It seems I had been standing there in a daze for quite some time, because the guild master, who had defeated the goblin king, and Kainzel-san came over to me.
「Takato, what happened?」
「……The one pulling the strings appeared. According to the goddess, she’s an executive of the Demon King’s Army……」
This wasn’t something I could hide. If I didn’t report it, my position would be ruined. Still, I couldn’t tell them everything. If I did, the words I said to Misaro would become a lie. I don’t fully understand it myself, but I know I shouldn’t do that.
「What kind of person was it?」
「Her face was hidden by a veil, so I don’t know. Heh. She even invited me to join the Demon King’s Army……」
I let out a self-mocking laugh. Well, I don’t know if that invitation really counted.
「And what was your answer?」
The guild master looked at me like he wouldn’t forgive me depending on what I said. I can tell how serious his stance toward the Demon King’s Army is.
「I may be a human from another world, but killing humans is a hard no for me. I don’t want to sink that low」
There’s no lie in that. I don’t want a life where I kill other people.
「That sounds like you. But don’t let anyone take your life without a fight. Being killed by someone like that doesn’t stain your pride, nor is it something that should be allowed to stain it. You’re not someone who deserves to die」
The guild master smacked me hard on the back.
「……Yeah. I’ll do that. I don’t want to die yet」
I still have responsibilities to carry out while I’m alive. I can’t just throw everything away.
「You’re a strange one. Weak, yet strong」
「I’m weak. I’m just struggling to be strong because I am weak」
If I were strong, I wouldn’t be going through all this trouble.
「We can interrogate you as much as we want later. For now, let’s leave this place. There are still goblin stragglers around」
I think we took out about eighty percent of them, but goblins freed from their commands are wandering all over the place. With my mind and body both in ruins, I can’t deal with them anymore. I just want to get out of here.
「Agreed. With this many corpses, we’ll probably get sick if we stay」
「Kainzel-san, do you know where Pioneer is?」
「Yeah, no problem. I followed directions properly while moving, just like you taught me」
Directions really matter, don’t they. Three cheers for the person who invented the compass.
「Please take care of Bisha and Mebi. I’m sorry to Ladarion and Gorg, but they’ll have to walk down」
It wouldn’t be right to leave an exhausted Gorg alone. I’ll have Ladarion stay with him.
「Got it. Let’s regroup down below once. Territorial soldiers are being dispatched」
「They’re probably already down there. They still need to examine the king」
If that’s the case, then we just follow along. We all turned on our radios and started descending the mountain.
We marked the trees so soldiers could make it up here, and after two hours, we finally made it back to Pioneer Two. Whew.
「Let’s take a short break」
I returned to Home and explained the situation to Miriel, then came back with milk tea and some Cos○co fruit cake.
「Mm-hm. Victory sweets really hit different!」
I see. Well, if the guild master is happy, I won’t rain on his parade.
I sip some canned coffee and take a breather.
Beer after work is great, but coffee during a break is pretty good too.
While spacing out and listening to birdsong, Gorg and Ladarion came down the path. Did they use this road too?
「You two should take a break as well. Ladarion, bring some wine from Home」
At this point, it should be safe. It’s a little over two kilometers to the bottom. Even if they nap a bit, we should be able to return to Lasagna Village by night.
「Got it」
While we were resting with what Ladarion brought back, Pioneer One came down the slope. So they entered from this path too.
Kainzel-san and the others joined us, and we decided to have lunch here.
After eating and relaxing for a while, Ladarion, still in her giant form, grabbed the SCAR she had propped up.
「Someone’s coming」
We all grabbed our guns and stayed alert in the direction Ladarion was watching.
「An adventurer scout」
So says the guild master. It seems the acting lord even mobilized the Adventurers’ Guild.
The adventurer scout who arrived looked shocked to see the guild master. Well, that’s understandable.
「The goblin king has been defeated. Sorry, but bring the soldiers here」
「U-understood! Mirose and Warg, scout ahead. I’ll go report!」
The scouts split into two groups. One returned the way they came, and in less than thirty minutes, a unit of soldiers arrived.
「Kainzel-sama!?」
A soldier around forty looked surprised when he noticed Kainzel-san before calling out to the guild master. Judging by his age, he must be one of Kainzel-san’s former subordinates.
「Raz. It’s been a while. Are you leading the Second Unit now?」
「Yes! I was entrusted with it last year!」
Raz-san snapped to attention and saluted. The sight made it easy to imagine what Kainzel-san was like when he served as captain of the soldiers.
「Kainzel, I’ll leave the explanation to the soldiers to you. I’ll explain things to the adventurers」
I feel a bit sorry for Raz-san, but an explanation from his former superior will be easier for him to accept. As for the adventurers behind the soldiers, they’ll listen better if it comes from the guild master.
「Gorg, you can head back first. Bisha and Mebi should sleep in the Pioneer. Kainzel-san and I will handle the rest」
「I’ll do that. I rarely pull all-nighters, so this is killing me」
He staggered down the mountain, careful not to bump into the soldiers or adventurers.
「Ladarion, I’ll leave things here to you for a bit. I’m going to explain things to Miriel and prepare dinner」
「I want steak. I want a chocolate parfait too. I want ramen. I want sushi. I want eel──」
Maybe she was fighting off sleep with appetite, but Ladarion’s demands wouldn’t stop.
「Alright, alright. I’ll feed you whatever you want, so watch things here for now」
「Yakiniku」
I already said yes. Don’t nod like that just because it’s yakiniku.
With a sigh, I entered Home.
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