The Aspect of Social Etiquette and Interpersonal Relationships

When the sun rose directly overhead, the expansion project in the yard had already taken shape.

Thanks to the frantic output of Kuma, a "tireless perpetual motion machine," the originally barren open space on the west side had been leveled as smooth as a giant block of tofu, the soft soil exuding a fresh earthy scent. Meanwhile, Lynch used the blueprints rewarded by the system to polish and arrange the newly chopped wooden stakes, enclosing the area with a neat and beautiful new fence.

The total area of the herb garden had more than doubled. It was meticulously laid out, giving it the grand appearance of a formal plantation.

"Phew... beautifully done."

Lynch wiped his sweat and looked at the results before him, nodding in satisfaction.

"Great job, Kuma! You get two extra chicken legs for lunch!"

"Yay! Thank you, Brother Lynch!"

Covered in dirt, Kuma popped up from the ground. Although she was panting heavily from exhaustion, her eyes were astonishingly bright.

This was the foundation of the demon's lair!

Every inch of soil was soaked with the hard work and sweat of this agent. In the future, terrifying demonic plants that could devour the world would surely grow here!

Just as the two were praising each other on completely different wavelengths, a fit of coughing came from outside the courtyard gate.

"Cough, cough... Lynch, are you home?"

An old man with a walking stick and a white beard and hair walked in. It was none other than the old village chief of Buena Village, Old Jack.

"Oh, Village Chief! What brings you here?" Lynch quickly went up to greet him, pulling out a chair for the old man. "Please, have a seat. Felsy, pour a cup of tea."

The old village chief waved his hand dismissively, but his eyes were drawn to the completely revamped herb garden before him.

"Whoa! Good heavens!"

The old village chief's eyes widened as he pointed his walking stick at the neat rows of fences and the freshly turned soil. "Lynch, you've made quite a stir here! Are you gearing up for something big?"

"Well, winter is just around the corner," Lynch explained with a smile. "I figured I'd stock up on some herbs and plant some cold-resistant vegetables while I'm at it, so we won't have to buy overpriced greens in town during the winter."

"Good, good! You young people really have drive and know how to live!"

The old village chief nodded in approval, then abruptly changed the subject. A somewhat secretive expression appeared on his face as he lowered his voice and said:

"However, Lynch, since you've built such an impressive herb garden... your uncle here has a presumptuous request I'd like to discuss with you."

"Go ahead."

The old village chief looked left and right, then leaned in a bit closer:

"Recently, word came down from above. They say a newly appointed Bishop is coming to our Nolent Parish."

"A Bishop?" Lynch was slightly taken aback.

In this world, the Tri-Radiance Church was a massive power with a strict hierarchy.

The bishop of a parish was a true heavyweight, holding a status comparable to an imperial count, and in some aspects, their words carried even more weight than a lord's.

"That's right, a new Bishop." The old village chief looked grave. "I heard he's a formidable figure, freshly transferred from the royal capital. The first thing he's doing after taking office is inspecting the various village and town parishes under his jurisdiction."

"Although our Buena Village is remote, it's also on the inspection list."

At this point, the old village chief rubbed his hands together, a somewhat worldly and sycophantic smile appearing on his face:

"You know our resident cleric, Father Anderson... Even though he can be a bit greedy for money at times, he's been pretty good to our village. Sometimes, when we need to run a tab for prayers or consult the scriptures, he agrees to it."

"With the new Bishop coming for an inspection, Father Anderson wants to show some political achievements so he can make a good impression on the Bishop."

Lynch instantly understood.

This was a typical vanity project.

"So, you mean..." Lynch pointed at the herb garden behind him.

"Exactly!" The old village chief slapped his thigh. "I was thinking, when the Lord Bishop comes to inspect our village, could we bring him over here for a tour?"

"We'll just say that the most beautiful model herb garden in the entire village was established under the personal guidance and strong support of Father Anderson! It's a prime example of the Church caring for the villagers and developing production!"

"This way, the Father gets his prestige and his political achievements. In the future, whenever a family in our village has a wedding or a funeral, or needs to apply for the Church's relief grain, it'll be easier for the Father to put in a good word for us, right?"

After saying this, the old village chief looked at Lynch with expectant eyes. "Of course, we won't let you help for nothing. The Father said that if this works out, he'll exempt your herb garden from taxes in the future!"

Hearing this, Lynch couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

This was the adult world.

Even in another world, these worldly ways and mutual back-scratching routines hadn't changed a bit.

However, Lynch wasn't disgusted by it.

He was a pragmatist.

He had interacted with Father Anderson before. Although he was a low-ranking cleric without much real ability and liked to receive small gifts, he hadn't actually done anything bad.

Since it was mutually beneficial—helping to maintain good relations with the villagers while getting a tax break for himself—why not do it?

"Sure, no problem," Lynch agreed readily. "Just let me know in advance when the time comes. I'll tidy up the place and make sure I don't embarrass our village."

"Oh! I knew you were a sensible kid!"

The old village chief was so happy that his beard trembled. He patted Lynch's shoulder vigorously. "Then it's a deal! I'll have the Father send you two jugs of good wine when the time comes!"

After a few more pleasantries, the old village chief left, leaning on his walking stick, completely satisfied.

Nearby, Kuma had been listening with her ears perked up.

Seeing the village chief leave, she glanced at the sky and also picked up her massive dark green mailbag.

"Brother Lynch, Sister Felsy, I'm off to work now too!"

Although Kuma really wanted to stay and continue building the "demon's lair," her public identity right now was a postman. If she didn't go deliver letters, the villagers would get suspicious.

"Go on, be careful on the road," Lynch waved.

It wasn't until Kuma's figure disappeared at the end of the village road that Lynch withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Felsy, who had been sitting quietly on the side.

"What's wrong? You've had a long face since just now." Lynch walked over and sat down beside her.

Felsy set down her teacup, her purple eyes bearing a hint of undisguised mockery.

"That so-called village chief is truly hypocritical."

Felsy said coldly, "To curry favor with his superiors, he actually wants to hijack the fruits of your labor and attribute the credit to that whatever cleric. And that cleric is even more shameless; he clearly did nothing, yet wants to reap the rewards without lifting a finger."

"This is what humans are like."

"Full of scheming, lies, and vanity. No matter where they go, even in a remote corner like this, they cannot change this inferior nature."

As demons, although they also had their schemes and plots, the logic of the demon race was usually much more direct—might makes right.

Whoever had the bigger fist was right.

Convoluted vanity projects like this, in Felsy's eyes, were simply a ridiculous game of playing house among the weak.

Seeing his wife's cynical appearance, Lynch couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright now, calm down."

Lynch refilled her cup with hot tea. "Actually, it's not that serious. Everyone is just trying to make a living."

"The village chief is doing it so the village can get a few more benefits, the priest is doing it to keep his job or climb the ranks, and as for me, I'm doing it for tax reductions and peace."

"Although it might not sound fair and square, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, it's a kind of survival wisdom."

Lynch looked at the endless rolling mountains in the distance, his tone becoming somewhat faraway:

"Speaking of which, that Priest Anderson is quite a pitiful guy too. I heard the previous bishop was transferred away less than a year after taking office... or maybe forced to step down?"

"It hasn't even been that long, and they're already getting a new bishop."

"It seems the internal struggles within this glamorous church are quite fierce. When gods fight, mortals suffer. For ordinary folks like us, as long as we don't get dragged into it, playing along and living our own little lives well is better than anything else."

"Besides, aren't you human too? Sooner or later, you'll also run into times when you have to navigate human relationships."

Lynch had no grand ambitions of saving the world, nor did he have any strict moral purity.

He was just an ordinary person in his past life, and he had no desire to be a hero in this one.

As long as he could watch over this house, stay by the side of his sharp-tongued but actually very cute wife, occasionally make a little money, and eat some good food, he would be completely satisfied.

Felsy turned her head, looking at Lynch's calm and serene profile.

Sunlight fell upon his eyelashes, making him look exceptionally gentle.

This man... she was finding him harder and harder to see through.

He clearly possessed an unfathomable power that even Felsy found miraculous, yet he was willing to stay in this small village, playing along with those ants just for a few silver coins in tax reductions.

He did not care about empty fame or so-called glory. He saw right through the deep-rooted vices of humanity, yet still chose to be tolerant.

Could this be the legendary... great hermit hiding in plain sight?

"Hmph."

Felsy gave a soft snort and withdrew her gaze, but the coldness in her eyes had melted away significantly.

"Suit yourself."

"As long as those boring people don't come disturbing my peace, I couldn't care less about the petty drama of you humans."

So she said.

But in her heart, Felsy secretly made a note:

A new bishop, huh?

If that guy dared to put on airs in front of Lynch during his inspection, or harbored any ill intentions toward this home...

Then she would let him stay in Buena Village forever as fertilizer.

Lynch had no idea that his wife had already formulated a Bishop Elimination Plan in her mind.

He just stretched his back and said in a good mood:

"Alright, since that plot of land is ready, let's scatter the new fertilizer this afternoon and give it a try."

"Hopefully, something good will grow out of it."