Synopsis of the last chapter:
Gerbera’s age came to light simply .
Although I was bewildered at first by Silane’s request of asking me to partic.i.p.ate in their funeral, after I heard the reason, I decided to accept that request .
“Well then, please treat me well . ” (Silane)
On behalf of advancing the necessary procedures, Silane lead Kei and left the room .
She suggested that we have lunch in the meanwhile . Silane brought the arranged lunch to our room .
As the entire procedure would not take up too much time, she wanted us to choose a time at our convenience after we had lunch and rested a bit
While the younger group of Ayame and Asarina were being carefree without being publicly noticed, and similar to what we did the time we just came to this place yesterday, the older group of Lily and I were strategizing and breaking down the situation .
“Our plans for the future after this——” (Lily)
Lily, who was sitting in the chair Silane sat in until some time ago, was talking to me who was sitting in the other chair .
“——After hiding Master’s ability as a monster user¹, we’ll obtain the magic stone of translation . We’ll learn the way to use it and leave the fortress, cross over to a town and village somewhere which doesn’t know that Master is a transitioned person, and secure a supply route for goods . And, find the previous guard of Kato-san . ” (Lily)
Lily, who was counting on her fingers, looked at me with upturned eyes .
“You’re fine with that, right?” (Lily)
“Yeah . The rest is to seclude ourselves in a place in the middle of nowhere somewhere, and in the worst case scenario, we go back into the sea of trees . ” (Majima)
“Ugghh . The degree of difficulty is hard . ” (Lily)
Lily, whose face was sullen, raised a groan . Even I felt the same .
“But, this is confirmation . ” (Lily)
Lily offered her hand which was nice and slender among other things .
“There is one very simple method, but it’s something you don’t intend to use, right?” (Lily)
The tip of her hand lost its features and dissolved into a transparent and thick slimy shape .
“If I search for the corpses of the people of this world, I’ll obtain interpretation quickly . ” (Lily)
The stretched tentacle swayed before my eyes . I shook my head .
“We can’t acquire language capabilities by eating people . ” (Majima)
“I agree . Yup . I was just trying to say it . ” (Lily)
If that alternative was there, it was a story of it was fine if the corpse of the ghoul from before was eaten by Lily when we came across it . Even concerning the corpses of the ‘Stay Behind Group’ and ‘Scouting Corps’, such as Kaga, they would have been Lily’s feed without exception .
Although this was something I also thought about in the case of Kaga, Lily’s predation and mimicry abilities were risky .
Lily’s mimicry was excellent . Not only the outward appearance, it mimicked everything of the target that was taken in – the appearance, the abilities, and even the insides .
Seeing it from my eyes, it appeared Lily inherited Miho Mizus.h.i.+ma’s influence that she had more or less taken in .
Unlike absorbing monsters without a conscience, absorbing humans meant absorbing their influence . Even with obtaining the translation, as a result, the Lily that existed right now would be lost .
This was something that could be said for my other family members as well, no matter what form, I didn’t intend to lose anyone .
It didn’t mean that I wanted to survive .
I wanted to live with everyone in this world .
“Although it’s a major premise that I’m worrying about Lily, I don’t mean that there aren’t any problems in addition . If you eat a parallel world resident, even if it may be a corpse, there is a possibility it might make them hostile towards us . ……Well, this vicinity might now . ” (Majima)
It was enough even at the present time, I, as a monster user, had circ.u.mstances that might be judged as an inimical character by the residents of this world .
The parallel world residents couldn’t hold back the invasion of the sea of trees without the heroes, but the threats in the situation they were surrounded by monsters were by no means something low .
With just saying the strength wasn’t enough if they found themselves in the grand point of view of protecting human society, the things such as nations, they weren’t something that was able to be antagonized by a small strength like individuals or us . If they started viewing us with hostility then we would be forced to fight desperately .
If that was the case, in the future after this, for the sake of the time my ident.i.ty is exposed, we should guarantee the possibility of a compromise . Consuming humans meant risking this chance of negotiation .
Although, just listening to the circ.u.mstances surrounding the elves, at the point in time I was accompanied by monsters, the possibility they would be antagonistic with there being no use in arguing about it was not low .
“Even if that’s the case still, obtaining the magic stone of translation somehow, and finding a way to get someone to teach us how to handle that is necessary . ” (Lily)
While Lily, who had returned her hand to that of a girl’s, said her true thoughts, I nodded .
“However, the problem is that it seems it’s going to take time to do that . ” (Lily)
“Worrying about Gerbera takes too much time . That she won’t be able to endure and come to this place, and she’ll be discovered by Silane-san . ” (Majima)
“Please stop . I have a feeling like it will really become what you’re saying……” (Lily)
It seemed the things everyone thought about were the same . She had been behaving like a spoiled child like Ayame .
I wonder how they were doing about now . I wonder if they were being obedient . Especially Gerbera . I was worried .
“Well, it doesn’t mean that we have to start to move immediately . I planned to gather information for a few days originally, so for now, let’s think about it with a plan like that . ” (Majima)
“……yup . ” (Lily)
I pulled myself together and asked, but Lily’s reply was a little absent-minded for some reason .
She looked like she was pondering something . I inclined my head .
“Lily? What’s wrong?” (Majima)
“Ah . No, it’s nothing . ” (Lily)
Lily, who blinked like she had snapped out of something, waved both hands in front of her chest .
“I was just thinking about it a little . ” (Lily)
“Is that so . It’s fine if that’s the case . Please say it if there is something that comes to mind . Since concerning things like this, the only dependable here is Lily . ” (Majima)
“I understand . ——By the way, as time has also pa.s.sed steadily, isn’t it fine even if we go to Silane-san’s place?” (Lily)
Now that you mention it, certainly . While we talked, a reasonable amount of time had pa.s.sed .
In accordance with Lily’s proposal, we decided to go towards Silane’s location .
Following the route we had heard about in advance, we finally arrived at the designated room . Although I had thought about whether or not we would rely on Lily’s nose or something, that wasn’t needed .
We knocked on the door and entered inside the room . There were cheap-looking, simple wooden desks lined up in the room, and a great number of mountains of paper had acc.u.mulated on top of which .
“I’m sorry, Takahiro-dono . ” (Silane)
Silane noticed this way, noticed us, and came running fast . There was also the attendant Kei’s figure behind her .
“Although the procedures have been advanced, the approval of the leader which is needed in the end hasn’t been given yet . ” (Silane)
Silane lowered her slim eyebrows . It appeared the situation hadn’t proceeded as planned .
“Has something happened?” (Majima)
“Possibly . If it was usual, the meeting was supposed to have ended already . ” (Silane)
In the place we were doing such an exchange, a man who seemed to be a member who returned from outside happened to pa.s.s by and called out to Silane .
“Deputy head . If it’s Leader, he’s watching the military drill field . ” (Man)
“What . Is that true? What is he doing? No . Leaving that aside, what number is the military drill field?” (Silane)
“It’s the 7th . The heroes are being trained . Wasn’t he invited to observe them by the other leaders after the meeting? From the standpoint of Leader, he cannot easily refuse if invited . Good grief, I’m troubled while I’m busy even if it’s Leader . ” (Man)
It seemed it was a man who was a familiar friend to Silane, as the point from there he was idly complaining .
“In the first place, the contents themselves of the meeting, the hole which was produced by those guys of the empire for the sake of rescuing the hero-samas, it’s a talk about filling it up with us . Despite even under normal circ.u.mstances, there are vacancies appearing in us……” (Man)
“I understand . Thank you very much, Marcus . It was helpful . ” (Silane)
The man’s complains that seemed like they would go on forever, Silane terminated them smoothly . It appeared that she was used to it .
An apologetic face was turned towards here .
“I will get approval from the leader after this . Wait in the room……it won’t take long . Errrrr……” (Silane)
“If you’d like, we can accompany you?” (Majima)
“Is that okay?” (Silane)
“It would also take time to link up again . Besides, the leader is observing the training that is being taken by the other transitioned people . I am also a little interested . ” (Majima)
When I spoke, Silane seemed to be convinced and nodded once .
“I understand . If that’s the case, can I get you to follow me?” (Silane)
In the form of being guided by Silane, we went towards the military drill field .
“……?” (Majima)
For some reason, along the way, Kei looked like she was worrying about this way strangely .
If I turned my gaze towards what it was, she turned bright red until her sharp ears and looked downward . My voice……it would be better to not burden her . I’d be troubled with her turning her eyes to the middle of the hallway like this and collapsing, and if by any chance it became a situation similar to her also prostrating herself, I’d be embarra.s.sed by an experience of that extent as well .
Descending down several stairs, we were guided to a large room with dirt spread all over . It appeared this place was the military drill field . Although, possibly, it would be equivalent to a part of the first floor of the fortress . Now, there were fewer than twenty people moving their bodies .
“Leader . ” (Silane)
“What, Silane?” (Leader)
From among the several people who were in a place that was separated a little from the group, the tall woman with silver hair turned around .
It was the leader of the Alliance of Knights that we had also met at the reception yesterday . Her blue eyes that seemed to be stern were turned towards me for a moment, but they immediately strayed .
The boy who was behind the leader who had started a business-like exchange with Silane for some reason, noticed me and waved his hand . It was Mikihiko . Although he was in this place, it seemed he didn’t partic.i.p.ate in the training in accordance with his previous remarks . I guess he was invited by the leader who had been invited to observe .
After waving my hand back to Mikihiko, I turned my look towards the middle of the military drill field .
The boys that were less than ten were holding poles wound in cloth in one hand, and they were challenging an instructor one on one .
In the training of magic and swords that had been prepared for the sake of becoming self-aware of their own cheat ability, although it didn’t seem to be every person as one would expect, it seemed that a majority were partic.i.p.ating .
Among the partic.i.p.ants, there also was the figure of the blonde-haired Sakagami . Certainly, because I had thought he was a person who was taking nonpartic.i.p.ation for granted whether or not he knew things like training, I thought it was a little surprising .
The two people with the exception of Eno of the ‘Scouting Corps’ had gathered . Following what Eno had said when we met her this morning, it seemed she took the Imperial Knights along with her and went to rescue the survivors in the sea of trees .
From the scope of thinking back upon the appearances of the students yesterday who were turning looks of yearning towards the ‘Scouting Corps’, the ones not in this place would be the people absent on account of illness because of poor physical health .
Having motivation was a wonderful thing .
However, I also had a reproachful feeling .
The ‘Scouting Corps’ seemed to be planning on living as heroes completely .
Even the survivors of the ‘Stay Behind Group’ that were turning looks of yearning towards such people, they were becoming so minded .
By looking at the future where they were living as spectacular heroes, there may also be a part where they were averting their eyes from the reality of ‘they could never again return to their former world anymore’, and perhaps the feeling of solitude characteristic to a state of emergency was doing so . At any rate, they were beginning to walk while aiming to be heroes .
The circ.u.mstances around that area for the parallel world’s residents were also the same . Rather, the ones who made an air like that in the beginning would be them . Silane and others naïvely believed that we heroes fought together . It was because the heroes that were admired inside of legends all did so in the past .
As a result of such various actions, the atmosphere like fighting as heroes somehow was accomplished naturally .
The atmosphere was strong . It was working as a case of ma.s.s psychology . If that wasn’t there, there were supposed to also be people who disliked fighting . In reality, it was something significant since it was enough that even that Sakagami was partic.i.p.ating in the training .
And now, being bound by that atmosphere, the me of now couldn’t move about .
If you took different actions than other people, they would more or less harbour doubt . Harbouring doubt . For a person who had secrets, that was something fatal .
“Thank you for waiting . ” (Silane)
Silane came over here . It appeared she had received approval quietly .
“Well then, this way . ” (Silane)
We walked through the brick pa.s.sageway . Before we finally arrived, there was a stairway extending to the bas.e.m.e.nt .
After Silane and the soldier that was on watch exchanged words, we descended the stairs .
When we stepped down until the bottom, there was a long and narrow pa.s.sageway at the end of the darkness .
When Silane touched the magic st——illumination stone that was on the side of the entrance, the pa.s.sageway filled with light .
“……This is the mausoleum of the people killed in action . Since it was constructed about 250 years ago, those who died at Fort Tilia are enshrined as spirits of war dead the hero-samas in here . ” (Silane)
While I heard Silane’s dignified voice, I had my breath taken away a little .
On the walls of the long pa.s.sageway, so that the blue stones that were inlaid came to the surface, there were tens of thousands of rings embed .
Those were the same rings that I had given to Silane .
However, only one, only the color of the stone that was fitted was different .
What was here were blue stones . What I gave to Silane, it was a ring with a yellow stone .
That ring was said to be an identification tag that was distributed to the Army Corps and the Order of Knights . Although it was a sc.r.a.p stone, what was inlaid were magic stones, and they were stored in this mausoleum after they were confirmed dead and recovered . In turn, the bodies were burned and the ashes were buried in a graveyard that was in another place in the fortress, or depending on the situation they were sent to their hometown together with their articles .
In this place, the mausoleum, it appeared that several articles related to the heroes such as swords, s.h.i.+elds, armour, and so forth, were stored . In this world that had religious faith towards the heroes, being enshrined in this place would be the greatest honor .
However, the business we had this time wasn’t with the mausoleum here .
“Let’s go . ” (Silane)
Not the pa.s.sageway stretching ahead, but Silane guided us into the small path that was built on the side .
This pa.s.sageway didn’t have rings embedded into the wall . The ceiling was also low and there was a feeling of entrapment .
There was an altar that was cut off of a beautiful, black stone installed in the interior of the pa.s.sageway . On top of which, there were a few large plates placed .
There were piles of rings stacked up on the plates . The colors of the magic stone that was inlaid, they were of the same blue color as the ones that were in the mausoleum of some time ago .
Silane took out the rings that I gave her . These ones had yellow magic stones .
“Purification Flames to the Sorrowful Deceased” (Silane)
Silane put the rings on top and rubbed the edge of the altar .
It seemed that the altar itself was a magic tool, an emerald green flair rolled up .
It seemed that the altar itself was a magic tool, an emerald green flair rolled up .
It wasn’t just that . Among the green flames, the color of the rings that were placed on top of it just now, they changed to blue from yellow .
Silane gave a silent prayer . Kei who was behind her also shut her eyes .
Although it was austere, the ceremony itself was a simple thing .
Above all, it was desolate as there were only four people attending .
According to the part he heard simply some time ago, there were supposed to be a bit more procedures normally . However, they weren’t being done this time .
It was because the owners of the rings were people who became ghouls .
——From the start, these rings worn by the people who engaged in fighting in our sea of trees, they were said to be things that began for the sake of discriminating between ghouls .
While gazing at Silane’s slender back, as she requested me to attend the funeral service, I recalled an acute voice at the time she talked about the circ.u.mstances .
——The way the flowing of magical power that monsters have, it was known that each has its own unique one . Even those who become ghouls from people were no exception . What was fitted into this ring, it was a magic stone engraved with the effect of appraising the pattern of magical power peculiar to the ghouls .
In this world, it didn’t necessarily mean that the deceased were finished by just dying . Although rare, it was because there were people that would become ghouls .
The rate of occurrence of ghouls in the sea of trees especially was abnormally high . This was related to the density of magical power that dwelled in the soil .
And as for a battlefield, the rate of occurrence of ghouls sprung up even more . Because, in a place where numerous corpses were scattered about, the magical power density of the soil would jump up temporarily .
In accordance with what had been known in the colony as well, magical power dwelled in the soul . You were able to acquire this magical power by defeating monsters; this was also one of the reasons the ‘Scouting Corps’ were overfis.h.i.+ng monsters in the former colony and I was attempting to ‘contact’ monsters .
However, the magical power stored at this time was only some at most, and the greater part dispersed as is .
Hence, when the deceased were produced, the density of magical power of the place increases temporarily in the surroundings . If the number of dead bodies increased, the dense sea of trees’ magical power density sprung up even at the best of times, and it became an arrangement of ghouls being ma.s.s-produced .
——The change in colour of ring from blue to yellow, it signified the change from the colour of the humans to the colour of the monsters; they weren’t treated as warriors . It was said that they didn’t even hold memorial services for them in the olden days .
Ghouls were monsters . Ghouls were enemies of humanity .
That is, being a ghoul in this world, was the greatest dishonor .
Even this ceremony now, if I had to say then, it seemed to be a strong implication of clearing it away than a repose of souls and comforting the dead . This, by formatting magic stones, was a ceremony that transformed the deceased into humans from monsters .
There weren’t people that expressly attended the funeral of people that became ghouls . Rather, there may be an unspoken agreement to not do so . Without even making it public, the deceased were silently buried .
However, it didn’t necessarily mean that there was no pain in the hearts of those who knew the deceased .
“Uu……sniff sniff . ” (Kei)
Sobbing resounded in the quiet pa.s.sageway . Kei was crying .
“Aah, geez . Your face is crumpled . Here is okay, please wash it . ” (Silane)
“… . . I-I’m sowwy . ” (Kei)
Even Silane’s voice that was normally severely stiff was gentle . Perhaps, this was her『Nee-sama²』side and not her knight side .
Kei, who lowered her face, turned back and returned to the pa.s.sageway . Silane saw her off and turned her face this way .
“Thanks for partic.i.p.ating, Takahiro-dono, Miho-dono . ” (Silane)
Silane lowered her head very deeply .
She also mourned the dead, the same as Kei . Even asking us in the surroundings to partic.i.p.ate, it seemed there was significance in heroes attending .
Since I understood that, I decided to attend this ceremony . It seemed it was a duty of those who delivered their rings here .
“……was she close with them?” (Lily)
When Lily asked, Silane nodded .
“Yes . They were also people that were well received by Kei especially . Seeing that their corpses weren’t found, it appeared she had believed that there was hope . However, something like this……I’m sorry . It was an unsightly part . ” (Silane)
“It isn’t something to apologize for . ” (Lily)
Lily shook her head .
“She’s a good child . And, it seems she adores Silane-san a lot . Is she your younger sister?” (Lily)
“No . That child is my niece . ” (Silane)
“Is that so? Her features were also very similar, so I thought you were surely sisters . ” (Lily)
“We were raised the same as sisters . Kei is an orphan of my older brother who died . Because that child also lost her mother when she was a child, my grandmother in my house in the village……for me, she was equivalent to a mother, but she took charge of her and lived in the same house . ” (Silane)
Silane squinted in nostalgia . I opened my mouth .
“Silane’s village, is it? What kind of place is it?” (Majima)
We hadn’t yet met people except for those in the fortress in this world . I had interest in the something called ‘the livelihood of the parallel world’s residents’ .
“It is a tiny village near the sea of trees . It is one of the pioneer villages where us elves live, but the people of the village have lived together while also shouldering the poor . ” (Silane)
“Pioneer villages……?” (Majima)
“It is a tiny village near the sea of trees . It is one of the pioneer villages where us elves live, but the people of the village have lived together while also shouldering the poor . ” (Silane)
“Pioneer villages……?” (Majima)
They were words I was hearing for the first time since I came to this world .
“It is a village that exists for the sake of opening up the sea of trees that spreads out if left alone . In the surroundings of the sea of trees, even now, countless numbers of pioneer villages exist . Naturally, such villages also frequently suffer devastating blows from the attacks of monsters, and in the village they are ready for monster attacks constantly . ” (Silane)
The words ‘bad bargain’, I was reminded of that in my head .
However, such an existence would be necessary for certainty in this world . Living close to the forest, if they didn’t open up the forest, society couldn’t control the sea of trees . Even if the heroes were able to defeat monsters and decrease that number, they weren’t able to cultivate the vast world alone .
Because there were elves contained in some of those who were bearing a duty like that, it seemed it was reflecting the circ.u.mstances that race had .
Even in the period until they came here, the glances turned towards Silane and others weren’t only favorable . Disdain . Contempt . If I thought about it from now, it seemed Kei was worried about that glance along the way .
Just seeing that behavior of mourning the dead, it appeared that, among the former inhabitants of the same country, there were also favorable people to them .
“At best I cannot say even a compliment . However, that village is still a home town for me . It’s nostalgic when I think back upon it . Has it been about five years since I left already?” (Silane)
Silane muttered miserably . In her mind right now, she might have been reminded of the scenery of her hometown .
I was lured, I was trying to not remember as much as possible now, but the world I couldn’t return to anymore nearly came to mind .
I mustn’t do it . I stopped reminiscing at once . I asked Silane .
“You don’t think you want to go home?” (Majima)
“I don’t think so, there isn’t a reason . However, it is impossible for me to return . Even for the sake of that village . ” (Silane)
Silane floated a bittersweet smile and responded .
“The knights that are stationed in every fort, including Fort Tilia, are, by subjugating the monsters in the outer layer part of the sea of trees, decreasing the monsters that go outside of the sea of trees, and are indirectly helping the pioneer villages’ defense that are in the vicinity . However, there are still villages that were overrun by monsters in the year, and even the remains were swallowed by the forest . ” (Silane)
Silane lowered her gaze to her opened palm .
“My older brother fought at this fortress, and died . Perhaps, I, as well, will not return to my hometown alive . ” (Silane)
Strong eyes . The tone of voice reflected the feelings of her heart . And her fist was clenched .
“Still, even if I don’t ever see it again with these eyes, I want to protect my hometown . I want to protect those in other villages that are in the same circ.u.mstances as my brethren that were in that village . I want to protect my colleagues that fight together . For that reason, I trained my technique and this body . ” (Silane)
I discovered that that was the truth inside her . I could feel the weight of resolution she had put into it, and I unintentionally gulped .
“……Ah . ” (Silane)
It looked like she noticed I was taken aback, Silane fixed her fist .
As she laughed like she was shy, she touched her pointy ear with her fingertip in order to deceive me .
“I’m sorry . I let you hear something insignificant . ” (Silane)
“It wasn’t something such as insignificant . ” (Majima)
I shook my head .
“That sort of thing……I have a feeling I understand as well . ” (Majima)
Putting in great effort and becoming strong for the sake of those you wanted to protect . That, for me who had repeatedly trained until I became worn-out with Gerbera recently, was a feeling that I was able to especially sympathize .
In my case, if I had to say then, rather than『for the sake of protecting someone』, the thing of『for the sake of not being in the way, even if only a little, when I’m being protected』was large, but it still wasn’t different in the feeling of wanting to do great efforts for the sake of my important people .
Something like fainting, something like throwing out the things inside your stomach, they weren’t something comparable to the pain of not being able to do anything .
“That kind of feeling is something important . ” (Majima)
“That’s right . ” (Lily)
It seemed I had grasped Lily’s hand unconsciously . Silane, seeing that our hands were linked, carved a tiny smile on her mouth .
“Thank you very much . ” (Silane)
Author’s Notes
◆The story of the synopsis of the previous story .
Although there may be some people who noticed, the『army of people that came from the north』that Gerbera saw in Volume 2 Chapter 5, it was lead by the heroes .
The last expedition was 500 years ago, in other words……it’s a story . It’s a disgusting age to the bitter end .
◆Concerning the update this time . I had written ahead a bit more, but it was a good place to leave off because it didn’t end .
◆I’m sorry, I will return the impressions of the previous update and summarize it in a culinary way .
I was replying individually so far, and although I have the feeling I want to do so even after this, the problem of time is no use……
◆By the way, I returned the impressions, but in order to not spoiler wherever practicable, even hitherto, the spoiler connection was covered . I’m not saying it because there were no spoilers .
◆I touched on cooking the week before, but I have things to do next weekend .
It isn’t in j.a.pan . First overseas . It’s not a trip . It’s a business-like thing . Rather, it’s a punishment game!
Because I will be pressed for the preparations all of next week, there will be no update . I’m sorry .
The next update’s scheduled date is 5/24 (Sat.u.r.day) .
