The lord had intended to hear the saga of Rodin, but something is going wrong with the story. Gerda continues to talk.

"We talked about what we should do. We discussed whether we should return to our original village.

　It's a two-day walk from here to the village you came from. Take the rest of the food and return to your village. Then next spring we'll settle the land again. This time we will build a fence to keep the boas out. Those were some of the things we discussed.

But we serfs who came here to begin with, needing to feed ourselves. No one was welcome to come back.

　Gerda's family and the rest of the original villagers have set aside a winter supply of food on the assumption that the settlers will not return. Of course, they are not welcome, and they do not know if they will share their food.

Many said they would never return.

I see.

　Then the lord looks at the village chief. The chief bows deeply. The mayor looks uncomfortable. The chief knew, but he didn't report it to his lord.

Then Rodin said. "Then Rodin said, 'I'm going to hunt the boa to make food for us through the winter.

　It is Gerda who tells the story that she was truly a hero. He talks about how he carried a plow, a spade, and a pickaxe, and how he led a band of men to hunt the boa. It was not just twenty men now. There were more than twice as many men to hunt. Most of the men took part in the hunt.

　There was no such thing as a three-group strategy like today. They were absorbed in it. They said they were really lucky to get one boa and a pickaxe strike to the neck.

And you got the boa in the hunt. Isn't that a wonderful story. Why aren't you proud of that story. Look at you, Allen, you look as if you've never heard it before.

　A wonderful story to tell my child to be proud of, my lord.

I'm sorry. I lost a friend at that time. ......

Nuh?

　It's a dangerous Great Boar hunt. They hunted hard. Many of my men were badly wounded. And still they hunted hard. If you put a stop to it, the gods will reward you with a prize beyond your test. Then God would give them life. He will heal all wounds.

God has rewarded us beyond our trials. But one of my friends could not bear the test.

　I was told that one friend had died before I could put an end to it. Closing his eyes, Rodin said, "We all decided," he said.

"We all decided this, and Rodin feels responsible for it. I've always said it's nothing to be bothered about.

　Gerda continues the story. Back in the village, it was said that those who participated in the boa hunt and those who did not participate in it ate the meat of the boa equally. Thanks to that, they survived the winter.

　Many of them were mortally wounded. The number of people who participated in the event was later reduced to nearly half of the total number of participants, nearly 20, due to the deaths of some people.

　That's how the boa hunt began, concludes Gerda.

(Well, I saw the overlap.)

　As he listened, Allen remembered. It was two years ago, when Rodin had returned home seriously wounded. He took a risk to protect a commoner boy. With a family of his own, he put the young man's life before his own and was seriously wounded.

　The first time he hunted the boa was when Rodin was 15 years old. He must have been about the same age as the boy. I saw a picture of a friend I had once lost. I think my body moved, forgetting that I had a family.

　Rodin turns over and falls silent. As if the memory of that moment has returned, his hands are trembling as he kneels.

"I'm sorry about that.

"Yes, no ......

　The hall goes silent.

"That's not a story that speaks too loudly. I'll speak well of His Majesty. I see. Hmm.

　And the thoughtful lords. And there is silence in the hall.

"Good afternoon, my lord.

　The butler reacts to the lord's silence.

"No, Sebas. This is not enough. I have received the truth of what you have said. Then suffice it to say that Rodin's work saved the village.



　Lords say that Rodin was a great contributor to the settlement of the village.

"It would seem so, sir.

　The butler does not deny it.

"Rodin, I have another one for you,

"Huh?　Is it a prize?

　A lord who gave a commoner a free ride at a cost of 50 gold coins. But there is another reward.

It is the lord's duty to reward the people for their work. A reward can be anything. Is there anything you want?

"Hey, whatever you want, sir?

"Is there?　Whatever you want, let's say.

Dad's prize. What is it?　(The only thing I can think of is alcohol.)

　Rodin doesn't seem to have any doubts about it, but Allen has no idea if Rodin wanted anything from him.

''And now, my lord, I have a favor to ask.

　With his head bowed, Rodin puts into words.

"Mm, I hear you.

"Would you allow my son Allen to work in the Lord's house?

(Huh?)

"Hmm?

"My boy Allen is a smart boy, unlike me. I'm sure he will be useful to my lord.

Ho, you want the child to work for my baronial family?

(Hey!　Wait, wait, Dad, not that way. Hey, not that way!　(Hey, this is bad!

　panic. Upset gushes out of his face.

"Yes, I'll be a maid or whatever. I'd like to work for my lord's house.

I see.

　Then, looking at the butler, the lord said, "I thought you would mind.

"I don't mind. There is no doubt in my mind that he is a clever boy.

　The butler of the baronial house does not object. Next to him the Knight Commander is grumbling.

(Hey!　Disagree!　If this is the case, the white dragon's dream life will be taken away. (or think about it)

　Allen likes to hunt above all else. And I like to level up. Being made to work in a lord's house is the opposite of what I like. It's life in a lord's house of illiteracy. Maybe even more so than as a serf.

　Somehow this situation must be broken. I'm thinking hard.

A maid...hmmm, no.

"Huh?

　Apparently, I'm not going to be a maid. The lord teases his shaved and trimmed moustache as he speaks. I was sure he would listen, but Rodin looks disappointed.

(Oh?)　Refuse?　(That's right, you'd better say no.)

"You did a fine job of guiding us on the hunt and serving us the day before. That's Rodin's son, our hero. You have done a fine job raising him.

"Yes, yes

"Allen shall be the servant of my House of Granville.

"Juju, your servant?　Are you sure?

　Rodin's voice trails off in surprise.

(Hmm?　What's the difference between a dwarf and a servant?　(No, no, no, this is not the time to think about that!

"Good, Sebas.

　The steward says no problem to the lord's question.

"Allen, my lord says he will take you as his servant!

　It's a delighted Rodin, petting Allen's head, forgetting that the lord is in front of him. Maybe he's really happy, or maybe tears are flowing from his eyes.

I'm happy for you. Our lord is telling us things that we peasants could never do!

　Gerda joins in. She is telling Allen, who is dumbfounded by the thought of losing his soul, how amazing it is.

　He has made a fuss in front of the lord, but the lord is staring at the father and son, not saying anything. After all this work, Rodin is reminded of his dark past. Rodin is happy with a big smile on his face. There seems to be atonement for that too.



　And tells.

"Son of Rodin, Allen. You will be my servant and join the ranks of my House of Granville.

"Huh?

　I'm going to respond to the words given to me by Allen with a question mark.

(Does this mean that if I say yes, I'll lose my fun white dragon life?

"Hmm?　What's going on?

　You expect an immediate response, but Allen seems to be puzzled as he freezes up.

"Allen, say hello to me.

　Rodin tells us that he didn't know how to return it.

(What am I going to do now?)

　Look at Rodin. The tears are running down my cheeks. Was he so happy? I feel as if I've never seen my father cry before.

　Rodin, who has worked so hard to raise me for eight years. I was 35 years older than him before I came to this world, but I respect Rodin's way of life without regard to that. I've always been lucky to be Rodin's son.

　He worked his fields without a break to provide for his family and hunted boas for his life in the fall. Rodin was a companionable man and was loved by his fellow serfs.

　Rodin is tearful and happy.

Hi, nice to meet you.

I can't. I can't turn this down.

　Thus, Allen became a servant of the Baron de Granville.