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

 

 

Horned Bear (2)

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In the end, it was impossible to carry the enormous Horned Bear, which must have weighed nearly a ton, all the way back to the village in one piece. They decided to disassemble it in the forest before transporting it.

After draining the blood, removing the magic stone and internal organs, and separating most of the meat and bones, the carcass finally became light enough to move with magic. By the time they returned to the village, it was already afternoon.

“Phew, that was heavy.” (Mika)

Mika exhaled deeply and sat down in the village square where he had set down the Horned Bear. Carrying nearly five hundred kilograms of hide, meat, and bone to the village had drained a great deal of his mana and left him deeply fatigued.

“Mika, welcome home. I am truly glad you are safe.” (Ayla)

“I am back, Ayla. Thank you for coming to meet me.” (Mika)

Ayla had come from the manor after hearing that a Horned Bear had been hunted. She took Mika’s hand as they exchanged words. Though she had already received word that everyone was safe, worry had still lingered on her face. Looking down at Mika with a relieved smile, she held his hand tightly.

Both wished to embrace, yet they restrained themselves. The Hewitt servant acting as Ayla’s chaperone would have scolded them if they did.

“So, this is the Horned Bear. It is my first time seeing a whole one, but it is truly enormous. It is hard to believe this could have been alive.” (Ayla)

“And yet it came charging while roaring. When I faced it, even I trembled. I think this one must have been especially large, even among Horned Bears.” (Mika)

Ayla gazed at the massive beast in amazement, and Mika replied with a wry smile. The stuffed toy Amber, resting in Ayla’s arms, seemed frightened as well.

Many villagers had gathered in the square, staring with curiosity at the rare sight of a Horned Bear’s corpse.

“I cannot even imagine how terrifying it must have been. Mika, you are truly admirable for facing it.” (Ayla)

“Haha, a lord cannot simply run away.” (Mika)

Receiving her look of admiration, Mika laughed in embarrassment.

“Well, it was taken down rather easily. The repeating crossbow’s power was remarkable and made continuous attacks effortless.” (Mika)

The weapon excelled in range, power, and speed. Once aimed toward the enemy, one only needed to alternate between drawing the string and pulling the trigger to release a storm of bolts. That was one of its greatest advantages.

Thought-based magic required concentration, but this method demanded only enough focus to aim roughly and perform simple firing movements, which made it much easier for Mika to use. Each shot consumed little mana. Pulling the string required a small amount, and the trigger only a trace, yet the bolt could pierce armor. It was far more efficient than spending large quantities of mana to accelerate a projectile by magic alone. This efficiency allowed both his mana and focus to last longer, enabling him to continue attacking and to endure long battles even while commanding others.

“Now then, once a terrifying monster is defeated, what remains is a mountain of treasure.” (Mika)

Catching his breath, Mika rose and looked down at the Horned Bear’s remains. The stronger the foe, the greater the reward.

The meat was said to be unremarkable in flavor, yet abundant in quantity. The thick, sturdy bones could serve as excellent material for tools. Some internal organs were valuable as delicacies or medicinal ingredients. The tendons in the legs, easy to process and very durable, were prized as strings for bows, crossbows, and ballistae. If Mika used them for his repeating crossbow, the strings could become even stronger.

The pelt could be made into bedding or cloaks. Its large magic stone, suited to its size, would be highly effective as fertilizer. Even the horn on its forehead was valuable as an ornament.

“Perhaps I will keep the horn with the skull attached. It will make a fine trophy for hunting a great male Horned Bear.” (Mika)

Mika murmured as he gazed at the horn, which measured nearly 30 centimeters in length.

Because the previous lord’s family had taken away all valuables, the Valentine manor lacked ornamentation and dignity. In that regard, the horn of a male Horned Bear would serve as both decoration and proof of the new lord’s strength. Displaying the horned skull would also make an impressive statement to visiting guests.

It might be a bluff, yet such displays often proved effective. Moreover, the horn itself was valuable and could be sold if necessary.

“And as for this magic stone, let us not sell it. We can use it within our own lands.” (Mika)

Mika turned his gaze toward the magic stone that Marcel had brought back. It was the size of two fists, several to dozens of times larger than a typical one. Its color was deep and rich. Magic stones resembled amethysts in his previous world, and the darker the hue, the greater the mana they held and the better they worked as fertilizer.

“With a magic stone like this, how much fertilizer could we make?” (Mika)

“If I recall correctly, the proper dilution for a Horned Bear’s magic stone as fertilizer is ten thousand times.” (Marcel)

As he answered, Mika’s expression stiffened. Speaking the number aloud made him shiver.

Magic stones were easily crushed. When used as fertilizer, they were ground into powder, dissolved in water, and spread across the fields. Even the faintly colored stones of round mice, smaller than a fingernail, could be used at several hundredfold dilution.

“That figure applies to an ordinary Horned Bear’s stone. For one this large and potent, a slightly weaker concentration might suffice. Considering its weight as well…” (Mika)

“Even as we expand our farmland, we will not lack fertilizer for years to come.” (Marcel)

“Indeed. Beyond fertilizer, it will serve as fuel and medicine too. It is both a resource for development and a valuable reserve for emergencies.” (Mika)

Magic stones had many uses. When ignited, they consumed their stored mana and burned steadily for some time, useful as fuel or weapon material. They were also valued in alchemy and medicine. Since they did not decay, fine stones served as compact stores of wealth.

“And the pelt, I would rather use it here than sell it.” (Mika)

Mika looked again at the enormous hide.

“The fur is beautiful and large. What will you make from it?” (Ayla)

“It will become our winter quilt once we are married.” (Mika)

At those words, Ayla’s eyes widened.

“The quilt in my room is an old hand-me-down from the previous lord and lady. It is worn and tattered. I could bear that alone, but not when you are beside me. A new large quilt would be costly, yet with such a fine pelt, we can make one ourselves. It is thick and soft. We will be warm and comfortable even through the winter.” (Mika)

As Mika spoke, Ayla’s face turned bright red. The thought of sleeping under one quilt together overwhelmed her. Seeing her blush, Mika too grew flustered and fell silent.

The villagers who witnessed their bashful exchange smiled fondly at the young lord and his fiancée.

 

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That evening, after most of the disassembly was complete, Mika helped with the final work through magic, then took a bath to ease his fatigue.

“Ahh, bliss.” (Mika)

Sinking into the large tub of hot water, Mika sighed contentedly. The comfort of bathing was the same in this life as in his past one.

Even in this world, people knew from experience that bathing helped maintain cleanliness. Steam baths were common, and the village had a small public bathhouse beside the watermill, operating several times a week with separate days for men and women.

Immersion in hot water was considered more luxurious than steam bathing, yet heating water with magic stones was easier than using firewood alone, so it was not difficult to prepare. Mika washed his hair and body daily with hot water and indulged in a full bath twice a week as his only luxury.

After soaking for a while, he washed his hair with the fruit of a magical plant grown in the manor’s garden, which served as soap. Drying himself and dressing, he returned to the great room where Ayla awaited him.

“Mika, welcome back. Here, please have some tea.” (Ayla)

“Thank you, Ayla.” (Mika)

They smiled at each other. Mika accepted the wooden cup and took a sip.

In the region of Dariander, tea referred to herbal infusions. The herbal tea, cooled to a pleasant warmth, flowed smoothly down his throat, soothing his body after the bath.

A faint trace of mana could be sensed within the flavor. When magic users exhausted their mana, they sometimes consumed powdered magic stone to hasten recovery. Mika made it a habit to drink herbal tea with a touch of magic stone powder each evening.

“Ahh, delicious.” (Mika)

“Hehe, I am glad. I brewed it myself today.” (Ayla)

“Did you? After such a day, to bathe and then drink tea made by the one I love. This is the perfect day.” (Mika)

“…I am happy to hear that. It means so much to me.” (Ayla)

When he called her “the one I love”, Ayla blushed again before leaving for her own bath, followed by the Hewitt servant who assisted her. The family had sent a new attendant earlier that winter when they dispatched an envoy to check on her.

Mika sat down with his tea, letting out a slow breath. Beside him on another chair rested Amber, the stuffed toy that could not accompany Ayla to the bath. In the corner, Dimitri sat leaning against the wall, half-dozing from exhaustion. Before Mika’s bath, he had shared some of the hot water in a basin and now looked freshly washed and peaceful.

From the kitchen came the sound of Helga and Bianca preparing dinner, the aroma of soup filling the air. From the storeroom, Ivan’s movements could be heard as he tidied up after a day’s work.

It was a quiet, peaceful evening within the lord’s manor.

 

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