Let’s Train in the Demon Forest! ⑧

“Where’s Lain nii-chan?”
“Over there, by the drawbridge. He’s placing his hand on the ground.”

Sui was the first to spot Lain from the observatory.
Seeing where she was pointing, Lain had indeed placed his hand on the ground next to the drawbridge, while having a stern expression.
He had made drawbridge after returning to the village yesterday, saying it’d be really bad if we were unable to escape from the village because of the moat.

He looked kinda cool with a serious face like that.

“Magic is, activating.”

*Rumble* *rumble* *rumble* *rumble* *rumble*

Right as Sui says that, A loud voice comes out from the ground, as it begins shaking.
It felt even more violent than when he built the house this morning.

Soon after, a stone wall emerges from the area where Lain had placed his hand.
The stone wall stretches along the boundary of the moat, and soon enough, a wall surrounding the village was made.

“…Awesome.”

I hear someone say that.
I also felt the same way.
How amazing of a magician must Lain be, to create a wall one would normally find in the Royal Capital, that too in an instant?

“O~oi! Lain nii-cha~an!”

When Reno waves at Lain while calling out to him, Lain waves back from atop the newly made wall.
The fact that he looked immediately towards the observatory, means that he knew we’d pick this place, after all.

“I have to learn more about magic…”

I muttered, while seeing Lain wave at us with a lighthearted smile.

***

After making the wall, I hear Reno’s voice which made me look towards the house. The 5 were up at the observatory, looking towards me.
I did say they could look from the window, but I didn’t expect them to go all the way up till the observatory to do that.
It wouldn’t be too far in the future when they could do the same, but I wonder if I should’ve made it more flashier.

Reno was waving her hand at me energetically, but I hadn’t received a noticeable reaction from the other four.

“…Well, I guess it’s fine.”

If they ask me to show them something grander, I can just ask them to study more magic first.
…I’ll add detection magic around the village, just in case they decide to sneak out to the forest, and train on their own.

I walked slowly on my way home, thinking about their future magic training.

***

“[Alicia]-sama, I bring you this year’s tax report.”
“Good work.”

I receive this year’s tax report from the head butler, and look through it.
It’s crucial to do this at least once every year.

The number of people who think “a Margravine would simply hand us back our money” are large enough to make one sick.
It’s not like I wanted to be Margravine either, but without any male siblings nor anyone capable enough around, I was made to succeed the title from my father, because of my talent in magic.

Geez, when will this country’s obsession magical-ability-first go away?
It’s not as if the people, or even my subordinates listen to me just because I’m good at magic.
Thing had calmed down now, but it was really annoying arguing with relatives and members of my family who were dissatisfied with my standing.

I was fortunately blessed with sons, and my eldest was also sufficiently gifted with magic, which meant that the next generation wouldn’t be as messy as mine.

I flip through the documents, and confirm there were no problems.

“Everything seems in order…That reminds me, how’s the pioneering village we left with Aria faring?”
“Eh? A pioneering village?”

The name of a pioneering village which had paid large amounts in tax this year, was written on top.
Though, since it’s still developing and doesn’t have a name, it’s simply called “pioneering village 1”.

That village was made originally by clearing a part of the Demon Forest, so I handed it to its current head, Aria, who’s also my niece.
The reason being that she was kicked out of her house due to her inability to use magic.

(I didn’t think that sister of mine who was also inept at magic, would do something like this to her own child)

Since it wasn’t my house, I didn’t have any bussiness butting in, but I could at least entrust a pioneering village to the girl who’d lost her home.
Even if the survival rates of such villages are low, the village-head is relatively more likely to survive.
With the exception of extreme cases, she should be fine.

“I shall look for the documents regarding it.”
“Please.”

With my one word, the head butler leaves the room.
Well, even I’d forgotten about it till I saw the tax report, so it’s no wonder he hadn’t prepared them in advance.

I put my lips on the slightly cooled teacup, while waiting for the head butler’s return.

“Lady Margravine! It’s a disaster!”
“! What’s wrong! Is a neighboring country invading?”

The head butler enters the room, with a panicked expression.

“No, that is not the case. I searched for information regarding the village you left under Lady Aria, but as it turn out, something unfortunate happened to it.”
“What!?”

I snatch the documents from his hands.

――――――――――
Pioneering village

Residents
Males: 0
Females: 5

This spring, 10 men and 10 women moved to the village…
――――――――――

The document contained an explanation of the village, but my thoughts stopped at the very first column regarding current residents.
Why were there no men?

The reason for that was written in the latter half.
Apparently, after they were attacked, the remaining men turned tail and ran from the village. They seemed to be requesting male residents, but it wasn’t going well.

Of course it wouldn’t.
This country is always at war, so men are a precious resource everywhere.

More importantly…

“It seems that an inspection tour is required of me.”
“I believe so too.”

In our country, primarily only men can possess land.
If no male residents move in, this village might be forced to dissolve.

Besides, 5 girls alone wouldn’t even be able to plant crops properly.

“It’s winter already so it’d be better to move before snow falls. Hurry up with the preparations.”
“Understood.”

I started preparing for the trip to my niece’s pioneering village.

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Last section was Aria’s aunt POV.

Margravine is the feminine version of Margrave, which is a title granted to those who protect border provinces.