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High Spec Village - 015
🕑 Added 2018-05-07 19:40:01 +0000 UTCEpisode 15: A Welcomed Protagonist.
While me and Liscia were talking, the children suddenly came and forcibly pulled us.
"Where are we going?"
"It’s a secret, Yamato-niichan! "
"Yeah, a secret! "
While coming down from the hill where the observation deck was located, I was guided back to the center of the village by the children.
The area was dimly lit, and the 'two moons' in the sky were illuminating the land. It probably became like this while I was talking to Liscia.
(It feels like the twin moons are dancing in the sky. When I look at them, it reminds me this is a different world...)
I wallowed in this deep emotion while being pulled by the children.
It has been just one month, a month since I was transferred to this world. What caused it or for what reason did it happen remain a mystery, but I just suddenly appeared in an unknown forest.
(Thinking about it now, I was really lucky to have met Liscia... truly a miraculous encounter)
After helping her, I was guided outside the forest, and was taken in the care of this mountain village, Urd.
At first, I only planned to stay one night.
My mind was set on moving to a nearby, bigger town as soon as dawn arrived back then.
(Honestly, my first impression of this village was pretty bad)
But regardless, I decided to stay in this remote village. I don’t remember why is it that I decided to do so.
But the next thing I was doing, was searching for food to survive, and challenging wild beasts while being aware of the danger they presented.
(Big Rabbits that attack people, Wild Boars so big they look like monsters... They make it feel like this is a fantasy world...)
Such tumultuous days were unthinkable when I lived back in the safe and prosperous Japan.
But in a way, my heart was filled with awe. A sense of fulfillment that I couldn’t get when I lived in Japan was seeping deep into my soul.
I was a simple employee at an average company, but I thirsted for more. My daily routine was boring and plain, going to work at the time I was required to, I did the job I was given, and then I returned home and went to bed.
(Working is important to live... but something just felt wrong...)
Even while properly doing my work, my heart still felt thirst. I tried to fill that thirst by using my holidays to do mountain climbing, and used the times with consecutive holidays to visit unexplored parts of the world.
However, I was made aware that my thirst couldn’t be sated with just that.
(Why did I come to this world...?)
When I was transported here I could only think of that, why?
Why me, an ordinary Japanese person, had come to this different world?
I kept asking that same question over and over again, almost like a prayer. Obviously, I couldn’t come up with an answer.
Why to this different world?... why did I come to Urd Village?
"We're here, Yamato-niichan! "
It was at that moment.
The leading children spoke. We had finally arrived at the place they were taking me.
"Yamato-niichan, you're making a 'troubled face' again, are you ok? "
"Well, just for today, we should let him be. "
The children pointed to an empty seat, as if telling me to go seat there.
The current location was an open-air plaza near the center of the village. There was a long table, and many small chairs arranged, seemingly alluding to a festival being prepared.
"This... is something going on tonight? "
Going to meet the village chief who had just arrived, I asked him.
All the elderly people and children in the village were already gathered in this plaza.
"This is a 'welcoming party', Yamato-dono."
"Yeah, a welcome! "
"A well come! "
The children in the plaza started to imitate the words of the village chief.
"So a 'welcoming party'. I wonder whose..."
Honestly, I have no idea.
Perhaps a sudden visitor arrived at the village when I went to the observation deck.
But, a feast of this scale couldn’t be prepared in such a short time. There were a variety of dishes of vegetables and meat, lined up in the narrow table.
The villagers were also dressed in Urd's traditional clothes.
Their beautiful designs woven in bright colors were a pleasure to the eyes. By the way, Liscia was also wearing the same costume.
"Well, it’s obvious that Yamato-niichan didn’t notice, since we were preparing it in secret! "
"Right! We also helped with the preparation and the meals, Yamato-niichan! "
To the me who wore a puzzled face, the children began to explain. During these past few days, the villagers had been secretly preparing this party.
"It is true that I never noticed... by the way, whose 'welcoming party' is this? "
I still haven’t heard the name of the person. Perhaps it was someone who was already in the plaza.
But no matter where I looked, there were only villagers I was familiar with in here. There didn’t seem to be any guest from outside the village.
"Eh...? "
"You still haven’t noticed, Yamato-niichan!? "
"Tell me you're kidding, niichan. "
"Well, I don’t know, and I haven’t heard anything from you yet."
At my response, the children were stunned with their mouths open.
Maybe they gave me a hint in the conversation we've had so far. But it might be local idioms or double sense words I’m not familiar with yet.
"Tonight is... Yamato-sama's welcoming party."
Next to me, Liscia removed the shocked atmosphere by telling me.
"Today has been exactly one month since Yamato-sama started living in the village. Throwing a party to give a welcome is one of the customs of the people of Urd. And this one is for Yamato-sama..."
Liscia told me while wearing a tired smile. Then it was clear that the guest of honor tonight was me, Yamato.
"A welcoming party, for me..."
At the unexpected turn of events, I was at lost for words.
This was a surprise indeed.
Honestly I never imagined that the villagers had such feelings.
With the adults being forcibly taken away by the evil Lord. And their food and livestock also stolen, this was a village destined to be destroyed by starvation until just recently.
Even now, their lives weren’t that easy either.
The food on this table was perhaps prepared by setting aside part of their daily rations. Otherwise, the numbers didn’t match with the current stockpile.
"Originally we, the people of Urd, like festivals, Yamato-sama."
"Oh, is that so...?"
Liscia explained their customs to me, who had finally grasped the situation.
The people of Urd placed great importance in celebrating many occurrences throughout the year, like harvest festivals, praying festivals or birthdays among others. For that reason, they were serious in their everyday work, and tended to live in moderation.
"Only for today, we'll be serving the village's treasured liquor."
With the preparations completed and the explanations to me over, it was finally time to start the party.
The village chief smiled as he handed me a mug of alcohol.
"Do you drink, Yamato-dono? "
"A drink huh?... I’ll happily receive it."
"That’s good. Gaton-dono will be delighted."
Gaton jii-san was also seated in the plaza.
He might love alcohol, since that person was already happily drinking.
"Yamato-niichan! Hurry up and give a toast so we can eat! "
"Our bellies are really really hungry."
The innocent children raised their dissatisfied voices since the feast hadn’t started yet.
"Well then, Yamato-dono, if you could please say some words."
"Right..."
At the village chief's unexpected remark, I was at loss about what should I say. At times like this, what is it one was supposed to say?
(Haah... I'm really not good at fancy talk)
I decided on what my words would be. Let's make it simple, like myself.
"For a bright tomorrow for this Village... Cheers! "
""Cheers! ""
"We too! Cheers!! "
And so, the feast finally begun.
Everyone was enjoying the feast while sitting and having a friendly talk. A bright smile could be seen on each of their faces as they ate and drank.
The village chief served his treasured alcohol, which had been aging in his personal storehouse. The old people were really talkative after becoming drunk.
And with music from instruments that came from somewhere when I wasn’t looking, the villagers started to sing and dance. Regardless of age or sex, everyone in the village was very cheerful.
Wearing the colorful costumes, while dancing around a big bonfire, it really was an amazing sight.
The busy days in Urd Village will start again tomorrow.
A mountain of preparations are needed to be completed to overcome the harsh, upcoming winter.
But not one of the villagers was pessimistic.
Because they knew.
That after the harsh winter, the spring was sure to come, bringing with it hope.
And everyone was aware. That the wise savior of this village had arrived.
"Hey kids, don’t stay up too late. Tomorrow's morning will begin early."
"Ehh, isn’t it fine just for today? You're so mean, Yamato-niichan! "
"Sorry, but that’s how I am."
"Everyone knows! "
"Yeah, yeah, we know! "
The 'welcoming party' continued until late at night.
As if to encourage ourselves to overcome the harsh winter that was approaching.
Everyone was smiling and laughing from the bottom of their hearts.
◇
That same evening.
There was a group of people looking at the state of the village from afar.
"Hey, look."
"Oh, it’s quite lively. Are they having a festival?"
"Wasn’t that supposed to be a village destroyed by 'Boss'? "
"It seems like they still had some food and wealth hidden."
"Okay, I’ll return to the castle and report what we've seen."
"It will be a ripe fruit to grab after the snow melts."
"Yeah, I’m looking forward to it... this time we really will take away everything from that village."
The armed group then quietly left.
To make the village thrive, then take it all away after it was ripe.
◇
◇
◇
Thus, the village entered the harsh winter season, and three months later, it greeted a new season.
"Finally, spring..."
This was my first spring living in this remote village.
――――◇――――◇――――
【Chapter 1：Autumn of Reforms】 Completed
【Chapter 2：Spring of Mayhem】 Starting...
