Extra 27: Kuzunoha-san 1 (1/2)
Raidou -or Misumi Makoto-, his close aides, and also the demi-humans that are working in the store are using their special abilities and goods in the Kuzunoha Company. This was steadily increasing its reputation.
But there’s other people aside from them that hold that name on their back as they do their best.
This is the story of one of them.
“Ah, Kuzu is here!”
“Kuzu-san~!”
Loud voices resonate in the forest.
“Hello.”
The first ones to welcome the man that crossed the gate of the village were the running children.
This place is deep in a forest that’s not affiliated to any country.
It is not a village that is close to a forest, but a village that is in a forest.
In this village that doesn’t receive much visitors, the dark skinned man smiled and returns their greetings as he walks with them following him around.
Even when he is slender, he was carrying big luggage yet wasn’t staggering at all as he walked with steady steps.
While he was walking, he greeted the villagers there in good heart and was kind towards the children.
His legs were heading towards a relatively big house, the house of the village chief.
As one can tell by the reactions of the villagers and the childrens, this is not the first time that this man comes here.
He would mostly come once or twice a month.
“Glad to see you here, Kuzunoha Company’s Ririto-sama. My grandfather is waiting.”
A small girl of around ten years old had come to the entrance and receives the man with her head lowered.
The name of the man is Ririto, a Forest Oni. But well, there’s not a single one in this village that knows of the name of that race though.
And he is also a member of the Kuzunoha Company that the otherworldler Misumi Makoto created.
Right now, he has come here under the name of that company.
“Well well, young lady, thank you for the kind reception.” (Ririto)
“I am the future village chief after all. This much is a matter of course.”
“By the way, how did you know I would be coming?” (Ririto)
“That’s because, uhm…just a moment ago…”
“Hey Captain, was my message useful?! Was it useful?!”
Ririto received the greeting of the chief’s daughter that was putting on the airs of an adult, and then questions her in a slightly teasing manner.
It looks like, even though Ririto is a company member from the outside, he is pretty close to her.
The girl was troubled in how to answer, and taking her place, the boy that appeared from the side said something that was close to the answer.
The girl that was called ‘Captain’ was dyed in bright red.
“Ah?! Uwu…”
“Fufu, I see. Ojou-sama is the captain, right. So you received a hasty report from a reliable subordinate.” (Ririto)
“Geez, you idiot! It was supposed to go well!!”
“Eh?! Why?!”
The messenger boy probably came running full-throttle, his forehead had sweat flowing down.
He worked so hard, and yet, was called an idiot. He is a bit of an unreciprocated messenger.
His shocked and surprised voice was plenty enough to make people pity him.
“Now then, I will be greeting the chief, so see you later.” (Ririto)
“I am looking forward to the reward for the escort!”
“The store will be in the usual plaza, right?!”
“Okay, let’s go tell everyone in the village!!”
“Wait! I am the captain, you know?! Report about the security of the fields!!”
Ririto entering the house of the chief and the children leaving it happened at almost the same time.
Since the daughter of the chief left, Ririto proceeded inside alone.
“This village really doesn’t change. It is truly cheerful.” (Ririto)
“Thanks.”
The monologue Ririto muttered had a response given back.
It is the chief of this village.
“Chief-san, I was talking to myself there. Long time no see.” (Ririto)
“Don’t worry about it. The only ones who come to a remote village like this are the Kuzunohas. If on top of that you guys like the village, it makes me want to say my thanks.” (Chief)
“Please don’t mind it. We are doing this as a business after all.” (Ririto)
“Without even asking about the circumstances of a village inside a forest, you would always come at least once every month. There’s nothing as grateful as this. There’s no merchant who would regularly go deep inside forests after all.” (Chief)
“I am honored to be of use. I will be borrowing a corner of the plaza, so I came here to give my greetings. Also, I have a matter to talk to you about, so if you can lend me a bit of your time at night…” (Ririto)
“At night huh. Understood. Right, in that case, how about having dinner with us? Or might as well stay the night. I want to consult with you a bit about something after all.” (Chief)
The Chief says in a quite good-willed manner to the Forest Oni.
It seems the Kuzunoha Company is pretty loved in this village.
“Thanks. Ah, and also, if it is okay with you, use this.” (Ririto)
What was given to the chief was a small container —a teacup.
“Hm? A cup? This feeling of touch is a first for me. What is this?” (Chief)
“It is a container that is made from earth; it is called pottery. I apologize for offering one that I made as a hobby, but the result was relatively good, so I am giving them away to customers.” (Ririto)
“Earth. That’s quite the unusual thing. Must be made from quite the special magic.” (Chief)
“…No, not a single bit of magic was used in the making of it. It is a surprisingly fun thing to do, so I enjoy doing it in my free days covered in mud.” (Ririto)
“Oh! This isn’t an article made from magic?” (Chief)
“That’s right. It is easier to break than ironware, but I would say it has its own characteristic good points. Well then, I will be opening the store for a bit, and then come back.” (Ririto)
“Fumu, there’s really mysterious techniques out there.” (Chief)
“…I will be excusing myself.” (Ririto)
While making a wry smile in his heart looking at the Chief who was checking out the teacup in admiration, Ririto headed to the plaza.
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“They got me there. To think that they would propose a marriage interview. I was about to mistake the change.” (Ririto)
The temporary store of the Kuzunoha Company had been sold out prosperously and closed.
Just like always.
The surroundings were turning dark, and by the time the lights of fire could be seen here and there, Ririto was already in the house of the Chief.
“There are many people in the village that think ‘if only the Kuzunoha-sans would stay all the time at this Anode village’. Counting us here.” (Chief)
“I am truly happy that we are being accepted this much. Of course, I will be coming from here on as well to Anode village as the person in charge. I have to keep you guys in check so that you don’t fall sick after all.” (Ririto)
The Chief, his son that is serving as his assistant, his wife, and his granddaughter; the five of them -counting Ririto- were having a lively dinner and had become a dinner where laughs were coming out constantly.
Even Ririto had a smile as he spoke.
“Oops, I was about to forget. Ririto-san, you said you had something to tell me, right? What is it?” (Chief)
“Thanks. Then, excuse me for a bit…” (Ririto)
Ririto stood up from his seat, and then, he unwraps the luggage that was left at a corner of the room.
This wrapping is called a wrapping cloth, and for the people of Kuzunoha that work in the peddling department, this is an essential tool.
What appeared was a wooden box that looked like a treasure box.