Field kicked away a grotesque lump of corrupted flesh with seven or eight eyes and rubbed his sore neck.
"Thanks for your concern, but it's time to find somewhere to settle down. I can't stand another night in that creaky cart—the noise was driving me mad," he muttered.
They needed to claim a proper shelter, a place to keep out the elements. Even if the buildings here were severely corrupted, anything would be better than their current situation.
After studying the map carefully, Field said, "We're heading for the Grand Winery. Ashina, its main structure is built with bricks and stones, so it's less likely to have crumbled into a pile of rubble."
The Grand Winery was southeast of the main manor and surrounded by vast fertile farmland that had once been used to cultivate Black Pearl grapes, famous for producing the Empire's finest wine. Of course, the sprawling vineyards were a thing of the past. Now, the fields were overrun with writhing black tendrils and corrupted undead.
Among the decay, traces of grapevines and trellises could still be seen, a haunting reminder of the land's former glory. Back then, this soil had yielded the Empire's most renowned Black Pearl wine.
"Have the women clear out the fields. Don't leave a single trace of filth behind. Those writhing tendrils and chunks of flesh might look terrifying, but they're harmless," Field said. "Believe it or not, these disgusting things were once cute little animals before the grey mist descended."
"My lord, why do you look so troubled?" Ashina asked as she approached with her bow, a playful glint in her eyes. "The hardest part was getting here. Why are you looking worried now?"
Field waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to spread unease and sap the already fragile morale of the group. Instead, he flashed a teasing grin and reached out to pinch Ashina's wolf-like ears.
"Troubled? Not at all. I was just debating whether I should personally reward my most loyal and hardworking companion with a massage."
"W-what?" Ashina's cheeks flushed a deep red, her crimson eyes trembling as she stammered, trying to respond. But when she saw the mischievous look on Field's face, she immediately realised she was being teased. Puffing her cheeks indignantly, she huffed, "Lord Field, you're terrible! I was worried about you, and this is how you treat me? I'm not talking to you anymore!"
"Understood, my lord."
The slaves moved sluggishly at first.
"Finish the task within two days, and I'll pay you ten copper coins as wages. These lands will be the source of our food in the future," Field announced, playing his trump card—allowing the slaves to earn money.
The slaves' eyes lit up at the prospect. They grabbed their tools and began dispatching the corrupted creatures with newfound vigor. Their efficiency skyrocketed tenfold.
Watching this, Perry, the steward, rolled his eyes. "Only the master could be so merciful and generous. If these peasants refuse to work, hanging them would be a lot simpler."
At that moment, a group of freedmen who had been lured into Field's service stepped forward.
"My lord, isn't this idea a bit far-fetched? The land has been poisoned. Even if you clear out all the monsters, it will still be useless for farming," one villager said, stomping his foot hard on the ground. The soft, rotten soil immediately sank, forming a puddle of purplish liquid. "See? It's like a swamp full of toxins. And gods, this stench is worse than a widow's undergarments after three unwashed years!"
Hearing this, the slaves began exchanging uncertain glances.
My generosity seems to have emboldened some of them to overstep their bounds, Field thought, his eyelids drooping slightly as he spoke in an emotionless tone. "This is my order. It's not up for discussion."
But the villagers, their loyalties still tied to Baron Bull, failed to understand their new situation. "But, my lord, what you're asking for is pointless."
"Oh?" Field raised an eyebrow, his expression darkening.
The lynx-eyed guards immediately drew their blades, the sharp shing of steel filling the air. Even though Connor and his men had done most of the heavy lifting on the journey, the slave guards had still gained some training, now exuding a faint but noticeable aura of military discipline and ruthlessness.
The flash of steel snapped everyone back to their senses. They had dared to question their new lord! Realising their folly, they broke out in cold sweats and threw themselves to the ground, trembling with fear.
The tense silence lingered for half a minute.
Field finally waved a hand, breaking the oppressive atmosphere. He wasn't doing this to flaunt authority or play at being a feudal lord—it was a matter of survival. In this lawless land, far from civilisation, if he couldn't keep these people in check, he might as well hang himself and be done with it.
"You'll clear the eastern fields," Field said, his tone sharp but restrained. "And as for the idiot who called me a delusional fool—go and take five lashes. A small punishment, but one you'll remember. We'll need you for both clearing and farming the land."
The villagers, drenched in sweat and visibly terrified, quickly nodded and stammered, "Y-yes, my lord!"
Without further delay, they began hacking away at the corrupted growths, each strike releasing a sharp, otherworldly screech from the monstrous remains.
"Damn, this is straight out of a Lovecraftian nightmare," Field muttered, taking a deep breath to suppress his nausea. Long exposure to this cursed land was sure to drive anyone mad. "We need to reignite the fire of civilisation—and we'll start with the winery."
Two farmers holding torches pulled open the doors to the winery, releasing a wave of darkness and the stench of decay that hit like a physical blow. Field clamped a hand over his mouth and nose, turning his face away as he gagged, almost losing his previous meal.
"Be careful. There are a lot of footsteps on the second floor," Ashina warned, her expression unbothered by the stench. As a former slave, she had endured far worse living conditions.
"This large house is ours to claim, and there might be flammable materials inside, so no fire," Field instructed firmly.
Ashina nodded obediently. "Leave it to me!"
Grabbing an iron-reinforced shield to protect his chest, Field drew his longsword. "Raise your pikes! Get ready to brace for impact!"
Although the guards weren't formally trained, the battles over the past few days had taught them some basics. They quickly formed a small phalanx. Field took a deep breath and banged the hilt of his sword against his shield.
"Hey! Neighbours! We're here to deliver some community warmth!"
A bone-chilling howl echoed from the darkness, like the cries of tormented souls.
The thunderous drumming of footsteps suddenly erupted as grotesque, twisted monsters charged out of the pitch-black shadows. Flesh collided with steel in a cacophony of screams and metallic clangs.
Ashina, alongside her massive wolf, held back the brunt of the undead horde. Her spear sliced through the corrupted creatures with ease, while the wolf, akin to a living tank, was quickly buried under a writhing mass of undead. Yet, its defences remained unbroken. If Field had allowed the draconic wolf to breathe fire, the battle would've ended in an instant.
"Ahh! By the goddess above!"
One of the guards in the front row skewered a corrupted creature with his pike but staggered from the impact. Before he could regain his footing, he was overwhelmed by the next wave of undead. Armoured from head to toe, he crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, momentarily stunned.
Field let out a low growl and stepped forward, his longsword slicing down with force. This wasn't some fantasy anime where corruption makes creatures invincible. The undead were merely monsters wrapped in human skin. Without armour to protect them, the razor-sharp blade cut through muscle and bone effortlessly, severing the creature's head clean off.
"Th-thank you, my lord!"
The guard stared at Field with wide, terror-filled eyes, his trousers damp with the aftermath of his close brush with death. Just moments earlier, he had nearly shared an intimate "kiss" with the monster.
From the look on his face—like he was ready to fall to his knees and call Field his saviour—it was clear he had never held such deep respect and gratitude for a noble in his life.