“Here we are,” I hear Ara-san proclaim to the rest of the party. I slowly open my eyes, and lift my upper body. It feels so heavy, the dragging pain rains down my muscles, but in the end I can see a number of buildings surrounded by hills, some of them tree-covered.

I use [Farsight] to look at a particular spot in the distance. It's the cliffside that I fell off... probably, there are two of them, so this farm seems to be in a dale or something like that. It's a much more vegetated landscape here than what I've seen recently.

Well, we 'are' in the Wildlands, after all. More or less a big, not very fertile landscape that no kingdom wants to claim, because there are only few resources and they are far away from each other. This led to an abundance of city-states that earn most of their income via trade because they tax much less than the kingdoms. For peddlers and traders this has become a way to circumvent tolls for passing several countries, while making profits along the way by buying and selling goods from one city-state to the other.

Or that's at least what I understood.

I guess around here are several farmsteads huddling together on this fertile land, selling their products to one or more city-states. Maybe there is even some feudal system or something. Doesn't really matter, as it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

Yet the people here took care of me for a while when I was almost dead, and they even rented the cart and the donkey, so we're here to return it, and give them something in return for their help.

A girl runs out of one of the houses. She has brown hair in braids. This one took care of me, it seems, and she's also the one who had a wrestling match with Ara-san... I'd better be careful, she may be totally nuts.

“Red!” What's with that nickname anyway? I mean, I guess it's because of my red armor, but I'm also sure that she should know my name by now.

Wait a minute, is she about to jump on me like a brain-dead dog!?

I try to jump out of the cart, yet the moment I grab its rim, another wave of pain assaults my body. “Hold on a second!” Ara-san is quicker than the crazy girl and grabs her arms from behind: “He's injured! Katarine-san, Momo, Grekkun, this is Mirianne-san, the lunatic I told you about!”

“Ara, let her go,” Rine asks with a friendly smile, while stepping in front of the brown-haired weirdo: “Hello Mirianne. My name is Katarine von Stolzherz. Thank you for looking after Kenta for a while.”

That Miria-girl gapes her mouth open, eyeing Rine first, then Kyou-san. Then her face darkens, as she gives the blonde girl a cold stare: “What are you to Red?”

“Do you mean Kenta? I'm his lover.” For a second, I was sure that the Miria-girl is about to do something, but *SMACK* instead she staggers back, as Rine suddenly hits her square on the nose. “Ah, sorry, I'm sorry!”

“Ahhh... do-don't worry, just let me-” I'll never learn what she wanted to say, as Rine grabs her outstretched arm, makes a turning step towards her and sweeps her from the legs, so that the brown-haired girl flies over the princess in an arc to land in the mud.

I think Miria-girl activated Rine's instinctive defense-mechanism, which is to eliminate any incoming danger before the blonde herself realizes what she's doing. I can totally tell how much of a painful experience that is, but I also believe that Rine's reflexes are activated for a reason. I mean, that farmer girl got in a wrestling match with Ara-san before!

Please don't tell me that she developed an unhealthy affection for me and is now obsessed-stalker material...

Not that Rine would consider that possibility, as she apologizes to that crazy girl. “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! [Heal]!” Rine casts a healing spell. She usually lets Kyou-san do it, but as she's the reason for the hurt, it seems appropriate. She offers her hand to the other girl to help her up, but then that dumbass decided to try to slap the helping hand away, which results in the helping hand to turn into a hurtful grip, as it catches the slapping hand and twists the whole arm in return: “Sorry, sorry, sorry!”

While I could watch that Miria-girl getting beaten up the whole day, as it's the right combination of comedy and hurt for the kind of an a-hole I am, it may be better to move on. Kyou-san seems to think the same, as she sighs before stepping between them: “Rine-chan, let her go. Also, Mirianne...san, please calm down. This is a fight you can't win.”

The mud-spilled and angry farmer girl hisses at Kyou-san: “And who are you!?”

“Momokawa Kyou.” I guess, we don't sell her as my sister here. “You can call me Kyou. Let's be friends.” She puts on her best smile, a fake so persuasive, that almost no one can see a difference between it and a genuine smile.

The Miria-girl begrudgingly takes Kyou-san's hand and is lifted back to her feet. She glares at Rine once more, then at Ara-san, and finally at Jii-san. Yes, she's absolutely nuts.

Though Kyou-san is the same, if she thinks she can somehow use this girl. I see no other reason why she would want to become friends with her.

Ah, let's be honest, every girl around me has some serious issues.

“Miria-nee?” Kyou-san changes to a nickname like it's nothing. Also, -nee (suffix for 'big sister', which can also be used to informally address a girl older than yourself)? Is she older than us? “Would you mind calling your mother? We're here to return the cart, and maybe eat a meal here. We can give you some money for it.” Seems like she doesn't want to cook today.

“Mother is by the fields. Let me show you Red's room, he can rest there until she returns, I'll show you the stables then.”

“Oh, why aren't you there as well?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I was waiting for Red. I mean, someone he knows has to be here, and for the cart, I mean, you know...”

“I understand.” I don't. “Would you mind showing us a room as well? Or do you need help with the cart?”

“No, thank you. Follow me.” She casts back ominous glances at me and Rine. Yup, Ara-san is right, this is a lunatic. I better try to avoid her as much as possible, though it doesn't seem like she will get the hint unless I tell her.

Nah, not that I plan to stay here for long anyway.

As we get closer to the house, I see some elderly sitting on a bench, watching some kids playing around on the courtyard. They're not much older than toddlers. I guess the moment you're old enough to carry something reliably is when you're forced to do fieldwork. That's why I like modern society… I mean, I believe at least that nowadays farms don't need child labor to survive.

Shit, the kids are coming to us! Wait, Ara-san, why are you stepping forward, and why are you that excited!? “Hello,” she says in a sweet voice, like she's the host of a shitty kids show! What's cute about these walking shitbags anyway!?

“““Kyyiiiiiiaaaaaa!””” Oh, this noise! The toddlers are running away, back to the elderly, screaming something I can't even understand.

The old people look at Ara-san with an expression that either shows their fear or their constipation pain. Ah yeah, people are afraid of alfar. For no good reason. You can think of alfar as a pain in the ass, you can dislike them for enough reasons, but to be afraid of them? They all just have bratty minds.

Seeing this reaction, Rine steps forward: “You don't need to be afraid of her. She's my friend.” You realize that you're a total stranger here? Why would it make a difference if this possibly dangerous alfr is your friend or not? Yet suddenly, the children change from shitting their pants into strange curiosity, while the old people begin to sigh in relief.

Ah, right. [Persuasion], the [Attribute] that makes a hero more persuasive to non-heroes. Considering Rine's high value there, I guess she's believed and trusted like a good old friend or something. Or like a professional brainwasher.

It doesn't work on anyone though, my personal guess would be that it somehow factors in the power of an individual, be it mental or physical. Usually, they come in a pair here... or more like, the few people we meet are either strong or weak in both.

So many questions.

Huh, why is Rine now surrounded by the children? “What is your name?”

“I'm Katarine von Stolzherz, but you can call me Rine.” Of course, she's good with children.

“You're pretty!”

“Thank you.” She also can take a compliment.

“Are you a princess?”

“How do you know!?” She flaps her lips, and I can see her sweating slightly. So this is what catches you off guard?

“You are!” While the children are pleased, that Mira-girl is not: “You are?”

“Ah, I gave it away.” Rine seems really concerned about it. Was she trying to keep it a secret? ...ah right, we told her to do that, and usually nobody asks her directly, so she never had a chance to slip, right? “Please don't tell anyone!” She puts her fingertips above her heart while lowering her head slightly, I guess that's the native gesture of begging?

“Of course. Which country?”

“Feuerb- ah, don't ask! It's supposed to be a secret!” Well, Rine trying to keep a secret is funny to watch, though the less these people know, the better. It's not like Correro or Meldorn won't find us if they want to, but maybe we also have some bounty hunters on our tail. I mean, maybe our precautions to not be tracked down actually work fine with many pursuers and we just didn't realize so far? I have to believe it, otherwise it'd be too sad and pathetic.

“Will you play with us?” They ask Rine in the kind of way that sounds sweet, but just shows how manipulative children truly are.

“Later, I promise.”

This got some cheers out of them. Wait, why is a brat coming to me? “Did you win your fight?”

“Phew...” I guess the people here made their own thoughts about why I was wounded and left the moment I regained consciousness. Coupled with how they perceive rangers, it could only end up as some sort of heroic bullshit. “I didn't. She did.” I point to Rine, she deserves the kudos anyway.

She takes my pointing hand in hers and replies in a sickening sweet voice: “I couldn't have done it without you, Dear.” While her eyes full of passion and admiration make me blush and feel kinda guilty, I guess she's somewhat right. “Tehe.” She links her arm with mine, which causes a burning wave of pain to assault me, it feels like fiery fingers spreading from my shoulder joints through my chest and neck. “Ah, sorry!” She notices how I'm bending over and gasping for air and lets go of me again. “[Heal]!” She throws me a quick healing spell, which may only numb the pain a bit, but is very welcome nonetheless, only to drop another saccharine bomb: “Later, promised?”

“...” There is a lot I want to say right now. I mean, I've linked arms with her before, but so far I’ve tried to keep it as impersonal as possible, and I'm kinda dreading it now that we're going out and now I'm supposed to live up to that romantic fantasy. Especially given that I don't really like people getting too close or touching me. Yet instead of trying to convey that between my ragged breaths, as the pain still is fresh, I decide to keep my silence for now.

“Red!” That Mira-girl seems upset, which is another kind of headache. “You're tired, right? Follow me. And you,” she turns to the children, “give him some space, alright? He needs rest.” That's the smartest thing I witnessed she has said and done so far, though the bar wasn't that high.

...I should try to cut down the snark a bit, she did nurse me when I was unconscious and therefore I should show some gratitude. Still, I really get all the bad vibes from her.

―○●○―

Brumm sits at the dining table of the farmstead his tribe currently uses as their quarters. While stuffing himself with pork, he listens to his father and former chief, Bramm. It's about the boring, yet important stuff of being chief, for the next few years, Brumm will rely on the advice. “The younger warriors seem to be restless. Give them something to do.”

“If they're bored, then they have to deal with it.”

“That's not how young people work.”

“Hm... we need some scouts anyway, so that we can see if any farmstead even dares to put up resistance. Of course,” he adds in light of recent advice, “they'll be led by veterans.”

“Good decision.” A decade before, Brumm was the young warrior that was leashed by the older ones, it was frustrating. Now he sees it in a different light. “How many scouts do we send?”

“Let's go with five groups of four. One veteran, the rest should be teens, we need to get them ready as quickly as possible.” The Northwind Clan recently had several skirmishes with the Bearbones, and the Tuskraiders, which cost them several warriors. In addition to an unfortunate incident where one of their small raiding groups was turned into ashes by unknown people.

These losses have to be filled, and here are just several farmsteads supporting the cities around. That's ideal to give the teens some experience without subjecting them to actual danger. Even if they mess things up, there won't be real repercussions.

With this, Brumm can rebuild the clan quick enough.