Kujonin Chapter 97

Kujonin
Author: Hanabokuro
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Episode 97

Merumo and I reached Gnomefield and reported about our work in Nokking Hill.
Our employees that were working in Gnomefield reported on making the windmills and pump.
They said that the windmill I thought of making was raising water up, little by little.
It's just, although it was expected that the amount drawn up wouldn't be much, if the wind stops the windmill will also stop.
Ashley-san said she wanted to try out all of the windmills I had drawn up designs for.
I was thinking we'd help out, but I was refused with, "Your salary won't go up even if we had you help out more than this."
"It's alright. With my husband and children, we'll have enough work. It may just be a little bit at a time, but this village will prosper."
Ashley-san said so and smiled warmly.
For now, water can be secured with rain, and Garcisan said he had requested the Central Government's aid in the case water and food ran out from Alfred-san.
It seems like our side's after service ends here.
Even after his plantation burnt down and he lost the spirit's blessing, the sight of Garcisan still standing firm was even greater than before, giving a sense of security.
I told all my emplotees that we would be taking our leave from Gnomefield the next morning.
"Seems about right."
"Roger."
'OK-ssu."
"Okay."
There weren't any objections.
I informed Garcisan, Ashley-san, and Cynthia as well that we were leaving tomorrow morning.
"I see. Well, we're indebted to you for all sorts of things."
"Let's have everyone eat dinner with us tonight! Okay?"
Garcisan and Ashley-san laughed.
It's only been a few days since the plantation was burnt down. There were also people who had abandoned Gnomefield.
It will surely take some time for their feelings to completely change.
Even so, these two aren't showing us their pained expressions and are making roads and making windmills while laughing.
Seeing these two people's smiling carefreely, I thought again of how I had crushed the plantation that had taken these people 20 years to make. Of course it was something that had to be stopped and I don't think I was mistaken in doing so, but I hadn't thought it would become something like this at the time when G.o.d and Evil G.o.d had given the request for hero extermination, and I think that I hadn't been sufficiently prepared for it.
I have to be fully aware that this request could steal away someone's many years of effort and history, and prepare my feelings.
"What will Cynthia do? Will you enter our company?"
"No. Even though you freed me from slavery, I'm terribly sorry; my place is here. Thank you for the invitation."
"I see. That's good. If you ever feel like talking to us, use this."
So saying, I handed Cynthia a communication bag."
"If you pour magic into this, it will connect to the communication bag I have, and you can have a conversation despite the distance."
"Heeh~ amazing!"
Cynthia peered at the communication bag she received.
"From now on, if you want to talk to Cynthia, let me know. I'll lend you the communication bag."
I told my employees.
Ayl and Velsa seemed to have gotten along with her, and they nodded.

Dinner included Garcisan and his children, and they even called the remaining villagers and merchants, throwing a grand feast.
The rain had also stopped, so we had a barbecue in front of Garcia'san's houses' storehouse. Mermuo grilled the monsters she had hunted on the way back from Nokking Hill one after another and poured bradberry juice and wine that was saved up in the storehouse and the like.
When the sun went down a bonfire was lite, monster pelts were laid out, and we sat in a circle.
"Naoki-kun, I have to thank you."
Garcisan sat next to me as I was gnawing on meat by myself and poured me a cup of wine.
"No, no, no need for thanks."
"No, I haven't said it until now, after all. Let me do so. Honestly, I have no idea what's going to happen from now on, hahaha."
Garcisan laughed as usual.
"Even so. That ghoul disease matter that made me jumpy and nervous is gone, and inexplicable feeling of guilt, all of it is gone. Although the plantation is also gone, hahaha."
There was a tight feeling in my chest.
"Spirit-sama's blessing is also gone, and his advice is also gone. I've decided to think for myself and consult with everyone from now on. We'll hold our own decisions and take our own responsibilities, and go into the future. So, we don't think poorly of you, Naoki-kun."
"Ah, you could tell?"
"Hahaha, Naoki-kun, your feelings show on your face, after all."
I raised the cup to my mouth and scratched the back of my head.
"You also prepared work for us and dug a well for us, so we have no resentment. Don't mind it, and go on your own path."
"Yes, thank you very much."
It seems that Garcisan has come to cheer me on. The light of the bonfire illuminated Garcisan's face in red. He might be drunk.
"There was something I learned in my 20 years of making the plantation."
"What is it?"
"There are many things that don't have answers, and even if you fail, answers won't come if you just wait. If you don't continue walking, you can't find your way."
"To continue walking?"
"If you continue walking, you'll find your way and results will appear. Yeah, I thought so…"
Garcisan tilted the wine bottle and poured into the cup I was holding.
"But that changed when you appeared. There are also times when you're walking the wrong path. If you don't stop from time to time and reflect on what you've done, you'll lose sight of what you're doing. When I realized it I was beaten down, unable to walk a single step or even stand up."
Garcisan gulped from the bottle, drinking a mouthful of wine."
"But see, the people around me picked me up by the hand and helped me."
Certainly, the remaining villagers and peddlers became Garcisan's strength.
"I was happy, though. Just like that, the people around me began to walk, even dragging me, who couldn't stand. At that time, it was my dear Ashley. 'If you can't stand, then first lift your head and smile,' she said. 'You're not smiling because you're happy, you're smiling to become happy. Once you become happy, you'll gain energy and be able to stand,' she said."
"Smile, stand, and then begin to walk, is it?"
"That's right. Everyone's like children, right? Hahaha."
That might be true.
"There will be times when I challenge something just to fail. If you walk, there will be times when you fall or step in p.o.o.p, right? Hahaha."
"Hahaha, sure."
"But if you smile, stand up, and walk, you'll become able to do it. Stopping is also fine. If you start walking again, it's fine. That's right! The emblem for the tollroads should have this sort of design, hahaha."
"That's nice! How about this as the slogan? 'Don't worry about it even if you step in p.o.o.p,' or something?"
"Hahaha, nice!"
Maybe it's easier to come up with ideas while laughing, but after that, the two of continued to contribute stupid slogans and emblem designs, relaxing with the wine.

The next day, we parted from the smiling Garcisan and his household.
Garcisan's household seems to be looking forward to seeing what path they were going to make, and Garcisan was also looking forward to where we were going in the future, he said.
We promised to use the communication bags to keep in touch if either of us fails and from time to time, and we waved hands and parted.