kscans

Chapter 55 - The Mysterious Boy

Unpredictable weather, insect plagues, a disruption in the distribution of cash crops due to war in other countries… a combination of these various factors had led the country to suffer from a chronic food shortage, though not yet at a crisis level. The plight of the cities, which depended on food transported from other countries and rural villages, was particularly serious, though not yet dire. It had reached a stage that could not be ignored. Panic buying had also contributed, and the food circulating in the market was becoming scarce. On the other hand, there were those who saw a business opportunity in this situation. Any halfway clever merchant would take their cart to various farming and mountain villages, buying up even their less than abundant food stores.

End Village was no exception. Around spring, a familiar merchant arrived with his cart and bought up the village’s crops at high prices. He stopped short of taking their seed grains, but after leaving just enough to get by until the next harvest, the villagers sold off even the surplus they had stored for emergencies. It was less that they were blinded by money and more that they were thinking of those who were suffering without food. They could still manage. They didn't just have crops. They could also eat what they could find in the mountains and fields. As a result, the village's food situation became tight, and anyone with a spare moment would head into the mountains and fields, within a safe range, to gather edible nuts, berries, and young leaves.

It was on one such day in July that the village girl, Dona, ventured into the mountains with her grandfather, deeper than they usually went.

"There aren't as many wild strawberries as I thought there would be, Grandpa."

"Indeed… Perhaps the mountain beasts beat us to them."

"...Are the animals starving too…?"

"I wonder… The mice seem to be doing as they always do…"

Her expression had already clouded over due to the meager harvest, but hearing the possibility that the mountain animals were starving made Dona’s face fall even further. If hungry beasts were to attack the village crops, it could mean starvation for the villagers themselves. They had already sold off their stored food. As the two of them stood there with somber expressions, the grandfather, Audel, noticed something.

"Hmm… It looks like there's a path that's been trodden down here…"

"Oh… then someone else has been this far."

If that someone had already finished harvesting, it was no wonder there were fewer wild strawberries than expected. There was no need to worry about mountain beasts. Dona was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but her grandfather's words made her tense up again.

"No… we should be the only ones from the village who've come this far out. Besides… if it were someone from the village, they would have cleared the undergrowth a bit more clearly."

The state of the path didn't look like it had been made by an adult. It looked like a smaller person had walked it… or else, someone had tried their best to leave no tracks…

"Does that mean… someone we don't know is living in hiding around here?"

"I can't say for sure. …In any case, we need to be careful. …Dona, sorry, but could you run back to the village and tell everyone about this?"

"And leave you here alone, Grandpa? No way. If we’re going back to the village, we go back together. If you’re not going back, then I’m not either."

Old Man Audel considered his granddaughter's firm reply. Once she had made up her mind like this, it would be impossible to persuade her. Should they return together then? But he was hesitant to go back with the lingering concern that someone might be here. Besides, for now, it was nothing more than a hunch, a vague one at that. Should he press on just a little further, until he had some solid proof? In any case, he hadn't gathered enough of what he came for, the wild strawberries…

After a moment's thought, the old man decided to press on. He told his granddaughter to be extremely careful, not to make any unnecessary noise, and to speak only in whispers. Dona nodded silently, and together they followed the faint trail of the path. Quietly.

"...Grandpa, isn't this where a village used to be?"

"Aye… the salt miners. But it must be nearly ten years since they left."

"Why did the salt miners abandon their village?"

"That would be because it became too difficult to drive off the magical beasts. Even our village has trouble with the beasts causing mischief. To build a village in the middle of these mountains, it's madness."

"I suppose you’re right."

…However, the truth is sometimes stranger than fiction or a picture book. As the two whispered to each other, what appeared before them, contrary to her grandfather's words, was a fortress like structure surrounded by sturdy stone walls.