Chapter 56

I looked down, and a hand belonging to someone—or something—was actually clutching my ankle!

“Waaaaagh! Who’s there?! Who is it?!”

The shock was immense, and I found myself shouting at the top of my lungs.

Don’t tell me I’m about to be dragged into the marsh, I thought. I had been confident I wouldn’t fall in on my own, but being pulled in from below was a completely different story!

Fortunately, the hand let go just as quickly as it had grabbed me. Then, with a splash, it disappeared back into the marsh.

“What on earth was that…?”

Terrified, I slumped down right where I stood. That was a genuine horror-movie experience.

“Franz, are you okay? Did it do anything to you?”

Mary rushed over to my side instantly.

“It just… grabbed my leg…”

“Is something in there? If I destroy the marsh, that should solve the problem.”

That solution was a bit—no, a lot—too aggressive.

“Wait, we don’t even know what it was. Isn’t there a more peaceful way…?”

“Peaceful? Anything living in a place like this can’t be a normal human. Your leg being grabbed is proof of that. I’ll just burn it all away with the fires of hell and evaporate the whole place.”

“You’ll destroy the entire settlement along with it!”

As Mary and I were arguing—

Splash!

A girl with black hair wearing a white one-piece dress emerged. Since she had just come out of a marsh, it was only natural that her hair was soaking wet. Her clothes were also drenched and clinging to her, making them nearly transparent, but since it was night, I couldn’t see anything too clearly.

“Um… sorry. Didn’t think… people were here… usually, I pull the grass growing here. Pulled leg by mistake…”

The girl bowed her head deeply, speaking in broken sentences.

“No, no… I was surprised, but if it was a misunderstanding, then it’s fine.”

She didn’t seem harmful, so I gave a safe response.

“Pardon me, but just what are you?” Cerulia asked, posing the obvious question.

“…Troll living near marsh. Called ‘Marsh Troll.’ Gau-gau.”

The girl answered while looking down slightly.

“Wait, weren’t Trolls supposed to be much bigger…?” I asked. I had an image of them being giants in loincloths swinging clubs.

“Ah, races that took to living by the water tend to downsize over generations. Incidentally, Trolls were originally demons who migrated to this world from the Demon Realm a long time ago,” Mary explained. Still, I figured it was best to hear it from the girl herself.

According to the explanation she gave us at the edge of the marsh—

“We live this marsh, long time. Environment stay same, easy live, good place. Now fifty people live, in buildings made of wood and grass. Gau-gau.”

It seemed there were indeed shack-like structures made of natural materials tucked away in a corner of the marsh. And, for some reason, the way she ended her sentences with “gau-gau” was actually kind of cute.

“I see. So you all live here too. Wait, but… the documents said the population here was twenty-one…”

If there were fifty of them, that was more than double the official count.

“Probably, Trolls, not counted in number. Because of that, no pay tax. Self-sufficient. Catch fish and grass, roast and eat. Gau-gau.”

“So they’re unregistered indigenous inhabitants…”

Looking closely, the clothes I thought were white were actually quite dingy. She probably scavenged old clothes from somewhere.

“Me, young generation, born three hundred fifty years ago. So, can speak human words, but Mother, Father cannot. Gau-gau.”

Trolls live that long?!

There was one thing I absolutely had to ask. I didn’t really want to bring it up, but as the Lord of this land, I couldn’t ignore it.

“Um… do you guys get along with the human residents?”

First, the Marsh Troll shook her right hand vigorously from side to side—apparently a sign of negation.

“Long ago, maybe trouble. But marsh is wet. Humans cannot live. Get sick. So, two hundred years, no problem. No fighting.”

“Do the humans not come to catch the fish?”

“Marsh fish, smell like mud. Humans hate. Many humans hate the grass too. Troll stomach strong. Can digest well.”

I felt a wave of relief. It would be no joke if there were a serious conflict in my own territory.

“So… are you the Lord-sama-gau?”

The girl leaned in and peered into my face. Perhaps due to her race, she had large, round eyes. She was actually quite cute, but I pushed that thought aside for the moment.

“Y-yeah, that’s right…” I answered, flinching slightly.

“P-please… look after us…”

The Marsh Troll suddenly bent her back deeply in a bow. I didn’t quite understand the weight of the request at first.

“If this marsh is filled in… everyone cannot live… Lord, has that right… gau-gau…”

Then it clicked. Legally, the Marsh Trolls were using the marsh without permission. I could likely demand their eviction. That must be why they pleaded like this every time a Lord visited.

“Raise your head.”

She slowly looked up, looking anxious.

“Things can stay as they’ve always been. The previous Lords allowed it, right? That’s why you’re all still here.”

“Actually, Lords who come to check here, very few. They not know. Gau-gau.”

So it’s so obscure that they’ve just been ignored…

“Anyway, I have no intention of using this place for anything, so there’s no problem at all. I won’t threaten your way of life.”

I said it plainly; there was nothing to deliberate over.

“Thank you. Believe Lord’s words. Will tell everyone. Gau-gau!”

The girl bowed her head so many times that some of the water from her hair actually splashed onto me. As she turned to leave, I asked one last question.

“Wait, what’s your name? I’m Franz.”

“Howa-Howa.”

I thought it was a strange name, but it suited her personality well.

“See you later, Howa-Howa.”

“Lord not come often? Feel like we not meet much. Gau-gau.”

I suppose she was right.

Howa-Howa ran off through the muddy ground beside the marsh. Looking closely, I could see hut-like structures built atop the trees near the water, with lights glowing inside. I saw other Marsh Trolls—likely her family—waving to her.

“Even Marsh Trolls have family love,” Mary said with a sentimental look.

●

Thinking our work as Baron was finished, we returned to the Capital the next day via Tensho-go. We parted ways with Senior Tototo there.

I expected my usual days to return—but it didn’t work out that way.

I had finished my work managing the marsh and was waiting with Mary for the dinner Cerulia was preparing.

Knock, knock.

I opened the door to find a man dressed in fine silk, looking like a merchant. He had a stiff, upright whalebone mustache.

“Forgive the late hour. I am from the Urban Development Department of the Royal Capital Paladin Merchants’ Guild.”