Barbara, how's the spice inventory?

"Uh, still good."

The only store in the village of Kaina, <>.

It is also a branch of the Raglan Trading Company, and also serves as a base for purchasing in the village of Kaina.

It sells mainly daily necessities and clothing.

The village of Kaina is a small village with a population of about 100 people, so there are two ways to pay for goods: money and barter.

"Today's sales are just fine," Barbara said as she calculated.

Barbara said as she did the math.

They had been working together for a few months, and this kind of clerical work had become second nature to them.

"I see. That's good."

has two main sources of income.

One is sales to the villagers.

The other is wholesaling to the Raglan Trading Company, the main store.

The main items they wholesale are and , which they obtain through bartering with villagers.

And rubber products such as and , which they purchase from Jin via Nidojo.

In addition to these two items, he also delivers rare magical tools developed by Jin to the head office on an irregular basis, for which he is paid a certain fee.

"Your father-in-law will be here soon, won't he?

"Yes, that's right.

"The capital is a bit far away, isn't it?"

"Yes. But that's the business.

I see.

"Would you like to go back?"

"Well, I guess so. ......"

Eric's words reminded Barbara of her visit to King's Landing some time ago.

The capital city of Alban is here.

This is the capital city of Alban.

"Wow, it's huge!"

Eric and Barbara visited the head office of the Raglan Trading Company, Eric's parents' house, to report their marriage.

It took one day to get from Kaina village to Toka village by riding a golem horse, but from Toka village it took two days on foot to Charles town. From there it took another three days to reach Alban.

The population of Arban is about 8,000, 80 times the population of the village of Kayna.

"Wow, what a lot of people. ......"

Barbara looks around the place with a wide-eyed look on her face. She is a total geek.

Compared to the village of Kaina, the number of people is different. The clothes they are wearing are elegant and sophisticated, and Barbara is taken aback.

"I guess the city is different after all. ......"

Barbara muttered with a sigh.

Eric and I were dressed in our village clothes and carrying our luggage for the trip. It was obvious that they had come from the countryside.

"Come on, let's go to the Chamber of Commerce first..."

Eric shook the luggage on his back and called out to Barbara.

The main office of the Raglan Company had moved to the center of the main street this year.

They had made such great strides.

"Here it is," he said.

"Wow, wow!

Barbara was amazed.

"I'm back!"

Eric entered the store not through the front entrance but through a side entrance. Barbara followed.

"Oh, you're back!"

"Hello, Barbara, welcome back!

Eric's father, Roland, and all his relatives were there.

"Well, I'm so happy that Eric got such a good wife!

"Barbara, I know I'm an unreliable son, but I wish you all the best."

That night a banquet was held to celebrate their marriage.

"Thank you very much. I will do my best."

Barbara answered, her face flushed. They were happy.

* * * * * *

For the next week, Barbara stayed in Alban with Eric.

They were learning the rudiments of the business, not all day long, but in between they could go and see the city.

At first, Barbara's eyes lit up at her first time in the capital. .......

"...... is kind of boring."

Learning to work is good. I'm still learning the hard way.

It is the life in the royal city that has become boring.

Certainly, it was crowded, bustling, and gorgeous, and bustling as befits a capital city.

But that was all.

"...... I kind of miss the village."

Barbara, who had been away from the village of Kaina for only a week...... two weeks if you include the road trip, seemed to have made up her mind.

No wonder.

"I miss the hot springs....... ......"

A communal hot spring in the village of Kaina.

"The food...... in the castle's restaurant was delicious. ......"

We went sightseeing in the town and had lunch at a restaurant. I feel that the food is not good enough for the price.

The toilets are also ......"

The Kingdom of Klein is beginning to focus on sanitation, but nothing can compare to the village of Kaina, where Jin personally supervised the construction.

Once we got used to seeing them, we realized that neither the people of the city nor the people of the village are any different.

In fact, I even think that the people of Kaina Village might be smarter than me, as they teach me how to read, write, and calculate, as well as the wisdom of daily life.

"Oh, Hannah, you are definitely smart.

I think that Hanna is smarter than most adults, maybe even smarter than those who are called "bachelor".

Barbara has learned the advantages of her hometown for the first time outside.

* * * * * *

"Wow!

Barbara?

As soon as she saw the village of Kaina at the foot of the Togo Pass, Barbara jumped down from the carriage and ran out.

"Ha-ha-ha, Eric, Barbara must have missed it. For the first time in her life, she had been away from her hometown for almost a month.

Roland, who was accompanying me, laughs.

"It's been a long time since I've been to Kaina, too. It's been a long time since I've been in Kaina village.

"Ha, ha."

Barbara runs down from the pass, crosses the bridge over the Erme River, passes by Nido Castle, and rushes into the village of Kaina.

"I'm home!

"Oh, Barbara, you're back!"

"Barbara, haven't you lost some weight?"

When Barbara showed up at the house of Chief Giebeck, she was greeted by her uncle Giebeck and his wife, Sally, a healer.

"Oh, sweetheart, welcome home."

Their adopted son, Lu, also greeted Barbara with a smile.

"I'm home, Luu. ...... here's something for you."

"Wow, thank you!"

Barbara handed the gifts to her uncle and his wife and to her new cousin Lu from the luggage she was carrying.

"Oh, sorry, Barbara."

"Where's Eric?"

"I ran down from the Togo Pass."

All three of them looked a little puzzled.

"......Well, it's not hard to see why."

But Sally, who was not originally from the village, seemed to be able to understand their feelings.

So he decided to say a few words to her.

"Barbara, don't forget that feeling you just had about your hometown.

"Yes, ...... yes!"

Barbara has reaffirmed that the village of Kaina is her hometown.

From now on, she is determined to do even more for the village.

"Hey Barbara!

Eric's voice came from far away.

"Oh, I'm sorry!　I'm coming!"

Barbara replied cheerfully,

"See you later, Uncle, Dr. Sallee, Lou," she said.

and left the chief's house.

The sky in Kayna was blue and clear, and the early autumn wind was chasing away the chipping clouds.