New chapter of May Our Village be Happy is out (2/2 chapters)

A Chance Encounter

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

In this world, in this era, the domain of human life remained still narrow before the world at large.

Villages and cities were scattered like islands amid the great and merciless abundance of nature. Mankind expanded its realm of survival by increasing its settlements one by one, linking them together in a mesh, and in so doing gradually extending its reach. That progress was slow indeed.

Thus, in such a world, travel was made by moving from settlement to settlement. Having departed from the Carossa territory about a week prior, Mika passed through several villages and cities, at times lodging there, until he reached the southeastern part of the Dariander region.

By good fortune, he had not yet been stripped of his travel funds by brigands, nor attacked by beast or monster. For Mika, who in his second life had never once left his hometown, walking through lands unknown and beholding unfamiliar scenery was fresh and delightful.

Departing at early dawn from the village where he had lodged, Mika set his sights on a city said to lie further south.

In this world, where population remains sparse and settlements few, any city with even one thousand inhabitants is deemed impressive. Yet this particular city, capital of a great lord’s domain, was said to hold more than five thousand souls. In so vast a place, there must surely be room for wanderers to find their place.

Moreover, Mika was one of the rare few, perhaps less than one-tenth of the populace, who could read, write, and calculate. Thanks to memories of his previous life, he had spoken fluently since childhood, and for that had been regarded by his father as a clever child and taught his letters. As for arithmetic, compulsory education in his former life had ensured that he could perform the four operations with ease, as though from birth. In this society, such skill was regarded as extraordinary.

With such abilities, and the reasoning power honed in his previous life, Mika believed that upon entering a great city, he would surely discover some means of earning coin. By saving wealth and gathering followers, he could clear some unclaimed land, and there become a lord. This, Mika judged, was the finest and most perfect plan.

“…Hm?” (Mika)

Walking silently southward, Mika suddenly tilted his head.

Having emerged from a district of large and small forests, he now traversed somewhat open and level ground. There, in the distance, he saw several men running from right to left. At first, he thought perhaps locals were chasing a hare. Yet it was not only several. More followed, then tens, then scores, all running west to east, as though fleeing from something.

“Hmm?” (Mika)

Even where Mika walked, the human tide surged from west to east. All rushed past him without pause. Most appeared to be mere peasants, yet some bore the ordered arms of a lord’s soldiers, and even knights on horseback were among them. With desperate faces, they cried to one another, “Flee! Flee!”.

That so many armed men were gathered could mean only war. It was perhaps a clash of hundreds, or even thousands. And those who ran seemed to be in rout, fleeing after defeat.

“I suppose… I ought to flee as well.” (Mika)

It appeared he had been caught up in the wave of a war unrelated to him, swept into the rout. Realizing this, Mika cast his eyes about and, for the moment, ran with the current. For when many are in rout, what follows behind them was the pursuing army.

“Gyaaaah! Save meee!” (Unknown soldier)

“Kill them! Slaughter them all!” (Pursuing soldiers)

The screams of the dying, and the savage voices steeped in bloodlust, reached his ears. Glancing back while running eastward, Mika saw as expected. The victorious host had arrived, cutting down the rearguard of the routed force.

“Hi–hieee…” (Mika)

This was dire indeed. Adjusting his path, Mika no longer ran straight east but veered southeastward toward a forest where he might find cover. Abandoning his blanket and preserved rations, carrying only coin in his breast, he ran with all his strength.

Before the pursuers could overtake him, Mika managed to leap into the forest. Yet relief was short-lived. Others, thinking as he did, also fled into the woods, and some of the pursuers entered after them. In the poor sight and footing of the forest, a chaotic chase unfolded.

“Moo! Why must misfortune befall me alone!” (Mika)

Now chased at a distance close enough to see their faces, Mika ran for his life, shouting. He knew that raising his voice would only shorten his breath, yet he could not help himself.

In his former life, he had died without his dream fulfilled. In this one, though guilty of no crime, he had been treated as a burden, and only at last, when free to pursue his dream, had he set out. Yet within a week of his journey, he now faced death, drawn into a battle not his own, like some cruel jest.

Why had God granted him a second life, only to subject him to this? Harboring such grievance in his heart, Mika continued to run.

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