Sanctuary

We walked for about half a day.

Thanks to the Tree Barrier, we advanced smoothly and, even after stopping for a lunch break, we managed to reach the settlement safely.

“This is…”

“It looks shabby… the sand erosion is severe, and it doesn’t look like they’ve been able to repair it properly.”

The outside was surrounded by a sand wall to block the windblown sand, but holes like insect bites had already opened in places, and parts of it had crumbled.

Through the gaps in the collapsed wall, I could indeed see what looked like a village.

But as Nadja had said, the village was terribly run-down.

Instead of houses, there were only scattered tents.

Even those tents looked extremely worn.

Most likely, they simply couldn’t handle everything that needed doing.

Could it be a manpower shortage?

If Simurg-san hadn’t pointed it out, I would have assumed it was an abandoned village.

“For now, let’s go.”

“Woody, stay behind me. I won’t let anyone get past.”

“No, Woody-sama should be behind me. You may even gaze upon the nape of my neck as much as you like if you wish.”

Gogogo… I felt an incredible pressure coming from the two walking ahead of me.

Feeling a bit scared, I decided to walk behind Simurg-san.

“Behind me is without a doubt the safest place to be!”

Even Aira and Nadja were left speechless at that, and so we advanced without quarrel.

We entered the village without incident.

Looking around, I saw mostly old people, women, and children. Hardly any young men.

Conscription after conscription had drained the manpower… it was a sight I often saw back in the ducal territory.

I wondered what the reason was here for the lack of workers.

The one we were guided to was a man who looked about thirty.

His name was Shekuri-san, and he was the village chief.

“I’m sorry, but right now we have no means to offer hospitality to travelers. Forgive us.”

In their desert customs, visitors to a village must be welcomed—even enemies.

But they had almost no food or water left, so it was impossible now.

As for the lack of men, apparently they had fought with another nearby settlement of locals—and lost.

“After losing the battle, this village has almost no men left, and is fated to perish. It was our fault for not winning, but to steal the children’s future… it is unbearable…”

So the desert people lived by a harsh law of the jungle.

A little intimidated by this sudden culture shock, I decided to make a proposal.

At the very least, if we combined our strength, we could blow away the dark future awaiting the children.

I first asked the village chief to gather everyone.

In the meantime, I began preparations for the venue.

First I planted apple, peach, and pear trees that could easily fill bellies.

Then I took out the World Tree from the Storage Bag and began constructing a large Tree Barrier.

To create one big enough for all the villagers, as Shekuri-san had said, the existing trees weren’t enough, so I planted several more World Trees.

By the time I finished, most of the Tree Planting Points I had saved were gone.

But somehow, I completed it.

Just as I thought I was about to level up, the villagers began arriving.

Perhaps from being under the strong sunlight, everyone’s skin was darker.

As I had heard, there were mostly women, children, and the elderly.

The few young men who remained were missing an eye or wrapped in bandages, with clear, fresh wounds.

They likely hadn’t been able to eat properly.

Their complexions were pale, showing clear signs of starvation.

“I’ve gathered everyone as you asked… but what is this?”

Shekuri-san looked puzzled at the Tree Barrier we stood inside.

Without delay, I urged them to come inside.

“What is this…?”

Shekuri-san and the adults hesitated greatly.

“Papa, look, the sand is crackling!”

“Wow, there’s fruit growing!”

Two curious children ran toward us.

They turned out to be Shekuri-san’s children.

Following their lead, other children came, and then their parents were pulled along as well, drawn by their kids.

“This is amazing, no sand is coming in at all!”

“What in the world is this place!?”

While the adults marveled, the children dashed straight to the fruit trees.

Once they reached the fruit, they glanced at me.

When I nodded, they began picking and eating the fruit.

“It’s… it’s so goooooood!!”

“I’ve never eaten fruit like this!”

“My hands, I can’t stop my hands!”

Seeing the children’s extreme reactions, the parents looked taken aback.

But they were starving too, and before such delicious fruit, their patience broke.

And then—

“““DELICIOUSSSS!!”””

They devoured the fruit as eagerly as the children.

Three hours passed as everyone feasted on fruit.

By the time the trees bore fruit three times and everything was eaten, everyone had eaten their fill.

They lay on the ground with bulging bellies, smiling happily.

“You have my thanks, Woody-dono.”

“Ah, Shekuri-san.”

It seemed Shekuri-san had managed to restrain himself, showing no big changes outwardly.

But compared to when we first met, he now looked far more energetic.

This must have been his true self.

“However, I feel guilty, having received so much when we have nothing to return to you…”

“No, I’ve actually received plenty myself.”

“…?”

Shekuri-san looked puzzled, not understanding what I meant.

But to me, there was nothing they needed to give back.

In fact, I might have gained too much.

Since coming here, I had planted less than twenty trees.

And I had gained enough Smile Points to plant nearly forty more. For me, that was a net gain.

Most likely, giving food to people who were on the verge of starvation had raised their respect for me dramatically.

That explained the explosion of points.

At this rate, I wondered if I could keep farming Smile Points just by handing fruit to the locals…

Well, I’d think about that later.

“Aira.”

“Everything is at Woody-sama’s command.”

“Nadja.”

“Woody, I’ll quietly follow the path you choose.”

The two nodded at me.

Seeing their complete trust, I hardened my resolve.

Of course, while Shekuri-san and the villagers were busy eating, we hadn’t just sat there doing nothing.

We had talked it over—and decided.

This would be our new starting point.

“Shekuri-san.”

“What is it, Woody-dono?”

“If you don’t mind, would you allow me to claim this as my territory? Of course, you would remain as village chief.”

“Hmm… does that mean we would serve under Woody-dono?”

“Yes, that’s right. I will ensure my people’s safety and will spare no effort for them. That is my duty and responsibility as a noble—what I, Woody Conrad, was taught by my father.”

Though I had been exiled from my home, I hadn’t been forbidden to use the family name.

Hearing me speak the words my father always repeated like a mantra, I noticed Aira’s pained expression.

I wished she wouldn’t look at me like that.

I was fine now.

“Having escaped death by a hair, we owe you a debt we cannot repay. We have already agreed, as a village, to obey your words.”

Apparently, while we had been talking, they had already reached that conclusion among themselves.

That made things simpler.

“Simurg-san.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Wh-what, the bird is talking—!?”

Simurg-san appeared with a blank expression, surprising Shekuri-san and the villagers nearly to the point of fainting.

“We will make this place a Sanctuary. Divine Bird Simurg, please make this our home.”

“—Indeed! Consider it done!”

Simurg-san spread his wings wide.

Whoosh!

A green light spread across the area!

And then something unbelievable happened.

In the open space that had been nothing but sand, grass began to sprout.

And as if by magic, a hole opened in the sand, and water began filling it.

In an instant, an oasis was born.

“A-amazing…”

“What is this… it’s like watching a fairy tale…”

Aira and Nadja stared blankly.

But I was probably making the same face.

This was the Sanctuary… ah, looking closely, I could see the barrier extended to the edges of the village.

That wasn’t the Tree Barrier—it was the real Sanctuary’s barrier.

Indeed, it radiated a divine aura.

“Then once more, I look forward to working with you.”

“Ah, yes… it seems we may have been taken in by someone extraordinary…”

Shekuri-san shook my hand, looking strangely calm after being so shocked.

And so, the village where Shekuri-san and his people lived became a Sanctuary, giving us a place of rest.

I became the lord of this desert village, and the greening of the desert had truly begun.