Chapter 104
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: A New Order
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* * *
We blocked one of the two entrances to the village with carriages. Carriages gathered from the rental station were piled up like a mountain.
At the other entrance, we dragged all sorts of furniture to block the road.
Our goal was to obstruct the monsters’ line of sight from the outside, so this would serve as a temporary measure for now. In the meantime, we decided to cut down trees from the forest to build a proper defensive wall.
I didn't reveal that there was a passage in the police station's basement. Ethan, being a police officer, was to manage the station, and access would only be granted with his permission.
Still, just in case, Ethan kept the door leading to the underground jail locked at all times.
The villagers split into two teams: one to build the defensive wall and the other to clear away the monster carcasses.
In truth, the village was in such a complete mess that it was in no state to be self-sufficient.
Even if we looted the grocery and general stores, considering the number of people, there wasn't much left.
I had decided to occupy Brunel so that the Kintne bastards couldn't get their hands on its supplies… but now that I had rescued survivors, it seemed difficult to claim all of Brunel's remaining food for myself.
But it wasn't as if I could just ignore these people and hoard the food and supplies like those Kintne bastards, could I?
‘Did I gain a workforce instead?’
And unlike the village, Happy House had a system in place for self-sufficiency.
‘If I manage the necessary manpower efficiently, it might be better than surviving alone.’
I had been so sure I could survive on my own, but honestly, I didn't seem to have much of a talent for farming. So, these people, who had lived their entire lives in this rural village, would likely be a great help.
‘Or I could just not worry about anyone at all. I just need to set a few rules. Then we can all fend for ourselves and only ask for help when we need it.’
Of all the ideas I’d had so far, this one seemed the best. Just because I saved their lives didn't mean I was responsible for their future.
Hmm. I stood in the middle of the village, watching the busy people as I mulled it over. After much deliberation, I reached a conclusion.
‘Right. I should stop worrying about it.’
Once the entrance to Brunel was blocked, I would go back into Happy House and not come out. I was too busy trying to feed myself to worry about everyone else.
‘I’m not Ethan, after all. I’ve done my best.’
Rationalizing my decision, I mentally drafted a to-do list for when I returned to Happy House.
Of course, I didn't forget about tenderizing the guy from Kintne to extract information. There was always a chance they might send more people to Brunel.
* * *
Whether they were moving carriages, clearing monster carcasses, or cleaning and organizing the village, the people’s eyes were fixed on Cherry.
Vibrant, cherry-colored hair, bordering on hot pink. She was a small woman with a lovely, pretty face, and it was hard to believe that someone like her had been swinging an axe and sending monsters flying.
Gary, the butcher, coveted Cherry's strength, which allowed her to slice through monsters with ease.
Just then, Basilio, the priest of Brunel's small church, sidled up to Gary and spoke.
“Isn't it incredible? How does such power come from that small body?”
“I know, right? I heard she was a very famous lady in the capital.”
“She’s the heiress of the Sinclair family.”
The one who interjected was Philip, a young boy who worked part-time at the antique shop.
“What kind of family is Sinclair? Are they nobles?”
“Not nobles, bourgeois. But they say the family has more money than the nobility.”
“Come on. A bourgeois is still a commoner. How can you compare them to nobles?”
At Gary’s response, Philip shook his head firmly.
“On the day the world went to hell, there was an article about Cherry Sinclair in the newspaper. I got this information from the postman who came from the capital after seeing it. The Sinclairs are no ordinary bourgeois family. They were a family that even the nobles deferred to.”
Hearing Philip’s words, Gary and Basilio tilted their heads, looking skeptical. Philip added another piece of information.
“You know that Southrumvale Whiskey you praised so much, Mr. Gary? That was a brand launched by the Sinclair family. And, uh, what else… the cigarettes you enjoy, Father Basilio. Rojec! That’s from the Sinclair family too. What else was there? Oh, right! You know that huge hotel in Kintne? That’s a Sinclair family hotel, too. They own dozens of hotels like that all over the country. And that’s not all, they have trains too. The train from Kintne to the capital was built with investment from the Sinclair family, you know? And most of the ships docked at Creden Harbor are owned by the Sinclairs.”
Gary looked dizzy as Philip rattled off the incredible list.
“Is… is that really true?”
Why on earth would such an amazing young lady choose Brunel…!
This could only be described as Brunel being chosen by the Sinclair heiress. But why…!
Just then, James, the owner of the carriage rental and a driver, appeared and shared new information with them.
“Have you all heard? Emma from the clothing store and Victor, the chef from the inn’s restaurant. They’re staying at that lady's mansion in the abandoned house. The little herb-gatherer kid is staying there too.”
“Hey, ‘lady from the abandoned house’? You should call her the Star Candy Lady instead.”
As Philip chided James, Gary’s expression changed, and he came to Cherry’s defense.
“Philip is right. That title doesn't seem appropriate for our benefactor.”
Gary's expression as he scolded James was stern, solemn, and very serious.
James scratched his cheek and fell silent, looking embarrassed.
“Anyway, I was just saying I’m jealous they get to stay at the Star Candy Lady’s mansion. Jealous. It looks very safe over there.”
“You called it an abandoned house just a moment ago, and now you’re jealous. James, have you no shame?”
At Gary’s words, James sighed as if to say he knew, then turned away, saying he had to get back to moving carriages.
Just then, Basilio, who had been watching them, cautiously spoke up.
“But don’t we have to go there to know if the mansion is safe? How safe can an abandoned house like that be….”
At Father Basilio’s words, Gary fell silent, lost in thought, before turning back to Philip and Basilio.
“Right. Sinclair may have been great, but what good is all that now? We’re all in the same boat.”
Philip stared at Gary, dumbfounded. How could someone change their tune so quickly?
Gary continued.
“And those people who were with the Star Candy Lady. The police officer and that lawyer fellow. Isn't it a bit strange how they hang on her every word? No matter how strong she is… she’s still just a young woman, isn’t she?”
Just then, Cherry, who was passing by, suddenly approached and spoke to them. Specifically, to Gary.
“Hello, I heard you used to run the butcher shop.”
She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned toward Gary. The axe was still slung across her lower back.
“Agh! Y-You startled me!”
Gary turned to her with a look of surprise. Moreover, he felt a pang of guilt, having just been bad-mouthing her. No matter what, Cherry was the one who had saved them.
‘I’m an adult, years older than this child. I should be ashamed of myself.’
Feeling embarrassed, Gary glanced at Cherry out of the corner of his eye. Basilio and Philip stood right beside them, watching Gary and Cherry with curious faces.
“It’s about this—Mr. Ruskin caught two deer the other day. Could I ask you to dress them?”
Deer…! Deer! They all stared at Cherry, their eyes wide with surprise.
Since the world had fallen into this state, they couldn't even remember the last time they'd had a proper meal.
They had managed to find emergency rations in their hiding places, but that could hardly be called a proper meal.
“Of course, there will be compensation. I have no intention of exploiting free labor. And likewise, I have no intention of giving anything away for free.”
Cherry said firmly. So firmly, in fact, that her words seemed to have a sharp edge to them.
They swallowed nervously, waiting for her next words.
“As thanks for your help, I’ll share the venison with you. Everyone worked hard today, so I plan to share it with the others as a reward as well.”
“...!”
Deer! They could eat venison! That is, if they worked hard today.
Gary finally understood. This was why everyone hung on Cherry’s every word!
Not only had she cleaned up the monster-infested village, but she had also eliminated all the marauders. That alone was extraordinary, but her skill in quickly establishing order while organizing the village was anything but ordinary.
Even procuring food didn't seem to be a difficult task for her.
In that moment, Gary, Philip, and Basilio all had the same thought.
‘We have to get on Cherry’s good side!’
They instinctively understood that being chosen by her would increase their chances of survival, even if only by a little, in this hellish world.