CH 268

Then, after buying a few small items, I headed to the west gate to ask about the schedule for the carriage.

I found the usual carriageparked in front of the gate, and a man beside it was shouting.

“It’s going to Cotte Village in the direction of the Royal Capital! This may be the last one for the season!” (Driver)

Eh? How can it end so suddenly?

I rushed to the man and asked a question.

“Is this really the last one?” (Rook)

“I don’t know. It depends on how I plan to spend this evening and the weather tomorrow.” (Driver)

I thought for a moment and asked him another question.

“Is there a possibility that even if we arrive at the village of Cotte, there will be no carriages to take us to the capital?” (Rook)

“There is a possibility, of course. It depends on the weather there.” (Driver)

Hmmm… Worst case scenario, I am stuck in Cotte Village or something like that…

Well, if the carriage is really gone, I might be prepared to stay the night in Holy Dimension and walk to the Royal Capital.

“Okay, I’ll get in!” (Rook)

“Okay!” (Driver)

I handed the man a silver coin and boarded the carriage.

It was kind of a sudden decision to go to the Royal Capital, but there are days like that. It seems that passing the winter in the town of Lubanni as it is sort of an option, and there must be times when you have to make an immediate decision and move on when you have the chance. Especially in this world.

And so, for a few hours, we were rocked by a horse-drawn carriage.

Inside the carriage were only two merchant-like men and a villager-like man. There was no adventurer-like person as usual. The adventurers had probably already moved on long before us.

“We’re here. We are in Cotte Village.” (Driver)

We stepped out of the carriage.

The snow that had been falling since last night had stopped, and the sun was shining through the clouds. But it felt a little colder, perhaps because of the higher altitude.

Looking around, I could see that this was an agricultural village, with fields spreading out just like in the town of Lubanni.

Looking in the opposite direction, toward the town, I saw people gathered in the town center.

“What is going on?” (Rook)

“Oh, did you come here without knowing anything about it?” (Merchant)

I turned around and saw a man who looked like a merchant.

I nodded lightly, and he continued speaking with his hands outstretched wide.

“Today is the annual harvest festival.” (Merchant)

“Oh, I see.” (Rook)

I looked closely and saw a high pile of lumber in the center of the square, surrounded by tables and other items, creating the atmosphere of a feast around a campfire.

“If you sell various things in Lubanni during this time, you will make good money–*cough* *cough*… Well, you should have fun too.” (Merchant)

“Is this something that even outsiders can participate in?” (Rook)

“No problem, it’s a once-a-year day of celebration.” (Merchant)

The man who looked like a merchant said just that and disappeared into the square with a big bag on his back.

“It’s a harvest festival, huh.” (Rook)

“Kyu?” (Shion)

“It’s a day to thank the gods for all the food harvested.” (Rook)

On Earth there’s something similar, and I don’t think there’s much of a difference here either.

With this in mind, I did not head for the square, but walked around the village looking for an inn.

Passing between wooden houses, I descended down the stone steps and followed a winding path around the village.

From the outside, the village has a few hundred inhabitants, and the main industry is agriculture. Most of the buildings are private houses, with no stores in sight.

After exploring the village, we headed to the central square.

There, many people were preparing for the festival, busily preparing tables and decorations.

There were several shops surrounding the plaza where they were, and I found a signboard of an inn in it, so I went through the people and entered the inn and proceeded to the counter inside. I heard a voice, “Are you a customer?”

It seemed that the owner was preparing for the festival outside his store.

“Are you open today?” (Rook)

“Yes, but I won’t be cooking today, so please come to the festival and enjoy a meal there.” (Innkeeper)

“I understand.” (Rook)

He said that one silver coin would be enough for the lodging fee, so I paid for the lodging with a single silver coin and received a wooden plate.

“However, adventurers heading to the Royal Capital at this time of year are not rare. I guess it’s that time? Is this the same for the group that wandered around until the last minute and then had no choice but to go to the Royal Capital?” (Innkeeper)

“*Wobble*… Well, I guess that’s it.” (Rook)

It’s not like I played around, but it turned out like this, and if I just look at the results, it’s the same as being rushed to the last minute. So, I vaguely affirmed the situation.

“It’s not good, it’s not good. It is true that there is work in the Royal Capital during the winter, but winter mining work is not good. Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now.” (Innkeeper)

“Mining work?” (Rook)

“What is it? Aren’t you going to the Royal Capital to make a living from mining?” (Innkeeper)

“No, I just thought that there would be more to do in a prosperous town if I wanted to survive the winter.” (Rook)

When I said so, the innkeeper looked a little surprised and said, “That’s very strange.”

I wondered, but I guess most people are just trying to get on with their lives.

I cut off small talk with the owner and headed for my room. I entered the room on the second floor, bolted the door firmly, and chanted a spell.

“To a new world. Open the dimensional door, [Holy Dimension].” (Rook)

A door of light appeared on the wall of the room, and a different space appeared beyond it.

“Now then. I’ve got to get my things in order. [Purification].” (Rook)

I then take off my fur cloak and pull out Shion from inside my hood.

“Today’s food seems to be a feast!” (Rook)

“Kyu!” (Shion)

It seems that Shion is also looking forward to it.

I put Shion down on the ground while fluffing him, and then take out the things I bought out of the magic bag. Then, I open the Time Stop Box placed on the wall and put the fresh produce such as Oran in it—

“—Right, first [Purification].” (Rook)

I put them in after a quick [Purification].

Truly, [Purification] is a necessary magic for life. I don’t even know what life would be like for the average person without it.

Next, I take out the bottles of wine and put them in the back of the room.

There are six bottles. This was just about as many as I could buy without being unnatural. I would have bought more if I could have, but I guess that’s just the way it is.

“Don’t you have to lay the wine on its side when you store it?” (Rook)

“Kyu?” (Shion)

Shion looked at me with a face that said, “What?”

Apparently, Shion doesn’t know either.

A shelf dedicated to wine, huh? I’ve always wanted to put some furniture in here, but if an adventurer without a house bought something like that, it would be unnatural, so I can’t buy one. There wouldn’t be an adventurer who goes on a trip with a chest or drawers on his back.

I’m sure there aren’t, are there?

…I searched inside the magic bag while thinking.

“Umm, what else…” (Rook)

I remembered something, so I took it out.

“Well, I can now use this!” (Rook)

I took out a grimoire, which I had almost forgotten because I don’t think about it at all these days and found that I could now use it.

It is the [Large Heal] grimoire. I had found it in the ruins in the cave before, I believe.

While feeling quite giddy, I opened the grimoire and read it Then the grimoire burst into flames and the spell for [Large Heal] remained in my head, and I was able to use the magic.

“ Finally, a second recovery magic spell…” (Rook )

It’s actually my third recovery magic spell, but it’s the second one among the light attribute recovery magic. I feel like I’ve finally become a full-fledged healer by acquiring [Large Heal], which is a level above [Heal] that is called elementary recovery magic. To be frank, I was wondering if I could call myself a healer even though I could only use [Heal]. With this, I might finally be able to proudly call myself a healer.

“…Does that mean I can use [Light Arrow] as well?” (Rook)

I can’t check in this village, so I’ll have to hold off, but I’ll check when I get to the Royal Capital.

“I would like to thank you all for your hard work this past year. This year the winter came earlier than usual, and the harvest was smaller than usual, but thanks to Lord Ashes, the God of Earth… We still had a good harvest to get us through the winter. And it is thanks to Lady Tessretia, the Goddess of Light, that we were able to pass the year without incident. For that, I thank everyone.” (Village Chief)

An old man standing on the stage who looked like the village chief said, and urged everyone to grab a mug of wine.

“Cheers!” (Village Chief)

“Cheers!” (People)

“To God of the Earth.” (Village Chief)

“To the God of Light.” (Village Chief)

“For the bounty!” (People)

The village chief led everyone to raise their wooden mugs, and each person drank from them in respect.

I felt I had to say something too, so I took a step behind everyone else and blurted out, “To the Gods,” recalling the god-like presence I had seen in the white place.

But when I think about it, I don’t think I have anything to thank thew gods for, so it might be a little empty.

To be honest, reincarnation? Transference? I was just living a peaceful life, and maybe that god forcibly summoned me to this world, in which case I would like to send him curses rather than gratitude. Though, there is a possibility that on Earth I was already dead when I was hit by a story-plot-device truck, and that god gave me a chance to live a second life, so it is not easy to judge.

I was thinking about the possibility that I might have already died on the original Earth, and my body was shaking.

I try not to think about it too much, but if I think about it even a little, it stays in my head. I also think about my parents, my brother, and my friends on Earth, as well as those who came to the white place with me, but I separated myself from.

“……” (Rook)

I tipped my mug to wash it away and poured it down the back of my throat in one gulp.

“Kuuu!” (Rook)

The taste is crisp and refreshing. It was a little different from the ones I had drunk before.

“Hey bro, you’re drinking well, aren’t you? What do you think, this village lager is different from the others, isn’t it?” (Villager)

“This is a lager?” (Rook)

“Yeah, because lager can only be made in a limited area! You can only drink it here!” (Villager)

Lager… This tastes like the beer I used to drink on earth.

I feel like it’s a little unsatisfactory that it’s not cold, but the direction of the taste is completely like Earth beer.

It’s no wonder I’m reminded of my past.

“Then let’s light a fire.” (Village chief)

The village chief appeared with a torch and threw it into the lumber pile in the center of the square.

“O Frayed, God of Fire, exorcise the demons with your holy fire!” (Village Chief)

At the same time as the village chief spoke, a drum-like instrument was pounding away, and several villagers danced to the beat.

Some clap their hands to the rhythm. Some just keep drinking. Some began singing. Everyone is enjoying themselves in their own way.

The sun is setting, and the darkening sky is lit by the flames of the campfire, blending with the moonlight.

“Let the feast begin!” (Village Chief)

And so the harvest festival continued until late at night.