Leon didn't have to search long to find Olivia. As soon as he stepped outside, he spotted her standing near the door of the townhouse, engaged in a quiet conversation with Brian, the village blacksmith. The older man looked as sturdy as ever, his weathered hands moving expressively as he spoke to his daughter. Since Baron Elifer's departure, it seemed Brian no longer insisted that Olivia hide indoors, as if the immediate threat had passed.
Leon, however, couldn't shake a lingering thought. If Brian had been so worried about Olivia catching the attention of noble lords, why wasn't he concerned about Knight Balf, who still remained in the village? The scarred and imposing knight could easily have taken an interest in Olivia, but Brian didn't seem troubled by it. Leon's suspicion flickered briefly before he shook it off. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
He approached them with a smile, greeting both Brian and Olivia warmly. After exchanging pleasantries, Leon got straight to the point. "I was wondering if there are any vacant houses in the village. I need to find a place to stay, preferably one that's a bit larger than where I rested last night."
Brian rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment before gesturing to the house next door, one that was connected to his own. "If you don't mind the size, you're welcome to take over the house right here, next to ours."
Leon felt a little uncomfortable hearing Brian's respectful tone, especially since Olivia had become such a close friend. The honorifics felt out of place. He glanced up at the house in question, a familiar two-story structure that mirrored Olivia's in style: stone and timber beams supporting the protruding second floor, with a sloping roof overhead. The house, spacious and sturdy, had been used to shelter the injured the previous night.
It was far larger than any home he'd ever owned in his previous life. He thought back to the tiny, expensive cement box of an apartment he had struggled to buy on Earth. In contrast, this place felt expansive, even luxurious, with a sizable backyard that rivaled Olivia's.
"The family who lived here… did they all perish?" Leon asked, his voice quiet.
At the question, Olivia's expression grew sad, her eyes filling with the weight of loss. Brian sighed heavily, his face clouded with sorrow. "Aye, this house belonged to Matt, the village carpenter. He built it himself, years ago, with his own hands and money. But after the disaster… his whole family is gone, and the house is now without an owner."
Leon felt a pang of grief in his heart for the lost family. "Have their bodies been found?" he asked softly.
Olivia nodded, her voice subdued. "Yes, Uncle Matt's family is with the other victims. My father and I were just discussing how to handle the burials."
Leon's gaze shifted between father and daughter, sensing their burden. "Is there a problem with the burial arrangements?" he asked gently.
Olivia sighed, a furrow of worry creasing her brow. "The baron's soldiers helped bury the bodies of the Kantadar invaders yesterday, but we still need to take care of our own villagers. The issue is… we don't have enough people to dig the graves. There are so many bodies, and without more hands, it could take more than a week to dig enough graves."
Leon understood the urgency. The living could wait, but the dead could not. The bodies, without proper preservation, were already beginning to decay, and the villagers lacked the means to embalm them. The thought of over a hundred fallen villagers needing burial weighed heavily on everyone.
Seeing the sadness etched on Olivia's face, Leon stepped closer, his voice firm with resolve. "Don't worry. Selva is my responsibility now, and I won't let you face this alone. We'll handle it."
He glanced back at Brian and continued, "Later today, I'll speak with Lord Balf and we'll go to Lonka and Pleyton to recruit laborers. We can open a new cemetery quickly. But what about coffins? Do we have enough in the village?"
Olivia shook her head, her expression helpless. "No… the village never had many coffins prepared in advance. And now that Uncle Matt is gone, we don't even have a carpenter who can make more."
Leon felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The villagers were not just grieving; they were overwhelmed by the sheer logistics of burying their dead with dignity. "We'll need to find a solution for that as well," he said after a moment of thought. "Maybe we can source coffins from other nearby villages or hire another carpenter. But whatever it takes, we'll make sure everyone gets a proper burial."
His words seemed to bring a flicker of relief to Olivia's face, though the sorrow still lingered. Brian gave Leon a grateful nod, his respect for the young knight growing. "You're a good man, Leon," he said quietly. "Selva is fortunate to have you as its lord."
Leon returned the nod, his mind already working through the steps ahead. There was much to be done; not just in restoring the village, but in earning the trust and respect of its people. And for now, the first step was to make sure those who had fallen were laid to rest properly.
"Let's make it happen," Leon said, his voice filled with determination. "For Selva."
After Olivia finished speaking, she paused, her expression shifting to one of surprise. "Wait, are you really going to prepare coffins for all the villagers?"
Leon met her gaze, slightly taken aback. "Well, yes. What's wrong with that?"
She sighed, her brow furrowing. "Even the most basic wooden coffin costs ten dirs. And if we have to transport them from outside the village, that adds another two dirs. For most villagers, burial in a coffin isn't exactly affordable."
Brian, the old blacksmith, chimed in, concern evident in his voice. "You might be putting a strain on your resources, young lord. It's kind of you, but coffins are a significant expense, especially for the villagers."
Realization dawned on Leon. They were worried he might be wasting his money. Despite having the original owner's memories, the intricacies of funeral expenses were something he had yet to fully grasp. He quickly did the math in his head: one hundred twenty-four coffins, plus transportation costs, would amount to about fifteen gold crowns.
To him, the cost of a single coffin didn't seem excessive, but when multiplied by the number needed, it quickly added up; enough to sustain a well-trained war horse for over a year.
"Here's my proposal," Leon said, his tone firm yet understanding. "For families like Matt's, where every member has perished, I will cover the costs entirely. For the others, I'll pay upfront, and once the villagers receive their ransoms for the captives, they can reimburse me."
Olivia's eyes brightened, and she smiled genuinely. "Thank you, Leon. You're such a good lord."
Leon waved off her gratitude. "It's nothing extraordinary. Just fulfilling my responsibilities."
Brian nodded, but his expression remained serious. "Many villagers who died had families that couldn't afford coffins. They might have to wrap their loved ones in linen instead."
Leon understood. "I know. But if I can't ensure a proper send-off for these deceased, then I don't deserve to lead the living. It's important to honor their memories."
He saw this as a way to build goodwill. As the ransoms were distributed, the villagers could repay him, and the coffins wouldn't weigh heavily on their shoulders. The true cost of a coffin for families without descendants was mainly the labor to dig the grave, which was a manageable expense.
Glancing at the house that would soon be his, Leon also considered purchasing a few high-quality coffins for Matt's family. "If I'm going to occupy their home, I should ensure their resting place is proper," he thought.
This world was different from Earth. The ghosts and souls here were not just folklore; he had witnessed them firsthand. He recalled Lola's words about the afterlife, and the notion lingered in his mind. The concept of Yinnie, the god of death, came to him, was the "Sea of Dead" akin to the underworld or a hellish realm?
Just then, a cheerful voice broke through his thoughts. "Big brother~!"
Leon turned to see little Lina bounding toward him, her face bright with excitement.
"Now you should call him 'lord,' Lina," Brian interjected gently.
"Oh, I'm sorry, big brother, Lord!" Lina stumbled over her words, her cheeks flushing as she obediently lowered her head.
"It's okay. You can keep calling me brother," Leon replied with a warm smile.
Her face lit up again. "Thank you, big brother! I haven't properly thanked you and the other two for saving me! Today, when I was helping Aunt Milia, I learned how to cook a delicious dish. I'll make it for you to try!"
Leon chuckled, feeling a sense of warmth from her enthusiasm. "I'm looking forward to it, Lina. You're going to be an amazing cook!"
As he watched her skip away, a sense of hope blossomed within him. The challenges ahead were daunting, but with the support of the villagers and his companions, he felt ready to face them head-on.
Little Lina's voice was filled with excitement as she promised Leon and his companions that they would soon get a taste of her cooking skills. Her childlike enthusiasm brought a soft smile to Leon's face as he reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his heart heavy with sympathy.
He had already asked Olivia about Lina's background and learned the heartbreaking truth: the little girl's entire family had perished, leaving her with no surviving relatives. Now, she was being cared for by the blacksmith, Brian, and his daughter. Leon couldn't help but feel for her.
Such a bright and kind-hearted child, facing unimaginable loss at such a young age. In his previous life, a child like Lina would still be attending school, free from the burdens of the world. But here, in this war-torn village, Lina had been thrust into a reality where her family was gone, and she had to grow up far too quickly.
"Lina! Come help me in here!" a woman's voice called from inside the house.
"Oh! Coming!" Lina responded, waving goodbye to Leon before dashing back inside to assist.
Leon watched her small figure disappear into the house, still processing the weight of her situation. A thought began to form in his mind, one that might help not just Lina, but others like her.
He turned to Olivia, his expression thoughtful. "Olivia, how many children in the village are like Lina? I mean, those who have lost all their family members and are under fourteen?"
In this world, the idea of adulthood wasn't as strict as it had been in his previous life. Noble children were typically given a formal name around the age of sixteen, marking their passage into adulthood. But for commoners, fourteen was often considered the age at which they were expected to fend for themselves.
Olivia thought for a moment, tapping her chin. "Besides Lina, there are four girls and three boys, all between ten and fourteen years old."
Leon nodded to himself, feeling a sense of purpose. It seemed like a fitting solution to a few of his immediate needs. These children had no families left, and they would need someone to guide them. Meanwhile, Leon had been thinking about the need for servants to help with the day-to-day tasks around his new household. If he could give these orphans a place to stay, it would be mutually beneficial.
"When you get the chance, could you ask them if they would be willing to serve me?" Leon asked Olivia, his tone kind but firm.
Both Olivia and Brian looked at him with interest as he continued, "I'm going to need help with basic chores; cleaning the house, maintaining armor and weapons, things like that. For those children who are younger, under eleven, I'll provide them with food, shelter, and education in return for light chores, like sweeping the floors and wiping down the furniture. They can learn from the older children."
He paused, calculating. "For the older ones, those over eleven; I'll pay them three dir a month if they work hard. And if they continue to serve until they're fourteen, I'll offer them a regular salary as servants."
Brian couldn't help but smile at Leon's generosity. "You're giving them a real chance, Lord Leon," he said, his voice tinged with admiration. "If those children hadn't suffered such loss, they might never have had an opportunity like this in their lives."
Brian knew the value of working for a noble household. An ordinary male servant could earn nearly 20 dir a month, and a maid around 10 dir. It was a far better future than toiling as a farmer or herder, scraping by on the bare minimum. For these children, this was more than just work, it was a way out of poverty and a chance to rebuild their lives.
"I thank you on behalf of those children, my lord," Brian said sincerely. "I'm sure none of them will refuse such an opportunity. It's more than any of them could have hoped for."
Leon smiled, glad that his offer was appreciated. "It's the least I can do. They deserve a chance at a better life."
Since they were on the topic of household help, Leon decided to inquire further. "Speaking of which, do you know of anyone in the village who's good with livestock? Ideally, someone who knows how to care for horses."
Brian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "There are a few, but one man in particular comes to mind. My old pal Garrick, he used to work in a nearby estate before it was destroyed. He knows his way around horses and livestock better than anyone."
Leon nodded, filing the name away. "I'll need someone like him soon. It's important we start rebuilding the village and getting things back to order."
Brian agreed, and with that, Leon felt a growing sense of determination. The road ahead was long, but with these small steps, helping the orphans, organizing the household, finding reliable villagers to manage livestock; he was slowly but surely laying the foundation for Selva's future.
And more than that, he was making a home, for himself and for those who had lost everything.
"Hawk knows how to raise horses," Olivia said, her voice brightening with the memory. "My father taught him. He used to take care of our two horses all the time."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Hawk? Is that the young man who stutters?"
"Yes, that's him!" Olivia nodded enthusiastically. "If you don't mind his stutter, he could really help you with the horses and livestock."
The old blacksmith chimed in, a fondness in his tone. "The lad's a good soul. He lost his parents young and grew up with the village's support. He might seem simple, but he learns quickly and has a good heart."
Olivia smiled knowingly, raising a finger as if to emphasize her point. "Remember the trouble you had when you first came to Selva? Hawke was the one who came to warn me. He kept an eye on that scoundrel Boris for me."
Leon recalled now that Hawk had been trailing behind Boris's gang, the only one without a weapon. "Alright, I'll give him a chance," he decided, nodding.
But Leon knew that one young man couldn't manage all the horses alone. Even if he split the work among his companions, he'd need several skilled grooms to care for the three noble steeds. Still, with Olivia and the blacksmith's endorsements, Leon thought it wise to let Hawk lead the others.
These warhorses were incredibly valuable, especially the top-grade Uriah horses ridden by the knights. Baron Ierive had estimated their worth at around 180 gold crowns each, a staggering sum that could tempt even the most honest folk.
Leon stroked his chin thoughtfully. The more he learned about noble life, the more he understood why so many lived in castles. Protecting their assets; armor, weapons, horses, was a constant concern. If thieves targeted them, or worse, if a groom betrayed him, the losses would be devastating.
"I'll need to find a way to secure my property," he mused, realizing that even if he couldn't build a stone castle right away, a wooden stockade would be a smart investment in the future.
With the plan for servants coming together, Leon turned to Olivia again. "We'll need a chef, too. Can you recommend anyone?"
Olivia's eyes lit up. "There's a talented young woman named Milia. I remember her pastries were delightful when you and your friends stayed at the windmill. But she's had a hard time; her two children were killed in the raid."
Leon felt a pang of sympathy. He had seen Milia tending to the wounded in the village, her strength admirable despite her losses. "At least her husband was conscripted and escaped the worst of it," he said, relieved for her.
"Oh! By the way," Olivia interjected, "your money is still under the bed in my room. Don't forget to take it."
Leon waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine. You're the best fighter in the village. I'd feel safer keeping the money with you for now. I'll grab it when I move next door."
Olivia chuckled, appreciating his trust. "Alright, but just remember it's there. You never know when you might need it."
With their plans set in motion, Leon felt a renewed sense of purpose. Together, they would rebuild not just their lives, but the village itself.