Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Story of Getting Married - 1
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Usually, the protagonists in isekai reincarnation stories receive all sorts of favoritism, so why didn't I get any of that?
"An abandoned child, huh."
An unknown world.
An orphan.
And an ugly appearance on top of that.
For someone reincarnated into another world, it was pretty pathetic.
Well, there's no guarantee that I'm even the protagonist anyway.
Just being born healthy was something to be grateful for.
"Sian, you're smart, handy, strong as an ox, and full of vigor. You'll surely succeed."
"You think so?"
Ian, the hunter who raised me, always spoke highly of me.
A kid speaking sharply and showing talent probably looked like a genius to him.
But from my perspective, it was absurd.
'I'm how old, and I can't even do this?'
Remembering my past life alone put me above average as a given, and maybe I should even berate myself for not doing more.
"Sian, make sure you start a family. Don't end up like me, chasing freedom and spending your days in loneliness."
"Yes, Father. But with my looks, do you think I can even get married?"
"Ahem... Anyway, don't feel lonely without me."
"No..."
In the year I came of age, Ian, the hunter who had raised me, finally passed away.
And for the first time since reincarnating, I cried.
I hadn't shed a tear even when a misfired arrow lodged in my thigh, but losing Ian, who had been like family, left a gaping void.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
Making a living wasn't an issue.
With the hunting skills Ian taught me, the knowledge from my past life, and the instincts honed through trial and error, I had become a top-tier hunter.
I could probably find respect anywhere I went.
But the thought of leaving didn't sit well.
'Things have been rough lately.'
Rumors spread of a war between some earl's family and a duke's house, leaving villages short on young men due to conscription.
In times like these, wandering around was a sure way to die a pointless death.
So for several months, I hunted in the Dark Forest, selling meat and hides in the village.
But the war showed no signs of ending.
"Hey, hunter."
"Hello, Village Chief."
Today, as I mindlessly tanned monster hides, the village chief came to see me—the man whose village I was freeloading in.
His name was... something. Anyway, he was quite old, with hair entirely white.
In this world, reaching that age was proof you'd survived.
The Village Chief looked me over and spoke.
"How about marrying one of our village girls?"
"Pardon?"
The sudden proposal left me dumbfounded.
Marriage out of nowhere? I hadn't even been allowed inside the village when Father was alive because I was an outsider.
What wind was blowing this way?
"As you know, there are no men left in the village."
"Yes. Conscripted because of the war."
"Exactly. Our boys were drafted into Earl Anitul's forces. But according to merchants' rumors, his side is starting to lose ground."
"Meaning..."
"Yes, sadly, we can't expect those who went off to war to return."
"..."
Innocent commoners dying in noble power struggles was common throughout history.
But hearing it from the man himself made my heart heavy.
"Still, the living must go on."
"True. But why does that mean I have to get married?"
"Most of our village men were conscripted. The few left are old like me or have disabilities."
"So, no one to work?"
This village relied on agriculture for livelihood.
Without men, fields lay idle—a serious problem with winter approaching.
"That's part of it, but for the village's safety, we need every able man we can get."
"Fair point..."
During wartime, nearby villages lived in fear.
Enemy mercenaries might raid, or even allied ones if payments were late.
The village was defenseless now, so the chief wanting more men made sense.
But I had no reason to cling to this rural spot. I could see the wider world or find a better place to settle.
'No need to accept.'
Rationally, refusing was best.
But Father's dying words lingered, and leaving the place full of memories with him tugged at me.
"Pardon me, but if I accept, who would I marry?"
"You know Sylvia? The village's greatest beauty."
"Yes, I know of her."
I didn't live in the village, but years of trading made me familiar with its notables.
But wasn't she married? Marry a married woman?
Thankfully, that wasn't it.
"You'd marry her daughter, Chloe."
"Pardon, but how old is she?"
"A bit older. She's turning twenty this year."
Not bad.
In this world, girls married before adulthood, which was hard for me with modern sensibilities.
'Nearly married a seventeen-year-old minor.'
Good thing that didn't happen.
"Alright. I'll do it."
"Thank you. I'll let you know the date once it's set."
And so, I got married.
Of course, I got some land from the chief.
A house and fields were essential for proper settlement.
The issue was I had to build the house myself.
"Hey, Sian. Saws and hammers go here."
"Thanks, Tom."
"No need for thanks. You're a villager now, right? Hahaha."
Tom, the village's only blacksmith, laughed heartily.
"Marrying Chloe, huh?"
"That's the plan."
"Met her yet?"
"No, not yet."
"Don't get your hopes up too high then. She's not as much of a beauty as her mother, Sylvia."
"I don't mind that. What matters is the heart, right?"
"Haha, sure. Shame, though. I'd have loved to marry you to my daughter if there was a chance."
"Isn't she only seventeen?"
"Yep. Marriageable age, but she screams she wants to be a blacksmith."
"...Impressive for her age to have such goals."
"Impressive? That girl treating metallurgy like a joke!"
"Heh heh, don't get so worked up."
"Sigh... Anyway, Sian, no interest in blacksmithing? With your build and skills, you'd make a fine one."
"I'd learn if the chance comes. But right now, this takes priority."
With Tom's help, I started building the house.
Though I modified it my way.
"Why dig out the floor like that?"
"Making something called floor heating."
"Floor heating?"
Winters here were so harsh you couldn't go outside.
Village buildings all had chimneys, but floor heating suited my familiarity with sitting on floors.
'Hot water boiler might be too much.'
Anyway, using Tom's help and past-life knowledge, I began construction.
"You have insane stamina."
"Yeah?"
"How can you work every day with barely any sleep? I'm about to collapse."
"Three hours is plenty for me."
"That's not stamina; you're just too diligent."
Tom kept praising me, but I felt awkward.
I wasn't tired, slept little, but the praise felt burdensome.
'In my past life, I'd work even harder without sleeping.'
And so, I built my first house.
Compared to neighbors', it was grand and neatly finished—a fine home. Smaller than the Village Chief's, the largest, but modern touches made it refined.
"Good work, Sian."
"Thanks, Tom. But it's not done yet."
"What?"
"Gonna build a wall around the yard."
This farming village had no walls beyond fences.
If mercenaries raided, everything would be lost easily.
At least I needed to protect my family with barricades.
'Might as well make a simple pasture too.'
Some villagers raised livestock sporadically, mostly indoors.
Makes sense—their whole wealth.
But I hated it. The stench.
"The wall will be Blackwood."
"Blackwood? That heavy stuff?"
Blackwood.
Why the forest above the village is called the Dark Forest.
Unlike regular wood, it was ridiculously tough, heavy, and fire-resistant.
Odd color and hard to process for houses, but perfect for walls.
"You can't saw that."
"I know. That's why I'll borrow help from some small friends."
"Small friends?"
"Know the White Giant Ants?"
"Yeah. Docile ones."
White Giant Ants.
Classified as monsters, these huge white termites don't harm humans.
They eat tree fruits and sap, especially loving Blackwood sap.
"Worker ants' jaws are weak to impacts but hard enough to fell Blackwood."
"Using monsters... Is that how hunters do it?"
"Probably? Father was my only hunter acquaintance."
"Impressive... But Blackwood's heavy. How'll you move it?"
"It's wood, right? Just pick it up."
"...?"
"Grab the center of gravity right, and it's easy."
Tom stared like I was a monster. Don't look at me like that; it hurts.
Anyway, with White Giant Ant help(?), I completed my secure home as planned.
And my wedding day approached.