11-6 Part 1
The Boundary Line Between Hypocrisy
and Self-Righteousness
- Sure-Hit Kachua -
Translator : PolterGlast
The pilgrimage journey proceeded smoothly after that, and on
the second day, a trivial incident occurred where our path was blocked by
bandits.
「...Pilgrims, huh. Oi, you lot, this
ain't a joke so listen well. If you don't wanna die, leave your valuables
behind.」
It had stopped now, but a long drizzle had continued until
just a moment ago, and the whole area was dimly lit and enveloped in mist
despite it being daytime. The location is a forest path overgrown with trees.
The brick road is chipped and crumbling, half-defeated by the vitality of the
vegetation.
「Even if you say so, we do not have
any valuables with us. All we have is a small amount of travel money...」
「Then hand that over. You're going to
God's country anyway, right... Then, help us out a little ahead
of time...」
Those guys looked like disgraced soldiers at a glance. To
form a gang of only three and extort those passing the highway means they either
have some confidence in their skills or are just idiots.
「Understood, we will yield a small
amount... We do not wish for things to get rough, either.」
Turning my eyes to the shadow of the donkey cart, I
confirmed that Kachua was hiding and nocking an arrow to her bow.
Fortunately, we happened to be at the back of the line, so we haven't drawn
their attention yet.
I don't know if it will convey accurately, but I made a
small pointing gesture at the bandits in front of Kachua to signal a
surprise attack.
「No good, hand it all over! We're
starving here, we're on edge!」
「But, if we do that, we will...」
Priest Yungwi sure goes at her own pace. However,
with three opponents, it's difficult with just Kachua's sniping. Because
the priest is standing in the line of fire.
「Shinza... draw their attention...」
Nodding slightly at her whisper, I stepped forward in front
of the shabby bandits. A strange man carrying a Shovel on his back
appeared, and they seemed wary, judging him visibly suspicious.
「Who are you...」
「Yeah, I'm devout believer number
one.」
However, solely of the Evil Dragon Zirant.
「Liar, as if there's a believer like
you!」
「I never said I was a believer of the
State Church. More importantly, you guys haven't eaten in a while, right? Then
I'll give you this instead of money.」
I took out three pieces of what I had prepared beforehand
and thrust them under their noses. It was nothing unusual, just salty dried
meat (jerky).
「M-Meat...」
「Ugh... At a time like this, my
stomach...」
Then their stomachs growled in succession. This is the
reaction of guys who haven't eaten properly for a while. I felt a slight bit of
pity, but when you starve, even your mind dulls. It can't be helped.
「We'll take that too! H-Hurry up and
hand it over!」
「Don't be so greedy. Since I said I'd
give it to you, I will. Here.」
There, using only my fingertips, I tossed the three pieces
of dried meat over the bandits' heads. Then the starving men, perhaps because
their minds were indeed dulled, defenselessly turned their faces and hands toward
the sky.
After that is securing the line of fire. While body-slamming
Priest Yung to knock her down, I swung my arm toward the enemies.
「Shoot!!」
The sound of cutting wind hyun, hyun, hyun, and three
pathetic screams were repeated. The three arrows Kachua loosed pierced
each bandit's thigh, splendidly robbing them of the strength to stand.
「Are you okay, Priest Yungwi?!
Oi Shinza, there's gotta be a better way to do that!」
「D-Damn... You tricked us...! Ugh,
ugah...」
Without giving the bandits a glance, Kachua helped
the priest up. As for me, to prevent them from getting any strange ideas, I
regained my stance and looked down at them from above.
「I only took the safest measure
because I trusted you. More importantly, well done, Kachua. It seems
you've improved your skills even more.」
「It was just a fluke. I didn't think
it would go this well...」
Perhaps it's the influence of being chosen by the bizarre
book, Kachua's skills had improved dramatically. An archer with peerless
accuracy is tactically much easier to use than I imagined.
The peerless bravery of Sigrun, who went south and
hasn't returned, is also reliable, but having a bow user you can entrust your
back to scratches an itch and feels good. I revised my opinion of Kachua.
She is useful. She looks like she'll grow even more.
「Being able to move this much in an
instant is enough. Now, let's go.」
「W-Wait... The fight is still—ku,
uguh...」
「You guys picked the wrong target.
Think of it as bad luck and give up.」
Well, setting that aside, I urged Priest Yung to
depart. I can't commit murder in front of pilgrims. In the first place, I
didn't feel like laying a hand on starving people.
「Eh, but, is it okay to just let
thieves loose...」
「Who knows. After this, we just need
to contact the highway guard, and they'll do something about it on their end.」
No, however. The leader, Priest Yungwi, had
disappeared from the formation. Looking closely for her figure, she wasn't
preparing to depart at all. Instead, she picked up the dried meat, handed it to
the bandits, and directed a look of pity at them, making it difficult to deal
with...
「Um, if you'd like, shall we take you
to the town?」
「Heh...」
That woman was showing mercy to the bunch that attacked her.
She pulled out the arrows stuck in their legs, took out an ointment, and even
started treating their wounds...
「You know... that's a bit too naive.」
「No, if we leave them here, they
might be attacked by other thieves.」
「A-Are you saying you'll forgive
us...? Ooh... what a broad-minded person...」
I don't understand. If bandits would wash their hands of
crime with just that level of kindness, the world should be much more peaceful.
Kachua also had a look that could neither agree nor disagree, wondering
what to do.
「They are a bunch that attacked you.
If you save their lives, they will repeat the same thing. To think opponents
will reflect and reform if you sympathize with them, such a thing is the
delusion of someone drunk on ideals. Self-satisfaction—」
「Shinza, you can't say it like that!」
However, I was scolded by the devout Kachua. But indeed,
perhaps I said too much. It's completely opposite to my way of life, where I've
condemned villains with the resolve to pile on my own sins, I suppose I felt
antipathy towards the priest. Even though that in itself is self-satisfaction.
「Even so, I do not mind. We forgive
them.」
Then the remaining 23 pilgrims also nodded, following the
priest's judgment. Seeing that, I used the Shovel slung over my shoulder
as a cane, leaned lightly against it, and sighed at the soft-hearted fools.
「W-We...」
「Yeah, I guess we picked the wrong
target...」
「Hahaha, it's true... Sorry, we were
starving... We're truly sorry...」
It's the exact opposite of my method, but it's probably fine
if guys like this exist too. I have no desire to understand. I believe my
method is correct.
「Please, Shinza-san.」
「Alright. We are merely hired hands; do as you please. Ah, also,
I'll give you another piece of dried meat each. You really seem to be
starving...」
This time I handed over the meat one by one by hand, and
taking the place of the soft-hearted fools, I took command of the departure.
The pilgrims repacked the luggage stuffed in the donkey cart and put the
bandits who had attacked them on it.
Eventually, when we arrived at a nearby post town, they even
gave them a little money and food, and truly set them free. It makes my head
hurt. Ideals are nothing but ideals. Once their wounds heal, they
will likely repeat the same crimes in order to live. That solves nothing.
Setting that aside, there were no large towns ahead on our
path that day. So we were to borrow the roof of a small church in that post
town for the night.
The beds were apparently the long pews for worship. Even so, without a single complaint, the pilgrims offered prayers to the statue of the Absolute God Samael, making me feel quite uncomfortable.
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