Chapter 63

Book Publication Decided!

While being distracted by the goats, after walking for about ten minutes, a huge boulder blocking the water channel came into view.

As the villagers had complained, the water channel branched off just before the boulder.

"...It's big."

Sara, held in her mother's arms, looked up at the boulder and murmured.

"Indeed, it is big, isn't it?"

Its height was about the same as her father's, and its width and thickness were nearly twice its height.

"Did it fall from over there?"

On the right bank of the water channel, a little distance away, there was a rocky hill that formed a cliff.

I looked up at the rocky hill without getting too close and saw what looked like the traces of a landslide.

The boulder seemed to have fallen from the top of the rocky hill, rolled on the ground, and stopped on the water channel.

But something felt off.

"Something's suspicious?"

The boulder felt unnatural, as if it didn't belong there.

There was no evidence; it was just a hunch.

"...Mother, it might be better to have the specialists investigate."

"Yes. Investigate thoroughly, of course, while being careful of safety."

"Understood."

After giving instructions to the attendants, Mother gazed at the boulder for a while.

"Hmm. How long do you think it will take to remove it?"

"It depends on the budget, but it would normally take about two months."

The one who answered was the oldest of the attendants responsible for outdoor security.

"What if we don't set a budget limit?"

"It could be shortened to one month."

Upon hearing this, Mother whispered in a very small voice, so small that the villagers couldn't possibly hear it.

"...Which would cost more, spending the budget or reducing taxes?"

This whisper was surely meant for me and Sara to hear.

If the budget exceeds the tax revenue from the village, it would be better to exempt the tax and proceed slowly.

Even if the ducal family provides financial assistance to the villagers to help them live, it might still be cheaper.

While Mother was thinking, I said to the oldest attendant.

"You seem to know a lot?"

"He is the most capable attendant, always ready to act as a steward, so it's natural that he knows a lot."

"Thank you for the kind words. I am honored."

The attendant bowed deeply, flattered by Mother's praise.

He was probably one of the higher-ranking attendants sent by Father to manage the servants of the secondary residence.

After thinking for a moment, Mother asked the villagers.

"How long until the water channel is restored to ensure this year's farming work can proceed?"

"It's already very close to the deadline."

"What if it takes a month?"

"It would be impossible to meet this year's farming schedule."

It seems that removing the boulder would not allow the farming work to be completed this year.

"What about creating a bypass?"

When I asked, the attendant immediately provided an answer.

"Re-routing the water channel is not a simple civil engineering task, but if we hurry, it could be done in a week."

"It wouldn't be enough even with a week... Ideally, it should have been completed three weeks ago..."

Upon hearing the attendant's response, a villager said sadly.

"What a dilemma."

Mother whispered and then asked Sara in a small voice.

"Sara, what do you think we should do?"

"Reduce taxes... and deliver food?"

"Yes. That might be the only option. Luria, what do you think?"

I thought for a moment.

Sara's suggestion is a measure to prevent the worst-case scenario.

Ideally, it would be better if they could farm and pay taxes.

"Move the rock?"

"How?"

"Get help from animals."

The goats peering at us could move the rock.

I had such a strong conviction.

"Animals? Use oxen to pull it? But with this size, the village's oxen alone might not be enough..."

"Probably not a problem. I'll ask for help from friends."

Mother and Sara looked puzzled. It would be faster to show them.

"Wait a moment. Hey, goats over there, come here!"

I called out to the goats in a loud voice.

"Luria, what are you doing?"

Mother, Sara, the maids, the attendants, and the villagers all looked at me in surprise.

"Just watch."

The goats looked at each other and ran towards us.

Their tails wagged vigorously, which was very cute.

When the goats came close to us,

"Whoa! Everyone, get ready!"

The attendants braced themselves.

"Wait, wait! They're not enemies!"

I hurriedly stopped the goats and the attendants.

The goats were so large that the attendants were on high alert.

If they had gotten any closer, a fight might have broken out.

The attendants' aura was so sharp.

"They're all friends, right? Calm down?"

"Luria, who are you talking about?"

"Huh? Look, the goats, oxen, and boars."

The moment I said this, the goats' presence changed.

Mother turned around and saw the goats, exclaiming, "Oh!"

"...They're big."

Sara, surprised, clung to Mother.

"Wow, they're huge! Where did they come from?"

The villagers started to panic.

"They've been here all along?"

"We didn't see them.""They suddenly appeared..."

The frightened villagers shouted.

"You couldn't see them? I could see them."

"...Miss, we couldn't see them either."

"Everyone was on guard, right?"

"We felt the presence of a large, invisible entity and braced ourselves."

It seems the attendants couldn't see them either.

"Is that possible?"

"Perhaps the goats used an invisibility spell."

"Huh? Invisibility spell?"

"Using an invisibility spell makes it impossible to see unless you have a very high level of power."

"...I see."

I could see them normally, so I assumed everyone else could too.

I usually pay attention because spirits are invisible to everyone, but goats are not spirits.

They might be guardian animals, but guardian animals are like animals.

"Divine beasts? Perhaps sacred animals."

The attendant murmured.

It might have been a bit too much. It's better to be less conspicuous.

However, this time, the villagers' lives, and even their survival, are at stake.

A village that can't farm will struggle to eat and the weak will die.

I still think it's wrong to prioritize my own safety and not do what I can.

Even if I get some disapproving looks, if it helps the entire village, it's worth it.

For now, I decided to play it off.

"That doesn't matter! Goats, I need you to move this rock!"

I walked towards the goats.

"Miss, it's dangerous!"

The indoor security attendant, who was also in isolation with us, stopped me.

"It's fine. They're friends."

I met the goats for the first time, but I could tell they were friends.

However, the attendant, with a serious face, tried to stop me, so I stopped and spoke to the goats from where I was.

"Goats, this rock is blocking the water channel and causing trouble for everyone."

"Baah~""Moo~""Oink"

"Can you move it? Luria will help too. We'll pull together and use a lever..."

As I explained the plan in a loud voice to the goats,

"Baah~""Moo~""Oink"

The goats confidently said, "Leave it to us! We can handle it on our own."

"You don't have to overdo it."

"Baah!"

The goats, oxen, and boars slowly approached the boulder.

The villagers looked frightened, and the attendants, on high alert, kept their distance from the goats.

"The goats are friends, so it's safe."

I reassured everyone again to prevent them from being frightened.

The goats "baah baah" while sniffing the boulder for a while.

Once they were done, the goats and oxen pressed their horns against the bottom of the boulder, and the boars pressed their tusks.

"Baah~""Moo~""Oink~"

As the goats took a step forward together, the boulder tilted,

"Baah~""Moo~""Oink~"

and as they took another step, the rock rolled over.

The water that was blocked started to flow.

"Oh, oh,""The boulder...""The water channel..."

The villagers stood there, moved by the sight.

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