After lunch ended, my activities were generally split into three main categories.
The first, just like in the morning, was patrolling the fields. This was partly to check on areas I had missed earlier and partly to keep an eye on how the village was doing overall. Or perhaps it was really just a walk? Accompanied by Kuro and his pack, I made my rounds inside and outside the village. My tasks mainly consisted of maintaining the roads, weeding, tilling patches of rough ground to turn them into lawns, and trimming the plants I’d grown to serve as hedges. It felt like the work of a superintendent or a groundskeeper. Not that I had any complaints; I enjoyed the work.
The second category involved fulfilling requests from the villagers. This mostly meant procuring construction materials or crafting small everyday items. For a change of pace, I sometimes engaged in cooking research. I also spent time making toys, even when no one asked for them. Thanks to the Universal Farming Tool, I could handle tasks that would usually be beyond a layman. Then again, I’d been at this for several years now, so perhaps I had graduated to being an "experienced amateur." Regardless, I offered a silent prayer of thanks to God once again.
Then there was the final task: combat training. I often wondered if combat training was truly necessary for a life in agriculture, but I set that skepticism aside and participated because the villagers were so insistent. Of course, I wasn't alone. Granmaria, the Lizardmen, the High Elves, the High Ogre race, and even the Civil Official Girls joined in. It wasn't mandatory—only those who were free at the time participated—but a significant crowd usually gathered. It wasn't my imagination that they all seemed strangely lively during these sessions. Maybe they just enjoyed fighting? Or perhaps they were worried about their weight? I stopped myself before I could follow that dangerous train of thought.
We started by re-confirming the basics: how to grip a weapon, the proper stances, and how to use them. Then we did the same for our armor. After that, I practiced my swings alone, then moved on to sparring with a partner. Finally, we engaged in group-versus-group drills. The weapons were wrapped in cloth to prevent serious injury, but they still stung if they connected. I’d had my share of painful experiences. I could hold my own if I used the Universal Farming Tool, but considering the possibility of an actual emergency, it was better to learn how to handle conventional weapons. Even so, as the Village Head, I felt my primary duty should be ensuring things never reached a point where weapons had to be drawn at all. I really wasn't suited for violence.
As a side note, while the Universal Farming Tool could transform into a spear, an axe, or a sickle, it refused to become a sword. It could turn into a small knife, yet a standard sword was out of the question. I wondered why that was, especially since it could become a spear perfectly well. I took another look at the tool in its spear form. No matter how I looked at it, it was just an ordinary spear—no decorations, just a spearhead fixed to a long wooden shaft. It looked like something a penniless foot soldier would carry. It was hard to believe I had brought down a wyvern with it. And yet, I had. I truly hoped I would never have to use it for that purpose again.
As the sun began to sink, I finished my work and returned to the house. The village didn't have anything like streetlights, so once the sun was completely down, it became pitch black. The night sky was beautiful, filled with stars and the two moons, but on the ground, the only light came from what spilled out of a few buildings. I made sure to carry a lamp whenever I went out at night, but I started thinking that perhaps I should look into installing streetlights. Permanent torches, maybe? The problem was fuel. Even if the daily consumption was small, the total would become massive over time. I might have to rely on magic for that. It was something I needed to investigate further.
Dinner was served in the dining hall of the main house. The group was larger than it was at breakfast or lunch. Flora and Hakuren were always there, and Frau and Rusty joined us as well. Occasionally, Ria, Daga, or Ya would attend. In the time between sitting down and the food being served, Frau and Rusty gave their daily reports. Since they served as the magistrate and the diplomat while I was the Village Head, it was part of our routine. Though, in Rusty’s case, it was rare for her to have anything specific to report; it felt more like she just came for the meal. When Ria, Daga, and the others were present, it was usually because they had news to share. I always hoped for good news; if it was bad, I’d much rather hear it after dinner. Then again, if I waited until after the meal, my sense of urgency might fade. I decided the current arrangement was probably for the best.
The dinner spread was always impressive. To me, it felt like a normal meal, but apparently, for a village head, this level of luxury and volume was unheard of. I didn't even want to imagine what the average village head’s diet was like. Since we divided the food as fairly as possible, the other households were eating similar quality meals. All of this was thanks to the Universal Farming Tool. I made sure to savor the food with a heart full of gratitude.
I noticed a dish I didn't recognize. "Ann, what is this?"
"It is a new experimental dish from today’s cooking duty," she replied.
"How confident are they in it?"
"They said twenty percent."
"I’ve mentioned this before, but could you ask them to wait until they hit at least fifty percent confidence before serving it?"
"We cannot allow ingredients to go to waste, Aruji-sama."
"...Fair point."
I did my best to enjoy the experimental dish regardless.
After dinner was my time to relax. This was primarily my time to bond with Alfred and Tiselle. I doted on them completely. Alfred had reached the point where he could speak in fragments, so I spent the time teaching him phrases.
"Daily effort," I told him.
"Dai-ly ef-fort?" he repeated.
My son was clearly a genius. And my daughter... I had no doubt she would grow up to be a stunning beauty. I leaned fully into my role as a doting parent for a while.
Eventually, I left Alfred and Tiselle in the care of the High Ogre maids and headed to the bath. This was the Village Head's Private Bath located outside the house. There had been a plan to install a bath inside the house itself, but since I already had this one, I’d held off on the idea. I was the type who preferred to bathe after dinner, and the others usually followed my lead. I had told them they didn't need to wait for me, but they seemed to prefer bathing in a large group. My private bath wasn't actually that large, which meant the sessions were always quite crowded and lively. Part of the reason I hesitated to build a new bath in the house was the fear that it would inevitably turn into a massive project.
Once I finished my bath, it should have been time to wind down further, but instead, a certain tension began to hang in the air. I understood why. It was my own fault for being swept along. It was my own fault for laying a hand on them. And once I had, I had resolved to take responsibility for them all until the end. Besides, there was a part of me that was genuinely enjoying myself.
The only time I was truly free was the short walk from the bath back to the house. I tried not to think about what was coming next; that was my secret to maintaining my mental health. God, thank you for giving me this Healthy Body. I was truly glad to have it.
The next morning, I woke up. Whenever I stayed at the house, I never actually remembered the moment I fell asleep. It just sort of happened. I checked the position of the sun and realized it wasn't quite time to get out of bed yet. I knew that, but I got up anyway.
I found the warm water and towel that one of the High Ogre maids had surely prepared for me. The water was still steaming, meaning it must have been placed there just moments ago. I washed myself while feeling a deep sense of gratitude. Then, I put on the clothes that had been laid out and did a few light exercises, similar to radio calisthenics. By the time I finished, it was officially time to be up.
Another day was beginning.
"Let’s give it our all again today."