The Greatest Estate Developer - Chapter 388: A Weapon Called Faith (3)

**Two hours earlier.**

While Lloyd was talking with Bibeong at Lake Kapua on the eastern mountainside, down below in the territory, the Fallen Angel Raphael was mingling with the residents, exuding his usual charm.

**Squeak! Squeak!**

“Good. One more.”

Raphael’s hands moved swiftly as he picked up a bucket full of fresh cow’s milk and set it aside. He handed an empty bucket to the shepherd, who then busily continued milking the cow. The warm milk filled the bucket, steam rising from it, and a contented smile spread across the shepherd’s face.

“Haha, you really don’t have to help, but I’m grateful. I hope I’m not causing you any trouble, sir.”

“Nonsense. I’m helping because I can. Didn’t you hurt your back last month?”

Raphael smiled kindly and continued.

“Carrying heavy buckets with an injured back could worsen the injury. It could lead to another injury, or even a chronic condition. Injured areas are prone to getting hurt again, you know.”

“Oh, well, people like me live with these kinds of injuries all the time.”

“Don’t belittle yourself like that. Take care of yourself.”

“Haha, yes, I understand, sir. I’m very grateful…”

“Are you thinking of offering me a meal?”

“Yes, of course! The potatoes we harvested this time are big and tasty.”

“Potatoes, huh? Sounds good.”

Raphael’s smile grew warmer.

The shepherd, too, seemed to enjoy his work even more as he milked the cow.

The breeze was just right, and the sunlight was pleasantly warm. Even the clouds drifting by made it a perfect, peaceful day.

Raphael mused to himself.

**’It’s the imperfections that make the human world so enjoyable.’**

Things aren’t always perfect.

Sometimes there are storm clouds and sudden showers.

And yet, the sun eventually shines warmly again.

Unlike the heavenly realm, where everything is perpetually perfect and beautiful, it’s these little imperfections that make moments like this one, with the perfect sunlight, all the more beautiful.

**’Potatoes are like that, too. They’re bumpy and sometimes not very tasty. They might be improperly stored or even start to sprout. But that’s why, when you find the perfect potato, it’s all the more amazing.’**

With a bucket full of milk, Raphael headed back to the shepherd’s house, enjoying this world a little more.

But then, suddenly…

“By the way, sir…”

The shepherd’s voice broke through Raphael’s thoughts. When Raphael turned his head, the shepherd walking beside him was looking at him.

“Forgive me if this sounds strange, but do you happen to know anything about Lord Lloyd?”

“You mean Lloyd Frontera?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Hmm, that’s strange. Everyone knows he returned to the territory recently, including you.”

“Yes, I know that. But… something seems a bit off.”

“What do you mean by ‘off’?”

Raphael asked, and the shepherd awkwardly wrinkled his nose.

“He said that he genuinely cares for and loves all the residents of the territory.”

“Ah, you’re talking about the fact he revealed through the Jewel of Truth. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Were you surprised?”

“Well, haha, yes.”

The shepherd laughed sheepishly.

“I knew that Lord Lloyd cared about the territory. He hates losing money, after all. But to think that he genuinely cares for and loves people like us… that was a bit—no, a lot—surprising.”

“Why were you surprised?”

“Because he doesn’t have to genuinely care for and love us.”

The shepherd spoke as if it were obvious.

“People like us just work hard, pay our taxes, get dragged to war when it breaks out, and die. That’s the end of it, isn’t it? To the nobles, we’re little more than livestock—or sometimes, even less than that. We’re useful when we’re around, better if there’s more of us, and if we’re gone, they can just bring in more from elsewhere. We’re just numbers to them.”

“But Lloyd Frontera was different?”

“Yes. Both the Lord and Lord Lloyd were different. Especially Lord Lloyd—he used to have quite the temper, but then he suddenly changed. He treated us like actual people. Even when things were dangerous, he stepped up to protect us. Still… we thought he was just being thorough, that he had something to gain from taking care of us. We considered ourselves lucky to have such a thoughtful superior.”

“Haha. You didn’t know that he genuinely cared for and loved everyone.”

“Yes. We didn’t think he cared about us that much.”

“So, were you happy about it?”

“No.”

The shepherd shook his head firmly.

He looked at Raphael with serious eyes and said:

“I’m actually worried.”

“Worried? About what?”

“It feels like he’s taking on too much by himself.”

“Lloyd Frontera?”

“Yes. I saw him earlier.”

“Saw him?”

“I saw him riding Sir Ggoming, hurrying up the eastern mountains alone.”

The shepherd’s gaze shifted toward the eastern mountains.

“He didn’t look like someone out for a stroll or a leisurely walk. So, he must be dealing with something we don’t know about. Just like he always does, handling it all on his own. That’s why I’m worried and frustrated. I’m also curious. Do you happen to know what Lord Lloyd is dealing with?”

“Uh, well…”

Raphael hesitated to answer.

Then he remembered.

He was someone who couldn’t lie.

No, he could lie, but it would be immediately obvious that he was lying.

“…Yes, I know.”

If he tried to lie, the halo of fire behind him would extinguish immediately.

The shepherd would easily realize that his answer was a lie.

Reluctantly, Raphael nodded.

The shepherd’s eyes widened slightly.

“Ah, I knew it. So, Lord Lloyd really is preparing for something without us knowing, isn’t he? Is that true?”

“Uh, yes, that’s correct.”

Raphael realized that this shepherd had him cornered.

He had been lured into revealing information, forced to choose between “yes” or “no” in a way that left no room for evasion or lies.

Unable to deny it, Raphael let out a wry smile.

“I won’t go into details. That’s for Lloyd Frontera to share. But I will say this briefly: beings from Hell are planning to invade this place.”

“…What?”

The shepherd froze in his tracks.

The other shepherds walking nearby, who had been listening in, also stopped in their tracks and turned to look at Raphael in disbelief.

They glanced at the halo of fire behind him to confirm.

Of course, the halo was still burning brightly.

Raphael’s wry smile deepened.

“Lloyd Frontera is doing his best to stop that invasion and protect everyone. He’s made many preparations, starting with plans to evacuate all the residents, including you.”

“He’s… planning to evacuate us first?”

“Yes.”

It was true.

Earlier, from a distance, Raphael had witnessed Lloyd talking with the dragon, Solitas.

He had also overheard part of their conversation.

“Lloyd Frontera has almost finished preparing to evacuate you to safety. He seemed very relieved about it. He must have been very worried about you all.”

“……”

The shepherd didn’t respond.

Nor did the other shepherds.

After a brief silence, the shepherd who had asked the question looked seriously at his brothers and said:

“It seems we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“I agree, brother.”

“I feel the same.”

“I think so too.”

The shepherds all nodded solemnly, setting down the buckets of milk they had been carrying.

Raphael began to feel a bit anxious.

**’Did I make a mistake by saying too much?’**

He should have let Lloyd reveal this information himself.

Unable to lie, Raphael had simply answered truthfully.

But what if this led to trouble for Lloyd?

He started to worry, especially seeing how the shepherds had suddenly become so serious.

Raphael thought he should at least try to smooth things over.

“Uh, I think there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding. As I said earlier, Lloyd Frontera has made all the necessary preparations to evacuate you safely. So, please don’t be too alarmed and follow Lloyd’s evacuation plan rather than acting rashly…”

“We’re not alarmed, sir.”

“Hmm?”

“We’re not planning to act rashly either.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes.”

The shepherds nodded in unison, as if they were of one mind.

The eldest shepherd spoke up.

“What I feel is anger, at Lord Lloyd. He’s been going through all this trouble on his own, once again. But the fact that he prioritized our evacuation… it makes me feel like we’re just a burden. Isn’t that right?”

“Uh, well…”

“I’m angry at Lord Lloyd. If something like this is happening, why can’t he just be upfront about it and ask for help? Does he think we’d just run away? I’m disappointed he sees us that way. Don’t you all agree?”

The eldest shepherd looked at the others.

They all responded eagerly.

“I agree, brother. It’s great that Lord Lloyd cares for us, but this is a bit much.”

“That’s right. He must think we’d just abandon him if we knew what he was going through.”

“I’m also a bit hurt. If he’s struggling, why not just ask for help? Don’t you think so?”

“Exactly. This isn’t something we can just sit back and watch.”

The eldest shepherd addressed the youngest.

“You’re the fastest among us, so go down to the village and spread the word.”

“Should I tell everyone?”

“Of course. I’m sure everyone feels the same way we do.”

“Alright, I’ll be right back!”

Before Raphael could even try to stop him, the youngest shepherd took off running toward the village below.

When he arrived, he quickly started shouting the news.

The villagers whispered among themselves.

Some people ran to neighboring villages.

Like wildfire, the news spread throughout the territory.

Most of the residents who heard the news reacted the same way the shepherds did.

They expressed disappointment in Lord Lloyd.

They wondered if he really thought so little of them.

Did he think they had no attachment to the territory?

In small groups, they gathered, voicing their grievances.

Some stopped gathering eggs in the early morning, setting aside their baskets.

Some stopped weeding their fields, brushing the dirt off their hands.

Some put down their axes and paused their woodcutting.

Some blacksmiths took off their aprons.

As the crowd of residents gathered noisily at the lord’s manor, Lloyd descended from the eastern mountains.

“…What the…?”

Lloyd’s jaw dropped.

He had just been surveying the terrain in the eastern mountains.

In the middle of that, he received an unexpected message and rushed back.

But when he flew in on Ggoming?

The scene at the lord’s manor was nothing short of chaotic.

The place was packed with residents.

It looked like a rebellion was brewing.

“Lord Lloyd! Is it true that the Hell Legion is invading?”

“Why didn’t you tell us about it?”

“Did you think we’d all just run away if we knew?”

“We’re disappointed in you, Lord Lloyd!”

“Can’t we help too? Are we not allowed to support you?”

“Why do you always go through everything alone and make us worry?”

“We’re not a bunch of helpless burdens!”

Everyone was loudly voicing their complaints at the newly arrived Lloyd.

With clenched fists.

With veins bulging in their necks.

They were all shouting that they wanted to help.

That they could be of use.

That he shouldn’t hide things and should let them join him.

“…What…?”

Lloyd was at a loss.

This was completely unexpected.

Suppressing his bewilderment, he looked around.

At the crowd gathered in front of the lord’s manor.

And there, standing awkwardly to one side, was Raphael.

**’Did you tell them?’**

Lloyd shot him a look.

**’Sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.’**

Raphael responded with a sheepish look.

Lloyd quickly pieced the situation together.

**’So, the Fallen Angel couldn’t lie, and now the residents know about the Hell Legion’s invasion.’**

But surprisingly, the response wasn’t bad.

No, it was completely unexpected.

**’I was worried about how to break the news of the Hell Legion’s invasion. I thought everyone would panic the moment they found out.’**

He had expected them to be gripped by fear and anxiety.

To fall into chaos and confusion.

Some might have decided they couldn’t stay here.

Some might have refused to trust the evacuation plan.

Some might have fled preemptively.

He had feared that panic would spread, leading even more people to abandon the territory.

**’But what’s going on here?’**

Lloyd looked at the crowd.

Farmers, shepherds, housewives, woodcutters, blacksmiths, innkeepers, even the maids from the manor.

They had all gathered around the lord’s manor, practically on the verge of staging a siege, loudly voicing their complaints at him.

But the nature of their complaints was completely unexpected.

**’They want to face this together? They don’t want to be treated like a burden?’**

They were all insisting on facing the challenge together.

That they wanted to share the hardship.

That they wanted to be part of it.

Everyone was shouting in unison.

**’What in the world… are they all Korean or something? This isn’t some national crisis.’**

The situation was so absurd it was hard to understand.

**’It’s not like they’re going to gain anything from this. So why are they acting like this?’**

He couldn’t help but wonder.

Of course, he knew the reason.

**’It’s because of the achievements I’ve accumulated and the linked effects of the praises I’ve received.’**

It must have been due to these factors.

The positive synergy created by everything he had built up until now.

That’s why they were acting in this unexpected way.

**’Well, in any case, this works out well for me.’**

Lloyd couldn’t help but smile.

He had been worried.

Worried that they might run away.

That they might refuse to cooperate.

That his plans might go awry.

But all those concerns were now being washed away.

**’If they’re willing to share the burden with me, that’s great.’**

Looking at the residents, who were eager to help, Lloyd’s eyes filled with a sense of fulfillment.

The prospect of pulling off an all-nighter, of working tirelessly with them, now felt like a sweet anticipation of victory.