Reincarnate as Prince: Change Magical World with Industry

35 Hermit

"This land? A settlement? Hah! That's the best joke I've heard in years! Come in here and have some tea, although I won't have enough for all of ye. Pardon my shabby cabin, it wasn't designed for guests as you can see. But that's the point of living as a hermit. Sorry for all the trouble you had to come through, you triggered one of my traps. I hope no one was hurt."

Captain Caleb looked at Janus. So the man didn't fire the arrow after all. Come to think of it he did feel like he tripped on a root, but that may have been the trap that he was talking about.

"It... It was nothing. It was my carelessness. I can't spot traps as well as my men."

"Sorry sir, I should have swept the area for you."

"Don't blame yourself, soldier." The man said. "No one has ever outwitted old Errol Maigera's traps. Not once in his life hee-hee! Now, tell me yer the whole story."

Yvaine started explaining to him the details about their journey. Of course, she played it as an expedition. And she and her brother were sons of Lords who were tasked with building a new settlement on the far reaches of the volcano.

"Here? Underneath Brimstone? It would only take a madman to build something out of this place. Underneath an active volcano that could spit fire at any minute, and bordering a forest where wild beasts and monsters are known to congregate? Pray to tell, whose grand idea was this?"

Errol scanned the room. Everyone in their party was looking at Janus.

"So it's you? Hmm. Interesting. I wouldn't have suspected from you. Tell me, son, what business do you have bringing hundreds of people here? Do you have a deathwish?"

"No, I intend to build an independent settlement where we can build a life that is free from the Kingdom, away from politics."

The man stared him in the eye and bore his teeth. It was crooked and darkened from chewing leaves and puffing smoke.

"Ha-haha! That's a genius idea If I've ever heard one. Outrageous but genius just the same. Indeed there are a lot of riches in this land, and none but the strongest of hunters can survive in this place. I myself live a nomadic lifestyle, I live off the land and move to another place once I'm bored. My dogs warn me of any danger, great companions they are aye. There is plenty to see in this area, for those who know what to look. And if anyone should survive in here, it should be led by no less than a madman!"

Janus spied a smile from his sister. He was a little slighted by that remark, but he was in no position to argue.

"Can you help us then?" Janus said. "The maps that I used are old and outdated, and it led us to a land full of geysers and molten ash."

"Aye is that so? Let me take a look at your maps then."

Janus showed it to the man. The man studied it for a moment. There was a look of surprise in Yvaine's face, she clearly didn't think the man was literate.

"Hah! Indeed this area was severely affected by the last eruption. Aye, it had a lovely spring and was a regular grazing area for herds of oxen and wildebeest migrations. I hunted there when I was younger. It was a favorite hunting spot, only known to the best. Tough luck for you and your men."

"That's what were here for. We were hoping you could lead us to someplace else. Somewhere we could start anew."

The man studied Janus and his party carefully.

"That's an interesting proposition, but it wouldn't fare well for my life as a hermit if there were too many people milling about my forest. I love a life of quiet you see. And what would I get in return?"

Janus was caught off guard. He thought that their offering was enough. Yvaine spoke before he could think of anything.

"You'll have a steady stream of supplies. Look at your shack, your pots and pans, and tools. It's all carved wood. We have goblins who are adept at steel working and mining. We have builders who can help you with your projects if you wish to choose. We have farmers who can make products that you can trade with us. Just show us the way, The King has provided to us 20,000 acres of land. But not all of it can be utilized at the moment. So we need to have a good starting point. You will be an honorary citizen in the town and you will be given discounted trading prices for as long as you live, and the option to stay with us permanently should you choose."

The man considered this. Janus' head spun, he hadn't had time to think about it. Yvaine came up with the terms before he could even weigh the pros and cons in his head. He couldn't have negotiated any better.

"Haha. You know you didn't have to lie to me, do you? I recognized you from the moment you spoke. You are Princess Yvaine Blackwood of Galedon. They say you're quick-witted and beautiful, but I never thought you were this smart. And the younger boy must be Janus." the man laughed.

"How did you--" Yvaine stuttered.

"Maigera! Captain Caleb said. "I remember now. You were the master at arms in the castle. My Father trained under you, but then you were----.

"Exiled yes. For things, I'd rather not talk about, and you best not pry it from me lest I throw you all out. Okay, I agree to help you as a gesture of my years of service in the kingdom. But you will leave me on my own. My dogs are restless and we like to find new places to live. I will accept everything the Princess has offered me though, and I pray you will not forget. Do you have something I can write with?"

Astrid handed him a piece of chalk they used to mark trees.

"Here." The man encircled the map. "The area that you went through was just a small portion of the land that was taken by the eruption, there should be an area in the south that didn't sustain any damage. Around a day's journey and you should get there. It has a stream that's relatively clean and has enough trees for you to use. It should have space for expansion further south and east, but this should be a good starting point."

Errol encircled a space in the map, it was south of where the camp was currently erected, and he marked arrows to where expansion was possible.

Yvaine and Janus thanked the man profusely and offered him to come with them. But Errol declined, said his years living with people were behind him. But he would be willing to visit and trade in the future.

Janus hurried back to the camp with a spring in his step. As if he had not had an exhausting week. When he broke the news to everyone the reception was a mix of happiness and caution. Some understandably held back their celebration for fear of another false start.

They reached the place a day later, and it was a beautiful sight to behold.

It was a scenic place just at the base of the mountain and surrounded by shrubs and trees. Like Errol had said, there was a stream flowing along the mountainside which should be a good water source.

The ground was relatively flat with a few slopes that should be easy enough to manage. It wasn't as good as the first plan would have been but it was good enough. A place where they could establish their first settlement with plenty of spare lands from the south to the west.

Janus planted the first sign marking their territory, and they began to work.