“Okay! I’ll do it!”

“You may look different, but you’re the same old Raphtalia!”

“Yeah, you said the same thing back when we were still living in the village.”

“Yes, I did. Everyone, let’s take back that flag!”

“Yeah!”

The slave trader was starting to look a bit uncomfortable. He obviously wasn’t okay with this kind of atmosphere.

“Now then, let us perform the slave curse ceremony. Yes sir.”

“I’m going to work them like horses. I can’t wait! Muhahaha!” I whispered to the slave trader and he perked up instantly.

“I feel a sudden surge of motivation! Yes sir! Sowing the seeds of hope and then reaping those benefits for yourself! My hat’s off to you! Yes sir!”

Was this guy really that simple or did he just revel in the suffering of others?! Whatever . . . I’d now officially received the territory from Eclair, and so we set off for the village.

Chapter Six: Feeding the Herd

Aside from Raphtalia and Rishia, I set tight restrictions on all of the slaves so that the slave curse would punish them right away if they didn’t take things seriously. On our first day in the village, I went out with the slaves to start cleaning up the wreckage of the buildings that had been destroyed.

“This house is important to me! It’s my home!”

That was Keel screaming. We’d come to the location where his house had been, apparently. But all that was left now was rubble in our way.

“There’s nothing wrong with cherishing your home, but the roof has collapsed, and the walls are destroyed beyond repair. I’m sorry, but you have to understand that there will be houses we can repair and others that we can’t.”

I looked through the debris to see if there were any valuables or items that we could use, but everything I found was either covered in rust or wasn’t anything we could use. Luckily the well was still usable. It would take a bit of work, but we could probably use the garden, too.

“I can understand wanting to preserve the memory, but if we’re going to rebuild the village, then we need to get rid of anything that’s just getting in the way.”

“But—”

“Keel! Stop being selfish.”

Raphtalia reprimanded Keel. I wasn’t going to stop her.

“This used to be your house, right?”

“Yeah!”

“Alright, then the new house that we build here will be yours. Only it will be a communal house that you will manage. More people will be joining us, so I’m counting on you to manage it properly.”

“Al . . . alright.”

Keel mumbled and nodded.

“That’s settled. Now, Filo!”

“Okaaay!”

The instant Keel let his guard down, Filo charged into the skeleton of a house and kicked down the supports, destroying the building.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

I left Keel standing there dazed and moved on to our next task. The building materials and castle soldiers sent by the queen arrived before noon. There was stone, lumber, and . . . plaster?