Magical Beasts of Thorn Ridge

Flower Town lay in the northeastern corner of Coral Island. Its area wasn't small, but Liszt had no idea exactly how large it was. As a remote town on Coral Island, it had only been roughly designated as northeast of Thorn Ridge; its precise boundaries hadn't been marked at all.

In other words, as long as he didn't encroach upon the towns southwest of Thorn Ridge, Liszt could draw Flower Town's boundaries wherever he pleased.

Even if he incorporated all of Thorn Ridge, probably no one could blame him—after all, Thorn Ridge's ownership hadn't been divided on Coral Island either.

After more than twenty years of cultivation by the Tulip Family, less than two-thirds of Coral Island had truly been turned into farmland and settled by people.

The remaining third was all untamed wilderness.

Thorn Ridge was such an untamed wilderness. A lord's knights needed to wage war abroad, while these wild lands needed serfs and commoners to reclaim them.

Thorn Ridge's soil was extremely poor and uneven, making it of little value for development.

Moreover, to magical beasts, ordinary people were merely delicious food. Even hunters didn't dare casually test a magical beast's strength. Of course, there were still some adventurers who hunted magical beasts. Every beast, every piece of meat and every inch of fur on its body could be exchanged for Gold Coins.

Liszt rode the Fire Dragon Horse, full of enthusiasm for this inspection.

Claiming land on horseback was every noble's innate instinct. How large Flower Town was depended on how far his horse's hooves could carry him. At that moment, those hooves traveled down the town's streets. The streets were dirt roads, filthy, with animal and human excrement everywhere—only nobles built toilets.

"Sanitation must change." Liszt turned and said to Marcus.

Marcus neither agreed nor disagreed. He wasn't an administrative official and had no interest in such matters. What stirred his blood was noble authority, especially the serfs and commoners on both sides of the street constantly saluting Liszt. Their sallow faces held envy and fear toward the nobility.

Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

The ones kneeling were serfs; the ones bowing were freemen.

Serfs made up the overwhelming majority. They had sold themselves to the nobility and were Liszt's private property. Their marriages and funerals were all decided by Liszt. Even if Liszt wished to exercise the right of the first night, these serfs had to obey obediently and wash their daughters and daughters-in-law clean before sending them to the castle.

There were few freemen. Most were craftsmen, such as hunters and tailors.

The town was tiny and run-down, with few households. Even though every resident had come out to bow along the streets, there was still no lively atmosphere at all.

Looking around, Liszt felt that the town might have only a few hundred people... fewer students than a single school.

Low earthen and thatched houses stretched across a wide area. Most of the town's size was propped up by these dilapidated homes. Even two-story buildings were rare, with only two or three households having them.

This time, he truly felt how impoverished commoners' lives were.

His heart was filled with emotion.

He was even more grateful that he was a noble, able to live in a castle and eat white bread made from fine Wheat flour.

The Fire Dragon Horse quickly carried Liszt along the town's only north-south street. With a somewhat heavy heart, he followed the safe route Marcus had planned and headed toward Thorn Ridge.

As they rode, patches of farmland surrounded the outskirts of the town. Liszt couldn't name most of the crops growing in those fields. They weren't thriving; they looked sickly, and many weeds grew alongside them. Clearly, there was no scientific management whatsoever.

This era might have incredible creatures such as dragons and elves, and miraculous powers such as battle aura and magic, but its development was relatively backward.

An industrial revolution was impossible, but introducing some scientific methods of development still had great potential.

Liszt was full of confidence in governing his territory and leading Flower Town's development.

Before long, the town had vanished far into the distance. They left the flat land and entered a hilly area with sparse woods. This was already the edge of Thorn Ridge.

"Baron, magical beasts often appear around the edges of Thorn Ridge. Please stay close behind me and don't rush ahead." Having reached this point, Marcus took the lead and instructed the four squire knights, "Protect the Baron well. Unless you become corpses, do not let a magical beast take even one step closer. Can you do it?!"

"We can!" Karl and the others replied loudly.

They came from commoner backgrounds. Here, commoners weren't required to go to war; only nobles and knights fought. But although squire knights were commoners by status, they still had to enter battle—as logistical soldiers. In exchange for better treatment, they had the responsibility to die for the nobility.

To avoid magical beasts, the group of knights could only travel around the edge of Thorn Ridge.

The woods were fairly dense, and they occasionally saw wild animals such as rabbits and foxes. Food was scarce at Thorn Ridge's edge, so large beasts were rarely seen.

"During spring, summer, and autumn, the food in Thorn Ridge can satisfy the magical beasts' needs, so Flower Town doesn't often encounter magical beasts. But in winter, hungry magical beasts often invade Flower Town. Every year, a few unlucky people become food to fill their bellies."

No matter how poor Marcus's mood was, he remained meticulous in his work, recounting information about Thorn Ridge point by point.

"Magical beasts... I wonder if we'll encounter one today." Liszt searched through the memories of his former self. He had seen several kinds of magical beasts. Compared to ordinary animals, the greatest difference was that magical beasts possessed magic and could cast some powerful spells.

Tulip Castle had also raised a small magical beast—the Fire Rabbit.

Fire Rabbits could shoot small fireballs. Their meat was delicious and their fur bright. Nobles enjoyed eating Fire Rabbit meat, while noblewomen liked fur garments made from Fire Rabbit pelts.

He had also seen the fur of a powerful magical beast—the Giant Savage Bear. The Count of Coral Island's favorite chair was covered in Giant Savage Bear fur. Its ferocious bear head had been preserved whole, radiating an intimidatingly savage aura.

It was said that, to hunt the Giant Savage Bear, the Coral Island Knights had lost eight Earth Knights.

Eight Earth Knights were enough to severely weaken the knights' order. Even in a territorial war, so many Earth Knights might not necessarily die.

Not to mention the many apprentice knights who had also perished.

Along the way, Liszt continuously recorded Thorn Ridge's terrain: where defensive works could be built, where irrigation projects could be developed, where forts could be constructed, and where farmland could be opened up. These were all duties a titled lord with land needed to fulfill.

"It should be time for lunch. Oden, prepare lunch here."

"Yes, Master!" Oden Insole immediately dismounted, found a flat spot, spread out a carpet, and arranged the dry provisions on it one by one.

It was a simple lunch of bread, caviar, fruit salad, and milk tea.

There was also dried goat meat specially provided for Liszt.

He had thought it would only be a simple lunch, but after swallowing a piece of bread, Marcus's expression suddenly changed. "Baron, something's wrong. It's the aura of a magical beast!"