Food arrived in the Viscount Parun’s territory at an unexpected time. Rumors had been circulating that food was being delivered to several territories.
In exchange for that food, countless people were offered up.
‘Where did they go?’
Word was they went to the Earl’s Territory of Ophern.
Selling one’s own people for food—it was a common occurrence in the Owen Marquisate. It was frequent for people to be sold from one territory to another.
The food that entered the Viscount’s territory did not go to the people; it went to the soldiers.
“Maybe I should have just enlisted.”
“Stop it. I heard that as soon as you go out, you die. You’re just arrow fodder.”
“Whether I die like this or like that, the end is the same. I’d rather have at least one decent meal before I go.”
“I heard even the soldiers don’t get to eat much.”
“Damn it!”
Even the precious food that came in was ultimately reduced to a single meal for a noble family.
‘It’s hopeless.’
Despair was written in Saence’s eyes.
He was a man who had been born as a commoner in the Viscount Parun’s territory and had spent his entire life tilling the soil. His friends were the same. They either tilled the land or went into the mines to work as miners.
Hunger was a frequent companion, but it had never lasted this long.
When there was no food, they used to work in the iron mines and use the iron ore they gathered to buy grain.
But now, there was nowhere that would trade food for iron ore. He heard that even the black market, which used to trade in iron ore, had withdrawn because of the situation.
The circumstances were inevitably desperate.
Then, rumors began to trickle into Saence’s ears.
— They say if you go to the Count of Ophern’s house, they give you food.
— There’s no way it’s free.
— I heard they lend it to you. Instead, you pay it back next year.
— Isn’t that just high-interest lending?
— No. They say they even let you reclaim land. Plus, they say the crops grow miraculously well over there.
— Isn’t it a scam?
— Not at all! I heard the food that came in this time was also from the Ophern side.
— …Hah…
Every rumor was similar.
The House of Ophern would provide reclaimed land. They would even provide food to help people settle.
“It’s an unbelievable story.”
“Still, honey… I heard it might be true.”
“How do you know?”
“The rumors are everywhere.”
“That’s nonsense. It’s impossible.”
His wife seemed tempted by what she had heard. However, Saence thought it was ridiculous.
‘Those noble bastards are all the same.’
It was better to risk his life in the forest and dig up mountain herbs.
Normally, monsters were a threat, but these days, the army was moving around, so the number of monsters had decreased.
The noble lords might only fill their own bellies, but the herbs would keep his family from starving. That much was certain.
“…I’ll try going to the forest tomorrow.”
“It looks like Asne next door is getting ready.”
“For what? To dig for herbs? I should ask to go together.”
“No. To leave.”
“What… If they get caught, they’ll die. What were you doing not stopping them?”
If one was caught by the Guard Corps while trying to escape the territory, it meant death. It was the same in his father’s time and his grandfather’s time. It might be slightly better now, but it was still a life-risking endeavor.
They might even get caught by another territory’s Guard Corps and be branded as slaves.
“Can’t we go too?”
“…”
This time, Saence had no choice but to remain silent. It was true that he was wavering because of his wife’s persistent words.
Still.
‘I have to provide for us.’
He comforted himself with the thought that his own hands were more reliable than an untrustworthy noble.
However.
“Saence! Saence! Are you there!?”
“Uh, Mr. Bailiff?”
The village Bailiff had suddenly come to visit. After hearing what the man had to say, Saence was plunged into even deeper despair.
‘…Conscription.’
He had to provide for his family.
The wife he had married recently was everything to him. They didn’t have children yet, but he had brought her home promising to protect her with his own hands.
If he was conscripted and left her behind? They wouldn’t even give him training. They would give him a wooden spear without even an iron tip and send him off to die. He would be used as arrow fodder, dying with arrows piercing his body.
He had no intention of dying while merely reciting his wife’s name on his final day.
‘Let’s go.’
Saence’s mind changed instantly.
“…Jane. Let’s go. We can’t stay like this.”
“Okay. Let’s go with Asne.”
“Yeah. That’s better.”
Early the next morning, Saence’s household, along with the neighbors, avoided the Guard Corps and escaped the Viscount Parun’s territory.
—
Rumors spread wildly through the Owen Marquisate.
Those who heard the rumors moved on their own feet to survive, not because of anyone else.
They headed toward the Count of Ophern’s house.
Even if they were to be killed, they knew they would die soon anyway, so the resulting procession was endless.
“Aaaah!”
“Catch them! They’re runaways!”
Among them were those captured by the armies of other territories, but…
“We will purchase them.”
“Ho-ho. Very well then.”
In the end, even they were sold for grain.
Pollen and Maim—the two merchant guilds competed to take the captured territory residents to the Earl’s Territory of Ophern.
“The Merchant Guild Masters of the Earl’s Territory of Ophern have gone completely mad. Acting like that, I wonder how much loyalty they have for the Count of Ophern…”
“You’re right. Merchants are blinded by money, regardless.”
The nobles looked at the two Merchant Guild Masters and even worried that the Count of Ophern couldn’t properly control his guilds.
But the Merchant Guild Masters thought differently.
“Hehe. We pulled off a major deal this time as well!”
“Good job.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Next time, raise the price of the grain even more.”
“More than this? They might try to kill us if we do.”
“No. I’m certain. Try raising it further.”
They were completely submissive in front of Rayrn.
They knew better than anyone else what kind of treatment the former Merchant Guild Master was receiving.
The former Merchant Guild Master was subjected to grueling labor and abuse every day, unable even to die. they did not want to end up in the same position.
“This is your bonus.”
“Ohh!”
Though it was difficult, it was better to be loyal to Rayrn, who gave clear rewards as long as they performed their duties.
“Off you go.”
“Yes! We’ll make sure to fleece them properly this time too.”
Both had long since been dyed by Rayrn’s methods.
Some walked in on their own feet. Others were sold through the merchant guilds.
In an instant, refugees flooded into the House of Ophern. And they…
“What is your name?”
“Saence. And this is Jane. She’s my wife.”
“Welcome to Ophern.”
They were received with hospitality in the Earl’s Territory, which had been prepared to welcome them in advance.
“Are you really giving us land?”
“Of course. However, there are conditions. For now, you just need to follow the soldiers’ guidance and head up.”
“…”
“…We’re going to the North. I heard there are many monsters there.”
“It’s not the far North. It’s just the edge of the Count’s direct holdings.”
“Whew. If that’s the case…”
The incoming refugees began to move north under the guidance of the mobilized soldiers.
— Are there no monsters here?
— The Count conducts subjugations every year.
— Oh…
Compared to the Owen Marquisate, which was barren and mountainous, the Earl’s Territory had many plains.
As they went further north, the mountains increased, but the monsters were few. It was proof that the House of Ophern cared about subjugations.
The simple fact that there were fewer monsters threatening their lives every day gave them a great sense of relief.
Many refugees, including Saence, arrived in the North. It was the time when winter had completely passed and spring was in full bloom. It was a time when they should be sowing seeds immediately.
The first person they saw upon arriving in the North was a young master of a noble family who clearly looked like he had been raised in luxury.
“Everyone is here.”
Despite the presence of thousands of refugees, he was far from intimidated; instead, he looked down at them with clear, bright eyes.
However, unlike other nobles, there was no contempt in those eyes. He was simply impassive.
“Mmm…”
“Honey. Bow your head.”
“I… I should.”
The refugees who met his gaze bowed their heads instinctively. They could feel for themselves that there was some kind of fundamental difference in status between them and him.
The one welcoming them all was Rayrn.
“On behalf of the House of Ophern, I welcome you to this new land.”
He skillfully divided the refugees and began to send them to pre-designated locations.
Although temporary, the houses built by the refugees who had arrived earlier were usable as immediate residences.
Everyone was satisfied with the news that better houses would be provided once the construction was carried out later. And there was something else they were even more satisfied with.
“You can do it like that. Just look at the ones already prepared and follow along.”
“Will it be effective if we do it like that?”
“Do you know how much wheat was harvested here last year? It increases by at least ten times.”
“Te-ten times!?”
“Yes. So, get to work!”
“Yes, sir!”
As rumored, they were truly giving out land.
Of course, the land was barren compared to the South they had seen when they first arrived.
Perhaps because it hadn’t been fully reclaimed, piles of stones would appear every time they dug into the ground. However, the more they reclaimed, the more land they were given.
The person who reclaimed the most land was even promised a special reward.
‘…I’m going to reclaim it all.’
For Saence, this was a hope unlike any he had ever known.
While consuming the minimum amount of wheat provided by the territory, Saence began to reclaim the land like his life depended on it. The other refugees who came with him were the same.
In an instant, a vast amount of land was reclaimed.
“Plant them.”
“Is this how we do it?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
They planted the wheat according to the orders of the Administrative Officers who had come out in advance.
‘How strange.’
The land was new, but there was a specific way of farming. Although they didn’t know why they were being told to do it, the Agriculture Official, who identified himself as Myuron, led the people enthusiastically.
The number of people grew day by day. Fields were reclaimed, and the number of people planting wheat, even if a bit late, increased.
Those who arrived after the sowing season were mobilized for the construction of new houses. If there was still manpower left over, they were mobilized to construct waterways.
Every day, wages were provided in the form of food. Just not having to starve was enough.
“This is a life worth living. Truly worth living.”
“I should have come sooner.”
The settled refugees were greatly satisfied.
“Oh. The sprouts are coming up.”
They said the north of Ophern was barren, but it was much better than the mountains of the Owen Marquisate. Little by little, green sprouts began to poke through the earth.
They could also see strange new things.
“What is that called?”
“They say it’s a new waterwheel. Using that, they say you can easily grind grain. They say Lord Rayrn invented it.”
“Ohh. That young master? That’s amazing!”
The rumored waterwheels were installed here and there within the newly dug waterways.
Without having to use oxen or anything else, the waterwheel turned and ground the grain for them.
Originally, grinding grain was a major task for a village. it was a job that required a significant amount of labor. However, using the waterwheel made it considerably faster. It was incredible.
“To think of all this, he might really be a genius.”
“It looks simple, but I heard technicians were mobilized to make it. There are even rumors they were originally serfs, but regardless, it’s impressive.”
“I never would have imagined it. It’ll be so convenient after the harvest later.”
“Exactly!”
As each day passed, the satisfaction of the refugees, including Saence, continued to grow.
Not starving and having a place to work. Just the hope that if they worked, they wouldn’t go hungry, was no different from a utopia to them.
But Rayrn himself…
“Territory Administrator!”
“Now what?”
“…An incident has occurred.”
“Oh, damn it. What is it this time!?”
“You’ll have to come and see for yourself. What was bound to happen has finally happened.”
“Fine. Let’s go. Let’s go crush them.”
He didn’t have a moment to rest with the overflowing workload.