Martin's Fables, Part 4
War is nothing short of hell for those caught in its clutches, but for those with no direct connection, it inevitably devolves into mere gossip or a golden opportunity to make a fortune. The war that broke out among the nations near the Great Mountain Range in the northern part of the continent was no different. While the news of the conflict between the two countries quickly spread across the continent, it didn't cause any widespread chaos. It simply became another topic of casual conversation.
In truth, considering its scale, it was hard to even call it a proper war; it was closer to a localized border dispute. Yet, that didn't mean the conflict had no impact on the surrounding areas. The most prominent example was the skyrocketing demand and price of High Potions—healing drafts capable of treating the severely wounded without the aid of high-ranking priests or mages.
Thud!
Inside Billy's house, which had practically become the headquarters for the Goddess Knights, everyone was gathered around the table. Yohan set down a heavy pouch stuffed with Imperial gold coins.
The gold coins inside the bulging pouch gleamed brilliantly. Everyone watching, save for Yohan and the Goddess, swallowed hard.
"W-What on earth is this...?"
"I knew they were as potent as High Potions, but to think..."
"We portioned out the bulk potion we brought in barrels, yielding a total of 187 bottles. After taxes and fees, the net profit was ten gold coins per bottle. And it took exactly one week to sell out completely."
Yohan proudly rattled off the sales figures for the High Potions. Falco and Annie looked utterly stunned, while Billy nodded repeatedly with a proud, beaming face.
"Heh, pretty heavy, right? Feels amazing."
"So, Boss, what are you planning to do with all this money?"
As Yohan bragged, tapping the pouch of gold coins, Billy, who had been quiet until now, asked.
"What else? Like I said last time, we'll use it to print the books, and the rest goes straight back into investing in the village."
"Judging by your face and tone, it looks like you're about to pocket the whole thing."
"Hey, step outside right now. I'll show you... *cough*. Anyway, you'll have to keep working hard. Now that the floodgates are open, we need to build up the reputation of Pharmacist Martin as much as possible."
"Yes, sir. Leave it to me."
Though it had started as a spur-of-the-moment cover, the name 'Pharmacist Martin' had now become a joint alias for Yohan and Billy to hide their true identities.
"I was thinking we could make the village a bit more livable while we're at it."
"Even if we can't get unlimited clean, hot water like in your single-room, I think we could easily connect running water to every house."
Billy replied to Yohan's muttering. Yohan clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Hey, kid, do you have any idea how grueling it is to lay down water and sewage pipes?"
"W-Well..."
"But the idea itself isn't bad."
He had only hesitated because the labor was so daunting, but developing the village's infrastructure was something Yohan had wanted to do for a long time.
"If it's that hard, why don't we kidna—I mean, recruit some engineers from outside the village?"
Falco cautiously offered her opinion. She seemed to have almost used a rather violent term in the middle, but Yohan decided to focus on the suggestion itself rather than her slip of the tongue.
"Yohan is right. Supplying water directly to every household is definitely too difficult right now. But digging a proper well in the center of the village is something we can easily do on our own."
Annie chimed in next.
"That's true. Wait, why didn't I think of that before?"
If he used his Light Sword, piercing through the bedrock beneath the soil to tap into the groundwater would be a piece of cake. In fact, it was strange that such a simple idea hadn't occurred to them until now.
The warm spring passed, and the season of sweltering heat was just around the corner.
Since Yohan and the other members of the Knights had settled down, the village had developed to the point where its former self was completely unrecognizable.
Utilizing the abundant timber, they rebuilt the houses—which had been little more than makeshift shacks—into proper log cabins. They organized the layout based on a village map, clearly separating agricultural land from residential areas, and even paved clean, neat roads, albeit only within the village limits.
Furthermore, thanks to the Guardian Deity's Ring worn by Falco, they could cultivate all kinds of crops regardless of climate or soil conditions, completely resolving any nutritional issues.
For these reasons, the residents' standard of living had reached a level that was by no means inferior to Junk Town, or even Balifield.
The only problem was that the absolute number of residents was lacking compared to a typical village. This was due to their current policy of keeping the existence of the Church of the Unnamed Goddess a secret from the outside world.
Of some comfort, Yohan had devised his own measures to address this issue. It was just that he couldn't even begin to estimate how long it would take for his plan to bear fruit.
Right. Winning a game through culture or religion always takes a long time. But still, even so...
"Sigh..."
Inside a log cabin in a corner of the village, Yohan lay sprawled on a wooden bed, sighing heavily.
He couldn't wage war against the Holy Kingdom. The Unnamed Goddess was a goddess of justice, not war. For that reason, he had proposed a peaceful method to dismantle the Central Church, and the plan, though slow, was progressing steadily.
Yohan sat up on the bed. Then, he walked over to his desk.
"..."
On the desk lay several copies of a book titled Martin's Fables. As he was blankly flipping through the pages, the Goddess materialized in a flurry of light and landed lightly on the desk.
"You look troubled."
The Goddess looked down at Yohan and spoke in a gentle voice. Instead of replying, Yohan merely shrugged.
"I'm not troubled. Just frustrated."
"Is it because you wish to march into the Holy City this instant and smash everything to pieces, yet cannot bring yourself to do so as the Apostle of the Goddess of Justice?"
"..."
"I jest. Even if you truly intended to do so, I would have stopped you by any means necessary."
The Goddess suddenly floated into the air and sat down on the bed Yohan had just been lying on. Immediately after, her body grew from that of a young child into her adult form. Yohan merely blinked, wondering what this dummy was up to now.
"Now, bring the book and sit beside me."
Though Yohan glared at her grumpily, he didn't snap back and quietly followed her instructions. The Goddess snatched the fable book from Yohan's hands and flipped through the pages.
"Apostle. Of all the stories you have written in this book, this is my favorite."
It was a story emphasizing the importance of patience and moderation, based on the fable of 'The Dog and Its Shadow' with a touch of Yohan's own creative flair.
"Apostle. As I have told you before, I am half of Justia, the Goddess of Justice, and unlike my other half, I understand the value of patience."
The Goddess closed the book and set it aside. Then, she reached out her left arm and gently patted Yohan on the back.
"Since you are the author of this tale, you must know better than anyone the fate of those who succumb to greed and fail to endure."
Her voice was warmer than usual. It was enough to make even Yohan, who had been wearing a sour expression, soften his face slightly.
"Of course, I understand your desire to smash the skulls of those corrupt clergymen in the Holy Kingdom with the hammer of justice, but..."
"What are you talking about? I never thought about going that far."
"Ahem. In any case, you are moving in the right direction. If you endure this frustration, a good outcome will surely follow."
Hearing her words, Yohan let out a sheepish smile. The Goddess also smiled back at him.
"Indeed, has your plan not been progressing without a hitch? The medicine Billy makes sells out the moment it is released, aiding the village's finances, and this book you wrote has begun to spread by word of mouth among the intellectuals of Westania in just a single month."
Right. She's not wrong. Yohan admitted that much. Yet, the reason his frustration wouldn't fade was...
"The reason your expression has been particularly dark of late is surely because you worry that the plan, which has gone so well so far, might suddenly fall apart."
Exactly. Yohan silently confirmed her suspicion. The Goddess suddenly stood up and stepped in front of him.
"But there is absolutely nothing to worry about."
She spoke with absolute certainty. There was no logical basis for her claim. Yet, for some reason, Yohan felt deeply comforted by those words alone.
"Was it not I who endured thousands of years of solitude just to meet you?"
Having finished her sentence, the Goddess gently leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Yohan.
"So, do not worry so much."
She whispered softly in his ear.
Sometime later, Yohan visited the printing shop in the Royal Capital to discuss sales trends and royalties for the fable book.
When he had first visited with the manuscript, he had to wait a long time to see the owner. Now, however, he could walk straight into the owner's private office for a face-to-face meeting at any time.
"You've arrived at the perfect time."
"Ah, yes. Good to see you."
As Yohan entered the printing shop, the owner, who happened to be outside his private office, welcomed him with a bright face.
"Actually, we had no way of contacting you, so we were worried about when you would visit again."
"O-Oh, really?"
"Come, let's head inside and talk."
Yohan maintained a calm exterior, but internally, he wondered why the man was acting so eager. He was quickly led into the private office by the hand.
"Did... something happen?"
"No, no. It's nothing like that."
At Yohan's question, the owner waved his hands and shook his head.
"Mr. Martin's book has already been stocked in bookstores not only in the Royal Capital but all across Westania."
"Mhm."
The fable book containing the doctrines of the Goddess was selling well. This was at least some comforting news for Yohan, who had been filled with anxiety lately.
"Then why were you looking for me?"
"Haha, prepare to be amazed."
The owner chuckled playfully at Yohan's question.
"We received an offer from abroad to officially publish your book of fables."
"Oh..."
This was indeed surprising news. Yohan's eyes widened.
—Ha! See? Did I not tell you? Your plan is proceeding without a hitch.
At the same time, the Goddess's voice echoed in his mind.
"Which country, specifically?"
It was highly likely to be a neighboring country bordering Westania. Yohan mentally listed the names of the nations in the southwestern part of the continent.
"Hahaha, well, about that..."
"Yes?"
"Mr. Martin, have you perhaps heard of the Corporate State? Its official name is Burgund..."
Wait, why is that country coming up now?
"Damn it, the Corporate State?"