Walker in Modern World

Six days had passed—though in the modern world, it was merely a single day. Sanjay had made multiple stops along the way to keep the time difference in check. If he disappeared for an entire day, his mother would undoubtedly create a scene.

He had briefly entertained the idea of creating a clone to cover for him but dismissed it just as quickly. No one liked the thought of someone else walking around with their exact face. It felt unnatural. Perhaps, after his board exams, moving to another city would be a better solution.

After days of travel, they finally reached the designated plot of land. The salty scent of the sea filled the air, and though the humidity clung to his skin, a cool breeze made it bearable. The climate reminded him of Goa, the famous tourist destination in India—warm but tempered by the ocean winds.

As he surveyed the land, he noticed the vast stretches of barren hills, devoid of trees. It was clear that nobles had attempted to mine here in the past, but their efforts had been abandoned after failing to find anything valuable. They had likely given up too soon; minerals and gold veins ran deep beneath the surface, but with their outdated technology relying on human labor, they could only dig so far.

A few minutes later, a dilapidated fort came into view. Made of some kind of red stone, it stood in quiet defiance against time, its surface overtaken by thick moss, giving it an eerie green hue.

As the carriage drew closer, workers rushed to open the massive wooden doors, their weathered hands pushing against the weight of time. The creaking echoed through the empty courtyard as the carriage slowly rolled inside. Sanjay stepped out, taking in the scene before him.

The inside was even worse than he had imagined. The walls were crumbling, debris was scattered across the stone floors, and the damp air carried the scent of decay. It wasn't just uninhabitable for humans—even animals would struggle to live here.

Brushing aside his initial disappointment, he got to work immediately. He had around 5,000 workers at his disposal, out of which 200 were fit to be soldiers. The rest consisted of able-bodied men and women, all eager to begin anew. Having already armed them back in the capital city, he assigned the soldiers to secure the fort from potential outside threats and report any weaknesses in its defenses.

Meanwhile, he ordered the remaining workers to start cleaning. Without a clean water source nearby, they had no choice but to use seawater for now. It wasn't ideal, but it would do until a more sustainable solution was found.

Once tasks were assigned, Sanjay chose what was supposedly the master bedroom. The term felt ironic—the room was barely intact, with broken windows and dust layering every surface. Still, from here, he had an unobstructed view of the sea. A cool breeze swept through the open window, brushing against his face. Despite the ruin around him, there was something oddly calming about it.

Turning to his two selected bodyguards, he gave them firm instructions. "Don't let anyone in."

With that settled, he activated his ability and returned to his modern world. First on his shopping list—bleach to remove the moss, buckets, cleaning utensils, and a stockpile of food essentials like rice and vegetables. But most importantly, water.

The lack of a clean water source was the biggest issue. He needed a large supply to sustain the workers. For now, he purchased 1,000 liters of bottled water from a wholesaler, along with the other supplies. The wholesaler, eager for such a bulk purchase, arranged for immediate delivery to the warehouse.

With everything now in his possession, Sanjay transported the supplies back to the medieval period. If he hadn't moved his warehouse beforehand, there wouldn't have been enough space to store all these provisions.

Finally, he returned to his newly claimed fort. Standing by the broken window of his so-called master bedroom, he stared at the endless stretch of sea before him.

It didn't take long to realize that the fort had been built facing the city—strategically positioned to guard against attacks. However, according to the minister, this part of the sea was treacherous. No kingdom had ever dared to launch an invasion from this direction.

The naval technology of the 13th century simply wasn't advanced enough to handle these waters. Even so, the previous king had constructed this fort as a precaution, anticipating a time when enemy forces might one day possess the capability to strike from the sea. A ruler with true foresight.

Sanjay stepped out onto the first-floor balcony, surveying the sea of faces. With a commanding voice, he called out, "How many of you know how to read and write?"

A mere fifty hands rose from the crowd of nearly 4,800. His brows furrowed slightly. It was disappointing, but not surprising. Their circumstances must have been similar to Alisha's—born into a life where education was a luxury, not a right. He took a deep breath and gestured for them to step forward, separating them from the rest.

"How many of you have experience as blacksmiths or in related trades?" he continued.

Only two hands went up. He had expected as much—blacksmithing was a difficult craft to master. He assigned them separately, mentally noting that he would need to seek skilled artisans elsewhere.

One by one, he categorized the people according to their skills. A few women were assigned to the kitchen, others to cleaning, and the rest to various maintenance tasks essential for running the fort smoothly.

Next, he divided the fort into different sections. Soldiers would be stationed at key points, ensuring order and security. The inner quarters would be restricted to women, providing them a safe space, while the underground basement—where he planned to transport modern supplies—would be accessible only to a trusted accountant he would select from the literate group.

The kitchen, too, was to be restricted. Only designated cooks were allowed inside. If anything went wrong, he needed accountability. He refrained from appointing any head servants yet—he trusted his previous staff more and planned to retrieve them from Dhavalpur soon, along with his remaining gold.

Once everything was settled, he addressed the gathered people once more. "From today, you are my people. I will not force you to live as slaves. While I cannot grant you immediate freedom, know this—you are bound to no one."

Murmurs spread through the crowd, disbelief evident in their expressions.

"Your children will be educated. They will have the opportunity to take part in society. In my fief, there will be no discrimination. You will be paid according to the work I have assigned you today."

The sheer weight of his words stunned them. This was unheard of. A master acknowledging slaves as people? Offering them wages? Promising education for their children? Such a concept was beyond their imagination.

Sanjay could see the hesitation, the doubt in their eyes. They didn't believe him.

He sighed inwardly. "Silence!" His voice rang out sharply. "Enough discussion. Get back to work!"

The murmurs persisted, but no one dared defy him outright. He knew words alone wouldn't be enough to convince them. Actions would speak louder.

As the crowd slowly dispersed, Sanjay turned his attention to the basement. Once it had been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, he transported supplies from the modern world—food, utensils, and other essentials. The sharp scent of bleach still lingered in the air, but it was a necessary step to ensure sanitation.

A few hours later, an inviting aroma drifted from the kitchen. Simple, but warm. The women had prepared rice and boiled vegetables. No oil had been used—unsurprising, as even the nobles of this time rarely used it in cooking.

Sanjay inhaled deeply, feeling a small sense of satisfaction. This was just the beginning, but for the first time since arriving at this forsaken fort, he felt a sense of progress.

The food was distributed in batches, ensuring there were no lapses in security. The soldiers were the first to eat, their energy quickly replenished after a long day. Once fed, they stood watch, maintaining order as the rest of the workers received their portions.

When the workers saw the clean white rice and fresh vegetables, a murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Was this real? Was their new master truly different, or was this some elaborate deception? Their entire lives had been shaped by servitude; they had never dared to dream of kindness from those in power. Yet, why would he need to trick them? If he commanded them to leap from a cliff, they would have no choice but to obey.

Still, the warm food filled their stomachs, and for the first time in a long while, they felt something unfamiliar—hope.

After the meal, Sanjay distributed tarpaulins, instructing the workers to construct temporary shelters. For now, the women were allowed to stay inside the fort, offering them some measure of comfort and security.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the workers outside set to work, cautiously handling the tarpaulins. The fabric was unlike anything they had seen before—sturdy, yet light—and they hesitated, believing it must be expensive. Determined not to waste any, they began constructing their shelters as efficiently as possible, cramming together to use the least amount of material.

Sanjay observed their hesitancy and sighed. Old habits die hard. They had spent their lives deprived, always making do with less. When he noticed that many were attempting to huddle together in a single, cramped tent, he intervened. "Spread out," he ordered. "There's enough for everyone. Don't overcrowd."

Only then did they begin to relax, carefully spacing out their shelters under the fading light.

By the time the last tent was raised, the sky had turned deep indigo, the stars flickering above the restless sea. A cool breeze rolled in, offering a moment of tranquility after a long, chaotic day.

Sanjay exhaled slowly, his body finally registering the exhaustion that had built up over the past week. Seven days of travel had taken its toll on him, and his back ached with a persistent stiffness. I need rest.

His thoughts drifted to home, to the quiet relief of his room. A hot bath, some medicine for my back, and then sleep. With that goal in mind, he turned away from the camp, ready to retreat into the solace of the night.