episode_0079

Anyway, since all the members of the party decided to return, we packed up and turned towards Vesperian.

Just like when we marched here, not only our party but also other parties were all together.

It was Bardu’s suggestion.

He said that it might be better for everyone to return together, as there was a possibility of being attacked by bandits if each party returned separately, just like when we came.

Did the bandits on the way back already take care of everything?

That’s unlikely.

Because bandits are fundamentally the same as flies, even if it seems like they’ve been completely wiped out, if you turn your eyes away for a moment, they tend to reappear.

We only took care of the bandits who attacked us in the first place, and we didn’t completely sweep away all the bandits on the upward path.

So, there was a non-zero possibility of facing new bandits on the way back.

If they were ordinary weakened bandits, it wouldn’t be a big problem, but if adventurers like Dongpae appeared again, like last time…

Our party might manage, but Bardu and Jane wouldn’t have a way to overcome them. Bardu would be killed, and Jane would be dragged to their hideout.

Since there’s a high possibility that those two will face such a situation, they suggested that we return together, saying it would be much safer.

“That’s right, that sounds good.”

“Thank you for accepting.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Coldly speaking, it was a suggestion that would partly benefit me and Prede… but still, there seemed to be no reason to refuse.

Because it would leave a bitter taste if we had saved Bardu and Jane only for them to become the spoils of the bandits.

Imagine leaving them first, taking a little rest, and then thinking about meeting with Bardu, whose throat has been slit a day later.

Your conscience would prick like a needle, and even your appetite would disappear.

If only Bardu’s body remained and Jane’s body was nowhere to be seen, the discomfort would be heightened.

…No, perhaps it would be even more grotesquely uncomfortable if Jane’s body was left alongside?

Certainly, it wouldn’t be a normal sight. Like the corpses I saw before.

In the early days of possession, while raiders were crossing the border to head north, there were several occasions when bandits desecrated the bodies of women they had killed…

…Ugh.

It was such a gruesome sight that even now, thinking about it makes me slightly nauseous. I came to keenly realize what a being with malice, intelligence, and creativity could do to others.

Now, I can pass over it calmly as I’ve become somewhat accustomed to it, but at the time of the first desecration, I was truly turned inside out, vomiting for a while, unable to even keep down a meal.

…I remembered for no reason. Uncomfortably.

Anyway, my point was that Baruduna and Jain suffering such a fate wasn’t particularly pleasant for me.

…Why do I keep mentioning just those two? Weren’t the trio from Amina still alive?

Who cares about those bastards.

I already considered them to be something less than human.

They shamelessly only cared about saving their own lives, not even showing anger at Amina’s death, who had taken care of them in her own way.

Even after the battle ended, they only cared about their own injuries, not even considering burying poor Amina.

Did they not even think of such a thing?

It was at that moment, when I personally buried her body, that they approached with a surprised look, asking if there was anything they could do to help.

Rather than mourning Amina, they seemed eager to help, fearing they would be treated like trash if they didn’t.

It was at that moment I decided not to treat them as human beings.

Humans should act like humans. Treating these kinds of people as human would only cheapen the value of humanity, wouldn’t it?

So, whether they lived or died, I didn’t care.

But… Barudu and Jain are different.

Not only are they flawless in terms of skill and character, but aren’t they true gentlemen who willingly offered us two carriages?

The trio, with faces suggesting they had a stake in the matter, hesitated around the carriage, but Amy’s threat to gouge out their eyes made them hastily retreat.

Their personalities were truly at opposite ends.

“Um… Mr. Hilde, may we return together…?”

“Whether you do or not.”

So, I openly stuck out my tongue at the three who approached me with a supplicating attitude, as if they were bugs.

It was somewhat fortunate that I managed to hold back from telling them to go to hell, or so I consoled myself.

“H-hey, don’t talk to Mr. Hilde. Don’t even approach him. It’s unpleasant.”

Freddie, too, seemed to share my sentiments, displaying overt disdain. His usually passive demeanor had transformed into an aggressive attitude. Even when arguing with Amy, he hadn’t been this confrontational.

“Y-yes…!”

The three men paled and hurriedly stepped back.

“Ka-kick! Kegek!”

Kikel laughed upon seeing them. It sounded different from his usual laughter when he was in a good mood; perhaps it was more like a Lizardman’s sneer.

◆◆

On the way back, Bardu and Jane asked for our pardon, then boarded a baggage car, while our party settled on another carriage. After transferring some of the load to Bardu’s side to balance the weight due to Kikel’s mass.

What about the remaining trio?

They did ask to be taken on the carriage. They wondered if they were the only ones who had to walk.

At least one of them suggested taking turns to ride, but…

“I don’t see any reason why we should give you a ride. Are you asking us to make up a reason?”

Before I could respond, Amy firmly rejected them, saying if they wanted to ride the carriage, they should prepare to part with their two legs.

In the end, the three didn’t even get a chance to board the carriage and had no choice but to trudge along behind it.

◆◆

About eight hours later.

“I think we should stop here for today. It’s getting too dark.”

Barduga, who stopped the carriage, looked up at the starless night sky filled with thick clouds and suggested camping.

“That sounds good.”

I agreed as well.

Given that Amy’s headlamp magic had run out, relying solely on torchlight to navigate this night road was not a wise decision. Additionally, the burdened horses needed sufficient rest and sleep.

Therefore, we stopped the carriage, dismounted, and began preparing for a night of camping.

“Let’s make a campfire over here—”

“Hey, what about this luggage? It looks like pepper…?”

“How should we set up the cooking utensils—”

From gathering dry firewood for the campfire, to taking out a couple of spices from the carriage and adding them to the stew made with dried meat, and even deciding the order of the cooking utensils, everyone’s extensive experience made the preparations end in no time.

Our party and Barduga’s party gathered around the campfire, warming ourselves with a seasoned meat stew made with salt and pepper, while the remaining three huddled in a corner, chewing on rations to satisfy their hunger.

“…Shouldn’t we have shared some of the dinner supplies?”

I muttered as I glanced at them briefly.

They might be indifferent fellows, but still, it seemed a bit petty to discriminate in terms of food.

“Huh? Do… do we really need to do that?”

Frida turned her head to look at me, her face filled with pure curiosity, as if she couldn’t even comprehend how malicious it is to discriminate in terms of food.

“I mean…”

Amy nodded beside her as if it were obvious.

“Unlike Barduga and Jane, those two aren’t the kind to remember favors given to them, are they? They’ve already shown their true colors, so why bother caring?”

“They… they won’t even appreciate it, will they…?”

They’re quite a pair.

Both of them seemed to be completely unconcerned about such matters.

“…Really?”

Am I being overly sensitive? Or is it because I come from a country where discriminating in terms of food is considered an unprecedented atrocity?

“From the start, everyone should take care of their own food. That’s basic, isn’t it?”

“Well… that’s true.”

It was an irrefutable argument.

Unless the client is providing a meal, it’s a principle that each person is responsible for their own food, unless it’s that kind of situation.

If you want to eat a stew with plenty of pepper, salt, and meat, at the very least, you should show the sincerity of paying for the food.

I just handed a bowl to Bardu and Jane out of courtesy, but they have no reason to accept such courtesy for free; they should at least take some money.

Since the two were saying that, instead of arguing, I just let it go.

After all, we had already finished eating.

It was delicious.

◆◆

That morning.

As I woke up a little earlier than the party members, a very faint voice, almost like a whisper, seeped into my ears.

Lernem and Hamil.

Even among the trio at Amina’s place, these two seemed particularly close, chatting quietly early in the morning.

“These damn bastards are campaigning…”

“Hey, are you crazy? What if they hear us?”

…No, should I say they’re exchanging curses?

“What does it matter? They’re all asleep, who cares if they hear.”

“But still, speak more quietly. If those bitches hear, we’re both dead.”

…Are they listening to everything?

These lunatics.

While outwardly lounging, inside, they seemed to be harboring deep resentment, their conversation was quite something else.

“Frankly, you’re just as shitty, aren’t you?”

“That’s true. Ha, really, if there weren’t any wizards, I would’ve gone in and stabbed them.”

“What would you use to stab them?”

“Do you not know that?”

Wow, wow. These guys are something else.

In a place where there’s no one, it’s natural to curse, but even that has its limits.

Looking only at the result, these people could be considered saviors of life, going from cursing to obscene language? Their personalities were truly remarkable enough to deserve applause.

To think that Amina brought around those kinds of people as party members, she really couldn’t judge people at all.

Well, he had a personality that chose party members solely based on their appearance. So, it’s no wonder that inadequate people like them are getting involved in both personality and ability.

“…Tsk.”

I furrowed my brow in discomfort, feeling like I’ve been hearing annoying things since morning.

“Why listen? Don’t mind them. It’s just bug noises.”

When did he wake up? Kikel raised one eyelid slightly and murmured quietly.

It was a noise not worth listening to, not much different from bugs making noise, so don’t bother paying attention, he said.

“Should we just get rid of them?”

I glanced at Kikel and asked with a voice that was barely suppressing frustration.

Seeing the way he spoke, it seemed like he wanted to change his address to the underworld, and if that’s the case, I was willing to help.

“Do I have to do it myself?”

Kikel chuckled.

“Impolite humans don’t live long. Neglect is automatic death.”

Being so impolite, he’s doomed to die early, so if he’ll die on his own, there’s no need for me to dirty my hands, meaning he didn’t need my help.

In reality, that was the case.

It seemed a bit awkward to say he died on his own.

“Enemies! Arm yourselves!”

During the raid by bandits that occurred that afternoon.

Kikel didn’t bother to block an arrow flying towards Runem’s back of the head, and Freide’s greatsword scratched Hamil’s shield and broke it beyond use while cutting the enemy in half.

Amy’s defensive magic also strangely had a narrowed range today, enough to protect only our party.

…They were all awake.

◆◆

The bandits who attacked us were wiped out not long after. Leaving behind only twenty-seven corpses.

Two iron-clad adventurers among the twenty-five bandits.

It wasn’t a bad exchange, objectively or psychologically.