Volume 5 Chapter 16: A Villager's Confession
(White)
How long has it been since I left my hometown? Occasionally, I find myself pondering this question.
However, I don't spend too much time thinking about it now... After all, I am the sole firewood supplier for the entire Shupe Village.
Every day, it's all about checking the village's orders, going door to door, chopping wood, more wood, and even more wood. After a simple dinner provided by the village's people, I wrap myself in a blanket, exhausted, and fall asleep, only to wake up the next day full of energy with an axe in hand.
It's a never-ending cycle, immersing myself in the busy work... And today, while it still hurts when I think about it, it's no longer as unbearable as it was at the beginning.
But let's not dwell on that.
Let's talk about the firewood business! This was originally Lady Lori's job before she left the village; it was handed over to me.
... Speaking of Lady Lori, her nickname and the way she's referred to sometimes make people forget that she's actually a very petite girl.
In terms of words and actions, it's hard to determine her actual age, even though she looks like she's only about fourteen years old... That's because Lady Lori possesses a maturity and wisdom that doesn't belong to her apparent age.
Furthermore, although I'm just a [Villager], and I don't have a detailed understanding of combat and such, I can vaguely sense that Lady Lori is incredibly powerful, at least far beyond any [Fighter] or [Mages] I've ever seen.
And though Lady Lori's class has never been explicitly mentioned to me, based on my observations, she's likely a [Necromancer] after all... two black skulls always follow her.
In the past, well, society's impressions of [Necromancer] were mixed, but they all had something to do with "evil."
Desecrating the dead, indiscriminate killing, craving blood, turning an entire city's population into the undead for some reason...
But none of this applies to Lady Lori.
Maybe the common perception of [Necromancer] is wrong, or perhaps Lady Lori is an exception. In any case, Lady Lori is a very kind person.
Although she can be quite frightening at times.
Before Lady Lori left, there was a conversation in that remote cabin in the woods.
"... Even if I were to go home, no one is waiting for me there..."
"So, what do you plan to do from now on?"
"What to do? Ha... I can't even find a reason to go on living. Maybe death is the only way out..."
The conversation stopped halfway because the person speaking had a pallid face, was sweating profusely, and seemed to be in extreme distress.
The sinister and chilling aura of dark, entwined magic surrounded them.
"Death is cruel," Lady Lori said coldly. "You can't handle it."
A few seconds later, the black magic dissipated, and at that moment, I was gasping for air, trembling, and collapsed on the ground.
"Since you don't want to live, and I saved you, then give me your life."
Lady Lori's blood-red pupils, which were incredibly unsettling, are still etched in my mind.
At that moment, I thought I was about to have my soul taken and become an eternal, restless puppet... However, when I came to my senses, I was holding an axe and staring blankly at the petite figure with a massive backpack disappearing around the corner of the desolate forest staircase.
"Take care of Angi, take care of my village."
Lady Lori's words still echo in my ears today.
So, I work hard to fulfill the tasks Lady Lori entrusted me with, partly because I feel it would be very unpleasant to make Lady Lori unhappy, and partly because I don't want to let her kindness go to waste.
... Is this Lady Lori's motivation?
"Crack!" With the third swing of the axe, the thick log split in half.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead, set down the axe; this was the last one for today.
Perhaps the reason it's so difficult is because my leg injury hasn't fully healed, and I can't exert as much force... But this job is even more challenging than I anticipated.
Yet, Lady Lori used to do it effortlessly by herself.
I ladled a bowl of hot soup, took out a half-eaten bread, and sat on the stairs, contemplating various things as the sun was about to set.
I know very little about Lady Lori other than her abilities, as mentioned earlier. Why does she live alone in the wilderness? That's a question.
Is it because she's not welcomed by people? No, the villagers don't hold any hostility towards Lady Lori. After hearing my purpose, they even inquire about her well-being.
Is she conducting sinister experiments typical of a [Necromancer]? Not at all... She washes clothes, cooks, and goes out every day to bring back a cart full of firewood. There's no rigorous training or anything unusual; she leads an unexpectedly ordinary life.
The black magic is indeed frightening, but it hasn't been used for anything terrifying. The only time she used it was to motivate me.
However, why does Lady Lori, who is like this, always choose to be alone?
Her beloved mother lives in the village, yet Lady Lori has chosen to live in isolation in this desolate wilderness.
Even though her petite figure, standing alone under the moonlight, appears so lonely and desolate, she has chosen a life of solitude, away from anyone.
Lady Lori loves this village but doesn't reside in it.
...
...
Now, Lady Lori has been missing for nearly a few months. I wonder if she has encountered any trouble or if someone is taking care of her?
If, and it's a big "if"... If I were born as a [Fighter] or a [Mage]...
The person I would want to follow, I imagine, would be someone like Lady Lori, wouldn't it?
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