The time had finally come for me to take Sette, Sena’s daughter, to meet the Chief of Howlin Village.
This trip had been in the works for a long time, but cultural protocols had repeatedly stood in our way. According to Sena, the act of traveling to present a newborn child to someone was a gesture reserved for those of lower social standing. While I didn't personally consider myself superior to the Chief of Howlin Village, everyone else in my village insisted on it, which left me in a difficult position.
I had suggested simply asking him to come to us instead, but apparently, it was unacceptable to send an escort for him. Tradition dictated that it was essential for the visitor to make the journey using their own strength. Consequently, I couldn't easily invite him without causing a breach of etiquette, and the plan had stalled.
However, we eventually found a loophole.
The plan was simple: I would head toward Village Five on an official inspection. Instead of using the Teleportation Gate, I would travel on Hakuren’s back. Passing near Howlin Village on the way wouldn't be a problem at all. Nor would it be an issue if I decided to take a spontaneous rest nearby. If the Chief of Howlin Village happened to hear I was in the area and came by to pay his respects, well, that was perfectly natural.
The fact that I just happened to have his daughter and granddaughter with me? A total coincidence. The world is full of strange and wonderful things like that.
Hahaha.
It was a hassle, but I couldn't afford to make light of local customs and traditions. This specific solution was actually Yuri’s idea. Apparently, royalty and nobles deal with similar headaches all the time. I’d given her some dried sweet potatoes as a thank-you for the advice.
In reality, "Howlin Village" was more of a collective name for a group of settlements rather than a single town. Since the area wasn't enclosed by fences or walls, the boundaries were vague. We decided to land near the specific settlement where the Chief’s house was located.
Gatto was with us, so I sent him ahead to fetch the Chief. I suspected the man would have come running even without a formal summons, but I didn't want to leave anything to chance.
I had been worried about traveling through the air with Sette, who wasn't even two years old yet, but we handled that with magic. Magic really was convenient.
Despite the various hurdles, I was finally able to greet the Chief of Howlin Village and introduce him to Sette. A weight felt like it had been lifted from my shoulders. The only thing I hadn't expected was for the Chief’s very first move to be dropping into a deep, prostrate dogeza.
I wasn't actually angry, you know. I told him we were neighbors and that we should just get along. He tried to offer me tribute, but I looked to Sena for confirmation that I could refuse it. Since our meeting was officially a "coincidence," I told him I’d have to decline such formal offerings.
I also made sure to greet the Chief’s wife—Gatto and Sena’s mother. She seemed like a very gentle person, which was a relief. She thanked me for the work orders we sent their way, but I told her not to worry about it, as their craftsmanship helped us just as much. I also informed them that Tia, who usually handled the visits to Howlin Village, was pregnant and that someone else would be taking her place for a while.
We agreed to keep in touch and that any new orders would be sent via Small Wyvern Delivery. It turned out the Chief’s wife was the one actually managing the business side of things. I hadn't known that.
Besides Sena, Sette, and Gatto, Galf’s son had also joined the trip. His goal was to see his childhood friend who lived in the village. He seemed to have his heart set on her—they had apparently made a promise to marry, though the details suggested it was more of an informal agreement. One of Gatto’s apprentices had jokingly suggested she might have just been being polite, which had turned the poor boy into a nervous wreck for the rest of the journey. I was just glad it hadn't happened until after the martial arts tournament. Even if he was too distracted to work, repairs on the stage could wait until after the New Year.
However, when I finally saw him again, Galf's son was grinning from ear to ear next to a strikingly beautiful woman. I was genuinely surprised. She had a very mature, almost alluring air about her. She looked older than him—more like an older sister figure.
When I asked, it turned out they were actually the same age. She was just... very well-developed for her age. Without knowing the context, people might take them for siblings or even mother and son, but as long as they didn't mind, it wasn't a problem. I wished him the best of luck.
Galf’s son eventually approached me, acting incredibly fidgety. He asked if he could bring her back to our village. As long as he had her consent and the Chief’s permission, I told him I didn't mind.
Then I realized a potential problem. Galf wasn't here, but what about Galf’s wife? Moving a girl into the house without her future mother-in-law’s okay seemed like a recipe for disaster. When I brought it up, the boy claimed that in their culture, the Village Head was the one who gave permission for marriage.
I had to pull Sena and Gatto aside to consult. Did I really decide who the villagers got to marry?
Sena explained that while that was technically the law in Howlin Village, it was usually just a formality where the Village Head rubber-stamped a decision made by the families. However, the permission was taken very seriously; without it, they couldn't marry.
It felt like a heavy responsibility. I asked if they thought my permission was necessary. Sena suggested that since we were the Village of the Great Tree, we should just follow our own customs. We didn't really have any "traditions" for this, so I figured if the two of them wanted to be together, I should welcome it.
But just as I was about to give the okay, I felt a lingering doubt. I asked if there were any downsides for me. Sena admitted that if a Village Head gave permission without the family's consent, the Village Head would be the one responsible for persuading the reluctant parents.
I immediately turned back to Galf’s son. I needed to know for sure: did his parents approve? He said her side was fine, but he hadn't asked his own parents yet.
In that case, I told him he could bring her back, but the official marriage would have to wait until Galf and his wife gave their blessing. We would wait until Galf returned from his training.
The boy looked devastated, so I tried to reassure him. I told him there was no problem with her coming to our village or even them living together. They just had to keep things proper until the formal approval. A single winter would pass in no time, and then we’d have a grand wedding in the village. I even offered to get her a room at the inn if living together was too awkward.
Then he confessed his real worry: he was afraid another man might make a move on her. I told him he was being ridiculous; no one in our village would do that. When he looked pointedly at me, I burst out laughing. I assured him I had no intention of adding to my family on my own initiative. I wasn't saying she wasn't attractive, but I promised I wouldn't lay a finger on her. He still looked worried, which was a bit insulting, honestly.
Once my talk with Galf’s son ended, I found that many of the other residents of Howlin Village had gathered. I had to ask them all to stop prostrating themselves. It was freezing outside, so I invited them to huddle near the fire. They had gathered because they wanted to know how their sons and daughters who had migrated to our village were doing.
I assured them that everyone was healthy and happy, just as we’d written in the letters. Sena, Gatto, Galf’s son, and I spent a long time sharing stories about the beastman migrants. Looking back, I realized I probably should have brought a few of them along for the visit.
While we talked, the Chief of Howlin Village happily held Sette in his arms. After staying for several hours, our "rest" finally came to an end. I was handed a stack of wooden boards—improvised letters that had clearly been written in a rush. The Wyvern delivery service had strict weight limits, so they were taking advantage of our transport.
With the Chief and the villagers seeing us off, Hakuren took to the sky. We headed toward Village Five for a brief moment before "abruptly" canceling the inspection and turning back toward the Village of the Great Tree.
It was night by the time we arrived. Kuro’s children were there to greet us. I thanked them, though I couldn't help but notice just how much their pack had grown lately.
Once we finished unloading the supplies, Hakuren shifted back into her human form. I thanked her for the help, but she just gave me a look. She told me she’d expect her payment tonight, explicitly stating she wanted a second child. I could only ask her to go easy on me.
I also apologized to Gatto for the rush. I promised to bring Nart along next time. He was gracious about it. I had originally wanted to bring his wife, Naci, and their daughter, but Naci had been worried about her mining cough. Even though Lu was treating it and she was mostly fine, she had stayed behind for safety, and Nart had chosen to stay with her mother. It was a sudden trip, after all, so I decided we’d plan a proper family visit next time.
Finally, I checked on Sena and Sette. Sena had a wonderful smile on her face. Seeing that, I knew the trip to Howlin Village had been worth the effort.
It was getting cold, and even with magic protection, I didn't want the baby outside too long. We hurried toward the warmth of the house. It had been a very busy day.
As a side note, Galf’s son’s childhood friend had fainted the moment Kuro’s children came out to greet us. I’d been living with them so long I’d forgotten how terrifying a massive pack of Inferno Wolves could be to a newcomer. I resolved to apologize to her once she woke up.
And as for Galf’s son, he was still giving me that suspicious look. Honestly, it wasn't my fault.