Chapter 148: Side: New Residents

After the heated discussion in the baths, the girls resumed their day as usual.

Some of them headed towards the workshop, while others went toward the training grounds.

Cherry visited the cold storage, checking the stocks and fetching ingredients for lunch.

Arianne went to the wall, doing a once-over along its entire length, with Teruria tagging along, using the System’s Repair function to repair any damages inflicted by the zombies on the wall.

“Uhh… Tap this… then, confirm… and… done!”

It was a simple command she couldn’t get wrong, so she finished her task without trouble. But right after, she was surprised when a new window suddenly popped up.

“H-Huh? What’s this…?”

Although hesitant, she carefully inspected the display.

It showed a map—an overhead view of the entire camp and the surrounding land. Dots were scattered across it.

The green dots, gathered in one large group, were moving closer to the wall!

Although Axel taught her some of the System’s functions, he didn’t explain the map. Afraid of the worst, she began checking it out.

She touched the screen, moving it around and experimenting.

Multiple touches—pinch in, pinch out, and so on.

After a bit, she got the hang of the map’s controls and zoomed in on the incoming green dots. Zooming in until they were separated and visible, she saw their tags.

“Refugees…?”

She recalled Axel’s command before leaving: to welcome refugees as long as they could afford it. However…

“There are over a hundred of them…” Teruria mumbled.

If she accepted all of the refugees, could the camp’s resources support them? She wasn’t sure.

Climbing atop the wall, she peeked toward the south, where the refugees were coming from. They surged from different directions and coincidentally gathered in the middle, triggering the alarm Axel had set.

As she observed them, she saw their faces.

Gaunt, wearing clothes no different from rags.

Expressionless, eyes filled with despair. Only a glimmer of hope remained as they made their way toward the tall, reassuring wall.

“…”

Teruria, seeing them, couldn’t help but feel her heart tighten.

“If I don’t accept them, they’d die the moment night comes…” she whispered, worry and guilt in her heart.

“Princess Teruria?”

Just in time, Arianne finished a full lap around the wall. As she approached, she too realized a flood of refugees was coming. Seeing them and knowing Teruria’s soft heart, she didn’t even need to think about what was on her mind.

“Just accept them all,” Arianne said with a smile. “I’m sure Sir Axel would’ve done the same if he were here.”

“Arianne…” Teruria gasped.

’Right, if Sir Hexel were here, he wouldn’t let them die!’

Of course… that wasn’t entirely true.

To Axel, his priority wasn’t saving more lives, but keeping themselves safe. If he were present, he would have only allowed part of the refugees in to avoid a sudden population spike.

The rest? He wouldn’t care.

But the girls had their own opinions.

’I will live up to Sir Hexel’s expectations!’ Teruria cheered in her heart, the guilt fading as a smile crossed her lips.

’The more personnel we have, the stronger the Valkyrie Knight Order will become…’ Arianne thought, gazing toward the refugees.

Thus, the idea of “leaving some refugees outside” didn’t occur to them.

After a short exchange, Arianne left to call for backup, while Teruria stood before the southern gate, gazing at the men and women who would soon become their people.

About fifteen minutes later, just as the refugees stopped at the edge of the moat, Arianne and the rest of the Valkyrie Knight Order arrived—everyone except the reformed bandits.

Eve and Teruria stepped forward as representatives.

“I am Eve Shardrain Klint! First princess of the Klint Kingdom!” Eve roared, loud enough that nobody should have missed her words.

“And I’m Teruria Hallbach, Third Princess of the Hallbach Queendom in the Wisteria Dimension!”

Teruria didn’t lose in volume, raising her voice as loudly as she could.

As if they’d already planned it, only Teruria continued to speak, Eve keeping her lips sealed while acting dignified beside her.

“This is our land, our city!” she roared. “Why have you come here?!”

At her question, the refugees murmured among themselves. Their expressions slowly changed from despair to a bit of anticipation.

Moments later, several voices rose—feeble, like prayers to a nameless god.

“W-We beg you, princesses… Can you share some food with us?”

“Please… Please let my child into your city! I don’t mind if I stay outside as long as my child’s safe…!”

“Let me in! I… I can’t… I’m tired of running from those monsters every day! I’m sick of it…!”

Various voices, pitches, and situations.

Teruria heard each voice and closed her eyes. Although a few sounded like trouble, the gap in strength between the knights and the refugees meant no real threat.

Slowly, Teruria opened her eyes and roared:

“I’ve heard your pleas!” she said.

“I, Princess Teruria, with Princess Eve by my side, am ready to welcome you as refugees! But that comes with a condition: you must work for us appropriately. If you’re willing, you’ll be welcomed with open arms!”

The new refugees knelt down, hands together as if praying. They were thankful just getting the chance to get inside the wall’s protection. Some were so touched that tears began falling from their eyes, tears of relief and gratitude.

Without delay, the entire team went down the walls.

They lowered the bridge across the moat and raised the portcullis.

By the gate, a long table was set, ready to screen entrants.

“Line up and follow the instructions! If you can’t follow this simple instruction, then you’re not welcome in our city!” Eve announced as she stood in front of the gates.

Either from fear, reverence, or obedience, two orderly lines formed almost automatically, orderly and clean. Thanks to that, the screening and registration proceeded peacefully for a while…

But well, peace was a feeble thing.

Of course, they tried to stay diplomatic, but some people were far too selfish.

“Move it!” a man growled, pulling a knife and pressing it to a knight’s throat. “G-Give me all your food, or this girl dies…!”

An impatient, ill-intentioned man dared brandish his dagger.

Faces turned blue as voices raised in alarm.

“P-Please calm down… don’t rush!”

“Slowly, put down the dagger…”

“Oh god… that one’s dead…”

The pale faces weren’t refugees—they were the knights of the Valkyrie Knight Order. After all, the one the man grabbed was Arianne, technically the strongest among everyone present—physically.

“Hoh…?”

Even as the other Valkyrie members tried to intervene, it was too late.

In a flash, the man’s arm bent unnaturally. He didn’t realize it until he saw it himself.

“M-My arm…!”

Before he could react further—

“Curse of Obedience! Behave!”

Teruria applied the curse.

The man went silent instantly. His earlier excitement and aggression turned into fear of the unknown. Seeing his eyes trembling, Teruria approached with a thin smile.

“As you see, this is what happens if you act with ill intent,” she said. “Remember it.”

“…”

Silence fell.

Even those who harbored their own ideas paled and decided to turn over a new leaf.

And as effortlessly as that…

Order was restored.

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