Isekai Nonbiri Nouka Chapter 1073: Yame’s Life on an Inhabited Island III

My name is Yame.

I’m the caretaker of the island, but what I actually do is look after the birds, chickens, and Inferno Wolf.

Well, I don’t have any complaints.

-0-

I’m making barbecue sauce in the inn’s kitchen.

We ran out of the prepared sauce.

Even though we have a magic-tool box that can keep things cool, it’s still better to eat meat and other foods as soon as possible.

That said, I feel like we’ve been having barbecue a little too often.

It’s popular, though.

There are plenty of other dishes too, you know.

-0-

The High Elves are making smoked meat.

Village Chief left a large smoker behind, so they’re putting it to good use.

Smoked meat is normally good for preservation, but in the island’s environment, it doesn’t last very long.

That’s where the magic-tool box that keeps things cool comes in.

You just put the food inside, and it’s fine.

It really is convenient.

Back before I went to sleep, we had to deal with everything using magic every single time.

-0-

The Lizardmen are grinding various grains into flour, then mixing and molding them together.

It’s feed for the birds and chickens.

They’re making it with ease of eating, digestibility, and nutrition in mind.

It isn’t good to feed the birds and chickens only the things they like.

Like peanuts.

Recently… they’ve been happily eating komatsuna harvested from the field Village Chief cultivated.

In any case, ever since they started getting proper feed, the birds’ feathers have become glossier, and the chickens have grown bigger than when they first came to the island.

They’re laying eggs properly, too, and the eggs are hatching.

The chicks are so cute when they go 「chirp, chirp」.

We might have to think about expanding the chicken coop.

-0-

We eat barbecue often on the island, but curry is popular too.

We get canned curry powder from Village Chief, but the problem is that it’s difficult to make it ourselves.

It’s not impossible, but it’s surprisingly difficult to get the flavor the way I want it.

And since I can’t just waste failed batches of curry powder, I have to eat them even when I don’t like the taste.

It’s a little troublesome.

In the end, Village Chief’s curry powder is the best option.

They served various kinds of curry in Village Five and elsewhere, though.

I like the idea of having a curry that can only be tasted on the island, but that doesn’t seem possible anytime soon.

Well, I’d like to take my time and experiment with it.

-0-

As my strength has been recovering, I can fly a little now.

Well, only a tiny bit.

I still lose to a chicken’s jumping ability.

But I was able to reach some fruit growing on a high branch.

I’m happy.

I’ll pick the fruit another time, though.

We’re not short on food right now.

-0-

There are small caves scattered around the island.

These caves were made recently.

More specifically, Village Chief dug them.

To take shelter from sudden rain.

But once he had dug them, Village Chief thought it would be a waste not to put them to some use.

So apparently, he turned them into fields.

I have no idea what he’s talking about, and I don’t really understand it myself.

But he’s Village Chief.

I won’t think about it any harder than that.

So, whenever I enter one of the small caves scattered around the island, something edible is growing inside.

There are a lot of mushrooms, but there are also bean sprouts… I think.

Those thin, sprout-like things were tastier than I expected.

And radish sprouts, too.

They aren’t enough to serve as a staple food, but they’re good as a side dish.

Are radish sprouts what radish look like before they grow?

If you grow radish sprouts, do they turn into radish?

Or are they a different kind altogether?

I’ll ask Village Chief next time.

And I should also tell him not to make fields wherever he feels like it.

Right now, I can’t even find them without having the Inferno Wolf show me where they are.

I only remember two of them.

And there are so many scattered around the island that I can’t check them all.

That’s a problem.

If we’re going to make fields, they should be somewhere close to the base.

Well, I suppose that spot is already a field.

-0-

A visitor came to the island.

It was Beezel of the Demon King’s Kingdom.

His teleportation magic requires him to be able to see his destination.

So he had previously accompanied Village Chief and come to the island using the Ancestor-san’s teleportation magic.

Since he had gone through all that preparation, I figured he would come someday, but he arrived sooner than I expected.

I wonder if he has something he wants to discuss with me?

Or could it have something to do with the man Beezel brought with him?

I don’t recognize him, though.

For now, Beezel teleported to the beach and handed me a basket filled with fruit.

「This is a small gift. Please forgive me for the sudden visit.」

Ah, I wouldn’t send you away after you’ve come all this way.

Thanks for the gift.

Er, for now, let’s head to the inn.

We can introduce ourselves there.

「Would that be acceptable?」

Of course, of course.

Standing on the beach and exchanging lengthy greetings would be hard on Beezel and his companion, considering how formally dressed they are.

The inside of the inn is kept cool with magic tools, after all.

-0-

I’ve heard that Beezel has known Village Chief for a long time.

On top of that, Beezel’s daughter is one of Village Chief’s wives.

He has a close relationship with Village Chief.

I wouldn’t treat him carelessly, nor could I.

And there would be no reason for Beezel to bring someone who meant me harm.

Although, for some reason, Beezel seems rather intimidated by me.

-0-

I invited Beezel and his companion to the inn at the base and served them tea.

Of course, the tea is made with tea leaves from Big Tree Village, so it should taste good.

I cut up some of the fruit they brought as a gift, put it on a plate, and served it.

Then we introduced ourselves.

I’m Yame.

The caretaker of this island.

But Beezel already knows that, so what about the man who came with him?

「I-it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Pugyaru. Watogang Pugyaru. I am a count of the Demon King’s Kingdom.」

Hmm.

Why did Count Pugyaru come to see me?

Could he have something to say about ownership of the island?

「No, no, no, no, no. That is absolutely not our purpose.」

Then what is your purpose?

「First, I would like to establish a friendship. Let us get along!」

Huh?

…Ah, yeah, sure.

It’s better to get along than not get along.

It’s not like I have anything against Count Pugyaru…

Count Pugyaru?

Pugyaru?

Could he be a descendant of that Pugyaru the Strong-Armed?!

「I-if by Pugyaru the Strong-Armed, you mean Theodor Pugyaru, then that is correct.」

Ohh.

I had a vague sense that I’d seen something familiar.

Yeah, he has a similar air about him.

That one punched me several times.

So you’re a descendant.

…….

No, no. You don’t need to be afraid.

I understand that Pugyaru the Strong-Armed and you are different people.

…Huh?

Now that I think about it, Pugyaru the Strong-Armed suddenly punched me.

Even though I hadn’t done anything.

He listed all sorts of things I’d supposedly done, but those things weren’t done by me. They were done by Gucci, Bulga, and Stifano.

He even blamed me for things some random devils had done.

I’m suddenly getting a little annoyed.

Ah, it’s fine.

Even if I’m angry, I wouldn’t actually punch you.

Even if I punched you now, I probably wouldn’t do much damage anyway.

「Hahaha. Surely you jest.」

It would be nice if I were joking.

I eat some of the fruit they brought as a gift.

It’s sweet and delicious.

-0-

So, did you come here just to establish a friendship?

If that’s all, then you’re welcome.

「Thank you very much. If you don’t mind me saying so, I would like to demonstrate our friendship through our actions.」

Through your actions?

For example?

「We will have a ship from our family dock at this island.」

…I’d appreciate that, but we don’t have anything to trade with you.

We don’t even have enough food to load onto a ship, and the only thing we could really provide is water.

I can’t think of any benefit for a ship to call here.

「I understand. That is precisely why it is a gesture of friendship.」

So you’re saying you’ll send a ship to this island for no reason other than to become friends with me?

「That will be the case for a while, but in the future, we hope that having ships call here will lead to profitable trade.」

That’s a bit of pressure.

「Well, for the time being, please think of it as an investment on our part. We can use ships to deliver heavy or bulky goods that are difficult to transport with teleportation magic. And, of course, we can carry things away as well.」

That would be helpful.

It feels bad relying on the Ancestor-san, Rana-san, or Beezel’s teleportation magic every time.

Still, as the caretaker, I have the authority to make decisions concerning the island, but having ships call here means dealing with the outside world, so I’ll discuss it with Village Chief.

Is that all right?

「Of course.」

Well, I don’t think Village Chief will refuse…

I’ll have Beezel deliver Village Chief’s answer.

「Understood. Leave it to me.」

No, no, Beezel.

You’re not my subordinate, so you can be a little more casual.

And Pugyaru.

Don’t send the ship until the harbor is finished.

「Understood. I look forward to seeing the harbor completed.」

Yeah, yeah.

-0-

Pugyaru「Count Chrome… no, Beezel. I have a favor to ask.」

Beezel「W-what is it?」

Pugyaru「Take me to the founder of the Devil Empire. No, to the Founder-sama.」

Beezel「W-why would you deliberately go somewhere so dangerous?」

Pugyaru「To avoid danger in the future.」

Beezel「But…」

Pugyaru「It seems the Pugyaru family has some history with the Founder-sama of the Devil Empire…」

Beezel「……」

Pugyaru「Please. I want to be able to sleep peacefully at night. Oh, I’ll prepare the gift myself.」

Beezel「If things get ugly, I’ll leave you behind and run.」

Pugyaru「It’ll be fine. I absolutely won’t cause any trouble. I’ll apologize no matter what!」

-0-

Pugyaru「We will have our ships dock at the island.」

Beezel「(That’s not fair. I want my ships to go there too. But I can’t bring myself to ask.)」

Pugyaru「(Just say your ships are associated with me.)」

Beezel「(Pugyaru…)」

Pugyaru「(You hav been helping me with your teleportation magic, after all.)」

-0-

Pugyaru「Founder-sama.」

Yame「You can just call me Yame.」

Pugyaru「Hahaha, thank you very much. Then, Yame-sama.」

Yame「You can even drop the honorific.」

Pugyaru「Please don’t ask the impossible. (I have no desire to be targeted by those who revere you.)」