"Maybe I should try going to Alban..."
It had been over six months since Barbara had seen her boyfriend—or at least, the man she considered her boyfriend—Erik.
But reality was harsh. She had responsibilities to attend to, such as gathering magi-stone sand (which Jin had dubbed "Magi-sand") to support Kaina Village's income and weeding the barley fields.
Even being the Village Chief's niece didn't change that. In Kaina Village, everyone lived by contributing whatever they could.
Nevertheless, a maiden's love is difficult to suppress. The morning after the grand banquet at Jin’s castle, she finally decided to put her feelings into action. She was just about to cross the Erme River when...
"Wait, that’s Jin-san and Elsa... and Hanna-chan... even Lishia-san is there. I’d better stop for today."
Since she had nearly run right into Jin and the others, she quietly returned home for the day.
"I definitely need a proper plan. I’ll need money, too. Traveling alone is dangerous, so I should probably find some kind of weapon for self-defense."
Having faltered once, Barbara set about rebuilding her plan, making it far more meticulous this time.
"Hmm, no matter how early I leave, if I stay at a rest house, they might catch up and bring me back."
Realizing this, Barbara hit upon the idea of borrowing a Golem horse. With one, she could likely reach Toka Village in a single day.
"Yes, that’s it. And then..."
Barbara stood by the Erme River, muttering to herself while collecting Magi-sand. The other women working nearby drew back slightly, giving her a wide berth.
"Barbara’s acting a bit creepy..."
"I guess not being able to see Erik finally made her snap."
But Barbara paid no mind to the whispers as she refined her plan in solitude. The plan was so well-crafted that it was hard to believe a seventeen-year-old girl had devised it.
However, there was one major oversight.
The Land squad was on guard duty in Kaina Village, using Stealth to remain invisible. Since she had no way of knowing they existed, overlooking them was a mistake that couldn't be helped.
"It appears Miss Barbara is planning to leave the village."
『She must be worried about her boyfriend, Erik. However, Kaina Village already has very few young women; this is a bit of a problem.』
Land H, who had overheard Barbara's plan, reported the situation to Laojun. Just then, a communication came in from the Quinta.
『"This is Spica 7. I have a report. Is now a good time?"』
『It is fine. Please proceed.』
『"Yes. An intriguing plan seems to be in motion at the Raglann Company, which has close ties to the Chief."』
『Oh?』
After hearing the report from Spica 7, Laojun devised a plan regarding Barbara’s situation.
＊ ＊ ＊
Alban, the capital of the Klein Kingdom. After a journey that took seven days, Barbara finally arrived.
"I finally made it... Erik is here..."
Barbara immediately entered the city. The situation had already stabilized, and during the day, no one asked to see identification.
"Let's see, where is the Raglann Company...?"
It was her first time in Alban, and she didn't know her way around, so Barbara looked about restlessly. To any observer, she was clearly a country girl visiting the big city for the first time.
Looking around, she saw many men and women dressed beautifully, which made her own outfit seem shabby in comparison. She had worn her best clothes, but after seven days of travel, they were completely covered in dust.
"Ugh... but Erik wouldn't care about something like that."
Forcing herself to believe that, she walked down the Central Thoroughfare. After wandering for about an hour without finding the Raglann Company, she decided to ask for directions.
"E-Excuse me..."
Feeling a bit intimidated, Barbara called out to a patrolling soldier.
"Hm? What is it, young lady?"
"Um, do you know where the Raglann Company is?"
"Ah, to get there..."
Without a hint of arrogance, the soldier politely answered her question.
"Thank you very much."
Thanking the soldier, she walked in the direction he had indicated. In less than five minutes, she arrived in front of a large store. A massive sign read "Raglann Company."
Across the street, another store called "Raglann Company Shop No. 2" was also visible, suggesting the business was flourishing. First, she decided to peek into what looked like the main store.
"Welcome. Please, take your time and look around."
A shop clerk greeted her as she stepped inside, but he didn't hover, allowing her to browse freely.
There were stoves on display. There were rubber balls, pens, and pen nibs. Even pumps were available. Just then, a figure emerged from the back. When Barbara looked over, she saw Roland.
"Ah, Roland-san!"
At the sound of her voice, Roland looked at Barbara with a look of pure shock.
"B-Barbara-san!? Why are you here?"
The atmosphere felt strangely awkward.
("I wanted to see Erik.")
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them and replied, "I just came here on a bit of business..."
Roland looked flustered. "I-I see. Um, is everyone in Kaina Village doing well? O-Oh, that’s right, aren't you tired? Please, come this way, I'll brew some tea."
He practically ushered Barbara toward a corner set aside for business negotiations. It was then that she saw them.
"Oh, Erik, really!"
"Haha, sorry, sorry. I'll make it up to you next time."
"Don't you dare lie, okay? I'll be waiting in my room tonight."
Erik and a young woman clinging to his arm came into view. From the conversation and their behavior, there was no room for misunderstanding.
"A-Ah, Barbara-san, th-this is..."
Without letting Roland's voice reach her, Barbara dashed out of the store.
＊ ＊ ＊
".................."
Barbara woke up in the darkness. What she saw was the familiar ceiling of her own room.
"It was... a dream..."
It was faintly light outside. It was still early morning, but Barbara was completely awake. She clumsily got up, changed, washed her face, and went outside.
A lukewarm early summer Breeze brushed against her cheek. It seemed that today was a rare cloudy day.
"Erik..."
As she muttered his name, Barbara's heart felt as gloomy as the overcast sky.
Before dawn on another day, a shadow approached the Golem horse stable. The shadow held the key that the Village Chief was supposed to have, for some reason.
Just as the shadow was about to insert the key into the lock...
"Miss Barbara, you are up early. Are you going for a walk?"
Someone spoke to her. Startled, Barbara literally jumped. Looking back, she saw the guardian of Kaina Village, Gon.
"A-Ah, G-Gon, good morning. Y-Yes, that's right. I just wanted to see the sunrise from the top of the mountain."
The excuse came out of her mouth on impulse.
"I see. It is still dark and dangerous, so I shall accompany you."
With Gon saying that much, Barbara couldn't back out. She gave up on leaving the village that morning and, swaying atop a Golem horse, she climbed the mountain where she usually went to pick medicinal herbs and watched the sunrise with Gon.
After that, Barbara tried to sneak out of the village several more times, but every single attempt was thwarted by some unforeseen occurrence. Laojun was performing his important duty of managing Kaina Village quite thoroughly.
＊ ＊ ＊
Toward the end of June, something began to be built on a vacant lot a short distance from Village Chief Giebeck's house. Since the workers were all golems, everyone knew it was Jin’s doing.
Barbara was curious about the building, but since she had work collecting Magi-sand at the Erme River, she decided she would just ask about it when she got back.
By the time she returned, a two-story house had already been completed.
"I wonder who’s going to live there?"
Looking closely, she saw something like a workshop behind the house, and the first floor looked like a small shop.
"I see. The village has been changing a bit lately, so maybe someone is opening a shop?"
Judging it to be so, Barbara turned and went back home, her interest fading.
Then, three days later, three carriages arrived in Kaina Village. Barbara, who was collecting Magi-sand at the river, noticed them immediately.
"Erik!"
Erik was riding in the lead carriage. Abandoning her work, Barbara ran from the river. Seeing this, the other women collecting Magi-sand shared a laugh.
"Barbara!"
Erik, who stepped out to meet the barefoot Barbara, looked surprised but genuinely happy.
"Wh-Why are you here...?"
In response to Barbara’s question, Erik answered with a smile.
"Huh? Hadn't you heard? We’ve decided to open a branch of the Raglann Company here in Kaina Village. I've been appointed as the branch manager. I can even send things made in the workshop back to the main store."
"No one told me!"
Barbara was overwhelmed by the sudden news. Should she be angry that she hadn't been told until now, or should she be happy?
In the end, Barbara decided on the most appropriate course of action: she threw her arms around Erik without a word.
＊ ＊ ＊
『It seems things went well for Miss Barbara.』
Laojun muttered while watching the footage sent from the monitoring system, Koushin.
『The plan to successfully incite the company president in the capital to establish a branch in this village was a great success.』
Thus, on this day, Kaina Village gained one more resident.
Jin, who happened to have returned, warmly welcomed the Raglann Company’s branch manager, Erik.
The height of summer was just around the corner.