8-8 Part 1
To the Land of Erin Once More
- Plight and Salt -
Translator : PolterGlast
The next day, I decided to part ways with Sigrun and
return to the Imperial Capital. After all, yesterday, Sigrun woke up in the middle of the night and, while
demanding more drinks or whatever, spouted incomprehensible drunkard's logic...
Thus, since
I hadn't accepted any work at the local guild, we decided to part ways the
moment we stepped out of the inn. If
I were to stick around out of misguided sympathy, I'd undoubtedly end up being
roped into helping with some ridiculously hard job.
「You heartless wreeetch! Is that how
you treat a partner you spent a night enjoying intimately in the same room?!」
「Yeah, it was foolish to sleep in the
same room as someone who reeks of alcohol and snores on top of that. See you, Sigrun.」
「Wait! ...Lend me a little travel
money; I'll pay you back properly, please.」
「Alright. I won't say I'm giving it; this is a loan.」
Despite having such martial prowess, she's a woman with
childish aspects. If she was short on travel funds, she should have just
returned to the Imperial Capital immediately to report the job instead
of following me. Unable to watch any longer, I handed her money and turned my
back before we could get too chummy.
「Wait, Shinza. This is
interest.」
It seems my escape was too slow. I was suddenly embraced
powerfully from behind and even received a lukewarm kiss on the back of my
neck. Being done in front of the inn was beyond embarrassing.
After showing an exaggerated sigh to her, whose temperament
was too different from mine, I left the Maritime City Naglfar.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
I bought salt in Naglfar. Shouldering my Shovel
and salt bag, I proceeded from the carriage station toward the Imperial
Capital.
However, what happened from there was strange, even to
myself. At first, I intended to go straight back. I planned to gaze vaguely at
the vast plains leading to the Imperial Capital and reaffirm the
vastness of the world.
Besides, I had already paid the carriage fare to the Imperial
Capital. Yet, I acted on a whim when we arrived in the Land of Erin,
east of Naglfar.
◇ ◆ ◇
「Ah... You are! Father, Father! Shinza-san
is here! Father!」
Where I stopped by was the village where the children I
protected the day before yesterday lived. This large village lies beyond the
developed highway area, heading north toward the forest from before and turning
onto a side road midway.
As soon as I showed my face, I was invited back into the
house where I'd stayed before and received cold tea made from
plant vines. In return, I placed the salt bag on the table to reciprocate their
feelings.
「U-Umm, this is...?」
「Actually, I have a request, so it's
something like payment. With this much, you shouldn't be troubled for the time
being.」
I have no talent as a merchant. I wanted to give the salt I
intended to sell in the Imperial Capital to people, and I executed it
without thinking.
「We cannot accept this. You are the
benefactor who saved our daughters; we need nothing!」
「But dear, with this much, for a
while we... Umm, what is the request?」
The wife wanted it modestly. Even though it's close to Naglfar,
transport costs aren't free. For a household with two girls, it's a gift they
wouldn't be troubled to receive. Salt doesn't rot, after all.
「Let me ask you something. Please—I'm
sure you are the right people.」
「Dear.」
「Ah... Then we would be happy to
cooperate. However, the salt is—」
「Enough about that. In the culture of
a certain other region, they say if you're going to help people, do it
thoroughly. What's wrong with wanting the children I saved to be happy? Accept
it.」
It leaves a bad taste if they become unhappy. So I'll give
them some salt. That's all there is to it. However, suddenly, the two began to
worship me...
「W-Why are you praying...」
「Because your heart is too noble...
What a magnificent person...」
「I am ashamed to admit it, but we are
not exactly well-off... That is why, on that day, I had my daughters go out on
that dangerous gathering trip... I
deeply regret it now.」
Is this family also deeply religious like Kachua? The
prayer was excessively long, and even I was at a loss as to what to do.
『Kukuku...』
Feeling like I was laughed at by Zirant, I opened the
Book of the Evil Dragon under the table. Then, the letters harboring Zirant's
soul were sneering at me.
『I find that part of you desirable.
Your untainted conscience is enough to make me feel you have divinity, Kukuku... So, what have you come to do, Seventh
Prince Ashley?』
A name that would be extremely troublesome if seen appeared,
so I immediately closed the book and put it in my pocket. That sound seemed to
return the couple's consciousness to reality. Then let's fulfill my purpose
here as well.
「What I want to ask about is the
living situation of you and this whole area. No, that's too abstract. Right, is
there anything you've been troubled with lately?」
When I asked that, for some reason, they prayed lightly
again.
「Speaking of lately, it would be the
water shortage, I suppose...」
「Indeed. Shinza-san, it is
still okay here, but serious water shortages are progressing east of the
neighboring village. Because of that, I hear a brawl broke out over river water
rights just recently.」
Water rights, huh. Political books in the library stated
that such disputes give birth to mafia-like groups. To regain order once
disturbed, the region itself gives birth to violent organizations.
「Is that also happening in the Emperor's
direct territory, Erin?」
「Yes. There are those who can't pay
taxes due to the water shortage and have their children taken away...」
「Umm... also, I heard bandits have appeared near the highway... Right, dear?」
Even for those living in the Emperor's territory, tax
collection is seemingly merciless. And bandits, huh. From my perspective, they were ideal prey. If I
slaughter the evil that should be condemned to the earth, I can gain power.
「That was helpful. Ah, one last
thing. Are you satisfied with the current magistrate?」
「Eh...」
「It's fine, just between us. I won't
leak it outside.」
That alone is a difficult topic for mere farmers to answer.
Still, perhaps feeling indebted to me, the husband made the decision.
「Umm, actually everyone harbors great
dissatisfaction toward the Consul-sama... Do you know a merchant named Hyamar?」
「Yeah, I know him well. The utter
fool of a merchant who can't even appraise goods, who presented fake gold to
the Empress.」
I didn't expect to hear that name in this land. Political
merchant Hyamar is colluding with Uncle Morak aiming to
monopolize the trade route from the Imperial Capital to Naglfar,
so perhaps it was natural for his name to come up here.
「Yes... he is a nasty big merchant.
The Consul-sama has teamed up with him and does whatever he pleases in the
highway towns, without any legal basis... Just recently, a villager who went to
town was beaten up...」
「I see. So such things happened.」
Hearing that shook my heart further. If I inherit this
Imperial Territory Erin from Father, I can protect them.
I don't necessarily have to sacrifice my life to govern here
directly. If I set up a decent substitute Consul, this land might become a
little better...
But that leaves one problem. That it would play right into
the hands of whoever instigated giving this land to me.
I can't imagine it's the idea of Father lying on his
sickbed. Someone must have whispered in his ear, urging him to grant this land
to me.
In this situation where no one acknowledges the Crown Prince
as Crown Prince. The Emperor says he will give me this land, which could thrust
a blade at the throat of the Imperial Capital if I felt like it, like a
parting gift.
「By the way, won't you clear the
forest beyond there?」
「Ah, yes. We would very much like to
do so, but our hands are full with daily farm work, so it's quite...」
「I see. Then do you mind if I expand
it a little? There's a reward if you clear land, right?」
「Heh...? Umm, what do you mean...」
「Just leave it to me. Instead, I'd be
happy if you let me stay another night.」
As an excavator, I was reluctant to use my Shovel for land clearing, but hearing they were poor made me want to carry through with helping them further. So I decided to tackle the forest spreading behind this house—or rather, dig up the trees from the roots and remove them one by one. This was quite an interesting task.
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