Chapter 146
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Refugees - 1
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After using the library, I spent about two days in Asgard.
Before heading home, I experimented with all sorts of things to fully master the new power I'd gained.
'Hmm, if I play my cards right, I might even be able to use magnetism.'
At first, it had been hard to control the power, but now I could wield it as naturally as a part of my own body.
"I-I made it. W-With this, we can transport goods from Lord Sian's territory all the way to Asgard. O-Of course, the reverse is p-possible too!"
"Thanks, Allie. You did great."
Allie had crafted the item I'd requested.
I couldn't share subspatial storage through <Inventory>, but we could move lightweight goods via Mass Teleport.
Of course, it came at a hefty cost each time, but it was a necessary expense when developing items jointly with the Tower of Wisdom.
"But Allie, aren't you way too tense? You're supposed to send me home today—keep this up, and you'll cause another accident."
"N-No, sir! Even if my mana circles explode, I'll s-succeed for you, Great Leader!"
"No... I was kidding. I'm not that kind of person."
Ever since I'd told Allie about my previous life, she'd been acting like a raw recruit in my presence.
"If I were that guy, how would I have been chosen by Hestia, right?"
"Y-Yeah? That was a joke, right? I-I got it wrong? You're not that merciless butcher without blood or tears, are you?"
"Sigh... Please, just go back to normal."
"Y-Yes, sir..."
Even at my pleading, Allie showed no sign of reverting to her old self.
'Haah, that's exactly why I didn't want to tell her.'
To be honest, it wasn't a past I could proudly share with others.
I'd done plenty of things that deserved finger-pointing.
'But that was my past life. No point dwelling on it.'
To prevent Allie from blabbing and letting it reach the ears of nosy Aunt Invite or whoever, I decided to administer some shock therapy.
"Allie, if you're going to stay this tense and mess up, why don't you start by apologizing with a naked dogeza?"
"U-Understood."
"?!!"
I figured she'd snap at me for talking nonsense, but Allie immediately began stripping without hesitation.
Anyone watching would think I'd used a hypnosis app.
'Allie's bustier than I thought.'
Not quite on Helen's level, but for her petite frame, Allie's chest was impressively large.
As I admired the nymph's innate beauty now free of her garish clothes, Allie neatly folded the garments she'd just removed and knelt before me.
"I-I'm sorry for troubling you, Great Leader!"
"This is insane."
In the end, I was the one shocked by Allie's dogeza pose.
"Hmm? Hero, have you already gotten your hands on the fourth apostle too?"
Camilla, arriving right on cue, bounded over like a cat spotting something amusing.
"I-It'S not like that. Allie, put your clothes on quick."
"Yes, Leader."
"Leader? What kind of play are you into this time?"
"It's not like that."
To calm the bewildering Camilla, I quickly changed the subject.
"No word from Helen today either?"
"Nope, I steered clear today too."
"Haah..."
One confession had soured my one normal relationship with Helen. If I'd known, I would've pinned her down that day and gotten an answer.
"Exactly, who confesses out of the blue like that?"
"Who was it that planted the idea first?"
I shot Camilla a glare, but she just smiled back.
"Your gaze always sends shivers down my spine, Hero."
"Haah... You win."
Throwing up my hands to Camilla, I began preparations to leave.
"I'm heading home."
"Until next time."
"Whenever that may be, let's meet again."
"I have a feeling it'll be sooner rather than later—probably a visit to your territory."
"Oh? I'll show you how much more my land has developed by then."
"I hope so. It's still not the best place to raise kids."
As we exchanged pleasantries with Camilla, Allie prepared Mass Teleport just like last time.
"L-Link established, Leader."
"Good work, Allie."
"Th-Thank you."
Still out of it, Allie treated me with utmost deference.
I wonder when she'll snap out of this.
'As long as it doesn't hold up our joint development later.'
She'll come around with time.
"I'm off, then."
After a farewell kiss with Camilla, I stepped through the Mass Teleport.
'Helen never showed up in the end.'
Shoving aside the lingering regret, I returned home after about a week.
'Hm?'
As expected, the dimensional transfer had shredded my clothes again, leaving me naked.
'Can't fix this glitch, huh.'
Not surprised anymore, I casually pulled a robe from <Inventory> and draped it over myself.
The problem was the crowd of women at my landing spot.
"Uh... uh..."
"This is definitely in front of our house."
As I panicked at the sight of women in the yard staring blankly at me, a girl about Clia's age approached cautiously.
"A-Are you a god, by any chance?"
"Kinda, but..."
But who are you all?
...
Upon arriving home,
the one to greet me was none other than Clia.
"Big bro's back!"
And as expected, she held out her hand to me.
This feels familiar.
"Got souvenirs?"
"Of course."
I pulled out the fancy sweets I'd bought for Clia from <Inventory>.
"Gotta share with the kids."
"Huh? Them too?"
Clia pointed at the girls in the yard.
"First off, who are all those women over there?"
I asked Clia to get a read on the situation.
Curiously, the women gathered in our yard spanned all ages.
There were elderly ladies rare even in Lugeron Village, matronly types who looked married, and young girls Clia's age.
"Mom says they're refugees."
"Refugees?"
"Yeah, Clia doesn't know the details."
"I see."
"So, can I share these with the kids?"
"Sure, if you want to share, go ahead."
I handed Clia even more sweets from <Inventory>, and she beamed at the armful.
"Thanks, big bro!"
Clia skipped off toward where Betty and Bessie were.
"Lord Sian, you've returned."
"Elsia? I told you not to strain yourself while pregnant."
Next to approach was Elsia.
"I'm fine. This isn't my first pregnancy, and the head of the household has returned from important business. Of course I had to come greet you."
"You keep saying stuff like that, and I'll fall even more in love with you."
After a long-overdue kiss, Elsia blushed faintly and glanced around.
"Ahem, shall we talk inside? Lots of eyes watching."
"Got it."
As we headed inside, I ran into Collin at the front gate.
"Yo, nephew's back."
"Collin? Skipping the booze for once?"
"Hey, am I some daily drunkard?"
"Pretty much."
Collin was technically my hired bodyguard, but as Father's disciple, she kept a modicum of respect.
She seemed to like my attitude, acting normally around me.
'After dealing with real crazies, Collin almost seems cute.'
After a quick catch-up with Collin, I entered Elsia'S office.
"Hnyaah~ So tiring."
"Sian bro, you're back?"
Inside the office were Elin and Pina.
Pina was sorting documents and items, while Elin handled the accounting in place of her mother Elsia.
'Is this right?'
I'd assigned Pina to cover accounting for Elsia, but Elin was doing the real work while her mom stuck to menial tasks.
"As you can see, Lord Sian, refugees from other villages started arriving in ours three days ago."
"Refugees fleeing something—what's the cause?"
"Hardron."
"Hardron? Don't tell me those women over there are serfs from Anitul Earl's forces?"
"Yes. With their lord and knights gone, these territory folk fled here to escape Hardron's plundering."
"Why here of all places? Lugeron's dangers are infamous even in the west. They could've gone a bit farther to Sahad Duke's lands."
"From what they said, Sahad Duke is refusing refugees."
"Worried Hardron's men might infiltrate as refugees?"
"Exactly."
So these refugees were folks burned by the escalating western power struggle between Sahad Duke and Hardron.
"But why are they camped in front of our house?"
"Well..."
At my question, Elsia hesitated, then stated the facts devoid of emotion.
"The Village Chief wanted to send them away at first, but Chloe insisted on taking them in."
"Chloe did?"