City of Brilliant Moon Gets on Track

After a brief conversation, Loren led the army back to Lord's Manor.

But when he saw Yas, as burly as a calf, awkwardly drawing a map on a sheet of paper with charcoal, he couldn't help feeling that something was off.

This guy should have been wielding a long-handled battle-axe to knock over bulls, not "embroidering" here.

But aside from Yas, even Sim, the kobold mage, had no idea how to draw a map.

Barbarians lived in bitterly cold regions. The danger-filled environment had honed them into capable survivors, and mapmaking was just one of their many skills.

Legend had it that every barbarian tribe possessed an ancient map passed down through generations, marking the threats in the surrounding area. Each new chieftain would update it.

Yas's actions now undoubtedly proved the legend true.

"Lord Loren."

Yas set down the charcoal with a satisfied look. His blackened fingers picked up the yellowed sheet and handed it to Loren.

Loren reached out to take it. The black fingerprints left along both sides of the paper made his eyelids twitch.

When he got a good look at the crooked map and its strange markings, he couldn't help sighing at the lack of talent once again.

If only I had a cartographer. Why am I stuck watching a barbarian draw?

What does this X mean? And what about this circle?

What is this dog tooth? And what does that bull's rear end represent?

Seeing Loren remain silent for so long, Yas turned his head with a proud expression and bragged to Sim, who wore a black cloak and looked ridiculously flamboyant.

"Wretched kobold, behold the barbarians' masterpiece! Even if you kobolds studied for three hundred years, you still couldn't draw a map this accurate!"

Sim, just as illiterate as the barbarians, was stunned by the jumble of symbols.

He really thought they were some kind of writing. He was so furious that he couldn't get a word out, until finally he flew into a rage.

"Hmph, you idiot! If kobolds hadn't scouted ahead, would you have been able to cover such a wide area?

"My lord, the kobolds were the real heroes of this expedition!"

Yas flew into a rage.

"You idiots who roll around in mud! The barbarians explored all this! We could have surveyed the area just fine without you!"

"Bullshit!"

Loren put down the map and watched the two idiots argue, utterly speechless.

Usually, Yas was a seasoned barbarian chieftain. He didn't talk much, and he was dependable.

But whenever he got together with Sim, that flashy kobold, his intelligence plummeted. The kobold managed to provoke him every time.

It seemed the two were natural enemies.

"Shut up! Keep arguing, and I'll make you clean out all the horse manure in the stable!"

The two who had been bickering immediately fell silent. They glared at each other, then dared not say another word.

Loren pointed at a circle on the map and asked, "Yas, what does this symbol mean?"

Yas lowered his head to look. Then he grinned.

"Lord Loren, this is a forest. There are edible fruits inside."

A circle for fruit? How logical.

Loren's mouth twitched. He pointed at the X and asked, "What about this?"

"That's a stretch of muddy ground. It's really hard to cross, so don't go that way."

Loren: "..."

"And what does this bull's rear end mean?"

"Lord Loren, that's a face."

"Obviously. I asked what it means."

"We found traces left by Boarmen here. Boarmen have particularly fat faces, so I used a face to mark the spot."

Once Loren had figured out what the symbols meant, he couldn't help reflecting that he would rather die than let the barbarians do this sort of work again.

"Ariel, find someone literate to take charge of drawing maps."

Whether they were skilled or not, at least they could stop using circles and Xs. They needed to put something on the map that people could actually understand.

Ariel covered her mouth and chuckled.

Before long, a literate resident who wasn't too bad at drawing was given the distinguished job of mapmaker.

The newly appointed mapmaker spent about two hours redrawing Yas's "masterpiece," asking about all sorts of terrain details along the way.

At last, a work that could barely be called a map came into being.

Loren had someone hang City of Brilliant Moon's first map in the hall so it would be easy to consult.

It was ugly, but in the dark, it was just as good...

By the time everything was finished, dusk was beginning to settle.

Loren was in a good mood.

The first day's work after returning to the territory had gone fairly smoothly.

On the inside, City Hall had begun operating, completed a census, started rebuilding the Arrow Tower, and drawn up a plan to clean up the territory. They had also acquired a precious papermaking artisan.

On the outside, they had explored several kilometers of the surrounding area, discovered a potential threat, and captured more than ten Magic Beasts.

That evening, Loren held a bonfire feast at the manor. He used all the Magic Beasts they had caught to reward the army and the employees hired by City Hall.

Everyone ate until their mouths were slick with grease, exclaiming over how delicious it was.

The employees, especially those who had been wretched slaves just the day before, were overwhelmed with emotion. Some even had tears of excitement in their eyes.

They were breathing an air of freedom unlike any they had known. They were treated with respect here, and they had eaten expensive Magic Beast meat. This was the life they had dreamed of.

Compared to their former lives as slaves, this place was heaven.

Praise Lord Loren!

For a time, the loyalty of these employees, who had been granted third-class resident status, soared. In their hearts, Loren's standing rose to the highest possible level.

After the feast ended, many felt closer to City of Brilliant Moon.

They were beginning to feel as if this place were their home.

When the residents who had enjoyed the Magic Beast barbecue returned to their homes, they immediately began boasting about the delicious food and wine.

They went on and on, describing the bonfire feast as a banquet fit for the heavens, while constantly praising the wise and mighty lord.

Those who hadn't been chosen were so envious their eyes turned red.

Damn you lucky few! The great lord will choose us sooner or later!

A powerful desire rose within them. They, too, wanted to shed their wretched slave status and earn the noble status of third-class residents.

After a whole day of one thrilling experience after another, the despair that had once consumed these lifeless slave residents quietly faded away.

In its place was a group of residents full of hope for the future and eager to work.

Under Loren's guidance, City of Brilliant Moon was gradually getting on track...

And so, they set sail.