After weeks of meticulous preparation, Gawain and his team finally embarked on their journey toward their new domain. Their path lay southeast from Tanzan Town, toward the imposing and treacherous Dark Mountains. The jagged, mist-shrouded peaks loomed in the distance, casting a solemn air over the travelers. Tales of ancient mysteries, magical creatures, and curses clung to these mountains, evoking both awe and a sense of foreboding.
While Gawain felt frustrated by the stagnant world he had returned to, he understood the reasons behind the slow progress. The development of civilization is often predictable in its course, yet it is also riddled with uncertainties. Technological revolutions sometimes launch entire societies forward, but more frequently—especially under feudal systems—civilization remains stagnant for centuries.
In a world burdened by supernatural forces, entrenched social hierarchies, and an apocalyptic collapse that had wiped out much of the past, these barriers to advancement were only magnified. The existence of magic had created a peculiar situation: while it offered certain conveniences far beyond the norm, it also constrained progress. The powerful, endowed with magic, could live in luxury and control the "ordinary" masses with near-total authority. This arrangement limited advancement, as magical talent was rare and unpredictable, providing benefits only to a few. These fortunate individuals often ascended into the nobility, with little incentive or ability to change society for the better.
Thus, for generations, societal progress had slowed to a crawl. Commoners, who comprised the vast majority, were largely powerless to change anything. Those at the top, enjoying the benefits of magic, saw little need for progress. Even commoners themselves were resigned to this fate, hoping only that one day they might awaken to magical talent.
In such a world, who would think of inventing mundane solutions like refrigeration or heating systems, when spells could conjure ice and warmth?
Yet these magical solutions were highly restricted. Magic could not grant ice to everyone on a hot day, nor could it allow physicians to preserve vital serums. At least, this was the state of affairs in the current era.
Gawain knew such limitations were ultimately detrimental; magic should drive progress, not restrain it. He saw this world's reliance on supernatural forces as a shackle, binding them to a medieval stasis. He knew, however, that this was not an issue he could resolve right away.
Turning back to the task at hand, Gawain explained the importance of basic information registration to Heidi and Rebecca, emphasizing key considerations when creating these records. Since they had no previous experience with population surveys, and many of the uneducated commoners did not even know their own birthdates or surnames, Gawain set modest expectations. For now, only craftsmen would need detailed records, while other commoners would simply provide their names.
He planned to refine and expand these records once the new territory was established.
No noble had ever undertaken such a census of the common folk, as they were typically viewed as expendable labor by the aristocracy. The primary value of commoners lay in their ability to produce food and perform unpaid work. Few nobles saw individuals as important enough to document, and thus no one had deemed it necessary to maintain any population records.
Fortunately, Rebecca quickly grasped the importance of these records. Eager to prove herself, she led the effort to gather data, seeming to understand her ancestor's broader vision.
Gawain recalled how she had once issued a decree that allowed serfs to earn their freedom through service, a rare policy for a young noble. It seemed there was indeed promise in Rebecca's "unrefined" nature.
Perhaps, with guidance, she could be trained to oversee the human resources of their domain.
With a population of fewer than nine hundred people, the task was manageable. Philip had conducted a preliminary survey shortly after they settled in Tanzan Town, so with Heidi's assistance, Rebecca was able to organize the data Gawain had requested efficiently.
Once the list was complete, Gawain divided the group into two units for the journey to their "new home."
One group would act as the advance party, led personally by Gawain, Rebecca, and Heidi. This team included half of the soldiers and militia under Sir Byron, as well as key craftsmen and about a hundred laborers. Their task was to establish a temporary camp at the destination, identify water sources, and set up defenses against any potential threats from wild beasts.
The main contingent of commoners would follow under the protection of Sir Philip's group.
Transporting over eight hundred people directly into uncharted territory would have been reckless. While the group included no elderly or infirm (they had not survived the initial disaster), it was still safer to keep the non-combatant commoners behind the advance team.
Pioneering in an untamed wilderness would require substantial resources, but at some point, they had to begin. With careful planning and a well-prepared team, Gawain and his advance party finally left Tanzan Town, heading southeast toward the mysterious Dark Mountains.
The group traveled along the flatter banks of a tributary of the Whitewater River. Gawain and the knights led the way, with soldiers guarding the convoy's flanks. The craftsmen, along with supplies and tools, were positioned in the center of the convoy for protection.
Riding beside Gawain, Heidi glanced back at the relatively small caravan and mused, "We're almost like pioneers ourselves…"
"We are pioneers," Gawain replied with a smile.
Heidi blinked. "I was thinking of the Great Expansion… seven hundred years ago."
Gawain shrugged, his smile growing. "That was me, too."
Heidi nodded. "True enough."
"Have confidence," Gawain continued, sensing a hint of worry in her demeanor. "Each venture into the unknown is significant. Whether it was the Second Expansion seven hundred years ago, the First in ancient legends, or what we're setting out to accomplish now—it's all important. We're not just building a home; we may be setting the stage for a new era."
Heidi looked at him, momentarily struck by his words. She didn't fully understand what he meant by a "new era," but she trusted that her legendary ancestor must know what he was talking about.
Amber, the mischievous thief who was accompanying them, clapped her hands enthusiastically. In her eyes, Gawain was her "boss," so whatever he said was right. Whether she fully understood or not, applauding seemed like the safest response.
As they neared the Dark Mountains, the landscape grew progressively barren. Signs of human civilization dwindled, replaced by the encroaching wilderness. Centuries earlier, when the spirit of expansion was still strong, the descendants of the original knights had carved out small settlements here. But over time, as residual magical forces from the cataclysm grew stronger, civilization was forced to retreat. The settlements were abandoned as waves of magical creatures and worsening environmental conditions made them unsustainable.
Today, the wilderness had overtaken all traces of these early frontier villages, leaving only beasts and magical creatures in its wake.
Although the Dark Tide had subsided and magic had stabilized, humanity appeared content with its current territories. Combined with the decline of the Cecil family's influence, the Anzu royal court had shown little interest in reclaiming these lands.
The caravan moved silently over the rough terrain, the weight of the journey evident in the anxious faces around them. Even with Gawain, the legendary hero, leading the expedition, few could shake their unease—particularly the craftsmen, many of whom had come from the ranks of commoners and serfs. For them, it was less a sense of pride in pioneering and more a dutiful compliance to their lord.
The convoy continued along the riverbank, reaching a clearing after three days of steady travel.
This open area lay at the edge of the Dark Mountains, positioned between the river and the base of the mountains. The Whitewater tributary widened here, flowing more slowly as it rounded the northern edge of the range before joining a river that stretched into the neighboring Typhon Empire.
Facing southward, Gawain and his team looked up at the imposing majesty of the Dark Mountains, rising like a wall before them.
Gawain climbed onto a large rock beside the riverbank, surveying the surroundings and comparing the scene to the maps he had committed to memory. To the west lay a forest of black fir and giant pines, ideal as a source of timber for construction. To the east, he noted a rocky outcrop where, if his memory served, there were iron deposits.
These mountains held rich resources beyond just iron. The Dark Mountains, he knew, were full of valuable minerals.
Although Gawain Cecil and King Charles I's original expedition had not lingered in the Dark Mountains, they had conducted preliminary surveys along their route. Gawain still remembered the mineral veins they had identified but never utilized.
Since the Anzu royal court had since abandoned these resources, he saw no reason not to claim them for the Cecil family.
After thoroughly examining the terrain, Gawain dismounted from the rock and turned to Heidi. "We'll set up camp here. Pitch the tents we brought and have the soldiers accompany the lumberjacks into the forest to start gathering timber. But don't go too deep; we need to be cautious of wild animals. Don't worry about magical creatures—the Dark Mountains aren't as dangerous as they seem. The effects of the Dark Tide have largely faded. You'd need to reach a mana focal point to encounter any magical beasts. For now, have the remaining laborers focus on setting up the camp. Rebecca, Byron, Amber—you're coming with me."
Heidi hesitated. "Ancestor, are you planning to…"
Gawain smiled, a glint of determination in his eyes. "I'm going to retrieve my inheritance."