Dark Mountains

Of course, despite his internal complaints, Gawain knew there was no helping the way the world had developed.

The development of civilization had its predictable patterns, but it was also full of uncertainties. Sometimes, an explosive technological innovation was enough to elevate an entire civilization by a whole level. However, more often than not—especially when feudal ignorance held overwhelming sway—civilization would remain stagnant and slow to develop for centuries.

In this world, where supernatural powers existed and class stratification was abnormally severe, a world that had experienced a great cataclysm, the situation was only worse.

The existence of extraordinary powers provided many conveniences that were ahead of their time, but at the same time, these powers also shackled the development of civilization. They allowed those in the upper echelons to live extremely comfortable and leisurely lives with ease, establishing absolute dominance over the vast majority of "mortals" who lacked power. Furthermore, due to the rarity and uncertainty of "magic talent" itself, this power rarely became a driving force for social progress. This was because it could not benefit the general populace of the world. Those rare lucky individuals who occasionally awakened magic talent would only become new members of the nobility. They would not, and could not, change the fate of the majority.

Extraordinary power did not belong to "mortals"—this was a rule considered to be self-evident.

Because of this, social progress became extremely slow. On one hand, ordinary people, who formed the majority of the population, were powerless to change any status quo. On the other hand, the upper classes, who enjoyed the conveniences of extraordinary powers, saw no need for social progress. In fact, even commoners saw no need for social progress; they only prayed that they would awaken magic talent one day.

In a world with Ice Arrows, who would think of inventing refrigerators and air conditioners?

However, an Ice Arrow was always just an Ice Arrow. It couldn't provide popsicles to everyone in the summer, nor could it allow medical scientists to preserve serums and vaccines anytime, anywhere.

At least in this era, that was the situation.

This was definitely wrong. Gawain was well aware of this. Extraordinary powers should not be an obstacle to civilization, and this world should not be forever trapped in the Middle Ages. Magic, in the final analysis, was merely a way of utilizing energy. Its flexible and convenient nature should have been a driving force for rapid development, not a shackle. It was just that none of this could be solved at the moment.

He explained in more detail to Heti and Rebecca the necessity of his compiling this information and the matters that needed attention when creating tables. Of course, given that they had never compiled such things before, and that the uneducated commoners might not even be able to clearly state their surnames and ages, he relaxed the requirements for the tables, asking them to only compile information on artisans. For other commoners, they were to simply register their names for now.

Everything would be perfected after the new territory was established.

No one had ever conducted such a census of commoners because, to the noble class of this world, commoners were almost worthless—not even enough to serve as cannon fodder on the battlefield. The only use for commoners was to produce food and serve as free labor. No one recognized the importance of "people," and therefore, no one recognized the necessity of registering population data.

Fortunately, Rebecca, who was muddled about other matters, was quick-witted in this regard. She quickly understood Gawain's intentions and happily took her people to organize the data.

Recalling that she had previously issued a decree allowing serfs to become free citizens through service, it seemed that this "incompetent" young lady of the manor was not entirely useless.

If this child were properly educated, she might even be suitable for managing human resources (not!).

Fortunately, the number of people to be surveyed was less than nine hundred. After settling down in Tanzan Town, Knight Philip had already conducted a simple record-keeping of the survivors. With Heti's assistance, Rebecca quickly compiled the data Gawain required.

After obtaining the data, Gawain decided to divide the team into two groups to head to their "new home."

One group was the vanguard, personally led by himself, Rebecca, and Heti. The vanguard included half of the soldiers and militiamen led by Knight Byron, as well as essential artisans and one hundred laborers. The vanguard would establish a temporary camp at the destination, ascertain conditions such as water sources, and take precautions against attacks by wild beasts in the surrounding area.

Subsequently, most of the commoners would follow under the escort of Knight Philip.

It was unwise to charge directly into a barren land with over eight hundred people. Although there were basically no elderly, weak, or disabled among these eight hundred people (they did not manage to escape), it was safer for the unarmed commoners to follow behind the vanguard.

To develop a barren land, no amount of preparation is ever enough. However, one must take the first step. After making as thorough a plan and deployment as possible, Gawain and his vanguard finally left Tanzan Town and headed towards the Dark Mountains to the southeast.

They advanced along a tributary of the White Water River, on the relatively flat riverbanks. Knights and lords led the way at the front of the team, while soldiers guarded the flanks. The artisans and various supplies and tools were protected in the center of the team.

Heti, riding her horse, looked back at the not-so-large team and suddenly felt emotional, "It seems we've also become pioneers..."

"We are pioneers," Gawain said, looking at her with a smile.

Heti blinked, "What I meant was the great pioneering effort seven hundred years ago..."

Gawain shrugged, "That was still me."

Heti: "...That's true."

"Show some confidence," Gawain said to the lady who seemed a bit worried about the future. "Every time we step into the unknown, it's a great journey. Whether it was the Second Expansion seven hundred years ago, the First Expansion in ancient legends, or what we are about to do now, the essence is the same. We will not only build a new home—we might even establish a new era."

Heti looked at Gawain somewhat blankly, then nodded. She didn't quite understand what the "new era" he mentioned meant, but since their ancestor, a legendary hero, said so, it must be a great and glorious undertaking.

Beside them, Amber clapped her hands. The thief lady had a simpler outlook. Since Gawain was the boss now, whatever the boss said was right. It was always right to clap, whether she understood it or not...

As they got closer to the Dark Mountains, the scenery became more desolate. The power of human civilization showed signs of gradual decline in this southern region.

When the pioneering fervor of that year had not yet subsided, the descendants of the first generation of Expansion Knights had established small settlements on this wild land with swords and fire, and planned to expand their territory towards the Gondor Wasteland. However, with the repeated disturbances of the Magic Tide aftermath, the dark and primitive forces at the borders of civilization repeatedly eroded them. The continuously breeding Monsters and the worsening natural environment made it difficult for these settlements to survive. Later, during the Mist Month's internal strife, the southern powers underwent a reshuffle, and the last few pioneering villages that had barely survived on this land were wiped out.

To this day, the counter-attacking wild forces have swallowed all traces of civilization from that time. Between the withered and dilapidated settlements and the primeval forests, only wild beasts and Monsters remained.

Although the magic had calmed down again and the Dark Magic Tide was confined to the Gondor Wasteland, humans seemed content with their current civilized territory. Coupled with the decline of the Cecil Family in the south, the Ansu Kingdom had no plans to redevelop this land to this day.

The carriage convoy moved forward silently on the rugged and potholed road. Although Gawain's encouragement to Heti had been effective, the others in the team could not help but feel uneasy. No one knew what the outcome of this march into the wilderness would be, even if they were led by the great pioneer from seven hundred years ago. This was especially true for the artisans recruited from commoners and serfs; it was not so much a sense of honor that drove them as it was habitual obedience to the lord and a numbness to their lives that propelled their steps.

Thus, they traveled along the riverbank for three days and stopped their team in an open area.

This open area was already adjacent to the Dark Mountains. In fact, it was sandwiched between the river and the mountains, a narrow and long plain. The tributary of the White Water River widened slightly here, its current slowed down, and it flowed gently north of the Dark Mountains, continuing eastward into the Typhon Empire.

Facing south and looking up, was the magnificent and awe-inspiring Dark Mountains.

Gawain climbed onto a large rock by the riverbank, surveyed the surrounding scenery, and compared it with the overhead satellite view in his mind. He saw forests growing on the west side of the plain, mostly composed of hard Black Fir and Giant Wood, which could serve as valuable timber resources for the initial stage of the territory. The mountains on the east side protruded more. If his memory from Gawain Cecil was correct, there should be an iron ore deposit there.

Besides iron ore, there were several other mineral deposits nearby—the Dark Mountains were a treasure trove.

Although the pioneering teams led by Gawain Cecil and Charles I did not stop in the Dark Mountains back then, they conducted basic surveys and explorations along the way. Gawain was well aware of the mineral resources discovered and left unutilized during the pioneering journey.

Since the Ansu Royal Family had abandoned these, he would gladly accept them.

After observing the terrain, Gawain jumped off the rock and looked at Heti, "You all set up camp here, pitch the tents you brought, and have the soldiers escort the loggers to the forest for timber—but don't go too deep into the forest to avoid attacks by wild beasts. Don't worry about Monsters; the Dark Mountains are not as terrifying as you imagine. The influence of the Dark Magic Tide has long since subsided. You'd only encounter Monsters if you ventured near a Magic Power Focus. Apart from those felling trees, all other laborers should remain here to help build the camp. Rebecca, Byron, Amber, you three come with me."

Heti was stunned, "Ancestor, you are going to..."

"To reclaim my inheritance."