In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Chapter 105 To Live Like Human Beings

Even more astonishing was the news that every five families would be provided with a draft horse and ox for shared use.

Initially, Ethan couldn't believe it. But then Anna's brother, Rooney, came to him, expressing skepticism.

"Do you really believe that? They'll probably make us pay for the animals later, leaving our descendants in endless debt."

Ethan shook his head. "No, this estate is different. The knight—the heir—personally issued these orders. There's no middleman to twist things."

Though Rooney remained cautious, Ethan allowed himself a glimmer of hope. Could this truly be a place where they could live like human beings?

"Late arrivals might only get the leftovers, so form teams and move quickly," Ethan urged Rooney, recounting the instructions given by the estate manager. Though skeptical, Ethan approached the farm steward and returned, awestruck, with a draft horse and ox.

It's true!

The only condition was that he had to feed and care for the animals during the rental period, but that was a small price to pay. The estate even provided grain for free in the first year, with the expectation that it would be repaid in installments after future harvests.

How could such a place exist?

By the time the land-clearing was nearly finished, news arrived that the farmhouses were ready for occupancy. When Ethan and his family entered their assigned home, they gasped in amazement.

The brick house was clean, with sizable windows fitted with glass panes—a luxury unheard of.

Ethan's elderly father shuffled toward one of the windows, his hands trembling.

"This… this is glass," he murmured. "The last time I saw something like this was as a child, when Father took me to the lord's castle. To think I'd ever live in a house with glass windows…"

Tears streamed down the old man's face, and Ethan's mother discreetly wiped her own tears.

Ethan turned to Anna, their eyes meeting in shared joy.

"Here," he said, smiling, "we can live like humans."

From a distance, Julian and Arnan observed the serfs entering their new homes, their delighted exclamations reaching the two men.

"Our hard work paid off," Arnan said quietly, his voice laced with satisfaction.

"You've done so much, Sir Arnan," Julian replied, nodding in agreement.

Julian, steadily bridging the gap between human and demon, had been learning administration, management, and politics from Arnan. He was blossoming into a capable steward.

"I merely followed the lord's lead," Arnan said humbly, shaking his head.

"Our lord truly is extraordinary," Julian said, his tone filled with admiration.

"Indeed. Large-scale production of bricks and glass—who could have imagined?" Arnan mused.

The production had been nothing short of revolutionary. Leonardo had combined artifacts and alchemical knowledge to innovate the manufacturing process, while the mages provided magical support for key tasks, maximizing efficiency.

"Only our lord could devise such methods," Julian agreed. "He always speaks of these things as if they're simple, but it's his genius at work."

Arnan chuckled. "I used to think mages were only suited for research, yet they've proven remarkably practical under his direction."

"It's amazing how many have gathered here under his leadership, even those who avoided conscription during wartime," Julian added.

"At first, they seemed unsure, but now they actively seek out tasks," Arnan noted, recalling the mages' newfound enthusiasm.

"Apparently, their magical reserves have increased significantly since working here. After focusing solely on research, applying their skills practically has enhanced their abilities," Julian explained.

"That makes sense," Arnan said, nodding thoughtfully. "No wonder they seem so energetic lately."

"Even the masters, after hearing from their apprentices, have joined in one by one," Julian added.

"Ah, so that's why the masters have been harder to find recently. They used to linger around Miaomiao and Marcus all the time," Arnan remarked with a grin.

"Yes, Miaomiao hated it. Marcus, on the other hand, let them observe him up close as long as they offered him jewels," Julian said, laughing.

As the discussion turned to the estate's progress, Julian suggested, "Shall we visit the newly settled areas? We can use one of the flying beasts to get there quickly."

After a brief moment of consideration, Arnan agreed.

"Let's do that. It's time I introduced myself to the lord properly."

Arnan smiled as he added, "But speaking of innovations, the livestock lending program is a remarkable idea. Consider this: a draft animal can plow a field in a fraction of the time it would take several people."

Julian nodded attentively as Arnan continued.

"Yet no one thought to implement such a system before. Why?"

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Julian frowned in thought before replying, "Most lords would rather slaughter the animals for meat than lend them to serfs. After all, they see serfs as nothing more than speaking beasts."

Arnan sighed deeply, his face darkening.

"True. Even after a thousand years, the world hasn't changed much."

"Even with the growing number of mages, their contributions rarely extend beyond their own benefit. That's why I place so much hope in our lord," Arnan said, his voice steady with conviction.

"I feel the same," Julian replied. "I've learned so much under his guidance and continue to grow."

Thinking of Michael, Julian's eyes sparkled with renewed loyalty.

"I'll follow you to the ends of the earth, my lord."

Sixty years later, Julian would curse his younger self as he sorted through mountains of paperwork, but that was a future he couldn't foresee.

Meanwhile, Michael, the subject of all this praise, was entirely consumed with his current task: exhuming his third corpse.

Alfred had gone to another estate to handle execution duties, leaving Michael to work alone.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he muttered,

"Why is this grave so damn deep?"

Late into the night, the sound of Michael's shovel slicing through the earth was the only thing breaking the silence of the dark sky.

Not long after being revived, Rabouin was engulfed in deep despair. This was because he had learned that his wife had been executed five years after his death.