Episode 568 Closed Door (2)
Searching the empty village.
No, in fact, the word that fits better is plunder rather than search.
Because the content of the order given by the village chief who took the commander's body was just one.
"Gather everything you found while searching the village in one place!"
Furniture, fixtures, equipment, household tools, etc......
There was no distinction of types.
It didn't matter whether it seemed useful or not.
The command to bring everything found.
Then, what could be the reason the village chief gave such an order?
I guess it wasn't because it was a waste to throw away the things gathered while growing the village so far.
The village chief is not a person who would have lingering attachments to such things.
But there is one reason for plundering everything.
If it were Jerome Saintred, he would have done that.
It must be clear that they took everything away for the sake of the royal family.
So the village chief gave such an order.
"I hope the leaders of each group will take this map and take charge of the assigned area...!"
Thus, the exploration team divided the area by groups and looted the house where the monsters, who once believed themselves to be human, lived and raised children.
Boring labor that has no existence of battle at all.
There were also those who welcomed such simple tasks.
The first objects that embody the lifestyle of the creatures that were able to communicate!
"This will be great research material!"
"It's a pity....... I wish I could have captured one or two and heard their stories directly......."
"Is there perhaps a hidden guy?"
'Wizards who are obsessed with and crazy about research.'
At least they placed a very high value on this task.
Ah, of course including Raven.
“Mr. Yandel said… he has stayed here before?”
"But?"
"Later... If I get the chance, can I hear the story in more detail then?"
"Yeah, if I get the chance."
"Is it a promise? Then I'll go. The break time is over. See you later."
Anyway, our temporary group 4 also received this mission and diligently searched and searched the assigned area.
Yet, I felt strangely uneasy.
As Raven said, we have memories of spending time here.
"...That is the mansion where we stayed."
"Oh! That's the clearing where I had a duel with Piarochichi!"
“It feels eerie somewhere. The forge over there has its lights on, but there’s no one inside…….”
“Something... it's hard to express, but something... feels very strange. They were monsters, but there were still many good ones...”
What exactly distinguishes humans from monsters?
Appearance? Racial characteristics? Presence of experience?
Then is the village chief, who has regained the human body, a human?
What if I were to transform into a monster through some kind of work, or enter their bodies?
Then am I a monster?
I don't know well now.
I can no longer even know if it makes sense to distinguish.
"Yandel... Are you okay? You don't look good."
"...Of course. Where would be the reason not to be okay?"
"...If that's the case for you, then it must be."
After that, I continued with the assigned mission, and when the search of the designated area was completely finished, I joined other teams in the center of the village.
It was already camping time.
"The amount is enormous......"
"It can't be helped. It's a village where hundreds of entities lived."
The village search and looting operation that took all day is over.
I searched every village, but there were no survivors hiding.
After a day's work like that, we camped in a suitable empty house by each group.
Finally, it has become a time to quietly converse with colleagues.
"We will... be in another room over there."
"Yes. Please feel free to have a conversation."
After that, the Armin exploration team and the Hex clan discreetly made way, and soon after Versil used 'voice control' magic, Amelia quickly opened her mouth.
"So... what the hell happened?"
"Ah, that is......"
Don't think that I would believe that you and the commander conspired together. If that were really the case, you would have definitely said something in advance given your personality.
Well, without even giving me time to speak.
‘……It's not entirely wrong.’
It could have been very dangerous.
The goddess said that I fainted at the same time my companions were ambushed and subdued.
The biggest issue was that there was no one to place the order.
What should I do? Is it right to fight here? But it's the royal army, isn't it? I wonder what decision I would have made.
The moment when a fleeting judgment determines the outcome.
The clan Anabada, which I was a part of, failed to make timely judgments, ultimately leading to all members being helplessly detained.
‘……Fortunately, the result itself was good.’
However, the good results did not come from good judgment, but simply because things went well.
If we had fought to the end, at least one person would have died or been seriously injured.
Knowing that, he doesn't believe what I say either.
I must have had some expectation of luck, so I couldn't have given any hint.
"You're right. There was no hidden cooperation. No, rather, Jerome St. Red was trying to hand me over to the village chief."
This is an undeniable truth.
It seems that they used something like the royal family's treasure that the village chief had to lure him. But somehow they resolved it well and were able to use this to catch the village chief.
"...how did you solve it well?"
It seemed that Berthil could not comprehend at all, and he cautiously opened his mouth, while I sighed inwardly and spoke.
"I received great help from Leatlas."
This was also a clear truth.
Well, it was advice to try to resolve it well with words.
At least it seems like it will be a big help in getting through this situation.
"Leatlas-nim... is that so?"
"Surely the light bursting out at that time made me faint...?"
“Anyway, I can't say much about the details as it's a promise with the goddess. But... in the end, things went well, and after escaping the village, I secretly made a deal with Jerome Saintred. I would forget that they were trying to use me as a discarded piece, so the plan was to capture the village chief first.”
"...So that's why you said earlier that you would give a reward for the great achievement."
Soon, I glanced around.
As the circumstances of selling even the name of the goddess and the commander trying to give me a reward overlapped, it seemed that most of them believed my words without suspicion.
Just one person, except for Amelia.
‘……Later, when it's just the two of us, I'll relentlessly ask.'
Just thinking about it gives me a headache, but still, it can't be helped.
It's better for fewer people to know the village chief's secret.
No matter how well I act, as long as the other person is the village chief, they can sense that I shared a secret.
In that case, that person will also become the target of the village chief's possible 'unexpected actions'.
‘Above all… someday when things go really wrong, you will be able to prove that it has nothing to do with you.’
Anyway, this topic ends with a few more questions from colleagues.
It was time to slowly move on to the next step.
"Could everyone please step aside for a moment?"
“Ah… Uhm, you should rest too…….”
"Missha, except for you."
“…Huh?”
Misha, who is flustered as if she has been pointed out by the homeroom teacher when I call her out.
After that, the colleagues said they were going to rest first and left, and alone, Misha sat in the chair with both fists on her knees.
And I cautiously asked first.
"What, what is it...? Suddenly calling me, just me..."
I had no desire to beat around the bush and make you anxious, so I went straight to the point.
"The Stone of Resurrection."
“……!”
Just three words were mentioned, yet the shoulders flinched.
I wonder how someone like this has been hiding until now, but when I think about it, it's all my fault.
I should have asked strongly earlier, even if it meant pushing a little.
Somehow, it's hard to do that with him.
"Did Lee Baek-ho give this?"
There was no response like, 'How did you know?'
In response to the straightforward question, Misha answered briefly.
In a voice that sounds like an ant crawling.
“Uh…….”
"What did you say while giving that?"
"I will be by your side... When you die someday, use that to live, to save me..."
Yeah, I knew it.
It's not surprising because I had a hunch about it.
However, I was curious about a few things.
“Did you know that using the stone of resurrection causes the target to lose all memories of their past life?”
“……What?”
Okay, looking at the expression, I guess that means I didn't know that characteristic.
I immediately moved on to the next question.
"If you didn't know, then why didn't you tell me in advance? Just hearing about it doesn't seem like it would harm me."
"If you find out... I said that worse things would happen to you..."
“So you hid it from me? Because that bastard said so?”
“…….”
Misha bowed her head and tightly closed her mouth.
But as I stare at that figure, a very strange feeling arises.
It wasn't that I was angry, my mind was calm.
It keeps beating too much to say that I am maintaining my composure.
That feeling was far from sadness.
What on earth is this feeling?
"I understand. Then go ahead and leave."
I wanted to end the conversation here because I couldn't understand.
It was a consideration not to make her more uncomfortable.
But why is that?
“…….”
Misha sat in the chair in silence.
So I asked.
"Why aren't you going out? Go and rest. I've heard everything I need to hear from you."
Soon, Missha slowly raised her head.
And I opened my mouth with difficulty.
"Did... you hear that? Is that... the end?"
It was a strange question for me.
"Why, do you need something more?"
“…….”
I had no intention of reprimanding you. I didn't plot anything with malice, you just did it for me, didn't you?
In response to my gentle answer, Missha was silent for a long time again.
How long did the silence last?
"Such things..."
“……?”
"I don't like that..."
Misha lowered her head deeply and continued speaking.
"Just... tell me. Anything is fine..."
Words of pleading that even feel desperate.
I unknowingly opened my mouth at that request.
"I just thought there was no need to talk more."
It was a really amazing experience.
I didn't know that even my own true feelings, which I didn't even know, could come out through my mouth first.
"It's hard to believe whatever you say."
Once, I was the most trustworthy person in this unfamiliar world, but now that is no longer the case.
Of course, that can't all be her fault.
Rather, if we were to determine right and wrong, Lee Baek-ho would have a much larger share.
"To be honest."
“…….”
I first thought, 'Is there something more being hidden even after hearing the story today?'
"...Uh-huh, I see..."
I'm sorry.
I thought about saying that, but it didn't seem like something I should apologize for, so I just kept my mouth shut.
Missha looked at me for a moment and then slowly got up.
And......
Thud, thud.
Move your steps silently.
'Thud.'
He closed the door and quietly left the room.
The next morning.
Every morning after the routine morning meeting, I had a private meeting with the village chief.
"Can't we just get rid of the morning meetings that only waste time?"
"That can't be. Jerome St. Red is a person who values a set routine."
"Well, that's true, but."
"By the way, have you thought about the compensation I mentioned yesterday?"
"Ah, if that's the case, I'm thinking of postponing it for later. I don't need anything right now."
"If that's the case. Feel free to speak anytime."
"I guess so. Anyway, what's important is the plan for the future... So what are you thinking now?"
As I said back then, for now, I plan to take my time and adapt to this body.
The chief's answer was unchanged.
However......
"Adaptation..."
In the end, that means you can't trust me.
While living with that body, what kind of essence I possessed, whether this Eblus essence was really consumed, whether the [Pagan Altar] is actually installed in the city, and so on.
I guess that's what you're trying to check first.
"What happens after the adaptation is over?"
"I will leave this place right away."
In other words, it means that if the evil blue integer is confirmed, I will immediately give up my seat.
It was a time I was eagerly looking forward to.
Well, that's separate from curiosity.
"But if you're thinking of living with that body, can't we just escape together when the time comes? It's impossible to erase the essence of Iblis."
Should I say it's a player's occupational disease?
I can't shake the thought that forgetting the number of times just because I said I would leave a little early is so inefficient.
It was too regrettable.
It's not like I'm in a situation where I'm at a loss.
Moreover, if you escape by dying alone, the royal family will not look kindly upon you. You may not be able to keep your position as the head.
“Ahaha, that's interesting! I didn't know you would give me such advice.”
“Aren't we in the same boat for now? There may be times when we need to cooperate outside as well. More than that, your smiling skills have improved a lot, haven't they?”
"I'm slowly getting used to it. To the human heart."
"So what's the answer?"
"It's the same as before. Once I finish adapting, I'll be going out right away."
Why does the village chief want to do such inefficient things?
As I looked at him with such questions in mind, the village chief forced a smile and opened his mouth.
“It's been just over 100 days since you entered this tier, hasn't it?”
"But?"
"You don't know anything about this level yet."
“……?”
"Of course, you will eventually escape this place according to the records... but who knows how long it will take to get there."
'The village chief continued speaking after saying that.'
"I've really been waiting a long time for this moment..."
This time, it was not an emotion that seemed forced.
The village chief's voice carried an intense emotion that had never been seen before.
Of course, that moment was extremely short.
“Haha, aren't the values that people prioritize all different? If I can leave this place even a day earlier, that is enough value for me.”
Soon, the village chief put on an artificial smile on his face as if to say when did that happen.