We arrived at a village located in a plain in the evening.
I haven't forgotten the disgrace of being pursued by them.
I perk up my shoulder with my hands on my tachi as I walk.
A middle aged man said like he was threatening me.
"Any complaints?"
The man's face became pale in an instant, he fell on his backside with trembling legs.
Celica followed after me while looking worried, Lapisia also did the same while looking around curiously.
"Celica and Lapisia, go to the courtyard. Take anything that looks useful in the shed."
"Okay!"
Walking down the corridor.
A female servant went out to the corridor along the way, her eyes rounded up when she saw me.
"Shut up. See this?"
I passed right by her.
I entered the nearest room.
Eyes that see through everything.
--I've always wanted to try this house-hunting thing.
I found 【Material - Spider Thread】 and 【Material - Worm's Fang】 inside a drawer in the first room, so I took them.
I found several silver coins in the second room during my search, so I took them.
I went up the stairs to the second floor.
He was writing on the desk before turning his face up.
"Y-you're!"
I greeted and showed him the 【Emblem of Hero】.
"H-hero-sama!?"
"No, that's.... No way!"
I ignored the village elder and searched the study.
"Oh. Found gold coins. You sure hoarded a lot. I'll be taking this secret stash cause it's necessary to defeat the demon king."
The village elder trembled like he had gone senile.
"Oy, village elder. If you value your life, gather all the villagers who attacked me in the courtyard."
"Can't you hear me, make it quick!"
The village elder almost stumbled as he went out of the study.
Eating 【Power Fruit】 adds 1-5 strength.
I'll give it to her later.
Hmm, still.
In exchange of only getting 50 gold coins from the king, I got this authority.
Of course it only lets you snatch things needed to defeat the demon king, you can't snatch things that are essential to someone's livelihood like a blacksmith's hammer or a fisherman's ship.
Under the evening sky.
Women and children are peeking with worried looks on their faces from behind the wall and the mansion.
"Remember my face? You were trying to kill the hero. You guys are suspected to be demon king's underlings."
The men objected hesitantly.
I scowl and shout.
"""Uu...."""
There were some who put their hands together asking for mercy.
"I can throw you all into jails or execute you right now--"
The men apologized unanimously. Half of them cried.
She pulled my sleeve while looking sad.
Even though she was the one who got attacked.... I'm impressed by Celica's kindness.
"First, every one of you kneel on the ground and apologize."
"We deeply apologize Hero-sama!" "Please forgive us Hero-sama!"
The women and children who were watching also kneeled on the ground while apologizing.
Making children cry, even me would feel hurt.
"Don't make a mistake and attack innocent travelers ever again okay?"
"It's easy to just speak out whatever you want."
The villagers hold their breath.
Apology is free after all.
However, Celica pulled my sleeve and shook her head. The evening light reflected on her blond hair looks seemingly sad.
And then I speak loudly.
"Yes", "That's exactly right", "We will obey hero-sama."
The village elder stands up and asks me with disarranged white hair.
"Umu. About that. Is there a festival in your village?"
Fumu. Festivals for the mother earth goddess Rupelsia huh. I guess they can't do without a harvest festival.
"Then change the spring harvest festival to 『Hero Keika Festival』! Grandly celebrate me to show your gratitude for my benevolence! And thus, you guys will be reminded of your mistake every year even if you don't like it, and control yourself right?"
"But.... The traditional festival that has been continued on for many years is--"
I glare at the village elder with god's coercion.
"W-wa, hiii!"
The men who were kneeling down screamed something while looking down. Some wet their pants.
However, all the villagers ultimately agreed to my suggestion.
--Now my name will be left behind!
I endured myself not to grin and laughed out loud.
"We understand Keika-sama. We will hold a festival to appreciate your benevolence."
"Eh, hero-sama will give us his protection!?"
I gotta have to give them this much grace at least.
"Of course. I'll widen the monster barrier and increase your fields. And I'll have my mansion built here."
Celica was surprised the most by this.
"Of course I'm doing that. But, I'd like to have a base. While we're journeying, I want to have a place for other people who are troubled in other places to send their requests and wishes in."
"There's too many people over there. This place takes half a day to reach. Trivial requests like searching for a lost cat won't reach here, only people who really need my help will come."
"And so, elder, go build a mansion with shrine-like atmosphere, I don't mind if it's small. It can be a one-story building. Notify Kimmerick Inn at the royal capital once it's done."
The village elder respectfully nodded.
I've been thinking of securing a base for a while now.
Even if I'm a hero, forcing my way through an established community is not easy.
However, since I hold the life of this village in my hand, they have no choice but to obey my order like slaves.
I survey the men.
"Ah, yes. It's me."
He approaches while protecting his wrist.
"I work by plowing field with a Bu Horse and as a delivery to the neighboring village. I also care for them."
"He... I don't mind. --Err, Keika-sama, this."
"I felt more dead than alive."
"Eh... Why."
"--I really can't win against you."
A middle-aged woman drew near and said.
"Ah, right, I'll have them. You guys can dissolve now."
Etc, they gratefully smiled at me with tears on their cheeks.
I went to the mansion with Celica.
"Keika-sama is amazing. Thinking such a method to prevent the villagers from making the same mistake. It was a good idea unthinkable by me."
I couldn't help but smile awkwardly since I can't tell her my true objective.
I took out the 【Power Fruit】 from my breast pocket and gave it to her.
"Celica eating it will be for my sake too."
Celica opened her small red mouth and ate the power fruit.
Good. My strength surpassed 90,000 now.
She ran to us with fluttering white dress when she saw me. She's holding a vertically long box that looks big enough for her to enter on her hand. There are covers on both its sides. I guess it's a vertical trash box.
"Lapisia wants this!"
The middle-aged woman who's guiding us speaks.
"Yaay"
There's a gap on the location of her eyes, and then her slender ankles and calf came out of the box.
"Un! Like!"
I thought of stopping her, but it'd be annoying if she got into a bad mood.
"Okay!"
It brought about an indescribable sense of weird cuteness to it.
"I wonder why do children like to get inside a box."
"Perhaps it feels like being wrapped by your mother huh."
And then I did a bit of work after dinner.
The villagers thanked me while looking like they couldn't believe it.
Looks like you usually have to pay a large amount of money to a barrier specialist to do this.
It was 16 people before I came to this village, it's 33 now.
Alright, I'll keep spreading my name like this and increase my believers!