episode_0073

After Rezeph and the assassin, there wasn’t any significant danger to speak of.

We safely arrived at the next village and, although we had some difficulty with currency exchange, we were able to board a carriage.

However, unlike the carriages available in villages near the border, there was none that directly crossed the entire country.

So, the return journey took nearly a week, unlike the initial trip.

“…”

The place we arrived at was the village where Kona’s old friend, Jonis, lived.

I told him that we couldn’t solve the issue of the demon mine in Brigal and that it would be impossible in the future.

“As expected…”

Jonis said.

“Oh, this is a big problem. If Brigal’s mine is gone, then I, no, everyone will lose a place to earn money…”

“…”

That’s right.

When a pillar of a country collapses, that’s what happens.

Many people will suffer, and some may even die.

It’s not just Brigal’s problem; the miners in the neighboring country of Kapumo will lose their livelihoods.

I understand that the elves’ decision was rational.

Dealing with the mine demons was justified, and it could have saved many people.

I brought Steria back, trampling over the salvation of those many people.

But honestly, I have no regrets.

Steria’s well-being was more important to me than the unhappiness of all those people.

Even if the number of unhappy people doubled or tripled because of this incident, my decision remains unwavering.

“…”

However, Steria seems to have a slightly different perspective.

She hesitated after hearing Jonis’s words.

Even if she tries to hide it, I can see it.

She wasn’t particularly skilled in deception, and her personality wasn’t deceitful either.

Maybe she is regretting it.

If she says she regrets it and wants to go back now…

“…Rashwood.”

Jonis spoke.

“Why?”

“Could there be some job opportunities in the Labyrinth City?”

“You didn’t think about it before?”

“I didn’t, but… if there really is no solution in Brigal, then there’s no choice. We need to earn something. Just farming won’t be enough, and the kids will starve. I won’t get any work in the city since I don’t know how to read… but they say anyone can work in the Labyrinth City, right?”

“Of course, there’s always a place in the Labyrinth City. Most of the thugs and ruffians you saw before are working there.”

Most of the thugs, vagrants, and runaways sent by the Marquis of Brigal have settled in the Labyrinth City and are living as rookie adventurers.

If they hear about trouble in their hometown, they might make more effort to adapt to the Labyrinth City.

Perhaps that could also be a good thing for Brigal.

If a popular uprising occurs, and all those social outcasts join in, the scale of violence could increase.

“But… we have to cross a whole country to get to the Labyrinth City. Can we make it there?”

“We have no choice. This damn country is not good for farming, and there’s nothing to gain.”

That’s right.

The Kapumo Kingdom’s land is barren, and the people are chronically starving.

But that’s the same for the royal family of this country.

Originally, the duty of a king is to collect taxes, raise soldiers, and protect the territory.

But in the Kapumo Kingdom, the people are so poor that taxes are chronically insufficient, and as a result, the royal family’s power is weak.

Still, there is no rebellion because the country wisely does not excessively collect taxes and practices frugality.

The king cannot protect the people.

So, they do not excessively collect taxes.

The people know that the king cannot protect them.

So, they are accustomed to surviving on their own.

By the way, I heard that there are no nobles explicitly defined in Kapumo, so landowners act as the upper class.

Perhaps the people of Kapumo are more concerned about landowners than the king.

“And we need weapons and armor. Those are quite expensive.”

“Ah, that’s how it is…”

“But there should be a system in place to help people like that. With so many new rookie adventurers these days.”

“A system? What’s that?”

“Ah…”

It seemed that Kapumo was not familiar with the concept of a system.

Well, maybe it exists, but it’s not something that is widely known among the common people.

“Well, um… Anyway, when you come, I’ll help you out. You’re Kona’s friend, and it’s fate.”

“Thank you.”

“But… what about your family when you’re gone?”

“Emil will take care of them.”

Jonis saw his wife preparing dinner in the kitchen.

“Well, people in this country are like that. They’re used to going far away to work because farming doesn’t provide an answer. The women take care of the children together, so it’s okay.”

He didn’t mention that working as an adventurer could lead to death… He didn’t need to.

Jonis was originally a miner.

Mining was a risky business, and even monsters appeared in the mine where he worked.

When the mine closed, many people, including Jonis himself, were willing to risk being killed by monsters just to keep working there.

That level of courage was enough for a warrior.

“Anyway, when you go to the Labyrinth City, just look for a person named Lashwood, right?”

“Yeah. Just ask anyone passing by where he lives, and you’ll find my house.”

“Haha, are you famous?”

“Something like that.”

“I thought so. Well, your armor is quite impressive. I wanted to try on such a cool armor like yours in the old days…”

“I can lend you a decent armor even if it’s not as impressive as mine. Of course, if you come to my house.”

“I trust only you.”

“…Hey, Jonis.”

At that moment, Kona approached Jonis and spoke to him.

“Yeah? What’s wrong?”

“Is it really okay? With Emil and, um… the kids…?”

“…I’m used to it. I’ve been living like this for 5 years already.”

“5 years…”

It might be just a short time for Kona…

But experiencing the heartbreak of being forgotten by the first love after 3 years, she would understand that such a time is not short for humans.

“What if Emil and the kids forget about you?”

“They won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“…Kona.”

Jonis set down his teacup, approached Kona, knelt down, and met her eye level.

“You’ll understand soon. That there’s someone you can never forget.”

Although Kona had lived longer, Jonis was an adult and Kona was still a child.

Jonis himself would struggle with how to treat his old friend in the gap between them.

Yet, he had been giving his best to the friend who hadn’t changed a bit in 10 years.

“…Is that so.”

Kona had been through too much in the past few weeks.

It was too harsh for her, who still had the mind of a child.

“Dinner is ready. Come and eat.”

Jonas’ wife Emil said.

“Thanks to Kona and the adventurer today, there’s a lot of meat in the soup.”

“Wow~!”

The children gathered at the dining table at the sound of meat.

The pot was full of steaming soup with chunks of meat, and freshly baked bread was placed on each plate.

Although the dining table was too small for all of us to sit together, Jonas’ wife Emil wanted us to eat together at the same table, so we brought a wooden barrel and sat together.

The meal was delicious.

It was the taste of home.

It might seem luxurious compared to the sparse dining tables in Kapumo, so the children ate the soup and bread without paying attention to us.

Jonas and Emil couldn’t help but smile at their sight.

And as we, Stellia, and Kona watched them, we silently finished our plates without saying a word.

After dinner, Emil hoped that we could stay overnight in this house, but since there was not enough comfortable space for the three of us, we declined.

Of course, it wasn’t that there was no room at all, but it was uncomfortable to continue staying in their warm space.

On the contrary, Steria seemed to want to stay here, but she didn’t oppose my decision.

Above all, Kona seemed uncomfortable in this place.

Perhaps Jonas also knew this fact and opposed his wife.

We gave a small gem to the couple.

Of course, they initially refused, but when we explained that we couldn’t go to an inn right away because there was no place to exchange money, they reluctantly exchanged it with their own money.

With the money we received, we bid farewell to them and booked a suitable room at the inn.

“…Rashwood.”

Steria said.

“How was it?”

“…It looked good.”

The appearance of Jonas and Emil’s family was pleasing to see.

Of course, living in poverty in a barren country and facing many hardships in a place we didn’t know…

Still, they definitely had something we didn’t have.

“If only we had lived like that from the beginning…”

Steria said.

She continued to gaze at the children even while eating dinner.

“It was impossible back then.”

“That’s true, but…”

Even if it wasn’t possible back then, could it be possible now… Is that what she wanted to say?

Now… I don’t know.

…

Kona lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

We watched her for a moment, then stopped talking and sat on our respective beds.

The most difficult thing now would be for Kona, so it would be rude to exchange such conversations between us.

We also quietly lay down on the bed.

The next morning, we finished a light meal at the inn and hailed a carriage.

Since we had already said goodbye to Jonas and his wife, there was no need to visit them again.

After that, there was nothing special.

We exchanged money properly in the next town, and with the money we received from Jonas and his wife, it was enough for the round trip fare to go back home.

And so, we returned to the Labyrinth City.

***

“Here is the Labyrinth City…”

Kona, getting off the carriage, looked around and said.

The scenery of the Labyrinth City was almost the same as when we left.

Adventurers with various weapons and equipment, bards and gamblers attracting attention with colorful clothes, merchants performing street performances as if they were about to grab each other’s necks…

Even the somewhat dull atmosphere that had followed us throughout the journey was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the people here, making Kona look a little overwhelmed.

“It’s my first time seeing this place too.”

Steria also got off the carriage and said.

She had come to the entrance of the Labyrinth City and turned back before.

“So this is where you live.”

“Yeah… This is where I live.”

Finally, I got off the carriage as well.

“Oh, Mr. Rashwood. You went quite far.”

A stableman sitting on a chair in the corner recognized me and said.

“And is that your wife? Already expecting a child?”

Of course, it must be a joke.

Even if Steria was ignored, Kona looked completely different with her green hair, brown skin, and pointed ears.

“Anyway, did the Marquis have something to tell you?”

If the lord of this city, Dimitri, had left some instructions for the stablemen to let me know as soon as I arrived, I wouldn’t be surprised.

“Oh, yes, yes. The Marquis said to come to him as soon as you arrive.”

“Immediately? Right now?”

“Well, probably, right?”

I looked at Steria and Kona.

I wanted to leave them at my house for now, but… I probably have a lot to explain when I go back, so it would be better to go to Dimitri’s place right away.

And also to inform him about Steria.

It’s the second time an Eboni tribe has appeared in this city.

“Got it. I’ll go right away. Everyone, follow me.”