My name was Paula. It was a name I had chosen for myself, and I had grown quite fond of it. As for my real name? I wasn’t allowed to say. So, I was simply Paula, a woman who once lived in the back alleys.
Life in the city's slums was a constant struggle. Happy memories were few and far between, and most of the good ones I did have involved Marcos. When we first met, he was a boy about my age, though I suppose he was my senior when it came to surviving on the streets. Now, he was my husband. It truly terrified me to think of what might have become of me if I hadn’t met him.
The turning point for Marcos and me came when we met Lady Fouche. We had heard rumors that she was kidnapping children, so at the time, I thought our lives were over. However, my heart settled once I saw the others who had been gathered. Jack was there, and he was a prominent leader in the back alleys. Marcos was dependable, but Jack was even more so. If he hadn't been so head over heels for Morte, I probably would have set my sights on him myself.
Lady Fouche approached us with an offer to migrate. She told us we would even be given our own houses. At first, it sounded too good to be true. I wondered if she was mocking us, thinking we were just ignorant fools who would believe anything. But would a high-ranking official of the Korin Religion really lie to us? I remained cautious, and it was clear the others felt the same way. It was only natural.
Despite our doubts, we accepted Lady Fouche’s proposal. Part of it was the fact that we couldn’t really refuse, but the offer itself was incredibly enticing. What appealed to me most was the promise that they would teach us various skills before we moved—and for free, no less. To be taught how to read, write, calculate, and even learn proper etiquette was deeply moving. Even if the migration story turned out to be a lie, the knowledge we gained would be ours forever. If you could do math, it was easier to find work. If you could read and write, you could expect better pay. As for etiquette… I didn’t think I’d need it, but stories about commoners being cut down for being unintentionally rude to nobles were common enough. It couldn't hurt to know.
It was a busy, demanding time, but those six months were incredibly fulfilling.
The migration offer turned out to be the truth. There was a place called Village One located a short distance from the Village of the Great Tree. There, we were given houses and work. They even provided us with plenty of food. They truly wanted us to live there as residents. The surrounding forest was a bit frightening, but we were well-protected. Compared to life in the back alleys, this place was heaven.
I had intended to perform my assigned duties perfectly, but I failed at first. However, I wasn't scolded or cast out. The Village Head—the leader of the Village of the Great Tree—was the one in charge. Village One didn't have its own Village Head, only someone referred to as an Acting official. This Village Head told us to take our time and find work that actually suited our strengths. I was so grateful to him. The others who had struggled alongside me all nodded in firm agreement. For the Village Head’s sake, I was determined to work hard.
Gradually, we adjusted to village life. Farming, papermaking, pressing oil, extracting sugar, and salt making—bit by bit, we expanded our skills. When we were entrusted with the pigs, I worried if we could raise them properly, but we all pulled together. Though, I must say, the men became a little too emotionally invested in them.
Speaking of the men, they had changed quite a bit. When we first arrived at Village One, they were too afraid to even step into the forest, but now they went in regularly. Jack had even managed to hunt a Fanged Rabbit all by himself. It was truly impressive. Marcos was working hard too, though he hadn't reached that level yet. I constantly told him not to overdo it; I didn't want him doing anything reckless or dangerous.
Even Kricky seemed to be telling him to be careful. Kricky was the name of the dog—no, the wolf—who protected the village. He was an Inferno Wolf, and I was the one who gave him his name. He was terrifying at first, but I soon realized he was our protector. Occasionally, he even brought us prey he’d caught in the forest. When I wanted to thank him, I realized I didn't have a name to call him by. When I asked the Village Head, he showed me the entire pack of Inferno Wolves. There was no way I could name them all, so I decided to just name the one who visited us. I made sure to get the Village Head’s permission, and Kricky seemed genuinely happy about it.
Kricky visited the other villages as well, so he wasn't always around, but he always came to greet me whenever he returned to Village One. That was the kind of bond I shared with that Inferno Wolf. Marcos never went against anything Kricky "said," but it did make me wonder why he listened to the wolf more than his own wife.
A year passed since we migrated. The winter cold was manageable because we had an ample supply of firewood. Patrols from the Village of the Great Tree and the other settlements visited us regularly, so we never had to worry about food. Of course, we weren't just idling away inside during the winter. We processed bamboo into various small items. My pride and joy were the baskets—they were light, sturdy, and I had put a lot of effort into the designs. Naturally, the best of the lot had to be presented to the Village Head of the Great Tree.
After the spring planting, I was so caught up in the rhythm of daily life that summer was suddenly upon us.
By the way, have you ever seen a castle floating in the sky? It was an incredible sight. It was hard to believe something that massive could actually fly. I was shocked to learn that the castle also belonged to the Village Head. The reason I brought up the floating castle was that we used its position to track the seasons. It stayed in the north during the winter and moved to the west in the spring, circling around the Village of the Great Tree over the course of a year. Since it was currently moving toward the south, it meant summer was nearly here.
It was around that time that the Village Head gathered the migrants of Village One for a discussion.
"Shashato City...?" I muttered. I had never heard of it. Apparently, it was a massive commercial hub and port town within the Demon Kingdom. In fact, most of the fish we ate was purchased there.
The Village Head explained that a businessman in Shashato City had invited him to open a shop. While the Village Head wanted to accept, he didn't have anyone to manage it. That was why he had come to us. He chose us because we could read, write, do math, and understood proper etiquette. We hadn't really had a chance to use those skills yet, so I was thrilled to know he had noticed our potential.
I sent a silent thanks to Lady Fouche. If the Village Head was asking, I was determined to give it my absolute all. When he mentioned we would have to leave Village One for a while, I didn't mind one bit. Marcos felt the same. Before we could even speak, several others were already raising their hands. It seemed everyone felt the same sense of duty.
I wasn't going to lose to them. Since it wouldn't make sense for everyone to go, it was decided that a single married couple would be chosen. Jack had wanted to go, but since he was the leader of the Village One migrants, he was automatically excluded. That left nine couples. I prayed that the Goddess of Fortune would smile upon us.
And she did. Thank you, Goddess of Fortune! If this shop turned out to be a success, it sounded like we might receive Reward Medals. If we did, I planned to use them to have a statue of the Goddess of Fortune commissioned.
First, we had to prepare for the move to Shashato City. I didn't have many personal belongings, so packing didn't take long. I told Kricky I’d be away for a while and said my goodbyes to everyone staying behind in Village One. Everything was ready.
Marcos and I moved to the Village of the Great Tree first. We spent a month there studying and preparing for the opening. Despite his busy schedule, the Village Head taught us personally. I was determined to work as hard as I could.
The shop the Village Head wanted to open was a restaurant. It wouldn't be a complicated place; it would serve only a single dish. That meant the quality of that dish was everything. I worried if I could actually pull it off, but my fears were misplaced. It was a dish I had been cooking once a week ever since I moved to Village One.
As expected of the Village Head—that dish was guaranteed to be a hit.
Wait, if the cooking was the easy part, what were we studying so hard for? How to hire employees, customer service, hygiene standards, tax calculations... there was so much to memorize that it was utterly exhausting. Marcos was doing his best as well.
During our studies, the Village Head suggested we take a trip to the floating castle via balloon for a change of pace. It certainly wasn't just for fun, though I had to admit, I enjoyed it. It was my first time flying, and it felt wonderful, if a bit chilly. I made a mental note to wear thicker clothes the next time I went up.
When our month of training ended, it was time to leave for Shashato City. A high-ranking official of the Demon Kingdom was going to transport us there using transfer magic. I already knew the Village Head was powerful, but his connections were truly staggering. This was the Village Head’s shop, and I was going to make sure it was a success no matter what. Marcos was just as determined; he had a look of pure confidence on his face. That was my husband for you.
"Um, Village Head? What is all this?" I asked, looking at what he had prepared.
"It’s the capital for the shop," he replied. "You’ll need it to get things started."
"I understand that, but... um..."
I was deeply grateful for the trust he placed in us by handing over so much money. However, the bag of gold coins was so heavy that Marcos could barely carry it. Was the cost of living in Shashato City really that high? Furthermore, the wagon was loaded with a massive amount of crops. They were ingredients for the restaurant, but I wondered if we could really cook through all of them.
No, I couldn't afford to be weak. I would cook every last bit of it. After all, the dish was curry. I was certain that once the people of the city tasted it, they would all be captivated.