Two days after crushing the Orc settlement with Mylight and hunting Feather Drakes and Winger Drakes, Raus, Mana, Meena, Lydia, Ludia, Athena, Ed, Marina, Fiana, Raus, Rebecca, and Carol, twelve of us, arrived at Rorie Village.
Since Rorie Village is south of Valentia, it takes Eos over ten hours to get there.
We couldn’t arrive in a single day, but thanks to Alka’s teleportation, we didn’t need to camp out, and it was convenient that we could restart from there.
We entered Rorie Village by Beast Carriage pulled by Spica and Breeze, and it’s no exaggeration to say that Mana and Meena came for this purpose.
Initially, I was thinking of having Jade pull the Beast Carriage, but it seems my contract with a rare breed of Hippogriff is well-known, and at that point, people would suspect my involvement.
Of course, I have no intention of actively hiding it, but it’s better to keep my involvement with Ancient Humans as discreet as possible, so Mana, who wasn’t scheduled to come, accompanied us.
Lydia, Ludia, and Athena are here under the guise of Guard Hunters.
Of course, myself, Mana, and Meena are as well.
When entering the village, there’s no ID check, so it’s convenient that our names and levels aren’t known.
Still, this village doesn’t feel very good.
They’re glaring at us with eyes that seem to view outsiders with suspicion.
“It wasn’t like this before…”
Fiana said with a sad expression, but the fact that she says that means the village’s atmosphere has only recently worsened.
“We are outsiders, and while there are villages with atmospheres like this, I don’t understand why Fiana is being looked at with the same gaze.”
“That’s right. Moreover, the look Fiana is receiving is less like ‘outsider’ and more like ‘troublemaker’.”
I was also bothered by that.
As Meena said, we are outsiders.
So, in an insular village, this kind of thing might happen.
But Fiana is from Rorie Village.
No matter how insular, she’s a resident of the same village, so there’s no reason for her to be treated like a troublemaker.
Even if the redemption price for Fiana was suspected to have been used to cover insufficient taxes… no, perhaps that’s precisely why.
Oops, someone has stepped in front of the Beast Carriage.
“Halt. Who are you people?”
“It’s been a while, Village Chief.”
“F-Fiana!? You’ve returned!?”
This Tigari man must be the Village Chief.
He’s surprised that Fiana has returned, but it’s obvious he’s not welcoming her.
“Yes. I was freed from being a redeemed slave.”
“I-I see, congratulations.”
“Thank you. These people are Hunters who escorted me.”
“Understood. But do not cause any disturbances in this village, alright?”
“I understand, but why do you say that?”
“After you were sold as a slave, various things have happened in this village.”
With that, the Village Chief turned on his heel and left.
“…Our course of action is now decided.”
“Yes. Even if Fiana’s family opposes it, we will force them to come with us.”
“Indeed.”
I don’t want to speak ill of Fiana’s hometown, but this village is too awful.
They showed no joy at Fiana’s liberation from slavery, and on the contrary, they shunned her, so it’s almost certain her redemption price was used for taxes.
Fiana’s family, who are in such a village, might even be treated coldly.
Fortunately, it’s not yet late morning, and we can carry our luggage in our storage, so it’s best to get Fiana’s family out of here immediately.
Side: Fiana
“Sister!”
“Welcome home, Fiana.”
When I returned home for the first time in two years, my family greeted me.
The one who hugged me was my sister, Fiana, who is two years younger than me and a Loxy. However, I noticed she looked a little thin.
“I’m home. Were you well?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, we managed to cover the taxes, and it’s been a little easier since then.”
Fiana smiled as she said that, but I couldn’t believe it at all. If the taxes had been lightened, life should have become easier. Yet, not only Fiana, but also Reina, my sister who is three years younger than Fiana and a Harpy, looked thin.
“Father, what is the meaning of this?”
“…It’s about you, you already know, don’t you?”
“Even so, I want you to tell me in your own words.”
The villagers, who had been glaring at us from a distance, were not much different from when I left this village. However, my family’s clothes, and even their house, were in tatters. My sisters looked thin, so they probably didn’t have enough food.
“Fiana, give the food to your sisters first.”
“Thank you, Ed.”
Ed took out several skewers of Glass Boa from his storage bag. It’s true that it’s better to give food to Fiana and Reina before hearing the story.
“Sister, what is this?”
“Can we eat it?”
“Yes. Please, don’t hesitate to eat.”
“We still have plenty.”
Raus also took out some fruit from his storage.
“Th-Thank you!”
My sisters ate with joy. They must have been very hungry.
“Father, Mother, please eat too. Judging by your faces, you haven’t been eating properly, have you?”
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m sorry, Fiana.”
“I’ll take some.”
Loxy’s father, Harpy’s mother, and Elf Kanna’s mother all began to eat the food one after another. By the way, isn’t Kanna’s mother’s belly getting bigger?
“Father, could it be?”
“Yes, Kanna is pregnant. But as you can see, this household is struggling to even eat. So, I was prepared for a miscarriage.”
With those words, I made up my mind.
“Father, Mother, and everyone. I’ll hear the story later. So, please come with us. In a village like this, not only Fiana and Reina, but also you, Father and Mother!”
When Rorie Village was like this before I became a slave, everyone in the village cooperated to provide nutritious food for pregnant women. However, judging by Kanna’s mother, that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. I believe Father and Mother were feeding Kanna’s mother their own portions, but that alone wouldn’t be enough, and there’s a real possibility of miscarriage.
“Excuse me. *Examining*. Is this… even in this state, the villagers didn’t help you?”
Carol, with a stern expression, questioned my parents, but is the situation really that dangerous?
“…Yes, that’s right. Thanks to Fiana’s redemption, we were able to pay the taxes for that year. However, the people of this village shun having their own relatives become slaves. The redemption price was confiscated in full, and after that, we were not given any decent work, and Fiana and Reina were treated as outcasts.”
Something like that… And if my redemption price was used for taxes, fine, but confiscated in full? Then, where did my redemption price go?
“Your redemption price has been returned to the villagers. That’s why no one is on our side. Even though Kanna is pregnant.”
My mind went blank. I became a redeemed slave for the sake of my family, but it was instead strangling my family…
“It’s not Fiana’s fault. It’s entirely this damn cursed village’s fault.”
“Indeed. This is just too much.”
My husband Ed and co-wife Marina are also outraged as if it were their own matter. However, I was deeply shocked by my own careless actions that had caused my family suffering…
“Actually, your mother here is on the verge of miscarriage. It might still be possible now, but if we don’t rush her to the Healer’s Guild, it might be too late for both mother and child.”
Carol, the healer, informed us of Kanna’s mother’s condition. On the verge of miscarriage, and too late for Kanna’s mother?
“Please calm down. It’s not too late yet. So, we must get your family out of here as soon as possible.”
It’s not too late… Clinging to those words, I persuaded my family.
“I see. But won’t you tell us where we are going?”
“Yes. I apologize, but there are people eavesdropping.”
Yamato flicked ice pellets created by ice magic towards the window, his expression filled with anger.
“We know they are there. However, taking Fiana’s family out of this village is a decided matter. If you want to report to the Village Chief or the Lord, do as you please.”
Mana also infused her hands with wind magic, warding off the eavesdropping villagers. Looking around, I saw Lydia and Ludia also infusing themselves with attributes suitable for them.
“Fiana, who are these people…?”
“They are all skilled Hunters. They are strong enough to handle anything if the villagers attack alone.”
In Rorie Village, there are no High Class individuals, so this statement is not an exaggeration. After all, Mana and the others are High Class, and Yamato is an Ancient Human.
“As I mentioned earlier, if we don’t take her to the Healer’s Guild as soon as possible, it might truly be too late.”
“…Lina, Kanna. I’ve decided. I’m abandoning this village, Rorie Village. Of course, Fiana and Reina too, but I also want Kanna’s unborn child to grow up freely.”
“I won’t object.”
“Nor will I. Thank you, Dusk.”
Good, Father and Mother have decided to abandon the village. I was worried about what would happen if they said they wanted to stay, but I never imagined Rorie Village would turn out like this, so I had even considered forcibly taking them if necessary. I’m glad that worry turned out to be unfounded, but I never thought this village would be so awful, so that shock is significant…
“Then, let’s move the luggage. Or rather, why not just put the entire house into storage?”
“Ah, that would save us some trouble.”
However, that shock faded slightly due to the outrageous suggestion made by Yamato and Mana.
“The entire house? How?”
“You can cut the foundation. If that’s not possible, dig a hole with Earth Attribute Magic, I suppose.”
“Structurally, that would be safer, but we don’t need to worry about it that much this time.”
“That’s also true.”
“…Fiana, what are these people saying?”
Father felt an ominous atmosphere from the conversation between Yamato and Ed, but I could only reply, “They’re just like this.”
“Raus, please prepare the Beast Carriage, I’ll be right there.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, I’ll go too!”
Reina, who was very interested, followed Raus. The Beast Carriage was visible from inside the house, so I understood why Reina would be interested.
“Fiana, just prepare the necessary items quickly.”
“Mm, I got it.”
“Kanna’s mother, I think you should head to the Beast Carriage first. Am I right, Carol?”
“Of course. Fortunately, we have a guest room, so you can lie down there.”
“Thank you. But, a guest room?”
“I’ll explain later. Come, now.”
Accompanied by Carol, and with Lydia and Rebecca escorting her, Kanna’s mother headed towards the Beast Carriage. All that’s left is to take a few essential hand-carry items and board the Beast Carriage, and have Yamato store the house.
“Hmm? Is this… smoke?”
“Smoke, yes. I see, so that’s how it is.”
Just as I thought that, black smoke entered the house. Could it be an attack!?
“It’s probably a fire arrow. Ah, I’ll put it out immediately, so don’t worry.”
With that, Yamato used Water Attribute Magic and quickly extinguished the fire.
“Using something like a fire arrow means they intended to kill Fiana, and us, right here.”
“Indeed. Shall we give them a little scare?”
“I’ll go too. I won’t do anything this time, but there’s no reason to stay silent after being treated like this.”
This village has truly fallen to its lowest point. They actually intended to kill us… But thanks to that, I’ve completely lost any lingering attachment. We quickly packed our minimal belongings, rushed into the Beast Carriage, and waited for Yamato and Mana to return. They returned immediately. Apparently, the two of them, without revealing their identities, had intimidated the villagers by hinting that they were high-level Hunters, making them too terrified to move. Afterward, Yamato combined Earth Attribute Magic and Earth Engraving Magic to excavate the house from its foundation and store it in his storage. A large hole was left where my house once stood, but I couldn’t care less.
“Village Chief, we are leaving. We are taking Fiana’s family with us.”
“W-Wait, thief! Where are you taking the villagers!”
“I don’t want to hear that from someone who tried to kill the villagers. Be grateful we didn’t ask for Fiana’s redemption price?”
Yamato and Mana, while intimidating the Village Chief, announced their departure. Normally, this village, having insulted an Amister Princess and even shot a fire arrow, would have seen all its inhabitants become criminal slaves. Mana’s identity was not revealed, but if it were, at least the Village Chief would be held accountable. I don’t care if that happens, and I hope they accept it, as it would be their own doing.
