying to resist the soldiers of the Kingdom of Lancel and to buy us time.”

“I see. I admire your father’s bravery in deciding to let the youth escape and save you all.”

“… Thank you for your benevolent words.”

Edgar replied, his voice trembling.

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