Chapter 6

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Since the mass production of livestock succeeded, the atmosphere in the Baybalon territory has improved even more.

After all, eating meat really does give you strength. Everyone is working energetically, and the territory is developing rapidly.

I also got a vague grasp of the feeling of 'manipulating life' after that incident. When I tried to infuse the crops with activation magic, I succeeded in making them grow rapidly! If I get more used to it, I might even be able to extend or shorten the age of living beings!

Furthermore, we mass-produced the grass that serves as feed for the livestock, and now the Baybalon territory has turned into a land overflowing with greenery.

The town's landscape has also changed dramatically.

The dilapidated buildings were rebuilt one after another, fountains were installed in various places, and the bare ground was paved with fine cobblestones.

If you take a walk around the town, you'll hear the voices of merchants trying to attract customers and children playing energetically.

"How are things going for you all?"

"Oh, it's Lady Rize! Thanks to you, business is booming!"

"Ah, good afternoon, Lord!"

Ah, the gloominess before I became the lord seems like a lie. When I greet them, everyone responds with a smile.

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Hehehe, I've done a great job getting to this point! To turn the Baybalon territory, which was piled with problems, into such a peaceful land, I think I deserve praise from the royal family!

Well, the number of beast people gathering under Irena has finally exceeded a thousand, but it's all peaceful! Plus, the punks who have turned into muscle-bound monsters due to the influence of healing magic are doing some kind of armed training, but it's all peaceful!

After I messed with the creation of life, the silver-haired sister Alicia has been even more active, turning all the citizens into followers of the 'Demiurge Religion' and spouting mysterious hate speech like, "Lord Rize is the true royal! The other nobles are just vulgar people! Let's make this land a holy ground with their flesh and blood, fuck!" But it's all peaceful!

After all, the Baybalon territory is famous as a gathering place for crazy people. Even if the current situation gets out to the other nobles, they'll probably just think, "Ah, the citizens have gone crazy! Just as expected of the Baybalon territory!" and let it slide. Probably.

Besides, if things get really bad, the only sane and super competent lord, this Lord Rize, can just rein things in! Hahaha!

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Alright, with tax revenue improving recently, I think I'll try to act like a noble!

I'm going to buy a bunch of slaves from the slave traders in the neighboring territory!!

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"Ugh... Why did it come to this...!"

On the shaking cart, the slave girls were trembling.

"We're going to be sold to the 'Baybalon' territory...!"

"No way... It's over...!"

The wretched state of the Baybalon territory was known to all the citizens.

The land was barren, monsters were rampant, and the citizens were all crazy.

A hellish territory from which there was no return. That was the girls' perception of the Baybalon territory.

"Aha, ahaahaha...! How much do we have to be hated by 'Goddess Sophia' to end up like this? Even though our bodies are already so messed up..."

The words of the armless girl made everyone weep bitterly.

Yes—these girls were 'injured slaves,' the cheapest and worst-treated slaves. Each of them was missing a part of their body or was afflicted with a deadly disease.

Thus, they were sold by their families, fell into slavery, and were finally bought in bulk by the lord of the worst land.

"...Nobles are all scoundrels. And the lord of the Baybalon territory is definitely a crazy brute who plays with lives. We're going to be tortured and killed...!"

"I want to die... Someone, kill me...!"

With dead fish eyes, the girls sobbed.

Ah, maybe we should all bite our tongues and die. That way, we can give the evil noble one last shock.

Everyone started to seriously consider this—when it happened.

"Hey, girls. We can see our territory now."

As they reached the top of the hill leading to Baybalon, the rough-looking man driving the cart called out. The girls looked ahead with dead eyes, thinking it was finally the end.

But then—

"What... What is this...!?"

There, a lush green land spread out before them!

Calves and piglets were running around the fields, the farmland was filled with fine crops, and many farmers were working with smiles on their faces.

The slave girls were stunned by the scene.

Is this really the Baybalon territory?

The land was brimming with the vitality of life, like a fairy tale world. Could they be hallucinating?

The scene before their eyes was so unbelievable.

But this was just the beginning.

As the cart entered the town, the girls were even more shocked.

"---Oh, welcome, girls! Welcome to Baybalon territory!"

"The lord said he would take you in! You must have had a tough time with your bodies...! The 'Goddess Sophia' is trash!"

"You're safe now! After all, he's the 'Savior' of this world!!!"

The citizens, who were saying incomprehensible things, welcomed them with a cheer. The girls were flustered by the situation.

Why were they, the lowest of the low, 'injured slaves,' being welcomed like this?

"What, what is this!?"

"Are we being mistaken for some noble ladies...!?"

The girls cowered in fear at the people who were greeting them with full smiles.

What was happening? What would become of them?

Unable to understand the current situation, they were about to cry again—when,

"---Calm down, citizens. They are confused."

The stern voice rang out, and the people who were making a fuss immediately straightened up.

"Ha! We apologize, Lord Rize!!"

The citizens, in unison, bowed respectfully. They looked like subjects serving a king.

Thus—bathed in the respectful and faithful gazes of many people, he appeared calmly.

"I am the lord of this land, Rize Baybalon. ...You have all endured a lot."

"---!?"

Moved by his compassionate words, the slave girls were even more confused.

They thought nobles were scoundrels and that the lord of Baybalon was especially terrible.

But who was this young lord standing before them?

Receiving immense respect from many people, he was addressing 'injured slaves' with warmth—something that seemed impossible!

"A-ah, um...!"

Struggling to respond to the incomprehensible reality, the girls tried to speak.

But the young lord shook his head slightly and spoke in a gentle but flat tone.

"There's no need to be nervous. ---More importantly, let's heal your bodies first."

"Wh-what?"

At that moment—a miracle happened to the girls.

As a brilliant light flooded them, the missing limbs, non-functioning eyes and ears, and diseased organs all recovered!

As the light faded, the girls were stunned for a long time—then, they let out cries of shock.

"What, what...!? My hand...! The hand I lost in an accident...!"

"My legs! My legs are back!!"

"No way, the pain is gone!? The coughing up blood has stopped!?"

The girls, in shock, moved their newly healed bodies on the small cart—then, they sobbed with joy.

"Lord... Did you use magic for us...!?"

"Thank you... Thank you, Lord...!"

Their hearts were filled with an overwhelming sense of disbelief.

According to the teachings of the state religion, the 'Sophia Religion,' nobles would never use magic for commoners, let alone dirty slaves.

But the young lord before them had used his power without hesitation.

Moreover, the girls had never heard of a recovery magic that could regrow lost limbs.

Even the best recovery magic user in the country could only reattach severed limbs, according to rumors. Compared to that, this was nothing short of a miracle.

The great lord nodded kindly at the girls, who were shedding large tears.

"I plan to have you work as maids in my mansion. ...But first, you'll need rehabilitation.

Alicia, can you take care of them at the church?"

"Leave it to me, Lord Rize. Come on, everyone, call me 'big sister' from now on~!"

In response to his words, the beautiful sister smiled.

The other citizens also said, "Good for you, girls!" and "You're part of the Baybalon family now!" with warm voices. Among them were the figures of beast people, who were supposed to be in a marginalized position.

"Thank you... Thank you so much...!"

Faced with this scene, the girls thought with tears in their eyes.

The one who saved them from their hellish days was not the incompetent idol 'Goddess Sophia,' but the kind lord Rize Baybalon.

Therefore, they would dedicate their lives to him. For the sake of protecting this beautiful land, they would do anything!

With this vow in their hearts, the former slave girls followed the sister.

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However, the girls did not know.

"Alright, Alicia, I'll leave it to you."

"Sure thing, Lord Rize! I'll take good care of them~!"

The shallow-minded Rize Baybalon had bought them for the simple reason, "Ah, right! If I buy injured slaves and heal them, it will be cheaper!"

And from now on, they would be indoctrinated with the extreme ideology of the 'Demiurge Religion' by the crazy Alicia and become followers of a cult...

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