CH 78

Predecessors of life

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After having breakfast, I left Klaus-san's mansion and returned to the boarding house.

When I talked to Amanda-san about how I decided to stay, she was angry that I drank too much.

I returned to my room, took off my clothes, took a bath, and changed into my everyday clothes.

"Reinhardt ..."

[ What is it, Kent-sama? ]

"Are all the aristocrats determined to live like that?"

[ There were various aristocrats when we were alive, but those who lived with pride as aristocrats were determined to do so. ]

"I see ..."

[ But not all of them, some of them just wore their aristocratic status and had no determination or compassion. ]

I was convinced that Beatrice was making fun of me because she was embarrassed at the time of the treatment.

I never thought that she had made such a decision, and on top of that, liked me.

For the benefit of the city, the beloved daughter was even reluctantly used, but when I heard it, I realized that I was the one who wasn't ready.

[ What would Kent-sama do if you could return to your original world? ]

"Yeah ... I'm starting to think about staying in this world."

[ Don't you have family in your original world? ]

"Yeah ... for the time being ... but we're not very close ..."

[ Is that so ... ]

Dad is the director of a big company and seems to have a mistress, so he rarely comes home.

My mother is a gambling and shopping addict, and after all she is hardly at home.

It's like my paternal grandmother raised me, but she died of cancer last year.

I've always had a complex desire to have my grandmother, who suffered from terminal cancer, get well and to die peacefully without suffering.

When I was summoned to this world, I feel like I was dreaming of my grandmother while taking a nap.

Maybe that's why I got both the light attribute of healing and the darkness attribute that governs death.

"If I stay in Volzard, I can't choose the chairman, right?"

[ If you ask her to stay with you, isn't it okay? ]

"That's the same as telling the chairman to abandon her family ..."

[ Then, can you return to your original world with the Saint-sama? ]

"If I go back to Japan, I don't know if I can use magic, and if I can't, I'm just a useless person and I'm out of proportion with the chairman, and I'm needed at Volzard ..."

[ Then, can you choose Manon-jou, Beatrice-jou, or both and stay in Volzard? ]

"Hmm ..."

In hte first place, I can't believe that I, who hadn't been looked at by girls until now, is in a position to choose.

[ By the way, Kent-sama, weren't you going to visit Dino-tono at the libre farm ...? ]

"Oh, that's right, I aws about to forget."

I decided to think about the chairman again and talk to Amanda-san after visiting the livre farm.

On the way, I stopped by the Mesudori Pavilion and bought cookies as a souvenir.

The livre trees that had grown steadily when I came to Volzard, have now dropped their leaves and are preparing for winter, and the farm has a somewhat lonely atmosphere.

It seems that Dino-san and Bruno-san, parent and child, are lined up at the farm looking at the trees and are marking them.

"Hello Dino-san, Bruno-san."

"Oh! Kent, Kent, I'm glad you came, I'm glad you came."

When I called out, Dino-san welcomed me with a big smile.

"I'm sorry I haven't contacted you until now, please enjoy this with everyone."

"What's this, something like a gift feels distant, come empty-handed, empty-handed."

"No ... I'm grateful to everyone ..."

"What are you saying, you are the one who took care of us, so let's relax at home."

"Yes, thank you, but weren't you at work?"

"Ah ... what I marked are the braches for pruning."

"Pruning ...?"

"Yeah, it's an important job that forecasts next year's harvest."

I was told that they performed pruning work on the livre trees during the dormant state in winter to cut off weakened branches and unnecessary branches.

"If there are unnecessary or weak branches, the sunlight and growth will be worse."

"Really ..."

That being said, it's hard to tell which is the unnecessary branches and which are the weaker branches.

"Hohohoho, that's years of experience and intuition."

When Dino-san spoke proudly, his son Bruno-san raised his hands, showing he didn't understand either.

"Well, does Bruno-san not understand either?"

"No, not at all ... I'm no match for my father ..."

Bruno-san, who has a bitter smile, still looks somewhat proud.

"Until about two years ago, I didn't know at all, but it seems that I've come to understand it, so it's okay to leave it to me."

Dino-san has a happy smile on his face, but he looks a little lonely.

For me, I would like Dino-san to do his favorite job in good spirits, but it may be difficult in terms of age.

When Dino-san took me to the main building, his wife, Maya-san, greeted me with a big smile.

"Well, if it isn't Kent, I'm glad you came, come in and take your time."

"Yes, thank you."

Dino-san's waist and Maya-san's knees haven't been in pain since then, and they both seem to be rejuvenated.

"By the way, Kent, why are you here today, do you need something?"

"Ah, yes, I was actually invited to Klaus-san's mansion last night to drink the new livre liquor."

"Well, was that the case, how was this year's new liquor, was it good?"

"Yes, it was very delicious. Just ..."

"Was something wrong?"

"No, I drank it for the first time, so I'm sorry I don't know how to compare it to the usual year."

"Hohohoho, yeah, it's natural that you can't tell the difference if you drank it for the first time."

"Yes, but when I thought that I was helpful even a little in making the new liquor, I was a little touched."

"It's not just a little helpful, the reason why the preparation went smoothly for this year's harvest is because of Kent's massage. I really appreciate it, thank you Kent."

"Well, no ... yes, you're welcome."

It's embarrassing to be thanked by Dino-san, who smiles with a friendly grin.

When I told him that I was allowed to drink three-year, five-year, and ten-year livre liquor at Klaus-san's mansion, Dino-san guided me to the brewery where the liquor was stored.

When I was harvesting, I just brought the juice into a large barrel in another brewery, and I could only see this brewery from the outside.

The brewery has a sturdy stone semi-underground structure with only a few ventilation windows.

Klaus-san told me that I protected the liquor, but with this level of strength, it is unlikely that a goblin will be able to enter.

When we opened the sturdy door and went inside, the scent of wood barrels was drifting in the cool air.

"Kent, can you close the door ..."

Dino-san turned on a light magic tool and slowly guided me through the warehouse.

"What is in the front is new, and the farther back you go, the older it becomes."

The barrels are branded with the year they were prepared and are arranged in an orderly manner.

It's like being in a cave separate from the outside world.

"Here, the temperature changes more slowly than outside. We let the sake rest here and let it mature slowly."

"After all, is there a good or bad result depending on the year?"

"Well, in a year of unseasonable weather, the livre isn't good enough. The fruit doesn't grow big, or the sweetness isn't enough ..."

"The result of livre also affects the liquor."

"Well, this year's livre was good, so I'm sure it will be a good liquor."

Dino-san looks at each barrel as if he is grateful, and goes to the back of the warehouse.

"But then, the liquor of the year when the livre was poor would be left unsold ..."

"You think so? However, it's not always that the liquor is bad because the livre was poor."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the liquor of the year where I thought that the sweetness of hte livre was not enough will grow into a liquor with a unique taste after letting it rest for three or four years."

"Is that something you can roughly predict if you drink new liquor?"

"That's right, to a certain extent. I don't really know what will happen as a result of letting it rest for more than five years. See, people will change after five years."

"That's right, if you put it that way."

"But the core remains the same. People and liquor are interesting ..."

When we returned from the brewery, Maya-san baked a livre cake.

"Kent, Maya's cake is excellent."

"Hey, you can eat it all, so don't hesitate to eat it."

"Yes, I'll have it ... Hmm! It's delicious ..."

"Isn't it exquisite?"

"Yes, it's really delicious."

"Yes, I'm glad it suits your taste."

Maya-san's cake is a mixture of chopped dry livre and several nuts, and I have no complaint about the taste, aroma, or texture.

"This, the aroma of livre liquor, it's so fluffy in my mouth ... I'm happy."

"Hohohoho, yeah, yeah, that's the aroma of 20-year livre liquor."

Dino-san poured an amber liquid from a bottle in the cupboard into a small glass.

Even though it was more than 5 meters away, the mellow scent drifted as soon as he poured it into the glass.

"Here, this is 25 years old, try drinking it."

"Thank you."

It's dangerous. Just bringing the glass close to my mouth makes me feel happy.

When I put it in my mouth, I get the illusion of being immersed in a bath of livre liquor.

The aroma of the wood barrel, the aroma of the livre, the deep taste, and even though the alcohol content should be high, there is no sharpness, and the warmth gradually spreads.

"Dino-san, this is no good."

"What's that, this me's prided liquor!"

"If I drink such a great drink, I won't be able to drink other drinks."

"Hohohoho, I see, I see, hohohoho ..."

If I continue to drink like this, it will be a repeat of last night, so I decided to drink it as it is and just stick with tea for a while.

As for the cake, if I was the only one to enjoy it and just told the story, Meisa-chan would get angry, O so I asked her to wrap it as a souvenir.

"Hey Kent, you said you were invited to Klaus-sama's mansion ..."

"Oh, uh, actually ..."

I was working at this farm when I had just arrived at Volzard, and I had explained to Dino-san and the others that I was the survivor of a caravan.

So, I talked about being summoned, being able to use magic of the light and dark attributes, and being invited to dinner because all my genus were active.

"Is everything okay after the last maximum outbreak? Was there any damage?"

"Oh, there was no damage, it seems to have been done in a completely relaxed manner."

"Truly, we were saved because there are walls now."

"Umm, now ... meaning there weren't in the past?"

When I was curious about Maya-san's words and asked, she nodded and told me.

"Yeah, at the time I came to be a wife, this area was still outside the walls."

"Is that so? Did you see monsters?"

"Well, unlike the forest, it has a clear view, so it was okay if you were careful, but there were times when orcs and ogres came."

"Well ... was it such a dangerous place?"

"Really ... When I got married, I was deceived ... and I lived crying."

When Maya-san smiles and looks at him, Dino-san shrugs his shoulders and has a bitter look on his face.

"The livre farm is busy only during the harvest season, and it makes money from selling liquor and dried fruits ... I wondered if I could live in a large farm, but it was ridiculous."

"That's unavoidable, because if I didn't say it like that, there wasn't a girl who would come be my wife in such a place."

When Dino-san and Maya-san were young, the farm was still outside the walls, and when a large number of monsters broke out, they waited in the house for the alarm to be cleared.

Now that you mention it, this main building is made out of sturdy stone, and the other buildings are similar except for the new workshop.

"I had to stay in the house for three weeks before the goblin horde disappeared."

"At that time, Bruno was just born ..."

"I was really worried about what to do every day because the diapers didn't dry."

Both of them talked with a smile, but at that time I think it was harder than I could imagine.

"That ... didn't you think you were deceived and though about divorcing?"

"Well ... I used to think that when I had just come here, but when I saw our people working really hard, that thought disappeared."

While working on the farm, Dino-san often participated in the construction of the ramparts, and he worked only during the year-end and New Year holidays so that his family could live with peace of mind as soon as possible.

"The construction of the ramparts is a symbol of the development of Volzard, and it is natural for the people to work for their families and for the city, as it is a source of peace of mind."

Even when I was taken care of here, I was surprised at how Dino-san worked after his back pain was healed.

Even though he was about the age of my grandfather, he was strong and I was overwhelmed by the difference in experience he had cultivated over many years.

Large, thick, rugged wood-carving hands look like the medal of hard work.

"Then, are you glad you were deceived now?"

"Hohohoho, yeah, that's right, you, thank you for deceiving me."

"Huhhhh, the day has come when you were grateful for being deceived ... No, I'm the one who is grateful, thank you Maya."

The two who smile happily at each other look like a really close couple.

The bond between the two is probably because they have been struggling together for a long time and have come to think of each other.

Will I be able to laugh with someone like this in the future?

Do I have to turn down someone's thoughts for that?

"Kent ... Kent ..."

"Oh, oh, yes ..."

"What's wrong, do you have a problem?"

"Well, no ... that ... yes ..."

"I don't know if such an old man and an old woman will be useful, but why don't you talk to us?"

"Um ... yes ..."

I was a little embarrassed, but I consulted with Dino-san and the others about the chairman, Manon, and Beatrice, including the rescue operation from Resenburg and the treatment via the nomination request.

"Ah, Kent, you did your best ... you did your best."

When I finished talking, I was hugged by Maya-san who stood up.

"Yeah, as expected, Kent did a good job."

"Thank you. But, just because I ran around like crazy, I mean, I got kind of carried away ..."

"Well, from the perspective of a woman, it's kind of cheating."

"From the perspective of this me, I envy him ..."

"You!"

"Really ... no, nothing ..."

Yeah, it seems that there are a lot of hen-pecked husbands in Volzard.

"Kent ..."

"Yes, what is it?"

"So which child do you like best?"

"Um ... all three are very cute, have a good personality, and like me ..."

"So you can't decide?"

"Yes ..."

"Huuu ... It can't be helped ..."

"Yes ... I'm sorry."

It seems that Maya-san was also surprised, but it can't be helped.

"Do you know that polygamy is allowed in the Republic of Landshelt, Kent?"

"Yes, I heard that."

"Yes, then you know that you have the option of being connected with all three."

"Yes, for the time being ..."

"Then, do you know why polygamy is allowed?"

"Why ...?"

In the case of animals, I've heard that it is to leave the gene of a strong indivicdual, but in the case of humans, is it because of the status of a person with money?

"Originally, many people lost their lives in battles and subduing monsters."

"Does that mean that the percentage of men was small?"

"Yes, friends and acquaintances supported the lives of people who became widowed or lost their lovers, but now it's different."

Volzard is called the farthest city, right next to the Devil's Forest, and I hear that many people die in dungeons.

Still, the proportion of men does not seem to be extremely low, and many people live with jobs other than adventurers.

"So polygamy is no longer encouraged as it used to be, and having multiple partners can be a daunting task."

Certainly, if you are an ordinary person, the financial burden will be heavy, and above all, there will be envy from those around you.

In fact, it's been handed out by Nazario, and I've also been exposed to the grudge-filled gaze of my male classmates.

"Is it better to choose one person after all?"

"Well ... from a woman's point of view, that's desirable, but ... falling in love with someone isn't logical."

"What should I do ..."

"Be honest with your feelings, be honest with the other person, don't lie, don't hide things, you have to keep this at a minimum."

Until now, I've tried to hide as much as possible when kissing or hugging someone, but once they know each other's existence, that's no good.

Hmm ... but to report this morning's events to the chairman and Manon ...

"Kent ... are you doing something in secret?"

"Well ... how do you know? No, no, I mean to say I haven't had a chance to report it yet ..."

"Hmm ... report the secret properly, and then since two of the three have talked. Add the other one and talk properly to convey your current feelings."

"Yes ... yes, I will."

That's right, no matter how difficult it is to talk, if you don't talk about it and hide it, you can't respond to the feelings of the chairman and Manon.

Also, in order to respond to Beatrice's determination, I thought again that I had to think more seriously and convey my feelings firmly.