CH 75

[Devon Village]

After putting the eight golems I created on alert and deploying Sanctuary magic, I took out my sleeping bag from the wagon and start taking a nap.

I minimize my link with the golems in stand by state, so the only presence that will flow to me during my nap is the presence around the golem.

My range to pick up presences sure has expanded dramatically.

If this is the case, it seems that I will be able to notice the approach of faraway monsters or people.

Though sharing view is no good, but sharing presence seems to be effective.

For me who is sensitive to presences, my principle in taking a nap break outdoors is to close my eyes, rest my body, and don’t sleep deeply.

Thus, even if I share presence with the golems when I take a nap, I’m not particularly worried.

After taking a nap for a while and having a quick breakfast, I dismantled the golems, and in order to gain distance from the pursuers again, we ran at full speed along the highway continuing into the deep forest toward the Rahaman Mine.

Then, near dusk, we arrived at Devon Village, which is the closest village to our destination – Rahaman Mine.

“Let’s take a good rest here today. I’ll negotiate with the villagers to offer us somewhere with a roof to sleep. Noelia and Suzana, please wait here.”

“I-I’m sorry. I thought I was used to traveling, but… I’ve never traveled this far in a day, so…”

“Me too, to think that I would be this tired…”

Although we had a short rest several times along the way, we roughly rushed to this village from the garrison. Therefore, the color of fatigue is visible on their faces.

We rushed to a place that would normally take three or four days to reach after all.

If it’s Alfine, she would probably be fine, but it seems that it was quite hard for Noelia and Suzana.

It seems better to heal our tiredness in this village.

Seeing the two people who seemed exhausted due to the rush trip, I thought it was bad to take my physical strength as a standard.

“I was too concerned about the pursuit and rushed too much. I’m really sorry to have involved the two of you in my circumstances.”

“No, it’s not Frick-sama’s fault. We are also happy to have Diedur join us.”

“Bruhihiin.”

Like me, Diedur also bow to Noelia and Suzana as if saying, “I’m sorry to get you involved.”

Noelia gently strokes the mane of such Diedur.

“People over there, what business do you have with our village!”

The villagers who found us stopping at the entrance of the village arms themselves and call out to us.

Most of the villagers who are threatening us with their weapons raised are old people, and I can see that some of them are children of beastmen.

Perhaps they are afraid, as some of the children are trembling with their weapons ready.

“Please wait! We have no intention to harm you. We just want to take a rest in this village, so we’d appreciate it if you could lend us a place with a roof.”

“Saying such things, you must have come to hunt people to work in the mine again, right! I’ve said that we wouldn’t cooperate anymore!”

An old beastman who seems to be the representative of the village wrinkles his eyebrows and glares this way with a stern look.

Hunting people to work in the mine?

What in the world is he talking about?

What happened in this village?

Having hostility directed at us from the villagers for an unknown reason, I get upset.

“Please wait a minute! What are you talking about! We’re just looking for a place to stay the night here.”

“You’re lying! Do you think we forgot how you people went into the village and took away the young men!”

Having watched the situation, Noelia gently pulls my sleeve and whispers into my ear.

[Looking at the state of the villagers, it seems that they had a problem with some outsiders. Should we leave the village immediately?]

[But considering what comes hereafter, it seems better to take a good rest in a place with a roof. Besides, since I want to collect rumors about Abyss Walker, I’d like to get rid of the misunderstanding.]

[However, if you want to discuss, you have to leave behind your weapon…]

“Bruhihiiiiin!”

Perhaps listening to the conversation between me and Noelia, Diedur slam the ground with his front legs while neighing loudly.

The expression of fear appears on the faces of the villagers at the appearance of Diedur.

“Kueeeeee!!”

And from the sky, Dimol come down before the villagers while flapping his wings as if to intimidate the surroundings.

“E-eeeeek!”

“Not only a giant monster horse, but also a huge Wyvern!”

“W-we’re going to be killed! Grandpa, save me, ueeeeeee——n!”

Having seen the appearance of Dimol and Diedur, the villagers lose their fighting spirit, drop their weapons, and fall on their butt, sitting on the ground.

“Bruhihiin.”

Diedur turn to me as if saying, “With this, there is room for discussion.”

Well, there is certainly room for discussion.

I don’t want to leave a bad impression on the villagers though.

The moment I pull out Dayle from her scabbard and thrust her into the ground to try showing that I don’t have bad intention to the villagers who had fallen on their butt——

[Dayle will work too! ■▲〇※■▲〇※！]

Dayle who I had thrusted into the ground to try showing that I don’t have bad intention suddenly activate Flame Sword, cladding her blade in flames.

“Wai-, what are you doing, Dayle!?”

“Eeeeeek!! This time, even his sword has begun to burn!! P-please don’t kill me!! I’ll obey! I’ll obey you!”

“S-spare my life!”

“I won’t defy you, so please!”

Seeing Dayle spewing flames from her blade, the villagers begin to beg for their lives by rubbing their forehead against the ground.

This… I’ve completely become a bad guy, haven’t I?

I feel like I’m a villain who is accompanied by a giant horse, a wyvern, and a magic sword.

“Wai-, you got it wrong! There is a slight misunderstanding! I have no bad intention! See, I’ll leave my weapons here! Everyone, please raise your head. My companions have been rude. Please rest assured, as they properly listen to me.”

“It was my command to point weapons at you. Please, please forgive the villagers.”

The old beastman, the representative of the village, clings to my leg – who is approaching unarmed – and apologizes with a crumpled face.

“No, you misunderstood, I don’t want to kill you nor telling you to give up your life. Please calm down!”

“Please, I beg of you, at least spare the lives of the villagers——”

Afterward, it took me some time to explain the situation to the old beastman who clung to my leg and started crying, but I managed to get rid of the misunderstanding and he offered me a lodging to stay overnight. By the time it was over, the sun had completely set.