Chapter 77: Inauguration Ceremony of the Waterway

166th Day of Life in Another World

Yesterday, the inspection team returned, bringing peace back to the village. Merinard also returned to the city as part of the delegation.

Today, the village is taking a full day off to hold the inauguration ceremony for the waterway. The construction of the waterway by Roa, Sakura, and others was completed yesterday, and they are now about to start the water release.

“Village Chief, are you ready over there?”

“Yeah, I’m ready anytime.”

“Then, let’s open the floodgates!”

“Everyone, we’re about to start the water release!”

In the center of the village, people of various races, from adults to children, gathered, looking upstream at the waterway. Soon, water gushed forcefully from upstream.

“Wow!”

The walls and bottom of the waterway were solidly reinforced with earth magic, so the water flowed through without eroding them, creating a clear and pristine river.

“Can we go in too?”

“I want to go in too!”

“Me too!”

“Go ahead, just be careful not to get swept away.”

“I’m going in too!”

“Then I will too! Here I go!”

Children happily jumped into the river, and Natsuki and Haruka joined them by diving in with enthusiasm. Other beastmen who saw this followed suit.

Even if small children go in, they will only get up to their waists at most. Their mothers are supporting them, and the current isn’t too fast, so it should be safe. Iron grates to prevent being swept away are installed at key points in the village, so there shouldn’t be any situation where they get carried away into the main flow and reach the sea.

“It looks great!”

“Oh, Touya, good job. Everything went smoothly on your end too?”

“Yeah, no problems anywhere.”

“Alright then, everyone, take the day off today. I won’t say not to work, but take it easy today!”

“Yes!”

“Thanks to the Village Chief’s generosity, alcohol is allowed from morning today! Those who want to drink, come to the dining hall!”

“Yahoo!”

The declaration of lifting the ban on drinking resounded throughout the village.

Groups formed all over the village, and everyone enjoyed a pleasant time together. Well, a small number of people went a bit overboard, but since today is a day of indulgence, no one was reprimanded.

“Keisuke, you should have joined in too, it felt great, you know?”

“Well, I’m fine. …I have to maintain the dignity of the Village Chief, after all.”

“Oh, could it be that you’re afraid of water?”

Even though I usually don’t drink, I participated in the banquet today because I was invited by everyone.

Now, I’m enjoying drinking with Haruka, Sakura, and Tsubaki around a table.

“Hey, remember that time…”

“What, what? Tell us!”

“…When I was a kid, I almost drowned in a river in the countryside. Since then, I get frozen when I enter the water…”

“Oh, now that you mention it, when the three of us were together… when we took a bath in the river, you were the only one who didn’t go in, Keisuke.”

“That’s true… It wasn’t because I was embarrassed to go in together, but I was scared of the river.”

“To be honest, I was doing my best to hide my fear. I had no time to look at your naked bodies.”

“Huh? There was such a bathing event?”

“Uh, yeah, there was! I didn’t see anything.”

“Sniff sniff, there’s a suspicious smell.”

“Hey, Haruka, aren’t you drinking too much? Don’t get too involved.”

While drunk, I inadvertently revealed my trauma, but I also blurted out unnecessary things, and Haruka persistently kept questioning me.

“By the way, isn’t it strange that you haven’t made a move on such beautiful women like them even though you have three of them?”

“That’s true! It’s been quite a while since that discussion, but no one has reported anything yet.”

“We talked about this before…”

“Could it be that you’re just shy? Tsubaki, what do you think?”

(Tsubaki would probably evade it skillfully.)

“Me? …Well, in that case. If you’re just giving off misleading signals without taking any action, you’re a pathetic wimp.”

“Huh, Tsubaki? …Huh?”

“While treating each other sincerely――if it happens naturally, then it’s passable.”

“Tsubaki, that’s harsh.”

“That’s great! Keep it up!”

It seems like everyone is quite drunk. I heard sharp and sarcastic words from Tsubaki, which I couldn’t imagine from her usual self.

“I’m already 40, and I’m not at the age to grab anyone I can get my hands on.”

“People call that making excuses.”

“…”

Feeling down, Sakura came to my rescue.

“You know, since the topic of age came up, Keisuke looks younger than when we first met, don’t you think?”

“Oh, that’s nice to hear.”

“Maybe it’s because of a healthy lifestyle and good food. …And also the influence of mana or the effect of ‘Bountiful Earth’?”

Anyway, it’s nice to look younger. If everyone feels some positive changes, that’s good.

“Ah, in times like these, you’re supposed to say, ‘You all look beautiful!'”

“Well, well, that line is misleading.”

“Don’t lead the conversation in a weird direction.”

To avoid stepping on any landmines, I leave and go to where the other men are. Well, even there, they tease me about various things, but between guys, it’s nothing serious.

In the end, that day turned into a lively banquet until dinner time.

On another note, regarding the aftermath of the Chairman’s visit,

Today, around noon, I received a telepathic message from Merinard, informing me that “the Chairman and the delegation left for the capital early.”

It seems that Drago, on the other hand, flew back home ahead of time, leaving his subordinates and guards scrambling to catch up. He apparently said, “I have an important matter to discuss with my family,” and disappeared in an instant. Well, no one can complain about what the top leader of the country does, and there won’t be any repercussions for those who couldn’t fulfill their escort duty.

Also, after Drago’s departure, I realized something. It was about the existence of dragons living in the northern mountain range. I secretly asked Merinard about whether it would be safe to continue mining there. According to his response, it seemed that “the mighty dragons wouldn’t be concerned about such trivial matters.” So there was no need to worry about provoking the dragons’ wrath.

I’m still curious about the human territories and the actions of the Northern Heroes. However, it seems that we still have some time before an actual war breaks out.

For now, it’s most important to focus on the village’s development and be prepared for when the time comes.

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