CH 119

119: Trembling Heart

Whether our luck was good or bad, we were in the village by chance when an attack by the zealots happened. Well, the villagers were undoubtedly lucky though. However, it seems the stimuli was too strong for Akane-san.

It was probably her first time seeing people kill each other right in front of her eyes when we killed the assailants, aside from the leader, with no questions asked.

「Akane-sama, what is the matter?」

「………… N-nothing. I’m a-alright.」

Lulu-chan was worried for Akane-san whose face paled from the shock she received. Killing thieves and bandits without question is common sense to Lulu-chan, so it didn’t look like she understands why Akane received a large shock. At most, she was probably thought along the lines of “Maybe she felt unpleasant from seeing the corpses.”.

「So the stimuli really was too strong for Akane-san, huh.」

「As she was forcibly summoned from a peaceful world, I believe that adapting to this world right away is difficult.」

Showing mercy to thieves is impossible in this world. The victims would increase just by overlooking them. In that case, one might think that arresting them would be good enough, but it’s less difficult to kill an opponent with weapons and uses magic than catching them.

Our party could have caught all of them, but it was too much of a risk and we didn’t feel the need to, as they’ve already slaughtered a large number of innocent people. We didn’t feel there was any meaning in keeping them alive aside from gathering intelligence. However, I can say this because I am a person completely different from when I was Japanese. Even so, when I killed a thief for the first time, it was quite a lot for me. If one thinks about it that way, isn’t it a big deal that Akane-san stopped at just turning pale?

I approached Akane-san, asking if she’s alright.

「It’s alright to rest in the carriage if you aren’t feeling good.」

「……………… it’s fine.」

Akane-san shook her head.

「I know that even if we keep them alive here and arrest them, the attackers will be sentenced to death. That’s the common practice in this world.」

「You don’t have to force yourself to accept it. Living as a person of this world in both body and mind was difficult even for me in the beginning. I do think that there are only a handful of people living in this world who wish to harm others.」

「But to live as an adventurer, this is unavoidable.」

「…… That’s how it is. That’s why I tried to be an artisan, but………… I’ve reached the level I can be called a full-fledged adventurer, so it’s something I couldn’t help but do.」

When I said that about myself, Lulu-chan consoled me and Akane-san’s countenance looked slightly better.

Akane-san understands it in her head. If she says naive things to them, it’s the weak that will cry in the end. We’ve also learned of the atrocities happened in Samandour Kingdom.

Japanese ethics detest the offense, but not the offender. There are those that say so too. But Akane-san knows that this wouldn’t not apply for this world.

「Akane-san, why don’t you try thinking about living as something other than adventurers?」

「Thank you very much. But, I’m alright now.」

Since Akane-san was behaving bravely, I left the follow-up to Lulu-chan.

There were zero victims because we were here, but I can’t guarantee that it will be zero with just the security golem and Barrier MD. If there had been victims in the village, Akane-san’s shock would likely be much larger.

「The request isn’t over just yet, but it might be better if you think about it a little bit more.」

「Takumi-sama, I’ve finished installing the Barrier MD. I have also finished explaining how it is used to the priest in charge and the village mayor.」

「Thank you, Laeva.」

Laeva came back after activating the security golem, checking it, and installing the Barrier MD.

「We’ll be going around towns and villages while running along to the eastern border, but let’s think a bit more for an idea for magic devices when we’re inside the carriage.」

「You’re right, we were lucky this time, but supposing we weren’t here when the attack happened, there would have been a few victims.」

「Takumi-sama, Laeva, let us head to the next village first. Please talk inside the carriage.」

「Un, got it, Sophia.」

Tsubaki ran at outlandish speeds once we got on. Having encountered the attackers, we’re travelled to next town in a rush to install security golems and Barrier MDs.

We advanced, from the southern end of Valkyra Kingdom to the eastern end while following the national border. It was estimated to take several months, but the entire journey will end in one month thanks to Tsubaki.

During the travel, Akane-san asked questions about the time we suppressed the attackers at the previous village.

「Umm, when Iruma-san and everyone killed the attackers, I couldn’t see everyone but……」

「Ah, Akane-san couldn’t see, huh.」

「Akane-san, all of us are wearing the same overcoat.」

Maria proudly held up overcoat to show it.

「Now that you mention it, you are.」

「Fufu, you thought it was plain, didn’t you? The truth is, this overcoat is super high performance.」

Maria gave an explanation of the overcoat we’re all wearing.

「Enhancing the Inhibit Perception and Stealth skills?」

「Right, we’ve all acquired the Stealth skill. Not at Kaede-chan and Takumi-sama’s level, but me, Laeva-chan, Marnie-san are practicing the Stealth skill.」

「Yes, that’s why we can one-sidedly defeat enemies without being noticed.」

「U-um, may I ask you to make one for Lulu-chan and I?」

「Of course, I’ll get them ready. I think Akane-san needs not just the transfiguration magic device, but also the Overcoat of Existence Concealment too, after all.」

「Lulu will also receive one?!」

We also smiled when Lulu-chan, who’s gotten more cheerful recently, was delighted.

And so, while thinking up ideas for magic devices, we set up security golems and Barrier MDs in villages and towns along the national border.