It has been one year since the war ended.
Ramrock, Casnier, September 115.
Casnier is a small town located between the big cities. It has about 100 households and was first known to travelers. Recently, with the opening of new roads, it has become a new feature with the frequent coming and going of soldiers.
Now, a little over a year after Ramrock was freed from Dublin's interference, the people of Casnier are enjoying their own version of sweet harvest peace.
A small two-story country house is located on the outskirts of the rural town of Cassini.
"Ah!"
Leila suddenly looked up from where she was pouring food for her collie shepherd dog into a brass bowl.
'I have to go downtown.'
Her common brown hair was tied up roughly, revealing her immature greenish olive eyes. The rising corners of her eyes looked more like a smile than a fierce one. In fact, Leila was still smiling, and always had been smiling, so maybe that was why.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-
“No problem. Don’t you give tips?”
“What should I do? You should go and look for it quickly.”
“What? Why?”
“Didn’t your conscience leave home?”
“This guy, too, right!”
Penny laughed and went out the back door where the cart was.
While Penny loaded the cart, Leila went to the market to buy dried meat, parsley for soup, and a can of pepper to use in her spicy dish. She also got a few apples as a treat. She also packed a variety of candy for her father to eat while he tended the sheep.
When Penny returned to the < Livestock Feed Farm >, she had just hitched a skinny donkey to a cart.
“Bring the donkey back next week.”
“What’s this? How can it be so shaky and use its strength?”
“What? Don’t bully our donkey.”
“Donkeys and shit. If you can’t work, you’re just an animal that eats hay.”
“Oh my, oh my? Hey, are you ignoring our donkey?”
Oh my, it seems that the saying that the louder the voice, the more powerful the winner is. Leila lost the will to confront Penny. She cried and ate mustard and dragged the weak donkey out of town.
The moment she left the city, ding... ding... ding... the church bell rang six times. It was 6:00 PM. Leila had only intended to take care of business and go back, but it took quite some time.
Leila's house is in a ranch called the outskirts of Casnier, on the outskirts of Ramrock. Even the extremely loud sound of the bell is too far away to be heard.
The sun was setting. She was anxious to prepare dinner before her father came home. The pitfall was that, unlike her, the donkey was as easygoing as the sullen old gentlemen she sometimes encountered.
'It's frustrating!'
Leila stared at the slow-moving donkey’s butt for a long time. Donkeys were an irrational means of transportation that would collapse if not given a break in between. It was a shame that she paid to rent this. Leila turned her head with a sad face. To the right of the dirt road in the remote countryside, there was a beautiful river. It was the Denara River. It was one of the tributaries of the large river called the lifeline of Ramrock. It was the pride of Casnier. As she looked at the scenery of the winding river, her anxious heart gradually calmed down.
'Yeah, it's good. Fall is really nice.'
It was good for exactly ten minutes. Ten minutes later, Leila was biting at the hem of her sleeve in resentment toward Penny.
'Penny, I'm going to rip all your bangs out.'
Penny's donkey-donkey-walked proudly through the pothole without avoiding it, and fell into the hole. It would have been fine if he had just fallen over, but not only did the wheel of the cart get caught in the pothole, but he also sank down as if he had sprained his ankle. And he sat there with a stupid expression on his face, protesting, "I can't go."
“You fool, you idiot.”
Leila managed to right the tilted cart and pick up the shopping cart that was rolling on the floor. The straws were heavy. She shook out the muddy paper bag to examine it. The next problem was the donkey. It was so badly twisted that it didn’t know how to get up. If any neighbors were passing by, she would have asked for help, but this road was so remote that it was deserted.
“What are we going to do if we do this here?”
Leila crouched down and examined Donkey's front leg as he sniffed absentmindedly. From the looks of it, it didn't look like it was broken.
A deep frown appeared between Leila's eyebrows.
'What should I do with this?'
If this continues, they may end up with something similar to a coachman carrying a carriage.
After a while, a large shadow fell over her head. Since Casnier's neighbor was there anyway, Leila looked up happily.
“Ah, help me out...”
Leila knew almost everyone in this town, but the man was a complete stranger to her.
His blond hair was as dull as straw, and his beard looked roughly grown. His clothes were so worn that it was hard to expect them to be able to keep him warm. But what caught her eye the most were his bright blue eyes. They were incredibly pretty. Looking closely, his arms and body were also quite muscular, despite being thin.
The man asked.
“Can I help you?”
'Wow.' The voice was really nice.
“...Uh uh...yes.”
The man looked at the donkey, then he snapped a branch from nearby and began to whittle it down smooth with a small jackknife. The fleshy branch soon became a stick as thick as a finger. He returned, crouched down opposite her, and applied the stick to the donkey's leg as a splint.
“Do you have a string?”
Leila shook her head. Instead of asking a second time, the man untied the handkerchief tied around his waist and tied the donkey's leg.
“It’s just a sprain, so if you let it rest for a bit, it’ll be able to get up.”
“Uh, uh.”
“As a thank you, something edible is enough.”
Huh? Leila opened her eyes blankly. It was right to return the favor, but, huh? The man naturally extended his hand. His firm palm clearly showed his purpose. Leila awkwardly approached the cart and took out something to eat. She handed him two candies. But the candies looked too small in the man’s hands.
The man must have thought so, too. The outstretched hand didn’t move. Leila hesitantly searched through the cart and gave him another apple that the fruit shop lady had given her as a bonus.
The man finally reacted.
"Thank you."
It felt a little like being robbed... Huh? The man turned around and went down the steep slope. Leila only realized it after he disappeared from sight.
'Ah, that guy.'
A Dubliner, a foreigner, probably a soldier.
Ramrock, Casnier, September 115.
Casnier is a small town located between the big cities. It has about 100 households and was first known to travelers. Recently, with the opening of new roads, it has become a new feature with the frequent coming and going of soldiers.
Now, a little over a year after Ramrock was freed from Dublin's interference, the people of Casnier are enjoying their own version of sweet harvest peace.
A small two-story country house is located on the outskirts of the rural town of Cassini.
"Ah!"
Leila suddenly looked up from where she was pouring food for her collie shepherd dog into a brass bowl.
'I have to go downtown.'
Her common brown hair was tied up roughly, revealing her immature greenish olive eyes. The rising corners of her eyes looked more like a smile than a fierce one. In fact, Leila was still smiling, and always had been smiling, so maybe that was why.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-
When the church bell, which rings once every three hours, rang twelve times, her father stood up.
“I’ll take the kids with me!”
Her father, Bendo, who has poor hearing, left the house, shouting loudly. Her father is a shepherd who herds cattle and sheep.
“Yes, I will go to the market later. I will also go to the < Livestock Feed Farm >, so I might be a little late!”
After seeing her father off leisurely with his cute spotted collie (named after the Border Collie), Leila began washing and drying the blankets. There was a lot to do.
The town market was bustling. It seemed as if the entire population of the small town of Casnier had gathered there.
“I’ll take the kids with me!”
Her father, Bendo, who has poor hearing, left the house, shouting loudly. Her father is a shepherd who herds cattle and sheep.
“Yes, I will go to the market later. I will also go to the < Livestock Feed Farm >, so I might be a little late!”
After seeing her father off leisurely with his cute spotted collie (named after the Border Collie), Leila began washing and drying the blankets. There was a lot to do.
***
The town market was bustling. It seemed as if the entire population of the small town of Casnier had gathered there.
'Hello, Leila! Good afternoon!'
The faces of the neighbors who greeted each other brightly were clear and innocent. Andrew waved his hand in a friendly manner. For some reason, he was setting up a stall and doing business today. He must be working part-time again?
“Leila! It’s Leila! Did you come to see me?”
“No. Andrew, how could that be? What are you doing today?”
“Auntie Sally asked me to watch the stall for a moment... Where are you going?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Wait a minute!”
She ignored Andrew, who was getting tired of the gathering, and walked briskly. She occasionally saw soldiers in sharp uniforms walking around. Because of the increased number of soldiers, incidents and accidents were occurring more and more frequently. She was getting nervous for no reason.
Carefully avoiding the soldiers and making quiet noises, Leila headed toward an old wooden house with a sign reading < Livestock Feed Farm. > The owner was gone. Instead, Penny was sitting on a cushion, her buttocks squirming.
“Hello, is the old man out?”
“Oh! Leila!”
Penny is the daughter of the < Livestock Feed Farm > family and is known for being cheerful and talkative. She is one of Leila's few childhood friends left in the village, as all of them have been married off. She has a hobby of always proudly grooming her straight, razor-sharp bangs.
“You’re the only one?”
“Yeah, do you have a reservation for today? I’ll get the ledger, just a moment.”
Penny pretended to be the owner, saying that after three years, a dog can read posters.
“Oh, here they are. But, Leila, as you know, it rained last week and it was hard to store them. They get damp quickly. Dad said we should charge a silver per bundle this time.”
“1 silver is too much.”
Leila pouted.
“Leila! It’s Leila! Did you come to see me?”
“No. Andrew, how could that be? What are you doing today?”
“Auntie Sally asked me to watch the stall for a moment... Where are you going?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Wait a minute!”
She ignored Andrew, who was getting tired of the gathering, and walked briskly. She occasionally saw soldiers in sharp uniforms walking around. Because of the increased number of soldiers, incidents and accidents were occurring more and more frequently. She was getting nervous for no reason.
Carefully avoiding the soldiers and making quiet noises, Leila headed toward an old wooden house with a sign reading < Livestock Feed Farm. > The owner was gone. Instead, Penny was sitting on a cushion, her buttocks squirming.
“Hello, is the old man out?”
“Oh! Leila!”
Penny is the daughter of the < Livestock Feed Farm > family and is known for being cheerful and talkative. She is one of Leila's few childhood friends left in the village, as all of them have been married off. She has a hobby of always proudly grooming her straight, razor-sharp bangs.
“You’re the only one?”
“Yeah, do you have a reservation for today? I’ll get the ledger, just a moment.”
Penny pretended to be the owner, saying that after three years, a dog can read posters.
“Oh, here they are. But, Leila, as you know, it rained last week and it was hard to store them. They get damp quickly. Dad said we should charge a silver per bundle this time.”
“1 silver is too much.”
Leila pouted.
'This con artist.'
“After fall, there’s nothing like this?”
“Penny, my father has been dealing with you for ten years. Who doesn’t know how things work out here? You can’t get more than a silver for two bundles. They’re talking about switching to feed these days, so if a bundle of hay costs a silver, wouldn’t it be better to pay two silvers more for feed? Feed is easier to store than hay, takes up less space, and is much more profitable.”
"I see?"
“After fall, there’s nothing like this?”
“Penny, my father has been dealing with you for ten years. Who doesn’t know how things work out here? You can’t get more than a silver for two bundles. They’re talking about switching to feed these days, so if a bundle of hay costs a silver, wouldn’t it be better to pay two silvers more for feed? Feed is easier to store than hay, takes up less space, and is much more profitable.”
"I see?"
Penny added absentmindedly and sighed.
This isn't Leila going too far; this is Penny trying to scam her out of the blue.
Although she tried to act like the owner, Penny had no business aptitude. After some back and forth, Penny finally retreated sullenly.
“Yes, I got it. The cost of renting a donkey and cart is the same as last time. If you need a hired hand to help pull the cart, call Andrew...”
“Andrew keeps nagging me, and it’s getting to the point where I need to collect the money. I’ll take care of it.”
“Be nice to Andrew. I like you so much, why are you being so pushy?”
“You take it?”
Penny crossed her arms decisively, forming an X.
“Oh, I’ll decline. I really, really, really decline!”
“And what good can you do for me? Take this.”
“No tip?”
“Wow, our Penny, you surprised me.”
"Why?"
“I thought you were a robber.”
Penny snorted and took Leila's coin with a look of regret. It was clear that she had secretly tried to trick her into giving her pocket money. It wasn't the first time, so Leila pretended not to know and laughed.
Soon, Penny began to relax and chatter on her own.
“Oh, right, right, right! Leila. Did you hear that?”
“What’s the news?”
“Did you see a small tent pitched over there by the river?”
There is a clear river flowing along the quiet road from Leila's house to the city. As she looked around, she noticed that a tent had been set up under an oak tree by the river that she had not seen before.
“Yeah, I saw it?”
“Have you seen who lives there?”
Leila tilted her head.
“I haven’t seen him. Is he a tourist?”
“I don’t think he’s a tourist. He’s been staying there since last week. Mr. Walter said he went to see him because he felt suspicious, but...”
Penny lowered her voice and took on a serious expression, as if sharing an important secret.
“He’s from Dubliners. He seems to be a soldier.”
Leila had lost her maternal uncle in the war with Dublin that ended around this time last year. The pain of loss doesn't go away in a year, so Leila's mood was once again low.
“Be careful. I’m telling you this only because I think you should know.”
Penny, the most knowledgeable person in town, lives in delusion. Everyone but Penny knows that "Penny knows" means "most of the town knows."
“Uh-huh. Yes. Well... thanks for letting me know.”
This isn't Leila going too far; this is Penny trying to scam her out of the blue.
Although she tried to act like the owner, Penny had no business aptitude. After some back and forth, Penny finally retreated sullenly.
“Yes, I got it. The cost of renting a donkey and cart is the same as last time. If you need a hired hand to help pull the cart, call Andrew...”
“Andrew keeps nagging me, and it’s getting to the point where I need to collect the money. I’ll take care of it.”
“Be nice to Andrew. I like you so much, why are you being so pushy?”
“You take it?”
Penny crossed her arms decisively, forming an X.
“Oh, I’ll decline. I really, really, really decline!”
“And what good can you do for me? Take this.”
“No tip?”
“Wow, our Penny, you surprised me.”
"Why?"
“I thought you were a robber.”
Penny snorted and took Leila's coin with a look of regret. It was clear that she had secretly tried to trick her into giving her pocket money. It wasn't the first time, so Leila pretended not to know and laughed.
Soon, Penny began to relax and chatter on her own.
“Oh, right, right, right! Leila. Did you hear that?”
“What’s the news?”
“Did you see a small tent pitched over there by the river?”
There is a clear river flowing along the quiet road from Leila's house to the city. As she looked around, she noticed that a tent had been set up under an oak tree by the river that she had not seen before.
“Yeah, I saw it?”
“Have you seen who lives there?”
Leila tilted her head.
“I haven’t seen him. Is he a tourist?”
“I don’t think he’s a tourist. He’s been staying there since last week. Mr. Walter said he went to see him because he felt suspicious, but...”
Penny lowered her voice and took on a serious expression, as if sharing an important secret.
“He’s from Dubliners. He seems to be a soldier.”
Leila had lost her maternal uncle in the war with Dublin that ended around this time last year. The pain of loss doesn't go away in a year, so Leila's mood was once again low.
“Be careful. I’m telling you this only because I think you should know.”
Penny, the most knowledgeable person in town, lives in delusion. Everyone but Penny knows that "Penny knows" means "most of the town knows."
“Uh-huh. Yes. Well... thanks for letting me know.”
“No problem. Don’t you give tips?”
“What should I do? You should go and look for it quickly.”
“What? Why?”
“Didn’t your conscience leave home?”
“This guy, too, right!”
Penny laughed and went out the back door where the cart was.
While Penny loaded the cart, Leila went to the market to buy dried meat, parsley for soup, and a can of pepper to use in her spicy dish. She also got a few apples as a treat. She also packed a variety of candy for her father to eat while he tended the sheep.
When Penny returned to the < Livestock Feed Farm >, she had just hitched a skinny donkey to a cart.
“Bring the donkey back next week.”
“What’s this? How can it be so shaky and use its strength?”
“What? Don’t bully our donkey.”
“Donkeys and shit. If you can’t work, you’re just an animal that eats hay.”
“Oh my, oh my? Hey, are you ignoring our donkey?”
Oh my, it seems that the saying that the louder the voice, the more powerful the winner is. Leila lost the will to confront Penny. She cried and ate mustard and dragged the weak donkey out of town.
The moment she left the city, ding... ding... ding... the church bell rang six times. It was 6:00 PM. Leila had only intended to take care of business and go back, but it took quite some time.
Leila's house is in a ranch called the outskirts of Casnier, on the outskirts of Ramrock. Even the extremely loud sound of the bell is too far away to be heard.
The sun was setting. She was anxious to prepare dinner before her father came home. The pitfall was that, unlike her, the donkey was as easygoing as the sullen old gentlemen she sometimes encountered.
***
'It's frustrating!'
Leila stared at the slow-moving donkey’s butt for a long time. Donkeys were an irrational means of transportation that would collapse if not given a break in between. It was a shame that she paid to rent this. Leila turned her head with a sad face. To the right of the dirt road in the remote countryside, there was a beautiful river. It was the Denara River. It was one of the tributaries of the large river called the lifeline of Ramrock. It was the pride of Casnier. As she looked at the scenery of the winding river, her anxious heart gradually calmed down.
'Yeah, it's good. Fall is really nice.'
It was good for exactly ten minutes. Ten minutes later, Leila was biting at the hem of her sleeve in resentment toward Penny.
'Penny, I'm going to rip all your bangs out.'
Penny's donkey-donkey-walked proudly through the pothole without avoiding it, and fell into the hole. It would have been fine if he had just fallen over, but not only did the wheel of the cart get caught in the pothole, but he also sank down as if he had sprained his ankle. And he sat there with a stupid expression on his face, protesting, "I can't go."
“You fool, you idiot.”
Leila managed to right the tilted cart and pick up the shopping cart that was rolling on the floor. The straws were heavy. She shook out the muddy paper bag to examine it. The next problem was the donkey. It was so badly twisted that it didn’t know how to get up. If any neighbors were passing by, she would have asked for help, but this road was so remote that it was deserted.
“What are we going to do if we do this here?”
Leila crouched down and examined Donkey's front leg as he sniffed absentmindedly. From the looks of it, it didn't look like it was broken.
A deep frown appeared between Leila's eyebrows.
'What should I do with this?'
If this continues, they may end up with something similar to a coachman carrying a carriage.
After a while, a large shadow fell over her head. Since Casnier's neighbor was there anyway, Leila looked up happily.
“Ah, help me out...”
Leila knew almost everyone in this town, but the man was a complete stranger to her.
His blond hair was as dull as straw, and his beard looked roughly grown. His clothes were so worn that it was hard to expect them to be able to keep him warm. But what caught her eye the most were his bright blue eyes. They were incredibly pretty. Looking closely, his arms and body were also quite muscular, despite being thin.
The man asked.
“Can I help you?”
'Wow.' The voice was really nice.
“...Uh uh...yes.”
The man looked at the donkey, then he snapped a branch from nearby and began to whittle it down smooth with a small jackknife. The fleshy branch soon became a stick as thick as a finger. He returned, crouched down opposite her, and applied the stick to the donkey's leg as a splint.
“Do you have a string?”
Leila shook her head. Instead of asking a second time, the man untied the handkerchief tied around his waist and tied the donkey's leg.
“It’s just a sprain, so if you let it rest for a bit, it’ll be able to get up.”
“Uh, uh.”
“As a thank you, something edible is enough.”
Huh? Leila opened her eyes blankly. It was right to return the favor, but, huh? The man naturally extended his hand. His firm palm clearly showed his purpose. Leila awkwardly approached the cart and took out something to eat. She handed him two candies. But the candies looked too small in the man’s hands.
The man must have thought so, too. The outstretched hand didn’t move. Leila hesitantly searched through the cart and gave him another apple that the fruit shop lady had given her as a bonus.
The man finally reacted.
"Thank you."
It felt a little like being robbed... Huh? The man turned around and went down the steep slope. Leila only realized it after he disappeared from sight.
'Ah, that guy.'
A Dubliner, a foreigner, probably a soldier.
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