Episode 7

**A Hospitable Heart** (もてなしの心, *Omotenashi no Kokoro*) is the 7th episode of Farming Life in Another World anime series.

## Synopsis

Hikaru realizes the importance of diplomacy when the demon lord and the dragons establish contact with the Great Tree Village.

## Summary

Hiraku becomes the mayor of The Great Tree Village, however his daily duties doesn't change. One day, a messenger from the Demonic Kingdom arrives. Beezel requests to speak with the one in charge of the village and Hiraku steps out. Beezel gives a gift to Hiraku and explains that the Demon Lord wants to discuss the status of the settlement. Hiraku recalls that the land was under the Demon Lord protection and wonders if they will want him to pay taxes or will kick him out. Hiraku tells Beezel that if the Demon Lord lets them live here, they will give part of their harvest as a tax, and suggest 10%. Hiraku wonders if its too low, but Beezel is ready to accept. Hiraku then explains they can pick up the tax each year before the winter starts. As Beezel agrees, the two sides sign a contract. Hiraku's village will be paying 10% of what they grow in their fields, however that doesn't include milk, eggs, honey or alcohol they produce. If they are interested in the products they produce, then they can trade. Hiraku felt a bit too aggressive with the negotiations and also gave them a gift.

After Beezel leaves, the girls tell Hiraku that he did a good job, but usually the tax is 50% to 60%. Also having them to come and collect it, is a good move as it forces them to officially recognize their residence here. Its also very good that they have the Demon Lord's protection. Ru is also excited about the present Beezel gave them, an almighty medicine that works whatever you drink it or apply it directly to the wound.

Beezel reports to the other four generals, which surprises them that the village is submitting to them even though they can defeat a wyvern. Randan wonders if they have an ulterior motive and Beezel shares the same fear, and explains that he had no choice but to accept their conditions as the vampire princess and the angel of annihilation were there. They also had an army of high elves and a pack of inferno wolves, along with a trio of killer angels. Beezel had to accept their conditions otherwise they would have become an enemy to the Demonic Kingdom. Grattz sees that they also got a gift from them, and decides to open it, in case its something dangerous. He sees its fruits like appos, but with nicer shape and color. Beezel notices that the cloth in which the apples were is made by a great demon spider. Grattz is surprised to hear that as a great demon spider fought one of the previous demon lords to a standstill.

Doraim, the true ruler of the dragons also visits the village. Gucci gives them a present and explains that Doraim's lair is located to the south of here. While the distance is big, they are kinda like neighbors and came to greet them. Hiraku is surprised that Doraim keeps bowing down, and explains that he would invite them inside, but Doraim is too large. Gucci then asks Doraim to change to a smaller form and Doraim takes a human form. After eating and drinking, Doraim ends up loving the alcohol and wants to stay and live there, but Gucci tells him he needs to protect his domain and that he will be a nuisance to the people in the village if he stays for too long.

After the two visits, Hiraku starts thinking of a better way to greet the visitors and decides to build a guest house. He proposes a house fit for four people, but the girls suggest it should be large as usually those who come will come in large groups and the house needs to be fit for 30 people. They start working on the guest house. Hiraku then starts thinking on a more proper way to welcome the guest. At the moment, the angels would find the guest, capture them and lead them to the village entrance. On top of that, when Zabuton sounds the alarm, everyone grabs their weapons and get ready for a battle. Hiraku comes up with a new signal for visitors and gives a bell to Zabuton to ring. Hiraku then wanted that he, Ru and Tia to greet the guests, but the idea is rejected and he is forced to add some elves, oni maids and lizardmen.

Soon, Garf and few beastmen from the Howling Village arrive as guests and explain they want to establish a relationship with Hiraku's village. Ru decides to handle it and asks if that's all of them. As Garf confirms, Ru explains that they will consider anyone else then an enemy. The inferno wolves then bring some more men from Garf's group and he apologizes. She tells them to behave and then invites them in the village. After they get them into the guest house, they lock them in. Tia explains that every guest they had has brought some present. She still isn't sure if they are enemies, but they aren't following the normal visitor procedures, so they won't be getting the normal visitor treatment.

The girls are against giving fancy food or alcohol to the guests, but Hiraku manages to convince them to give them some alcohol. While the beastmen eat and drink, Hiraku asks them how they learned about his village. Garf explains they heard from the demon lord's men. In the Howling Village, they are making their living by hunting or mining, and they have been trading with other human villages, however as there has been some trouble at the human villages, the trading with them became unstanble, so they decided to look for someone new to trade. Tia asks them why some of them remained hidden and one of them explains that if something were to happen to the other's, they would return and report back to their village.

The next day, Garf explains that they want to trade and have an open market. However as its hard for them to come to this village with the goods, he would like if Hiraku can come to their village, guessing he can navigate easily in the forest. Hiraku then guesses he can use the wolves to pull a cart with goods and can visit their village. For their first trade, Garf had brought items made from the ores they mined, things like silverware, glassworks, metalworks, and would like food for them. Seeing them, Hiraku agrees and brings the food they have for trade. When leaving, Garf reveals that he didn't knew people bring gifts when they visit as their village doesn't have such custom, but promises to bring one next time, however he explains that they are poor and it won't be anything fancy. Hiraku explains that the value doesn't matter, but the thought behind it.

Some time passes and Hiraku decides its time they trade with the Howling Village. However the girls doesn't allow him to leave and agree that Tia will go with some lizardmen. Normally it would take them 10 days to get to the village, however, Doraim agrees to take them faster in exchange for a barrel of wine. After his first visit, Doraim started regularly visiting the village and always brings treasures or weapons as gifts, so no one complains about him.

Few days later, Tia returns with a sad Doraim. She explains that when the beastmen saw them with the dragon they were shocked, and initially also refused to take anything they were given, however they gave some free samples like Hiraku suggested and the beastmen loved the goods and they ended up trading everything. Doraim then complains that they even traded the barrel of wine that was supposed to be his. Hiraku then tells him he can drink more tonight during dinner and Doraim gets happy again. Tia reveals that the mayor of Howling Village asked if some people from his village can come and live here. Hiraku states they need more people for work, so he would be happy to take them. Tia then reveals that there are 20 people who want to come and they are all young women. Hiraku is a bit disappointed as the village is mainly consisting of females and fears the village may not have a future. He accepts, but request that they send two young men as well.

The group of female beastmen arrive and Sena introduces herself. She is grateful that he is accepting them and explains that they are prepared to be used however he see fit, but asks him to not abandon them. Hiraku tells them to take their time and get used to the place, after that they can make a request of what kind of house they want. He also tells them to not worry that they will be kicked out. Hiraku wonders about the men he asked for and Sena reveals they brought three young men as he asked. Hiraku then see that they are three young boys. Hiraku is shocked, but then realizes that in five or ten years they may help with the village future.

## Characters

* Hiraku Machio
* Ru Rurushi
* Tia
* Lea
* Beezel
* Randan
* Glatts
* Doraim
* Gucci
* Garf
* Sena
* Kuro & Yuki
* Leef
* Lecott
* Leezay
* Leely
* Leeta
* Lees
* Lafa
* Lasa
* Lalasha
* Lalu
* Lami
* Zabuton
* Kuroichi
* Kuroni
* Kurosan
* Kuroyon