Chapter 35

35

Beep.

-Name: Montmort

-Age: 42

-Gender: Male

-Species: Human

-Title: The Volunteer Leader of Hines Manor, The Hines Manor Deputy Manager.

-Current condition: Extreme fatigue.

-Special comments:

A skilled swordsman.

Knight’s talent.

-Current psychology:

Confused.

Surprised.

Distrustful of the viewer.

Worried about the residents, who were kidnapped by goblins.

Worried about the increasingly drying manor.

He worries and worries.

He may only have learned an elementary education, but he has led this pitiful manor utilizing his years of experience.

He is qualified enough to be hired.

“On the way, I saw goblin traces. Is this to imply that the goblins entered the manor house?”

“Y-you are right.”

“Why was the defense broken?”

Even though there were many goblins, we had a fortress. So how did they break through? It was just a concern, not an attempt to criticize him. However, he seemed to grow awkward at my question for some reason.

“I am not criticizing you. We will solve the problems of this manor one by one in the future, based on your experiences and memories.

He was taken aback by my words. It was true for those newly named lords to assign vital roles to their loyal servants. Occasionally, there were cases like his, but, overall, it was common for those in his position to find themselves in a dangerous situation when the management changed.

“That...that is...the volunteers were tired and wounded as a result of the ongoing attack...”

“How bad is the damage?”

“Dozens of residential houses were burned. A lot of people were kidnapped...”

As he was muttering resentfully, I rubbed my chin.

“How are the manor’s internal affairs?”

The most important thing was this. I would have paid more attention to this if it hadn’t been for the goblin assaults rather than the reinforcement of the units. Any manors in jeopardy must be dealt with caution.

“That is, there is enough food to last until the end of the winter...to tell you the truth, this year’s farming was a failure...”

-Even if you don’t count all the repairs to the walls and the manor house and services, the wealth received from the royal palace will barely last two years.

Perserk grinned as soon as she realized which part I was looking for. Whoa, you have a beautiful smile. Is it possible for you to be my secretary?

As I said, they were upset, and I could hear them muttering in the crowd.

“I know there are some people who may want to find them right away. Or some people may be too scared and want to hide.”

The silence continued.

“But whatever it is, it doesn’t change the fact that they will continue to attack the manor if we leave it as it is.”

Everyone was silent at my calm voice. They looked full of disbelief, but no one opened their mouth easily. I was giving them a lot of pressure in the first place.

“Although I just arrived here, I don’t think the fact that I’m a lord has changed.”

“...”

“I don’t know you, but I have no intention of tolerating intruders entering my property. I don’t have the patience to wait for those who believe they can stick their swords in my manor and walk away with their limbs intact.”

At my words, they looked troubled. They knew. Even if they want to bring back their family and avenge them, they would be in danger if they pursued. It would be difficult to find them in the forest, which was like their front yard. Even goblins held an advantage on home ground.

“B...but dealing with them with our force is like...”

“Suicide!”

Of course, I could hear the volunteers’ shouts full of disbelief at me as they thought the same thing. There were young boys and old men who seemed to be in danger just holding their swords. The age group wasn’t consistent, which hinted at a lack of people.

“So, should we let them keep invading?”

At my words, they went silent. Then, they looked into each other’s eyes.

“We do understand what the Lord is trying to say...but we are the last volunteers left in this manor...if we die, who is going to protect the manor?”

“That is right! Goblins are very hostile to their enemies! If we fail, they will attack this place again!”

“I’m going with you. Don’t worry.”

At my words, their expressions dropped. Some of them gave me scoffing looks. Of course, it was normal to think of me as a prince who lacked experience, only believing in his young blood as he acts recklessly. They didn’t have to say anything since it was visible in their status windows that appeared in front of me. I sensed the reality when they looked at each other, muttering, ‘Now we’re all dead.’

The knights tried to stop their rude behavior right away, but I restrained them with my arm.

“I know what you are worried about, but I’d like to correct one thing.”

They, who were confused by my words, stared at me.

“I am not here as a prince but as the appointed Lord of Hines manor. And you guys are my residents, whether you like it or not. Now, we have become one family. Do you think I’ll let my family be killed?”

At my words, the crowd quieted once more.

“I swear with my Stigmata. Believe and follow me. I’ll make sure that no one dies and to eradicate them.”

If I had wanted to, I could have gone alone and gotten rid of them. But I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to see their determination and skills.

“Is it hard to believe me? If so, believe in God’s mark, the Stigmata that God gave me. If you still don’t believe me, follow me as if I were a lord oppressing you.”

Everyone was silent at my words. No matter how blinded from the outside world they were, it seemed that they had understood by this point that I was the prince with the Stigmata.

“My life is the most important thing to me. And yours is important too because your job is to protect me. Don’t ever think about dying without my permission.

The room was momentarily frozen when I unleashed an overwhelming fighting spirit. People tend to misunderstand the air that pressures the whole body as charisma. They looked surprised at my decisive voice.

* * *

The massive forest near the Hines manor was originally a quiet forest where only wild animals lived. It was the forest where the residents frequently came to hunt. Although a few orcs had been found in the past, they had little interest in humans. But what happened this time was that the goblins began to be discovered more frequently, and the situation had grown worse.

As a result, hunting in the forest became impossible.

“We’ve already tracked down the goblins’ home village.”

The eldest volunteer, Corris, spoke on behalf of the volunteer leader, Montmort, bowing his head to me.

“There are a lot of goblins if we travel across this ridge in front of us.”

It was exactly as he had said. A small village started to appear not far away as we moved silently.