Volume 2 Chapter 31 Strolling Through the Village
"Sir Cain, it's Wayne. May I have a moment?"
From beyond the door, the voice of Captain Wayne, who had been accompanying as a guard, could be heard.
"Yes, come in."
Cain turned towards the door while granting permission to enter.
Wayne opened the door, now out of his armor from when they traveled.
"I apologize for disturbing you while you're resting. Madam has instructed me to accompany you on your stroll around the village."
"Huh, I can walk around the village? Yay!"
"She mentioned that you must have been quite bored after the long ride in the carriage. If you're not too tired, of course."
"Yeah, I'm totally fine. Let's go right now, let's go!"
Cain rushed out of the room and headed outside.
In the village square, people were walking, chatting, and heading to their homes. The main industry of Tonga village was farming, just like other villages. However, because it was a village located along the main street, there was an inn, a tavern, and a general store where Cain and his group were staying. Even though you couldn't drink at the tavern, Cain headed toward the general store.
The general store, perhaps because it stocked goods from traveling merchants, had more variety than you'd expect from a village of this size. Cain figured that it wasn't just the villagers they were selling to, but also travelers and merchants. Otherwise, they wouldn't have things like camping tents or cart axles.
There were jars of herbs, seeds, and spices, possibly for cooking or medicine. Among them, there was something that caught Cain's eye ── a dry black plant, or maybe it was some kind of vine? It crinkled when he shook it, and it gave off a faintly sweet scent.
"Shopkeeper, what is this?"
Cain, looking slightly nervous, asked the shopkeeper, who had been watching them closely since they entered.
"Welcome. Ah, that? Well, I bought it from a traveling merchant who came from far away about 2 years ago. It's supposedly a kind of spice, but although it has a sweet smell, it has no taste. It's been sitting here ever since, and the merchant never came back. I was fooled by the sweet smell and bought it, but we don't even know how to use it, so it hasn't sold."
"I see... so that's what happened."
'This is definitely vanilla beans. Ah, I wish I had my Analysis Glasses.'
"How much is this?"
"It's been unsold, so how about 2 silver coins... no, make it one?"
"Thank you, I'll take it."
Cain handed over one silver coin to the shopkeeper, then carefully cradled the newly purchased vanilla bean-like item and left the store. Wayne approached, curious about the item Cain was smiling so fondly at, which looked like nothing more than dried grass.
"Sir Cain, I lack the knowledge to even imagine what you've purchased. May I ask what it is?"
Wayne genuinely seemed puzzled as he looked at the item Cain was holding.
"This is a kind of spice that doesn't taste like much on its own, but it's an ingredient for a certain dish. When used, it gives off a sweet aroma that's incredibly appealing."
Wayne could only manage a "I see," and the conversation ended. He wandered around the village but, finding nothing else of interest, ended up back in front of the inn. As he wondered if there was anything else to see, he heard an argument coming from the farming fields at the opposite end of the village from the entrance. Cain looked over to see a child with a large 4-legged animal, seemingly in a dispute with the village adults.
Cain, somewhat intrigued by the 4-legged animal, approached the scene. As he got closer, he saw that the animal was a gray, cow-like creature with a single horn protruding from its forehead.
"So, I'm asking to be paid upfront because I'll make sure the job is done properly."
The boy, who looked to be a middle schooler, was negotiating with the village adults while leading the cow-like animal.
"Is that how you ask for a favor? And where's the guarantee that you won't just run off with the money?"
"That's why I'm saying I wouldn't do that. My sister has a fever, and I need money for medicine and food."
"Such a thing, I've never heard of it. You said you'd plow the whole field by tomorrow, so we arranged a place for you to stay, but you're not even halfway done. How do you expect to be paid?"
The villager spoke with a hint of anger directed at the child.
"That's because my sister and Tarou could have finished it together, but..."
"Look, see. I was saying from the start that it can't be done. Honestly, drifters are like this."
"Um, excuse me, can I have a moment?"
Cain forced his way into the conversation a bit roughly.
"Huh? Who are you?"
The angry villager, not noticing Cain, kept threatening a child and responded in a harsh tone.
"You! How dare you speak to Sir Cain!"
Wayne stepped in front of Cain, hands on his sword.
"H-huh? It's a misunderstanding! Sorry for not noticing the noble."
The villager immediately fell to his knees, apologizing with a bow.
"It's our fault for calling out suddenly, so don't worry. Please, get up. If it's alright, could you tell us what's going on?"
Cain calmed Wayne and asked the villager for an explanation.
To summarize: this boy, Tony, and his big sister are summoners who control a cow-like monster (Cowcowbull), working as farmers while traveling around villages. They arrived here 3 days ago, agreed to farm till tomorrow, but Tony's sister fell ill and they were negotiating an advance on wages.
"So, could I farm in their place and they pay me instead?"
When Cain made this suggestion, the villager and boy looked confused, like "What's he talking about?" But since it's a noble's child suggesting, the villager said:
"If the young master requests me to substitute him, it's possible. But the field is quite large."
The villager pointed to the field Tony and his sister promised to farm. It was about 3 basketball court-sized patches──quite a big area.
"Then it's a promise, okay?"
Cain placed his hand on the ground, chanted a Mana-enhanced [Earth Dig], and quickly farmed the designated field. As he brushed off the dirt from his hand, Wayne and the others stared with their mouths open in disbelief.
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