Ch.76Training the NPC. (2)

As the mountain keeper Jack’s status window, which only he could see, I was born, and before I knew it, I had gained a golem’s body and the name Gore. Looking at Jack now, I’m certain.

‘He’s angry.’

His behavioral principles are simple when observed up close.

He’s someone who absolutely despises what he calls “unfair treatment”—that is, anything that unreasonably harms himself or those connected to him. And those people over there were sent by someone trying to force unreasonable demands on Ragni, who has become “his.”

That’s why someone who usually captures thieves and bandits alive is now being so cruel.

“Two minutes left.”

It hasn’t even been one minute yet, has it? With their arms tied, the naked assassins can only kick at each other or headbutt one another. He leans against a tree and speaks leisurely to them.

“AAAAGH!!”

“You’re insane!! Are you seriously expecting us to kill each other like he said?!!”

“Idiot!! The captain is dead, shouldn’t we try to survive first?!”

“That’s rich coming from someone who took the Empire’s money!! You traitor!! You beast with no loyalty!!!”

“What loyalty do I owe to morons who didn’t even bring proper information and got us into this mess?! Kuheck?!!”

He hates seeing his people get hurt or placed in even slightly unfair situations. Yet watching him impose such unfairness on others makes me think he’s quite a simple person.

‘Someone who doesn’t hesitate to place what’s precious to him on the scales.’

He avoids killing people as much as possible. Yet when necessary, he weighs his distaste for certain actions against the suffering of those he cares about, and tips that scale with remarkable ease.

In all the situations where he has killed people during his travels, and since gaining me, a golem, it was never for his own sake.

The first time he killed those demon-worshipping black mages was when his younger sister Ira was almost hurt.

And though it wasn’t a person, when he moved to kill a demon, it was when Rey was risking his life to help us escape. He placed Ira’s safety on the scales and, despite his hesitation, took action.

And now it’s Ragni. As soon as he learned she was being targeted by assassins and might be killed by the man claiming to be her father, creating a threat that could endanger everyone, he immediately tipped the scales with brutal efficiency.

‘…Even if I say this, Master would probably just say he did it for himself. For Ira’s safety.’

Before the promised five minutes were up, Jack pushed himself off the tree he was leaning against.

Already, a single dagger was stained with the blood of more than ten people, and only three remained alive. Among them, only one was uninjured.

“Okay, that’s enough. My little sister is waiting at home, and I don’t want to wait for you guys any longer. You all know who won, right? So I’ll just take care of the remaining two.”

With his lips curled up in a vile, malicious sneer, he seemed to be deliberately casting himself as the villain.

*

“Gore. Make these two giant and throw them away.”

[Yes.]

“W-wait!! I can still figh—?!!”

“Aaaargh?! P-please spare me!! I don’t want to die!!!”

Upon hearing my command, Gore immediately used Giant Growth, expanding not just to 5 meters but to a size closer to a mountain. Oh, how seriously is he planning to throw them?

-BOOM⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!

The sound of people being thrown somehow resembled an exploding bomb echoing through the night forest, and Gore immediately shrank back down.

“Wow. They flew well. I wonder how far they’ll go?”

[Probably all the way to the Empire.]

“…Huh?”

To the Empire? Wait, what does that mean…

[Weren’t you planning to declare war on them anyway? I thought this would be an effective method.]

“Oh…”

I guess that’s because he’s a status window? His thinking is quite different from mine.

Besides, if he throws them at the Empire, innocent people might collide with those guys and die. I never wanted such a terrible accident.

[I calculated it. I don’t know the exact location of the Emperor’s castle, but based on what Ragni told us, I made a rough estimate. Besides, at this late hour, no one would be moving around outside.]

Hmm, is that so? I suppose. This continent has one time zone. There’s no time difference between countries, so by the time those guys reach the Empire, it’ll be dawn.

Is it because he’s a status window? He’s quick with such calculations.

“Well, now that one survived, I’ll leave him to you guys.”

“…You’re really leaving him to us?”

“Well, do I look like I have anyone else to entrust him to?”

“N-no, but…”

The seven assassins who agreed to serve under Ragni probably need this last remaining guy.

“You all have families and people to protect, right? Take this bastard, pass on our information, and make your escape.”

“…Are you serious about what the princess said earlier today?”

The order we gave them earlier today was that if they were to serve under us, they would need to pass on at least some information about us to the Empire.

To get their families out of the Empire, they need to return with at least some information, even if the mission failed. Otherwise, their betrayal would be immediately discovered.

I agreed to that condition. Of course, I have no intention of giving them any more information than what they’ve already seen.

“From now on, it’s your responsibility. Take this guy, escape successfully, and our next meeting will be in [Naty]. Got it?”

“…Fine. Jack, I won’t forget this favor.”

“Make sure you don’t. Oh, and you.”

The lone naked man.

Despite having killed two of his comrades and being covered in blood, he’s now terrified after seeing Gore. I grab him by the hair and, with the same smile as before, tell him:

“When you get to the Empire, tell His Imperial Majesty and the Chancellor clearly: the games end here. I’m letting it slide this time for Ragni’s sake. If something like this happens again.”

After saying that much, I point my thumb at Gore behind me, and the man nods frantically in response.

Well, having seen Gore grow just now, he probably understands that if they mess with us again, that giant golem might jump into their territory and tear their capital city apart like a pizza.

Giant Growth, obtained after killing the Demon of Wrath. Truly awesome.

“Well then, get going. If you fail and die, it’s not my fault or Ragni’s, understood?”

“…Be careful, Brother Jack. Please tell the princess that I’ll repay her for this no matter what happens.”

Why does it feel so untrustworthy coming from a guy like Kyaru?

Well, looking into the man’s eyes, he doesn’t seem to be lying. I wave my hand and head down the mountain first.

[Master.]

“Yes?”

[Both of Ragni’s skills are activated. Did you do that on purpose?]

“Yeah. The Empire might try to stab us in the back again, and we won’t always be together.”

[……]

“What? Do you still think Ragni will turn into a raid boss?”

[That’s not it.]

“Then what?”

Though he has no facial expressions, I’ve spent enough time with him to sense he’s worried about something. As I walk leisurely while looking at the status window, Gore thumps his chest as if frustrated and speaks.

[With Ragni’s intelligence, wouldn’t she notice that she has more skills, and that they were activated by your intention?]

“…I suppose she would?”

[What are you planning to tell her?]

“Ah, that.”

Honestly, I hadn’t thought about an excuse from the beginning. More precisely, I never considered it before Ragni fully joined “us,” and after she did, I spent nearly months wondering how to explain and activate those skills.

In other words, the content is already decided.

“You’re the key.”

[Pardon?]

“Ragni already knows you’re a Slime Mime Golem with absorption skills, so I’ll tell her that after you ate those things we got from the casino, some skill appraisal appeared. How’s that sound?”

[…Will she believe it?]

If she doesn’t believe it, that’s fine too. She’ll probably just assume I have such skills. It’s not like I can tell her about reincarnation or status windows without being treated like a madman. This is the right approach.

And maybe she’s still upset about what happened with that other woman today, so she might completely forget about it. Honestly, I hope she just lets it slide.

As I was talking with Gore, I entered the city where many lights had already gone out.

“Oh, where have you been?”

“Hm? Ah, Green Dol. Where are you going? I was just checking out the mountain due to an occupational habit.”

“Haha. A mountain keeper, you said? I didn’t know such an occupation came with habits like that. Interesting.”

I never expected to meet Green Dol near the city entrance.

Since he’s a gambling bar regular, I never thought I’d run into him near an entrance other than our house.

“Haha. I don’t just drink and gamble all the time. People meet and socialize.”

“Ah. Are you waiting for someone?”

“Yes. Someone from my homeland is looking for me.”

“From your homeland? An elf?”

“No. The elves don’t know I’m here.”

Damn. I was hoping to see a female elf.

From games and other subculture descriptions, they’re supposed to be really beautiful. I was hoping to see one today, but apparently not.

After some casual conversation with Green Dol, I told him I was tired and turned to leave.

And then.

“Green Dol eld—?!!”

“…Huh?!”

Hair that shimmered black and white even under the night moonlight fluttered like a gentle breeze, then jerked forward as she stopped abruptly upon seeing me.

Wait, this is the person from his homeland?!!

“Y-you’re that pervert who kidnapped a beautiful woman this morning…!! The perverted man I met this morning!!!”

“What the fuck?! Who’s a perverted kidnapper?! You crazy psycho lesbian bitch?!!”

The lesbian white tiger woman who made Ragni cry was pointing at me accusingly, and I couldn’t help but curse back at her.