Chapter 15

I started to organize the newly created dungeon.

First, to capture the hearts of the residents, an impact is necessary above all else.

Therefore, I have to finish the preparations by morning.

"Still, it won't be the same as Avalon, will it?"

From the window of the lord's mansion, I overlook the work in progress.

The Dwarf Smiths and High Elves are working busily.

However, the monsters I just created lack both skills and knowledge, so their work efficiency is not good.

"Comparing them to the seasoned monsters in Avalon is too harsh."

The monsters in Avalon didn't know everything from the start either.

Besides, these kids are trying their best.

The Dwarf Smiths are being educated with the knowledge and skills that Sie copied, and the High Elves are being taught by the veteran High Elves from Avalon.

They are quickly absorbing this knowledge, and their movements are gradually improving.

"The die is cast."

Creating a dungeon means there is a risk of being targeted by other Demon Lords.

I haven't told anyone that I created a dungeon here, and I regularly and thoroughly check for any observers using Sie's skills.

Even if each Demon Lord has their own information network, it's rare for a newly created dungeon to be noticed immediately.

It's important to settle the humans, but it's also important to build the dungeon's defense systems.

"Well, I'll manage it."

Fortunately, Sie has numerous weapons stored in her stomach.

I should also consider using them for the defense systems.

◇

Morning came.

The monsters seem quite tired.

Thanks to their hard work, the results are clearly visible.

The field is perfectly plowed without a single stone, functional irrigation channels are laid out, and even a water mill house has been built.

"This is impressive."

"Phew~ This time, it didn't go as smoothly as usual."

Sie is so tired that she can't maintain her blue-haired girl form and has reverted to a droplet slime.

Behind her, the Dwarf Smiths are sitting down.

"Sie, Dwarf Smiths, you did well."

"Phew phew phew, I will definitely take this gratitude. Aim for the [Eight Demon Generals]."

"I'll consider it."

This slime is ambitious.

Since coming here, Sie has been a great help. If we return to Avalon safely, I wouldn't mind recommending her for the [Eight Demon Generals].

However, there's no particular benefit to becoming one of the [Eight Demon Generals].

"The High Elves did well too."

The High Elves, leaning against the trees, salute.

"This time, we didn't use any existing fields."

"Based on the location of the river and the condition of the land, it was faster and better to start from scratch. From now on, I'll leave the explanation to you."

The veteran High Elf nods.

"Healing the exhausted soil and making it fertile is a tough job even for us, and there were crops that hadn't been harvested yet, so I recommended developing new land."

"Indeed, the land turned out well. Your judgment was correct."

...This is the sign I wanted to show.

The monsters worked hard. Now it's my turn. I need to wake up the Fox Sisters soon; their cooperation is also necessary.

◇

The next day, I gathered the residents early in the morning.

Their reaction wasn't good at first, but the moment they heard about the food distribution, their attitude changed completely.

They were almost starving.

The temptation of a full belly of delicious food is significant.

We are using the square in the center of the territory.

To show authority, a suitable environment is necessary. The square is well-prepared, and a platform from which I can overlook the gathered people is also set up.

I look at the faces of the residents.

They are Kumin and Alhi, the Fox Sisters, who are enjoying the porridge they made.

We didn't want to serve anything too heavy, so we made a well-seasoned porridge with several herbs and a half-cooked egg. Sie provided the recipe and the herb combinations, so it should be perfect.

According to Sie, "It's a light double soup with both animal and seafood flavors. It's not just any medicinal porridge. It's a perfect blend of the best ingredients improved by Lady Aura. The rice is top-quality from Avalon. The eggs, phew phew, are something special. Even the dead would rise from the grave."

...It seems Sie isn't exaggerating. The residents, who were in poor condition due to their harsh lives, are gradually regaining their vitality.

Is this really safe?

Well, it's fine as long as their health improves.

When the Fox Sisters announce that there's more, the residents swarm around and empty the pot in an instant.

Now, is it the right time?

Their suspicion should have eased somewhat.

I ascend the platform.

The Fox Sisters are by my side. I had them serve the food because it's more pleasant to receive food from beautiful girls, and I plan to have them act as intermediaries with the humans in the future.

By directly giving them food, I want them to recognize my face and feel grateful.

The residents, who have finally had a delicious and nutritious meal, raise their heads, satisfied.

I wait for their full attention before speaking.

"Nice to meet you. I am Prokel, the new lord."

The residents murmur.

It's understandable. After all, a stranger suddenly appeared and claimed to be the new lord.

"I am the adopted son of Baron Tsutaya Farnade. I studied various things in a foreign country to improve this territory and have gathered the necessary personnel and funds. The porridge you had this morning is one of those things."

Some look at their empty bowls, while others discuss with their neighbors.

"Is there porridge like this outside the territory?"

"The atmosphere is completely different from the previous lord."

"If you can fill our bellies, I'll do anything."

"I don't understand much, but he seems impressive."

Hope outweighs distrust.

They were at rock bottom. Anything better than before is welcome.

Moreover, they have been given a real, delicious meal that has filled their bellies. This adds to the persuasiveness.

"I will make several promises. I will not let the residents go hungry. I will provide a meal every morning at this time. You will always have food in the morning."

The residents cheer.

To them, it doesn't matter who the lord is. As long as their lives improve, it's fine.

I could provide three meals a day, but that would lead to laziness.

That's not good.

What I want are residents who work with hope for the future.

"Furthermore, I have prepared a place where you can work to your full potential. Look over there!"

In the direction I point, a magnificent and fertile field spreads out.

It's not the poorly maintained, stony, and barren land they are used to. It's soft and fertile soil.

Irrigation channels are laid out, and water can be easily brought to the fields.

There's no need for the heavy labor of fetching water from distant wells when the weather is bad.

"This field was created with the funds and personnel I brought from outside."

In response to my words, the High Elves and Dwarf Smiths, who are just below the platform, bow.

These beautiful girls, different from humans, leave the residents in awe.

"I will divide this field equally among you. Not just the field, but the seeds are also here. I will provide them."

The strong Dwarf Smiths stack burlap bags filled with seeds one after another.

When one of the bags is opened, high-quality wheat spills out.

The residents, experienced in farming, seem to recognize its quality and swallow hard.

The seeds were purchased in the city, blessed by the High Elves, and grown with growth promotion to produce a harvest.

They are stronger, tastier, and yield more than ordinary wheat.

The enthusiasm and joy of the residents, who realize they will receive the field and seeds, and their hope for the future, flow into me.

...Indeed, it's good.

This is the emotion I wanted to taste.

However, it's not enough yet. I can make this hope even stronger.

One of the residents timidly raises their hand.

"Um, the seeds are great, but how much interest will we have to pay?"

"...Now that you mention it, when we borrowed seeds from the previous lord, we had to pay extra on top of the taxes."

"Even if we grew good wheat, it was all taken away."

The previous lord was quite ruthless.

He took 70% of the harvest as taxes, leaving 30% for the residents. That was bad enough, but if they borrowed seeds, they had to return several times the amount borrowed.

This left almost nothing in the residents' hands, and they had to borrow again the next year.

In the worst cases, they would eat the borrowed seeds and run away at night.

"Regarding this, I will revise the tax system. ...From now on, if you don't borrow seeds from me, 70% will go to the residents and 30% will be taxes. If you borrow seeds, 60% will go to the residents and 40% will be taxes."

"Is that a mistake! The taxes are much lower than before."

"It's not a mistake. I can manage the territory with this system."

The previous lord would pay 30% of the 70% he took as taxes to the country and use the remaining 40% for the territory's operations and his personal wealth.

...To be honest, I don't need the funds for the territory's operations or personal wealth, so I can return that portion to the residents.

Additionally, the percentage of the harvest is determined by the expected yield calculated from the land and personnel set by the country. This is reviewed every three years.

The residents had to pay the tax in cash or wheat at the current market price for that year.

In the past, the environment for growing crops in this territory was poor, so the expected yield was not met, and only 30% of the harvest returned to the residents.

However, with Avalon and the land blessed by the High Elves, the expected yield can be multiplied several times.

The residents only need to pay 30% of the harvest, and there will be no problem.

"This new lord is amazing."

"If we can endure until next year's harvest, our lives will improve!"

"We will work hard!"

It's going well.

This is what I was looking for.

If I wanted to, I could simply provide for the residents without going through all this trouble.

However, strong emotions won't arise from that.

There's no enthusiasm or hope in pigs that are just being fed.

Next year, if they work hard now. That's what I want them to think.

Even if they don't have money or food, providing breakfast will prevent them from dying.

This is where my involvement ends.

"Now that I am the lord, I will create an environment where hard work is rewarded! However, whether you take advantage of this environment is up to you. If you want to be happy, work hard!"

"「「「「Oh!」」」」

The residents raise their voices.

There is no despair or resignation among them.

They have the unique shine of those who believe that tomorrow will be better.

...Now, it's the first stage.

To make the farmers work with hope.

This will prevent the population from decreasing.

Next, I will bring in people from outside to increase the population.

I will do this alongside building the defense systems.

To regain the power of a Demon Lord, I still need more emotions.

I will take the next step.