Manor Lord of the Elf World

Chapter 38 Village
Three days later, with the arrival of a heavy snowfall, the last wooden house in the territory was finally completed.

Everyone in the entire territory breathed a sigh of relief; they had made it in time!

Raven's cabin was finally completed, and it was much larger than the others' cabins.

The maid carried his personal belongings from the tent into the cabin.

Raven led the Mini Dragon into the cabin, which wasn't very big, about fifty square meters.

Carpenter Tucker and his assistant also used the remaining wood to make a fine wooden table and bed for Raven, and even a simple stone fireplace beside the bed.

The floor inside was covered with a thick, hand-woven carpet bearing the insignia of the Eindooc royal family.

The maidservant rushed over and made the bed, placing soft pillows and blankets on it. On the small wooden table, there was a plate of freshly picked pomelos and snacks, and next to it was a cup of steaming sweet black tea.

“Your Highness Raven, please stay here for the time being.” Elif looked at the simple surroundings and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Your Highness used to live in luxurious castles, with a single bedroom measuring over a hundred square meters, but now you have to live in this cramped wooden cabin.

When he had the building materials and time, he would definitely have someone help His Highness rebuild the castle! Eriff thought to himself.

But Raven is already very satisfied with his current living environment.

“That’s enough,” Raven said as he led the Mini Dragon into the house.

Firewood burned in the stone fireplace, and smoke drifted out of the house through the chimney above, quickly warming the room.

The Dratini followed Raven, curiously observing its new home. It flew around, looking here and there, seemingly very curious about everything.

Seeing this, Raven laughed and said, "This will be our home from now on, Dratini."

"Woo!" The Mini Dragon seemed very happy.

"Lili..."

Several foam squirrels crowded at the entrance, peering at the scene inside, their eyes gleaming with hope.

For example, they prefer this wooden house to that tent because it's filled with the scent of the forest!

But can they live here too?

A foam squirrel couldn't help but cast its gaze toward Raven.

Raven naturally noticed the reaction of the foam squirrels, and he laughed:

"Why don't you come and stay here before spring arrives?"

Let's just consider the area over the tent as the lord's hall for discussing matters concerning the territory.

Upon hearing this, the foam squirrel immediately let out a cheer.

"Chestnut!"

Several foam squirrels immediately began to skillfully clean up using their tails.

Then, they moved their stored food here.

With plenty of food and a warm fireplace, they no longer have to worry about surviving the winter!

The bubble squirrels were so happy they even wanted to throw a party.

"Have all the other people's houses been built?" Raven asked.

Elif nodded: "That's right. All the residents in the territory have moved into the wooden houses. Everyone is very grateful to Your Highness. Without your wise decision, we might have frozen to death on the way to Liyong Town."

Raven: "..." There's no need to exaggerate like that.

Upon hearing this, he checked his territory panel and, sure enough, found many refreshed notifications.

[Satisfaction level +5!]

[Satisfaction level +10!]

[Satisfaction level +8!]

【…】

As the cabin was completed, Raven noticed that his territory panel had also changed.

Lord's Name: Raven [Territory: Village (Unnamed)]

[Citizens (Humans): 78 (Click to view details)]

[Pokémon (Subjects): 18 (Click to view details)]

Public opinion: 30

Satisfaction rating: 500

[Technology: Gathering, Basic Herbalism, Fishing]

"Huh? The territory has grown from a small village to a village?" Raven was somewhat surprised. Was it because of the increase in size?

He continued looking down and found that public sentiment had improved considerably, and the satisfaction rate had reached 500.

He can unlock a new technology.

But Raven wasn't in a hurry to unlock it; instead, he wanted to check on the people in the territory.

Upon hearing Raven's plan, Elif nodded and said, "Your Highness, please follow me!"

Raven left the Dratini and the Bubble Squirrel at home while he went outside with Elif.

Compared to when they first arrived, this land has undergone tremendous changes.

Wooden houses of varying sizes rose up on both sides of the road. As snow fell heavily, the residents were huddled in their homes, cooking food around a campfire with their families.

In the dead of winter, food is a rare treat, and everyone cherishes it.

Continuing onward, Raven saw warehouses built by the residents to store food, as well as huts for the two afro-haired buffalo to spend the winter.

Two afro-haired buffaloes lay on their sides on a patch of dry grass, watching the snow falling from the sky outside.

This territory has grown to the size of a small village.

Several women who were washing clothes by the river cast grateful glances at Raven.

Three snow-hatted monsters and several children happily held hands and twirled around in the swirling snow.

In the distance, there was a vast expanse of fields.

Humans and Pokémon coexist and live together here.

Watching this scene, Raven felt a surge of emotion, as if everything he had done had not been in vain and had been meaningful.

Raven couldn't help but wonder, maybe this is why some people enjoy playing lord-based farming games?

When a player produces a candle, the farmer's house is lit at night; when a player produces a piece of clothing, they put on new clothes.

A once barren territory has become prosperous and wealthy under the player's governance, drawing envious glances from neighboring lords and refugees...

"Your Highness, the snow is falling even heavier. We should head back," Elif said, glancing up at the sky gradually darkening into night.

“Hmm.” Raven nodded.

They now have enough food and plenty of firewood, which, barring any unforeseen circumstances, should be enough to safely get through the cold winter.

They still have a lot to do next year.

Mining mines, cultivating fields, exploring forests, catching Pokémon, building stronger houses...

But to accomplish these things, their seventy-odd people alone are not enough.

A sufficient population is the key to the development of a territory.

"If only the people in the convoy hadn't gotten separated back then," Raven thought with deep regret.

When they set out from Eindook, there were more than five hundred people, even close to six hundred.

It contains a large number of people who have mastered skills in metallurgy, construction, carpentry, farming, fishing and other fields.

Now, they have fewer than a hundred people left with them.

"Sigh," Raven sighed silently.

(End of this chapter)