CHAPTER 48: VILLAGE CHIEF’S SON (1)

"Is he someone who could give you ninety-nine children?"

The question from Goddess Freya shattered his dreamy thoughts.

"Is that really all you’re thinking about?"

"What else is there to think about? You better not fall in love. One man won’t be enough for you to complete this challenge."

Gara didn’t even bother responding with irritation. He knew love wasn’t realistic right now—not with the mission looming over him.

But still, he wanted to feel infatuated, even just once. Was that too much to ask?

The goddess clearly had no sense of timing.

...

The next morning, as Gara and Wina made their way to the herb fields in the mountains, Wina shared what the village meeting had been about.

"Elder Jaya’s son, Satyo, has returned to the village. He proposed an annual financial aid program for the villagers."

"Uncle Satyo wouldn’t offer something like that without asking for something in return, would he?"

"Exactly. He and a few nobles from the county want to use the upper part of the mountain—the area we rarely go to—as a training ground. If we agree, we’ll get compensation, but we’ll have to stop foraging in that area."

"A lot of the villagers agreed, didn’t they?" Gara guessed, remembering how quickly Wina had returned last night.

"Yes. The upper field isn’t used much anyway. Only a few villagers who still hunt wild animals go that far. Besides, Satyo said the nobles who’ll be training there all have forest-related Talents, so they supposedly won’t harm the land. He even promised they’d replant any trees that get damaged."

"Then why do you still look worried?" Gara asked, noticing the slight furrow in her brow.

"I’m just concerned there might be a druid among them. He said they’re only human nobles, but if one of them is friends with a druid, they could easily invite them along."

"When are they supposed to start coming, Mom? If they show up, I’ll just hide at home. You don’t have to worry," Gara said with confidence.

"I’ll try to find out more as soon as I can," Wina nodded.

Gara didn’t really have a clear memory of Satyo, Elder Jaya’s son. He had become a Liner and left for the county when Gara was only a year old.

Still, he hoped the man was as kind as his father.

Because of Wina’s concern, Gara didn’t stop by the river that day.

Instead, he spent the morning tending the herbs in the yard and processing the ones they had stored—mostly to prepare healing remedies, just in case someone got hurt again. Madha, for instance.

Wina returned home later than usual, her expression dark and furious.

"What happened, Mom?" Gara immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Satyo. That bastard," Wina spat. "He doesn’t want to turn the upper mountain into a Liner training ground. He’s planning to build a crystal refining factory."

She didn’t need to explain what a crystal refinery was—just hearing the word factory was enough for Gara to grasp the implications.

"Doesn’t he know the villagers’ herb fields rely on the river for irrigation? If crystal waste contaminates the water, all the crops will die."

Gara’s suspicion was right.

"We need to cancel the agreement immediately, Mom!"

"I will. I’ll go to the village head’s house right after I fix you some dinner."

"Are you the only one who knows what Uncle Satyo’s really up to?"

Wina nodded, then explained what had happened. She’d stayed longer than usual at the field, fascinated by how fast her herbs had grown. She’d spent extra time observing each plant closely.

While storing her tools in the supply shed, she overheard Satyo talking through his crystal ring—a device used for long-distance communication.

That was how she learned the details of Satyo’s plan.

For some reason, Gara felt a creeping dread. If Satyo had backing from a noble, this wouldn’t be an easy problem to solve.

And Wina, as the one who exposed the scheme, would bear the brunt of it.

"Mom, you need to be more careful," Gara said, worry written all over his face.

"I know this isn’t a simple matter," Wina replied calmly. "But I believe in Elder Jaya. He’s a wise man. And since Satyo is his son, perhaps he can speak to him in private."

Gara wanted to object, but seeing the confidence in her mother’s eyes, all he could say was, "Then I’m going with you."

"No, Gara," Wina said firmly.

"Mom, don’t forget—I’m a Liner too. I might not look like much, but if we’re cornered, I can fight back. I won’t let you go alone."

After a short but intense back-and-forth, Wina finally relented. She realized he had spoiled Gara to the point of making him incredibly stubborn. But thankfully, Gara always used his stubbornness to protect her mother.

Even so, Wina wished sometimes that her son would think more about his own safety.

After dinner, the two of them set out for the village head’s house. When they arrived, they noticed the building was brighter than usual.

Apparently, Satyo had brought one of those orb-shaped devices that could emit light if infused with fire energy.

These Fire Light Bulbs were common in the county, but for a town and a remote village like Suruta—they were rare luxuries.

The reason? Every time the fire within them faded, they needed to be recharged by someone with a fire-based Liner Talent.

And since Satyo was a fire-type Liner, he could easily keep the bulbs glowing.

Grandpa Jaya welcomed mother and daughter with warmth and ushered them to sit on the front porch.

At first, the old man looked happy, but the serious look on their faces made him quickly grow somber.

"What’s the matter, child?" he asked.

Before Wina could respond, a man dressed in fine red linen stepped out from the house. His appearance was sharp, clean, and elegant.

"Oh, Wina... and—your son’s grown up, hasn’t he?" Satyo’s gaze moved from Wina to Gara, and in the next instant, his eyes gleamed with something unmistakably greedy.

...