The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief in Exile - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 23
Makeshift Spatial Storage Pocket.
Inspired by Berti’s spatial storage pocket, I’d connected the inside of my pocket to an empty room in our house, turning it into a technique for storing various items.
‘After all, opening and closing is really just connecting spaces.’
And beyond that, an applied technique.
‘The truly important part is this.’
A small door set into one corner of the office.
Behind it lay a staircase descending underground. The interior was still under construction, but it was meant to serve as a guest room for special visitors.
A space lined with iron bars—a prison-like guest room from which no one could leave without the owner’s permission.
‘But if I use the Open-Close Ability….’
I breathed slowly and deliberately, grasping the handle and turning it to the right.
Click.
At the familiar sound, my lips curled upward.
As I opened the door, Flora’s room at the Deste Estate appeared before me.
The bleak and desolate atmosphere of the space was so deeply displeasing that I genuinely wanted to resurrect the dead Marquis Deste just to kill him again.
“You’ve finally succeeded.”
Berti, who had appeared at my side without warning, offered her congratulations.
“To commemorate the success, I shall stanch this nosebleed with this handkerchief.”
Berti firmly pinched my nose, from which blood was trickling.
“Your aptitude has improved considerably.”
“Bub?”
With my nose blocked, the question came out garbled. Berti chuckled and affirmed it was so.
“At least you didn’t lose consciousness this time. And you don’t appear to be in any pain.”
Indeed, there was nothing but a faint exhaustion—no pain, no discomfort.
Moreover, the nosebleed stopped quickly.
“Creating a ‘passage’ connecting the Deste Estate and this place, Exilium, appears to be the maximum your body can endure without strain.”
Berti set aside the handkerchief as she spoke.
“You did well. Truly splendid.”
…….
Embarrassed by the praise, I fiddled self-consciously with my nose.
In any case, Exilium had now secured one safe route connecting it to the outside world.
I could now travel to the Deste Estate whenever I wished.
‘But I’ll need to keep using the Primordial Forest consistently for a while yet.’
All the village residents possessed remarkable aptitudes.
Knights, archmages, dancers—the list went on. I couldn’t simply let such rare talents gather dust.
After rolling around with monsters a few times, they’d grow as strong as Ian.
‘It’s good to learn at least basic self-defense.’
This wasn’t a decision made with any thought toward overthrowing dynasties.
And so.
“I’ll need to hold a village assembly. I’ll gather everyone under my command to discuss what comes next.”
“You do seem rather fond of power.”
With that remark, Berti turned back to her document work.
* * *
The next day.
The first village assembly convened.
The location was the Underground Assembly Hall.
All thirteen residents had gathered.
“First item on the agenda.”
Modi, serving as moderator, spoke.
“Confirming those who wish to awaken the aptitudes discovered during the health examination. Those interested in training, please raise your hands.”
Eleven residents raised their hands.
The total population was thirteen.
The two who didn’t raise their hands were Flora and myself—every adult had volunteered.
‘Such aggressive determination. I like it very much.’
Libi, appointed as secretary, kept her left hand raised while busily scribbling notes.
“Second item on the agenda. The village chief has made a proposal: she suggests opening classes where we teach each other hobbies and special skills. What do you all think?”
“As the owner of the village and your ruler, allow me to explain.”
“That’s not what a village chief is,” Ian muttered.
Ignoring his complaint, I shot up from my chair.
“Our Exilium Village must prosper. Do you know why? So that later, when the Emperor learns of this, he’ll die of envy.”
The villagers nodded in agreement with my words.
“I will actively encourage the residents’ welfare and cultural pursuits. These pursuits that don’t generate income are precisely what people can only enjoy when freed from worry about survival—they elevate the quality of life itself.”
“Miss, you’ve just explained human motivation theory very elegantly and precisely.”
Soon the villagers began sharing their old hobbies.
“I used to knit. I could even do bobbin lace.”
“I made a living doing illustration commissions with my older sisters.”
“I played violin. I worked in an orchestra. I can manage some piano as well.”
Longing bloomed softly across their faces. They seemed to be remembering those days before the false accusations, when they’d savored an ordinary life.
‘Yes, perfect!’
This was exactly the reaction I’d hoped for.
‘If they’re going to learn to live like ordinary people, they need to rediscover joy in life through hobbies like these.’
Soon several residents volunteered to lead classes.
“I’ll set up a suggestion box so you can write down what classes you’d like to take. Topics that weren’t covered today are fine too.”
And so the first village assembly came to an end.
“Doesn’t it feel like we’re actually living now?”
“It really does. I almost teared up.”
“Let’s take a look at the community hall before we leave.”
“Did you see the library? There are so many books…….”
I caught snippets of the residents’ reactions as they filed out, and couldn’t help but smile.
‘Do I have a talent for being a village chief?’
Humming softly, I was reviewing the meeting minutes Libi had recorded when Elba found me.
“Elba, the apothecary who whispers of death.”
“You, you memorized that……?”
Elba’s face flushed—the title still felt unfamiliar to her.
“You’re the village chief!”
Learning the information of the village residents was a chief’s duty.
Elba gazed at me as if pleasantly impressed.
“Actually, I wanted to ask you something. Are you planning to go out again sometime?”
“Not immediately, but yes. Eventually.”
“Could you take me along?”
“Outside?”
I was startled.
‘Is the welfare program already showing results?’
This proactive attitude was exactly what I’d wanted to see.
“The way herbs are flowing into the Capital has been nagging at me. If that continues, herb prices will skyrocket…….”
“And a disease that could be cured with one dose of medicine might become fatal.”
Elba nodded soberly.
“So what if we shared the herbs we have?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to sell them rather than give them away? Of course, the price would be based on standard remedies sold in the market.”
Honestly, I was pleased that she’d come to me with this suggestion first.
‘It means the villagers truly have breathing room now.’
Of course, even during exile when they had nothing, they were kind-hearted enough to look after me first.
“We can’t just hand things away for free. That would be undervaluing your labor in making the medicine.”
“That’s, that’s true, but…….”
“We also have to consider people who’d abuse the free offer. Reselling at a markup, or claiming side effects and threatening compensation.”
As I explained with specific examples, Elba laughed helplessly.
“You’re quite shrewd, Hebenia.”
“I’m sorry for speaking so presumptuously. But this is only a suggestion. The decision is yours. It’s Dulchebia you found, after all.”
If I or anyone else had discovered it first, that precious herb would have been treated as a weed, plucked out long ago and withered to nothing.
“No. You’re right, Hebenia.”
Elba spoke firmly.
“There’s no harm in being careful.”
“I’ll let you know once the travel date is set.”
“Thank you for the counsel.”
“It’s my duty as chief.”
My conversation with Elba had been deeply meaningful for me as well.
* * *
“I want to take control of the Deste Estate.”
“You’d stand out anywhere, miss. Your way of thinking is just Clavis incarnate.”
“Isn’t that an insult? Ian was worried today that I’m becoming more villainous, and this feels like the same thing.”
“Fortunately, I take the compliment more kindly than I do the reproach.”
“So you do have your worries.”
Berti and I were in the middle of a game of Chess. More precisely, Berti was teaching me the finer points of a game I knew absolutely nothing about.
“But why the Deste Estate?”
“The Marquis Deste is dead.”
A week had already passed since we returned from the Deste Estate.
The Marquis Deste was dead, and so were the two creatures he’d summoned—a demon and a human rat—both disposed of.
But what of the crimes they had committed?
“I’m worried about the steward and the imperial knight who were outside the Primordial Forest.”
“You think they’ll discover the bodies?”
“I’m afraid they’ll erase all traces of the bodies without leaving a shred of evidence.”
“Ah…….”
Berti nodded slowly.
“Right, there was the matter with Dalis as well…….”
“I still remember that heap of corpses I saw that day.”
“It was horrifying.”
“What disgusts me is their ruthless capacity for action—how easily they kill innocent people in pursuit of their goals.”
Aunt Dalis had grieved deeply at news of her employees’ deaths. Her testimony that they had all been ordinary people struck me as heartbreaking.
‘In the end, they’re no different from the villagers.’
They were innocent victims, swept up in something they never understood.
“The Emperor will surely send someone.”
“To clean up afterward?”
“If we can see directly how they handled it, wouldn’t we be able to discern the Emperor’s true intentions?”
“You might not understand even if you see it.”
“Perhaps, but it’s the best we can do right now. The Deste Estate is our only connection to the Emperor.”
“Hmm…….”
Berti folded her arms and let out a contemplative groan.
The demon stared intently at the Chess board, now frozen mid-game.
“……To be honest, I wish you could take control of the Deste Estate for us.”
“Right? Exactly.”
“I’m curious how the Marquis Deste learned of Aunt Dalis’s origins. She said she didn’t even know herself.”
“She said she found out during the Summoning Succession Ceremony.”
Not long ago.
When I relayed what had happened at the Deste Estate, Aunt Dalis had told me this.
“My father was probably a demon. I grew up with only my mother and never once met him. She never spoke much about it either.”
“So you never knew you were Half-Demon.”
“Not at all.”
According to Aunt Dalis, she had met the Marquis Deste through an acquaintance’s introduction when she was living in the Capital.
‘Even that meeting might have been orchestrated.’
All the circumstances and suspicions always pointed to the Emperor.
‘I’ll meet him eventually. And when I do, we’ll inevitably clash.’
So before that day came, I needed to gather as much information about the Emperor as possible.
For that very reason, the Deste Estate had to fall into our hands.
‘We have every justification.’
After all, Flora, the Marquis Deste’s own bloodline, was still alive.
‘With his daughter alive and well, surely we have the right to inherit it, don’t we?’
And so.
“Berti, could you do something like hypnosis or mental brainwashing?”
To control whoever the Emperor sent, we’d need underhanded tactics like that.
“Ah, well, about that…….”
Berti smiled sheepishly.
“Mental Brainwashing isn’t really my specialty. But destroying the mind through physical torment—that’s something I’m quite good at.”
Berti spoke with confidence about her area of expertise.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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