Volume 3 Chapter 5 It's Not My Fault That It Came to This
At a logging site located a temporary distance northeast of the town, human and dwarf lumberjacks were hard at work.
Everyone was using axes and saws to fell trees, and it seemed like there were still quite a few trees left standing, so I suppose this could be called thinning.
When Lene and I visited the site, we immediately began to feel the workers' eyes on us.
Well, it seemed like it was Lene who was gathering the attention more than me, though──
"Hey, isn't that an elf?"
"Could it be that they came to complain about the logging?"
"......Um"
It seemed that Lene was attracting attention simply because she was an elf who had appeared at the logging site.
My wife looked up at me, looking troubled.
"Explain yourself," she seemed to be saying, "fine by me."
"What's with you? I can't think of anything good that would bring an elf to a logging site. What do you want?"
Oh boy, I was immediately accosted by a burly human worker nearby, wasn't I?
I have to explain myself right away, or something unfortunate is bound to happen.
I took a step forward towards the worker, spreading my arms to show that I meant no harm.
"Now, now, calm down. We are from the workshop called 〈Altena〉, which was commissioned by the merchant guild to come see the logging site. We would like to talk about making the logging more efficient, is there a person in charge we can speak with?"
I slowly explained, making sure my voice carried to the back.
However, the rough-looking man in front of me stared me up and down, then looked up at my face and snorted.
"I don't care about your 'efficiency' or whatever, don't get in the way of our work. We're busy right now with a big job. We don't have time for you."
"No, that's why we're here, to help make the work more efficient──"
"Speak sense, will you! Say it so I can understand!"
With no room to respond, he shouted at me and jabbed me in the chest.
Well, even if the guy was pretty tough, I weigh 100 kilos. It only felt like a light poke to me.
But this reaction, perhaps he doesn't understand the meaning of 'streamlining.'
Maybe that's the way it is for someone at the bottom of the totem pole.
How feeble.
"Please bring someone who can communicate. I'm here on business too, you know."
"You're pissing me off!"
This time, as he lunged to hit me, I caught the blow with the palm of my hand, but it still hurt plenty.
I couldn't dodge; Lene was behind me.
"Hmph, you, get lost!"
"If I let go, you'll just hit me again. I just want to talk, that's all."
With my right hand caught in his left fist, the brute tried to trip me with his remaining hand and foot, but I neatly avoided his clumsy attempts as he released me.
It's been a while since I've dealt with someone who doesn't speak my language.
Reminds me of Guy.
...This seems to be getting a bit out of hand, so I'd better have Lene step back.
"Lene, I'm going to have a serious talk with this gentleman, so step away for a moment."
"Eh, umm...? Be careful...?"
Lene takes the staff from me and steps back.
'Be careful,' she says, but she knows there's no stopping me. She understands what 'talking' entails.
It's comforting that she gets me.
"...Now, the wife has stepped away, so no more holding back. Hey, how long are you gonna keep this up, huh!?"
"Ugh!?"
Yanking the wild man's fist away from his face, I retaliated with a moderate headbutt.
I have to be careful not to use full strength; the 'Magic stone of Fyrel' could turn this into a murder scene.
The brute was so stunned by the considerable damage caused by such a moderate force that he was left wide-eyed before sinking right there.
I can't afford to let my guard down now; he's still holding onto my fist.
"Hey, you! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"What do you mean? You saw it. I just returned the violence he dished out."
After quietly lowering the brute to the ground, this time, the remaining workers showed up.
Lene let out a yelp and quickly hid herself using her Spirit magic's stealth ability.
It just made things a bit easier.
Shall we begin a pleasant conversation with the rest of these guys?
"Hey, what's the meaning of this?!"
"Oh, looks like someone who can actually communicate is here."
After all the rowdies fell silent, a person who seemed suited for office work arrived and screamed at the sight of the disaster.
He must have come running upon hearing the commotion.
"I am Ryuuji, the enchanter of〈Altena〉. I have come at the request of the merchant guild... By the way, are you someone who can hold a conversation, or do you communicate with violence like them?"
The man shook his head violently, his face nearly turning blue in denial.
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