Chapter 16

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Chapter 16

“— That’s why Matilda and I will be returning to the settlement with the newcomers tomorrow. I want Pence and Mai to go home first and let them know what’s going on so Yuri and the others don’t get worried. Have them prepare for the refugees.”

“That’s fine, but …… I couldn’t ask earlier while we were in the Viscount Konitz territory, but is it okay to suddenly welcome more than 20 refugees?”

“If many of the refugees didn’t work hard or were rebellious, wouldn’t things get out of hand?”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen …….”

I understand Pence and Mai’s concern.

They are probably scared. They have been given farmland and a new life at the territory, but now dozens of unknown people are coming into the area at once.

The refugees seemed to be straightforward from what I had seen today, and Edgar, the leader of the group, seemed to be a sincere man. Pence and Mai had not met them directly. I guess that’s why they feel uneasy about the whole ordeal.

“Well, I’ll take responsibility for that. There may be a lot of them, but they’re just weak, skinny refugees. If anyone disturbs the peace of the territory beyond control, I will dispose of them immediately.”

I use the word ‘dispose’ in a roundabout way, but it’s exactly what I mean.

Noein didn’t intend to take any chances.

“And, dispose of them? …”

Pence and Mai, who had been expecting him to say that he would expel them, looked a little taken aback.

“After all, isn’t it right? The only thing I love is my people. If you threaten the peaceful life of the people, you’re no longer a person of my territory, you’re a bandit who threatens it. I don’t have the privilege of mercy to give to those who choose to become traitors.”

Noein smiled as he said, ‘I don’t think those refugees would let that happen,’ his expression was cold unlike his warm, naive smile the two former bandits were used to.

“……We’re glad we’re going to be able to work.”

“That’s right. You people are serious about this, and that makes you people ideal for my territory. I intend to take care of all of you?”

He is kind only to his own people. To anyone else, he puts the interests of himself and his domain first, and he has no mercy for those who oppose him. This is the nobleman Noein Arkvist.

・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・

Seeing off Pence and Mai as they return to their residence, Noein and Matilda take up lodgings in Retvik.

They stayed at the same inn they had stayed at for a while when they were in Retvik for preparations before they started territory development, the innkeeper and the employees were happy to welcome Noein back.

Noein exhaled once he entered the two-person room and sat on the bed.

“When I left my residence this morning, I didn’t expect this. Suddenly I met Viscount Konitz and was surrounded by refugees. …… I feel exhausted!”

“Thank you for your hard work, Noein-sama. Your conversation with Viscount Konitz and your encouraging words to the refugees were excellent.”

Matilda praises him as she sits on the other bed in front of Noein.

“Thank you, Matilda. …… Was Matilda also surprised when I said I’ll ‘dispose of’ the refugees if they disturbed the peace?”

“No. I think it is only natural that if there are people who cannot understand Noein-sama’s compassionate nature, they should be punished. Such people should disappear from the world.”

“Is that so, I’m relieved.”

Without hesitation, Matilda affirmed Noein with an immediate smileon her face.

He knew that she would never disagree with Noein’s thoughts, but it was still comforting to hear her give him her full approval.

“Do you think the refugees will meekly work for our territory?”

“I think so. It’s hard to believe that Edgar was just acting, with that genuine face. He wasn’t faking gratefulness in his voice either. Besides, once he comes into our territory, he’ll never think of rebelling.”

Noein grinned as he said this.

Matilda didn’t know why Noein would go so far as to say that ‘he’ll never think of rebelling,’ but she figured that if he said so, then it must be true.

“By the way, Matilda, tonight is the first time in a long time that we are alone without Yuri and the others.”

“Yes, Noein-sama.”

“You don’t have to worry about your voice.”

“… Yes, Noein-sama”

Matilda, who usually does not move her expression, becomes like a prim and proper maiden.

“Come, Matilda”

“Yes…”

They stayed in the room for two, but ended up using only one bed.

・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・

The next morning after an overnight stay in Retvik, Noein and Matilda met up with the refugees and left for the Arkvist Territory.

The refugees’ only belongings were rag-like blankets given by the church as charity, and tents that were also as good as rags.

It was summer now, so that was fine, but before winter came, they would have to prepare them a better living arrangement. With this in mind, Noein led the 24 refugees across the plains to the Bezel Forest.

“It’s less than half a day’s walk to our place of residence. It’s not a village yet but we have tents and fields set up.”

“No, we can’t thank you enough for taking us in. We will work very hard to help your excellence with your territory.”

Edgar was just as polite as he had been yesterday, and he was getting the other refugees ready as well. ‘I guess we don’t have to worry about being rebelled against after all’, Noein thought.

When they entered the Great Forest of Bezel, some of the refugees were frightened, but Edgar encouraged them, saying, ‘If you don’t follow Noein-sama, there might as well be no future for us.’

When the refugees saw the settlement, they said between themselves, ‘Oh, this is ……,’ ‘It’s a huge flat land,’ and ‘We are going to live here from today?’, they mumbled.

Unlike Yuri, who had said, ‘There’s nothing here,’ when he first arrived here, their reactions were surprisingly positive.

The reason for this must be the flat land as far as the eye can see. In the three months since he entered the forest, the land Noein had carved out had become quite large. If it’s just the area, it would be as large as a small village.

It was a large enough flatland that had been created by cutting through the fertile forest. It was the new land of their dreams as farmers.

“Noein-sama, are these the new citizens of our territory?”

“Yes, they are. Thank you for welcoming us, Yuri.”

The newcomers looked a little frightened when they saw Yuri coming towards them.

Yuri, who is a wanted man as he was the head of a group of mercenaries that had cut down multiple nobles before, has shaved his head and grown a beard to change his appearance.

He looked like a different person from his previous appearance, where he had long hair and a clean-shaven face, but his new appearance seemed to look even more daunting. It was no wonder everyone was scared.

“Edgar, and everyone else, don’t worry. He’s a decent guy, despite his appearance. He’s not going to you .”

“Oi, Oi, that’s not how you introduce someone.”

Seeing Yuri having such a casual conversation with Noein, the newcomers eased off on their discretion towards Yuri, at least a little.

“Well Then, let’s decide the allocation of your land for the time being.”

“Our… land?”

“Yes, your own land.”

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