AWDC Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Toriholi Village Becomes Hectic

The sudden change in the capital was brought by Roda, a clerk from Labos Trading.

He had a strong sense of being part of the village because he regularly interacted with me and Jim. And he had been told by his boss and drinking buddies alike that accuracy and speed were of the utmost importance when it came to information.

He happened to be in the capital to deliver Paper when he heard the news of the sudden change. He had an apprentice take the report to the village while he himself investigated the situation in the capital.

Then, after confirming that Prince Charles had headed south, he rushed back to the village. Since he had overtaken them on the way, the Prince and his unit should have still been two weeks away from arriving.

In response, an emergency meeting was held in the village. The Lord, Roy, John, George, and Toma all gathered.

“Oh, the serious expressions on everyone’s faces at that time were something else.

That always-gentle Lord had a frown between his brows, and he was whispering with Roy, and Toma had lost his usual composure.

My information alone was such a shock to everyone that I was secretly pleased.

Still, when everyone turned pale and remained silent for a while, I realized that what I had told them was a very big deal,”

This was what Roda himself later recalled when the situation had calmed down.

The village’s key figures were that surprised by the seriousness of the situation.

“If the Prince enters Milona, a battle with the Crown Prince is possible,” the Lord began.

“If Milona becomes a battleground, we might get caught up in it as well.”

Toriholi Village had hardly ever experienced crime. There had never been any brawls, let alone burglaries or thefts.

The village was located on the southern frontier, and everyone in the village knew each other and lived like family. They helped each other out, even in poverty, and cooperated, so crime was non-existent.

That’s why the Lord had never even considered maintaining order, and didn’t have guards for his family. He was more concerned with how to feed the villagers than with protecting himself.

They sold wheat, the only food item that could be converted into cash in the village, and used the money to buy what they needed from the outside. They sold expensive wheat and bought cheap rye to make black bread.

The villagers knew that even the Lord ate potatoes and buckwheat. Everyone lived believing in supporting each other.

Also, Toriholi Village was bordered by a vast desert to the south and the large Mulan River to the north. It was difficult for intruders to enter from either direction.

In recent years, the village’s population had increased rapidly, but the temperament of the original villagers prevented disputes from arising.

Those who had newly arrived realized that if they worked hard here, they would not want for food, clothing, or shelter.

They realized that cooperating would make them richer than being selfish and greedy. That’s why brawls were surprisingly rare in the village, even with such a large population increase.

That led to the Lord’s negligence.

“Toriholi Village has good治安. So we don’t have to focus on security management.”

That was the Lord and Roy’s thinking. Even John and George seemed to have adopted that way of thinking. And I didn’t think there was a problem with that thinking.

In my previous life, I was a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and was dispatched as a doctor.

I even had experience providing medical care in villages that had just been pacified after war. I never neglected security or personal safety.

But Toriholi Village was too peaceful. It was as if the peace-induced complacency of the Japanese had been revived.

“If you’re going to spend money on security, you should spend it on improving the lives of the villagers.”

I had actually said that to the Lord and Roy.

Roda’s report made me realize that I was completely wrong.

“War won’t come if you just live peacefully.” “If you don’t think about war, you won’t have to go to war.” Such nonsense is just a peace-induced delusion.

I was filled with terror at the thought that Toriholi Village might become a battlefield.

“Let’s go to Milona right away and welcome Prince Charles,” the Lord said.

While I was in a mental standstill, the Lord was determined to start with what he could do immediately.

“That’s a good idea. I’ll accompany you,” Roy continued.

Their words finally snapped me out of my mental standstill. And I made another proposal.

“I’ll inform the entire village about what’s happened. And I want to recruit people to protect the village and start military training.”

“Is there enough time to do military training now?” Roy questioned.

“If the war starts right away, there’s no time at all. But if the war is two or three years away, it will be a little better.”

“It’s better to do it than not to do it.”

“But it’s certainly better to do it than not to do it. John, you’ll do the military training, right?” The Lord asked for John’s opinion.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he nodded strongly.

John was practically the only person in the village with military experience. Roy himself was from the Royal Guard, but at over 50 years old, it would be difficult for him to do the training.

Right now, John is the only one who can do military training in the village. Everyone agreed.

The next day, I announced the events that had taken place in the capital and the possibility that war might start in the village, as truthfully as possible without exaggerating.

I displayed it in prominent places in the village as a high notice (poster) so that anyone could see it. High notices are effective when there are people who can read and understand them. I wondered if anyone would read the high notice in a village with so many illiterate people, but surprisingly, the villagers understood this emergency situation well.

I heard later that the villagers who couldn’t read learned the content from their children. Many of the children were literate from school, and they proudly read the high notice aloud. The adults around them understood the seriousness of the situation as a result. In any case, a method of communication (business order) using letters was established in the village.

I never thought that the school I created would be useful in this way.

Getting back to the story, after we discussed countermeasures, we called Labos and Roda, who had been waiting in a separate room.

“The village’s survival depends on information. But right now, the village is in a situation where no matter how many people we have, it won’t be enough to implement future countermeasures. You two are the only ones in the village who can go out and gather information.

Please continue to gather information for the village.”

“We have been taken care of by the village until now. If the village disappears, my business will suffer.

We will continue to gather information for the Lord with all the people in my store.”

Labos said reassuringly.

A few days later, the Lord and Roy went to Milona.

“It’s rare for the two of you from Toriholi Village to come together.”

Earl Milona was in high spirits as he looked at the Paper and lamp they had brought as gifts.

“I understand that Prince Charles will be visiting your territory. It is rare for members of the royal family to visit the southern frontier region. I believe this is due to the Earl’s increased influence. As someone who lives in the southern region, there is no greater honor. I am pleased.”

“Yes, you already know about the Prince’s visit. Your information is fast as expected.”

“Yes, Toriholi Village is willing to do its best for the Earl in the future. Please introduce us to the Prince.”

“Hmm, I understand. I understand.”

The Earl had wanted the chandelier he saw at the hotel during our wedding. Now it had been presented to him by Baron Robertson. He couldn’t be in a bad mood.