Volume 6 Chapter 6 Refugee Problem
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Next, I decided to meet with the representative of the Browning region.
The Browning region is governed by Sarah’s father, who works at a clinic, but he was a vicious Lord who imposed heavy taxes and harsh duties on his subjects long before becoming subordinate to Gertroud.
Initially, he had aimed for the position of eastern coordinator by leveraging his connection with Gwain, but after his daughter ran away, his plans crumbled, and rebellions overwhelmed him.
At that time, he abandoned Gwain, who ignored the rescue quest, swore allegiance to Gertroud, and succeeded in re-establishing tyranny in his domain by defeating the rebel army and bandits with Gertroud’s military.
As a result, the subjects left their lands and became refugees, scattering across various areas.
Thus, the number of refugees from Browning had reached about 5 thousand in the south, but since they had fled with nothing to eat, many of the refugees were in the worst status among them.
The representative of Browning was a young man from the Fox clan, dressed in tattered clothes.
He looked pale, likely due to poor nutrition.
”Are you the representative of Browning? You look quite young.”
”…Uh, yes. It seems I have unexpectedly become one. The older folks gave up on escaping and stayed in the region, while the young and middle-aged men participated in the rebel army and were killed by Gertroud. Most of the refugees are women who fled to escape the hunting of women and minors.”
Those who fled from Browning were about 80% women and 20% men, primarily a group of young people who fled to avoid the woman hunting ordered by the Lord.
”They’re actually hunting women… That Gertroud guy is the worst. By the way, what’s your name?”
”I apologize for my rudeness. My name is Oliv. I was managing the farm left by my parents in the Browning region, but I fled because the Gertroud army invaded. Please, I wish for the mercy of Lady Blackdagger.”
The girl named Oliv, like the previous Claret, pulled my hand close as she approached.
And again, I felt a soft sensation in the space around Oliv’s chest, even though it should have been empty.
”Ah, Lady Blackdagger… please stop teasing me. I am not beautiful enough to be a concubine.”
It seems I’ve developed a habit of checking the sensation no matter what, unable to stop my hands from moving.
”Nnngh!! Your Excellency! As I mentioned earlier, I would like you to hold off on such things until after the meeting.”
Magnus gave his second warning.
But that guy wouldn’t understand this strange sensation.
I adamantly demanded to confirm it.
I thoroughly enjoyed the sensation that felt like Oliv’s chest.
”Hah, our captain just can’t seem to fix that…”
Garvey sighed, but I had heard from Nikka that he was happily having fun with his wife, Marguerite, so there was no reason for him to sigh.
”Kent, if you’re going to have a concubine, you need to take proper steps to do it.”
”Hah, hah… Lady Blackdagger is indeed as fond of women as the rumors say. I wouldn’t expect someone as ugly as me to be made into a concubine…”
Huh?
Ugly?
If Milly isn’t stopping it from happening, then she must be a beauty that catches the eye…
I turned towards Milly.
Milly seemed to be curious about Oliv’s words and whispered to me.
”Well, she might look a bit tired and pale, but her appearance is outstanding. If it’s Kent who loves beasts, you would probably lock yourself away in a room with her for 3 days and nights and go wild.”
Milly’s words nearly pushed my impulse meter into the red zone, so I decided to hold back and continue the meeting.
”Ms. Oliv, for now, let’s save the discussion about the concubine for another day. First, we will accommodate the refugees in Estfort. We will provide food and clothing during transport, and once in Estfort, we will set up an employment window for the refugees. For minors, there is also Estfort Academy, which offers food, shelter, and a place to study, so if anyone is interested, please let me know. Estfort is a close-knit community, so I’d be pleased if you could grow attached to it.”
Oliv, still drowsy from having her chest touched, was suddenly alert at my offer.
”Ah, thank you. I appreciate Lady Blackdagger’s generosity. By the way, I heard through the grapevine that the southern region has very good soil; is that true?”
”Yeah, crops can be harvested abundantly. In Godard Village, crops that usually can only be harvested once a year can be harvested twice! Plus, the southern region has high temperatures year-round.”
Milly was answering Oliv’s question.
Indeed, the growth speed and yield of crops in the southern region are much better compared to other areas, but that comes with the risk of monster attacks.
”I was researching techniques to apply magic to agriculture. Ideally, I want to work on rural development in the southern region…”
Oh, so Oliv was an agricultural researcher… With the increase in population looming in the south, the time is near to focus on food production, so I’ll have Oliv work hard.
”Then, Oliv, you’ll be appointed as a bureaucrat in charge of food development. I’ve been planning to convert the southern region into farmland for a while, but I couldn’t find someone knowledgeable about agriculture, and now an expert has come. I’ll leave this matter to you. Discuss authority and salary with Chancellor Lila. However, the south is short on manpower, so you might struggle to secure personnel.”
”Huh? Ah, um, Lady Blackdagger… what exactly does this food development position entail?”
Oliv seemed taken aback by my sudden assignment.
”You can think of it as the top person responsible for rural development in the southern region. This includes pest control, selecting crops to plant, village development, and developing agricultural techniques. However, monster subjugation will still technically fall under the military’s jurisdiction. I’ll ensure that any subjugation quest you send will be automatically prioritized by the military.”
”What! Isn’t that practically the same as me deciding on the subjugation targets? I can’t take on such a huge responsibility!”
I handed her the document with her title and my signature stamped on it.
”Unfortunately, you’ve got to handle it. I will take full responsibility for any mistakes you make. Feel free to do as you wish.”
”Lady Blackdagger… Can someone as inexperienced as me really carry out such a heavy duty?”
”You successfully led 5 thousand people on an escape, so I’m not worried at all. Again, I’ll take responsibility for everything!”
Oliv clutched the handwritten appointment letter she received from me and bowed respectfully.
”Understood. I will take on this great responsibility. With all the wisdom and knowledge at my disposal, I will transform the southern region into a granary.”
”Thank you. I’m counting on you.”
I shook hands firmly with Oliv.
Thus, it was decided that the refugees of the Browning territory would be accommodated in Estfort, and Oliv would begin the major project of turning the southern region into a granary as the food development officer.
* * *
Next, the representative from the Gorlbev territory was set to attend the meeting.
However, it was Talia who entered through the door.
She had hidden away when she arrived in the Nolans territory, saying she had business to attend to.
”Huh? Why is Talia here? Where’s the representative from Gorlbev?”
Suddenly, Talia knelt and apologized right in front of me.
”Sir Kent, I am truly sorry! I deeply regret that my father, Def Gorlbev’s shortcomings, have drawn not only our people but also you, Sir Kent, into this situation. Please, punish me however you see fit.”
Just then, the door opened again, and a young wolf-kin rushed in, cloaked deeply in his robe.
The young man seemed ready to strike Talia, but Garvey and Fristoph restrained him.
”How dare you! It was your father’s betrayal that turned many of my subjects into slaves! The name of the Garuda Clan Chief is being sullied! Even Lord Beast King Vanquish mourns for this!”
”I’m sorry, High Priest Elkisa.”
The intruding young wolf-kin appeared to be acquainted with Talia.
I couldn’t grasp the sudden situation.
”Wait, wait! Let me sort this out. First, Talia is the daughter of Lord Gorlbev, right?”
I recalled that Talia’s status was labeled as Noble, though her family name was not listed.
”Yes, I did renounce my family status when I studied abroad at a clinic in the south, so my card does not list my surname… but I am the daughter of Def Gorlbev.”
”And so, Def Gorlbev has become the chief who unites the various Garuda clans, correct?”
”Yes, my father is the 82nd Grand Chieftain of the Garuda Clan, chosen through battles fought by elite troops selected from various tribes.”
The Garuda Clan resides across the Magic Continents, and while they have a strong sense of belonging to their own tribe, they often struggle to unite. However, I’ve heard that they have a rule to follow only the words and actions of the Grand Chieftain across tribal lines.
It seems Talia’s father has taken up the position of Grand Chieftain, meaning he is the top leader of the Garuda Clan living in the Magic Continents.
”So, that means Talia’s father is the leader of the Garuda Clan, huh? Then why did he bow to Gertroud’s army?”
Talia told me the story of someone who escaped from the Golbeuf territory.
”Yes, my father has harbored the ambition to create a nation for the Garuda since he became Grand Chieftain. He lamented the way the Garuda Clan was treated lightly in the True Demon Kingdom. Of course, as the Grand Chieftain, he called for better treatment from the kingdom, but there was no one at the center who would listen to the words of a rural lord from the eastern countryside, even a noble. I believe my father also lost faith in the kingdom due to the current Demon Lord’s favorable policies towards the Asura Clan. It seems Gertroud offered him independence from the kingdom.”
”So, he was motivated to cooperate with Gertroud to establish the Garuda nation in the east?”
”Yes, I think so.”
Originally, the east had many from the Garuda Clan, and many of the eastern lords are also from the Garuda Clan holding lands. However, Def seems to want to consolidate these lords using Gertroud’s military and establish an independent nation.
”The repercussions affected my father’s territory, the Fenrir territory. My father was ambushed by the Golbeuf army allied with Gertroud and led his forces against them to ensure my escape and that of the citizens, acting as the high priest of Beast King Vanquish.”
The young wolfman chastising Talia had skin and fur that were pure white, with pale gray eyes.
”I’m truly sorry. I don’t know how to apologize… I never imagined my father would take such reckless actions.”
”Our Fenrir family has a shrine dedicated to Beast King Vanquish and the soul of the progenitor beast Garuda. My territory should have remained inviolable as the holy ground of Garuda, but it is unthinkable that Grand Chief Garuda himself would break the taboo and occupy the shrine!”
”It seems my father invaded the Fenrir territory to capture Elder Elkisa and use him to legitimize his claim as an independent nation.”
In the background of Grand Chief Garuda’s occupation of the holy land of Fenrir, it appears he planned to capture the Beast King Priestess ‘Moon Goddess,’ the only one who could correct his statements, to use her authority for the legitimacy of the nation he wants to establish.
”If that’s the case, it’s safer to keep Elkisa here… I should have Elkisa stay with us to correct Grand Chief Garuda’s claims. I can’t stop those dissatisfied with the current treatment in the Garuda Clan, but I want to prevent the passive factions from being absorbed into Gertroud’s country.”
Given Grand Chief Garuda’s statements, we intend to utilize Elkisa’s position as ‘Moon Goddess’ to maintain stability across the entire Garuda Clan and prevent turmoil in the south.
However, many of the lords in the eastern region belong to the Garuda Clan and are harboring dissatisfaction with the current Demon Lord’s policies, so I believe many Lord Nobles might align themselves with Def.
”Oh, so Lord Kent will protect me?”
Elkisa gazes at me as if appraising my worth.
She seems to be desperately calculating whether I am someone she can sell herself to for a high price.
”However, the extermination of Gertroud will only move forward if the kingdom issues an extermination order or if they invade the south, is that acceptable? Even if you ask me to reclaim the holy land of the Beast King, I cannot send out troops.”
Elkisa grimaced at my statement.
It seems she viewed my military strength as the main force to reclaim the holy land.
Since I know that Gertroud is the first Demon Lord, I want to avoid getting involved actively, and I would be quite thankful if he and Gwain could take each other out.
Don’t touch a god, and there will be no curse.
”…Hmph, Lord Kent will provide protection, but won’t deploy troops…”
”Yes. However, if Ms. Elkisa is to gather volunteer soldiers from across the Holy Land using the authority of the ‘Moon Goddess’, then I shall take care of the funding, equipment, and supplies.”
”…To recruit soldiers using my authority, huh…”
Elkisa seemed hesitant to use her own authority.
”What will you do?”
”…I won’t gather volunteers… The Beast King and Garuda’s spirit are with me. Garuda’s Holy Land is where the ‘Moon Goddess’ resides. Therefore, I ask Lord Kent to donate a sanctuary.”
Elkisa appeared to have given up on reclaiming her territory.
Although her father’s fate was unknown, it seemed Elkisa prioritized her judgment as the priestess of ‘Moon Goddess’ over confirming the safety of her family.
”…I apologize, High Priestess Elkisa…”
Talia was kneeling and apologizing to Elkisa as if crawling on the ground.
”It seems my wife’s relatives have caused trouble, so I will donate a splendid sanctuary to Ms. Elkisa. Additionally, I will search for information about her family through my network.”
”I’m sorry… I’d be grateful if you could do that.”
I glanced at Milly, and she seemed to understand, responding with a nod.
Already, it seemed that an Information Gathering team was deployed in the East.
Someone like Nikka would likely report soon.
If she’s alive, it might be a good idea to secretly plan a reclamation operation to earn Elkisa’s proactive cooperation.
”Also, I will impose a punishment on Talia regarding this matter. No arguments will be accepted.”
”…Yes. I am prepared.”
Talia kept her face down on the floor.
”Talia is forbidden from using the Golbef family name and will instead become part of the knight family, receiving the name of the Oranniekross family. Furthermore, the Oranniekross family is entrusted with safeguarding the ‘Moon Goddess’ for generations to come. If this promise is not fulfilled, all assets of the Oranniekross family will be confiscated and donated to the Garuda sanctuary.”
I forced Talia to sever ties with her father and imposed an immense obligation on her.
”…I humbly accept.”
”Lord Kent!? Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
Elkisa didn’t expect me to impose such strict punishment, clearly showing signs of distress.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply