Chapter 302: Farewell, Panemo Village

* * *

"Welcome," he said, and then, "Please leave the village."

Unable to fully grasp Village Chief Toppipappugen's true intentions, I tilted my head.

I'm not emitting black haze or anything.

I'm not that irritated.

In any case, I didn't understand what he meant.

So, I was puzzled.

To explain how I feel, it's something like this.

<I'm a bit annoyed...... but I think it's okay to kill them......>

Calm down, Extra-sama.

You're a bit too hotheaded.

Now, no matter what I'm thinking in my mind, my face is expressionless.

However, it seems that my bewilderment was fully conveyed to Village Chief Toppipappugen by the fact that I ended up freezing silently.

He scratched his head while slightly lowering his eyebrows with a troubled look.

"......I'm sorry. Honestly, I would like to at least hold a welcoming feast for you...... but there are circumstances that prevent me from letting you stay in this village."

Then, after letting out a big sigh, the village chief began to explain those circumstances.

"Do you know the name of the noble who governs this area, including Panemo Village?"

"I don't know."

Of course I wouldn't know.

In fact, I just learned from the village chief's words that this country is called "Ashgo."

<We crossed another country's border without realizing it. We didn't notice because we were basically progressing through the forest since escaping from the ruins.>

"......Then I'll tell you, this land is the Daychib Duchy, governed by Duke Daychib. And this duke is...... despite his advanced age, a youthful person."

Trickle, trickle......

The village chief slowly speaks while pouring the orange tea from the teapot-like object into our emptied teacup-like objects.

Slowly, while choosing his words.

"And we, the people of Ashgo, feel indebted to the black-haired and black-eyed people, but this person is different. The duke hates black hair and black eyes, no matter what."

"Why?"

"......I'm sorry. I can't go into details of this either. I cannot speak of the circumstances around here, it's too dreadful."

Gulp.

Saying that, the village chief took another sip of tea.

Again with "I can't go into details"

I wonder what he means by dreadful?

While pondering that question, I also sipped my tea slowly.

"Anyway, the duke hates black hair and black eyes. If you catch his eye, he will probably cut you down on the spot, that's how much he hates them. And since all the officials are at his beck and call, if they find you, they will immediately report you to the duke's knights."

"And I...... maybe even the villagers, will be captured?"

"Probably. In the past, it wasn't this bad. There are no longer any loyal vassals to advise him, and those around him are honing their skills to please him every day...... ahem."

An exaggerated clearing of the throat.

"In any case, these are the circumstances. The tax collector will be coming to this village soon. A particularly enthusiastic guy. The kind of guy who digs through the back of your drawers to see if you're hiding any money. I can't fully hide you."

Saying that, Village Chief Toppipappugen stared intently at me and quietly lowered his head.

"So, I'm sorry, little guest. We don't know you. You never came to this village...... that's what I want you to pretend."

* * *

A few minutes later.

I was at the outskirts of Panemo Village.

The reason is to leave this village.

In front of me is a straight path lined with shells, just like before.

This white path continues all the way to the small mountain range visible far in the distance.

"Myogomyoggoshugoshuggo...... Myogomyoggoshugoshuggo......"

The sound of Myogomyogoshugo can be heard here and there in the forest surrounding the village.

At the outskirts of the village, the vigorous shouts of making dried fish can no longer be heard.

"If you go straight north on this road, you'll reach the royal capital. There are probably...... fewer inhumane people like me there."

While saying such things, the village chief, who was the only one who came to see me off, casually handed me a bag about the size of my head.

I wonder what's inside, it's lumpy and hard.

The smell is...... ah.

<It's dried fish.>

It's dried fish, this is.

And when I take my eyes off the bag and look up, there's the village chief's apologetic face with his straight-lined mouth, as usual.

......What do you mean, inhumane?

Inhumane people don't make that kind of face.

"Listen well, guest, I'll say it again. Go straight ahead. There's a fork in the road leading to the sea along the way, but never go that way."

"Why?"

"............"

I stare intently at the village chief.

The village chief...... didn't say "I can't go into details" about this.

Defeated by my silent gaze asking him to tell me, he told me the reason in a small voice.

"......Recently, a huge monster has taken up residence in the sea near the cape over there."

"A huge...... monster!?"

"Keep your voice down...... It's still a secret from the villagers, except for a few. We mustn't scare them."

The village chief looked around restlessly and continued.

"Anyway, that's why you must not head towards the cape. It's a dead end anyway. Understood?"

"Understood."

Seeing me nod for now, the village chief let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest.

"Then, guest...... traveler Emi Rune. Have a good journey."

"......Goodbye, Panemo Village. I pray for your happiness...... Thank you for the tea and gift. I was very happy."

After exchanging those words, I turned my back on Panemo Village and started walking on the white path.

"Myogomyoggoshugoshuggo...... Myogomyoggoshugoshuggo......"

The sound of Myogomyogoshugo reaching my ears is getting farther and farther away.

Instead, I start to hear the sound of the grass in the meadow surrounding the path rustling in the wind.

Looking at the meadow, I see various flowers growing there, such as yellow lily-like flowers and large, tall celery-like flowers.

And if I walk absentmindedly, a small lizard runs between my feet and immediately hides in the grass, disappearing from view.

When I turn around to follow the lizard's movement with my eyes, I see a sun-tanned figure that has already become as small as a bean, standing on the other side of the path under the blue sky with arms crossed, watching me intently.

I don't know if they can see me from over there.

I bowed once.

I couldn't lift my head for a while.

* * *

Now.

Now, now, now!

Then, after walking straight on the white path and the village chief's figure was completely out of sight, the fork he mentioned earlier appeared in front of me.

In the middle of that fork, there's a brand new signboard.

It says, "Dead end! Entry prohibited due to danger!"

The village chief probably put it up.

"............"

I glanced at the signboard and...... ignoring its warning.

I changed my course and started walking towards the fork...... towards the cape where a monster is said to live.

<Emi, are you going to repay the tea and dried fish by exterminating the monster?>

Extra-sama speaks in an exasperated voice.

<Your gratitude is excessive. That monster is surely strong. It's big, right?>

A big monster, that's exactly why, Extra-sama.

<Huh......?>

Extra-sama let out a questioning voice, not understanding what I mean.

You see, Extra-sama.

I only stayed in that village for a short while.

But I certainly liked that village.

<Yes.>

But you know, Extra-sama.

That's a separate matter.

<Yes?>

You see.

"I'm hungry."

The words unintentionally slipped out.

And also, pitch-black haze.