Among the new settlers like Edgar, there were families, and even couples who used this migration as an opportunity to tie the knot. In the end, including those who were single, 24 people ended up forming 11 households.
At present, Noein and Edgar, the representative of the new settlers, were in the middle of discussing who would receive which part of the land.
“This land is mine… this is my land…”
“To think I could own farmland again…”
With each allocation of land, the new settlers expressed their gratitude as though they were on the verge of tears. Some were actually crying.
“It seems you’ve already won over the hearts of the new settlers, Noein-sama.”
Standing a little distance behind Noein, Yuri spoke to Mathilda, who also followed Noein closely.
“Everyone is truly grateful for the kindness Noein-sama has shown in accepting them. It’s only natural.”
At first, Mathilda hardly spoke to Yuri and the others, but lately, she had been responding when spoken to, and sometimes even initiated casual conversations. It seemed she was making an effort to build harmonious relationships with people other than Noein.
“Well, it’s not surprising. Being given land in addition to permission to live here is no small matter.”
“Isn’t it normal to give land to settlers?”
Mathilda tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled. Having been enslaved as a child and raised without much knowledge of society, she didn’t understand.
“No… it’s not normal at all. For people like us and these refugees, being given properly cultivated land is an incredibly generous gift.”
For Noein, who had his own territory, used golems to easily clear forests, and effortlessly plowed the land, it might seem like just a piece of ground. But for ordinary people, that piece of land was a huge asset.
That’s because, in most cases, land is something one’s ancestors worked hard to cultivate out of nature or purchased with a large sum of money.
To be given such land, especially land suitable for farming, and in a cultivated state no less, was an unimaginable blessing for these refugees, who previously had no place to call home.
Even Yuri himself had been dumbfounded when Noein told him, “This farmland is yours.”
People who had never left their villages before, only to be driven from their homes, wandering through an unknown world in fear and uncertainty, could only imagine the gratitude they would feel when suddenly told, “This land is yours from today.”
For those who had become refugees, even being accepted as tenant farmers or simple laborers in some village or town would be a relief. But to be given a perfect piece of farmland as their own?
This was beyond loyalty. They were likely to feel something akin to reverence toward Noein. The words “I’ll give you land” were like a potent elixir that would seize the hearts of these refugees.
Yuri explained this to Mathilda.
“I see… So that’s how it is.”
“That’s how it is.”
Yuri responded to the now-convinced Mathilda.
“And more than that, by being given land rather than developing it themselves, both I and they will never be able to stand up to Noein-sama again. I didn’t realize it at first, and I doubt they have either. I don’t know if Noein-sama is doing this unconsciously or if it’s all part of his plan, but…”
“…I believe Noein-sama is fully aware of this and is giving them land with that in mind. He has a strong desire to earn the love of his people.”
Mathilda recalled the way Noein had confidently stated the previous day, “Once they come to the settlement, they won’t even think about rebelling.”
He must have known this outcome when he accepted the refugees. Perhaps, even before they arrived, when he was clearing the forest to create more land, he had already anticipated this result. Maybe from the very beginning, everything had been calculated.
As she thought about this, a shiver ran down her spine.
“In order to love his people, he’s first creating a situation where they have no choice but to love him back. That’s such a Noein-sama-like, shrewd way of thinking… Hey?”
Yuri, turning to look at Mathilda, was startled.
The usually composed Mathilda was gazing at Noein with a blissful, almost lovestruck expression, like a maiden in love.
“…What’s wrong with you?”
“From the moment Noein-sama and I entered the Great Bezel Forest together, I think he’s been calculating everything up to this point. When I realize just how far ahead Noein-sama’s plans go, I’m overwhelmed by admiration for his brilliance.”
Yuri was completely baffled by how she could be moved to tears by such a conversation.
They had been discussing the clever and somewhat ruthless way Noein was winning the loyalty of the settlers, not praising him as some kind of saint.
“You really love Noein-sama, don’t you?”
“Yes, I’ve devoted both my body and soul entirely to him.”
“Yeah, I can tell.”
