Chapter 92: The Wool Road

The director nun remained composed, as if she had anticipated this.

“So you heard after all. I didn’t want to burden you with worry. Was it Isabel?”

“Whether I heard it from someone or not, that’s not what’s important right now!”

The director nun spoke heavily.

“It seems we’ll have to vacate this place.”

“Why on earth?”

“It was decided at the village meeting. This land belongs to the village.”

“I’ll go and try to persuade them!”

“No, actually, this might be for the best.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’ve gotten quite old. I’m not sure how much longer I can take care of these young ones.”

She smiled bitterly.

“Then what about the children?”

“I’ll take full responsibility and move them all to the orphanage in the neighboring city.”

…This place was disappearing.

“The facilities there are better than here.”

…It felt strange.

“And their circumstances are better, so they won’t have to go hungry.”

…It had to be this place.

“So don’t worry too much.”

…If it wasn’t this place, then my parents…

“…Ugh.”

I bit my lip hard.

The truth was, wanting to keep the orphanage running was purely my own selfishness.

But the director nun really was too old, and it was true she couldn’t care for the children anymore.

I walked out of the director’s office, feeling drained.

“Fabir oppa….”

Isabel was waiting outside the director’s office.

“It was wrong of me to bring it up….”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

My heart felt heavy.

I was worried about the children, of course, but there was also a fair bit of personal disappointment.

This was the only remaining connection to my parents. 

A thread of hope still lingered that they might come looking for me here someday.

Clench—

I gripped my fist tightly.

I was angry at myself for being unable to do anything.

But running an orphanage wasn’t as easy as it sounded. And there was no way I could manage it from so far away.

Still.

“Isabel.”

I didn’t want to give up like this.

“I want to run the orphanage.”

“…Fabir oppa….”

I spoke with determination.

“Will you help me?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’ll take responsibility and sponsor the orphanage. How about you become the next director?”

“M-me?”

“The kids already listen to you well. Plus, you’ve been helping the director nun all this time.”

“But… this isn’t something I can decide on my own….”

Isabel lowered her voice, but—

“What are you talking about?”

It seemed the director nun had already overheard. Of course, I had deliberately spoken loudly on purpose.

The director came out with a worried expression.

“You’re saying you’ll take over the orphanage?”

“Please trust Isabel and me and give us your permission.”

“Fabir… what are you thinking?”

“I really have the confidence to do it well!”

I had the ability to run an orphanage now. At this point, yes.

Just like how I’d managed the Floating Island, operated the herb shop, and run my business, I could manage the orphanage too.

And besides, I needed to repay the kindness they’d shown me all these years.

“…The village won’t allow it.”

“I’ll persuade them.”

When I showed my firm resolve, eyes sparkling, the nun let out a small sigh.

***

The Winheim Village Hall.

I met the village chief there.

“What business do you have, asking to see me?”

“I heard you’re planning to close the orphanage.”

“That’s right.”

“I want to buy the orphanage land.”

“The orphanage?”

He looked me up and down.

“You look young, but you must have quite the fortune.”

“I’m farming. I also run a small business.”

“Oh! A businessman, eh!”

His face lit up at the mention of my business.

“What do you plan to do with the land after buying it? Open a shop?”

“No. I plan to keep operating the orphanage.”

“What?”

His face suddenly turned cold.

“In that case, I can’t sell the land.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“That land is village communal property. We’re thinking of bringing in a business that benefits the village.”

“But….”

“I’m heartbroken about the orphanage closing too. But the village itself is on the verge of disappearing.”

He let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t think too badly of us. We’ve done what we could all this time. So, go on back.”

They had lent the land for free until now. They must have had their own circumstances.

I couldn’t force them to do good deeds, but I couldn’t back down like this either.

“I’ll find a way to save the village.”

“Hm? A way?”

“In exchange, please reconsider closing the orphanage.”

He stared intently into my eyes. I didn’t look away.

“You still don’t understand the situation? You’re really persistent.”

“Just give me one chance. I won’t bother you anymore.”

“Ahem… Bring me an alternative that can persuade the villagers.”

“Th-thank you!”

“One week. If you can’t do it by then, give up cleanly.”

“I’ll definitely make it happen!”

I steeled my resolve. It wasn’t baseless confidence.

I already had a clear roadmap in my head.

I headed straight to the Blue Horse Merchant Group.

“Hey! Look over there. It’s Mr. Fabir.”

“Really? What brings him here today?”

Whispers.

***

As soon as I entered the merchant group, all eyes turned to me. 

They sparkled with anticipation and curiosity.

But I didn’t have time to worry about that now.

“Mr. Fabir, you’ve arrived?”

Michael spotted me and quickly came to greet me.

“I need to see Mr. Welper urgently.”

At my urgent request, Michael replied hastily.

“I’ll escort you inside right away.”

Murmurs.

“His face looks pretty serious. Must be something important.”

“Something big is about to happen.”

The lobby buzzed with tension.

When I entered the office, Welper stood up from his desk to welcome me.

“Come on in.”

“Sorry for the sudden visit.”

“You’re always welcome. Have a seat over here.”

I sat on the sofa facing him.

“You said you were looking for me urgently?”

“Well….”

“What is it? Seeing you hesitate like this is making me nervous too.”

“Do you happen to know Winheim Village?”

“Winheim? Never heard of it.”

“It’s a small village in the northern frontier.”

“I see. And what about that village?”

“I want to start a new business there.”

“A new business?”

Welper’s eyebrows shot up.

“Since you’re bringing it to me, it must not be an easy one.”

“I can’t do it alone. I need the power of the Blue Horse Merchant Group.”

“What kind of business exactly?”

I glanced at the map on the table. It showed the Blue Horse Merchant Group’s trade routes.

“I’ll connect a new trade route. Here. And here.”

I pointed to two spots: the Royal Capital and Winheim Village.

“And here.”

When I pointed to the last spot, Welper’s eyes widened.

“Th-this place? Isn’t that the beastkin village?”

I nodded.

“A new trade route connecting the beastkin village, Winheim Village, and the Royal Capital.”

Grin—

I lifted the corners of my mouth.

“I’ll create the Wool Road.”

Shock spread across Welper’s face. It seemed hard for him to accept.

“The b-beastkin village?! Are you serious?”

“I know what you’re worried about. I’ll handle the beastkin side.”

“Handle it how? Are you planning to go to the beastkin village yourself?”

Welper shook his head firmly.

“That’s too dangerous! Give up on this business. Even for you, it’s impossible!”

“It’s not impossible. There’s plenty of potential for success!”

“What on earth are you thinking?”

Welper’s brow furrowed slightly. But I didn’t back down.

“I have something to show you.”

Rummage.

I pulled something out of my bag.

“Th-that’s…?”

“Yes. It’s a scarf made from fox beastkin fur.”

“You’ve already been to the beastkin village?”

Instead of answering, I smiled. Welper’s eyes trembled faintly.

“Haa… You’re really an unpredictable guy.”

He clutched his forehead, looking dizzy.

“Go ahead and touch it. Beastkin fur is incredibly soft and warm, isn’t it? I’ll import these furs from the beastkin village, process them into wool clothes in Winheim, and supply them to the Royal Capital. They’ll sell well to the nobles.”

“Of course they would. Beastkin village furs are so scarce right now that you can’t even get them.”

“It’s too much for me alone. Please help me.”

“Haa….”

Welper took a deep breath, as if to calm his startled heart.

“What do I need to help with?”

“Securing the trade route and sales channels.”

Regular trade personnel and carriages to import beastkin furs, and a distribution network to sell to nobles.

“And resources to establish a wool clothing sewing factory in Winheim Village.”

“A sewing factory in Winheim?”

“I plan to hire the Winheim residents.”

“We’ll need seamstress instructors to train them.”

It was a complex and difficult project requiring support in many areas, from human and material resources.

But with the Blue Horse Merchant Group’s capabilities, it should be more than possible.

“Hmm… This will be a big challenge for the Blue Horse Merchant Group.”

“If it succeeds, the rewards will be just as great.”

No matter how capable the Blue Horse Merchant Group was, in the entire Royal Capital, it was just a slightly famous frontier merchant group.

But this was a business no other merchant group in the kingdom had even dared to attempt.

If they pulled it off, the Blue Horse Merchant Group’s reputation would soar to the skies.

“You keep surprising me.”

Welper’s hesitation didn’t last long.

“This will be a magnificent challenge that goes down in the merchant group’s history. Let’s do it!”

“Thank you!”

And so, the ‘Wool Road’ project began.

***

I arrived straight at the beastkin village and went to see Chief Balbo.

Chief Balbo welcomed me.

“You came at just the right time. I was actually thinking of calling for you.”

“Is something wrong?”

“The Empire suddenly proposed a peace treaty this time.”

“A peace treaty? Isn’t that something to celebrate?”

“It feels off to me. It seems like those Empire bastards are hiding some scheme.”

“Aw, come on.”

“Ever since that dragon knight visited, their attitude completely changed. It’s suspicious. Do you have any guesses?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure.”

Recently, the dragon knight Philip, who had gotten lost in the blizzard, had visited the beastkin village.

In our conversation, he hadn’t mentioned anything about the beastkin village.

“Think positively.”

“After meeting you, I’ve started rethinking humans, but those Empire guys still don’t sit right with me.”

Chief Balbo twisted his lips.

“Anyway, what brings you to see me?”

Caw?

“Ah, I want to trade with the beastkin village.”

“Huh? Trade?”

“I want to buy furs. In exchange, I’ll supply food ingredients here.”

If I supplied monster meat that humans didn’t eat or field crops, the barren beastkin village could become more prosperous.

Moreover, it could perfectly resolve the food issues between the tribes.

“Trade, huh….”

Balbo couldn’t decide easily.

That was understandable. They’d been cut off from humans until now.

“It must be a tough decision, but think about—”

“I understand.”

“…Huh?”

Why was he agreeing so readily?

“Really?”

“It’s still hard to trust humans. But if it’s you, the situation is different.”

Chief Balbo smiled at me.

“I trust you.”

“I… Thank you for believing in me.”

I smiled back.

That single phrase—”I trust you”—made my chest swell with emotion.

This Wool Road project carried a lot of expectations and personal wishes.

That’s why the sense of responsibility weighed even heavier on me.