“By the way, I must tell you about the damage to the village. Is that alright?”
“…Yes.”
The words made Keita shudder. Still, he raised his head to listen.
He was the village Hero. And so he had to accept his failure to protect.
“Twelve villagers were killed. They have all been gathered and buried.”
“So…many…”
“Still, thanks to you, many of them were able to survive. While it is important to mourn the dead, you should also be glad about those who were saved.”
Vengras said with a smile. Keita was encouraged, and nodded hesitantly.
“Where is everyone now?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself?”
Keita got up from his bed and accepted the cape that Vengras offered him. And then he stepped out of the room.
“Huh? What is this?”
There was a narrow hallway in front of him. The walls were made of wood, and there were doors on both sides.
“Prefabricated construction method. Isn’t that what they call it where you are from? The parts are manufactured and then put together at the location.”
“…Ye-yes.”
He had got that impression from the beginning. There was a uniformity to everything. The room, the beds and furniture. As if they were products.
“All of our army’s living quarters are constructed in such a way. After all, depending on the land, we may not be able to gather enough resources.”
“So…this house too?”
“We thought it was necessary for those who have lost their homes. It was done before acquiring official permission…but I trust you understand our reason.”
Vengras said with a humble bow and a smile.
Still, Keita felt that there was something eerie in it. He was hiding something.
“Now, let us go outside.”
Without being able to refuse, Keita followed after the young man.
Once they were outside, it was like a different world.
As the villagers moved the bricks and burnt rubble, soldiers in uniforms and armor were building houses.
In the distance, he could see men harvesting the crops, even though it was too early. And they were building a fence as well.
“Wh…what are they doing?”
“Obviously, you understand the heavy blow that has been dealt to Lindle’s industry.”
Keita did not know how to reply. And so the young man continued.
“The brewery has been burned down, and after the wine is taken from the warehouses, this village will have no source of income. On top of that, there is the damage from the Demon King’s army. The mountain urchins have also contaminated the fields.”
“It’s…that bad…”
“And so while it may seem presumptuous, our army has decided to purchase this village.”
Keita didn’t understand what he was hearing.
Purchase?
“This village exists along the border of Kaiter, Rimlith, and Temeria. However, each country’s power has weakened since the Demon King’s army arrived. And they cannot spare any men to protect a village on the frontier. That was when you came down as a Hero and offered to protect them.”
Yes, he knew that.
And so he and Canila could…
“However, Lindle was destroyed. And that will cause the monsters to become even bolder. At the same time, people have lost their homes and will become refugees.”
“But!”
“Yes. We will not allow that to happen. It is a Hero’s role to bring peace to the people and drive away the monsters… And so we purchased this village.”
Vengras stopped his explanation here and began to walk through the village again. Keita could only follow him, like a dog on a leash.
“Our army will stay here. The people will be employed as laborers. The production of supplies and taking care of the soldiers. In the meantime, they will be able to revive their apple wine production and save the village.”
“Bu-but that will be so expensive…”
“We have investors already. Merchants who used to buy the win, as well as other cities who we have trade agreements with. We even told them about the apple brandy you were considering.”
Keita felt that there was something strange about Vengras’s words.
Everything was happening much too soon.
Even if the prefabricated buildings could be put together quickly, it would have taken time to bring the materials here. Also, the funds for restoration. The investors. It was as if they knew this village was going to fall.
In other words…they knew this was going to happen from the very beginning.