By nightfall, Pinix finally arrived at Terrania Forest.
The giant bird gently lowered Noah, Amira, and Lee in front of the modest home they had built together.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, Noah let out a relieved sigh.
"That was quite a tiring trip."
Not far away, Tomas, who had been cutting wooden beams, immediately stopped working.
"My Lord, you've returned."
Noah nodded with a smile.
"We made it back safely."
A moment later, Arcer emerged from the fields with a hoe resting on his shoulder.
"How was your journey, my Lord?"
"It went smoothly."
Standing behind Noah, Lee could only stare at the two men in confusion.
"My Lord...?"
she repeated quietly.
Her gaze shifted from Tomas to Arcer, then back to Noah.
Until now, she had assumed Noah was nothing more than an ordinary traveler.
But now...
Two people who appeared much older than him addressed him with complete respect.
"Noah..."
"Who exactly are you?"
Noah merely smiled.
"I was planning to explain everything."
"But first..."
He glanced toward his shoulder.
"Lucia."
"Show yourself."
"Yes, my Lord."
The tiny Rabiba sitting quietly on Noah's shoulder leaped to the ground.
A moment later, its small body was enveloped in golden light.
The light grew brighter.
Slowly taking the form of a woman with long crimson hair, brilliant white wings, and gleaming golden armor.
Lee's eyes widened.
She instinctively staggered backward, nearly losing her balance.
"The..."
"The Legendary Goddess of War...?"
Noah immediately turned toward her.
"That name again."
"What exactly is Lucia?"
Before Lee could answer, Astra's voice echoed inside Noah's mind.
Information.
The Legendary Goddess of War was a being created by the Ancient God to preserve the world's balance.
She was renowned as an undefeated guardian.
After the world entered an era of peace thousands of years ago, she disappeared without a trace.
Lucia is a newly created individual based upon that same concept.
Noah nodded slowly.
"I see..."
"So she's not actually the same goddess."
Lee frowned.
"What?"
"I haven't explained anything yet."
Noah gave an awkward smile.
"Ah..."
"I'll explain later."
He remembered that only he could hear Astra's voice.
To everyone else...
It looked as though he had been talking to himself.
Before long, the warm aroma of cooking drifted from the kitchen.
Amira carried several bowls of food to the simple wooden table outside the house.
"Dinner's ready."
Her cheerful voice broke the quiet of the evening.
The delicious smell quickly filled the small clearing, causing everyone to stop what they were doing.
They gathered around the sturdy wooden table Tomas had built.
Noah took his first bite and smiled with satisfaction.
"Amira."
The little girl looked up.
"Your cooking is always delicious."
"Where did you learn to cook?"
Amira's cheeks immediately turned pink.
"My..."
"My mother taught me when I was little."
She smiled softly, though longing still lingered in her eyes.
"She always said that someday..."
"...I'd have to learn to take care of myself."
Noah fell silent for a moment.
He knew how much pain those simple words carried.
Lee tasted a spoonful of soup before giving a small nod.
"Hmm..."
"This flavor..."
She looked at Amira for a moment.
"...feels familiar."
"It tastes like the food from my homeland."
Amira shyly lowered her head.
"Thank you..."
Seeing her smile return, Noah smiled as well.
For the first time since arriving in Magnora...
Dinner truly felt like sharing a meal with family.
They sat together around the wooden table.
Lee quietly took in Noah's life.
A modest house.
Fields that had only just begun to grow.
A small warehouse.
A kitchen.
A livestock enclosure still under construction.
Everything was simple.
Yet carefully organized.
As they ate, Noah finally told her everything.
About the laboratory.
The explosion.
His arrival in Magnora.
The Blessing called Astra.
And how Lucia, Tomas, and Arcer had come into existence.
Lee listened in silence.
From time to time, she glanced at Lucia before looking back at Noah.
When his story finally ended, she let out a long breath.
"So that's how it is..."
"No wonder you seemed so unusual from the very beginning."
Noah chuckled.
"I still feel like all of this is a dream sometimes."
Soft laughter filled the evening once again.
After a while, Lee raised her hand.
"By the way..."
"Where am I supposed to sleep?"
She looked toward the house.
"It seems every room is already occupied."
Then she turned toward Noah with a playful smile.
"Don't tell me..."
"...I'm sharing a room with you?"
Noah nearly choked on his drink.
"W-What?"
"Of course not!"
His reaction made Amira and Arcer laugh quietly.
Even Tomas, who had remained silent until then, smiled.
"You can use my room."
"I'll sleep on the porch."
Lee immediately shook her head.
"I couldn't possibly take your room."
But Tomas simply smiled warmly.
"It's all right."
"My Lord's study is almost finished."
"Once that's done, I'll build a room for you."
"So think of it as only temporary."
Lee looked at the old craftsman for several moments.
Then she smiled sincerely.
"In that case..."
"Thank you."
That night, they once again shared dinner together.
Deep within the quiet forest...
Noah's little community welcomed one more member.
And before anyone realized it...
The new life he had begun building in Terrania Forest felt more alive than ever before.
That morning, the atmosphere around Noah's modest home felt a little different.
With Lee's arrival, their small community had gained another member.
As usual, before the sun had fully risen, the sound of Tomas's hammer echoed through the quiet forest. Arcer was already working in the fields, while Amira busied herself preparing breakfast.
Lee slowly opened the door to her room.
She looked around in admiration.
"Everyone's already working this early..."
Not far away, Noah sat atop a large rock in front of his nearly completed study.
A notebook rested on his lap while his hand moved steadily across the page.
"What are you doing so early in the morning?" Lee asked as she walked over.
Noah looked up.
"Oh, you're awake."
Lee sat beside him.
"I've been wondering."
"You've been writing nonstop."
Noah closed the notebook.
"I'm making plans."
"Plans?"
"I want to build a settlement."
Lee frowned.
"A settlement?"
"Not just a place to live."
"I want to build a community."
"A place where people can live safely, work according to their abilities, and never have to live under oppression."
Noah looked toward the fields where Arcer was working.
"If everything goes according to plan..."
"...this place will eventually become a village."
Lee studied him for a moment.
"You want to build a village?"
"You're completely crazy."
Noah simply smiled.
"Why not?"
"No kingdom will ever accept me."
"In fact, they're hunting me."
"So tell me..."
"...am I supposed to spend the rest of my life hiding?"
Lee fell silent.
She couldn't argue with him.
After hearing Noah's story the previous night, she knew the danger was very real.
"I understand now."
"If that royal prophecy is true..."
"...your Blessing really could frighten a lot of people."
Noah slowly shook his head.
"I never wanted to become a king."
"And I have no intention of taking anyone else's kingdom."
"I just want to build a place of my own."
"A place where people can live better lives."
Lee looked at him for a long while.
Little by little, she began to understand him.
Noah wasn't chasing power.
He was trying to build a life.
Suddenly...
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion erupted from the direction of the fields.
Noah immediately jumped to his feet.
Instinctively, he glanced toward Lucia.
The little Rabiba remained calmly perched on his shoulder without reacting at all.
If Lucia isn't moving...
Then it isn't a threat.
They hurried toward the source of the sound.
When they arrived...
A massive tree lay toppled to the ground.
Its trunk had been split clean in two.
Standing before it was Amira, her face completely pale.
Resting atop a wooden log was the magic book Noah had bought her the previous day.
Lee understood immediately.
"Amira..."
"Were you practicing magic?"
Amira lowered her head.
"M-Mister..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I didn't think it would be this powerful."
Noah looked at the fallen tree.
Then back at Amira.
Instead of getting angry...
He smiled.
"That's incredible."
Amira slowly looked up.
"You're..."
"...not angry?"
Noah shook his head.
"You just need to learn how to control it."
Lee smiled too.
"I agree."
She gently motioned for Amira to follow her.
"Come."
"Starting today..."
"...I'll be your teacher."
Amira glanced at Noah.
When he nodded, she smiled brightly.
"Okay."
And so, that very morning...
Amira's first lesson as an apprentice to an elven mage began.
Noah returned to his study.
He opened his notebook once again.
Then resumed writing.
If I want to recruit more people...
I'll need someone skilled in diplomacy.
Someone who can also handle administration...
Evaluate people's talents...
And oversee the community's daily affairs.
His pen continued moving.
Construction...
Tomas will remain the head builder.
I only need to recruit ordinary workers.
He turned to the next page.
Trade...
I'll need a capable adventurer.
Someone who can hunt...
Gather monster gems...
And recruit other adventurers.
Noah stopped writing.
He rubbed his forehead.
"But..."
"If more people join us..."
"They'll all need work."
"Otherwise..."
"...this village will never grow."
He crossed out several lines.
Then paused.
One thing was still missing.
"A name..."
"This place needs a name."
He massaged his temples.
"Ah..."
"My head's starting to hurt."
"Hehe..."
A quiet giggle sounded behind him.
Noah turned around.
Lee and Amira had apparently been standing there for some time.
"You two?"
"How long have you been there?"
Lee grinned mischievously.
"Since you started talking to yourself."
Amira pointed at Noah's notebook.
"You've written so much, Mister."
Lee thought for a moment.
"How about..."
"...Terranios?"
"Since we're living in Terrania Forest."
Amira immediately raised her hand.
"I have an idea!"
"Noah Forest!"
Noah laughed.
"That sounds strange."
He looked toward the vast forest stretching into the distance.
Then took a deep breath.
"Noaterra."
Lee and Amira exchanged puzzled glances.
"Noaterra?"
Noah nodded firmly.
"This place will become the beginning of everything."
"So..."
"...its name will be Noaterra."
Amira immediately ran toward Tomas, who was still hard at work.
"Tomas!"
"Make us a sign!"
"It should say..."
"NOATERRA!"
Tomas stopped swinging his hammer.
He smiled warmly as he looked at Noah.
"So..."
"This place finally has a name."
"I'll make the finest sign I can."
Watching the scene unfold, Noah smiled.
For some reason...
For the very first time...
This humble place truly felt like home.
A short while later, Arcer hurried over from the livestock enclosure.
He looked unusually excited.
"My Lord!"
"Our Cowny have started breeding!"
Noah immediately stood up.
"Really?"
Arcer nodded enthusiastically.
"The male and female just mated."
Even Lee looked surprised.
"You..."
"You're raising Cowny?"
As they walked toward the enclosure, Noah explained how Arcer had discovered the Cowny's natural food source and why the rare animals could successfully breed in Terrania Forest.
The longer Lee listened...
The more impressed she became.
This tiny community was developing far faster than she had ever imagined.
Later that afternoon, Noah invited Lee to sit outside his study.
Until now, the only people around him had been Tomas, Arcer, Lucia, and Amira.
But Lee was the first adult who truly understood life in Magnora.
Noah handed her his notebook.
"You've read it already, haven't you?"
Lee nodded.
"More or less."
"From my experience traveling..."
"...if you want to recruit people..."
"...don't start with Araris Village."
"Why?"
"Most of its people live as subjects little better than slaves to the kingdom."
"And many have become accustomed to crime just to survive."
Noah nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense."
"What about other villages?"
Lee thought for a moment.
"Bararis."
"And Cararis."
"Those villages are fairly prosperous."
"The people there already have comfortable lives."
Noah made another note.
Suddenly, Lee remembered something.
"Oh."
"There's one more place."
"Beyond the mountains near Herkalus Forest..."
"...there used to be an outlaw settlement."
"They were people who fled the kingdom's cruelty."
"They lived without recognizing anyone's rule."
Noah immediately looked up.
"You know where it is?"
Lee shook her head.
"No."
"I only rescued a few of them while hunting."
"They were the ones who told me about it."
Noah fell into thought.
"Astra."
"Yes."
"Do you know where that settlement is?"
Information: No relevant data available.
Noah let out a quiet sigh.
"I thought so."
He smiled faintly.
"If you had every answer..."
"...I probably wouldn't have to think so hard."
His gaze shifted toward Terrania Forest.
"In that case..."
"We'll have to find them ourselves."
"But how?"
Lee smiled.
"Weren't you planning to create an adventurer?"
Noah nodded.
"Then create one."
"Give them the ability to evaluate monster gems."
"While searching for the settlement..."
"...they can continue hunting and collecting gems."
"Then you can simply sell what they bring back."
Noah's eyes immediately lit up.
"That's a great idea."
"That way none of their work goes to waste."
They continued discussing plans until the sun was nearly setting.
In the end, however, Noah realized another problem.
"I still don't have anyone capable of recruiting and managing settlers."
Lee smiled.
"I'm not exactly good at persuading people either."
Noah laughed softly.
"In that case..."
"...I'll have to create someone who specializes in diplomacy, administration, and community management."
He closed his notebook.
"But..."
"...Tomas is going to have to work even harder."
Noah looked toward the new house being built for Lee.
"Because after this..."
"...we're going to need two more houses."
In the end, they agreed to postpone their search for the hidden settlement.
Before expanding their community...
Noaterra first needed to be ready to welcome its future citizens.