Chapter 148
Chapter 148
Chapter 148
I wanted to punish the bad Goblins and immediately depart…… but no matter what, I couldn't just leave them in the middle of the road. If they didn't receive timely treatment from Arietta, it might affect the next wave.
Fortunately, Alexios excels at physical tasks. Without needing to go back and forth multiple times, Alexios tied them together and dragged them along. The Goblins who were still conscious screamed, but it was fine. It was their own fault.
It was when we returned to the residence, with the Goblins dangling.
“Arietta. I apologize for the early hour, but could you please treat these unfortunate Goblins?”
Fortunately, Arietta was awake. She was neatly dressed in a pristine white priest's robe, perhaps having risen for dawn prayers. While a hanbok suits her, the priest's robe truly fits her best.
“Unfortunate……. Um, Oz? Before that, could you explain how these people got so injured?”
“I tried to stop him, but Alexios ultimately couldn't control his fiery temper and went ahead.”
“You sneaky bastard! You made me do it!”
“It was an unfortunate accident. It seems there was a miscommunication between us.”
“Oz……?”
Ah, this won't do. It seems I've crossed a line. No matter how much Arietta trusts me, perhaps I went too far this time.
“Shall we talk a little?”
“Arietta. I'm sorry, but what we have to do now is…….”
“The One God ‘Ein’ said to take the longer path if it’s far. It means not to look only forward, ignoring the present out of impatience. Is there really no time at all?”
“……No.”
Arietta’s expression was rarely this serious. I must have really caused trouble this time.
“Of course, Oz wouldn't have hurt these people without reason. But Oz. If you don't explain the reason, I can't know.”
Arietta clasped my hand tightly, as if proselytizing. I naturally felt a sense of solemnity.
“After treating these people, I might hear bad things about Oz. I trust Oz, but I'll find it very difficult just hearing such slander. Because Oz didn't say anything. I might feel doubt, you know?”
“No, that…….”
“So, won't you give me the faith to overcome that hardship? I want to trust Oz, but how can I if I don't even know the circumstances of the incident?”
“Yes……”
I couldn't win. In the end, I had no choice but to explain the whole story to her.
“I see. So there was a misunderstanding between them? Still, Oz, you went too far this time. If you could have suppressed them, couldn't you have resolved it more gently?”
And for about two hours, Alexios and I spent time in reflection. Indeed, it seems I really did cross a line with this incident.
As punishment, Alexios and I had to prepare breakfast together.
“……Is it really okay to waste time like this here?”
“Well, I had to explain things to some extent anyway, so it should be fine. Even if we ignore our side, if we can't stop the wave, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse? We'll need Eleanor’s help.”
“Ah, that faded blue-haired one……. She looked terrible, didn’t she?”
“From a personality standpoint, she is terrible.”
But in terms of skill, you can't say that. She also puts in effort, though not as much as I do. Alexios seems to be judging based on the final exam……
Well? Would he say the same thing if he fought Noah now? Probably not.
“Ohh? Master and the always-angry person are in the kitchen together…….”
“Speak of the Devil. Noah? This is your chance to show him your skills.”
“Uh……. I haven’t caused any trouble yet, so why should I be scolded?”
“You can be the one to scold him. I think you've also gotten incredibly strong.”
“……Is that so?”
Indeed, it's typical of Eleanor to trust my words without question. She's already starting to waver. Just a little more should do it.
“It wouldn't be bad to get revenge for the final exam while you're at it?”
“Right……. That’s it! I’ve gotten stronger! So, it’s a match! Fist King.”
“Oh really? Well……. if this bastard vouches for it, I guess I can expect something.”
Huh? That’s not right.
Even if Eleanor has gotten stronger, is she as strong as Alexios? I just said it as a joke, but both of them are reacting too seriously. I expected it from Eleanor, but not from Alexios.
“Follow me outside, brat.”
“Don’t order me around, you ugly brute!”
“…….”
And exactly 10 minutes later.
Eleanor returned like a rag. It was the expected outcome, so I wasn't particularly surprised.
“You could have gone a bit easier on her.”
“No, you praised her so highly that I thought she was hiding her strength.”
“Master……. What happened? You said I was strong…….”
“No matter what, the gap was so huge. Do you think a short period of effort would allow you to defeat Alexios? Isn't that too much of a free ride?”
How is it that the two people who should have most acutely felt the difference in their abilities aren't questioning this? Is it because their intelligence is similar?
Among warrior classes, Discreet is the only smart one I've ever seen. No, considering his recent actions, even he doesn't seem particularly smart.
“Then why on earth did you egg me on to fight the Fist King?”
“I just wanted to get both of you out of the way so you wouldn't bother me while I was preparing breakfast.”
“Looking at the way you’re preparing breakfast, I think I could do better.”
“It seems so.”
Honestly, I thought it would be fine, but it wasn't. How could I, accustomed to modern conveniences like gas stoves and microwaves, cook with a cauldron?
It's a regrettable matter. I have to admit that I'm worse at cooking than Alexios.
“No, you were training in the Federation from the beginning. So, it's only natural that you're familiar with it, that doesn't mean you're superior, does it?”
“……Alright, now stop messing up the kitchen and get out.”
“Is that how you ask for a favor?”
“What the hell is this crazy bastard yelling about, when he hasn't done anything well?”
I haven't done anything particularly well. But I couldn't back down now, or he might underestimate me.
I've always acted in a way that wouldn't make me seem weak, as there are many people targeting me. That's become a habit.
Yes, this world made me this way, it's not my fault.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After being chased out of the kitchen, when I returned to Arietta.
She was praying again.
I've realized recently that Arietta's schedule is quite tight.
She barely sleeps two hours a day. After her normal daily routine, she offers the prayers she couldn't fit in.
It seems her priorities are human relationships first, prayers second, and sleep third.
She probably cuts down on sleep when things are urgent. Even then, her body might get tired, but it doesn't get worse. It's because of the divine power that fills her entire body. She feels nothing but fatigue.
“Hmm…….”
As I watched Arietta praying, she sighed deeply and said.
“Why is Oz here, disregarding the punishment I gave him?”
A very reasonable point.
Fortunately, her tone seemed flustered, but she didn't appear angry.
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
“Ah, ohh……. Th-that’s a bit unfair to say. It makes my heart flutter. It makes me feel like it’s okay, even though it was a punishment.”
“Then, for the sake of that fluttering heart, couldn't you forgive me? Actually, Alexios chased me out, saying I was in the way.”
“Hmm…….”
Arietta seemed to ponder for a moment, then smiled sweetly at me and extended her hand.
“Then, how about I replace the punishment with you safely escorting me to the dining table?”
“I will gladly accept.”
I carefully took Arietta's outstretched hand and helped her up. She moved as if to test me, even stopping her divine power from sensing her surroundings.
I had no choice but to guide her as carefully as possible, as she moved with steps slower and more uncertain than usual. Unlike her usual self, she was truly a helpless blind person now.
It was supposed to be a punishment, but it was a punishment that truly made me anxious.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Then shouldn’t you guide me to my seat now? That's part of the punishment.”
Arietta said with a soft smile, despite her lingering uncertainty.
It meant until she was seated. Well, what could I do?
“I obey.”
I must perform.
With one hand, I held her hand, and with the other, I supported her body as I sat her down. It was a process to safely seat her, but I felt vaguely guilty.
“You worked hard, Oz. Now, shall we sit quietly and wait?”
“If you say that, doesn't it sound like I'm usually restless and unable to sit still?”
“Hmm……. It's similar.”
“You’re honest.”
It's just like her, unable to lie.
Still, calling it "similar" is probably her way of being considerate.
As I sat and waited, another person soon appeared.
“Hi, Oz.”
It was Marie, looking half-asleep. She stumbled, heading for the spot furthest from Arietta.
It must have been due to an instinctive fear residing within her. It's surprising that the two of them managed to become friends despite that.
“Oh? Master, why are you with the Saintess…… Ah, Marie is here too.”
And behind her came Eleanor, who had received a thorough lesson from Alexios.
Fortunately, thanks to Marie's timing, she didn't display any animosity towards Arietta.
“You shameless bastard. If you can’t cook, at least help carry the food, shouldn’t you?”
“You're the one who chased me out, aren’t you? Then you should bear the full weight of it.”
“What…… are you crazy?”
Lastly, Alexios and Ulla entered.
Alexios skillfully carried several plates at once. Ulla ambled in behind him, as if watching something amusing.
“Baekyang isn’t coming.”
“She seems busy with yesterday’s events, so she’ll probably come in a little later.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Baekyang is probably with Soyeon right now. She might not even return today.
After all, they had so much to say to each other after pouring out decades of their lives.
And so, the meal began in the house without its host.
The food Alexios made was simply edible. It wasn't particularly delicious, nor was it inedible.
I even thought about picking a fight, but since time was already delayed, and it would delay things further, I gave up.
It was during the meal, which was fast if you considered it fast, and slow if you considered it slow.
“Oz, what should I do?”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
Marie suddenly blurted that out.
“I heard from some Goblins who were lying in pain on the way…….”
“Hold on.”
Lying in pain?
Hadn't their treatment finished?
I subtly glanced at Arietta, and she wore her usual gentle smile.
“For now, I've only treated them enough so it won’t cause a problem. Since Oz and Alexios are together, another mishap could occur.”
“Yes…… That’s true.”
However, the words that came out were a bit shocking. I thought she would have treated everyone.
But she handled the situation by prioritizing human relationships. Perhaps because she's the disciplinary committee head, she's surprisingly strict.
It's a little unsettling, but it's a truly rational choice.
In reality, there was no guarantee that those guys wouldn't attack me or Alexios again.
I had no intention of holding back if that happened again, so perhaps Arietta had foreseen that far ahead.
“Where are you planning to go?”
While I was thinking, Marie continued speaking calmly.
What was slightly surprising was.
“But you haven’t told us to prepare anything, so aren’t you planning to leave us behind?”
“You……. you’re smarter than I thought.”
Her deduction was quite accurate. It was a statement that couldn't be made without understanding the current situation and the kind of person I am.
“Right, I’m smart. Not as much as Noah, though.”
The comparison to Eleanor does diminish its credibility somewhat, but…….
Eleanor is, at least, the top student among first-year combat types.
Marie’s analogy can be considered valid in some sense.
“Yes, Marie. I was just about to explain. You heard that monsters attacked yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Yes, the aura of death was thicker than usual, so I checked and saw trees moving with legs.”
“They’ll keep coming. So I'd like you to help with that.”
In this battle, she is more valuable than Bihyeong or Soyeon.
Her mere presence would be enough.
The Demonic Energy she emits would be enough to kill enemies.
And enemies corrupted by that Demonic Energy would become undead under her control, forming a wall to defend the battlefield.
“What about Oz?”
“I’m going to take out the source. With this ill-tempered bastard.”
“Master, you also have a bad temper.”
“Quiet, Noah. Can’t you see I’m explaining?”
Even if the two of us move, the wave will still come.
If we're lucky, we might finish before the second or third wave, but we can't be optimistic.
In fact, the first wave arrived sooner than I expected, didn't it? There's no guarantee it won't happen again.
“But Master. Why are only two of you moving? Wouldn’t it be better if all of us went together?”
“This is the appropriate personnel deployment.”
“……Because I can’t move quickly.”
It was Arietta.
She must have realized why I wasn't taking her with me the moment I said it was appropriate personnel deployment.
It’s regrettable, but it’s true. In a situation where we have to break through the waves, she, who cannot move quickly, would only be a burden.
“What about me?”
“Most of what you can do, Alexios can also do. The opposite isn’t true, though. If you had won against Alexios in the spar earlier, I might have considered it…”
“…….”
Eleanor ground her teeth, looking indignant, before I even finished speaking, so I just shrugged and stopped talking.
Noah also didn't say anything, perhaps because she had just experienced the difference in strength with Alexios.
It wasn't intentional, but…… in a way, it's fortunate that it reduced the time needed for persuasion.
“So, the ones moving this time are me and Alexios. Well, if we had to add someone, Ulla might be okay. What do you think?”
“Uh… I don’t want to. I don’t particularly want to go to a dangerous place.”
This is a normal reaction.
It's natural to hesitate with such a dangerous operation. Our group is unusually commendable.
“So, it’s just me and Alexios moving this time.”
That’s why I asked Alexios.
Everyone else had their own reasons for not being able to move, so I needed his strength.
I could take Marie, but I don't know what kind of negative impact her Demonic Energy might have on the World Tree.
Demonic Energy is more dangerous than yokai energy, so it might even provoke the already rampaging World Tree further.
“If that’s the reason, then I can go too.”
“…….”
Just then, Baekyang, who had been talking with Soyeon all night, returned.
This is another subtle timing.
More importantly, seeing her bright expression, did the conversation last night go well?
It seems certain, as she's wearing moon-shaped earrings that weren't there before. That's an accessory symbolizing the goodwill of the [Moon Miko].
In the original story, Eleanor received it, but this time Baekyang did.
It's a symbol of friendship.
She looked at us, gathered together having a meal, and said with a wry smile.
“You're eating a meal like this without the homeowner here…… I don’t know how to take this.”
“What’s that in your hand?”
“It’s the investigation report about Oz that was used at the meeting.”
Why are you reading that? That's a document full of malicious edits, isn't it?
“I thought I needed to study for the future.”
Seeing her smile mischievously with her eyes, I felt it would be best not to ask further.
I'm afraid an answer beyond my imagination might pop out.
And for some reason, this inexplicable situation of Eleanor's greatsword being near the dining table was particularly frightening.