episode_0046

Headed east again.

Charlak was a village truly nestled deep within the mountains.

From Breezedon, it was a quick run to the lower village of Taildon, but Charlak required a full day’s walk to Rottenban, its closest village.

Looking back now, it was astounding how we found that hidden village.

It could only be described as divine luck.

“Hoo-.”

From now, we had to walk for a full day.

However, it wasn’t a grueling march like last time.

They had rested for a long time, so their stamina was ample.

Thanks to the lunchbox Chii had packed—which contained a large loaf of bread, two waterskins, vegetables, and a few apples wrapped in a cloth—they didn’t need to worry about food.

And their newly purchased bag was full of daily necessities.

There was a large, wide cloth wrap, kindling, and camping supplies.

It was ample for travel.

Uncle Fosao knew the way.

With a clear direction, their footsteps became lighter.

“Is the bag not heavy?”

“Neeheehee. This much is fi-fine….”

“Tell me if it gets difficult. We should take turns carrying it so we don’t get worn out later.”

“Ah, okay. Thank you, Tia.”

“You’re welcome.”

Uncle Fosao asked.

“How a-are your legs?”

“They’re fine. Your massage skills are still excellent.”

“Heeheehee. Well… I practiced for, for Tia.”

“…‘For me?’ What is that unsettling remark?”

“Nwaaah-! Th-that’s not what I meant!”

Uncle Fosao waved his hands frantically in embarrassment.

“When Tia was little… she was often sick. I wanted to h-help her, so I consistently practiced massages.”

That wasn’t wrong.

Back then, her body wasn’t as strong as it was now. Her feet would often swell from running around everywhere.

Whenever she went to Uncle Fosao back then, he would give her a pleasant massage.

“Who taught you?”

“In Taildon… from prostitutes.”

“……?!”

It was an unexpected answer, and she was slightly surprised.

“I learned many things from the p-pimp there…. But… people disliked me… so I’ve never massaged anyone else. I only, truly only massaged Ti-Tia….”

“Really? Hmm-.”

Since she had experienced it firsthand, she could guarantee Uncle Fosao’s skill.

However, due to his appearance, which suggested he might suddenly do something strange while massaging, she doubted anyone would readily entrust their body to him.

Indeed, he had even done something perverted to her.

Well, perhaps it was karma.

…For the record, she had no intention of forgiving ‘that incident’ in the slightest.

Yesterday, she had truly been desperate, grasping at straws, which was why she had accepted Uncle Fosao’s massage!

After climbing the hill, they came upon a sunny spot.

Uncle Fosao suggested.

“Shall we rest now?”

“Sounds good.”

They chatted for a long time again while eating lunch.

She mostly listened to Uncle Fosao’s past.

There were many stories she had never heard before.

When Uncle Fosao was young, Uncle Marvin was his younger brother by ten years, and Fosao had carried him on his back and raised him himself.

His peers included Aunt Sherry, one year his senior, and her mother, five years younger than him.

“Your mother… that is, Helina, was called ‘Rina’.”

“I know. I sometimes heard it. That the elders called Mother Rina.”

“Rina was really beautiful… and kind. Like you….”

“…….”

It had been a long time since she heard about her mother’s past from someone else.

The villagers tried not to talk about her mother if possible.

It seemed they did so because they thought she would be sad.

But the more they avoided it, the more she wanted to hear.

It was as if… the existence of ‘Mother’ who lived in Breezedon was slowly fading away.

She was afraid that no one would know about her anymore.

That was also why she had moved her residence to the house her parents had lived in.

Because even if it was just her, she had to remember her parents.

It was to carry on the name ‘Anshier’.

“Did everyone get along well?”

“Uhm, when they were little, it was fine… but they slowly grew apart.”

Uncle Fosao said in a nostalgic voice.

“I-I… I stammered… and was ugly…. The kids… disliked me. But Ri-Rina… looked out for me until the end.”

Uncle Fosao looked up at the sky.

“When I was twenty-three… Rina met Albert and left the vi-village…. When Rina left… there was no one left by my side. Th-that’s why I left the village and lived alone….”

When Uncle Fosao was discriminated against and ignored.

It seemed that the person who protected him was her mother.

But when her mother met her father and went on a journey together, Uncle Fosao was left alone in the village….

The story was that he eventually left Breezedon, unable to withstand the pressure from the people.

“But Uncle Fosao’s general store is ‘nearby’, isn’t it? I thought you hadn’t left the village.”

“That was… after Rina returned from her journey.”

When her mother returned to Breezedon after a three-year journey.

Knowing that people had driven Uncle Fosao away, her mother became very angry.

They said her anger was so great that even the Village Chief-nim couldn’t stop her.

Her mother sought out Uncle Fosao, who was living in seclusion in Taildon, and asked him to return to the village.

Though he refused to return due to his great sorrow, Uncle Fosao’s heart was moved by her repeated pleas.

He settled near Breezedon.

And with the help of her mother and father, he was able to set up a shop.

That was the beginning of ‘Modaless General Store’.

“I still remember… January 15th… I opened the shop to coincide with my, my birthday….”

“January 15th? That’s close to my birthday, isn’t it?”

“Re-really? He chuckled nervously.”

“That’s fascinating….”

It was so interesting to hear stories she hadn’t known.

And to think that her mother had an influence on the history of that general store’s establishment….

It felt somehow different.

Uncle Fosao smiled, looking at her.

“Every time I see Tia’s eyes… I think of Rina. Rina’s eyes were also r-red.”

“Hehe-.”

She had heard that her red hair was inherited from her father.

So her eyes were her mother’s.

“Your stories are interesting, Uncle Fosao.”

“Ah, no-. There’s nothing interesting now…. After that, I’ve just been living a-alone in the shop….”

“Then you can make interesting stories from now on! You’re not ‘alone’ even now, are you?”

“Nwaaah-. Th-that’s right! Since Ti-Tia is here… I’m not alone anymore….”

Uncle Fosao scratched his head, looking bashful.

“Th-then… shall we depart now?”

“Sounds good!”

***

They started their mountain trek again.

Crossing peaks, leaping over streams, and slowly descending the mountain… it was already dusk.

They were able to reach another village before sunset.

She read the large sign erected at the entrance.

“Rottenban.”

A large mining town located north of Deseo.

They had arrived in Rottenban.

It was according to plan.

Reaching Rottenban by the end of the day was the ‘first objective’ that the Charlak Village Chief and Uncle Fosao had put their heads together to devise.

Fortunately, they succeeded without any hitches.

Spending the night here today, then finding a carriage tomorrow morning to go to Deseo, would achieve the ‘second objective’.

It was going smoother than expected.

A horse snorted.

Hahahahaha-!

The sneezes of the horses in the stable.

The boisterous laughter of people.

She could feel that they were approaching a city.

Rottenban had many similarities to Taildon.

Numerous houses lined both sides of the street.

They could see people drinking and chatting excitedly in every tavern.

It was incredibly vibrant.

As soon as they entered the entrance, Uncle Fosao asked her to wait for a moment and disappeared.

A moment later, what Uncle Fosao brought back was a large coin pouch.

“He let out a nervous chuckle. I brought money….”

And he opened the pouch in front of her, as if showing off.

“……Wow!”

She covered her mouth in surprise.

Inside the pouch, there were gold and silver coins aplenty.

In total, it looked like roughly 100 gold coins.

Uncle Fosao put his hand into the pouch, fumbled around, then pulled out ten gold coins.

“Here, take it.”

“……Huh?”

“Tia, you can use th-this to get a room and a carriage ticket….”

“What about you, Uncle Fosao?”

“I… I got a room while ex-exchanging the money… I just need to get a carriage ticket.”

She glanced at Uncle Fosao’s herb bag.

Its size was noticeably smaller.

Perhaps… he had sold one of the two remaining treasures to secure travel expenses.

But for him to just hand over ten gold coins from it to her.

She was mesmerized by the golden coins in her hand, then quickly came to her senses.

“No, but this is too much?!”

“The rest… use it as s-spending money. There’ll be a lot of things to use it for in D-Deseo too.”

“…….”

After a moment of thought.

She closed her eyes tightly and carefully put away the gold coins.

“…Thank you.”

“Y-you’re welcome! He chuckled nervously.”

In truth, she had been penniless ever since leaving her belongings behind at the tribute convoy.

She had been too preoccupied with survival to remember, but in this state, arriving in Deseo would also be a problem.

Without a single coin, it might even be difficult to sightsee in Dienbus.

If worst came to worst, she had considered working to quickly earn enough money for a carriage ticket.

However, that worry became moot, as the simplest solution—receiving money from Uncle Fosao—resolved it.

Uncle Fosao waved his hand.

“Then, I-I’ll go in first….”

“Okay. Go in safely.”

She watched Uncle Fosao waddle towards the inn.

Should she start looking around now too?

First, to find a carriage, she went to the stable.

Unfortunately, it was late.

They wouldn’t let her in, saying that business hours were over.

She turned back and decided to get a room first.

The inn Uncle Fosao was staying at seemed a bit expensive, so she chose a slightly shabbier place instead.

After reserving a room, she came back outside.

From tomorrow, they would travel to Deseo by carriage all day, so there was no need for strenuous walking.

However, she still needed to get enough food and snacks for the journey.

First, she stopped by a bakery.

“Oh.”

In front of the shop, a bundle of hardtack was displayed.

Suddenly, Robert-nim’s words came to mind, saying there was no better snack than this.

Come to think of it, what happened to the tribute convoy?

Suddenly, she became very curious about news from that direction.

She took the hardtack and entered the shop.

“Hello. I’d like to buy this.”

“Hmm. That’s 5 silver.”

While paying, she casually asked.

“Uhm- by any chance… have you heard anything about the ‘tribute convoy’?”

“Tribute convoy?”

The bakery owner stroked his chin.

“I haven’t heard anything? The tribute convoy doesn’t pass through our village in the first place.”

“Ah….”

“They’ve probably arrived in Deseo by now. Why, are you going to Deseo to see the tribute convoy? Indeed! It is quite a spectacle!”

“Ahahaha…….”

“If you’re really curious, go to the Requiera Tavern over there. All the people gathered there are merchants who came to make a fortune from the tribute acceptance ceremony. They’ll know more than I do.”

“Thank you!”

Had news of the tribute convoy not reached here yet?

She decided to go to the place the bakery owner recommended and find out more.

It was as she was entering an alley to go to the tavern district.

“…That was no ordinary thing.”

“What, how much?”

She heard someone speaking in low voices from beyond a fence.

She intended to pass by, but a ‘word’ she accidentally overheard stopped her in her tracks.

“Sold quickly for 100 gold. And it was a ‘cup carved from ivory’, no less.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know where the guy came from, but apparently, as soon as he arrived, he went to the Guild Master and got the money.”

“Ooh….”

“But that pig bastard, his bag was really big. It looked like it carried quite a bit of value, just like his bulk.”

“What about the other one?”

“None. He was alone. And he seemed like a slightly bewildered idiot.”

“He chuckled darkly…. So it was true that the tribute convoy brought in suckers.”

She held her breath and pressed herself against the fence.

There was no doubt. They were talking about Uncle Fosao.

The man asked in an eerie voice.

“…What are we going to do?”

“Of course, we’ll rob him. It’s an opportunity sent from heaven.”

“Gather all the guys and come through the back door. It’s the last room on the third floor of Hilton. Let’s finish this quickly.”

“Alright.”

They finished their conversation and dispersed.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart pounded rapidly.

…Are they planning to ambush Uncle Fosao’s room, steal his money and treasures, and run away?

And right now?

“Dangerous.”

Uncle Fosao was in danger.