Chapter 37— Pride

"Oh, it's a very good sake. I wonder where you got it."

　With that said, the man tilted the liquor jar I poured over into the cup and drank it in no time.

　The person who drinks like that is Maddock-san, one of the lumberjacks in the village.

　Regarding the anger of the lumberjacks that my father told me about, I only heard about it from the 3rd person point of view, and I did not hear it directly from them.

　So, in order to maintain good communication, I came to a lumberjack with a souvenir.

　By the way, the sake that Maddock-san is drinking now is the one father bought for souvenirs in the city.

　It was a precious thing that my father, who was looking forward to drinking, offered me with a crying face.

"So what happened? Did you run out of logs for your magic mushrooms?"

"No, that's not the case, because I heard the lumberjacks were angry with me."

"Oh, I see. So did you come to ask me?"

　Maddock-san puts his hand on his chin and rubs his beard.

　I think that a good, old man with gray hair will look a lot more like that when he makes such a gesture.

　The relationship between Maddock-san and me began with my cultivation of magic mushrooms.

　It all started when I asked him to get the raw wood for growing magic mushrooms.

　Since then, I've been with him for a long time, so I came to hearMaddock-san’s opinion, which he understands, in order to prevent troubles with the other lumberjacks.

"It may be too much to say that they are angry, but it may be true that some people do not have very good feelings about how you are doing what you’re doing."

"Well ... I think the problem is that I'm taking too much wood, but I'm planning to continue cultivating the land ..."

"Hmm, it's true that Ars has a lot of trees in the forest, but no one will complain openly."

"Why? Some people are dissatisfied, right?"

"That's true, but cutting the trees in the forest is also the mission of this village. Moreover, the aristocrats asked Ars to cut the trees in the forest, so I can't complain."

　Hmm?

　I don't remember being asked by an aristocrat.

　Perhaps the villagers thought of the permit from the aristocrats that way.

　It's not true, but it could be used as an excuse to not have troubles arise.

"But it's true that the lumberjacks are a bit angry, isn't it? Then I think it's better to make some arrangements. I should be careful not to sell the trees unnecessarily and reduce the income of other lumberjacks. And also, I should probably decide which trees to cut in the forest and when."

"Hmm, that would be one way, but Ars doesn't understand the essence of this job at all."

"Essence?"

"Yes. In this case, it doesn't make sense to understand what us lumberjacks are mainly angry with. Ars, do you know the actual reason for why they are angry?"

"... Isn't it anxiety about life? They’re worried about losing profits because of me."

"No. At least, I don't think so."

"Then what?"

"Well, there are many ways to say that your actions are our pride, hope, and joy, but we don't like the fact that the trees are neglected and that you are stepping on our way of life."

"Huh? I have no intention of doing that. I've never made a fool of the lumberjack business."

"That's why I'm telling you that you don't understand. Well, we were born in a lumberjack's house, grew up as a lumberjack, and will die as a lumberjack. For such a lumberjack, forest trees are a source of livelihood. But they’re also a treasure. We’re proud of the act of cutting a tree. Do you understand that? "

"Yup."

"Then, what will we think of the Ars who has knocked down the trees in the forest and left them alone? How can they be calm when they see the fallen trees rot and become useless? Ars’ actions only seem to be tarnishing our pride and making a fool of our way of life."

"……Yeah"

"But, as I said, it was originally our wish to open up the forest and expand the land. I also know about the request of the aristocrats. But I'm sure there will be some dissatisfaction in the depths of everyone’s hearts. I want you to know that."

　Really.

　Perhaps my father heard from Maddock-san about the dissatisfaction and the hidden anger of the lumberjacks.

　To let me know before the problem grows.

　Certainly, I may have been devoted to pioneering and not looking at other people.

　I may need to calm down and think about it.

　Listening to Maddock-san, I thought deeply.