I've never been this far west.
I know we're here as guards,
but why have Francis and Francoise come all this way
when they're always cautious to the point of timidity?
We're supposed to be able to understand the baars's language.
Yet I have almost no idea what they're saying.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE VILLAGE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH US.
Huh? What'd we even come for?
To take a walk.
Well, Aisha?
Do you still not want to wear a saddle?
The detection spell?
Lord Dias!
What's up?
Someone is approaching the village!
He's kind of damp and shiny, with a big mouth!
Damp and shiny?
Me!
Peijin-Do, maybe?
Probably.
Hop.
Oh, you must be Sir Dias.
Who're you?
I am Peijin-Do's little brother. The name's Peijin-Re.
What happened to Peijin-Do?
He's been suspended from doing business.
I am here today on his behalf.
O-Okay.
He's informed me that you're looking for new subjects.
Yes, I asked him to spread the word.
Given that you don't like slavery,
nobody but the lostblood want to immigrate here from the Beastkin Nation.
The lostblood?
It refers to beastkin who've lost their bestial qualities.
A small part of their body will still be animallike,
but their appearance and physical abilities are quite close to human.
They aren't treated well in the Beastkin Nation,
so there are some who'd like to migrate to the domain of broad-minded Sir Dias.
We'd accept them, of course,
but if that's the situation, neighboring Kasdeks might also be a good option.
The lord there is eager to free and protect beastkin and demihuman slaves,
and it's a more prosperous land.
Well, well, there's another beastkin supporter next door!
Say what?!
Could you build a highway?!
We could train some lostblood in commerce and make this a trading post!
I-I'll think about it.
Begging your pardon.
Let's talk about today's main deals.
First, what do you say to this bowl?
No, all we need are food and daily necessities.
We'll buy whatever these gold coins will get us.
Show us everything.
Huh?!
Sure, glad to!
Are you sure?
These are certainly well crafted, but we don't need them to live.
Those gold coins won't fill our bellies either.
So we might as well get in good with a merchant
and show them we're great customers worth revisiting.
That makes sense.
Plus, we can always sell handicrafts to someone else instead of using them.
Thanks for your patience.
How about all those goods over there? I'll even throw in this necklace!
These are very precious stones, and I think it'd look good on the missus.
He's lying.
Don't joke around.
For the same price, couldn't you add some dried and smoked food?
Also...
If we're talking precious stones, I'll take this real one.
And that wine cask, please.
Ribbit!
Goodness gracious, let me do some math here.
I would need to ask for this much.
All right, fair enough.
Shrewd as ever, Alna.
Ow!
Why're you chasing me?!
This is the market price for six geese!
No, I think you could knock it down 20 percent.
I tell you what, ma'am... I've got something else to show you.
What is it?
I'll give you a special discount,
so what say we keep the price of the geese as is?
What is that?
An outfit with a fertility spell cast on it.
You wear that?! It's nothing but strings!
H-How does something like this get you a child?
I have no earthly idea.
I also have a number of other varieties.
And some for him as well.
W-We don't need any! Put it all back!
Looks like Alna was better at talking business.
That's everything moved!
Thank you.
Okay, now let's get things ready for these geese.
You work so hard.
Canis...
Their coop and watering hole are already done?
You guys are covered in mud.
You must have dug the watering hole. Thank you.
We used empty wooden boxes as lumber for the coop.
That's a big help. Later, I'll thank...
That reminds me. I haven't given out rewards for the battle with Diane.
You've all done us a great service!
We'll be distributing gold coins to everyone as a reward!
Those who went into battle get two, and those who guarded the village get one!
Thank you so much.
Yay!
It's pretty!
Looks like everyone is happy about it.
Excuse me, Lord Dias!
What is it?
May I put a hole in this coin?
I won't say no, but would you mind telling me the reason?
I want to thread a string through it, wear it around my neck,
and keep it with me at all times!
That's money, though.
I gave it to you so you could spend it.
No! No!
I don't want to part with it!
Me neither!
I want to hold on to this!
Same here.
Me too!
They want to make it a keepsake.
Would you accept something else, so long as it was a reward from Dias?
Yes!
Then if I give you another reward as a keepsake, you'll spend the coin?
Yes.
But what should I choose?
For instance,
how about a necklace made from the bones of a beast Dias hunted himself?
Sure! I would love that!
Leftover black ghee bones.
It's true that I hunted this prey, but...
You're gonna make necklaces with these?
Not for me.
I figured as much.
I think what the dogkin want is something that embodies your feelings.
Carve these individually and embed gems in them or something.
We have tons of gem fragments.
I'm not sure I'd do a good job, though...
Don't worry. I'll show you how it's done.
Thank you, Alna.
You know, I haven't said anything for a bit.
My thoughts must be an open book.
Am I really that easy to read?
Yeah, okay.
At least right now...
I can read everyone else's minds too.
THE FRONTIER LORD AND THE WEDDING
Hey, not bad.
Dias, can we talk?
You finished one?
Yeah, took me long enough.
Let me see.
This is pretty good!
It took three days, though.
Once you make the first, the rest will go faster.
You're right.
By the way, you were going to tell me something?
Oh, that's right.
We have more people, so I'm thinking of making a kitchen range.
Kitchen range?
A shared kitchen, with a roof and a line of multiple stoves.
What do you say?
I'm fine with it, of course.
Okay!
I'll send the request to Kamalotz, then.
Canis is going back to Kasdeks, so I'll ask her to pass it along.
Oh, she's leaving already?
We should rebuild Klaus's yurt so it's a bit bigger by the time she returns.
He was saying he'll just do it himself.
She's coming back?
For that matter, what's Klaus's yurt got to do with this?
What's it go to do with this...?
Haven you not noticed?
Those two have been getting close for ages now.
K-Klaus and Canis?!
Think back.
It's not like they've made any effort to hide it at mealtime.
Say "ah!"
Ah!
Let me get that.
Thank you.
Oh man...
All I remember is how good the food was.
Part of why she's going back is to inform her parents.
You can ask the happy couple for the details.
She walked off with the first necklace.
But I don't mind. I was going to give it to her anyway.
Now then...
Lord Dias!
I need some advice!
What's up? Calm down.
A betrothal gift, huh?
What did you give to Lady Alna's parents, Lord Dias?
Earth dragon materials.
Oh, right...
According to Moll, thirty black ghees would have done just fine.
I could do that!
Wait, don't be hasty.
You don't know whether black ghees are something they'd appreciate.
Maybe you should buy something nice with the gold coins I gave you.
That won't be good enough!
It needs to be something, well, I obtain with my own power.
There we go!
Baar cloth!
I bet they'd love that!
Hunt some black ghees, then trade for it at the onikin village.
I'm on board!
They can teach you how to hunt, too.
I don't think my approach is going to help you much.
Right, because what you do isn't humanly feasible!
Thank you, Lord Dias!
FIVE DAYS LATER
I've made this much progress in five days.
It goes much faster once you learn the ropes.
Dias, Canis is back.
I got my parents' permission!
What will you do about a wedding, Canis?
If we have it here, only my mother can attend.
My father is serving as the lord's proxy, and he can't afford to leave.
If he's acting as proxy, does that mean Eldan is away?
Come to think of it, he was talking about negotiating with the king.
Right.
So when Klaus and I go to visit, my father will hold a banquet.
When will you be going?
I mean for us to set out soon.
Where is Klaus? He wasn't at his yurt.
Yeah, about that...
What?!
By himself? Without using matani dust to attract the beasts?
What does he think he's doing?
The dogkin all offered to help,
but he was insistent on hunting for himself.
He's managed to kill two so far that way, which isn't too shabby.
He's worked hard to build relationships here too, so he ought to accept the help!
Canis...
What exactly are you planning on doing with that hand?
Slap my fool husband in the face and bring him to his senses!
I appreciate the thought,
but Klaus doesn't realize how sad I'd be if he's injured or killed!
A-Alna?
I was thinking, in case anything happens,
I might as well learn how a wife slaps too.
Well, hold back some...
You're not telling me not to do it.
If I do anything worth getting slapped,
I figure I'll just have to accept a good slapping.
By the way, Dias...
Have you prepared a gift for Klaus and Canis?
I-I'd better come up with something fast, or she's really gonna let me have it!
A wedding gift, eh?
You in a rush?
Yes.
As soon as Klaus relented on hunting by himself,
he reached his goal in no time flat.
He's gone to meet his bride's parents,
but they'll soon be back for the wedding.
Well, how about high-quality bedding made of baar wool?
That sounds wonderful!
I brought war spoils with me, so it'd be great if we could trade.
And it's the perfect gift for newlyweds.
It is?
You defeat a royal military host.
You successfully cultivate a field.
You're always full of surprises, yet you're still clueless about that.
Newlyweds... Bedding...
Oh, now I get it.
I can only wonder when Alna will finally have a child.
I'm going to give this to you.
What is it?
Medicinal herbs to help her conceive.
No thanks.
Oh, how splendid!
It's a fine kitchen range.
I can't wait to try it.
I'm just glad the craftsmen Eldan sent are so skilled.
Lord Dias!
We're back!
No one can get through life alone.
This is why we choose to live as families
and come to love others besides ourselves.
The feast we'll hold here today is in celebration of one such...
By the kingdom's traditions,
the holy words of Saint Dia are a required part of any wedding.
I had them drummed into me at an early age,
and I can still recite them word for word.
And so, all of us gathered here today should eat our fill,
sing, dance, and celebrate the start of their new life together!
This food is so lavish and wonderful.
Good thing the kitchen range was ready in time.
The walnut bread you girls made is good, too.
Yay! Yay!
Hey, mind your manners.
Everyone!
Thank you so much for celebrating our new journey with us!
I promise Canis and I will build a happy family full of love,
right here in Iluk Village!
I-I'll work as hard as I can too!
I promise to be happy together with Klaus!
Yeah, what a nice wedding.
NEZROSE DOMAIN STATUS REPORT SUBJECTS: CANIS
INFRASTRUCTURE: 8 YURTS, 6 STORES, 3 PRIVIES, 2 WELLS, KITCHEN RANGE,
REST AREA, GOOSE COOP ANIMALS: 5 HORSES, 2 WHITE GHEES, 6 GEESE
I'm no good at dancing.
Don't worry. I don't expect much.
The onikin don't have this sort of custom,
but I learned some things from the grannies.
It's a wedding, so go along with it.
I'd been trying to decide when to hand out the finished necklaces,
and Klaus and Canis made it easy when they suggested I do it during the banquet.
And in addition, for the bride and groom...
These are from us!
Congratulations!
Thank you, Senai and Ayhan!
The dogkin gathered some pretty stones.
From Francis and Francoise, some valuable pieces of baar horn.
And I understand Aymer wrote a poem to wish you happiness.
Please accept it.
We ladies prepared today's food as a celebratory gift,
and we spared no expense.
Thank you so much!
This is my gift to you.
I'm impressed!
The embroidery on that bedding is a prayer for children and easy childbirth!
So...
It's time we cleaned up.
Now they have nice bedding. Let's let the young couple take it from here.
I know we're talking about bedding, but at least wait for sundown...
That's it for today's feast.
Thank you, young ones,
for accompanying me when I'm a mere stranger.
The man who raised us would have done the same thing.
He'd never ignore someone elderly traveling alone.
Besides, it looks like we're all headed to the same place.
I can't wait to see him again.
I miss Dad.