Firts steps in the town when the time is aganist you

During dinner with Enphi and her father, I learned quite a few things.
Apparently, the village I'm in lies right on the border of the Viliose Empire. Beyond that border is the Celestial Kingdom. Just like Enphi had told me, this village worships the goddess Sypthia—but only here. She's nearly forgotten elsewhere. This is the last place with a church in her name.

The Viliose Empire's rulers no longer believe in gods at all, while the Celestial Kingdom worships a different goddess entirely Sypthia doesn't have followers in any other place.

And yes, this world runs on magical abilities. Like an isekai. According to what I heard, any area with a decent population has a guild. But… this towm? Only three adventurers remain in the entire region. No wonder the situation's getting pretty rough lately.

As for me… well, things got a bit dramatic.

—NO!!

The shout came from a short old man with a long beard and cat ears. He was a demi-human and, as it turns out, the mayor of the town. I heard about him during dinner. Apparently, he doesn’t like outsiders.

—First, a duke’s daughter from the capital builds a vacation home on the hill, and now a stranger wants to live in the town? Absolutely not!

—But Mayor, we can’t just turn away a poor boy we rescued from the forest —said a tall, gray-haired man one of the elder council members who advise the mayor.

—Silence! He’s an adventurer, isn’t he? Then he can be out on his own— the mayor snapped, clearly worked up.

—“That’s exactly why we should let him stay. We’re desperately short on manpower we need all the help we can get— another elder protested.

—Hmmmm… you’ve got a point. Bah, fine, I can’t argue with that. We really are short-handed lately… especially since we’ve been asked to protect the young lady on the hill too…He crossed his arms and sighed.—

Alright, stay in the town. But you’ll have to find a house on your own!

Wow, that was fast… I’m not going to complain cause it's good for me

—About that…A voice spoke up from behind me. I turned to see an elderly woman leaning on a cane.

—I’ll take the boy. We’ve got a vacant room at home.”She turned out to be Claudine’s grandmother. Claudine had mentioned earlier that she’d take care of my housing situation, but I didn’t think that meant I’d be living with her.

While the mayor and the council kept talking, I quietly checked my friendship stats with them. Yep. As expected: 0 across the board. Some of them were clearly interested in letting me stay, but none of them actually trusted me.

—Well then, it’s settled —the old lady said with a nod.—“Don’t worry, Freddy. Having him at my place won’t mean you’ll go without your muffins.”

—Yes, ma’am…— the mayor muttered. Totally outmatched by the sweet old lady.

And just like that… I got a home.
As I stepped out of the village council hall, I was greeted by the fresh scent of pine. No doubt about it—I was deep in the countryside. The sunlight shone over the rooftops of a European-style village hidden from the world. It was almost picturesque. I took a moment to breathe it all in—until something bumped into me.

—Ah! Sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going…A girl about my height stood in front of me. She had blue hair and wore a white dress with noble-style decorations. There was no mistaking...She must’ve been the duke’s daughter they mentioned earlier. Without saying another word, she kept walking and entered the council building.
Why she go to there? Well, that’s a story for another time.

"Can I see my friendship level with her?"I brought up the screen the goddess had granted me—let’s call it the "Friendly Tab". I searched through the list…
She didn’t appear.

Maybe because she’s not a villager?
As I was pondering that thought, I suddenly stepped on something soft.

—“MIAAAAAAAAAAU!"A cat hissed at me, glared like I’d just insulted its existence, and scape to a house.

The Friendly Tab blinked.

[-1 Friendship with Cat]

…Wait. Animals have friendship bars too?!