Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Village Restoration
A scene much busier than usual.
However, it wasn't the boisterous atmosphere of a festival.
There were no flashy festival decorations,
nor the sound of loud music.
"What's this?"
"...?"
Holding Merthesia's hand, I entered deeper into the village.
What caught my eye were people trying to return to their daily lives.
"There, there! Be careful!"
"Toss that over here."
"Here, you must be hungry. Eat this first before you continue."
Voices big and small crossed paths as people hurried about in all directions.
This bustle continued,
and the village was gradually regaining its form.
It was that they could finally clean up the traces of war that had been left untouched through the winter now that spring had arrived.
A young man shoveling debris,
a mason rebuilding a collapsed stone wall,
a middle-aged man climbing onto a broken roof to lay new tiles.
Women painting walls or sharing food,
and children carrying baskets with dirt-smeared faces.
Men and women, young and old.
Everyone was busy without exception.
It seemed the entire village had agreed to pitch in, as not a single market stall was in sight.
"Everyone's so busy."
"...".
Merthesia looked around this way and that.
Even her young eyes could see the worn and battered debris,
so she bit her lip and gripped my hand tighter.
Merthesia's hand trembled slightly.
"...".
"It's okay. Everyone's in the middle of repairs right now."
I gently wrapped my hand around the child's.
"They're rebuilding and setting things right again."
"...".
"In just a little while, it'll be a sturdier village than before."
Merthesia looked up at my face.
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.
I quietly moved to the edge of the road and leisurely observed the village.
The sound of hammers,
the sound of sawing,
even the light footsteps of children.
Everyone was reviving the village in their own way.
Just like winter passing and spring arriving.
'Interesting.'
Humans weren't staying the same now.
This village,
and the child by my side.
They were changing, little by little, ever so slightly.
But—.
My plans seemed to have gone quite awry.
I had originally intended to head to the general store.
With even the stalls closed, the store was probably the same.
Besides, the general store owner prioritized helping people over business.
Given his temperament,
he had undoubtedly rolled up his sleeves and jumped into the village repairs without a second thought.
I slowly looked down at Merthesia.
"Might be tough."
"...?"
"To buy tools that could make you stronger."
"...".
Disappointment spread across Merthesia's face.
But she didn't throw a tantrum or beg.
She looked around the village once more and nodded.
She must have understood the reason.
What a good child.
I leisurely stroked her head and spoke.
"Shall we help out too?"
"...!"
Merthesia's eyes widened round.
Her gaze turned to the villagers bustling about.
And she slowly nodded.
"...".
"Alright. Then let's find Mr. Hubert or Loren."
Hubert's back would make heavy labor difficult,
while Loren was surely dashing all over the village, busy as ever.
"Wonder if Mr. Hubert will be easier to find?"
"!"
"Let's check the bookstore first."
But,
unexpectedly, the first person we ran into was—.
"Hm? Oh dear, you came down to the village at a bad time, eh?"
"Uh.... Hello."
The general store owner, wandering around with a plank on his shoulder.
He spotted us first,
and approached with his usual hearty laugh.
"How have you been, little miss?"
"...!"
Merthesia politely bowed with her hand at her navel.
Her courteous greeting made the store owner's laughter even louder.
Then he shrugged awkwardly.
"But what to do? As you can see, the whole village is busy with repairs. It'll be hard to buy anything for about a week."
"I see. I didn't know."
"...".
"Haha, I guess the bookstore elder didn't mention it?"
"Mr. Hubert forgets things often too."
Suddenly, I recalled our conversation at the bookstore a few days ago.
Was it because the seasons had changed?
Loren's clothing shop was packed, so we'd only stopped at the bookstore.
Merthesia reading her picture book as usual.
Watching her, Hubert and I leisurely chatted.
"You haven't taught her letters yet?"
"We've been practicing walking non-stop since the holiday."
"Heh heh, no wonder she walks faster than last time. That explains it."
"Yeah. And...."
I hesitated, then confessed.
"I don't really know how to teach her letters."
"Hm? Didn't I give you the materials?"
"You did. But.... I don't know how to use them to teach."
"I see. Well, it's simple. Just teach her the way you learned our language."
I had already tried that.
Handing her books from this country and telling her to read.
The result—.
I only realized that humans' language acquisition ability had regressed quite a bit compared to before.
Was my expression poor?
Hubert, who had gathered various letter-teaching materials,
advised me on how to teach Merthesia.
He'd step aside when customers came,
then return to flip through pages and explain softly,
and helped in detail, point by point, until nearly sunset.
"I see. I think I get it now."
"Heh heh, glad to hear it."
Hubert straightened his back, winced slightly, then smiled.
"That should be enough."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"No trouble at all. Time to head back. It'll be hard to climb the mountain once it gets dark... wait."
"Yeah?"
Hubert stroked his beard, looking lost in thought.
10 seconds.
30 seconds.
1 minute.
Tick tock,
I silently watched him as the clock ticked.
"I can't remember."
"Really?"
"There was something I really wanted to tell you.... Getting old, I keep forgetting."
"That happens. Tell me next time I come."
"Heh heh, sure."
After that, spring rains kept me from visiting the mountain.
Now I finally realized what Hubert had meant to say but forgotten.
Recalling it, I leisurely spoke.
"He definitely forgot."
"Hahaha—! That can happen! I forget too, so the elder must more so!"
The general store owner laughed so hard his uvula showed.
"Still, if you need anything, just say. Shop's closed, but the warehouse is open. I can give you stuff from there."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Thanks nothing. Not free, customer. I'm strict about that."
The general store owner winked.
I chuckled at his playful expression.
"Nothing urgent right now. More importantly.... Is there anything we can help with?"
"You wanna help?"
"Yeah. We're free. Merthesia wants to help too."
"Haha, really? That's commendable."
The owner set the plank down from his shoulder and looked Merthesia up and down.
Merthesia flinched and inhaled sharply.
Then, embarrassed, she shyly hid behind me.
"Haha! Always such a shy little miss."
"...".
"Little miss wants to help too?"
"...!"
Merthesia, peeking out, nodded with her fist clenched.
The owner burst into laughter again at the sight.
His rough, thick hand patted Merthesia's head.
Was the motion too vigorous?
Merthesia startled and hid completely inside my robe.
"?!?!"
"Oh dear, scared her. Sorry. I've only got a son, so I don't know how to handle little girls."
I could see the robe wriggling.
She was probably nodding inside.
Smiles spread across both the owner's and my faces.
"Anyway, you want to help with village repairs? No pay, just so you know."
"That's fine. We're helping because we're free."
"Hahaha—! Alright. Got any skills?"
"Hmm. I'm confident in heavy lifting."
The general store owner eyed me up and down.
Squinting, he chuckled and shook his head.
My lean build must have seemed unlikely; he raised an eyebrow.
"No medical coverage either."
"Just moving planks and such. No chance of injury."
"Ho ho, stronger than you look, eh? Well, back when I was a full-time mercenary, plenty of guys were totally different from appearances. Skinny ones lifting logs like nothing."
His burly frame seemed forged by time and experience.
Unlike those with just big builds,
his body carried the hardness tempered by actual use.
'He was a mercenary. First I've heard.'
I visited often enough to chat casually,
but I still didn't know the general store owner's name. Never asked.
Naturally, I only learned today that he has a son and nothing else about his past.
'Interesting.'
Conversations depend on depth, not frequency.
The general store owner hefted the plank back onto his shoulder.
With his relatively free arm, he gestured for us to follow.
"Perfect timing. Needed hands. Been helping everywhere, haven't touched my own house."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Wife's nagging was endless. Even my usually quiet son grumbled the other day. That's when I thought, 'Oops, my mistake.'"
He grumbled verbally, but the smile never left his face.
Mouth complaining of hardship, his eyes gleamed with none of it.
His voice more upbeat than usual as he shared family talk, then he looked at me.
"So, fixing the house now, even if late."
"I see."
"Haha, my meddling old man ways even got my daughter-in-law helping."
"Daughter-in-law?"
"Someone you know well, customer. Ah, there she is!"
The question resolved instantly.
I locked eyes with Loren, in the midst of painting a wall.