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Volume 2 Chapter 1-3: New People

 

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Even though we had named ourselves as the Country of Erucy…Roleau still called me Chief.

「What’s up? What are you dissatisfied with?」
「We don’t have enough food for fifty extra mouths. We don’t want to have them living in our homes and eating our already scarce food. Plus their conditions…we don’t need their magic stones, if it’s about salt then we can just search for it after the Empire finishes their fighting without endangering ourselves. And for labor we have enough people to work our fields and for fighting strength we beat the Empire just with us elves a few days ago. It should be fine with us alone.」

Roleau desperately argued.

Besides for his theoretical arguments he probably doesn’t want to accept a new race into our village as well.

Looking at it another way, he was quite intelligent for finding these reasons. But I wouldn’t allow these arguments to stand.

「For a living place we have the village outskirts. I can have them live in my workshop temporarily so they won’t cause Elves any trouble.」

It was 30m x 30m and made of brick so it would stay warm. If we forgot about privacy it was an ideal living area.

Plus we still had the winter clothes that we were going to trade the Fire Foxes in exchange for salt so they could overcome the cold.

We didn’t have enough, but as long as they shared amongst themselves properly there wouldn’t be an issue.

「Even for food I won’t ask you to give what you’ve received back. I’ll do something about it myself.」

We had already distributed our winter provisions. As long as I didn’t collect it back they wouldn’t have anything to complain about.

「What do you mean you’ll do something about it!?」
「For a month of food I’ll go to the mountain and hunt a boar and we have crops that Lucy and I grew together as well so it should be fine. During that month I’ll journey to Eris and get the rest.」

With 900kg of potatoes and an entire boar they should be able to last a month. If I got serious then I could hunt quite a number of boars before winter came.

「You’re using the village money for the Fire Foxes!?」
「That’s right. But I will be having us produce a specialty product of Erucy come the end of winter. That product needs fire magic. I’ll be giving this job to the Fire Foxes. In that way we will reclaim several times our investment. Certainly there aren’t any jobs during winter…however there are jobs that need doing in order for this village to become prosperous.」

I strongly asserted.

I had been planning on doing this myself, but if so it would limit the amount we could make. However, with the help of 50 fire foxes we would be able to make plenty and make much more money.

「Furthermore I was originally going to Eris to buy us some goats. This is simply adding something else to the shopping list. I’ll leave the care of these goats to the Fire Foxes. The creation of our specialty product and caring for the goats is too much for us Elves to do alone.」

We had 50 gold on hand and once the ransom came in we’d have enough for both the goats and the food with some left over.

「I understand…but why are you trying so hard to get the Fire Foxes into the village? You’re weird Chief Cyril…」

Roleau reluctantly acceded with a dissatisfied look.

「Certainly I’m trying to get the Fire Foxes to join our village. Roleau and all of you…the other day we fought and defeated 500 soldiers.」

Everyone’s eyes focused on me when I suddenly spoke of that.

「I believe we could even win against 1,000.」

I continued.」

「Against 2,000 soldiers we would barely win with many sacrifices.」

This was an accurate estimate as long as I did not use 【Samsara Recursion】.

「However, once 3,000 soldiers arrive we will be trampled without any hope. If the Empire got serious they could gather 10,000 troops. Elves alone have no future.」

The Elves grimaced at my proclamation.

It was the first truly negative thing I’d said.

「However, there is no reason for us Elves to fight alone. I want to show you something.」

I said and walked next to Kuu.

I whispered into her ear in a low voice.

「You remember how we used to play? Let’s do that. Just release fire from your right hand with all your power.」
「…..Cyril-san…okay I understand. That thing right?」

Kuu showed me a little of the innocent smile of the past.

Kuu closed her eyes and focused to call the fire mana from around her.

Suddenly the mana violently gathered with great force.

The Fire Foxes’ fire affinity was a perfect 100.

「【Fox Fire】」

Along with those words a pillar of fire erupted from Kuu’s right hand.

It aimed towards the road that the Empire had cut to our village. There was no one there and nothing to burn.

The flames reached a full 40 meters.

I held my left hand aloft and gathered the wind mana.

I then wrapped up Kuu’s 【Fox Fire】 in wind.

「【Gust】」

The fire was fed by the wind and burned even brighter and reached a full range of 80 meters.

If this was a battle and the Imperial Soldiers were there, they would have been burnt to cinders by the roaring flames.

「This is the power of wind and flames as one. The weakness of us Elves is when our enemies get too close. The weakness of the Fire Foxes is when their enemies stay too far out of range. If we Elves and fire Foxes work together then we elves can destroy them from 300 meters away with crossbows and when they come too close we can burn them to cinders within 80 meters. Even the soldiers’ weak wind defenses are nothing but child’s play before us.」

I finished speaking and gave Kuu a look and she stopped the flames.

The combined efforts of me as the Elven representative and Kuu as the Fire Fox representative were enough to awe those around us.

「Elves…we have regained strength, but we cannot do it all alone. Furthermore, even though it is emotional…I don’t want to abandon our fellows who suffer under the Empire’s yoke. If we do not extend our hands in friendship now, the Fire Foxes will eventually be killed and caught by the Empire. Please think everyone. If the time comes when we must ask for help from others…if we abandon these Fire Foxes to their cruel fates, who will lend us their aid?」

Eventually the Empire will feel some pain from our actions so eventually we would need to call for others to join our cause.

I wanted to gain the merit of aiding our allies using this opportunity.

「Fire Foxes…we will accept you. However, do not mistake this. We will not be treating you as guests. You will join us, you will live as we do, follow the same rules, and obey orders properly.」

These were the things they had to accept for this to work.

Fire Foxes had their own customs and rules. However, they needed to obey this country’s rules. If not we would not be able to maintain order.

「If you accept us then I can agree to this as the Chief of the Fire Foxes.」
「I understand. Are you alright with this Elves?」

I checked one more time.

Even if it was a bit forceful…I had to get at least surface level approval.

「As long as our provided food doesn’t decrease……」
「If you’ll provide their living space that should be alright Chief…」
「I don’t mind as long as you watch over them properly.」

The Elves half-heartedly approved.

For now that would be fine. However, in the future I would like the Fire Foxes to genuinely blend in.

If I tried to force it then they’d feel opposed to it, so for now I would have them live in my workshop and not have them come into contact with the elves very much. I’d slowly integrate them.

「Thank you everyone. For now that settles things. Return to your work.」

I clapped to end things and the elves returned to their posts.

「Now then Fire Foxes…First things first…」

At my words the Fire Foxes stiffened.

It looks like they were cautious of me.

「You’ve traveled a long ways, you must be hungry right? I’ll guide you to your home and get you some warm food.」

I said with a smile.

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