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Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord - Chapter 56
8-10 minutes
Different PoV New Residents
My life changed dramatically when I met Master Xsara.
Master Xsara, a heroic adventurer, majestically entered the adventurers’ guild, which was like a den of misfits, and reported to the scary-looking guild master in a very casual atmosphere about his discovery of a dungeon or the slaying of a dragon.
He sounded like a character in a heroic tale.
When we stayed at the inn, he took a private room for me without saying a word and took me to dinner.
The next day we left the Royal Capital after buying a large carriage, two horses, food and clothes. Many adventurers were following behind us, but Master Xsara paid them no mind as he drove the carriage.
“But I was surprised, you know. I didn’t expect that dragon to sell for 180 white gold coins…I guess it was because it had so few scratches. I guess it’s because it had so few damages.”
“That’s an astonishing amount of money. I can’t even imagine.”
When I replied, Xsara-sama laughed happily and nodded.
“Thanks to the little lord boy, you know. Even though he’s just a child, he’s a wonderful man. Flamilia-san, you can count on him, too. The village we’re going to now is definitely going to be interesting.”
Master Xsara laughed without hesitation and told me an unbelievable story. But strangely enough, I could believe him without any doubts.
After my father, Baron Stratos, was killed in battle, our family quickly fell into decline and was finally taken over. I experienced despair like the end of the world.
However, thanks to Mr. Xsara, for the first time in several years, I answer with a hearty smile.
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”
When I said this, Xsara-sama laughed as if embarrassed.
***
“By now, Xsara should have arrived at the Royal Capital, right?”
I muttered to no one in particular, to which my companion replied with a laugh.
“I don’t know. He got a Mithril dagger. Maybe he’s just trying his hand at cutting and doing all sorts of other things.”
“That’s possible. I’d take a detour if I were him.”
Pluriel laughed as she replied.
“Hey, we’re almost there, so be on the lookout. Last time you guys were talking nonsense, a green forest dragon attacked us, right?”
“No, that wasn’t our fault.”
“No, that’s not our fault. Now, get back to your assigned positions.”
“…hey.”
I responded and moved forward with one hand raised.
I felt like Pluriel has been giving me damaging opinions lately. With this in mind, I looked around.
There were ten carriages, with old people and children riding in them with their luggage. And there were probably more than two hundred middle-aged and young men and women around.
And pulling the wagons were thirteen oxen and two horses.
When we went to the neighboring village, we were surprised by the number of people we did not expect. And when the old men who escorted us talked for a while, we were surprised again when they said that all the villagers were going to emigrate together.
Well, Van-sama’s village was a great village. I would definitely recommend it over any other village or town.
But most of the people who grew up in a village end their lives without knowing the outside world. So, the decision to leave the village that they consider to be their world was not an easy one to make.
I had seen many villages that endured the harsh environment, only to be wiped out by starvation.
“It must have been such a difficult environment.”
I muttered to myself, considering the feelings of the villagers.
It was a long and quiet scene, with cows bellowing in places, but the villagers’ faces were filled with a sense of sadness.
Whenever I spoke to them, they looked frustrated or sad, and I could not hear many positive words.
A thin woman, probably not eating much, was walking near the wagon. She was wobbly, which made me feel uneasy. But she still had more stamina than the people in the wagon.
“Are you okay? We’re almost there.”
I called out to her, and she painfully nodded.
“…Thank you. But I have to admit, I’m really against this. To go from a village that is like travelling to the edge of the world to a place that is even further away…”
I had nothing to say, replying the woman who muttered this in a trembling voice.
Lightly spoken words of comfort would have no effect on someone in despair.
So, I nodded quietly and answered.
“Yes, that’s right. If it’s travelling from a remote village to another more remote place, it would no doubt felt like that.”
The woman sobs as I told her this. I rubbed her back and continued.
“However, that frontier village is heaven. Much better than going to any town.”
“…? I don’t understand…?”
I responded to the confused woman with a light wave of my hand and continued on my way. Even if I tried to say everything, I could, she would not understand unless she actually saw it.
After a full day of walking, we finally arrived in the village.
I looked at the towering walls in the distance and stretched out my arms.
“…Ah! We’ve finally arrived!”
There were hardly any magical beasts, but the big move was exhausting for a person with slow legs. The feeling of exhaustion was great.
And the fact that we had to stay in the field for the first time in a long time was also a cause of the fatigue.
After all, it was best to stay at home. It was hard to believe that I, as an adventurer, would think such a thing, but it was true, so I had no choice.
“Everyone, we’re almost there!”
I turned around as I called out, and to my surprise, everyone had stopped in their tracks.
Those with stunned faces looked toward the village and muttered something.
“Is, is that really the Village we’re going to?”
“No, that’s not a village…”
“Maybe we went the wrong way…”
I hear these words, but of course, there was no way I could be wrong.
“Look, we’re almost there! There’s food and water if you go that way!”
I called out to them, but they didn’t move.
“Hey, everyone! It’s all right, let’s head for the village!”
Pluriel said in a smug voice. Then the children pulled on the adults’ hands and spoke.
“Let’s get going, shall we?”
“I want to go there.”
The adults looked at each other and nodded at them.
“Now that we have come this far, we must be prepared.”
Someone said this and everyone started walking toward the village.
Then, a slight sound of cheering could be heard coming from the village. Pluriel then came up to us and muttered quietly.
“We did it! It looks like there’s a barbecue party again today.”
I raised my eyebrows and groaned when she said that.
“Don’t say that. It makes me feel hungry already.”
I complained half annoyed, and Pluriel burst out laughing and slapped me on the back.
We arrived in the village and the residents joined the barbecue party without so much as a welcome.
They ate meat and bread seasoned with condiments and drank water and liquor. The adults were crying and patting each other on the shoulder, while the children happily bit into the meat.
We ourselves, by the way, were enjoying our first non-preserved food in a long time, drinking and laughing with each other.
“Hey, good job. You guys have saved everyone’s lives.”
Van-sama waved one hand and laughed as he brought a bottle of fruit wine.
“Nah. This is just normal work for an adventurer. In fact, the reward is too good for this kind of work.”
While I was saying this, Pluriel walked over to us, holding a skewer with meat on it.
“Van-sama, is this meat from another magical beast? It’s quite fresh.”
Pluriel continued to eat the meat, but lately, I think she’s starting to show her true colors.
Van-sama nodded with a wry smile as he looked at Pluriel with half-open eyes.
“Yesterday, a magical beast appeared in the direction of Apkallu Village, and I checked it immediately.”
“Oh, really? What did you find?”
“Three-eyed boars called Evil Boars. Ten of them.”
“Ah, they were a little more troublesome than armored lizards. When you approach them, they use their unique magic, and it made things troublesome. You could get paralyzed and unable to move.”
“That’s nasty. Well, I was able to finish them off with the ballista, so thank goodness.”
We laughed at each other.
Lately, I felt like my senses were getting strange, but I wondered if it was my imagination.