Chapter 255: Revered
After defeating the Sea Serpent and hunting the Unicorn Shark, Rest returned to the inn and fell into a deep slumber.
The following day began with cleanup duties. First, he dismantled the mounds he had created around the aquaculture farm to deter any escape attempts. He disposed of the large amounts of earth in several locations out at sea. While he was unsure of the environmental impact this would have, he had broken it down as finely as possible, hoping to minimize any significant harm.
The remains of the Sea Serpent were to be assessed and purchased by a merchant whom Celestine had summoned.
“Wow, this is magnificent! I never expected to be able to buy a Sea Serpent as merchandise!” The merchant, a regular supplier to the Crocus Duke House, rubbed his hands together with glee.
“The materials for weapons and potions, and those beautiful scales could be crafted into exquisite ornaments. It’s unfortunate that we lack sufficient blood and organs… but perhaps the research institutions studying monsters would be interested as well.”
“Please deduct the cost of food and supplies from the purchase price. The remaining amount will be used for the village’s reconstruction, so please distribute the supplies based on the villagers’ wishes,” Celestine instructed the merchant.
It would have been easy to hand over cash directly to the people of the fishing village. However, money could lead individuals down a dark path. If he gave them a large sum, the villagers might grow complacent and cease their hard work. Thus, the standard practice was to either gift supplies or provide small amounts of money over time.
“Oh my, look at all this wheat!”
“Thank you very much! Thank you very much!”
“Let us celebrate our noble guests! Another feast today!”
With the arrival of food, the village was once again abuzz with excitement. Just a short while ago, the atmosphere had been dark due to the threat of monsters, but now it felt as if a different world had emerged. The inn where Rest and Celestine stayed hosted banquets almost every night. Lavish dishes were laid out, drinks were poured, and villagers bowed their heads to express their gratitude, almost scraping the floor in their reverence.
“Somehow… it feels like the villagers are just fond of festivals,” Rest chuckled bitterly at the continuous celebrations.
Though he had been staying in the village to help with various clean-up tasks, he had recently found himself being celebrated and revered like a deity. While it was heartening to see the villagers happy, the constant noise made it a bit overwhelming.
“Everyone is simply expressing their gratitude towards you, Rest. They mentioned celebrating the ‘Count Clover Festival’ on the day you defeated the Sea Serpent, and they even talked about carving a statue of you to worship.”
“Please, spare me…”
It seemed he had truly become a figure of worship, treated like a god. It reminded him of a folktale he had heard back in Japan, where a traveler arrived in a village and brought prosperity. Rest found himself in a similar position now. Perhaps the tale of how he saved this village would be told for centuries to come.
“I’ve enjoyed enough fish dishes and hot springs… maybe it’s time to move on.”
“Yes. We’ve provided ample food, and this fishing village shouldn’t need our assistance any longer. As for the methods of brewing liquor, I will send someone later to investigate in detail.”
This village held untapped potential, like a diamond in the rough, in terms of distillation and aquaculture. With Celestine’s expertise, she would surely generate significant profits from it.
“Well, if anything comes up, just let me know, and I’ll help.”
“Yes, please do. And… do think seriously about our engagement, alright?”
“………”
Rest’s expression turned complicated at her insistence. It wasn’t that he disliked the idea of being engaged to Celestine. On the contrary, it was quite the opposite. After spending those few days in the village, he had come to realize just how essential she was to him.
“I’ll think about it… seriously.”
“Yes, please do.”
“………”
With Celestine’s gentle smile before him, Rest nodded deeply in agreement.