This World is an Isekai. (1)
If I said this out loud, I'd probably get called a weirdo or a hypocrite.
But when I declared victory, I thought it meant one more person—ally or enemy—might survive.
My side wouldn't lose anyone else, and the enemies, without their leader, would run.
The dying goblin had called out for his family like a final testament.
Meaning he wasn't just some experience-point monster—he was a living being with emotions.
So I hoped even one fewer would die.
Guess I thought too simply.
"Don't leave a single one alive. Exterminate them all."
Liard issued the order to the soldiers.
Right around when Ferio declared victory.
He'd arrived leading the remaining troops, breaking through the blocked passage.
He'd heard the sounds of materials rolling and the vibrations all the way from the entrance, so he'd rushed over with his forces.
He immediately organized a subjugation squad and hunted down every goblin hiding in the cave's nooks and crannies, killing them one by one.
Goblins were found in rock crevices, pits, even under corpses—and executed on the spot.
From another angle, it was a brutal massacre, but in this world, it was probably just standard procedure.
I wanted to say something, but this place has its own rules, and there must be reasons for it.
I couldn't judge right and wrong by the standards of my old world.
Even so, with my lingering ethics from back home, victory tasted bittersweet.
Everyone who'd fought hard inside the cave rotated out for injury treatment and rest.
The moment I stepped outside, I collapsed under a tree's shade and stared blankly at the cave mouth.
Before I knew it, Ferio was sitting beside me, staring right at me.
"Kirgil, what's wrong? You injured?"
They say in the heat of battle, you might not notice even if a limb gets severed.
I've heard soldiers discover severe wounds or bleeding only after the tension fades—and drop dead suddenly.
"Wait, hold on—hey! Hey! You can't just strip me without hearing my answer first!"
"You said earlier you got grazed by their blades. Take it off. Better to check the wound quick."
Just then, Liard was approaching from the cave behind Ferio to receive orders from his captain.
I met his eyes and shot him a desperate help me out here look.
"You there! Check the dark corners too! Shine torches in there!"
Suddenly he turned, barked the order at a soldier heading back, and veered off elsewhere!
What the hell!? Come on, deputy mustache guy!!
What're you thinking!?
"Ferio, I'm really fine. Just got a bit homesick, that's all—mind's a mess."
"Your memories came back?"
"Huh? No... not that.
Hmm. More like, I'm vaguely realizing how different this place is from where I lived."
"Thanks to today's battle, I bet. Impressive stuff. So, you gonna adventure now?
Makes sense—keep having experiences like this, and it'll all click eventually."
That's not it.
But man, Ferio's awfully chatty today—not like her.
I haven't lost my memories, but I don't wanna complicate this conversation further.
My head and heart are a tangle right now.
"Yeah, something like that. Don't pry. Headache."
"……."
Ferio shut her mouth.
She didn't like my answer much, huh?
Yep, pissed for sure.
Looking closer, she's gritting one side of her teeth.
"Sorry, sorry. You said a rootless guy like me shouldn't be rude to knights or nobles, right?
I'll reflect on it—gonna rest alone."
"Kirgil…."
"Huh? W-what? What's up?"
I was pretty flustered.
Ferio calling my name without her usual sharp tone.
"I know I'm no good with words.
That's why I tried not to say anything unnecessary."
That's when I noticed her hand trembling.
"But… right now, I want to talk."
I hadn't realized.
Or rather, I knew but had no room to think about others.
Come to think of it, we'd both just rolled through hell.
Even if Ferio's a brave knight, she's still a rookie in her early twenties. Young.
And she'd nearly died for real.
Even safe now, that terror wouldn't fade or vanish easily.
Normally, you'd want a drink with someone or some fun vibe to ride out.
Hmm… looking around, it's really just me here.
Damn! What the hell's that sly mustache thinking?
Even if I've gained some social superpowers since coming here,
I've got zero experience comforting women—or near-death survivors!
"Sorry, Ferio. First intense fight for me too—brain's fried, can't come up with good words."
Guess that's the best I can do right now.
"You don't always have to use words for this.
Just doing this should be fine, right?"
I took her trembling hand in mine.
She startled for a second, then squeezed back.
And so, facing the cave from outside,
we sat there, hands clasped.
Luckily, no one hassled us battle-weary folks rotating out for rest.
Probably that crafty mustache made sure no one bothered us.
"……."
"……."
As time passed, her shaking eased bit by bit.
To outsiders, it'd look like a grown daughter clinging tight, scared of losing Dad.
But it didn't feel bad at all.
Might be one of the perks of raising a daughter, huh.
"Hey, Kirgil."
Ferio called me while looking away.
I get it. I know. Eye contact's embarrassing in moments like this.
Humans get the shaky bridge effect or post-life-death tension—feelings you wouldn't normally have, do things you wouldn't.
Then later, when sanity returns, you're like why'd I do that?—total cringe.
Yeah. She's calming down now. Time to let go.
Was just worrying how to disentangle without awkwardness.
"Got it. I understand. Now…."
"Then, I'll take off my gauntlet and hold it properly."
What? Hold up?? Extension granted?
And adding a service on top?
The way she did it right after I said I understood—she means it.
Direct skin contact like this….
"…Feels better."
Ah, my honest reaction slipped out.
"……."
Ferio neither affirmed nor denied.
Yeah, I know. I get it. Strong agreement.
Hold on, miss. I know without the finger-lacing.
Might as well enjoy it now.
Sword-callused spots here and there, but still a woman's hand.
Slight pressure, and softness seeps through. The kind that makes you imagine a scent.
Something an old guy like me could never experience back home. Obviously.
Sharing body heat brings comfort, they say. Half right, half wrong.
At first, the coziness, warmth, reassurance—it worked.
But as time dragged, tension built.
Is just holding hands enough?
Shouldn't we take one step further?
Sorry, Ferio. I'm a total social noob—dunno what comes next.
You get it, right? You will. You're the same type.
That occasional thumb-stroke on the back… not bad.
Keep doing it, and my mind wanders everywhere.
Pathetic, me.
Sunlight feels warm around us.
But the wind's picking up.
Then clouds rolled in suddenly, darkening one side of the sky.
Classic rain weather. Mountain winds mean wild changes.
Rustle, rustle.
The grass swaying in the wind grew louder.
Crunch, crunch.
I let go and perked my ears toward the sound.
"Wha—Kirgil, why…."
Ferio started grumbling, but I raised a finger to my lips for silence.
Hunting hones your ear for grass-parting noises.
Predators don't hunt with roars or threats.
They kill their presence, hide, sneak up, and finish in one strike.
That grass sound wasn't wind—it was something moving hidden through it.
Heading toward the cave.
Ferio caught on, quietly grabbing her weapon and following my gaze warily.
Spoiled the mood unexpectedly.
But thankfully, she separated work from personal well.
She'd be a stellar career woman in our world.
Crunch, crunch….
A huge black shadow burst from the grass.
"…A wolf?"
Did sharp nose pick up the blood scent?
No way. A lone wolf strolling into a camp of dozens of soldiers??
Ferio sensed the fishiness too, drawing her sword to rush the entrance.
And sure enough?
"Humans, I'll kill you! Revenge! Curse youuuu!!"
A goblin hidden somewhere in the cave leaped onto the approaching wolf, howling.
And bolted straight into the forest.
That goblin—is that a wolf rider from games!?
"What're you waiting for! Chase it!!! Get on a horse!"
No time to admire isekai tropes.
Ferio dashed to her horse.
I started to ask 'What horse for me!?'
But right then, Pony neighed here I am!
Smart little guy.
Whose original owner are you, anyway?