My name is Horlan.
I’m a demon.
Together with my lover—now my wife—Lucidel, we ran away from our respective villages and sought refuge here in Village Five, relying on Lucidel’s anii, Langho-san.
We’re living in one of the rooms in Langho-san’s large house, and Lucidel and I have been helping out with the daily chores.
I feel like we’re being a burden, but Langho-san reassured me, saying that with his wife pregnant, having more hands around the house is actually a blessing.
I’m grateful for that.
Still, I can’t just keep relying on him.
I need to start earning my own living.
Fortunately, back in my old village, I worked as a metalworker.
Thanks to Langho-san’s introduction, I’ve managed to join the local guild for jewelers, and they’ve already assigned me a few jobs.
It’s going… well, maybe not quite smoothly yet.
I brought my own tools for metalworking, but I don’t have a workshop set up here.
The jobs I’ve been offered involve crafting decorative pieces for furniture, which requires a decent amount of space to work.
If it were just jewelry, I could do it at a small desk, but for this kind of work, I need a bigger area.
I could try renting space at someone else’s workshop, but I’d have to pay for that.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the money to cover rent right now.
Normally, in situations like this, people offer to teach their skills in exchange for using the space, but…
The techniques I know were passed down from my family. Even though I’ve left them behind, I still feel uneasy about sharing those secrets so freely.
No, I’m not really in a position to be so picky.
My family didn’t treat me well, and they opposed my marriage to Lucidel, but still, I owe them for raising me.
I can’t just let their techniques leak out so easily.
While I was mulling this over, Langho-san offered to let me use an empty room and part of the garden as my workshop.
He even said I didn’t need to pay rent.
I felt conflicted. I’m trying to avoid relying on him too much, but refusing would be pointless.
I need to get on my feet first.
Yeah.
So, I decided to take Langho-san up on his offer and use the empty room and garden.
I’ll work hard here, make enough money to pay rent, and one day, I’ll be able to afford my own workshop.
-0-
It’s been about thirty days since we came to Village Five.
I’ve started to get used to life here, but I realized I don’t actually know much about the village itself.
I spent most of my time working, so I don’t go out much.
The only time I leave is when I need to go to the guild to accept or deliver a orders.
The guild sells materials for metalworking too, so there’s not much reason for me to walk around town.
One day, Langho-san noticed this and insisted on taking me out.
「Hey, hey. You know, it’s about time you started calling me brother in law.」
Sorry.
If I did that, I feel like I’d end up relying on you even more.
「Haha. No worries. I won’t force you. Besides, anything’s better than being called ‘Master’. 」
Ah, is he still bothered by that incident?
Lucidel had tried to call him ‘Master’ as a sign of respect since he’s the head of the household, but Langho-san absolutely hated it.
Lucidel argued that it was only right to keep things professional, especially since we were living with him and helping out around the house.
I stood by Lucidel, of course, but Langho-san begged me to convince her to stop.
It wasn’t easy.
Convincing Lucidel of anything is a challenge.
Honestly, I can’t win an argument with her.
Still, somehow, I managed to get her to stop calling him ‘Master’.
Relying on Langho-san like this, we definitely can’t afford to cause him any trouble.
Oh, while I was lost in thought, I fell behind Langho-san.
I hurried to catch up.
「So, the reason I brought you out today… there’s something I want you to know.」
Something I need to know?
Is it related to Village Five?
「Sort of but… Have you heard anything about Lucidel’s eyes?」
Ah, ahhh that.
Yes, I heard about it after we arrived here. Lucidel has a magic eye.
But I don’t know the details of what it does.
She kept it secret all this time, and I didn’t push her to explain.
「I see. Well, it’s not something we want to spread around, but it’s fine if you know. Simply put, Lucidel’s magic eye allows her to see people’s titles.」
Titles?
You mean she has the ‘Attribute Reading’ magic eyes?
Just like in the stories!
It reveals names, races, positions, and titles.
「Lucidel’s magic eye isn’t that convenient. It only shows the person’s race and their public title. And even then, the title has to be well-known, not just something used by a few people close to them.」
Still, that’s pretty amazing.
「Yes, it’s useful for recognizing powerful or influential people. It didn’t do much good in the village where we grew up, though.」
Ah, I can see why.
「There’s also a downside… If you can’t read, it doesn’t matter what you see. It just looks like some kind of strange eye disease.」
So that’s why Lucidel was learning to read from such a young age.
「Probably so. And about that magic eye… I have it too.」
You do, Langho-san?
「It seems to run in my family. Though, as far as I know, only Lucidel and I have it. I doubt our parents or siblings even realize we possess the magic eye.」
It would’ve been a problem if they did.
「Yeah. Neither of us would’ve been able to leave the village if they had known.」
That’s true.
So, was that the important thing you wanted to tell me?
「No, not exactly. This is just to explain why I know what I’m about to tell you. It’s related to Village Five. The magic eye helps make this story more believable.」
I see.
So, it’s thanks to your magic eye that you know about this.
「Exactly. There are some important people in Village Five. You probably won’t have to deal with them directly, but knowing about them might help you avoid trouble. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.」
Ehto, I heard from Lucidel that some of the former Four Heavenly Kings live here.
「What I’m talking about is not something that obvious. Ah, excuse me!」
Langho-san suddenly stopped and bowed deeply to a young maid passing by.
「Oh, Langho-san, was it? Sorry for not greeting you immediately. Who is this?」
「This is my little sister’s husband. He works as a engraver.」
「Well, that makes him your brother-in-law then.」
The young maid looked at me and gave a graceful bow.
「My name is Mio, a maid. My best regards.」
Y-Yes.
I’m Horlan.
Nice to meet you too.
「How polite of you. I’d love to chat more, but I’ve been called. Excuse me.」
The young maid smiled and walked away.
Judging by Langho-san’s attitude, is she one of those important people I should know about?
「Exactly. That was Mio-san, the secretary to the governor of Shashaato. Whatever you do, do not get on her bad side. And if she ever asks for help, do your best to assist her. But only if you can. Pushing yourself too hard would only cause her trouble.」
Understood, but… isn’t she from Shashaato City?
「She was sent there by Village Five. Naturally, she’s no ordinary person.」
I figured as much.
「She belongs to the ancient royal guardians of the old kingdom, called the Mercury, and her title is ‘Caretaker of the Royal Family’s Estate’. 」
!
The old kingdom… that’s the one from the height of magical technology, right?
I’ve heard it fell over a thousand years ago. Does that mean she’s one of the survivors?
「Probably. And… keep your gaze steady. Don’t stare at her, it’d be rude. Do you see the girl walking past the red-roofed house ahead?」
Yes, she looks like an ordinary village girl, though.
「She’s the same as Mio-san, another ancient royal guardian. Her title is ‘Shadow of the Royal Family’. She goes by the name Nana, but I’m not sure if that’s her real name. I’ve seen her in different forms a few times. When I reported it to the village council, they told me she was a subordinate of Youko-sama and to leave her be.」
Ehto… there really are more survivors from the old kingdom than I expected.
「Indeed. And I know of a few more.」
So these ancient kingdom survivors are the ones I should be aware of, then.
「Yes, but there are others as well.」
…
Is Village Five actually a more dangerous place than it seems?
「Haha, no, no. It’s not like that. You’re safe here, I assure you.」
After that, Langho-san showed me around and explained various things.
This village is home to more diverse races than I initially thought.
There are familiar of the serpent god, holy beast tiger, and other divine beings.
In the shrine located northeast of the village, there are many foxes with some rather unsettling titles.
Apparently, they’re Youko-sama’s subordinates, so there’s no need to worry about them.
I was also lucky enough to encounter a holy beast tiger, which only visits occasionally.
As for those Langho-san said I should be cautious of—not because they’re dangerous but because they require the utmost respect—there are the High Elves and the Onis.
To me, they just looked like groups of carpenters and cooks, but apparently, I shouldn’t let my guard down around them.
「I trust you won’t have any issues, but as long as you don’t provoke or insult them, you’ll be fine.」
I wouldn’t dream of doing that.
「I know. But there are always fools who don’t know better, getting carried away with themselves.」
Right.
「…By the way, what do you think of my house? It’s a fine place, right?」
Eh?
Where did that come from?
Well, yes, it’s a nice house.
Very comfortable.
「Not long after I arrived in Village Five, I heard that the High Elves were going to build a house. I didn’t believe they could really do it, so I challenged them.」
You challenged them?
You, Langho-san?
W-Well, I suppose, given how fragile High Elves look…
「Exactly. I didn’t think they could handle carpentry. So to prove me wrong, they built this house.」
R-Really?
「Yes. The house is also so large because, after challenging them, I requested the design. It’s on the foothills, where the village was first built.」
You even made a request?
「I was a fool. After it was built, the High Elves and Oni used it as a lodge for a while. When I heard it was being sold, I happened to have enough money, so I bought it.」
I-I see…
But, Langho-san, don’t you have the magic eye?
Didn’t you realize the High Elves might be a dangerous group?
「When I first came here, I couldn’t read yet. I just thought they were ordinary elves.」
Ah… well, ehto…
At least you didn’t have a bad experience, right?
So, in the end, everything worked out.
「Once I learned to read and realized what my magic eye showed me about those elves, I found out their race was High Elf, and their title was Man-Eater.」
EEHHHHHH…..
「Don’t back away. It’s fine. I apologized properly, and we’ve made peace.」
Th-that’s a relief…
「Well, as I’ve said before, just don’t provoke or belittle anyone. That’s all you need to avoid trouble.」
True.
Title or not, I’ll make sure not to provoke or mock others.
「Exactly. That’s the way to go. Not every dangerous person has an obvious title, after all.」
I’ll also work hard on my reading.
I may not have the magic eye, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to be able to read.
I remembered when we left the village, Lucidel left a note behind, but I couldn’t read it.
It reminded me that I really need to study.
「By the way, were there people who could read Lucidel’s note? It wouldn’t do much good if no one could.」
He said it was partly to buy time while they found someone who could read it.
「Ah, I see. Well, it’s always good to be literate. In Village Five, there are plenty of places where you can learn to read and write. I’d recommend the angel’s classes—they have a reputation for being excellent teachers.」
Angel?
Now that you mention it, do I not need to be cautious around the angels?
You never mentioned them.
「Do you really need me to tell you to be cautious around them?」
…I guess not.
Then maybe I should just stay away from them?
「Do you really think simply avoiding them will help you escape the angels?」
…no, I don’t.
「Exactly. Don’t be unnecessarily wary. Just treat them with respect, like any good neighbor.」
So, in short, I should just give up on avoiding the angel.
「Don’t put it so bluntly. …Though, Youko-sama did mention that the angels living in Village Five and Shashaato City should be fine.」
So… it’s safe then?
「She also said to report it if you see them doing anything suspicious.」
Ah—right, they ‘are’ angles after all.
「Indeed. They ‘are’ angels.」
-0-
Next chapter, the story will return to the village chief’s POV.
Thank you for your continued support!
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