Chapter 56: The Beast men village and surprsie
1342 Words
According to statistics, there are about 200 beast-men living in Oise village. Most of them are fox-eared beasts and men. Just thinking about it got me excited. I can already feel their soft tails rubbing on my cheeks.
Just like the map said, there was an open space in the mountain forest, and there was a settlement there.
All of the buildings that stood next to each other were made of wood. There are fields that spread around the village, and it looks like they can live a self-sufficient life.
Silhouettes could be seen here and there, and their tails can be seen even far away.
“We can see Oise village.”
My desire heightened.
“Is this the tribe of your previous comrade?”
“I’m sure about it.”
This is the only beaten tribe of men on the whole demon continent. There are said to be other settlements, but that wasn’t specified on the map.
Looking at the fox-eared beast… I started to remember Cake and her siblings. Bittersweet feelings immediately enveloped my heart. No matter how long it passed, their memories are still in my heart.
Before we entered the village, bows, and spears were immediately aimed at us.
“?!”
Shaymi and I immediately raised our hands.
Is this the new way of welcoming someone?
“Who are you?”
“We’re just visitors…”
The man in the spear lowered his spear after seeing my face. He gestured toward his comrades to lower their weapons.
“You’re the light brown-haired girl who saved my life yesterday.”
Yup, that’s me.
“... I apologize for our rude welcome.”
“Don’t sweat it… I’m sure that you and your comrade are just doing your job as village guards.”
“I didn’t introduce myself before. My name is Kuno. I’m the current chief of Oise village. As a symbol of gratitude for saving my life yesterday, please enjoy yourself visiting our village… Call everyone, we’re going to have a big feast tonight!”
The men behind him raised their weapons in joy.
The preparation for the feast had begun. They go to the forest and hunt down boars, fresh vegetables are gathered in the fields. Steam rose up in the sky while the women together with their kids helped with cooking the food.
I would like to help, but every time I approached them, they looked at me with kind smiles and pushed me back. Saying that…
“Just rest our hero… We also heard that you helped the other captive beside the princesses.”
“I’m not exactly the one who saved them…”
I tried to explain that the mysterious flaming swordsman was the one who did the saving.
They didn’t care about it. The story about the cool flaming swordsman is spread like wildfire and me, as the one who saved their chief, is the same. Maybe the story has already got mixed up.
Well, I’m really good at cooking. I can only do the basics (frying and roasting).
While sitting on a long log of wood, I gazed upon the drifting clouds.
“I wonder what the flaming swordsman looks like.”
“His cool… His expression is stiff and he seems angry. His red eyes look so cool.”
Red eyes… Is he a demon? Or perhaps a dark being? Judging from how this girl has the face of a maiden in love while describing her. I think he's not that bad-looking.
Shaymi found someone she was admiring.
In my case, I don’t have any interest in having a relationship with anyone. I am happy to hear other people's stories, like Fina and Denver. For some reason, I can’t imagine myself being with one.
Thinking about my future is still too early for me.
“Watch out for the boar coming toward the village!”
Shouted by the guard beast-men. Giving everyone a warning. The women, elderly, and children on the ground all ran away, avoiding the path of the boar. Men, meanwhile, took their shields and swords to intercept the boar.
“They failed in killing the boar in one strike. There we have to kill it before it destroys the village.”
The chief, Kuno said.
A giant horned boar monster is charging straight toward us. The back of the boar was full of arrows. It seems like this boar is being hunted by the beasts and it's charging toward the village as revenge.
“Let me handle this one… Its meat would be ten times better if I’m the one who defeated it.”
I said with confidence and took one step toward the group of best men. The chief grinned at my words and closed his eyes.
“Let her be…”
“But she is the visitor.”
“She is very strong… I saw it with my two eyes yesterday… She is insanely strong. An S-ranked adventurer.”
Lightning covered my fist. I charged forward, punching the boar directly on its skull.
“Lightning punch!”
The boar, after taking one hit, wiggles and eventually falls. The giant horned boar fainted from one lightning punch.
“Amazing! She took an acre of it with one punch!”
“I have never seen someone defeat a powerful monster with one punch.”
“That punch is stronger than the punch she used with her opponent before. Could it be that she’s still pulling her punches from her battle yesterday?”
“She is undeniably powerful.”
“I’ve knocked out the boar… Let's start the chopping.”
I said and pulled my newly brought knife at my waist.
Cutting the boar into pieces was fun. I was able to learn how to cut down parts. I found out the location of the Lion and bacon. The biggest part of the boar was the leg ham. It's also the part with the most meat on it.
Some parts were roasted and others we put in another dish. Unfortunately, there is no chicken, pork is fine.
I have my plate already full of different dishes.
“Hanayuki, is it really fine eating this much? You’ll get fatter.”
“Ehhh? Am I hearing something?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t hear me.”
“What are you saying, Shaymi? I can’t hear you… Please stop joking around. I have lots of food to taste today.”
“You can hear me loud and clear.”
I heard her clearly, but I find out that it's a waste if I don’t taste these hidden delicacies and dishes are only made by the beastman tribe.
After this feast, I promised all the gods in the universe to eat green vegetables only for a month.
The chief approached us.
“Are you enjoying the food?”
“Sure, it's delicious, especially this one covered with soy sauce.”
“I’m happy to hear that… By the way, why does Hanayuki visit our home village? Is there anything you’re searching for?”
“Well, I’m just visiting nothing more than that... Previously, I had a best man friend that wanted to go home. Things went south and I was unable to save them. I just want to reach this place and visit it for once.”
At least, I wanted my memories with them to reach this place. Cake and her siblings' home village.
A beast man came running toward the chief.
“ Another human visitor has come.”
“Another human… We have plenty of visitors coming today.”
“She said she was a knight from the Arsland kingdom. Her name is Audrey.”
The chief looked puzzled as he asked the person why a knight from the kingdom would visit a peaceful village-like Oise.
I’m triggered after hearing Audrey’s name. I put down my plate and walked toward the entrance with a serious expression.
I know that girl is up to no good. I can’t let her destroy the smile of the people living in this village.
- Writer
