In the earthen floor of the humble dwelling, the old woman arranged wooden boxes as makeshift chairs and settled down, gazing up at Elliott and Lloyd with a look of pity.
“Even if you say you absolutely want to go… that’s just impossible, dear.”
“What do you mean by impossible?”
When Elliott inquired, the old woman wore a troubled expression.
“Being invited, you see, is more of a metaphorical expression. It’s not that someone is inviting you; it’s about whether the village itself will welcome you. I’ve heard that the village is under some ancient magic or something like that.”
“Magic…? Perhaps a Mage’s concealment spell, or something akin to a Barrier?”
The old woman chuckled softly.
“I’m sorry, but I’m just a simple farmer, so I don’t really know the details. It’s mostly just hearsay and legends. But if you’re okay with that, I can share what I do know.”
“…That will suffice. Please tell me.”
Above all, Elliott craved a lead. He suppressed his restless feelings and awaited the old woman’s words.
“That village doesn’t have a name, so people call it by various names as they please… but long ago, it was known as the ‘Village of Selfless Blessing.'”
“Selfless Blessing…?”
“That’s right. Only those who possess the Selfless Blessing are invited. People who prioritize others over themselves, those who have a strong desire to help someone or do something for others.”
As she spoke, the old woman pointed to the farming tools leaning against the corner of the room.
“The hoe and the plow over there were made for me when I was young in that village. Back then, I was desperate to raise my children, always thinking about them. Now, my children and grandchildren have all flown the nest, and I’m too busy with my own life to have much connection with that village anymore.”
Then, the old woman gazed at her wrinkled hands.
“Well, I suppose there aren’t many people who can completely disregard their own needs, so it’s more about the balance and strength of those feelings, I guess.”
The old woman looked directly into Elliott’s eyes.
“Even if you’re focused on your own matters, that doesn’t make it wrong. It’s just that the village won’t welcome those who can only think of themselves; that’s all.”
Her tone was gentle, yet Elliott felt an indescribable sense of self-loathing rising within him, forcing him to clench his fists to contain it.
Outside, the sound of hooves echoed, and when he turned, he saw a merchant with a pack horse stopping in front of the dwelling.
“Hey there, old lady. Can I get some water and fodder? Also, I’ve got some delicious peaches; would you like some?”
“Oh, that sounds lovely. We have guests here, so let’s have some.”
“I’ll give you a good price since I want everyone to enjoy them.”
As they exchanged pleasantries, the merchant tied his horse to the hitching post and began unloading his goods, his sun-kissed skin glistening in the fading light.
“The kids from the nearby village loved them. I guarantee the taste.”
“Nearby village? You don’t mean you came from the Village of Blacksmiths, do you?”
“That’s right. I’ve been bothering them since yesterday, and I’m on my way back now.”
“Merchants can come and go from that village…?”
At Elliott’s question, the old woman chuckled in mild disbelief.
“What? You think the Selfless Blessing doesn’t apply to merchants? That’s not true at all.”
“Oh, I see. I thought it was rare to have visitors like you.”
The old woman nodded knowingly, then turned to Elliott and Lloyd, her smile deepening with wrinkles.
“Well, there are occasionally people like you who come searching for that village and end up here.”
Using the wooden boxes as a table and chairs, the old woman served peaches and tea to Elliott, Lloyd, and the merchant.
“People think merchants only care about their own profits. Well, there are indeed many like that, so it’s understandable.”
The merchant showed no signs of being bothered, sipping his tea and continuing the conversation.
“I can’t just enter that village whenever I want, either. Yesterday, I happened to have a lot of really good peaches, and I thought the customers who bought them would be thrilled, and that’s how I managed to get there.”
“There are surprisingly merchants who think more about their customers and the producers than their own profits.”
Listening to the conversation, Elliott began to question himself.
—When did I become someone who could only think of myself? And I didn’t even realize it…
The realization was terrifying. It made sense that he wouldn’t be accepted in that village.
While Elliott fell silent, Lloyd spoke up.
“For example, is it possible for you to take us there?”
“No, that’s impossible. I would either be unable to enter or, for some reason, end up getting separated and left behind as someone who isn’t invited.”
“I see…”
Lloyd’s shoulders slumped. Elliott, resigned to the fact that he could not go to the village, asked something else.
“Then, could you call for a blacksmith named Dolf to come out to the village?”
“Oh, you came to see old man Dolf, huh? …Well, that’s unfortunate…”
The merchant scratched his head, looking troubled.
“Old man Dolf left on a journey about a day or so ago, so he’s no longer in that village.”
“…What…? Where did he go?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know. The craftsmen from that village sometimes go on journeys, but they never tell anyone where they’re headed.”
At those words, Elliott’s expression fell. He felt as if the world around him had been painted black.
As the sun began to set, Elliott and Lloyd rode back toward the Royal Capital along the dusty road.
“Not only can we not reach it, but to think he wouldn’t even be there…”
In response to Lloyd’s disheartened voice, Elliott remained silent, offering no reply.
“…Still, the ‘Selfless Blessing’… Was it your father or mother who gifted you that sword? In any case, you were cherished…”
Lloyd’s words were likely meant to be casual. Yet, Elliott couldn’t bring himself to honestly answer that it was his ex-wife, whom he had just parted with days ago. No sound emerged from his half-open mouth.
—I can’t even remember what expression Flora had at that time…
He had been so focused on quickly resolving his troubles that he had seen nothing, not even tried to see. As he swayed on the horse, the emotions piling up in his gut felt heavy, making it hard to breathe.