Ch.223The Butterfly Effect-Observing NPC. (2)

How strange. Really strange.

“Jack, what’s wrong?”

“Is the food not to your liking?”

“No, that’s not it…”

While eating at a restaurant near the inn, my head started to ache again. To be honest, I just want to see Ragni now. My brain can’t make sense of this at all. Help me! Ragnimon!!

“Is it because of what the waitress just said?”

“…Well, yeah.”

After entering the restaurant, ordering food and simple drinks, and tipping the serving girl, I asked about the current situation in Ponia. And as a result, the people of Ponia “just knew” that the Empire and Ponia were preparing for war, and that the Seven Deadly Sins had been summoned.

[Eh, the atmosphere with other countries these days? The closest to this city would be Aigram, so if you’re asking about Aigram’s atmosphere… Oh? The Empire? Things are obviously bad with them. How could it be good when they’ve declared war? Well, the Empire’s border is quite close to here, which is concerning, but the King is currently forming an alliance with nearby small countries to establish a front line closer to the Empire. We’re just putting our faith in that.]

[Um… Seven Deadly Sins? Oh, you mean the demons! Yes, I know about them. Poria never has a peaceful day, it’s terrible. You might not know this as a traveler, but this city was once destroyed by a Monster Parade. Right, you wouldn’t know? It happened more than three years ago, so first-time visitors don’t know about it. But I like that the city has become bigger and safer than when it was destroyed. Me? I’m a local here.]

The waitress shrugged, saying that the 5,000 can information I’d just learned could have been obtained from anyone. I even discovered that this was the same city where I had once shouted upon learning that my weekly salary was originally 10,000 can from the gate guards. My head really started to hurt.

No, I may be thick-headed, but I wouldn’t forget a place I’ve been to before. The city’s appearance, streets, and surrounding mountain scenery have completely changed. Plus, that inn from earlier definitely wasn’t just one or two years old… Wait, could it be a remodeled building that wasn’t completely destroyed? Is that why they put a bathtub in one room?!

“If you’re troubled about something, talk to us. We might not give you a clear answer, but we can at least think about it together.”

Chikuyo spoke with concern, her ears perked up and eyebrows slightly drooping. I organized my thoughts. Right, if I can’t figure it out by myself, I should ask others for help. It’s not like this is something I need to hide.

“To be honest, something feels off. The Empire, the largest nearby country, is preparing for war. Moreover, demons from the Seven Deadly Sins have appeared within the country. Two major crises are happening simultaneously nearby, yet everything here is too peaceful, don’t you think?”

I’m not saying that peace and tranquility are bad. I don’t want to see people panicking and trembling with anxiety. But this seems too lacking in tension. Honestly, after what I heard from the spirit mage, I wonder if people are deliberately ignoring the threat of death.

Even now, after finishing our meal, the waitress I tipped earlier approached us, saying she felt the service wasn’t worth what I gave her, and offered warm coffee as a complimentary service. Despite the impending war, there’s no sign of people desperately saving money or trying to flee. The gate guards, the inn staff, and now here—the service is exceptionally good. The atmosphere suggests this is all routine, which is giving me a headache.

“Hmm, is that so? Isn’t that a good thing? It means people trust their country and the city’s security.”

“Sis, I don’t think that’s what Jack is asking. The point is, war would be dangerous, so why aren’t people thinking about escaping? Moreover, the Seven Deadly Sins—such powerful demons have appeared in a nearby territory, yet people hardly seem worried. Isn’t that strange?”

“Yes, that’s what I mean.”

“Ah, if that’s the case, I think I understand.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Chikuyo, who casually said she understood the question that Miho and I had clarified, slowly sipped her coffee, savoring it, then perked up her ears and pointed to the window facing us. Huh?

“Do you see that person on the street, the one who guided us earlier?”

“Oh, Ranger Johnson?”

“Wow, sis, you knew that even while eating?”

The restaurant wasn’t particularly quiet, but she said she knew by sound, perking up her ears, and continued speaking.

“From what that ranger said earlier, the skills he demonstrated, and from what I’ve heard while we were eating—many people seem to trust him deeply. I think that ranger might be this city’s guardian? Like the elders in Siltra, he’s strong but doesn’t stay inside the city. Instead, he’s actively working outside, reassuring people. Maybe that’s why everyone is so calm?”

“…Ah, come to think of it, didn’t they say the rangers drove away the Monster Parade?”

Hearing Chikuyo’s words, Miho nodded in understanding, and Chikuyo looked at me with a grin, asking, “What do you think?” Certainly, her deduction doesn’t seem wrong.

Even now, outside, Johnson is trying to pay for a fruit, but the merchant smiles and refuses his money, apparently not wanting to accept payment from him.

Sigh, if the people of this country had treated me and Ira half as well, we might have hesitated a lot more about leaving the mountain. No, that’s not the point.

Still, it’s strange. Demon followers keep appearing outside the city, yet people remain this calm, trusting just one ranger? It seems a bit…

As my thoughts began to spiral into an endless loop with no exit, Chikuyo suddenly stood up, her crimson eyes wide.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“…It seems the situation you were worried about has occurred.”

“Sniff sniff… No way.”

Miho also started sniffing, trying to detect something in response to Chikuyo’s reaction. We immediately went outside the restaurant, looked around, and continued our conversation in a secluded spot.

“What is it? What’s happening?”

“The city is noisy, so I couldn’t tell where the sound came from, but I barely heard it. I heard the same voice. It seems…”

A demon follower has infiltrated the city? No way? But there’s no sign of the gate being breached… Wait, did they climb over the wall? Damn, losing the veteran ranger’s detection skill is really bad. I’ve already used today’s MP 1, so I can’t use tracking skills today!

“Is it a demon follower?”

“I’m not sure. I just heard what sounded like ominous conversation…”

“But sis, I don’t smell anything ominous.”

“Ominous conversation? What did you hear?”

“…Something about the city wall, and then something about gaps forming behind it.”

I checked the status window of all humans walking or standing still within our sight. However, no one with a suspicious occupation appeared in our view…

[Imperial Soldier: Level 42]

“…Chikuyo, do you see that person?”

“Hmm? Who? That person?”

“Yeah, he just came out of that alley. You said you didn’t know which direction the sound came from, right?”

“But I don’t smell anything ominous from him.”

As Miho sniffed the air while looking at the man walking confidently out of the alley, it became clear he wasn’t a demon follower. But why would an “Imperial Soldier” be in “Ponia” in this situation? He wouldn’t be traveling in a country that had declared war.

“…I guess my mouth was too loose.”

“Jack, is there something strange about that person?”

“I can’t tell if it’s the same person by sound alone since he’s not saying anything right now.”

When they looked at me questioningly, I nodded slightly in response. There’s a high chance this guy is the one Chikuyo heard, and while I wouldn’t care what he does in this city when we’re not around, now that he’s caught our attention while we’re here, we can’t just let it go.

“Let’s follow him without being noticed.”

If he’s really just a traveler, we can apologize for suspecting him, and if he’s trying to cause trouble, we can stop it before it becomes a problem. With that, we began tailing him.

*

As the sun began to set.

In a dilapidated hut behind a deserted, gloomy alley. A man entered the doorless house without hesitation, proceeded forward, and entered a room where he stomped on the floor twice quickly. The door of a fallen wardrobe on the floor opened, and another man immediately poked his head out.

“What took you so long? You’re a week later than the expected arrival date.”

“Damn it, everyone else died on the way, so I had to move the cargo alone! Demon followers, impossibly strong undead monsters. Shit, what the hell is wrong with this country?!”

As the man shouted irritably, the man who emerged from the wardrobe chuckled at his behavior.

“What’s so funny?”

“Ah, nothing. My companions all died too. Eight of us came in, and I’m the only one left. What about you?”

“…Fifteen, split into two teams entering through different gates and mountain borders. One guy from the other team survived, but he was captured by demon followers before entering here.”

When he added that his team encountered monsters and was annihilated on the spot, the listening man incredulously ran his hand down his face and let out a low laugh.

Despite appearances, they were an infiltration team composed of skilled individuals from the Empire. Yet upon entering the magical land of Ponia, this was their fate. He couldn’t tell if he was crazy or if this country was crazy anymore.

“…So, do you have the items?”

“I could only bring a few things by myself. Still, breaking one wall shouldn’t be difficult.”

“You don’t seem to have it with you now.”

“I hid it as soon as I entered. But is this really right?”

“What?”

“I understand this city is close to the Empire, but it’s not even a border city—it’s completely in the rear. Will destroying the barrier of a place like this really help the Empire?”

At the man’s reasonable question, the Imperial soldier who emerged from the wardrobe stiffened his smiling face and ran his hand down his face. Apparently, the survivor from the other side, unlike himself, “truly didn’t understand” this operation.

“Did you come here only hearing that breaking the wall would make future attacks easier?”

“…What? Are you saying you know something different?”

“…Kekeke. I see. Well, if you survived despite that, it must be fate.”

After saying that, the man immediately told him to guide him to where the items were. Though confused by the cryptic words, the man nodded and began to lead the way. And as they stepped outside…

“Chikuyo, which bastard should we keep alive?”

“The man who came out later. That man seems to know more.”

The fox-person with crimson hair burning like the setting sun and the gray-haired man, like the moon that had already risen, were waiting for them.