Chapter 23: An ominous sign?
We're invited into a house that was a little too rundow- damaged, for it to be called the vilge chief's house.
We're taken to a guest room, which looked like wasn't used much... Or rather, the holes in the wall that are the problem, after brushing away the dust that had accumuted on the mat-like furniture on top of the stone floor, we sat down... As someone who is used to slime cushions, it hurts my butt, but I was a little hesitant to bring it out here.
The vilge chief tried to prepare tea, but I declined and handed my own tea to him instead. I knew he was tired, and I already had some made in my item box. It wasn't as tasty as when it was freshly made, but it was still delicious, and the vilge chief, who was very grateful, accepted it with wide eyes. Well it's tasty, the earth god's blessed our pnts, after all.
After drinking the hot tea and taking a breath, I finally felt heat circuting around my body. I wonder if I had gotten that cold. I can now see why Fricka was worried.
Although I would like to take my time, I'll have to get this done quickly this time. The mayor should be sorting out the damage from the monster battle and dealing with the aftermath, but he's busy dealing with me.
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"First of all, I'd like to thank you once again. Thank you so much for helping our vilge out of this crisis."
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"... No, you're welcome."
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Remembering about the young boy Kiriku from earlier, even though the tea was supposed to be a refreshing one, I had the illusion that something bitter had spread in my mouth. However, I couldn't bring myself to take it out on the vilge chief, so I simply accepted the thanks.
The vilge chief frowned for some reason, and that made me thought, "Huh? Was there something wrong with my reaction?", but what he said next was unexpected.
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"So, um... How much should I give as a thank you gift...? Our vilge isn't rich, so we don't have much to give..."
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"What? I don't need it."
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"Huh?"
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The vilge chief, not seeming to understand what I said, opened his mouth and froze.
Hmm...? Is it really that surprising...?
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"Kiriku-kun said it, didn't he? For me, a Miko, saving you residents is one of my jobs... Though there were some people I couldn't save."
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"... That's..."
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The vilge mayor hesitated. I hadn't intended to be sarcastic, but no matter how it was interpreted, from an outsider's perspective, it may have come across as sarcastic.
Well it's true... Ah, don't tell me.
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"You see, we came here because we heard there was another miko in this area... But could it be that miko is someone who demand a price?"
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A miko has to support the residents, but there are examples like the miko in Alness Vilge in the past. I suspect that there must be some problem with the miko for them to go to the trouble of living separately when (probably) there is a miko nearby. Of course, it's also possible that the problem lies with these people and not with the miko.
After all, it's in the middle of a desert like this. It might be one thing if there were sea resources like in Kua Vilge, or forest resources like in Alness Vilge, but it seems unnatural to be just sitting there alone. Maybe there are resources underground or nearby that I just don't know about, having just arrived... But if that's the case, there shouldn't be a situation like this where the Vilge chief house is so drafty.
Well, It's fine for a miko can ask for payment in return. Making things isn't free, it consumes materials and MP, after all. But when even the Vilge chief lives in such a rundown house, it would be hard for ask for anything.
The mayor hastily waved his hands as if to deny my question.
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"No, no, that Miko-sama is good person."
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Although he denies it, his eyes are wandering. There must be another reason, right?
When I silently pressed him, he seemed to have realized there was no point in hiding it, and spoke in a monotone with his head bowed.
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"The Miko-sama is a good person, but... The vilge chief - the Miko's family - is a little... No, quite..."
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"Ahh..."
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So this is a case where someone takes advantage of the fact that there is a miko in their bloodline and uses its power to his advantage.
Even if a miko is a specialist in making things, that doesn't mean it is knowledgeable about everything. In the case of someone like me who is not good at politics or leadership, it is of course okay for someone who is good at it to do the work in its pce. I think it's okay to get a little leeway for that.
But from the way the vilge chief talks, it seems like there are quite a few problems... It would be fine if the miko could just keep things in order, but maybe it is too soft on its family.
Perhaps the mayor had heard my grumbling, because he corrected me.
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"It's possible... That the Miko-sama may not know."
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"... Huh...?"
x/
That's ridiculous. A miko would have heard all sorts of stories from the vilgers. Surely it's impossible not to hear any bad things, right?
Or the miko is even more obsessed with making things than I am, and shows no interest in anything else? But if that's the case, then I doubt that the word 'good' would come out from the vilge chief mouth.
I'm heading to that miko vilge now, so I want to gather as much information as I can. Especially if it's something bad. So I urged the vilge chief to go into more detail.
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"That man has a hidden side that he has never shown to the Miko-sama."
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On the surface he serves as the vilge chief without any problems, but behind the scenes he seems to be up to a lot. Lining his own pockets is just a small crime among his many ones, like demanding beautiful girls as offerings, and punishing anyone who tries to defy him to a life of hard bor with treason as pretence.
The chief's men are always present to guard the miko, and anyone who tries to make a petition to him to do something about these things is apparently arrested for one reason or another.
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"If they lived normally... No, if they live obediently, they probably wouldn't know. Most vilgers are enjoying peace."
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It seems his decisions as vilge chief are not bad. He makes use of the oasis to create waterways, ensuring that water reaches every corner of the rge vilge (though I'm sure it was the miko who built it), he ensures a good supply of food, and has trained strong soldiers who can withstand monsters.
Certainly, hearing this alone doesn't seem like there will be any problems. One reason is that the miko is there in the first pce, but apparently neighboring vilgers heard the rumors and gathered around, and the vilge continued to grow.
However.
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"We found out. Some people had their daughters taken away, some had their parents captured... For various reasons, we couldn't bear it any longer and fled from the vilge. There is a small oasis nearby, so although it is difficult, we're able to survive."
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I see.
It makes sense that they're not seeking the protection of the local miko and are instead living in a pce like this.
... Well, this is just this person's one-sided story, so it might not be true. It's dangerous to take everything at face value.
However, even when I gnce at Uru next to me, she didn't change her expression, so I can't just ignore it.
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"That was about twenty years ago, so things may have changed since then, and I don't think he would y a hand on you, a miko, however..."
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Up to this point, it was a story I'd heard often (in my case, not in real life, but in stories), but the vilge chief blurted out one thing that concerned me.
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"Be careful... In that vilge... People disappear..."
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At the time, I thought that meant they had been captured and imprisoned by the vilge chief's faction, or worse, killed.
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--The truth I learned ter was far, far worse.