Chapter 5 – Hope Returns
The village square of Andora was filled with people from every corner. Elders, housewives, and even children gathered in the village's central field. Their faces held questions—but also hope.
Hyunwoo stood before them, dressed in plain, earth-toned clothes. His eyes were calm but resolute.
"Today, we take the next step," he said clearly. "Water now flows into your homes. But we can go further. We can make your fields fertile again. We can rebuild your farms."
Whispers spread among the villagers. Among them stood a man with black hair and a simple wooden spear—Claude, the village's guard who once distrusted Hyunwoo. He was known for being stubborn, but he deeply cared about the village's safety and honor.
"How?" Claude asked, his tone firm.
Hyunwoo stepped forward. "We'll build irrigation channels from the artificial river to your fields, and construct terracing on the mountain foothills to expand the arable land."
Taeyang, standing nearby, added with a warm smile, "That way, we can grow more crops without worrying about drought."
Claude gave a slow nod, still hesitant.
"What's terracing? And what do we get from all this?" a young man from the crowd asked.
"Simply put, we'll reshape the slopes into stepped farmland," Hyunwoo explained.
Claude looked straight ahead. "If he truly wants to help this village… then I'll help too."
Voices of agreement began to rise among the people. The decision was made—tomorrow, they would begin.
The next morning, villagers started digging water channels. Hyunwoo split them into groups and guided each one. Taeyang helped move heavy stones with his strength, while Wonho mapped a simple water flow system using sticks and rocks on the ground.
One of the younger farmers, Jareth—who had refused to help before—now joined in. "I thought you were just wandering strangers. But I see now you're serious," he muttered, watching Hyunwoo dig alongside him.
Hyunwoo only smiled, his hands stained with soil.
Meanwhile, Elric—short and red-haired—arranged bamboo lines that would serve as additional water conduits. He wasn't just a farmer, but also clever with building simple tools.
The work went on for two full days. They built small stone walls to hold water on each terraced level, then flattened the soil using whatever tools they had. Yerin occasionally treated small wounds and scrapes.
When the irrigation was complete and water finally flowed into the fields, a cheer erupted. The once-dry soil was now moist. Hope bloomed again on their faces.
But the joy didn't last.
Taeyang arrived at the field and froze at what he saw. Leaves were withering, full of holes, and stems looked damaged. He quickly called for Hyunwoo and Wonho.
"This isn't because of the water," Hyunwoo said seriously, inspecting the leaves. "There are larvae… This is a pest infestation."
Jareth came closer, his face tense. "Is this going to ruin everything we've planted?"
Hyunwoo looked around. "Not necessarily. We're not beaten yet."
Yerin, who had arrived with Belinda, quickly suggested a natural remedy. "If we can find draganil plants on the northern slopes, we can use their scent as a natural repellent."
"Also, mix ash and water to create a spray. Add extract from wild scallion leaves," Wonho added.
Claude immediately ordered some young men to search for the ingredients. That night, the villagers worked quietly. They ground leaves, mixed ingredients, and sprayed their fields with their handmade solution.
The next morning, they waited in silence. And when sunlight bathed the fields…
The leaves looked fresh. No more insects.
Hyunwoo stood in the middle of the field, scanning the area.
"We did it," he said softly. But in his heart, he knew this was only the beginning of the true test ahead.
The following day, the results became clear. The pests were gone.
But the peaceful atmosphere began to crack. Some villagers started murmuring what they had long held in.
"They… know too much," whispered a middle-aged man.
"Their clothes are strange, and their words even stranger. How do they know all this?" added an old woman.
They gathered, a group of them making their way to the village hall. There, Hyunwoo and his friends sat, discussing water storage plans.
Claude and Arlain, seeing the gathering, stepped in. "What's going on?"
A man stepped forward. "We want to know… who are they really? Where are they from?"
All eyes turned to Hyunwoo and his group. Taeyang clenched his fists, Yerin looked down, Wonho stared ahead, tense.
But Hyunwoo remained calm. He stood.
"We… come from a land very far away. A land that has grown and developed greatly. There, we've learned many things. Maybe that's why we seem different."
Murmurs spread. Some villagers looked unsure.
Suddenly, Belinda stepped forward.
"That's enough," she said. "Look at what they've done. The water. The terracing. The crops they saved. I don't care where they come from. All I know is they've helped us more than anyone else."
The village chief, seated quietly in the corner, finally spoke. "I've seen it too. And I welcome the change they bring."