38 – Terra Village
＜Chapter 38 – Terra Village＞
I have created a total of four forward bases.
Two in the west, centered around the Goblin and Orc territories, and two in the north.
Among them, in the west,
more precisely, in the southwest, I plan to build a new village.
The southwest forward base.
I have gathered key individuals there.
First, Hans.
I entrusted the defense of the southwest forward base to Hans and the slave soldiers.
Second, Russell.
He transports the materials needed for village construction using the upper level.
Third, Isaac.
He oversees the cultivation of farmland.
And then there’s me.
I am focusing on village construction.
“The road is crooked! If we don’t build the road properly, the entire village will be messed up!”
A newly constructed village.
I intend to create a planned city from the beginning.
That’s why we’re building roads and dividing the areas.
Residential areas, commercial areas, agricultural areas, and so on.
“Oh, you mercenaries over there! Aren’t you working hard enough?!”
The personnel involved in village construction were not just slaves.
Even retired mercenaries were deployed.
While the land of the new site was being overturned,
The sun, which had been high in the sky, disappeared to the west.
Evening time.
We had dinner together and started the meeting.
“How is Hans’s defense situation?”
“No problem.”
Hans and the slave soldiers thoroughly guarded the surroundings.
It wasn’t difficult to defend in the goblin territory in the first place.
“Russell, how is the material situation?”
“We have enough. We can procure the main material, wood, directly from the forest. The rest of the materials are being transported from the Snow River.”
One of the advantages of Monster Island is that there is a lot of wood.
Thanks to that, it was easy to obtain the necessary materials.
“And what about the Isaac farmland?”
“We have finished clearing some areas. However, it will take time to complete all of them due to the large area.”
After the report was over, we stood up from our seats.
“Everyone knows, but we don’t have much time. The construction of the new village is just the beginning. We have a lot more to do. So we must work even harder.”
“I understand.”
“I understand.”
As the meeting was drawing to a close,
the sound of a knock echoed.
“This is Inon. May I come in?”
While I was focused on city construction,
Inon had been expanding the mercenary unit.
He said he would visit within a few days, but it seems he arrived today.
“Come in.”
Inon stepped inside and greeted.
Then he took a seat in an empty chair.
“I explained last time, didn’t I? Inon will be joining us from now on. Please introduce yourself as it’s your first time.”
“I understand. My lord.”
Instantly, from Isaac to Hans, everyone flinched.
Along with them, the atmosphere in the room became heavy.
“Is it because of the term ‘my lord’?”
It could certainly be.
The weight of the word was different from ‘young master’ or ‘master.’
As Inon spoke, he scanned the existing attendants.
Isaac seemed a little surprised, but there was no other reaction.
On the other hand, Russell appeared lost in thought.
And Hans…
“Looks like you’re quite surprised.”
Hans stared at Eunon with a stiff and rigid posture, as if trying to pierce through him.
Until Eunon finished his introduction and sat down again.
“Now that things have turned out like this, let’s all take care. Eunon, how is the situation with the mercenaries?”
“We’ve doubled the numbers. However, their power hasn’t doubled.”
“Doubled?”
“Yes, doubled.”
“Just doubled?”
“…?”
Eunon’s expression showed confusion.
Just doubled.
I thought it would have at least tripled. That’s the minimum number I had in mind.
But just doubled?
“Why is that all?”
“The numbers I can control…”
“No, that’s not it. No.”
Eunon’s expertise lies in swordsmanship.
That must mean the other side is weak.
“Why do you have to control everything?”
“Because I’m the leader.”
“Are you saying I don’t do any work?”
In turn, Inon looked at Isaac, Russell, and Hans before speaking.
“No.”
He pulled out a blank sheet of paper from the desk.
And wrote my name there.
Elwin.
Drew several lines downward.
At the end of each, he wrote agriculture, commerce, military, mercenaries.
“Agriculture is Isaac. Commerce is Russell. Military is Hans. And mercenaries are Aine, Inon.”
In an instant, the organizational chart was complete.
“What I do is oversee the whole and set goals. The rest is handled by them.”
“…”
He pushed the paper with the organizational chart aside, took out a new one.
And wrote the name Inon at the top.
“We need to discard the way things were done before.”
He drew several lines connecting to the name Inon.
At the end, he wrote the character ‘Jo.’
“Assign each group to someone trustworthy. Let the group leaders handle routine requests. When something comes up, gather as one. Disperse again. It’s about organic coordination.”
Whether divided into many or acting as one,
It’s all work under the name of the ‘Innocent Mercenary Corps.’
In other words, it’s recorded as an achievement of the Innocent Mercenary Corps in the mercenary guild.
Ilon nodded with understanding.
“In the future, let’s expand like this. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
“As my lord says, we need many mercenaries. It will take a long time for me to verify alone. So please ask the guild master.”
“To Kaiman?”
“Yes.”
As the head of the mercenary guild, he must have a lot of information.
Certainly, if Kaiman helps, time can be saved.
He wrote a letter directly to Kaiman.
“Here, you can take this.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
After the meeting, the attendants left the room.
But Hans remained seated quietly.
“Do you have something to say?”
“In the future, I will also address you as my lord.”
“You understand the implications, right?”
“Of course.”
The title “Soyoungju” carries the meaning that I am the son of a lord, so it is fitting. The object of loyalty is my lord father.
On the other hand, the title “Jugun” means that you are solely loyal to me.
“Thank you, but no.”
“What!? How…”
“You are a knight of the frontier. You are different from Inon. If you call me Jugun, it may cause unnecessary trouble.”
Hans stood up with a disappointed expression.
“Don’t worry about the title. I understand your heart clearly.”
“Thank you. So… Soyoungju-nim.”
**
**
The next day.
Before Inon left for the frontier.
They visited the center of the village together.
“Take a good look.”
“What do you mean by that?”
There was a wide open space in front of them.
It was a stark contrast to the construction work going on around.
“I’m going to build a shrine here. A shrine for the goddess.”
Since I couldn’t build a shrine freely, I sent people to the mainland.
I plan to start construction once I bring in shrine architects.
“Indeed, you are my lord.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Accepting the acknowledgment from Ian, the bed felt uncomfortable.
It wasn’t because the goddess had done something, but because he was worried alone.
This place is different from Earth.
It’s a world where divine power exists.
Divine beings even punish humans directly.
“So, are you expecting the priest to come too?”
“That’s not possible. You know as well, this is Monster Island.”
“Ah…”
At the mention of Monster Island, Ian nodded his head.
This place was filled only with bad memories for the priests.
After the sightseeing, Ian bowed deeply.
“I will definitely carry out the orders you gave, my lord!”
“I’m counting on you.”
With a dignified demeanor, Ian stepped back.
And I…
“We must hurry.”
Tasks are piled up like a mountain.
One month, two months.
Time passed quickly.
The village was named ‘Terra Village’ after the name of the goddess of the earth.
The central area of the village was developed for residential and commercial purposes.
Sturdy walls were erected around it.
And farmland was formed outside.
Particular attention was paid to the wooden walls, as this was the forefront of the frontier.
In other words, it was also the forefront of humanity.
“The removal of magic from the farmland is complete. Next is…”
While contemplating the tasks ahead,
Hans approached.
“Lady Soyoung.”
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s…,”
Hans said.
I don’t have much time.
I must seize the troll territory before Gibson’s coming-of-age ceremony.
But I’ve spent two months on village construction.
And construction still isn’t finished.
“The slave soldiers are stopping the subjugation and protecting Terra Village. The task of monster subjugation is entrusted only to mercenaries.”
Hans was right.
Of course, if the mercenaries were able to subjugate enough, there wouldn’t be a problem. But that’s not the case.
“Moreover, the troll area is even slower.”
These so-called strong mercenaries.
Those who have settled in each region did not come to Monster Island.
Instead, relatively weaker individuals have come here to operate.
As a result, troll subjugation has been lackluster compared to goblins or orcs.
“The village is still under construction… Should we move?”
He pondered over the remaining time and the situation.
And he decided to move.
“You’re right.”
“In that case, reduce the manpower allocated to construction and focus on monster subjugation…”
“Why do you think we’re building the village?”
“… I don’t know.”
He didn’t even tell Suha the reason for building the village.
It’s because even though they wouldn’t betray him, information could unconsciously leak out.
“To secure the troll area.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Building the village.
And that was how the Goblin village construction in the southern coastal area seemed to be unrelated to securing the Troll territory.
“You’ll find out soon enough. So please take good care of this place.”
“Where are you going?”
“We have to move now. We don’t have much time.”
