Wozumas Explanation

And due to all of that, there is now a village on the other side of the tunnel

After being summoned for by Village Sub-Chief Wozuma, I heard about the village on the other side of the tunnel.

First of all, the village was entirely unrelated to Golenis not exactly true, but they were definitely a separate village.

Its name was Draco. I got the feeling it was a bit similar to how Golen was named, but maybe it doesnt have anything to do with a Dragon coming by? Who knows. Still though, this is Tsuia Mountain. We did have that whole Dragon thing happen.

The villages Village Chief is the Pavuera lords son, Cid Pavuera. He was around ten years old, about the same as Maidence.

Oh yeah, wasnt he affected by Meat becoming Maidences fianc? I cant really remember. Wait, wasnt there something about them borrowing my name? I forgot since I was having to deal with the Kukkoro elf girl, Shikina, times were busy! I should actually look into that oh, wasnt there also something about them lending the [Godly Pillow] to Beddhism?

Well, at least the dungeon side of things will have no issue with it. I mean, Dracos already inside of our domain. The more they develop, the better itll be for us.

I suppose Rei not reporting to us about it was due to it not actually being an issue. It really isnt. Rather than being an issue, as far as Rei was concerned, it was like someone else giving us a gift for our dungeon out of nowhere.

I agreed. Its not like itd be an issue for us monetarily either.

Im told they have also constructed an inn of their own.

Hooh, thats good. Itd decrease how many people come to our inn.

Itd take some of the work off our backs without affecting our DP income. Its a win-win.

? Sorry, Village Chief. Did you just say that was good?

Yeah?

You also said that it would decrease how many people come to the inn?

Isnt it a good thing theres less work to do? I cant see it as anything but a good deal for us.

I mean, I only ever made the inn to have a place to sleep.

Now that I have my own residence as the Village Chief, it wouldnt be a stretch to say the inns served its purpose.

Well, I guess its still good for entertaining Haku-san when she comes.

I suppose you have developed quite the range of businesses, Village Chief.

Have I? It should just be that religion. Was there something else?

Letting out a sigh, Wozuma moved on to his next point.

Fields, shops, even having a bar, they have mimicked many aspects of our village.

Hoh, really? What about having a dungeon?

I waited for his response, knowing they wouldnt be able to. A change on the level of creating a new dungeon isnt just a [Sure, go for it] thing for dungeons.

No, they have not been able to mimic our dungeon.

I see So theres no problem then? I mean, our village is only here because of the dungeon.

Its existence is so significant that Im surprised Draco even became a thing without one. Could they be antagonistic toward us?

You said theyve been copying us, do they have a church, too?

They have shrines. Ones for White Goddess-sama, the Trade God, the Blacksmith God, and the Food God.

Maybe I could make a Beddhist shrine nah, sounds too troublesome. At any rate, weve got the founding church of Beddhism here. Lets just say the the inn is the Beddhist shrine.

Anyway, peddlers will like having a village there, too. Theyll be able to trade their wares even if they cant make it through the tunnel, making it a good turnaround point. Wouldnt it be good to promote trade between Golen and Draco?

Itd be good for peddlers since they wouldnt have to pay the toll and go all the way to the village on the opposite side.

The tunnels toll would then be paid by merchants ferrying goods back and forth.

W-Wouldnt wouldnt that only serve to please those in Draco?

Huh? Is that a problem? Its not like were enemies.

Not enemies?

Was Wozuma thinking of them as enemies? I dont know why he would but maybe theres a reason?

What, is it better to think of them as enemies? Wouldnt that just ruin public order?

Huh? Oh, no, public order is important. Dracos Village Chief is the Pavueran lords son, so if you say they arent our enemies, thats good

Even if they want to say something, theyre on the other side of the tunnel. The tunnels not something thatll choose one side over the other, nor is it something they can just capture. Its a clear separator between us.

Is how I explained it. It being part of my dungeons a secret.

In truth, although they didnt exactly declare war on us when they founded the village, they did say something about being our enemies.

Heeh, whatd they say?

That they wouldnt lose to an upstart.

I waited for him to finish, but that was everything.

Thats all? I mean, thats probably a summary, but still

Yes, but many villagers heard them insult you, our Village Chief.

Did they say something that bad?

Its permissible that you are an upstart and prefer little girls, but

I mean, its great that its permissible and all, but how is preferring little girls alright

They also said that you were frivolous, did nothing and that you are nothing but a figurehead, of all things!

?

?

Oh! Oooh, I see, yeah. I get it. So to Village Sub-Chief Wozuma, them figuring out that Im a figurehead is a bad thing, huh. Man, I dont know what I could even say to refute that. I mean, its a fact.

Seriously, Wozuma, youre so diligent.

No, no, I could never hope to match up to you, Village Chief Kehma.

Hahaha, sure.

Still, Dracos Village Chiefs quite cunning.

Maybe I should go check him out?

Still, that declaration of war that wasnt actually a declaration of war have they harassed us? Like putting up a door to the tunnel or trying to charge taxes?

No, nothing like that.

Right? If they wanted to harass our village, all they had to do was put up some barrier to entry to reduce the number of merchants coming through. They didnt have to go through setting up an entire village.

Why did they make a village?

Perhaps you could find out by talking with each other as fellow Village Chiefs?

Right. Alright, Wozuma. Please arrange that.

And thus it was decided that I would confer with Dragos Village Chief in a few days.

I decided to relax under the pretense of being exhausted from my travels until then oh, he saw through that, too? Oh well.