Gourmet Emperor : Building A Nation

"Master Ikki, are you ready? Let's pick the other guys up while we go to the forest"

"Yes, I'm ready, Chief Harvard"

So, three of us walk together toward the western part of the village. We stop in front of a house that has hammer sign hanging in the door.

"Yoo...Lukas, are you ready to go?" chief Harvard shouting from outside.

Not waiting for long, a sturdy and brawny man come out from the house. He looks very strong. Chief Harvard introduce me to the man

"Master Ikki, this is Mister Lukas, he's the blacksmith in this village. Lukas, this is master Ikki, my honored guest. He saved my daughter in the forest when she attacked by a wolf"

Mr. Lukas looks at me with admiration eyes, he stretching his big hand toward me,

"It's an honor to meet a fierce young man like master Ikki"

"Pleased to meet you too, Mister Lukas" I accept his hand and we make shake hands.

"Alright, let's go before the sun gets high. We'll meet Matius and Marius near forest edge", Chief Harvard gives us the order to start the trip to the forest. Two names that he mentioned before maybe other guys that will join our trip to the forest. So we leave the village through the south gate where I came for yesterday.

While we walking toward the forest, I'm asking chief Harvard why Silvie also come with us

"Chief Harvard, is it alright to bring your daughter along? The forest is not a safe place, you know? She wounded because a wolf attack her in the forest yesterday"

"We must bring her along master Ikki, because her position in the village is related with our trip to the forest"

"Eh? Why is that?"

"She is the holy maiden, the caretaker of God shrine in our village. We worship Gaia the earth mother and have a shrine in the forest. We do annual offering festive there".

Does she have such position? So she is like a miko in my world? A shrine maiden? I never thought she has an important position like that. I steal a glance at her but she also glances at me at the same time, ended with we blushing together and must divert our eyes to other direction. My mind suddenly recalling the view at the ponds this morning and make me remember her twin mountain. Since the garment technology isn't developed well in this world, could it be she didn't have and wear …. Bra ? or maybe even panty?

Fortunately (or unfortunately?) we already arrive at the edge of the forest. There are two men already waiting for us there. They carrying bow and quivers in their waist and seems like hunter. Chief Harvard approaching them while talking to them.

"Matius! Marius! Did you two waiting for long?"

"Chief Harvard! We just arrived here so we don't wait for long. Who is that young man behind you?"

"Ah, he is my daughter's savior that I tell you this morning, master Ikki. Let me introduce you to our village hunter, Matius, and Marius, Matius is marius' older brother"

"Hello, master Ikki," said them both and stretching their hand to me.

"Hello, mister Matius and mister Marius" I greet them back and accept their hand.

"Shall we go now? So we will have plenty of time to search that place?" ask chief Harvard

"Okay," said them both. I just nodded as approval.