Chapter 81
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Trash Isn't Worth Hearing
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“You're truly irredeemable trash! Steal this rundown house from Cherry Sinclair?! You can do that garbage yourself!”
Just then, the loud shout of a middle-aged woman named Emma echoed from below the manor wall. The line was unnatural, as if delivered in a play.
‘Wasn't she the clothing shop owner?’
“See? I was right, wasn't I?”
Amy looked at me as if to say, ‘I told you so.’
Thanks to Emma's shout, the monsters' attention shifted to the villagers. The villagers, who had been confronting the two, jumped in alarm.
Kwwwaaaaak!
The villagers threw two corpses to the swarming monsters. But in the end, that wasn't enough, and the innkeeper was dragged away.
Startled, I looked back at Ethan and Knox. Shouldn't we do something?
But Ethan shook his head. Not yet. I bit my nails and watched the situation unfold.
I didn't care about the others, but I found myself wanting to save Emma and the chef. They had a different air about them than the selfish villagers.
Just then, the villagers began to drag Emma away, almost by force.
“Damn it, who cares if we're trash? We have to survive first!”
“Ah! Let go! Let go of me!”
The man in the chef's uniform desperately tried to hold onto Emma's hand, but the villagers outnumbered him.
They snatched Emma from the chef's grasp and shoved her toward the monsters, throwing her as bait in their place.
I stared wide-eyed at the unbelievable sight.
“Those crazy bastards!”
I grabbed Ethan, who was already starting to get up, ready to jump into action.
“Emma!!”
The chef could be seen running toward Emma, who had now become bait.
“Miss Cherry, now is the time.”
Ethan gave me the signal. He had been waiting for the villagers and the couple to be separated.
Without hesitation, I grabbed a bundle of firewood and threw it. Hard, like a baseball.
*Whoosh—*
The bundle of firewood flew over the wall.
*Crack!*
It landed and shattered in front of the gathered villagers.
Thanks to that, the monsters that had been swarming around the chef and Emma turned their attention toward the larger group of villagers.
In that moment, the quick-witted chef grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her aside.
‘Good. It's a relief that man is quick on the uptake.’
It wasn't just the chef; Emma was sharp, too. A moment ago,
“You're truly irredeemable trash! Steal this rundown house from Cherry Sinclair?! You can do that garbage yourself!”
That shout was clearly meant for me to hear.
Anyway, not missing the opportunity, I threw several more bundles of firewood toward the villagers.
“Miss Cherry, I believe now is the time to shoot. I'll provide cover.”
Ethan said, pulling out his revolver and checking the cylinder. He then gave orders to Knox and Amy.
“And you, Ludpersher. You and the kid get ready to open the main gate.”
Ethan spoke as if he had read my mind. It seemed he'd noticed I wanted to save Emma and the chef who was protecting her.
“Open the gate?”
Knox asked, puzzled, and I explained kindly.
“I think it would be best to bring those two inside.”
*Click.* Ethan loaded the bullets and cocked the gun. I nodded at Knox and Amy.
“Go on. I'll be down soon.”
As if he had no choice, Knox took Amy and climbed down from the roof. I wondered if Amy could open the heavy stone gate, but with Knox beside her, it would probably be fine.
Meanwhile, Ethan aimed his loaded revolver in the chef's direction and spoke to me.
“Miss Cherry, if you throw firewood over there to lure the beasts, I will help the two of them escape from the opposite side.”
The plan was for me to throw the firewood to lure the monsters in the opposite direction of their escape route.
And Ethan would shoot any monsters that ran into their path, helping them escape.
“Hey!”
I yelled to the middle-aged couple.
The villagers looked this way, too. I knew they would also hear me, and that the monsters would momentarily focus here, but I shouted anyway.
“To the gate!”
I pointed toward the main gate. Then I threw the bundle of firewood in my hand in the opposite direction.
*Bang—! Bang!*
Ethan immediately shot and killed the monster blocking their path.
The chef and Emma ran with all their might. The villagers tried to find an opening to follow them. But,
‘Not a chance.’
Every time they tried, I threw a bundle of firewood in front of them.
Every throw was a direct hit. And since I threw with so much force, the sound of the firewood shattering echoed loudly.
*Aargh! Aaaack!*
Screams erupted from all over. Ah, damn it. More monsters were swarming in.
“H-Help us! Miss Cherry! Please! Save us!”
The villagers belatedly began to beg me to save them. The people who had always treated me like some freakish piece of gossip, calling me the lady of the ruined house or a madwoman, were now calling me by name for the first time. It seemed they had learned my identity from my name being in the newspaper just before the world fell apart.
“Please! Save us! Have mercy!”
I watched them silently and glanced down at the bundle of firewood in my hand. There was only one left.
‘I don't necessarily need firewood.’
With my strength, I could have broken off a piece of the catapult and thrown it.
‘Instead of this small piece of wood, maybe I should just hurl the catapult itself.’
They came here with a plan to kill me and take my house. Besides, hadn't I just witnessed in real-time their disgusting nature, sacrificing their long-time neighbor as bait without a second thought?
Why should I show mercy to people like that? Once was enough. I'm not a god, so why are they looking to me for mercy?
“My conscience might blame me later. I need to have something to say to it.”
“A single act of mercy is necessary to maintain a minimum of humanity.”
Just as he said, I had shown mercy once. That means I've done enough.
Now that the social system that suppressed humanity's cruel nature has collapsed, it also means I have to abandon any weakness to protect myself.
Or maybe I should just go down there and wipe them all out myself.
Just as those dark emotions began to consume my reason, a large hand suddenly covered my ears.
The sound wasn't completely blocked, but the distraction caused my heightened senses to gradually calm down.
I looked up. Ethan was covering my ears with both hands.
Puzzled, I blinked at him.
Ethan looked at me with a stern face, then leaned down. His lips drew so close they almost brushed my ear.
“It's best not to listen to what trash has to say, Miss Cherry. It taints the soul.”
His low, deep voice reached my ear gently.
It was gentle.
His voice was monotone and seemed devoid of emotion, but strangely, that's definitely how I felt it.
‘That was a close call.’
If it hadn't been for Ethan, I might have really ripped out the catapult and thrown it.
‘To maintain my humanity, I must never kill anyone with my own hands.’
As I thought this, I looked at Ethan with a new sense of awareness.
Ethan was still looking at me with his usual expression, as unshakable as a stake driven deep into solid ground.
“Thank you.”
I thanked him awkwardly.
But I couldn't afford to be lost in sentiment.
The effect of the firewood had worn off, but the middle-aged couple still hadn't reached the gate.
It was only natural. Unlike us, they were ordinary people.
Moreover, they were pressed so close to the wall that it was an awkward position for Ethan to aim his revolver.
On top of that, the commotion had drawn even more monsters, and it looked like they couldn't advance any further.
After a moment of thought, I drew the axe from the holster on my back.
The distance between the edge of the roof's eaves and the wall wasn't far. If I jumped with all my might, I could clear it. The area below the wall was teeming with monsters; if I quickly stepped on them as I passed, there shouldn't be a problem.
‘If I'm going to help the couple, I need to do it properly.’
I have to take responsibility for my decisions. Trying to help half-heartedly like some goody-two-shoes and then consoling myself that I did my best would just make me feel shittier.
Having made up my mind, I swallowed the Elpinus Herb I always carried in my belt pouch. Ethan might not need it, but I did. And the Elpinus Herb tasted absolutely awful.
‘It's like chewing on poison.’
As I stood up, grimacing, Ethan looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Miss Cherry, why did you just...”
His gaze fell to the axe in my hand, and his brow furrowed.
“Don't tell me you're thinking of jumping down?”
When I didn't answer and just gave an awkward smile while gripping my axe, Ethan clicked his tongue in annoyance. Then he holstered his revolver and drew his sword.
“Honestly... Tsk, I'll cover you, so you take the lead.”
“I'm fine on my own...”
“Don't even think about arguing.”
How am I ever supposed to leave when he's like this?
Ethan grumbled something under his breath and vaulted over the observatory railing.