Chapter 9

9. The Visionary Swordsmanship and the Mage

Teach us martial arts.

You've got guts.

"Hmm? You want to learn combat techniques?"

"Yes."

Gallant and the two villagers' faces were filled with anger.

"We heard from Majuk that you said you would teach us how to deal with the bandits at the foot of the mountain."

"I thought it was a joke, but after seeing the blow you delivered, I realized how foolish we were. To you, those bandits must be like a swarm of flies."

"We weren't angry either. Everyone pretended it was nothing, but... the people of our village are like family. The women those bandits took were our friends and sisters."

The three men approached me and knelt down.

"Even if the bandits are strong, you can easily defeat them. But please give us a chance to take revenge."

Thud.

Suddenly, the three men bowed their heads to the ground.

Gallant clenched his teeth and, with a trembling voice, pleaded with me.

"My lord, please teach us. I didn't choose these men for any other reason. They are the most talented in martial arts in the village."

I thought for a moment.

I've never seen the bandits or the mercenaries at the foot of the mountain, but...

As Gallant said, they wouldn't be much of a challenge for me.

However, the fact that they dare to harass the village suggests a deeper problem.

Even if I deal with them, another bandit group will likely appear.

That's how it works with pests.

No matter how many you catch, more keep coming.

My contemplation didn't last long.

I could feel the sincerity of the three men.

If I grant their heartfelt wish, I'll gain loyal subordinates.

"Alright. But you might regret saying this."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't teach lightly. We'll start with physical training. If you can endure this, I'll teach you martial arts."

I stood up and said,

"There's no need to rest any longer. Training starts now."

* * *

As soon as we arrived at the village, Majuk hurried over.

"My lord, why are you so late?"

We were two days late, so his reaction was understandable.

"There was a bit of an issue. But why are you here at the village entrance?"

"Oh, that's because..."

Majuk's eyes flicked to the back.

"Phew, huff..."

"I'm dying..."

"Ugh."

Well, they started with negative trust.

If one person was like this, it would be one thing, but it seems they all had low expectations of the lord.

Still, the fact that their trust increased despite their pale faces proved they had strong mental fortitude.

Especially Gallant, who seemed to understand the purpose of the training, showed a greater increase in trust than the other two.

Because they appealed to me so much, I shrugged at Majuk.

"Wait a moment. Gallant! Untie the ropes and rest well."

"Y-Yes, my lord."

Gallant, with trembling hands, untied the rope around his waist.

He then untied the ropes for the two men, Durken and Shelden, who would become my first soldiers.

I placed the deer from Nils' back onto Gallant's shoulder.

"Only the three of you should cook and eat this. Eat it all."

During the journey, we did strength training, but we overdid the cardio.

They need to replenish protein to prevent muscle loss.

Fortunately, we spotted a deer on the way, which was a stroke of luck for them.

A bad day for the deer, though.

When I threw a knife to catch it, everyone looked at me like I was crazy.

"Y-Yes... Did we pass?"

Honestly, I was impressed by their perseverance.

I adjusted the speed to prevent them from collapsing, but they never stopped.

Proof of their natural toughness.

Not just Gallant, but the other two also showed excellent endurance.

It seems the descendants of the slave warriors who founded the village inherited their genes, giving them superior physical conditions.

The hard labor of clearing the land also played a role.

"Weren't you supposed to go mine iron ore?"

"Yes. Can't you see the cart?"

"Those men...?"

"I saw potential in them as soldiers, so I trained them on the way."

"...A little? Their faces are pale."

Majuk's face also turned pale.

I could see what he was thinking.

'Is the lord going to treat me the same way?'

Don't worry, Majuk.

If I treated you like that, you'd collapse and vomit blood, so I won't.

Only the capable ones get pushed that hard.

"They'll continue like this. If they drink alcohol, report it to me immediately."

"Y-Yes, my lord."

Majuk looked at the three men with a sympathetic expression.

"Again, why were you here?"

"Oh. We received word that the mage is arriving soon."

"Is that so? You managed to time it well. Gather the villagers."

"Yes, my lord."

There were a few things I needed to do before the mage arrived.

* * *

Before the villagers gathered, I entrusted Nils' bath to Aili and Alice.

Interestingly, they had different reactions.

"Can we do it? I know he's a valuable horse."

Aili asked cautiously.

Alice, though silent, had a gleam in her eyes.

Aili took the initiative, but Alice seemed more resolute.

They are identical twins, but their roles have led to differences in their personalities.

"Don't worry. He's gentle. Just wash him with water and soap, dry his fur, and brush it."

When I looked at Nils, he nodded.

Maybe because he's half-fairy, he prefers the touch of pure young girls over men.

That's why I specifically chose these two.

When I stepped outside the mansion, the summoned villagers were standing there, dazed.

I gave them an order.

"Alright, everyone. Crush this rock into powder."

"Is this iron ore?"

"Yes. Put the powder back into this cart."

"Yes, my lord."

If the mage is skilled, there's no need to crush it into powder.

But according to Majuk, the mages I've encountered are far more powerful than I imagined.

It makes sense.

They are all high-ranking mages from the kingdom's army, mobilized by the Bert Duke's family.

Even if the mage coming to the estate is more skilled than expected, it will still save time in melting the ore, so it's necessary.

When I was a 'Lord of the Frontier,' my ironclad rule was always:

—A good estate is one where no one is idle.

As I watched the villagers crush the iron ore, Majuk approached me.

"My lord. I heard that Haerlin Paige has a rather poor reputation."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Your plan is impressive, but I'm not sure if she will follow your orders. Given her status, she has nothing to lose. If she rejects your proposal, everything will fall apart, won't it?"

Technically, Haerlin and I have similar statuses.

We are both lords and mages from the mage tower, without any special titles.

Just minor nobles, baronets.

However, in terms of birth, she, a noble, is of higher status than me, a former serf.

Noble society runs on connections, so those from prestigious families have an advantage.

"Don't worry. I have a plan."

"Hmm... Yes, my lord."

Perhaps because we've built some trust, Majuk kept quiet.

Seeing his anxious face, I had an idea.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure Haerlin Paige teaches you magic."

* * *

"Phew. This place is still the same."

In the distance, Haarun's silhouette was visible.

Haerlin Paige, rubbing her sore bottom, dismounted.

As a noble, she had learned horseback riding from a young age, but as a mage, she rarely had to ride for long periods.

However, since she was in charge of Haarun's concealment, she had to endure this every time.

She knew warp magic, but Haarun was a remote area without a warp facility.

Despite the continuous suggestions from the boundary mages, the proposals were always rejected due to the lower cost of human labor.

Why install an expensive warp facility when only one person has to suffer?

Maintenance and repair costs add up.

"Damn king! Go to hell!"

After confirming no one was around, Haerlin cursed and took a deep breath.

"At least the air is fresh and the scenery is nice, so it's a good change of pace. Whew!"

Whistling, she extended her hand, and a yellow bird flew to her.

"Chirp chirp."

When she offered the grains she had in her pocket, the bird pecked at them.

"You can go now."

As she released the bird, it flapped its wings in surprise.

The startled horse snorted roughly.

"It's okay."

Her hand, filled with mana, stroked the horse's mane, and it quickly calmed down.

"The new lord is a knight, right? I hope he's not a pervert like the last one."

Haerlin frowned.

She didn't like knights, who were too stiff.

"Hmm. But they are easy to manipulate if you know how to talk to them."

Haerlin tapped the bag at her waist.

The sound of gold coins clinking was pleasant.

The support funds for the new lord appointed by the king varied.

However, for the western frontier estates, they were quite high due to the difficulty of management.

"Ah, if I had won 60,000 gold, I wouldn't have to go through this charade!"

Thinking about the dice game she lost, her anger flared up again.

If she had won, she wouldn't have to act like this.

* * *

After washing in warm water, drowsiness overcame me.

This body, which rarely gets tired, becomes fatigued after using the Visionary Swordsmanship.

Especially this technique has significant aftereffects.

Not having used it for a while made it even worse.

"I'm exhausted."

Rubbing my sore arms, I picked up the scroll on the table.

Noble letters are usually delivered by carrier pigeons.

I once asked the reckless duke why they used pigeons.

—Why do you use carrier pigeons?

—Yes, couriers are more expensive, but you're not short on money, are you?

—That's a good question.

Gareth scratched his head and chuckled.

—What are we doing right now?

—Running away. Because of some idiot who ran away without thinking.

—Idiot? That's a bit harsh. You need to change your tone. But I like that about you, so I bring you along...

Gareth was grumpy but quite kind.

—Dumbass. Pigeons can't read, can they? Couriers and magical communication involve human intervention.

That's true.

Even phones are used with the risk of eavesdropping and surveillance.

—Carrier pigeons can be attacked or captured, too.

—True, but it's rare with the trained pigeons. Still, it happens from time to time. That's why we use coded messages.

Gareth was reckless but had a sharp mind.

He created a new code for our communication.

It took me a while to learn the code system.

"If there's someone who can read this scribble... they must be a genius of the century."

The paper was densely packed with tiny letters.

I carefully read the entire scroll.

"Phew. When I get old, we should change the method. But first, we need to survive until then."

In this harsh world, that might not be possible.

As I put the scroll away, a knock came at the door.

Knock knock.

"My lord, Knight Haerlin Paige from the Bardum Mage Tower has arrived."