Chapter 63
Chapter 63
9. Wandering and Settling -5
I was currently visiting Hori in the hospital.
To be precise, I was dawdling in front of the hospital entrance where Hori was admitted. I made another attempt to persuade the culprit who had caused all of this.
"Elijah, I'm really not sure we should be going in here. No matter how much we have left to settle with the Hunter Alliance, this is potentially enemy territory, and considering that, it would be safer to minimize our time here—"
"But if we fought together, aren't we comrades? We successfully defeated the forces of evil too! So after that, all that's left is to reconcile."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯"
Looking at her, Elijah had an innocent, naive side. The world doesn't work like that—more often than reconciling just because you fought back-to-back with someone, you simply remain in a temporary cooperative relationship and then point your blade at each other again.
Even more so if you'd been trying to kill each other, and even more so if the reason was absurd. That Hori had attacked me because I'd interfered with the Alliance's newbie shakedown.
To settle this grudge, Hori, the criminal, should be the one bowing her head. I had no intention of backing down, no reason to, and no moral justification that required me to.
So I didn't particularly want to go on this hospital visit either.
"Let's hurry up and go, okay?"
"⋯⋯Tch."
As Elijah tugged at my arm, I reluctantly let myself be dragged along, thinking.
When Elijah had asked to be friends with me, she'd known how to appeal in such a calculated way, so I figured she had some ulterior motive this time too.
But in the first place.
Even if we reconciled, were Hori and I honestly close enough to visit each other in the hospital? No. Had I trained with her? Had we cleared a Stage together?
If Sergios had been seriously injured, I might have felt like visiting him at least once, but with her, I didn't even have that much attachment.
Rumble—
After grumbling to my heart's content like that, I opened the hospital room door.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯"
"Ah, you came⋯⋯ Noah Won, I didn't expect you of all people to show up. That's a surprise⋯⋯ No, did you come to mock me⋯⋯? Me, who lost an arm⋯⋯"
"Hori! We brought a fruit basket."
"I've only ever seen your face, so why are you acting so friendly with me⋯⋯ No, never mind⋯⋯ Put the fruit basket on that table over there, the one that's been empty for a week⋯⋯"
Limp and listless.
Hori was sitting there gloomily, like a cat that had been dunked in water, like someone who had lost all purpose in life.
Hori, the assassin of the Hunter Alliance's traditional faction, had lost an arm.
That meant her combat power had been cut down by at least a quarter. How could a one-armed person fight properly in close combat?
She did have various skills, including 『Nail』. But no matter how much skills were powers that could be used with a simple click compared to martial arts, that didn't mean they fired off like pressing a button in a game.
Forming hand seals, pointing a finger at a target.
Gestures for applying skills with delicacy and precision were absolutely necessary, so recovering the body balance that had been severely disrupted by the major accident of losing an arm would take longer than one might think. You could even say she'd been weeded out.
That was the secret of this table that had been "empty for a week."
In other words, no one had come to visit Hori in the hospital recently. Not just from the Alliance, but not even from the traditional faction she belonged to.
Right. Wasn't this Hunter Alliance a pyramid scheme that squeezed money from newbies to push the strong? If someone had fallen from strong to weak, they'd apply that same strict standard to that person too.
Seeing how they actively expressed reconciliation moves toward me—whose strength had been proven—like sending a letter of concern from the Alliance or suggesting we discuss post-incident handling and my contributions in battle. They really were consistent bastards.
In that sense.
Hori might end up being cut loose.
Thunk.
Elijah placed the fruit basket on the empty table.
"How is your wound?"
"⋯⋯As you can see."
"It's wrapped in bandages, so I can't see whether it's healed well."
"As you can see, it was cut off cleanly. It healed so well that I don't have to worry about dying, even if I've become a one-armed cripple. Happy?!"
Hori flailed the arm that was empty from around the shoulder joint, angry. Elijah said, "Wow, that's such a relief!" and Hori's breath caught for a moment before returning.
Had Elijah come not to visit the sick but to poke at Hori?
An arm, huh⋯⋯
Grudges aside, Hori's judgment during the Joero incident had looked good to me. Whatever her feelings were, she'd thrown everything away to save the young beastman children, and at the last moment she'd even lost an arm preventing future trouble.
Thinking that the result of such judgment was retirement left a bitter taste in my mouth.
To add this just so there's no misunderstanding—it wasn't that I felt sorry for Hori. It was that her actions had gone unrewarded.
If you asked whether there was a magic potion that could instantly restore an arm like Joero's, at D-rank level there wasn't.
I knew the Shop sold one, but it was priced at an amount that made it unbuyable. So to restore an arm, you'd have to pull off something like the unpleasant ritual Joero had used, or the elf conversion incident Joero had orchestrated.
Even an ordinary person would waver at that temptation for a moment.
So from Hori's perspective—someone who worshipped the law of the jungle and practiced its principles—could she cleanly accept that she'd become obsolete⋯⋯?
As I looked down at Hori with suspicious eyes, she perked up her ears and asked sullenly.
"What's with that look⋯⋯?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking for a moment that if you're planning to do anything to get your lost arm back, like Joero did, then your name will go on my Noah Won kill list."
"⋯⋯Who, who do you think you're messing with. You son of a bitch—!!"
Whoosh—!
Hori grabbed a pear from the fruit basket and hurled it. Her control wasn't bad, the trajectory aimed precisely at my face, but the force was lacking. I caught it lightly and placed it back on the basket as I answered.
"Of course I'm not messing with you. I'm saying I'll actually kill you."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯"
"I'm not someone who leaves loose ends. The fact that you went around killing the Alliance's enemies and pointed your blade at me has never changed. I'm just burying it for a while, using your last actions as a thin layer of soil."
So this was a stay of execution, not a settlement. I looked down at Hori steadily and gave a short warning.
"If you understand, behave yourself from now on."
"Kgh, ugh⋯⋯"
Hori glared at me for a moment before lowering her eyes. Maybe because she was half animal, communication in this regard was clear, which I appreciated. This much should have been a sufficient warning.
After the whip, it was time to offer some kind of carrot.
People often say things like "Be grateful just to be spared." But people can't be grateful for that alone. Because the thought that someone could kill you just keeps circling in your head.
So giving feedback for good behavior was suitable for training⋯⋯ no, reformation. I looked at the thoroughly deflated Hori and considered.
In the end, the biggest problem was the arm.
There was one method that might be able to restore the arm. There was one, but.
[-> Download Slot 1: 『Overgrowth』 (Download complete / 100%)]
[-> Download Slot 2: 『Moso Bamboo』 (Download complete / 100%)]
[Resuming 2 downloads canceled due to insufficient slots⋯⋯]
The skills I'd drained from the battle with Joero were two. 『Overgrowth』 and 『Moso Bamboo』.
『Moso Bamboo』 felt like just using it would make the System place a curse on me and elongate my ears, so I couldn't bring myself to use it. On the other hand, 『Overgrowth』 seemed like it might be okay.
How should I put it—the feeling was faint. The phytoncide smell was weaker. That was the sensation I got.
But the problem was that I couldn't guess its specific effect.
If this was the skill responsible for Joero's astonishing recovery, it would be effective on an amputated arm. But if this was the skill he'd used at the end to create a giant arm out of bamboo and swing it around⋯⋯ Hori's right arm would become excessively enlarged.
Moreover, since skills obtained through download were single-use, if I used it once and it failed, it would be hard to undo. I couldn't just beat up another elf and download it again.
Well⋯⋯ if it weren't for this ambiguity and risk, I wouldn't have even considered using it on Hori.
If it had been a clear and definite regeneration power, I would have used it in a life-or-death situation myself, not decided to use it for the armless Hori. So how about explaining the risks beforehand and letting her make the choice?
Hori, there's a method that might let you get your arm back——
"Hori, do you want your arm back?"
"⋯⋯⋯⋯?"
"I might be able to help."
Clank, clatter.
Elijah rotated her left arm this way and that, then popped it off from around the forearm. Hori's eyes went wide at the sight, and I belatedly remembered too. Right, Elijah was an android. And that was a mechanical arm.
An arm that attaches to a machine and an arm that attaches to a person would be strictly different. Could that thing even be transplanted into someone else⋯⋯?
She waved the detached arm around as she spoke. Hori's head whipped back and forth aimlessly, like a cat chasing a fishing-rod toy.
"This mechanical prosthetic is ergonomically designed with good versatility, so there shouldn't be much rejection. Of course, the size won't fit⋯⋯ so I'll have to find an arm that fits Hori in my original world. But I can perform the procedure myself. Once I get my 『Coffin』 back, that is."
"Th-that⋯⋯ that's⋯⋯"
"But there's just one condition. If you accept that one condition, I'll attach the prosthetic for you later."
"Wh-what is it?! I'll give you all my Credits! Or is there someone you want dead?! If I can get my arm back, I'll even assassinate that Noah Won for you!"
Why are you dragging me into this, you bastard.
While I twitched my eyebrows in displeasure, Elijah laughed playfully—with just a hint of something sly—"Heh heh heh—" and said.
"If you apologize to Noah, and if Noah forgives Hori, then I'll do it for you."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯!!"
Rumble—
No actual sound was heard, but I thought thunder had struck behind Hori. Because that shocked expression with her mouth hanging open was truly flustered.
She was so surprised that I wondered if this bastard hated apologizing to me that much, and considered whether I should cave her head in right now.
It was the opposite.
"⋯⋯Me⋯⋯"
Her gaze dropped low.
Hori was thinking there was no way I would forgive her.
Why on earth would I forgive someone who'd held a blade to my throat and even fix her arm? I thought so too. There was no need to be generous to someone who would become an enemy.
But if she wasn't an enemy, that was another matter.
"Obviously, I won't forgive you. But."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯"
"You seem to have changed quite a bit compared to the past. An assassin who treated the weak as vermin, I don't know about that—but someone who risks her life to save children⋯⋯ that's worth letting slide for now."
I rose from my seat and said lightly.
"I'll say it again—I'm not saying I forgive you for trying to take me down. Do better from now on. Let's go, Elijah."
"That's what he says. Well then, I'll come back after I recover my 『Coffin』, Hori. Just take a little care of your health! Surgery requires basic stamina, after all!"
"⋯⋯Huh? W-wait⋯⋯!"
What do you mean—
Bang!
Hori's flustered words were cut off by the sound of the hospital room door closing.
The hospital visit was just a side trip while we had time to spare. The real purpose of visiting the Hunter Alliance's D-rank branch was something else. Namely, an audience with Muyeon.
He had summoned us for a reward ceremony.
"Sit."
Muyeon in his suit was still a man who exuded a heavy presence. But about half of that mountain seemed to have collapsed in a landslide—he looked hollowed out somewhere.
It would be fair to say his vitality had greatly diminished.
His office was plain. No decorations, filled only with things for practical work. The only thing in here with any human warmth was the guest chair. There wasn't even a single common painting on the walls.
Except for one thing.
On his work desk stood a single picture frame, containing a photo of about fifteen people gathered together.
Looking at the faces in that photo, I saw Glass Sword Lord, Muyeon, and Joero too. Was that⋯⋯ some kind of social gathering? I was curious, but I didn't dwell on it further. It was time to talk now.
Once Elijah and I settled into the plush sofa, Muyeon got straight to the point without even offering a cup of coffee.
"An opinion came from Minion of the neutral faction. That avoiding conflict with you two—whose promotion to C-rank hunters is practically confirmed—and maintaining friendly relations would be beneficial."
"I see."
"I've removed your name from the kill list. I'll strengthen control over the radicals who use murder and intimidation to collect Credits. As long as you don't openly pick a fight with the Alliance, we won't touch you."
So that's how it goes. My sense that the peace mood was slowly building hadn't been wrong after all.
They must have been concerned about the military aspect too, but it seemed the favorable public opinion about me from the Joero incident spreading through the Alliance had been effective.
Then, abruptly, Muyeon added one more thing.
"Do you want Hori dead?"
"Excuse me?"
"Exactly what I said."
Wondering what he was thinking, I narrowed my eyes and looked at Muyeon. From Hori's attitude, she seemed to be his close aide—was he really cutting off his own right arm so easily?
I barely held back my furrowing expression and said flatly.
"⋯⋯If you want to show us trust, give us something material instead of a person's life. Hori's death brings me no benefit whatsoever."
"Is that so. Then I don't need to kill her."
Don't react. This was, so to speak, a negotiation table.
If I added any emotional question here—like "Isn't that harsh to your own aide?"—it would just be noise. It might even work against me.
⋯⋯And, conveniently, there was someone right next to me who could voice those questions in my place.
Elijah put all her strength into her eyes and asked Muyeon.
"Um, isn't that a cruel thing to say about Hori? How can you talk about killing her so casually?"
"You're Elijah⋯⋯ was it."
"And there's something else I don't understand. Why do you Hunter Alliance people exploit the weak in the first place? What on earth do you act so cruelly for?"
Muyeon's answer to this was simple. He clasped his hands with silent eyes and answered.
"To save the world."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯"
"One great thing is stronger than many small ones. And this world's efficiency flows toward unity. So to save the world—— we have no choice but to take opportunities from those without talent and give them to the promising."
Muyeon turned his head toward the window. Outside, countless Hunter Alliance members were busily moving about their own tasks. Most of them would be Coopers, the lowest rank, and they would be exploited.
But using them as stepping stones, someone would be able to rise to a higher position.
"I know it's not humane. The Hunter Alliance is no different from a bandit group in this universe. No matter what meaning you attach to robbery, the word doesn't change. But⋯⋯ cough, hrm."
"Blood⋯⋯ blood is flowing from your mouth."
"Whether that world is in the narrow sense or the broad sense, someone must save the world. I have decided to willingly bear that burden for the cause. That is all."
"⋯⋯⋯⋯"
Even if someone who loves morality asked what meaning salvation achieved through evil could have, from the position of those slowly dying to the plants' offensive, there was no greater self-deception than that.
But whether he was right, I couldn't say. If possible, I wanted to deny it.
Muyeon wiped the blood he'd coughed up with a handkerchief, placed a single red key on the table, and concluded.
"Take what you want from Joero's warehouse. Officially, it's repayment for helping resolve the elf incident. Unofficially, it's a gift for improving relations. Take as much as it takes to resolve your grudge⋯⋯ I'll put it that way."
"Joero's warehouse?"
"His secret warehouse. We learned of it while investigating the remaining radical faction members. Inside are the slush funds Joero personally amassed and⋯⋯ a large mechanical 『Coffin』 presumed to be your companion's property."
I pocketed the key and stood as I asked.
"You're not secretly moving out the expensive items first and then taking credit, are you?"
"You'll be the first to loot it. If the reward weren't that substantial, the gift would have no meaning."
"⋯⋯Then it's quite generous. A secret warehouse would have more than one or two useful items. I'll gladly accept."
Muyeon nodded. With that, the conversation was over.
Joero's secret warehouse, huh. If that was true, we might be able to get our hands on extremely useful equipment. Even if there was nothing but gold and jewels without any equipment, that would be even better. Then I could just offer it all to the System using 『Rite of Order』 and be done with it.
Either way, it was a gain. The red key in my grasp felt heavy.
"Let's go, Elijah."
"⋯⋯Yes, Noah."
Elijah seemed to have complicated thoughts. She seemed oddly empathetic toward Hori. Seeing her treated like a branch that could be cut off at any time must have left a bitter taste in her mouth.
I understood that feeling, but it wasn't something we could do anything about.
I hoped there would be something in this secret warehouse to lift her spirits.
But fortunately.
Creeeak—
As I left his office with Elijah⋯⋯ I could hear Muyeon's parting words, spoken as if in passing.
'I added as much as her life was worth.'
Only after hearing that did Elijah's expression brighten somewhat. We headed comfortably toward Joero's secret warehouse.