Chapter 18: Production Teams and Work Points (Part 2)

Because of this system, the number of serfs in the Norman Empire had been increasing rapidly, while the number of free citizens had been steadily declining.

It wasn't that free citizens hadn't tried to resist, but against the overwhelming power of the nobility, what could unarmed commoners do?

Yet today, the words of Bruno Stuart, the Earl of Idar, gave many of the gathered serfs a glimmer of hope—hope that they could become free citizens once again.

However, most of them remained skeptical. For those who had lived under the oppression of the nobility for so long, such an idea seemed too distant, nothing more than an empty promise.

Bruno didn't dwell on this point but continued speaking:

"Out of the 453 serfs here, 100 will remain, while the rest will depart for the outskirts of Idar City tomorrow to work on constructing the Hanging Garden."

"The serfs assigned to build the Hanging Garden will be organized into eight production teams. Their work will be evaluated daily, and the team that accomplishes the most will be rewarded with a hearty dinner, including fish, white bread, and vegetable soup—enough to fill your stomachs. The team that does the least will receive only a limited amount of black bread."

As soon as Bruno finished speaking, murmurs spread among the serfs gathered around the bonfire.

For them, the possibility of becoming free citizens might have felt too far-fetched, but food was an immediate and tangible concern. If their lord truly intended to keep his word, then working on the garden was clearly an excellent opportunity.

Serfs had simple desires—a place to live and food to eat. That alone was a good life.

Once the murmuring quieted, Bruno continued:

"During the construction, each completed task will earn work points for the production teams. The points will be recorded daily by Idar officials and publicly displayed. When the garden is completed, the top three teams will earn their members freedom—20 serfs from the first-place team, 15 from the second, and 10 from the third."

The serfs erupted into excited chatter.

No one wanted to remain a serf forever, nor did they want their children to be born into servitude. Bruno was offering them something no other noble had ever given them—a chance.

"But!" Bruno added, "since many of you have seen the salt production process, you must maintain absolute secrecy. Even if you become free citizens, you will not be permitted to leave Idar and must report to a designated official regularly. However, this restriction will not apply to your children."

Despite this condition, the serfs were largely unbothered.

After all, Bruno was already a noble unlike any other, one willing to promise freedom to his serfs. Even if the promise seemed uncertain, just the fact that he had spoken the words was remarkable. Where else would they go? Another noble's land, where they would just be captured and enslaved again?

As for betraying this secret to another lord? That was laughable. What noble would even listen to the words of a mere serf? More likely, they would be punished for lying or making things up.

"My lord, is everything you've said really true?" A young serf hesitantly stepped forward to ask.

"The Stuart family keeps its word! I am the Earl of Idar, the ruler of this land—what would I gain from lying to you?" Bruno replied with a smile.

"Can we sign up for the production teams now?" the young serf asked eagerly.

"Of course. Those interested can register with Old Ford. The deadline is tonight."

After speaking, Bruno didn't linger. He had been working all day and was exhausted—time to sleep.

The young serf was the first to rush to Old Ford, bowing respectfully. "Sir, I wish to join the production team."

Seeing this, the other serfs immediately reacted.

With such good conditions, anyone who didn't sign up would be a fool! In no time, Old Ford found himself surrounded by a dense crowd of eager serfs.

The old butler couldn't help but smile wryly. His lord truly had no interest in handling troublesome affairs. He hadn't given him any warning, and now, here he was, an old man past fifty, struggling to record all these names in the middle of the night.

"One at a time! Don't push… Who stepped on my foot? Damn it… Lopida, where are you? Someone come help me!"

Among the crowd, the young serf named Krell was the first to register.

As a serf, Krell had always harbored resentment.

Two years ago, he had been sold into slavery by a trader after his father incurred a debt to a noble. The debt had started as just two silver shillings borrowed for his mother's medical treatment. The treatment worked, but within a year, the interest had ballooned to ten times the original amount.

With no way to repay it, the local noble had enslaved Krell's entire family and sold them off.

His mother and younger brother were sent to serve as domestic servants for a noble in the Kingdom of Basel. Krell and his father had been sold to Idar.

Fortunately, the Stuart family had treated them fairly well. They were assigned to work in the salt fields—hard work, but at least they were given enough food to survive.

But today, Bruno Stuart had said something that reignited the flame of hope in Krell's heart.

Serfs could become free citizens.

After all… he had once been free.

In the mountains, where there was no tiger, the monkey became king.

Since Bruno had left Idar City, Anel had been enjoying a comfortable life.

And once Old Ford, the butler, also left, Anel's word became absolute.

The castle servants treated him with great respect, not just because he was a noble's guest, but because he was a mage—a wielder of magic.

Anel liked life in Idar. It was far from the empire's bustling center, but that meant fewer pretentious flatterers. Instead, he had something he had never truly experienced—genuine appreciation.

Here, people respected him not because he was the son of Duke Luen but because he was a mage.

That made Anel happy. Yet, deep down, he also felt a little guilty.

Because he knew exactly how weak he was.

In truth, he was still an apprentice, not a fully trained mage.

So every day, when he wasn't indulging in the castle's delicious food, he dedicated all his time to practicing magic.

Every morning after breakfast, he would train in the castle courtyard, practicing levitation and fireball spells from dawn until nightfall, never stopping.

Though he had accidentally burned a cart and set fire to the stables once, he had made significant progress overall.

He thought to himself:

"I'll train in secret… and then one day, I'll amaze everyone!"