"What? Could you please repeat that?"

"Don't have me say it over and over. From now on, this place will be under the direct control of the Fontana family."

　It's been a while since I heard the advice from the peddler ojiisan.

　A tax recipient came to the village from an aristocratic family.

　It's a so-called tax collector.

　Basically, the village collects poll tax and tax according to the size of the land as wheat.

　However, it seems that each person does not make detailed calculations like in my previous life.

　On behalf of the village mayor, they collect taxable wheat from the villagers and come to the warehouse where they are collected.

　However, I am paying using money, not wheat.

　Therefore, the tax-collector was supposed to come to my house to collect taxes separately after going to the village mayor.

　This time it was the same.

　Taxes are collected once a year, so I have to save a reasonable amount of money for myself.

　In addition, I had to give a minimum of hospitality to those who received work from the aristocrats, so I cleaned my house thoroughly, prepared food and liquor, and waited.

　Until now, the collector would eat and drink properly and then receive the tax and go home.

　It was supposed to be just that.

　However, the tax collector who came in did not drink alcohol and gave me a notice from the aristocrats which was written on parchment..

　Suddenly I my brain stopped thinking for a moment, but immediately restarted and I read the text written on the parchment.

　There was definitely the following notice written there.

　The Fontana family requisitions my land.

　All things and people on the land should belong to the Fontana family.

　It also talked about protecting me.

　The parchment is engraved with the same coat of arms as the permit I received years ago.

　It's not a fake.

"Wait a minute. What does this mean? Why so suddenly? I can't accept this!"

"Shut up. This is a decision by the aristocrats. If you go against it, we can force your hand."

"That ..."

"And this decision is for your benefit. There may be bad people in the area. It's a necessary step to protect you, who produces precious Familiars."

　Perhaps it means that a person from another land like Gran has settled here.

　No, is that really the case?

　The peddler said he had heard unpleasant rumors.

　Regardless of the aristocratic family, such rumors may have spread from the perspective of the common people.

　Or were the aristocrats simply trying to figure out when to make a statement like this and chose this as the perfect opportunity?

　Thoughts come to my mind one after another.

　What does it mean to protect me?

　Certainly, it makes sense.

　I heard that a Familiar that can be mounted can be a substitute for strategic supplies.

　If they were stolen by others, it would hurt the aristocrats who ruled this land.

　Therefore, protecting the Familiar breeder in advance may be a part of their plan.

　But that's an unacceptable story for me.

　So, what if I were "protected" in a way?

　Perhaps it would be possible to live a decent life.

　However, I think it will be a life in which I am not allowed to go out even one step from my "protected place".

　If I were really just a resident of a remote village and a kid who knew nothing, I might not have been dissatisfied.

　But I'm not.

　For some reason, I have memories other than of life in the village.

　The memories of my previous life.

　I want to eat more delicious foods, and I also want to travel around freely.

　I don't want to live like a domestic animal that just lays eggs, under "protection".

　Gatan, don, dogashan.

　It was when I was staring at the parchment and drowning in my sea of ​​thoughts.

　I heard a loud noise that forced me to bring my consciousness back to reality.

　Is this coming from outside the house?

　I heard a sound from the stable built next to my house.

　I heard something louder from the stables, which shouldn't normally make that loud noise.

　Damn it, what's happening next?

　I was cursing to myself, but rushed to the stables to see what the cause of the sound was.

　* * *

　What is this?

　What kind of situation is it?!

　What I saw when I came to the stables was a soldier with a bloody sword, my knight-type Valkyrie bleeding from her head, and Kyle lying on the bloody floor.

"What are you doing! What did you do to Kyle?!!"

"What, that kid? First, will you also get in my way? I was just saying I'll take that Familiar with me, but this kid got in the way."

"Don't be silly! Do you know what you did!?"

"Huh? What are you talking about? Do you want to hurt yourself!?"

　The soldier tried to extend the tip of a bloody sword toward me.

　Seeing that figure, I was alert.

　Magic that has never been used for people nor intended for them.

　I had unknowingly thrown a [Shotgun] at the soldier.

TLN: Things are getting tense.... I fricking already hate the soldier... and Valkyrie and Kyle hope they're safe ....

Discord: https://discord.gg/BpTPqUNgQC