An active hunter from Hokkaido was thrown into another world - Chapter 8

An active hunter from Hokkaido was thrown into another world

Chapter 8   Calm days in the elf village

“Therefore, in order to continue my current job, I need to earn some cash.”

“Will you stay in the village?”

“Yes.”

Hmm… The village chief ponders for a moment.

“Regrettably, our elven village does not have a circulating currency. We don’t need money… No, we don’t want money. Merchants only visit us about three times a year…”

“Moreover, I don’t believe those merchants engage in a fair trade with all of you.”

That’s actually the case. We exchange fur and agricultural products for iron goods such as salt, axes, and knives, but I suppose they might be overcharging us.

“How do the merchants come to this village?”

“We have a lake here, you see. A large river flows from there, connecting to the human city. The merchants come by small boats.”

“Do they travel upstream?”

“Oh yes, they tie their boats to river dolphins and have them pull the boats upstream.”

Truly a different world. Their source of power is fantasy.

“If I were to travel down the river to the human city, what would be the best way?”

“It would be best to go down the river in a canoe. I’m not sure what you should do for the return journey, though…”

…

“Are you planning to leave the village?”

“No, it’s a village that took me in when I had no identity and was a dubious human. I’m grateful, and I actually want to settle here. However, I also wish to improve the trade with merchants and investigate the value of products handled by the elves in the city. I think it’s important to establish connections with the town. That’s all.”

“Hmm…”

It shouldn’t be a negative conversation for the elven village either.

“We also owe you a debt of gratitude. Please remember that. We won’t do anything bad, but we need a little time.”

“Understood, let’s talk again. I might say something foolish. Please listen without laughing.”

“Of course.”

I leave the village chief’s house. Saran follows me.

“Hey, um…”

“Yeah?”

“If you’re going to leave the village and go to the human city…”

“Yeah?”

“Can I come along too?”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”

“Really?!”

Saran looks delighted.

It would be reassuring for me if she came with me.

I will go to the lake.

I wonder if this lake is connected to the city…

There are small boats floating on the lake for fishing. Canoes made from carved logs are also pulled ashore and left to dry.

Children and their families are bathing in the water.

For the elves, the lake serves as a substitute for a bath. I wonder what they do during winter.

Even on Earth, in the past, it was common for women to bathe in rivers since individual households didn’t have baths. In paintings like Renoir’s works, nude figures were often depicted bathing in water, which was a common sight back then.

The children, daughters, mothers, men, and women, all of them are naked.

No one seems to be feeling embarrassed.

It’s quite an open-minded culture…

Everyone here is incredibly attractive, both men and women, and the children are like angels. It’s like a scene from Western religious paintings of gods and goddesses. They are so beautiful that even as a virgin, I don’t feel any arousal.

“Shall we bathe too? We’re starting to smell a bit…”

Saran says that and quickly undresses, then jumps into the water with a splash.

I saw Saran naked!

It happened so casually!

The children cheer and scream.

“Saran is here!”

“Run away!”

Saran, what kind of presence are you in this village?

Saran is catching the children and scrubbing them one by one while laughing gleefully.

Ahahaha! I see, so that’s how it is.

I guess I’ll take off my clothes too and take a dip in the water.

It seems that being shy is more embarrassing here.

Looking at everyone like this, amidst the beauty resembling goddesses and fairies, Saran stands out as something distinctly different… It might be because of her tall stature, but she also has a seductive figure.

I thought she was big, but maybe it’s because I’ve always seen her up close.

When I look at her from a distance like this, her breasts are just normally beautiful. When I’m face to face with Saran, it always feels like a close-up of her chest, so I thought she had large breasts, but that’s not the case.

They have a beautiful size and shape.

“…Brother, you have a big… you know!”

Oh no.

“That’s true. It’s bigger than Dad’s.”

“Isn’t it even bigger than the village chief’s?”

Wait, wait, wait! You little…

Don’t talk so loudly about that!

The men hide their fronts and slink out of the lake.

I think they were very small.

“Humans sure have big… you know!”

Does that mean Elf men are small?

No, ladies.

Please stop staring like that.

Saran… blushing and pouting.

Please stop. It’s getting embarrassing.

Scrub, scrub, scrub…

Facing away from everyone, I wash my body alone.

Today, since my clothes are also being washed, I’ll take a break until they dry.

The villagers gave me some Elf clothing. It’s a simple indoor garment.

It’s like a Japanese work robe, worn directly on the skin and fastened with strings.

I receive various things from the people of the Elf village.

It’s their way of thanking me for providing salt, meat from hunting, bones, horns, and fur.

It seems to be a barter system for everything.

I also received utensils made from carved wood.

I’m using a knife to shape the leftover pieces of wood. I want to make chopsticks.

After all, Japanese people use chopsticks.

Saran is busy cleaning and hanging up laundry.

“Oh my, oh my, it looks just like a newlywed couple!”

“Stop it!”

Saran feels embarrassed as an old lady passing by makes a comment.

Old ladies are the same in any world, it seems.

Although she’s called an old lady, she’s incredibly young and stunningly beautiful, so it feels quite strange.

“Have you two already…?”

“We haven’t! We really haven’t!”

“Oh my, oh my. How innocent and naive.”

“Please, really, stop it!”

“In the village, it’s already assumed that you two are a perfect match. They say Saran has found herself a man. It’s as if the world might come to an end.”

The last remark is a bit too much.

Well, in any case, we’re managing somehow…

With that said, another week passes, and as the incidents of wildlife damage in the village settle down…

During the time when Saran is preparing dinner, the village chief approaches me.

“Shin, I have something to discuss with you.”

“Yes.”

The two of us walk together to the shore of the lake.

“To be frank, um… Would you consider marrying Saran?”

“What?!?”

“Is that alright!?”

“Well… Judging by your reaction, it seems you’re not completely opposed to the idea?”

“No, um… I mean, are there no issues from an elven perspective?”

“There aren’t. In fact, it would be much appreciated.”

“I see…”

“What I’m about to say should remain strictly confidential. Although it’s something that anyone in the village would know, it’s not something to be openly discussed.”

“Understood.”

…I wonder what kind of secret is being kept?