Chapter 31: A Visitor?

Posted bytheredsargeantAugust 8, 2020Posted inFun Territory Defense

　The next day, I was awakened by the sound of frantic footsteps, made by a crowd of anxious villagers.

“I know that they are early risers… but how can they be so lively this early? The sun hasn’t even risen yet.”

　Till nodde at my groggy remark.

”I’m sorry. Many people, including Rhonda, seemed to be in a hurry… Dee-sama and Espada-sama are already on their way to the scene.”

“Scene? Where are they going?”

“It is Van lake, the one you built yesterday.”

“What’s up with that name?”

　I don’t remember naming that lake, though?

　Till responded to my question.

“They named it after Master Van to honor his accomplishments and preserve your glorious legacy for future generations. Incidentally, they also named the village ‘Van Village’”

“Stop, please. Those names are really embarrassing.”

　While saying this, I hurriedly prepared to leave my mansion. Outside, a villager, who looked flustered, was waiting for me with a blue face.

”Va, Van-sama! Please, follow me!”

　With that, the villagers ran off. Hey, don’t just leave your lord like that.

　Exasperatedly, I ran to catch up with them. The villager lead me out of the village and towards the lake.

　I feel as though I should make a gate in the backside of the village. It’s too much trouble to go all the way around through the frontal gate.

　Making up my mind to do so later, I headed for the lake.

　A large amount of villagers had gathered. At the front, nearest to the lake were Dee, Espada, and Orto.

“What’s going on?”

　As I spoke up, everyone noticed me and opened the way for me.

　Soon the lake came into view. I know I made it myself, but it’s a rather large lake.

　When I looked out upon the lake, I found an unfamiliar silhouette on the surface of the lake.

　A humanoid head was peeking out of the water,

“What is that?”

　Espada opened his mouth at my question.

 “It is a being that is said to live in rivers within in deep forests, a race that is not often seen. They are demi-humans with some fish-like features and are known as Apcarle.” (T.N. Note: Going to clear somethings up, the MTL gave me literally 5 different translations for the species name so I just chose whichever one I thought sounded best. Also, this guy is looking to be a case of gender uncertainty. Soooo, I will call them a girl until I am decisively proven otherwise.)

“Apcarle? Hmmm, I’ve never heard of such a race.”

　Saying that, I moved to the edge of the lake.

　Looking closely, I see that she looks childlike. Her bright blue hair is mysterious, and her skin is a little dark. Her eyes are pitch black. Ears that resemble fish fins were sticking out of the gaps in her long hair.

“What’s your name?”

　I ask her that, but Ms. Apcarle doesn’t say anything back. I guess it was a bit naive of me to expect to understand my language.

　Let’s just try to feed her to show that I mean her no harm.

“Till, could you go with Kamsin and bring me some meat?”

“Of course!”

　The two replied loudly and ran off. I stared at the Apcarle for a while, but eventually looked away when Till and Kamsin came back with meat in their hands.

”Are you hungry?”

　I didn’t want to waste the opportunity to befriend such a rare species. I took a piece of meat from Kamsin and waved it at the Apcarle.

　Then, she came closer.

”Oh, wow…”

　The villagers gasped as they watched the course of events.

　I could see Dee and Alt gently gripping the hilt of their swords, but I didn’t mind them and continued to call out to the Apcarle.

　She slowly came closer and closer.

　When she reached within arm’s reach, I offered her the food.

　As I held it out, the Apcarle brought the tip of her nose in front of the meat. The Apcarle, which smelled unexpectedly nice, seemed to have no hostile intent.

　Looking at it up close, it looked a lot like a human. The eyes are larger than a human’s and the nose is a bit smaller. The face is also rounder. The biggest difference in human features were the ears. As for non-human characteristics, gills could be seen faintly on her neck.

“…Can I eat this?”

“Oh! She spoke!”

　I couldn’t help but yell out in astonishment as the Apcarle let out a lovely voice.

　Startled, she dove into the water and popped up again at the opposite end of the lake. She moved incredibly fast in the water, but well, I guess she is like a big fish.

　She seems to have been caught completely off guard and is currently cautiously looking at me with only half of her face above the surface of the lake.

　Even though her eyebrows are drawn together, she is not scary because she has a cute face.

“I’m sorry. Please come back!”

　I call out to her. But she pouted and turned her face away to the side.

　Have I put her in a bad mood?

“Till, do you have any fruit?”

“Yes, I’ll get some right back!”

　Here’s to hoping sweet things will lure her out.

　In these remote fringes of the kingdom, there is are no sweets. That’s why sweet fruits are so popular.

　Well, in the first place, only the nobility can afford to use sugar anyway, as it is a luxury item. The only other class which can afford it are the merchants.

　That’s why sweet making is not very advanced in this world. If sugar, butter, and other confectionery ingredients were to become more widely available to the general public, the variety of sweets would increase as well.

　Personally, I’d like to have butter-filled baked goods, but it would be difficult to procure any, considering my situation.

　At the end of the day, you have to be very rich or a nobleman to be able to eat delicious sweets on a daily basis.

　So, that’s why, when I laid out the sweet fruits that Till had brought and called for the Apcarle again, the results were immediate.

　With half of her face still submerged, her eyes lit up as she gradually came swam closer to the fruit.

“Would you like some meat? Or would you prefer fruit?”

　When I asked her that, her eyebrows tightened and she fell silent until she eventually looked up and opened her mouth.

“I eat both.”

“Okay.”

　Laughing, I decided to give her a piece of meat first.

　She gently took the meat and put it in her mouth, from a small distance away.

　Immediately after, she looked at me with his eyes wide open. She was still looking at us, but she is clearly enjoying the meat.

　After a few seconds, she gazed at us with a slightly suspicious look on her face. She seemed to be observing Dee, Orto, and the others.

”…This meat…”

　I tilt my head at the Apcarle, who mumbles to herself.

”It’s Armored Dragon meat. It’s going to go bad soon, so if you want to eat it later, it’ll be preserved meat and not fresh.

　As I tell her, she looks at the lump of meat that Kamsin holds with his eyes wide open.

”…Who hunted it?”

　At the question, I tilted my head and looked around. Who indeed? Maybe, the villagers who manned the ballistas?

　I tried to check everyone’s faces to see who they thought was responsible for the successful hunt, but they were all looking at me.

　Then, they opened their mouths in unison.

“Of course, the credit must all go to lord Van.”

“Who else but lord Van could have slain these beasts.”

“Lord Van has never failed to help.”

　They all gave me the credit for the hunt.

“No, you guys are the ones which manned the ballistas.”

　I said so, but in the end, it seemed that the village was in the opinion that the credit was mine. I felt like I’d been framed for a crime.

“They say I was the one who killed the Armored Dragons.”

　When I had no choice but to make such a statement, she blinked her big eyes and stared at me intently.

　Then she opened his mouth.

“…Okay.”

　After that succinct reply, she took the fruit from my hand and disappeared into the lake.

”…huh?”

　I turn around with a confused look on my face, but everyone just shrugged their shoulders.

　The next day, Till came running to me to wake me from my sleep. Again.

“Ma, Master Van!”

“What’s going on?”

　I jumped because of how loudly Till threw the door open. Till is in a cold sweat at the rudeness of her action, but she bows his head in a kneeling position.

”I’m so sorry! I just got word that someone was attacking us, and I panicked…!”

“An attack…?”

“Yes, sir! The enemy forces have been stopped at the moat, I’m told…!”

“Mmm, that’s dangerous. I hope the villager are safe, especially the ones manning the ballistas.” (T.N. Note: No idea what the original MTL was trying to say about the ballistas, so I just put what I felt Van would say in this situation. P.S. Thanks for the suggestion, sorenmaelstrom)

　Despite the danger, Till made sure that I was well dressed before we headed out to the wall.

　They must have nerves of steel to dare to attack my village.

　I’m going to crush you!

　With that thought, I ran up the bulwark and looked down at the moat and was stunned.

　It was because the moat and the waterway were lined with Apcarles everywhere.

”…It’s not like Armored Dragons were deified by the Apcarles, right?”

　I turned to Till and asked her that, and she shrugged with a troubled look on her face.