Chapter 63

Let's Move the Giant Rock

Distracted by the goats, we walked for about ten minutes before a giant boulder blocking the waterway came into view.

As the villagers had complained, the waterway split just before the boulder.

โ€œโ€ฆItโ€™s big.โ€

Sara, held in her motherโ€™s arms, muttered as she gazed up at the massive rock.

โ€œIt really is huge, isnโ€™t it?โ€

The boulder was about as tall as my father and nearly twice as wide and thick as its height.

โ€œDo you think it fell from over there?โ€

On the right bank of the waterway, there was a rocky mountain with a cliff face a short distance away.

When I looked up toward the top of the mountain from afar, I could see traces of a landslide.
It seemed that the giant rock had fallen from the mountain, rolled across the ground, and come to a stop on the waterway.

Yet, something felt off.

โ€œThis seemsโ€ฆ suspicious.โ€

The boulder gave off an unnatural air, as if it werenโ€™t entirely formed by nature.

I had no proofโ€”it was just a hunch.

โ€œโ€ฆMother, I think we should have an expert look into this.โ€
โ€œYouโ€™re right. Letโ€™s investigate thoroughly. And of course, ensure everyoneโ€™s safety.โ€
โ€œUnderstood.โ€

After issuing instructions to a servant, my mother stared at the boulder for a while.

โ€œHmmโ€ฆ How long do you think it would take to remove it?โ€
โ€œDepending on the budget, it would usually take about two months,โ€ replied the eldest servant in charge of outdoor security.

โ€œAnd if we spare no expense?โ€
โ€œIt could be shortened to about one month.โ€

Hearing this, my mother whispered in a voice so quiet that the villagers couldnโ€™t hear,

โ€œWhich would be more expensive: spending the budget or exempting taxes?โ€

That whisper was undoubtedly meant for Sara and me to hear.

If the cost of the work exceeded the revenue from the villageโ€™s taxes, it would be more practical to waive taxes and carry out the work at a slower pace.
The duchy might even save money by providing financial aid to the villagers to sustain them.

While my mother was deep in thought, I addressed the senior servant.

โ€œYou seem quite knowledgeable.โ€
โ€œHeโ€™s an exceptional servant, often serving as a butlerโ€™s substitute. Of course heโ€™s knowledgeable,โ€ my mother said.
โ€œYou flatter me. I am humbled,โ€ the servant replied with a deep bow.

He was likely one of the higher-ranking servants sent by my father to manage the staff at the estate.

After thinking for a moment, my mother addressed the villagers.

โ€œBy when would the waterway need to be restored for this yearโ€™s farming?โ€
โ€œItโ€™s already critical as it is,โ€ a villager responded.
โ€œWhat about one month from now?โ€
โ€œIt would be far too late for this yearโ€™s farming.โ€

It seemed that removing the boulder wouldnโ€™t allow the farming to proceed in time.

โ€œWhat about creating a bypass channel?โ€

When I asked, the servant quickly answered.

โ€œConstructing a bypass channel isnโ€™t simple, but if we rush, it could be done in about a week.โ€
โ€œEven a week wouldnโ€™t be enoughโ€ฆ The work shouldโ€™ve been completed three weeks ago.โ€

Hearing the servantโ€™s reply, the villagers spoke sadly.

โ€œThis is quite the problem.โ€

Mother muttered, then quietly asked Sara,

โ€œSara, what do you think we should do?โ€
โ€œโ€ฆCancel the taxesโ€ฆ and deliver food?โ€
โ€œYes, that might be the only option. What about you, Luria?โ€

I thought for a moment.

Saraโ€™s idea was a way to prevent the worst-case scenario. Ideally, the farming should proceed, and taxes should be paid.

โ€œMove the rock?โ€
โ€œHow?โ€
โ€œWith the help of animals.โ€

I was confident that the goats watching us could move the rock.

โ€œAnimals? Like oxen pulling it? But with a rock this big, the villageโ€™s oxen aloneโ€ฆโ€
โ€œItโ€™ll probably be fine. Iโ€™ll ask my friends for help.โ€

Mother and Sara looked puzzled. It would be quicker to show them.

โ€œJust wait a moment. Hey, you goats over there, come here!โ€

I called out loudly to the goats.

โ€œLuria, what are you doing?โ€
Everyoneโ€”Mother, Sara, the maids, the servants, and the villagersโ€”stared at me in bewilderment.

โ€œJust watch.โ€

The goats looked at each other and then started running toward us. Their wagging tails were adorable.

As the goats approached us, the servants tensed.

โ€œEveryone, stand ready!โ€

โ€œWait, wait! Theyโ€™re not enemies!โ€

I quickly intervened to stop the servants and goats from clashing.

The goats were enormous, which probably alarmed the servants.

Their tense posture made it clear they were ready to fight if the goats got any closer.

โ€œCalm down, everyone. Theyโ€™re my friends, okay?โ€
โ€œLuria, who are โ€˜theyโ€™?โ€
โ€œOh, you know, the goats, cows, and boars over there.โ€

At my words, the atmosphere changed. Mother turned to look at the animals and let out a small shriek.

โ€œโ€ฆTheyโ€™re huge.โ€

Sara clung to Mother, equally astonished.

โ€œWhoa!โ€
โ€œW-What are they? Where did they come from?โ€

The villagers were in an uproar.

โ€œTheyโ€™ve been here the whole time?โ€
โ€œWe couldnโ€™t see them before.โ€

Apparently, even the villagers hadnโ€™t noticed them earlier.

โ€œYou didnโ€™t see them? But I could.โ€
โ€œWe couldnโ€™t see them, my lady,โ€ the servant admitted.
โ€œBut you all were on guard earlier, werenโ€™t you?โ€
โ€œWe sensed the presence of something large and invisible, which made us cautious.โ€

It seemed even the servants couldnโ€™t see the animals.

โ€œIs that possible?โ€
โ€œThey likely used a cloaking spell,โ€ the servant explained.
โ€œA cloaking spell?โ€
โ€œYes, such magic renders them invisible to most unless they are very skilled.โ€

I had assumed everyone could see them since I could.

These animals werenโ€™t spirits, which were typically invisible to most people. But perhaps they were guardian beasts or something similar.

โ€œDivine beasts? Sacred beasts, maybe,โ€ a servant muttered.

This might be troublesome. Standing out too much wasnโ€™t ideal.

But this was about the villagersโ€™ survival. If they couldnโ€™t farm, they wouldnโ€™t have enough to eat, and the weakest would perish first.

Even if it meant being judged or scrutinized, I believed saving the village was more important.

โ€œAnyway, that doesnโ€™t matter! Goats, could you help move this rock?โ€

Ignoring the servantsโ€™ protests, I addressed the animals.

The goats, cows, and boars responded confidently, โ€œLeave it to us!โ€

With their combined efforts, they managed to move the massive boulder, allowing water to flow through the waterway once again.

โ€œAmazing!โ€
The villagers stood in awe, some even cheering.


The Reincarnated Young Girl Is Adored by the Spirits She Helped in Her Previous Life

The Reincarnated Young Girl Is Adored by the Spirits She Helped in Her Previous Life

่ปข็”Ÿๅนผๅฅณใฏๅ‰ไธ–ใงๅŠฉใ‘ใŸ็ฒพ้œŠใŸใกใซๆ‡ใ‹ใ‚Œใ‚‹
Score 9.9
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2024 Native Language: Japanese
Luria, born as the second daughter of a Grand Duke, retains memories of her past life. In that previous life, Luria was a princess and a saint loved by spirits. However, her parents were assassinated, and she was tormented and eventually killed by her uncles, who usurped the throne. To make matters worse, her past self is somehow feared as a calamitous villainess who nearly brought humanity to ruin. โ€œWaaah! (If my past is discovered, Iโ€™ll be killed!)โ€ Determined to keep her past hidden, Luria decides to live quietly and avoid drawing attention. โ€œHmmph! (Iโ€™ll live peacefully in the countryside with fluffy companions!)โ€ Her past life was one of relentless suffering at the hands of humans. Yet, spirits and animals had shown her nothing but kindness. Now, spirits and their fluffy guardian beasts begin to gather around Luria. Having been reincarnated by the Spirit King as thanks for aiding spirits in her past life, Luria has unknowingly become a being that is both human and spirit. This is the story of a half-spirit, half-human, completely flawless true saintly young girl striving to live quietly while enjoying a peaceful life surrounded by fluffy companions.

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