Isekai Nonbiri Nouka - Chapter 876

Chapter 876: Interlude: How to Bounce in Village Five

My name is Horlan.

I’m a demon.

Together with my lover—now my wife—Lucidel, we ran away from our respective villages and sought refuge here in Village Five, relying on Lucidel’s anii, Langho-san.

We’re living in one of the rooms in Langho-san’s large house, and Lucidel and I have been helping out with the daily chores.

I feel like we’re being a burden, but Langho-san reassured me, saying that with his wife pregnant, having more hands around the house is actually a blessing.

I’m grateful for that.

Still, I can’t just keep relying on him.

I need to start earning my own living.

Fortunately, back in my old village, I worked as a metalworker.

Thanks to Langho-san’s introduction, I’ve managed to join the local guild for jewelers, and they’ve already assigned me a few jobs.

It’s going... well, maybe not quite smoothly yet.

I brought my own tools for metalworking, but I don’t have a workshop set up here.

The jobs I’ve been offered involve crafting decorative pieces for furniture, which requires a decent amount of space to work.

If it were just jewelry, I could do it at a small desk, but for this kind of work, I need a bigger area.

I could try renting space at someone else’s workshop, but I’d have to pay for that.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the money to cover rent right now.

Normally, in situations like this, people offer to teach their skills in exchange for using the space, but...

The techniques I know were passed down from my family. Even though I’ve left them behind, I still feel uneasy about sharing those secrets so freely.

No, I’m not really in a position to be so picky.

My family didn’t treat me well, and they opposed my marriage to Lucidel, but still, I owe them for raising me.

I can’t just let their techniques leak out so easily.

While I was mulling this over, Langho-san offered to let me use an empty room and part of the garden as my workshop.

He even said I didn’t need to pay rent.

I felt conflicted. I’m trying to avoid relying on him too much, but refusing would be pointless.

I need to get on my feet first.

Yeah.

So, I decided to take Langho-san up on his offer and use the empty room and garden.

I’ll work hard here, make enough money to pay rent, and one day, I’ll be able to afford my own workshop.@@novelbin@@

-0-

It’s been about thirty days since we came to Village Five.

I’ve started to get used to life here, but I realized I don’t actually know much about the village itself.

I spent most of my time working, so I don’t go out much.

The only time I leave is when I need to go to the guild to accept or deliver a orders.

The guild sells materials for metalworking too, so there’s not much reason for me to walk around town.

One day, Langho-san noticed this and insisted on taking me out.

「Hey, hey. You know, it’s about time you started calling me brother in law.」

Sorry.

If I did that, I feel like I’d end up relying on you even more.

「Haha. No worries. I won’t force you. Besides, anything’s better than being called ‘Master’. 」

Ah, is he still bothered by that incident?

Lucidel had tried to call him ‘Master’ as a sign of respect since he’s the head of the household, but Langho-san absolutely hated it.

Lucidel argued that it was only right to keep things professional, especially since we were living with him and helping out around the house.

I stood by Lucidel, of course, but Langho-san begged me to convince her to stop.

It wasn’t easy.

Convincing Lucidel of anything is a challenge.

Honestly, I can’t win an argument with her.

Still, somehow, I managed to get her to stop calling him ‘Master’.

Relying on Langho-san like this, we definitely can’t afford to cause him any trouble.

Oh, while I was lost in thought, I fell behind Langho-san.

I hurried to catch up.

「So, the reason I brought you out today... there’s something I want you to know.」

Something I need to know?

Is it related to Village Five?

「Sort of but... Have you heard anything about Lucidel’s eyes?」

Ah, ahhh that.

Yes, I heard about it after we arrived here. Lucidel has a magic eye.

But I don’t know the details of what it does.

She kept it secret all this time, and I didn’t push her to explain.

「I see. Well, it’s not something we want to spread around, but it’s fine if you know. Simply put, Lucidel’s magic eye allows her to see people’s titles.」

To me, they just looked like groups of carpenters and cooks, but apparently, I shouldn’t let my guard down around them.

「I trust you won’t have any issues, but as long as you don’t provoke or insult them, you’ll be fine.」

I wouldn’t dream of doing that.

「I know. But there are always fools who don’t know better, getting carried away with themselves.」

Right.

「...By the way, what do you think of my house? It’s a fine place, right?」

Eh?

Where did that come from?

Well, yes, it’s a nice house.

Very comfortable.

「Not long after I arrived in Village Five, I heard that the High Elves were going to build a house. I didn’t believe they could really do it, so I challenged them.」

You challenged them?

You, Langho-san?

W-Well, I suppose, given how fragile High Elves look...

「Exactly. I didn’t think they could handle carpentry. So to prove me wrong, they built this house.」

R-Really?

「Yes. The house is also so large because, after challenging them, I requested the design. It’s on the foothills, where the village was first built.」

You even made a request?

「I was a fool. After it was built, the High Elves and Oni used it as a lodge for a while. When I heard it was being sold, I happened to have enough money, so I bought it.」

I-I see...

But, Langho-san, don’t you have the magic eye?

Didn’t you realize the High Elves might be a dangerous group?

「When I first came here, I couldn’t read yet. I just thought they were ordinary elves.」

Ah... well, ehto...

At least you didn’t have a bad experience, right?

So, in the end, everything worked out.

「Once I learned to read and realized what my magic eye showed me about those elves, I found out their race was High Elf, and their title was Man-Eater.」

EEHHHHHH.....

「Don’t back away. It’s fine. I apologized properly, and we’ve made peace.」

Th-that’s a relief...

「Well, as I’ve said before, just don’t provoke or belittle anyone. That’s all you need to avoid trouble.」

True.

Title or not, I’ll make sure not to provoke or mock others.

「Exactly. That’s the way to go. Not every dangerous person has an obvious title, after all.」

I’ll also work hard on my reading.

I may not have the magic eye, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to be able to read.

I remembered when we left the village, Lucidel left a note behind, but I couldn’t read it.

It reminded me that I really need to study.

「By the way, were there people who could read Lucidel’s note? It wouldn’t do much good if no one could.」

He said it was partly to buy time while they found someone who could read it.

「Ah, I see. Well, it’s always good to be literate. In Village Five, there are plenty of places where you can learn to read and write. I’d recommend the angel’s classes—they have a reputation for being excellent teachers.」

Angel?

Now that you mention it, do I not need to be cautious around the angels?

You never mentioned them.

「Do you really need me to tell you to be cautious around them?」

...I guess not.

Then maybe I should just stay away from them?

「Do you really think simply avoiding them will help you escape the angels?」

...no, I don’t.

「Exactly. Don’t be unnecessarily wary. Just treat them with respect, like any good neighbor.」

So, in short, I should just give up on avoiding the angel.

「Don’t put it so bluntly. ...Though, Youko-sama did mention that the angels living in Village Five and Shashaato City should be fine.」

So... it’s safe then?

「She also said to report it if you see them doing anything suspicious.」

Ah—right, they ‘are’ angles after all.

「Indeed. They ‘are’ angels.」

-0-

, the story will return to the village chief’s POV.

Thank you for your continued support!