In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Sergey paused for a moment before continuing.

"The article mentioned how he provided livelihoods and pensions to the families of those who died in territorial wars. In his estate, serfs receive fair shares of their harvests, and if they manage to save enough, they can even purchase land."

He gently tucked a strand of Alexa's soft curls behind her ear. Her previously pallid complexion had regained its rosy glow, making her look more beautiful than ever.

"Do you think we might be able to own land there, too?" Alexa's cheeks flushed with excitement as she posed the question.

Sergey embraced her tightly, his voice low and steady.

"I think it's possible."

Resting her face against his chest, Alexa murmured, "I hope it's true."

Sergey didn't respond aloud but felt a quiet certainty in his heart. A man hailed as a hero of the continent would not make empty promises.

After disembarking, the group had to walk for some time through a dark underground tunnel. Fortunately, a rail system along the way made the journey manageable.

At the entrance to the tunnel stood a large barrack where they were immediately instructed to undergo an orientation.

A blond-haired man, identified as the chief administrator of the estate, explained the rules and lifestyle they would adopt moving forward.

"You will now live as residents of the Grand Duke Crassus' estate in the Kingdom of Lania. Our estate abolished the serf system long ago," Julien, the administrator, announced.

His words caused a murmur among the crowd.

"Each of you will receive your own plot of land. Your responsibility is to cultivate it and pay 15% of your earnings as taxes."

The astonishingly generous terms left everyone speechless. Julien continued, outlining the details.

"For the first five years, however, 20% of your income will go toward paying off the cost of the land. After that, everything beyond taxes will belong to you."

The disbelief among the group was palpable, but Julien, accustomed to such reactions, maintained his calm demeanor.

"Each village will have a designated steward responsible for managing communal livestock and farming equipment, which they will loan to you as needed."

He explained the steward's duties, the benefits they would gain, and the system's equitable nature.

"The steward retains half of the income generated through these services. The remaining half is paid as taxes. Rental fees for equipment are standardized across all villages."

Scanning the group, Julien added, "It looks like you'll form about three villages, which means we'll need three stewards. Are there any volunteers?"

Sergey hesitated briefly before raising his hand.

"I have a question," he said.

Julien nodded, his expression encouraging. There was always someone willing to step forward in situations like this.

"Feel free to ask."

Swallowing hard, Sergey asked, "Does this mean stewards cannot own land?"

Julien immediately shook his head.

"Not at all," Julien replied. "Of course, you must not neglect your duties as a steward to focus on personal land development. But as long as you fulfill your responsibilities, you're free to participate in land cultivation."

Encouraged, Sergey asked another question. "Is cultivation very difficult? Could there be injuries or casualties?"

Fear flickered across Sergey's face, echoed by the expressions of others in the group. Memories of the countless deaths and injuries during the grueling land reclamation projects in the Kingdom of Pasha resurfaced.

Julien, noticing their unease, responded firmly, "Not at all. In our estate, we use magical beasts for such tasks. These beasts are compensated with a specific amount of gold and perform the hard labor on our behalf. What would take us years to accomplish, they complete in mere days."

Shrugging slightly, Julien elaborated, "Of course, there's a cost involved, but magical beasts are quite reasonable. Typically, they charge 5 gold coins for a single task."

Five gold coins? The crowd erupted into murmurs. That was an enormous sum.

"A single magical beast can clear trees and prepare the land for a village within about three days. That would cost 15 gold coins. Usually, the entire village contributes collectively to cover the cost."

Having seemingly become the group's de facto representative, Sergey raised another concern. "But… we're all penniless. We don't have any gold to pay the magical beasts."

Julien smiled reassuringly. "There's no need to worry. For newcomers like yourselves, the estate offers low-interest loans. Each household can borrow up to 3 gold coins."

Relief spread through the group as they exchanged glances and sighed collectively. Yet Sergey remained vigilant.

"What do you mean by 'low-interest'? What is the interest rate?" he asked, his palms damp with sweat. In his previous estate, the lord had operated a predatory lending scheme, demanding 3 gold coins as repayment for a single gold coin borrowed—an outrageous rate.

Julien calmly explained, counting on his fingers. "It depends on the household's composition. For instance, a newlywed couple would have an annual interest rate of 5%. If they live with their parents, it's 4%. And if they have children, it's reduced to 3%."

Sergey's face brightened. A 3% interest rate on 3 gold coins amounted to just 30 bronze coins—a manageable amount.

The lessons continued. They learned how to use a pump-operated well called a pump, how to utilize ondol heating systems in each house, and how to coexist with magical beasts. The adjustments required to settle into their new villages were numerous but practical.

One innovation that amazed everyone was the provision of institutions to care for children while their parents worked.

When Julien first mentioned these schools, the group was terrified. Their past experiences with cruel lords who exploited children left them deeply distrustful. However, their fears were soon alleviated.

"Children will be grouped by age and aptitude for their education," Julien explained. "Once they've learned basic literacy, they'll receive training in fields suited to their abilities."

Meeting their eyes, Julien smiled warmly. "The possibilities are endless. In our estate, some children have trained as knights, while others have become apprentices to magicians."

This revelation brought an unparalleled joy to the group, greater than all the previous announcements combined.

"My child could become a knight or a magician?" The thought represented a path to upward mobility. People who had once been at the bottom of society now found themselves pinching their cheeks, unable to believe their fortune.

Finally, Julien issued a stern warning. "Everyone here must keep the fact that you were serfs from the Kingdom of Pasha a strict secret. You are now indigenous people of the Argo Mountains. Is that understood?"