Chapter 28: Two Javelin

After bidding farewell to the two, Juan returned home and stored the pail and jar full of river water.

After covering them with a lid made of wood, Juan immediately jogged his way towards the construction site of the village hall.

There he met Menmo, who also saw him approach in a hurry.

"I already knew about how you couldn't come because the village chief needs you. But at least you need to leave me some message next time this happens."

Before Juan could speak out, it was Menmo who had already started to give him excuses that he needed for his untold leave of absence this morning.

'Madam, thank you for this.'

Because of this, it will make Juan's work much easier. This is one of the perks of having the big boss as his backer.

"Thank you for your understanding, Sir Menmo."

"So? Going to work this afternoon?"

Menmo asked casually while doing his usual work of following the blueprint he draws.

Juan shook his head and then said,.

"It's going to rain soon, and I still have work to do at home. But I will tomorrow."

Saying it to this point, Juan neared Menmo and motioned for him to come closer.

Menmo raised an eyebrow, but still followed. He leaned his ears forward so that only he could hear what Juan wanted to say.

"I don't know if this might cause a panic, but. there's a shadow monster outside the village."

Juan continued after a pause to observe Menmo and those around him.

Seeing Menmo remain calm, and no one is near them. He continued.

"It might be dangerous tonight since it's going to rain and the torches around the houses and the village can't be lit to ward off unwanted things."

After hearing this, Menmo nodded without asking anything.

"I understand. You don't have to worry about that too much. I will end today's work early. If there's nothing else, you can leave."

"Thank you."

Although Juan was surprised at how easily Menmo accepted his words. He immediately thought that this might be the norm in this village.

Or maybe his words were taken as a message or caution coming from the Garu.

There might be some misunderstanding, but it's not a lie, so Juan wasn't the least bit worried.

After leaving the place, Jura came running towards Menmo in sweat.

"Hey! Is that Juan just now? Why is he leaving?" he asked, confused.

Menmo turned to Jura, and he said it with his usual seriousness.

"Today's work will end early. There will be rain coming this afternoon or maybe tonight. Also, I just received some information from Juan."

"What information?"

Jura asked.

"Don't come out of the house this night. Gather enough firewood and light a torch or bonfire that will last till tomorrow."

Menmo answered without a change of expression.

"Is that because of a monster? Brother and the hunters seemed to be quiet busy yesterday. I haven't heard any news from them since they were sleeping."

Jura said it with a serious expression on his face. which Menmo nodded in response.

"Have everyone stop today's work and rest early today," Menmo immediately commanded.

"Alright." Jura nodded and executed the command.

...

After leaving the construction site, Juan jogged his way towards his father-in-law's house.

However, he stopped halfway since he remembered something he almost forgot in the back of his mind.

"I completely forgot about Albert and Von. My javelin too. It should be done by now. The rain isn't coming that near anyway; I still have more time."

Thinking of that, Juan did a turn and started jogging towards the Smithy.

'I really didn't want to enter and experience that kind of heat anymore, but... I can only force myself since it's my weapon after all.'

With that, he stepped inside the smithy entrance door.

'Not that important, but still useful in case of emergency. Maybe I can use it somehow when the monster comes? But I hope that will never happen. It's useless anyway.'

"Uh? Juan?"

Suddenly, a head pops out from inside the forging room. It was the familiar birthday boy a few days ago.

"Von."

It's quite embarrassing to ask about the javelin after all the costs and work wasn't his to bear the expenses.

"What are you doing here? Ah! I know! You're here because of your javelin, right? You just came in time! I'll go and take them for you."

There's no way Juan won't feel embarrassed after having his reason for coming here seen through. Though outside, he was his usual polite young man persona.

'But still better since I won't have to say it directly.'

A while later.

Von came back with two javelins in his arms, and he looks to be having some difficulty holding them.

Juan immediately came forward and received them with his hand, seeing this.

"Sir Albert?"

He asked, since he hadn't seen him come out with Von just now.

And it would be quite disrespectful if he just took the product without even saying thank you.

"Father is quiet busy inside. But he did say that there was no need to thank him at all, but you could thank me instead since it's my birthday present."

Von answered rather happily at this time.

"I see. Then thank you, Von."

Juan nodded as he gave Von a thank-you smile.

"Right! I started forging yesterday with my father's help. It will be no time when I can forge that katana you draw!"

"Don't worry, my promise to give you my first katana forged won't be forgotten. Aren't I amazing?"

Von seems very pleased with himself. And also, a promise? Well, if that was considered a promise back then, then Juan won't deny it since it's free.

"Go for it, Von. Well then, I shall not take more of your time since your quiet busy. I shall leave now then."

"See you next time, Juan."

Juan bid Von farewell before he left the smithy.

By the time he stepped out, Juan finally noticed he was already sweating buckets once again.

'This is why I don't want to return to such a place. If not for this free gift, I won't have to come here at all.'

'Though if there comes a day when I have some free time to forged my dream weapon, I will surely build my own forged and do it there.'

To forged in an environment where other men sweat and smell mixed in the air while everything inside is all the time hot and burning?

Juan won't accept that. Not now, nor forever.

"Two javelins, huh? I forgot to ask why they give me two javelins, though. However, I won't return just to ask."

While walking back to Garu's house. Juan played with the javelins in his two hands.

"There may come a day when I need to throw this. To a target? Object or alive? I hope it's not the latter.'

'There's also that training to become a real man with Garu. I'm sure it will be a nightmare mode of training just by looking at every man's buff physique in this village.'

'I wonder if I can even train in javelin throwing. I might not have time for that. Who knows if I can even use it tomorrow since tonight might not be a peaceful one.'?

Soon, Juan arrived at Garu's house. The door is opened.

Knowing that Garu is sleeping right now, Juan didn't knock around or shout his arrival, lest he wake him up in a bad mood.

He had already escaped from that conversation a while ago; he didn't want to experience it again.

So he first took a look inside with his eyes. To see who's awake, he could call attention so as not to be mistaken for some burglar doing thieving in daylight.

'Hmm? Ceth? '

When Juan saw Ceth, the latter also saw him since he didn't hide the sounds of his footsteps.

Ceth was sitting in front of the table. Her arms were sprawled on the table, which she listlessly used as her face cushion.

When he arrived, she slowly sat up and motioned for him to come over with her somewhat numb arms since Juan didn't seem to want to step in without her calling.

Juan soon trotted over and sat beside Ceth smoothly, like how a leaf would gently let a drop of dew slide on its surface.

Be careful not to destroy it.

In a few seconds, Juan's right arm was already wrapped around Ceth's waist. He hugged her from her side while his other hand made its way to her numb arms.

They didn't talk, nor did Ceth react to his advances.

They looked just like an understanding husband and wife from afar. Well, they literally are.

Feeling her arms being pressed and gently massaged from time to time. Ceth couldn't help but let out a faint smile upon seeing this.

Of course, not just her numb arms are being pressed and massaged, though. The other hand on her waist has also started to show dishonesty.

Second by second, as time passed, that dishonest right hand rose. It saw two peaks hindering its way.

It might have been provoked or angered.

Suddenly, it jumped out of its place, spread out its palms, and then landed on one peak as it'd wrapped its fingers around one of those mountains.

"Hng."

With a frown on her face, which added a frown to her smiling face. Although this time, she looks at Juan with rather questioning eyes.