Reinhard interlocked his fingers together and rested his chin on top of it.

“Sooner or later, the humans and the elves would come here, seeking to gain hold of the branch with their armies in tow. When that happens, do you think we can protect ourselves? Sir Velram, as the head of the department of defense, what are your thoughts on this?”

“Uh, well, if they bring their armies with them, at our current state we’d have no chance against them, my Lord.”

“That is correct. So, as someone who’s been on battle before, how do you deal with their armies?”

“You send your own armies to fight them, my Lord.”

“Once again, that is correct. However, Garden is but a mere village. Our forces comprising of only 18 knights, and while many of the dryads might be able to fight, in the end, it’s still inconsequential. That is why, if we want to fend off for ourselves, we need an army. And to have and sustain an army, we need to expand Garden.”

“That is reasonable, chief, but where are we going to get the population? We can’t just go to the kingdom or to the alliance inviting random citizens there to live with us…”

Phyllos suddenly commented.

“A very observant question, Phyllos. I’m glad I appointed you that role. Now, answer me, how many creatures are there in the whole Forest of Sok?”

Everyone stiffened as they had just realized what Reinhard’s plan is.

“T-there’s too many to count… chief… But, incorporating the locals into our village is easier said than done! There’s just too much conflict between species, not to mention if they would even accept you to rule over them!”

Phyllos retorted instantly.

“Oh, then have you not seen the fire basilisk sleeping atop of my house outside?”

Suddenly, Fraenis slammed her hands on the table while standing up.

“No! You promised me that you won’t risk yourself again! You’re planning on fighting every single creature in the forest?”

She said. No, she shouted, uncaring about the other people present who were shocked by her sudden outburst.

“Relax… Easy, I promised you I’m not risking my life again and I intend to keep that. There are other ways to get them to our side… What I’m saying is that if push comes to shove, I can always attempt to [Subjugate] them as I did with Ddraig. And even that isn’t foolproof as they can just run away to escape.”

Fraenis, realizing her sudden outburst, began calming down as she slowly sits back on the chair in embarrassment.

*Ping!*

[SYSTEM]

[Charismatic 3] leveled up to [Charismatic 4]

“First, I’ll attempt to talk to the creatures that can be reasoned with. I will leave to talk to the sylphs later as we pretty much have the same goal which is to protect the forest. In the meantime, I’d like a list of every creature that you think we can convince, Phyllos. I’m not familiar with the forest’s inhabitants yet.”

“I’ll see to it.”

“Also, how big is the space within the barrier?”

“As big as the village itself.”

“Can it be expanded?”

“Currently not. Only Tylla may be able to do it, but even then it’s not for sure.”

“So we would have to build outside the barrier…”

The village, and subsequently the barrier, is big enough to house around 70-100 individuals in the available space. The village itself is relatively huge, but about half of the area is the farm that grow “softrocks”, a fast-growing vegetable that develops beneath the soil at the roots of its leaves. When dug out, it looks like brown rocks entangled within the roots of the plant. Reinhard once decided to look at the harvesting of it and concluded that they’re basically potatoes, only the average size is bigger and the leaves of the plant are sharper. This softrock is the staple food of the village and contains most of the nourishments that the dryads get. The knights also have no problems eating it, which showed Reinhard that this plant is a common food not just in Garden.

“Maybe we could move the farmland outside and free half of the village’s area for construction…”

“…”

“Metha, how rich is the soil outside the barrier compared to our farmland?”

“The same.” She says. “The soil of the entire forest is the richest in all of Drasil.”

“Hmm, then, what do you think of moving the farmland outside the barrier and using the would-be freed space inside the barrier for buildings?”

“It would take time, not to mention we would need to cut a lot of trees for the space, but it’s possible.”

“Then I would like you to start preparing it as soon as possible. Lem, please help with the cutting of the trees.”

“Sure thing. Most of the village has been repaired already anyway.”

“Also, Metha, do you know where we can get wheat?”

Metha tilted her head.

“Wit? Wiht? I’m sorry Chief, but I don’t know what that is.”

Metha replied, seemingly under intense confusion.

“Oh. I see…”

Reinhard then began to explain to them, to the best of his abilities and knowledge from the previous world, what wheat is.

“My Lord, that sounds a lot like noblegrass. Back in the kingdom, we use them to make bread.”

Reinhard was extremely delighted to hear Sir Velram’s reply, even notifying him that it could be turned into bread, which was what he planned to do to it.

“Ooooh! Then how can we procure seeds for it?”

He asked joyfully.

“Well it’s going to be hard. As the name implies, noblegrass seeds can only be afforded by nobles, which is why only farms owned by nobility plants them and only the nobility enjoys the bread. Even though noblegrass grows and yields significantly faster than softrocks, those greedy nobles seem to have an unspoken rule not to share it.”

“Then what do the common people normally eat?”

“Steamed softrock and porridge, my Lord. Sometimes meat if they managed to hunt in the wilds.”

Garden does not use any form of currency. Due to its small size and disconnection with the other nations, the main form of trade between the villagers is through barter, but most of the time through their connections and friendship.

“So we’re going to need money after all…”

Suddenly, an imaginary light bulb lit up on top of Reinhard’s head.

“Phyllos, how many unusable armor and weapons did we collect from the attack?”

“Hm, not much, Chief. About 26 armor, helmet, chest plate and greaves included, were heavily dented and pierced beyond repair, and about 7 swords showed signs of massive chipping and jagged edges.”

“And how much would those hunks of metal cost if we sell them to merchants?”

“That, I unfortunately do not know.”

Phyllos replied sighing. Reinhard looked at Sir Velram who he thought might know about these things, but he shrugged his shoulders, saying that he doesn’t know either.

After a long pause that what felt like ages, Reinhard exhaled heavily, making up his mind.

“I’m postponing going to the sylph for now. Instead, I’d be travelling to the Kingdom of Belm with those unusable armors and weapons and attempt to sell them, where I’ll use the money I got to buy some noblegrass seeds.”

Almost everyone immediately sprang into action to protest the idea. The only one who remained seated and calm was Sir Velram, who was waiting for his Lord’s next words.

“Chief. I know that you said I should only advice you when you asked for it, but I must say right now, that is not a good idea.”

Phyllos said, not believing that those words just left Reinhard’s mouth.

“Now, now. I know what you’re all thinking, don’t worry. I’ll be going to the kingdom under the guise of an adventurer. Surely, an adventurer who emerged from the forest isn’t all that suspicious, is it?”

“No, my Lord. Adventurers would often, and foolishly enough, enter the forest seeking for lost treasures only to come back half dead, or get forgotten by time as they lay rest within the trees or eaten by the local wildlife. Of course, if one sticks to the borders, it’s more than possible to come out unscathed.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll go to the kingdom, disguising myself as an adventurer and sell those metals that I ‘found’ in the forest. Sounds good to me.”

“Take me with you then!”

Fraenis said, accepting defeat.

“I’m afraid that’s only going to cause problems, Ms. Fraenis. If they found out a dryad is in the kingdom, who knows what will happen to you… or worse, what will happen to Lord Reinhard?”

Sir Velram said as calmly and reasonable as he can.

“Trust me, I’d like to accompany my Lord as well, but an adventurer being followed by a knight would only arouse further suspicions. Furthermore, our faces are known throughout the kingdom by now as those who died at the forest expedition.”

Everyone was silent. Some may be thinking about how to convince him not to go after all, and some had just accepted it and waited what happens next.

After a long, grueling silence and looking at each other, Reinhard pierced the atmosphere of awkwardness by clapping once.

“I’ll be careful if that’s what you all’re worrying about. Anyway, if I remember correctly, there are some questions that are to be raised? You first, Metha.”

Metha jumped up at the mention of her name, then proceeded to collect herself and ask her questions.

“Right. So, as head of these ‘deparments’, we have the freedom to do whatever we want in that specific field? For example, if I want the farms to abandon planting softrocks and plant silkleaves instead, I can do so?”

“Yes, but you would need to notify me about every move that you make as ‘reports’.”

“I see. I understand.”

She nodded.

“Then, Sir Velram, do you have any questions?”

“Yes, my Lord. You said earlier that it falls unto us to solve minor problems that do not need your attention, and only seek for you when the problem is big enough, yes? Then how exactly do we determine that a problem that arises is small enough to put into our own hands?”

“Ah, yes. Part of determining that falls to you as department heads. If you think you can solve a situation by yourselves, then do so. However, as I said earlier, every single move you make must be reported to me. These reports will be submitted to Phyllos, who will then arrange it on the degree of urgency. This is also the same process when submitting problems.”

“Thank you, my Lord.”

Sir Velram said upon having his question answered.

“Anything else?”

"..."

“Chief Reinhard…”

Lem said after seeing that no one has questions to raise.

“Yes, Lem?”

“What of our usual jobs?”

Reinhard was surprised that the question he thought would be asked first was instead asked this late into the discussion.

“Nothing will change of your usual jobs. At least, not right now when the village is still small. You will still continue to go about your daily routines, in fact, I encourage you to do so. But when a problem arises that concerns your department, you will deal with it in absolute priority. Think of it like this, you four will become the “village chiefs” of the village, but only concerning those under your department. Does that sound clear?”

Lem thought for a while, looking into the air before speaking again.

“Okay, I understand now.”

“Hmm, mmm. By the way, I would like a bulletin board to be erected in front of my house so we can post the news there and anything important that the people should know about.”

“Also, I’d have to learn the dryad writing too.”

After the meeting has finished, the four that was previously called gave their respects and went outside. Reinhard and Fraenis on the other hand began to eat. He offered the other four before they left but they all said they’ve already eaten, so only Reinhard and Fraenis remained to eat. After that, Reinhard left the house to get some fresh air. He looked up, hoping to see what Ddraig was doing only to find out that he was gone.

“Huh? Where’s Ddraig?”

He asked Fraenis.

“I-I’m not sure… He was here when we entered…”

Suddenly, the dryad that was living nearest to Reinhard approached him.

“He left earlier, Chief. It scared everyone that he passed by!”

“Left? Where did he go?”

“I don’t know, he just went outside the barrier…”

“I see, thank you.”

Hearing this, Reinhard immediately hurried outside the barrier. There, he saw Ddraig, clutching in his fangs two burnt bodies of what looks like wargs.

“T-that’s your basilisk isn’t it, my Lord?”

One knight said with a trembling voice. It took great self-control in his part not to immediately charge at it with his sword.

“Ah, yeah, he is.”

Ddraig slithered closer as he sees Reinhard and Fraenis emerging out of the barrier. He dropped the two burnt wargs to the ground, in front of Reinhard’s feet.

*Hissss*

“What? Ah, no, I just ate earlier… You can have them.”

*Hisssssss*

Ddraig then hastily swallowed the wargs whole, one at a time, much to the discomfort of the knights.