7:Village Condition

Janet had just given birth.

Priya instructed the maids to clean up all the filth.

Only then did Roland enter.

Upon entering the room, Roland saw Janet, who had finished giving birth and was lying on the bed resting.

Her originally rosy face was now pale.

She had lost a lot of vitality from giving birth. From what he could infer, the stronger the aptitude of the children, the higher the nourishment needed to breed them.

"Janet, you've worked hard."

Seeing his wife in this state, Roland couldn't help but show a hint of pity in his eyes.

"Not hard at all!"

Feeling her husband's concern, Janet felt warmth in her heart. The two of them exchanged sweet words for a while.

Then, Roland turned his head to carefully examine the newborn baby.

This was a girl. It must be said that an E offspring is extraordinary.

Generally speaking, babies grow in the amniotic fluid in the womb and are born with wrinkled bodies.

They look like little old men and it takes some time to recover and return to normal.

However…..

His little daughter was different.

Even though she had just been born, her skin was still smooth and fair. Her little face was even rosy. She looked very cute and despite crying, her eyes seemed to pick around curiously as if trying to observe information.

The eyes weren't anything like children at all. For a moment, he wondered if his daughter was a transmigrator but he suppressed his thoughts as it didn't matter.

"Wuwu!"

Looking at this delicately carved little one, Roland couldn't help but reach out and play with her.

And this little one was very cooperative.

Waving her hands and feet, she grabbed Roland's hand and laughed happily.

As Roland played with her, he felt that the girl was eagerly looking at the sword on his waist.

Seeing the intimate interaction between father and daughter, a warm smile appeared on Janet's pale face.

Then, as if thinking of something, she spoke, "Roland, you haven't given our daughter a name yet!"

"Let's call her Hilda! Hilda Weiss."

After pondering for a moment, Roland spoke.

Hilda is the given name, and Weiss is the family name.

The reason for giving her a name is also simple. According to the system's detection, this little one's martial spirit talent is at the intermediate level.

At least several times stronger than her old father. She will become a powerful female swordsman in the future.

The name Hilda itself has the meaning of battle, female warrior.

Taking this name is just right.

"Hehehe!"

Seemingly sensing her father's expectations, Hilda smiled even brighter. A harmful giggle erupted from her like a sweet song of hark which acted as a lullaby bringing drowsiness to Janet.

...…

In the blink of an eye.

Several months have passed again.

Perhaps because nurturing an E offspring requires more nutrition.

The physical deficit caused by Janet giving birth this time was much more severe than the previous times.

To help his wife recover as soon as possible and avoid any complications, Roland especially spent half a year's income from the territory to buy a bottle of advanced nourishing magic medicine.

This large expenditure of several hundred gold coins instantly made the family's finances somewhat tight.

There's no other way.

Roland could only go hunting monsters in the nearby forest during his free time.

Hunting was both crucial and necessary.

Their territory was a village with no sturdy walls or fortress surrounding it.

If you ignore the monster number, they may form a pack, and if one of the monsters starts cultivation it will become intelligent and stronger which might cause harm to the village.

This wasn't a normal world, a monster walking the path of cultivation may be tougher and stronger than humans. So most of the time Roland would be on the hunt

His team consists of 20 normal soldiers whom he had trained personally. They had a bit of aptitude to attain Level 1 and become a Master knight but it was difficult.

Till now except him, there hadn't been any awakened warrior in the squad.

His father was a 2nd rank warrior and that's it.

Except for him none of his brothers had aptitude to subsidise the household.

With his cultivation as a 6th-level warrior and a 5-star battle technique - Storm Gale Sword Technique, those low-level monsters on the outskirts of the forest were no match for him.

Easily, he could kill them with one move.

Half a month later….

Roland hunted down 3 wind wolves, 4 water arrow rabbits, and 5 earth spike insects.

Although these were all low-level monsters of levels 1-3.

For others they were terror but for Roland, they weren't anything worth it.

During his stay, he learned that his Kingdom of Jin had around 80 baronies of which 5-6 were destroyed each year and new people were given land.

These barons get killed precisely by these monsters. If Roland can't keep up his strength this place might have already been buried with his father.

Even during his return, Roland killed almost dozens of rank 3 on the way. But no matter what, they were genuine extraordinary creatures.

The fur, bones, flesh, and magic cores were all valuable.

Selling one for a dozen gold coins was not a problem.

By selling all these prey to merchants, Roland easily earned over a hundred gold coins.

Tasting the sweetness, Roland became even more enthusiastic about hunting monsters.

....

Roland cloaked in a simple traveler's garb, moved through Apus Village with a deliberate pace, his keen eyes surveying the crude surroundings.

Beside him walked his newly appointed butler, Roan. Roan had been a servant of the Weiss family, supported by Roland's father, and had recently returned from a small academy where he completed his studies. He had hoped to join the Baron family upon his return, only to find them gone and the estate in disarray.

Thankfully, the young Lord appeared and took the reins. Since the Baron had few servants, taken from this village, he was familiar with Roan.

He was that kid who would run after Roland calling him big brother. Due to their bonding, his father took pity on this guy and supported him, for Roan was eternally grateful.

Roland stood at the edge of Apus Village, surveying its crude appearance with a critical eye.

As Roland observed the scene, he noted the dried, cracked fields where crops once struggled to grow, now overtaken by weeds. The smell of unkempt livestock and stagnant waste permeated the air. The villagers moved with wearied faces etched with the hardships of their daily lives.

The village was a patchwork of makeshift structures and haphazardly assembled cottages, their wooden walls weathered and stained from years of exposure to the elements.

The roofs, constructed of simple thatch or uneven shingles, sagged in places, and many were in dire need of repair. The streets, little more than beaten dirt paths, were strewn with debris and uneven stones, making travel both treacherous and slow.

Scattered around the village were the remnants of various attempts at agriculture, small plots of withering crops, and neglected fields overrun with weeds.

It wasn't that their land wasn't big; rather, due to fear of monsters, they only farmed the nearby places.

Also, they hadn't gotten good crop seeds to use as a base which resulted in this.

Hunting and animal husbandry seemed to be the major job here.

As he walked ahead air was thick with the pungent smell of unkempt livestock and the faint, sour odor of waste that had accumulated in makeshift pens. Occasionally, the sound of chickens clucking or the distant braying of a mule punctuated the otherwise somber silence.

"Roan," Roland said quietly, "how do you find the state of things here?"

Roan glanced around, his expression a mix of concern and disappointment. "It's worse than I expected, sir. The fields are all but abandoned, and the roads are in terrible condition. It's clear that the village has seen better days but now after Baron's demise…"

Roan left a few words unspoken.

"Indeed," Roland replied, his gaze shifting to the parched fields and the sagging rooftops. "We'll need to consider how to address these issues if we're to gain any support from the villagers."

As they walked, a few local residents followed at a distance, whispering among themselves. "Another stranger," one villager muttered. "Why do they even bother coming here? What could they possibly do for us?"

"More talk and empty promises," another sighed heavily. "The fields are dry, the roads are impassable, and no one seems to care."

Roland, overhearing their murmurs, frowned. "It seems they're skeptical of any help coming their way."

"Yes," Roan replied, his voice tinged with sympathy. "Their trust has been worn thin by years of neglect. Secondly, from what I heard there were a few scammers who promised to buy some good farming tools, but they took the money and never returned.

The village itself was a patchwork of haphazardly constructed cottages with weathered wooden walls and sagging thatched roofs. The dirt paths, trodden and uneven, were slick with mud from the recent rains and strewn with debris.

"Roan," Roland said thoughtfully, "we need to make a plan that will not only address the immediate threat but also provide some long-term relief for these people."

"Understood, sir," Roan responded. "I'll assist in any way I can to ensure that the village benefits from our presence here."

As they continued their survey, Roland weighed the pros and cons of the village's condition, considering how it would impact their plans. The rugged appearance of the village and its evident struggles only underscored the urgency of the mission ahead.

He used the whole day to survey the place, draw the map, and learn about the topography. He found that a great part of the land was shadowed by forest.

To extend the agricultural fields, he needed to extend the area by clearing this forest which wasn't easy as the forest was a source of monsters.

And at his level, if any strong monster appears then all will be useless as long as he has a life he can find a way.

...…

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the study room in the Baron's residence. Roland, seated at the head of a large wooden table, was ready to discuss the future of the village.

Janet, his golden-haired wife with a gentle roundness to her abdomen from recent childbirth, entered the room gracefully despite her exhaustion. Priya, the mature black-haired housekeeper, followed closely, her serious demeanor reflecting her concern for both the household and the village. Roan, the newly appointed butler, brought up the rear, his youthful face eager and focused.

As they gathered around the table, Roland began, "Thank you all for coming. We need to discuss the next steps for advancing our village."

Janet gave him a reassuring smile, while Priya and Roan listened attentively. "I've seen firsthand the challenges we face," Roland continued. "The fields are neglected, the roads are poor, and overall, the village is in dire condition."

Priya nodded. "What do you propose, my lord?"

Roland outlined his plan. "We need to repair the roads, improve the fields, and bring in better seeds and tools. We should also consider clearing the forest to the east, though it will be risky."

Roan interjected, "Clearing the forest could attract more monsters. How do we handle that?"

"We'll plan expeditions to assess and manage the threat," Roland said. "And we must build trust with the villagers by showing commitment to their well-being."

Janet looked at Roland, "What about the villagers' support?"

"We need to engage with them, address their concerns, and prove our commitment," Roland replied.

Priya suggested, "Improving infrastructure and starting a local market could also help."

The group spent the evening discussing the details, assigning tasks, and setting a course of action. As the meeting concluded, Roland felt confident that, with their combined efforts, they could transform Apus Village into a thriving community.

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