Chapter 192 - Chapter Fifteen: The Meeting with the Lord
Beatrix, who had made a full recovery, dragged the former Bishop and the woodcutter to the post.
She seemed to have thought of something.
Since Beatrix, who had a pale face until just a moment ago, was unusually lively, Paul-san and the bandit guide were tilting their heads in confusion.
"What on earth happened?"
"Um, she was thinking about something, and it seems she's come up with a new idea."
I think it's a rather weak explanation myself, but it's not a lie.
"I wonder if we can ask the Lord to build a church in that abandoned village."
Wait a minute. This is another country.
"What do you mean?"
The former Bishop was dumbfounded.
Well, of course he would be. The church that was here was demolished when the village was abandoned. If she's saying to build one now, there's no point in the demolition.
"This place is called a cursed land, right? No one would want to live in such a place by choice. In that case, we should just build a church to serve both as purification and to dispel those strange rumors. We can pray for the repose of the villagers, so it's perfect."
Even a small shrine would be fine, apparently.
In any case, she's saying it's enough if one Priest lives there.
"First, we plant clover. After that, oats. Since weeds are growing, we'll do grazing until the soil gets rich. Goats would be good. You can drink the milk."
She's trying to put into practice what Flora taught her.
"It's not bad. There are seven people here in total. There's water and stone walls, so we just need to build a livestock shed."
The bandit turned to support the idea.
He's self-sufficient on a daily basis and knows about the Lyudmila Agricultural Testing Ground.
"B-But, whether a Priest will come to a place that became an abandoned village..."
The Captain showed reluctance, but that part is easy.
"There's already one here. The former Bishop who returned to secular life. We just have to have him return to the priesthood."
When I looked at the former Bishop himself, his eyes were wide.
"Are you telling me, who abandoned the priesthood, to become a Priest once again?"
"That's right. Whether you're wearing plain clothes and making charcoal while praying for the repose of the dead here, or wearing Priest robes and making charcoal while praying for the repose of the dead, it's the same, isn't it?"
The white Priest robes will end up pitch black.
"Even if I am willing, whether a church will be built..."
They wouldn't build a church in a wasteland. They don't even build them in pioneer lands until a village is formed.
"There's lumber. We're going to cut trees and create a connecting path from now on. At first, even a log cabin would be fine, wouldn't it?"
The bandit laughed and covered his ears.
Saying "Sorry," Beatrix extended both hands and covered his eyes.
Seeing how he bent down to match the short Beatrix, it seemed he would look the other way.
"However, all of this is subject to the Lord's approval... I'm telling you now, I absolutely cannot say such a bold thing myself."
The Captain was passive. This is probably unique to a country with a class system. In Sertoria, if you go to the town hall, the counter will listen to you. In Nakanohara, it would be Hanna-san or Will, who handles resident measures.
"I will do something about it. Hearing this talk now, I can see the path I should take in the future. This land is absolutely not a cursed land. Let us prove that."
The former Bishop, who had been won over by the old-man charmer, spoke powerfully, but...
"It's okay. We have a Stray Priest here."
Huh? Me?
"That's right, that's right. Priest Jeanne-sama is here. Isn't that perfect?"
The bandit, who usually calls me by name without any honorifics, patted my shoulder.
"Wait a minute. I don't have that kind of authority."
"Why? You're a Priest, so you can at least give advice, right? Since you're a Stray, the Church's intentions don't matter either."
"But the opponent is a Lord of another country."
"You're a Knight of Medioland, aren't you?"
I couldn't say a word back.
As soon as she made a full recovery, it was this.
"The previous Lord aside, the current Lord wants to do something about this place, right? In that case, he should at least listen to us. It's okay. Director Paul will think of the lines."
"Huh? Me?"
Paul-san, who had been listening as if it were someone else's business, made an unusually silly face and pointed at himself.
When Beatrix said "It's decided then," he nodded reluctantly.
Seeing that he didn't have an overtly displeased face, I suppose it was passive consent.
"That's good, I'm in favor. I'll support you!"
"You're a woodcutter, so you're going to help build the church."
"If the Lord says it's okay, I'll do anything!"
The woodcutter turned to support us.
The only one opposing was the Captain.
"How about it, Captain? Your role is just to convey that a Priest who was knighted in Medioland wants to meet the Lord. It shouldn't be that difficult."
Before I knew it, I was the one who wanted to meet him.
"If that's all. But I'll leave everything else to you."
In the end, I was the one who had to do the talking.
"Hey, is this really going to be okay?"
"I don't know. I just have something I want to say."
Surely she's not going to pour out her resentment for losing her family.
"I wouldn't do that now. I'm sure my father and mother wouldn't want that. But I might say that I was born in this village."
Apparently, she's serious.
"Jeanne. Sorry. But please. Cooperate. I don't want this village to be left being called a cursed land."
It seems quite a bit of personal emotion is involved. Well, fine. We've been together a long time. I might as well use the Knight's Staff once in a while.
"I understand. In exchange, if the other party shows reluctance, you're the one who's going to negotiate."
"Thank you. I'll treat you next time!"
The mage hugged me, and the talk was settled.
The Lord had returned to his mansion thanks to the withdrawal of the Engrio army. He was the eldest son of the one who made the ruling during the famine.
When the Captain got in touch, he was told we could meet.
In fact, he said he would come here. The prestige of a Medioland Knight is quite something.
The man who arrived about two hours later was in his forties, and to be honest, he didn't look very well-dressed.
A few years before the famine, his territory had been occupied by Engrio once, and many of his people had been killed.
This time too, he had been stationed at the border fortress until very recently. For just a patrol within his territory, he probably couldn't afford to be too extravagant.
After finishing the initial greetings, we had the wine the bandits brought yesterday served at the post.
Only the Lord and I were sitting in chairs. Everyone else was standing. Even among the others, the only ones allowed in the room were the former Bishop, the bandit, and Beatrix, who was treated as my attendant. I suppose this is the wall of the class system.
At times like this, the Knight's Staff is truly useful.
"Priest Jeanne. I heard you have some opinions regarding this managed land today."
As expected of a country ruled by Priests. His attitude was also respectful.
"Yes. I heard that this land is called a cursed land, and as a Priest, I felt I couldn't leave it alone."
I pressed him on what he meant.
This was a scenario Paul-san had thought of.
First, take a strong stance... but never lose a gentle smile, and remain composed... to see how the other party reacts.
The villagers didn't commit a taboo. A Priest has already purified it. He should feel a sense of guilt.
My expression and tone were thoroughly coached by Director Paul while we were waiting for the Lord.
As the two of them predicted, the other party indeed made excuses.
You mustn't push there.
First, show consideration for the other party's position. A Priest is a listener.
As I listened with "Mm-hmm," I realized he wanted to do something about it. Apparently, even the previous Lord who blurted out that it was a cursed land had regretted it.
"In that case, I have a proposal. Let's build a shrine in this place. A log cabin or anything will do. There's no reason for a land where a Priest lives to be cursed, is there?"
A shrine can be built freely without the Church's permission. We'll make a large shrine and have the former Bishop live there as a Stray Priest. That way, the Church's intentions won't matter.
When I conveyed that the former Bishop intended to return to the priesthood and be self-sufficient, he went "Hmm" and thought about it. However, he wouldn't easily say yes. He probably doesn't think the bad rumors can be dispelled so easily.
As expected, Beatrix grew impatient.
"Then why don't you just sell the site of this village to someone?"
At the bold proposal, the bandit whistled.
Normally, you don't sell residential areas. What you sell is farmland. It would be free to build your own house on the land you bought, but if you bought a village, you'd become a Lord.
"Priest Jeanne. Isn't this person your attendant?"
He was frowning.
"Um, she's treated as an attendant, but since she's clearing the connecting path with me, she's also my partner."
When I hurriedly said that, the bandit followed up.
"This person, along with Priest Jeanne, our country's Prince Roberts, and Medioland's Crown Prince James, brilliantly subjugated a dragon and received a reward directly from the King of Medioland; she is someone held in high regard."
It was like obtaining permission to speak by bringing up the King of Medioland's name, but the Lord also reluctantly agreed.
"What would you do by buying the site of a village? Do you want to become a Lord?"
"No. A manager."
"A manager?"
In short, she's the owner of a large apartment complex. The difference from a normal apartment complex is that the yard is incredibly large and there are many detached buildings.
Buy this village and invite people. Of course, the poll tax will be paid to the Lord. Since the farmland belongs to the Lord, if it's cultivated, the land tax will also be paid to the Lord.
"But who would buy this land that is said to be cursed? Even if I sell it at a bargain price, the village site alone would be a hundred gold coins."
The area itself is much smaller than our fields, but it has stone walls and a stream. If it weren't for the rumors, it might be a reasonable price.
"It's expensive for a cursed land. Can't you make it a bit cheaper?"
Before I knew it, it had turned into a negotiation over the land price.
"The person who buys it will have to build the shrine and houses themselves. Don't you think you could make it a bit cheaper? Let's see, seventy percent?"
That's seventy gold coins.
"It didn't sell even when seventy was sixty. Who would come to buy land in such a cursed place at the edge of a country near the border?"
"That means it'll be cheaper than sixty gold coins, right? But fine. How about sixty?"
The Lord was practically caught in Beatrix's smooth talk. Before the Lord arrived, she had been talking about the land rent with the Captain, dragging in the former Bishop.
"W-Who would buy it?"
Based on the information from the Captain, she had gambled that he would yield at this price.
"Will you sell it for sixty gold coins?"
She took a step forward.
"I'm telling you, it's only the village site."
He was completely hooked. There was no way we'd let him escape now.
"I know. In exchange, you'll let us use the water from the stream freely. If you dam it up, it's a penalty fee."
"I don't mind that much, but the land outside the stone walls belongs to me as the Lord."
With this, it was almost decided. Up to here, it was according to the scenario.
"So, who is buying it?"
This was the problem. It was put up for sale for sixty gold coins, but no one bought it.
"Me."
Beatrix puffed out her chest.
To be precise, since she'd be broke if she paid sixty gold coins, she'd be borrowing ten gold coins from me.
"Aren't you from Sertoria?"
"I was born in Regnentes. In this village."
"What!"
This was Beatrix's gamble.
If necessary, we could have lent the money to the former Bishop.
However, Beatrix insisted on buying it herself.
Beatrix told the Lord what had happened to her. The former Bishop and the bandit were also listening, but she didn't care.
"I was born in this village, and I was able to become a Sertorian citizen because my father abandoned me in the forest during the winter of the famine. I heard the Lord at the time overlooked it. Besides, someone born in this country can buy land even if they're in another country, right?"
This was information from the former Bishop. Apparently, it's decided by law so that royalty and nobles can keep their assets in their own country even if they marry into another country.
"If it's no good, I'll buy this land even if I have to give the money to the former Bishop. I'm not thinking about making money. It's just too much that this village, where my family's graves are, is called a cursed land, so I want to do something about it."
She took the stone tablet out of her storage bag and showed it to the Lord.
"I'm sure there's a record in the church. I don't know what the year of death is, but you should be able to tell the birth year."
The Lord was stunned.
If he wanted to, he could apply the charge of treason and sentence her to death.
However, the previous Lord had overlooked it.
"Lord-sama. I will vouch for this person. If you grant our request, I also promise to support this land as much as possible along with the former Bishop and do my best to restore the peaceful life of the past."
I pointed at Beatrix with the Knight's Staff I held in my hand.
At this point, I might be scolded later, but I'll use whatever I can.
"Three years. Make it tax-free for three years. If there's no prospect by then, I'll sell it for half price. Let's see, I'll make it a condition that twenty households move in and can pay taxes in three years."
In other words, if twenty households can't live there after three years, thirty gold coins will come in without him doing anything. For us, it was a considerable concession.
"B-But, will you go through the trouble of moving here? A landowner bears the obligation of paying land rent and military service."
"The manager is the former Bishop. He said he'd do it if we provided a place to live."
He's the agent for the landowner, Beatrix.
Priests are exempt from paying land rent and military service.
This part is a blind spot where Regnentes' legal system hasn't caught up. The law might be revised eventually, but currently, Priests from noble backgrounds are living a comfortable life as Stray Priests after retirement. It should be fine.
He said the cost of placing a manager could just be the construction costs for the shrine and residence. If he returns to the priesthood, taxes aren't necessary. For living expenses, he'll burn charcoal. The maintenance cost of the village will be obtained as rental fees from the people who live there. The rental fee includes, so to speak, the usage fee for the village facilities such as the water mill and the bread oven.
If the rental fee exceeds two gold coins a month, the rest belongs to Beatrix. That said, since the rental fee is one silver coin per household, it would have to exceed forty households.
The manager will become the leader of the village instead of a village chief and will also perform prayers and sermons. It's the former Bishop who resigned from the priesthood, blaming himself for not being able to save the villagers who were wiped out. There's no need to worry.
The Lord said, "Very well."
However, he told us to build the shrine and houses ourselves.
He's saying we should take responsibility since we said it.
"Only send serfs to this village. If possible, young couples who can't use magic. Families with small children. Since it'll only be grazing at first, keep the numbers small. Starting from April."
"I don't mind."
Beatrix said she had one more request.
"I want you to lower the age for receiving magic oracles and make the first time for minors free."
In Sertoria, you can receive an oracle for free at the age of ten. In Regnentes, you can't receive it until you become an adult, and it's not free. The fee apparently varies depending on the country or the Lord, but Wilson-san and Robinson-san said the Lords in between are ripping people off considerably compared to Sertoria.
The aim is apparently to prevent rebellion and to make them accustomed to being subordinate to the Lord. Poor serfs with more restrictions are more obedient than free farmers.
"A five-year difference is huge. Even children can work. How much easier would it be if they could use primary magic to pick stones in the fields, harvest wheat, or thresh grain?"
That's true. I was painfully aware of that in the pioneer lands.
"The current me is a middle-class mage. I should have been able to live a good life under the Lord, not just live in the Upper Village. My whole family might have been saved. Somehow, at ten. If you make it free, you can just have them do farm work using magic for five years as corvée labor; you'll get more than enough back."
Beatrix is saying to make magic the village's asset and have it managed collectively.
"If magic belongs to the whole village, including minors, everyone should be able to cultivate wide lands and the harvest will increase. If life becomes rich, rebellions won't happen. In the first place, small uprisings are happening all the time, but in the end, they're settled by negotiations with representatives, right?"
This part is information from Wilson-san and Robinson-san.
"In Sertoria, everyone lives freely, and there are no nobles, but everyone respects the royalty. Because they do big things that commoners can't. Even this village, if it weren't for the famine, a rebellion wouldn't have happened."
Perhaps her tear ducts had loosened after her second big cry, but she looked as if she were about to burst into tears at any moment. She wasn't the usual Beatrix who leisurely twists the old men around her finger.
"However, there's the matter of alignment with other Lords. Lowering the age is one thing, but making it free..."
"At least for the serfs who come to this village... There are more serfs. For example, assuming fifty households, if there are three children, that's one hundred and fifty people. If both parents can't use magic, even assuming it's less than one-fiftieth of that, if two or three people use magic for the village for five years, the harvest will be quite different."
That's likely true. In fact, even if there is land, farm work such as plowing, harvesting, and threshing takes time, so the farmland per person is small. If time-consuming work is made efficient with magic, more land can be cultivated.
Of course, there will be a class difference between serfs who can use magic and those who can't. However, it will probably be much better than the current situation.
"How about it, Lord-sama? How about an experiment just on this land? This land is a cursed land. It is, so to speak, nothing. To turn nothing into something, a bold reform is necessary. If making it free is difficult, I'll have the manager pay the fee to the oracle master."
Once again, I brandished the Knight's Staff.
If we do this, at least the Lord won't lose out. It's a negotiation line everyone thought of. If this is no good, the village will just have to pay for one time per person.
Sure enough, the Lord said, "Yes."
"However, there are conditions. That the record of your birth exists in the church, and that... let's see, ten households of serfs apply within the year. If they wish to live in this land, I will permit migration within my territory. If an agreement is reached, I may even buy them from other Lords."
With the condition of maintaining twenty households in three years, the condition of ten households starting in the remaining three months became quite strict.
"Lord-sama. Thank you very much."
Even so, Beatrix bowed deeply.
I have corrected a chronological error that was discovered.
Error: The basin was occupied after the famine.
Correct: The basin was occupied before the famine.
My apologies for the eyesore.