When I was Reincarnated into a Game World, I Was a Farmer’s Son - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Thanks to my hard work helping the firewood gathering, I’m able to bring back a quite amount of monster meat as a reward. Both Mom and Dad are thrilled. The meal we have for dinner is incredibly delicious.

I would love the meat to has a stronger salty flavour and maybe some kind of seasoning on it if possible, but still, eating meat after such a long time is the best.

I haven’t got the chance to observe the knights in battle yet, and I want to eat more meat. So I think I’ll continue to help the lumberjacks to gather firewood while also continuing my routine hunting monster to level up at the lake.

So, I ask Dad and Mom if they can let me not help them with the morning farm work. To my surprise, they agreed immediately. It seems that both Mom and Dad also want to have more meat.

Since there are fewer villagers helping with the firewood gathering, the knights and lumberjacks has quite a lot of extra meat. Both Dad and Mom know that I’ve been working hard and receiving a quite lot of meat as a reward. They told me to get as much meat as I can until the firewood gathering expedition is finished. Mom has been drying some of the meat into jerky and smoking it because we can’t eat it all at once.

So, my plan is to help with the firewood gathering from the morning until early afternoon, and then after that, I’ll go to the lake to hunt monsters.

A month has passed as I continue to help with the firewood gathering, my relationship with the lumberjacks and knights has become quite close. Well, even though it’s mostly just exchanging greetings with the knights.

Since all of the five knights are nobles, I made sure to be careful in front of them and not accidentally do or say anything disrespectful. Especially, with Vice Commander Goti, but I even never had the opportunity to greet him.

On the other hand, I started to have frequent conversations with the lumberjacks, they would talk to me about various things in their lives while we work. My routine of hunting monsters at the lake is going smoothly too. Although my level hasn’t increased yet, the attack power of the oak stick that the lumberjack made for me is higher than the wooden spear I had been using, thanks to that I’m able to defeat the monsters quite easily and quickly.

Today, they asked me to help with cutting the branches of the felled trees, so right now, I’m using an axe to cut the branches. One of the lumberjacks praised me saying even though I’m still very young, I have the strength and skill to do my job quickly. Feeling proud of their complements, I confidently swing the axe and cut down the branches.

Well, even though my job is a farmer, I have raised my level to a certain extent that I have more strength and stamina compared to other kids my age.

But still, steel tools are truly amazing. As I hold the axe in my hand, I can’t help but think how great it would be to fight monsters with it. I really want a weapon like this, and also, I still need a knife to butcher the monsters that I hunt. I wonder if they would give me one if I asked. Lost in my thoughts, I swing the axe down towards the branches and cut them.

After working for a while, it’s finally time for a break. The breaks are taken in shifts, so while I and a few lumberjacks are resting, rest of the lumberjacks continue to work in the forest. Even during the break, I continue to talk with the lumberjacks.

“Uwaa, kid, you’re a real hard worker, aren’t you? Neil, was it? You’re about the same age as my son, but you’re so reliable.”

“You have a kid?”

“Yeah, I do. Almost all of us here have families back in our hometowns.”

It turns out that most lumberjacks are affiliated with various commercial guilds, and they usually cut wood locally for timber procurement. However occasionally, the lord would recruit them through the commercial guild for short-term work in remote villages. Even though they need to be away from their hometown for a while, the pay is good.

“Even though it’s a short-term job, we have to leave our homes and travel to remote villages, so there are various dangers involved, but well, as long as the pay is good. Plus, this time we have the Marwell knight order escorting us. Those folks have a great reputation. That’s why there are more lumberjacks than usual this time.”

One of the lumberjacks explained so.

The lumberjack didn’t go into much details, but most of the knights are nobles by birth. My mother told me to be careful around nobles because they often treat commoners poorly.

Even if the pay is good, nobody would want to travel with a noble that has a poor reputation. These knights’ good reputation is probably one of the reasons why there are quite some number of lumberjacks this time.

“By the way kid, you’re working hard every day to help out, but don’t you grow tired or bored like the other kids do?”

“Well, around here, we don’t get to eat meat that often, so I want to help in exchange for meat. I don’t get bored or tired of it because I don’t want to miss a single chance to eat meat.”

“Wow, aren’t you determined.”

“I also thought that by helping out, I might get a chance to see the knights fight against monsters.”

“Well, you’re still a boy after all. Do you admire the knights?”

“Well, something like that.”

It’s not like I look up to them, but if I say that I don’t, he would get suspicious and start asking questions.

“Oh, so you admire the knights, huh?”

As I turn around to the sudden voice behind me, I see an imposing figure of the vice captain of the Marwell Knight, Goti. It seems like he has been listening to my conversation with the lumberjack.

“You are…Neil, right? You always work hard to help out. Thank you.”

“No, Knight-sama. It is I who is grateful. I have received plenty of the monster meat as a reward. Thank you very much for giving me with the opportunity to do this.”

I bow my head respectfully. This is my first time talking to Vice Captain Goti. I feel really nervous, but I try to respond to him as polite as possible. I think I managed to give him a proper response…right?

“…Hmmm. Indeed, as everyone says, you are surprisingly very well-mannered for a farmer’s child.”

Seeing Goti’s expression, I start to panic.

Oh no! Did I say something rude!?

It seems like he is pissed off!

Perhaps noticing my panicked reaction, Goti warmly smiles at me.

“No, no, I apologize. I was just surprised by how polite your response was. Are you the child of the farmers in this village?”

“Yes. Both my father and mother are farmers in this Machikane village.”

Phew, that’s a relief. It seems that he isn’t angry at all. If I had angered a noble like him, my life as a farmer’s child would have ended the moment I pissed him off.

“…by the way, it seems like you are interested in seeing knights fight, am I right? Then, would you like to see it?”

“Huh?”

I’m taken aback by Goti’s sudden suggestion.