Chapter 2

I stepped out of my house and walked to the square where rations were distributed. Looking around, I could see refugees staggering along, drawn by the smell of the rations. Everyone was dressed in tattered clothes, just like me. The only difference was whether or not they had a spark of life in their faces.

But upon closer inspection, I noticed a difference. The faces of those who had recently moved here were tinged with despair, while those who had been here for a longer time had a look of apathy. The midday ration distribution was filled with people who spent their days idly.

There were also those who tried to escape this situation. After receiving the morning rations, they would go to the nearest town to do day labor and earn some money. While money wasn't necessary within the settlement, it would be needed if they ever wanted to leave.

Therefore, this settlement not only had people coming in but also people leaving. I wondered which path I should take. If I were to leave, I would need to find a way to earn money. There would be many things I needed, and it wouldn't be easy to get started.

I don't know what I can do, but I should think carefully and take one step at a time. To lay the foundation for this, it would be good to aim for a better life.

As I was thinking about this, I arrived at the square. There, several women were distributing food around a large pot. The refugees lined up in two rows with their bowls, waiting quietly. I quietly joined the end of the line.

This settlement is surrounded by a forest, and about a 30-minute walk away, there is a river. The population is around 400 people, ranging from children to the elderly. Even as refugees, everyone wants their personal space, so they built makeshift huts to protect themselves from the rain and wind.

The forest has edible fruits and various plants, and there are many animals. Although rations are provided by the lord, the amount is not sufficient, so the refugees cooperate to gather food from the forest and the river.

It's also true that if they were given enough, they would become complacent and stop moving. The current treatment of refugees is to keep them alive but not thriving, to either increase or decrease their numbers, depending on the situation.

Sometimes officials come to check on the settlement. Although they can't enter the town, they can't afford to waste the labor of the refugees. The lord is apparently arranging for relocation to new places. Normally, this would be a highly sought-after opportunity, but the number of remaining refugees suggests that the offer isn't very appealing.

If the relocation was to a town, it would have been better, but all the options were rural areas. They would have to start from scratch and cultivate the land, which is very labor-intensive. Without the necessary skills, it would be difficult for outsiders to get help from the villagers. Therefore, only those from rural areas or those who are tired of the settlement accept the relocation.

I probably wouldn't accept it either. The process of cultivating the land after it has been reclaimed is already a deal-breaker. I don't know how much labor is required, and even if it were possible, people without the knowledge and experience to grow crops wouldn't be able to do it easily.

Thinking about this, I realized that it would be better to have a trade and live in a town. The question is, what trade to pursue—

"Next."

Ah, it's my turn. I quickly handed my bowl to the woman and received a small potato in return.

"Lil"

Yes, that's my name.

"Is there something you need?"

"Your mother hasn't been helping out lately. What's going on? We're supposed to work together to prepare the meals. It shouldn't be impossible to do it once every few days, right?"

"…I'm sorry."

"I told you just now, but you just frowned and didn't say anything. What's wrong with her?"

Come to think of it, I had noticed that she had been staying at home a lot recently.

"And your father, he's not fetching water from the river or hunting anymore, which is causing problems. It's not a big burden, but it's not a pleasant situation, right?"

"Yes…"

I never thought that even my father had stopped doing anything. If this continues, the criticism will intensify, and we won't be able to aim for a better life. We need to do something.

"Um, can I start helping out from now on?"

"Lil?"

"I can do anything—fetching water, gathering food, helping with cooking. I'll do my best to replace my parents."

"…Hmm, what's wrong with your parents? Alright, Lil, you'll have to step up. Can you fill the water jugs with river water after the meal? I need you to make two trips."

"Understood."

With that, a bowl of vegetable and dried meat soup (without any chunks) was handed to me. I bowed deeply and left the area.

Sitting on the ground a little away, I sighed deeply.

"I never thought my parents would stop doing anything."

This is a serious problem. The refugee settlement survives by working together, and it's understood that everyone must contribute in some way. Even if they are in despair or apathetic, they must do something to stay here. My parents have finally broken this rule.

The settlement is very sensitive to such issues, and this will spread quickly. If it does, our whole family will be ostracized. We might even be expelled from the settlement. I don't want to sink any lower.

Talking about improving our lives is no longer an option. This is a higher priority. It's not a good strategy to create more enemies, and it's a matter of life and death.

To prevent our reputation from getting worse, I should do a bit more than my share. Normally, helping out once every six days would be enough, but I plan to help once every four days. I intend to take on more to make up for not helping before.

I don't know how much I can do with my 10-year-old body, but I need to start building trust from what I can do. Yes, first, I need to gain trust.

I took a bite of the small potato, chewed it thoroughly, and drank the soup, making sure to savor every last drop.