“Everyone, stop your work for a moment and listen to me. Also, call those working outside and bring them here.”
“What’s the matter? Village chief?”
“Isn’t securing water by fixing the dried-up wells and river our priority right now?”
“I’ll go call the people working outside right away.”
After settling things with Kent, the village chief returned to the villagers and told them to stop their work and listen to him. Some thought that interrupting their work to secure water was a waste of time, but most obeyed the village chief, and some went to call those who were excavating the riverbed outside the village.
“It seems everyone has gathered. Actually, someone has extended a helping hand to us, who are suffering from a lack of water. These are Kent and Hanako. They happened to visit this village and have offered to provide drinking water.”
“What?!”
As the villagers gathered around the communal well, the village chief announced that Kent had offered to provide drinking water. This statement elicited cries of surprise from the villagers.
“But I don’t think a young man and a child like you two can provide enough water for all of us.”
“That’s right. It would have to be an enormous amount for everyone in the village. How will you transport it to the village?”
The villagers doubted how these two, a young man and a small girl, could bring enough water to the village to quench the thirst of everyone living there. No one seemed to believe they could accomplish such a feat.
“Everyone, please be quiet. The water has already been brought to the village, so you can rest assured. It would be rude to the two who so kindly offered to help. While the amount per person may seem small, it is precious water for us. Everyone, be thankful to the two of them. Also, we must show our gratitude in return. Tonight, I plan to hold a small banquet for everyone to express our welcome and gratitude. Now, it’s prepared behind that building, so please line up and receive it. Brook, help me with this.”
“Got it. You help too.”
“O-Okay.”
The village chief explained the plan for the evening and entrusted Brook with the task of distributing the water. Brook, accepting the responsibility, called over a burly middle-aged man.
“Kent, Hanako, this is my husband, Parker.”
“I’m Kent. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Parker.”
“Un, I’m Hanako. Nice to meet you.”
“Parker. I don’t quite understand what’s going on, but nice to meet you, Kent and Hanako.”
This middle-aged man was Brook’s husband, named Parker. Kent and his companions introduced themselves to each other.
“Alright, let’s distribute the water provided by Kent. You should work hard too.”
“You’re quite bossy. But the water is a welcome gift. Huh? Is this pile of boxes the water?”
“Yes, there are soft, transparent containers inside the boxes. Please hand out two bottles per person.”
“Got it. Leave it to me.”
Moving behind the building, Kent and his companions began distributing water to the villagers while opening the cardboard boxes. Parker, as strong as he looked, easily lifted the boxes of water and placed them in front of Brook. Brook opened the boxes, and Kent and Hanako handed out bottles of water to the villagers.
“It’s a container I’ve never seen before, but it really contains water. Thank you.”
“This is a lifesaver. Now I can give water to my children.”
“Water! Water, mother!”
“Oh, I thought we were done for, but now we can survive for a while longer. *sniffle*”
As Kent and Hanako handed out the plastic bottles of water, the villagers received them with gratitude.
“How many people are in your family?”
“There are five of us.”
“So that’s ten bottles. Here you go.”
“Thank you kindly.”
“Hmm, there are two children and my wife at home, so that’s eight bottles in total.”
“Hah? How did you know that?”
“If I’m wrong, you can return them.”
“N-No, you’re not wrong. Th-Thank you anyway.”
Kent asked for the number of family members before handing out the plastic bottles, but Hanako handed out the correct number without any exchange, surprising the villagers.
“Hanako, you’re amazing! Did you investigate before coming to this village?”
“Un, I didn’t investigate. I can sense the number of people by intuition.”
“That’s a strange ability. There are people in the world with such abilities.”
Brook, who had been surprised by Hanako’s ability, seemed to believe that such strange abilities existed in the world and didn’t question it further.
“Alright, this is the last one. Did we finish distributing it to everyone?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
“Phew. It’s done.”
“Un, good work.”
Currently, there were seven plastic bottles remaining with Kent and his companions. There was also one opened bottle with about half its contents left, which was from a taste test.
“There are two of us, so we’ll take four bottles. The rest can be for Kent and his group, right?”
“We have our own, so it’s fine. Please take the rest as a thank you for distributing them.”
“Really? We’ll gratefully accept.”
Behind the building, only Brook, Parker, Kent, and Hanako remained, as the other villagers had taken their bottles home.
“You know, Kent and Hanako will be staying at our house tonight.”
“Is that so? Our house is small, but please make yourself at home.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Un, thank you.”
Brook informed Parker that Kent and Hanako would be staying with them. He readily agreed and expressed his welcome to Kent and Hanako.
“Excuse me. I’d like to tidy up these cardboard boxes, so could you please break them down like this?”
“Wow, they fold up so small.”
“It’s kind of fun crushing them. It’s almost addictive.”
Since it was not possible to leave the cardboard boxes that had contained the plastic bottles as they were, Kent asked Brook and Parker for their help, and they began dismantling the boxes, folding them into compact shapes.
“There’s quite a lot of it. We’ll have to burn it to dispose of it.”
“Un, I’ll transfer it to the collection box in front of the house.”
“I-It disappeared.”
Suddenly, the pile of dismantled cardboard boxes vanished, surprising Brook and Parker. The collection box is a magical box that, when garbage is placed in it in a specific way, disappears the next morning. Currently, there are three such boxes installed: in the backyard of Kent’s house, behind Marie’s Bakery, and behind Marie’s Bakery No. 2. Trash from the shop and Kent’s house are disposed of using these boxes. This time, Hanako seemed to have teleported the pile of unnecessary cardboard boxes to the backyard of Kent’s house.
“Hey, you’ll raise suspicion if you do that in front of the two of them.”
“Un, it’s okay.”
Hanako moved the pile of cardboard boxes using teleportation magic without consulting Kent. Seeing this, Kent worried if Brook and Parker would become suspicious, but Hanako showed no concern and remained nonchalant.
“There are many strange things in the world.”
“Yes, it seems we still have much to learn.”
“Ah, what’s that?”
Brook and Parker accepted the strange phenomenon that had occurred before their eyes without suspicion. Kent was taken aback by the complete lack of reaction.
“Well then, I’ll guide you to our house. It’s nearby, so we’ll be there soon.”
Kent and Hanako, guided by Brook and Parker, headed towards their home.
