Chapter 68: The Unicorn’s Small Protest, and the New Residents’ Satisfaction

At the eastern edge of the dense forest beside Holy Light Town.

The rhythmic sound of axes chopping wood echoed one after another.

Thick mulberry and hemlock trees fell in succession, raising clouds of dust.

“Quick! Stack the wood over here!”

Ulf wiped the sweat off his brow and shouted in his rough voice.

His upper body was bare, muscles bulging, sweat glistening on his bronze skin.

Behind him—

A vast stretch of what used to be lush forest had already been gradually cleared.

The fertile black soil beneath was now exposed.

The strong men continued to shout work chants as they dug up the frozen ground with great effort.

Shovels and wooden poles pried and flattened the hard clods of earth with practiced ease.

“Lady Liz, at this pace, we should make it in time,” David reported earnestly, pointing to the distance.

“The forest near the stream to the south is almost cleared too.”

“In about three more days, it’ll be enough to settle the thousand new people—open fields and build homes!”

Receiving advance notice of a large number of new residents arriving was originally a cause for joy for Liz and the others. It meant they could prepare ahead of time.

After all, so many people coming couldn’t all be riding horses or carriages.

Most of them would be traveling on foot—slowly.

So, what would take a messenger on horseback a day’s journey would take them at least five or six days.

That gave the town ample time to make arrangements.

However—

Standing atop the hill, Liz looked over the bustling, fiery scene of labor.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“It’s good to get everything done ahead of time,” she said softly.

“But… the commotion is too big.”

Her gaze swept over the uprooted shrubs and the exposed stumps.

“Holy Beast… it doesn’t seem too happy about this.”

Sure enough—

A cry of protest sounded from afar.

The snow-white unicorn was snorting in indignation.

It trotted forward with graceful but slightly hurried steps, treading upon golden light.

Its clear eyes took in the scene of devastation across the forest.

With clear displeasure, it shook its silvery mane.

And when it saw several men roughly digging up a flowering bush by its roots—

The unicorn grew restless, pawing at the ground and letting out a low, rumbling snort.

“My deepest apologies, Holy Beast,”

Marianne quickly stood up from beside the makeshift cooking hearth, holding little Amy’s hand.

Her face was filled with guilt as she tried to soothe it.

“Everyone is just trying to clear more land, so that the new people will have homes to live in and fields to farm. No one meant to harm the forest…”

The unicorn stubbornly turned its head away.

It looked toward the damaged woodland, its eyes full of sorrow.

The tender grass and small flowers that had once thrived beneath its hooves—

Now drooped weakly.

That sacred aura surrounding it carried a clear sense of protest!

“Ah… the Holy Beast thinks we’ve been too rough,”

Marianne explained helplessly to Liz and the others.

“It says… that all things have spirits.”

“To tear them out by the roots like this upsets the balance of the earth. The forest will weep.”

Ulf scratched his head awkwardly upon hearing that.

“W–Well, what can we do, Marianne?”

“If we don’t clear land, where will the people live?”

“Even if we put up temporary tents, we still need space for that, don’t we…”

Liz felt a bit of a headache coming on.

The town’s development was urgent and necessary.

But as the town’s guardian Holy Beast—an exalted creature personally sent by the Angel—

It could not be ignored!

Just as everyone was troubled by the dilemma—

The golden cross atop the church spire shimmered faintly.

Then—

A gentle power enveloped the restless unicorn.

It neighed softly as all four of its hooves lifted off the ground, its body wrapped in warm golden light.

Amidst the crowd’s astonished gazes—

The unicorn was gently carried away by that divine power toward the west side of town.

It descended upon the untouched, lush forest there.

【The western woods are tranquil—fit to be thy dwelling.】

【The development here is necessary.】

【Yet I promise, once the eastern and southern lands are settled—】

【Thy vitality shall be drawn forth to restore part of their greenery.】

A voice filled with comforting warmth echoed directly in the unicorn’s pure heart.

Standing at the western forest’s edge, it felt the vibrant life force of the soil beneath its hooves—

And the serene flow of peace within the woods.

Its agitation gradually subsided.

The unicorn lowered its head—

And touched the tip of its horn to a budding flower.

The flower bloomed rapidly before their eyes, releasing a faint, fresh fragrance.

Only then did the unicorn snort contentedly, accepting the arrangement.

The unicorn, being sentient, naturally understood Lynn’s will.

Development was necessary, but not without restraint.

This untouched land in the west was the paradise left for it to protect.

And in the future, it could return—

To help re-green the eastern and southern lands. That was already a fair compromise…

…

A few days later.

When Siance and Reed, exhausted and travel-worn,

Led the grand procession of over a thousand new residents—families and all—

Through the final forest path to the edge of Holy Light Town,

Everyone’s mouths fell slightly open at the sight before them.

“By the Holy Light~! I’ve only been gone a week, and it’s changed this much?”

Siance rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

To the east and south of the town—

Stretched vast expanses of freshly tilled black soil.

Neat rows of furrows extended toward the distance as if measured by a ruler.

The soil was moist.

It glistened with a subtle sheen under the sunlight, brimming with vibrant life.

And at the center of it all—

The solemn Lynn Church.

The cross atop its spire still radiated a gentle, unending golden glow.

A faint, almost transparent layer of golden ripples—

Like an upturned bowl—

Enveloped the hundred-meter area below, where rows of wooden houses stood in orderly fashion.

Though simple, those houses were filled with the breath of life.

Clothes fluttered in the wind, children played joyfully, and busy figures moved about.

Together, they formed a peaceful and lively tableau.

However—

The most captivating sight was to the west of the town.

In stark contrast to the barren, newly cultivated lands to the east and south—

Here, ancient trees towered skyward, lush and verdant.

In the forest clearing,

Hundreds of flowers bloomed in vivid colors, competing in beauty and fragrance.

Tender green grass spread across the ground like the softest carpet.

A few brilliantly colored butterflies danced gracefully among the blossoms.

And in the center of that fragrant paradise—

A snow-white unicorn, faintly glowing with golden light, was strolling leisurely.

Around it clustered several giggling children,

Boldly stroking its silky mane and playing with it.

Not far away, a kind-faced woman sat upon a large rock.

She cradled a small infant in her arms, her gentle smile full of warmth as she watched over the scene.

Sacred, tranquil, and full of life.

Three entirely different scenes—

Yet they coexisted harmoniously within this small world!

“Is this… the Sanctuary?” murmured an elderly new farmer,

His clouded eyes shining with hope.

“A place protected by the Angel… it truly is different from the outside world!”

A woman carrying a tattered bundle wiped away tears of emotion.

Reed, however, reacted the simplest way.

He took a deep breath—

The stale air from beyond the forest—

Was nothing compared to the fresh, floral-scented air here!

He couldn’t help but grin wide,

Slapping the shoulder of the nearby captain of the guard. “See? I told you, didn’t I?”

“This is the kind of place fit for humans to live in!”

All the exhaustion from the road—

All the unease about the future—

Vanished in that moment.

In the eyes of every new resident, a spark of hope and anticipation burned brighter than ever!

The influx of more than a thousand people—

Instantly turned the once-quiet town into a lively bustle.

The first issue—

Was the mountains of supplies.

Grain, tools, seeds, fabric, pots, and pans…

All the belongings transported from Oak Town almost filled the open space at the town’s entrance.

“Get twenty or so strong brothers to help move everything into the warehouses for now!”

Liz commanded loudly.

She was very glad that Colin had the foresight—

To insist on building several solid, spacious wooden warehouses behind the church in advance.

Now, those warehouses were proving invaluable.

Ulf led his men to carry sack after sack of grain and bundles of tools inside in an orderly fashion.

“Careful! Don’t stack the grain sacks too high!”

“Farming tools go into Warehouse No. 3! Fabric into Warehouse No. 2! Don’t mix them up!”

Marianne, leading a group of residents skilled in arithmetic, held charcoal pens and rough ledgers.

They meticulously recorded and counted every item, noting which supplies were privately owned.

With so many people, everything had to be handled strictly.

Otherwise, problems or cases of embezzlement could easily arise.

Fortunately, it was still late winter.

The weather hadn’t yet warmed, so food storage wasn’t too pressing a concern.

If it were spring or summer—

Preventing grain from molding or being infested with insects would have been a major headache!

Liz looked around at the busy scene and sighed inwardly:

“Under the Angel’s blessing, this truly is the perfect time for expansion.”

Once the supplies were settled,

A much larger project immediately began.

Liz gathered all the stonemasons, carpenters, and seasoned hunters.

Under the leadership of Siance and David, both First-tier Knights of Light,

They carried out an unprecedented detailed survey of Holy Light Town and its surroundings.

They delved deep into the forest, climbed hills, and followed the stream for close inspections.

“This terrain is flat and near the stream, with easy access to water. Future housing areas should expand in this direction,”

An old stonemason concluded.

Siance quickly drew rough lines across the parchment map.

“The northeastern slope is sheltered from the wind, far enough from both residential areas, and has a small river beneath it—perfect for a handicraft zone!”

“We can build blacksmith forges, carpenter’s workshops, and even brick kilns later!”

Another experienced craftsman added,

Suggesting ways to maximize water power and reduce smoke pollution to residential areas.

Concentrating industries could also form a cluster effect.

“As for the commercial district, I suggest it be placed along the main road connecting the residential and handicraft areas!”

Reed, relying on his worldly experience, offered his advice.

“That way, people from both sides will converge naturally, forming a bustling market street!”

His suggestion made sense and was readily accepted.

“As for the administrative and cultural zone…”

Siance looked toward the church.

“It should still remain within the Sanctuary’s hundred-meter radius!”

“The old council hall is too small—it needs to be demolished and rebuilt.”

“And we should start on a school as soon as possible. There are quite a few children now; they mustn’t fall behind in reading and writing.”

“I’d love to see a few more talents like Brother Colin show up to share the workload, hahaha.”

Everyone agreed wholeheartedly.

After all, the Sanctuary’s surroundings were the safest place.

Finally—

Siance’s pen landed firmly on the vast black soil of the east and south.

“And here—”

“Will be our town’s granary! The largest agricultural zone!”

The blueprint gradually took shape on the parchment.

The outline of a small town—functional, well-planned, and full of promise—

Emerged vividly on paper.

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