episode_0077

“What? Why are you here?”

When I arrived at Tom’s house, Petra, who was doing housework, greeted me. Come to think of it, it was the first time I had seen her since returning from the expedition.

“Petra, long time no see, how have you been?”

“Same as usual. That’s right. What happened to the shield I gave you?”

“Ah, that shield… ”

To her question, I answered cautiously, scratching my face.

“It’s broken.”

“How did that happen?”

“I met a strong guy. He cut down even black necks like a piece of paper.”

“Really? Then there’s nothing I can do.”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t take care of it so I blew up the shield you made for me.”

“It’s okay. Since everyone is safe, it means the shield I made worked properly.”

“That, that’s right.”

Although it wasn’t of much help because the things I had dealt with were so great, I didn’t bother to tell Petra the truth.

“Is Tom inside?”

“Yeah, I’m working on it.”

Following Petra’s guidance, I was able to meet Tom at the blacksmith shop.

“Tom, you have a meeting coming up soon, but you’re already working?”

“I was making the farm tools you told me about.”

“If you push yourself like that, you’ll get bone disease later.”

“Haha, at this age, not working is more tiring.”

Tom, speaking with a smile, handed me a farm tool. It was the hoe he had told me about earlier when he was bored.

Now that spring is coming, it seems like they’ve started working.

“Of all the things I’ve made so far, this is the best.”

“Well done.”

“I made this.”

Petra, who was watching from the side, showed me the hoe she had made. Was she asking for a compliment?

“Well made.”

“I’m definitely more skilled than my mother-in-law.”

“Hehe, Petra, are you challenging your father now?”

As expected from a family of craftsmen, they had a strong sense of pride in their craftsmanship. But don’t be like that between the two of you. I’m not an expert.

To change the subject, I asked Tom something I had been wondering about.

“Tom, I have a question for you.”

“Huh? You? So, what are you curious about?”

“Do you know why there are no old people in this village?”

“Hmm… ”

Tom hesitated for a while to answer my question, then opened his mouth.

“I don’t know either.”

“Don’t you know?”

“Well, I’m a foreigner too.”

“Hasn’t it been over 20 years since you lived in this town?”

I looked at Petra and asked. Petra must have sensed that the conversation would be long, because she started pouring herbal tea.

“That’s true, but until now the villagers haven’t accepted me as a member of the village.”

“Yes? You have contributed a lot to the village, right?”

“Well, when I settled in this village, it was when your father, Ian, was here. From the village elders’ perspective, it was an easy time.”

“No matter what… and

“I’ve heard that too, but in the past, many people died because of monsters from the dark forest.”

In the end, Tom didn’t know either.

“So why do you wonder? It’s common for there to be few old mothers in rural villages.”

“I’m about to give birth, so I wanted to get help from an experienced woman.”

“Now you too are a father of a child. Congratulations in advance.”

“So I have a lot of worries.”

“That’s just how it is. It’s like a gateway that every man has to go through at least once.”

I was greatly comforted by Tom’s words. We talked a little about childbirth, and when the time came, Tom and I headed to the village chief’s house.

As expected, the main topic of this meeting was choosing someone to manage the watermill.

“Who would you recommend, Tom?”

“I don’t really recommend it.”

Tom didn’t seem to care much about the mill. More precisely, he didn’t care about the money that went to and from the mill.

He is truly a man with a strong sense of craftsmanship.

“But won’t Jace be picked?”

As Selnia had expected, it seemed like her husband would be chosen.

“He has always been a good friend and helped the villagers as if it were his own business.

“Was it? I don’t like him much.”

I personally didn’t have any good feelings towards him because of Selnia’s work.

And more than anything, as a father, I was offended that he asked for help through his wife instead of coming to me on his own.

“That’s the same for me. I’m unmanly and always mindful of what other people think. I think he’s aiming to be the village chief, but even now, when I see him not being able to speak up and instead mindful of what other people think, I get frustrated sometimes.”

“…But didn’t you sacrifice yourself to protect your comrades in war?”

“That’s even more stupid. Who would a guy with a wife and children sacrifice for? Why would he save that idiot, a relative or friend he can trust and rely on? You’re short-sighted.”

I was speechless at Tom’s statement that only listed facts.

If you listen carefully, you will see

“That’s why everyone recommends Jayce. Because it’s easy to use.”

“I see.”

On the surface, they all advocated for Jace’s good nature and recommended him, but inside, they all harbored dark thoughts.

This is why politics is difficult.

At that moment, when the mood was about to change, I raised my hand and asked for the right to speak.

“Then, let’s take care of the watermill with Jayce… Cian, do you have anything to say?”

“I recommend someone else.”

Then the room began to become quiet, and all eyes began to turn to my seat in the corner.

What? Is this the first time you’ve seen me talk?

“Who does Si-an recommend?”

“I recommend Austin.”

“Astin? Are you talking about that blind guy?”

The last words were spoken not by the village chief, but by the second oldest man after him.

“It’ll be hard to manage him properly since he can’t see.”

“No, it’s not. On the contrary, because you can’t see, you can’t hear, so you can detect problems in advance.”

In the first place, there wasn’t much to do, even as a watermill manager.

The guy who previously owned a flour mill and embezzled money also didn’t manage the mill properly.

And anyway, if there’s a problem with the mill, Tom and I will end up fixing it.

In other words, the person in charge of management only had to collect the usage fee for the mill.

“And since you can’t see, you can’t embezzle, right?”

“If you say so for sure… ”

Everyone seemed convinced by what I said.

Except for a few people.

“I don’t think it’s right to entrust important positions in the village to outsiders.”

I didn’t know it, but the boy named Astin seemed to be an outsider.

However, the village chief was offended by the word ‘foreigner’ and lashed out at the old man who had spoken.

“Are you discriminating against me as a foreigner in front of Xi’an right now?”

“Ah, that’s not it… Unlike Mr. Sian, didn’t Astin provide much help to the village? On the contrary, it seems like he was a burden.”

“That’s not for you to decide. And if you recklessly classify us as outsiders, I, as the village chief, will not forgive you.”

“…Okay.”

It was an atmosphere where one wrong word could get you kicked out of the village.

The village chief is surprisingly strong-willed.

Ah, if your energy is weak, you can’t be a village chief.

“Over there… ”

When the flow of conversation is interrupted for a moment

“Wouldn’t it be difficult to collect fees if you can’t see?”

Jace said, sounding worried that his spot would be taken away.

“Don’t worry about that. Unlike last time, we will charge a usage fee.”

“How will you receive it?”

Everyone started to get interested when they heard that unlike before, they would be charged a usage fee.

I told Tom about the changed fee structure that I had already discussed with him.

◦You will receive it as a %◦number of times. How much per time?”

“Then you won’t earn much?”

“It wasn’t made to make a lot of money separately. And wouldn’t it be better if we did it this way so that everyone could use it without worrying?”

“If you say so… ”

Eventually, the watermill was taken over by a blind boy named Astin.

As I said, there was no possibility of embezzlement since he was blind, and since I was the owner of the mill, who could openly oppose me if I were to make the decision?

Except for one person.

. . .

“Hey, Mr. Cyan.”

“Yes, Mr. Jace.”

After the meeting, on the way home, Jace followed me with difficulty.

“Can you reconsider what you decided earlier?”

“Hmm… ”

Of course, it was to reverse the decision I had just made.

I thought about it for a moment and then answered Jace’s question.

“I still wouldn’t leave Mr. Jace in charge.”

I did as Selnia said, but I also personally didn’t want to leave the mill to Jace.

This was especially because of his personality which was easily swayed by those around him.

“Why?”

“I would like to remain neutral within the village. However, given Jayce’s personality, I don’t think I can do that.”

“There will never be any harm to Mr. Sian. Also, if I sacrifice myself as the mill manager and help the villagers, wouldn’t everyone be happy? Mr. Sian’s reputation will also improve.”

“Mr. Jayce is simpler than I thought.”

“Yes?”

I was dumbfounded by Jace’s words, which sounded like he was suffering from the nice guy syndrome.

Perhaps that kind of personality comes from a desire to become a village chief, but I’m sorry, I’m not the one who can make your dreams come true.

‘I understand why Selnia is asking for this.’

Perhaps she made that request because she anticipated her husband’s personality.

In modern times, if you have this kind of personality, you’re considered a fool who would even stand as guarantor for your friends.