Volume 1 Chapter 22 The Heir to the Manor
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey! Larry! You in here?!”
A roar like thunder shattered the festive air above the banquet. It was my big brother, Hans-niisan. The musicians faltered, their melodies trailing off one by one, though Sister-in-law alone played her instrument until the very last note died. By then, the crowd between Hans and me had already recoiled, parting like the Red Sea to form a path.
”Give me a drink,” Hans barked. Bosch, one of his usual hangers-on, scrambled to present a foaming mug. “Thanks.” Hans drained it in one go as he strode forward, finally planting his boots directly in front of me.
In the same breath-crack-a heavy blow landed. My world spun. I found myself on all fours, the copper tang of blood blooming in the back of my throat. My head throbbed too much for me to even think about moving.
”Hans-san, what are you doing?” Nico asked.
”Well, look at you, Nico. Getting all dressed up,” Hans sneered. “What, did Larry finally work up the nerve? All that effort for nothing.”
Nico had stepped in front of me, trying to shield me. Hans always had a nose for blood and weakness. (Damn it, he’s talking about what happened at Alberto-san’s place. The man holds a grudge like a vice. I’ve always known that.) He tossed the empty mug back to Bosch. “Another.”
”Larry, I heard you had your little ‘coming-of-age’ ceremony,” said Hans. “Was it with Nico?”
”I-I-” Nico stammered, her face a mask of shock.
”Nico, move.” Hans grabbed my arm and hauled me upright with a single, jarring yank.
”Hans-san, where have you been?” Sister-in-law asked.
”Oh, Sister-in-law? I was paying a visit to Uncle Klaus¹.” He actually used the title “Uncle.” Normally, he just called him Klaus. His tone was strangely distant, almost formal.
”To my Uncle’s?” she pressed.
”Yeah. But this isn’t the place. Let’s head over there,” said Hans.
He sat on the short stone steps of the Village Head Manor. Yutia was there, currently shoving meat into her cheeks, but she tried to bolt the moment she saw the look on his face. “Don’t mind me,” Hans said, his hand clamping down on her shoulder to keep her seated. “You don’t get to eat like this often. Keep stuffing your face.”
Trapped under his grip and the gaze of the gathering villagers, Yutia’s appetite vanished. She quietly gathered her plate and retreated toward the doorway. As we walked, Hans tossed a blood-stained blade to Al. “A souvenir.”
”What is that?” I asked Alberto.
”A dagger,” Alberto replied. “I told him once my old one was chipping. He must have remembered. He said the blood is from an Orc he ran into on the way. He killed it with the gift he was bringing me.”
(That was ‘Mad Dog’ Hans for you. Only he would trek through the woods alone at night, and only he would casually slaughter an Orc with a present he hadn’t even given yet. He’s a goddamn monster.)
The villagers stayed back, forming a wary semicircle around him. Hans took a fresh mug from Bosch, downed half of it, let out a gut-wrenching belch, and finally looked at the crowd. “To cut to the chase: I’m not taking over as Village Head².”
The front row was a wall of the village’s elite: Sister-in-law, Alberto-san, Granny Ferris, Bours-san, Daniel-san, and the rest of the Elders’ Council. A low murmur rippled through the crowd behind us.
”And did Uncle Klaus agree to this?” Sister-in-law asked.
”He did,” Hans replied. “He’s looking to make his second son, Max, the Village Head here. But he’s set a condition for Larry to take the seat instead.”
Max was our cousin. I’d never met him. Last I heard, he’d graduated from the military academy in the capital, Besanburg, and was stationed up north. I hadn’t heard anything about a promotion to officer yet. The murmurs grew into a dull roar. No one had expected a cousin to be parachuted in as the new leader. Sister-in-law, however, didn’t blink. She just stared at Hans.
(I wondered… was this why she was screaming at our Uncle during Iffens-niisan’s funeral? If so, why had she kept it a secret until now?)
”Hey! More ale! And get me some meat, I’m starving!” Hans shouted, trying to break the tension. He pointed at the plate Yutia had left by the door. “Yutia, if you’re done with that, give it here.”
Yutia lifted the plate with trembling hands. “Thanks, kid. So, has Larry been in your bed yet?”
Her face went from pale to beet-red in a second. Her hands shook, and the plate slipped. Hans caught it with a practiced reflex, though some grease splashed. “Guess not. I’ll make sure to give him a talking-to about that later.”
Mortified, Yutia practically slid down the stairs and bolted for the main house. Hans watched her go, popped a piece of fallen meat into his mouth, and looked at me while he chewed. “Larry, you’re a pathetic mess. The girl loves you. Do your duty and bed her. Right, Granny?”
”Then I suppose I’ll have to take Hans as my bedwarmer tonight,” Granny Ferris cackled.
The crowd shared a nervous laugh, but everyone knew the jokes were just a distraction.
”Hans-san,” Sister-in-law said, her voice sharp.
”Don’t rush me. Here it comes,” said Hans. He accepted a fresh plate of meat, shoveled half of it into his mouth, and washed it down with a tidal wave of ale. “Gah, that’s the stuff.”
(You didn’t even taste that…)
”Right. Condition number one: Larry has to come back from the war alive,” Hans said.
The tension in the air eased slightly. It was an obvious point.
”Don’t get too comfortable, Larry,” Hans added. “You’re in deep shit.”
Between mouthfuls of meat, he laid out the nightmare. It wasn’t our Uncle Klaus who wanted Max in the village; it was our Aunt Camilla. She wanted her son out of the military-a dangerous job-and into a stable position as Village Head. Furthermore, Klaus’s mistress was pregnant. Camilla wanted her son to rule the village where the mistress would be sent so she could keep her under her thumb. Hans said Uncle Klaus was terrified that if the mistress gave birth to a boy, Camilla would have the child murdered.
The only things in her way were Hans and me. Hans was easy to deal with; he was a brawler with a record. She could just whisper to the Viscount that he lacked the dignity for the office. “If you ‘die’ on the battlefield, Max gets the village. Simple as that,” said Hans.
According to Hans, survival in war depends entirely on where you’re stationed. Aunt Camilla couldn’t swing a sword herself, but her sister is the Viscount’s primary wife. She could arrange for me to be sent to the front lines of a meat grinder with a single word.
(This isn’t a joke. Wait, is everyone looking at me with pity now?)
”But,” Hans continued, “Uncle Klaus has his own plan. He wants Max to be his heir at the main house.”
”So he’s sending the useless eldest son here instead?” Bours-san asked.
”No,” Hans replied. “The eldest son is getting married off somewhere else. Aunt Camilla is fighting it because she wants her ‘precious boy’ back home.”
It was a mess. We weren’t even true nobility-just ‘quasi-noble’³ gentry-and yet the politics were this poisonous.
”So here’s the deal,” said Hans. “Uncle Klaus says if Larry takes the headship, he has to take the mistress… what was her name?”
”Grete-san,” Sister-in-law provided.
”Right. You have to take Grete as your official Concubine⁴ and adopt the child she’s carrying as your own,” said Hans.
Hans went back to eating, the bombshell finally dropped. The choice was clear: Larry dies in the war, or Larry survives and has to raise his own cousin while keeping his Uncle’s mistress in his bed. I didn’t want to die. (But my survival is now a coin toss decided by people I’ve never even met.)
”Hans, what kind of man is this Max?” Bours-san asked.
”He is a true gentleman,” a voice answered from behind. “So much so that Klaus-sama considers him his only worthy successor.”
It was the Pastor. I didn’t need to look back to recognize that oily tone. I had wondered why he was assigned here-he was Camilla’s spy. The man was a pro at psychological warfare, poking people until they snapped. (In my old life, I knew consultants like this. Soulless husks.)
”Larry-kun, why not just renounce your inheritance?” the Pastor asked, leaning in and gripping my shoulder. “If you don’t, I’m afraid you won’t be coming home from the war.”
I ripped his hand off my shoulder and spun around to glare at him.
”I’m only saying this because I care about you,” the Pastor said with a smug grin.
I lost it. I lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar.
”Larry, don’t,” Hans said. “Al, you stay back too.”
Al had been ready to move, too.
”What’s this?” the Pastor sneered. “I hold your life and death in my hands, Larry-kun.”
I tightened my grip, then shoved him away with everything I had. I didn’t use Mana, but the force sent him sprawling onto his rear.
”Typical,” the Pastor hissed, scrambling up. “Violent, uneducated hicks. You’re all the same.”
”Bours-san,” Hans called out. “The Militia gathers tomorrow, right? Can this Pastor really just walk into Obernbach and change an assignment on a whim?”
”Not a chance,” Bours-san replied. “The Royal Army doesn’t take orders from local priests. The nobility can influence the initial quotas, but once you’re in the system, you’re a soldier. Period.”
”You hear that, Mr. Pastor?” Hans said, a predatory smile spreading across his face. “A former officer says you’re full of shit. So… how exactly were you planning on ‘handling’ my brother?”
An eerie atmosphere settled over the group, punctuated by words one would never expect from a man of his appearance.
”Man, he’s terrifying… ‘Mad Dog’ Hans is on a warpath. If that bastard Pastor gives the wrong answer, he’s a dead man walking.”
Bosch, one of the hangers-on, egged him on. He was a piece of work himself.
”I’m only… I’m just doing exactly what Camilla-sama told me to do,” Pastor stammered. “Who cares what some washed-up former officer has to say, anyway?”
”Hmph. Is that so? You’re really going to lie to my face?” My brother spoke with a chilling smile. “Fine then. I’ll let you pick your own way to die.”
Hans stood up, strode over to Pastor, and clamped his hand around the man’s jaw.
”I’m the one talking here,” Hans growled. “Listen up.”
(He’s gripping him so hard Pastor’s face is literally collapsing under the pressure.)
”For the first option… how about I scalp you? Don’t worry, in this weather, you could probably hang on for a month. Al, give me that knife.”
Hans took the knife and flashed the blade in front of Pastor’s eyes.
”This here? I picked it up in Besanburg⁵. It’s a Solingen⁶. Ever heard of them? Famous for their blades. I just gutted two orcs with this thing-see the blood? It’s sharp as hell. Your scalp would come off like a dream. Just… schlick. Right off.”
My brother nicked Pastor’s forehead with the tip of the blade. Blood welled up instantly, dripping into the man’s eyes.
”Whoops. Hand slipped.”
(Forehead wounds bleed like crazy; Hans is enjoying every second of this.)
”Next? I know. I’ll strip you buck-naked and toss you into a goblin nest. Those things start eating you from the feet up. They hate the taste of carrion, so they make sure you stay alive as long as possible. If you’re lucky, you might even last longer than the scalping. What do you think?”
The surrounding villagers watched, half-convinced he was actually going to do it.
”The third choice? Well, I’ll drag you down to the riverbed and bury you alive. You’ll have to dig the hole yourself, though. Consider it a favor-it’s the easiest way to go.”
Hans let out a sharp, cackling laugh. I couldn’t imagine he was actually capable of this, but where on earth did he get this kind of knowledge?
”Actually, maybe I’ll just break your jaw first so you stop being so noisy.”
I looked at Al, hoping someone would step in, but a voice cut through the air from behind us.
”Please, stop, Hans-sama.”
It was a calm voice, utterly out of place in this chaos. I turned to see a woman dressed in black. I remembered her-Pastor’s wife. People said she was a saint.
”Who the hell are you?” asked Hans.
”I am that man’s wife. Or more accurately, I am a maid in the service of Camilla-sama.”
The woman bowed her head quietly, her tone impeccable.
(So, she’s in the same position as Nico-sama… just what we needed, another complication.)
”And what does a ‘maid’ of this Camilla person want with me?” Hans demanded.
”I will explain the full situation. In exchange, would you be so kind as to release that man?”
”What? Did you actually grow fond of him while he was in your bed?”
”Hardly.”
The “hardly” she uttered was laced with such stinging, profound contempt that even my brother blinked. With a greasy smirk, Hans let go of Pastor and turned to face her.
”I’m listening. Start talking.”
* * *
As it turned out, my brother’s information was full of holes. It was true that Camilla-sama wanted her second son, Max, to take over as the Village Head, but it wasn’t out of simple favoritism. Apparently, she didn’t believe either her eldest or second son was capable of inheriting the family business. The eldest was being looked after by her maiden family, and there was talk of him marrying into a local Village Head’s family. He was actually quite eager about it, and she was reluctantly giving her blessing.
”That’s not what I heard,” Hans countered. “Klaus told me Camilla-sama was dead set against it.”
”I believe that is simply Camilla-sama’s way of showing motherly concern. That region faces the northern sea; the soil is barren. They can’t grow wheat-only barley or rye at best. It’s mostly cattle farmers. My own family is from there, and compared to this village, it is a destitute place. But when you have nowhere else to go, you can’t be picky.”
My brother eyed the maid as if he were appraising a piece of meat. I noticed that, somewhere along the way, “Uncle Klaus” had just become “Klaus” to him.
”And what about Larry’s assignment?” asked Hans.
”Camilla-sama’s maiden family is the house of Earl Holstein⁷. Bours-sama, you likely know him-a former Lieutenant General who still consults for the General Staff.”
The villagers shifted their gaze to Bours-san. Looking a bit blindsided, Bours-san gave a slow nod, confirming her words.
”A Major, who is both a relative and a former subordinate of his, was scheduled to stay with the Viscount. Camilla-sama had an appointment with him, but due to circumstances, they were only able to manage a brief word in passing.”
”And when was this?” Hans asked.
”The day before we set out. So… eight days ago.”
”Is something wrong?” Al asked, seeing my brother sink into a pensive silence.
”No, it can wait. Go on.”
”It is unclear if Camilla-sama intended to have Larry-sama assigned to a dangerous unit, but she certainly wanted to know the trajectory of the coming war.”
”So, Klaus’s claim that she was trying to have Larry killed off… that was a lie?” Hans pressed.
”As Bours-sama said, it would have been nearly impossible to arrange. However,” she added, “she is a woman of volatile temperament. I cannot say for certain that the thought never crossed her mind.”
(She really is a terrifying woman. Even if Larry makes it back alive, the future looks bleak.)
”So, why are you here?”
”To investigate the villagers-specifically the elders, Larry-sama, Teressa-sama, and Nico-sama. Based on our findings, we are to steer things toward a resolution that satisfies Camilla-sama’s desires.”
”And?”
”There are no problems.” She offered my brother a smile that seemed far too practiced for her age.
”Bold words. And what about Klaus’s plan?”
”A house of cards, if I may. Aside from the fact that Hans-sama will be attending the military academy.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd, starting with my brother’s inner circle.
(So that was what he meant by not taking over as Village Head. Cunning bastard.)
”You really do know everything, don’t you?” Hans said.
(Hans? At a military academy? The man who couldn’t stand being told what to do? It sounded like a joke, but it was likely the truth.)
”So, in that head of yours, how does this village end up?” Hans asked.
”It’s simple. Max-sama will marry Lyrica-sama, the daughter of the former Village Head, and inherit the Fee family line. Teressa-sama will remain in the household as a Concubine.”
My sister-in-law’s face went pale with fury.
”Larry-sama will take Nico-sama and marry Monica-sama’s daughter, Alisa-sama, thereby inheriting the Getys house.”
”What about Monica’s boy?”
Monica had twins-a boy and a girl.
”The younger brother is currently running a rock salt business in Obernbach⁸. Arrangements are being made for him to be adopted into that side of the family.”
She had done her homework. I felt a gaze on me and looked over at Monica; she immediately looked away.
(So they had already talked…)
”What happens if I refuse?” I asked.
”Well,” the maid mused, “I suppose the poll tax for this village might suddenly see a twenty-percent hike.”
She was playing dirty. I didn’t know what legal loophole they’d use, but they’d find one.
(If I tried to become Village Head and the taxes went up, the villagers would turn on me in a heartbeat. The silent pressure was already beginning to solidify.)
If Camilla-sama had anticipated the combined effect of Pastor and this woman, she was more dangerous than I ever imagined. My chances of becoming Village Head were officially zero.
”I see,” Hans said. “And what becomes of Klaus’s woman?”
”If she bears a girl, I believe she will be allowed to live out her days in peace here.”
Which meant if it was a boy, things wouldn’t be so “peaceful.”
My brother made a mock-surprised face at the answer.
”And what about you two?”
”Us? We will return to Besanburg shortly and resume our lives.”
”Right. Woman, give me your name.”
”Ursula Dietrich.”
”Your real name.”
”Ursula Ullman.”
”What a weird name. Sounds like ‘Ur-slat.’” Hans sneered.
For the first time, the woman’s composure cracked, and her face flushed with anger. Despite the insult, the surrounding villagers seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The tension was finally breaking.
The Thalbach family-our aunt and uncle-were vassals to the Viscount and patrons of the Fee family. Larry, fresh off his coming-of-age ceremony, was in no position to fight back. The villagers had likely decided the future of the village was set in stone. The circle around my brother dispersed; some went to grab the last of the meat, others started cleaning up.
So, I was to marry into Monica’s family. How was Larry going to take that that ssu? Not that it mattered. The Getys family was well-off enough. I wanted to say it was all over, but my sister-in-law was the real problem. Her pride had been shredded. Now, it was decided she’d be a concubine for some second son named Max. There was no way she’d just accept that.
Regardless, my brother was a goddamn hurricane. He’d come home and blown the whole celebration away in an instant.
”Hey, Al, Larry. Get the elders together. There’s some weird shit happening outside I need to tell ’em.”
Following his lead, Al and I dragged Granny, Bours-san, and Daniel-san over to the front of the Village Head’s tower.
”Ho ho! I thought I was finally going to get some meat, but what’s this?”
Daniel arrived with a plate overflowing with meat and a mug the size of a pitcher. For some reason, the woman with the “interesting” name was there too.
”There are refugees flooding into Obernbach,” Hans said flatly.
”From Kiridal?” Al asked.
”Further than that,” Hans replied. Bours-san suggested they might be from Dacia or the Harmonian lords, and Hans nodded.
”You guys heard of the Martyr Army? They sacked Byzantium.”
”Don’t talk rot,” Bours-san barked. “The Martyr Army was formed to protect the faith against the Scripture Church. Why would they attack a holy city that’s practically their own kin?”
”Hell if I know,” Hans shrugged. “But they’re looting everything in sight. I heard it straight from a merchant who barely made it out.”
”Ho… then I suppose we won’t be getting any tools from that way for a while,” Daniel said, looking genuinely troubled. Beside him, Grandma’s face was grim.
”That’s not all. The Turkic Empire is pushing into Harmonia. Refugees are pouring into Pannonia and coming up the Danube River toward us. Some of them have already turned into a violent mob.”
I looked at my brother. Maybe it wasn’t the best time to be worrying about who was going to be Village Head.
”Hans! Why didn’t you lead with this?” Bours-san demanded.
”In my head,” Hans muttered, “this family’s bullshit was more important than some refugees.”
I couldn’t believe those words came out of his mouth. He looked like a giant, battle-hardened brute, but he was still only seventeen. He was at that age where everything feels personal.
”Bours, what now? Do we call off the deployment?” asked Daniel.
”No,” Bours-san said, his voice hard. “We can’t stop now.”
”And why is that?” Daniel pressed.
”If Kiridal decides to invade while we’re dealing with a refugee crisis, we’re finished. In a mess like this, the only move is to strike first.”
The clouds over our future were getting darker by the second.
—
Summary:
Hans returns and disrupts the village feast to announce he is refusing the position of Village Head. He reveals a dark political plot by Aunt Camilla to have Larry killed in the coming war so her son Max can take the position. Klaus offers a counter-deal involving Larry surviving but taking a mistress and child as his own.
Hans intimidates Pastor with vivid threats of torture before Ursula, a maid of Camilla, intervenes to explain the true political situation. Ursula reveals Camilla’s elaborate plans for the village’s future, effectively neutralizing the power struggle between Hans and Larry. The chapter ends with Hans warning of a massive refugee crisis and a holy war that threatens to engulf the region.
—
Trivia:
- Hans killed an Orc with a dagger meant as a gift for Al on his way to the village.
- Aunt Camilla’s sister is the primary wife of the Viscount, giving her significant political leverage over military assignments.
- Max, the cousin, is actually well-regarded and considered a ‘gentleman’ by the Pastor.
- The Pastor is explicitly revealed to be working for the Aunt’s faction.
- Hans is only seventeen years old despite his fearsome reputation.
- Solingen is a real-world German city famous for blades, often used in fantasy to signify quality.
- The ‘Rite of Passage’ is a significant social ritual involving a sexual encounter or partnership.
- The Getys family is the 5th family to settle in the village.
- The Martyr Army’s attack on Byzantium is considered a betrayal of their own religious roots
—
Character Insight:
Larry demonstrates significant restraint and a growing sense of the ‘host’s’ memories, while Hans shows a hidden depth of protective loyalty toward his brother despite his violent facade.
Hans shows a surprising level of political awareness and concern for his family despite his ‘Mad Dog’ persona, while Larry is forced to accept a marriage of convenience as his aspirations for leadership are systematically dismantled by Camilla’s proxies.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘consultant’ reference suggests Larry’s previous life was in a corporate or management environment.
The mention of the Fourth Martyr Army expedition mirrors the real-world historical Fourth Crusade which sacked Constantinople (Byzantium).
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Larry – Fourteen‑year‑old third son of the Strock headman, with reddish‑white skin, bronze eyes and curly bronze hair, now hosts a 40‑year‑old former middle manager’s consciousness. He carries faint Showa memories, minor fire magic, medical/scientific know‑how, and a backup‑heir mindset. He hides his talent, does chores, dreads conscription, silently admires his sister‑in‑law, and trains for militia and magic school to become Village Head, while a modern Japanese persona drives him toward war and self‑closure.
• Hans – Larry, the rugged, wild‑eyed ‘Mad Dog’ of Strock Village, is the second son of the Fee family, a chronic alcoholic with assault and extortion convictions. As the older brother and heir to the Kessler estate he abandons his duties, returning to crash a ceremony. His brother is aggressive, decisive, pragmatic, known for strength and violence, and refuses the headship.
• Nico – Silver‑haired, stern yet protective lady’s maid, once head servant under a faded‑livery mentor, now lives with Larry’s family as a sister‑in‑law figure. She scolds Larry bluntly but quietly supports neighbors, avoids chores by cleaning gear, was a childhood acquaintance of high social grace, once met Camilla, was called “the hole” in gambling, and after recent events carries a subdued air while playing violin gallantly on stage. She, a village girl close to Larry, recently completed a coming‑of‑age ceremony (she/her)
• Al – Alberto, a massive red‑haired man recently married to Mary, just finished his village wedding. He is a companion of Hans, helping intimidate and gather elders as a villager and leader working alongside him.
• Alberto – Standing over 210 cm tall, massive red‑haired former delinquent now elder on the temporary Elders’ Council, he questions Larry’s future as Village Head and is engaged to Mary. A villager and acquaintance of Larry and Hans.
• Klaus – Larry’s maternal uncle, head of the Thalbach family and a vassal to Viscount Bizan. He dislikes Larry and Hans. He is described as a thin, grumpy-looking man, wears a light grey cloak and a black hat with gold ornaments signifying his rank in a Viscount’s house.
• Yutia – A hunched, muscularly abnormal servant girl with a severe speech impediment and lingering fever scars, once Teressa’s maid, now feels emotional distance as Larry’s status rises. Yet she remains dexterous, quietly serving Larry’s household with loyalty despite isolation. A village girl who gives Larry a braided hair charm for battle, she eats at the manor and is intimidated by Hans.
• Daniel – White‑haired dwarf blacksmith with a thick mane lives opposite Granny Ferris; he forges weapons, serves on the village council, and teaches that a strong physical grip fuels mana flow. He is also one of the village elders.
• Ferris – Granny, an ageless elf who appears as a 30‑year‑old but is centuries old, runs the village pharmacy with deep magic and elf‑style healing. She claims to have known Larry’s grandfather, speaks bluntly, and is the elderly woman Martin hopes to marry.
• Bours – Tall, scarred, in a faded Royal Army uniform, he is a former captain turned militia instructor, stern‑tempered, training village youth in archer precision, tactical Heal magic, orc‑hunting and wilderness survival. Married to Sheeta‑san, father of a son in the Imperial border division, now heading for conscription; veteran of the Western Front and member of the Elders’ Council.
• Max – Uncle Klaus’s second son and Larry’s cousin.
• Iffens – Eldest son of the Fee family, village head of Strock Village and older brother to Larry, he fell in battle. Remembered as a solemn, battle‑scarred figure, his death casts a heavy emotional shadow over the household and fuels Yutia’s fear.
• Grete – Uncle Klaus’s mistress. She is a small woman with high administrative abilities.
• Pastor – A religious figure and likely spy for Aunt Camilla, formerly an exiled clergyman from Besanburg, now stationed on the frontier; his worn cassock bears faint embroidery of the Camilla sigil, and his guarded demeanor and frequent private correspondence suggest loyalties beyond his clerical role, with villagers wary of his quiet influence and unexplained visits from masked messengers.
• Teressa – Larry’s eldest sister‑in‑law, widow of former Village Head Iffens, now Village Head herself. Married at fifteen, mother of Lyrica and Maria. Blonde short hair, big‑chested, motherly aura, wool jacket over blouse with a button almost split. Sharp, mischievous, big‑sisterly manager of household and village reports; reacts with physical shock to Lyrica’s revelations. Air‑headed yet hides a sharp, terrifying edge; a quasi‑noble with an alluring, keen mind.
• Lyrica – Larry’s niece, a toddler under three, appears innocent but harbors a demonic edge; she bluntly repeats scandalous gossip she overhears, exposing adult secrets with childlike honesty.
• Monica – Sun‑tanned, tomboyish Larry’s childhood friend, now a widow and mother of twins, she raises her kids while caring for infant niece Maria. Missing teeth and bitter about Larry’s neglect, she embodies how war’s danger touches even non‑combat villagers.
• Ursula – Wife of Pastor. A maid serving Camilla-sama. Highly composed and knowledgeable about the political landscape. Wife of the local Pastor, twenty-eight years old, described as a virgin. Full name Ursula Ullman.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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