Chapter 2

All the villagers had fled.

Realizing this, I was at a loss in the desolate territory, devoid of any human presence.

It was no wonder. Not only were we threatened by monsters, but my father and older brother, who possessed the skills and charisma to fight against them, had died.

Moreover, the second son, who was to become the new lord, had a skill that was of no use in battle.

It was no surprise that the vassals and villagers who had served us for so long had fled.

If I were in their position, I would have probably done the same.

"...Sigh, I want to run away too."

I muttered absentmindedly, gazing up at the clear sky.

Without vassals or villagers, it was impossible. One might think I should just run away, but abandoning the territory as a lord was not allowed, and if I fled, the death penalty was certain.

If I honestly reported the current situation to the king, I would be stripped of my title and fined for letting the territory fall into ruin.

Having been a poor noble in the borderlands for so long, I had no substantial assets, and I couldn't pay the fine. I would end up as a slave or bought by some noble to live a life of idleness.

I didn't want such a life at all.

Therefore, I, as the lord, could not run away.

On the other side of the Great Forest, there was a powerful noble's territory, a bit far away.

The noble, who saw our territory as a buffer, would surely want information about the villagers to prepare for the Great Forest. There was a good chance they would accept them.

I couldn't say I didn't hate the vassals and villagers who had fled, leaving me behind, but they had indeed served me faithfully.

"At least, I hope the future of the villagers who fled is bright."

"Ah, Nokuto-sama..."

As I muttered, I was called from behind.

There stood a girl in a maid's uniform with short silver hair. Her right eye was hidden by long bangs, and her blue left eye looked at me as if peering.

Her name was Meara, a girl of my age who had served as a maid in the Bigsmall household since she was young.

"...Meara? Why are you here?"

"I want to be of help to Nokuto-sama."

When I asked in surprise, Meara answered timidly.

Meara, the maid, had stayed. I was genuinely grateful, but given the current situation, I couldn't be truly happy.

"I appreciate your feelings, Meara, but do you understand? There is no longer a father or brother in this territory. The lord left behind is a weak-skilled person whose vassals and villagers have fled."

"Even so, I want to serve Nokuto-sama! Not Lord Rutherford or Lord Wisheart!"

The usually reserved Meara shouted strongly.

Her words, which compared me openly to my father and brother, seeped warmly into my heart, which had been hurt.

"Nokuto-sama reached out to me when I lost my family at a young age."

Indeed, it was my word that led to hiring Meara as a maid.

I couldn't bear to see a girl my age, who had lost her family, being treated coldly.

"That was just the sympathy of a young me, not something for which Meara should feel grateful—"

"Even so, I was happy! Not only did you hire me as a maid, but you also gave me a place in the mansion with your kindness!"

To me, a child with the memories of my previous life, Meara, who was of the same age, was like a little sister or a child, and I had doted on her.

Feeling responsible for hiring her, I had actively taken care of her, but I never imagined she felt this way.

"Not just to repay your kindness, but purely, I want to be by Nokuto-sama's side!"

Meara, her face red and tears welling in her blue eyes, shouted with all her might.

Why had I been so negative?

In the midst of everyone leaving the territory, Meara was the only one who stayed.

Moreover, she said she wanted to be with me.

It would be cowardly and unfair to Meara to grumble after such a declaration.

"...Alright. Thank you, Meara."

"Nokuto-sama...!"

"This territory is nothing now, but let's rebuild it together. It might be tough, but will you continue to serve me?"

"..."

Determined, I extended my hand, and Meara, with a joyful expression—wait, does she look a bit dissatisfied?

"What's wrong, Meara?"

"No, nothing. I will serve you with all my might from now on."

Confused, I looked at her face, and Meara quickly smiled and took my hand.

Could she be regretting staying in such a territory? But she said she would serve me, right?

Feeling a slight doubt but afraid to voice it, I remained silent.

◆

Having received Meara's resolve, I went to the back mountain of the mansion to pay my respects to the graves, guided by her.

Yesterday, I was too tired from returning from the capital and the mental fatigue from the villagers' confrontation to think about my father and brother.

Now, after calming down through conversation with Meara, I was ready.

At the top of the back mountain, I could overlook the Bigsmall territory.

Now, the destroyed houses and plowed fields were prominent, but the view was beautiful.

There, three gravestones stood side by side.

"Is this where Father and Brother are resting...?"

"...Yes. I thought it would be good next to Lady, so I buried them here. I apologize for burying them without your knowledge, Nokuto-sama."

"No, there's no need to apologize. On the contrary, I thank you."

This was the place where my mother, who died young from illness, was buried, and it overlooked the territory.

My father, when drunk, would say he wanted to be buried here with a tombstone.

This would be the best place for my father and brother.

"Sorry, Meara. Could you go back to the mansion first?"

"As you wish."

When I quietly said this, Meara left for the mansion.

Alone, I placed the flowers I had picked along the way in front of the three gravestones.

"Mom, Dad, Brother, I'm back. I never thought that when I returned, Dad and Brother would be gone. Not only that, but the territory is in ruins due to the monsters, and it's a mess."

Relieved to be alone, I started talking, and suddenly tears welled up.

"Even so, even so, I couldn't obtain the great skills like Dad and Brother. Because of that, the vassals and villagers fled... Dad, Brother, why did you have to die?"

Finally, I couldn't hold back and cried pitifully.

The acquisition of a useless skill, the death of my father and brother due to the monster attack, and the villagers' flight—there were too many events, and I couldn't grasp the reality. But seeing the gravestones with their names engraved, I was forced to understand that my father and brother, my family, were no longer here.

Realizing this, the emotions that had been building up inside me overflowed.

"I'm sorry for showing such a pitiful face. Mom, Dad, Brother."

Crying and shouting in a place where no one could see, I felt a bit better.

"The skill I received is called [Enlargement & Reduction], which can make things bigger or smaller. It might not be a combat skill, but it could enrich life if used properly. Plus, Meara the maid stayed. Even if it's just the two of us, I will definitely rebuild the Bigsmall territory. So, all three of you, please watch over us from here."

After talking about the current state of the territory for a while, I stood up.

I couldn't stay here forever; Meara, who had returned to the mansion, would worry.

Moreover, now that I had decided to rebuild the territory, I didn't have a moment to spare.

"I'll come again."

I called out to the three gravestones where my family rested and descended the mountain.