Year 141_Keireki Era_Spring/09
The aftermath of the battle was even more exhausting.
Suou and I were hailed as the heroes of the town and given a warm reception.
After indulging in their hospitality—a rather lavish meal—we barely had a moment’s rest before I was summoned by the mayor.
As for Suou, she had vanished somewhere along the way. Her laughter echoed from outside, signaling that she had likely evaded meeting the mayor on purpose.
She must have found the whole affair too troublesome.
The mayor, on the other hand, poured me some liquor and invited me to join him for a drink.
It was a nice gesture, though I couldn’t help but feel that he should prioritize reassembling the militia or planning the town’s future defense instead.
Sensing my hesitation, he explained that a proper defense force from Tuiknok was already en route.
The current militia, he revealed, was a temporary measure comprising adventurers who had fallen on hard times.
Even so, they had been far too feeble.
Later, Suou learned from some of the townsfolk she befriended that the so-called adventurers were really just individuals from impoverished villages trying to scrape by.
Setting that aside, the mayor made a request: he wanted Suou and me to defend the town until the reinforcements from Tuiknok arrived.
The reward was impressive—enough to rival the pay for a successful mission back when I met Kagnat.
It wasn’t even the special bonus kind of reward, just the base pay for reconnaissance work.
Still, it was enough to afford a hearty bean soup and bread ten times over in a single day.
Ah, I still remember how good that meal was.
After agreeing to discuss it with Suou, I spent the night drinking with the mayor.
He was a pleasant middle-aged man, surprisingly candid for someone of his status.
As it turned out, he was the younger brother of the Count who governed Tuiknok.
“You’re from such a noble lineage?”
“Haha, more like a disgraced one! The Count’s family has always been large, and I had twenty siblings ahead of me in line.”
However, all of them had been killed by the current Count.
The mayor survived only because he perfected the art of playing the fool.
“Is it really okay to tell me all this?”
“My elder brother is aware, and many townsfolk know as well.”
We were drinking on the balcony of his two-story house.
The breeze was pleasant, and the view of the town—while modest in scale—showed clear signs of care and maintenance.
“It’s a good town, but the militia is way too weak.”
“Ah, I can’t argue with that. Tuiknok forbids us from maintaining a strong armed force. We hoped to bring in the Adventurers’ Guild, but that fell through as well.”
“Why’s that?”
“Ah, it’s because we lack a furnace.”
“A furnace?”
“Yes, it’s a device necessary for many guilds, including the Adventurers’ Guild, to process various operations—particularly those involving ink.”
I vaguely recalled hearing something about ink-related matters back when dealing with precious metals.
It seemed to be a vital piece of equipment for their infrastructure, something completely unrelated to banditry.
The mayor went on to explain that furnaces were not only expensive but also extraordinarily rare.
Tuiknok itself only had two, and asking for one to be relocated here was out of the question.
The furnaces were said to be relics left behind by the Magic King of the East—a miracle in themselves.
If even Tuiknok, governed directly by the Count, could only afford two, then it was no surprise this remote town couldn’t secure one.
Without a furnace, attracting the Adventurers’ Guild was impossible, leaving the town vulnerable to bandit attacks.
“This is why Tuiknok is sending a defense force. Several nearby villages have recently fallen to bandit raids.”
“So it’s a matter of time before they target this place again.”
“Exactly. Even though this town is my creation, my brother cannot allow a settlement bearing his family’s name to be wiped out. His pride wouldn’t permit it.”
He laughed, his demeanor surprisingly good-natured for someone with such a tumultuous history.
The next morning, with a slight hangover, I discussed the mayor’s request with Suou.
She remarked that even if I refused, she’d take the job on her own, as she’d already decided to protect the town.
Her attachment to this place had grown during our brief stay, revealing her naturally caring nature.
The following days passed peacefully, with no sign of further bandit activity.
Suou and I busied ourselves with repairing broken fences, helping with the harvest, and engaging in other tasks more fitting for townsfolk than mercenaries.
Every night before falling asleep, I found myself alternating between two feelings: the hope that these tranquil days could last forever and the lingering sorrow for the life I had once lost.
What do you think about this chapter?
