A Month and a Half

In the blink of an eye, it had already been a month since Karen became the chief of Dole Village.

During this month, the entire village had undergone a dramatic transformation.

When Karen first seized power by killing his predecessor, panic swept through the village. Many were terrified of this chief who would take a life at the slightest provocation, convinced that his rule would bring nothing but endless darkness.

Karen’s subsequent measures seemed to confirm their fears. His first act upon assuming leadership was to confiscate all village land, requiring every resident to participate in labor.

This initial order sent shockwaves through Dole Village. Those who owned land were particularly anxious, but under Karen’s fierce intimidation, none dared to resist. Even fleeing was out of the question—those five rolling heads had frightened everyone into submission.

On Karen’s first day in power, all 149 villagers, save for Old Jack and his granddaughter and grandson, joined the labor force.

Within five days, under Karen’s strict enforcement, the villagers expanded their cultivated land from less than two hundred acres to over a thousand.

At first, the villagers were disgruntled and fearful, but as more land was cleared, the shrewder among them began to calculate. Though Karen had nationalized the farmland, he promised that all crops would be shared equally among the villagers.

When they did the math, they realized they would actually receive far more than before. Moreover, since everyone worked under Karen’s iron rule, there was no longer the problem of lazy individuals demanding a share of the harvest come autumn.

With everyone working and resting together, the village atmosphere began to shift, and Karen’s approval among the people noticeably increased.

Seeing the villagers gradually adapt to the new life, Karen organized expeditions into Goblin Forest to set traps and hunt animals.

Initially, the mention of Goblin Forest made not only the ordinary villagers but even Old Jack furrow their brows. Nevertheless, Karen led them into the forest and returned with hunted animals.

This time, Karen did not consume all the game himself. He kept all the rabbits, fencing off a section of the village to start rabbit breeding.

Relying solely on hunting was unsustainable; no matter how plentiful and foolish the animals in Goblin Forest were, one day they would be exhausted. Breeding was the only sustainable path.

As for the rabbits, Karen also nationalized them, promising that all proceeds from breeding would be shared collectively.

Karen painted a grand vision for the villagers: though they had only twenty-three rabbits now, with careful tending, they would soon multiply to two hundred thirty, then two thousand three hundred, and eventually everyone in the village could eat meat every day.

It was an ambitious promise, irresponsibly grand, but the villagers believed it wholeheartedly.

Especially when, after a month, the original twenty-three rabbits had grown to one hundred and three, the villagers’ enthusiasm for breeding and for life itself soared to unprecedented heights.

People living in despair are easily satisfied; the slightest glimmer of hope prompts them to devote themselves entirely, tenfold, even a hundredfold.

Though Karen’s ascent was bloody, and his rule authoritarian, he had undeniably changed the village, offering hope to its people. In just a month, the village’s atmosphere was transformed.

When the villagers looked at Karen, their eyes reflected not only fear, but also a measure of respect.

Everything in the village was moving toward a brighter future. Yet, Karen, the architect of these changes, felt little joy.

The main reason was simple: Karen knew he wouldn’t be able to govern for much longer.

Though Old Jack had shown no overt signs for more than a month, Karen could sense from subtle clues that Jack and his faction had not abandoned their plans—they were simply still preparing.

That was why there had been no activity from them during this time.

But Karen was certain the time was near: Old Jack’s frequent outings in recent days suggested his preparations were nearly complete.

Sure enough, after a month of Karen’s rule, for the first time outsiders arrived seeking refuge.

There were quite a few—sixty or seventy people.

Supposedly, they had been pillaged by a band of thieves and, with nowhere else to turn, came to seek shelter in Dole Village.

Normally, villagers wouldn’t refuse newcomers, but Dole Village was different. With communal property, the villagers weren’t keen on welcoming outsiders.

But they had no say in the matter, not even Karen. As soon as the newcomers arrived, Old Jack issued his command: Karen was to accept them.

With Old Jack’s directive, Karen said nothing, taking in the group despite the villagers’ obvious dissatisfaction.

The arrival of these people already caused considerable discontent.

Very soon, a second wave of villagers arrived, slightly more numerous—around a hundred.

With their addition, Dole Village’s population soared to 342.

Such a sudden doubling brought inevitable problems.

Coupled with the villagers’ xenophobia, conflicts broke out across the village.

Fortunately, Karen was the stabilizing force. Once again, he brandished his hatchet, and within five days, peace was restored—at least on the surface.

Old Jack was quite relieved by this.

...

In Karen’s room, Old Jack handed him a bag of silver coins. “You’ve done well these past six weeks. This is your reward.”

“This is what I ought to do,” Karen replied, gla