The North once had five territories.
But due to the harsh environment, monster incursions, foreign interference, and corrupt lords, all of them had fallen—leaving only ours.
The people of the destroyed territories had sought help from the other northern territories.
But those territories could barely feed themselves, let alone take in refugees from the fallen ones.
In the end, the displaced Northerners who headed for the capital mostly ended up living the same miserable existence I'd endured in my previous life.
With nowhere to return to, they had to swallow whatever was demanded of them.
Either that, or they became marauders wandering the North like these people—fighting for their lives every single day.
"Lord Lumio, I can see camps ahead."
About thirty minutes of walking brought a cluster of tents into view through the underbrush.
The marauders trailing behind us looked visibly shaken.
That was only natural.
Very few people knew the location of their main base.
'In my previous life, I had a hell of a time finding this place too.'
The knights who'd advanced first began searching the area.
"The camps are completely empty. Doesn't look like anyone's here."
"That's correct. I can't sense anyone either. They must have spotted us coming and fled."
At the knights' report, the marauders exchanged tense glances.
Only their leader maintained an air of composure, smirking at me.
"Well, this is awkward. For all your big talk, it's a bust."
"A bust......"
I repeated his words as I extended my hand into the air.
Back in the day, I'd thought the same thing and come up empty more times than I could count.
But not anymore.
I sensed the flow of refined mana in the atmosphere.
This was a domain learned purely through experience—through instinct.
A concealment barrier had been cast over this place.
Perceiving and smashing through it by brute force would be difficult, but a mage had other methods.
Namely, tampering with the formula to dismantle it.
Even in this body, a crude barrier like this was child's play to unravel.
A spark crackled from my fingertip.
SNAP!
The pillars of mana that had risen skyward like trees began to dissolve.
"He— he broke the barrier?"
"No way. Magic?"
The marauders' expressions hardened in real time.
The moment the barrier lifted, the presence of people flooded in from what had been empty space on all sides.
"What the— Why did the barrier— No, you lot...... Don't tell me you betrayed us!"
As the marauders who'd followed us let out groans, their leader emerged from a tent and bellowed.
Roughly twenty people stepped out.
Their gear was far better than the group outside.
"N-no, that's not it!"
"Then how do you explain those knights?"
"That's......"
The marauder, sweating and stammering, shot a sidelong glance at me.
I put on my most agreeable face and urged our marauders along.
"Go on—explain. We're here to help."
"So this was your plan all along, dragging us here."
Truthfully, I could have come straight here.
But if I had, they would have fought us to the death.
I'd wanted to approach more naturally and win them over.
While I was mulling over methods, I'd happened upon the marauders being attacked by Garms.
Lucky break.
"I'm the son of the North's remaining lord. These people helped us when Garms attacked. They shared food with us as well."
"......And you expect me to believe that?"
The marauders' leader snorted and snapped his fingers.
A magic circle pre-drawn on the ground activated.
'A cage-type barrier.'
I immediately pressed my hand to the ground and shattered the circle's formula.
CRACK—!
Then I strolled casually through the standoff between the knights and marauders, blades bristling on all sides, and made my way toward the leader.
"......A mage?"
The marauder leader's expression twisted.
"If you can dismantle barrier magic that easily, what level are you?"
'First Circle.'
For now, letting the misunderstanding stand seemed advantageous.
"Lower your weapons. If I'd intended harm, I wouldn't have saved your people."
"Planning to take us prisoner?"
"No. I'd rather you join our territory. All of you—including the groups stationed elsewhere."
"So you want us to become a noble's dogs."
"'Join' might be a confusing word. Let me rephrase. Our territory would like to hire you as mercenaries. With fair compensation, of course."
At my words, Arhan sidled over and whispered in my ear.
"Has this been cleared with the Lord? The territory's finances are already strained—and now you want to add more people?"
"As you know, Commander, our territory doesn't have enough knights to station troops along the trading highway. With these people, we can entrust the road's security to them."
As long as the trading companies could come and go, the North's finances would improve dramatically.
On top of that, once the Mage Tower was operational, their wages would be pocket change.
"If there's only one territory left in the North, it'd be yours. And isn't your situation even worse than our territories were before they fell?"
"If I fail to keep my promise, you're free to leave."
"Why should we believe that?"
"As you can see, our territory isn't in a position to fight you to the death over this. Whether you trust me is your call."
I could see the deliberation in the leader's eyes.
"What kind of work are you planning to give us?"
"Guarding the highway that trading companies will use. Not much different from what you're already doing. That's exactly why I'm hiring you."
"You'd entrust that kind of responsibility to people like us, with no formal training?"
Of course.
The reason there were so few monsters on the roads south of the North was precisely because these people were here.
I knew firsthand how grueling it was to survive as a wanderer in this harsh land.
"The fact that you've survived this long is proof enough of your worth."
And their leader was Kamar—former Knight Commander of the Kalt Territory.
Having fought him directly in my previous life, I knew his skill well.
He could have established himself quite comfortably in the capital if he'd wanted to.
The reason he stayed here was purely to protect his fellow refugees.
The offer I was extending now would be a ray of light for him.
"Worth...... It's been a long time since anyone used that word for us."
"I have one more proposal. I'd like to buy the goods piled up behind you."
Behind him sat a mountain of miscellaneous plunder.
Roa's keepsake was in there. I pointed to the cart we'd brought.
"I'd say that's a fair trade...... unless you disagree?"
The marauders' stomachs growled audibly at the sight of the food.
"With our reputation, we can't sell that junk properly anyway. Go ahead."
I pressed the momentum.
"And your answer to the recruitment offer?"
Kamar looked to his companions.
They nodded.
"We'll follow wherever the boss goes."
"You've already done so much for us—we can't thank you enough."
Kamar wouldn't be able to ignore their wishes.
That much was certain, because the Kamar of my previous life had refused to abandon those same companions until the very moment he died fighting against the mercenaries—myself included.
His skill was more than enough to shake us off and escape. He chose not to.
'I'm sorry......'
Even in his final moments, rather than feeling wronged or angry, he'd apologized to his fallen comrades.
If that sense of responsibility were directed toward our territory?
"I'll take responsibility and see to it that all of you are taken care of."
After hesitating to the very last, he finally forced his lips apart.
"I hope you keep your word."
He bowed his head, his tone turning formal.
"......I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise."
***
As the sun began to set, the outline of the northern territory came into view.
"Um, Lord Lumio."
"What?"
"That pile of junk—it's the item the head of the Roa Trading Company mentioned, isn't it?"
"That's right."
"How much of this did you foresee?"
"......Even I didn't expect things to go this smoothly."
"Is that so?"
Well, suspicion was only natural.
But revealing that I'd regressed would obviously get me labeled a lunatic.
I was worrying about how to deflect any probing questions, but Julian simply smiled and didn't push further.
I was the one who ended up breaking the silence.
"What are you smiling about?"
"I'm just...... happy. Just a few days ago, I thought the North's situation was completely hopeless......"
Julian gazed at the marauders behind us—no, the North's newest residents—happily chatting away as they ate.
"It's all thanks to you, Lord Lumio."
What a touching thing to say.
But it was far too early for words like that. More importantly, the next few days would be the real test.
Taking them in meant the territory's new arrivals would exceed fifty.
Even though there were plenty of vacant houses, feeding everyone would be a problem until trade routes stabilized.
'If it comes down to it, I'll bring the salvaged goods to the Roa Trading Company early, but......'
I was mid-thought when—
I spotted my parents waiting at the gate.
Both pairs of eyes went wide.
"Who are all these people?"
"Refugees from the fallen northern territories. They'd been living as drifters, and I brought them in."
Under my parents' gaze, the people who'd followed me bowed their heads as though they were criminals.
Since I hadn't warned them beforehand, I hurried to add:
"Don't worry. I'll take responsibility for—"
Before I could finish, my parents spoke.
"Welcome. You must have had a hard time living on the streets all this while."
Kamar looked taken aback by the unexpected greeting.
"Is it truly alright for us to enter?"
"Of course. The North doesn't turn people away."
The rigid tension on their faces slowly began to thaw.
"......Thank you."
Perhaps what kept people going through the North's cold wasn't money or food, but warmth of a different kind.
"Your timing couldn't be better. The town's been holding a festival."
"A festival?"
"Bwahaha!"
When I asked, my father let out a booming laugh.
"What in the world did you do to the Roa Trading Company? Their merchants showed up saying they'd wronged us, hauling several cartloads of provisions!"
"Oh, really?"
I hadn't expected that.
Then again, Roa wasn't the type to leave a debt unpaid.
That was exactly why I wanted to stay on good terms with her.
A smile tugged at my lips.
My mother gave me a light tap on the forehead.
"No matter how good the deed, you are not allowed to leave the North without telling us."
The hand that had flicked my forehead softened into a gentle caress against my cheek.
"......Still, I'm grateful to see our son growing up so well. It's funny, too."
Tears glistened in my mother's eyes.
"Obviously. Whose son do you think he is?"
My father declared it proudly, though I could see him swallowing tears of his own.
I looked up at the sky for no particular reason.
"It's cold. Let's go inside."
"Right. Let's."
Inside the territory, an enormous bonfire crackled, surrounded by heaps of food.
The people greeted me with bright faces.
"Lord Lumio, you're back!"
"We've been waiting!"
"Come try this!"
"Ah......"
I was overjoyed—yet for some reason, my reaction came out muted.
Probably a reflexive pang of worry, contrasting this scene with the North's destruction.
'Is it really alright to be this happy already?'
Just then, someone gave me a push from behind. Julian.
"What are you standing around for?"
He dipped his head slightly. "Good work today."
Right.
No need to worry. I was going to prevent the North's fall no matter what. Tomorrow would bring plenty more to do.
So tonight, I'd enjoy myself.
"You too. Come on."
I grabbed Julian by the shoulder and called out to the newcomers still hovering awkwardly behind us.
"Starting tomorrow, we begin clearing the highway in earnest. So for tonight, forget your worries and enjoy yourselves."
At my declaration, the territory's people and the newcomers alike erupted into cheers. The biting night wind of the North, for once, felt unusually warm.
The preparations to open the Mage Tower were complete.