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

 

 

Fugitives

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

In early December, when preparations for winter were nearing their final stage, Mika was working diligently on land reclamation in the western section of the forest that spread across the southern part of the village.

“Mika-sama! Something terrible has happened! It is terrible!” (Jeremy)

Hearing the shout from the east, where the villagers were tending to the grazing pigs, Mika stopped working and turned around. Dimitri, who was standing guard beside him, instinctively raised his battle axe and faced the direction of the voice.

The one calling was the cheerful villager, Jeremy. Repeating “It’s terrible!” as he ran up, he stopped before Mika, resting his hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

“What is the matter? Don’t tell me it’s another horned bear?” (Mika)

Recalling the incident from around the same time last year, when a dangerous monster, the horned bear, appeared from the depths of the forest, Mika asked, and Jeremy, still panting, shook his head.

“No, that’s not it! It’s people… humans!” (Jeremy)

“Humans?” (Mika)

“Yes, several people have come from beyond the forest!” (Jeremy)

“What…?” (Mika)

Upon hearing Jeremy’s words, Mika quickly set off toward the others, bringing Dimitri along.

The great forest stretching south of the village spanned dozens of kilometers from north to south. The trees grew densely, and the terrain was unstable, making it difficult to traverse. Those who attempted it often lost their way and their strength, or they were attacked by beasts and magic beasts that lived in the depths. However, it was not entirely impossible to cross. It was said that beyond the forest lay large territories ruled by other lords. Thus, there remained the faint possibility that one of those lordly households had dispatched troops, fully aware of the risks involved.

With that in mind, Mika hastened toward the villagers. Yet, according to Jeremy, the group that had emerged from the forest did not seem to have any such military intention.

“Survivors of a disaster?” (Mika)

“Yes! They do not look like they came through the forest with the intent to attack the Valentine Household. They were all exhausted, worn out, and they looked like people who had been lost in the woods.” (Jeremy)

“I see. In any case, we need to hear what happened from them directly.” (Mika)

When Mika arrived at the scene with those words, he saw that, indeed, several unfamiliar people were among the villagers, at least 10 or more by the look of it.

They appeared utterly exhausted, and several had already lost consciousness. It was easy to believe they were survivors who had wandered through the forest until they finally escaped. Despite their unknown origins, the villagers were tending to them with concern. There were women and children among them, and none bore the air of bandits or fugitives. Perhaps for that reason, the villagers were providing them temporary care.

Marcel, who led the villagers, was speaking to one of the newcomers, a man seated on the ground, his face weary and his armor battered, who seemed to be a knight. In his arms lay an unconscious girl, whom he appeared to have carried all the way through the forest.

“Mika-sama!” (Marcel)

“Marcel, who are these people?” (Mika)

Marcel turned at the sound of his lord’s voice, and Mika looked around as he spoke.

“I do not yet know for certain. According to this man, a war broke out south of the great forest. They fled into the woods and managed to emerge here. However, he is barely conscious, and it seems impossible to question him properly at the moment.” (Marcel)

The man Marcel indicated was indeed in no state to speak further. His head wavered, and it seemed he might collapse at any moment.

“Mika-sama, what should we do?” (Dimitri)

“For now, let’s bring all of them to the village. Give them water and rest. We will ask about their situation once they have recovered.” (Mika)

It was clear that these people had not emerged from the forest with hostile intent. Mika made that judgment and gave his order accordingly.

 

—

 

The fugitives who had crossed the forest numbered sixteen in total. They were temporarily housed in a log building that the villagers usually used as a communal storehouse. The villagers removed the farming tools to make space and laid the survivors inside.

They were given water and allowed to rest. The following day, one of them, the knight who had spoken with Marcel and who appeared to be of the highest rank among them, awoke and ate a little food, regaining some strength. Upon hearing this, Mika summoned him to the manor.

“I am glad to see you somewhat recovered. I am Mika Valentine, head of the Valentine Household and lord of this village.” (Mika)

In the large hall of the manor, Mika sat across a table from the knight. The man, with long dark-brown hair, looked to be around thirty years old and bore an air of intellect.

Beside Mika stood Dimitri, gripping the handle of his battle axe planted on the floor. While Mika’s expression remained calm and kind, Dimitri’s sharp gaze was fixed on the knight in cautious vigilance.

“I am Joel, a knight who served… or rather, once served the Strauch Household. We are deeply grateful for the protection you have granted us, Your Excellency Valentine.” (Joel)

“It seems there is much hardship behind your arrival. Please, tell me what happened.” (Mika)

“Yes, I shall explain.” (Joel)

Having deliberately corrected his words from “serve” to “served”, Joel began to recount the circumstances that led to their flight.

South of the region containing the Valentine territory, beyond the great forest, there were several small territories and two large ones, each with populations in the thousands.

The Strauch Household governed one of these large territories. For years, they had been at odds with their neighboring great household, the Langenbach Household. Both sought to expand their influence, struggling for supremacy over the southern region.

Recently, that struggle had come to an end. In yet another battle against the Langenbach forces, the Strauch heir was killed by misfortune, and the morale of the army collapsed. During their chaotic retreat, they suffered devastating losses, and before they could recover, their castle and the town surrounding it were besieged.

Though Strauch Castle was built of stone, it was small in scale, and the town below was still in early development, a modest settlement that barely functioned as a territory capital. The remaining soldiers were few, and the hastily gathered militia had no will to fight. Outnumbered and demoralized, they could not withstand the fierce assaults of the enemy. The fall of the castle was imminent.

Lord Strauch attempted to surrender to Langenbach, but his plea was rejected. With his heir dead and his household’s ruin certain, he accepted his fate. His final command to his remaining knights and soldiers was not to defend the castle but to aid the people in their escape.

Joel and his fellow knights obeyed their lord’s last command. As enemy troops poured into the castle town, looting and slaughtering with savage fury, they fought desperately to lead as many civilians as possible to safety.

Though they managed to flee with many townsfolk, the enemy’s pursuit was relentless. The fleeing groups became scattered, and Joel’s detachment of several dozen people ventured into the great forest in a desperate bid to escape.

Even on the southern side, the teachings warned that the forest’s interior was forbidden. Knowing the danger, Joel led his people deeper, hoping that their pursuers would abandon the chase. But returning south was impossible, for the enemy forces still occupied the lands beyond the forest. If captured, their fates would be dire. Thus, Joel chose to risk everything by attempting the impossible, crossing the great forest.

The forest was dark and dense, its ground uneven, its light barely reaching through the canopy. They lost their bearings and moved slowly. In such severe conditions, they continued walking for days. Their number, over 50 at first, gradually dwindled. Some were separated, others fell to beasts or magic beasts, some were injured or overcome by exhaustion, and many were forced to stop.

Joel encouraged those who remained and pressed onward. After several days, they finally emerged from the forest. The girl he had carried, Mika learned, was not his daughter or kin, but an unknown child who had collapsed along the way.

“I see. You have endured something truly terrible. Even in despair, to save fifteen lives and carry a stranger through such hardship. You are a man of great virtue.” (Mika)

“I am humbled. I only wish I could have saved more.” (Joel)

Joel seemed to dwell more on the lives he failed to save than the 15 survivors he had led. Mika, however, thought it remarkable that even a third of them had survived under such impossible circumstances.

“Do you have anywhere to go from here?” (Mika)

“No. Our homeland is lost, and beyond the Strauch territory, we have no allies to turn to.” (Joel)

Hearing this, Joel shook his head. Outwardly calm, but within him surely lay a deep unease.

“I understand. You and the others must still be weary. Rest for now and recover your strength. As for what comes next, we will think about it together.” (Mika)
“Once again, I offer my heartfelt gratitude. We shall repay the kindness that saved our lives.” (Joel)

Joel bowed deeply.

 

—

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)