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

Eltpoli

 

 

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The matter of securing an audience with Lord Yutilainen had been arranged by Earnest.

In the process of converting into coin the spoils of war and the products of the hunt entrusted to him by Mika, Earnest had built a connection with a great merchant association in Eltpoli. That same association also served as the official merchant house of the Yutilainen Household. Through this channel Earnest conveyed Mika’s wish for a meeting and successfully obtained Lord Yutilainen’s consent.

In mid-June, after completing his visits to the neighboring territories, Mika departed for Eltpoli. Earnest, who had once before visited Valentine territory, now acted as guide, while the governance of the commoners in Mika’s absence was entrusted to Marcel. From Valentine territory to Eltpoli was a distance of two days on foot. The threshing machine, together with furs and other goods intended for sale, were loaded onto Earnest’s wagon, and Mika sat beside him upon the driver’s seat. Dimitri served as escort, and Jeremy, accompanying as porter and errand-runner, walked along at the side of the wagon.

As they proceeded eastward along the rough highway, Mika idly passed the time in conversation with Earnest.

“Indeed. Then this Mikhail-san was your master in the art of itinerant trade, was he not, Earnest-san?” (Mika)

“Yes. That is indeed the case. Perhaps I ought rather to call him a second father than merely a master. After all, the years I spent at his side were longer than those I spent with my true father.” (Earnest)

On the afternoon of the first day, Mika had been listening to Earnest’s account of his life until then.

Born in a great city lying at the eastern terminus of the Dariander region, upon the mountain range, Earnest had abandoned hope of land inheritance as the youngest son of a farming household. Before the age of ten he had become attendant to a peddler named Mikhail and had passed his days journeying among many human settlements.

“Mikhail-san firmly believed that sincerity was the most essential quality for a merchant. He would not descend into shallow trickery, nor deceive his customers or his peers, but through honest dealings alone would a merchant obtain the greatest profit. This teaching, said to have been declared by the great merchants of the Imperial Age, he believed in with all his heart. He lived by it. The regret he must have felt at being struck down by illness before he could flourish as a merchant and prove his faith true is beyond imagination. That is why I swore at his sickbed. I swore that I would prove his faith was just.” (Earnest)

Earnest spoke with unusual force, and then, with his customary gentle expression, he turned toward Mika.

“I have endeavored to follow Mikhail-san’s example of sincerity in my own trading. Yet to have met Lord Mika of Valentine, to have been entrusted with such responsibility, is in truth a great fortune for me. I am now certain that the conviction I inherited from Mikhail-san was indeed correct.” (Earnest)

“To hear you say such a thing is also an honor for me. Allow me to work with you to pursue prosperity, and in so doing, to help you prove that the conviction you inherited from Mikhail-san was correct.” (Mika)

Mika gave this reply as he smiled

Earnest was no great merchant. He was but a humble peddler of small scale. Yet from what Mika had heard of his past, and more than that from what he had witnessed of Earnest’s conduct, he knew him to be trustworthy. For one such as Mika, a weak lord, it was a profound stroke of fortune to have such a dependable merchant in his service.

Thus, Mika thought that he must also give thanks to Mikhail, the master of Earnest, for shaping such a man.

 

—

 

The journey passed without any incident worthy of note, and after two days of travel, Mika and his companions arrived at Eltpoli.

“This is truly amazing. So this is a city. It is incredible.” (Jeremy)

“Indeed, this is most remarkable.” (Dimitri)

After paying the toll at the gate and passing beneath the stone walls into the enclosed district of the city, Jeremy and Dimitri looked about in wonder, their faces full of astonishment.

In this world and in this age, the great majority of people lived and died without ever leaving their birthplace. Jeremy had never once set foot outside his native village. Dimitri too, once a farmer’s son, had never before laid eyes upon a city. The sight of countless people thronging the streets between close-packed buildings within the massive stone walls must have struck them with immense force.

“I have only seen cities of several thousand inhabitants a mere handful of times in my life. Yet even compared to those I have seen, this place is bustling indeed. As expected of the central city of this region. You pass through such prosperous cities constantly, do you not, Earnest-san?” (Mika)

“Yes. Although in truth, I do not own so much as a house here, much less a shop of my own.” (Earnest)

Mika spoke with admiration, and Earnest replied with a wry smile.

In this life, Mika had visited a city of notable scale only once, when his late father had brought him there in his childhood, and a few further times during his journey from his birthplace to the southeastern Dariander region, when he had lodged briefly in such cities along the way.

In his previous life he had lived in cities with not thousands but hundreds of thousands of souls. Yet those memories now felt remote. Accustomed now to villages of scarcely a few hundred, Mika found the city of Eltpoli, with its population of two thousand, impressive beyond measure.

“For the present, let us proceed to the inn I frequent. I have already informed the innkeeper that I would be bringing companions, so there should be no difficulty in obtaining rooms.” (Earnest)

“That is most helpful. I thank you sincerely.” (Mika)

Their plan was to remain in Eltpoli for about a week, attending to a variety of matters. Thus, guided by Earnest, they proceeded toward the inn that would serve as their base during this stay.

 

—

 

After a night at the inn, Mika, accompanied by Dimitri and Jeremy, went forth with Earnest to the castle of the Yutilainen Household. Besides Eltpoli itself, the Yutilainen territory held seven villages, with a total population of about four thousand. Accordingly, the household’s stronghold was truly impressive.

North of the city district, upon a plateau somewhat elevated above the streets, stood Eltpoli Castle, enclosed within stone walls. Within rose a stately stone keep and towers, with wooden annexes and storehouses besides.

As Earnest had already gone ahead to announce Mika’s coming, when Mika displayed the banner of the Valentine Household and declared his name, the knights at the gate permitted him entry. That banner bore the crest Mika himself had devised the previous year, a raven, bird of wisdom, shown soaring freely through the skies.

After leaving their wagon in the forecourt, Mika and his companions were conducted by a clerk of the Yutilainen Household into a chamber within the main building. It seemed to be a reception room, with long benches set upon either side of a long table, and paintings upon the walls. There they waited a little while, until at last a woman entered.

“I am Sandra Yutilainen, head of the Yutilainen Household. You are Lord Valentine, are you not?” (Sandra)

Earnest had told Mika she was in her mid-thirties. Remarkably tall for a woman, taller indeed than the average man of the Dariander region, she had black hair cropped short and sharp eyes that gave a powerful impression. She named herself, and fixed Mika with her gaze.

“Yes, I am Mika Valentine, head of the Valentine Household. I am deeply grateful to you for granting me this time for an audience.” (Mika)

“I too have heard your name spoken. You have come a long way. Be seated and be at ease.” (Sandra)

Mika had risen to introduce himself. Sandra, with a voice and smile gentler than her stern bearing suggested, bade him sit, and so he did.

By addressing Mika as “Lord Valentine”, she had acknowledged him as a true lord, just as the neighboring lords had done. Mika had expected as much once consent for the audience had been given. Yet to have it confirmed face-to-face with such magnanimity brought him relief.

Sandra also took her seat across the table, and tea was served by attendants.

“My escort may seem excessive but pay it no mind. My retainers would not allow me to meet a stranger, and a magic user at that, without full protection. Therefore, I had no choice but to bring them.” (Sandra)

“It is natural that your retainers would be concerned when their lady is to meet with one such as myself, a new and untested figure. I take no offense at all.” (Mika)

Sandra spoke with a sigh, and Mika answered with a smile.

Behind her stood two knights. One held a loaded crossbow, not aimed but ready, clearly intended to prevent Mika from casting psychokinesis magic or any other spell before he could be struck. The other knight Mika sensed to be a practitioner of body magic. As a fellow magic user, he could perceive the aura. It was natural that a great house such as the Yutilainen should retain several magic users, and that one of them should guard the lord.

On Mika’s side, Earnest sat beside him, having arranged this meeting, while Dimitri stood behind. Dimitri’s great axe was sheathed in leather and held upright like a staff, the blade turned toward himself, showing clearly that he bore no hostile intent. Yet he was ready, if need arose, to cast off the cover and wield it in an instant.

Meanwhile, Jeremy had been left outside with the wagon to tend the luggage, and was not present.

“I am glad you take no offense. Now then, you said you had come both to greet me and to offer a gift of some kind.” (Sandra)

“Yes. That is indeed the case. Yet first, allow me to give a brief introduction of myself, that you may know more clearly who I am.” (Mika)

At Sandra’s words Mika nodded, and thus the true beginning of the audience commenced.

 

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