Chapter 20: A Village That Draws People

For a few days after Elmer returned to the mansion, there was no big commotion in Rue Village.

Because the range of access to the mountain side has been narrowed down, collecting firewood is now more time consuming than before. The flat area on the mountainside and the ditch where water was drawn remain the same.

However, life in the village did not stop.

People are working in the existing fields, some repairing damaged fences. Of the eight people who escaped from the other side of the mountain, those who were able to work mingled with the villagers and helped out with whatever work they could.

I was also watching the scene from outside the fence.

Previously, I would be concerned every time someone went to the mountains.

Now that we have decided not to go near dangerous places, things are actually calmer in the village.

Just before noon, I heard the sound of a bell coming from the road to the south.

It’s a draft horse.

When I looked up, I saw two horses climbing up vertically from between the trees. Heinz was in the lead.

“It’s here!”

The voice is still loud.

When the first horse saw me, it lowered its ears, but did not go wild on the spot.

The second one was different.

As soon as she noticed me, she shook her head and stopped. The man holding the reins hurriedly started calming me down, so I moved to the other side of the village first.

“That’s helpful!”

Heinz raises his hand from a distance.

“It’s your first time here!”

It’s not just horses.

I didn’t recognize the man with the second dog either.

When they arrived at the village entrance, Heinz introduced them to the village chief.

“We’re business associates. We sell needles, thread, metal fittings, etc.”

The man looked at me once, then bowed to the village chief.

“I’ve heard what you’re saying. I have no intention of approaching you without permission.”

I don’t even try to see if I can understand other people’s words.

It seems that Heinz told you what was needed in advance.

“What did you bring today?”

The village chief looks at the cargo.

“Grain and salt. As long as I can pay for what you asked for.”

Heinz answered.

“I also have money to pay for the charcoal I brought with me last time. I’ll also account for the amount I’ll bring home this time.”

“Just because there are two horses doesn’t mean the village can buy two horses.”

“I know.”

Heinz smiled bitterly.

“The reason why the number of packhorses has increased is not because everything they bring is destined for Rue Village. This guy also has a business.”

The man next to me banged on the small box of cargo.

“I’m going to sell it from now on. I don’t intend to sell it all here.”

Then I understand the story.

Just because the number of horses increases, it doesn’t mean that the village’s food supply will suddenly double.

There’s a limit to the amount that can be purchased in Rue Village now.

The business has begun.

Charcoal is brought in from the village.

Since the charcoal that Heinz brought back last time sold well, it seems that this time the villagers were choosing as much of the charcoal as possible that was still in shape and putting it in bags.

Heinz checks the contents.

“There’s more here than before.”

“I decided to use the one that collapsed in the village.”

The man helping with the charcoal grill answers.

“Is that easier to sell?”

“It will probably be easier to handle if you buy it. However, don’t suddenly increase the amount of trees you need to cut.”

Heinz nails it.

“If we cut down the mountain just because we can sell charcoal, then there will be no firewood for the village to use.”

The village chief nodded.

“I have no intention of increasing the amount from the current amount.”

“That’s fine.”

The merchant accompanying me also looked at some charcoal and decided to buy a small amount.

It seems that they will be taking it to a different retailer than Heinz.

In addition to charcoal, we also had people look at the dried piles that the villagers had put out, but not all of them were sold.

“This is cheap”

“You can take this with you.”

“There’s plenty of that left below.”

Such an exchange continues.

I have no idea what’s expensive and what’s cheap, but the villagers were serious.

If we can sell even a little more, we can use that amount for salt and grain.

Still, the grains that arrived today are not enough to eliminate food worries.

After noon, business finally came to a lull.

There, Heinz’s companion called out to the village chief while packing up his belongings.

“I’d like to ask you one thing.”

“What?”

“Can you let me rest here tonight?”

The village chief frowns.

“There’s no accommodation.”

“I’m not looking for an inn. I just need a place where people can lie down, protected from the rain and wind.”

Heinz also interjected from the side.

“I’d like to stay the night too. It would be easier to leave in the morning than to reload and go down the mountain now.”

“Was that your intention from the beginning?”

“About half.”

“Say it first.”

“I was planning on leaving if I was refused.”

The village chief did not answer immediately.

There are no extra houses in the village now.

The eight people who came from the other side of the mountain managed to make a bed in the empty space.

“I can’t serve you a meal.”

“We have our share.”

Heinz shows the load.

“I’ve brought some food for the horses. All you need is some water.”

That way, you won’t have to cut down on food.

However, the village chief was concerned about something else.

“You brought this man.”

“Ah”

“What about weapons?”

The man who was with me showed his hips.

“One short sword. I can’t walk down the street without carrying anything.”

“Don’t pull out in the village.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t walk between houses at night without permission. Don’t approach livestock.”

“I don’t mind that either.”

Dario continues.

“If you’re going to use a fire, decide where to go. Don’t light it without permission.”

“I understand.”

The conversation was quick.

The village chief finally looks at Heinz.

“If something happens, I won’t let you stay over next time either.”

“Why me?”

“You brought me here.”

“…I understand.”

Just for one night.

We bring our own food and horse feed.

Water will be taken out from the village.

The horses were tied near the entrance, and the two of them did not move from their designated spots.

Don’t draw your weapon and only fire in designated areas.

That’s how the story came together.

It’s not an exaggerated decision.

It’s just for two people to stay overnight.

Still, it was a story that was not needed in Rue Village until now.

“You’re staying the night, aren’t you?”

Lina says next to me.

I nodded.

“Mr. Heinz, you were home until now.”

That’s right.

Once the business was finished, I would go down the mountain the same day.

Today is different.

In the evening, two people who were not villagers started heating up food near the entrance.

There are two horses.

The luggage is also there.

The person who will leave tomorrow morning will sleep here only tonight.

That alone made the village look a little different.

“It would be nice to rest here.”

After finishing his meal, Heinz was talking to Dario.

“If you’re moving a load with two horses, it’s better to have a place where you can leave it overnight rather than forcing yourself to go down before dark.”

“There’s a place to rest downstairs, right?”

“There is. But if there’s one around here, I can choose.”

Heinz glances at me.

“Besides, spending the night in the village is better than camping out in the open.”

“It’s not like Val will protect you all the way.”

“I know. We didn’t talk about that.”

Heinz returned it immediately.

“It’s just that you don’t have to worry about your belongings being taken by thieves while you’re sleeping in the village.”

I thought about it for a while.

The village I promised to protect was Rue Village.

It’s not all roads, it’s not a merchant’s business.

However, if the village becomes safer than before, some people will want to take advantage of that safety for just one night.

It seems that not only the number of residents will increase.

“Do you think this will increase?”

Dario asks the village chief.

“He wants to stay the night.”

“Only two people came.”

“Heinz will talk downstairs.”

“If you ask me, I’ll tell you that I was allowed to stay the night.”

The person himself answered confidently.

“Look.”

“So what?”

The village chief frowned.

“I’ll think about it when the number increases. I don’t want to build a house for travelers just to accommodate two people.”

That’s the end of the story.

The next morning.

Heinz and the others had reloaded their cargo early.

I stay away from the road so that the horse can calm down.

The second dog seemed to have gotten used to my presence after one night, and was no longer shaking its head as violently as yesterday.

“When’s the next one coming?”

The village chief asks.

“I haven’t decided yet. I’ll have to see how the charcoal sells and the price of grain.”

“If you know, bring it to me.”

“That’s why I said it so easily.”

Heinz takes the reins.

Then, as if remembering something, I turned around.

“Ah, that’s right. I’ll tell you as much as I can.”

“What?”

“There’s someone downstairs asking if they can live here.”

The village chief’s face stopped.

I also turn my ears.

“Who is it?”

“I haven’t heard the details directly either. It seems like it’s a family.”

“How many people?”

“I don’t know.”

“What are you guys doing?”

“I don’t know that either.”

“What do you know?”

“Don’t get mad at me!”

Heinz raised his voice.

“I was just asked by another person. “Wouldn’t a village with dragons be safer than here?”

The village chief’s expression turns grim.

“What did you say?”

“I said it’s not a village where you can protect me from anything. I didn’t say there was any food left over.”

“That’s fine.”

“I’m also walking through the mountains doing business. I don’t want to say something random and end up hating you later.”

Heinz shrugs his shoulders.

The villagers who heard the story also gathered.

It’s different from when eight people ran in.

This time, humans won’t jump in here because they’re being chased.

I’m thinking of coming to Rue Village on my own.

“What should I do?”

Dario asked.

“I haven’t decided anything yet.”

The village chief answered immediately.

“Even if it’s just the eight people we have now, we’re accepting them while thinking about what we’ll eat and where we’ll sleep.”

That’s right.

Even though grain has started to come in, it doesn’t mean there is enough room.

The flat land on the mountainside cannot be used, and there are no new fields yet.

“Next time I meet the person I talked to.”

The village chief turns to Heinz.

“If you really want to come, tell me that you want to come talk to me first.”

“Does that mean I can live here?”

“No.”

The village chief shook his head.

“How many people are there? What can we do? Do we have food and tools that we can bring ourselves? We can’t make any decisions until we hear that.”

“Then I’ll just tell it like it is.”

“Don’t just say, ‘I’ll let you in.'”

“I won’t tell you.”

Heinz sighs for the second time.

Eventually, the two horses started walking.

Walk down the mountain little by little, lining up along narrow roads.

I saw them off from a distance.

Yesterday, a merchant I saw for the first time stayed in this village.

This morning I heard that there are people asking if they can live in this village.

When the eight people arrived, the village chiefs were worried about having to feed eight more people.

That doesn’t mean the problem has gone away.

As the number of people increases, the number of mouths to feed also increases. You’ll need a bed, and you’ll have to think about what’s to come now, even though it’s not even winter.

So, just being asked to come doesn’t mean I’m happy.

Still, I kept looking at the southern road for a while.

Until now, those who came to Rue Village either returned home after completing their errands, or those who had no place to escape to.

It’s different this time.

Someone I don’t even know yet is trying to choose this place for myself.

The village chief had already called Dario.

“Let’s take a look at the beds that the eight people currently using are using.”

“Is it to bring in new guys?”

“This is to determine whether or not you can be admitted.”

“Isn’t it similar?”

“It’s completely different.”

The two walk while talking to each other.

I also sat up.

We cannot accept all the people who want to live there.

However, the need to think about who could be accepted did not exist in Rue Village before.

The path to the south was followed by hoof prints left by two draft horses.