Extra: Village Life, City Life

Angeline kicked off the ground, propelling herself backward just as the massive ogre charged with a roar. The next instant, several arrows flew from behind Angeline, accurately piercing through its eyes, brow, and heart. The moment it faltered, Angeline’s blade took its head.

“Nicely done, Anne... Was that the last one?”

“Should be. Good grief, how are there so many of them?”

Anessa leaned her bow against her shoulder and sighed. Not far away, Miriam swung her staff to summon lightning and scorch the smaller goblins black. The job was to annihilate a flock of fiends that had showed up at a village near Orphen. The strongest fiend among them was AA-Rank at best, but unfortunately, their sheer force of numbers proved to be quite troublesome.

There were plenty of jobs like this, back when there had been a massive outbreak of fiends. However, Angeline’s desire to meet her father had made a demon of her, and it hadn’t felt so troublesome then. In that sense, perhaps she was a little unmotivated at the moment—though that didn’t change the fact that she was strong.

Some time had gone by since crossing paths with the Inquisition and the shadow, and their peaceful days had returned. Angeline was still obstinately going on the attack against Belgrieve’s bride candidates, to absolutely no avail. It had gotten to the point where she was practically ignored whenever she brought up the topic.

In any case, the return of their daily routine meant they were back to work once more. Although being an S-Rank adventurer meant she did not have to do too many jobs to sustain herself, she now had two more mouths to feed. Working for someone else’s sake isn’t half bad, she thought.

They returned to Orphen once work was over. While they had eaten lunch on the road, the sun was still rather high by the time they got back. Yuri welcomed them at the desk with a smile.

“Welcome back, girls. You work fast.”

“Nothing but small fries...”

“Heh heh, looks like Calamity-Class fiends aren’t much more than pests if I put you on the job.”

“Ah, sis!” Charlotte appeared from behind the desk. She wore a kerchief over her tied-back hair and carried a broom in her hands.

“Oh, Char. Are you helping out again?”

“Yeah! I’ll be done soon, just give me a minute!”

While Angeline and her party were out for work, Charlotte and Byaku would be placed in the guild’s care. It was the safest place to be, and she had plenty of friends there. Byaku was still as sullen as ever, but Charlotte had already blended in. She had lately gotten around to helping out with the cleaning.

“What now...? We’re a bit sweaty, so wanna go to the bathhouse?”

“About that—the two of us, we’ve got some business at the orphanage. We’ll be done by evening, so how about dinner together?”

“Hmm, got it...”

“Then see you at the usual tavern. Aha, sure is hot today. I should take a bath later,” Miriam said, stretching her arms. Charlotte soon returned, dragging Byaku behind her.

○

Large, fluffy clouds lazed here and there around the summer sky, their whiteness reflecting the sunlight near-blindingly. Marguerite pulled off her straw hat and wiped away sweat with the back of her wrist.

“Sooo hot. Why do I gotta deal with this?”

She had cast off the fur coat she usually wore and her pale, slender limbs took on the sunlight directly. And yet, she showed not the slightest hint of tanning.

Belgrieve set aside the weeds he had plucked, glancing at the length of the shadows and the position of the sun.

“It’s almost noon. Want to wrap up here?”

“Copy that. Ahh.” She heaved a deep breath, as though she had waited for this moment all day. She fanned her face with her hand. “How is it so hot?”

The height of summer was behind them, but the heat lingered fiercely, and the plants grew vigorously. Self-sufficiency was standard in Turnera, so daily watering was a crucial job. Luckily, the wells and rivers did not seem to be drying out at all; perhaps the vibrant forests surrounding them played a part in that.

Once Mit’s turmoil in the forest had finally settled down, Belgrieve returned to the busy countryside life. He never missed his morning or evening training, but his sword arm did not put food on the table. After training, he would work the fields, chop wood, and head out to the forest. The sheep were fully sheared, and the stalks of wheat from the spring planting stretched out their green leaves and swayed in the wind. It was almost time to start preparing for winter.

Graham was busy looking after the village children and Mit; perhaps they were at the village square. Duncan had left to help the lumberjacks.

Marguerite looked at Belgrieve, who had begun stuffing his basket with vegetables for lunch, and asked, “Hey, I sweated up a storm; could I go to the river real quick?”

“Go right ahead. I’ll make lunch, so try not to be long.”

Marguerite grinned before flying off towards the river.

There were no baths in Turnera; at most, the villagers would wipe themselves down with towels soaked in warm water, but on these hot summer days, this would only make them sweat more. When the heat was too harsh, the villagers would often make the trek all the way to the river to submerge themselves in the cool water flowing from the mountain. This river was born from the snow melting in the high mountains surrounding the village, so it was cool even in the summer. It was too cold to enter most other times, so this was one of summer’s big events. There were already quite a few people ahead of her washing away the sweat from the morning’s work, many of them young.

“Hmm, nothing but guys in that direction,” Marguerite noted, scanning the riverbed from afar.

She could be a tad rough around the edges, but she was still a young girl, and she felt embarrassed to show her skin to the opposite sex. After looking around, she ultimately decided to walk farther upstream where there were fewer people.

The river gradually crawled into the forest, where the banks narrowed and the flow increased. However, there were occasionally places where the currents were calmer, and these places were perfect for a swim. She couldn’t sense another soul about once she entered the forest, and there were bushes and thickets that could conceal her well enough.

While the villagers thrived from the forest’s blessings, they were too afraid to enter it carelessly. Marguerite shared none of their fears; as an elf, she felt more at home among the trees than anywhere else.

Marguerite tossed her clothes aside and dipped her toes into the stream before slowly lowering the rest of herself in. The water was bone-chilling, but it was instantly refreshing on her sticky skin.

“Ahhh... I live for this.”

Submerged up to her neck, she leaned back far enough that all her bundled hair was soon sopping wet. Then, she allowed the tension to drain from her body, gently floating to the surface. Beyond the overhead branches swaying in the breeze, she could see the blue summer sky, and fallen leaves tickled her sides as they floated by.

After enjoying the river a while longer, she rose with a great splash, with water bounding off of her pale skin. She found after standing that the water was only waist-deep. She crouched down, scooped up water with her hands, and splashed it on her face.

“Phew... That’s the stuff.”

Untying her damp hair, she collected it, then forcefully ran her hands down it from top to bottom, causing water to pour out from the ends. What had once been a tepid breeze was now cold against her damp body. Still, it was as if the heat had simply been sealed deep within her, and she was still burning inside.

Taking a seat on the riverbank with only her feet in the water, she let her gaze wander idly. Here and there, the sun’s rays would filter through the trees and bounce off the river’s surface. She used her hands to brush off a few stray droplets and sat a while longer as she dried.

“All right, let’s get back. I’m starving.”

Marguerite stood up, scanning the riverbank for her clothes.

○

Orphen was situated in the northern reaches of the dukedom, so the region did not get exceptionally hot in the summer months. However, it was a large city where many people gathered. The buildings were tightly packed with poor ventilation, and there was little greenery to be found. Many streets and structures were constructed from stone, which would soak up the sun and radiate heat. A cloud of dust would be kicked up from the unpaved side paths every time people or wagons passed through, creating a peculiar haze around the crowds that made it a little difficult to breathe. It hadn’t rained these past few days, so the ground was arid.

Weaving her way through the plumes of dust, Angeline arrived at the bathhouse. There weren’t many commoners in Orphen who owned their own baths; the lower classes would usually wash at public bathhouses.

The interior was made of wood, stone, and plaster, with one large hole dug out of the center. This pit was furnished with large flamestones at the edge. Water would crackle and steam as a pipe deposited it upon the stones. As heat output could be changed based on how these stones were arranged, it was easy to control the temperature. A wooden grill was placed around them as a safety precaution.

Angeline scooped up some warm water to wash her face.

“It’s a nice bath...”

“It is,” Charlotte said from her seat beside her. The sun was still high, and thanks to the rising steam, the light streaming through the windows looked like solid staffs.

It was hot in the bath, but far better than broiling under the summer sun. Indeed, for some peculiar reason, it felt far cooler outside after a nice hot bath. A chilled wine afterwards was also something to look forward to. Cooling magic was comfortable and convenient, but Angeline wasn’t much of a fan—as far as she was concerned, it simply made it far more unpleasant when she had to leave for the blistering streets.

Angeline leaned against the rim of the bath and stared at the ceiling. “You could never even imagine this in Turnera...”

“Really? How do you take a bath in Turnera?”

“There are no baths... Usually, you wipe yourself down with a wet towel. But it’s not enough during the summer, so you splash on some water from the well, or go for a swim in the river...”

She recalled how Belgrieve would often take her to the river when she was young. Unfortunately, Belgrieve was a terrible swimmer due to his peg leg, and he would always watch her swim from the shallows. She remembered fishing with him more than she remembered swimming together. The only ones who would swim with her were her friends and the older village girls. As a young girl, Angeline had been frustrated with the fact that Belgrieve would never join her no matter how many times she invited him to swim with the other girls. Thinking back on it now, she had been quite reckless.

During her last visit, she didn’t have the chance to swim. But just recalling the bone-chilling cold of that water was enough to blow the summer heat away.

“You swim in the river? Naked?”

“Correct.”

“Doesn’t anyone see you? That’s a little embarrassing,” Charlotte said, fidgeting.

Angeline giggled. “Well, sometimes men did come to peep. I was a kid, so I didn’t care, but...the older girls would throw rocks at them.”

“Turnera sounds like a lively place.” Charlotte stood up and let out a sigh. “I’m feeling dizzy. I’m going to take a dip in the cold tub.”

“Yeah, I should too...”

So Angeline stood too and accompanied the girl to the cold-water bath. The heat meant that the cold bath was far more packed. She somehow managed to squeeze in, but it wasn’t nearly as cold as she had hoped for. Turnera’s river was cold even through the summer. She recalled a time when she was swimming alone, and a mischievous faerie had hidden her clothes.

It was a trivial matter now, and it brought with it a sense of nostalgia. After summer came fall, and this time, she would pick wild cowberries for sure. She swore as much to herself as she soaked up to her shoulders.

○

As he came through the door with Mit, Graham immediately glanced around the room.

“Where is Marguerite?”

“Well, she said she was going to the river and hasn’t come back yet.” Belgrieve folded his arms, his expression growing troubled. The stew of summer vegetables and dried meat he had been preparing was bubbling in the pot.

Marguerite had gone to the river in the late morning, but was still nowhere to be seen. Surely she must have known that noon had already passed, and it was hard to imagine she would take the wrong road.

“Could Maggie be lost?”

“Lost? Well, I think she knows the place well enough... Ah, hey now.” Belgrieve lifted Mit up just as he was about to bite into a plate. Then, looking at Graham, he said, “For now, let’s eat without her. Maybe she just took a detour.”

“All right.” Graham nodded, picking up a wooden ladle.

Around that same time, Marguerite was at her wit’s end. The clothes she thought she had doffed by the riverside had seemingly vanished. Suspecting a pervert or a thief, she had searched high and low, but came up completely short. As a matter of fact, she was confident that she would have sensed anyone who had approached. Did her clothing perhaps fall into the river and drift away?

“Dammit, why’d this have to happen to me...” she grumbled.

She couldn’t return to the village like this. She considered swimming downstream to ask the folks bathing down there for help, but she found that rather embarrassing and uncool. That said, it wasn’t as if she had any better ideas. She was left naked under the summer sun, and the stupidity of the situation was irksome to her.

Suddenly, she noticed a shake in the nearby thicket. “Eek!” she cried, hiding her chest. “Who is it?!”

A wild rabbit burst from the greenery. It made her quite depressed to find out a mere rabbit had made her so jumpy. She pondered to herself how anxious it made her to have nothing to wear. In any case, she wasn’t getting anywhere like this. She was about to search for her clothes again when she sensed someone finally drawing near.

“Judging from your voice, is that you, Maggie?”

“Duncan... Ah, snap!” Marguerite hastily jumped into the water. Duncan was momentarily taken aback when he emerged from the thicket, but he quickly turned away. “P-Pardon me. I didn’t expect to catch you bathing...”

He was about to be on his way when Marguerite frantically called him back. “Wait—hold on, Duncan!”

“Huh?” Duncan stopped, though he took care not to turn to her. “What is it?”

“Well, uh... My clothes were...w-washed away, so... I’m sorry, but could you get me something to wear from the house?”

“Oh, what tough luck. Understood, I’ll take care of it.”

“Sorry, and thanks. Ah! Keep it a secret from granduncle and Bell!”

“I see... Are you sure? Why’s that?”

“I mean, it’s...embarrassing...”

Duncan jogged away with a wry smile. He was carrying his axe with him, so perhaps he had been out in the forest helping the lumberjacks.

Marguerite found a nice sunny place to sit. The heat was nice on her now-frigid body. She dried in an instant, and she wasn’t sweating either, so it was quite a liberating feeling. She wasn’t even anxious anymore, now that she knew Duncan would fetch clothes for her. Once she had calmed down, being naked wasn’t too bad either.

“But who the hell is this clothes thief... Ah, I’m starving.”

Marguerite pursed her lips, then planted her palms on the ground behind her and leaned back. A comfortable breeze was blowing, and each time the trees rustled, the light below would shift. She had just decided to flop back and lie down when she felt something soft under her back where she reclined. Springing up, she discovered the clothing that she thought she had lost.

She swiftly scanned the area. Not a trace of anyone, and there had certainly been nothing when she first sat down. She shuddered at this mysterious phenomenon. For better or worse, her clothes were back. And she was dry too. Marguerite hastily put her clothes on and sprinted off. There was something wrong here, something off, and she wanted to get away as soon as she could. She had long since forgotten about Duncan.

○

It became much cooler when the sun began to set. Still, the stone buildings continued to emanate heat, and they would only cool completely around midnight. The city would continue to feel somewhat stuffy until then.

After waiting for night to fall, Angeline took Byaku and Charlotte to the usual bar where Anessa and Miriam were waiting for her.

“Huh... You’re early,” she remarked.

“Yeah, our business wrapped up early.”

“We already started drinking without you.” Miriam cackled with a drink already down the hatch.

Angeline happily took a seat. Wine was poured into the empty glass that had been reserved for her, and after raising it in cheers, she downed it in one gulp. It was quite delicious and refreshing. She looked around to see the place was as packed as ever. It wasn’t upscale enough for cooling magic, so the heat of so many people made it a dizzying experience.

“Sautéed duck and omelet, stewed pork and eggplant, some sausage...and chilled wine, a whole jug of it. Also bread and wheat porridge, please.”

She ordered the first things that came to mind as she slouched back. Once she realized the day was over, she felt strangely exhausted; perhaps the alcohol played a part.

Charlotte timidly opened her mouth to say, “Umm, how is Rosetta doing?”

“She’s doing fine,” Anessa replied. “She can’t work yet, but she can stand and walk around.”

“More than fine, I’d say,” Miriam chimed in. “She’s got too much energy, and she’s mad she has nowhere to put it. She always was a hard worker.”

Angeline placed a hand on Charlotte’s head and stroked her. “Let’s go see her tomorrow...”

“Y-Yeah! Thank you, sis!” The girl bashfully smiled.

“So what’s it looking like? Are you returning to Turnera in the fall?”

“Yeah... That’s the plan.”

“Heh heh, leaving so soon? You sure Mr. Bell won’t be disappointed in you?”

“He won’t be... My dad will be happy. And I’d better leave quickly if I want to get Char there.”

“Hee hee, I can’t wait...” Charlotte smiled from ear to ear, propping her head up with one hand. She seemed to be looking forward to meeting Belgrieve.

It will be too late to swim in the river in the fall, Angeline thought. But they could still fish, and harvest mushrooms and berries along with fall’s other blessings. Just thinking about it set her heart racing. She enjoyed cowberries raw, but stewing the fresh ones into a sauce and pouring it over roast elaenia was also a treat. The sweet and sour berries meshed well with the rich fat of the bird.

Miriam munched on boiled corn and said, “Turnera’s food was pretty nice. Mr. Bell’s a good cook.”

“Yes. The seasoning is simple, but it has a nice, rustic flavor.”

“I know, right...” Angeline nodded proudly. She enjoyed the food in Orphen, but there were times when she felt an overwhelming desire to eat Belgrieve’s home cooking. Actually, she felt that craving at nearly every meal. While Angeline often cooked for herself, she was never a fussy chef, and the food she made just to sustain herself would turn out rather bland. By comparison, food made for her by Belgrieve carried a sort of warmth aside from the flavor.

“Jarlberry, was it? It had an interesting smell. They don’t really use it in these parts.”

“Right, right. I was confused the first time, but I like it quite a bit.”

“What kind of smell?” Charlotte asked, blinking.

“Yeah, the flavor’s kinda prickly, but also soft like tree bark... It’s hard to explain.”

“Hey, Ange—since everyone grows their own food there, the dishes must change every season, right?”

“Correct. There are plenty of vegetables from summer to fall. Meat and fish too. The food at the fall festival right before winter is extravagant. The start of spring is when supplies are lowest.”

“Oh, really? There was quite a bit of food at the spring festival...”

“That sweet bread, the one with the dried fruits kneaded in—that was a hit.”

“Wow... Sounds tasty.”

“It is tasty. You’ll be able to try a lot of things if we make it in time for the fall festival...”

The homesickness struck her again, and Angeline let out a sigh. However, once the steaming plate of duck was set before her, her empty stomach immediately drove away the memory of the tastes of her homeland and, for the time being, urged her to dig in and take a mouthful. More flavor seeped out with every bite. Despite all her talk about Turnera’s cuisine, the food here was also delicious; that was precisely why they were such frequent customers.

“Come on, Bucky. You can eat too.”

“Don’t call me Bucky.”

Having kept quiet the entire time, Byaku was as sulky as ever. Miriam playfully reached out and pinched his cheek.

“Is the heat making you cranky? How about you smile sometimes, Bucky boy?”

“Blasted drunk...”

“Come to think of it, you haven’t had a drop. Do you not like wine?”

“Can’t stand the taste. Leave me alone.”

“Such a child...”

“Huh?” The crease in the boy’s brow deepened as he glared at Ange. “What’s that? Try saying it again.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry... Your big sis doesn’t mind if you can’t hold your liquor,” Angeline said as she savored each sip of her wine.

With a scowl, Byaku violently snatched up a glass and chugged it down.

“Wow,” Miriam marveled. “That’s the spirit. How manly.”

“Don’t egg him on, seriously... Oi, Byaku... Byaku?”

“Huh... Byaku? What’s wrong?”

When Charlotte tapped him on the shoulder, his body swayed. A tilt soon turned into a topple right out of his chair. Anessa rose with a start.

“Hey!”

“H-Huh... Bucky? You okay?”

Byaku quivered silently. He attempted to lift a shaking hand only for it to powerlessly slump down. His face was red, his eyes unfocused. He was dead-drunk from a single cup of wine.

“I didn’t think you would be that weak...”

“Byaku! Get a hold of yourself!”

“Ahh... If you’re weak, just say so. No need to be stubborn...”

For now, they lent him a shoulder to get him back in his seat. But his body hung limp, and dinner was the least of their worries. They hadn’t even finished eating yet; Angeline folded her arms, wondering what to do now. All the while, Miriam cackled, having finally lost to her drink.

○

Water was added to the leftover lunch stew, then barley, and finally the salted fish they bought from a passing peddler. Thinly sliced eggplant was fried in oil and tossed in dried herbs and salt. With that, dinner was served.

The western mountains meant sunset came fast to Turnera. Unlike Orphen, there weren’t many stone buildings to retain the heat. The abundant dirt and grass meant that the temperature immediately fell with the sun.

“That should do it. You had a late lunch, Maggie, can you still eat?”

“Don’t worry your head off. I can eat just fine.”

“Ha ha, how nice, to be young...”

“But this fish is way too salty! What were they thinking?!” Marguerite frowned as soon as a scrap of salted fish entered her mouth.

“We’re quite far from the sea,” Belgrieve explained. “It will rot if they don’t salt it this much.”

“Huh? This is sea fish?!”

“Yeah. It was a bit pricey, but it lasts long, and it doesn’t take much to flavor a dish.”

From time to time, such goods would come in through peddlers. Sometimes they were bartered for, while other peddlers would only accept money. Regardless, currency was far less useful here than in the capital.

Suddenly, Belgrieve recalled his time as an adventurer. Back at the capital, it was impossible to live without money. He could grow the food he needed here in Turnera, but over there, money was an absolute necessity to put meals on the table. Every day, he was busily running about, either hunting fiends or gathering materials. At this point, he felt that having to use money as a medium of exchange for goods at all was just a pain.

Not long ago, he had traveled to Bordeaux with Angeline’s party and paid for an inn and meal for the first time in a very long while. It was a strangely fresh experience to him, and he remembered having some troubles overcoming that conceptual gap when he first set off too. Did Ange go through that? he wondered.

“Maggie, is money used in elven territory?”

Marguerite cocked her head. “Money? Nah, I don’t really get it...”

“In the Western Forest, each household grows, hunts, or gathers their own food.” Graham fielded the question for her. “Some places near human nations have picked up trade, but...there weren’t many financial transactions in the settlement where Marguerite and I lived.”

“I see...”

In that case, perhaps Marguerite would have some troubles if she ever decided to leave for Orphen.

“But Duncan sure is taking his time today. You think his job is dragging on?”

“Duncan working?” Mit twisted in Graham’s arms.

Belgrieve smiled. “Yeah. It’s like he’s a part of Turnera now.”

And that was precisely the moment when Duncan barged through the door. He looked restless, then dazed as soon as he noticed Marguerite.

“Did you find your clothes, Maggie?”

“Huh? Me? I...” Marguerite awkwardly mumbled. She had scampered back swiftly, grown embarrassed along the way, and decided not to say a word about what happened in the forest.

“Clothes? Did something happen?” Belgrieve curiously asked.

“Truth be told, I ran into Maggie around noon in the forest.”

“In the forest? No, Maggie went to the river. I don’t think she went that far.”

“Y-Yeah...” Marguerite nodded, with an odd expression on her face.

“But I... Hmm, that means it must have been a faerie...”

“Hmm?”

“Well, I saw Maggie swimming in a river in the forest. She said her clothes had been washed away so she wanted me to run home and get her something to wear... That’s why I hurried back with some clothes, but she was nowhere to be seen... Do you reckon a faerie was teasing me? Ha ha ha!” Duncan laughed, having seemingly accepted this as fact.

“I see...” Belgrieve stroked his beard. “The faeries around these parts do love their mischief. They often teased me when I was a child.”

“Oh? You too, Bell?”

“Yeah. They’d pretend to be fish and tug at my line, or call out with my friends’ voices... That’s right, they once hid my clothes when I was swimming. I was quite at a loss then, since I couldn’t just go home naked. Well, I found them in the end—those faeries are far better than fiends.”

Marguerite twitched.

“But it’s rare for them to go after adults. They generally only play with children...”

“Hmph, does that mean I’m too childish?”

“That’s not what I meant... Maybe they thought you’d play along?”

“Hmmm... But that transformation was so masterful. I’m sure even you would have fallen for it, Bell. It was perfectly Maggie from the voice to the face. It even told me to keep quiet to you and Graham because it was embarrassed.”

“Hmm? What a strange faerie.”

“Y-You must be tired, Duncan. Well, dinner’s done. Take a seat!”

“Right. Well, thanks, I guess...”

“Now Bell! I’ll take care of that! Don’t worry, just sit! Okay?!”

Marguerite wiped down the table, set out silverware, and was suddenly quite keen on helping. Duncan scratched his cheek while Belgrieve curiously stroked his beard.

“You’re strangely helpful today, Maggie...”

“Hey, I’m just in the mood sometimes.”

The two men exchanged a look and a shrug. Only Graham stared at the busy girl as if he knew everything. The charcoal popped in the fireplace, sending a thread of smoke streaming from the chimney.