Persuasion and Recruitment
“So… how about it? Why don’t you all become residents of our South territory? We’re opening up the Forest of Demons, so we’re recruiting settlers…”
The sudden offer left everyone confused.
“I don’t expect you to answer right away. But if you were released from here, what would you do? Go back home? That’s probably most of you, right? But listen, if you go back, the kingdom’s about to be dragged into wars with multiple countries. You got captured this time… what about next time? Think you’ll make it back alive?”
A restless murmur spread, voices popping up all over.
“No way there’s gonna be a war…”
“You’ve gotta be kidding…”
“What are we supposed to do…”
“I get that it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. And then what? You’ll go off to war again, all because the nobles say so? What about your families? The people you love? Think about it. Who actually benefits? What do you get out of it? Status, honor, a bit of money. Is that worth throwing your life away?”
The murmuring grew louder. People started arguing among themselves.
“What would your families want? Wouldn’t they rather you be safe and healthy than die in some noble’s war? And even if you get captured, those nobles just pay their way out and leave. They abandon you without a second thought. To them, you’re disposable. Just tools. You okay with that?”
Silence.
Complete silence.
The sound of someone sniffling echoed weirdly loud.
“… I’m not okay with it. We’re fighting to live too!!!!”
The middle-aged man who’d pleaded earlier stepped forward and shouted, and that set everything off.
“Yeah, damn right!”
“We’re not toys for nobles!”
“If it’s for my family, then…!”
“If it comes to it, I’d rather serve the young lord…!”
Anger. Grief. Despair.
Everyone felt it.
Even if they went back… could they even survive? What would happen to their families? The nobles wouldn’t guarantee anything. They’d be abandoned again, just like this time.
Everyone knew it.
“So what’ll it be? Stay free and keep getting used by nobles? Or come live here, as people of my territory? The choice is yours.”
“… Isn’t it really hard for commoners to move to another territory in the kingdom?”
A somewhat intellectual-looking young guy asked.
“Normally, yeah. But this time, I’ve got the king’s approval. You’re free to move within the kingdom. So take your time, think it through, and choose. And if you decide to become residents here, we’ll take care of you first.
That said… the Forest of Demons is nearby. You’ll have to train to fight monsters. Of course, we’ll help. Safety comes first.”
“What about our families? Can we live together?”
“We’ll send escorts, so you can bring them over. Invite friends, neighbors too. We’ll even prepare farmland.”
“I’m moving here.”
“If my family can come too…”
“I’m done being used by nobles…”
“If there’s support…”
“And one more thing… all the costs for your relocation and support? Covered entirely by the ransom money we… collected from the nobles. Think about it, they ended up paying to help their own people leave their lands. Now that’s a satisfying bit of revenge, huh? Chances like this, where you get to decide for yourselves, they don’t come often.”
If that doesn’t sway them… well, nothing will. But unless something really unusual happens, they’ll choose us.
“Dante, Dadan, got a minute? I want you to handle escort duty for the prisoners.”
“Of course, my lord.”
“Heh, sure thing. If it’s your request, Boss.”
“Thanks. Dante, you take Unit 5’s combat maids and handle care for those relocating to the South territory. Dadan, if there’s a fight, go wild. But Dante decides whether to engage. Priority is the migrants’ safety. You’ll take Unit 4 and handle protection. Anyone who interferes, even nobles, you’re free to knock them flat.”
“Understood!!”
Dante gave a graceful bow and left.
“Gahaha! Hope there’s someone strong out there.”
Dadan stomped off, the ground shaking beneath him.
I wonder… are they starting to realize they’re being cornered? The moment they invaded the South territory, they stepped right into a swamp of their own making.
Sure, each individual commoner might be weak.
But nobles only get to be nobles because those people exist. Take them away… and what are they?
Whether they’ve treated their people well, or like trash… that judgment’s now in the hands of the people themselves.
This was the trap I set for the kingdom. Even the reconciliation terms after my exile were part of it, all to prepare for developing the Forest of Demons.
The kingdom had been draining everything from the lands around the South territory. Population, resources, everything was worn thin.
So yeah… time to take it all back.
And the best part? The kingdom paid for the whole thing.
So far, everything’s going according to plan.
Now then… time to send off the ones heading to the battlefield in the Albul Kingdom.
Princess Flora would be returning to her country ahead of everyone else to prepare.
Can’t be helped, it’s her homeland.
“Julius… it saddens me that we must part again so soon. So please… indulge me this one selfish request. Hold me tightly. Just for a moment… so this loneliness fades, even a little…”
I gently stroked her beautiful jade-colored hair, brushed her bangs aside with my fingers, then traced her cheek.
“Don’t push yourself too hard. We’ll see each other again soon.”
I pulled her close.
That soft, sweet scent unique to her filled my nose… and I held her just a little tighter.
As if to make sure we wouldn’t forget each other’s warmth, even for a second… gently, but firmly…
What do you think about this chapter?
