Unknown Things (2)
As the sunset spread across the sky, scattered houses came into view.
Finally, Agnes Village.
It felt like coming home after all that hardship.
I headed for the village center, where three houses clustered close together. That was the village chief's place.
At her urging, I'd gone on the goblin subjugation mission, so I needed to show I was safe and report the results.
As we neared, I tried to dismount, and the familiar muscle pain hit me hard.
"Ugh... I thought it had gotten better."
To get off the horse, I had to lift one leg, but it just wouldn't budge.
I twisted and struggled, hugging Pony, but it was no use.
Ughhh... it hurts.
"Knew this would happen. Don't force it—grab onto me."
Ferio, who'd been grumbling the whole way, came to my side.
She looked so reliable; I wanted to entrust my whole body to her.
"...Uh, whoa!?"
I really did tumble off the horse right into Ferio's arms.
It was like being swept up by a prince on a white horse—except princes don't have soft breasts.
"Thanks. You saved me. Ungh... kuh!"
Do a full day of loading and unloading work, and you'd understand this pain.
You can move, but the soreness hits so hard you collapse in seconds.
With Ferio's support, I barely stood on my trembling legs.
Then a cheerful voice called from afar.
"Uncllle~!!"
Reshi's cute, energetic voice came straight at me from behind.
This tone meant she was about to barrel into my arms.
But right now, I had no energy to stop her.
I squeezed my eyes shut, imagining the truck that isekai'd me slamming into me.
"……………?"
No impact came, even after time passed?
Did Reshi sense my condition and hold back? I awkwardly turned my sore body to check.
"Lady Ferio's here too, huh. I thought it was just Uncle."
She's holding back because of the high-status person.
Makes sense—this was a class society with nobles, so caution wasn't a bad thing.
...But something felt off in the atmosphere.
No, wait—they'd always talked casually, regardless of rank.
I'd even overheard them trash-talking me together before.
Right now, Reshi seemed... cautious.
Somehow...
Somehow...?
What is it...??
Nah, maybe I'm imagining it. Let's make some time together.
"I'm going to report to the chief. Wanna come, Reshi?"
Reshi just alternated glances between me and Ferio.
I was just having trouble dismounting, so Ferio was helping—nothing weird, right?
"Um... well."
Reshi's face smiled, but it looked strained.
Her voice was 180 degrees from before. Why so glum?
"It's getting dark, so I'll head home."
Reshi bowed hastily and hurried off.
"What's her deal?"
"……..."
Ferio glanced at Reshi, like she sensed something, and spoke.
"I'll talk to Reshi later."
It felt oddly resolute. Was I imagining that?
For some reason, it sounded like a line a guy would say to another guy.
No, this is another world. I need to drop my preconceptions; there could be cultural differences.
But I felt uneasy, like I'd done something wrong.
Can't dwell on mysteries forever—time to see the chief first.
The short steps felt like a towering mountain today, but with Ferio's help, I somehow made it inside.
Before I could knock, the door flew open.
"Kirgil! You're safe!!"
"Ow!? Chief, that hurts! My whole body is aching—arghhh!"
Unlike Reshi, the chief hugged me tight, right in front of Ferio, without a second thought.
It hurt, but the warm welcome felt good.
"Where's Kras? Nothing happened to that boy, right?"
"He's fine. Should arrive by sunset."
"My apologies, but Kras insulted me and Kirgil, so I made him walk as punishment. No serious injuries, so no worries."
"Good. Glad you're all safe. Good work, Ferio. Oh, and take these with you."
Come to think of it, the chief surely knew Ferio's noble background.
Yet she spoke like she was giving orders to a subordinate, even sending her on errands.
I might not know much, but it was clear to others: the chief wasn't just some backroom mage.
Moments later, she brought out neatly wrapped bundles from inside.
"There'll be wounded soldiers. Tell them to clean the injuries well and apply the salve from these bottles.
If they have a fever, give them this medicine."
"Ow ow! No need to suddenly wipe my scratches and slap on ointment! It stings!"
The moment she handed over the bundles, she wiped my scrapes and applied medicine without asking.
It burned like alcohol poured on a wound. So this was what alcohol swabs felt like.
Effective, sure, but the pain... hot! Burning!
It drowned out the muscle ache for a moment.
"Truly grateful, Agnes."
"If you see Kras on the way, tell him to come straight to me."
"Yes, I'll tell him to hurry."
As Ferio finished her goodbyes and turned to leave, she paused and came back to me.
"Kirgil, come to training the day after tomorrow."
"Yeah, sure?? Got it."
We always trained—why mention it now?
After a battle like this, shouldn't I rest a few days?
Maybe it meant no slacking, keep grinding steadily?
...That's what I thought, until Ferio chewed me out later.
People's hearts—or women's hearts, anyway—were hard to fathom the more you knew.
The deeper you got, the tougher it was. No wonder an asocial guy like me was miles from fitting in.
Even the chief said to rest a few days after hard fights.
Ferio, you calling the chief clueless too!?
After seeing Ferio off, I reported yesterday's and today's events to the chief.
Separate from worrying about me, she had a keen interest in my abilities.
She'd urged me onto the subjugation team expecting changes or growth in me.
Knowledge obsession was one thing, but pushing people into danger? Mages, I'd heard, would burn through fortunes—or families—for new discoveries.
Thinking about it, my old world had types like that too.
Folks ditching families or friends for work, or getting sucked into cults and cutting off society.
No, not saying the chief was like that.
The way she tenderly applied various ointments to my wounds...
"Argh!! Hot!! Is this some experimental drug!?"
"Believe in this sis. It's effective medicine. And don't let your guard down. Even small wounds can kill."
Her words were rough, but her care for the villagers was genuine.
In this village, "The chief said" was absolute truth—because she always put us first.
That was charisma.
But I'd prefer she skipped testing new drugs on me.
"The best," she said, but sometimes it hurt the most. Good medicine was... torturous and painful.
Was she way too casual with me?
As I writhed in agony, a knock came, and the chief hurried out.
"Kras!"
"V-Village chief... I'm back."
The door opened to Kras—not the cocky youth who'd strutted before me, but a scolded boy standing meekly before sis.
Ferio's scolding had worked wonders.
Serves him right.
"Good, good. You're safe. That's a relief."
The chief hugged and soothed him.
Ah... what a big heart she had.
"Chief... sob... sniff."
Kras burst into tears like a child once in her arms. He'd been through some mental wringer too, it seemed.
He sobbed noisily in her embrace.
I had no pity for him, but no desire to ruin the mood, so I pretended not to notice.
Seeing him like that, Kras almost seemed like an obedient kid.
After he cried it out and calmed, the chief gave him medicine too.
"Y-Yes. Thank you."
"And, you little rascal. Don't you have something to say to me?"
"Huh? Oh..."
"I never told you to join the subjugation.
I said it myself before: if you meet monsters, don't fight—run.
Prioritize telling me or Ferio if kids are in danger.
That's why I said you did well not jumping in rashly."
She was probably talking about the day I arrived, when he fled leaving Reshi behind.
Spot on.
Civilians rushing in just causes more harm.
"A good boy who listened so well... went off fighting on his own yesterday."
"No, it wasn't disobeying you. I just... I wanted to..."
"I know. I understand wanting to cry. But I don't want to see kids hurt or dead.
Don't torment me with your wounded corpse.
Good thing I can scold this rascal like this."
"...Sorry, Chief. Sniff."
The chief soothed Kras once more and took his sword, scabbard and all.
"I gave you this sword to build confidence, not recklessness.
I'll take it back."
"Yes."
Kras handed over his prized sword without protest.
"Someday you'll get it back. No—I'll give you a better one.
Stay healthy till then. Got it?"
Kras hugged her, thanked her, and promised like a child to listen from now on, wiping his tears.
Watching the scene secretly... it made me ashamed of myself.
Dealing with trolls online just exhausted you.
Call them out, scold, counter with facts—it felt good in the moment, but they never changed.
I'd never seen trolls reflect. Figured Kras was the same.
So I ignored him.
The chief changed him.
Well... too soon to say, but his tears and remorse looked real.
This was genuine human conversation—something impossible online.
Internet communities were so barren, looking back.
This world had magic, monsters, and new lessons beyond that.
After sending Kras off, the chief returned for my report.
"What're you mulling over so deeply? Tired?"
Before I could answer, she poured a fatigue-relief tea.
Not coffee, but a bitter herbal brew with coffee-like effects.
I sorted my recent feelings and thoughts.
Such touching scenes make you wanna say something.
"Uh. Um... well, it's like..."
The chief sipped her tea patiently.
That's it!
"I wanna hug sis too."
Don't get the wrong idea.
I meant purely, innocently. You get it, right?
The chief set down her cup, spread her arms with a kind smile.
"Kirgil, didn't we agree on sis?"
"No, just this once—big sis."
Ah, yes. This sensation.
Sis's body was smaller than mine, but her embrace was soft and comforting. I needed healing too.
One more reason Kras turned meek.