325 ♪ The people of Mahdra ♪

"Wow, that's kind of awesome."

On the eleventh day of the purple moon, when I even went out to space in the street to carve the usual limit, I was supposed to sound surprised that way.

At the north end of the outdoor area, across the blue sky cafeteria surrounded by rope, logging of miscellaneous woods had begun.

The area, which was originally empty, is piled high with trunks of cut down trees and the roots of dug up trees. The blue and lush leaves pop out to the side of the street, and the air is a little sandy.

"Well, depending on the wind direction, there's going to be sand in the dish."

I was wondering what was going on, and one of the guards who stood in the street and supervised logging approached me on a small run.

"Oh, has it already been six moments up there? Thank you for your hard work today, you guys."

It was a young guard who became familiar with his face some time ago. My attitude is rather transgressive, but I think it's a good idea, that Jen.

"Hi, good job. The task of expanding the outdoor area was such a big deal."

"Mm-hmm. The number of stalls has increased a lot in the past year. As we celebrate Easter, we'll have to expand the place in a few days."

You say that, but you look back at my face like you blame me a lot.

"Besides, are you guys still going to make the store bigger on this? Then there won't be enough extra places."

"It hurts."

The next holiday is on the 15th, four days later, and from that day on, the Blue Sky Dining Room will finally be opened at Fa's house as well.

Since, of course, we're going to be renting a new space for five stalls, that would be just enough calculation to fill the sleeping vacant areas of the trees that have been felled at present.

"The festival officially begins on the 22nd of the Purple Moon, mostly because it's something that starts to grow in stalls five or six days ago. We have to finish this job by then."

"I see. That's tough."

But if that's all a big festival, then the economic effect would also be tremendous. That is why the ruling class of Genos is thus working to expand the outdoor area without manpower or hassle. Forestside people and others are exempt from collecting taxes, but the more other shops flourished, the more they were supposed to moisten the town of Genos itself.

(If you think about it, do you mean that no matter how successful our business is, it won't be for the nobles? At best, there's a little tax on the cost of a place to pay Milan-Mouth or a stall loan. Whatever.)

It's painful to think of it that way, but as a Genos climate, I guess I don't feel like collecting taxes immediately from the forestside people who have been exposed to poverty. It must be even harder to get your hands on just because there was a cause involving Cycleus.

But, well, if most of that subsides, we might be taxed one day, too. Until then, I was hoping to entertain people with rare Guiba dishes at best to help keep the lodging town busy.

"Wow, what the hell is this! The tables and chairs are littered with sand!

And Lara-Lew, who was beginning to clean the Blue Sky Dining Room, gives an outraged voice.

The guard gently twisted you and then stroked his jaw "Hmm".

"You do have sand all over you. If you'd cut down a tree right next to me like this, would that be natural?... There is only one way. Let's have a partition around here."

"Thank you. That would really help."

"Hmm. I can't wait to be obsessed later."

The guard called his closest companion and gave me instructions to put a sand screen next to the store.

Then let me get this one ready too, I can be called to "wait" when I try to return the time.

"Like I said before, don't make a scene with the guys doing the work, okay? If you get into trouble with them, you're gonna be in trouble."

"Got it. But we have a lot of customers in our stalls, so I think it's okay."

"No, I'm usually about to hire a stuffed, unreliable guy or something, but this time it's a little different.... now I'm diving in the back and I can't see him, but I'm letting the Turan slaves work today"

I stood stunned and then looked back at the guard.

The guards face bitterly.

"The harvest of Fuwano just dropped, which meant the slaves had extra hands. That would be cheaper than hiring people with copper coins, wouldn't it?... but if you're not a resident of Turan, then yes, you won't see the people of Mahdra or anything. The chief of the guard also had his head, wondering if it would unnecessarily disturb his popularity"

"… are the people of Mahdra being put to work right there"

Besides Chiffon-Cher, who works at Count Turan's mansion, I don't know anything about the people of Mahydra. The rest, at best, is about Camua-Josh, a mixture of Mahydra and Selva.

This town of Genos is also located quite south of Selva territory, making it unreasonable to encounter the people of Mahydra if they were meant to be. But Cycleus was purposefully able to buy slaves from afar in order to gain further wealth, and to make them work.

"... Speaking of which, you were a migrant, Asta."

And, the guard overlaps words with concern.

"There is a legacy that the people of emigration are like the people of the north. For you, it may be a sad thought to see the people of the North being used as slaves."

"No, I'm certainly not from this continent, but I'm from a different clan than the people of the Dragon God.... There was just no such thing as slavery in my hometown, so I don't know..."

"Oh, that's the same thing with the people of Genos. Guess there's not only Genos, there's not a single town in this neighborhood that treats the people of the North as slaves."

Looks like a deer claw, the guard says so.

"Nor are there any human beings who have anger or hatred towards the people of the North because if they stay so far away from Mahydra, they will not be caught in the scourge of war. That is why in Genos the people of the woods were more feared or despised than the people of the north."

"Yeah, I'm sure that's true"

"That's why there's no pity for the people of the North. The battle between Selva and Mahdra is still ongoing on the far frontier. If you think that the people of the west are being treated as slaves in Mahdra, you can't feel sorry for them."

It was somehow a mouthful that sounded like it was telling itself.

Notice my gaze, the guard carves a crease between his eyebrows.

"I was born in Turan. From an early age, my father grew up asking me that. It is against the will of the Western gods to show mercy to the people of the North."

Genos is 200 years old, but it was only in the last two decades at best that Cycleus sifted through power as Count Turan. Until then, the people of Mahydra, who would have been handed down almost exclusively as heirlooms, were suddenly brought to this Genos. That must have been quite a disturbing act.

Besides, in recent years, fewer and fewer people have used slaves as tools to crush them, Camua-Josh said. So much so that some lords give wages and approve marriages to slaves with a high workforce.

But Cycleus was a preemptive human being who treated slaves like tools. He should have only stated that he did not recognize the people of the North as the same people, and that he was therefore hostile to the Kamua-Josh thing as well.

Could the people of Turan have been heartbreaking when they were shown that the people of the North, without resentment or anger, were being treated as slaves?

Is that why the phrase "do not be merciful" and so forth appears?

"... Anyway, stay away from those guys. I can't even speak properly anyway, so I can't help but get close."

And he forsake it, and this time the guard returned the better.

"Bye. It looks like the partition has arrived, so you should get ready for business. If there's any other inconvenience, we'll let you know right away."

"Got it.... Um, can I just say one thing?

"Yeah? What?

"If you like, I'd like to know your name."

The young man of the guard looked back a long time, and said:

"I'm Marus, head of the second platoon of the Saturas Regional Guard Unit of the Militia Corps, Unit V.... Bye."

That's how Mars, the guard, went back down the street, and I got to get ready for the stall.

◇

"I see the people of Mahdra are being put to work there"

Ama Min-Rutim, who came to Jomtien, has described it that way while baking 'Myrmu Grilled' meat.

"When Asta was previously exposed, I once set foot in Turan territory with Ai-Fa. At that time, we saw only a few of them working in the fields of Turan."

"Oh, you and Mim are also exchanging words then, aren't you? Ai-fa doesn't tell me that at all."

"Really? Maybe it's a revelation that I don't want to remember as much as possible about when Asta was being exposed."

Ama Min-Rutim smiles at me and I say "ha" on the head.

Somehow, it reminds me of my interaction with Sarris Lang-Fou. Speaking of which, both Sallis Run-Fou and Ama Min-Lutim are supposed to be my age, but they look so grown-up and human.

"... Nevertheless, how can a slave exist"

"Huh? What is it?

"No, when I went out to Ai-Fa and Turan, I thought, All the people in this town are a lot less energetic, he said. … apparently it was because a slave lost his job because he existed"

Ama Min-Rutim continued that way in a quiet tone as she pulled the roasted meat over to the edge of the iron plate.

"Apparently the younger humans had no choice but to work outside of town, and Turan only had the appearance of an old man or a child. A slave without a price must be a treasure for the nobility who deals with it, but it didn't seem to bring any benefit to the people of the town."

"Oh, that's what Polearth said, too. At least in Turan, it seems that the existence of slaves has only served the interests of the Lords, and as a result the people of the town have been forced to live a painful life"

In Saturas, where there is an accomodation town, and in Dareim, where there is a rural area, the richness of the inhabitants remains directly connected to the richness of the lords. It seems to be such a system that if the lives of the people are moistened, the lives of the aristocrats who collect taxes from them are also moistened.

In Turan, however, the largest sources of income, the fields of Huwano and Mammalia, would be operated under the sole control of the Lords, from which the grace brought would no longer be returned to the Lords. For this reason, many of the people have moved to other towns and territories, saying that they have become the least populated in the territory of Genos.

"Most of all, now that the sale of Fuwano has dropped dramatically, he's been chased at the end of Cycleus' tied trade, and the Count family's finances have been tilted. The Lord's guardian Tolst's struggle does not seem to be overwhelming."

The more you talk about it, the deeper it makes you feel the depth of a human nail mark named Cycleus.

But that Cycleus has already been tried as a sinner, too, so I guess the only thing left to do is correct the distortion a little bit.

(I guess it's really better not to use slavery, but Turan can get it back to the right way... but you won't be able to hire another human being more than Turan's finances are tilting, and even the people of Mahydra don't know what kind of eyes they'll see if they lose their role)

Because they put up a partition curtain, the logging site is no longer visible from our position. However, I could see them shrugging their necks horribly and leaving when they showed the sightseeing west folks peering in over there on the street.

Though it's a matter of little direct involvement, as far as I'm concerned, I still don't feel like fun.

"Asta, this is the last cage."

and Yamil-Ray, who together worked in the 'Giba-Man' stall, comes out with a slightly stronger tone.

"If you don't know what you're bluffing about, but you're not feeling well, shall I carry you?

"Oh, no, I'm coming. Wait a minute, please."

Refreshing my mind, I turned my foot toward the luggage truck behind me.

Business is better today. There was still a day to hold Easter, but I feel there are more and more people in my mind.

(It's time to finalize the menu. After work, let's have a final meeting with the Raina-Lou's)

Gill's throat rattled rarely "kuki-ku" as he clapped the carrier thinking that way.

"What's going on? Something unusual."

Swallow the words along the way, and I'm going to stand still.

Further afield of the luggage truck, it is still a cluttered forest. The shadow of a giant figure stood in its dimness.

"Noisy, not... self, dangerous, different"

An awkward western word that is annoyed by a heavy voice.

It was the people of Mahdra.

Blonde brown hair, pale purple eyes. The skin is burnt red and wraps crude cloth clothes around a huge body.

He's a big man who can't beat Donda-Lou either. He has tremendous muscle buoyancy in his arms and legs.

Her face is square, her eyes are dimpled and she has an impressive big eagle nose. From cheek to jaw there is a beard in the parrot, and it is a tougher appearance than the people of Jagal.

And the man had a leather ring in his neck, and iron rings and chains in his feet.

The chain is about thirty centimetres long, making it possible to walk but impossible to run. Even in forestside settlements, it was customary to treat sinners like this with leather strings.

"Duh, what's wrong? You were working over there, Mahydra, weren't you?

When asked that way as he swallowed his saliva, the man nodded snowly.

"Guards, talked, listened.... Are you Asta from Fa's house?

"Yes. I'm definitely Asta from Fa's house..."

"Have you, Count Turan, the Mansion, gone?

It is an awkward way of speaking than the people of the east I know.

I couldn't contain my confusion because of the mismatch between that loud talk and Doss's voice.

"... you, Count Turan, the Mansion, have you been there?

The man repeated the same words, expressionlessly.

I couldn't figure it out, so I said yes.

"We have been to Count Turan's mansion for several trips. What the hell is that?

Really, the man's eyes glowed hard.

He comes just one step closer to me, ringing the chains with the larch.

"Chiffon-Cher, were you alive?

"Huh?"

"Chiffon-Cher, self, sister...... self, Eleo-Cher...... Chiffon-Cher, were you alive?

I was to be stunned again.

Is this the older man, Chiffon-Cher's brother?

"Si, Chiffon-Cher should still be working for Count Turan.... Ah, even when it comes to the Count, the Lord is replacing me now..."

I don't know, so Mahydra's man - Eleo-Cher - shook his head sideways.

"Chiffon-Cher, is it painful?

"That's..." I say.

The last time I saw her was in the fold of a welcome party for Banaam's mission.

It's only been about a month since then, but no matter how much I was invited to Count Turan's mansion, I could barely take the time to exchange words with her personally.

She should have been appointed as a personal samurai of Refraia, so I guess both her husband and I are moving into a new mansion now. Under Refraia, the ancient ginseng humans should only be left with her and Sanjula.

Refraia, who has become the nominal owner, and Sanjula, who only wants its rest. Along with those two, I don't even know what life Chiffon-Cher is in.

But...

"... I don't know if she's in pain. But when she looked at me, she smiled all the time."

"Chiffon-Cher, were you laughing?

"Yes, I think she's a very strong person"

Eleo-Cher laid his eyes down and glanced at his feet.

"The West Word, Remember, Count Turan, Mansion, I Can Work.... Chiffon-Cher, chosen. myself, I was not chosen."

"... Yes"

"Chiffon-Cher, myself, away, painful.... but I'm laughing, good"

That said, Eleo-Cher raised his face again.

In his purple eyes, he had a light that had changed and calmed as much as he had done earlier.

"Asta at Fa's house, thank you.... words, thanks"

"No..." the bush behind him cringed as I approached him.

It was Mars the Guard who showed up from there.

"You were there! Don't leave your place on your own, even when you're resting!

Mars broke between me and Eleo-Cher as he put his hand on the knife pattern.

"Besides, I should have been stern enough to stay away from people in town! If you ever stop by, you're guilty of desertion."

"Ma, wait, Mars! He just came to talk to me!

"Talk to me? There must be no reason to exchange words between you and the people of Mahydra!

"No, he's..."

I was lost for a moment, but I decided to tell the truth.

"… his family is being put to work as the maid of the current lord of Turan. So, apparently, he heard me say that I've been to Count Turan's mansion before, and he wanted to make sure my family was safe."

"It's -" said Mars, too.

Eleo-Cher looks back at Mars with an untouched look.

"... yes, that's why it doesn't change that this guy broke the order to stay away from people in town. If they weren't you, they would have made a hell of a scene."

"Will he be punished for something?

Mars shook his head on the top of the Buddha and took his hands off the knife pattern.

"If there had been any noise, he would have been slapped with a leather whip. Stay away from the people of the North."

"But I've taken care of his family before. The man tried to help me escape from Count Turan's mansion. If you do that, that's what you might get slapped with a leather whip."

Mars becomes more and more on the top of the Buddha.

For him, who is proud to encourage the work of the Guardian Militia, the scandal of Count Turan's house is a cry of sorrow.

By the way, what I was told by Lefreia was what happened that day when he declared the fairness of the upper Genos towards us.

"Okay, so you get back to work. It will never produce good results for you to be close to a slave or something like that."

"No, but..."

"You said you got it, but you're a strong one. Anyway, the slaves are forbidden to exchange words with people in the town. Well, even a few western words like this exist only to count among the slaves."

In a grumpy manner, Mars said so.

"Anyway, more than you put yourself in Genos, follow Genos' laws properly.... you just feel bad about connecting with slaves, etc.?

That's why the tone that makes me say it to myself caught me.

But I didn't mean to bother Mars any more.

"Okay. I'm sorry I disturbed you.... Eleo-Cher, please be well."

Eleo-Cher nodded quietly.

And Mars pulls me off, disappearing across the grove.

(Well, I'm sure it's not like I stick my neck in it because I don't understand what slavery is in this world.)

But then, we'll have to talk to the people who are making this world right.

Polearth called Chiffon-Cher "you" with honor. It didn't even look like I despised Chiffon-Cher. The next time we get a chance to meet face to face, we'll manage to talk about it.

(I'm not exaggerating anything. I just - I just want to tell Chiffon-Cher that Eleo-Cher was still alive and showing off his detached sister, I am)

I lifted the crate on the carrier and returned to the stall.

After Jomtien, the store was finally thriving.

So the next time I reunited with Eleo-Cher was after months - when they, the people of Mahydra, were invited to a settlement by the woods, but that is another story.