The Simplest Way to Solve a Problem
The simplest way for Eden to solve the problem was that he had no interest in the village's troubles. Unlike the goddess relishing her tour of the world in a human body or the paladin deep in earnest conversation with the village chief, he just wanted these dull moments to drag on no longer.
"It's a bit trivial to ask of a knight, but…."
"When it comes to people's hardships, is there such a thing as big or small?"
"Th-then, I'll ask you."
So even when the village chief brought up the "thugs causing chaos in the tavern without paying," Eden showed little interest. After all, every town had its share of delinquents. He figured this village was no different.
"Pour more!!"
"Heh, check out that bastard chuggin' it down."
But they weren't ordinary thugs. To Eden's eyes, they were mercenaries. And that's where he sensed something off. If they were real mercenaries, they wouldn't waste time in a backwater with no jobs.
"Hm?"
"Hey, hey, ease up on the booze, everyone."
The five or so mercenaries tensed at the arrival of the armored paladin and the hulking barbarian. Normally, they might've whistled at Neb standing behind them, but no one was that dense.
Fran strode toward the mercenaries. Thud—her hammer hit the ground with an intimidating rumble.
"Who's in charge here?"
At her words, their gazes shifted to the bald man in the center. A scar crossed the bridge of his nose, and his face had that rough, mercenary edge.
The bald man set down his beer mug. He stood tall and walked right up to Fran, pulling a necklace from around his neck. It bore the emblem of the Sun God.
"That'd be me. Looks like you're a paladin of the Sun God too—what brings you to a podunk like this? And what's with the dented helmet?"
His tone wasn't exactly polite, but it wasn't overly arrogant either. He seemed well aware that paladins of the Sun God weren't as brutish as your average knight.
Fran continued calmly. "The villagers say they're feeling threatened."
Not an answer about her dented visor. The bald man shrugged like he had no clue.
"We were just drinkin' here, that's all. If anything, we boosted sales—should be thankin' us."
"…B-boss."
A rat-faced underling sidled up and whispered in his ear.
"We are a bit behind on our tab."
"Oh yeah? Already?"
The bald man scratched his shiny dome.
"W-well, that's understandable. Sorry to trouble the paladin, and the chief back there too. That's the chief, right?"
He turned to his men for confirmation, then pulled something from his pocket.
"We haven't exchanged it for coin yet. Didn't have any left on us. Didn't even realize we were behind."
It was a small, pristine gem, gleaming a vibrant red. The village chief, who'd never seen a jewel in his life, gawked with wide eyes.
"This size'll fetch dozens of gold coins. That square our bill?"
"…Y-yes! All good!"
The chief pocketed it gingerly. Sold in the city, it'd cover their meals and lodging—with a nice tip for him besides. He retreated with a satisfied grin.
The bald man eyed the paladin gruffly. "Problem solved, yeah?"
"Mm."
Fran nodded. No issue as far as she could see.
With things wrapped up, the bald man relaxed and reached for his mug. "Alright then, back to drinkin'… Huh?"
He stared at the barbarian looming before him. Big. Solid. At first, he thought it was a wall.
"…And who're you?"
Eden flashed a sharp smile at the question.
022. The Simplest Way to Solve a Problem
Up to that point, the bald man—Cotton—hadn't grasped the situation. So he glanced at the paladin behind the barbarian and tossed out a casual question.
"Uh, paladin ma'am. Looks like your barbarian slave porter's got a thing for me?"
It was a fair assumption. Owning slaves wasn't illegal under imperial law, and the Sun God faith didn't forbid it. He chuckled, half-joking.
"Tell him I ain't into that. Haha, but damn, this guy's built."
A vein throbbed on Eden's forehead. This prick.
"What was that? Slave? 'Into that'?"
"Huh?"
"That's some mighty insulting talk."
So Eden declared boldly, "As a comrade of a Sun God paladin, I can't let that slide. Draw your sword—now."
"…??"
Cotton looked baffled. Fran, watching, quietly pressed a hand to her forehead, adjusted her dented visor, and stepped up behind Eden.
"…What do you think you're doing?"
"What else? Reclaiming my honor from the dirt."
"…Did you have any to reclaim?"
After days traveling together, Fran seemed convinced Eden and Neb weren't evil god worshippers—her tone was light, not grave.
Neb slipped naturally between them, whispering, "She's right. But rather than as a comrade of a Sun God paladin, you should've invoked your honor as a warrior serving this goddess."
"No, that's not…."
Fran faltered, glancing at Eden. Ignoring Neb's nonsense, he pressed on.
"You've been harassing innocent villagers for months. Time to pay up."
"Didn't we? With the gem? Chief looked plenty happy."
"We need to check where it came from too."
"You plannin' to rob 'em…?"
Eden shook his head at Fran's words.
"Opposite. It's too fine a gem for mercenaries like them."
"…You think they stole it?"
Just as medieval folk prejudged Eden on sight, he'd done the same with these mercenaries.
"Bet they robbed some merchant or noble. Hiding out here to dodge pursuit from the city."
"…All circumstantial, no?"
No CCTV in this era—this was certainty enough. At least, Eden had adapted to think so.
Cotton, unable to hear their exchange, scowled and waited for them to finish. Alone, the barbarian might be manageable, but the fully armored paladin was trouble. Even if he and his men piled on, they'd barely scratch her.
Eden stepped forward and extended his hand. "I said draw."
"…Look, mister. Sorry for mistakin' you for a slave, but do we really gotta go there?"
"What."
Cotton glanced around nervously, a bit snappish. "…This feels forced, don't it?"
He jangled the Sun God emblem at his neck. "And I'm a faithful Sun God follower too. One slip-up and you want swords out? Overkill, yeah?"
Probably banking on the paladin behind Eden. But Eden just held out his hand.
"Did I say what I'd do to you? Just hand over the sword."
"…What kinda guy…."
Thinking Eden wouldn't hear, Cotton muttered under his breath and drew the sword from his belt, handing it over. It gleamed with fresh oil—well-maintained.
Eden inspected the sharp longsword, turning it this way and that. No nicks. Haven't fought lately, huh.
He gripped the tip with his fingers and snapped it clean.
"…Huh?"
The steel shattered into shards. Eden's face was serene, like breaking a cookie.
Cotton gaped. Steel swords didn't snap like twigs.
Eden returned the hilt. Then he pointed at the rat-faced man behind Cotton.
"You."
"Eek! M-me?"
"You stared at me like I was some barbarian when I walked in. Insulting. Draw your sword."
The rat-faced man was speechless. Of course he'd looked at a barbarian like a barbarian…!
But he couldn't defy the guy who'd dismantled steel barehanded.
And so Eden neutralized every mercenary's weapon.
"Mm."
He looked down at Cotton, whose bald head had gone pale blue.
Looks like a blue octopus.
Grabbing the shiny dome, Eden said, "Now, let's talk."
"Y-yes!!"
Cotton felt like death's blade hovered at his throat. Strength to crush steel barehanded—scarier than any weapon.
Eden's dark eyes fixed on him. Cotton glimpsed flames roaring within. (In truth, Eden was pondering, Wonder if a blue octopus feels like this.)
"Where'd the gem come from?"
"W-well… We found it in some ruins nearby!"
Hoh. Eden nodded. His grin bared sharp, beastly teeth.
Not stolen loot, as he'd guessed. More intriguing, even.
"Ruins nearby, huh."
"Ru-what?"
"The ruins."
Gamers called them dungeons.
"B-but…."
"Tough spot. We'll handle it for you."
Eden nudged the steel shards on the floor. "You got no weapons left anyway."
…Cotton couldn't refuse the "invitation."
Meanwhile, Neb and Fran watched Eden from behind, chatting.
"You okay just letting him do that?"
"Do what?"
Against Neb's expectations, Fran gazed at Eden fondly.
"Not stolen goods—lucky. And that barbarian stepping up to help others? Guess he's learned a thing or two traveling with me these past days."
"…This goddess doesn't buy that motive for a second."
A pure-hearted paladin and a world-weary goddess, at odds.
* * *
Unexpectedly, Cotton led them straight to the ruins without fuss.
"Y-you really won't take the gem? I can trust that?"
"Who you callin' a bandit."
"…Fair point."
Eden had declared he wouldn't take their gem—unless it was ill-gotten.
No crime, no looting. Looting was for enemies only, like in a game.
"…We're here."
The ruins were indeed near the village—a few hours' walk. Staying in town made more sense than camping nearby.
Though ruins this close felt odd, Eden didn't expect perfection from a game world.
"Pure luck findin' the place."
Relaxed now, Cotton chuckled unprompted. "Ruins behind a waterfall? Straight outta a fairy tale. Felt great that first day. Still not bad, mind."
Behind the waterfall lay a smooth natural cave. Little remained nearby—the mercenaries had already looted it clean.
"Just these gems made it worth it. Only regret…."
At the cave's end stood a "door" etched with strange patterns. Cotton grumbled at it.
"Couldn't open that locked door."
Eden didn't point out they'd barely breached the entrance.
Heavier than iron, lighter than the wind.
When it passes, even its name shall remain no more.
If you desire to claim it, speak its name.
"Oh."
Cotton murmured admiration at Fran's clean translation. It had taken his crew weeks just to read the script.
But knowing the riddle and its answer were worlds apart.
"Problem is, no clue on the answer. Wasted months here already. So when that barbarian said lead ya to the ruins? Thought, perfect—we're curious too."
Fran pondered the door deeply. Heavier than iron, lighter than wind… Faith? Human belief…? Nothing fit.
(Neb, for her part, mused internally, Feels just like those major math assignments from Eden's memories. A joke only the barbarian would get.)
Eden eyed the door. Thick stone, solid beyond human strength.
What was the strength stat needed to brute-force locked magic in the game?
He couldn't recall, but figured he had plenty.
Eden seized the door.
"Haha, it won't budge, no matter how strong—"
Remembering the steel-snapping hands, Cotton trailed off, staring as the door trembled.
Thud…!!
It didn't take long. Eden pointed at the wide-open door, nonchalant.
"You guys are all kinda dumb."
Why use your head when you've got raw power?