Chapter 45: Returning Home

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Returning Home

"I’ll be sure to grow high-quality Beans. I won’t disappoint you."

Vili had memories of a crop called the Bean from his body’s previous owner. This Bean wasn’t the peanut of his past life; it was more like a sweet potato, though its growing season was different, marking it as a plant unique to this world. People had sold Beans in Diamond Town before, but they were always shipped in by outsiders—none were grown locally. Now, Diamond Town had imported Bean seeds and established Fandou Village, making Vili its master.

"I’ll give you five days to move your entire family to Fandou Village. Use that time to get some rest as well."

Baron Kels said, "Once you join the Personal Guard Team, Olay will train you personally. There’s nothing else for now, so you may go."

"In that case, I’ll take my leave."

Vili bid farewell to Baron Kels, Bamos, and Olay.

After Vili left the room, a temporary silence fell.

"Father, to just grant Vili all of Fandou Village... isn’t that too great a reward?"

In Bamos’s opinion, granting someone a village was a significant gesture. Vili’s achievements weren’t great enough to warrant such a reward.

Baron Kels shook his head. "Bamos, you need to look at the bigger picture. He may be just a young Hunter now, but in ten or twenty years, he’ll be your right-hand man. You can’t build a prosperous territory on your own strength alone; the help of those around you is even more important. Take your Uncle Olay, for example. Without him, Diamond Town wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is today."

Standing to the side, Olay gave a slight bow. He very much agreed with Baron Kels’s view—Vili might just be the next him.

"Alright," said Baron Kels, "now, come with me to see the Snow Pattern Deer."

An expectant look appeared in Baron Kels’s eyes. A long-held wish of his had finally come true.

...

After leaving Baron Kels’s study, Vili didn’t linger. He gathered his gear, left the manor, and headed for his home in Xiangguo Village. As for the five hundred Gold Rums Baron Kels had granted him, he wasn’t in a hurry to collect them. It wouldn’t be too late to claim the reward once he reached Fandou Village.

Vili had considered visiting Sopps, but after asking around, he learned that the new Personal Guard recruits were in training, so he gave up on the idea.

This trip to Bole Forest had been Vili’s most fruitful experience since his rebirth.

In Bole Forest, he had unlocked the Junior Assassin title and his first Middle Level title, Middle Level Beast Tamer, which had fundamentally increased his strength. On top of that, Baron Kels had granted him a huge fortune and the most important reward of all: Fandou Village.

In this world, there was a subtle but important difference between a regular village and the type of settlement Vili now controlled. A regular village formed organically as people gathered to live in one place. This new type of settlement, however, was usually founded with a specific agricultural purpose at its core.

As a new settlement, Fandou Village probably didn’t have many residents—Vili estimated a dozen or so households at most. Even so, those families were now completely under his command. They would answer to him, not to Baron Kels. In a way, Vili was already a Micro Lord, even without a noble title.

After leaving Diamond Town, Vili paid three Copper Rums to board a horse-drawn carriage. Two hours later, it stopped at the entrance to Xiangguo Village.

It was the end of high summer, and autumn was just around the corner. During this lull, the villagers were relatively at ease, with no pressing farm work to attend to. These past days had been much more relaxed for Lake and Mrs. Shaven than in previous years. Because their family’s financial situation had improved, they no longer needed to forage for fruit and wild vegetables in Morse Forest to exchange for money.

Vili walked quickly, and within a few minutes, he reached the gate to his family’s yard.

"I’m back!"

Vili called out into the yard.

Immediately, a small figure shot out of the house and ran toward him. It was Vilia.

Vilia’s face was a picture of joyous surprise. Beaming, she threw herself into Vili’s arms. "You’re finally back!"

During the days Vili was away, Vilia had found the house felt much emptier. If it weren’t for Wally, she probably would have gone mad with boredom.

"Vili."

Mrs. Shaven came out of the house as well. Seeing Vili return safely, she let out a small sigh of relief. Even though she knew her son was an excellent Hunter, she couldn’t help but worry when he was in the forest for so many days.

"Mother."

Vili savored the feeling of his family waiting for him. He patted Vilia’s head as he walked into the house and asked Mrs. Shaven, "Where’s Father? Is he not home?"

"He went to Uncle Ubi’s to pick up some new farm tools. He should be back in a little while," Mrs. Shaven replied. "You rest for a bit. I’ll go make lunch."

Mrs. Shaven went into the kitchen, leaving Vili and Vilia alone in the room.

"Vili, you’re finally home! We’re almost out of meat. Can you go hunting in the forest tomorrow and bring some more back?"

Vilia looked at Vili with a pleading expression.

Vili flicked Vilia on the forehead. "Nope."

"Why not?"

Vilia grabbed Vili’s sleeve and shook it forcefully, acting like a petulant child.

"Because..." Vili said with a grin, "we’re moving."

"Moving?"

Vilia’s little brow furrowed. "Why? Why do we have to move?"

"I’ll explain it to everyone at the dinner table later," Vili replied.

Vilia twitched her small nose, her eyes darting as a thought occurred to her. "Vili, while you were gone, I discovered Wally’s little secret."

"Wally’s little secret?"

Only then did Vili remember the white bear cub at home that he was supposed to be looking after.

"Twice, when I was holding Wally, I felt like he was pricking me with a needle," Vilia said, looking completely serious.

The moment Vili heard that, he knew Wally must have been secretly letting off static shocks while he was away.

’Looks like the little guy still can’t quite control himself.’

However, Vili wasn’t too worried about this anymore. Now that he possessed the Middle Level Beast Tamer Ability, he was confident he could train Wally to be more obedient and have better control over its actions.

"It must have been your imagination. How could a little white bear prick you with a needle?" Vili said, defending Wally.

"No, but I really felt it..." Vilia insisted.

Vili reached out and gently pinched Vilia’s lips closed. "Don’t say another word. It was definitely your imagination. Alright, let’s go see Wally now."

Tugging playfully on Vilia’s little pigtail, Vili led her toward Wally’s den.