Chapter 3 - Nordende
I continue walking along the road with its gentle slopes.
On both sides, grain fields and vineyards spread out lushly, rich in greenery.
In the distance are the endlessly blue sky and the connecting mountains. No human figures can be found for now. Perhaps they are doing field work somewhere far away, or they are just hidden and can't be seen.
A month and a half since departing from the Kingdom of Abalonia.
I had finally reached Nordende.
The scenery seemed unchanged from nine years ago, but I noticed that the size of the fields had changed slightly. I feel like the range of the fields was a bit narrower when I came last time, but nine years have passed. It's only natural that fields would expand.
When a soft breeze blows, the scent of soil and the smell of grass tickle my nostrils.
Narrowing my eyes at the pleasantness of the wind, I gaze at the scenery spreading out endlessly.
If I go straight down this road, I should see houses. And beyond that, there are also the flower fields I was once enchanted by.
It's a place I dreamed of and sought incessantly even during the journey. Just thinking that makes me feel my heart throb.
Cutting my gaze from the beautifully spreading vineyards, I shoulder my hemp sack again and start walking.
Then, a woman wearing work clothes came out from the vineyard.
She has sun-kissed skin, and her red hair is gathered in the back with a barrette. Her height is just under 160 centimeters, and her physique is unclear, perhaps due to the thick work clothes.
The red-haired woman walks toward me, turning her sharp red eyes this way. That piercing gaze seemed to represent the strength of the woman's will.
For now, it's awkward to remain silent, so I try throwing some words her way to appeal that I have no hostility.
"...Hello."
"...Hello. So, who are you? You're not a face I see around here, and it's been bothering me since you've been standing blankly in front of someone's field for a while now."
The woman glares with eyes as if looking at a suspicious person.
Seeing that she returns the greeting dutifully, she doesn't seem like such a bad person. Her tone is a bit harsh, but from her perspective, I am a suspicious person loitering in front of her own field. I think it can't be helped. Newcomers who come to a rural village are usually given this kind of welcome.
"Uh, sorry. I'm someone who came here because I wanted to live here, and I'm not a suspicious person."
When I state that in a slightly calm tone, she mutters, "Hmm."
"...Black hair and black eyes, huh."
"Eh?"
I couldn't hear the words she muttered softly, so I unintentionally ask back.
"It's nothing. Where did you come from?"
"From the Kingdom of Abalonia."
I'm not satisfied with her attitude, but if I hesitate here, I'll be suspected, so I answer flatly.
"You came from quite a far place, didn't you? Well, you don't look like a bandit, so I'll guide you to the Village Chief's house. Ask the Village Chief for details."
"That helps."
I hadn't visited the Village Chief's house when I came nine years ago, after all. It's reassuring to have someone to guide me.
"It's just because everyone will be anxious if an unfamiliar person is loitering around alone. Follow me."
The woman, who waved one hand as if it were nothing, turns her body around and starts walking.
Thinking she's a frank woman, I silently follow behind her.
Following behind the woman along the road, I saw houses with brown roofs standing together as if huddled. That place where the houses are clustered is probably the central area.
As we move away from there, the houses become fewer and more scattered.
Unless the population has exploded since last time, the number of people should be around a few hundred.
As we walk along the dirt road for a while, we pass a man pushing a cart.
"Oh, Aisha. Who is that man?"
Naturally not knowing me, the man stops and asks.
This woman is named Aisha.
"He says he came here because he wants to live here."
"Is that so. That's a rare thing. Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you!"
I bow to the man who smiles at me frankly.
"Oh my, what a polite person."
The man wears a slightly taken-back face and laughs brightly.
Perhaps because the senior-junior relationships from my adventurer days were ingrained in me, I became a bit formal. Even though I'm a newcomer, I'm not apprenticing to a craftsman, so I might have been too stiff.
"...That's only if he gets permission from the Village Chief, though."
Aisha-san, please let that slide.
She seems to be the type who speaks very clearly.
"Well, this person should be fine. Then, let me know if he gets permission—"
The man, perhaps used to Aisha being like that, laughed cheerfully and pulled his cart away.
◆ ◆ ◆
After repeating similar things a few times while being led by Aisha, we reached the central area where the houses gathered. I feel gazes from men doing side jobs and women hanging laundry, but I'm used to it now. This kind of thing happened often at the Adventurer's Guild too.
It seems that being curious about a newcomer is the same whether you're an adventurer or a villager.
Since I'm not being picked on like by rough adventurers, I feel like this is better, but being watched from a distance is also uncomfortable in its own way.
If Aisha hadn't accompanied me, I would have been seen with even more curious stares.
I walk while trying not to mind the people's gazes as much as possible.
For now, I'll just look at the surrounding scenery.
Inside the village, I feel like the number of flowers planted has increased and become a bit more gorgeous than nine years ago.
There are houses with flowers in warm colors like red and yellow, and there are also houses with colors in cool colors like blue and purple.
Even though they're just houses, it's fun just looking at them.
That house over there skillfully expresses the change in color with a gradient. I wonder how you plant them to make them look like that.
Nordende really is good because the flowers are beautiful. This is probably the only place where they grow the flowers at their own houses so carefully even though they don't become ingredients to eat.
"This village is always beautiful with flowers blooming."
"Always? Have you been here before?"
When I mutter while looking at the flowers at a house, Aisha, who is walking in front, casts a glance toward me.
"Once, nine years ago."
"Nine years ago!?"
When I say that, Aisha shouts in a slightly loud voice.
It's unexpected that she, who always exudes a calm atmosphere, would be this surprised.
"Yes, but is it something to be that surprised about?"
"No, it's nothing. Sorry."
When I ask, Aisha apologizes bluntly and moves forward.
No, even if you say it's nothing, I'm very curious... Did I do something when I visited nine years ago? I can't remember well.
"We've arrived. This is the Village Chief's house."
I wanted to ask Aisha again for the reason she was surprised, but it seems we've just arrived at the Village Chief's house.
A large house built a bit away from the central area. In the back, something like a warehouse can be seen, perhaps a food storage.
Green grass grows around the house, and it looks like it would feel good to lie down on.
"This is it?"
"Then, I'm going in right away."
Before I could even prepare myself mentally, Aisha knocks on the door of the house.
...What is this. I'm not meeting someone of high status, yet I've become nervous. Is it because I can't live here unless the Village Chief gives permission? I feel like I wasn't this nervous when fighting monsters.
Before long, a woman's voice saying "Yes—" could be heard from inside.
"I'm coming in—"
Saying that, Aisha enters through the door without hesitation. Is it okay not to wait for the person inside to open the door?
"Come on, hurry up."
Since Aisha says so, I enter together while feeling hesitant.
"Oh, it's Aisha-chan after all."
The one who welcomed us was a beautiful woman with wavy blonde hair and jade eyes.
I think she's someone who has aged a fair amount, but she's like a lady who maintains a beauty that doesn't let you feel any decline.
...I feel like I've seen her somewhere. Is it my imagination?
"Fiona-san, I'm not at an age to be called '-chan' anymore, you know?"
"From my perspective, having seen you playing with my daughter since you were little, Aisha-chan will always be a child, you know?"
The lady laughs and brushes off Aisha's protest.
Aisha seemed to be fidgeting slightly in embarrassment, perhaps unable to talk back. Apparently, even she, who speaks clearly, has someone she can't stand up to.
"So, it seems you've brought an unfamiliar guest today? Is it a boyfriend introduction?"
Once things settled down, the lady's jade eyes turned toward me.
I don't think it would be bad if she were my girlfriend, but I feel like I'd be henpecked.
"No. He says he came from the Kingdom of Abalonia because he wants to live in this village."
"My, you've come from quite a far place. My husband, the Village Chief, will hear the detailed story, so please come inside."
"Yes."
More than her, it's my dwelling now. In order to talk with the Village Chief, I headed toward the inner room, guided by the lady.