Eventually, after sorting out his thoughts, Alain returned to the campsite only after the sun set completely beyond the forest.
"It seems too late for a meal," thought Alain as he headed for his lodging.
As he returned to his hut, he heard that old man's voice.
"Oh, you're back now. Heh heh heh... Did you have your meal?"
The old man beside him chuckled and handed something to Alain.
".....?"
It was none other than a bowl of oatmeal.
Though it was a small portion, it was enough to satisfy his hunger.
But why did the old man take care of his meal?
Puzzled, Alain looked at the old man.
"Hee hee hee! , don't look at me with such disbelief. It's just because we live next to each other."
"... Is that so?"
Alain snorted at the old man's words.
No matter how he thought about it, it was hard to believe there was no ulterior motive behind the old man's actions.
"Hee hee hee, don't be so cold. I am not that bad."
"..."
The old man sniffed and continued speaking.
"I heard something interesting happened. Those pesky women came looking for you, didn't they? And one of them clung to you, for a talk."
"How did you know that, old man..."
Surely, the old man was working in a different place. How did the story reach his ears?
The old man chuckled at Alain's question.
"Don't underestimate the experience of a former kingdom official. Even though I've fallen like this, I still have some influence around me. Thanks to that, stories about you reached my ears."
Alain recalled the old man mentioning that in the past.
Why does he know such old stories in detail?
When asked, the old man grumbled and explained that he was once an official of the kingdom. It was his hobby to read old stories, especially those from when men still ruled the world.
That led him to be accused of insulting royalty and brought here. He claimed he was falsely accused of peeping at a noblewoman while she was bathing.
Hearing that, Alain showed a reaction of disbelief but simultaneously thought that maybe the old man could have done it.
But that is not important right now.
As Alain shook his head, the old man chuckled and continued.
"Isn't it good news? You don't look too bad on the outside. You might be a bit too rough around the edges to be a groom, but that could be someone's type."
"So, what are you trying to say?"
"It's obvious, If I make connections now, maybe a piece of the pie will fall on my lap."
Alain looked at the old man with an expression of disbelief.
The old man chuckled and continued.
"It's not bad news for you either, is it? Better to be squeezed dry than exploited for labour here forever. Who knows, you might even escape this place."
"I can get out of here?"
"Heh heh, I saw that reaction. It's not impossible, you know. I've heard of a few cases like that happening.
People vanish from here every month, one or two, maybe more.
Losing a person or two isn't a big deal.
If those women put in enough effort, it can happen."
"..."
"Hmm, but... if you're going to make a move, it's best to do it quickly."
"...? What do you mean?"
"You learn things naturally in a place like this. It's September now. It's the time for personnel transfers within the Kingdom Alliance army. If you dawdle, those women might leave this place."
"...!"
Alain's expression froze at those words.
Currently, the only person he could talk to was Seria.
But if she leaves this place...
That would be a big problem.
"When does this personnel transfer happen?"
"Maybe two months? Could even be as soon as one. That's why the atmosphere around here has been strange lately.
They're pushing the workshop hard to get results. It's ridiculous."
"..."
According to the old man, the logging camp's goal has significantly increased recently. It was already a tight target, but now it's absurdly high.
The old man suspected that the officers were scheming behind the scenes to get a better position during their next transfer.
This logging camp is located at the southern tip of the continent.
It's hard to call it a good post.
Therefore, they are determined to escape this place.
"Well, it's the workers who die, though. Ha ha ha."
"..."
Alain showed a grim expression at the old man's words.
The exploitation of other workers at the logging camp wasn't his concern.
The important thing was that Seria might soon leave this camp.
The only person he could talk to right now was Seria.
If she disappears, his plans will be ruined.
"I have to hurry..."
But even so, there wasn't an immediate way to take action.
In Alain's situation, he couldn't just go and talk directly.
Ultimately, the only option was to wait for her to come to him.
The old man knew this too, so he maintained a lukewarm attitude without much expectation.
"Well, do your best. Tell me if you need anything."
Leaving those words, the old man returned to his seat.
Lighting a cheap cigarette he got from somewhere, smoke filled the narrow space.