Well, even though I'm a villager, that's my title, and my occupation is a demon user.
　And so, Alisa and I arrived at my new home.

'Here it is. No one is using it now.

'Really?　That's pretty close to Alisa's house.

Yeah. I told you before. I told you that the warriors went into battle to slay the dragons and this is where the warrior couple used to live. Now, no one lives here anymore. There are still a few other houses that are empty.

I see...

　Sure, if the warriors don't go out and come back, there's a surplus of houses.
　I think there are a lot of houses with only old people and children living in them. No matter how small the hidden village is, it's not just a few dozen people.
　But it's a magnificent house.
　It's so big that I feel bad about living here by myself. The ceilings are low, though, so Milo wouldn't be able to fit in here.
　But Gilanka, Chappie and Bau could probably fit in there. Oh, but Bau is a guard dog. What should we do about Puppy? He's so big that he would take up too much space.

I'll go get the monsters, then. I'm part of the village now. Is it safe for my people to walk around?

As for Mister Milo and Mister Gilanka, the people in the village have seen them fighting. I believe they will protect this village, so they will be fine.

That's very helpful. What do we do about Puppy?

'The dragons are ... well ... they are. Some of them might be a little frightened, but I think they'll get used to it.

Okay.

　Okay, well, I guess we'll go to the village entrance then.
　And I want them to have a roof over their heads to rest. Well, it seems that demons don't need sleep.
　Oh, I know. I just remembered.

"Yes, Alisa.

M....what is it, Master Noah?

I said I'd sell Alisa to a slave as a reward.

'Oh, oh it's all right. I'm already ready for it.

I don't mean. I don't need it anymore.

'Eh....'

　Well, I was going to say no from the beginning. I'm anti-slavery.
　I'm sure it's just a little uncomfortable to hear that an elf you don't know has become a slave. But the fact that an acquaintance of mine - Arisa becoming a slave - is just unbearable.
　And to fall into slavery in order to pay me, my conscience is going to be in a terrible bind.

I'm a member of the village now.

But...!

As long as we live here, we don't need money, do we?　Then I don't need to waste my money. I'd rather have a good friend close by than a good friend of mine.

....

　It may be a bit forced, but it's also my honest opinion.
　Elves don't seem to have a concept of money transactions, and the culture is loose, like sharing the crops they produce with others. From now on, I'll have to be part of it.
　I want Alisa to be there too, not just some old man who seems to worship me and some random kid.

"...Thank you, Lord Noah.

Okay. It's just something I did on my own.

But I will certainly repay this debt one day. If there's anything I can do to help you, let me know.

Yeah. I'll feel free to count on you then.

All right. Well, I'm going back to the house. You can come to me if you need anything.

Yes.

　Alisa and I shake hands and part ways.
　Well, I suppose I could have developed a "you're going to be my slave, guheehee," or something like that to Alisa, but I'm not that outrageous either. In order for me to blend in with the village, I need Arisa.
　I'm sure that if I sold the elven Arisa, who lives in the same hidden village, to a slave-trader, my bad reputation in the village would be a huge problem.

''Well ... oi, boys.

An...?

　Finally, he called out to the entrance to the village - hanging out there, to the five animals.
　Milo and Bau are the first to respond, followed by Gilanka and Chappie, who bow their heads. Finally, Pappy flaps his wings.
　I could take him home like this.
　Then it occurred to me.

　Maybe I should build a hut where Milo and Puppy could live.
　I'm no expert, so I don't have any ideas about what it should look like.
　But if we put up four pillars and a roof on top, that should be enough to keep out the rain. Now if we can somehow put up a wall and do our best to make a door, we'll be able to make it work.
　What we need to do for that - that's the procurement of wood.

'Milo, Gilanka, Pappy and Bau, follow me. Chappie, you stay here and guard us.

Where do you think you're going, mister?

I just need to get some wood for the road. I'm going to live in this village from today. I'm gonna need your help with some things.

Yes, my Lord.

What are you doing here?

'Well. I was just trying to get settled in.

　With that, he takes the four animals and walks into the forest.
　I feel bad about cutting down the trees in the neighborhood, you know. We don't want people to wander in.
　If that's the case, it would be better to cut down the trees deep in the forest, as close to the entrance as possible.

Okay, Puppy. Then, Puppy, can you fly with me?　Bau, Milo, come with me.

'Yes!　Master!

Oh.

Puppy, can you get us all on board?

Don't suck up to me. I've got no problem with that.

　'Hmph,' says Puppy with a snort.

'Well, Gilanka ... walk over to where Puppy flew. So, if you see any edible beasts along the way, can you catch them?　The deer and the boar.

Yes. I'll see to it that my master gets some food.

　As I recall, elves are a vegetarian culture, so apparently they don't eat meat.
　But I want to eat meat. I want to eat fish too, but the sea is too far away here, so I have to put up with it. However, I want to eat at least meat.
　Since no monsters attacked us, we could enjoy a leisurely hunt.

Well then, Puppy, take care of yourself. Chappie, take care of things, okay?

Hmm.

Uh, yeah...

Come on, then, Milo.

Oh, my dear sir.

I'll pick up some wood at the entrance to the forest and you can, uh, cut it down for me.

I'm not that kind of a guy.

Isn't that the workhorse?

It's the same!

　The Puppy's huge body rises with me, Milo and Bau on board.
　We soar all at once to a height that allows us to see the entire forest, and then slowly take a scenic journey in the sky.
　The wind caresses our cheeks as we get drunk on the flowing scenery.

　Perhaps the best thing about having Puppy as a companion is knowing this scenery.
　Milo also smiles, amazed. A view that you can't normally see is something that can touch anyone's heart.

　Now.
　My slow life is about to begin!