The three tribes, Fish, Bird and Snake, came to the town almost at the same time. And just like this, the town’s population finally exceeded 4,000 people. I can actually see the shadow of a population of 10,000 now.
I am really overjoyed by it.
By the way, since I expected fatigue from the long journey, I granted the Fish tribe a holiday in the name of environmental improvement. But, that lasted only for a day.
Someone who does not work should not eat.
I hope that they’ll start working soon, but for now, I will just go to their place.
I’ve already met the Fish tribe members numerous times, but since our relationship was still shallow, I can’t be careless.
I put on my battle gear and got on the armored car. And on the way, I picked up some people from the Wolf tribe, including Chief Jiharu, and left from the west gate.
I drove the armored car slowly to the area where the Fish tribesmen live. Then, everyone, who was walking along the road, got down onto their knees and lowered their heads.
Somehow, they looked very respectful. No, the original residents of the town also bent their waists, so the three new tribes became even more respectful.
Chief Jiharu, who saw this for the first time, began talk about doing the same as them from now on. Of course, I declined and said that it was not necessary to do so.
“Even so, there are a lot of people.” I muttered while driving.
There was more than 1,000 people in Fish tribe alone. If I put the Bird and Snake tribes together, there would be over 2,000 people.
Because the brick houses that had been built before were not enough, my sight was filled with tents lined up in rows. I intend to change all of them into brick houses in the future, but it will take a considerable amount of time to do so.
Before long, we arrived at our destination. Right at the border of the brick houses and tents was where the chief of the Fish tribe lived.
I stopped the armored car in the middle of road and got off with the wolf tribesmen.
[TL: you mc don’t park the car in the middle of the road....]
Then, the chief of the Fish tribe, who was waiting in front of the house, lowered their head to the ground.
“Fujiwarsama, we are truly thankful that you accepted us at this time.” He stated worshipfully.
How many times was he gonna say this? Like everyone else from before, the chief was also prostrating himself before me.
No, although it was similar, it was slightly different. When a chief does this, it meant that the entire tribe was lowering themselves before me.
“Please stand up.” I urged.
“Yes.” At my words, the Chief stood up.
He was about 2 meters tall, so it was actually quite intimidating. His eyes were round and half protruding. He had no nose, and his mouth was rather large. There was a cut in his cheeks which seemed to be gills, judging by the way it was slowly moving. Perhaps the gills played the role of a nose? His skin was blue, and his hands didn’t have anything like webbing or fins.
Even though they were called the Fish tribe, they were clearly a tribe meant for living on land.
“Have you gotten used to the life here?” I asked.
“It is a wonderful life, yes.” He said humbly.
I have heard of their story before. It seemed like they’ve been oppressed by humans when they were still living in the Shugurin Dukedom.
However, unlike the beastmen from the Kingdom of Sandra, they lived in the sea.
Humans generally don’t approach the sea since sea beasts live there. So to catch fish, they needed to risk their lives.
The Fish tribe eats fish. I thought that that was cannibalistic, but when I thought more carefully, fish in the oceans also lived by eating fish smaller than themselves.
Even humans could be roughly classified as mammals, so maybe it was cannibalism when we eat pigs and cows?
[ED: Are you saying that humans like pigs and cows?? We’re under different classifications for families for one. We’re way too different physically for that to be cannibalism.)
Anyway, while they were catching fish, humans from the Shugurin Dukedom specially told them about this town.
What kind of intentions did the people from the Shugurin Dukedom have to do such a thing? Were they planning on doing this as a favour to me? Or, was it simply because they wanted the Fish tribe to leave?
Even when I ponder over it, I can’t come to a proper conclusion.
“You do not have to trouble yourself by giving me this much reverence, you know?” I sighed.
“Yes, I am sorry.” I don’t know whether this was their habit or not since the chief lowered his head yet again.
“I came today to allocate fields for you to cultivate. Since you live here now, you must work as well.” I stated. The survey of the fields has been completed after all.
Afterwards, I give them fields according to their numbers as well as farming tools so that they would be able to cultivate them right away.
“All the members of my tribe pledge to work seriously.” The chief promised.
But, I couldn’t read any emotions from his eyes when he said that.
On that day, the Fish tribesmen received their fields, and I did the same to the Bird and Snake tribes the very next day.
Winter passed and spring came. Five years had passed since I arrived in this world. It was finally my sixth year here.
To celebrate the arrival of a new year along with the increase in residents, I decided to hold a banquet for the first time in a while.
The north gate still stank of blood from the fight against the Kingdom of Sandra. There, a large banquet consisting of 4,000 people was held at the south instead.
“Everyone, please treat me well from now on!” The banquet began with the greeting from the chief of the Fish tribe.
A thunderous applause arose from the other beastmen.
Regarding the newly arrived Fish tribe, there was no particular problem according to the report. Everyone was doing well so far. Besides to myself, the Fish tribe was also respectful towards the existing residents, so they had a good reputation.
As the banquet progressed, the chiefs came to offer some liquor to me. While exchanging drinks, I had conversation with them.
Currently, I was drinking with Raccoon tribe’s chief.
“Are the camel twins doing well?” I asked.
Spring was the when camels gave birth. Just the other day, the camel being taken care of by the raccoon tribe was giving birth. It was a very difficult delivery, so the people from the Raccoon tribe and I were watching over it attentively. When it finally gave birth, there were twins.
The Raccoon tribesmen were shedding tears of joy, as if their own child had been born. At that time, I also teared up.
“Yes, they are doing fine. Please come over to see them again. Those kids will also be pleased.” The raccoon tribe chief’s needle-like moustache, which extended from his nose, shook as he said it shyly.
Thus, the banquet ended in a great success. The relations with the beastman tribe were also good.
The town continued to grow steadily.
One day in May...
While carrying some liquor in daytime, I visited Chief Jiharu’s house.
Because I had informed him in advance by phone, it shouldn’t be troublesome. ...Probably. And this time, I had a proper reason for visiting.
“Welcome, come in.” Chief Jiharu bowed like usual.
(As expected of Chief Jiharu.)
“Could you grill this?” I lifted the first-class meat I also brought over.
“Oh, please excuse me.” Jiharu received it and handed it to another person in the house.
Jiharu doesn’t have a wife. She had already passed away. The only people in this home were those who had lost their parents.
I was then led to the room in the back, and we sat at the table face to face. I poured the liquor I brought into the two glasses on the table. Both of us drank, and our gulping sounds resounded in the otherwise quiet room.
“Has anything happened recently?” I asked Chief Jiharu while placing the empty glass back onto the table.
“Hmm, there is nothing in particular that I can think of... Is there anything bothering you?” Chief Jiharu replied.
When the two of us drink together, there would no one designated to pour the liquor. This was something which Chief Jiharu and I agreed on during the first time we drank together in order not to create a fuss.
“Compared to the past, I feel that there is a lack in drive.” I sighed.
was it since I repelled the Kingdom of Sandra last summer? Even Chief Jiharu seemed to be losing energy. Even now, when I sit in front of him, I could see that Chief Jiharu looked like an old man.
“Ha ha, I see. It might be because I am also old.” Chief Jiharu chuckled and nodded his head. “Because Fujiwarsama let us live on this peaceful land, the load on my shoulders has been taken off gradually. I am thinking of handing the command over to my son. I wonder if I will be able to live the rest of my life just farming leisurely.”
I guess he was feeling secure about the future of the Wolf tribe. No doubt it was because we easily defeated the army from the Kingdom of Sandra. There was no need for him to steel himself for the sake of his tribe, so he intended to live just as he should for his age.
I refilled the glasses silently. Somehow, I feel lonely.
With regards to my personal relationships, the one I had with Chief Jiharu was the longest and deepest one. The number of times we drank together easily exceed 100 times.
Hearing such words from his mouth... It seemed to suggest that he would not have any regrets when he dies.
Everyone grow old and dies. It was inevitable. I will also die someday.
Incidentally, when I die, I thought about what would happen to this town. If I die, the town would probably fall into human hands. We had sufficient power to remain independent, but without me, they wouldn’t be able to do that. If that happened, this town will become a colony of the humans.
(What kind of lives would they have?)
While thinking that far ahead, I forcibly broke off my train of thought. It was not something to think about now.
(I will think about it slowly later on.)
I decided as I invited Chief Jiharu to play a round of shogi. The sound of the pieces clacking disappeared because of the conversation between Chief Jiharu and me.
“Ex-Excuse me.” Eventually, a nervous voice piped up, and the sliding door was opened.
A girl was carrying the cooked meat which I had brought today. Her name was Meg. She lived next to this house, and was the child of Chief Jiharu’s son.
She used to be quite naughty in the past, but after some years had passed, the child-like innocence had disappeared. Well, although I said she had grown, she has not even reached 10 years old yet. She was still a kid.
Meg excused herself again, and placed the dish next to Chief Jiharu and I.
Even so, I realised that recently, when I come over to Chief Jiharu’s house, she will generally be here. I also know the reason why. Chief Jiharu doesn’t mention it, but this girl would be the daughter of the next chief, so it was a scheme to attach Meg, who was his grandchild, to me.
However, I am not a lolicon, so it’s just a fruitless endeavour.
Even so, marriage, huh? When I celebrate my birthday this year, I will be 26 years old. Even in Japan, which has a late marriage age, I am old enough to think about marriage.
[TL: shut up, I am 27.][TLC: I am 23 T.T][ED: I’m 21 :D]
I am also receiving similar approaches from other the tribes too. Even though I declined them indirectly, their offense was still very intense, especially when it’s a woman and girl who has a face close to that of a human. Oh, now when I think about it, that has happened numerous times.
But, I also have to consider my position. It would be easy to be tied to one of the tribal women, but it could lead to discord in this town.
As expected, marriage will be impossible for time being.
Afterwards, I played shogi with chief Jiharu while drinking and continuing to enjoy pleasant conversation.
If possible, I would prefer to spend my time like this for a long time, or I thought.
The following day, I racked my brains to make a great change in some parts of the town’s structure.
Until now, except for the portions that were distributed to each tribe with discretion, I kept all of the harvest and used the [Sell] function them while handing out food I bought with my ability every month.
But from now on, I will try to make a new plan so that the beastmen would be able to only eat and live by what they grew themselves.
I needed to change the way the town should be in order for the beastmen to live in peace if something happened to me.