The Strongest Wizard Becomes a Countryside Guardsman After Taking an Arrow to the Knee Chapter 453 - Final Chapter

Chapter 453 – Final Chapter – Mulg Village

After Giscard died, Moko snuggled up to him and continued to lick his face.

Moko cried like a puppy.

We kept ourselves quiet and watched until Moko was done mourning.

And after a while Moko stopped weeping and stood up.

「Thank you again. Thank you for saving him.」

「No problem. Can we say goodbye now?」

「Yes, and Alra, Yureena. I have something to ask.」

「What?」

「Anything…」

「Alra, please burn the body, and Yureena, please say a prayer over it.」

「Alright.」

「Certainly.」

If the corpse is not burned, someone might come later and reanimate him as a zombie.

Even if that were not so, there might be bad spirits that make their home on him.

Giscard suffered for over 300 years as an immortal demon.

Moko wants me to incinerate the body so no one is ever able to toy with it again.

And Yureena is a priest, so she can conduct the funeral.

I magically incinerated the body as Moko wished.

Giscard wanted his bones buried in Mulg village, so I burned everything but the bones.

Yureena prayed over the body in song as I incinerated it.

Moko simply stared at the process while not saying anything.

When everything was done, I carefully wrapped his bones in cloth and put them in my bag.

「Moko, let's go back to Mulg village. We have to make a grave. I want your opinion on it.」

「Understood. Thank you for asking…this is the way back.」

And so Moko guided us.

Behind the large room where Giscard was sealed was a room with a hidden transfer circle.

The door opened when Belda again put her palm on a slightly discolored panel.

Everyone then passed through the magic circle.

It was connected to the circle outside of Jaerl's dragon stable, the one that we used when we entered.

I guess both seemed to be a one way path.

「It's dark out, Alra…seems that we did this quite fast.」

「Right…」

When we went in the circle, it was just before dawn.

We entered yesterday morning, slept a few hours in the dungeon, and then fought Moko and Giscard.

Even a whole day hadn't passed.

「Gaaaa.」

We all patted Jaerl, who looked at us anxiously.

Then we returned to Mulg village from Tom's house.

Moko did the same, of course.

By the time we got there, the sun was rising.

We left the warehouse where the transfer circle to Mulg is located, and saw the mayor making his morning walks.

「Going home in the morning? You are awfully busy lately.」

「No more. Even so, you're quite busy yourself.」

「Well, old men wake up early!」

While we were talking about that, Millet and Collette came out from my house.

「Old man! Good morning!」

「Good morning everyone. I'll make you all breakfast soon.」

「Good morning.」

「Whoa, a new wolf!」

Colette said, noticing Moko.

I introduced Moko as Femm's grandfather to the chief, Millet, and Collette.

Also Belda and Ecces…of course, I didn't mention their formal titles.

While they were speaking with the elder, the wolves all gathered around Femm and Moko, and Femm introduced them to Moko. Then they sniffed each other like usual.

「I see, so you're Femm's grandfather. Nice to meet you.」

「Nice to meet you, Moko.」

「So furry…」

The village chief also welcomed the wolf.

Moko wagged his tail, though he was a bit reticent.

「Mr. Chief, I was wondering…」

「What do you want, Moko?」

「Well…」

I tried to explain everything that had happened for Moko.

300 years ago, the brave man that created Mulg was sealed and released, we fought him and he died, but told me he wanted to be buried in Mulg for certain reasons.

I didn't mention that Giscard became a demon or immortal…it was too shocking.

「So does that mean that Moko here has his fangs enshrined in the town?」Belda asked.

「Correct.」

When I first arrived in the village, I was shown Moko's fang as a treasure of the village.

「Even so, did this brave man find peace before death?」

「Yes, I was able to send him peacefully on his way.」

「I think it's safe to say Yureena completed all required formalities.」

Seems that the chief was quite relieved by this.

「So, we'd like to get permission to bury this hero from 300 years ago.」

I know the chief wouldn't oppose it, but I still had to get permission.

「Certainly, he is the great hero and founder of this village. All villagers will help in constructing his grave.」

「Okay then. Let's eat breakfast and get ready for everyone to get up.」

After that, we all ate a delicious breakfast made by Milet.

Moko had heavier food and not just porridge.

Moko was also watching everyone eat while he ate slowly.

At the end of breakfast, Moko said in a soft voice “I missed eating with others.”

Then we washed dishes and left the hut, and all the villagers were gathered by the cemetery.

The mayor himself had called them.

They all gathered to greet the new guests.

I briefly introduced Belda, Ecces, and Moko again and the villagers welcomed them.

「When I heard you were building the grave for the man that build Mulg, I had to help.」

「So where are you building the grave, Mister Al?」

Apparently all those that weren't working were ready to help build the grave.

The mayor himself was ready to help.

「I was thinking of asking the hero's servant Moko here to show us where to put him.」

「Sounds fine.」

「What a massive wolf…was this the owner of the fang of the village?」

「Wow!」

The villagers said, while stroking Moko's fur.

Moko was confused, but still wagging his tail.

「So, Moko, where do you think your master would like?」

「Well, he did like places where he could see over things, like this place where he can see over the town.」

Moko said, turning to a high place on the edge of town.

「It talked!」

「Well, he was the servant of a 300 year old hero, so he talks sometimes.」

「I see…amazing!」

Everyone follows Moko around, as he looked over the spot.

Moko stopped for a bit, looked around, and walked a bit more.

A few wolves came from behind us and the villagers.

「Moko, is this taking you back to the old days? Or has it completely changed?」

「It's changed a lot. Not a single building is the same.」

「Are you disappointed?」

「No, it's strange, but I can recall this spot all the same.」

「…I see.」

We were at a small hill on the edge of Mulg.

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There was a thick and tall tree next to Moko.

「This tree was here 300 years ago, but it was smaller.」

「Really?」

「My master would come out in the summer morning and in spring and autumn and lean on this tree and look out over the town…」

Moko said, sniffing the wood.

「He would just stand against it in the winter as well.」

「I see.」

「It made him happy to relax here after all the fierce battles he was in.」

However, those days of rest didn't last long, and Giscard would throw himself into war again…so I was glad he had some time for peace.

「Moko, you would like a grave around here?」

「Is that okay?」

「Leave it to me.」

So I worked with the villagers to make the grave under that tree. The ground was dug, a stone chamber made, and it was strengthened by magic. There was a stone I magically hardened to make a gravestone.

「What about an inscription? He told the king not to leave any trace of his name.」

「My master died as a human, so….I…」

Giscard told the first king that he was demon and immortal, and had committed such a great crime that he didn't want his name left behind.

However, he had died as a person.

Following the “so…” that Moko said, I think Giscard had paid enough for his sins in 300 years.

It's like he paid as a prisoner, being locked up all that time. And Moko was his loyal follower all that time as well.

I patted Moko's head as she shook himself and his tail. So I thought of a tombstone inscription.

「What about this kind of text, Moko?」

「It looks fine.」

So I engraved the tombstone with magic:

-GISCARD, A HERO OF HUMANS, KIND AND MIGHTY, SLEEPS HERE-

Then I magically strengthened the stone from further engraving.

「Okay, I'm done.」

Millet and Collette came with Moofy and the other villagers to see the completed tomb.

Moofy had a basket, wrapped in cloth, on her back.

「You must be cold. Here's some warm milk and bread.」

「Old man! Eat sthome lunch!」「Moo!」

「Is it that time already? Thank you.」

So we had come to lunchtime after making the grave.

Working in the cold of winter does make one hungry.

「Everyone else…have some.」

「Thank you.」

And so the other villagers took what they could and had a light lunch.

I thought it would be better for everyone to go home and eat in this cold. But, perhaps Giscard would want others to eat near him and be merry on this day, and perhaps everyone else sensed it as they stood around and ate. Moko ate bread soaked in milk as well.

「Your bread is good, Millet!」

「Thank you!」

「We could have a picnic here if it wasn't winter.」

「Sure, we can do it in spring.」

「Yeah, make sthure to bring Moko too.」

「…thank you.」

Then the chief said,

「Maybe we could have a festival here?」

「Yeaaaah!」

The villagers all agreed that a new festival should be held in Mulg.

And so I stood beside Giscard's tomb and looked over Mulg.

I could see a child wolf and Shiggy, Chel, Colette and the other children playing with each other…no one caring about species or race.

Femm and Timi were also watching the children play.

There were about 60 houses towards the center of town. I could see 10 villagers or so outside, chopping wood. Others were taking a break. And because it was winter, most were working inside their homes.

Villagers such as elves, dwarves, beasthumans, humans, devils.

Everyone is just enjoying their time.

You could see hot springs steaming from some houses as well.

So I said to Moko, who was looking over the town with me,

「Moko, will you get in the hot bath later?」

「…can I? I'm a wolf…」

「Femm always gets in.」

「I see…so it's okay?」

No one cared here in Mulg.

You could be a magic lord, a hero, a saint, a dragon king, a lord of death, or a lord of destruction.

Vi-Vi is a devil, Millet and Collette are elves, Steph and the village chief are beasthumans.

「The cow, wolf, dragon, slime, they always get in together. Don't worry about it, Moko.」

「I see, what a nice village.」

「Well, your master made it.」

「…yes.」

Moko looked out into the distance and then bowed to me.

「Thank you for my master's tomb.」

Moko said, bowing as humans do.

Then the chief asked Moko,

「Are you joining Femm's pack from now?」

「It's hard to be older and yet not king, so I think I'll venture far away for a while.」

It was a bit worrisome as Moko was a magical wolf and very strong, and while he's not in good shape now, he's also old.

「Moko, you don't have to join the pack to stay here.」

「I can't just waste the food of others though.」

「Well then, why not become our guard as Al has?」

「Guard?」

「Yes, the payment is food, clothing, shelter, and use of a hot spring in the village, right Al?」

「Right. And I have to go to Elkay and Chel's village recently so I need a secondary guard.」

The villagers also supported this idea.

「Thank you. I guess I will accept then.」

「Great!」

「I guess we need a welcoming party!」

Millet says when she hears that.

「Let's have the welcoming party at the hut!」

「Good! I'll bring beer and food later.」

「I'll cook.」

「And I can help too.」Vi-Vi said.

All the villagers mingled and spoke of the developments and walked into town.

Belda and Ecces followed, as apparently they would join the party.

「Okay, Moko, let's clean up in the bath before the party.」

I said as we walked to my house.

Shiggy flew up to me, not wanting to be left behind.

All the other children and beasts ran after us.

「You can play with them.」

「ryaaa」

「Yes, so Moko, is there any food you like or dislike?」

「I don't dislike anything but that bread was wonderful.」

「Millet's bread is good.」

「Yes.」

「Me too.」

We looked up and the sky spread above without a cloud.

「Nice weather, Al.」Cruz said to me.

「It's going to be cold…I need to keep warm after this bath.」

「Cruz, you probably will catch a cold. Sleep next to me after you take a bath」Yureena said.

And so everyone was enjoying the day in Mulg.

「What a nice village.」

「Yes.」

Moko responded, sounding somewhat proud.

Chapter end