The next morning, the village men gathered in front of the Village Chief's house. They were there to transport the wheat meant for taxes to Toka Village.
"I’m counting on you all," the Village Chief said.
Rock, the leader of the men, replied, "Yeah, leave it to me. It'll be a breeze this time since we can finish it in one trip."
Indeed, they planned to transport everything at once using the handcarts Jin had made. Until now, they had carried the loads on their backs or used horses, which required several round trips between Kaina Village and Toka Village. The labor involved had been staggering. This time, however, they would use twelve handcarts to transport approximately five tons of wheat in a single journey. Moreover, the road to Toka Village was a gentle downhill slope, making the outbound trip very easy; the return trip was expected to be just as simple, as the carts would be empty despite the uphill climb.
"Did everyone take their food and water?"
"Yeah."
"No one forgot anything?"
"Dear, please be careful."
"Daddy, see you later!"
"Yeah."
After waving to the wives and children who had come to see them off, the group made their departure.
"Alright... Lady Tax Collector, we’re ready to head out."
Rock called out to Lishia, who replied, "Then, let us depart."
The group set off, the handcarts rumbling as they were pulled along.
"Jin Onii-chan, see you later!"
Jin was also among the group. He wanted to take this opportunity to see what lay outside Kaina Village.
Lishia led the way on horseback. She occasionally glanced back, confirming that the line was following. Rock followed directly behind Lishia, with Jin following him. Because the road was narrow, they proceeded in a single file.
After crossing the Erme River and passing over a small ridge, the path became a long, gentle downhill slope.
"Going downhill is easy," Jin muttered to himself. It was his honest thought. Although he had fitted all the handcarts with bearings, walking for hours was still exhausting.
As for Lishia, she was secretly hoping to find an opportunity to speak with Jin more during the journey.
After about three hours of travel, they reached an open area with a spring and stopped for a break.
"Ah, I’m definitely worn out."
"Hahaha, you really are weak, Jin."
"I can't compare to people like you, Rock-san."
Rock stood over 180 centimeters tall and weighed at least 80 kilograms. Jin was 160 centimeters tall and weighed 52 kilograms. In terms of physical stamina, he stood no chance.
"Well, yeah, but you can do things we can't. I'm actually jealous of that."
"...May I have a moment?"
Lishia cut into their conversation.
"Lady Tax Collector, is something the matter?" Rock asked.
"N-no, please, let me forget about work while we're on break," Lishia said. She then turned her attention to Jin. "Jin-san, was it? I heard you came from a distant land. Is that true?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I see... And you also made these 'handcarts,' didn't you?"
"I did."
"Lady Tax Collector, this Jin guy is amazing! He keeps making things that make village life easier! Even my kid is happy!"
When Rock said that, the other men resting nearby began to chime in.
"That’s for sure! Ever since she started soaking in that hot spring, my wife's skin has become all supple and glowing."
"At least your wife's skin is pretty. Only her skin."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? Why’d you say it twice!?"
They were a boisterous bunch. However, Lishia seemed interested only in Jin.
"Um, Jin-san, you are a magi craftman, aren't you?"
"Well, yes, I suppose that's what I’d be called."
"Ah, um, so, will you... continue to live in Kaina Village forever?"
"..."
Jin could not answer that question immediately. However, Rock spoke up for him.
"Well, you shouldn't keep someone with this much talent cooped up in a village forever."
"Besides, Jin probably wants to go back to his hometown, too," another man added.
Hearing that, Lishia spoke up. "A-about that, Jin-san, is your hometown a country called 'Japan'?"
"How did you know... Ah, you heard it from Barbara."
"Y-yes. I heard it from Barbara-san at the hot spring. That hot spring is absolutely wonderful! My skin became so smooth!"
"Haha, well, I'm glad to hear that... So, Lady Tax Collector, have you ever heard of 'Japan'?"
"...It's Lishia."
"Eh?"
"I... I gave you my name yesterday, didn't I? I am Lishia."
"But, since you're currently on official duty..."
"I don't mind! Everyone, please don't call me 'Tax Collector.' Call me Lishia!"
At her earnest request, the men all agreed to call her Lishia-san.
"So, Lishia-san, do you know of Japan?"
"No, I'm sorry, but I do not."
"I see."
Since this was another world, it would have been stranger if she did know of it, so Jin wasn't particularly disappointed. However, seeing him like that, Lishia seemed to think he was putting on a brave face.
"Um, Jin-san! I didn't know it, but there might be someone in the royal capital who does! I'll ask my acquaintances when I return, so please don't give up hope!" she said with sudden intensity.
Jin could only manage a startled, "Ah, th-thank you very much."
And so, the group resumed their march.
After crossing another small ridge and navigating a long downhill stretch, they reached the campsite just as the sun was setting. There was a simple hut there where anyone traveling between Toka Village and Kaina Village could stay.
"Good grief, we managed to make it before it got pitch black."
Rock, the leader, let out a sigh of relief. It was dangerous to be out once the light failed. It had been worth starting their trek early on this short autumn day.
They hurriedly prepared dinner. They took out the stoves and pots they had brought along with the wheat on the handcarts. Then the men divided the tasks: some made porridge, some grilled dried meat, and some boiled water.
When Lishia saw the stove, she asked, "Don't tell me this stove is also..."
"Yeah, Jin made it for us," Rock replied.
"Hah, as I thought. I won't be surprised by anything else that comes out anymore," she said with a weary sigh.
Once they finished eating, there was nothing left to do, so they took out their blankets and made their beds. They decided to take turns standing watch just in case and set the rotation.
"We'll do it in pairs so no one falls asleep. First..."
"I will do it," Lishia interrupted.
"Eh? But Lady Tax... Lishia-san, there's no need for you to do that..."
When Rock protested, Lishia shook her head firmly.
"No, I was on horseback the whole time while everyone else was pulling heavy carts. This is the least I can do."
"Is that so? Well then... let's see. Jin, you're with her."
"Okay."
"O-kay?"
"Ah, no, understood."
"Right, then I'm counting on you two. After two hours, it'll be Jonas and Linus. Next are Bill and Jeff. Then Dave and Howard, Rick and Tom, and finally me with Jan and Sley."
"Got it. Well, I'm gonna head to sleep."
With that, everyone except Jin and Lishia wrapped themselves in their blankets and went to sleep. Jin and Lishia wrapped blankets around their shoulders and sat on a bench beside the hut's entrance.
The sky was already pitch black, and the moon was just beginning to rise from the edge of the mountains to the east. The moon in this world was smaller than Earth's, so they couldn't expect much moonlight. However, they measured time by the movement of the moon, so in that sense, it was an important celestial body.
Jin and Lishia sat in silence for a while, but eventually, Lishia began to speak in a quiet, hesitant voice.
"I told you that my family belongs to the new nobility, didn't I?"
"Y-yes."
"Because of that, I was raised as an ordinary commoner until I was ten. But ever since my father was appointed as a ritter, my environment has changed so drastically. To be honest, I'm still just stumbling through it all."
"..."
Jin could do nothing but listen in silence.
"But the current chancellor is a wonderful man who tries to govern for the sake of the commoners. Knowing that, I decided to become a ritter because I thought that if I could do something for the sake of the people—for the sake of the citizens—then I should."
Lishia's story continued.
"But what does it really mean to work for the sake of the citizens? If it's about doing things that are truly beneficial, Jin-san, you are far more amazing than I am. The pumps, the hot spring, the handcarts, the stoves... I realized that this is truly the kind of work that helps people."
"..."
"Jin-san... is it alright for me to stay the way I am...?"