Episode 50: Hidden Village
“Wow, to get to Boko Rock this quickly!”
“This is a secret, okay?”
“Got it, mas.”
“Understood, desu wa.”
“Understood desu wa.”
“You don’t need the ‘desu wa.'”
If this child, Asahi, were to go to her village through the forest, it would probably take many days. For now, I asked if she could see any landmarks, and then I performed a Spatial Jump to that point.
This drastically shortened the distance and time.
“This way, right away.”
Asahi advanced with light steps. She’s a child who can be active outside the village in this forest village. Her steps are quite light.
“My Lord.”
“Yeah. Well, this might be partly our fault.”
“They’ve escaped quite a distance, haven’t they?”
Asahi is defeating Monsters while guiding us. Goblins. Some of those we defeated and ran away from might have reached this far.
“Originally, I left the village to investigate why the Goblins were coming this way, mas.”
“I see, huh!”
“If this many Goblins have flowed in, it certainly warrants investigation, desu wa.”
“Indeed, it does.”
This place was probably originally a residential area, but it’s completely devastated, either trampled or ravaged by some large Monster.
As Asahi says, the Barrier must have been destroyed, allowing them to invade.
“Earth Beast, knew Barrier. Strong, could break anytime, maybe, mas.”
“What kind of Monster is this Earth Beast?”
“…Big and black. Beast, sharp horns, fangs. Even Toragrus-sama doesn’t mess with it carelessly.”
“Toragrus-sama?”
“Master.”
Another new word has appeared?
“This way. Almost there.”
“Yeah.”
As Asahi went ahead, a stone wall came into view beyond the trees. Clearly man-made.
“Asahi! You’re safe!”
“Taichi-nii! Gather everyone. Deposed! King, came!”
“Huh? What are you saying… You… Who are these guys?”
“Ah, well…”
“Ho, ho, ho, let’s just call ourselves passersby.”
“Without even thinking about it, humans who suddenly appear in a secluded village like this that ordinary people can’t reach… are suspicious, desu wa.”
You’re calm, Beatrice-san.
“Confirmed! Castle, fell! Goblins, driven out!”
“…Guests, may we allow you inside the stone wall?”
“Huh? Ah, right. It’s understandable to suspect Monster transformations.”
“There’s no problem, you know? Look.”
“Desu wa ne.”
“! “
The stone wall seemed to be the boundary of the Barrier. We stepped into it and entered the village.
“Asahi, take the guests to the chief’s house. I’ll bring Grandma.”
“Okay!”
“King. And your companions as well. It’s nothing special, but please relax.”
“Eh? Ah, I’m not a King or anything…”
“Ha, ha, ha, if Asahi has confirmed it, there’s no mistake. She can’t lie. Well then, excuse me for now.”
Was he some kind of gatekeeper? The man ran off from the spot.
“King-sama, this way.”
“Yeah.”
I was guided through the village as Asahi told me. The old houses are quite noticeable. Also, there are only a few elderly people and small children in the village, and not many young workers are seen.
“Here, village chief’s house.”
“…I see. This is it.”
The house is particularly large and has a fine appearance, even in the village. The village chief’s house, huh.
“Claffy-sama.”
“Yeah.”
The two of them seemed to have noticed the unpleasant smell as well.
“This way. Grandma, coming soon, mas.”
“Is that Grandma the village chief?”
“No, but, Grandma is in charge now, mas.”
“That is so. For now, she is the, how should I put it, acting chief of this village.”
It seems that Grandma has arrived. She looks quite old, but she’s quite good at concealing her presence.
“On behalf of the Shadow Clan, I greet you. I am Hotaru. Welcome, new King.”
“I don’t intend to be a King, though…”
“Ho, ho, ho, let’s go inside for now. Let’s talk at our leisure.”
The elderly woman named Hotaru is also a cat Beastman.
“King, you have come.”
“I said it earlier, but I don’t intend to be a King.”
“Then what should we call you?”
“Cladfield.”
“Then Cladfield-sama, you may not be aware of it, but if you have taken the royal castle, don’t you think that means the usurpation of royal power?”
“Hmm, indeed.”
“There’s a point there.”
“You guys, be on my side, okay?”
Don’t try to make me a King.
“We are descendants of a clan that served Highgrand for a long time. A foolish and weak clan that could not protect the country and was abandoned by it. But we swore that whenever a King stood again, we would gather under him, and we have continued to hone our strength and live on for this day.”
“Wonderful! Truly a mirror of loyalty.”
“I feel something that leads to chivalry, desu wa.”
“…But, I’m sorry. We have nothing to offer the King.”
Hotaru lowered her head deeply.
“Eh? W, well?”
“We cannot send useless people to the newly established King. King, with this old woman’s head alone…”
“Wait, Hotaru!”
“S, Village Chief!?”
More characters have appeared!?
Looking towards the voice, there was a one-legged man wrapped in bandages all over his body. Part of his skin was discolored, perhaps invaded by some kind of Poison.
“You! Do you intend to stand before the King in that state!”
“I used all the horns. It should last for a while.”
“! Then the others…!”
“I’ve already told them. Once it’s over, I’ll personally end it. I apologize for showing you such an unsightly figure. I am Ryuga, the village chief.”
Wow, this is a case for the Medical Capsule.
“Asahi and Taichi, please bring Koyuki and Shizuma with you.”
“Village Chief!”
“Hotaru, the village is at its limit. At least let us send personnel who can endure the last service. The Shadow Clan’s last duty.”
“…Are you that determined?”
“Even if the King didn’t come, the end was already in sight. But the King has appeared. If so, our clan has a role to play. Could there be anything more joyful than this?”
“Understood. I will follow the village chief. Leave the persuasion of the old folks to me.”
The dog-type Beastman man called the village chief and Hotaru-san are getting excited.
“The village is at its limit… and you used all the Unicorn Horns?”
“Perhaps there are many injured people, and those who have received Poison or curses, like that village chief man. It’s probably the work of that Earth Beast.”
“Judging from the smell of this mansion, are injured people being gathered here?”
“Hmm, how many people are there? We only have twenty Medical Capsules, you know. Well, if we put them in order of severity…”
While I was worrying, Barbatos looked at me happily.
“Will they be saved?”
“Eh? Ah!”
“As expected, desu wa ne. However, you will use that oath, right?”
“Ugh, that, um?”
I was thinking on the premise of healing them!
“Then allow me to ask. Would you please save them as you did when you saved our Lord, us?”
“Yes, we don’t think of those who are loyal as strangers. Please extend that saving hand given to us to them as well?”
“You guys… Haa, I understand. But first, I need to confirm the situation.”
” “Ha!” “
Don’t reply so happily, you two.