"Two different races—yet they seem to get along. Maybe humans and demi-humans really can be friends," Field thought, nodding with satisfaction. An idea formed in his mind: perhaps these two could serve as propaganda examples for interspecies harmony. Quietly, he decided to follow them to observe further.
The next moment, he regretted his decision deeply.
The two women squatted down in unison, their legs forming an "M" shape, exposing their dirt-covered backsides as they shamelessly began relieving themselves.
Field's eyes widened in horror. "Good heavens! My eyes!" he cried out, shielding his face in disbelief.
"They're actually doing their business on the road?! Is there no law and order?!"
"Is that surprising?" Kao replied, rubbing his nose nonchalantly. He didn't even flinch. "For the lower classes, this is completely normal. They're filthy by nature."
Kao's indifference revealed the harsh reality of the Holy Griffon Empire—and the entire continent. Streets, roads, and even staircases were often littered with waste, swarming with flies and overrun by rats.
Even Field's maids had been caught relieving themselves in the house's corners out of fear of venturing outside at night.
Kao's thoughts wandered further: Perhaps the lord has a… peculiar interest in watching people, but he's too shy to admit it to me. After all, the first thing he did upon arriving in Nightfall was buy a "plaything." That it turned out to be a Chosen must have been pure luck.
"After all, what noble isn't a little eccentric?"
"Handling all these territorial affairs made me forget this entirely," Field muttered as he rubbed his temples, trying to stave off an impending headache. The thought of medieval sanitation, rife with chaos and the potential for catastrophic plagues like the Black Death, weighed heavily on him.
Riding high atop his horse had spared him from seeing the filth accumulating in his domain, but now the reality was unavoidable.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Field resolved to tackle the issue head-on. As a modern man, he would not tolerate such conditions in his territory.
"Poor sanitation leads to viruses and diseases like the Black Death," he said decisively.
Kao, however, looked puzzled. "Viruses? And… Black Death?" he asked, trying to make sense of these unfamiliar terms.
Field waved a hand dismissively. "Never mind that. Kao, I'm enacting a new law. From now on, no one is allowed to defecate or urinate in public spaces. All waste must be disposed of in designated pits," he declared, wagging his finger for emphasis. "Spread the word and make sure everyone knows. For the first three violations, give warnings. After that, start imposing fines—one copper coin for slaves, three for freemen."
"Fines?" Kao's eyes lit up with excitement. "My lord, you're a true economic genius!"
Field frowned. "It's just a fine. How is this related to economics?"
"Many lords already impose taxes on breathing and even blinking, but a… defecation fine is unprecedented! It's sheer brilliance! If enforced properly, this could bring in substantial daily revenue," Kao said, practically glowing with admiration.
Field sighed. "This is about hygiene, not a money-making scheme," he clarified.
Kao, however, was thrilled. His earlier dismay over Field's "egg extravagance" had been replaced by newfound confidence in his lord's "talent for extortion." With such abilities, Nightfall's finances, Kao believed, would flourish for years to come.
As Kao left, he mused to himself: What a contradiction. A lord who squanders resources so freely, yet has the mind of a tax genius. Truly, nobles are impossible to understand.
"Now this is what a noble should be doing," Kao said with a reverent bow.
Field waved him off dismissively. "Go execute the order."
With that settled, Field turned his attention back to training the guards.
It wasn't until noon, when Ashina returned to the territory, that Field finally let the groaning and pleading soldiers go for their meal. Field, meanwhile, summoned Ashina for a report.
"How did the operation at the granary go this time?" Field asked, glancing at his minimap. The ominous skull icons that had once marked the granary's location were now gone, leaving the area looking refreshingly clear.
Ashina playfully stuck out the tip of her tongue, stretching with an elegance that somehow oozed lazy charm. "Thanks to your wise leadership, the corpse-clearing went very smoothly," she said with a cheeky grin.
Kao, always eager to please, chimed in deferentially, "You are the epitome of nobility, my lord."
"The only downside," Ashina continued, "is that the granary didn't contain anything of value. The mountains of wheat inside were completely corrupted, and most of the structure has collapsed." She produced a small pouch containing samples of the ruined grain for inspection.
"That's about what I expected," Field replied with a nod. "Go rest for now."
Through repeated campaigns, Field had come to realize that sending ordinary soldiers alongside Ashina was more of a hindrance than a help. It only made her job more difficult. To address this, he devised a two-pronged strategy:
Ashina's role:Use her exceptional combat skills and mobility to launch frequent offensives, clearing out large clusters of undead in the surrounding areas.Soldiers' role:Focus on training, while occasionally handling smaller waves of lingering undead.
Field himself would oversee the soldiers' training, manage the territory, and… occasionally indulge in kneading Ashina's legs, fluffing her tail, or scratching her ears when they needed a break.
With clear roles and responsibilities, everyone in Nightfall Territory seemed to have a brighter future ahead.
Over the next week, Field focused on expanding the territory's influence. The land to the east of the territory was pushed back by 5,000 square metres—not quite the size of a football field, but still a respectable achievement given the challenges.
Expanding the territory's controlled area was a slow and arduous process. The steps were clear but labor-intensive:
Use mist-repelling lampsto clear the death mist in a targeted area.Deploy guards to eliminate any undead lurking in the cleared space.Have the slaves thoroughly remove all traces of corruption, including infected plants and animals.Only after these steps could Field's lordly power permanently purify the land.
Even then, constant vigilance was required to ensure no new corrupted creatures invaded the area. Field had learned this through trial and error.
"Hey, you idiot! Be careful with that barrel of wine! If you drop it again, I'll make sure my boot kisses your backside! And after that, I'll shove your head into a sow's manure hole!"
From his study, Field heard Kao's furious bellow echoing up from downstairs.
Field chuckled and set down his quill. "It's time to head to Highwall Province," he said, stretching lazily.
Scissors, the ever-dutiful maid, quickly handed him his coat.
Nightfall Territory had no reliable source of food. The fields wouldn't yield anything for a long time, and the territory's food stores were depleting rapidly. Trade was the only way to secure the supplies they needed.
Descending the stairs, Field found himself face-to-face with Lynx, the guard captain. Lynx and his squad stood at attention, their posture still a bit crooked, and their formation was far from perfect. But Field was pleased. The extra rations had paid off—at least the guards no longer looked like walking skeletons.
"My lord, we wish to serve as your shield!" Lynx declared, his voice firm and filled with respect for the benevolent lord who had given them hope and sustenance. "Take us with you!"
"Haha, you've always been my shield," Field said, patting Lynx on the shoulder. "But this time, I need you to stay and protect the territory."
For this journey, Field planned to bring only three guards, including Iron Hammer, as his escort. However, Ashina and her raiding cavalry would accompany him in full. With a Chosen and 20 riders, it was already a formidable protective force.
After carefully instructing his men on the territory's defensive arrangements, Field turned and strode off.
"Lord Field is a true noble—a brave and compassionate leader," Lynx said, his voice filled with admiration. Ordinary lords rarely ventured into the death mist, let alone repeatedly risked their lives to secure the future of their domain.