Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Goal
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One week later,
in the commander's tent.
"Can you protect the territory and its people from those things?"
I couldn't answer.
Endless waves of massive monsters.
Knight and mages fighting them, along with elite troops.
And among them, my father stood out with his unparalleled prowess.
I finally understood on a bone-deep level why everyone craved a strong lord.
"You saw it yourself, right? The southern coastal region? That's 15% of the territory. With just 10%—no, 5%—of the forces here, you could claim it."
"..."
Once again, I couldn't respond.
Because it was true.
"Yet we haven't expanded. Land like that is useless even if we take it. It only increases the area we have to defend."
"..."
"The current Frontier forces can defend this territory without issue. That's why this is our domain."
Was he scolding me for expanding the territory?
I looked up to gauge Father's expression.
But,
'He's smiling?'
It was a very faint smile.
Anyone else would have thought his face was expressionless.
But I could tell.
Reading Alensia's expressions had made me sensitive to the slightest changes.
"On the other hand, you expanded the territory. So my expectations for you are high. Not just because you took the land, but because you can make use of it."
Land comes with costs and revenues.
Claiming the island's land incurs massive expenses.
You have to defend it from monsters.
The revenue, meanwhile, is minimal.
You can't even farm on land like that.
But I'm different.
When I claim land, I can generate far more revenue than the defense costs.
By clearing the land and farming it, the profits more than cover the defenses.
Father had zeroed in on exactly that.
"I asked if you're suited to be the Frontier Heir."
"Yes, Father."
He paused for a moment before speaking.
"The moment you lacked magical talent, you lost the qualifications."
Father had already made up his mind.
"But you've shown unexpected abilities. Farming, gathering soldiers, even expanding the territory."
"..."
"So I'm giving you a chance."
Father pulled out a prepared map.
It showed the Frontier territory extended all the way to the newly claimed southern coast.
He drew a line on it.
To the north of my claimed territory.
An area including the troll habitat.
"Occupy up to here, and even after Gibson comes of age, I won't replace you as Heir. That doesn't mean you'll become the next lord, though."
I gritted my teeth.
Occupy the troll habitat?
And before Gibson's coming-of-age ceremony, no less.
The scene of fighting those three trolls flashed through my mind.
Even with 700 phalanx soldiers, we'd barely beaten three trolls.
Casualties had numbered over a hundred in the process.
And now, incorporate the troll habitat into human territory?
"You can't answer right away, huh."
"..."
"You still have to do it. If a man without magical talent wants to become a Frontier lord."
One ear listened to Father while my mind ran endless simulations.
On how to seize the troll habitat.
But no answers came.
"Or will you give up?"
Give up?
I couldn't quit without trying.
Pondering, debating, researching—some solution might emerge.
"No. I'll do it. I'll reclaim the troll habitat."
**
After parting with Father,
on the way back to River Village.
I kept brooding.
Over how to occupy the troll habitat.
"Heir, we've arrived."
"What?"
"We've arrived at River Village."
"Already? Good work."
The journey from the north to the south.
It was no short distance.
Yet it felt brief.
Probably because my mind was so preoccupied.
Winter had passed while expanding the territory
and traveling to the north.
"Everyone's busy with the harvest."
The slaves were harvesting the fully grown winter wheat from each field.
As I approached the fields, Isaac, who was overseeing them, greeted me.
"Welcome back, Master. How did your trip go?"
I gave a wry smile and shook my head.
Meeting Father had clarified my goal.
The problem was how impossibly difficult it was.
"When does the harvest end?"
"We're almost done. It should wrap up in a few days."
"Once it's finished, bring Russell and Hans to the office."
"Understood, Master."
After parting with Isaac,
I arrived at the office.
Even sitting there, I continued to ponder.
'Regular soldiers can't handle trolls.'
Phalanx-equipped soldiers.
They're no weak force for regular infantry.
Yet they'd struggled against just three trolls.
Over 10% casualties.
'What about hunters?'
That wouldn't work either.
To take down large monsters, you need groups of veteran hunters.
There aren't many veteran hunters, and even if you gathered them, the hunt would be too slow.
Observe the trolls for days.
Dig traps.
Lure them in.
Hunt them.
That process alone would take at least a week.
And even then, failure was likely.
Any small mishap midway, and you'd have to retreat.
Troll hunts were that tough.
I looked at the map spread on the desk.
How many trolls lived in that vast area?
It could take decades to clear them with hunters.
'Knights or mages are the only way.'
I wrote "knight" on a paper and crossed it out with an X.
Monster Island's knights were already affiliated with various territories.
Continental knights didn't come to Monster Island.
'Then mages.'
Knock. Knock.
"Master, it's Isaac."
"Come in."
Isaac, Hans, and Russell entered.
One knight and two slaves, but they were my key subordinates, each handling their domains.
"Have a seat."
I explained the conversation with Father.
Once the long story ended,
Hans reacted first.
"That's outrageous! He's stripping you of the Heir position!"
"That's not it."
"But he set an impossible condition!"
I raised a hand to silence Hans.
"Hans, it's already decided. We just need to figure out how to occupy the troll area."
"My apologies, Heir."
Hans sat back down.
I turned to Isaac beside him.
Our eyes met, and Isaac waved his hands in panic.
"Master, I don't know much about this sort of thing."
"It's fine, Isaac."
Isaac was a man who'd farmed his whole life.
In a way, it was natural he wouldn't know.
Finally, I looked to Russell.
"Could you give us a bit more time? Nothing's coming to mind yet."
I nodded to show it was okay.
"Tell me anytime a good idea strikes. You're free to go now."
Hans, Isaac, and Russell bowed and left the room.
After they were fully gone, I let out a deep sigh.
Traces of my deliberations remained on the paper.
The X over "knight,"
and finally, the word "mage."
'If it's a mage...'
Knights trained in territories from before they even became knights.
Mages were different.
Most of Monster Island's mages studied at the Gray Mage Tower.
Some were affiliated with territories, but many weren't.
'If there's even a slim chance, I have to try.'
The next morning, early,
I set off for the Vampire Duke territory.
Vampire Duke territory.
Gray Mage Tower.
Vice Mage Tower Lord's research lab.
"So, Lord Elwin wishes to hire a mage."
"More like... take one as a retainer."
"I'll gather some candidates. Could you return in a week?"
"I appreciate it, Vice Mage Tower Lord."
After parting with the Vice Mage Tower Lord,
I went to find Elena.
"Brother!"
Elena ran over joyfully,
then suddenly glanced around.
She switched to walking demurely like a proper lady.
"Have you been well?"
"Yeah, uh, yes, I've been well."
Her attempt at adult speech was adorable.
Adulthood started at 16 in this world.
Elena was an adult, but by Earth standards, she was still middle or high school age.
"Speak comfortably."
"Okay! What brings you here, Brother?"
"I came to see the Vice Mage Tower Lord."
"The Vice Mage Tower Lord?"
I explained about hiring a mage.
And added that I had to subjugate the trolls.
Once the long story ended,
Elena frowned.
"No one's gonna go with you, Brother."
"Figured as much?"
"Of course. You're..."
It was what I'd expected, but hearing it stung.
My face must have shown it, as Elena looked apologetic.
"No, I'm glad you told me straight. And this is a gift."
To lighten the heavy mood, I handed her Kariyan's staff.
"Whoa! It looks super expensive."
I pointed to the engraved "Kariyan Frontier" on the staff.
"It's Kariyan-nim's staff. It's for you."
"Whoa! Grandpa Kariyan!"
Even though he was an ancestor from over a century ago, Elena called him "Grandpa."
After admiring the staff for a while, Elena looked up.
"Brother! Want me to help? I'm 2nd Circle even if I don't look it! I might be able to use 3rd Circle soon!"
True to Frontier blood.
Knocking on 3rd Circle's door in her teens.
I ruffled Elena's hair.
"No. You study here more. I'll handle the troll problem."
"Aww... Then what about priests? You're a favored devotee who met the Goddess herself!"
"Uh... well... you could say that."
"I learned in class that priests..."
Elena explained about priests.
If mages specialized in offense and utility,
priests excelled in healing and buffs.
"Know how priests fight? They buff temple knights and temple soldiers to fight."
According to Elena, units buffed by high priests could take on trolls.
Not one-on-one like knights, maybe,
but regular troops fighting trolls was huge.
"But would priests come to Monster Island?"
Three hundred years ago,
priests died en masse on Monster Island, just like knights and mages.
That upheaval had reshaped the continent's religious landscape.
Priests shunned Monster Island more than ordinary folk.
"You've got this! You're a fervent devotee of the Earth Goddess!"
Unfortunately,
I'd never met the Earth Goddess, nor was I her devotee.
It was all a lie to cover for my system abilities.
Visiting a temple might expose the falsehood.
So I couldn't act on Elena's suggestion.
"No. I've received enough blessings already. I have to solve the rest myself."
"Okay... I see."