Vol 1 Chapter 14 (1/2)

Chapter 14: The village chief, Muraosa.

1 gold = 60,000 yen. 1 silver = 1200 yen. 1 copper = 40 yen.

That is the approximate value.

Prices of Ed were used as reference.

“That’s great syril! It ended peacefully.”

As soon as we returned to the house, the calm Lucie was overcome with emotion and hugged me with a cry.

All these time, she seemed to be more worried about myself than me.

“Lucie, it’s has not finished safety yet. The real thing is the war against the empire. This is still the prelude.”

“However, Syril will no longer disappear suddenly.”

Her voice has turned tearful.

Looking at such an adorable Lucie, I gently hit her head.

“If Syril disappears, I will be alone.”

“Its okay, you will not be alone….Until last month, this house was livelier too.”

In the previous collection, Lucie’s grandmother who was our foster parent, and her sister 4 years younger was taken.

As for the happy family of 4, it is just the 2 of us now. It’s impossible not to be lonely. Although Lucie was behaving strongly for my sake.

“Will you really stay?”

“I promise. If its Lucie, even if I disappear, there are a lot of men wanting you as their bride.”

Lucie is 14 years old. It is the age of marriage in this village.

And even among elves who are relatively beautiful, Lucie is an exceptional beauty.  There are probably no single elves that have not proposed to Lucie by now.

“I don’t want that. I do not want such a relation except with Syril.”

“It is fine with me.”

“I have nothing to say.”

Although it was avoided, nevertheless it’s good.

Somethings are transmitted even without words.

“Lucie is really light. You must eat more meat. I have to get a good game from hunting.”

Putting my hands under her arms and lifting her up, I am surprise at her lightness.

Closely monitoring her health condition become my daily duty.

Her vitamin deficiency has become considerably better. However, although its good to be slender, you are a little too thin. There’s no helping it since field work is done while taking plain food.

Wild boars lives in the mountain. Deer meat is good, but in the case of nutrition taken, wild boar has fat which will be better.

“You must not only eat it only among the 2 of us. Lets distribute it together with everyone properly. I must make a serving of dried jerky before its too late.”

Crops are not raised during winter when snow piles up, and hunting also only occurs during days when the weather is good. In addition, since we must head back before the weather in the mountain changes, big games are rarely obtained.

Therefore when the harvest of wheat ends in the elf village and taxes are paid, woman and children prepares the field for next year and men widen the field while hunting in the mountains for deer, wild boars, rabbits and frog.

And those are made into precious winter food by drying them in the sun.

However during this period, game are not caught by primitive bow and knife. Elves in groups of 4 to 5 and hunting dogs stay in the mountain for 2 to 3 days, and a deer may be caught if one is lucky. It is also painful that powerful archers have died during the previous battle.

Still in my case, disregarding the influence on the ecosystem, around 10 should be hunted.

“Everyone’s portion is taken into consideration properly. However, I want Lucie to eat the most delicious parts first. That prerequisite is agreeable, right?”

“Why do you go to that extent for me, Syril? To teach me everything and train me, although its lovely.”

“That is because I like Lucie.”

Such a thing is obvious.

I conveyed my truthful feeling to Lucie.

“That’s unfair. Though I cannot say it so honestly with simple words.”

Lucie puffed her cheeks while being lifted by me. I gently lowered Lucie to the ground.

“At that time, you should do it this way then. Therefore, such a thing is enough. I have decided to not hold back my feeling, and to do all that needs to be done.”

“To do all that needs to be done….. its a good phrase. I have to follow it too.”

“First of all, how about starting from honestly saying your feelings for me?”

“Because of those words, I can’t say it anymore!”

It seems like I have somehow touched the nerves of the princess. I faced away.

“I’m waiting patiently. Now, I am still able to do various things.”

“You have a bad expression. Are you still plotting something?”

“Yes, various things. If it goes well, it will become easier to move in this village.”

Quickly, but without being hasty, I prepared a strategic move to create a situation.

—.

Two days has pa.s.sed since I displayed the crossbows.

During that time, I dug a well by using [Rinne Kaiki] and transforming into dwarf Kuiro.

“It is absurd going to the forest every morning just to draw water.”

To think of it, until now,  by carrying a heavy water jar and entering the mountains just to obtain spring water from so far away, it is really troublesome.

By using Syril’s water magic during daytime, I am able to grasp the flow of ground water and investigate the water quality. After confirming that it could make drinking water and that there was no fear of land subsidence, I dug a hole with dwarf kuiro and baked the hole to harden the water well.

I thought of making a pump, but as long as water can be seen, everyone in the village will be able to draw it up with water magic easily, thus it is left just as it is.

It was a simple project, but it was quite popular.

I pushed forward preparation for the “special” arrow while increasing the production of crossbow used for the battle against humans and repeated such trifling contributions.

However, the vital plan of the village has not been decided yet. That is because the village chief have not given a nod to the fight against the empire.

Dissatisfaction are piling up among the villagers. Even opinions of changing the village chief has been made.

I’m moving behind the scenes to expand that voice.

During treatment,

“Talks of changing the village chief seems to have spread.” are said every time, and

“Rumors are saying that the honey mead in the food taken away has all been drunk by village chief alone.” Such talks are said.

In addition, “So far, I think guys that were hated by the chief were used in the exchange for magic stones.” Gossips and facts are mixed into conversations.

During peace time, everyone ignores such talks and that will be it.

However, when done to the state of the village today, it spreads in no time at all. Spreading rumors changes the common knowledge within elves and corners the village chief mentally.

Even if there is no direct action, animosity is introduced. In addition, I can imagine what would happen if a villager is stimulated now.

The village chief cannot say to fight against the empire. Currently, with the most luxurious treatment in the elf village, one cannot cast away a life where safety and security is guaranteed.

On the other hand, words to completely abide by the empire cannot be uttered as well, since it is not known what the villagers will be capable of in that case.

While time is spent without saying anything, the situation worsens steadily.

It is a dead end for the village chief now.

I scattered a poisonous bait there. I made them choose the easy third choice, and destruction is waiting for them beyond that.

–

It was late at night.

When sleeping, a part of my consciousness is always awake and making links with mana of the wind.

It’s a habit of time when I was on the battlefield. Sleeping deeply is the most dangerous. Furthermore, I am in a position of grudge now.

Thus, once more, I am monitoring another trap.

Mana of the wind gives an alarm.

The prey was caught in the trap at last.

“Now, I thought it might be a little longer, but it was surprisingly impatient.”

Opening my eyes, alignment with mana of wind allows me to boost my vision and acquire information.

A lone carriage was trying to leave the village even though it’s late at night.

I had installed a device beforehand surrounding the village, made from thin metal box with iron b.a.l.l.s inside, that will make a noisy sound if the wind blows strongly against it.

And I blow the wind with all my strength.

When sound echos within the village, elves of the village get up wondering, and rushed out of their houses.

I also hurry and got out, kicking the earth. Of course, it’s high speed movement with the help of mana of the wind.

Arriving at the entrance of the village in a moment, I struck a daunting pose in front of a carriage swaying left and right to calm the frantic horses surprised by the noise.

“What is happened this late at night? Village chief.”

Bearing a desperate smile, I asked in a gentle tone.

“Syril, Why!? Get out of there!”

The coachman is the village chief. Inside the carriage are his wife, son and daughter-in-law.

“Get out? Is there anything in a hurry? My question has not been answer.”

“Shut up! Step aside or be die by being run over!”

Finally calming the horse with the whip, village chief rushes forward.

Its funny thinking that I would be done for with only a horse.

I tripped the horse with wind. Since the horse was innocent, I did not harm its legs by causing it to fall on its stomach.

And as according to plan, the platform fell over, spilling its contents around.

In addition to valuable honey mead, pepper and salt, dried meat, wheat and a heavy sounding leather bag was there too… planted by me.

“Hey, what’s wrong!”

Villagers came over here.

Now, the situation was complete.

“Well, I had operated the trap thinking that soldiers of the empire had invaded the village, though it’s just the village chief leaving in a horse drawn carriage late at night, and by greeting out I was ran over by this carriage. So I instinctively resisted.”

“This is not a trivial matter.”

The number of curious onlookers are increasing. Now, shall I sprinkle the trigger?

“So chief, why at this time of the day?”

My question did not get a response, only cold sweat poured out.

In that case, shall I collect circ.u.mstantial evidence?

“On the carriage, not just alcohol, pepper, but there are also valuables and considerably valuable jerky and wheat. Is that the portion for 4 people for 2 weeks?”

Villagers with good intuition are beginning to understand my words.

“And isn’t this leather bag the cash I took from the supply base?”

Other than food and weapons, the supply base also holds coins.

As the priority is low, I wasn’t able to look for it very much and was able to take only a minimum, but still there are 200 pieces of silver coins (240,000 yen equivalent) to 50 pieces of gold coins (3 million yen equivalent).

Moreover, there was another bag upon closer inspection. I did not know about this one.

If is filled with silver and copper coins when opened. Although money is rarely spent in elf village, the minimum arrangements must be prepared just in case. And that was taken out.

“Well village chief, why are you purposely taking your family, valuables and money to escape from the village with a horse drawn carriage in the middle of the night?