Chapter 24

Arranging wooden boxes as chairs in the earthen floor of the house, the old woman sat down and looked up at Elliot and Lloyd with a pitying expression.

"No matter how much you say you want to go... it's just not possible."

"What do you mean by 'not possible'?"

When Elliot asked, the old woman looked troubled.

"Being 'invited' is, well, more like a figure of speech. It's not about someone inviting you; it's about whether the village itself invites you. From what I've heard, there's an old magic on the village itself, or something like that."

"Magic...? A concealment spell by a magician, or perhaps something like a barrier?"

The old woman smiled wryly.

"Sorry, I'm just a farmer, so I don't really understand the details. It's all just legends and stories I've heard. If you want to hear what I know, I can tell you."

"…That will do. Please tell me."

Right now, he needed any clue he could get. Elliot tried to suppress his impatience and waited for the old woman to speak.

"The village has no name, so people call it all sorts of things... but in the old days, it was called the 'Village of Selfless Blessing.'"

"Village of Selfless Blessing...?"

"Yes. Only those who possess the blessing of selflessness are invited. People who prioritize others over themselves, or who have a strong desire to help someone, that kind of thing."

She pointed to the farming tools leaning against the corner of the earthen floor.

"The hoe and spade over there were made for me when I was young, in that village. Back then, I was so busy raising children that I only thought about them. Now, with my children and grandchildren all grown up and on their own, I'm too busy with my own life to have much connection with the village."

Then she looked at her wrinkled hands.

"Well, there aren't many people who completely forget about themselves, so it's probably a matter of the balance and strength of one's feelings."

The old woman looked Elliot straight in the eye.

"I'm not saying it's bad to be focused on yourself. It's just that the village won't invite someone who can only think about themselves."

Her tone was gentle, but Elliot felt a deep, unnameable self-loathing and clenched his fists to hold it back.

The sound of horse hooves came from outside, and turning around, they saw a traveling merchant pulling a cart stop in front of the house.

"Hey, ma'am. Can I get some water and fodder? I've got some delicious peaches, too. How about it?"

"Oh, that sounds nice. We have guests, so why don't we have some?"

"I want everyone to try them, so I'll give you a good price."

As they talked, the sunburned merchant tied the horse to the hitching post, took out the load, and came to the porch of the house.

"These peaches were a big hit with the kids in the nearby village. I guarantee the taste."

"Nearby village? Could you be from the 'Village of Blacksmiths'?"

"That's right. I've been staying there since yesterday, on my way back."

"Can merchants enter that village...?"

At Elliot's question, the old woman smiled with a slightly exasperated look.

"What, you think the blessing of selflessness doesn't apply to merchants? That's not true at all."

"Oh, I see, you must be here about that story. Rarely, people like you come looking for that village."

The old woman nodded at the merchant's knowing words and then smiled deeply at Elliot and Lloyd.

"Every once in a while, people like you come looking for that village."

Arranging the wooden boxes as a table and chairs, the old woman served peaches and tea to Elliot and Lloyd, who had sat down, and the merchant.

"People think merchants only think about making money. Well, that's true for many, so I can't blame them."

The merchant sipped the tea without a care and continued.

"I can't always enter that village either. Yesterday, I just happened to think that the customers who bought these delicious peaches would be really happy, and that's how I managed to get there."

"There are more merchants than you think who think more about making their customers and producers happy than about their own profit."

As Elliot listened, he asked himself:

– When did I become someone who only thinks about myself? And I didn't even realize it...

The thought that he hadn't even been aware of it was terrifying. It made sense that the village wouldn't accept him.

Beside the silent Elliot, Lloyd spoke up.

"For example, could you take us there?"

"No, that's not possible. Either I can't enter anymore, or I get separated from the others without realizing it, and only those who aren't invited are left behind."

"I see..."

Lloyd's shoulders slumped. Elliot, giving up on going to the village, asked another question.

"Then, could you bring a blacksmith named Dolf out of the village?"

"Oh, you're looking for old Dolf. ...I'm sorry, but that's not possible..."

The merchant scratched his head, looking troubled.

"Old Dolf left on a trip a couple of days ago and isn't in the village anymore."

"…What… where did he go?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know. The blacksmiths in that village sometimes go on trips, but they don't tell us where they're going."

At those words, Elliot's face went blank. It felt as if his world had been painted black.

As the sun began to set, Elliot and Lloyd mounted their horses and set off on the road back to the capital.

"Not only can we not reach it, but he's not even there..."

To Lloyd's disappointed voice, Elliot remained silent.

"…Still, the 'Blessing of Selflessness'... The person who gave you that sword must have been your father or mother, right? Either way, they must have cared for you deeply..."

Lloyd's words were casual, but Elliot couldn't bring himself to honestly answer that it was his ex-wife, whom he had just parted with. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

– I can't even remember what Flora's face looked like at that time...

He had only thought about quickly finishing the troublesome tasks, not seeing anything, not even trying to see.

Riding the horse, the heavy emotions settling in the pit of his stomach made it hard to breathe.