Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~

(Patreon)Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~Chapter 087 : Deep Mountains of Anguish (Part 2.2)

"Is it really okay, Irma? Leaving that boy behind, even though there was also the option of staying with him until I ensured his safety."

“Yoi no ka, Iruma? Ano shounen o oite kite. Watashi ga anzen o kakuho suru made kare to tomo ni iru to iu te mo attarou ni.”

Elisha asked casually as they made their way deeper into the cave. Irmaella seemed to be considerate of Yuuto, perhaps due to their relationship as the hero and his summoner. Despite the awkward atmosphere between them, it was surprising for her to leave him behind and accompany Elisha.

Upon hearing the question, Irmaella began to speak hesitantly.

"It is not okay. But even if I were to stay by Yuuto-sama's side, I am not sure if that would truly be a good thing."

“Yoku wa nai desu. Keredo watashi ga Yuuto-sama no o hata ni ite mo, hatashite sore ga yoi koto to ieru no ka dou ka.”

"Hmm?"

“Fuun?”

"Because, you see, the reason he is suffering is because of me. Despite not having the will to fight, he ended up wielding a sword and finding himself in the midst of this lair of monsters all because I summoned him to this world――Ah, no, please disregard that."

“Datte, kare ga kurushindeiru koto no gen'in wa watashi na no desu yo? Tatakaitaku wa nai to iu ano kata ga ken o motsu koto ni natta no mo, koushite mamono no su no tadanaka ni kuru koto ni natta no mo, kono sekai――a, ie, nan demo nai desu.”

TL Note: In the JP Irmaella didn't really say the ‘I summoned him’ part, only ‘this world,’ but it’s gonna sound weird if I don't add it so this is just for the sake of better understanding.

"Hm? Oh, sorry, I missed that. What did you say?"

“N? Aa, warui. Kiki nogashita. Nanda tte?”

Elisha responded emptily, feigning ignorance to avoid prying further into the secret that Irmaella almost accidentally leaked. She sighed inwardly, thinking that it was indeed challenging to know something one should not know.

"Umm… anyway, it is all my fault. But it is not something that can be resolved with just an apology, so I do not know what to say to him."

“Etto… tonikaku, zenbu watashi ga warui no desu. Demo, sore wa ayamatte sumu mondai dewa nakute, sore de kare ni nan to ieba yoi no ka wakaranakute.”

"Isn't it enough to just apologize normally?"

“Futsuu ni ayamareba yoi no dewa nai no ka na.”

After listening to her, Elisha interjected straightforwardly.

"You said it's not a problem that can be resolved with a simple apology, but if you don't apologize, things will only get worse. Trying to act dignified will only make things more complicated. If you feel bad, just apologize."

“Ayamatte sumu mondai dewa nai to iu ga, ayamaranakereba masumasu tada dewa suman koto ni naru darou ni. Heta ni kakkou o tsukeyou to suru kara kojireru no da. Warui to omou nara warukatta to ieba yokarou.”

"Well, that is… true."

“Sore wa… sou na no desu ga.”

Irmaella conceded, acknowledging the validity of the argument. If you think you've done something wrong, apologize. It's a basic principle of human being. She didn't think it's worth debating at this point, but even so, she hesitated to put it into practice.

(But then again, this is also politics. It's such a hassle.)

(To wa ie, kore mo seiji ka. Mendokusai koto da na.)

Elisha sensed the situation and tasted a bitter feeling. Irmaella couldn't easily bow her head to the hero summoned by Omnia. Well, she could bow to express gratitude as much as she wanted, but to apologize for a mistake was out of the question. This was because summoning and sending a hero to fight in the face of humanity's crisis was the right thing to do. If she were to apologize, it would damage both Omnia's righteousness and the prestige of the Holy King Church at once. Moreover, if she summoned a hero who refused to fight, the situation would become even more serious. People waiting for salvation would be disappointed, and countries like St. Gallen and Morbaehr, which were drifting away from the church's intentions, would further escalate their dissent using this as an excuse.

Moreover, from Irmaella's own ethical standpoint, she couldn't apologize now. She had nothing to offer as compensation for her apology. Yuuto's greatest wish would likely be to return to his original world. But for that, it was necessary to defeat the Demon King or prevent his resurrection. No matter how sincere she was, without offering compensation, apologizing would only be a formality, wouldn't it? Elisha also considered the possibility of such a girl-like purity in her psyche.

(It's because they allowed a naive child to get involved in complicated matters like politics, military, and diplomacy that things have become like this.)

(Aokusai kodomo o, seiji da no gunji da no gaikou da no no, komiitta bubun ni kakawaraseru kara kou naru no da.)

As far as Elisha was concerned, such reasoning didn't matter. Omnia's hardships could be borne by Omnia people, and the relationship between Yuuto and Irmaella wouldn't progress unless one of them showed a willingness to compromise. Relatively speaking, Irmaella was the one who had the leeway, so she should just apologize and get it over with, Elisha thought.

"Listen, Irma. A boy his age won't understand anything unless you spell it out, you know? Only well-made adults can understand our troubles and concede. He's still young, and he's not even a protagonist of a story. Rather than having high expectations for a youngster, we should take action from our side."

“Naa, Iruma. Ano kurai no shounen wa kotoba ni seneba nani mo sasshite wa kurenu zo? Kochira no nayami o rikai shite jouho shite kureru no wa, otona――sore mo yoku dekita otona dake da. Kare wa wakai shi, monogatari no shujinkou demo nai. Waka-mono aite ni taka-nozomi o suru yori, kocchi no soba kara koudou seneba.”

As Elisha spoke, what she pictured in her mind was how newcomers were treated during her time in the Second Knights Order. Young men tended to be selfish and spoiled, so it was often a struggle to guide them. In the end, it became troublesome, so she just knocked them around to wake them up and make them listen. However, she couldn't do the same to Yuuto, the one who Phantony asked to be treated well.

Her words came from such experience, but it seemed that the person who heard them took them in a different light.

"…Y-yes. Elisha-san, you really are a mature woman after all."

“…Ha, hai. Erisha-san tte, yappari otona no josei nan desu ne.”

"Hm? What are you saying? Isn't that obvious?"

“? Nani o iu. Atarimae no koto dewa nai ka.”

She was twenty-five years old this year. What else would qualify as being an adult? Elisha tilted her head slightly. What Irmaella meant wasn't exactly that, but she didn't grasp the nuance.

"Well then, our pleasant chat ends here. We should be reaching the innermost part soon."

“Sate, tanoshii o-shaberi wa koko made da. Sorosoro saioku-bu ni tsuku zo.”

Elisha tightened her expression and pointed her sharp sword in the direction they were headed. Irmaella immediately understood her intent and prepared herself.

"So, it seems not all of them have been lured out?"

“Yahari, obikidasareta mono ga subete dewa nai to?”

"The smell is too strong. It couldn't just be a residual smell. There's still something back there. Probably one with enough intelligence not to fall for the bait."

“Nioi ga tsuyo sugiru. Nokori-ga nado dewa arienai na. Oku ni mada iru yo. Osoraku otori ni kakaranai-teido no chinou o motsu mono ga na.”

While she didn't have the skills to scout like Uni, Elisha had experience in marching through mountains and forests and suppressing bandits. While she may not be as good as a pro, she could handle this level of reconnaissance easily.

"Come out, you scoundrel. Or is it too embarrassing to respond to the invitation of a woman?"

“Detekoi, gerou. Soretomo, fujoshi no maneki ni oujiru no wa hazukashii no ka na?”

She provocatively raised her voice. Indeed, there was an immediate response.

"…Gugufufufu. Not only the bait outside, but even the prey comes inside?"

“…Gugufufufu. Soto no otori dake denaku, naka ni made emono ga kite kureru to wa na?”

From the depths came a rough, guttural voice, heavy with breath. Though muffled and difficult to discern, it was unmistakably speaking words. It displayed a level of intelligence not typical of the brutish orcs. Emerging into the dim light of the mossy cavern was its colossal form: a towering figure with thick, round limbs reminiscent of ancient tree trunks. In its hand was a massive stone sword, its blade alone as tall as an adult. A strike from such a weapon would turn an average person into minced meat. Its elongated tusks protruding from its mouth exuded an intimidating aura unlike those of common orcs.

"An Orc Lord, huh."

“Ōku rōdo ka.”

An Orc Lord was a superior breed of orc, a leader driven by high intelligence and formidable physique, ruling over its kin consumed by greed. With a horde led by this monster, it wouldn't be surprising if one or two border villages were annihilated. The fact that the village that requested their assistance was only partially destroyed was likely due to the horde still being relatively small.

The creature, eyeing the two women with a disdainful gaze, snorted in satisfaction.

"A female knight and a priestess, huh. This is quite the catch."

“Onna kishi ni seishoku-sha ka. Kore wa mata jou-mono ga kakatta mono yo.”

"'Catch'? What a weird thing to say, even though the ones who fell into the trap are your lackeys."

“Kakatta to wa hen na koto o iu. Wana ni hamatta no wa omae no teshita-domo dearou ni.”

Elisha retorted, unable to hide her exasperation. The Orc Lord snorted and chuckled derisively.

"Ah, those stubborn fools? Despite being told the scent was bait, how foolish of them. However, I can always replace foolish servants. I could either take over a new herd or use females' womb to multiply them. Isn't that right? Gufufufu."

“Aa, ano tae no kikanu bonkura-domo no koto ka? Ano nioi wa otori da to itta to iu no ni, oroka na koto yo. Da ga, guzu na geboku no kae nado ikura demo kiku. Mata atarashii mure demo nottoru ka, sa mo nakuba mesu no tai demo tsukatte fuyaseba yoi. Naa, sou darou? Gufufufu.”

Laughing, the Orc Lord's eyes gleamed with a lascivious hue. It seemed that Irmaella, unaccustomed to being the object of such desire, stiffened noticeably.

On the other hand, Elisha,

"Are you a fool?"

“Aho ka, omae wa.”

Cutting through the lewd intentions with a single word, she remarked.

"…What?"

“…Nani?”

Having its pleasure spoiled, the Orc Lord twisted its expression in irritation, but the woman's mouth didn't stop.

"Your subordinates are fools? If you can't even take the reins of those fools, then you, the one on top of them, are no different. You can't even control your own herd properly, yet you act like you're the boss. Despite knowing it was a trap, you're like a trapped rat at the entrance to your own lair, couldn't come up with a single countermeasure. If you had at least tried to escape through that side tunnel earlier, your excuse could've been passed. Well, for us, it saved the trouble of chasing you, though."

“Buka-domo ga oroka da to? Sono oroka-mono no tazuna mo torenu nara, chou taru omae mo dourui darou ni. Mure no tousotsu mo dekizu ni bosu kidori to wa kataharaitai. Otori da to ittarou ni? Nejiro no iriguchi ni jindorarete fukuro no nezumi dearu to wakatte inagara, doushite taisaku no hitotsu mo torenai no ka. Semete sakki no yokoana kara nigedashi demo sureba, kakkou mo tsuita darou ni na. Ma, kochira to shite wa ou tema ga habukete gyoukou to iu mono da ga.”

Elisha pointed out, one criticism after another.

Combat began long before swords and spells were exchanged; it started with words. Verbal sparring was just as much a part of the battle. By provoking and applying pressure with logical arguments, one could gain the upper hand even before combat began.

"Hmph… Even if you're a 'Lord,' you're nothing more than a talking pig."

“Fun… rōdo to iedo, shosen wa kotoba o shaberu dake no buta ka.”

She added, delivering the final blow with a disdainful snort. However, she did so with an air of elegance.

"…Silence, womannn!!"

“…Damare onnaaa!!”

The scream that erupted seemed to shake the cave, as if unable to bear it any longer. It was a roar that might make the weak-hearted faint, but when it came after losing the verbal sparring, it lacked some power.

"Enough, words are unnecessary! According to the law of the jungle――"

“Mou yoi, kotoba nado fuyou! Jaku niku kyoushoku no okite ni shitagatte――”

"Oh, enough, huh. You heard it, Irma?"

“Hou, mou yoi ka. Da to sa, Iruma.”

"Yes… ≪Light Ray≫!"

“Hai… ≪Raito rei≫!”

While Elisha was delivering a long speech, Irmaella had already finished chanting her spell. A thick beam of light extended like the tip of a spear, piercing the left shoulder of the monster.

"――Gwaaaahhh!?"

The strike from the light magic seemed to have dealt significant damage. The Orc Lord let out a scream and staggered back a few steps. Then, glaring fiercely at the ones it had been exchanging words with just moments ago, it howled,

"Y-You're cheating!"

“Hi, hikyou da zo kisama!?”

"You underestimated us because you were careless. In the first place, this is two against one, you know? But you were only focused on one of us, so this happens."

“Yudan o suru kara baka o miru no da. Moto yori ni tai ichi da zo? Nanoni hitori ni shika me o mukete oran kara sou naru.”

"A-aren't you ashamed? You're a knight and a priest, aren't you?"

“Ha, hazukashii to wa omowan no ka! Kisama-ra wa kishi to shinkan darou ni!”

"No mercy or courtesy is needed for an enemy of God that threaten innocent people."

“Kami teki ni shite muko no hitobito o odokasu mamono ni, jihi mo reigi mo fuyou desu.”

Elisha retorted with a carefree tone, while Irma responded with a determined look that showed none of her usual timidity. If the opponent had been an ordinary human, or even a demi-human with intelligence worthy of respect, they might have responded differently. But the creature before them was nothing more than a monster driven by animalistic desires, despite understanding human speech. In that case, adhering to formalities in combat would be foolish. They would seize any opportunity to strike. That was only natural.

"GaaAAAAaaaahhh!! Don't underestimate me, you damned females!!"

“GaaAAAAaaaa!! Nameru na mesu-domo gaaa!!”

Driven by anger, the Orc Lord swung its stone sword towards Elisha. Although they were inside a cave, it was quite spacious. There was no worry about this mighty blow being blocked. Perhaps imagining the sensation of cleaving the female knight's skull from above, or perhaps hesitating to kill such a worthy prey, the monster's eyes narrowed for a moment.

But such concerns were unnecessary.

"Too slow."

“Osoi.”

There was a sensation of nothingness as if cutting through water. Then came the sound of something heavy crashing into the stone wall. The Orc Lord blinked momentarily in confusion, for Elisha hadn't moved an inch. Her position was unchanged from when he had aimed his strike. So why hadn't it hit her?

The answer came swiftly, accompanied by excruciating pain.

“…GiiIIIYAAAAaaaaaahh!?”

Blood spurted from its right arm. The viscous liquid, too thick to be called fresh blood, soaked the floor of the cave in a dark red hue. Its wrist was gone. The Orc Lord's right hand had been cleanly severed. Looking closer, the detached hand still gripped its weapon, embedded in the wall. Elisha's slash had severed it midway through the attack.

"I told you, didn't I, Irma? That I would be fine on my own."

“Na, itta darou Iruma? Watashi hitori ni makasete oite mo daijoubu darou to.”

"Yes. I was aware of that, but there are people trapped further in who are waiting for healing."

“Hai. Sore wa zonjite orimashita ga, oku ni wa chiyu o matsu darou kata-gata mo torawarete orimasu no de.”

The two women exchanged casual conversation that didn't seem fitting for the midst of battle. One was a formidable knight who had vanquished a vampire, an A-rank adversary, just the previous year. The other was a prodigy who, despite her youth, had attained the rank of priestess in Omnia through her mastery of holy power alone. On the other hand, the Orc Lord was only ranked C in the adventurers' guild's subjugation grade. It was not a match for them in the first place. The strategy of using a decoy was merely a measure to safely rescue hostages.

"Hah… hah… D-damn it! Now that it has come to this――"

“Haa… haa… ku, kuso! Kou nattara――”

The wounded monster, breathing heavily, stretched out its remaining arm behind the shadows. Despite being pierced by Irmaella's magic through its left shoulder, it seemed surprisingly resilient. Perhaps it was tough, or perhaps it was disregarding the pain in a life-threatening situation. Regardless, the Orc Lord pulled out its trump card to escape from the situation.

"Y-you… you two! Look at this!"

“Ki, kisa, kisama-raa! Kore o miroo!”

It thrust forward a woman barely clinging to life, clad in tattered clothing. She was probably one of the women kidnapped from the village. The monster grabbed her head like a doll and held her up.

"It's… it's them right!? You came to rescue them, didn't you!? I-if you don't want her killed, then, then, clear the way!"

“Ko, koitsu-ra darou!? Kisama-ra wa koitsu-ra o tasuke ni kita no darou!? Ko, kore o korosaretaku nakereba, mi, mi, michi o akeroo!”

"Hmm."

“Mu.”

"I-if… if I put even a little force into it, this woman will squash like a ripe fruit! If you understand, clear the waaay! I-immediately!"

“O, o-o, ore ga sukoshi demo chikara o irereba, kono onna wa ureta kajitsu no you ni gusha, da! Wakatta nara michi o akeroo! Su, sugu nida!”

As it spoke, it gradually exerted more pressure with its hand. The villager looked almost like a corpse, but it seemed like she was barely breathing. Under increasing pressure,

"Agh, gh, cough…"

“A, gu, kaha…”

She gasped in pain.

"H-help… me…"

“Ta, tasuke, te…”

Whether it was a response to the stimulus of pain or mere mumbling in a daze, such words escaped her lips.

"…Elisha-san."

"Tch, can't be helped… Fine, we'll clear the way."

“Chi, shikatanai na… Wakatta, michi wa akeyou.”

Seeing Irmaella look at her with a troubled expression, Elisha shook her head and stepped aside without hesitation. Not only that, but perhaps to reassure the opponent, she even dropped the weapon in her hand to the ground. Of course, she wasn't going to be so lenient as to let her guard down completely.

(If it gets carried away and decides to attack again, I'll just have to hit it with a chantless magic. Now then…)

(Kore de choushi-zuite sara ni kougeki shite kuru you nara, mueishou no mahou demo kurawasete yareba yoi ga. Sate…)

She observed the situation while gathering a faint amount of magical energy in her free hand.

The monster, looking slightly taken aback and confused,

"Remember this well!"

“Oboete iru ga yoi!”

It spat out a parting remark, then turned and fled without looking back. Once its figure disappeared around the corner of the passage, Elisha quickly picked up the sword she had discarded.

"I said I'd clear the way, but I never said I wouldn't chase after it. Irma, you rescue the other hostages who might still be inside."

“Michi o akeru to wa itta ga, owanai to itta oboe wa nai na. Iruma, omae wa oku ni nokotte iru darou hoka no hitojichi o tasukete oke.”

"Yes. I understand… Um, are you sure it will be okay? What if the monster runs into――"

“Hai. Wakatteimasu… ano, daijoubu na no deshou ka? Mamono ga nigeta saki ni wa――”

Irmaella's concern was likely about Yuuto, who they had left at the branching path. He might come across the fleeing Orc Lord. She was worried about that possibility.

However, Elisha didn't seem concerned at all.

"Leave it to me. Despite how I may look, I have confidence in my legs. Besides――"

“Makasete oke. Kou miete ashi ni wa jishin ga aru. Sore ni――”

――unexpectedly, he might not need any extra help, you know?

――zongai, yokei na tedasuke nado iranu kamo shirenai zo?

Without saying the rest, the female knight silently began to dash back along the path they came from.

~~~

From deep within the cave, crude shouts and heavy, booming sounds could be heard. It seemed that there were still enemies remaining inside, and Elisha and Irmaella were engaging them in combat. Even sensing that, Yuuto still couldn't move. Normally, he should have taken up the sword and rushed to their aid. But even so…

(There's no way I can do it… There's no way I can fight…!)

(Ikekkonai daro… Tatakaeru wake nai daro…!)

He tightly gripped the hilt of the sword as if it were a charm.

Still, he hated the idea of fighting. No, to be frank, he was scared. Unlike the encounters with Phantony and Due, there was no guarantee of survival here. It wasn't like the disputes with the priests, where it didn't escalate to a fight to the death. He simply couldn't muster the resolve to face life-and-death combat against an enemy. But at the same time, he couldn't retreat either. Tullius and the others were holding off the enemy at the entrance. He couldn't be so shameless as to leave the two women behind and flee. Even though he was well aware of how bad the situation looked already.

Hating the idea of fighting, hating the idea of running away. He remained undecided, frozen in place.

But even for someone like him, the moment of decision arrived without warning.

"A braat? …Is it an ambush?"

“Gakii? …Fukuhei kaa?”

A monstrous figure emerged from the depths of the cave. Despite the blood dripping from its wristless right arm and the smoke rising from the burnt left shoulder, it exuded an intimidating presence that could easily kill one or two humans with a single blow.

"O-Orc?"

“Ō, ku?”

Yuuto was bewildered. Why was an Orc coming out from there? What happened to Elisha and Irmaella? What about the two who left him behind, seemingly unconcerned about his absence? Could it be… could it be that, by this monster, they had been――

"…You're in the way, move!"

“…Jama da, doke!”

"Ugh!?"

“Gaha!?”

The towering orc kicked the boy standing before it with its thick, short legs. Well, short in comparison to its massive body. What might be a distant range for a human was well within reach for the massive creature. Yuuto was caught off guard, sent flying, and crashed into the wall.

…There was an impact, but it wasn't as painful as he had expected. Perhaps his nerves were dulled from the adrenaline rush, or maybe the injury was severe enough to render him numb to pain. Regardless, the shock brought him to his senses.

And at that moment, he saw it.

The creature was holding something in its left arm.

(A woman…?)

(Onna no… hito?)

For a moment, Yuuto suspected it might be one of the women who had gone ahead, but he quickly realized it wasn't. The person the monster was roughly holding wasn't Elisha or Irmaella. It was a stranger, someone from some village—probably one of the kidnapped villagers, he guessed.

The villager woman was in a terrible state. Her clothes were tattered shreds barely clinging to her body. Bruises and scratches marred her exposed skin. And even as she hung there, something dripped from between her legs. It was clear what had happened to her.

He could feel rage surging within him.

"You…!"

“O, mae…!”

As Yuuto rose to his feet and shouted, the monster turned to him with an annoyed expression.

"What's with you, brat? If you just stayed quiet and lie there I would've let you g――"

“Nanda, gaki ga. Damatte nete ireba minogashi――”

"What did you do to her…?!"

“Omae, sono hito ni nani o shiyagatta…!?”

"――Hmph. Are you perhaps this female's mate? You can imagine without me saying, right?"

“――Fun. Kisama, hyotto shite kono mesu no tsugai ka? Ore ga iwan demo souzou wa tsuiteiru no darou?”

The orc, misunderstanding Yuuto's fury as a sign of a connection to the woman, shifted its expression to one of delight.

"It might be interesting to have a nice chat before I kill you… but too bad. I'm in a hurry, after all."

“Kisama o korosu mae ni jikkuri to katari kikasete yaru no mo omoshiro-sou daga… iya, zannen da naa. Nanibun, saki o isogu mi dakara naa.”

The monster in front of him was babbling on about something, but the boy wasn't listening. His gaze was fixed squarely on the village girl trapped in the monster's grasp.

She looked terrible. Not because she was full of wounds, but because there was no life in her expression. Her eyes lacked focus, devoid of emotion. Her half-open lips sometimes moved weakly, murmuring something. Yuuto couldn't do something like reading others' lip movements, but he could sense what she was trying to say.

――"Help me," she repeated over and over again.

(Why… Why can all of you do this? Why is this happening all the time in this world?)

(Nande da yo… nande konna koto ga dekiru nda yo, omae-ra. Nande konna koto bakkari nanda yo, kono sekai wa.)

He gritted his teeth.

He hadn't been told anything about what would happen to the kidnapped village girls. He had only understood that they were being held captive and were weakened. Perhaps this was why Irmaella had insisted on urgent treatment. …Of course. The purpose of orcs kidnapping women was not something openly discussed, but it was common knowledge among the people of this world.

There was no excuse for not knowing. It should have been obvious with a little thought. Why they kidnapped women. Why a woman's scent was effective as bait. What these monsters saw women as, without needing to witness it firsthand. But he had stopped thinking and continued to pretend he didn't understand what he should have known.

His head felt hot from the core. It wasn't just anger. It was shame. Yuuto felt deeply ashamed of himself.

(I… was going to abandon these people because I was too concerned about my own safety.)

(Ore wa, waga mi kawai-sa de, kono hito-tachi o misuteyou to shiteita.)

Because there were other people who were stronger, because it would be okay even if he wasn't there, because it had nothing to do with him, he had tried to ignore the misfortune of others. It was unbearably shameful. He even felt regret. That's why—right now, he needed to do something about it.

"Die, brat! With your dying breath, maybe this wound's pain will heal a bit!"

“Shine, gaki. Kisama no danmatsuma de, kono kizu no itami mo sukoshi wa ieyou!”

This pig's grunting is noisy. I'll shut you up right away. For the first time since coming to this world, Yuuto took up his sword with the intent to kill.

'Is what you're thinking right now truly enough as a reason to wield a sword—a weapon to kill?'

‘Ima, omae ga atama ni ukabeteru no wa, hontou ni ken o—hitogoroshi no buki o furuu no ni tariru riyuu na no kai?’

Suddenly, the voice of the previous opponent he faced with his sword flashed through his mind.

He affirmed it now.

This kind of monster couldn't be left alive. That reason alone was sufficient.

――It's enough.

――Sore de ii.

――I want to save the innocent people who are being harmed.

――Kizutsuku muko no hitobito o sukuitai.

――There's no way that wish could be wrong…!

――Sono negai ga, machigai dearou hazu ga nai…!

Click.

He felt like hearing the sound of gears falling into place.

"The one who's going to die is――"

“Shinu no wa――”

He swung the drawn blade overhead. It was a rough, unrefined swing driven by rage, devoid of form or technique. Skilled swordsmen would have likely sighed at such a crude move.

However――

"――you!!"

“――omae daaa!!”

The sensation of flesh being cut, bones being severed, ran through his hand. Warm blood splattered his face and body. The blade entered from its shoulder, reaching the orc's heart in one swift motion. There was no dying gasp, just a sudden silence.

The flash of his sword, accompanied by a roar, was more than enough to silence the beast that had been swaggering before him.

~~~

"Ugh… bleghhh…!"

“Ue… geeeee…!”

With a squelching sound, what was once inside the orc now stained the cave floor. Was the reason for him vomiting being the realization that he had taken a life, even if it was that of a grotesque monster, or was it simply because he couldn't bear the stench of blood and entrails? Despite it being his own doing, Yuuto couldn't tell the difference at all.

A comforting hand was placed on his back.

"Well done. Despite it being your first battle, you performed admirably."

“Gokurou. Uijin nagara migoto na hataraki deatta.”

It was Elisha. She was unharmed. Then it meant that the orc had indeed been cornered by them and attempted to flee.

Yuuto turned around slowly, lifting his bloodied face. His gaze met Elisha's satisfied expression.

"Elisha-san… What about her――"

“Erisha-san… aitsu wa――”

"You mean Irma? She's treating those who were held captive deeper inside. She'll be coming this way soon. There's someone in need of healing magic here too, after all."

“Iruma no koto ka? Kanojo nara oku no hou ni torawareteita mono-tachi o chiryou shiteiru. Ottsuke, kochira ni mo kuru darou sa. Chiyu no mahou ga hitsuyou na no mo iru darou shi na.”

She replied, glancing between Yuuto and the woman who had been a hostage of the orc.

"What about you? Do you need it? I also have some knowledge from my training."

“Omae no hou wa hitsuyou ka? Watashi mo shugyou no seika de tashou no kokoroe nara aru ga.”

"No, I'm fine."

“Ie, ore wa ii desu.”

He realized as he thought that what soaked his body was all just back-splatter.

(…Huh? I don't feel any pain at all.)

(…Are? Zenzen itakunai.)

He should have taken a powerful kick from that orc head-on—enough to send him flying several meters and crashing into the wall. He had thought that he hadn't felt any pain earlier because he was too absorbed in the situation, but even now that he had come to his senses, he felt nothing. He tried rubbing the area where he had been hit, but it felt normal.

(Is this what they called… the power of the hero?)

(Moshikashite kore ga… yuusha no chikara tte yatsu na no ka?)

Could an ordinary high school student, after just a month or so of training, be capable of withstanding attacks from a monstrous creature twice the size of a professional wrestler seen on TV and even killing it with a single blow? It seemed impossible. If it were possible, it would be due to some mysterious power at work… The only clue Yuuto had about that was being summoned as a hero by Irmaella.

As he was pondering about this,

"Yuuto-sama! Are you alright!?"

“Yuuto-sama! Go-buji desu ka!?”

Irmaella came running back from the depths of the cave.

"Hm? What about the hostages over there?"

“Mu? Achira no hou no hitojichi wa dou shita no da?”

"Oh, Elisha-san. Their physical wounds have been healed without issue, but… um, I cannot heal even their mental wounds with magic."

“Aa, Erisha-san. Karada no hou no kizu wa mondainaku chiyu dekita no desu ga… sono, kokoro no hou made wa mahou de naosu wake ni mo ikanai no de.”

She spoke as if regretting her weakness. In other words, although they were alive, they were not in a mental state where they could move voluntarily. Yuuto understood this with a bitter feeling. Would ordinary village women be able to maintain their true selves even after being oppressed by orcs for several days? He understood that it would be difficult just from witnessing the plight of the women he barely managed to rescue.

"…Then, quickly heal this person too. Not only did she suffer the same fate as the others, she's also been forcibly dragged here by the monster."

“…Jaa, kono hito mo hayaku chiryou shite agete kure. Hoka no hito to onaji me ni atta dake denaku, bakemono ni muriyari koko made hippatte korareta ndakara.”

He said, pointing to the woman who was leaning against the corridor wall, breathing shallowly and intermittently. Although she had been freed from the orc's grip, she had immediately lost consciousness, perhaps due to the damage to her body or mind.

"Y-yes! ≪O Lord who sits in heaven――≫"

“Ha, hai! ≪Ten ni zashimasu ware-ra no aruji yo――≫”

Irmaella began praying with her fingers intertwined, and the woman's wounds began to rapidly heal.

Not only did she heal her, but Irmaella continued her incantation.

"≪Once again, I offer my prayers. Cleanse and purify this person from the impurities that have invaded her body――≫"

“≪Mata kasanete o-inori moushiageru. Kono mono no mi o okasu fujou o harai kiyome tamae――≫”

"What's this?"

“Kore wa?”

"It's a purification spell… I believe. Even though we've took the trouble to rescue her, if she had a chi—cough… monster nesting in her womb, it would be a disaster."

“Tashika, jouka no mahou… datta to omou ga. Sekkaku tasuke dashita to iu no ni, ko—gohon… tai no naka ni mamono ga sukutteita to shitara dainashi dearu kara na.”

Yuuto breathed a sigh of relief at Elisha's explanation. So, it meant they wouldn't have to suffer the additional burden of an unwanted child. The situation that befell these villagers was dire, but at least it wouldn't be any worse. It could be considered a silver lining in their misfortune.

Suddenly, Irmaella, having finished the purification, swayed and staggered.

"Hey, are you okay!?"

“Oi, daijoubu ka!?”

Yuuto reflexively held her shoulder. Though she could be vexing at times, he couldn't just leave her when she seemed about to collapse onto the floor. Despite feeling conflicted about his own ambivalence, the person in his arms wore a smile that seemed surprised yet relieved.

"I-Im fine. I just used my holy power a little too much."

“Mo, mondai nai desu. Chotto houriki o tsukai sugita dake desu no de.”

"It's understandable. You've been going around giving alms here and there lately. It's no wonder you're tired."

“Muri mo nai. Kono tokoro, achi kochi o hodokoshi no tame ni mawatteita kara na. Tsukare ga dete mo touzen da.”

Elisha remarked, extending her hand to offer support. She referred to Irmaella's activities where she provided healing to the slaves of Volden and advocated for improved treatment from their masters.

(She's not a bad person either… huh.)

(Koitsu mo, warui yatsude wanai… nda yo na.)

Yuuto, while he's a little late, realized it. While Yuuto was complaining about the current state of this world, she was always working to improve it. Regardless of her father's actions, it was certain that she, his daughter, was a good person.

However, the fact that she summoned him to this world still bothered him.

(…Perhaps I should reconsider things a bit.)

(…Sukoshi, kangae naoshita hou ga ii kamo shirenai.)

About his relationship with Irmaella. And, about what he had to do in this world.

The answer as to what to do was still not clear. However, he intended to try to find that answer. Erimiya Yuuto felt like he was finally standing on the starting line.

"Alright, then let's head back."

“Yoshi, dewa modoru ka.”

"Yes. We also need to call for help to assist with rescue efforts."

“Ee. Kyuujo no tame no hitode mo yobanakute wa ikemasen shi.”

Leaving the still unsteady Irmaella in Elisha's care, the three of them headed back the way they came. Eventually, they could see the exit.

"Heeey, everyooone! Are you all okaaay!?"

“O~i, mina-sa~n! Go-buji desu ka~!?”

A voice can be heard from the entrance of the cave.

Was the light shining in from outside a blessing that would illuminate their future? Or――

Its true nature was still unclear.

~~~

To be continued…

~~~

TL Note:

Ohhh I kinda ship Yuuto and Irmaella now.

But nope, my biggest ship is our Mad Alchemist and Uni, even if he doesn't care about romance right now but maybe he will after he gains immortality.

ALSO, one more chapter after this and it’s FINISHEDDDDD 😭😭😭😭 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~

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