Let’s list the problems of Nemer’s current situation.

One, the influx of population is an unexpected event. Nemer didn’t prepare anything enough to accommodate the population.

Second, there is no constant food supply. The people might be good for a while, but soon hunger might become Nemeran’s downfall.

Third, the infrastructure is shoddy and low grade, courtesy of Nemer’s not engineer followers. At least it’s currently fixed by a newcomer architect, and is currently taking the lead in construction.

Fourth, the crazy woman is going to come here in less than a month and might terrorize everything he had worked for. There is no other information about her other than she is crazy and that she obsesses over chaos, both not a good thing to have.

Last, he still hasn’t made an arc to counter her.

“Curses…”

Nemer has been mumbling to himself for the past few minutes trying to think of ways to cure these problems as fast and efficient as possible.

“Uhmm… god Nemer?”

Nemer snapped out of it. Beside him is the architect that is currently taking the lead for Nemeran’s reconstruction and any constructions in the future. He was an experience architect, his wrinkled face and godly beard gives proof of it. He had blue irises, and roughed face features. He wore a plain long sleeved shirt, and brown belted pants, with matching brown shoes.

“You were mumbling for a while there, god Nemer.”

“Ah, don’t mind me Ben.”

“Alright. So, as I was saying…”

Ben was explaining things to Nemer regarding the plans about the houses. He thinks that the foundations are good, but he can’t say the same to the overall appearance and integrity of each of the buildings. He pointed out that they were built in a rush, and constructing things like this will cause all sorts of problems to surface in the long run, or short if it’s really low grade.

Of course, he’s not here to just poke at the mistakes of the buildings. Ben told Nemer that the reconstruction shouldn’t take more than a week with how fast some of the workers are - referring to Harle’s men and Barnon’s kobolds - so time shouldn’t be a problem. What they have to worry is that in order to complete the plan, they need to have some construction materials not found in Nemeran. Supplies for those are finite and can only make up to a few houses at best.

As for Nemer’s request, which involved in creating a farm, they would have to get a huge land of the forest to be cleared of trees and be used for agriculture. Fortunately for the people, the soil here is fertile to allow multitudes of plants to grow without any problems, and there is little monsters that live here. Before they do that though, they have to finish residential constructions first and deal with gathering and hunting first before they could make a farm for the village needs. If they start to make the farm, it would take them between three to seven days to completely condition the soil for agricultural use.

“That’s it, god Nemer.”

“So what I need to do now is to do something about the construction materials?”

“Yes.”

“Got it. Anything else I should worry about?”

“Not in the construction department, no.”

“Alright, I’ll be checking with the others.”

Nemer floated away while Ben waved goodbye at the wrong direction.

Nemer flew over the village of Nemeran, looking down at the busy village. Two hundred fifty plus of people are currently going about on the ground, doing what they needed to do. He saw a man tend to his pigs that were making quite a fuss. He saw children playing outside their homes. There were a lot of things currently happening, but even though he is a god, Nemer couldn’t think how can any god look out for this much people, much less than millions.

Despite the feeling of heavy burden of responsibilities, he accepted it. He accepted that he is a god now, and he must do what a god must do. He really cannot do anything about it, and even if he can, he will still feel obligation for his position. Things are the way it is right now and the only way forward is to accept and move on.

Inside a building, Nemer found himself inside the room of a man wearing clothes of a noble who was currently sitting on a box in front of a wooden table with papers neatly ordered on it. The man seemed to be in distress seeing how he is leaning to his hand and he had the face of a person that you would call under an immense stress. He had long hair tied in a low ponytail with stray strands of hair everywhere. His eyes had brown irises and visible bags under them, and his face looked like he was around 30s with sharp features. He covered his face with both of his hand, then grabbed his pen to continue whatever he was doing.

“Excuse me.”

Nemer’s voice startled the man and made him frantically look around for him.

“Calm down. It’s me, your god, Nemer.”

Indeed the man calmed down and sighed in relief, putting down his pen and grasping his hands over the table. He smiled a weak smile.

“What can I do for you, god Nemer?”

Nemer looked around the room for a moment. There was nothing interesting inside save for a lamp next to the table and a bed in the side.

“What you may be?”

Nemer asked the man since his place doesn’t seem noble enough for someone who is wearing noble clothes.

“Ah, I am the lord of the people that came here, god Nemer.”

“Oh, is that so? What’s the papers for?”

“These?”

The man sighed and took a moment to rest for a while.

“I am currently keeping track of my people, trying to keep things in order. Population number, supply count, healthy vs. sick, everything I need to keep an eye on.”

Nemer looked at the papers laid on the table, and indeed all of them have something to do with what the man just said. The man continued on with writing whatever he needed to write on one of the papers.

“It’s my duty to ensure everyone under me will have a satisfactory living here in our new home and to record every necessary detail.”

Dedicated man is he.

“You seem to be a nice guy.”

The man seemed to smile at the remark. There is just something about gods that make the words they say into something special just by saying them.

“I get that a lot. It also seems to be the reason why my life isn’t endangered yet, and that I keep being a lord.”

Although these paperworks are getting to his mind, this man kept on writing and reading. He beared his responsibility with accepting shoulders knowing what will happen and the consequences such path entails. Stress may show from his face, but what Nemer sees in him is dedication and determination for the people he leads.

“May I have your name?” asked Nemer as the man writes.

“Ah yes, how rude of me.”

He stopped writing to do a proper introduction.

“I am Carlos of House Beritin, the fifth son of Norin of House Beritin, and current lord of the house.”

Carlos introduced himself to no one in front of him.

“Nice to meet you Carlos.”

“Likewise, god Nemer.”

“Continue what you need to do. I’ll be off now.”

Nemer flies through the roof like a ghost as Carlos waves to the wrong direction.

Nemer feels inspired now. Carlos did a great job as a lord of his people despite how powerless he might seem. Without arcs and arcus, the man was still able to keep these people in check without them causing much trouble in the village. ‘If Carlos can do it, why can’t I?’ that thought alone was enough to boost his confidence.

With the newfound inspiration and motivation, he sets off to the barracks where the kobolds are currently eating their lunch. He phased inside and found Barnon and his kin eating and talking to one another in a long dining table.

“Yeah, and I totally dig that girl.” Veni admitted while eating some leafy veggies for that healthy diet.

“Really, Veni? You dig every pretty girl you meet.” Khrus was sitting directly in front of Veni while pointing at him with a bone.

“Hey! It’s not every girl! I have standards you know.”

“And apparently, those standards are low enough that you would instantly fall for any pretty girl.”

Everyone of the kobolds laughed. Veni grumbled and pouted, crossing his arms while doing so. Barnon was naturally at the long end of the table, acting like the head of the family. He had to catch his breath after laughing at Veni.

“Whew. Isn’t that great. At least you have standards.” Barnon remarked before stuffing his mouth with an apple.

“Don’t mock me.”

Barnon chuckled. It has been a while since all of them gathered around to keep each other company. This feeling of family has been a genetic trait of the kobolds, sharing happiness and sadness with their members being the core morals of their action. As such, times like these is what would one say as a refreshing day.

“We’ve been busy huh?” Khasa asked after finishing her plate, looking out at the window near her.

“Yeah. Unlike in the past, this kind of busy actually makes me happy.” Barnon has stopped eating his apple in is now looking at it.

“What would it have been if we were still slaves?” A silver fur kobold asked.

“Lune, I’d rather not think about it.” A red fur kobold replied.

“It was a rhetorical question, Vivia.”

“I still do not want to think about it.”

Everyone suddenly fell silent, only breaking when they heard Nemer’s voice.

“What’s up?”

All of the kobolds stood up and stiffened.

“Whoa whoa whoa, calm down you guys. Geez, you don’t have to be formal when I’m around.”

Hearts have calmed down and now the kobolds are sitting on their seats nervously.

“So, I have a mission for some of you. I need three volunteers for this one.”

Naturally, every kobold in the room raised their hands. Nemer sighed.

“I’ll take Barnon, Nick, and Khasa.”

Nick pumped his fists in excitement, while the other two were just as excited as he was without the actions. The rest groaned or drooped their moods in disappointment.

“Alright you three. You are going to go and talk to Ben, our architect, to know what materials he needs. Then, you must take a carriage with you and go to the nearest city, that is Gaimain, and search for the necessary materials.”

The three nodded and quickly went out to do their assigned mission.

“As for the rest, all of your are going to joint with Harle and his men to keep the order in the village, while training a the same time. Meet with him and discuss what all of you should do.”

All of them quickly cleaned up the table before setting out to the other barracks to meet with Harle and his men.

Now that it’s settled, Nemer went back to his altar and disconnected, leaving only silence for him to hear. He used his time to go and organize the village, and now he is going to think in peace. Thinking about the counter arc or what to do next, both were high priority for the god.

“Carlos should be the lord of Nemeran… politics and anything like that should be handled by him… farms must be made this month… what arc should I make…”

Nemer has a habit of mumbling whenever he is seriously thinking deep. One thought that crossed his mind is how there’s so much problem that is going on right now because of his previous decision to go and invite people to his clearly underdeveloped village. He thought that maybe, just maybe, if he thought about it for a little bit longer and more carefully, things wouldn’t be like this.

Well, it’s not like he can change that now. He has already accepted that he made the decision and the consequences were these, and so he has to put up with it and do his best for him and others. He has better things to do than to think of those things.

The training his only military force had to do was a safety precaution in case he fails to make an arc for protection. That way, they could at least buy enough time for the others to evacuate and start anew somewhere safer. To not let their effort be in vain, Nemer has finally dedicated his free time to create an arc.

Meanwhile, Carlos was quietly working with his papers on his table. Letters after letters he would write on the papers, his tired hands and body not giving up until the deed is finished. His attention and focus left him unaware of a person entering his personal quarters.

“Uncle Carlos?”

Carlos face turned into that of shock and happiness, as he witnesses his niece alive and healthy. He immediately stood up and approached Helena for an embrace.

“Helena! My dear!”

“Uncle Carlos!”

Both of the nobles embrace each other in warmth, happy to see each other’s family alive and well. Their eyes let their floodgates open as the reunion summoned onion cutting ninjas in their room. Carlos thought he would never see Helena or the Saihera family ever again after what the king has ordered, and Helena thought that his beloved uncle has died in the king’s clutches. A family’s embrace truly invokes a warm feeling of familial love. Behind them was Jarun, smiling on the event that is currently happening in front of him. He was glad he survived to see this moment.

Carlos looked up at Jarun with a grateful smile and teary eyes.

“Thank you Jarun, for taking care and protecting Helena.”

Jarun nodded.

“It’s my duty and honor to do so, sir Carlos. I am glad that you are well.”

“I am glad both of you are well too.”

Carlos let go and touched his forehead with Helena’s before distancing himself and asking a question.

“Where’s Alegio? Is he not with you?”

Helena lowered her head and looked away. Carlos knew what that gesture meant as his eyes widened with shock.

“Father is… dead.”

His brother is dead. The person that he had known his entire life, the person that has given him much support and encouragement, the person that has given him purpose, the person that he has treated like his own brother, was dead. This news made him stumble back in shock, but after seeing Helena’s face full of despair, he knew the girl had it rougher than he did. After all, his niece had the best father she could ever ask for.

He embraced Helena again, this time reassuring her. Carlos has always been like a second father to Helena, and his father would always talk about him. Alegio even once said “If I ever cease to live, Carlos will be the closest thing you’ll have of me. Remember Helena, your uncle and I have been brothers since we were children. If you need help when we are not here anymore, seek your uncle.” and right now, the help she needs is reassurance, which Carlos delivered.

“We’ll start anew, Helena. I’ll be sure to make you and your father happy by taking care of you.”

Once again, Helena cried - not of happiness, but of sadness.