Chapter 47

Once the construction of the houses for the settlers was completed, I immersed myself in making small items like furniture.

I started by preparing a set of furniture, including chairs, tables, and wardrobes, as well as tableware like plates, spoons, and forks, for each person.

Making each item was easy, but preparing them for ten people turned out to be quite a lot.

I usually live without much thought, but it made me realize how many tools and items are actually needed for a single person to live.

So, I kept generating and setting up furniture and tableware using my abilities.

Since I was the fastest at this, I continued working alone in silence.

During this time, I asked the others to expand the fields and take care of the crops, anticipating the arrival of the settlers.

Before I knew it, the day the settlers were to arrive had come.

"Finally, the new settlers are here. I'm so excited!"

Carmilla said this while plowing the new field.

I felt the same way. The excitement of new people coming hasn't stopped since yesterday.

"I hope they are kind people."

We will be working together in agriculture and sharing meals.

It would be nice if we could get along with the new people.

"If there are any rude ones, we'll throw them into the forest."

"That might be the most effective way."

Claire and Leidia said this as if it were a casual conversation.

The way they said it was a bit scary.

Even these two find it dangerous to wander alone in the forest. If ordinary people were thrown in, they might die instantly.

"Oh, Father is here!"

While I was thinking about this, Carmilla sensed the signs of the teleportation first.

We had informed Mother Plant and Tentacles that the Demon King would bring the settlers today, so they wouldn't attack the newcomers.

After finishing the field work, the Demon King and a group of settlers appeared on the flat ground.

Perhaps learning from the previous experience, this time they teleported to a wide area far from the houses.

"Good, we weren't attacked today."

The Demon King seemed relieved. The last two times, they were attacked due to bad timing, and it must have been tough to protect the settlers while fending off attacks.

"Hashira, I've brought the settlers!"

Looking at the settlers lined up behind the Demon King, there were five elves, two dwarves, and three demons, as planned. It was unexpected that all the elves were women, but it shouldn't be a big problem.

However, there was something odd.

"Why are the elves and demons kneeling?"

The elves had their hands clasped as if in prayer, and the demons were kneeling as if paying the highest respect.

What's going on here?

The two dwarves, the only ones standing among the settlers, looked confused and didn't understand the situation.

"Because the noble one and the spirit are here."

When I asked, one of the elf women answered with her hands still clasped.

Ah, the elves mentioned that they revere high elves and spirits. So, they must be reacting to Leidia and Rent, who is Gaia Note.

"I thought I told you beforehand that such formalities aren't necessary here."

"But..."

"I said it's fine."

"As you wish."

The elf woman, who had been hesitant, finally stood up when Leidia said it firmly.

The other elves followed and stopped kneeling.

"Wow, Leidia looks so authoritative."

"I'm not good at this kind of thing."

Carmilla teased Leidia, who looked uncomfortable. She really doesn't like such formalities.

"So, why are the demons kneeling?"

"Because they are in the presence of Lady Carmilla."

"Oh, right, Carmilla is the Demon King's daughter."

"Hey, Hashira? Did you forget? That's pretty bad."

Claire said this matter-of-factly, and I inadvertently acted as if I had just remembered.

Recently, Carmilla has been so focused on agriculture that her role as the Demon King's daughter has faded. I can understand that to some extent.

"Anyway, you don't need to do that here—"

"Proper greetings are necessary. Please introduce yourselves."

Before Carmilla could finish, Claire interrupted.

"...Claire, you..."

The demon woman said this with a twitch of her eyebrow.

She had long golden hair in braids, looking like a well-bred young lady.

She might be the Cecilia Claire mentioned.

"What is it? Here, I am your senior."

"Ugh, you're still holding a grudge because I said you couldn't use teleportation magic in the castle, aren't you?"

"Just get on with the introductions."

Claire cut off the braided woman's words firmly.

The reason for the tense atmosphere was unexpectedly trivial.

Carmilla, the Demon King, and Leidia, who were worried, could only be speechless.

"I am Cecilia Foldine from the Demon Kingdom Belgius. Nice to meet you."

When Cecilia introduced herself while kneeling, Claire looked somewhat satisfied.

On the other hand, Cecilia smiled beautifully, but her eyes didn't.

Because of Cecilia's introduction, the others also started introducing themselves.

However, with so many people, it was hard to remember everyone at once.

The elf who was talking to Leidia was Althea. The dwarves were Dolbano and Zolm, and the demon with braids was Cecilia.

I didn't remember the names of the others clearly.

But there's plenty of time, so I'll take my time to remember them.

◆

Despite the little spat between Claire and Cecilia, we finished the introductions and guided everyone to their respective houses.

It would be difficult to explain everything while they were carrying their luggage.

"This is the house where Althea and the others will live."

When I said this and led them inside, the elves moved around with great interest.

"Ah, the scent is so soothing."

"I've never smelled this before. What kind of wood is it?"

"The living room and kitchen are so spacious!"

"There are individual rooms on the second floor too!"

When one of the elves on the second floor shouted about the individual rooms, the three elves in the living room moved at once.

"I'm sorry, we're being noisy..."

Althea, who seemed to have a strong sense of responsibility and was very serious, said this shyly.

"Don't worry about it. It means they like it."

"Of course, but is it okay for us to use such a fine house alone?"

"You're living here. This is the least we can do. Besides, I can make as many houses as I want with my abilities."

To demonstrate, I grew a tree in the yard, and Althea's eyes widened.

"...You are the embodiment of the forest. No, the Sage of the Forest."

The Sage of the Forest? I'm not that grand.

After guiding the elves to their house, it was time to show Cecilia and the other demons their house.

"I want Cecilia to live in this house. The other two are her attendants and subordinates, so it's fine for them to live in the same house, right?"

"Yes, that's fine. I appreciate your consideration."

When I showed her the house, Cecilia answered with a perfect smile.

I was a bit worried if she would be satisfied with such a house, but she didn't complain and calmly had her attendants move in their luggage.

Perhaps because she could use teleportation magic, she had a lot of luggage.

"Claire, Carmilla, could you help out a bit?"

With this much luggage, it might take all day just to move in. That would be a problem.

"...I have no choice."

"I'll help!"

"I can't let Lady Carmilla do the work!"

"I told you, that's not necessary here. Don't worry about it."

Saying this to the hurriedly approaching Cecilia, Carmilla started moving the furniture with magic.

"Aren't you sorry to me?"

"You're fine."

I want to deepen our interactions and help you get a feel for life here.

After guiding the demons, it was the dwarves' turn.

"Hmm, this is our house, is it?"

"Completely made of wood. The construction is good, but it seems a bit flimsy."

Before I could show them, Dolbano and Zolm had already checked their house, as if they had heard about it from someone.

It felt a bit embarrassing, like having my amateur work critiqued.

"There are some stones here, but we don't have the skills to build a house with them. If you don't like it, feel free to build your own house."

"No, you've built this for us. We'll use it until it's no longer usable."

"Is that so?"

It felt a bit awkward to be told that directly.

"But, thinking about the future, we can't keep everything wooden."

"That's our job to fix."

Dolbano and Zolm laughed heartily.

"Besides the blacksmith Dolbano, can the leatherworker Zolm also build a house?"

"Don't underestimate us. Even if it's not our specialty, dwarves can build a house."

"Sure, even a child can do it."

"I see."

It seems my worries were unfounded. From their tone, it sounds like any dwarf can build a house. That's impressive.

Dwarves, known as professionals in craftsmanship, are truly reliable.