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Vol 01 Chapter 27-1: Iarl

 

「Sigh…」

Something troublesome happened. Currently, the situation in the village is extremely volatile.

Essentially, there’s a conflict between the refugees and us, the original inhabitants.

However, it’s not like our relationship has completely soured. One could even say that we have managed to establish a good relationship. The children among the refugees and our younger members often play together. the complexities that adults burden themselves with are of no concern for them. Moreover, although it’s complicated, there are also children who have siblings in the other group.

The children get along well with each other. Now, as for our relationship with the adult refugees, it’s partly good and partly tense.

Lately, it has been discovered that thanks to my blessing, the people of our village have exceptionally high physical abilities. We also practice swordsmanship regularly, so we’re pretty strong.

The refugees, seeing this, began to show signs of fearing us.

Although they’re afraid of us, they seem to be aware that they’re being supported by us and are trying to build a good relationship with us. Of course, I want to build one too. That’s why we regularly hold drinking parties. Communication through drinking.

As I thought, alcohol seems to be a fairly effective communication lubricant, allowing us to talk in a somewhat relaxed atmosphere. We also conduct military training together. This is in preparation for when King Ferme attacks, so we can fight together. The refugees understand very well that if we lose to King Ferme, it won’t end well for them. After all, they fled from King Ferme’s territory.

At best, they’ll all become slaves; more realistically, they’ll be killed.

That’s why the refugees are earnestly participating in the training. Their lives are at stake, so it’s only natural. Seeing them train diligently also improves our impression of them. A sense of camaraderie is starting to blossom.

Ron specializes in spears, Roswald in swords, and Gram in bows, so they are teaching the refugees their respective specialties. However, swords and bows are rather difficult to handle, so it seems that spears will become the main weapon.

As expected, having a common enemy is beneficial for coexistence. I should thank King Ferme. Well, it’s his fault we ended up in this situation, to begin with, so maybe not.

Now, onto the more troublesome part… the source of discord with the refugees. One of the issues is that part of the refugees don’t like me, a kid, being their leader. However, after I instantly killed a bear that attacked the village with a thrown spear, they stopped complaining.

Additionally, Ron, Roswald, and Gram have been flaunting their skills, effectively silencing those who previously criticized us. Iarl has also been talking to his fellow refugees, so this hasn’t become much of an issue in the end.

Well, they were already a minority in the first place.

The second issue is the biggest problem: the group that wants to reconcile with the children they abandoned.

Aside from Lulu, there are three other kids in the same situation. The parents seem desperate to reconcile with their children, continuously trying to approach them only to be rejected.

I was surprised when Lulu splashed her parents with wine during one of the feasts. That incident left everyone speechless for about an hour. So, I had no choice but to order the four families involved not to try to contact them unless I gave my approval.

But they seemed desperate to reconcile, so…

◇

「I ordered you not to approach them, didn’t I? Why did you violate my order?」

I looked down at the man and woman prostrating before me.

They’re Lulu’s parents.

They apparently wanted to reconcile with Lulu so badly that they secretly left the refugee settlement to meet her. But being able to meet her doesn’t mean they would be able to reconcile. When the two of them met Lulu, she got furious, began to throw stones at them, and even sicced her hawk on them. Even with all that, they still tried to approach her, so Lulu started crying. At that moment Gram, lost his patience and punched them both, knocking them out, and brought them before me. That’s the situation now.

Lulu, with her trauma rekindled, is crying while being consoled by Soyon and Tetra.

I am a person. As such, I inevitably prioritize certain people over others. The people I cherish the most are Tetra and Julia. The second most are the kids who are close to my age and assist me, like Ron and Lulu, followed by the other children of the village. Then there’s Roswald’s sweetheart, Lia. These are the people who are important to me.

I often discuss matters with Iarl, who has been doing a great job organizing the refugees, so we’re quite close. He’s almost on the verge of becoming one of the important people to me. Then there are the slaves who work hard for us. They have served me well, and I consider them as quasi-important people. Next comes King Rosais, with whom I have a decent relationship… though my fondness for him has decreased recently since he tricked me. Then there’s Ainz-san, the merchant from Kirisia. My fondness for him has increased a bit since he gave me a discount on the weapons.

And lastly, the refugees.

The refugees, who are at the bottom of my priority list, have made Lulu, who is much higher up, cry, so my feelings are anything but calm. Honestly, I feel like hitting them.

Well, it’s okay since Gram has already done that.

「Do you have any excuses?」

I asked again, and the two of them pleaded as if clinging to a last hope.

「Please! Could you possibly mediate for us?」

Sigh… It seems they haven’t reflected at all. What should I do?

At the very least, since they’ve ignored my orders, they must be punished accordingly, this is something necessary for the future. But our village doesn’t have any laws. After all, until now, it’s been just the children living here. However, if I directly impose a punishment, it could cause tension among the refugees.

What to do…

「You reawakened Lulu’s trauma. She doesn’t even want to see your faces. Just seeing you hurts Lulu. Don’t you understand something so simple?」

「But we…」

「The reason doesn’t matter!! You abandoned Lulu. That fact hasn’t changed. And Lulu hates you. That hasn’t changed either. Give up!!」

I ended up yelling.

Just as I raised my voice, Iarl entered the room. Iarl quietly approached, grabbed the two by their collars, and punched them.

「Hey!! Why did you disobey Almus-sama’s orders!! Do you even realize what you’ve done?」

「But Ia…」

Iarl’s fist struck their cheek again. Then, while holding down the two’s heads, Iarl also prostrated himself.

「I am terribly sorry. I have administered their punishment. Please… could you find it in your heart to forgive them?」

「…If the same thing happens again, they’ll be expelled. Got it?」

I said this and left the room. My opinion of Iarl has risen. I should promote him to an important person for me.

◇

「Hey, Iarl. Actually, there’s something I want to ask of you.」

「What is it?」

Tetra and I walked over to where Iarl was.

「You’ve been chief since your village was under Ragou-sama’s rule, right?」

「No, my father was the village chief at that time.」

「Is that so? Well, either way, it doesn’t matter. Do you know anyone who still pledges loyalty to Ragou-sama?」

「Most of the influential patricians were executed… but there are quite a few people of lesser status remaining.」

「Could you get in touch with those people for me? Ask them if they would be willing to cooperate with us in case of an emergency.」

「Hmm, I’ll say what I can… but you shouldn’t get your hopes up. I doubt they believe we have any chance of winning.」

「It doesn’t matter. If their loyalty to Ragou-sama is genuine, their hatred towards King Ferme is certain, and their character is trustworthy, then…」

I whispered to Iarl.

「Reveal to them that Tetra is Ragou-sama’s daughter.」

Iarl’s eyes widened in shock.

「Listen, including you, only six people know this. Don’t leak it. If you do… you know what will happen, right?」

「Of course. We have been helped by you, and we would never repay that kindness with betrayal. But… is it really true?」

Well, it’s understandable that he wouldn’t believe it. He hardly knows anything about Tetra. Wait? Speaking of which, I haven’t seen any concrete evidence myself.

「Hey, Tetra. Can you show me the sacred words in your waist?」

「Understood.」

Saying that, Tetra turned around and lifted her clothes slightly. There, on her waist, was the family crest and the sacred words meaning “Wisdom” engraved.

「It’s definitely the crest of the Aris family… there’s no mistake…」

Iarl looked closely at Tetra’s family crest.

Don’t stare too much at my wife’s waist!

「I’m sorry. Then, I’ll do as you asked.」

「I’m counting on you. Don’t push yourself too hard. It would be troublesome if you died.」

After all, he’s the only one who can oversee the new residents.

「Also, just in case, write a will before you go, nominate your successor as well.」

「I can’t write in Kirisian, you know?」

「Either Tetra or I will write it for you.」