Everything As It Should Be (9)
I returned to the temple keenly aware of the aura of absolute disaster hanging over me. It was a relief that Dev hadn't bolted and had at least come back with me.
Not that it was a relief in the slightest, if I was being honest.
"You're back early."
Archmage, please stop trying to train me and take care of this one first. The "self-esteem set to Min" is part of my concept—so why is he like this too!!
"You!"
"Your cheek… are you all right?"
"Huh?"
Thankfully, the party didn't miss Dev's cheek. The Inquisitor's reaction was especially strong.
"D-did you, uh, get caught stealing?!"
Hey.
"……"
Meat Dumpling, why are you just standing there? Normally you'd fire back with something like 'You joking, Sir?' or 'What do you take me for?!'
"Inquisitor."
"Ah, I—I didn't mean it that way……"
"Inquisitor."
"…I'm sorry."
"Young hunter, who hit you?"
"…It's nothing, really."
"Ah. Did you hit them back as hard as they hit you?"
The Inquisitor got scolded by the Archmage while Berserk casually struck up conversation with Dev. Dev neither confirmed nor denied.
"What on earth is going on… First, get yourself treated. Inquisitor, if you would. And Demon Knight—do you know what happened?"
At that tone, the Archmage turned his gaze on me, full of worry. It was the question I wanted most and the one hardest to answer.
There is honestly no compromise between avoiding concept collapse and giving a concrete explanation.
"Asking me about him—what sort of procedure is that?"
But I still have to answer somehow! In a way that minimizes any negative impact on Dev!
I desperately wracked my brain.
"Because he doesn't seem likely to speak of it himself."
Ah, right! The important thing here is to make it clear it wasn't Dev's fault, isn't it? In that case……!
"Then go ask the one who sinned. Ask him why he struck this man."
This way, at least the Inquisitor's misunderstanding would be cleared. Treatment was already underway.
"The one who sinned……"
"What, you didn't kill the other guy?"
"Just what happened? It doesn't seem like it was your fault."
"…I already said it's really nothing. I just… got caught up in it. More than that, I'm tired. Can I rest?"
"Ah, of course. If you're tired, you should rest."
"The treatment is done for now. The swelling will go down soon, so don't worry about it."
The moment the Inquisitor finished speaking, Meat Dumpling headed deeper into the lodging.
"Is this my room?"
"That's right."
Then he found his own room and slipped inside. The voices of the party left in the living-room-like space cut off abruptly.
But as if to replace those voices, Berserk started hanging question marks, while the other two each began dripping cold sweat.
Me? I was naturally dripping cold sweat too. On the inside.
"Um, what do we do? I said something too harsh."
"Inquisitor……"
"I didn't mean it that way……"
"Apologize later."
"Yes……"
"More than that, I have no idea what happened. Good grief. Just what did he get caught up in."
"Maybe he just got into a fight with some thugs?"
"Hmm. That might be it. He was holding a cloak in his hand……. I'd heard they hate the Green-hairs, but to assault a traveler who has nothing to do with them?"
Still, the rational Archmage soon recovered his senses.
He expressed regret while confirming there was nothing he himself could do, then finished by saying he'd have to pressure the guards.
It was the best that could realistically be done.
"That bastard—when I catch him I'll snap his spine."
"You mustn't. Hand him over to the guards. What good is private revenge?"
"Berserk doesn't know about that kind of thing."
On the other hand, Berserk pledged physical revenge. From my position, it was something I somewhat wanted to stop.
As the Archmage said, private revenge wasn't right, and the reason Dev had let that guy hit him wasn't lack of strength but because his past was holding him back.
"Um……"
"What is it, Inquisitor?"
"Shouldn't we prepare and go see the Young Lord……?"
"Ah."
"B-but is it okay to just leave him like this……?"
The Archmage's eyes trembled as he examined our faces. It seemed he didn't want to leave Dev alone either.
"Hmm."
But looking at our party's members, which of us has the personality to stay behind and take care of Dev?
In my concept's case, far from looking after him, I'd hole up in my own room and stew over my own worries, and the Inquisitor is awkward with human relationships like this to begin with. The fact that she couldn't voice her concern earlier and started with a scolding is proof of that.
Then Berserk? Berserk is surprisingly good at looking after people, but… well, um……
"Hmm……"
The Archmage realized that too and pressed his forehead.
It was the groan of someone who knew the world would explode if just the three of us were sent to the Young Lord, yet couldn't bring himself to stay behind either.
"Just because one person is missing, the social skills are this……"
S-sorry. If I hadn't been roleplaying, it wouldn't have turned out like this……. No, but this isn't only my fault—you guys too.
"Berserk, later… you, um. Stay behind and that fellow……"
"Hmm? Ah! So I just need to restore the young hunter's energy??"
"…Please, call Weapon Master."
"Hahaha! No need to call my sister! Don't worry! I'll handle everything myself!"
Ah, right. There was also Weapon Master. Though I hadn't seen her even once since Far Enoch.
I thought of the one who had left behind what might have been a pretty good tip. Damn. I still hadn't heard the rest. Frustrating.
"Is this really okay……"
Anyway, who would stay and who would go was decided.
I finished a high-speed shower with a slight sense of unease—though I called it high-speed, I'd scrubbed myself hard because I was so bothered by being told I smelled fishy—then headed for the castle where the Young Lord was.
"Mmm. Nothing lifts the spirits like food!"
Meanwhile, the left-behind Berserk carefully thought over what she could do for the young hunter.
There was only one answer. Alcohol to lift his mood or help him pour out his emotions honestly, and delicious food to fill his empty stomach.
Fortunately, she had delicious food. Even if it had gone cold, she could just ask a priest to warm it up.
"No, better to ask that cook for something new."
It absolutely was not a method chosen because she wanted to eat other food made by that shop's owner. Absolutely not.
Berserk bounced off toward that shop.
"Hey, owner!"
"Y-yes?!"
Since not even an hour had passed, only one table was occupied, so it should be fine to request delivery.
"Do you deliver to the temple?"
"The t-temple? If it's the temple, of course we do, but……"
"Then I'll take some food! The best meat dish you have here, price no object! Ah, if you have anything sweet, give me that too! The young hunter likes sweets."
Berserk ordered food roughly and cheerfully opened her wallet. Dozens of gold and silver coins clattered.
It was money she'd saved up for the accidents and incidents she got involved in, like the time she broke a bridge. Not that she'd thought to save it herself—her sister had nagged her into it.
"Th-that's too much."
"Take it! If it's a lot, make it that much more delicious!"
She still didn't understand how the world worked, but she at least knew that the more money you poured in, the better the result.
Despite the owner's refusal, Berserk stuffed a heap of gold and silver coins into his hands.
"Make it delicious enough that my friend can shake off his sorrow and smile again!"
"…! Yes!"
With that, the food was taken care of. She returned to the temple. She also didn't forget to instruct the priests to deliver the food to them when it arrived.
She was a good-natured person who let most things slide, but she couldn't stand the sight of her own food being given to someone else without permission.
"Then what I need to do now is……"
Just wait while the food comes? That feels off. But go to the young hunter?
She recalled the young hunter's face from earlier.
He had looked tired. There was no good in disturbing a face like that.
"Nothing to do……"
So just stay still while the food arrives? I don't want that.
But when she thought of training, she had no motivation. It was all because of the young hunter.
"Ugh."
They hadn't been together long, but she rather liked the companions she was traveling with now.
Half-and-half hair was strong enough to make her tingle, and red hair was fun enough to make a good sparring partner.
On top of that, the old man was weak but reminded her of her sister so she liked him, and the young hunter she just liked.
Especially his skill at filling in for her clumsy way with words, which always caused problems, was truly the best. The part where he lacked confidence compared to his skill was a bit funny, but still, the fact that he'd play along to some extent when told not to fight was welcome.
So now that the little one was drooping, she didn't have much energy either. Berserk sprawled out on the floor in a big X.
"Ah!"
Fortunately, she easily came up with one thing she could do.
"I'll go fold his spine!"
Find the bastard who hit the young hunter and fold his spine as promised. The young hunter would definitely like that.
Is that right?
"Sister?"
Would he really like it?
But her steps were blocked by the voice ringing in her head.
"Wouldn't he like it? Berserk would like it."
I disagree a bit.
"Does Sister think he would hate it?"
You actually know too, don't you.
"…Berserk doesn't know."
Really?
"Berserk said she doesn't know."
She blinked her eyes. The inside of her throat felt hot. She didn't know why.
"Berserk……"
You already know.
She didn't know the reason.
"I'm annoyed now."
'Berserk' had to not know.
"Sister, you handle it."
I don't even want to argue.
She averted her gaze from her sister looking down at her quietly. She turned away from the one much smaller than her, soaking the piled snow with blood.
"Berserk is going to sleep."
Not yet, not yet did she want to face it. For now she still wanted to act spoiled a little longer.
She closed her eyes and undid her small ponytail.
"…I thought last time's events would have stimulated you."
And soon, 'Weapon Master' opened her eyes.
"Is the realm beyond mere force still not urgent?"
She twirled her platinum blonde hair with her fingers—even undone, it only barely covered her neck and wouldn't sway. Her fingers, hard with calluses and deformed from handling weapons, had even their sense of touch dulled.
"But little sister, that won't do. We can no longer……"
Hands that the 'real' one could never have.
She looked down at her hands, then decided to first take care of the matter at hand. The worries she'd long harbored wouldn't be solved in a day or two, so it was the proper choice.
Thus she cleaned the table, moved utensils and bowls in preparation for the food that would soon arrive, and bought extra snacks that the young hunter seemed to like.
And just as the food arrived.
Knock knock.
She knocked on the door.
"Are you sleeping?"
If he was sleeping it might be a bit troublesome. But if he was sleeping, it might be better to let him keep sleeping rather than force him awake.
"Excuse me."
But there was also the possibility he wasn't sleeping and was just silent. She cracked the door open a little.
Since he specialized in ambushes, both his sleeping and normal breathing were so even that it was an unavoidable choice.
It was hard to tell from presence alone whether the other party was asleep or not.
"…Oh no."
But what she saw when she opened the door was by no means a good sight.
"Ghk!"
What was one to make of someone strangling themselves in their sleep?
"Wake up, young hunter!"
At least one thing was certain: it was by no means a good sign.
"Young hunter!!"
The amber that had worn the color of calm turned in an instant to desperation.
"You called us in because you thought people were starting to forget, right? This time to dispose of us! You think I don't know that?!"
In front of the castle we finally arrived at, there was a group of people. And at their center stood the one who—presumably—had punched Dev's cheek earlier.
"I definitely saw it! I saw it for sure!"
If I snitch here that that guy hit our soft Meat Dumpling, it'd be concept collapse, right? Yeah, I know. I know, but……
Ah, I just want to hit him one more time.
"Looks like they're staging a sit-in."
"Indeed. The content of the protest is rather dubious, but……"
I stared hard at the one yelling at the top of his lungs. Maybe because I put force into my gaze. The other person, mid-sentence, glanced this way and then froze solid.
When the one with the loudest voice stopped, the others grew curious and looked my way. Kindly enough, they all stopped their tongues.
"Um, Archmage. Those people went quiet looking at us—has some problem arisen?"
"…They're probably being considerate so as not to be noisy, don't you think?"
The Archmage seemed to have roughly noticed I was the cause, but he didn't explain that fact straightforwardly.
Well, saying 'They're shutting up because they're scared of the Demon Knight behind us' wasn't something one should say for their sake either.
"What brings you……"
"Didn't the temple send envoys?"
"Ah! So it's you! Please wait a moment. I'll notify the inside."
Anyway, if we could enter quietly, that was enough.
Around the time the steward came out to greet us, I looked back at the protesters one last time—it was a completely private threat, but it couldn't be helped. Meat Dumpling got hurt—then followed the party into the castle.
Despite it being a dry season, a garden lush with flowers and trees spread before our eyes.
Compared to the parched grass leaves outside the castle, it was a flower garden overflowing with life to an eerie degree.
"Is it magic?"
"It doesn't seem so, but……"
Recalling what we'd heard at the shop where we ate earlier, this might also be the Young Lord's doing. They said the fields became fresh and lively after he visited.
"These are ones the Young Lord raised himself."
Then the steward who had come to greet us quietly explained.
The Young Lord grew all sorts of plants as a pastime, and anything his hands touched grew this green and lush. It was similar to what the restaurant owner had said.
"Talent……?"
"This doesn't seem like something that can be explained by talent alone, though……"
Amazing. With an ability like that, he could get a landscaping license, start a farm, and somehow put together a company raking in money.
He could keep succulents alive and make a room green and verdant!
I recalled my own situation of being called the Hand of Death among industry colleagues, and the colleague who put cherry tomatoes in a corner of the room and picked them fresh to eat.
The Young Lord of Ednium could probably do that too. Ha. I'm jealous. So jealous!!
"Aren't you gilding my name a bit too much?"
"Young Lord."
Instead of celebrating another's talent, was I envying, resenting, and jealous?
Around the time my noir heart of jealousy shone black, someone approached. A beauty so stunning one's mouth fell open.
I'd thought the outlaw of Montata Island was the peak of this world's looks, but there was someone who went one better.
"Welcome to Ednium. I am Leon of Ednium."
Wow, so people who are born with everything really exist. I stopped being jealous—it was a joke to begin with—and received his greeting.
I ignored my right arm that had suddenly started itching.
"Greetings, Young Lord."
"It is an honor to meet you, Young Lord Leon."
Ah, for reference, though I said I received his greeting, it doesn't mean I did it. The Inquisitor and Archmage did.
"The honor is mine, to meet the Chosen Hero and the renowned Great Sage of the Magic Tower. And……"
I kept silent from behind as always. I didn't even bother with a silent bow.
I'd never done it even once so far, and since no one ever picked a fight over it, it didn't matter much.
"He is the Demon Knight."
"Ah, I've heard of him. The adventurer famed as the Demon Butcher. An honor."
But……
"The fishy smell……"
"Pardon?"
"It's nothing. Welcome."
I traced in my mind the mouth shape of the words he'd muttered—whispered so close to the sound of the wind that they weren't audible.
Fishy smell……?
Fishy smell?
I still smell?!?!?