Chapter 26: The Peddler’s Arrival at the Village

Posted bytheredsargeantAugust 2, 2020Posted inFun Territory Defense

The carnival was in full swing.

　It was so much fun that the lookouts, who took turns keeping vigil outside, pleaded with me to hold the festival until midnight so that they could also partake in it.

　Nearly one hundred and fifty people enjoyed the meat, but the meat didn’t seem to be depleted at all.

”It’s so good!”

“Hahh…! I can’t fit in another bite!”

“I wonder if I can have some again tomorrow…”

　Even after the carnival was over, many of the villagers who were cleaning up continued to eat the meat.

　It seems that the villagers were fed well. In the morning, when I went to make my rounds, the villagers called out to me one after another.

“Master Van! Good morning! The meat was good!”

“My lord, thank you for your good work!”

“My lord! Please make Ms. Till a wife!”

“Huh!?”

　Every time I walked, friendly greetings and thank yous were thrown at me, which made me very happy. But the last guy who said he wanted me to marry Till… say that after getting past Dee.

　I don’t want to be pressured about marriage, so I took Till’s hand and walked away.

”Oh, Van-sama hasn’t held my hand in a long time…”

　Till’s eyes are full of compassion as she blushes happily. I guess it is one of the perks of being an eight-year-old, children’s privilege I guess. However, it does embarrass me when everyone looks at me with an approving and happy face as I walk down the main street with Till’s hand in mine.

“Oh, you’re going to let go?”

　As regrettable as it is, I had to prioritize dignity over cuteness. As a lord, I always have to keep my position in mind.

“Till. I’ll find the kindest person for you to marry.”

　Till smiled happily as I said this.

“My job is to take care of Master Van. I haven’t even thought about getting married yet, you know?”

　Till says that to me with gentle eyes, and my lips quirk up.

”Because if you take it too long, you might get too old…”

“Well, um, don’t worry about that…”

　Till’s smile twitched.

　That being said, Till was eighteen years old. Under normal circumstances, Till would be old enough to be married.

　Well, in this world, people up to the age of twenty-five years olds might hold out, but most people who get married between fifteen and twenty years of age.

　If I can’t marry by twenty-five, I’d understand. (T.N. Note: Self-confidence 0)

　I was thinking about this when I arrived at the village entrance.

　I checked the left and right sides of the wall and headed to the watchtower where there was a lazy-eyed guard.

　I climb the stairs to the rooftop and stood next to a villager who is leaned on his elbows on the thick railing at the edge, and look out at the street in the same way.

“Did you notice anything unusual?”

“Nothing to see here. I’m bored. However, the farming and water-picking teams are both working hard… I can’t afford to be selfish.”

　He said that with a bitter smile and turned around. Then he noticed Till, who was closer in height first, and then froze in shock when he saw me and Kamsin.

　We stared at each other for a beat, and then the man immediately backed away.

“Hey, Master Van! Mmmm, mmmm, I’m sorry! I wasn’t, you know, slacking off…!”

　I laugh at the guard who began to make excuses in a cold sweat, and I looked out of the village with him.

“I don’t think you’re slacking off, since your job is to be on the lookout. But please make sure you look in places other than the main road as well.”

　When I laughed at that, the man straightened up and replied, and began to watch the outside with eagle-like eyes.

“Oh, I see something on the horizon!”

　I stare in amazement as the man suddenly shouts out, pointing to a far-off point on the road.

　I squint, but all I can see is a shadow, barely a black dot.

　As I stared intently at it, a voice comes out from the watchman on another watchtower, “It’s a peddler!”

”It’s a peddler! It’s Mr. Bell and Mr. Lango, the peddlers!”

　You can even recognize faces!?

　I looked at Till and Kamsin, astonished, but they were both looking at the end of the street with the same look on their faces.

　Apparently, my eyesight wasn’t bad. Their eyesight is just extremely good.

　Relieved, I noted that the merchant caravan had a large number of people. As they got closer, I was able to make out two carriages and the silhouettes of five or six people around them.

　Of course, even though they got a little closer, I couldn’t recognize their faces.

“For now, let’s raise the bridge and arm the ballistas.”

“Master Van! They are not bandits!”

　The villagers exclaimed in surprise, but don’t believe in trusting a group of strangers just because of a few familiar faces.

“It’s possible that the people in and around the carriage aren’t guards or merchants, they could be bandits. They could even be holding the merchants hostage.”

　When I said this, the villagers looked unhappy and shushed me. Well, I suppose that I couldn’t expect them to adopt the same skeptical mindset as I have.

　I’m willing to be skeptical of everything in order to always be prepared against threats against the village.

“Till, you go and get Dee and Orto”

　When I said that, Till said, “Yes!” then ran off.

“The opportunity has finally come.”

　As I said this, I looked at my own dagger. The behemoth relief, the marquis’ family crest, brilliantly reflected light.

　There are plenty of things that need to be done.

　We must sell the ingredients and meat of the Armored Lizard and earn money. I must also buy spices and ingredients that are not available in the village.

　I also have to get information about other towns and villages, as well as the neighboring fiefdoms.

　And I also have to advertise that our village has great local products.

　Whether I make the most of this opportunity or not is truly up to me.

　I smiled, finally recognizing the faces of the merchants as they approached.

　The surprised-looking merchants, Bell and Lango, looked up at the village’s defensive wall and exclaimed in surprise.

　I decided to call out to them as they were having some kind of conversation with men who looked like adventurers, likely their escorts.

”You must be merchants, I presume. I am the lord of this village, Van Nei Fertio. If you are a merchant, please state your company and personal name. If you are a guard, please state your affiliation and name.”

　When I said this, the merchants and adventurers looked at each other and begin to discuss something. After a while, the young merchant in front of me spoke up.

”My name is Bell from the Mary Trading Company. The other merchant is my brother Lango. The guards are from the B-ranked party led by the adventurer Air-san, the ‘Silver Spear’.”

　Bell introduced them, Lango bowed his head, and the skinheaded man called Air raised his silver spear.

　I looked at Orto, who was standing next to me.

“Do you know him?”

　Orto nodded.

”Yes. We used to meet at the Adventurer’s Guild and drink together.”

　Hearing this, I look at Bell and the others again.

“You are permitted to enter the village. Welcome, we have been waiting for people like you.”

　As I said this, the villagers hurriedly lowered the bridge and opened the gate.

　We quickly walked back down onto the ground and headed for the gate.

　Feeling a bit of trepidation, we arrive in time to see Bell leading a carriage and entering.

　Rhonda stepped out first and bid them hello.

“We’ve been waiting for you. I speak for the entire village when I say that we are glad that you’re here.”

　At the same time as Rhonda said this, the villagers gathered around the carriage in a hubbub.

　From the villagers’ point of view, it’s been a long time since they received anything from the outside. They couldn’t help but get excited.

　The scene brought a smile to my face.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come here sooner. There were a few delays on the way…”

　As I walked toward Bell, he panicked and tensed up.

”Hello, thanks for taking the time to travel all the way out here.”

　When I said that with a laugh, Bell creased his crows and took a deep bow, looking at me.

“My name is Bell. It’s nice to meet you. By the way, with all due respect, are you Master Van, the fourth son of the Fertio family?”

　He asks me that, and I nod my head.

“Yes, but what about it?’

　The Marquis may be famous, but I didn’t intend on relying on its grand statys.

　While I was contemplating, Bell opened his mouth with a face as if he had seen something interesting.

”No, it’s just something that was talked about in the Marquis’ castle town… where had the most genius son of the Marquis’ family gone?”

　I blinked, then smirked at his words.