After three days, Gorg’s wound had healed enough for him to walk with crutches. His recovery rate was incredible.
That said, he still couldn’t walk more than a few hundred meters, so we hadn’t moved from the campsite. Since I had some time, I’d been training with my machete, and out of boredom, Gorg made me a target to practice on. The thing turned out surprisingly impressive.
「Are all giants this skilled?」
His carving speed with a knife was unreal. In less than ten minutes, he had crafted a wooden human figure using nothing but that knife.
「Yeah, most of us are. I’m a craftsman, though, so I’d say I’m a bit more skilled than the rest. I even make practice dummies for sword and spear training as a side job.」
So, Gorg was a craftsman. No wonder he was so good with his hands.
「Still, that blade of yours cuts really well. Would you be willing to sell one to me?」
「I wouldn’t mind selling it, but the ones we use are special. The great mage put a spell on them so that they disappear after fifteen days to prevent them from being passed around. You’d be better off not buying something that only lasts that long.」
Well, in a place where people use stone axes, a knife made from industrial materials probably feels like a divine weapon. It’s no wonder he’d want one.
「If you become our backer in Koraus, though, I can sell you iron axes and knives for cheap.」
Here’s a little trick I found with the Sefuti Home. If I take something from this world inside and then have Ladarion carry it back out, it gets enlarged. Since it’s an item from this world, the fifteen-day limit doesn’t apply. But this only works if Ladarion recognizes it as her own.
For example, I once brought back one of Kokora’s feathers because it looked beautiful and attached it to both my gear and Ladarion’s. But when we went outside, the feather on Ladarion’s gear stayed small.
It’s still just a theory, but it seems that unless Ladarion recognizes something as her property, the effect won’t trigger.
Oh, and Koraus is the region where Gorg lives. It’s under the rule of the Margrave Koraus.
…no matter how weak the goblins are, don’t just dump me out on the frontier, useless goddess….
「If that works for you, I’ll be your backer. An iron axe was my dream.」
「Then consider it agreed. I’ll lend you that knife until you return. And the axe too.」
If Ladarion is around, it’s safe, but having another giant would make it even safer. If I could buy my life, lending a knife and an axe would be cheaper than buying a box of umaib○s.
…Does that mean my life is worth the same as an umaib○…?
Two days later, Gorg’s healing was astonishing. The wound closed and he could walk well enough as long as he didn’t hurry.
「If you’re feeling good tomorrow, shall we set out?」
「Ah. My family must be worried, so I want to get back soon.」
Gorg is a father of three and only thirty-two years old. Sorry for thinking you were in your mid-forties.
The day we left it was drizzling, but being carried by Ladarion made it nothing. By late morning the next day we reached Lasagna Village where Gorg lived.
…Yeah. Tonight will be Lasagna…
「It’s a fairly large village.」
It didn’t feel Lasagna-like at all.
「Ah. It’s a village where giants live.」
Ah, the houses are big because they’re giant houses. Everything about the sense of distance is off.
「Are there a lot of giants?」
「Seems so. I haven’t been there myself, but there’s supposed to be a giant country.」
Maybe it’s possible because few humans live there.
「Gorg!?」
While looking down at Lasagna Village from the mid-mountain slope, someone called Gorg’s name from below.
Looking down from Ladarion’s arm, a spear-wielding… probably giant man was there. The sense of distance really gets messed up.
「Yard! Long time no see!」
「Don’t say ‘long time’! You didn’t come back so I thought you were dead! Romy was crying!」
「Sorry, sorry. I went deep looking for Borod wood and got bitten by a Mido, so I couldn’t move. Sorry, please tell Romy for me first!」
「Got it. Make sure you get a proper scolding.」
With surprising lightness that didn’t suit his massive frame, the giant descended the mountain.
「That was a giant, right? He moved awfully lightly for one.」
「Ah. He’s quick even for a giant. The margrave employs him as an explorer. Ogres and goblins often show up around here, you see.」
I could do without the ogres, but goblins are always welcome… as long as they don’t come in swarms.
Taking a wide detour from a good vantage point and pausing for lunch, we reached Lasagna Village around three in the afternoon.
About thirty giants stood at the village entrance, and a woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties came running toward us.
「You!」
「Romy!」
So that must be Gorg’s wife. She looks quite young. Maybe Gorg just has an old face.
After a long embrace and several greetings from the villagers, it felt like the final episode of some drama, they finally seemed to remember us.
「Takato, Ladarion, come on.」
It was a little embarrassing to still be held in Ladarion’s arms, but standing at a giant’s feet would be like facing an ogre unarmed. Survival takes priority over pride.
「Romy, this is Takato, my lifesaver. And this is Ladarion, Takato’s partner, Ladarion of the Maada race.」
「Hello, ma’am. Sorry for greeting you while being carried like this. I’m Takato. Nice to meet you.」
「I’m, Ladarion.」
「Thank you for saving my foolish husband. I really appreciate it.」
She had that strong, motherly air about her.
「All I did was patch him up. He’s alive thanks to Ladarion. If you want to repay someone, please do it for her. Women’s matters are best understood by women, after all.」
Giants should have that, too. It hasn’t happened yet since it’s only been a few months, but once it does, I won’t be able to help. I’ll leave it to an experienced woman.
Romy seemed to understand what I meant and nodded.
「You’re right. Leave it to me.」
A perceptive wife, what a relief.
「Now then, come to our home first. You’re our guests of honor.」
And so, we headed to Gorg’s house.
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