The coastal area offered plenty of opportunities, but the current state of the village was, to be honest, disheartening.

There were still people here, so at least the village hadn’t become a complete ruin. But I saw no livestock—no cows or pigs—and most of the trees had been stripped bare of bark, exposing their inner wood.

A mercenary knight, tasked with guarding me, let out a sigh.

“If they were desperate enough to eat tree bark, they probably turned to banditry not long ago.”

If someone were faced with the choice of starving with their family or turning to theft, most people would choose the latter. Only saints or sages could remain steadfast when faced with starvation and despair.

“Have the villagers been gathered?”

“They’re waiting in the square outside the village elder’s house.”

If this were 21st-century Korea, I wouldn’t need to gather the villagers. I’d simply consult with the village chief, reach an agreement, and inform everyone of the decisions.

But in a world where authority outweighs equality, it was necessary for me, the lord, to appear in person and display both power and mercy. Only by witnessing the authority of their ruler would the people feel reassured.

As I approached, the mercenaries surrounding the villagers raised their voices.

“It’s the lord! Show your respect!”

At that, the villagers immediately knelt and pressed their heads to the ground.

This wasn’t the one-knee kneel with a bow that most people think of when imagining the Middle Ages. Here, the relationship between serfs and their lord was practically that of master and slave. So it was natural for them to bow so low.

“You may lift your heads and sit at ease. Who is the village chief here?”

An old man, with a balding head and white hair, replied.

“I am Diego, the village chief of Bio.”

“The village doesn’t seem to be in good shape. What exactly is the situation?”

I could tell just by looking at the villagers. The chief’s face was gaunt, and his clothes were in such disrepair that they were barely better than rags. The rest of the villagers looked only slightly better off than refugees.

One would have to be a fool not to understand the situation from this scene.

“Oh, my lord…”

The village chief and the others bowed their heads to the ground again, this time wailing in unison. With over three hundred villagers crying out together, I couldn’t make out their individual words, but I could guess they were begging for mercy, lamenting about their families starving to death.

If someone could witness this without feeling sympathy, they’d have to be a psychopath. But feeling sympathy didn’t mean forgetting to assert authority.

“I asked the chief about the state of the village. Chief, what’s the situation?”

“The food ran out a month ago, my lord. We’ve had to eat everything, even our cattle, chickens, and dogs. Now, we eat anything that can fill our bellies.”

Diego started to weep, probably feeling the cruelty of a reality where the weak must starve to death. I’d never experienced hunger, so I couldn’t fully understand his feelings, but I could imagine how dreadful it must be to watch your family suffer and die while you’re powerless to help.

“At this rate, we’ll all die, my lord. That’s why we were considering selling orphaned children to buy enough food to survive the year.”

By 21st-century standards, this village chief would deserve immediate punishment. But by this world’s standards, his actions were reasonable. Concepts like human rights and equality are luxuries that only apply when there’s enough food to go around. In desperate times, sacrifices must be made to save the many.

“My lord, please show us mercy.”

Of course, I intended to waive their taxes and provide food aid. I had anticipated the dire situation here and had already hired mercenaries to bring grain, salt, and other supplies necessary for the village’s reconstruction.

“Whether I show mercy is for me to decide.”

If I handed out mercy indiscriminately, it would make me a target for exploitation. In Korea, government workers at public assistance centers deal with endless complaints from those receiving welfare. They feel entitled because they’re poor, and they see government assistance as their right. In this feudal society, the chief might try to negotiate or demand tax reductions if I showed weakness.

To prevent that, I needed to make a show of receiving something in return.

“What does this village produce?”

“We fish and gather shells by the shore, and we farm a little. But that’s all, my lord. There’s nothing else of value here.”

“What’s valuable or not, I’ll decide. Tell me about everything, even weeds.”

The villagers and I see things differently. What might seem worthless to them could be treasure in my eyes.

“…Well, there’s some weed on the mountain that we eat when we’re starving, though it makes our stomachs hurt. And there’s a seaweed that grows on the rocks along the shore.”

Seaweed, huh? That sounds like kelp or something similar. It’s nutritious, especially for expectant mothers, and since it’s not part of the Toscana Empire’s diet, I could market it to nobles as a health tonic and charge a premium.

“We call it seaweed. It’s slimy, a bit salty, but edible.”

That’s definitely kelp. To others, it might be worthless, but to me, it’s like brown gold. With the right seasoning, I could potentially sell it for a fortune.

Since I can’t tax the villagers, I’ll take this seaweed instead.

“Considering the circumstances, I’ll accept seaweed—or kelp, as we’ll call it—as payment. Gather a hundred kilograms, and follow my instructions on how to cultivate more.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“If you keep this promise, I’ll consider the tax paid for this year, and I’ll provide aid for your survival.”

The chief looked stunned. In return for some useless seaweed, they’d be relieved of taxes and receive aid. Normally, they’d bow so low they’d break their backs in gratitude.

“Are you certain, my lord?”

The money I earn makes their tax contribution negligible. I could feed the whole village without denting my wallet.

The chief then started rubbing his hands together, his gratitude obvious.

“I am deeply grateful for your heavenly grace, my lord.”

“I’m merely doing my duty.”

The villagers owe taxes, and in return, I, their lord, ensure their safety. A lord who can’t do that doesn’t deserve the title.

“My lord, I’m so grateful that I’d like to offer my daughter as a maid. Would that be acceptable?”

A lord holds the power over life and death for his serfs. The chief likely thought that giving his daughter as a maid might earn him my favor. And given that I’m a twenty-year-old man, he might’ve even considered that I’d be tempted by her beauty.

He proudly presented his daughter. She was quite beautiful, indeed. A bit of grooming and proper meals, and she’d be strikingly attractive.

“You’re offering me your daughter in exchange for favor? You must want to die!”

“I—I meant it only as a sincere gesture…”

Most young noblemen wouldn’t refuse a maid this pretty. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted, but I despise his intent to wield influence through his daughter.

With that, I drew my sword and pointed it at the chief’s throat.

“You think I don’t know your motives? You want to keep your petty power, so you’re trying to curry favor by offering your daughter.”

Even a foreman of a small gang often gets arrogant, and a chief of a village of over three hundred would hold some real influence.

“That power is mine to grant or revoke from now on.”

I had no intention of actually killing him, of course. Killing someone on my first day as lord would only incite fear among the villagers.

The chief’s legs were shaking.

“Chief, and all of you, listen closely. Don’t even think about challenging my authority.”

I plan to introduce valuable techniques to this village. To ensure security, they need to fear their ruler.

“If you respect my authority and remain loyal, I will provide aid as needed and ensure that none of you go hungry.”

I’m no philanthropist, but I won’t let those under my charge starve.

“But if you defy me, there will be consequences.”

A well-defined hierarchy is necessary in any organization. Without it, collapse is inevitable.

Thinking this over, I realized that while seaweed is like brown gold to me, to them, it’s just seaweed. If I offer aid after receiving what they consider worthless, it might seem suspicious.

In that case, perhaps I should also take in some of the orphans they were going to sell.

Since they’re now under my protection, I should take care of them.

“The chief seemed reluctant about paying only in seaweed, so I’ll also take the orphans in this village.”

Once in my care, I could educate them and either employ them or help them find positions elsewhere.

As I surveyed the orphans, one girl caught my eye. With black hair and eyes, pale skin, full lips, and a petite face, she was strikingly beautiful.

I almost blurted out in awe.

“She’s a walking idol.”

She even had an impressive figure, which would only grow more alluring with time. With basic etiquette training, she’d easily make an excellent courtesan.

Now, I understand why the villagers would consider selling the orphans.

“What’s your name?”

“Chloe, my lord.”

Since coming to this world, I hadn’t even held a woman’s hand. Perhaps I could have a beautiful maid around, like other nobles.

“From now on, you’re my personal maid. You’ll stay by my side at all times.”