Chapter 15 - Episode 15: Meeting the Refugees
The soldiers at the west gate guardhouse of Retovik already recognized his face, so he was usually allowed through without having to identify himself, but today he was stopped by a soldier.
"Knight-Bachelor Arqvist-sama. Lord Koenitz says he wishes to see you. I will provide a guide, so please proceed to the Viscount's manor."
"...I understand."
Wondering what it could be, Noein answered and followed one of the soldiers to Viscount Koenitz's manor.
It had been a little over three months since he last met the Viscount, when he had visited to pay his respects upon arriving in Retovik.
He was led into a reception room within a magnificent, aristocratic manor that was incomparable to Noein's tent-dwelling. Matilda stood behind him and to the side as his guard and attendant.
Shortly after, Viscount Koenitz entered the reception room, and Noein stood up.
"It has been a long time, Viscount Koenitz-sama."
"Ah, Lord Arqvist. I am glad to see you are doing well. I hear the reclamation is progressing smoothly?"
"I am but a humble member of the kingdom's nobility, so though I am young, I am doing my utmost with my meager strength."
Thinking that his situation was indeed being scouted, Noein replied to Viscount Koenitz.
He came to Retovik regularly for supplies, acted friendly toward the residents, and mentioned that his population had increased. If the territorial lord, Viscount Koenitz, gathered a bit of information, it would be easy to see that Noein had managed to get the reclamation roughly on track.
"So, what business do you have with me today?"
"Ah, actually..."
Viscount Koenitz told Noein about the twenty-four refugees who had arrived in Retovik the other day.
"I see. So, you are asking if I would accept those refugees into my territory?"
"Yes, I appreciate your quick understanding."
"I imagine it would be difficult to suddenly accept a large number of refugees in Retovik, considering the feelings of the residents. In that regard, my territory is in need of people, so I am pleased that our interests align. I would certainly like to accept them."
Watching Noein's smiling expression, Arnold thought that he was precocious.
If possible, Arnold had wanted to put him in his debt by saying, "I shall give you people since you lack residents," but Noein emphasized that this was merely a "handover of refugees based on a mutual alignment of interests." He likely knew that the Viscount was struggling with how to handle the refugees.
So he has no intention of easily incurring a debt, then.
Yet, he didn't try to clumsily gain the upper hand by saying something like, "Since you are troubled by the refugees, I shall take them off your hands." The way he knew his place as a minor lord and showed no intention of clashing was almost endearing, or perhaps not.
Doubts remained as to whether he had the leeway to suddenly accept over twenty refugees in a forest reclamation site, but this man had already explicitly stated he would "accept" them. After that, whether he and the refugees starved together within the Arqvist territory was none of his concern.
"I am glad we could have a discussion that is mutually beneficial. The refugees are camping outside the south gate, and the church is providing aid such as soup kitchens. I shall have them guided to you immediately."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
With smiles on their faces for the sake of appearances, the two lords concluded their discussion.
.....
Upon leaving the manor, Noein explained to Pence and Mai that he would be accepting new refugees, and told them to finish the shopping and wait for him at the west gate before parting ways.
He took Matilda and was guided to the south gate by the Viscount's territorial soldiers.
Upon exiting the gate, a few tents were pitched clinging to the outside of the wall surrounding the city, a short distance from the gate.
Since monsters rarely appeared around the city, and at this distance they could flee back into the city immediately if something happened, there were likely no complaints.
Then, the refugees who noticed them rushed over, coming close. They had a momentum as if they were about to leap and cling to him.
"Noein-sama!" Matilda instinctively stepped forward to shield him, and the guiding soldier also shouted at the refugees, "Get back, you lot! You are being insolent to a nobleman!"
The refugees' eyes were clearly on Noein. They seemed to know of him. Perhaps word had already spread that "a young nobleman from the neighboring territory might accept refugees."
Noein told Matilda, "It's alright," and had her step behind him as he faced the refugees.
"Who is the representative?"
When he asked, one man stepped forward. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties.
"It is I. My name is Edgar, Knight-Bachelor Arqvist-sama."
Did he go and tell them my name without permission? Noein cursed Viscount Koenitz in his heart. He was relying on him too much even before Noein had explicitly stated he would accept the refugees.
"I hear you all came from the south of here, but I want to hear the detailed circumstances directly."
"Yes, we lived in a reclamation village near the border with the Kingdom of Lancel, due south from here. At the southern edge of the Bezel Great Forest."
"...Ah, around there. Were you driven from your village because of the conflict?"
"Yes. I was ordered to lead the young villagers and escape the village, and while searching for a territory that would accept us, we arrived here in Retovik."
The Bezel Great Forest became narrower the further south one went, and eventually, the Kingdom of Roadberg and the Kingdom of Lancel shared a border across the plains. Noein knew that area had been a conflict zone for several years.
So they were caught up in that and driven from their hometown, he thought, looking around at the refugees.
Just as the words "led the young villagers and escaped" suggested, the oldest were in their thirties at most, and the youngest were children around ten years old. Everyone was thin, but perhaps because of the church's soup kitchen, they did not seem so debilitated as to be in immediate danger of death.
"There are no small children."
"...A few mothers with very young children were accepted by towns along the way. Many others died, unable to endure the long-term travel, sleeping outdoors, and hunger. Among the adults, those with weak bodies died first. There were over fifty of us when we left the village, but only this many made it here."
As he spoke, Edgar's clenched fists trembled. Perhaps he felt responsibility as the one leading the refugees.
It was a sickening story. What could possibly be fun about attacking a village and impoverishing farmers?
While cursing inwardly, Noein put on as gentle an expression as possible.
"I see, that must have been painful. Fortunately, my territory can accept you. I would very much like you to start a new life as residents of my land."
Edgar's eyes widened upon hearing those words. A stir arose among the refugees who had been listening behind him.
"I-is it truly alright...?"
"Yes. If your physical strength is sufficient, let us depart for my territory as early as tomorrow. How does that sound?"
"O-of course. We will make preparations so that we can depart immediately tomorrow. Thank you very much, Knight-Bachelor Arqvist-sama."
While the refugees bowed their heads and gave thanks in various voices, Edgar alone knelt on one knee with a poised posture to show his gratitude. That movement was quite refined for a mere farmer. It suggested a familiarity with how to address nobility.
"You seem accustomed to speaking with nobles; did you hold a high status in the village?"
"My father served as the village head, and as his heir, I was taught etiquette for dealing with nobles. I believe my father died while resisting the soldiers of the Kingdom of Lancel to buy time."
"I see. I express my respect for your father's bravery in deciding to let you young people escape and survive."
"...Hah, I thank you for your merciful words."
Edgar answered, his voice trembling.