An S-ranked adventurer's countryside retirement

If something sounds too good to be true, then it's too good to be true. Those words left the mouth of my gramps as I remembered him giving me a life lesson one time. He is right....

[Hmmmmmmm] I was told by the innkeeper lady that there's a lot of vacant land here just waiting to be claimed.....for free.

I crossed my arms as I looked at the rustic house in front of me.

[It's still a miracle that it is in a good state even after being sold by the owner for like...three years now?] (??)

The town mayor scratched his balding head as both of us looked at the dilapidated house in front of us.

Rustic is an understatement—it's just ruins.

The windows and doors are busted, the roof has missing shingles, and the entirety of the land surrounding this property is overgrown with tall weeds and littered with debris.

[Did people use this as a landfill some time ago?]

I asked him, and he was hesitant to answer.

There are a lot of protruding objects here that are unnatural to the scene such as a broken carriage or cart, some used lumber, bottles and many more. Haist.

[A yes, huh? I guess we can work with what we have. I can't complain as it's free.]

[Thanks for being understanding, young man. I forgot to introduce myself—I'm Ernie. May I know your name?] (Ernie)

The town mayor asked as he scratched his stubble.

Ernie, huh? Quite a fitting name. The town mayor seems to be a middle-aged man around the age of forty or fifty, and he's quite stout. Stout in the sense that he is a bit shorter but more muscular than the average man.

[I am To....Scott, nice to meet you, Ernie]

Both of us made a handshake as we smiled at each other....another roofing fell to the ground at the moment.

[By the way, the previous owner of this house was quite the hermit. He didn't go out much. That was the case until a few years ago when he decided to go back to the city and sold this house for...] (Ernie)

[For a dirt-cheap price? No wonder the state of the house is...]

[Yeah, you get it.] (Ernie)

Just then, a piece of roofing fell near my foot. I took a slow breath and glanced at Ernie, who awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

[Well, I'll take this house. It might need a lot of work and a lot of wood. Perhaps, may I ask if the blacksmith here sells an axe and a pick?]

Ernie's face brightened at my words.

[You're serious? That's good to hear! The blacksmith, old Gerald, should have what you need. He runs his forge near the town square, you can't miss it. Though I'll warn you, he's a bit grumpy with new faces.] (Ernie)

[I'll manage.]

Ernie chuckled and gave a firm nod.

[That's the spirit. Well, I'll leave you to it then. If you need anything else, come find me at the town hall. We don't get many newcomers looking to settle here, so I hope you'll make yourself at home.] (Ernie)

With that, he gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading off. I turned my attention back to my new home, running a hand through my hair as I surveyed the work ahead.

[This is going to take a while...]

I rolled up my sleeves. The first order of business was clearing out the overgrown weeds and debris. Before heading to the blacksmith, I started gathering some of the lighter junk into a pile. The house might be a wreck, but the land itself had potential.

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As I worked, a few villagers passed by, glancing my way. Some nodded politely, while others watched with mild curiosity. It was clear that news of a newcomer spread fast in a small town like this.

[That's a lot of em]

I looked at the pile of garbage that I have collected and sorted at the front lawn of the dilapidated house.

Wood, stone, and a lot of bottles.

The tool that I have used to clean the front yard was a small dagger that I had on hand. It might be small, but it did its job of digging these hazardous stuff out.

All that I need to do is to burn the unusable wood and keep the rest. The bottles can be recycled and the stones can be used for the projects that I had in mind. 

After about an hour of clearing the front yard, I decided it was time to get my hands on some proper tools. I dusted off my clothes and made my way toward the town square.

It was the correct decision to wipe myself off of sweat and change my outfit because I was sweaty. Dirt was clinging to my shirt and it would be a bad first impression if I greeted the town folk with dirty attire or something like that.

[Wow, it really is a fantasy-ique like town]

The town has a lot of nonhuman residents. Elves, beastkin, dwarves, and faeries. Let us just say, the diversity is amazing despite being the town near the border.

[Hello]

I wanted to explore the town, but I needed the tools first. The house won't be done if I would just mop around here all day…

So I decided to ask the first person that I had come up to.

[Yes, what is it?] (??) The person was a young girl wearing a cloth hood above her head. The typical countryside attire…

[If I may not take your time that much, can you tell me where I can find the blacksmith of the town?]

[Hmm?? Blacksmith of the town? That must be my father then] (??)

A right stroke of luck, it seems that the first person that I have turned to ask for directions is the daughter of the person in question. Luck must be in the air today.

[Your face is new. Are you perhaps the new cool-looking guy that the mayor announced to be a new resident?] (??)

Cool….

Looking….

Guy?

Me?

I was unsure whether that was a compliment or an insult, but it seems to be the first one. Cool looking huh….ehehehehe.

[Well I am a new resident, and I need to get new tools to fix the house at the outskirts]

[Ah! That questionable house of the hermit?! Good luck fixing that mister!] (??)

Pffft. What?!

[By the way, what is mister's name? I am Manna~] (Manna)

She pulled her hood and the same ginger coloured hair dropped down to her shoulders. She and that innkeeper had the same hair.

[I am Scott, nice to meet you]

It seems that she was just doing errands for her mother as seen by the cart that she was pulling. It was filled with vegetables and clothes, so as a way to thank her help I decided to pull it myself for the meantime.

[Why did you decide to live in the countryside, mister? Isn't the city more amazing than here?] (Manna) The child asked me a question that made me realize the magnitude of my action.

Indeed. Why do I have to live in the countryside? Why not in the city where the commodities are easily obtainable?

So with an answer to that in mind, I told her my answer.

[Well…you might be young for now so you might not get my decision, but my answer to that would be because….I am tired of how fast-paced it is on the city]

Everything is based on popularity. If you are not popular or well-known, then you are not treated well by the people of the city. Not all follow that, but the nobles mainly do it, and some shopkeepers too.

It's very annoying especially when you are just roaming around the city and you meet those kinds of people…praising you with empty words.

[Being an adult must be hard] (Manna)

[....] Damn. I was silenced by her response to my answer.

Adults have it hard. The moment you get to be an adult is the day you will miss your childishness as you now have to take your life seriously.

She's right too.....I can't even make a refute.

I just smiled at her answer as I followed her to the blacksmith. 

The rhythmic sound of hammering metal that rang through the air. That must be it.

The blacksmith's shop was easy to spot at the distance. A large anvil sign hung outside, and smoke billowed from the chimney. 

[This is it. This is the place] (Manna)

It really is a blacksmith's shop. It wasn't the same as the one back in the city as it wasn't the same grand shop that I used to visit to buy equipment.

[Thanks for guiding me]

I put down the cart that I have been pulling.

[No problem mister, just get in there and ask dad for equipment. As long as you have money then dad won't kick your ass out. Bye~!] (Manna) 

I just realized one thing too....

The blacksmith's shop was just in front of the familiar inn that I had stayed at yesterday...…..

I did not even realize that, wow.

[The hell…it was just at the other side of the street]

Still feeling disbelief to myself, I stepped inside and the scent of burning coal and heated iron filled my nose. 

The sight of shiny iron caught my attention, then the next thing that came to my eyes was the man that was looking at me murderously.

Behind the counter, a burly man with gray hair wearing a bandana and leather apron sat there crossing his arms.

[You need something, lad?] (??)

His voice was deep and rough, matching his rugged appearance. He barely spared me a moment as he continued glaring at me.

[Are you perhaps Geralt? Ernie told me that I can buy an axe and a pick from you. Something sturdy that'll last me a while]

His sharp eyes scanned me from head to toe before he let out a grunt.

[You planning to chop down a whole forest?] (Gerald)

[Just trying to fix up that old house on the outskirts.] I replied, crossing my arms while sighing.

[That place? Ha! You've got your work cut out for you, kid. Ain't nobody touched that wreck in years.] (Gerald)

[So I've been told]

Gerald smirked slightly, then wiped his hands on his apron before heading to a shelf. After rummaging around, he pulled out a sturdy-looking steel axe and a well-worn pickaxe, placing them on the counter with a heavy thud.

[These'll do the job. Ten silver for both] (Gerald)

I fished out the coins from my satchel and placed them on the counter. Gerald inspected them briefly before nodding in satisfaction.

[Good. Try not to break 'em too fast.] (Gerald)

[I'll do my best.]

With that, I slung the tools over my shoulder and made my way back to my new home. There was a lot of work ahead, but for the first time in a long while, I didn't mind.

This was my fresh beginning, and I was ready to build it from the ground up.

But hey, I was able to socialize on my first day here! That's a good start.