kscans

EPILOGUE : THE ENDLESS JOURNEY – Episode 1 Announcement

1

“So, you know. This time you absolutely have to take me with you. No matter what you say, I’m definitely coming along!”

Bard smiled wryly at Jurchaga, who insisted on accompanying him on the journey. It was in the year 4274 of the Continental Calendar when Jurchaga declared the establishment of Fyuzarion in the barren ruins. Now it’s the year 4286, so twelve years have passed since then. It’s hard to believe that only twelve years have gone by. That’s how rich the history of Fyuzarion has been.

Fyuzarion, which started as a village of just nine people, has now grown to be worthy of being called a country. It was none other than Jurchaga who supported Fyuzarion’s development, first as the village chief and later as the lord. This wanderlust-filled man had barely left Fyuzarion for twelve years, dedicating himself to its management. Deep down, his longing for travel must have been accumulating all this time. So when Bard casually mentioned about going on another journey, Jurchaga became completely fixated on the idea. It’s understandable. For the past six months, Fyuzarion had been in frenzied chaos. Having weathered this storm as the lord, Jurchaga must be exhausted and now unable to contain his desire to go on a journey. It truly had been a dizzying six months.

2

It was in mid-July of last year, continental year 4285, when Bard had his confrontation with the ship captain. After returning to Fyuzarion, he was bedridden for a while, but by the time he was able to get up, Seto’s knighting ceremony took place.

August passed, and September came. It was the time when winter preparations needed to be made. Around this time, a group of immigrants arrived. While there had been a lull in people drifting in hoping to live in the prosperous Fyuzarion, this time a large group of sixty people came. Surprisingly, they claimed to be former subjects of Majuestz. Majuestz was a town governed by Lord Enzaia, but it had collapsed several years ago, and its people had dispersed. They had been living modestly, but recently, they heard a rumor.

Fyuzarion, located at the northern edge of the eastern frontier, is a newly born prosperous domain, and recently the gods have shown an auspicious sign. Fyuzarion will develop into a country, and its people will enjoy prosperity.

They had heard bits and pieces about Fyuzarion before, but upon hearing this rumor, they couldn’t sit still any longer and decided to come here with all the residents. The leader of the immigrant group prostrated himself at Bard and the others’ feet, saying they would endure any hardship if they could become citizens here.

Bard was surprised. Fyuzarion is at the northern edge of the eastern frontier. Excluding the port town of Himaya, the closest are the domains of Great Lord Yadobalgi and Bovard, but even those are about 60 leagues in a straight line, and in reality, it would take nearly 100 leagues of walking. The place where Majuestz was located is dozens of leagues further south. It must have been an incredibly difficult and harsh journey. After consulting with Jurchaga and Doriatessa, it was decided to accept them, but one village couldn’t accommodate sixty people. They were to be distributed and accepted among various villages.

Seven days later, another group of immigrants, nearly a hundred strong, arrived. The face of the leader guiding them was familiar. It was the village chief of the pioneer village east of Bovard. This was the village where Bard and his companions had fought against the knights who were supposed to escort Doriatessa. At the request of this village chief, Bard and his group had defeated the bandit group that had attacked the northern village. They too had heard the rumor that Fyuzarion had received an auspicious sign and was about to develop, so they decided to leave their current lives behind and come all the way here. And they came together with the northern village.

—We’ll have to distribute these people among the villages too, I suppose.

Bard thought. However, Doriatessa seemed to be contemplating something. She told them that she would arrange for housing and to wait for a while, emptying a warehouse next to the lord’s mansion for them to stay in for a few days, only arranging for meals. That night, Doriatessa summoned all the knights of Fyuzarion.

“Thank you all for gathering. I appreciate it. I want to discuss the future of Fyuzarion. Two groups of immigrants have come this time. I think this is just the beginning. There are many people living in poverty in the eastern frontier. If they hear of a land where they can live comfortably and eat well, they will want to migrate. Moreover, I hear that several towns in the Great Lord Egzera’s domain have disbanded, and people are scattered. The miraculous sign that Lord Bard showed seems to have been witnessed from quite far away. The people of the frontier are superstitious. This rumor that divine grace has been bestowed upon Fyuzarion will spread throughout the entire eastern frontier in no time. They’re coming. Immigrants will come like a tide.”

Bard was shocked. He was surprised by the two groups totaling 160 immigrants, but he thought that was the extent of it. However, Doriatessa saw this as just a precursor. Could it be true? Princess Shernelia had said that Doriatessa was a girl who never missed the whispers of the gods. This might be one of those moments.

“What do you intend to do with this large number of immigrants?”

The one who asked Doriatessa was Knight Heridan, the former steward of the Orgazard family. Heridan had passed on the position of steward to Taranka and was now semi-retired, respected as a noble vassal. Heridan’s question about what to do with the immigrants contained a serious implication. No matter how developed Fyuzarion is, there are limits to the food and housing that can be immediately provided. Also, accepting too many immigrants at once might cause irreparable confusion. There might be some among them who could cause riots. If so, they must consider the option of not accepting the immigrants. However, it’s unlikely that people who have come this far with hope, risking everything, will easily give up and go somewhere else. Even if driven away, they probably won’t go far. In that case, they might end up with a group that could turn into bandits entrenched nearby. To prevent that, the only option would be to kill them. That’s what Heridan was asking about. Tension suddenly ran through the group. However, the words Doriatessa uttered were completely unexpected.

“We will reorganize Fyuzarion.”

Everyone stared at Doriatessa’s face.

“To begin with, Fyuzarion has come to a point where it needs to be reorganized. There are rich rock salt and mineral resources in the eastern and northeastern areas, but the current town of Fyuzarion is a bit too far from there. Also, the five villages are too close together, and each has already grown beyond the scale of a village. We should review the industrial structure so that each can maintain its territory independently.”

After that, Doriatessa eloquently described the new vision of Fyuzarion. She had probably been thinking about this for some time. Everyone was overwhelmed by the prospect being drawn on the map.

“I think we should proceed in this direction. What do you think?”

Everyone nodded. Bard nodded too.

“We have reached a consensus. Is that alright with you?”

Jurchaga smiled and answered.

“Yeah, of course. It’s my Dora’s decision. That’s fine by me.”

After that, they ate the late-night meal prepared by Kamler, and then detailed discussions were held about the locations of the new towns and the construction plans. At the end of this, Doriatessa once again surprised everyone.

“Now that we’ve decided on the town organization, next we’ll determine the lords for each.”

“Wait a moment. Lords, you say?”

“Yes, Sir Heridan. The current system of deputies won’t allow for flexible decision-making. This time, Fyuzarion’s territory will expand eightfold, and there will be considerable distances between towns. We will make each town capable of standing independently. I think it would be better to appoint lords for each, as it will ultimately lead to easier development. The Orgazard family will remain as the ruler of all of Fyuzarion, but the lords will be given great discretionary power. Of course, they will be expected to pay taxes and provide troops.”

Being a lord means being able to establish laws. To put it extremely, they could even set the amount and method of tax collection as they see fit. The Orgazard family intends to grant such significant authority to their vassals. A stronger light dwelled in the eyes of the knights. The capital and districts of the new Fyuzarion were determined as follows.

Capital City “Zariya”…… Lord Jurchaga Orgazard [Taxation rights / Orgazard family]
First District “Egals”…… Lord Kizmertel Eisara [Rowen family]
Second District “Horieth”…… Lord Noah Fuct [Rowen family]
Third District “Mols”…… Lord Taranka Bancrood [Orgazard family]
Fourth District “Tartes”…… Lord Tsurugatol Eisara [Orgazard family]
Fifth District “Cogus”…… Lord Quinta Ector [Orgazard family]
Sixth District “Kinos”…… Lord Dali Fuct [Orgazard family]

In essence, except for the newly established Kinos, the current deputies will be appointed as lords. The newly built capital will be named Zariya, after their benefactor. The First District Egals and the Second District Horieth, which currently have the highest economic power, will have the Eisara family and the Fuct family as lords respectively, but these two districts will be owned by the Rowen family. In other words, they will be governed under the direction of Bard, the head of the Rowen family, and his heir Karz, and taxes will first be paid to the Rowen family, and then a certain percentage will be paid to the Orgazard family. The Third to Sixth Districts will be owned by the Orgazard family. Tsurugatol will serve as the lord of the Fourth District Tartes, and Dali as the lord of the Fifth District Cogus, but since they will eventually succeed Kizmertel and Noah to become the lords of the First and Second Districts, this is a temporary measure. In the near future, Seto and Nuva will take over as lords. The capital will be built much further east than the main district where the lord’s mansion has been until now. Kinos, which will be created even further northeast of the capital, is a district for receiving mineral resources from the eastern and northeastern areas and performing primary processing, including iron and zinc refining. The number of work villages for mining rock salt, iron ore, black stone, copper ore, tin, quartz, etc. will be increased to nine. Until now, the work villages were closed during the depths of winter, but by increasing food supply, they will be made operational whole year-round. The fortresses set up as rest stops for transporting mined ores will be expanded into villages and increased to five. Around each district except the capital and the Sixth District, villages will be established to produce agricultural products according to the increase in immigrants. Only Egals, which mainly produces Egalsocia, will remain in its current location and expand around it, but other districts will be moved to locations quite far from their current positions.

It’s an incredibly large-scale plan. The faces of the assembled knights are stern. They keenly feel the responsibility they must bear and the amount of work they must accomplish. Among them, four people have cool expressions. Jurchaga, Bard, Knight Banthuren, and Knight Heridan. But Doriatessa had no intention of letting them remain at ease.

“Sir Heridan. As this is an emergency, I’d like you to return to active duty.”

“Understood.”

“I’d like you to oversee all political affairs as the deputy lord of the capital, Zariya.”

“What?”

“I’d also like you to design the new capital, Zariya.”

Knight Heridan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Also, please oversee Fyuzarion as a whole. Ah, in the lord’s mansion in the capital, I’d like you to create a great hall where 300 people can dine, and in front of the lord’s mansion, a plaza where 10,000… no, 20,000 people can gather.”

Knight Heridan was at a loss for words.

“Sir Banthuren.”

“Yeah?”

“I’d like you to lead thirty soldiers to guard the Sixth District, Kinos. The planned construction site for Kinos is still an area with many wild beasts, so we need to hunt them down first.”

“Understood.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t provide you with squires or knight attendants. Please manage with just the soldiers.”

“Can I choose those soldiers myself?”

“Please select the ones you like and consult with Knight Heridan.”

It’s been nine years since Knight Banthuren Daye sought refuge in Fyuzarion, and during that time, other than training young knight candidates, he had been toughening up promising soldiers and leading them to hunt wild beasts relentlessly. The faces of the thirty men are probably already in Banthuren’s mind.

“I see. Driving them out at first is one thing, but it’s going to be quite tough to guard around the clock with just thirty men once construction begins.”

“No, it’s not just guarding. At first, we’ll be relying on the meat from the beasts you hunt for food.”

The number of subjects heading to build Kinos will be close to a thousand. Of course, grains will also be supplied, but this outrageous demand to provide meat for a thousand people with just thirty men made even Knight Banthuren’s eyes widen.

“However, I’ll give you thirty horses as well. Also, you can take as many weapons as you need from the armory.”

“Oh! That’s generous!”

Knight Banthuren showed a fierce smile.

“And, Lord Bard.”

-Yes, what is it?

“I feel bad about asking this of Lord Bard, who is not in good health, but…”

I’ll do whatever I can.

“I’d like you to stay at the lord’s mansion and respond to envoys from other domains and countries.”

-I understand.

“And you.”

“What is it?” (t/n: this one is put inside a conversation mark. not sure who but maybe she was talking to jurchaga.)

“I’d like you to stay at the lord’s mansion as well and interview the prospective immigrants who come.”

“Yeah, got it.”

“Whether to accept them or not is entirely up to your judgment. If you decide to accept them, please have Knight Heridan decide which district to send them to. I’ll assign four knight attendants and four squires to you.”

“Alright.”

“Sir Kizmertel.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“From now on, there’s no need to go through the Orgazard family for Egalsocia transactions. Please proceed based on your own judgment and just report to us.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Sir Noah.”

“Yes.”

“I’d like the Second District Horieth to continue producing wheat and vegetables at its current location until the construction of other districts is completed and they can become self-sufficient in food production.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“The First District Egals and the Second District Horieth will deliver Egalsocia and flour to each pioneer site. In return, tax payments will be exempted for the next year.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“I address you all. Needless to say, all lands, including the capital Zariya and the six districts, as well as the work villages and fortress villages, belong to Fyuzarion. In other words, all lands belong to Jurchaga Orgazard. This must be thoroughly understood by all subjects. All lands are leased to you by Lord Jurchaga. Each lord should manage and develop their territory based on their own judgment. We request one-tenth of all production as tribute. However, as mentioned earlier, Egals and Horieth will be exempt from paying taxes for one year. Additionally, for the third to fifth districts, we will set a tax exemption period of about half a year until the production system is in order. Let’s see. We’ll have them pay one-tenth of their production from the second half of next year. I would like the lords to be present at the lord’s mansion in the capital Zariya from the first to the third day of every month. Once things have settled down, each lord should be present at the lord’s mansion for the first half of each month. The overall management of Fyuzarion will proceed through discussions among the lords.”

“My lady.”

“Yes, Lord Heridan?”

“Since there will be lord’s mansions in each district as well, I believe we should consider a different name for the lord’s mansion in the capital Zariya to avoid confusion.”

“I see. Then, let’s call the lord’s mansion in the capital Zariya the Grand Lord’s Mansion. Regarding troops, we will distribute them to each district. Currently, we have a small number of knights, so everyone’s burden will be heavy, but please endure it for a little while longer. The year after next, Nuva will become a knight. The following year, three more will become knights, and the year after that, five more will become knights. The next generation of knights has also begun their training. Let’s work together to get through this time. The future of Fyuzarion is bright.”

“My lady. Does calling the capital’s lord’s mansion the Grand Lord’s Mansion mean that your husband will assume the position of Grand Lord?”

Knight Heridan’s question touched on an institutional issue in Fyuzarion. Jurchaga is a commoner. He was granted the status of quasi-nobility by the Goriora Empire, which made it possible for Doriatessa to marry him while retaining her title, but he remains a commoner nonetheless. Therefore, he cannot become a lord. Internally, there was no problem with Jurchaga being considered the lord. Fyuzarion was a village created and nurtured by Jurchaga, and all who became subjects there were granted permission to live there by Jurchaga. Those who knew this background had no doubts about looking up to Jurchaga as their lord. However, this doesn’t work externally. When Fyuzarion was a small village, they emphasized the fact that Jurchaga’s wife, Doriatessa, was a viscountess of the Goriora Empire, and negotiations with other territories and countries were conducted by Doriatessa in the name of the Goriora Empire viscountess. However, as Fyuzarion grew in scale, the name of the Goriora Empire became a hindrance. If they were seen as belonging to the Goriora Empire, they would be considered subject to the political authority of the Goriora Empire. This would mean obligations to pay taxes and the possibility of interference from Goriora Empire nobles. So, at some point, they stopped using the name of Goriora. This also meant losing the basis for Jurchaga’s quasi-noble status, making his position and status even more unclear externally. As news of Egalsocia spread, envoys from countries in the Central Plains began to arrive with purchase requests. In such cases, it would be inappropriate for noble envoys to kneel before the commoner Jurchaga. So how had they been handling external negotiations until now? They had been assigning knights as representatives and conducting negotiations in the name of the Orgazard family.

Bard had once suggested to Jurchaga that he should undergo nominal training to become a knight. As the de facto lord, he should rather become a knight. However, Jurchaga firmly refused.

“I’m a thief who stole from knights, you know? It’s ridiculous for me to become a knight.”

It seems he had some uncompromising principles about this. There was also talk of making Doriatessa the lord. However, this might make it appear that Fyuzarion still belonged to the Goriora Empire when viewed from the outside, and above all, Doriatessa absolutely refused to become the lord herself. For these reasons, the fundamental question of who the ruler of Fyuzarion is and what their status is remains unclear. Knight Heridan was urging to clarify this point on this occasion. Of course, there is no such status as Grand Lord, but it was also a question of whether they would create such a new status. However, Doriatessa’s answer did not meet everyone’s expectations.

“Lord Heridan. For the time being, I would like to keep Jurchaga, a commoner, as the lord of Fyuzarion. External negotiations will be conducted by the lord’s proxy in the name of the Orgazard family. My son, Arflaenoxylin, is eight years old, but we are raising him as the son of a knight. Eventually, this child will become a knight and succeed Jurchaga as lord. Could you please wait until that day?”

“If that is the will of your husband and Lady Doriatessa, we have no objections. Does anyone here have any concerns?”

No one raised any objections.

3

Although Fyuzarion’s reorganization and expansion plan could be considered reckless, once it began, an unexpectedly strong tailwind blew.

First was the sentiment of Fyuzarion’s residents. Among them, the miraculous descent of the cloud of light had become quite famous. Fyuzarion was about to undergo great development. That’s what they were saying to each other. With their spirits high, when the reorganization and expansion plan was announced, they were inspired. The greatest concern had been that the residents would rebel against this order to abandon their newly settled homes and workplaces, leaving their land and houses to embark on a new pioneering effort. So it can be said that this plan came at just the right time.

Next was the financial provision. Doriatessa was a noble of the Goriora Empire and a viscount who held the Kovrien domain. Although she had only visited her territory twice and left its management entirely to a steward, she was still undoubtedly the lord. Doriatessa returned this to the Fafarlen family. The head of the Fafarlen marquis family, her older brother Arflaburne, had a first son, Dorianburne, born in 4277. When Dorianburne turned five in 4282, Doriatessa submitted her retirement notice and transferred the viscountcy to Dorianburne. Then, as an internal matter, she wrote a letter to his brother expressing her wish to leave her Goriora citizenship in the future. In response, Arflaburne sent a messenger to thank her for transferring the viscountcy to his son. With Doriatessa’s fortunes. In other words, this was the wealth that had been set aside as the lord’s personal property from the tax revenue obtained in the Kovrien domain during the ten years Doriatessa was the lord. Since the Kovrien domain was a rich land, the amount was enormous. This became the initial capital for the pioneering effort.

The new immigrants who flowed in were willing to work even if they were only given food. This is natural because what they would gain from pioneering becomes their own dwellings and workplaces. However, arranging that food also requires wealth. Moreover, the original residents had to be compensated and rewarded to some extent for leaving their current jobs, homes, and land to engage in pioneering. Otherwise, they wouldn’t cooperate, and their livelihoods wouldn’t be sustainable. And of course, a large amounts of tools and equipment were also needed. Doriatessa invested the the wealth she had obtained into these expenses generously.

Also, when pioneering in the frontier, the biggest problem is wild beasts. Moreover, there are many areas near Fyuzarion where large beasts dwell. However, Fyuzarion cultivates large amounts of Egalsocia, which serves as a beast repellent. Just cutting the stems and scattering them keeps wild beasts away, so while it may not cover all the pioneering areas, it was a great help in ensuring the safety of the residential areas. The pioneers were given shirts soaked in Egalsocia broth to wear. This alone had a significant effect in repelling wild beasts.

And above all, the quantity and quality of the inflowing immigrants. The number of immigrants exceeded everyone’s expectations. Some came in groups of ten or twenty, huddling together, while others came in groups of nearly a hundred. Strangely, there weren’t many who looked like thieves. They were all serious immigrants, swearing to become subjects of Fyuzarion and obey the lord’s orders. Previously, those who had drifted to Fyuzarion were, to varying degrees, vagrants. They were not in good health and had no particular skills. But these new immigrants were different. While many of them were poor, there were also those who brought considerable possessions, and many had knowledge of agriculture or some kind of skill. In some cases, it seemed that families of craftsmen who had been living in towns had conspired together to secretly leave. In other cases, it appeared that farmers who had been living under a lord had migrated with their entire village. Of course, they didn’t say they were subjects of some other lord, but one could guess from their appearance. Surprisingly, three knights also came with their families. For the time being, they were not made retainers of the Orgazard family but were employed by providing them with houses and salaries. They were placed under Knight Banthuren and became part of the defense force. Rather, it was bandits who attacked the immigrants heading for Fyuzarion along the way. Some immigrants were also attacked by wild beasts. While some arrived after being attacked by bandits or wild beasts, a considerable number of immigrants probably lost their lives along the way. In any case, immigrants kept coming without interruption.

Bard found it strange. The frontier doesn’t have good transportation system, and there’s little interaction with distant regions. Therefore, rumors don’t spread quickly. Even if rumors about the miracle appearing in Fyuzarion were to spread widely, it should take a long time. Moreover, deciding to migrate isn’t something that can be done immediately after hearing such rumors. So he couldn’t understand why so many people were coming so quickly.

But perhaps it wasn’t like that at all. If rumors were something that originated somewhere and gradually spread, this wasn’t a rumor. The sight of the cloud of light descending was witnessed from quite far away. The story that Fyuzarion had been blessed by the gods suddenly began to be whispered about simultaneously in various places, spread like a fever all at once, and sparked an intense desire to migrate. This was probably that kind of event. That’s why it can be called a miracle. If so, it will probably suddenly cool down like a fever.

In fact, this sudden mass migration continued for half a year from September 4285 to March 4286, and then abruptly stopped. During this period, the number of immigrants exceeded 10,000. In other words, the population nearly doubled. Without the reorganization plan to respond to this, it would have been impossible to accommodate such numbers. After stopping accepting people into the central areas of each district, villages were created in the surrounding areas. The number of these villages reached eight for Egals, six for Mors, three for Tartes, and four for Cogus. Horieth had not yet begun relocation, so no affiliated villages were created. Kinos, being a district that doesn’t produce food and receives food supplies from the capital, also didn’t have affiliated villages created. Geographically, it was also a situation where creating affiliated villages couldn’t ensure safety. Fyuzarion had come to possess a population and productive capacity surpassing that of small countries in the central plains.

Although the pioneering took place during the harsh winter months, by March to April, each district had managed to establish a basic residential system. The main lord’s mansion in the capital had also became habitable by April. Although it was quite a rushed construction, this means that harvests can be expected from the new districts and new villages this autumn. It should be said that the timing was indeed right.

Bard was simply impressed. To be honest, when Doriatessa announced the expansion plan for Fyuzarion, he had thought,

“Wouldn’t it be better to relocate one village at a time from the outer areas to create districts?”

It’s obvious that concentrating the labor force for pioneering in one place is more efficient, and fewer tools and farming implements would be needed. For example, first, move Mors, the outermost logging village, to the west to build the third district. The other four villages would supply food and provide surplus labor. Then, after Mors’ relocation is complete and the first autumn has passed, start moving Cogus. Since pioneering during winter is difficult, relocations would be done from March to August. This means no harvest can be expected that autumn, so the construction of the next district would start after skipping a year. Finally, build the new Kinos district. In other words, he thought that building six districts over eleven years would be the most feasible approach. However, Doriatessa said he would build six districts and relocate all at once. While Horieth’s relocation would be delayed, the expansion of Egals and the relocation of the other three districts, as well as the establishment of Kinos, would be done simultaneously. In parallel, he would also increase the number of work villages and establish fortress villages. Even Knight Heridan didn’t object to Doriatessa’s plan. That’s why Bard didn’t intervene. Unlike Doriatessa and Knight Heridan, Bard doesn’t know about politics. Bard is a knight specialized in combat. He understands military matters but not territory management.

So, how did it turn out? Indeed, Doriatessa’s judgment was correct. If they had adopted the method Bard had in mind, they would have been overwhelmed just dealing with the influx of immigrants, and construction would have been severely delayed. No, more than that, they might not have been able to handle the immigrants at all, and Fyuzarion might have collapsed. It was precisely because of Doriatessa’s method that the immigrants, instead of becoming a nuisance, were gradually integrated and became a reliable workforce. Look at Fyuzarion now. It’s already a completely different place from what it was before. Each district is like a foundation. On top of these foundations, enormous cities will be built. And somehow, this was all accomplished in just half a year. Although for now, there are only temporary lord’s mansions and makeshift houses standing in rows, the basic structure is already in place. From here on, it’s just a matter of development. Fyuzarion has the people and vitality necessary for this.

“It’s like magic.”

But come to think of it, it’s the same in war. The most important thing for a great victory is to gain momentum. An army that has gained momentum cannot be defeated. Doriatessa took advantage of the sudden influx of immigrants as an unexpected opportunity and demonstrated a development that would normally be impossible. It must be said that this is truly admirable.

4

The pioneering began at the end of September 4285, but at the beginning of September, Taranka and Yuguru, and Seto and Miya got married. In October, Karz and Carla had their long-awaited first son, who was named Adolkarz. Knights Kizmertel and Noah were overjoyed, but Jurchaga and Doriatessa’s joy was no less. After all, an heir had been born to the Rowen family. The joy of the people was also great, and Bard, despite not being in very good health, had to continue receiving endless congratulations. However, there was no one who rejoiced more than Bard at the birth of Adolkarz.

When an heir to the Rowen family was born, he felt a sense of relief and joy that surprised even himself. After all, human life is limited. But a family is eternal. The fact that the proof of one’s life continues and prospers even after one’s demise is such a joyous thing. The family is the real entity, and each individual life is like a fleeting shadow that fades and disappears. To put it bluntly, Bard felt that as long as Adolkarz was safe, he himself could die at any time. While finding this change in his own mindset interesting, Bard loved Adolkarz.

At the same time, Zendatta’s forge had just begun full-scale sword production, and they presented the first forged steel sword as a dedication to the young lord. It’s a slender straight sword with little ornamentation, but because of that, the settled light of high-quality, unwavering steel is beautiful. It’s an excellent piece that wonderfully harmonizes the maturity of the master swordsmith and the challenging spirit to create something new.

Karz also changed after Adolkarz was born. Until then, Karz had a tendency to suppress his presence too much. This seems to be the opposite of behavior that flaunts one’s strength, but in fact, there are similarities. Guests often forgot that Karz was there behind Bard. It’s as if he exerted a force to make people forget about him, and because of this, the occasional leakage of Karz’s skilled warrior aura caused unnecessary tension in those who noticed it. However, after Adolkarz was born, he became comfortable showing his presence. It could be said that he was no longer afraid to show his weaknesses. Now, even to a highly skilled person, Karz would probably appear to be nothing more than an ordinary swordsman.

That’s why Bard thinks,

“This fellow. He’s become a frighteningly versatile man.”

Bard started to get better. It was as if Adolkarz had brought energy to Bard. At this point, the new main lord’s mansion was not yet completed, so Bard, Karz, Carla, and Adolkarz were still living in the old lord’s mansion, but as Bard saw Adolkarz’s face everyday, he felt his health recovering. Even though his health recovered, it doesn’t mean his physical strength returned. He was just energetic for his age, and he could no longer swing heavy swords or command battles on horseback. But he could at least handle receiving visitors. Prospective immigrants kept coming, but this was Jurchaga’s responsibility, and Bard had no role in it.

The frequency of Agis’s Temperoid coming to Fyuzarion increased. Having heard about Fyuzarion’s reorganization, he started visiting with large amounts of dried fish. Handling this was also Bard’s job. Agis was also experiencing an increase in immigrants.

“They probably intended to go to Fyuzarion but liked the relaxed atmosphere of Agis.”

The day when Agis’s territory reaches Ova might be unexpectedly close.

At the end of 4285, there were three messengers from the frontier lords, but all of them wanted to purchase Egalsocia, so after entertaining them for one night, Bard sent them to Kizmertel. At the beginning of the new year, an envoy of friendship arrived from Chantillion, the regent of the Parzam Kingdom. The envoy seemed surprised by the commotion, but Bard entertained him generously with Kamler’s cuisine. Of course, a return envoy would be sent, but Bard explained and apologized that it would be some time later as they were currently in the midst of pioneering and relocation and had no room to spare. In fact, it seems that the main purpose of this messenger was to confirm whether Bard was safe and healthy, and seeing Bard vigorous and with a good appetite, he said,

“I can give a good report to His Majesty the Regent.”

He was delighted.

After that, messengers began to arrive from various local lords around the frontier regions. Their business was to demand the return of their subjects. There were envoys from lords with whom they had Egalsocia trading relationships, as well as from lords without such connections. So many envoys came that it was impressive to realize just how many territories there were. Bard entertained them with Kamler’s cooking before saying,

“Do you have a list of the subjects who allegedly fled to Fyuzarion? Do you know approximately when they came here? It would be good to cross-reference with our records and meet with the individuals. We cannot halt our work, so I will guide you to the work sites. If you can confirm without doubt that they are indeed your subjects, you may persuade them to return with you. If they have no intention of returning, we will purchase them from you.”

This was an exceedingly courteous response. The trap lay in its very courteousness. The nobles sent as envoys by the lords would hardly remember the faces of individual subjects, and in most cases, they didn’t even bring the lists of the subjects who had fled.

Of course, stealing subjects from other territories is shameful. Even if subjects from other lands fled here, it would be proper etiquette to capture and return them. Doing so would also allow for the exclusion of dangerous individuals who might flee here after committing crimes in other territories.

However, that applies to adjacent territories. Fyuzarion has no adjacent territories. Bard had no intention of callously driving away those who had made the long and perilous journey to reach this place.

To begin with, the envoys were not seriously trying to reclaim their subjects. Recovering one or two subjects would make little difference, and to escort dozens of subjects back to their territories would require bringing along that many soldiers. Even if they went to such lengths to bring them back, there was a risk they might flee again along the way. In short, it wasn’t worth the trouble to come all this way to reclaim subjects.

So what were they here for? They were intensely curious about Fyuzarion. There was a territory emerging with unprecedented momentum in the eastern frontier of the continent. They wanted to assess it.

Many of the envoys openly demanded compensation. They insisted on receiving goods or money in exchange for the stolen subjects. Ulterior motives to gain an advantage in future dealings were also evident. Bard firmly rejected such demands. Without concrete evidence that subjects had been stolen, it was merely an unfounded accusation. He led them around the development sites until they grew weary. While touring multiple sites, some envoys actually discovered their subjects, in which case Bard purchased them as promised. It was a painful expense, but it was for Fyuzarion’s future.

Additionally, many of the envoys were eager to learn about the number of Fyuzarion’s knights and soldiers and their equipments. Some even showed a suspicious glint in their eyes. While not all of them, Bard perceived that some were considering war. In other words, they thought it might be highly profitable to dispatch forces to Fyuzarion to plunder wealth and take people as slaves. They wanted to assess Fyuzarion’s defensive capabilities to explore that possibility. With the pretext of punishing the unjust theft of subjects, even an invasion could be framed as an honorable war.

For such individuals, Bard introduced them to Knight Banthuren. Knight Banthuren was a mighty warrior, taller than even Bard, with muscles like a leopard. Mounted on a giant horse and wielding a long magic spear, he had the overwhelming presence of a demonic beast in human form. The thirty soldiers under his command, though commoners, were selected and rigorously trained men who exuded ferocity under Banthuren’s fierce breath. Bard also showed them the armory. It was filled with various weapons and armor that Doriatessa had procured from the imperial capital of Goriora in anticipation of future needs. The sight of high quality weapons and armor rarely seen in the frontier regions, crowded together was truly magnificent. Furthermore, he showed them the state of development. While the people engaged in development would become soldiers if necessary, the people of Fyuzarion were well-nourished, physically fit, and high-spirited. After seeing all this, it became clear that even if one mounted an expedition all the way to Fyuzarion, it would not be easy to cut away its wealth.

In this way, Bard spent quite busy days. The busyness of Jurchaga, who interviewed the flood of prospective immigrants, was on another level entirely. Jurchaga possessed the ability to discern people’s characters. While having a knight scribe record names, places of origin, and skills, Jurchaga observed the immigration applicants closely, putting them at ease with his conversational skills. Then he would note down what kind of work might suit them and what points to be cautious about, before passing them on to Knight Heridan. Despite his jokester personality, Jurchaga took his work very seriously. There were hardly any applicants he rejected for immigration. With such a large-scale development plan underway, even rough characters could be put to use in their own way.

By April, the influx of immigrants had ceased. Both the Orgazard and Rowen families had moved to their new manor houses. Bard’s life calmed down as well. But by this time he felt tired. While it hadn’t been particularly busy, he was mentally exhausted from the sheer numbers and momentum of the incoming immigrants. He was also slightly exasperated by Kizmertel and Noah’s frequent reports on the state of territory management. Due to his mental fatigue and improved health, Bard casually mentioned that he might go on another journey, which led to Jurchaga persistently begging him to be taken along. Bard found it a bit strange that Jurchaga, who adored children, wanted to leave his children behind for a journey, but he thought that after such a long time without travel, Jurchaga probably couldn’t hold back anymore.

Kamler also had an heir now. He was joyfully training him. The man’s name is Borro. He’s a big man. While Kamler is tall, this man is two heads taller. Moreover, he has a solid, or rather massive, build. His magnificent physique is reminiscent of the late Northern Expedition General Gassara Judiel. Not only is his build similar, but his tremendous muscular strength is also alike.

Borro was one of the earliest immigrants to arrive in Fyuzarion. His parents said he was about five or six years old when they arrived, but he was a tall child for his age. The fact that he survived the harsh life of wandering at such a young age was proof of his high vitality and physical strength. From then on, Borro grew rapidly. Because of his immense strength, those around him expected him to become a soldier. But it didn’t work out. Certainly, Borro was a powerful soldier, but he was too dangerous. For his allies. It wasn’t once or twice that an animal Borro flung away hit an ally and severely injured them. When he swung his weapon at a prey, it didn’t seem to occur to him that the weapon might hit his allies as well. He could do what he was told, but he lacked adaptability and the imagination to envision the consequences of his actions. Even if a beast attacked, he wouldn’t counterattack or defend unless ordered to, making him quite dangerous. Someone could stick close to Borro and give him detailed instructions for every action, but that would be troublesome, tiring, and wouldn’t work in urgent situations. Moreover, staying close to Borro put one at risk of being knocked down by him.

Borro was removed from combat roles. However, he was so clumsy that if he was asked to build a fence, he’d destroy it, and if asked to repair a house, he’d wreck it, making him seemingly useless. He was assigned to the transport unit to help with mining and transporting ore, and that’s when Kamler took notice of him.

“Lord Bard. That Borro fellow is really useful.”

Bard thought that was good, but also found it a bit strange. He had thought that cooking was all about adaptability, so he assumed it wouldn’t suit the inflexible Borro.

“No, Lord Bard. That’s not the case. The basics of cooking are about doing exactly what you’re told, like an idiot. If you’re told to cut a vegetable to the size of your thumb, you must continue chopping vegetables to that exact size. If you neglect that, it affects the taste. Also, what determines the taste of sauces and soups is the combination of seasonings and herbs. How much salt is used for a certain amount of water? A cook who prepares flavors based on whims of the moment won’t succeed. That man’s literal-mindedness is a treasure for a cook.”

Moreover, Borro apparently has a keen sense of taste. Bard went to observe once, and saw Borro effortlessly swinging around a large pot that could feed fifty people. In Kamler’s cooking, pots are often moved around. It seems the secret of the cooking lies in how the pots are moved, and Borro appears to have properly inherited this technique. Borro is now about eighteen years old. For Kamler, who has recently found it difficult to handle heavy pots, it’s truly fortunate to have someone who can serve as his hands and feet at just the right time.

5

One day, Carla came to see Bard. Her complexion was poor. When she finally managed to speak, Bard was stunned. She said that Jurchaga had been struck by a fatal illness.

It all started when Doriatessa noticed an abnormality in the color of Jurchaga’s urine. It was bright red. Doriatessa finally dragged the reluctant Jurchaga to Carla. Carla had suspended her medical practice as she was currently occupied with Adolkarz and also taking care of Karz’s personal needs. After examining Jurchaga, Carla was shocked by what she discovered and had Torika examine him as well. Torika’s findings were the same. Unsure whether to convey these results to Doriatessa and Jurchaga, she came to consult with Bard.

“There’s a rotting disease in his liver. No, not just the liver. It seems to have spread to various parts. There’s nothing we can do anymore.”

Even if this disease had been discovered a bit earlier, there’s no particularly effective treatment method. If special sacred implements were used in the great temple of the Mercano shrine, with high-ranking priests continuously performing incantations, it might have an effect, but that’s only in the earlier stages. At this advanced stage, there’s no way to save his life.

“I’m sorry. If it had been Zariya, or maybe Pinen, they might have discovered it earlier. I’m sorry.”

Bard summoned Doriatessa and conveyed Carla’s diagnosis. The prognosis could be as short as one day or as long as six months. To the stunned Doriatessa, Bard mentioned that Jurchaga had been persistently asking to be taken on a journey lately. He suggested that perhaps Jurchaga, sensing his impending death, wanted to die in hiding on the road. He added that Jurchaga probably didn’t want his loved ones to see him wasting away and weakening. Doriatessa’s reaction was intense.

“Lord Bard! Jurchaga is my husband! He is the father of Afra, Silky, and Thril. Even if death is inevitable, his family will be by his side. Please don’t suggest such a preposterous idea as going on a journey in his condition!”

Saying this, she stormed out without looking back. After this, Bard didn’t bring up the matter again. Doriatessa arranged for Jurchaga and herself to spend as much time as possible with their children. This placed a great burden on Taranka, the young steward of the Orgazard family. Knight Heridan, who had once retired from active duty, was also spending busy days as the acting lord. The eldest son Afra is nine years old. The eldest daughter Silky is six years old. The second son Thril is four years old. The children indulged in Jurchaga’s affection to their hearts’ content and received education directly from Doriatessa. It seems Jurchaga’s impulse has settled, as he no longer mentions wanting to go on a journey.

In August, Banthuren Daye took a wife. His bride was the daughter of a knight who had immigrated.

In autumn, Krildzuka gave birth to Yueitan’s child. She had been pregnant several times before, but they had ended in stillbirths or the babies died shortly after birth. Both parents are already elderly, and this will likely be their last child. This time, the child seems very robust.

Doriatessa was overjoyed and had already arbitrarily named the child ‘Kriltan’ (Flying Fish). And then,

“Lord Bard! This child will be Arflaenox’s horse. Okay? Okay? Okay?”

She snatched it away without giving any room for objection. And so, the peaceful year ended without incident.

While worried about Jurchaga, Fyuzarion was still in the midst of developmental chaos, and Bard spent his days in a flurry of activity. He was also delighted by Adolkarz’s growth and visited several times a day to check on him. Adolkarz was gradually beginning to speak words. Carla insists,

“Adol’s first word was ‘Mime’ (mother)! Sorry for Karz, but it wasn’t ‘Ime’ (father), you know!”

And she says,

“You know, Adol always calls for ‘Mime’ whether he wants milk, needs to poop, or feels cold.”

But to Bard, ‘Ime’ and ‘Mime’ sound quite similar, and it’s not clear if Adol is really distinguishing between them when he speaks. However, when it comes to ‘Rowa’ (grandpa), no matter what anyone says, Bard is certain that Adol is calling for him, and Adolkarz is extremely attached to Bard. This is undoubtedly true, Bard believes.

In October, a girl was born to Taranka and Yuguru, and she was named Sharka. Also in October, Garkus Lagoras, the steward of the Gari family, visited the lord’s manor with his master Temperoid Gari, and formally bowed his head to Bard.

“Lord Bard. I request your assistance in finding a bride for my lord Temperoid.”

Temperoid is twenty-seven this year and will turn twenty-eight when the new year comes. For several years now, Garkus has been urging him to take a wife, but he felt that he could no longer wait. However, Temperoid himself had no prospects for a bride, and Garkus couldn’t think of any suitable young women either. After discussing it between themselves, they came to ask, thinking that any partner recommended by Lord Bard would be acceptable. Bard agreed to consult with the main figures and do something about it, and sent the two home. He then consulted with Jurchaga, Doriatessa, Heridan, and Taranka, but they couldn’t think of any suitable women in Fyuzarion.

As they were deliberating, the new year arrived. While they were having a New Year’s celebration, a messenger arrived from Arflaburne. Arflaburne sends a courtesy messenger about once every two years.

“Lord Bard. Regarding the matter of Lord Temperoid’s bride, it seems we won’t find anyone in Fyuzarion at this rate. I was thinking of writing a letter and entrusting it to the messenger, asking Marchioness Karriem for assistance. What do you think?”

Bard nodded in agreement with Doriatessa’s suggestion and said, “That’s good.”

As the time came when they were looking forward to spring, Jurchaga once again started throwing tantrums about wanting to go on a journey. By this time, Jurchaga had visibly lost weight. One day in February, Doriatessa came to visit Bard.

“Every night, Jurchaga says, ‘I want to go on a journey, I want to go on a journey.’ He talks wistfully about the novelty of things seen on journeys and the deliciousness of food eaten during travels. He says, ‘After all, traveling with Master Bard is the best.’ I understand well what Jurchaga is saying. I feel the same way. Traveling with you, Bard-sama, was truly enjoyable. But to let Jurchaga go on a journey in his current state… Bard-sama, what should I do?”

Ten days later, Doriatessa came to Bard’s place and, with a fading voice, begged him, “Please take Jurchaga on a journey.” She was in tears. Bard responded with, “Hmm.” The departure date was set for April 3rd. However, on March 38th, there was an unexpected visitor, and the departure would be postponed.