At the same time, in the town of Guardia where the Leonardo Estate was located, Evelyn was casting the Fortified Gaia Shield spell around the town.
[Fusion Spell, Bara-Primordial Arts, Fortified Gaia Shield]
The people of Guardia were in awe when they saw their town was enveloped by the golden dome, albeit temporarily. They had never seen such spell casted before.
"What did the baroness say this spell does?" asked one townsfolk to another.
"She said that this golden dome prevents demons from entering our town!"
"So that means we won't have to worry for gargoyles to fly into our home like they did in Stonewall?"
"That's what the baroness said."
"And all this is thanks to the baroness's daughter?"
"Yes! I heard from one of the knights that Lady Evelyn just returned from journeying to other towns and villages in the Leonardo domain. She went to those places to cast this same spell!"
"Amazing! And wasn't she the one who led the knights to exterminate the gargoyles in Stonewall? Whatever happened to that quest?"
"They were triumphant! They managed to exterminate every single gargoyle without losing a soldier. And the knights told me it was all thanks to Lady Evelyn's leadership!"
"That's great, isn't it? To think the heiress to the Leonardo Barony would be someone as incredible as that."
"Indeed! Once the knights spread the stories about Lady Evelyn, many young men from the Leonardo domain started to line up in front of the Leonardo Estate!"
"To marry her?"
"Heh, as if! They're there to volunteer to become her soldier!"
As the townspeople conversed on, Evelyn returned to the estate.
When she approached the gate, she was welcomed by dozens of young men whom wishes to be her knight.
"LADY EVELYN! LADY EVELYN! PLEASE TAKE ME IN AS A SOLDIER!"
"LADY EVELYN! TAKE ME IN, PLEASE! I WANT TO SLAY THE DEMONS JUST LIKE YOUR KNIGHTS DID IN STONEWALL!"
Before they swarmed on the Leonardo heiress, the actual knights of Leonardo stepped in front of her and parted the crowd of men in front of the estate to make way for Evelyn to enter the property.
"Thank you for the assistance, soldiers."
"Anything for you, my lady!"
Evelyn went inside the mansion where Hannah was already waiting for her.
Accompanying the Leonardo family head were three people dressed in robes. Evelyn could sense an ample amount of mana in their bodies.
"Evelyn, I would like you to meet the mages who will be working to maintain our shields. They're adventurers who saw my request I submitted to the Adventurer Guild branch in the neighboring domain five days ago."
Evelyn went over to the mages. She approved their number.
"Three of you should be enough to maintain all the shields I've casted all over the Leonardo domain. Currently, I casted a preservation spell so they could last for another week without maintenance. That should give you all enough time to learn how to perform the maintenance work."
The Leonardo lady then observed the mages even further. She noticed that the mages were at least 50 years old.
"I'm sure you've all noticed that this request will require you to settle down in the Leonardo domain. It will prevent you from taking other request as you'll be busy handling the shield maintenance every day. Does each of you feel comfortable with that arrangement?"
All three mages nodded at Evelyn's question without hesitation.
"Lady Evelyn, all three of us are C-rank mages who have been looking for a way to retire. We are now too old to go on grueling and dangerous quests. So we've been searching for a job that we can do with our measly magical skills and weakening physique." said one of the mage.
"Going on a cozy horseback riding on the countryside to visit small towns and villages to rewrite runes fits that criteria." said another.
"There is no job more perfect than this, my lady!" said the last one.
Evelyn smiled at their enthusiasm.
She then went to the dining room briefly to retrieve something. After she returned, Evelyn gave the mages a small stack of papers filled with writings and drawings.
"That is settled, then! Why don't you all go to the library and study the maintenance procedure I've written this morning? I'll be back to you later to discuss the details of your duty."
"Of course, my lady!" replied the mages.
"Giselle, please escort them to the library." Evelyn called out to her maid and the girl escorted them away as instructed by Evelyn.
As they were left alone, Hannah went over to her daughter.
"Now that the matter with the mages are settled, what are you going to do with the crowd by the gate?" asked Hannah.
"Those men definitely seemed eager to join the Leonardo knightage."
"After the word spread in our domain that you successfully led the Stonewall extermination quest without losing a single man, many people wanted to be your knight. Thinking that they could be included in your future successful expeditions."
"To make a name for themselves." said Evelyn as she smiled.
"Glory and wealth. Those are definitely hard to resist, my daughter." replied Hannah. "Why don't you take them all in? After all, the Imperial Magic Tower procurer just sent us the money from selling the gargoyles from Stonewall. The procurer also said that he will soon send the compensation for the hundreds we just recovered from the Jibril Mountain Range."
"You don't seem bothered that I mysteriously discovered hundreds of gargoyle remains in the mountains, mother."
Hannah shook her head.
"Isn't it obvious that you were the one who defeated those gargoyles? If our knights could defeat 22 gargoyles with just arrows and spears, you definitely could defeat hundreds with your ability."
Evelyn giggled at her mother's observation. Hannah was definitely not a fool.
"Indeed, it was me." said Evelyn. "Other than eliminating looming threats, I also exterminated those gargoyles in Jibril so that I could secure more funds."
"More funds for what?"
"For the army I'm building, mother. There's more to an army's strength than its number." answered Evelyn. "But for now, we shall focus on the number."
Evelyn walked back to the entrance.
"Where are you headed off to now?"
"I'm abiding to your wish, mother!" replied Evelyn.
Einsof's Chosen One looked back to Hannah and grinned.
"Time to recruit more soldiers!"