episode_0004

A demon.

A human transformed into a demon.

As they have different causes, they also have different origins and abilities.

Some even grow animal ears, horns, or tails.

They may have webbed feet or their joints may be bent like those of an animal.

Kati is a demon that looks exactly like a human except for its eyes.

It has ears and a tail, but they can be hidden.

An eye patch was used to cover the cat’s eyes, which cannot be hidden.

Her senses are alert enough to allow her to live and fight even while blindfolded.

“Kathi. Stop it.”

This is Kati, who was my personal escort and the party’s sole scout.

Running around like a shadow is no problem for her.

“… yes. Master.”

Katy, who answered briefly, quietly retreated.

The head of security was making a gesture to warn that something might happen again.

“I told you not to call me master.”

There was once an attempt to brainwash the demons and turn them into soldiers.

Mine soldier training plan.

I have never been successful.

Carty was one of the victims of that attempt.

I happened to save her while looking for a hidden piece for myself, and after that, I was accompanied by a guy who was following me around.

Later, after learning to speak, I always called him master.

No matter how many times I tell you that you are the master of your life, it still seems like that.

“Yes. I understand.”

“You just say it all the time.”

The head of security, who had collapsed, quickly stood up.

The other two guards, who were slow to grasp the situation, stood in an ambiguous posture, unsure whether they were about to withdraw their weapons or retract them.

“How dare you use violence against the village guard?! these… .”

Even if you shake your shoulders and say it, it’s not a threat.

It was when the security leader was about to pull out his sword with his remaining arm.

“Why all the fuss?”

An old man smiling kindly walked out from inside.

“Chief… .”

The security chief quickly lowered his head.

The other two guards followed suit.

“He is a manager, and he said he came to look for an aspiring candidate.”

“Aspirants?”

The village chief raised his eyebrows and nodded slowly.

“I think I heard a rumor somewhere. I’ll kick you out soon… .”

“No. A distinguished guest has arrived, so we must welcome him.”

“Yes, yes?”

Ignoring the confused security chief, the village chief spoke to me.

“I will take you inside.”

“Is it true that there are applicants? You insisted earlier that it wasn’t there.”

“It seems like there was a misunderstanding within the village. Please forgive the old man’s incompetence.”

It’s suspicious, but there’s no reason to refuse.

“Let’s go.”

The village chief led the way.

The security guard looked at me and the village chief in turn, as if he couldn’t understand.

Either way.

Kati and I passed in front of him without notice.

The two guards seemed to have forgotten what had just happened and looked at Kati as if they were fascinated.

A wide skirt that reaches up to the knees and a maid uniform decorated with cute frills.

A pair of daggers at the waist contrast with the chaste attire that covers the wrists.

The guy who originally wore slim leather armor… .

What is this?

“Kathi. What are those clothes? This is my first time seeing you.”

I followed the village chief and asked in a whisper.

“If it’s not good, I’ll take it off.”

Because he is a Mine person, his way of thinking is not normal.

“No, don’t do it. please. It suits you well, it suits you… . Why suddenly?”

“Ian said you can spend my money freely.”

Is this a bet on words?

This is what I usually say.

It’s your money and your life, so don’t worry about what I do.

Yes, but… .

“Kukkukkuk… .”

There was a strange sound coming from my pocket.

When I looked down, Mercy, who had been suppressing laughter, spoke softly.

“Doesn’t it suit you?”

“You put it on?”

“Yes. After all, it’s the distance between the master and the master. I did it because I thought it would fit well.”

… Yes, whatever you wear is up to you.

Never mind.

It’s a burden to be angry at the owner, but it’s been like that for several years and it won’t be fixed.

Asking not to do something every time is no different from a kind of greeting.

More than that, even though I’ve been watching it for a long time, I still get shocked every time I see Kati.

This mysterious woman with an expressionless face and even her eyes is a cat-like creature that bites my finger and rolls around.

Their personalities are different when they are cats and when they are humans, so I sometimes forget about them.

“Are you from the Manager’s Guild?”

The village chief who was ahead asked.

This is my first time hearing about the Manager’s Guild.

“No.”

“I see. Thank goodness.”

What is fortunate?

What is the Manager’s Guild?

My 3rd session was entirely devoted to the first warrior party.

There was no time to check what was happening elsewhere.

I’ll have to find out more when I return to the capital.

Rather, why did a mana explosion occur in this peaceful village?

The village chief guided us to a large hall.

He barely stopped Katy, who was about to leave, saying it might be a trap, and went in.

“Rather than that, manager, have you ever taken on other heroes or wannabes?”

“I went through a few people. I’m thinking about taking charge of it properly this time.”

“I see. Well, you’ve come to the right place. I have a child who is ready.”

kid?

Aren’t 25 years old a child?

Let’s see what they do first.

“Let’s take a look.”

The village chief smiled and gestured to his subordinate.

Soon the subordinate appeared with a girl.

Although he hadn’t taken off his youth shirt yet, his eyes were full of venom.

Although he wore long sleeves, there were visible bruises on his wrists and hands.

I immediately recognized its identity.

Isn’t he a wannabe?

“I came to see the applicant.”

“You are quick to notice. But if you listen to the story, you won’t regret it.”

Afterwards, the village chief spoke at length.

The most powerful child in the village who is considered to be the next hero, support from the village level, etc.

It was something I didn’t need to hear.

Because I know what this is.

There are those who believe that one can become a knight or archer without using magic or miracles through training.

I can assure you, risking my life for the third time, that I was wrong.

Unfortunately, the ability to become a warrior, that is, the awakening as a superhuman, is determined only by luck.

Because they don’t use magic or miracles in the first place, knights and archers also use mana.

How to use mana is not something that ordinary people can learn through practice.

“Although he is still ordinary, he will soon awaken as a superhuman… .”

“It was done.”

The moment I was about to cut him off.

“Chief!”

Someone suddenly opened the door and came in.

“Customer now… .”

“Sorry. But, that’s it, Vivian has children again… .”

Vivian?

The benevolent village chief’s expression hardened.

I was a bit surprised by that name, but I didn’t show it.

“Sorry. Take a seat for a moment… .”

“Please come back.”

The village chief, who asked for understanding, hurried out.

The girl standing in front fidgeted with her hands as if she was anxious.

He looks at me as if he has something to say.

Since the name Vivian has already been mentioned, let’s quietly ask.

“Do you know who Vivian is?”

“… !”

In response to my question, the girl stretched out her hand and ran towards me.

But Katy grabbed his wrist and blocked him.

It wasn’t threatening at all… .

“Kathi, I can’t do anything because of you. Let go, hurry.”

“… Sorry.”

The released girl looked at Kati and stood in front of me.

He moves his body around as if he wants to say something.

But even if I look at all the hand gestures, I don’t know what they mean.

“Can’t you speak?”

He shakes his head and points to his mouth.

This could not be… .

“Excuse me for a moment.”

He grabbed the small chin and pulled it down.

The ‘Seal of Silence’ was engraved on the tongue visible beyond the open mouth.

Although it takes a long time to cast, it is not a difficult spell.

Could it be that there is a woman named Vivian… .

“It will be a little hot.”

I put my thumb on my tongue and pressed it.

I can do this much.

“… !”

The girl closed her eyes tightly and held on for a few seconds.

When I lifted my finger, the seal disappeared.

“Ah, ah. ah… !”

The girl covered her mouth as if she was surprised by her own voice.

Then he looked at me and opened his mouth.

“Mae, are you the manager?”

“Yes.”

“By any chance, did you visit Vivian?”

He seems to know something.

He seems willing to talk.

Come to think of it, I thought Vivian was a teacher at an orphanage.

“That’s right. Do you know where it is?”

“Yes! I know! Please save Vivian!”

The text written in Vivian’s introduction came to mind.

Please save me, just one simple line.

What on earth is going on in this town?

First of all, it doesn’t seem like Vivian was the one who carved the seal of silence.

“Let’s go.”

As the girl took the lead and left the hall, the guard guarding the door blocked her.

“If you come out… .”

I didn’t have time to listen so I knocked him out.

The embarrassed girl stopped for a moment and ran straight ahead.

“This way!”

I ran after the girl, ignoring the gazes of the residents.

At the corner of the village, a large, shabby wooden mansion appeared.

Several armed guards guarded the front.

The atmosphere is unusual.

“There it is! My sister will be there!”

The inside of the mansion is noisy.

Shouts like fighting are heard.

With a few steps left, I walked slowly and observed the situation.

The guard guarding the front recognized me.

They were the two who blocked me at the entrance to the village.

“Go back! You must not come here!”

There was no time to argue.

“Kathi.”

As soon as the call was heard, two guards fell forward.

Katy, who was standing between the two, pulled out their swords and threw them away.

“Ugh… .”

The girl who saw the scene opened her mouth wide.

It’s quite surprising that Katy, who was right next to me, is standing there in the blink of an eye.

I was like that at first too.

“I’m guarding the entrance with Mercy.”

“Yes. Be careful.”

“Be careful.”

Mercy, who moved to Katy, also left a message.

I just nodded lightly and opened the door.

The girl came in closely behind me.

“You fucking bitch! How many times has this happened?”

Harsh swear words flew out.

It was dark and musty inside.

Although there was no dust, it had the characteristic smell of an old, old house.

When I opened the door wider, I saw the person inside.

They’re all kids.

It was full of children much younger than the girl behind us.

Shabby clothes, grimy faces, bony limbs.

The heads of children who were crying or scared were focused in one place.

“Tell me right now where you sent it!”

Along with the shout, there was a sound of a slap, hitting flesh.

Boom, someone fell.

The person who hit him was the security guard from earlier.

A rugged and rather large man.

Some of the children watching held his legs.

“Don’t hit me… !”

“Oh, those bugs are real!”

Several other children were hugged by the fallen figure.

All I can see is that she has long red hair.

The girl who had been hiding behind stepped forward.

“What are you doing to Vivian?”

Vivian? That red hair?

“This bastard and that bastard treat me very… . huh? What, why is that here?”

The security guard who spotted me muttered.

Meanwhile, the girl took out a wooden sword and rushed at him.

The village chief boasted endlessly, but it seems he wasn’t just empty-handed.

Your posture isn’t bad.

Everything else is bad though.

Nutritional status, physical injuries, and even armament level.

The wooden sword pierced the body of the security guard, but it was no use.

No matter how much you train, you are still an ordinary person holding a wooden sword.

There wasn’t even a scratch on the leather armor.

“Ugh!”

The beaten girl rolled over.

The security leader drew his sword and glared at me.

“So, you came to look for this woman, right?”

“I think so. If Vivian is right.”

The red-haired woman lifted her head slightly.

It seems like he’s looking this way, but his eyes can’t be seen because of his messy hair.

“I don’t know what you want to do with this trash, but I can’t give it to you.”

“Hmm. Did you need your permission?”

“This cocky brat-!”

The security guard rushed over.

There are pros and cons to appearing easy to hide one’s identity.

The advantage is that you don’t have to get caught up in a big incident.

The downside is that there are many times when one gets caught up in these petty disputes.

I leisurely observed the guard leader running slowly.

Stinging posture.

The left arm that was broken by Carty earlier is unstable.

There are still three steps left.

I was once a warrior, and every day I only see people like Kati and the first warrior party.

It feels like ordinary people are moving slowly.

When the security leader held out his sword and stretched it out.

I struck the side of the sword with my palm.

Kak! And the sword broke.

The broken blade fell to the floor.

“… … .”

The security chief froze in his posture.

Only the eyeballs of the still body trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.

“That’s right, I told you not to pick it.”

*

I wouldn’t have done anything more harmful to the children’s mental health.

I handed it over to Kati outside, so she would have taken care of it.

I walked past the children who were looking up with fear and curiosity and approached the red-haired woman.

The hair that would once have been shiny and flowing was dull and dull.

The limbs exposed beneath the clothes look like rotten tree branches.

I’m worried that it might break if I rub it.

Under a face dirty with black scum, green eyes like grass looked up at me.

She looks a little younger because of the light freckles on the bridge of her nose.

Red hair, freckles, light green eyes.

She is just like a strawberry.

“Thank you… .”

The woman bowed her head and said hello.

“Vivian?”

She nodded.

A few children surrounded her and were wary of me, fearing that I might harm her.

That vigilance was a pretty good sign.

It looks like an orphanage, but she is a woman trusted by children in such a harsh environment.

It’s impossible without being a good person.

In that case, the seal of silence must have been engraved by someone else.

It’s a magic that even ordinary people can use as long as they have a scroll.

Rather, it’s a bit awkward to say “manager” in this situation.

“I… .”

“Are you hungry?”

I ignored her words and said,

“Let’s eat first.”

I was surprised because it was such a sudden suggestion.

But I was so surprised.

Is it really that surprising to be asked to eat?

Vivian blinked in disbelief, then slowly opened her mouth.

“Well, maybe… .”

At that time, it became noisy outside.