Chapter 506: Arrival at the Final Destination

By the time we finished the scheduled inspection for the day and returned to the village chief’s house, the scent of roasted meat and herbs already drifted through the air. Inside, a grand feast was being prepared. Outside, the soft twilight was fading, and villagers were gathering in the garden one after another, their chatter a low, rising hum of excitement.

I frowned slightly. What are they up to?

Before long, the answer became clear—it seemed they were preparing a welcome celebration for us.

Wait, what? No one had mentioned anything about that. I turned to Lionel, who was in charge of planning this trip, hoping he’d have an explanation. But when our eyes met, he simply gave a helpless, wry smile. Apparently, even he hadn’t known about it.

The villagers’ enthusiasm swept away our confusion soon enough. The banquet began, lively and full of warmth. When I asked about it, they told me that since we had helped with the beast infestation, they wanted to express their gratitude by preparing this feast together. Hearing that, I couldn’t possibly refuse. All I could do was accept their kindness gratefully.

Fabienne and the others were clearly enjoying themselves—the sound of laughter and clinking cups filled the garden. Well, I thought, if they’re happy, that’s what matters.

A Night of Laughter and Simple Joys

“I’ve never tasted food like this before,” Fabienne said with a sparkle in her eyes, setting down her wooden cup. “But everything was absolutely delicious.”

“There’s something wild about the flavors,” I replied. “Each dish brings out the taste of the ingredients themselves. Simple, but rich.”

“I want to eat this again!” Rosalia declared, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“Kyuu!” squeaked Mira in agreement, tail swaying.

It seemed both of them had taken quite a liking to the food. Who would have thought that meat seasoned only with salt and pepper could taste so good? Of course, dipping it in their special homemade sauce added another layer of flavor—but the simplicity had its own charm.

After the delightful meal, our stomachs full and spirits lifted, we took turns showering before going to bed. I was surprised to see that even here, deep in the countryside, magic-powered showers had spread. Guess making those was worth it after all, I thought, smiling faintly as the warm water ran down my back.

Departure Under Morning Sun

The next morning, the entire village came to see us off. Though we’d only stayed for a short while, they seemed truly fond of us. I could feel their sincere gratitude in the way they waved and smiled.

Good, I thought. At least they’ll know that the House of Heine isn’t just about politics or military strength—we care about agriculture, too. Bit by bit, I was fulfilling the mission my father had given me.

“Looks like today will be a full day of traveling by carriage,” I said as we climbed aboard. “Time to see what our improved design can really do.”

“I’ve heard it has something called springs installed?” Fabienne tilted her head curiously.

“That’s right,” I replied. “They help absorb the shocks and make the ride smoother.”

According to Alex-niisan, the carriage had leaf springs attached beneath both the chassis and the seats. It was still a prototype, but a promising one. Heavy or large loads could now be supported with ease.

One day, I wanted to suggest a coil spring system—a proper suspension. If we could install that, even the roughest roads wouldn’t matter. My heart swelled a little at the thought. Ah, dreams of innovation never end… though I should probably be careful not to go overboard again.

“Now that you mention it,” Fabienne said softly, “it does feel less bumpy than usual.”

“It’s hard to compare without another carriage,” I admitted. “But after a few hours, you’ll really notice the difference.”

“Yes… I’ll make sure to take careful notes. We must report everything properly once we return.” Her determined tone made me smile.

I’ll have to write a report too, I thought. This time, it’s my turn to contribute something meaningful.

When I looked up, I noticed Rosalia and Mira sleeping peacefully, their breathing soft and even.

“They’re asleep,” Fabienne whispered.

“That just proves how comfortable the ride is,” I said quietly.

Indeed, in any ordinary carriage, such a peaceful nap would’ve been impossible. I made a mental note to include that in my report: ‘The new carriage allows for restful sleep during travel.’ Fabienne gently draped a blanket over the two of them, her movements tender and maternal.

By the time the sun began to sink toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft orange hues, we finally reached our last destination. The air carried a hint of early summer—warm, but not yet stifling.

I stepped down from the carriage and stretched. After such a long ride, my body felt stiff, though surprisingly not sore.

“I’m not as tired as I expected,” I said, rubbing my shoulders. “And my back doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Indeed,” Fabienne agreed with a pleased smile. “This carriage is much more comfortable than any we’ve used before.”

“See? I told you so,” I grinned. “We even managed to nap after lunch.”

Truthfully, I couldn’t tease Rosalia and Mira anymore—after our meal, all of us had drifted off. The smooth ride had lulled us into a light sleep. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty for Nero, Gile, and Christopher, who had been walking alongside the carriage the entire time.

“Welcome, welcome! Please, this way!”

The village chief greeted us warmly, but as we followed him through the village, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Compared to the previous villages, this one felt… subdued. The laughter of children was faint, the people’s faces tired.

Maybe it’s just because it’s getting dark, I told myself. Yes… probably just that.

Dinner came soon after. The food was similar to what we’d had before—stews, roasted vegetables, freshly baked bread—but there was something forced about the atmosphere. The smiles of the villagers seemed a little strained, their laughter hollow.

Fabienne must have sensed it too. She tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful.

When the meal ended, we decided to wash off the day’s fatigue with a bath. This time, there was no shower magic tool—only a large wooden bathtub. It must have taken them considerable effort to heat that much water.

“I suppose they chose this village as a stop because it had an actual bath,” I mused aloud while sinking into the warm water. “Maybe the others ahead don’t have any.”

“That might be true,” Fabienne replied. “It must have been difficult to prepare all this for us.”

“Yeah… I feel bad about that. I could’ve just heated the water myself.”

“You can do anything with magic, can’t you, brother?” Rosalia teased.

“Kyuu!” Mira chirped, nodding in agreement.

“Not anything,” I protested weakly. But from the looks on their faces—Fabienne’s included—no one believed me. Great, I thought wryly. Just what I need, more rumors about being an all-powerful magician.

After the bath, I joined Lionel to review some notes about tomorrow’s inspection. He spread out a hand-drawn map and began explaining.

“This region isn’t well-suited for agriculture,” he said, pointing to several shaded areas. “The soil doesn’t drain water properly, and the nearest river is quite far. Fetching water is hard work here.”

I frowned. There were no irrigation channels drawn on the map—no wells either. That meant watering crops must be a daily struggle.

So that’s why the atmosphere feels heavy, I realized. The villagers are barely managing.

If they were relying on the universal plant nutrient potion I’d distributed, believing it could solve everything, then the situation might be worse than I thought.

I stared quietly at the map as the sound of distant crickets filled the room. The faint flicker of the lamp cast long shadows across the table, and I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in my chest.

Something told me this village had deeper troubles than anyone had let on.