Chapter 1: talks before Hiroto Part 2
— Part 4 —
The next day, Mora village was in uproar. Early in the morning, a priest who had business in the neighboring village found a man who had collapsed near the road. The man was from Mora village. Moreover,the neck had marks of being bitten by vampire.
Miraculously the man was still alive. He was not shocked to death. The priest rushed back to the village, bringing the man back together, and the villagers started cursing vampire tribe.
“During the last three weeks three people were attacked! One person a week before! And another three weeks ago! They are going to eat and then kill us!”
“Damn, those monsters! What did Salwa ever done to them?! Has he ever killed a vampire?!”
“Because the castle does nothing, this is the way it is! Forts are not they useful at all too. Can you win against the vampire with just two guards?!”
Some men were making a fuss. Everybody was in rage.
“Let’s make a direct appeal. I will appeal to the Lord directly and will not leave until I will be convinced that he will dispatch soldiers from the garrison properly!”
“We will all go to the town of Solum!”
While everyone was shouting, some people started walking from the square to the street.
“Wait!” – It was the village chief that stopped them.
“We will do it! We will complain to the Lord! Now is the time, let’s join the army and conquer the vampires!”
“I cannot sleep at night anyways, nor can I cultivate the fields!”
“But what if village is hit by vampires! What if women and children are attacked?” – Men shouts back angrily.
“Even if you push me away, the castle Lord will not meet us!” – The mayor tries to stop everyone, but the men do not listen.
“Are you going to stay quiet then?”
“We will equip hoes and make them open castle gates by force!”
Priest tried to interfere with angry men too:
“If you do such a thing, the garrisoned troops will kill you!”
“I don’t mind, if my death will have some meaning! Between being killed by a vampire, or killed by a soldier, if both options mean death, I will choose to die by human soldier hand!”
“What about the family you will leave behind?! Who will protect your wife and children, who will plow the fields for them?!”
After the priest’s words everyone got stiff. And the priest didn’t miss that opportunity.
“The village mayor and I will go to make a request for the castle Lord! I will never return to the village unless additional soldiers are garrisoned here!”
The men looked at each other.
The excited expression changed into a questionable one. What will you do? That’s what everyone’s gaze was asking.
“Will they really increase soldiers?”
One person asked.
“As long as they do not increase, neither I, nor the village mayor will return to the village!”
The priest exclaimed loudly.
— Part 5 —
Mimia was walking away from the cave – she was on errand.Today, there is going to be a wedding ceremony. Her errand is to buy sake for celebration.
The men have the work of transporting goods. The men from mummy tribe are silent and they do not complain. So they are entrusted with transportation of goods instead of using donkeys or horses, and by the time they return, it is already late. That’s why Mimia was sent on the errand.
Whenever she goes to a town of human beings, she will be torn by the contrary feelings.She loves being able to see clothes like flowers, those rows of buildings so much different from mummies dwelling, but every time Mimia goes to town, humans will look at her with contempt and disdain.
Mimia went out of the forest and reached a road. The road was beautiful even with all the dirt and dusts around.
She was alone on the road, advancing by foot. Small hills and wide fields surrounded the road from both sides. And in the fields, some men were farming.
Mimia thought if the vampires from yesterday attacked anyone. Also, what if a man from Mora was attacked by them?
It is probably the result of diminishing forests. When forest was still big, it was rare for vampires to attack humans. The forest area has been reduced by half compared to the year before, and since then vampires started attacking humans.
The mummy tribe is not attacked by the vampire tribe. Mummies lives in a cave, and because of the bandages the fangs of vampires can’t go through.
It is said that some human beings misunderstood that and claimed that mummies and vampires are from the same tribe.
That’s why Miria is feeling not well. People who misunderstand, treats mummies like a nuisance.
Before the Ibrid system was introduced fifty years ago, the mummies were living in town too. If blacksmiths, priests and bakery shops were lacking donkeys and horses and the town didn’t take mummies in as helpers, the town couldn’t function. But when plague hit, humans abandoned town and after they returned, mummies were driven out. Now only male mummies work in town as they are in charge of transportation. Even so, people still stare at mummies as if they were some kind of strangers.
Miria will be started at a lot today as well. She may also receive some harsh words. Everybody dislikes these things, so the job going to town was given to her.
— Part 6 —
A large tapestry was decorating the grand hall where cold winds were blowing. In front of it there was a throne placed.
It was Solum’s castle lord Ulkan who was sitting in it. Standing next to him was Solum’s castle steward Sentelio.
They were facing village chief and priest who came from Mora village. The came to talk regarding the matter of vampires. Mora village chief asked us to handle the vampires in the past. At that time, he was turned down due to low budget for hiring more personnel to work in fort. But this time he was accompanied by the priest.
[This is going to be troublesome]
Sentelio felt instinctively.
[And I cannot say to Lord that he should dispatch a group of skeletons]
Sentelio looked at the white skeleton called Carabella guarding Lord Ulkan. A skeleton monster, equipped with a helmet on the white skull and a breastplate guarding the chest, was standing firm.
It is a captain of the skeletons of Solum Castle Garrison. As for the skeleton tribe, since the skeleton is undead, there is no worry that blood will be sucked by vampires. Against vampires, it is one of the natural enemies.
“Lord Ulkan, I would like to have a positive answer that will encourage us.”
Suddenly a priest from Mora village called out.
“The villagers are frightened by the repeated attacks of vampire tribes.We humans are helpless against the demons that can fly in the sky. By all means, please increase the number of the fortress personnel. If you can add more troops, villagers will feel safe. “
Sentelio almost clicked his tongue.
After all, the priest said everything without any respect. He also asked to add more skeletons to the fortress.
It was a ridiculous request.
Occasionally the vampire tribe flies into the castle. To protect the castle, the skeletons are indispensable. Nearly half of the garrisons in Solum Castle are skeletons.
“We cannot send skeletons.” – Sentelio turned them down flatly.
“I will not return until I have a positive answer” – priest also showed a tough disposition. While the mayor seemed to be astonished by the behavior of the priest.
“The reply will not change, I cannot afford to increase the troops in stronghold.” – Sentelio declines again.
Vampire tribes can fly in the sky. I cannot prevent it by increasing the stronghold personnel. It’s just a waste to increase the numbers.
“Then, those in the village cannot work safely – and if you cannot work it will be difficult to pay crops to the castle after harvesting and village will not be able to grow.”
“If we are going to increase garrison to 100 people, will you be the one to pay the necessary money?”
After hearing the words of Sentelio, the priest got silent.
[What a fool] – Sentelio thought. Is it just your village that needs to grow? There is a more important issue in Solum castle. We must call an elf to this town. The town without an elf cannot be called a town in this world. Such a town cannot develop, neither have a future.
Fifty years have passed since plague passed.
The population has already recovered to the same extent as before, but the difference between the developed towns and Solum town became bigger.
Some many people speak ill of Solum, saying this town is neglected and without any development. They also say that is the town where the monster wanders. A town where a skeletons and a mummy monsters are walking.
In order to develop this town, we need to call for an elf. For that I invested a lot. In the near future, powerful people such as the bishop of the Cathedral of Secondaria and the steward of Neka castle are scheduled to gather at Solum Castle. This meeting will not involve the case of the vampires. Besides, we would rather increase the guards of Solum Castle. Just yesterday, the member of vampire tribe visited the castle at night and made fun of guards.
“Anyways, never go outside at night”
Sentelio answered planning to end the conversation.
But–.
The priest didn’t move.
“Please leave if you understand”
I ordered, but he didn’t move.
“Are you deaf?!”
“I promised to villagers that I will not back down until we get help.If I cannot fulfill the promise, the villagers will storm the castle with plows and hoes. I cannot give up. “
“Then, we’ll arrest everyone.”
“If you arrest them, there will be no one to plow the fields, so why are you still saying it?”
“Does that mean you want to threaten the castle !?” – steward raises his voice in anger.
“Well, it would be great if you can summon Diferente.”
Suddenly a gentle voice was heard in the hall.
It was a priest of Solum church that just came in.
“For this kind of occasion, shouldn’t we call out to Diferente?”
The priest of Solum church pressed on.
“Is it useful?”
For the first time, the castle lord Ulkan opened his mouth.
“In old days” – answered Sentelio – “When I called for a Diferente in the southern part of Salabria, I heard that he died without being useful and I think that it is useless to call for one now.”
“But, if you call it, the villagers will be convinced, won’t they?”
Sentelio kept silent.
So the priest of the Solmus church is saying that he will summon Diferente and then Mora village people will go back?
If he summons Diferente, then we will have to pay money to the Solum Church.
“Maybe it would be better to send mummies to the fortress?” – Sentelio whispers to lord Ulkan.
“Even if you employ dirty people like those caterpillars, villagers will not be satisfied.”
The chief of Mora village, who kept silent for a while, promptly answered. Mummies are disliked by humans. Who would like seeing a caterpillar wrapped in such a dirty white bandage?
“Well, let’s summon the Diferente then, so may I convince you to go home?”
Hearing the words of the priest of the Solum Church, the village chief and the priest of Mora village looked to each other and then nodded.
———————————————————————
* 五十年前にイブリド制が発表された時、ミイラ族も町に住んでいたそうだ。
[ イブリド ] no idea if it’s some specific term or a name. Went with the name for now.
Chapter 1: talks before Hiroto Part 2
— Part 4 —
The next day, Mora village was in uproar. Early in the morning, a priest who had business in the neighboring village found a man who had collapsed near the road. The man was from Mora village. Moreover,the neck had marks of being bitten by vampire.
Miraculously the man was still alive. He was not shocked to death. The priest rushed back to the village, bringing the man back together, and the villagers started cursing vampire tribe.
“During the last three weeks three people were attacked! One person a week before! And another three weeks ago! They are going to eat and then kill us!”
“Damn, those monsters! What did Salwa ever done to them?! Has he ever killed a vampire?!”
“Because the castle does nothing, this is the way it is! Forts are not they useful at all too. Can you win against the vampire with just two guards?!”
Some men were making a fuss. Everybody was in rage.
“Let’s make a direct appeal. I will appeal to the Lord directly and will not leave until I will be convinced that he will dispatch soldiers from the garrison properly!”
“We will all go to the town of Solum!”
While everyone was shouting, some people started walking from the square to the street.
“Wait!” – It was the village chief that stopped them.
“We will do it! We will complain to the Lord! Now is the time, let’s join the army and conquer the vampires!”
“I cannot sleep at night anyways, nor can I cultivate the fields!”
“But what if village is hit by vampires! What if women and children are attacked?” – Men shouts back angrily.
“Even if you push me away, the castle Lord will not meet us!” – The mayor tries to stop everyone, but the men do not listen.
“Are you going to stay quiet then?”
“We will equip hoes and make them open castle gates by force!”
Priest tried to interfere with angry men too:
“If you do such a thing, the garrisoned troops will kill you!”
“I don’t mind, if my death will have some meaning! Between being killed by a vampire, or killed by a soldier, if both options mean death, I will choose to die by human soldier hand!”
“What about the family you will leave behind?! Who will protect your wife and children, who will plow the fields for them?!”
After the priest’s words everyone got stiff. And the priest didn’t miss that opportunity.
“The village mayor and I will go to make a request for the castle Lord! I will never return to the village unless additional soldiers are garrisoned here!”
The men looked at each other.
The excited expression changed into a questionable one. What will you do? That’s what everyone’s gaze was asking.
“Will they really increase soldiers?”
One person asked.
“As long as they do not increase, neither I, nor the village mayor will return to the village!”
The priest exclaimed loudly.
— Part 5 —
Mimia was walking away from the cave – she was on errand.Today, there is going to be a wedding ceremony. Her errand is to buy sake for celebration.
The men have the work of transporting goods. The men from mummy tribe are silent and they do not complain. So they are entrusted with transportation of goods instead of using donkeys or horses, and by the time they return, it is already late. That’s why Mimia was sent on the errand.
Whenever she goes to a town of human beings, she will be torn by the contrary feelings.She loves being able to see clothes like flowers, those rows of buildings so much different from mummies dwelling, but every time Mimia goes to town, humans will look at her with contempt and disdain.
Mimia went out of the forest and reached a road. The road was beautiful even with all the dirt and dusts around.
She was alone on the road, advancing by foot. Small hills and wide fields surrounded the road from both sides. And in the fields, some men were farming.
Mimia thought if the vampires from yesterday attacked anyone. Also, what if a man from Mora was attacked by them?
It is probably the result of diminishing forests. When forest was still big, it was rare for vampires to attack humans. The forest area has been reduced by half compared to the year before, and since then vampires started attacking humans.
The mummy tribe is not attacked by the vampire tribe. Mummies lives in a cave, and because of the bandages the fangs of vampires can’t go through.
It is said that some human beings misunderstood that and claimed that mummies and vampires are from the same tribe.
That’s why Miria is feeling not well. People who misunderstand, treats mummies like a nuisance.
Before the Ibrid system was introduced fifty years ago, the mummies were living in town too. If blacksmiths, priests and bakery shops were lacking donkeys and horses and the town didn’t take mummies in as helpers, the town couldn’t function. But when plague hit, humans abandoned town and after they returned, mummies were driven out. Now only male mummies work in town as they are in charge of transportation. Even so, people still stare at mummies as if they were some kind of strangers.
Miria will be started at a lot today as well. She may also receive some harsh words. Everybody dislikes these things, so the job going to town was given to her.
— Part 6 —
A large tapestry was decorating the grand hall where cold winds were blowing. In front of it there was a throne placed.
It was Solum’s castle lord Ulkan who was sitting in it. Standing next to him was Solum’s castle steward Sentelio.
They were facing village chief and priest who came from Mora village. The came to talk regarding the matter of vampires. Mora village chief asked us to handle the vampires in the past. At that time, he was turned down due to low budget for hiring more personnel to work in fort. But this time he was accompanied by the priest.
[This is going to be troublesome]
Sentelio felt instinctively.
[And I cannot say to Lord that he should dispatch a group of skeletons]
Sentelio looked at the white skeleton called Carabella guarding Lord Ulkan. A skeleton monster, equipped with a helmet on the white skull and a breastplate guarding the chest, was standing firm.
It is a captain of the skeletons of Solum Castle Garrison. As for the skeleton tribe, since the skeleton is undead, there is no worry that blood will be sucked by vampires. Against vampires, it is one of the natural enemies.
“Lord Ulkan, I would like to have a positive answer that will encourage us.”
Suddenly a priest from Mora village called out.
“The villagers are frightened by the repeated attacks of vampire tribes.We humans are helpless against the demons that can fly in the sky. By all means, please increase the number of the fortress personnel. If you can add more troops, villagers will feel safe. “
Sentelio almost clicked his tongue.
After all, the priest said everything without any respect. He also asked to add more skeletons to the fortress.
It was a ridiculous request.
Occasionally the vampire tribe flies into the castle. To protect the castle, the skeletons are indispensable. Nearly half of the garrisons in Solum Castle are skeletons.
“We cannot send skeletons.” – Sentelio turned them down flatly.
“I will not return until I have a positive answer” – priest also showed a tough disposition. While the mayor seemed to be astonished by the behavior of the priest.
“The reply will not change, I cannot afford to increase the troops in stronghold.” – Sentelio declines again.
Vampire tribes can fly in the sky. I cannot prevent it by increasing the stronghold personnel. It’s just a waste to increase the numbers.
“Then, those in the village cannot work safely – and if you cannot work it will be difficult to pay crops to the castle after harvesting and village will not be able to grow.”
“If we are going to increase garrison to 100 people, will you be the one to pay the necessary money?”
After hearing the words of Sentelio, the priest got silent.
[What a fool] – Sentelio thought. Is it just your village that needs to grow? There is a more important issue in Solum castle. We must call an elf to this town. The town without an elf cannot be called a town in this world. Such a town cannot develop, neither have a future.
Fifty years have passed since plague passed.
The population has already recovered to the same extent as before, but the difference between the developed towns and Solum town became bigger.
Some many people speak ill of Solum, saying this town is neglected and without any development. They also say that is the town where the monster wanders. A town where a skeletons and a mummy monsters are walking.
In order to develop this town, we need to call for an elf. For that I invested a lot. In the near future, powerful people such as the bishop of the Cathedral of Secondaria and the steward of Neka castle are scheduled to gather at Solum Castle. This meeting will not involve the case of the vampires. Besides, we would rather increase the guards of Solum Castle. Just yesterday, the member of vampire tribe visited the castle at night and made fun of guards.
“Anyways, never go outside at night”
Sentelio answered planning to end the conversation.
But–.
The priest didn’t move.
“Please leave if you understand”
I ordered, but he didn’t move.
“Are you deaf?!”
“I promised to villagers that I will not back down until we get help.If I cannot fulfill the promise, the villagers will storm the castle with plows and hoes. I cannot give up. “
“Then, we’ll arrest everyone.”
“If you arrest them, there will be no one to plow the fields, so why are you still saying it?”
“Does that mean you want to threaten the castle !?” – steward raises his voice in anger.
“Well, it would be great if you can summon Diferente.”
Suddenly a gentle voice was heard in the hall.
It was a priest of Solum church that just came in.
“For this kind of occasion, shouldn’t we call out to Diferente?”
The priest of Solum church pressed on.
“Is it useful?”
For the first time, the castle lord Ulkan opened his mouth.
“In old days” – answered Sentelio – “When I called for a Diferente in the southern part of Salabria, I heard that he died without being useful and I think that it is useless to call for one now.”
“But, if you call it, the villagers will be convinced, won’t they?”
Sentelio kept silent.
So the priest of the Solmus church is saying that he will summon Diferente and then Mora village people will go back?
If he summons Diferente, then we will have to pay money to the Solum Church.
“Maybe it would be better to send mummies to the fortress?” – Sentelio whispers to lord Ulkan.
“Even if you employ dirty people like those caterpillars, villagers will not be satisfied.”
The chief of Mora village, who kept silent for a while, promptly answered. Mummies are disliked by humans. Who would like seeing a caterpillar wrapped in such a dirty white bandage?
“Well, let’s summon the Diferente then, so may I convince you to go home?”
Hearing the words of the priest of the Solum Church, the village chief and the priest of Mora village looked to each other and then nodded.
———————————————————————
* 五十年前にイブリド制が発表された時、ミイラ族も町に住んでいたそうだ。
[ イブリド ] no idea if it’s some specific term or a name. Went with the name for now.
