Chapter 82: Departure
EJK0yHThe high autumn sky and the leaves dyed in many colors.8bEP
PjZxeBut it would not be long before all of it disappeared.k3Nn
eAoSoon they would fall as dry leaves and end up covering the ground like a blanket.nscmOVq
Mj1a33TIt was late autumn.YOWlf3
IXm‘It’s beautiful.’VpN
6eGgJggLooking up at that scenery, which for thousands of years she had only observed from above, felt refreshing.l2Ct
6XOwQmwPerhaps because of that, Valdrova could not keep walking forward.w42
uYSJAdThe feeling of becoming part of that scenery felt far too precious to her.bGPZM
Rpt‘Going out…’7IxKPvH
ACjIt was not an expedition to crush monsters.U5Q9eME
InpHIt was an outing made simply to feel good.m5a5VlA
4NkIt was nothing special, yet she could not control the rapid beating of her heart.AFQsV2n
JnBNWhat if she made a mistake?giYQ
HYfeUNShe must not make a mistake.3hMN
Mw9G1Repeating that to herself while taking deep breaths, she finally began to walk.DMp
BmQ‘What will the village Lord Perda made be like?’kpKXg
5tpTZAfter centuries of isolation, Valdrova was seeing a village for the first time.JJU
tq0PAnd that village was precisely the one being built beneath Castle Valdrova.VJ8hGSj
rEGXD‘This… is a village?’gHohxQd
joQIn Valdrova’s memories, villages were made of stone, earth, and wood.mqc0oj
2gJvF0iBut what stood before her now was something else.HM8
v0UTJLThere were only tents.e5CChV
CLhPeople gathered around them while working.rv2L
168o‘In all this time, civilization has degraded tremendously.’Ng3e8
buspXKValdrova could not help feeling saddened.M3hE8t
0dinReAWhen she listened to Ruri speak, it sounded as though the world enjoyed prosperity.9nz
1oxQjHad she lied just so she would not worry?Sn6XWJY
7Fa“Hey, friend. Who are you?”IvFwt9
vvqjWhile she was staring blankly at the place, someone approached her.BIN9r
xV3ztbValdrova flinched and turned her head.TWH
vOppESsIt was a man around thirty years old who looked like he had gone through too many hardships.meR8
xBOValdrova felt intimidated when she saw him.7DUyyR
orWIt was not simply because he had a fierce appearance.Rmn
O3ib9‘A human spoke to me.’9qtLt
j9TEIt was a symptom born purely from her social phobia.ykrT
hlyrcA human who was not Perda had approached her without hesitation to ask who she was.tN6qqRU
54IJdNFor an instant, Valdrova felt as though time had stopped.JpAC
SHwVTWhat should she answer?9YRUj
jkhDuShould she run away?ixG5xuZ
shhe“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything? Did you take a vow of silence?”X2tW
1RhIKJsA vow of silence?qsc2bx
HznFKShe did not know what that was, but Valdrova nodded anyway.eJu
Cno3kSxThen the man seemed to understand without asking further questions.Rj13
Ikr“Ah, I see. Then you’re a knight who swore before Alte. Did you come trying to earn a knighthood at Castle Valdrova?”xi2P1Xo
Oy1PShe shook her head.6B5
RXi“No? Then you must be some kind of noble family adventurer though it seems you arrived too early. Right now we’re building the village. First we need to put up houses and this place is a disaster…”tPpDFh
ERTThe man clicked his tongue.s7958
BvVcQfValdrova tilted her head slightly and pointed at the tents.kzGxZ4a
F59ZGWeren’t the houses there?hDfqEuZ
j9uq“Huh? What are you talking about? Those aren’t houses! They’re just temporary places to stay until the village is finished!”viMnzNC
0POjAh, so those were not houses.ZYSbZ
2x0Valdrova awkwardly scratched her head.MmcVl
8agNu“You can tell you don’t know much about the world. Well, it happens. Those are temporary barracks. What we need now are communal dormitories. Places that block the winter wind well and where people can warm themselves by the fire. We have to build them quickly so everyone can survive the winter without freezing.”2Dp
GV0Pe“…….”xMCEHp
ZySF“They say notices were sent to the Empire to bring more people, but nobody is coming. Do you know why?”k3hocU
IV9X0INShe shook her head.LpK6C1
P2l5“Because nobody wants to be sent to the front lines, right? I wouldn’t want to either. It’s already hard enough surviving inside the walls, so imagine what the world outside them is like. Young people these days would rather tremble in fear and die inside the Empire. They have no courage, no courage at all.”n4NLG
xm9dNl“…….”k6SW
sOC“By the way, friend. Do you have strength?”ZDzMast
VIjRtqTStrength…to4J
az2PuJIt was the only thing Valdrova possessed.UDdn
gWjyKThat was why she was called the dragon of strength and fire.IPlYS
sODhValdrova nodded timidly.xeIznV
0Ls“We need people like you right now. I’m the leader of this work crew. If you have strength, why not help us? Of course, if you have somewhere else to go I won’t stop you, but if you want to work in the Far East, then we need to finish this as quickly as possible.”WOA
CyKatThe man was offering her manual labor.3P3
MGKRcvIEven though she looked like an adventurer knight, they desperately needed manpower, so he did not hesitate to ask for help.fg0bXj
529Valdrova listened to the offer and looked around once more.hLo
a0MfPeople living inside tents.uBV
p6R6FpEven though they wore padded clothing, they shrank every time the cold wind blew.MC0qV
BieUqm‘It seems they are very cold.’yte1
RZUySleeping inside those tents had to be even worse.QBZMhUB
2148‘Then the only thing I can do is…’Ih2iWlx
1txFKmLAfter thinking for a moment, Valdrova nodded.kwriq
0Laar6n“Wow, adventurers usually wai—, are you really accepting?”qcflsXH
qr0She nodded repeatedly.7fFq
Fju“Ha.”HGovt3o
tuFThe man opened his eyes wide and looked at her as though she were something strange.bgqE
ccq8qulIn truth, the work crew leader had already made the same offer several times to other adventurers, but this was the first time anyone had accepted.0oqYsaW
Llb2kWho would want to do such exhausting work?zy17wng
ekElL“Very well. I’ll tell the administrator. My name is Hanson. You can call me chief ah, right, you took a vow of silence. Later I’ll give you a badge so you can call me with that.”BvM5g
TA0wCShe nodded several times.O61
FsTPus“Then, before starting how about taking off that armor?”xoPnhEA
cpH“…?”0wLvde
UFLHJThe armor? This?Qt6wr6
Ha1bO8Valdrova pointed at her helmet.ktkteSC
blF8V“Yes, that armor.”Z77j
nxDClank!6QqDsC
XfcwjValdrova flinched and vigorously shook her head.7TdHY
OfCdc4W“How are you going to work wearing something like that?”Ltju
k0cQBZBAbsolute refusal!eW4z
MS6l“It’s not because of some pride between men, is it? Or is it that you can’t show your face?”tJjr
ROGAwfShe nodded quickly.48RgeMb
JKnHM“Ha… you can’t show your face and you also took a vow of silence. You’re quite a mysterious person.”HacFOP
GRyHanson insisted several times that she take off the armor, but eventually gave up.tU2P
dLO0What did clothes matter?E8CEhyU
sofAs long as she had strength, that was enough.0Q2Se
TkSHanson immediately took her to work.qTjxmkA
MIFkCTThey walked together toward the place where the logs were piled up.noa15T
0wHKDZ“See those logs? You have to carry all of them to the men cutting them over there. Easy, right?”i9ODM1
Rl9m1JBShe nodded.6uLw
uR0ez“Good, then go to that end. We’ll have to lift one together and load it onto the cart. Come on, one, two, and… ugh!”N85BhP
gpmSomething was wrong.qVjVG
z3KGCKHe strained himself trying to lift it, but felt no resistance.LLQ
pPIUnless that log was made of compressed feathers, that was impossible.yko
1O465SDHanson slowly lowered his gaze with a bad feeling.7P189H
QZybLThe log was floating in the air.PTyL9
mPLw0VgThe knight on the other side had lifted it alone.yUenTok
6b0YWith one hand.BcpTf
ygLTHAs if it weighed absolutely nothing.hUP
yq61d2The helmet was staring at him.4QBtCO3
oFrmf5QWhere should I put it?eJlQCF0
b5xxl3“Ah… y-you can leave it there… I guess hyung.”WMeA
1DvlThe “friend” disappeared instantly and honorifics started coming out.TdO
KpaCGValdrova began moving the logs just like that.JQi
r1eShe grabbed the end of a log and simply walked with it.j7Y0E
ZeIEven someone known for having great strength would not be able to hold a log by only gripping the tip.TRjXQ
p0mp9B0“Doesn’t it feel heavy?”qew
m73JTShe nodded.qLWhxT4
B7MadjSeeing Valdrova acting as though it were nothing, Hanson asked cautiously.50YNIho
8fJbdkQ“Maybe… could you carry two?”PrCgT
3xMValdrova nodded again and lifted two logs.XCjYwP
FzquvAlso with one hand.pDZ8
TO735“Then… how many more could you carry?”TsBCy
RbKfx“?”8rRbN
hvDRUValdrova tilted her head.xGVTeuS
eVR4nShe did not know herself.YE2n
FpCXzWell, wouldn’t it be enough to find out now?uIdNbE
bGyqSo she began lifting one after another until she was holding ten stacked logs.yYq66
mEVShe alone could carry enough to fill two carts.RhxLY3
DXDuW“…….”1o5TDl
s9HxlDHanson stared at that scene with his mouth hanging open.rr4
vDk4And he was not the only one shocked by such a display of strength.K0ADC
WdlZ8Em“What the hell is that?”ydnqxm
e0S“Is she carrying all of that alone?”xBt
hiT4Naturally, the attention of all the workers turned toward her.wduzEd
bTmGeoIt was impossible not to attract attention when someone dressed in knight armor carried ten logs at the same time.KGz
cnl‘Was this wrong?’d4DJTJS
2xkgiNSValdrova became frightened when she felt all those gazes on her and ended up dropping the logs.ZTEUAS
qr9ISeeing that, Hanson reacted and shouted at the others.EQ5
NQGoz“What are you idiots staring at!? Get back to work!”R3x0Rpn
bpffczVAfter growling threateningly at them, the workers returned to their places.2Qhj
v8u0Then Hanson approached Valdrova to calm her down.8JXV3
SqdI“Come on, Sir Knight. Don’t worry. If any of them look at you like some kind of attraction again, I’ll crush their heads myself!”DoeGs
wkOj1Hanson made a cutting gesture with his hand while making sounds with his mouth.osD
glpvehNValdrova was an A-rank talent more valuable than anyone else.8pD
V7dlAfter convincing and calming her down for quite a while, Valdrova returned to work.Jk9
STjT0Even if he had not insisted so much, she still intended to continue.2R5y
ARUhQ‘Because we have to build the houses quickly.’nwLEbZ
z24HeShe wanted to help them sleep in warm houses before the northern cold arrived.MmBc
LeeSWkgAt least while they slept, she wanted them to rest without worries.6UN1
YEJW6HThat was the best thing someone as clumsy as her could do.xT8C
kc5xhg8“That’s it for today! Good work, Sir Knight!”aKds93p
0j12Valdrova raised her head alongside the work chief and looked at the sky.MvXGK
pgoThe sun was already leaning toward the west.G9a
j12HThere was still time left, so she tried to keep working, but Hanson stopped her.gQmfyM
EgjFN“Ah, you can stop now. Don’t you see the sun’s already setting? Once night falls, it’s time to rest and prepare for tomorrow. Everyone’s exhausted, right?”lceA
KpZ9L76Ah, I see.IdTF
IVbValdrova nodded.YzN
uwFzHanson headed toward where the people were gathered.TLf
qEySThere they had to return their badges and receive the day’s pay.v25y
6sxJnHanson also handed over Valdrova’s and received the corresponding money.gDi
RwXAs he returned with the pouch of coins, he grumbled under his breath.Cco
vNbpWs“Bastards. You alone did the amount of work that would normally take four people a whole week, and they still only want to pay you for ten workdays instead of fifteen. Aren’t they scumbags?”iqf
OwVtuVVShe did not really understand.GOEwO
VzKNqSo she simply nodded.XUabkJ
ELy“Anyway, the ones at the top are always the problem. I bet it was that Perda fellow, the Regent! That young brat acting like a damn cheapskate ah!”wLhO
KrNuTkMHanson quickly shut his mouth.lCzP2
DC1HPxyHe felt a stare piercing him from the darkness beneath that helmet.LxB
CmhcWDP“Ah sorry. Even so, it wasn’t right to speak badly about a noble in front of a knight, right? Try to understand me. They’re just the complaints of a middle-aged man who hasn’t accomplished anything in life.”q0hF
gm8s2F“…….”xFF8OHH
WJ06g4l“If it were up to me, I’d even pay out of my own pocket, but for now let’s settle with this. In exchange, later I’ll get you some good connections that’ll be very useful for you as an adventurer. What do you think?”DFfnA6
wimLsAnyone who knew even a little about the world of adventurers would understand how useless that promise was.d48hi
yqEueBut Valdrova had no idea what that man was talking about.fJSana
MHZ0So she simply nodded again.yOWS0d
pmaM“Haha! As expected, you’ve got a different kind of greatness! Here, take it.”cFd
qZciHanson extended a heavy pouch toward her.64F
yiJWThe clinking sound from inside felt familiar.v8BjA
YAjrY‘It sounds similar to the gold coins piled up in my treasure hoard.’hWQr1p
2qhVdIt was similar to the sound they made when she lightly touched them with her claws.msC
ZqJdOkgValdrova took the pouch.i4Ug
7aKv“Now that I think about it, Sir Knight, this is your first time here, right? Do you already have somewhere to stay? If not, I could get you a cot…”CpLo
2flQuExperiencing human life was fun, but she could not stay there.q5Nkdry
PjyValdrova nodded and reflexively pointed toward the Lonely Mountain.Ks5Bau
bXjThen she realized and quickly pointed toward the opposite side.2HvZt
9qcD“You’re planning to leave forever?”oJz
u2uQHanson made an awkward expression.9GSCea
SarIb8When Valdrova shook her head, his face relaxed.NA2kNU
FJdj7L“Ah, so you’re just planning to stay somewhere else. I understand. If you want to help with the construction, come whenever you want. With someone like you here, this place would feel a whole lot more reassuring!”UBukg
RngSince she could not answer with words, Valdrova simply kept nodding.PYuV9Ry
ZEDT2wkShe had to leave quickly.iFR1
IfG5ARsWith that thought, she turned around.TD56y
RWaf“Sir Knight?”zyuDUSG
vCy“?”fDi
mBGJW“Didn’t you say you were going back home? Then where are you going?”TXS
fm7Valdrova’s feet were heading toward the Lonely Mountain.CzL5a
KXXLyx5Ah.nANgi
OcjUDORight, it was not that way.jWXsi1
0dqxXryAwkwardly, Valdrova corrected her direction and started walking toward the path she had pointed at earlier.mYuXcm
OXdSeeing that, Hanson burst out laughing.2OHue
FWB2Tf“Come back safely! And don’t run into monsters!”CePr
7wh8After saying goodbye, Valdrova left the village.ZxeZy
OLyU5Once she was far enough that nobody could see her with the naked eye, she made a huge detour and returned to her lair.L5H
yudIt took exactly three seconds to get back.GU5Y7I
IdikxrShe pushed open the enormous iron door and returned home.yXPUc
gzHznJtThen she lay down without removing her armor and stared at the dark ceiling.KoSlX
owshD‘What was all of this?’C9Ds
bHILIt had been a strange day.RbaE
CbhTime had flown by.oLPisl8
MSd7CjShe was not tired, yet she also did not really understand what had happened.oN6Z50
a5DaShe had simply kept moving nonstop, and people had been amazed.MUMKNQc
iHysneh‘Was I… helpful?’cYW
XCXAnd yet, feeling that this alone was enough left her confused.SkFbse
YgqjValdrova opened the small pouch resting on her chest.VKN1p
OPEGGFwTen copper coins per worker.A5i
SzuOne hundred in total for the equivalent of ten people.6Sf3y
EWStzShe carefully stacked them and quietly stared at them.uZm
XxnMoney humans had given her.cUULM2K
0Tb8iF‘Money they gave me because they were grateful to me.’mShj5QB
GBQGThey had thanked her.17lp
Gbn‘And they said they wanted to see me again tomorrow.’aJ9Db
OAgccfThe images of those people appeared clearly in her mind.JC0
m2W5Not their fearful faces.gBCaDB
cUsKPcBut their bright smiles.BoX
9ypuH‘Humans need me.’uAMr
41RiA4She did not know how to express the emotion filling her chest.A3kGrhB
9SkShe felt a happiness so intense it seemed her heart might burst.JQH
6bOiNt“Ruri…”aNDm0Pt
VfA9The first person who came to mind was the girl who knew her best.pN9Qo
pOwTzThe kind child who had served her for so long.fEzb
8DJlPK“……but I can’t tell her.”bV7U
0JRILBSValdrova covered her mouth reflexively.8BE
OsAfRuri was loyal, but when she got angry she was more frightening than anyone else.EExs
g4WGFUxShe would surely start talking about the dignity of a dragon and end up scolding her.jFNrXw
ST1They would only end up hurting each other, so she decided to keep it secret.LIay
cttSnwUShe needed to share this with someone else.vRYYD
4KvIve“Then… Lord Perda?”Aiy
LfKGA kind man.wBVWnP
yM7dV3She had always wanted to find conversation topics with him.32soVzZ
xYe1And this was an excellent topic.ncxF9V4
KGTFHer heart tingled.QIHC
rINj59rWithout realizing it, she smiled foolishly, and her body began moving restlessly on its own.Qv9rp
582HShe wanted Perda to caress this emotion.7mX69gH
qN9yZG‘No… better not.’ZFlTWBW
YIN0YValdrova tightly hugged the pouch of coins.mbYtzm
qVg8She wanted to tell Perda, but not yet.jR2X
oiEstSOThat village was being built thanks to Perda’s will.2gH0l
1flShe wanted to save little by little and then give him a surprise that would truly leave him speechless.AdBK
QChWhen someday that village prospered, she wanted to tell him that she had helped raise its pillars.GW8fMdK
u984IDLThat she too had built something with her own hands.GiQgJd
BxS9iThat she was not someone capable only of destruction.o9kI
HCa6p6QShe wanted to see the expression he would make.lKb
RLftQKShe wanted to hear what kind of praise he would give her.u8QeGn
oFDBThat was why she decided to keep everything secret.lSKZ
r5abLpEven so, keeping all those feelings locked inside her chest was too difficult, so they ended up escaping involuntarily from her lips.SdL
DE7Zpo“Lord Perda…”EWcGd9q
D2bDValdrova spoke that name tenderly.3Rubby
hY5w“I… was helpful to Lord Perda.”9bBQ
RndnOThat was the step Valdrova took forward.KRYQgL7
7GLNbgThe beginning of a small change.l9AgXX
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationShe’s just too cute.