Chapter 2

Noein has a twisted personality. There are two possible reasons for this.

One is the lack of communication experience.

He never knew his parents' love, and the only people he could talk to were the servants of the earl's household. Even these servants, while treating him politely on the surface, looked down on him as a "bastard" behind his back. Noein was well aware of this from an early age.

After being locked away in a separate house at the age of nine, he hardly spoke to anyone except Matilda, the slave assigned to take care of him. It would have been difficult for him to develop a normal personality under such circumstances.

The other reason is his bloodline.

Noein is the son of a petty and neurotic father and a mother who used that father to secure her position as a mistress, enjoying a life of luxury until her death. It's entirely plausible that he was born with a twisted personality.

However, despite his upbringing and innate disposition, Noein also possessed ordinary human affection and kindness. Most of these emotions, however, were directed only towards Matilda, his only true understanding companion.

So, he is determined to earnestly manage his territory and care for his people, unlike his oppressive father, the former earl.

"Still, the current Arquvist territory is just a forest. There are no people to care for, and we don't even have a place to live. It's really fun, Matilda."

"Yes, Master Noein."

Noein, who was sitting down, exhausted from the difficult terrain of the forest, said this to the devoted slave who brought him a leather bag of water.

They had only been in the forest for less than 30 minutes and hadn't walked more than a kilometer, but for Noein, who had spent his growing years mostly confined to the earl's separate house, it was a harsh journey.

On the other hand, Matilda, being a beastkin, had the physical strength to handle this level of movement without much fatigue.

"Master Noein, would you like me to carry you?"

"Thank you, Matilda. But I'll walk on my own. This is my territory, after all."

It would be unbecoming of a lord to be carried by a slave on the first day of entering his territory.

No one else was watching, but Noein, with a sense of self-satisfaction, stood up on his own again.

...

After sending the golem ahead and continuing through the forest, they soon reached a river—sooner than Noein would have collapsed from exhaustion.

This river, flowing from northwest to southeast through the forest, is not large, but it has enough water to serve as a water source, and the water is clear.

"Master Noein, shall we set up camp by this river?"

"It would be dangerous to be too close to the river during the rain. Let's look for a place to develop further north."

"Indeed, an excellent decision. As expected of Master Noein."

While Noein accepted the slave's blindly positive words, he directed the golem to head north.

They stopped a short distance from the river, where there was a slightly more open area.

"This place is good. Let's make this the first settlement of our Arquvist territory."

In the forest, where only the lord himself, his slave, and the silent golem were present, Noein declared this.

...

Although it was not yet noon since they entered the forest in the morning, Noein's weak legs were already aching.

He really wanted to investigate the surroundings, but it would be difficult to move any further today.

If so, he had to do what he could right here.

"Master Noein, you must be tired. Let me make some tea."

"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry, Matilda, for resting so soon because of my lack of stamina."

"There's no need for you to apologize. My only duty is to serve you."

Matilda, the epitome of a servant, said this and began to prepare the tea, shaking her rabbit ears.

She transferred water from the leather bag into an iron pot and inserted a rod with a blue-purple magic stone embedded in it.

As the magic stone emitted a blue light, steam rose from the pot, which had previously contained lukewarm water, and the sound of boiling water could be heard.

Using the "Fire Magic: Boil" magic tool, Matilda boiled the water, added tea leaves from the southern kingdom, and poured the tea into two wooden cups once the aroma and color had developed.

"Here you are, Master Noein."

"Thank you. It smells good. The tea you make is always delicious, Matilda."

"I am honored to receive your praise."

Noein smiled at her with the gentle face he only showed to her, and Matilda, in turn, showed a shy expression she never showed to anyone else.

It was March, and the air was still a bit chilly, being in the northern part of the kingdom.

Warming his body with the fragrant tea and healing his spirit, which had been exhausted by the harsh journey, Noein looked at the scene before him.

Matilda, holding her own cup, sat beside him, looking at the same scene while keeping a vigilant ear on the surroundings. They were in the middle of a forest inhabited by monsters.

The two golems removed branches and stones from the clearing Noein had designated as their settlement, pulled out noticeable weeds, and trampled the ground to make it flat.

By the time they finished their tea and the break was over, a small but level piece of land had been prepared.

"This should be enough to set up a tent and create a small plot for cultivation."

The next step was to set up the tent that would serve as their temporary home.

Normally, this would be a heavy task requiring several people, but with the golems, it was not difficult.

They set up the poles, assembled the frame, and stretched the thick canvas, completing a tent large enough for Noein and Matilda to sleep comfortably.

...

"A lord living in a tent. How interesting."

"Master Noein is a wonderful person. This is just the beginning. One day, this place will become a town, and Master Noein will live in a grand mansion."

"Yes. We need to make that happen as soon as possible... I'll be putting you through a lot of trouble, Matilda."

"Nothing of the sort. Being by your side is where I belong."

While arranging the tent with furs and moving clothes and daily necessities from the cart, they exchanged such words.

After moving the belongings, they strung wires between the surrounding trees and hung several iron rods from them.

This way, they would hear the sound if any monsters approached. With Matilda's keen hearing and sensitivity to presence, it was unlikely she would miss anything.

"Well, what should we do from tomorrow?"

There was nothing in this territory.

Create a field. Expand the flat area. Explore the surroundings. There were too many things to do.

Too many options can make it hard to get started.

"Never mind. The most important thing is to rest and recover from today's fatigue. A good night's sleep will clear my head."

It was already close to evening. Noein, having eaten the bread and dried meat he had bought in the town of the Count of Keinitz that morning and drunk the tea Matilda had made, entered the tent to go to sleep early.

"Come here, Matilda."

"Yes, Master Noein."

Matilda, who was a domestic slave taking care of Noein's daily needs, a guard slave using her physical abilities to protect him, and a pet slave to heal his body and mind, smiled and moved to his side when called by Noein's gentle voice.