A Gentle Land, A Lost Peace

"Gulp… gulp… gulp… aaahhh! Mrs. Ria, your food is really good," Bob said as he exhaled deeply, dropped the cup onto the table, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Right, Uncle Bob! My mother's food is the best in the world!" Kel chimed in, raising his right hand - still gripping a chicken drumstick like it was a trophy.

"You praise me too much, Sir Bob. Please just call me Ria," Ria said warmly as she stirred a pot on the stove. "Kel, please don't wave your food around like that."

This Bob was a completely different person from the one ten minutes ago. His brain had clearly started working again and back to default settings.

Both of us continued eating the delicious meal without pause. I was too hungry to speak. After all, I had spent yesterday working like hell at the office, covering for other staff. The dishes in front of us felt like a reward from heaven: tender chicken stew, creamy mashed potatoes, stir-fried vegetables, and a glass of fresh fruit juice, though I couldn't tell what fruit it was from. All I knew was that it tasted incredibly refreshing.

"Hahaha… Please, eat as much as you like, Mr. Alan and Sir Bob," Liam said cheerfully, sitting beside Kel with a drink in his hand.

I paused for a moment. I didnt really mind being called with honorific, but… why Bob and me had different one?

Ever since we arrived in this world, people kept mistaking Bob for a noble. Is it the way he looks? He's just an otaku in our world. But here? People act like he owns land and commands troops.

Maybe people in this world have a specific way of identifying nobles. Clothes? Posture? That lazy, vacant expression of his? I really need to figure this out before someone starts kneeling to him, or worse, expects me to kneel too.

"Thank you for the food, Liam and Ria. We really enjoyed it. Eating this reminds us of the meals from back home," I said with genuine appreciation.

"Is that so? Then you have to finish everything," Ria replied with a smile, lightly touching her cheek. She had a slender build and long black hair, neatly combed.

The family lived in a modest house—brick walls without paint, a zinc roof, and a small living room that shared space with the kitchen and dining area. If we were still in our world, this kind of home would probably be found in a quiet, rural village.

"If I may ask, where are both of you from?" Liam said, his expression filled with curiosity. "You mentioned coming from far away, what nation is that? Could you tell me more about it?"

I nearly choked on my juice at the question. Bob and I quickly glanced at each other.

"Err… we came from, uhh, a very beautiful nation. Right, Alan?" Bob nudged me with his elbow, clearly trying to shift the burden onto me.

"Y-yeah… it's a really nice place. It has beautiful scenery and, um, lots of malls and tall buildings," I stammered, and just blurting out the first things that came to mind. Of course, what I was really picturing was my daily commute through the city to the office.

"Mall? What is that, Father?" Kel asked, turning to Liam with curious eyes.

"I don't know either, son," Liam replied, his gaze shifting to me. "What is that, Mr. Alan?"

"Err… it's, uh… just a big building with lots of shops inside," I said awkwardly, forcing a smile while silently cursing my choice of words.

"Waaaah! I really want to go there!" Kel exclaimed with sparkling eyes.

"Kel, please don't interrupt when grown-ups are talking," Ria gently scolded as she walked over to the table, carrying a steaming bowl of white soup that smelled delicious. "Sir Bob, Mr. Alan, please try this mushroom soup. It's my specialty," she said with a warm smile.

She's really sweet. My face flushed a little. If she weren't already married, I might have developed a crush on her. She's exactly the kind of gentle, capable woman I admire. Definitely wife material.

We immediately started eating the soup, and as expected, it was absolutely delicious. Far better than the stuff I used to prepare from a tin or box.

Bob was happily slurping the soup when he suddenly said,

"Both of you, just call us by our names. We're just adventurers, no need for honorifics. And why are you keep calling me Sir?"

Nice job, Bob. I'd been wondering the same thing. Even he was feeling awkward about it.

"Aren't you from a noble family, Sir—uh, I mean, Bob?" Liam asked, looking genuinely confused.

"I wish I was born into a rich, aristocratic family," Bob said, slurping his soup. "But nope. I'm just your average, everyday guy."

"If I may ask," I added, "why do you think he's a noble?"

This needed to be cleared up once and for all.

Liam and Ria exchanged glances. Kel, meanwhile, kept eating like nothing in the world mattered.

I braced myself for the answer. I'd already run through some possible reasons in my head. Maybe Bob looked like some royalty, or had a refined accent or mannerisms. If those were the standards for nobles in this world, I'd really have to lower my expectations.

Then the answer came.

"Because of his body. Because… he is fat," Liam said plainly.

Pffft!!

Bob sprayed the mushroom soup in his mouth all over the side of the table.

"Hahahaha!"

I burst out laughing, turning away to keep from spitting my own soup.

So that's the reason? I thought between fits of laughter. They think he's a noble because he's fat? Maybe nobles in this world really do just eat nonstop and live in luxury until they become round from inactivity. I couldn't stop laughing and tears were starting to form in my eyes.

Meanwhile, Liam and Ria stared at us with puzzled expressions, clearly confused by our reaction.

So the mystery was finally solved.

I glanced at Bob. He looked depressed. I still had a laugh bubbling inside me, but I held it back.

"Cheer up, man," I whispered to him. "At least here, people admire your body size."

"Shut up," Bob muttered, clearly annoyed.

I turned back to the family. "I'm really sorry," I said, bowing my head slightly.

"I see now. That explains it. But as Bob already said—he's not from a noble family."

"Ah... I see," Ria said thoughtfully. "But it's still strange. This is the first time we've seen someone overweight who isn't a noble."

"But in our worl—uh, I mean, country, that body size is actually very common among regular people," I added, trying to smooth it over.

"Ahhh… your country must be really wealthy if that's the case," Liam said, nodding earnestly.

Nope. You're totally off. In our world, people become overweight because of sedentary lifestyles and eating too much unhealthy food. It's more a sign of poor health than nobility.

"Ermm… maybe," I replied vaguely, forcing a smile.

Bob just kept slurping his soup, pretending not to hear any of it.

I finished the last spoonful of soup in my bowl and took a sip of the juice. After wiping my mouth, I leaned forward slightly, ready to continue the conversation. I wanted to learn more about this new world—this place we would surely be staying in for a long time.

"I also wanted to ask... can you tell me more about this town and the country? Are you both originally from here?"

Ria began clearing the table, humming softly as she worked. Kel, now feeling sleepy, leaned his head against Liam's side, eyes half-closed.

"We were both born and raised in this town," Liam began, his voice calm and proud. "My grandfather was the one who founded it. He built this place from the ground up and became its first mayor. This city became the heart of farming in the kingdom, more so than any of the nearby towns."

He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting to the worn farming tools resting beside the door.

"This is our life. And we truly enjoy it. For decades, we've lived in harmony with the land."

A warm silence followed, filled only by the soft clinking of dishes and Kel's quiet breathing.

"But everything started to change," Liam said, his tone darkening, "when the Empire began invading the surrounding regions. Their conquest was brutal, cutting down everything in their path. Humans, animals, monsters… none were spared."

He clenched his right hand on the table, his knuckles turning white. Eyes shut tight, his jaw tensed as he tried to contain his anger.

"And we, a small peaceful town, bore the consequences of their greed. After the invasion, everything changed. People fled to safer towns and cities. Monsters and wild beasts were driven from their habitats and forced into the nearby forests."

Bob and I exchanged glances. The situation here was clearly more dangerous than we had expected.

"Luckily," Liam continued, "the monsters have stayed within the forest so far. They haven't moved closer to town… yet. But the people aren't at ease. Many believe it's only a matter of time before the town is overrun."

He sighed, voice heavy with worry. "So, they've started leaving, migrating deeper into the kingdom, closer to the capital, hoping for safety."

"The mayor always tried to protect us," Liam said, resting his hand on the table. "He kept requesting help from adventurers, putting up monster extermination quests."

"At first, many accepted. But it cost the town heavily. We couldn't keep up with the rewards."

"Eventually, the mayor was forced to lower the pay. And when that happened… fewer adventurers came. We were left to fend for ourselves."

Bob suddenly sat up straight and shouted, "Those adventurers! They care more about money than saving people. They should use their power for mankind!"

"Shhh! Kel's sleeping," I whispered sharply, giving Bob a light slap on the shoulder.

Liam chuckled softly. "Hahaha… You're very noble, Bob. If everyone had a heart like yours, and yours too, Alan, this world would surely be a better place."

"But I understand the adventurers," Liam continued, his voice softer. "With the Empire closing in, the economy's collapsing. Every coin counts now. Everyone's just trying to survive another day."

I sat in silence, lost in thought.

So this is the real problem of this town. All this time, I thought I was the unluckiest person in the world. But now… what I used to have, steady meals, a warm bed, even just the safety of routine, that's a luxury here.

These people aren't asking for riches or glory. They just want peace. And maybe that's the greatest treasure of all.

After a minute of silence, Ria came over and said gently, "Hey, why so gloomy in here? We should be grateful that we're still alive, and we have our loved ones with us." She then lovingly patted her son's head and kissed him on the forehead, radiating pure motherhood.

Bob, who had been quietly observing, turned around completely, adjusting his glasses as he did.

I looked at his face , his eyes were a little watery.

I smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Bob looked at me, and I gave him a small, reassuring nod.

He wiped his eyes, saying nothing. But that moment said enough.

He clearly missed his lost mother.

Ria then stood up and clapped her hands lightly. "Alright, it's getting late. Why don't you both stay here tonight?" she offered warmly.

"Sure, we'd be glad to—" I started to respond, but suddenly felt a sharp jab in my back.

Damn, that hurt.

"It's okay, Ria, Liam. We don't want to burden you any further," Bob cut in. "You mentioned there's an inn in town, right?"

"Yes… but we just wanted to repay your kindness, even if it's something small," Liam insisted.

"You've already done enough. We truly appreciated everything," Bob said firmly, shaking his head.

I leaned closer and whispered, "Why are you rejecting free accommodation?"

"We need to stay at the inn tonight," he replied in a serious tone, eyes narrowed.

What the hell? Just moments ago he was like a little boy, nearly in tears… and now he's acting like some stone-faced secret agent.

I sighed. When this guy sets his mind on something, it's like trying to move a mountain, completely impossible.

"Yeah, I think we'll spend the night at the inn," I said. "Thank you so much for the dinner. It was really delicious. And please, keep a closer eye on Kel. Boys his age tend to get pretty active."

"If you insist," Liam said, bowing alongside Ria. "Then from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for saving our son."

I awkwardly raised a hand, unsure how to react. "Don't worry about it. Really."

"If anything happens, just call us," Bob added, punching his chest with a confident grin. "We're ready to help, any day."

We stepped out of the house, waving goodbye to the couple. The cool night air greeted us as we made our way through the quiet town streets, heading toward the nearest inn.