Chapter 10 [Outside - 3. Villagers]
In the days of leisurely traversing between the cave and the spirit tree, a change occurred one day.
It's just that a human was spotted, but it was the first inhabitant of this different world, a humanoid like me. Unlike my excited self, the contracted demons seemed uninterested. For them, humans might not be so rare. They probably view me, a visitor from another world, differently.
Well, I can't afford to be too carefree. I observe from a distance to avoid drawing attention. This is what the binoculars are for, originally bought for bird watching but now useful for "man watching." Although I can't hear voices from afar, my helpful Highfa is there for that. Let's gather information.
The village seems to be located considerably down the mountainside from the cave. I move through the mountains to observe the village. From what I can see, there are less than ten houses, indicating a small village. They seem to be cultivating grains in terraced fields, but I can't determine the exact crops. There don't seem to be large livestock like cows or horses. At most, they have what looks like chickens—possibly different from Earth's chickens. Both men and women have sun-kissed tan skin, brownish hair, not straight but loosely wavy.
Continuing observations for about ten days, it's reported that someone resembling a traveling merchant has arrived at the village. A sturdy middle-aged man, short but robust, pulling a cart with an animal resembling a donkey.
"Highfa, can you understand what they're talking about?"
"Yes... it seems to be a familiar traveling merchant. Due to a poor wheat harvest below, he offers to buy the village's rye at a higher price. It's not cash, but more like a barter. He brought alcohol, salt, blades, and requests thread and fabric. One person mentioned they could exchange fur."
"Fur? Do they go hunting in the mountains? That's not good news."
"No, they mentioned setting traps around the fields, but due to their small size, they can't fetch high prices. Master, they also said they set traps near the outskirts of the village, catching small game like boars. The merchant had a bow as well."
"With the rocky terrain near this cave, it seems unsuitable for hunting."
I see. That's why I haven't seen them before. It's wishful thinking to stumble upon them without any preparation or awareness. I've been lucky so far.
To live peacefully, I need to know about this world. Reluctantly, I might have to make contact. Dealing with humans is tiring.
...
When it comes to contacting the villagers, I need to think about clothing first. Wearing a chemical fiber T-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a baseball cap would be too awkward. The belt and zipper on the pants might be dangerous depending on the material. I should wear something that resembles the villagers' clothes... No, most of it is tied with cords or sash belts, avoiding buttons. As for shoes, are those clogs? Where can I get something like that?
"Master, isn't it impossible for you to disguise yourself as a person from this country?"
"It's more appropriate to act as a foreign traveler."
"Why not consult the Spirit Tree, my lord?"
That's right, Win. The old man is handy in times of trouble.