Eternal Empire - Kingdom Building

After four long days of trekking, David and Laura finally reached the edge of the Iron Tree Forest.

Surveying the much narrower river and the ruins of surrounding houses, David spread his hands in helplessness. “It’s clear this pioneering team has failed.”

The area was dotted with wooden houses, each one a standalone residence rather than temporary shelters, suggesting the team had experienced initial success. But the decay and destruction spoke volumes; the village had clearly been abandoned for some time.

“If they just gave up, how did it end up like this?” David wondered aloud. No intact wooden structure remained, and the signs of fire were unmistakable.

“Did the development team really set fire to the houses before leaving?” Laura questioned, perplexed. “What’s the point of that?”

David shook his head. “No. They’d likely have just packed up anything valuable and left.”

He wandered through the abandoned village, scanning for clues. At last, he spotted something beneath a wooden house at the forest's edge.

“What’s that?” Laura asked, intrigued as she leaned closer to see what David had picked up.

“An arrow shaft,” David replied, inspecting it carefully. “It’s damaged, only half remains, but look... it’s an elf's arrow.”

“Really? How can you tell?” Laura leaned in for a better look.

David explained, “Elves in the Iron Tree Forest use this special leaf to make their arrow feathers.” He gestured to the remnants. “These leaves only grow deep within the forest, where the elves primarily reside. Humans can’t easily access those areas, let alone gather these leaves in bulk.”

He continued, “Since these leaves are scarce but not irreplaceable, humans wouldn’t choose them for arrow crafting. Only elves would have the means to gather such materials.”

“Got it,” Laura replied, nodding as the pieces fell into place.

David then recalled the strained relations between the Kingdom of Tilan and the elves. Since Tilan expanded its influence into the Iron Tree Forest, tensions had escalated. The elves' striking appearances often attracted unwanted attention from slave traders, making encounters fraught with danger. The atmosphere was one of mutual hostility; it wasn’t quite a life-and-death struggle, but it was clear that one side had to prevail.

“So, you’re saying this village was destroyed by elves?” Laura asked, her eyes widening.

“Pretty likely,” David responded. The thought brought a sense of relief; his initial choice to join this pioneering team felt increasingly justified.

When the pioneering mission began, it was decided that three villages would be established, each with its own team. However, all three teams had set out together. They had departed from Iron Tree Fort, following a wide path that ran between the Iron Tree Forest and the Tilan Mountains. Eventually, they arrived at the northern guard post of the Tilan Kingdom.

This was an abandoned outpost, once the northernmost line of defense against potential invaders from the vast northern plains that threatened Iron Tree Fort.

After the sentry post was established, it became apparent that no significant threats lurked across the northern plain. The post slowly lost its purpose, and over time, garrison forces and funding dwindled until it was completely abandoned.

The pioneering troops pressed on, splitting into two teams upon reaching the post. One-third ventured northeast along the Tilan Mountains, while the remainder headed west along the northern edge of the Iron Tree Forest.

At the spot where David now stood, another half of the troops established a village, leaving only David behind.

Laura understood the situation all too well. “Considering how things turned out here, it’s unlikely the team heading northeast will manage to set up a village.”

David nodded, his expression serious. “It’s not that I’m wishing them ill; the climate is just as harsh across the plains. There’s no reclaimed farmland in sight, which means the land conditions are similar. Without help, their situation won’t differ from ours over the past two years: the cold weather, failing crops, and the struggle for stable food supplies, especially in winter.”

He glanced toward the Iron Tree Forest, recalling the threat of elves looming over his village. Initially, he had worried about being too close to them, but now he felt vindicated in his choice to stay put while others moved north.

Laura absorbed David's insights, gaining a clearer picture of the dynamics at play in Iron Tree Fort and the entire northern plain. “So, if the team heading northeast fails to establish a village, does that mean this entire plain could be considered your territory?”

David raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Huh? I hadn’t thought about it like that. But recalling the regulations of the Kingdom of Tilan regarding pioneers, it’s actually not impossible.”

In the Kingdom, village and town chiefs, even noble lords, had fixed territories. Their lands bordered those of fellow lords, preventing them from raiding or plundering one another unless the kingdom faced civil unrest.

“Pioneers are different,” David continued, his mind racing. “They’re meant to occupy land beyond the kingdom’s borders. They can claim as much territory as they can manage, and as long as they control it, the kingdom will recognize it as theirs. They can even rise in status based on their contributions.”

Laura’s eyes widened in understanding. “So, a village chief could become a mayor, then a city lord, and finally a great lord?”

“Exactly. This decree has fueled the rise and prosperity of the Kingdom of Tilan. Most of its territory, including Iron Tree Fort, was acquired this way.”

He sighed, considering the enormity of it all. “But this plain is vast. It wouldn’t be easy to claim it all as mine. I’d need a solid foundation to start with Winter City.”

“Oh~”

“Why do you say that?” David asked, confused by Laura’s strange reaction. Had he misspoken?

“It sounds like you really want to become the lord of this place!” David’s words implied he had contemplated this deeply; otherwise, it would have been easy to overlook.

“If you could become a great lord, wouldn’t being a mere village head seem unsatisfying?” David didn’t want to remain a simple hunter in Iron Tree Castle. He joined the pioneering team for a reason, revealing his true aspirations.

Years of living in this world had not erased the influences of his previous life. Even when he felt the weight of reality pressing down, he would choose a path that offered him comfort whenever a glimmer of opportunity appeared.

It now seemed far easier to pursue his ideal life than he had initially thought.

After a brief night’s rest in the ruins, David and Laura set off before dawn. As the sky brightened, they were already moving east along the edge of the Iron Tree Forest.

Their plan was to follow the northern edge of the forest to the junction with the Tilan Mountains, then turn south, navigating through the narrow passage until they reached Iron Tree Fort.

Given the dangers that might lurk along this route, they needed to move quickly.

“I’m actually really curious about the elves,” Laura said. “It would be amazing to see them with my own eyes. Maybe we could even communicate?”

David frowned slightly. “When we reach Iron Tree Fort, you can see elves there. But along this road, it’s best to avoid encountering any elves. Trust me, it’s definitely not a good idea.”

“...”

Laura absorbed his words, understanding the implications: the elves in Iron Tree Fort likely didn’t reside there willingly. If conditions were bad, it was best to steer clear of the elves in the forest.

Fortunately, David and Laura maintained a safe distance from the Iron Tree Forest, avoiding the elves’ attention. Whether they were unnoticed or simply lacked the opportunity to attack, the road remained peaceful, and no incidents occurred.

What truly surprised David was the small group of soldiers stationed at the northern sentry post, an unexpected sight in this long-abandoned area.

“What’s going on here?” David asked. With their typical human appearances, he and Laura faced some initial tension, but the soldiers didn’t make things difficult for them.

Once the soldiers confirmed David was indeed part of the pioneering team that set out from Iron Tree Fort, their surprise only grew. “Are there still members of the pioneering team who haven’t returned to Iron Tree Fort?”

“Because I successfully established Cold Winter Village, I’m here to report back,” David explained.

The soldiers remained taken aback, but David presented his development order, which looked legitimate enough. Unsure how to proceed, the soldiers decided to call for their captain.

“Hello, I’m Captain Gregory, in charge of guarding the northern outpost.” A middle-aged man clad in full armor and a battle robe of the Kingdom of Tilan approached David and Laura. “You’re part of the Northwest pioneering team?”

“Yes. Although we faced numerous troubles—many people quit, and many perished on this plain—we ultimately succeeded in establishing Winter Village. I’m here to report our status and ensure Winter Village is officially recognized as part of the kingdom.”