The sale

Good morning, world.
Tomorrow I finally get to see her again!
So yeah, I didn't get dinner or breakfast for a day after "losing" the scythe, but meeting her again was all I could think about.
Her silky blonde hair, piercing green eyes and cute little nose.
Not to mention that ethereal smile, after seeing her smile twice, I got all the sustenance I needed for days!

Honestly, I hope I can at least see her face for a few seconds when dawn breaks tomorrow.
With my head in the clouds, work on the field has been progressing very quickly. I've almost finished all the work I had to do this week, so even if I'm gone all day tomorrow, surely father won't be able to complain too much! I'll even bring the scythe back in working condition!
After that, he'll be a little calmer, I hope.
Even if he isn't, I honestly do not feel that bad, as long as I get to meet her again and maybe occasionally sneak out to fight a magic beast or two...

Giving up on that first dream but not the second?
Who said that? Me?
I don't remember any of that!
I won't give up on either of them!

As I'm musing about tomorrow morning, mentally walking on air, it appears my feet actually brought me all the way home already; the fragrance of fried pork snaps me back to reality. I can't recall there being any reason for celebration.
Commoners don't get to eat meat often, you know.

As I walk through the door, my sisters are still helping to spin the flax fibres from last year into yarn, to be used for linen clothes. We sell most of the yarn, but considering how much they've both been growing lately, I think mum will probably be making them both new clothes this year. At least we can sell their old clothes to younger kids in the village.
Dad might only be a farmer, but compared to other commoners, we are fairly well off. We own our own plot of land.
Iron tools are not cheap either, so us having an entire shed of them is a bit of a status symbol, as well as helping us work the fields more efficiently.
I suppose you are thinking about a certain someone, breaking a few of those expensive tools...

Okay, I concur, maybe my dream is a liiittle bit expensive for my father, but considering I work the fields at the same speed as him, despite him having three times more experience...
I think I still earn my stay.
Barely...

We usually don't talk much during dinner, so I don't bother asking why we're eating pork with our rice today. I'll just be grateful for it and enjoy. For some reason, my usually curious sisters aren't questioning it either.

After dinner, my youngest sister tugs my sleeve upstairs as I go to my bedroom.

She looks around nervously, checking the stairs twice as well as their own bedroom (my sisters share one).
Considering how carefree she usually is, combined with the fact that she never stopped me when I went to bed before, gives me a bad feeling about this.

"Big brother?
Are you really sick?"

"Not that I know of."

"Are you sure? I heard someone else in the village died from very bad burns like you..."

"It's not infected, look, Louise. It's just blisters, nothing horrible."

"But mummy silently told us to prepare for if you don't come home anymore next time you leave."

Is mum really this scared my next fight with a magic beast will be such a big loss that it ends up being fatal?

"Don't worry about that, your big brother is very strong, he's not going down anytime soon!
Also, what kind of big brother would just leave you behind?"

"Hmmm"
She looks at me suspiciously
"If you say so, brother, but why would mummy think you will not make it back when you're so strong?"

"Mum just worries too much. How often have I returned wounded?
If you don't count a few days ago, I think the worst I've had is a few cuts and bruises."

She finally stops furrowing her brow and turns to go to their own room.
"Okay, brother, just be careful with whatever you're doing, yes?"

I don't need my sister's warning to know magic beasts are dangerous, but maybe I should take it easy. Especially considering how poorly it went last time, I almost went past my capabilities.
"I will. Goodnight, Louise."

"Goodnight, big brother."

When I hear the door open about an hour later, curiosity gets the better of me.

I sneak halfway down the stairs, father is talking to someone I've never heard before.
The other man sounds dignified, but he twists his words very weirdly. Maybe the posh language is just an act?

"Gerald, right?
The village samurai told me you wanted to have a word with me."

"Yes, how may I refer to you? I assume you are a messenger from the Head samurai of this region, then?"

"That I am...
Sir is fine."
Why does this guy talk so stiff? His voice is devoid of emotion, except maybe a little... Frustration?
"Just so you know, I would have usually just shrugged at the samurai who asked me to come here. Talking to farmers is not exactly within my job description..."
"If not for the fact that three separate samurai approached me, each more convinced than the previous.
The last one did not even know who they wanted me to find, but they reported some kid had been taking care of magic beasts that an average samurai might have trouble defeating unharmed."

...

So this conversation is about me?
Did they figure out I'm trying to learn magic somehow?
Would it be punishable to want to learn magic? I suppose so...
I'll mentally prepare myself to dash past them to the door, just in case.
Although he probably has his men standing guard near the door, should something happen.

"Yes, that is what I wanted to talk about... My son always goes out with my farming tools whenever a magic beast is sighted nearby. I honestly do not know what to do with him anymore."

Excuse me?
I don't just go around fighting any magic beasts! I do try to be careful, I only go for magic beasts that seem doable after looking for them in the encyclopedia I hid in a hollow tree near our fields!

"even though ... ... from his last trip."
Damnit, why was he mumbling so silently during that part? I couldn't even make out what he said.

"I don't have the means or permission to buy actual weapons. This was the most I could do."
Is it just me, or does father sound a lot less intimidating, almost fragile, like he could shatter with each sentence he speaks to this high-ranking samurai? Is he that scared?

"I see.
If he proves useful, we most certainly do have the capacity to acquire combat gear for him."

"I guarantee he will not disappoint."

"That would be better for both of us. If this trip was for naught, my lord might need to send someone else to collect compensation for my wasted time."

"You might not even have to wait long for him to prove himself."
"When I asked what happened to the scythe, he said he lent it to someone, and I'd have it back soon, which happens to be tomorrow. I expect him to be carrying it when you take him."

"I would appreciate it if you make sure not to injure him.
I will make sure my daughters are indoors. I don't want them witnessing it when you take him with you. It saves some trouble for you as well."

"You are very demanding for a lowly farmer, but I suppose I will fulfil this request.
The plan was to take him at the edge of the forest all along."
So I'm getting forcibly taken in by samurai?
"Either way, I'll be going now. If we manage to take him to his new home, I'll tell one of my men to leave a little something for you at the promised location."

"Good luck, and please take good care of him."

The door opens and closes.
The samurai never even responded to that last request.