- The dust of the journey had barely settled in the new, burgeoning community before a subtle undercurrent of unease began to ripple through the recently arrived settlers. - Days turned into weeks, and the initial gratitude for their miraculous rescue and relocation slowly transmuted into a gnawing curiosity, then a quiet suspicion. Why had this powerful, seemingly benevolent young master, Leon, helped them out of thin air? What hidden agenda lay beneath his generosity?
- They whispered in hushed tones around their meager campfires, manor on the hill – the source of their salvation and their burgeoning apprehension. "No one does something for nothing," the old women murmured, echoing the sentiment that resonated the experience of their past lives.
- Leon, ever perceptive, felt the shift in their collective mood. He had observed their guarded glances, the way conversations ceased abruptly when he approached. He understood. Their past experiences, no doubt harsh and unforgiving, had taught them to expect a price for every kindness.
- For weeks, he had allowed them space, providing resources and a safe haven, hoping their inherent mistrust would gradually erode. But as the days lengthened, he realized a direct approach was necessary.
- Until one day, they asked me about it, and I answered them honestly, without embellishment. I saw the relief, then the dawning understanding in their eyes. But it wasn't enough. Not yet.
- One crisp morning, as the sun began to warm the newly tilled fields, Leon called a gathering. The entire settlement assembled. He stood before them, not on a pedestal, but on the same level ground they occupied, his expression calm. He spoke of their arduous journey, and the new life they were building. Then, he addressed the unspoken question hanging in the air.
- He continued, his voice carrying clearly across the assembled crowd, "I know what you're thinking. You wonder why I brought you here, why I offer this new beginning with seemingly no strings attached. And you're right to question. In this world, genuine altruism is often a myth."
- He paused, letting his words sink in. "But understand this: my reasons are not sinister. They are, in fact, quite simple. I desired to create something new, something better, from the ashes of what was lost. I needed people – strong, resilient, capable people – to help me build it. And you, all of you, fit that description perfectly."
- A murmur went through the crowd. A grizzled elder, his face a roadmap of weathered lines, stepped forward. "Young Master," he began, his voice raspy, "we appreciate your honesty. But what, then, is expected of us? We are not accustomed to charity without labor."
- Leon met his gaze, a slight smile touching his lips. "Precisely. And that is why I have gathered you today. You have rested, you have healed, and you have, I hope, begun to feel this place as your own. Now, it is time to build. It is time to work, not for me, but with me, for the betterment of all." He gestured to the surrounding landscape, the nascent fields, the timber waiting to be hewn, the distant, shimmering river.
- His voice resonated with quiet authority as he continued, "I wanted you to adjust to living here and then start your work, but it seems you've already adapted to the place, which is a testament to your strength and adaptability."
- He then looked around at the faces, some still cautious, others now showing a glimmer of excitement. "Yes, young master," a chorus of voices affirmed, led by the elder who had spoken. "We want to start helping you and do our job here. Everyone."
- A genuine, broad smile finally spread across Leon's face. "Excellent," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. I was kind of happy about their honesty, because it meant they trusted me enough to voice their concerns.
- But I was surprised about them calling me 'young master' or 'the mayor of the village.' The title itself wasn't important to me, but the sentiment behind it was. It wasn't about a formal election; it was a spontaneous recognition of my role in their new lives. It was a clear sign of their acceptance, not just of my help, but of me as their leader.
- Because I saved them, they accepted me as the mayor of the village – a village we would build together, from the ground up."
- And so, under the watchful, yet now trusting, eyes of the settlers, Leon began to assign the works, not as a master to his servants, but as a leader guiding his people towards a shared future. The air, once heavy with suspicion, now thrummed with a new energy – the sound of hammers, the laughter of children, and the steady, rhythmic beat of a community finally finding its purpose.
- I assigned everyone to roles that suited their strengths. The muscular ogres, for instance, were given the labor-intensive tasks of working the land and farming.
- One day, a dwarf approached me with news of a large cave filled with minerals near our village. I was stunned, having never seen a cave with minerals in my days here.
- I went there only to see the cave I took shelter in my first day here. However, for some unknown reason, when I used ultimate regeneration that day, it also affected the cave. It began to grow minerals, and I noticed that when they mined an ore, it would regenerate within an hour, thanks to my magic.
- I tasked the dwarves with crafting tools from these ores, including weapons, general tools, and special magic tools.
- Next, I assigned the elves and humans to tasks requiring craftsmanship. Like, making textiles, Jewellery and process ingredients for food, sharing my knowledge of seasonings and ingredients from my previous world that were unknown in this one.
- And I appointed some human men in the farming and hunting work and some elves for guarding because they are good with archery.
- I then appointed Rosita as a person next to me in order, trusting her to manage the work due to her extensive knowledge.
- Everything proceeded as expected, with everyone diligently performing their duties