Rus Village’s Precious Protein
When we arrived at Rus Village, the villagers welcomed us rather matter-of-factly.
“Oh, you came. Well then, thanks in advance.”
That kind of feeling. Business-like, or like it was only natural for us to come.
Well, but it’s usually like this. Guild members are mostly rough types, and when they do come, it often leads to trouble. For the villagers, regular army patrols must be much more reassuring.
Still, the arrival of a party composed entirely of mages was apparently unexpected, as the village chief who came to greet us as a representative seemed a bit surprised.
“This ‘Young Tree Staff’ party was active in Legol a few years ago, and they’ve been operating in the royal capital recently. Their leader Sally is Gold 3, so their skills are definitely top-tier.”
“Ooh… if Mongrel-san says so, it must be true. That’s reassuring indeed. There don’t seem to be any rough-looking people either, so I’m at ease.”
The village chief looked at Vandale and frowned slightly, but didn’t say anything in particular.
By the way, I’ve come to this village several times, so they remember my face. I often buy honey to take back with me.
“…That said, there aren’t really any troublesome monsters in Rus Village right now. Even though it’s escort work for the harvest, I think there won’t be much to do. It’d be a bit of a waste to have Gold-class people just sitting around.”
“Then just have them help with the harvest. Many of them seem like they want to try it anyway—most of these guys don’t have much experience with farm work.”
“Is that so?”
The “Young Tree Staff” party is mostly from urban areas. There probably aren’t many who come from farming villages. That’s why everyone’s eyes were sparkling a bit when they heard about farm work experience. Rich kids. Farm work will get boring and make you give up after just an hour. Mainly because of your back.
“…Hmm, then we’ll have them guard the field work while helping with simple tasks. Of course, if you don’t mind…”
“Farm work! Leave it to us! I’ve never done it before, but I’ve learned how!”
“Ha ha ha, is that so, is that so. Well, take breaks so you don’t hurt yourselves. If you collapse when push comes to shove, you won’t be able to protect us.”
That’s how our work began in such a relaxed manner.
“There’s a way to swing a longer scythe to cut, but it’s dangerous when beginners use it. So first-timers use this knife.”
“It’s an ordinary harvesting knife. I see them often, but this is my first time using one.”
“I’ve used one before. When you stab it into a tree, it’s really hard to pull out.”
“I see, you put your finger in this hole and grip it like this…”
“Hmm, there’s no room for improvement with such simple construction. But that’s precisely why I feel its functional beauty!”
Shut up, don’t surround the karambit with a big group and expand the conversation.
“What you do is simple. Aim for the lower part of the wheat and cut it with a swift motion. Grab the stems with your left hand and cut just the bundled amount. Be careful not to get greedy and grab too much, or it won’t cut well. You can do it if you have strength, though. But if you overdo it, the roots will come out easily, so just be careful about that.”
“Vandale-san could probably cut a lot at once!”
“I wonder about that… bending over for long periods seems rather troublesome.”
“This’ll mess up your back or knees, so be careful. It’s better to keep your spine straight or arch it back.”
The magic-using farm work beginners started their job with great interest.
Using karambit knives with clumsy movements, they still looked happy while cutting. It really was like a farm work experience corner.
“Hey, Mongrel-san! A dart-hide snake came out over here, so could you do something about it?”
“Right away!”
All that’s left is occasionally exterminating the larger creatures that emerge from the fields.
We do this for several days. We don’t do the drying or threshing though.
“Hey Mongrel. I’m doing guard duty.”
“Oh? Sally, you’re done with the harvest experience corner?”
“I got bored.”
“I see… that was fast…”
Your daughter is seriously cutting away with Vandale though.
Well, our main job is subjugation, so it’s fine.
“Over here, over here. This damn snake, did it settle in during the summer? I didn’t see it in spring.”
When I showed my face at the field I was called to, I saw a large snake burrowing into the soil of the field.
It’s the type that’s easy to overlook because of its plain skin color, but size-wise it’s like a small python. Even with plain coloring, it’s conspicuous enough.
It’s a fairly docile snake and isn’t even classified as a monster, but when provoked it will bite, and if it coils around you it’s genuinely dangerous.
The farmers could probably handle it themselves, but since we’re here, let’s work.
“It’s in the wheat field where Mongrel would have trouble getting to it. I’ll do it.”
“Oh, then I’ll leave it to you, Sally.”
“Are you a mage? I’d be troubled if you flooded or burned the field during harvest.”
“No problem. My magic is almost harmless.”
Sally pointed her white staff and poured magic power into it.
“Oh, I forgot to mention. It’s going to get bright, so both of you shouldn’t look directly at it.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, let’s do as she says. Cover with your hands and watch through squinted eyes.”
“‘Scorching Light'”
A light bullet flew from the tip of the staff and landed in the field.
“Whoa!?”
“Ugh, this is terrible.”
The moment it hit the soil, it emitted an intense blinding light.
I couldn’t look directly at it even though it was daytime. It was probably brighter than when magnesium reacts.
“I-it’s not burning, right!?”
“It’s fine, just bright.”
Eventually, after several seconds, the light subsided and the normal field scenery returned.
It was still daytime, but after that brightness, the sky strangely seemed to have gotten darker.
“It’s unconscious inside. Mongrel, go into the field and collect it.”
“So that’s my only role. Yes, yes.”
But it was nice not having to chase the snake around in the field.
The snake in the field was dazed and weakened by the unavoidable light. It’s amazing how just strong light can incapacitate something like this.
I grabbed its tail, swung it around as I left the field, then slammed the snake’s head against some nearby stone steps with a whack, and the subjugation was complete.
“Wow, that was amazing magic. Thank you both. You can do what you want with the dart-hide snake. We’ll buy it if you want.”
“Oh, seriously? Sally, what do you want to do? Since you’re the one who finished it off, I’ll butcher it instead of selling if you want it.”
“I hate snakes, so I don’t want it.”
“Seriously… then we’ll sell it. You look busy, so we’ll settle the money later.”
“Oh, let’s do that. We have to get back to work now.”
“Sure thing.”
After just bleeding the snake, we returned to field security again.
We worked until the harvest was finished, and the monsters that appeared numbered around ten or so.
Most were small fry, with the biggest being just a small, sickly goblin. This thing really is everywhere.
We didn’t encounter bandits, and no troublesome monsters appeared. A truly peaceful and tranquil harvest season.
The worst part is that a war will almost certainly start when this ends. My mood just won’t lift.
“Mongrel, the main dish at the harvest festival is apparently honey-grilled bird!”
“Hey, seriously? That’s a feast!”
I said my mood wasn’t lifted, but that was a lie. My mood just lifted.
The honey-grilled dishes in this country have a delicious umami flavor like teriyaki and a crispy texture. Good choice, Rus Village. When sightseeing, you really should go to places with good food.
“And there’s mead too!”
“Ah, that’s not particularly…”
“Why aren’t you happy! It’s delicious!”
“I don’t really like mead that much… Besides, Momo, you’re underage, right? Don’t drink alcohol.”
“I turned 16 this month, so I’m an adult!”
“Oh, is that so? I didn’t know. Congratulations.”
Kids grow up so fast. That little kid is already an adult. Well, the age of maturity itself is low, so it’s not the same conditions as my previous life.
“Well, I’ve been getting alcohol during celebrations for a while now.”
“You were drinking after all, you delinquent girl.”
The harvest festival was held in a large assembly hall.
Simply put, it was a giant pavilion. Just pillars and a roof—a place to shelter from rain.
There were no walls, so cold air would come in when the wind blew, but it was fairly warm thanks to the heat from cooking and the warmth from the crowd of people. The ceiling might have been helping to keep the heat in nicely too.
“Man, the ‘Young Tree Staff’ folks really helped us out! They refilled the reservoir and helped with water preparations too!”
“Magic really is convenient. I wish our village had a magic shop too.”
“Vandale-san’s height was helpful too. We had repairs in high places that we couldn’t get to… There are good people among the Sunglaire folks after all.”
“Ha ha ha.”
Since the party was scattered throughout various parts of the village, I couldn’t see everyone’s individual work, but apparently each person was able to help out using their respective magic and abilities.
It’s good that Vandale is being accepted too. In exclusive villages, you just get treated coldly no matter what, which is tough. Rus Village has warmth.
“Ah, this mead is excellent… fragrant and melting…”
“Hey hey, Vandale-san, feel free to drink more.”
“I’d like seconds too!”
“Ah, me too…”
The bird skin is crispy from the honey grilling and so damn good.
Forget the meat, I could eat just the skin forever…
“Mongrel, can I ask you something?”
“Hm? What is it, Sally?”
“I heard from Vandale earlier that bee larvae are edible. I thought you might know since you seem knowledgeable, so I wanted you to tell me what they taste like.”
“Why are you asking me something like that…”
“Vandale is too drunk to ask.”
“That was fast.”
Bee larvae means bee grubs, right? Well, I know the taste, but that’s knowledge from my previous life.
“I thought anyone associated with Sunglaire would know. Don’t they actively eat insects in Sunglaire?”
“I wasn’t born in Sunglaire… but I do know what bee grubs taste like. They have a milky, mellow flavor. Perfect except for the appearance.”
By the way, I’m the type who got put off by the appearance. I’m fine touching river worms and lugworms, but eating them has a high hurdle.
“I see…”
Looking closely, Sally is gripping a small plate in her hand.
Inside it is… fried bee grubs, maybe? Seriously, there’s the real thing.
“Mongrel, if you eat this, I’ll give you five silver coins. And I want you to say that I ate this instead of you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I bragged to Momo about being able to eat it.”
“What a stupid thing to brag about… just stick to it yourself.”
“No, I hate bugs.”
“Then just honestly say you can’t eat them… ten silver coins.”
“Fine, ten coins.”
“You hate it so much you won’t even negotiate… okay, seven coins.”
Somehow I extorted seven silver coins and ended up eating bee grubs that I don’t particularly like.
…Hmm, it really is the visual aspect… agh, whatever.
Munch…
…Yeah, once you eat it, it is delicious…
In a way, it’s a food ingredient that can be eaten deliciously even in this primitive world… yeah…
Damn, why does larvae go so well with ale… it’s good…
“Mellow flavor?”
“Very mellow… I don’t want to be too conscious of the texture though…”
“Good, I’ll use that review. Thanks.”
“…”
By the way, this entire exchange is being watched with deadpan eyes by Momo behind us.
Hang in there, mom. Children watch their parents closely.
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