Lake Fortress is bustling like never before. This is because people have brought a great deal of goods from the Suroun Meeting.
What they brought is far superior in both quality and quantity compared to what Vipen had brought. The variety of items is also diverse.
The eyes of those who encountered new things sparkled with curiosity, like a child who only knew toy cars discovering cars that can transform into robots.
Of course, just as it is expensive and burdensome for parents, regarding toys, parents desperately wish their children remain frogs in a well.
Jorn is exactly like that now.
He was extremely wary of the unfamiliar items.
He glared at me, the one who brought them in.
“What the hell is this?”
“What do you mean? It’s all for the tribespeople. Do you have any idea how hard I worked for today?”
“We don’t need things like this in our tribe. Send it all back.”
“What, ‘better to perish than to be opened up’? Should I bring you paint? I can bring you something that washes off well in case it doesn’t turn out right.”
“I don’t understand what nonsense you’re talking about. Those things would only undermine the tribe’s discipline.”
I can somewhat guess what Jorn is wary of.
It’s not just a lack of money; it’s likely a concern about new things. Once you taste convenience, you can never return to the past.
That’s what he’s worried about.
‘So my monitor is still 60hz.’
I understand Jorn’s feelings a hundred times over.
“Don’t worry. I’ve considered everything. I intentionally selected things that are just a bit sturdier and a bit more convenient than what we used to use. The worries you have won’t come to pass.”
“……”
Jorn, who had been staring at me, turned his head away. It was a reluctant concession.
Though Jorn has a stubborn nature, his love for the tribe is stronger than anyone else’s. He would be unable to take a strong stance against something that the tribe members enjoy so much.
‘That’s what I’m aiming for.’
‘The notion of ‘a little more convenience’ is tremendously scary.
People will seek comfort, more comfort, and then even extraordinary comfort. That’s just human nature. The small crack we’ve opened will become a huge hole. It won’t be long before that happens.
“Ambassador, I’ve brought the Terrapin you requested, but where should I plant it?”
A merchant from the Suroun Meeting approached me, with a small green fairy the size of a palm, sporting a tuft resembling a silly hat atop its head.
“There’s a potato field behind that tent. You can plant it next to it.”
“Understood.”
The merchant disappeared in the direction I pointed, along with the fairy.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a Terrapin, a fairy of the earth. If planted in the ground, it helps nearby plants grow well. You will be surprised at the effects.”
It’s a fairy that is essential when managing farmlands in Taosel. Because it helps plants grow remarkably well, it is also called the fairy of crops.
It’s incredibly expensive.
I’ve decided to spend some money on it.
Of course, it’s the branch manager’s money.
“I’ll go see the chief now. I have something to show.”
“What do you mean you have something to show? I can’t let anything in without confirming it first.”
“It’s a ring that Chief Ziek used to wear. Isn’t it the tradition of Northguard to report to the chief after battles? This is a trophy of victory.”
“……Even if you achieved something significant, I can’t just let you meet the chief alone. I’ll accompany you.”
“If that’s what you want.”
*
I entered Darika’s tent with Asies.
As soon as we entered, Darika’s face brightened.
“Oh! You’ve come! Where have you been wandering? I haven’t seen you in ages! Come, sit next to me!”
“Haha, I didn’t know that the chief was waiting for me so eagerly. I’m touched. I won’t decline.”
“Not you!!! Who told you to sit next to me?”
“…”
Correction. It wasn’t ‘we’ that made Darika’s face light up, but ‘Asies’ who entered.
Asies naturally took the seat next to Darika. Perhaps because she possesses a Loozlight, she seems to be largely unaffected by the cold.
“Come on, dear. Look at your pale face. Don’t wander outside in this cold weather; stay next to me.”
That senile old lady.
Look how warm her tone is.
Even though I, her son’s friend, am just a complete outsider compared to Jorn, the tribal chief, she treats Asies like a granddaughter.
Unlike me, who has to remind her of who I am every time I meet her, there doesn’t seem to be any of that process with Asies.
It seems deeply engraved in her mind; even after a long time apart, she remembers Asies very well.
“Jorn, I think you should seriously consider passing down the chief position.”
“……”
Jorn kept his mouth shut.
“So, what brings you here? Should I tell you some old stories?”
“I did come to hear an old story, but today I want to hear something different.”
“Hey, you little brat. I’m going to talk to the girl, why do you keep interrupting? Should I smash that ugly face of yours?”
To challenge me to a fight. Does she think I can’t beat a dying grandmother?
I do not back down from a fight.
Except against weak children, weak women, and weak old people.
“That’s enough.”
But I’ll let it slide this time.
I handed a gemstone ring to Darika. She leaned forward, squinting her dim eyes at it.
“What is this?”
“It’s Chief Ziek’s ring.”
At those words, Darika’s narrowed eyes opened wide.
“Ziek? That clueless brat?”
“Exactly. Our Asies has defeated Ziek and brought back the ring he possessed.”
“…I see. That kid Ziek has been caught.”
The usual haze of confusion on Darika’s face vanished, replaced by a serious expression. She began to speak in a grave voice.
“Ziek was the disgrace of Northguard. He couldn’t overcome his ambition and forsook the honorable path of the northern protector.”
Darika showed us the gemstone.
“Do you know what this ring is?”
“It’s Ziek’s ring.”
“No. This is a ring once worn by the royal family. Ziek must have picked it up somewhere. And he’s claiming to be the lord of the north.”
“Is that so?”
“The return of this ring means that he has paid for his crimes. Well done!”
“Haha, I simply did what I had to do.”
“Not you!”
Damn old lady.
“But this ring is only a part of it. On the day the dragon attacked the kingdom, there were countless thieves who stole from the royal treasury. Not just humans, but even monsters stole from it!”
Darika’s clenched fist trembled with rage. Her eyes burned with fury.
“As the heir of the royal mage and the chief of Lake Fortress, I sincerely want to request. Please defeat the monsters and bring back the royal treasures they stole.”
“Since the chief asked me directly, how could I—”
“Not you!”
“…Asies, the chief is asking you. What do you want to do?”
Asies replied slowly.
“I will… do it.”
“Oh! Thank you!”
Darika’s expression bloomed with joy.
She began rummaging through the leather rug she was sitting on.
“Let’s see… There should be a map around here somewhere… Oh, here it is.”
Darika handed a map to Asies.
“This is a map showing the locations of the monsters that stole the treasures. Defeat the monsters and bring back the jewels they took.”
“Okay…”
Asies accepted the map.
Perhaps relieved of her worries, Darika’s expression seemed much more at ease.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can take a step closer to fulfilling the duty passed down from the past…”
Muttering as if in prayer, Darika closed her eyes.
After a moment of silence.
“Huh?”
Darika’s eyes flew open.
She blinked, looking around with a bewildered expression.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered here? It’s so distracting.”
Having fulfilled her role as chief, Darika’s condition returned to normal. She became an ordinary senile old lady again.
“Why are you all gathered? You came to talk to the chief, right? After all, there is no one quite like me, is there?”
“Who are you to be in my tent?”
“Oh dear, don’t you remember me? I’m Carami, an old friend of Baschal.”
Darika pondered for a while, rolling my name in her mind.
“Carami…? Yes, I think there was such a person. But where is Baschal? Why are you the only one here?”
“Baschal has gone on a short journey. He’s away to bring you a wonderful gift.”
“A gift? What useless gift? I don’t need that, so stop messing around and tell him to come back quickly. Who goes traveling without their mother? Leaving their mother behind…”
The sight of Darika saying that looked a bit bitter.
It felt a bit lonely somewhere.
“If left alone, he will surely return on his own. Until then, I’ll entertain you as best as I can.”
“Really?”
“Haha, of course. I’ll do my best so that you won’t feel Baschal’s absence.”
