Home/The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief of Exile/ch 80

Chapter 80

"A duel?"

"Yeah. A duel."

Ian unconsciously squinted one eye.

'What's she talking about all of a sudden?'

Given Hebenia's track record, it was only natural to be suspicious and uneasy about her suggestions.

"I know a pretty nice lady. She's got the kind of charm you'd like, oppa. She looks innocent and delicate, but she's a wonderful woman with a strong will."

"......"

"Just, you know, thought you might need a change of pace."

"Everyone in this village already knows each other, though?"

"That's just acquaintances. It's different from friends."

Hebenia's suggestion—that it might be good for him to hang out with friends his age and form new relationships—made sense.

So Ian readily accepted.

The place they arrived at was the new tailor shop run by Nema and Tape.

"Let me introduce you."

Hebenia introduced the pale-looking woman sitting across from Ian.

"This is 'Kim Hyun-sook,' who works at this tailor shop."

"......"

"And the gentleman next to her is her husband, 'Lee Jeong-gwi.'"

"......"

Ian seriously considered the situation.

'Did I do something terribly wrong to Habi and Libby?'

Why are they so determined to torment me?

Ian stared blankly at the couple before him. But there was no response.

Because they were mannequins.

The couple was bold enough that neither of them wore a single thread of fabric.

"They're both solar types, so they have a lot of body heat."

"......"

"But they promised to wear clothes next time. Right, Hyun-sook?"

Of course. Hoho.

Mrs. Kim Hyun-sook replied in an awkward voice.

"Eek!"

In the end, the matchmaking session ended in vain, along with Ian's love-filled temple massage.

"Wow, as expected of Habi. You're something else."

"It wasn't a joke—I almost cried..."

"Oh, come on. I won't pull pranks like this anymore."

Hebenia grinned and clung to Ian's leg.

"Because I have an oppa who puts up with all this, I can't help but act up."

"Excuses."

A large hand lightly tapped Hebenia's exposed forehead. It didn't hurt at all—the touch was soft, and Hebenia grinned like a beloved seven-year-old youngest daughter.

"Oh my, go easy. Go easy."

"Sir Ian indulges her every time, so she climbs all over him."

Verity shook his head, saying it was his own fault.

"By the way, you picked good names."

Libby was still clutching her stomach, laughing.

"Hyun-sook and Jeong-gwi."

"Such strange names."

"But they roll off the tongue, don't they?"

Hyun-sook and Jeong-gwi.

Though not yet, this couple would later become symbols of the Exilium market.

The market, established to revitalize the village's economy, finally began operations.

The residents who applied were given storefronts, where they ran their own businesses.

"Who knew this day would come?"

"Now we can eat out too!"

"There are still empty stores, but they'll fill up soon."

"Who knows? Maybe there'll be so many street vendors in the future that it'll be hard to walk."

"Heh, our Exilium is going to prosper that much?"

The residents used the toy currency the village chief had given them at the market.

"Welcome! Freshly baked bread just came out!"

"Summer clothes? Of course we can make them. Take a look at our designs..."

"My watch is broken—can you fix it?"

"Please fill out this request form. Ah, it's just a loose spring. It'll be a quick fix, so take a look around the market and come back."

Everyone had a shopping bag in hand.

"Mom, buy me some candy!"

"Me too!"

"Grandfather, you're buying bread for tomorrow morning, right?"

"Can you buy some jam too? Please?"

"Hmm, then maybe I'll buy two?"

Children begging for various things.

Adults who looked troubled but ended up buying them anyway.

Paper bags rustling with every step.

"Time to close up?"

"Yeah."

"Everyone worked hard."

"Yes, let's go home!"

With the quiet evening, the lights of the stores went out.

Now, the traces of the exile camp were nowhere to be found—it was the scene of an ordinary village.

---

Just as the first-aid kit business plan was nearing completion.

Feeling my concentration wane, I stretched and looked out the window.

'The market is having a more positive impact on the residents than I expected.'

Since my mind was already wandering, I decided to seriously consider the market's positive effects.

Currently, only five stores were open.

A tailor shop, a repair shop, a bakery, a general store, and a restaurant serving alcohol.

Among them, the general store sold daily necessities I'd obtained through wishes from Verity, and I'd hired one of the new residents to manage it.

'I honestly didn't think it would work out...'

I hadn't expected much from the market, since it was created mainly for the residents' social reintegration.

But unexpectedly.

The market received a much better response than I'd anticipated.

'I misjudged.'

The market wasn't just for economic activity.

Residents enjoyed running into their neighbors at the market, and they'd visit their friends' stores to chat.

Noticing this, Uncle Modi suggested establishing a 'Merchants' Association.'

"A merchants' association? Like a village assembly?"

"An organization to manage and operate the stores and streets in the market. Since the village will likely grow, it might be a good idea to establish it early."

"Oho."

"And it would be nice to provide a resting area for customers."

As village chief, I thought it was a reasonable suggestion.

So I created a resting area where customers could take a break while shopping, and I also set up a self-service tea house.

The tea house had vending machines.

The vending machines, dispensing snacks and drinks, were a huge hit with the children. For reference, the vending machines were managed by Uncle Pex, whose aptitude was 'Craftsman Who Liberates Forbidden Things.'

"So peaceful..."

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the tranquility coming through the open window.

'...Should I sell them in household and field-use versions?'

Even so, my hand kept scribbling ideas on the back of scrap paper. A village chief must work even while resting—that's what it means to be village chief.

Knock, knock.

"Village chief."

I opened my eyes at the call.

"Aunt Prellia."

Aunt Prellia, who worked as my secretary alongside her husband, furrowed her pretty brow slightly.

"Come on, just call me by my name."

"Respect your elders."

"To be honest, I just don't like being called 'Aunt.'"

"Unfortunately, anyone over twenty-five is an 'Aunt' to me."

"That's why you only call Libby and Ian 'unnie' and 'oppa.'"

After lightly accepting that, Aunt Prellia told me why she'd come.

"Modi—I mean, Modi—is looking for you."

Something about the Deste mansion, she said.

At that, I jumped out of my chair.

I grabbed the business plan I'd just been working on and went outside.

The village hall, built by renovating the largest building in the village, had many rooms, most of them empty.

I opened one of them.

Beyond it was the office of the Deste mansion, outside the primeval forest.

"Uncle Modi."

"Village chief."

Uncle Modi, who had been examining various documents at the office desk, stood up.

Aunt Prellia muttered beside me, "My husband is so handsome..." in an ecstatic voice. I pretended not to hear.

'But he really is handsome, though.'

A man working seriously in neat clothes.

He can't help but look good.

"A problem has come up for discussion."

"What is it?"

I sat down at the desk Uncle Modi had vacated.

Aunt Prellia placed three cushions she'd brought under my bottom.

"We've received requests from two parties to visit the Deste Territory."

Currently, Uncle Modi regularly posed as Molle Livus at the Deste mansion, overseeing the territory's operations.

"I checked the visitors' names, and since it didn't seem like something I should decide on my own, I wanted your opinion."

"Hmm, my opinion isn't going to be that helpful..."

I thought.

'Huh?'

When I checked the visit requests, my mouth fell open.

[Inquisitor Olive of the Central Headquarters]

"Wow, it's the misery sister-con!"

"Misery sister-con?"

"An awful brother who's obsessively attached to his sister, trampling on her freedom and happiness."

"A potential criminal."

Aunt Prellia muttered.

I thought about why Olive wanted to visit the Deste Territory.

'Ah, come to think of it...'

I'd mentioned the Deste Temple a few times when trying to shake off Olive, who'd mistaken me for a saintess.

'I'll have to go to the temple and ask for their cooperation.'

The number of temple visitors had noticeably decreased recently.

The Emperor had recently announced the Crown Princess's recovery, and thanks to that, herb distribution had returned to normal.

But it would still take time for the herbs to be processed and distributed across the Empire.

'Emperor, you fucking bastard. A no-good, absolute bastard.'

Anyway, since the temple had more breathing room now, it was time to gradually reveal the miracle there and deal with Head Priest Saikeuf's disappearance.

The second visitor.

[Duchy of Stria]

There were two points to note.

Stria. And Duchy.

There are only two dukedoms in the Empire.

One is the Stria family.

And the last is Poppy from our house.

Strictly speaking, the dukedom belongs to the Clavis, but since the family heads were always eccentric, they always passed it on to their pets.

So when people said 'Duke,' they always thought of the Stria family.

And for good reason.

"It's the Crown Prince's maternal family, isn't it?"

"Yes."

Uncle Modi nodded.

"The Grand Duchess of Stria, the late Empress's mother, is said to be visiting with His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Then where will they sleep? The temple? An inn?"

"Of course, they'll stay at the Deste mansion."

"Huh?"

I couldn't believe it.

Aunt Prellia explained.

"Normally, even nobles stay at inns or private villas, but high-ranking nobles or those of significant status often stay at the manor of a lower-ranking family."

Moreover, since royals are above all nobles, the nobles are expected to willingly offer their homes.

"No, but..."

I stammered.

I understood the explanation.

The problem was...

"This place is full of undead..."

All the employees of the Deste mansion were undead.

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