BWNAT 16

Chapter 16

And That Eye Is the Proof of the Curse?

The plan Cliff had made was simple:

Use everyone who could work.

He had even called in the women to manage the kilns.

Meanwhile, the number of kilns continued to increase.

“…If we keep increasing the number of kilns like this, eventually all of the villagers will end up doing nothing but charcoal work.”

Nigel came to see him with a worried expression.

I knew the old man wouldn’t just stand by and watch this happen.

Even now, the women were operating the charcoal kilns.

And what were the men doing?

They were building even more kilns.

From Nigel’s perspective, it was only natural to worry. This would dramatically increase charcoal production, but eventually the territory would be overflowing with people whose only job was kiln work.

Cliff replied,

“I know.”

“Then… are you planning to transform the territory into one that specializes in industry?”

Charcoal could easily become a valuable export.

Just as they had sold ropes and baskets to Tom’s merchant company, they could sell charcoal and make money.

The territory’s farmland was poor anyway. It wouldn’t be strange if Cliff abandoned agriculture and chose industry instead.

But that can’t happen. We have to prevent that.

Nigel was desperate.

Cliff let out a small laugh.

“If this territory had trade routes open in every direction, then perhaps.”

Nigel’s tense expression relaxed.

Cliff had perfectly understood the reason for his concern.

The territory couldn’t survive through trade alone.

Unless Cliff’s canal plan somehow succeeded, which had already become impossible…

There was only the northern path.

At the very least, we have to achieve food self-sufficiency.

Suppose this territory gained an enemy.

If that single northern road was blocked, everyone here would starve.

“The harvest is over anyway. We need to run the kilns, make winter supplies, and repair the houses. As long as we prepare for a warm winter…”

He smiled.

“…we have enough food.”

There had never been a time when the territory had this much grain.

The supplies from Tom’s merchant company and the provisions Beluman had hoarded.

Everything had been transferred into the territorial warehouses.

They had also signed a five-year supply contract with Tom.

Unless his merchant company goes bankrupt, I doubt he’d betray us.

This was a deal with nobility.

No merchant would dare betray them first.

Which meant now was the time to distribute food generously.

Instead, they needed to secure other things.

“Then…?”

“It means that some of the kilns we’re working so hard to build now will eventually have to be abandoned. But that’s not something to regret too much.”

He shrugged.

“Maintaining them won’t require much manpower. Later… whether through merchant companies or by going outside ourselves, we’ll simply buy people.”

Just as people from this territory had once been sold as slaves…

This time, they would purchase labor.

Until then, part of the charcoal operation would be halted during farming seasons.

Once farming was over, the kilns would run again.

Simple enough.

Nigel nodded.

“I understand your intentions, Acting Lord. For now… all we need to do is survive this harsh winter.”

“Exactly.”

Cliff smiled.

“Tell the villagers the same thing. The wages for working in the kilns will be paid in charcoal. They can use it to survive the winter.”

Everyone in the territory was struggling right now.

But they could endure.

Because they knew all this hardship was ultimately for their sake.

If they suffered now, as Nigel had said, they could survive the season of bitter cold.

“Besides charcoal, there’s still plenty to do. Houses need repairs, and winter clothing must be prepared.”

The efforts he’d made to persuade even Nigel had borne fruit.

• Territory EXP +50

• Lord EXP +50

The quest had been completed ahead of schedule.

But another remained.

<Winter Preparations 2>

Description:

A brutal winter approaches.

As lord, prepare so that your people can spend the winter warmly and safely.

Secure enough heating resources and food, and prepare for unforeseen accidents.

Bring your people a warm winter!

Conditions

• Secure Blackwood Charcoal: 100.185 / 150.000 tons

• Secure Winter Food Reserves: 231 / 150.000 tons

• Produce Winter Clothing: 618 / 800 sets

Rewards

• Territory EXP +75

• Lord EXP +75

• Environmental Category Skill: Climate Resistance +1

“…This one’s going to be easy.”

The number of kilns had already increased beyond necessity.

Before the first snowfall, they’d reach their charcoal target.

The territory also possessed skilled craftsmen.

Even without Cliff’s instructions, people were already making winter clothes.

Even though they’re busy enough with the work I’ve assigned.

Most of the clothing was being sewn by the elderly.

They had lived in this territory for decades.

Every winter, they had watched countless people die.

Even without being told, they understood that what Cliff was doing was necessary.

* * *

For a while, the territory had been bustling.

Charcoal kilns belching smoke without pause.

Elderly women sewing indoors alongside children.

Men building kilns, hauling charcoal, repairing homes, and blocking drafts from entering.

Then…

All of it stopped.

• Secure Blackwood Charcoal: 152.375 / 150.000 tons

• Secure Winter Food Reserves: 229.751 / 150.000 tons

• Produce Winter Clothing: 800 / 800 sets

The Winter Preparation Quest had ended.

And as if it had been waiting for that very moment…

Snowflakes began drifting down outside.

“…Winter always frightened me.”

Priscilla came to his side and gently rested her head against his shoulder.

She had changed a great deal.

She wasn’t the kind of woman who naturally initiated this kind of intimacy before.

People really do improve with proper education.

A pleasant fragrance drifted from her.

Then Cliff remembered what she’d said.

That winter frightened her.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because it’s cold?”

“That’s part of it…”

She looked outside.

“But colder than the weather… were the people.”

“When winter approached, everyone grew gloomy. Until winter passed, everything was always serious.”

“…”

Cliff nodded.

He understood.

It had been the same in the House of Duke Aedron.

If anything, being an illegitimate child had spared him from noticing it as much.

But every winter, even the duke’s household became tense.

Bad news arrived constantly.

So it was the same here.

How many people would die this winter?

Malnutrition was common.

And through preparing for winter himself, Cliff understood.

The winter clothing made here had limits.

People who couldn’t eat properly huddled together for warmth.

Sometimes entire families died from smoke inhalation accidents.

When that happened…

The whole household would be wiped out.

Even so, the ancestors of House Elimis who monopolized charcoal or only distributed it to important people… were something else.

Many people had died.

Roads became blocked.

Sometimes people disappeared beneath the snow and were found only after winter ended.

“The maids used to talk about it,” Priscilla said quietly.

“‘Someone died today.’

‘That entire family was wiped out yesterday.’

Things like that.”

“When winter came, there were many stories about people selling their children.”

It was probably the only way they could survive.

At least there were no stories of cannibalism.

“Disappearances were common too. People who vanished during winter were sometimes found as corpses beneath the snow after it ended…”

Her eyes looked sorrowful.

The Elimis Territory where she’d been born and raised.

The land her family had governed.

“Sometimes I wondered…”

She lowered her head.

“If this land had been abandoned by God.”

“And whether, once every year, a curse descended upon this territory to kill everyone living here.”

“And the proof of that curse…”

Cliff looked outside.

“…is that snow?”

“Yes.”

He had never imagined anyone would consider snow to be a divine curse.

It left him feeling strange.

Words truly held power.

Listening to such bleak thoughts, even he found himself drawn into them.

The reason Priscilla was talking so much today…

And why she seemed so emotional…

She’s had too much to drink.

A sweet scent of wine lingered around her.

She had been drinking today.

Incidentally…

Today was her eighteenth birthday.

Born in winter, yet sees winter as a curse…

Winter was the season of her birth.

Perhaps…

She even viewed her own birth as a curse.

Cliff gently stroked her hair.

Because of the alcohol, she was showing more of her true feelings than usual.

He liked that side of her.

But he refused to let her continue dwelling on loneliness.

Smack.

The sweet taste of wine lingered on her lips.

Now that she had come of age, their true first night together was even sweeter.

And Cliff made a promise to himself.

The day you were born wasn’t a curse.

He made his decision.

He would hold a winter festival.

At least this winter, he wanted the people of the territory to see things differently.

What should we do?

There had been countless festivals in his previous life.

But he had never paid much attention to them.

If we’re going to have a winter festival…

Then the falling snow itself was the perfect centerpiece.

Snow was proof of a curse?

What nonsense.

Snow was a gift from the heavens celebrating the day she was born.

And he intended to prove it.