CH 159

[A New Beginning]

It’s been a month since Vigo forced me to make the last choice.

I’m still in the vicinity of the Abyss Hole.

As for why, it’s because I have to look after the youngsters who have just started a new life here in the Kingdom of Hartford.

Anotherworlders who have come crossing the dimension from another, collapsing and perishing, world.

Only the King, Lloyd, and also a part of the Frontier Count family know about them.

As for the general public, it was told to them that they were an ethnic group who had crossed over the high mountains in the depths of the Demon Forest after being exiled from their homeland.

The King and Lloyd also made the conclusion that if the truth was told to the people, it would stimulate the emotions of those who were victims of the tragedy and could trigger a war, therefore they came up with that story.

“Frick-sama, this place has finally become similar to a real village, hasn’t it? To think we have made this much progress in only a month…” (Noelia)

“Yeah, it seems that Vigo and his lot were planning to have them settle in this place after the migration from the very beginning. Thanks to them, the living infrastructure could be quickly laid.” (Frick)

Noelia, next to me, squints and stares ahead at the white-walled cabins built around the Abyss Hole.

The building materials to create the cabins, which are standing close together, were manufactured by Vigo at his base in the crystal mine and stored in the storage that was built at the bottom of the facility in the Abyss Hole.

Thanks to the cabins being able to be assembled very easily like pitching up a tent, the 6,000 youngsters can spend their days safely without having to be afraid of rain or monster attack.

The water necessary for daily life is already covered, too. There is something built in the underground facility that can store rainwater that falls incessantly in the Demon Forest; it can collect drinking water enough to last them for a long time even if rain doesn’t fall for several days.

Also, portable food that can be stored for a long time with unknown processing technology is piled up in the underground storage; even just a rough calculation shows that the amount is enough to feed 6,000 people for several years.

To briefly explain the facts, a self-sustaining village with a population of 6,000 people has suddenly formed within a month at the Abyss Hole, which is located in the deepest part of the Demon Forest.

“They sure have amazing technologies.” (Frick)

“They are certainly amazing. The world they were in may have a civilization that surpassed the magic civilization. However, they are citizens of the kingdom from now onwards. So that their overly heterogeneous culture doesn’t create conflict with the other citizens, I think that Frick-sama and us have to do well in mediating.” (Noelia)

“Yeah, that’s right.” (Frick)

After Vigo’s death, based on the information entrusted to the people who have crossed over, we went down to the underground facility again to get the necessary supplies, but the remains of the Abyss Walkers we defeated and the corpses of the white-robed people had gone without a trace as though they had melted.

Of course, Vigo’s corpse had been erased without a trace as well, and so did the remains of the people who were half-transformed into Abyss Walkers.

Maybe Vigo and his lot utilized such poisons and contrivances with that purpose in mind.

So that the people who crossed over didn’t find out that I had killed Vigo, and so that they didn’t find out what Vigo and his lot had done.

“Honestly, even though the living infrastructure has been set up, I have no idea how to go about leading them here in the territory of the Abyss Hole. Powerful monsters roam about the area, after all.” (Frick)

“I have no clue regarding that, either. However, Father wants me to manage the land properly with Frick-sama…” (Noelia)

After we reported the matter to Lloyd, right there on the spot, he granted me the land around the Abyss Hole, and at the same time, conferred me the title of Viscount Feladd, making me a nobleman.

Although the investiture was in the sense of nominating me as the successor to Frontier Count Lloyd, the announcement to the people of the territory has been postponed because we have yet to hold a formal engagement.

“To think I’d end up getting Noelia involved, I’m sorry.” (Frick)

“Please don’t be. I have decided to support Frick-sama with my all, so you have no need to be reserved.” (Noelia)

“Thank you for saying that. Being told to be a noble out of the blue really threw me off guard. I’m just an adventurer who is an orphan, after all.” (Frick)

Regarding our birth, everyone who heard Vigo’s revelation kept silent about it, and I heard from Cinzia that she had told the truth to Lloyd and Cassandra.

Created human beings.

Even now, I feel like I heard Vigo’s voice and get woken up every time I sleep at night.

The truth regarding my birth can’t be changed, so I know I shouldn’t worry about it, but the thought inadvertently surfaces from the bottom of my heart at times.

However, since everyone is by my side, I manage to confine them.

On the other hand, Noelia, too, is desperately trying to come to grips with what her mother had done to her, and every day, every morning and evening, she closes her eyes in prayer like she is talking together with her mother at her mother’s grave that was built near the remains of the campground that is not far from here.

For the three of us, the secret of our birth remains as a not-so-shallow wound, but each of us is trying our best to come to grips with the wound.

“Ah, it looks like Al-san and the others are back from patrolling the surroundings. I can see a Dragon Newt’s tail from the back of the wagon. I’ll go ask if we can have it for dinner tonight.” (Noelia)

When Noelia spots Al and others who had been out to exterminate the monsters in the area, she runs up to their wagon.

Al is also experiencing agony from finding out the truth of her birth, but she, too, continues to make effort to come to grips with the wound with the help of the friends she can trust.

I feel a little lonely seeing Alfine, whom I had always looked after as a child, fighting against the wound by herself without needing my help, but more than that, I’m very happy to see the growth of her, whom I was closer with than a real sibling.

Back then, I was also depending and too overprotective of her, who behaved like a spoiled child toward me.

As a result, various things happened between us, but I want to think of it as a ritual necessary for us to grow up into adults.

So I think as I watch Al smiling in response to the children and Noelia who have come gathering around her.

“Frick, can you spare me a few moments?” (Cinzia)

Just then, Cinzia in her armor form calls out to me.

“Of course, but what’s wrong?” (Frick)

“Umm, err, you see. I, will be staying here permanently. I’d like to look after those children. It’s pretty dangerous around here, so they need someone to protect them, right?” (Cinzia)

“It’ll be very helpful if Cinzia-sama stays here, but… are you sure?” (Frick)

“It’s a master’s duty to help their disciples. Besides, I want to bury Danton, Philia, and Linus-shishou alongside Florina’s grave. I’m planning to slowly rot away here while guarding their graves.” (Cinzia)

I heard from Noelia that Cinzia was nominated to be the director of the Magic Research Institute, which is in the middle of reconstruction, but she declined.

The reason she declined it must be from the guilt she felt from having created us.

It’s not like we can tell her not to mind it, either.

It’s better to let her does as she likes.

“Alright. Then, I will have Cinzia-sama work harder as the guardian of the village. There’s a mountain of work to do, after all; please don’t think you’d have a spare time.” (Frick)

I say with as cheerful voice as I can make to motivate Cinzia.

I think she’d end up starting to think pessimistically if she has time to brood over things, so though I feel bad, I’m going to make her work for the village so hard that she doesn’t even have time to play.

“……Thank you. That would be great.” (Cinzia)

Having said that, Cinzia walks to the open space where young children gather.