The village square filled with residents precisely at noon. Whispers and murmurs grew into a loud hum as people gathered around the platform set up in the middle of the square. Under the blazing sun, tension hung in the air, as though nature itself anticipated the importance of the event.
So-Yeon stood at the center of the platform, striving to maintain her composure. Beside her stood Rymond, his confidence and calm demeanor a source of support. Distrustful glances flitted through the crowd, though some villagers looked genuinely curious. Behind So-Yeon, slightly off to the side, Gromer observed the gathering with a serious expression.
"Thank you all for coming," So-Yeon began, her voice steady but measured. "I understand that there have been rumors about me and my work recently. I'm here to tell the truth and answer your questions."
The crowd quieted down, though pockets of dissatisfaction lingered in murmured phrases. So-Yeon stepped forward, letting her gaze sweep over the gathering.
"My name is So-Yeon," she continued. "I came to your village not to harm anyone, but to help. I make medicine from herbs I gather in the forest, and my goal has always been to aid those in need."
"Then why are people saying you're a witch?" someone shouted from the crowd.
So-Yeon took a deep breath, determined not to let the question unnerve her.
"These rumors are baseless," she replied firmly. "Everything I do is grounded in knowledge and experience. I've never used magic to create my medicines."
"Then why are your herbs so powerful?" a woman's voice called out, filled with doubt. "My neighbor's arm healed in just three days. That's not natural."
Rymond raised his hand to capture the crowd's attention.
"Fellow villagers," his voice rang out, loud and confident, "if So-Yeon's medicines help you, isn't that what truly matters? Isn't health and healing what we all seek?"
Some people began nodding in agreement, though skepticism still lingered in the air. At that moment, a tall, wiry man with a sly grin emerged from the crowd—a representative of a rival merchant.
"Don't listen to her," he declared loudly. "Her herbs are dangerous! Who knows what she's putting in them? Maybe it's magic that seems helpful at first but will bring disaster later."
The crowd stirred again, people exchanging worried looks and whispers. So-Yeon felt a wave of tension in her chest, but she refused to let panic take over.
"You speak of magic," she said calmly, looking directly at the man, "but do you have any proof? Or are your words just an attempt to scare people?"
The man smirked, scanning the crowd.
"I have no proof, but isn't it suspicious? Why don't we know where she came from? Why are her medicines so strong? Can normal herbs really work like that?"
Rymond stepped forward, his voice unwavering:
"Suspicion isn't evidence. If you have accusations, present them. If not, your words are nothing more than an attempt to turn the village against her."
Applause broke out from a few corners of the crowd, but the rival merchant wasn't ready to give up. He turned to the villagers.
"And what if we all become her victims? Are you willing to take that risk?"
So-Yeon realized it was time to take control of the situation. She took a deep breath and raised her voice so everyone could hear her.
"If you doubt me, I'm willing to prove that my medicines are safe. I offer each of you a chance to try them for free. See for yourselves their quality and effectiveness."
The crowd fell silent. People exchanged glances, considering her offer. The rival merchant scowled, realizing he was losing his grip on the situation.
"And what will that prove?" he muttered.
"It will prove that I'm not afraid of your doubts," So-Yeon replied evenly. "It will prove that I am here to help, not harm."
The crowd began to stir, more villagers nodding in agreement. Questions about her medicines, their uses, and how they were made filled the air. So-Yeon answered patiently, gradually earning their trust.
Seeing his efforts fail, the rival merchant slipped away into the crowd. Rymond leaned toward So-Yeon and whispered:
"You handled that well. But this is just the beginning."
So-Yeon nodded, feeling the tension in her chest begin to ease. She knew the battle was far from over, but today's victory gave her the strength to keep moving forward.
***Proof and Exposure
The murmurs in the village square began to fade as Gromer stepped onto the platform. His stern gaze and solid stance immediately commanded attention. The villagers waited for the assembly to continue, though none of them expected the hunter's words to change the course of events.
Gromer raised his hand, calling for silence. His strong and steady voice rang out across the square:
"Villagers! I stand before you today to speak the truth. Last night, we caught a man attempting to sabotage the herb supplies in our warehouse. This man is here now, and he is ready to reveal who hired him."
The crowd erupted in a mix of gasps and chatter. Someone shouted:
"Show him to us!"
Gromer nodded and signaled with a wave. Two men brought forward a thin, disheveled stranger with his head bowed. His tattered clothes and miserable appearance only added to the whispers rippling through the crowd. Some recognized him as a drifter who occasionally worked odd jobs for food.
Gromer spoke again:
"This man was hired to damage So-Yeon's supplies by one of the merchants in the village. He has confessed to his actions. Speak—tell them who sent you."
The man's trembling voice stammered:
"I... I was hired by Master Ardis from the central market. He... he promised me more money if I ruined her herbs. I didn't want to do it, honestly!"
A collective gasp spread through the square. Ardis's name was well-known—he was one of the largest dealers in herbs and tinctures in the village. Gromer's sharp gaze swept over the crowd:
"There you have it. This man was bribed to tarnish So-Yeon's name. If anyone still has doubts, now is the time to ask your questions."
For a moment, no one dared to speak. Finally, a woman stepped forward.
"If this is true, then show us your proof. Why should we believe you?"
So-Yeon stepped forward, carrying a small wooden box filled with medicine samples. She placed it on the edge of the platform and opened it, revealing neatly packed bundles.
"These are the results of my work," she began. "Here are ointments and tinctures that have already helped many of you. I invite you to try them for yourselves. They are entirely safe and made only from natural ingredients."
She took out one of the bundles and handed it to the woman who had spoken.
"Take this. It's an ointment for burns. It has already helped several families."
The woman hesitated but accepted the bundle, her eyes still wary. The crowd watched the interaction with bated breath. So-Yeon continued:
"Each of you is welcome to take a sample and test it yourselves. If even one of you finds something harmful or suspicious, I will close my shop forever."
Her words sent a ripple of intrigue through the villagers. One by one, they began approaching the box, taking samples and examining them. Some whispered their impressions to one another, while others still appeared doubtful. The atmosphere slowly began to shift.
Suddenly, a loud voice cut through the square:
"This is all a trick! She's just trying to fool us into believing her lies!"
All eyes turned toward the source of the outburst. It was Ardis himself, stepping forward with a look of irritation. He pointed accusingly at So-Yeon.
"Don't let her deceive you! She's exploiting your fears to profit from you!"
So-Yeon met his gaze calmly, her voice steady but firm:
"If you are so certain of your claims, why did you hire someone to ruin my herbs? Why stoop to crime if you have nothing to hide? If you aren't afraid of the truth, prove your innocence."
The crowd fell silent. Ardis's face flushed red as he scrambled to respond:
"This is a lie! I would never do such a thing!"
Gromer stepped forward, his voice like thunder:
"This man confessed under oath and in the presence of the elders. If you doubt this, take it to the village elder for an official investigation."
The accusing stares of the villagers turned toward Ardis. They whispered among themselves, some pointing at him. Realizing he could no longer control the narrative, Ardis clenched his fists, turned on his heel, and disappeared into the crowd.
So-Yeon exhaled deeply, though her expression remained serious. She addressed the villagers:
"I understand that earning your trust won't be easy. But I am committed to working for your health and safety. If you give me a chance, I will prove that I am worthy of your trust."
The crowd began to disperse, but many lingered to take medicine samples and discuss what they had heard. Words of doubt were gradually replaced with gratitude and curiosity.
Gromer approached So-Yeon, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"You did well," he said. "But keep an eye on Ardis. He might try something else."
Rymond smiled, adding:
"Today was our first step. Now people see we're on their side."
So-Yeon nodded, feeling both exhaustion and relief. She knew the road ahead would still be fraught with challenges, but this victory was a vital step toward earning the trust of the village.
***Confession and Conclusions
The sun was setting behind the horizon as So-Yeon, Raymond, and Gromer gathered in the small room of the tavern. Candlelight cast soft glows across the table, cluttered with papers and maps. The atmosphere was tense, broken only by the occasional crackling of the fire in the hearth.
So-Yeon sat at the table, her fingers trembling slightly as she ran her hand over the map of the village. Her eyes were focused, though weariness was etched into her features. The day had been grueling, and she knew their fight was far from over.
"This was only the beginning," she said softly, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm but carried an undeniable firmness. "The competition won't stop after one failure. They'll find new ways to try and undermine us."
Raymond, standing by the window, turned and nodded.
"You're right," he agreed. "But now we have an advantage. People are starting to trust you. They've seen proof, and that will work in our favor."
Gromer, sitting opposite So-Yeon, crossed his arms and let out a dry chuckle.
"True, but Ardis isn't the type to back down so easily," he noted. "That man's too stubborn to admit defeat. We need to prepare for his next move."
So-Yeon lifted her gaze to her allies. Despite her exhaustion, determination flickered in her eyes.
"We'll strengthen our defenses," she said firmly. "The warehouse must be securely guarded. We can't let anyone try to sabotage our supplies again."
Raymond smiled, his expression softening.
"That's a good call. I can arrange for a few trustworthy people to keep watch at the warehouse. Also, we need to think about expanding our network of suppliers. If we have more sources, it'll be harder for the competition to disrupt us."
So-Yeon nodded, her eyes returning to the map. She pointed to several marked locations at the village's outskirts.
"There are small settlements here. I know some of them collect herbs but don't have a market to sell them. We could offer them a partnership. It would benefit both sides."
Gromer smirked.
"You're quick on your feet. Those settlements could indeed become valuable allies. But how do you plan to convince them to work with us?"
So-Yeon paused for a moment, then replied:
"We'll offer them fair terms. I'll speak with them personally, explain how we operate, and show them the results. If they see that we're reliable, they'll agree."
Raymond sat down beside So-Yeon, his gaze thoughtful.
"Your plans are solid. But remember, this will take time. People don't change their beliefs overnight."
So-Yeon exhaled deeply, her hands gripping the edge of the table.
"I know. But I'm ready for it. For Ellie, for everyone who needs help. If I give up now, everything we've worked for will be in vain."
Gromer slammed his hand on the table, his voice resolute:
"Then we won't give up. I'll be your eyes and ears. If anyone tries to pull another stunt, I'll know about it first."
So-Yeon felt a warmth spread through her chest. The support of Gromer and Raymond was invaluable to her. She looked at them with gratitude.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "I couldn't do this alone."
Raymond smiled and nodded slightly.
"We're a team, So-Yeon. And as a team, we'll get through any challenge."
Silence fell over the room once more, but this time it was reassuring. So-Yeon felt the tension that had been building throughout the day slowly dissipate. Her mind was already focused on the tasks ahead, but now she knew she wouldn't face them alone.
When the discussion ended, everyone retired to their rooms. So-Yeon remained behind, gazing at the map before her. Her thoughts drifted to Ellie, who was already asleep in the next room. For her, So-Yeon was willing to fight, no matter the difficulties.
"Tomorrow will be a new day," she whispered to herself. "And a new opportunity to prove we're on the right path."