Chapter 2 - Episode 2: Let's Make This the First Settlement
Noein has a twisted personality. Two reasons for this come to mind.
One is a lack of experience in communication.
He never knew a parent's love, and his only conversation partners were the servants of the Count's house. Even those servants, while treating him with a polite tone on the surface, despised Noein behind their backs as the "child of a concubine." Noein had sensed this from an early age.
After being locked away in a detached building at the age of nine, he had hardly spoken to anyone other than Matilda, the slave given to him as a dedicated caretaker. It would be more difficult to grow into a well-adjusted personality under such circumstances.
The other is blood.
Noein is the child of that petty, nervous father and a mother who used that father to secure the position of concubine and died after tasting luxury. It would be entirely convincing to say he was born with a personality destined to be twisted.
However, alongside such an upbringing and innate temperament, Noein also naturally possessed human affection and kindness. Though, those emotions had only ever been directed toward Matilda, his sole confidant.
Therefore, in his own way, he intends to manage the territory seriously and cherish the residents. Unlike that piece-of-shit father of his, who had imposed tyranny over the Count's territory.
"That said, the current Arqvist territory is just a forest. There are no residents to cherish, and we don't even have a house to live in. Truly delightful, isn't it, Matilda?"
"Yes, Noein-sama."
Having advanced through the rough terrain of the forest and collapsed in a state of total exhaustion, Noein spoke to the devoted slave who brought a leather water skin to his lips.
It had not even been thirty minutes since they entered the forest. In terms of distance, he probably hadn't walked even one kilometer, but for Noein, who had spent his growth period hardly ever leaving the detached building of the Count's house, it was a grueling journey.
On the other hand, as a beastman, Matilda possessed innate physical strength, so a movement of this level did not tire her much.
"...Noein-sama, if you like, shall I carry you on my back?"
"Thank you, Matilda. But I'll walk on my own feet. This is my territory, after all."
Moving while being carried by a slave from the very first day he stepped into his own land would make him a failure as a lord.
It wasn't as if anyone other than Matilda was watching, but Noein stood up on his own feet again, fueled by such self-satisfying stubbornness.
.....
After that, they continued through the forest with the golems leading the way, and before long—at least faster than Noein reached his physical limit and collapsed—the party reached a river.
This river, flowing from the northwest to the southeast through the forest, was by no means large, but the volume of water was abundant enough to be used as a water source, and the water was clear.
"Noein-sama, shall we establish a base by this riverbank?"
"Being too close to the river is dangerous when it rains. Let's look for a place that seems easier to develop, further to the north than here."
"I see, a wonderful decision. As expected of Noein-sama."
While receiving the words of the slave who blindly affirmed whatever he said, Noein manipulated the golems to take a course to the north.
Then, he stopped his feet at a slight distance from the river. There was a place there that was slightly more open than others.
"This is good. Let's make this the first settlement of my Arqvist territory."
In the forest where there was only the lord himself, his slave, and the silent golems, Noein made that declaration.
.....
Though they had stepped into the forest in the morning and it was not yet noon, Noein's frail legs and lower back were already screaming.
In truth, he wanted to investigate the surroundings of this area, but it would likely be difficult to move any further today.
If that were the case, he had no choice but to do what he could while staying in this spot.
"Noein-sama. You must be tired, so I shall brew some tea."
"Ah, thank you. I'm sorry for resting so soon because of my lack of stamina, Matilda."
"There is no need for Noein-sama to apologize. I merely attend to your side."
Uttering words like a paragon of attendants, Matilda skillfully prepared to brew tea while shaking the rabbit ears growing from her head.
She transferred water from the leather skin into an iron pot and inserted a rod-like tool embedded with a blue-purple magic stone.
When the magic stone portion emitted a blue light... steam rose from the pot that had contained lukewarm water until a moment ago, and the sound of boiling water bubbling emerged.
Having boiled the water thus with a magic tool of "Fire Magic: Boiling," Matilda steeped tea leaves produced in the southern part of the kingdom, and once the aroma and color emerged, she poured the tea into two wooden cups.
"Please, Noein-sama."
"Thank you. It smells wonderful. The tea Matilda brews is always delicious."
"I am honored by your praise."
When Noein smiled with a gentle face he would never show to other humans, Matilda also showed a bashful expression she would never show to other humans.
The season was March. Since this was the northern side of the kingdom, the air was still a bit chilly.
Warming his body with the fragrant tea and healing a spirit exhausted by a movement that was quite grueling for his lack of stamina, Noein looked at the scenery before him.
Beside him sat Matilda with her own cup, and while looking at the same scenery as her master, she remained alert to the surroundings with her highly sensitive ears. This was the middle of a forest where monsters also existed.
The two golems removed tree branches and stones lying in the clearing Noein had designated as the settlement, pulled out prominent weeds, and flattened the uneven ground by treading on it.
By the time he finished drinking the tea and ended his break, a small but flat piece of land had been prepared.
"With this, there's enough room to spread a tent and create a small amount of cultivated land."
Next was the setup of the tent that would serve as their temporary dwelling.
Normally, this would be heavy labor requiring several people, but with the golems, there was no particular hardship.
They set the poles, assembled the frame, stretched the thick fabric, and a tent spacious enough for Noein and Matilda to sleep in with room to spare was completed.
.....
"A lord living in a tent. How interesting."
"Noein-sama is a wonderful person. This is merely the beginning. Eventually, this place will become a town, and Noein-sama will come to live in a splendid mansion."
"That's true. I have to make that happen as soon as possible... I'm putting you through a lot of hardship too, Matilda."
"Not at all. By Noein-sama's side is where I ought to be."
They exchanged such words while laying furs inside the completed tent and moving clothes and daily necessities from the baggage wagon to give it the appearance of a dwelling.
After finishing the transport of luggage, he strung threads across the surrounding trees and hung several iron rods from them.
By doing this, they could notice if monsters approached by the sound. With Matilda, who had good ears and was sensitive to presence, she would likely not miss hearing it.
"Now then, what shall I do starting tomorrow?"
There was far too little in this territory.
Create fields. Expand the flat land. Explore the surroundings. There were too many things to do.
When there are too many options for action, it can conversely make it hard to start.
"Well, whatever. First, recovering from today's fatigue is the priority. If I rest well, my head will clear."
The time was already nearly evening. Gnawing on bread and dried meat bought at the town of Viscount Koenitz's territory where they had departed this morning, and drinking tea brewed by Matilda once more, Noein entered the tent to fall asleep early.
"Come here, Matilda."
"Yes, Noein-sama."
Matilda was a domestic slave who took care of Noein's personal needs, a guard slave who protected Noein by utilizing her physical abilities, and a pet slave who healed Noein's body and heart.
Called by Noein in a gentle voice, Matilda's expression softened as she snuggled up beside him.