Chapter 371: Chapter 371
“The story spread quickly. Quite a few people came. Most of them just checked the beast’s corpse and went back, though.”
“Was it because the beast looked more unimpressive than expected?”
“That was part of it, but mostly because it was such a typical story.”
Stories of knights slaying beasts and saving people were as common as dirt.
And tales of sacrificing oneself through a deal with a demon were no different.
“Maybe the story of the woodcutter defeating the beast would’ve been more popular.” Latest content publıshed on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
“Maybe so. Anyway, that’s the truth of what happened that day.”
The children accepted the story without much reaction. It wasn’t directly related to the recent incident, and it had happened decades ago.
‘Maybe it’s because they never believed in the hero story to begin with.’
But it seemed that Adel felt differently.
“So, there was never a hero from our village after all! The adults lied to us so shamelessly… That’s so unfair!”
Adel trembled in frustration. Seeing that, Granny Peggy smiled faintly.
“No hero, you say? I don’t understand what you mean. Isn’t it all clearly in the story?”
Yes, there was. Someone who was more than worthy of being called a ‘hero.’
“The woodcutter. If we can’t call him a hero, then who else could we?”
“Eh? How is the woodcutter a hero?”
“He didn’t just show courage—he defeated the beast and saved everyone. That’s more than enough to be called a hero.”
And he silently endured unfair treatment on top of that.
Just as Granny Peggy said, the woodcutter lacked nothing to be called a hero.
Adel, however, stuck out his lip in protest.
“Tch… How is that a hero?”
“Stories are meant to teach something. Adel, what do you think is the lesson of this story?”
“That it’s okay to lie if it’s for saving the village?”
“Don’t be cheeky. Luck runs away from children like that.”
Granny Peggy gently patted Adel’s head.
“The lesson is simple. That luck comes to everyone, that you need courage to seize that luck, and… that anyone can become a hero.”
Yes, anyone can become a hero.
The woodcutter, the knight, even the villagers who just watched.
“And that includes all of you.”
Because courage is given to everyone equally.
To realize that, to seize luck, to help someone in danger—
“The mark of a hero, and the task you must carry out as you live in this world.”
Alex and the children smiled quietly. It was a story perfectly suited for them.
“I can’t accept this! I just can’t!”
Adel shouted and then ran outside after opening the door.
“Captain! Wait for me!”
“Me, me too… Bye, everyone!”
Whale and Acela followed after him.
The Trash Sprout Defense Squad vanished like the wind. Granny Peggy muttered as if in regret.
“Oh dear… I’ve made a mistake. I didn’t think they’d be that disappointed.”
“It must’ve been what gave them the strength to dream.”
The idea that a hero was born in their village served as a strong motivation. Like a baseless confidence that said, ‘Maybe I can become one too.’
With that gone, it was only natural for Adel to feel let down.
“Don’t worry, he’ll forget soon enough. I actually like the story more now. Adel will also come to understand the greatness of courage.”
“I hope so. I should stock up on some tasty snacks.”
Granny Peggy took a sip of tea, as if to soothe her troubled heart.
Just as she set the teacup down, Yuridia asked.
“From what I’ve heard, it really is a simple story, just like you said. So why did you keep it a secret? Was it because the word ‘hero’ might attract tourists?”
“That’s not it. The hero story of Trash Village isn’t even that well known. It’s more like a fairy tale the village kids know.”
“Then what’s the reason for hiding it?”
“Because there’s a secret hidden in the story.”
“That’s right. There was a phrase written in the letter: ‘Give the prepared gift to the one who uncovers the secret of the story.’”
“A prepared gift? So the eldest wasn’t just given a letter?”
A secret, and a gift. With a reward at stake, there was no reason to hesitate. The children each started making guesses.
“So there really was a hero after all?”
“T-The club wasn’t just a stick, but a shining sword! A sacred sword, right? And then there was a battle over it?”
“Interesting, but no.”
“What if there was no beast at all? They tried to pass off an animal as a beast and got caught, so tourists stopped coming?”
“The story you told us—what if that’s also a lie? A lie built on top of another lie!”
All members of Party 1 failed to solve the mystery.
Naturally, the opportunity passed to our side.
“The woodcutter got so angry from having his credit stolen that he beat the lord like he was chopping wood and got kicked out of the village?”
“T-The legendary carrot! The beast came back to life after eating it and sought revenge on the village…”
“If such a carrot exists, I’d like to try it myself.”
Luna and Rezé, who had no talent for deduction, of course failed. The children’s eyes naturally turned toward me.
Of course, I knew the answer. But—
“Was the woodcutter pretty?”
“He was a man. I don’t know if he was good-looking. Is that important?”
“Grandma, that’s a critical issue for this pervert. He’s got a very wide spectrum.”
“Alex, be careful. He may be eyeing you when you least expect it.”
Guys, what are you talking about. Sorry, but I have absolutely no interest in that kind of thing.
Well, even I, a fellow man, had to admit Alex was impressive in many ways (…).
“I-I’m not into that either… I like Zero, but that’s too much. I just like our friendship!”
Raymon suddenly shouted.
Yeah, I see. In matters , you turn into the most normal one, huh?
He truly lived up to the name “your Raymon.”
Luna gave Raymon a flick on the forehead, telling him not to covet what was hers.
“If you figure out what the secret is, feel free to come back anytime. But I wouldn’t recommend it. The so-called gift is a pretty shabby thing to begin with.”
“Ugh… This must be fate, so can’t you just tell us?”
“I can’t. But you’re always free to try. You all know by now—fortune favors the brave.”
The children chuckled softly. They hadn’t expected the lesson of the story to carry this far.
As the children each made their own guesses and chatted, Yuridia asked Granny Peggy,
“By any chance, do you know anything about Baron Kelven?”
“Count Kelven… No, he’s a baron now. Let’s see. I remember he was a bedwetter as a child? I think it lasted until he was ten, but I suppose that kind of info isn’t very useful, is it?”
“Is that a rumor? Rumors can’t be trusted.”
“It’s not a rumor. I saw it with my own eyes, experienced it myself.”
“Yes. Back in the day, I worked for the count’s household. I spent most of my youth there.”
The Aldart family, Baron Kelven’s lineage. Granny Peggy had worked there as a maid for decades.
Back then, the iron mine hadn’t run dry yet, and no territorial wars had broken out, so it was said to be a fairly peaceful time.
“He was the neighborhood troublemaker. There wasn’t a single day that passed quietly.”
“Come to think of it, the territorial wars only started in earnest after Baron Kelven became the lord. Do you think he saw it all as a game?”
“I don’t think so. That troublemaker stuff was from his younger years. Around when he was twelve? From then on, he behaved like a proper noble.”
Was she reminiscing? Granny Peggy closed her eyes, lost in thought.
By the time we had nearly emptied our teacups, she opened her eyes.
“He matured quickly and came to stand beside the count. I don’t know if it was thanks to his education or the noble blood in his veins, but it’s true that he was more exceptional than my own father.”
“It was like you could see the ambition burning in his chest, just by looking at his eyes. Of course, you might ask how accurate an old woman’s judgment can be… but he definitely stood out.”
“You weren’t wrong, Granny. He once ruled the mid-north region.”
“Did he? I don’t know the details. I left the count’s household due to health issues right around the time news came that he had absorbed several prominent territories nearby.”
And so Granny Peggy returned with her family to her hometown of Trash Village.
Her grown children gradually left with their spouses, and after losing her husband…
As the mines began to dry up and most turned into abandoned shafts, the village slowly died out and lost its people.
“That’s when Count Kelven came back. He looked no different from a defeated man. I don’t know what happened… but I clearly saw that the fire of ambition within him was flickering.”
The man once called the ruler of the mid-north, returning to the crumbling stronghold of this dying village.
No one could have predicted such an ending.
“Oh, now that I think about it… there’s something strange.”
“Count Kelven… I mean, Baron now. It doesn’t roll off the tongue anymore, maybe because he used to be a count. Sigh, I really must be getting old.”
“It makes sense, Granny. You knew him as a count for far longer. But what’s the strange thing?”
Granny Peggy’s eyes gleamed.
“I saw Baron Kelven from a distance not long ago… and he seemed unusually docile.”
“There are rumors his personality changed after having a son. Maybe that’s it?”
“That’s not the kind of personality that can change so easily. And the ambition and brilliance I once felt from him—I saw none of it.”
“He had the mid-north in his grasp and lost it all in an instant. Maybe that shook him to his core?”
Granny Peggy shook her head.
“Whether on the surface or deep inside, he held a powerful ambition. I can’t believe that fire would die out so easily.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust what you’re saying, Granny. It’s just…”
‘Ambition’ is something you can feel, but you can’t see it.
In other words, all of this was Granny Peggy’s speculation. Nothing we could use in a deduction.
“Rather, that child—Nade. He resembled Count Kelven far more. His ambition was overflowing.”
“Well, he’s his son. Isn’t that to be expected?”
“It’s not just the ambition. Even his appearance is the spitting image. Exactly like Count Kelven in the past. That’s why it shocked me even more.”
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