Chapter 4

In the Kingdom of Roadberg, citizens receive the "Blessing Ceremony" at a church when they turn 10, and it is said that only about one in 20 people are granted magical talent at that time.

Most people have only minor talents, such as the ability to start a fire or produce a cup of water, but there are those who can wield powerful magic and are called "mages."

Due to the fact that many talented individuals rise to prominence and intermarry with the nobility, the proportion of those granted talent is higher among the nobility and lower among the poor.

Noein was granted the "talent for puppet magic," which was better than receiving nothing, but it was not something to be particularly proud of as a noble.

If he had been granted a more powerful and obvious talent like fire magic, water magic, or healing magic, his treatment in his earl's household might have been different.

Puppet magic, as the name suggests, is the magic to control puppets at will. Generally, it is recognized as the magic to control "golems," large wooden puppets with magical runes carved into them.

However, one of its drawbacks is that it is "extremely difficult to handle."

Usually, golems cannot perform very complex movements. At best, they can be used to carry heavy loads or serve as shields on the battlefield.

With extensive training, one could make them move as smoothly and complexly as humans, but only those with a great deal of free time would be able to undergo such training.

And Noein had that "great deal of free time."

At the age of 10, after learning about his talent and saving up the allowance given by his father, Noein bought a golem (a wooden golem is not particularly expensive by noble standards) and spent a long time practicing its operation.

Thanks to this, now at 15, Noein can make two golems perform complex movements that would be impossible for ordinary people, such as "holding a hoe and digging the soil to till the field like humans."

"Indeed, this is a forest untouched by human hands. The soil is fertile. This will surely make a good field."

"You have the knowledge to discern the quality of the soil, as expected of Master Noein."

To be honest, Noein was just saying this off the top of his head, as he couldn't really tell the quality of the soil. He was just talking based on what he had read in books and a vague impression of how it looked.

And Matilda would praise him no matter what he said.

Despite their amateur status, the two of them were enjoying this unstable development.

"Alright, Matilda. We've managed to create something that looks like a field."

"Yes, Master Noein. Next, we will plant this... potato, right?"

As she spoke, Matilda was looking at a yellow-green lump that resembled a thickened plant stem.

"That's right. In the Kingdom of Roadberg, potatoes are only imported for ornamental purposes, but their true value lies in their usefulness as food. I learned about their cultivation and consumption methods from an agricultural guidebook from the Southern Continent."

Noein, who had learned about the true value of potatoes from a book, had specifically bought them at a market near the port before leaving his father's territory. This was fortunate because the Kiwileft Earldom had a port and was a trading hub with the South.

"I see. Choosing this mysterious crop for the first planting must have a reason that I don't understand."

As Matilda said, potatoes look strange to those who are unfamiliar with them.

When he bought them at the market over a month ago, they were more yellow and shiny, but now they had a slight green tinge and had started to sprout.

If one didn't know they were a crop, they would look like grotesque, mysterious objects.

"You're right, Matilda. Potatoes are almost unknown in this country, but in a certain country in the South, they are called the 'crop that saved the nation.' They grow easily, multiply easily, and are rich in nutrients. They are perfect for our development."

That said, Noein only knew about potatoes from books.

"Amazing. To recognize the value of such a crop, as expected of Master Noein."

Following Noein's instructions, Matilda began cutting the potatoes with a knife.

Noein then planted the cut pieces at equal intervals in the rows dug by the golems.

With a little water, potatoes would grow from each piece.

"That's it for planting in this field. This is the birth of the first farmland in the Arlkwist territory."

"A memorable farmland, Master Noein."

After finishing the planting in the small 5-meter square field, Noein immediately moved on to the next task. However, the work was done by the golems.

First, they needed a flat area to cultivate the land. So, Noein had the golems hold iron axes and cut down trees.

A single strike from a golem, with its massive body and weight, would create deep cuts in the tree trunk, eventually causing it to fall in the direction where a notch had been made.

Thanks to the golems, the time it took to cut down a tree was much shorter than it would be for a human.

They then cut the fallen trees to a certain length and trimmed the branches.

"Being a puppet mage is great... It's much more versatile than just shooting fire or water from your hands."

Noein muttered to himself.

Being able to control two golems simultaneously and make them perform such detailed tasks was something that, in the entire Kingdom of Roadberg, only he could do.

With his dexterity, Noein could entrust everything from farming to forest clearing and wood processing, and even combat if he wished, to the golems. While it lacked the flashy nature of other famous magics, it was the perfect power for someone in his position, who was developing a frontier.

"!"

Suddenly, Matilda's ears twitched.

"Master Noein, something is approaching. It's probably a monster."

"Right. I guess making so much noise would attract attention."

This was a forest untouched by human hands, so it was natural that monsters would be present.

Noein stopped the golems from trimming the branches and positioned them to shield himself and Matilda in the direction she pointed.

"Master Noein, if it's not a serious monster, can I practice by dealing with it?"

"Sure. But only if it's not a serious monster. I don't want my beloved Matilda to die."

"!? Understood."

Matilda, who blushed at the words "beloved Matilda," stood in front of Noein to hide her expression. The presence she had sensed was approaching her.

Rustling through the underbrush, a monster emerged—about 1 meter long, it resembled a giant rabbit, the Gluttonous Rabbit.

Compared to a regular rabbit, it had slightly longer legs, sharp fangs, and was unusually aggressive, eating both plants and meat.

Still, it was one of the weakest monsters.

"I'll do it."

"Go ahead."

After a brief exchange, Matilda, taking advantage of her rabbit-like agility, leaped like a spring.

She delivered a spinning kick to the Gluttonous Rabbit, which had also leaped at her.

Her combat boots, designed for rabbit people, had a long blade attached to the front, from heel to toe. The spinning kick, powered by her jump and body weight, struck the Gluttonous Rabbit's face, and the iron blade shattered its skull in one blow.

The Gluttonous Rabbit fell to the ground, dead.

"I did it, Master Noein!"

Uncharacteristically, she turned to her master with a bouncing smile. She was clearly delighted and proud to have completed her first real combat against a monster so smoothly.

"Good job, Matilda. I was watching you. You did great. Well done, well done."

Noein praised her, approaching and petting her head, which was taller than his. He petted her head again and again.

"A-ah, Master Noein..."

"You did great, Matilda. You are my pride. Well done, well done."

Indeed, she was his pride, his prized servant.

He was just giving her praise as a reward for her successful first battle.

It wasn't because her turned face was so cute that he wanted to tease her until she blushed.

"Master Noein, we need to bleed and dissect the prey..."

Matilda, who had become a simple, innocent maiden, said this, completely unlike her usual cool self. Indeed, it was time to get back to work.