“Flam, Rebecca, Raus! Welcome back!”
“We’re back, Camilla.”
We arrived at Prada Village before sunset, with nothing major happening on the way. The monsters that attacked us on the road were just Glass Wolves, Glass Boars, and Goblins, so we dealt with them easily.
Greeting us was Flam’s friend, Camilla from Aldilly. She’s the inn’s heir but also its main attraction, and I’ve spoken with her a few times before.
“Sub-Order’s Master!”
“Lyra, and Geminia too. I’m glad to see you’re both well. Where are the others?”
“Mireina and Eliza are with the Village Chief. Lucas is off duty, so he might have gone hunting.”
Lyra, Geminia, Mireina, and Eliza are female Orders. Geminia and Eliza come from noble families, being the second and fourth daughters respectively. Lyra is in the same batch as Meena, but at level 38, she’s a promising Order, so even Rex has taken notice of her. Mireina is an Order from Feel and is apparently married. Her husband is a Trader and, surprisingly, the owner of the Silver Ore Inn. The Ulfy woman at the reception is also one of his wives. The last one, Lucas, like Mireina, is from Feel. In fact, he’s Mireina’s younger brother. He’s said to be a stiff, overly serious individual who lacks flexibility, but for some reason, he gets along well with Gram, as Gram often mentions his name.
“I see. Then, we’ll proceed with the handover later when everyone is gathered.”
“Yes!”
Half of the Orders who escorted us this time will be replacing the five I just mentioned and will be stationed at Prada Village for the next two weeks. The five who defended Prada Village for an extended period due to unforeseen circumstances will be granted about a week of leave, so I hope they rest well. I heard that if Lucas knew the current situation in Feel, his serious nature would have him working through his days off.
“What?! Flam, you’re getting married!?”
Oops, not only were conversations with friends lively, but it seems Flam’s marriage proposal has become the topic of discussion.
“Who is it!? Who is it!?”
“It’s that Hunter, Yamato Mikami.”
“That person… aren’t they a High Human who visited Prada Village before?”
“Yes. They became a Hunter in Feel afterwards.”
Recently, the inns in the village have been quiet, so they seemed to remember me. Still, as Flam’s friend, I should probably greet them.
“And this is Yamato’s first wife, Prim, and his second wife-to-be, Meena.”
“Saying ‘nice to meet you’ feels a bit off, doesn’t it? I’ve met Prim before.”
“You remember me?”
“Of course. I evolved into a High Fox right when I was staying at Prada Village.”
While I was thinking that, Prim and Meena were introduced first. It seems they remembered Prim too, but it’s certainly surprising when someone suddenly evolves into a High Fox without even hunting monsters. As I was thinking about this, the conversation shifted to how each couple met. In situations like this, I have a feeling it won’t end well if men interfere, so I prefer to stay out of it.
“Somehow, you have it rough, don’t you?”
Strea pitied me, and I thought so too.
“Yamato, we’ll be staying at the inn for now. After that, we’ll visit the Village Chief’s residence, and I’d like all of you to come along.”
“Understood. I needed to see the Village Chief anyway, so this is perfect.”
Now that Flam is engaged and Raus and Rebecca are my disciples, all three will be leaving Prada Village. Flam and Rebecca’s parents passed away from illness several years ago, so I need to inform the Village Chief. It’s a sudden turn of events, so perhaps it would be possible for the three of them to stay in Prada Village for a while and I could come back to pick them up later… No, that won’t do. I haven’t heard Flam’s, or even the other two’s, opinions on this matter, so I can’t just decide things unilaterally.
Meanwhile, Prim and Camilla are having quite a lively conversation. It would take considerable courage to barge into that. However, we can’t just stand at the village entrance forever, so I decided to brace myself.
Camilla grilled me about my engagement to Flam, as well as my relationships with Prim and Meena, which was quite draining mentally…
Side: Rebecca
We are currently at the Village Chief’s house. There’s so much to talk about, I don’t even know where to begin.
“It’s been a while, Village Chief. I apologize for the delay in responding to this situation.”
“Please, Sub-Order’s Master, look up. You brought Traders, so all we can do is express our gratitude.”
Sub-Order’s Master Rosemary is currently speaking with the Village Chief. While Order’s Masters and Sub-Order’s Masters don’t usually stay in Prada Village, she greeted us when she was appointed to Feel and has visited a few times since, so we’ve become acquainted. Oh, and the Village Chief is an Elf woman, 54 years old, level 34, and a lady.
“While we were able to bring Traders, Feel is currently in a rather dangerous situation. By dangerous, I mean we are closer to a resolution.”
“It doesn’t seem to be related to the Anomaly’s, does it? If you don’t mind, could you tell us?”
“Well, I can only tell you what is appropriate to share, but if that’s alright.”
Thanks to Yamato and Prim defeating several Anomaly Species and Catastrophe Species near Feel, the danger level has indeed decreased. However, seeing Rosemary’s expression, I suspect it’s not just that.
“To put it simply, the Hunter’s Master, Saches Trennel, was suppressing information about the Anomaly Species and Catastrophe Species, and the Hunters were in cahoots with Saches. All the Hunters have been apprehended, and only Saches and their escorts remain.”
“…Does that mean the Hunter’s Master was a spy for another country, likely Retisencia?”
Huh?
Why would they think that?
“That’s correct. We’ve already secured evidence and apprehended operatives separate from the Hunters. We’ve also contacted the Royal Capital, so His Majesty will be lodging a protest with Retisencia, and depending on the circumstances, it could even lead to war.”
War… war!?
W-was it that serious!?
Wait a minute…
Yamato, Prim, and Meena aren’t surprised. Did they already know? No, Yamato and Prim were working hard to resolve the issue, and Meena is an Order, so she probably knew, but why didn’t they tell me!?
“The problem was too significant. We couldn’t bring ourselves to speak of it.”
That’s true, but still…!
“Rebecca, don’t say unreasonable things. Orders have their own circumstances, and more importantly, such a critical national issue cannot be spoken of lightly.”
I know, but…!
It just feels like I’m being left out…
“We’ll explain when we return to Feel. Since we’re in the same Raid, we intended to tell you at some point.”
“That’s right. Fortunately, the Hunters are apprehended, so the immediate danger is not great. Perhaps upon our return to Feel would be a good time.”
“There are limits to what can be hidden, and rumors are already starting to spread in Feel.”
Were there rumors?
“I think I’ve heard something. Didn’t Yamato and Prim capture the commander of those spies?”
“In a way. However, that individual was so unexpected that we haven’t been able to announce it yet.”
“Indeed. Otherwise, we would have made the announcement by now.”
Yamato and Rosemary answer Raus’s question, but I’m starting to get scared to hear more!
“We won’t be discussing it here, of course. My apologies to the Village Chief.”
“Please don’t worry about it. If it will be announced eventually, that’s sufficient. From the standpoint of a mere Village Chief, you don’t need to know it now.”
It’s not like I know everything just because I’m the Village Chief.
…No, wait a minute.
Yamato said they would tell us when we return to Feel, right? Is it okay to tell someone like us something that can’t even be told to the Village Chief? Hey, is that alright, Yamato!?
“We’re in the same Raid, so of course it is.”
Prim answered, and once she said that, I couldn’t argue.
“Come to think of it, while Flam, Raus, and Rebecca becoming Hunters is one thing, but being in the same Raid as you? No offense, but their levels are far too different from yours. Wouldn’t they just be a burden?”
Ah, that’s right.
The Village Chief knows that Yamato and Prim visited Prada Village before, so she certainly remembers their incredibly high levels. Of course, she probably doesn’t realize Yamato has evolved into an Ancient Human, but Prim evolved into a High Fox during her stay in Prada Village, so it’s impossible she’d forget. Naturally, it would seem like a huge burden to be in a Raid with individuals like them, but the reason we joined Yamato’s Raid isn’t about that.
“Ah, about that, actually, Flam and I… well, we’re engaged.”
Yamato began to speak hesitantly. But he’s missing details like being married to Prim and engaged to Meena.
“R-really?”
“Yes. For your information, Yamato is already married to me, and he is also engaged to this Order, Meena.”
As I thought that, Prim added the details. The Village Chief looked surprised, but she seemed to understand.
“Is that so? Flam, are you alright with this? Have you no regrets?”
“Yes.”
My older sister answered briefly but firmly.
“I understand. Congratulations, Flam. Currently, there are many unmarried individuals in the village, so I will offer my blessings.”
“Thank you, Village Chief.”
Yeah, that’s right. Including me and my older sister, there are 25 unmarried women in Prada Village right now. However, there’s only one unmarried man, Raus, who is still a minor, at 13 years old. There is another, but he’s only 2 years old, so he can’t really be counted. Because of this, most of them had no choice but to ask men who visited Prada Village to become single mothers. Camilla at the inn also mentioned she’s thinking about children soon.
“Raus, Rebecca. You two will be working as Hunters in Feel as well?”
Oops, we need to answer properly too.
“Yes. Thanks to Yamato and Prim, I can feel myself getting stronger little by little. That’s why I want to get stronger and truly protect Rebecca.”
Kyaa!
Raus said he’ll protect me! I’m so happy!
“You would say that. Rebecca, and you?”
Oh no, I have to answer properly too.
“I-I want to get stronger too, and stand by Raus’s side! Just like Prim stands by Yamato’s side!”
Prim looked a little surprised, but Prim is my goal. Just as Prim fights by Yamato’s side, I want to fight by Raus’s side!
“I understand. It will be lonely to see you go, but I will pray for your future and happiness. This village is your home, so please come back anytime.”
” ” “Thank you!” ” ”
With the Village Chief’s permission, Flam has now officially become Yamato’s fiancée, and Raus and I can pursue our careers as Hunters. I’m sure even more difficult things will happen in the future, but I need to keep working hard!
