New chapter of May Our Village be Happy is out (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Young Traveling Merchant (1)

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Over the course of the following weeks, Mika gradually grew accustomed to life in the Valentine territory.

Life in the rural village was, in principle, self-sufficient. Although the Valentine territory was undeniably impoverished, the summer harvest season had only just concluded, and therefore there was no immediate fear of starvation, even if reforms were not instituted right away.

Furthermore, even while remaining within the confines of the village, there were many measures that could already be undertaken in preparation for the reforms to come. As the very first step towards enriching his territory, Mika resolved to begin the reclamation of the surrounding forest.

The land of Dariander was, in essence, forestland. The region was so heavily wooded that even the works of classical literature described it as such. Across generations, humankind had carved open parts of this great woodland, and upon these clearings they had raised villages and cities, thereby broadening their sphere of life.

The Valentine territory too was embraced on all sides by forests, with the sole exception of the northern hills, which themselves were still largely covered with trees. In truth, the territory under proper control consisted only of the village, the farmlands, and the shallow edges of the forest where the people went to gather resources. Beyond stretched untouched wilderness, a forest unruled by anything save the hand of nature itself. Even the borders with neighboring territories were vague, with scarcely more than a narrow road to suggest the presence of humankind.

Thus, if the surrounding forest were to be cleared, that land would in turn become part of the Valentine territory. The plains born from the felling of trees would by right belong to House Valentine, and Mika would be free to raise houses upon them or convert them into farmland.

For that very reason, forest reclamation was the essential first step towards developing the territory. Until the merchant of whom Marcel had spoken arrived, Mika resolved to cut down as many trees as he possibly could. Even the agricultural reforms he envisioned could not begin until fresh plains had been secured by cutting back the forest.

“Very well then, here I go… heave-ho!” (Mika)

At the entrance of the forest that bordered the farmlands to the west of the southern village, Mika called out to the villagers laboring alongside him, and with those words swung an axe. Yet it was not his own weak arms that moved, but rather the power of magic.

The axe, borne aloft and guided by magic, struck against the trunk of a tree whose diameter exceeded forty centimeters. The blade landed with precise vertical force. Having already cut down dozens of trees in recent weeks, Mika had grown thoroughly accustomed to this task.

The sharp blows resounded briskly through the area as the trunk was gradually gouged away.

“As expected, Mika-sama’s magic never ceases to amaze, no matter how often we see it.” (Villager)

“Indeed. It is far swifter than when we swing axes with our own hands.” (Villager)

The villagers spoke among themselves as they watched the axe cleave the tree with a speed no human could hope to match.

“Haha, thank you. If I could only acquire a larger axe, I could improve efficiency even further.” (Mika)

Mika spoke with a trace of dissatisfaction at the modest size and weight of the tool.

The “magic hand” that he conjured possessed tens of times the strength of an adult man’s arm, rendering ordinary axes far too light, as though he were merely swinging a twig. Once he had established contact with a merchant, Mika intended to commission a larger and heavier personal axe from an urban blacksmith’s workshop. With such a tool, tree felling would proceed more smoothly, and in times of danger it could even serve as a weapon.

After dozens of strikes, the trunk could no longer support its own weight and began to fall towards the notch cut for that purpose.

“Timber!” (Dimitri)

Standing at Mika’s side, Dimitri raised his voice to warn the others. Moments later, the tree collapsed with a heavy thud.

“Everyone, I leave the rest to you!” (Mika)

At Mika’s call, the villagers gave a spirited reply and approached the fallen tree with hand axes in hand. They began cutting off the branches and shaping the trunk into logs.

Once the branches were all removed, the logs were transported to the forest’s edge. Since they were too long to move in one piece, Mika again manipulated the axe by magic to cut them into several-meter lengths before they were carried away.

While the villagers were engaged in trimming branches, Mika turned to the removal of stumps from trees felled the day before. He drove a shovel into the soil, loosening the hardened earth while severing roots. Regarding this tool as well, Mika thought he would like something larger and heavier to make the work swifter.

Dimitri, meanwhile, kept watch over the surroundings with his battle axe in hand.

Several times in past weeks, small groups of brigands had attempted to approach the village to steal livestock or tools. On those occasions, Mika had driven them away by swinging logs. Yet there was no guarantee that no more such rogues lingered near the forest. Furthermore, dangerous magic beasts occasionally emerged from the deeper woods.

Should Mika, who had frail of body, fall victim to brigands or beasts and perish, the Valentine territory would be finished. For that reason, Dimitri never relaxed his vigilance. In doing so, he ensured not only Mika’s safety, but also that of everyone working in the area.

Thus, Mika cut down trees and uprooted stumps, the villagers trimmed branches and removed roots, while Dimitri secured their safety. At day’s end, they would all return to the village together, exchanging words of encouragement with other villagers returning from their own labors.

Upon returning to the manor, the servants Helga and Ivan would greet them, and Mika and Dimitri would share the evening meal Helga had prepared. With no pressing tasks thereafter, Mika would retire early in preparation for the next day’s work. At dawn, after dressing and breakfasting with Dimitri, he would once more return to labor.

Amidst such busy yet peaceful days, Mika steadily deepened the bond of trust between himself and the villagers and likewise, strengthened the bond of lord and retainer with Dimitri.

“Mika-sama, Ivan-san is coming this way.” (Dimitri)

At Dimitri’s words, Mika turned towards the village and saw the manor’s male servant, Ivan, running towards them.

Ivan was over sixty years of age, which made him long-lived among the commoners of this world. Though his back was slightly bent, his legs were strong, and he reached Mika with a briskness uncharacteristic of one so old.

“Ivan, what is the matter?” (Mika)

“Mika-sama, the merchant Ernest-san has arrived. Marcel-san is at this very moment receiving him before the manor.” (Ivan)

“…That is excellent news. Let us go at once to meet him.” (Mika)

Mika smiled and placed the shovel beside the stump.

This Ernest was the young traveling merchant of whom Marcel had spoken. Mika had long awaited his arrival while laboring at forest reclamation and had thought the time was soon at hand.

Although remnants of defeated soldiers from the western wars had fled into this region and some had turned to banditry, thereby worsening security for a time, such conditions could never last long. Conscripts turned brigands, unfamiliar with the terrain, could not hope to endure. The large band of fifty brigands that had attacked weeks earlier had been an exception, made possible only because a seasoned professional soldier had led them. The remainder were mere rabble who gathered in small groups and attempted crude raids, only to starve or be hunted down by the forces of the local lords. Their numbers had surely dwindled greatly in recent weeks.

Those who survived likely fled elsewhere to escape pursuit, or slipped into the cities to live quietly as paupers. It was most unlikely that they would continue brigandage here indefinitely. Thus, security was returning to its former state, which explained Ernest’s decision to visit.

After informing the villagers that he would be absent, Mika departed for the lord’s manor with Dimitri at his side.

 

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Before the manor stood a one-horse wagon. Beside it, Marcel conversed with a young man.

When Marcel noticed Mika’s arrival, he spoke a few words to the youth and gestured in Mika’s direction. The youth turned towards them, and Mika smiled and raised his hand in greeting.

“Good day to you, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. You must be the merchant Ernest-san, is that correct?” (Mika)

“…Indeed, that is correct. Marcel-san has just now told me of the circumstances of this Valentine territory. It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency Valentine.” (Ernest)

At a glance, the youth, Ernest, appeared to be of an age close to Dimitri’s 23 years old of age, or perhaps slightly older. He bore the demeanor of a merchant, answering with a kindly smile that seemed to put others at ease.

“I had heard of your reputation from Marcel-san, and I have been looking forward to meeting you. For now, please, let us go inside the manor. We may speak at leisure over tea.” (Mika)

Though the unfamiliar address of “Your Excellency Valentine” gave Mika a faint sense of embarrassment, he smiled and invited Ernest within.

Mika and Ernest sat facing one another across the table in the drawing room, with Marcel seated at Mika’s side. Dimitri stood a short distance away in the role of retainer, while Helga placed tea before the three seated men. Thus, their business began.

“First, I must confirm one matter. The former lords of this land, the Dondando Household, abandoned their obligations and departed. Thereafter I became the new lord of this land. May I be assured that, just as with the previous lord, you are willing to trade with me as well?” (Mika)

“Of course. Matters of this land are to be decided by those who dwell here. If Your Excellency governs this village as lord, if the people acknowledge you as such, and if the conditions for commerce are present, then I have no objection whatsoever.” (Ernest)

Ernest spoke as though it were the most natural conclusion in the world, without a trace of hesitation.

The transfer of dominion over human settlements was by no means rare. In Mika’s homeland of the Carossa territory, neighboring lords had sometimes fallen in battle, their lands absorbed entirely by the victors. There were also instances in which vassals overthrew their master’s and seized the seat of power for themselves.

For a merchant, what mattered was not the lineage of the lord, but the goods produced in the settlement and the demand for wares within it. If proper commerce could be conducted, then it mattered little who sat upon the lord’s seat.

“That is a relief. I am glad to hear it. In that case, as the new lord of this territory, I should like at once to request a major transaction.” (Mika)

Mika spoke with a smile. Ernest, while maintaining his kindly expression, nevertheless allowed a faint air of readiness to surface as the true business of the day was about to commence.

 

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