Chapter 18
Chapter 18
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Winter Hunt
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After that, we kept subjugating them,
and finished clearing the area that used to be human territory in the past.
"Heir, it's dangerous to enter the forest."
Hans was right.
The individual combat prowess of the slaves was still quite low.
In the forest, we wouldn't be able to maintain our formation like we were now.
In other words, there would come a moment when each of us would have to fight based on our own judgment.
'Rather than forcing our way into the forest...'
I gathered the hunters again.
And explained the plan.
"You're saying to lure them out?"
"I can't lead the slaves into the forest. So we have to bring the monsters out here. Can you do it?"
"It's possible, but you'll have to pay more. It's quite dangerous, after all..."
"Of course. I'll pay you more."
After that, our method of combat changed.
Outside the forest. In the plains, the slave soldiers formed up and waited.
The hunters lured the monsters there.
The waiting slave soldiers disposed of the monsters.
We dismantled the dead monster corpses.
We obtained byproducts.
The hunters lured more monsters again.
We repeated this luring hunt several times,
and by the time the sun had passed its zenith and dipped halfway toward the west,
"We should head back now."
"Just dismantle the goblin corpses and return to East River."
We safely completed the first day of subjugation,
and went out for six more subjugations after that.
In one week, we achieved the feat of hunting 1,100 Black Goblins.
The other River Village folk had also killed a large number of Black Goblins.
They had even taken down over a dozen Black Orcs.
The winter on Monster Island is similar to Korea's winter.
Temperatures drop, and it snows.
"Has the clothing distribution been completed?"
"We distributed the clothes bought from the continent. However, since continental clothes are thin, we plan to issue leather garments as well."
Continental clothes were made for continental climates.
They weren't sufficient for Monster Island's winter.
"That'll be expensive. How about layering multiple continental outfits?"
"That could work too."
"Buy clothing on this trading trip. We have monster byproducts, so funds should be fine."
"Understood, Master."
On the island, many people wear monster leather clothes.
They're excellent for warmth and defense.
That's fine up to here.
The problem is the high price.
They're on the level of expensive coats that rich Korean housewives love.
We can't outfit 500 slaves with those.
The slaves also worked hard to prepare for winter.
They tidied the farmlands,
sealed gaps in the buildings.
They also repaired the barns where animals could avoid the cold.
And so, winter arrived.
.
.
Whiiiing.
Whiiiing.
"The Heir is praying again today."
"Yeah. Doesn't take a single day off."
"He could do it inside, but he insists on doing it outside."
"I heard it's for the Goddess of the Earth."
"Haha. So that's why."
The voices of villagers passing by could be heard.
The sensation of cold snow stinging the skin was felt.
Even so, I maintained my posture.
My kneeling legs were going numb.
Even with gloves on, my clasped hands were freezing.
'Should've worn thicker clothes.'
On the outside, I looked like a devout follower of the Goddess of the Earth,
but inside, it was different.
'Gotta burn through this mana quick and head inside.'
In the raging blizzard, people rested inside buildings.
I couldn't do that.
Once mana was full, it wouldn't recover anymore.
To increase total usage, I had no choice but to keep using it.
And the results of using skills every day showed.
"Great!"
I'd used up all my mana and returned inside the building.
Grandfather offered me warm water.
"Thank you."
"On a day like this, why not rest?"
"I can't stop praying to the Goddess just because the weather's bad."
"Haha, with such devotion, that's why she blessed you with farming talents."
At that moment,
the mission text changed.
Livestock Breeding on Monster Island (Complete)
"Why the sudden change?"
"No, it's nothing. This water is really tasty."
Double good news.
Earth Restoration skill leveled up, and now the mission was complete too.
"Haha, it's just water. Sit and rest."
"Yes, Grandfather."
As I warmed up,
someone knocked on the door.
"Master, it's Isaac."
"Come in."
Isaac entered, his head covered in snow.
"Master, good news. The cows and sheep gave birth at the same time."
"Oh?"
Their bellies had swollen, and finally, they delivered their young.
"Good work. With the cold weather, take good care of them."
"Understood, Master."
Isaac left, and Grandfather patted my back.
Pang! Pang!
"This is wonderful. More livestock offspring."
Large Farm Operation (In Progress)
💡 HINT: Respected Farm Lord skill
'Large Farm? Respected Farm Lord?'
'Couldn't learn it before?'
To acquire the Respected Farm Lord skill, you needed to own a farm of a certain scale or larger.
I opened the skill window.
The Respected Farm Lord skill was unlocked.
Earth Restoration leveled up, and now Respected Farm Lord too.
'With this, I can expand aggressively.'
I straightened my posture.
And spoke in a heavy voice.
"Grandfather, I have something important to discuss."
Pang! Pang!
"Haha, why does my dear grandson's voice sound so grave?"
"Grandfather! I have something to say!"
Aggressive expansion.
Grandfather was worried after hearing my plan.
He had reason to be.
River Village population: 700.
Slave numbers: 500.
But if we bought 1,500 more slaves?
The slaves would outnumber the villagers.
Even now, there were murmurs of unease among River residents.
Could River Village accommodate 2,000 slaves?
But it was something that had to be done eventually.
"Can we afford 1,500 slaves?"
"Yes."
1. Slave merchant Russell is making small profits from trading trips.
2. Turnip sales. Turnips were grown as livestock feed. Mainly to prepare for winter when grass doesn't grow. Sold some to Alensia.
3. Dividends from the Gray Mage Tower farm.
4. Monster byproducts. Planning more subjugations during winter.
5. Livestock profits. No plans to sell livestock directly yet. But continuing to sell milk, eggs, etc.
6. Wheat harvest. Winter wheat will be harvested in spring.
"So, you're saying to buy slaves with that money. Without buying land."
"If we move to West River, we won't need to buy land."
During winter,
we subjugated more monsters.
When we had spare time, we repaired the wooden barricade surrounding West River.
And winter passed.
"Heir, the wheat harvest is complete!"
"Load everything onto the wagons except what we need to eat!"
"Understood!"
We went around Frontier territory, exchanging wheat for monster byproducts.
Once all exchanges were done, we headed to the continent.
On the way, we stopped at the Gray Mage Tower farmlands and used Earth Restoration.
We didn't forget to settle profits with Alensia.
"Heir, the Callas checkpoint is in sight."
Callas Viscounty checkpoint.
There, we paid 30% toll.
With the large volume, the amount was substantial.
The villagers escorting the caravan saw this.
"Don't cause any trouble."
Callas Viscount's 30% toll.
Definitely a huge sum.
But.
This situation wasn't entirely bad.
Because of the tolls, grain prices on Monster Island stayed high.
Thanks to that, we could make big money from farming.
For now, it was a win-win.
Upon arriving at Justice Merchant Group,
a merchant was waiting at the entrance.
"Heir Elwin, we've been waiting."
"The people?"
"300 households total. 1,512 people prepared."
We followed the merchant,
and there, many slaves were lined up.
Confirming 1,500 was a task in itself.
Only after checking for health issues did we pay.
We also received the slave seals.
"Please use us again, Heir Elwin."
"I will. As long as you keep providing good slaves at good prices like now."
The slave merchant bowed elegantly.
"No need to worry about that..."
We returned to River Village with 1,500 slaves.
The enormous number created a sense of unease.
'Even after explaining in advance, they're still anxious.'
First, we sorted the slaves.
We separated the children and women.
They would stay at East River.
They'd raise children and manage East River's three farmlands.
Then, the men and somewhat older children moved to West River.
We passed through the wooden barricade surrounding West River and settled inside.
Thanks to repairs done sporadically during winter, there were no issues using it.
1,400 slaves lined up in the village square.
Combining existing and new slaves.
"This is West River village. This will be where you live from now on."
A heavy silence fell.
The newly joined slaves looked around anxiously.
"I've released the slave seals on the children. I have no intention of keeping the adults as slaves forever."
Like the existing slaves, I granted them recognition of personal property and the right to buy back their freedom by saving up.
Managing 2,000 slaves total isn't easy.
In the worst case, rebellion could happen.
Offering slaves hope is to prevent such things.
'That's not all.'
I bought them all in family units.
Women and young children stayed at East River.
The nominal reason was safety, but they also served as hostages.
Of course, even this doesn't guarantee safety.
It's also why I hesitated on aggressive expansion.
'Add system abilities to this...'
Hope, hostages, system abilities.
I'm gambling on these three.
A gamble of increasing slaves by 1,500 at once.
Click. Click.
Click. Click.
There was unexpected help too.
On the way back after buying slaves.
Marie, Alensia's direct maid, came.
"Lady Alensia has provided 200 soldiers."
"Lady Alensia did?"
I had met Alensia on the way to the continent.
Originally planned to just take profits and part, but she asked all sorts of questions.
About the farmlands' status.
If slaves were causing trouble.
Why going to the continent, etc.
Nothing secret, so I told her everything.
Especially when I said I was buying 1,500 slaves, Alensia's eyes sharpened.
'Thought it was annoyance, but maybe worry?'
I shook my head soon after.
Alensia worrying about me? That's odd.
More likely securing her business partner's safety.
If I died, she'd lose access to the Gray Mage Tower farmlands.
Her plan to win over the Gray Mage Tower would fail too.
'Whatever the reason, gotta make good use of those 200 soldiers.'
We rested the first day, and started land clearing the next.
Days focused on farmland development.
Evenings on military training for adult males.
And so, West River gradually took shape as a living village.