“Careful!”
“Don’t worry.”
“You never know when you can hurt yourself.”
“OKAY! Dammit.”
The man who looked like he was the manager shouted, “C’mon! I will treat you to meat after we’re done.”
The worker, who had been ranting, retorted, “What about women?!”
The other workers frowned at the question.
“You idiot!”
Manager Craig frowned also. Then, another worker who looked older than the one who shouted intervened to make a report.
“Craig, it’s done.”
“OH? Good. Okay. Open up the waterway!”
A worker removed the lock that held the water mill in place and opened up the waterway that was blocked. The water began pouring into the waterway and into the water mill. The mill started moving with a loud creak and began moving flawlessly.
“It’s working!”
“Look at it moving! It’s rolling!”
“I heard that the machines in the middle never rust.”
“So it’s a water mill that runs forever?”
“Wow. Look, it doesn’t even creak anymore!”
People’s eyes turned to the joint where the mill rotated on. It moved effortlessly and quietly, but the mill was much larger than anyone had ever seen.
“I can do this again!”
“Yeah, I thought it was mad when they wanted me to install twenty of these.”
“Just a day of training and it took us only six days.”
“Yeah.”
“We really did it.”
“This place is full of fascinating stuff!”
“Did you see those carriages moving by themselves?”
“OH! The one that let out an awful smell?”
“Yeah, it’s all made out of steel.”
“I thought it was a monster.”
Clean water began to flow down the waterway and everyone smiled at the completion of their work.
“All this in a month!”
Everyone was not sure if the Ainos would be able to live in such a desolate land. There was no water in close proximity, so that would require the construction of a long waterway. Also, the land was filled with trees, so it would take thousands of people and time to get rid of it. All of this also meant a huge amount of money, which did not make sense at all.
“I never imagined… the land would change to this. I never imagined…” Tax Collector Baril Mondra said in awe as he watched the village growing to fruition. He glanced around.
“This is out of our territory,” Baril said as he looked around. Hernan Oto shrugged.
“It will all be ours soon.”
Baril opened his eyes. Seil O’dre, who was next to them, was also shocked.
“What do you mean? The count declared that we will not take this land back.”
Baril and Hernan looked at each and grinned as Seil asked them.
“Not now, but I am referring to years after the disaster. They will go back to their homeland once the forest is back to normal. This is not where they want to continue to live.”
Baril then continued, “It’s also problematic if they want to stay also. They will not want to pay taxes. They can defend themselves after all.”
“Ah.”
Seil gasped as he understood. They turned to watch the construction of the fences. The main reason for paying taxes was to be protected. Taxes were a sort of a payment to the lord so that he could protect the people. Yet the Ainos did not need such protection. They only had about 6,000 people, but their military prowess easily surpassed that of the humans.
‘Thousands of Keroxes were wiped out with two sets of arrows.’
The villagers who resided on this land were kicked out by the count. But some returned after being driven out by the soldiers. Most people who lived in this desolate land were either runaways or outlaws so they did not care to obey. However, after few days upon their return, they met their doom. Their feeble houses were trampled by thousands of Keroxes and everyone in the village was eaten alive. When the Kerox pack was done feasting on the humans, they turned to the Ainos village. But that was where it ended. Thousands of Ainos shot directly at the Keroxes, killing the entire pack instantly. The infamous Kerox pack that reigned terror among the land was wiped out so easily.
“These people are like treasure for our land,” Hernan mumbled and other two nodded. The count now had a wife. He also earned a trusty, grown-up son.
‘It’s getting better. Change is coming to our land.’
The world was in chaos. It was right after the war where kingdoms could not gather to prepare themselves against the natural disaster. Yet Count Khalodian’s land was quickly finding its peace.
“What do you think of that?”
“Hmm.”
“It’s amazing. The carriage that milord rode and those other machines… I wonder how much more they have. I also worry that some will want to take these things away.”
Baril spoke up about his concern.
“I had everyone keep quiet about it, but it will spread sooner or later,” Seil said. Hernan shook his head.
“No one will care for now. It’s the volcano and monsters that everyone needs to deal with right now. We will worry about that later.”
The two men nodded as they watched the excavator digging up a hole in the ground.
The fences were built and a large bathhouse was built right after the waterway was finished. It was a place where men and women could go in separately to wash.
“It’s a bathhouse.”
“The countess hated the close stalls and washrooms.”
Hernan blushed at the thought. The castle’s facilities were worse than the bathroom inside the carriage that the countess had brought.
“Yes, but it is because the count is being modest. He’s not the lavish type.”
Baril spoke in the count’s defense, but he too knew that it was much more than that.
“But it’s getting better.”
“Oh, for sure. The toilet was amazing.”
“Yes, just needs a flush and it’s clean.”
“I really want to visit that empire.”
“The merchants were eager to visit the place to start a trade.”
Hernan and Baril continued discussing and Seil moved out as the topic became boring to him. He then approached Joonbum who was doing maintenance on the Humvee.
‘He’s now the heir to the lord.’
Joonbum Christos was now a future lord of this land.
‘Why does he refuse it?’
That was what everyone, including the count, was questioning. Not everyone around the count loved the idea of having the count get married. Relatives of the count wanted to take a chance at becoming a lord since the count did not have a son, but by marrying, that chance disappeared. That caused people to openly discuss their disapproval.
-He must be educated in Torian ways to become an heir!-
-Some nobody cannot be an heir to the lord!-
-I think you all have misunderstood. I have no intention of becoming an heir.-
-???-
Everyone looked at Joonbum when he declared his intentions. He smirked at the people looking at him dumbfounded.
-I’m rich. The carriage outside is full of gold. I also have more stuff that is worth thousands of gold. Did you see those carriages? If I sell it all to the merchants, I can make my own peaceful living anywhere I want. Why would I take up this land and its problems?-
-P-problems? What are you talking about! This is a vast land!-
-The count can command a huge army…-
-It’s a Torian noble…-
People began to shout as they felt their proud lineage being unrecognized. Joonbum grinned and spoke.
-It is vast, but most of it consists of barren land! You cannot even farm there. Part of it touches the perimeter of the Galian Kingdom, so there’s war to worry about. Of course, don’t forget the monsters. Look at Khaloda Village! You need that kind of a barricade to survive here. Also, I saw the count losing his mind trying to protect his land. I refuse to take up such a job.-
‘It was absurd.’
It was, but no one dared to speak out. Joonbum was so prideful and confident that no one could object to what he said.
‘He may be bigger than what the title can give him,’ Seil thought as he remembered Joonbum leaving the meeting as if he wasn’t satisfied with the land.
