Ceth, who acted like normal, can't seem to hide the redness that started to creep up to her neck.
But is it a coincidence or not? Juan didn't notice it again.
As his now 'clear' eyes were looking ahead, thinking of making a counter if the cunning Ceth were ever to ask for confidential information.
"Hey, look at them. Still early in the morning and already showing off. My wife won't even let me touch her before she could get to taste meat in the meal tonight."
"Oh ho? Isn't this Ceth? She seems to be with the young man who had just arrived in our village. They're quite close, eh?!"
"Now that you said about it, this lad isn't the one I know or am familiar with. Is he the one who was saved by the village chief yesterday?"
"Look at him, didn't he just arrive yesterday? How did he suddenly get the second daughter of the village chief in this early morning?"
"What do you know? Your mind is all about hunting and training; where do you have anytime for me anyway?"
The passerby has the same conclusion in their mind. The young man, who had just arrived yesterday, had already taken Ceth to be his wife.
After all, a man and a woman were walking shoulder to shoulder around while silently glancing at each other discreetly.
Not to mention the young man was sweating and seemed to be walking stiffly while the young lady's neck and ears were reddish pink.
That ambiguous atmosphere that surrounds the two of them as though they are the only ones remaining in each other's eyes.
No matter how those who saw this could think harder, it's clearly a lover's way of showing off their love in public.
For the village chief to allow this to happen, the young man must have acquired his approval.
Because an unmarried young woman wouldn't be allowed to do such a thing.
To be alone with an unknown and unapproved young man.
Women's reputation is also important here; it's their ticket to getting married or not.
"What was his name again? I remember the village chief saying it back yesterday."
"Don't ask me. I wasn't listening clearly and seems to have forgotten about it. So I don't know."
"Sigh, there's no love between your words anymore."
"Hmph! No meat on the meal, no me tonight either!"
...
Ceth and Juan, who were both immersed in their own world, were actually thinking of two different things.
The former was confused and in conflict. While the latter was on guard and stiff along the way.
Nobody seems to notice each of their strangeness along the way.
Soon they arrived on the east side of the village.
The ground is tilled, while farmers extract the weeds and other grasses with their hands and iron tools.
"Amazing to till the grassland and make a farm. Could the ground underneath here actually be rich in soil?"
After seeing the vast grassland without an ounce of fruits and vegetables, Juan has long since thought the soil below to be unsuitable for wheat, vegetables, and fruit plants.
"Ah, about that."
After hearing Juan's exclamation, Ceth recovered her simple and calm expression after seeing that Juan hadn't noticed anything strange about her.
"The ground under the grassland under our feet is actually a little different as one goes further into the grassland."
Ceth pointed at the forest not far away as she continued.
"In between the forest and the grassland, the soil underneath it is suitable to plant crops and other plants."
Juan nodded after hearing that. In other words, their village grows their food in this buffer zone.
"The grassland is a strange place. No one who ventured deep was sent to come out alive."
"There's no food there; only the grasses and some occasional shrubberies can be found."
Then she gave Juan a look as she started to observe his every move and appearance.
"What are you suddenly looking at me like that?"
Feeling her gaze, which seems to want to penetrate him. Juan asked, feeling uncomfortable.
"Can you tell me about what lay beyond this grassland?"
Garu wasn't the only one who had been curious about this topic all alone.
The vilagers were too, and so is the village chief's second daughter.
"I have seen and heard people enter the grassland, but I never ever heard of one coming out alive."
Ceth suddenly came to him with her face near his. Eyes that contain intense curiosity and...
Bah!
What are you thinking, Juan? Can't you see this girl has already started to take advantage of your weakness?!!
Wake up and immediately counterattack! We young men must never be slaves! If we can, we shall rule this world together instead!!
Juan calmed down his restless mind and nervous heart forcefully at this time.
In his response to her curiosity and cunning plan, Juan started walking around as he started speaking in disguise as his way of escaping.
He repeated what he had told Garu and Jura yesterday. Nothing new; he made sure he was saying things exactly the same.
Ceth followed him along, her eyes filled with intense interest as she listened to Juan's narration.
"It's nothing new; I've already told your father about it with your uncle. It should not be different from what they've told you."
Juan said after the narration. Yet Ceth shook her head after hearing that.
"Hm, my father and uncle haven't told me about it. That's why I asked it personally from you."
"..."
The two eyes met and stood at a standstill for a while before Juan forced himself to move away like nothing had happened.
'Hehe, nice try.' Juan sneered, as if he would believe such nonsense.
"Well, that's all I experienced. Anything else?"
Ceth's gaze remained on Juan's face, though. However, her eyes were thinking of another thing.
"The river actually hid such a terrifying monster. I didn't know about that. Could it be the reason why those who venture deep haven't returned?"
Just thinking of such a monster existing somehow brings a shiver down from the sole of her feat up to her spine.
She subconsciously moved a little closer to the person who was emitting warmth beside her.
And yet this unintentional action of hers made it seem like she was pressing herself on Juan's chest.
This made them both stunned, and then they realized what happened.
The two immediately moved a step away, almost immediately.
"Umm, sorry, I'm just thinking of that monster you told me about and can't help but be scared, so... subconsciously..."
Ceth, who's whole face has turned red, immediately explained in a hurry, her face looking down in embarrassment.
As for Juan, he had long ago lost his soul. Truly, a pathetic old man in a young man's body.
"I-its okay..."
Juan answered a few seconds later with gritted teeth. Still, he put a smile on his face as though nothing had happened.
"How about we continue the village tour first?"
Ceth nodded after knowing Juan didn't mind what happened.
Still, there's some ambiguity that has already started to bloom between the two.
And the two know that; that's why they can't look at each other's faces along the way.
"Then let me continue about the farm."
Ceth took a deep breath and tried to calm down her restless heart as she said.
Juan nodded.
"The farm right now grows crops like wheat, barley, and rye. It also has vegetables; eggplants, potatoes, and carots. Garlic and onions were also available."
"The farm used tools such as hoes, iron sickles, rotary quern stones, iron chisels, and other things to help us in tilling, planting, and harvesting."
"All of our tools were made by the blacksmith of our village. Also, there's an iron mine near us, so we don't have to worry about iron ores."
Juan also gradually returned to his usual self as his interaction with Ceth in close proximity slowly made him get used to it.
He listened as they walked around the farm. Then they arrived at the pen, not far from them. It was situated on the north side of the village.
"The northside of the village is where the pen and barn are situated. We have wild chickens, goats, sheep, and some cows."
"The grassland is all they need, so we only tend to have little time and manpower to watch over them. There's no need to worry about them running away because we have fences ready."
Ceth pointed at the wooden fence around Juan's waist.
The latter indeed saw that.
"Since there's domesticated livestock here, why do hunters still need to hunt in the forest? Isn't that dangerous?"
Juan asked questions; it's been on his mind after seeing how rich the village is in the food industry already.
"Hunters are the most deadly job in our village. They act as our protector, scout, and spiritual support."
"They hunt in the forest to control the numbers of wild animals within and to prevent any sudden riots and tides that might fall to us if it were left alone."
"They're the masters of the forest; they made maps and made paths for others to pass. They ensured the people that passed on the road were safe and away from danger."
"Not to mention, they are all survival experts when calamities or disasters strike. Their strong reputation and skills allow us to be at ease with them watching over the village."