3-2 Part 2
The Strange Book Says to Save the Girl
I Met in the City
— The First Trading Merchant —
Translator : PolterGlast
The Hez Trading Company is a trade merchant. They
deal in imported tea, ceramics, foreign books, and various other miscellaneous
goods.
They procure goods at the trading port, transport them to
the Imperial Capital, and sell them. It's a business that seems simple
but is difficult. I heard that the political merchant Hyamar is plotting
to monopolize the trade route connecting the Imperial Capital and Naglfar.
“Shinza, aren't you cold...?”
“No, not at all. I've been resistant to heat and cold for a
long time.”
Leaving the Imperial Capital West Gate, we proceeded
along the highway, and eventually, the sun dipped, and night fell. Currently,
we had entered a grove off the highway and were camping out while hiding
ourselves.
Of course, there were small post towns along the way, but
the Hez Trading Company is being targeted by villains. If something
happens, no one will protect us. An inconspicuous campout was better.
“Are you really okay...? I'm grateful to you, so I really
wouldn't mind, you know?”
“I'm fine. More importantly, tomorrow is business
negotiations, right? Please, hurry
up and sleep.”
If she makes a good deal, I get that much closer to my goal.
However, Carral Hez misunderstood my words and seemed grateful again.
“Hey, why are you so nice
to me? It really is strange.”
“I suppose so. But if I help you, I gain from it; rather,
don't hold back and tell me anything.”
“...Then, I'm feeling lonely. It's lonely, so share this
with me.”
“Understood.”
I shared half the blanket with Carral and sat back
down in front of the bonfire. Fire calms the human heart. Gazing blankly at it,
I waited for her to fall asleep.
Lonely. I thought she was strong to be able to admit that so
honestly.
Looking up at the sky covered by the grove, a thin moon and
a midnight starry sky were floating there. It seems I slept a little. However,
I suddenly woke up and placed the entire blanket we were sharing over Carral's
shoulders.
Then I gave water to the donkey. It was rented in the Imperial
Capital. This kind of commercial animal would just be a burden if owned
individually.
My sleepy head gradually cleared. Then I looked up at the
sky once more. The Imperial Capital holds a nightless castle called the
entertainment district. That conceals the starry sky.
In contrast, there is only one dim bonfire in this grove.
Long before people built nations, the sky of ancient times was surely a starry
sky like this too.
“Wake up, Carral.”
“Fue...?”
I removed the lens—a gift from my father—that had been
concealing my Dragon Eyes. My night
vision is far more effective this way.
“Looks like we have guests. Climb that tree over there. Alright,
I'm putting out the fire.”
“E... eh, ah, okay... Are they enemies?”
I don't want to make too much noise. While stamping out the
bonfire with my foot, I nodded to Carral. It seems we are surrounded.
Did they notice the donkey's cry and the light?
“Shinza, what do we do...”
“Just be quiet. If you die, I can't catch up to Brother Georg.”
I decided to use the blanket. Wearing it over my head, I
started running deep into the grove. Crouching low and shortening my stride, I
impersonated Carral.
“Wait, little girl!”
Just as planned, I was immediately surrounded. But I don't
need any farce; I slammed the Shovel hidden under the blanket
into the opponent's face in a surprise attack.
“Agaaah?!!”
“Bi-Big Brooooo!?”
“Watch out! This guy isn't that woman!?”
That's a line I remember hearing somewhere. This Big Bro and
his lot seem to have a thing for surprise attacks.
“Surround him, surround him!”
“We go on three, two, one—nuah!?”
With that being said, who would wait? Four enemies remain.
So I threw off the blanket onto the idiot raising his voice and immediately
launched a surprise attack on the one behind me.
“Eh, gyah!?”
With this, three remain. One has his vision stolen by the
blanket. So two slashed at me separately. But sorry, I'm the type who can see
better in the dark than you guys.
“Ugehh!!”
“Gehaaah?!”
Avoiding hitting each other, both went for high diagonal
slashes. I slipped through those easily with quick movements and smashed their
head, arm, and head in order with the Shovel.
“Y-Yo-Yo-You Shinza, why are you here!? But too bad
for you, by now our other comrade has already got that little girl—Ugeh,
st-stop, buheaaah?!!”
It's the result of five laps around the Imperial Capital.
I drove a blow into the idiot underling's gut, and as he doubled over, I
smashed the back of his head to lay him out flat. Having done what I came to
do, I immediately headed back. Short of breath? I know no such
thing.
“Don't
come closer! Help me Shinza, there's an enemy here too...!”
“Heh heh heh, sorry Sister, but it's Hyamar-sama's
orders. You will be erased—Nugaaah?!!”
Carral had
climbed down from the tree and was trying to flee. However, she must have
cleverly watched me set it up yesterday.
“O-Ouch...! Wh-What is this hole! Ugh, my leg...”
She shrewdly lured him into the pitfall I made and stole my
spotlight.
“Shinza, I did it! I beat the big guy!”
“Yeah, seems I underestimated you. Alright, let's run.”
“But what about them!?”
“Defeated. Here are their swords; sell them off once we get
there.”
It's the result of doing what needed to be done. Without
weapons, they can't attack. However, at that moment, a strange voice echoed.
『Ashley, you may bury them. Their souls are so stained they are
beyond redemption. Exterminate them.』
Even if you say that. I can't just say "Yes, okay"
and execute it. Besides, it's in front of Carral. If I dispose of them
here, there's a high possibility she'll stop associating with me.
“Y-You... You bastards, don't underestimate me!!”
“Shinza, trouble! That guy climbed up!”
It's soft humus soil. The villain dragging his leg pointed a
blade at me. Playing the Dark Hero doesn't seem to be as easy as in the
world of stories.
“You're lucky.”
“Shut up and die! ...Eh.”
I decided to use my deformity. Glaring back at him with my Dragon
Eyes, while he was taken aback by the monster that suddenly appeared before
his eyes, I knocked him into the hole again.
Then, handling the Shovel at high speed, I buried him
from the neck down. With VIT 88 stamina, that much was nothing. It would
be troublesome if he made noise, so I finished by whacking his head.
“He's buried... Shinza, you are amazing, buried in the blink of an eye... Or rather, those
eyes! Tha-That...”
“What's wrong?”
It seems I was seen. Being hated. Being feared. Being called
a monster. Suppressing such fragile emotions, I pretended to be just Shinza.
I covered my eyeballs with lenses again, making her believe
it was a mistake due to the darkness.
“No, maybe it's my imagination... Ah, more importantly,
let's run! We have to change locations! But, you'll come with me, right...?”
“Of course. It would be a problem if you died. Leave it to me.”
Leaving Carral alone is bad. Indeed, these guys are
probably villains with no room for redemption. But I couldn't do it now. It's
meaningless if she hates me or dies.
— Purge —
- 【Bury 3 Villains】
- Completion
Reward: EXP 500 / Shovel LV
+1
- “If
you let them go, you will definitely regret it.”
— Table of Contents —
- 【Name】 Ashley
- 【Lv】 8
- 【Exp】 765 → 800
- 【STR】 20
- 【VIT】 88
- 【DEX】 31
- 【AGI】 19
- “Now
you understand, right? You are strong. Be grateful for the good fortune of
meeting me.”
By the way, feeling slightly curious, I looked down at the
book. As expected, simply burying evil isn't enough? It really presented
troublesome conditions.
“I'm happy, Shinza... It's the first time in my life
I've thought a boy was this reliable. Come on, let's go together!”
“You have quite the guts yourself. Rest assured, I won't let
them attack a second time.”
I memorized the faces of the villains. Next time, I won't
let them leave alive. If I meet them somewhere again, I'll make sure they can
never harm Carral Hez again.
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