Rhode never expected that after the lively performances, the next part of the celebration would actually be labor.
And the stars of this segment were the village children.
All the children aged six to fifteen, regardless of gender, were gathered together and each handed a custom-sized hoe.
The big kids used larger hoes, while the smaller children used smaller ones. The children wielded these hoes in a designated area of the village, beginning to cultivate the land.
At first, they were quite enthusiastic. Playing together with so many others was also quite fun.
But as time passed, the children soon started to get tired, and the smaller ones even began to cry.
At this point, even the most doting parents had no intention of stepping forward to comfort them. Only a few strict individuals continued to correct their actions, telling them what they were doing wrong.
After crying for a bit, the children realized no one was going to soothe them, so they got up, wiping their tears, and continued working.
Once this small piece of land was cultivated, the adults began to guide them step by step on how to plant seeds and cover them with soil.
This time they were planting winter wheat. From weeding, pest control, fertilizing, all the way to harvesting, drying, and grinding next year, it would all be left to this group of children to manage.
Lightning explained to Rhode and Mira that this was a mandatory step for their village's harvest festival. The children must learn farming skills from a young age, even if it's just one or two types of crops.
Once they reach adulthood, they don't participate anymore because they have to help out at home or start their own lives after marriage.
"A wonderful tradition," Rhode remarked.
Now he understood why the village could reap bountiful harvests even after disasters.
This could also be called heritage.
When the children's labor finally ended, the sky was gradually darkening.
At this point, the parents lovingly took their children home to comfort and clean them, as there was still a lively evening event to attend.
Despite their concern, if next year's harvest season is held again, they will still have the children participate in this activity because they themselves went through it and felt it benefited them greatly.
During a brief interlude, the village chief and Rhode went to look at the people who had attacked their village.
"More than forty people, all Mages?"
Jasper swallowed hard. This group with their unique hairstyles and uniform outfits clearly wasn't a bunch to be trifled with.
As it typically stands, a group of forty thieves would be enough to give their village a hard time. These forty-plus Mages could probably flatten the village.
Previously, they felt indifferent about the existence of the Advisory Council, but now they realized just how important intimidation is.
"Thank you. Once again, we must thank you for saving the village."
"No need to be so formal, it's our mission after all," Mira said with a smile. "It should be said that you had the foresight to post the protection mission in advance."
"No, in fact..." Jasper hesitated.
Rhode and Mira looked at him, feeling they were close to the truth.
Jasper hesitated for a moment but eventually spoke, "The truth is, after you left last time, it took us a while to realize how outstanding you two were as Mages. And dealing with the rodent problem was a lifesaver for us... In comparison, the reward of 200,000 J seems trivial.
So, after the harvest, we specifically posted a mission in your name, originally intending to invite you to the festival under the guise of a protection mission and treat you well as a form of gratitude. We didn't expect such an incident to actually occur..."
Initially, he intended to keep it a secret, to peacefully complete the festival and offer the reward smoothly.
But now that such a thing has happened, it wouldn't be right to keep them in the dark any longer.
What was meant to be a gesture of good will unexpectedly caused trouble, thanks to that pesky Dark Guild.
Mira nudged Rhode with her elbow, smiling at him.
In guarding against threats, it turns out they were trying to show gratitude.
"Is that so..." Rhode didn't know how to respond, questioning if he'd been overly cautious. Yet, being vigilant isn't necessarily a bad thing.
One could only say that the villagers here were simply too kind-hearted.
After a moment of thought, he smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness. But this could be considered a happy accident, and the agreed-upon reward must stand."
Their goodwill, even going through so much trouble for them, deserved a grateful and accepting response.
Jasper hurriedly said, "Of course it won't change. If I had known this would happen, I would have raised it a bit more."
For someone to handle over forty Mages from an entire Guild speaks volumes about their prowess, Jasper felt his imagination was still lacking.
Mira raised a finger, "The same as before, the reward has been agreed upon. No more."
All three laughed together, and Rhode asked Mira to give these people another dose of strong sleep magic before returning to the harvest festival.
The night atmosphere was far more lively than during the day. As bonfires lit up, fresh fruits were sliced, specialty foods laid out, and the entire village indulged in revelry.
At the villagers' invitation, Rhode and Mira danced a simple unknown dance near the bonfire before retreating to the outskirts, enjoying the food while watching the joyous and festive scene.
"It's truly wonderful," Mira exclaimed without restraint.
The village harvest festival might not be as grand or filled with programs as city events, but it has something that cities lack.