The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief in Exile - Chapter 54

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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 54
“Hebenia, look at this.”
Inside the bucket Ian had pulled from the well sat a small wooden box.
It was old but meticulously maintained, its seams sealed tight with candle wax.
We carried the box to the Village Hall.
I drew a letter opener from the pencil holder on the desk and carefully scraped away the wax until the lid came free.
Inside lay a single train ticket, a letter, and a ring carved from white jade.
I picked up the letter.
[I have obtained the train ticket. The ring enclosed herein is proof of my, Saker’s, identity. Should circumstances demand it, use it without hesitation.]
After handing the letter to Ian, I held the ring in my palm and examined it closely.
‘It’s heavy.’
Looking more carefully, I saw patterns carved into the white jade.
“……A wolf?”
“It’s the symbol of the State Religion.”
Ian, reading the letter, answered.
“Two wolves with wings. Divine beasts that serve the gods.”
Ian’s face grew increasingly grave as he studied the ring.
“So Saker was indeed a Redemption Priest.”
“Redemption?”
“Among priests who have awakened Healing Magic by enduring trials, those who receive direct ordination from the Holy King are called Redemption Priests.”
“So… they were truly remarkable people…….”
“I’ve heard Redemption Priests are treated as equals to the Chief Priest. They likely wield considerable influence within the Sacred Shrine.”
Those words stirred a memory from the past.
“We didn’t even have proof that we could use Healing Magic.”
That must be why I’d spoken of Chief Priest Saikupu in such terms back then.
‘And the fact that news of the well still hasn’t leaked outside the Sacred Shrine means he definitely holds significant power.’
Enough to control the Sacred Shrine itself.
The white jade ring rolled back and forth in my palm.
‘……This is proof of trust.’
A ring given directly by the head of the State Religion.
And he gave it to us.
Saker, or Saker as he was also known, had resolved that no matter what moment came, he would stand with us.
While I was silently worrying my lip, Ian asked.
“When does the train ticket say?”
“Four days from now.”
“We have enough time to prepare.”
“Yeah…….”
“Are you nervous?”
“A little.”
Truth be told, the weight of it chilled me to the bone.
‘The Antemar Research Institute…….’
A horrific place where unethical experiments on humans were conducted.
Given the Emperor’s direct involvement, security would be immense—meaning the likelihood of armed conflict was substantial.
We had two objectives at the Antemar Research Institute.
First: determine the purpose of the Institute.
Second: destroy the Institute and sabotage whatever unknown plan the Emperor had set in motion.
‘To accomplish this…….’
We would have to kill.
Everyone involved there.
‘This time, I have to abandon all pretense of human rights and morality.’
The Antemar Research Institute was a hell of insane research.
They killed people as needed, turned corpses into Undead, and perpetrated countless unethical experiments.
Everyone in that place was complicit.
Their individual circumstances didn’t matter. They certainly wouldn’t have shown mercy to their victims’ circumstances during the experiments.
To leave no loose ends, they all had to die.
‘……Tsk, what a vile resolve this is.’
A line that had been invisible began to come into sharp focus.
An ancient covenant—never to kill one’s own kind—materialized before my eyes, one that humanity had always broken.
‘I have to cross that line too.’
Just as a headache began to creep in from the weight of those dark thoughts.
“Hebenia.”
I lifted my head at the sound of my name, and found Ian looking down at me intently.
His pale purple hair glimmered beneath the early summer sun, soft as hydrangea petals.
“Don’t worry so much.”
……
“I’m here.”
“……That’s exactly why I’m worried.”
If I hesitate, Ian will have to kill.
‘But I don’t want that.’
It’s passing my burden onto someone else—dumping what I can’t do.
When I thought of Ian enduring such suffering because of me, it almost seemed kinder if I were the one to do the killing instead.
‘And Saker has even entrusted us with his own life…….’
This guarantee of protection was one thing, but if something went wrong, Saker could be excommunicated.
‘So having more allies doesn’t mean I can relax.’
More people to protect meant more to worry about.
Though it wasn’t unpleasant, either.
“……Being village chief is difficult.”
“That’s always been the burden of leadership.”
“I just want to enjoy power without the weight…….”
“Listen to you, little thing, saying such things.”
Ian’s voice was light as laughter as he stroked my head.
* * *
The day of departure to Antemar Territory was set, and I informed the villagers of our plans.
“We’ll leave in four days. And we’ll be back in about four days after that.”
“That’s a shorter stay than I expected?”
I nodded at Libi’s question.
“On the way back, I’ll use my abilities. Once the work is done, I need to return quickly.”
“Is there anything you need?”
Aunt Dalis asked with a worried expression. Beyond her, the faces of other adults were full of concern.
“Oh, no, we’re fine! I can just take what Verity has…….”
I hesitated, as I usually did when trying to decline.
“Well, um.”
I rolled my eyes slowly and faltered.
“Actually, I do need something.”
“What is it?”
“The bread you made for me yesterday, Aunt.”
I confessed softly, like a secret, that I was growing tired of the instant food Verity always brought out on trips. Aunt Dalis’s face brightened and she nodded eagerly.
“I’ll have to make a lot. You’ll want some for the train ride too.”
“And, there’s also something else I need…….”
I made requests like a shameless child.
Aunt Dalis’s bread, and herbs that Uncle Aig had cultivated.
I asked Aunt Elba for first-aid supplies, and Uncle Popina to pack sandwiches for the journey.
“Aunt Neif, would it be alright if I asked you to manage the library collection? I saw a library management system somewhere and remembered it…….”
“Uncle Organ, could I ask you to compose music for noon and five o’clock? I’m thinking of building a village square when I return.”
“Uncle Modi, please look after the village while I’m gone. And I won’t be able to visit the Deste Territory for a while, so if you go to that mansion today…….”
“Uncle Pex, please stay here. I’ll contact you as soon as we reach the Institute. There may be tools you need for your research at the facility.”
The adults gladly accepted my requests.
Rather than seeming bothered, they seemed delighted, as if they’d received gifts.
‘Ian was right…….’
Just moments before.
On the way back from the well.
“Hebenia, you need to rely on adults.”
“What? I already do plenty of that?”
“I mean, take what you can from them.”
“That’s just being a burden, though?”
“When a seven-year-old says things like that, it makes my head and heart ache…….”
“Two birds with one stone!”
According to Ian, I should be more demanding—act more childish around the adults.
I didn’t really understand it.
‘But wouldn’t they hate it if I acted spoiled? Wouldn’t they dislike it very much? Besides, I’m the village chief…….’
But now, watching these people light up at my request, I realized I’d been terribly mistaken.
‘That’s right. These people aren’t…….’
They’re not monsters.
‘I thought I’d shaken it all off, but it turns out I was far more tangled up than I realized.’
My heart grew steadily lighter.
Ian had seen straight through my problem, and immediately offered me a solution.
Lean on trustworthy adults. Act spoiled around them.
What I couldn’t do in all my twenty-five years, I could surely manage now at seven again.
Watching the adults’ reactions, it seemed they’d known about my issue all along. They’d simply waited for me to speak first.
“Lean on me a little.”
Senior.
‘So even Senior was worried about me like this…….’
I forced myself to ignore the sting in my eyes and smiled crookedly as I searched for Nema.
‘I need to ask Nema for some active pants.’
If I wanted to move freely no matter what happened at the research institute, I needed the pants Nema made.
But she was nowhere to be found.
As I looked around for her, someone suddenly grabbed the hem of my clothes and tugged insistently.
“Popi, Chuchu.”
The moment I turned around, the dogs released the cloth they’d been holding and bolted off toward somewhere.
When I just watched without following, they came running back and tugged at my hem again.
“Ah, you want me to follow?”
“Woof.”
Popi barked, and Chuchu nudged the parked Singsing Car with her snout.
I drove the beloved vehicle and rushed after where the two dogs were leading.
“This place…….”
We’d arrived at the Training Ground.
Located on the outskirts, the Training Ground was the largest building in the village—according to Verity, it was made of a special Shape Memory Alloy that recovered from any damage between 11:30 PM and 12:10 AM the next day.
‘It’s like some bank system maintenance window.’
In fact, Libi had practiced Mana Control here once and smashed the ceiling spectacularly, but when I came back the next day, it was good as new.
But.
“This……this can’t be……!”
Stepping inside the Training Ground, I lost all words.
My eyes wide, the Training Ground sprawled before me in utter devastation.
Pillars had collapsed more horrifyingly than our house when Libi had half-destroyed it by mistake; the floor was gouged as if a massive beast had clawed through it; fine dust lay thick upon the shattered debris.
As I stared mutely up at the ceiling, another hole suddenly opened in it.
…….
What caught my shocked, pale eyes was Nema standing alone and rigid in the midst of that dreadful wreckage.
Between her wild, reddish-brown hair, a sinister glint flashed in her eyes.
The emotion and longing that had filled my heart moments ago evaporated in an instant.
A chill ran through me—as if force and pressure were driving blades through every pore of my skin.
‘More vivid than when the jailer tried to kill me…….’
Murderous Intent.
I somehow managed to wet my parched mouth with saliva and push out words.
“Uh, Nema……?”
…….
“Nema. Are you alright…….”
“Hebenia.”
“Yes.”
I straightened my posture immediately. Popi and Chuchu settled beside me with sharp precision.
Nema brushed back her disheveled hair with one hand.
Her weary face seemed somehow lighter.
And sad.
“It’s embarrassing, but now that I’m grown…….”
Nema spoke.
“Would it be alright to ask for some counseling?”
“The honor is entirely mine.”
Since this formidable warrior who’d reduced the Training Ground to ruins had offered me the opportunity, from this moment on I would be her faithful servant forever.

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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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