The gryphon’s massive wings whipped up a gust of wind as it landed steadily in the newly expanded courtyard of the Lord’s Mansion.
The courtyard floor was paved with smooth stone slabs, and flowerbeds were laid out all around—clearly, this was Afu’s handiwork.
Leo was the first to jump off the gryphon’s back, then casually reached up to help Irina down.
He had just thought to snap his fingers and let the gryphon clock out, when two familiar figures hurriedly emerged from the mansion’s main doors.
“Young master, you’re back!”
“Miss Irina, you must’ve had a tiring journey!”
Lily and Nia—one carrying a silver basin of water, the other holding neatly folded hot towels—were all smiles, beaming with enthusiasm.
This scene made it feel like some noble lord was returning home.
Leo was used to it.
He deftly picked up a towel and wiped his face and hands.
Irina, beside him, seemed a little at a loss.
She looked at the hot towel Nia offered, hesitated, then carefully took it.
After wiping her face, she tried to put the towel back in the basin, but her movement was a bit too forceful and almost knocked the whole thing over.
“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
Irina quickly apologized, her cheeks flushing bright red.
“It’s alright, Miss Irina.”
Nia’s smile was gentle; she didn’t mind at all.
Leo watched from the side, amused.
“I say,” he teased Irina, “the way you’re acting, you’re more of a country bumpkin than I am.”
Good grief, you’re supposed to be the real protagonist, the continent’s future hero, and you get all nervous the moment a maid serves you?
If your fans saw this, your character setting would collapse on the spot.
“Mind your own business!”
Irina retorted softly, face turning even redder.
Dinner was unusually sumptuous.
The long dining table was laden with roasted meats, vegetable salads, and steaming, fragrant soups.
Leo, of course, sat at the head.
To his left was Irina, who’d spent the day journeying with him.
To his right sat Ailwei and Liviara, who he had summoned over to join the meal.
Further down, Butler Alfred, Guard Squad Captain Kaiden, Hunter Squad Captain Xia, and Apprentice Mage Emily took their seats in order.
Lily and Nia bustled around, topping off drinks and serving everyone.
Rather than just a dinner, it was more like an informal work report.
Almost all of Blackwood Town’s Core Management was here.
Once most people were done eating and Leo was about to announce dessert, Butler Afu wiped his mouth with a napkin and cleared his throat.
Here it comes, that familiar routine.
“Young master.”
Alfred’s voice was as steady as ever.
“These past few days, nearly a hundred refugees, families in tow, have arrived one after another seeking shelter. As per your instructions, I’ve settled them and registered their identities.”
“However, the town’s population is now nearly maxed out. Both housing and food reserves have once again become tight.”
Leo’s hand paused, holding his rice bowl.
Good grief, I only ignored things for a few days and now the population’s about to explode?
That barren little village with just a few dozen people now actually has population pressure.
This kind of growing pain came way too fast.
As soon as Afu finished, muscleman Kaiden chimed in.
He set down his roast chicken leg and rumbled, “Lord, there’s another matter.”
He glanced at Ailwei, who was eating quietly as if nothing concerned her.
“Instructor Ailwei’s training methods are indeed very effective. The new recruits’ combat ability and discipline have both improved quickly.”
“But… but…”
Kaiden, a burly man nearly two meters tall, now seemed hesitant to continue.
“That training intensity… isn’t it a bit much? The new recruits can hardly stand after training all day. Now everyone gets shaky knees just seeing Miss Ailwei—I’m afraid if this keeps up, morale will suffer.”
Leo followed his gaze to Ailwei.
The silver-haired knight maintained a calm expression, elegantly slicing her steak, as if Kaiden hadn’t said a word about her.
Leo understood perfectly.
Ailwei’s idea of “training” was basically grinding skill points on the new recruits as if they were low-level Monsters.
For her, so long as nobody died, nothing was a big deal.
“I get it. Let’s discuss that in a bit.”
Leo nodded, signaling to move on.
Xia, with her crisp short hair, spoke up.
“Lord, the number of Monsters on the outskirts of Black Forest has clearly declined lately.”
“Our Hunter Squad, to meet your quota, has had to venture deeper. We’ve acquired some rarer Monster materials, but the danger has also increased. Just last week, two members were injured during an encounter with the Demon Wolf Pack.”
Well.
The newbie village’s mobs have been farmed dry.
Time to unlock a new map.
Problem is, I only wanted to retire and enjoy life in the starter zone!
The string of issues made Leo’s head pound.
But it wasn’t over yet.
Emily, sitting at the end of the table, blushing furiously, hesitated for a long time before murmuring in a barely audible voice:
“L-Lord…”
Everyone’s eyes turned to her; the poor girl’s face reddened even more, almost buried in her chest.
“Um… Sister Liviara… she’s taught me a lot of new Magic, and I… I’m really grateful.”
“But… but during breaks, she keeps urging me to… to ‘serve’ you at night…”
“I-I don’t know what to do…”
No sooner had she spoken—
“Pfft—”
Irina, who’d just taken a sip of juice, almost spat it out.
She hurriedly grabbed a napkin to cover her mouth, coughing violently, her face red as a beet.
The culprit, Liviara, winked flirtatiously at Emily, her seductive pose nearly making the little mage faint on the spot.
Leo’s hand holding the rice bowl began to tremble.
Good grief!
Seriously, good grief!
I’d only gone to the capital for a few days, and my home’s already on the verge of chaos?
Population surge, housing shortage, food crisis.
Military training intensity through the roof, morale about to collapse.
Hunter Squad forced into high-risk areas, casualties mounting.
And now the back yard’s on fire!
Liviara, you wicked woman, stop corrupting our innocent little mage!
And Irina, what’s with the coughing?
Are you trying to stake your claim?
That’s the weakest declaration of sovereignty I’ve ever seen!
Being a lord is even more “rewarding” than my 996 life in my last world!
Where’s my promised lazy life?
What about my “lying-flat” plans?
Leo took a deep breath and set his bowl down on the table with a heavy clack.
“Bang.”
The table instantly fell silent.
All eyes were on him.
“Ahem.”
Leo cleared his throat, his expression growing serious.
“I understand all the problems. Here are my arrangements.”
“First, housing. Afu, replan a residential area tomorrow. I’ll summon a batch of earth elementals to be on standby around the clock to guarantee construction speed.”
“Second, food. For now, buy supplies from nearby towns at a high price to stabilize reserves. Xia, have the Hunter Squad focus on larger Monsters with good meat. Long-term, we’ll need to develop farmland ourselves.”
“Third, Guard Squad training. Kaiden, work hard to keep track of the recruits’ training progress.”
He turned to Ailwei, “Ailwei, keep the training content the same, but add a ‘Progress Award.’ Every week, the top ten who improve most get a cash prize—straight from me!”
Money as motivation—simple, crude, but always effective.
Ailwei tilted her head as if thinking, then nodded in agreement.
“As for Emily…”
Leo looked at the girl trying to hide under the table, then shot a glare at the gleeful Liviara beside her.
“You just focus on learning Magic from Liviara. Don’t listen to her nonsense. If she tries to teach you anything weird again, come tell me.”
Liviara stuck her tongue out at Leo and made a face.
At last, the “crisis meeting” ended without disaster.
After dinner, Lily and Nia eagerly pulled Irina by the hand, saying they’d prepared a brand new room for her and insisting she come see it.
Watching Irina—caught between the two maids, looking both happy and flustered—Leo smiled and turned to head to his own room.
He’d barely taken two steps.
When, one on the left and one on the right, two warm, soft bodies pressed close to him.
Liviara cheerfully hooked his left arm, while Ailwei silently clung to his right.
“Master, you’ve worked hard today.”
Liviara whispered in his ear, her breath fragrant, her voice carrying a trace of alluring temptation.
“It’s time to enjoy the exclusive ‘magical circulation therapy’ we’ve prepared for you.”
Leo’s body stiffened.
From Irina’s room, Lily and Nia’s voices could be faintly heard as they eagerly pestered her about academy gossip, chirping away.
Too bad she wouldn’t be able to join tonight’s “battle.”