How to Use the Lord's Future Diary

Chapter 170

Although it was winter, the residents' daily lives hadn't changed much.The miners extracting Mana Stones continued swinging their pickaxes despite the freezing weather.

Ever since Rabbit Coin had officially entered circulation, the miners had become noticeably prouder of their work.

Mana Crystals, which had once felt somewhat distant to ordinary residents, had now become deeply connected to their everyday lives.

They firmly believed that the Mana Stone Mine was the core industry supporting the entire territory.

“Explosion! Explosion! Explosion!”

“At this rate we'll make more than thirty bombs!”

“This is it! This is what I'm talking about!”

There were occasionally a few strange people mixed in...

But it was best to simply ignore them.

Managing the Horn Rabbits.

Everything from slaughtering them to processing their pelts, making jerky, and smoking the meat all fell under this department.

Recently, with canned meat becoming an enormous hit, many members of the Squirrel Tribe had transferred here.

The work had gradually become divided.

The existing slaughterhouse handled the slaughtering and butchering.

The Squirrel Tribe took charge of processing the Horn Rabbit meat.

“What? The most important job in the territory? Obviously this one. Without Horn Rabbits we'd have gone under long ago.”

“Horn Rabbits! Definitely Horn Rabbits!”

“Why do you think there's a rabbit engraved on our money? Do you really need any more explanation?”

The residents working at the Horn Rabbit slaughterhouse took tremendous pride in knowing that every major change in the territory had begun with the Horn Rabbit Ranch.

The blacksmiths' hammers continued ringing loudly throughout the day.

The only reason the residents could enjoy peaceful lives was because the soldiers defended the Northern Fortress.

Winter was the season when arrows were consumed in the greatest numbers.

As a result, the blacksmiths continued operating under emergency work schedules.

The frontline soldiers could never be allowed to suffer from equipment shortages.

Every swing of the hammer produced another finished piece of equipment.

“Look at these muscles. Men are all about muscles.”

“My biceps get a fantastic workout every time I swing the hammer.”

“Overtime? Guess I'll get even bigger.”

Sharply forged iron arrows.

A determination that feared no overtime.

And powerful muscles.

Those were the blacksmiths' greatest source of pride.

The residents processing monster by-products were just as busy.

There had once been a time when selling monster materials had been the territory's primary industry.

Thanks to the Horn Rabbit Ranch and the Mana Stone Mine, however, monster materials had gradually been pushed out of the spotlight.

That didn't make the work any less important.

The territory relied on an astonishing variety of monster materials.

The oil stockpiled for castle defense.

The various pieces of armor used by soldiers.

Even the blacksmiths required monster bones when refining alloys.

Most importantly...

Many of the ingredients used to produce Potions—the territory's lifeblood—were monster by-products.

Even the most essential ingredient, Troll Blood, came from monsters.

“Don't even ask. This job is seriously exhausting.”

Processing monster materials was brutally difficult.

Not only was there an overwhelming amount of work...

It was filthy.

Even compared to slaughtering Horn Rabbits, this job was far more demanding.

Monster corpses always emitted horrible odors.

For that reason...

The residents assigned to this work had always received additional supplies.

If Knights and soldiers occupied the highest tier of待遇 within the territory...

Then monster material processors ranked immediately below them.

Perhaps because Johnson Territory was filled with rugged men...

Their work was valued even more highly than mining or blacksmithing.

No one complained if the people doing this job received extra rewards.

“But the pay's pretty great. Especially now that we're paid in coins.”

“We're paid so well that it almost makes me feel guilty. Makes me want to work even harder.”

A group that consistently received generous bonuses.

Fair treatment.

High wages.

Those were the things they took the greatest pride in.

I patrolled the territory alongside Irene.

Despite the winter season, the residents' spirits remained high.

Everyone worked from morning until afternoon.

Then spent the evenings leisurely enjoying their own lives.

It was probably because the situation at the Northern Fortress remained favorable.

The soldiers rotating back from the fortress constantly kept us informed of conditions there.

“Lord Iron. It's starting.”

“It is. So they show performances every night now?”

“Yes. We received the Magic Tool anyway. It'd be a waste to leave it unused.”

Recently, the residents had gained a new form of entertainment.

Every night...

Magical recordings were projected in the castle's central plaza.

The Magic Tool had practically been forced upon us by Haken.

But it contained recordings of various performances.

The singer currently appearing on screen was supposedly extremely famous in Haken.

Listening to the sweet voice singing about love...

Even I could immediately tell the performer possessed incredible talent.

If this had been modern Earth...

A major entertainment agency would've signed them instantly.

Apparently genuine talent always found a way to shine, regardless of the world.

“Look over there. A tavern.”

“Ah... so they finally received permission.”

“Exactly. You can really feel how much the territory is changing.”

This was one of the changes brought about by officially introducing Rabbit Coin.

As people gathered in the plaza every evening to enjoy performances...

Some residents began asking permission to sell food and alcohol there.

Several immigrants from Haken joined together and negotiated directly with the Treasurer.

Perhaps because they came from the south...

They were remarkably quick to seize business opportunities.

‘Introducing currency really was necessary.’

The Alchemy Workshop screamed in despair while engraving rabbits onto Mana Crystals.

The Treasurer, meanwhile, had developed even darker circles under their eyes after their workload suddenly exploded.

I honestly felt a little guilty toward both of them.

Still...

Introducing currency had been an essential step in the territory's development.

“It isn't a bad thing. It's a natural change.”

“Yes, exactly.”

People laughed together despite the cold.

Sharing warm meals and drinks while washing away the fatigue they'd accumulated.

If the territory hadn't been thriving...

Scenes like this would've been unimaginable.

Everything before me proved just how smoothly things were running.

Perhaps...

This peaceful everyday life was exactly what I wanted to protect.

“Next is the training grounds.”

After quietly watching the residents enjoying themselves in the plaza...

We headed toward the training grounds.

An important event was being held there.

Though "important event" might've been an exaggeration.

It was basically just recreation.

Still...

They'd specifically asked me to attend today.

Apparently my presence was considered essential.

“Oh, My Lord. You've arrived.”

“Sir Dominic. Looks like it's about to begin.”

“That's right. Perfect timing.”

The person who invited me here was the retired veteran Knight, Sir Dominic.

He had lost an arm during the battle against the Rat Tribe and retired.

Yet during the war against the Empire, he'd once again taken up his sword and led the remaining soldiers with remarkable skill.

These days...

He had become a full-time instructor, training the soldiers.

Having devoted decades of his life to the territory...

And having sacrificed an arm to save three soldiers during his final battle...

There wasn't a single soldier who failed to respect him.

I trusted Sir Dominic completely as well.

Appointing him as chief instructor hadn't required the slightest hesitation.

‘The soldiers seem to be in good spirits too.’

-It's difficult not to be cheerful on a day like this.

‘True.’

Unlike the Knights, who practically lived at the Northern Fortress...

The ordinary soldiers rotated between the fortress and Johnson Castle.

After returning from defending the fortress, they recovered here while undergoing light training.

Recently...

Something new had been added to their routine besides training.

“Block him!”

“Tackle him! Go for the tackle!”

“Shoot! Shoot already, you idiot!”

Battleball.

This world's equivalent of soccer.

A hugely popular sport in Haken.

After watching Battleball matches recorded in Haken...

The soldiers collectively decided,

"Let's try playing ourselves!"

Apparently that's how it all began.

The sport proved surprisingly addictive.

Several teams formed almost immediately.

The soldiers organized everything themselves and began holding tournaments.

Training during the day.

Playing Battleball after dark.

After several tournaments...

Today had become the Johnson Territory Battleball Championship.

Sir Dominic had invited me here to congratulate the eventual champions.

It would greatly boost the soldiers' morale.

Naturally...

I gladly accepted.

“Though... this...”

“It's a little different from what I expected.”

“Well... let's just call it Johnson Territory-style Battleball.”

Our version of Battleball differed considerably from the one played in Haken.

Normally...

Battleball resembled a far more violent version of soccer.

Physical contact was expected.

Watching Haken's matches, injuries happened constantly.

But this...

This was chaotic in an entirely different way.

“Damn it! Stop touching the ball with your tail!”

“Ugh! That damned lioness hit my...!”

“I'm ripping that damned tail off!”

Using your hands in Battleball was naturally forbidden.

However...

There were absolutely no rules about using tails.

Why would there be?

Battleball was originally a human sport.

Humans didn't have tails.

The problem...

Was that our territory contained terrifying individuals who could weaponize even their tails.

The Black Lions.

They skillfully manipulated the ball with their tails while toying with their opponents.

Their opponents had reached the championship match, so they were obviously skilled players.

But against Black Lions who effectively possessed a third leg...

They simply couldn't compete.

“Wow... forget everything else... that's just...”

“Yeah... they're absolutely ruthless.”

Using a tail to control the ball?

Perfectly understandable.

It would actually be strange to forbid using something you naturally possessed.

But some of the lions...

Used their tails to jab opponents in the eyes.

Others...

Actually struck their opponents in rather sensitive places.

The lionesses, especially, attacked those areas with absolutely no mercy.

Even I winced watching it happen.

Several soldiers had clearly suffered before.

They'd even begun wearing protective guards there.

Unfortunately...

Those flimsy protectors stood no chance against the relentless determination of the fierce lionesses.

That particular area remained an unavoidable weak point, regardless of armor.

Once struck there...

The soldiers instinctively retreated whenever a lioness approached.

Naturally...

The momentum of the match shifted completely.

“Yes!! We won!!”

“Wooooo!!”

“Rabbit Coins! Rabbit Coins!”

“We're stacking up canned meat and eating until we're full!”

The champions had been decided.

The Reserve Warrior Unit, containing numerous Black Lion lionesses.

As their prize...

They received a large number of Rabbit Coins.

The Johnson Territory soldiers, who had fought valiantly until the very end...

Could only watch with bitter expressions.

Their morale had clearly taken a severe blow.

‘Using tails definitely needs to be banned.’

For now...

Only soldiers played the sport.

But eventually...

Battleball would become far more widespread.

Naturally...

Beastmen would also begin participating.

In fact...

Improvised matches were already taking place at one side of the Northern Fortress.

The soldiers who enjoyed Battleball had introduced it to the Knights.

Now it was spreading like an epidemic.

‘At this point I'm starting to wonder whether the Lord of Haken intentionally infected us with this.’

Regardless...

A territory where humans and Beastmen lived together clearly required special Beastman rules.

Otherwise...

Every match would simply turn into a repeat of today's disaster.

Honestly...

Just imagining Leisha striking someone there with her tail made my spine shiver.

Special Beastman regulations would have to be added if Battleball was ever going to function properly.

“My Lord! A supply wagon has arrived from Henil!”

Just as I was consoling the unfortunate victims after the match...

A soldier came running toward us.

The supply wagon from Henil had finally reached the territory.

“It's rather late today.”

“True. Much later than usual. I wonder if something happened?”

A wagon that normally arrived during the daytime...

Had instead shown up in the middle of the night.

Naturally...

I couldn't help tilting my head in confusion.