Chapters 61: Neighbors?

After cleaning up the mess, I went right back to the village. I was now talking to Merinard’s family, including the warehouse management.

“Once again, please take good care of my wife and son’s family.”

“Please.”

“Ah, I will entrust the purchasing and warehouse management to Merimus.

“Yes! My husband and I will do our best!”

“Also, I would like to ask Merissa to educate the children in the village.”

The number of children in the village is increasing, and we have already received reports that several women are pregnant. I make my request in anticipation of the future.

“Is it okay if I teach from a merchant’s point of view?”

“That is more practical and even better. However, if they are busy with farm work, I would ask you to give priority to that.”

In Japanese ethics, one might think, “How can you let a small child work?” But in this world, it is a matter of course, and by doing so, one learns the meaning and reason of one’s work.

Eventually, in the evening, Touya and the rest of the dungeon group returned. Over dinner, i explained about the telepathic skills, the site expansion, and the case of the intruder.

『By the way, I will ask you to keep the telepathy secret.』

“Understood” “Understood”』

“So, Chief, you’re finally going to expand into the South Seas, right?”

“Well, that’s the plan, but we’re short on manpower. For the time being, we need to increase manpower and improve the village first.”

“Why don’t we stop exploring the dungeon for a while?”

Touya, who loves fantasy, would never say such words. He’s not the kind of guy who would hold back from me, and I wonder if he has a fondness for the sea.

“I think it’s better to continue exploring dungeons, or rather leveling up.”

“Why? The village chief’s barrier should make us feel safe, is there something on your mind?”

“The village chief’s barrier will help us.  But if we leave it, the enemies will get stronger and stronger, won’t they?”

“So you’re saying that you need a power that can be used to some extent even outside the barrier.”

It seems that Sakura, who interrupted the conversation, understood my thoughts.

“Oh, that’s right. It’s better to do it in vain than to regret not doing it.”

“… that’s right, I don’t want to regret it either.”

We’re a little short on seafood, but we have enough salt in stock to last us a few years. We can always expand the site if we just do some scouting for now.

“First of all, each of us must become stronger, next, we need to secure manpower, little by little. These are the three things we need to focus on. I ask you all to do the same.”

”Yes, sir.”

The villagers who had been listening to the conversation responded by raising their voices in unison. Everyone is cooperative, and I think we should proceed slowly, one step at a time.

◇ ◇◇◇

Day 155 of living in another world

Merinard and the others left for town first thing in the morning. They left all the horses and carts behind, so of course we walked. As soon as they arrived in town, they were going to test their telepathy.

I had asked him to make a proposal to the council regarding the inspection of the village. It is better for us to approach them than to be sidetracked. I want to avoid being like yesterday’s adventurer if possible.

“Well then, Sakura, give me a telepathic reminder when you enter the dungeon.”

“Understood. Then I’m off!”

Sakura, Rad, and the rest of the dungeon team were heading out with a few villagers in tow.

“Village chief, let’s go quickly!”

Meanwhile, right next to me, Touya was calling out to me as if he was in a hurry.

The three of us left in the village were Touya, Tsubaki, and I. Yesterday, we had scouted the southern seas. Yesterday, when I told them that we were going to the southern ocean for a reconnaissance, they said they would accompany us as escorts, so I agreed.

The other members of the group also agreed that it would be safer for them. After much discussion, we finally decided to go with this group.

The dungeon search has now progressed to the ninth level, but they are still having trouble finding the stairs to the tenth level, so they will continue to search carefully today. They are going to challenge the boss at a later date with full preparation, so there is no problem even without Touya if they just want to search for the boss.

“All right, let’s get going.”

“Yes, I’ll take care of it!”

From the riverside in the east of the village, extend the barrier toward the south. Without fixing the barrier, I’m walking while maintaining the flashing state.

“Hey, aren’t you going to fix the site? You’re going to occupy it all the way to the sea anyway, aren’t you?”

“That’s the plan, though. Well, it’s not too late to see what’s going on to the south.”

“I see. If the village chief says so, it must mean something.”

To tell the truth, it doesn’t mean much, but… I felt rude to say that, so I silently nodded. According to what she heard, the southern cliff is about 10km away. Since the imitation skill is [Appraisal], the three of us proceeded while searching for bargains–.

We must have walked for about two hours, taking breaks along the way. We encountered monsters three times, but there were no other discoveries to speak of. We just kept seeing the same scenery.

“I think we should be there by now,……, but I’m getting bored if the scenery doesn’t change.”

“Really? I’m having a lot of fun. I’m excited just by the fact that it’s uncharted territory.”

“I’m having fun too. I rarely go outside the village, so traveling long distances is a breath of fresh air.”

Touya and Tsubaki were not unhappy about it. It is true that Tsubaki is usually in the village all the time. After another 20 minutes of walking around the village, it suddenly appeared.

“Is that the …… fort?”

“Yes, it is clearly man-made.”

A little to the west of the riverside, an enclosure of long logs laid out vertically could be seen. The surrounding trees had been cut down and the ocean could be seen beyond the river.

The fort, clearly man-made, was about the size of an early village, and inside the compound was what appeared to be a watchtower. There seemed to be only one entrance to the fort, facing the river, although the other side could not be confirmed.

“Don’t leave the barrier. Even if there are people, first look at the situation. Touya, don’t attack suddenly.』

“No, I won’t do it…” Should I leave it to the village chief to deal with it? 』

Extending the barrier and advancing near the entrance―― I could feel the presence of people from inside the fort just before my eyes. I couldn’t hear the content of the conversation, but I could hear people’s voices and the sounds of everyday life.

I told them not to move until they were instructed to do so, and called out into the fort.

“Hello, is anyone there?”

I tried to be as natural as possible, but I knew that they would definitely be on their guard.

When I call out, the sounds and voices that had been present instantly die down. After a few whistles, a woman appears from the watchtower.

“…… who are you people, and what is your purpose here?”

The woman spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, but she looked surprised to see the wards around us. A strange one that ran along the river all the way to the north. It would be a natural reaction if such a thing came into view.

(The earlier whistle must have been a signal to her companions, and it is confirmed that she lives with more than one person.)

Thinking this, I gave the woman an appraisal, and i gasped in surprise at the contents. But in order not to show my upset, I tried my best to suppress it from appearing on my face or in my mannerisms.

“We were sent to this world about five months ago. We are now living in a village in the forest in the north with about 70 people. Today, we came here to investigate the ocean, which we were told is to the south. Our goal is to find salt and marine products from the sea.”

She seemed to be in complete disbelief and remained silent for a long time, waiting for the next words.

“She is probably just stalling for time until her friends arrive. Do not touch them even if they gather. Put away your weapons.』

“Understood” “Yes”』

She must still be waiting for the arrival of her companions. She doesn’t even show a flustered look. The woman is probably used to doing this and doesn’t seem to be in a hurry.

“I apologize for the delay, but my name is Keisuke. The woman here is Tsubaki, and the man is Touya. You may not believe me, but I have no intention of being hostile to you.”

The woman’s clothes were in shreds. The top is a T-shirt and the bottom seems to be a jersey, but it has holes and is almost torn in some places. From the looks of it, she probably hasn’t been to the city yet. It is highly likely that she has not even heard of it.

“I’m calling my friends right now, so please wait there for a while.”

Perhaps it was because I had introduced myself that she finally responded.

“Thank you. This blinking thing is a kind of barrier to ensure my safety. I can’t disarm it now, but it’s not harmful to you.”

Of course, I don’t expect them to believe me. I dare to explain, hoping to lower their guard as much as possible.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll step back a little more.”

“……”

The other party seemed to be in an atmosphere of consideration so as not to provoke me. –In the end, there was no response, so I stepped back about 10 meters myself. At this distance, I could still hear their conversation.

I waited for about five minutes.

A rustling sound came from the woods to the west, and a man in his early twenties and two women came running out.

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