Roland cloaked in a simple traveler's garb, moved through Apus Village with a deliberate pace, his keen eyes surveying the crude surroundings.
Beside him walked his newly appointed butler, Roan. Roan had been a servant of the Weiss family, supported by Roland's father, and had recently returned from a small academy where he completed his studies. He had hoped to join the Baron family upon his return, only to find them gone and the estate in disarray.
Thankfully, the young Lord appeared and took the reins. Since the Baron had few servants, taken from this village, he was familiar with Roan.
He was that kid who would run after Roland calling him big brother. Due to their bonding, his father took pity on this guy and supported him, for Roan was eternally grateful.
Roland stood at the edge of Apus Village, surveying its crude appearance with a critical eye.
As Roland observed the scene, he noted the dried, cracked fields where crops once struggled to grow, now overtaken by weeds. The smell of unkempt livestock and stagnant waste permeated the air. The villagers moved with wearied faces etched with the hardships of their daily lives.
The village was a patchwork of makeshift structures and haphazardly assembled cottages, their wooden walls weathered and stained from years of exposure to the elements.
The roofs, constructed of simple thatch or uneven shingles, sagged in places, and many were in dire need of repair. The streets, little more than beaten dirt paths, were strewn with debris and uneven stones, making travel both treacherous and slow.
Scattered around the village were the remnants of various attempts at agriculture, small plots of withering crops, and neglected fields overrun with weeds.
It wasn't that their land wasn't big; rather, due to fear of monsters, they only farmed the nearby places.
Also, they hadn't gotten good crop seeds to use as a base which resulted in this.
Hunting and animal husbandry seemed to be the major job here.
As he walked ahead air was thick with the pungent smell of unkempt livestock and the faint, sour odor of waste that had accumulated in makeshift pens. Occasionally, the sound of chickens clucking or the distant braying of a mule punctuated the otherwise somber silence.
"Roan," Roland said quietly, "how do you find the state of things here?"
Roan glanced around, his expression a mix of concern and disappointment. "It's worse than I expected, sir. The fields are all but abandoned, and the roads are in terrible condition. It's clear that the village has seen better days but now after Baron's demise…"
Roan left a few words unspoken.
"Indeed," Roland replied, his gaze shifting to the parched fields and the sagging rooftops. "We'll need to consider how to address these issues if we're to gain any support from the villagers."
As they walked, a few local residents followed at a distance, whispering among themselves. "Another stranger," one villager muttered. "Why do they even bother coming here? What could they possibly do for us?"
"More talk and empty promises," another sighed heavily. "The fields are dry, the roads are impassable, and no one seems to care."
Roland, overhearing their murmurs, frowned. "It seems they're skeptical of any help coming their way."
"Yes," Roan replied, his voice tinged with sympathy.
"Their trust has been worn thin by years of neglect,"Roland spoke with regret.
Truthfully, he had somehow neglected things.In past year's, all his focus had been on strength and producing children
"Secondly, from what I heard there were a few scammers who promised to buy some good farming tools, but they took the money and never returned."Roan added.
"It seems, we need some forced to regulate things."
The village itself was a patchwork of haphazardly constructed cottages with weathered wooden walls and sagging thatched roofs. The dirt paths, trodden and uneven, were slick with mud from the recent rains and strewn with debris.
"Roan," Roland said thoughtfully, "we need to make a plan that will not only address the immediate threat but also provide some long-term relief for these people."
"Understood, sir," Roan responded. "I'll assist in any way I can to ensure that the village benefits from our presence here."
As they continued their survey, Roland weighed the pros and cons of the village's condition, considering how it would impact their plans. The rugged appearance of the village and its evident struggles only underscored the urgency of the mission ahead.
He used the whole day to survey the place, draw the map, and learn about the topography. He found that a great part of the land was shadowed by forest.
To extend the agricultural fields, he needed to extend the area by clearing this forest which wasn't easy as the forest was a source of monsters.
And at his level, if any strong monster appears then all will be useless as long as he has a life he can find a way.
...…
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the study room in the Baron's residence. Roland, seated at the head of a large wooden table, was ready to discuss the future of the village.
Janet, his golden-haired wife with a gentle roundness to her abdomen from recent childbirth, entered the room gracefully despite her exhaustion. Priya, the mature black-haired housekeeper, followed closely, her serious demeanor reflecting her concern for both the household and the village. Roan, the newly appointed butler, brought up the rear, his youthful face eager and focused.
As they gathered around the table, Roland began, "Thank you all for coming. We need to discuss the next steps for advancing our village."
Janet gave him a reassuring smile, while Priya and Roan listened attentively. "I've seen firsthand the challenges we face," Roland continued. "The fields are neglected, the roads are poor, and overall, the village is in dire condition."
Priya nodded. "What do you propose, my lord?"
Roland outlined his plan. "We need to repair the roads, improve the fields, and bring in better seeds and tools. We should also consider clearing the forest to the east, though it will be risky."
Roan interjected, "Clearing the forest could attract more monsters. How do we handle that?"
"We'll plan expeditions to assess and manage the threat," Roland said. "And we must build trust with the villagers by showing commitment to their well-being."
Janet looked at Roland, "What about the villagers' support?"
"We need to engage with them, address their concerns, and prove our commitment," Roland replied.
Priya suggested, "Improving infrastructure and starting a local market could also help."
The group spent the evening discussing the details, assigning tasks, and setting a course of action. As the meeting concluded, Roland felt confident that, with their combined efforts, they could transform Apus Village into a thriving community.
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