Volume 6 Chapter 10-2 Beast God
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The woman with fox ears introduced herself as Ms. Mia. She seems unsure how to treat me.
From behind a nearby rock, some people are openly sending killing intent my way.
The old fox who guided me lies next to me, watching the situation with an amused look. It reminds me of the Cheshire Cat from the picture books I read as a child, though it’s a fox.
I also feel countless gazes from the shadows of the forest behind me. Before I knew it, I’ve been surrounded by quite a few people.
I suddenly feel a bit creeped out. I carefully try to sense the presence around me.
If I recklessly use my Searching skill, I might anger them. I’ll investigate passively, like using a passive sonar.
Among them, some even use appraisal-type skills without hesitation. I resist those with all my strength, though.
No matter how strong they are, I think etiquette must be maintained.
If it were the old me, I would have been scared just by being glared at by a non-human. But compared to Uno, Schulz, and Magatsukami──the calamity god, well, it’s no big deal.
Of course, if it came to a fight, they would be stronger than me, but so what? My way is to avoid fighting.
By the time Ms. Fieme started moving, the sun was beginning to set. We might have to camp out tonight.
Ms. Mia and Ms. Fieme tightly embraced each other and started exchanging information through telepathy.
Are both of them beast gods, I wonder? Now that I think about it, I haven’t been told about their relationship. There might be some blood relation, but they’re close to spirits, right?
Well, it seems even spirits can have children.
’Lord Saburou, I understand the situation. I would like to show my gratitude to my benefactor.’
Ms. Mia’s attitude towards me changes drastically. The hostility swirling around us also disappears, and I feel much more at ease.
”I only helped by chance, so there’s no need for any gratitude. Ah, my family has recently moved near this forest, so I’d be happy if we could get along as neighbors.”
In cases like this, it seems it’s better to accept what’s offered. It’s probably a way to keep things clear without any lending or borrowing.
But you know, Schulz was originally the one who kidnapped girls, that’s the real problem.
If I receive thanks, it feels like I’m playing a match-pump and makes me feel guilty.
’You seem like a good person, so I’ll give you a warning, but stop releasing the girls who were kidnapped. Just waking a sleeping child will only increase new hatred.’
Ms. Fieme herself, who was kidnapped, tells Schulz’s collected girls to stop letting them go.
’I understand that Lord Saburou is innocent, and I am very grateful to you as the benefactor who saved my sister. However, aren’t you one of Schulz’s friends? I even want to tear him apart.”
Ms. Mia is Ms. Fieme’s younger sister. From what I’ve seen, it seems the opposite.
It seems that the kidnapped Ms. Fieme feels sorry for causing worry.
Ms. Mia, finally rekindling the barely-forgotten hatred, is overwhelmed with anger, but she also seems happy.
Still, doing good things is life-threatening. I don’t need appreciation, so please don’t kill me.
Schulz planned to burn all the girls in flames and completely forget about them.
It’s a terrible story, but maybe it was the ending with the least turbulence.
Still, I do not regret saving the girls who were part of the collection. It seems I have gotten involved in more complicated problems than I imagined.
’Um, thank you for saving me. There’s no doubt that what you did was right. Eventually, time will pass, and this grudge will disappear. Please forgive us immature ones who are caught up in hatred.’
Just like sisters, their atmospheres are similar, but somehow Ms. Fieme has a kind of charisma. That might be why Schulz kidnapped her in the first place.
Probably, the true beast god is on Ms. Fieme’s side. Ms. Mia was probably just a substitute.
Is this a struggle over the throne of the beast god, a fight for power? That’s a pretty common pattern among humans, but since Ms. Fieme took Ms. Mia’s side, it was settled peacefully.
Ms. Mia seemed to want Ms. Fieme to make a comeback, but…
”Well, well, it doesn’t seem like a happy ending, but for a young punk these days, that’s not a bad judgment.”
As if waiting for a conclusion, an old swordsman appeared. Maybe he was the one sending the terrible killing intent from the rock shadow.
There’s no way an ordinary human would be here, but he looks just like a shabby old man.
”Who are you?”
”I’m a human. Here, I’m Ms. Mia’s lover, I suppose.”
It might be the first time I’ve seen someone claim to be human. But that’s not the issue. I can’t help but look at Ms. Mia’s face. Not denying, not affirming──does that mean it’s the truth?
Is it possible for a beautiful woman and an old man to be a couple? Considering their actual ages, Ms. Mia is probably much older, so is it okay?
From what I see, he seems to be a human from this world. His hair is mixed with white and red, his face deeply wrinkled. And most of all, his eyes are frightening. They shine brightly, almost like a beast.
The old man wears shabby adventurer’s clothes and an old bronze sword. But I can’t deceive my eyes.
Both the blade and the scabbard are adorned with what looks like various protective charms. They probably don’t perform as well as they look.
Yeah, this old man is strong. He’s holding back his strength for now, but he’s the strongest human I’ve met so far.
The high-level summoned hero also radiates an overwhelming aura, but he’s comparable without issue. It’s clear that the old man is quite high-leveled.
Despite having killed many lives, his corruption isn’t very visible. Rather, numerous resentments seem to cling to him like guardian spirits.
The spiritual will can’t be read with the editor skill, but it probably feels like he won’t tolerate the man who defeated him losing. He’s a mysterious person.
”For a kid from another world, it seems you’ve trained somewhat, but as a swordsman, you’re still a novice. You’re weak.”
His gaze is suffocating. Just being looked at normally might freeze you up. Well, but being glared at by Uno is even tougher.
”I suppose so, you seem quite strong.”
Since I’m not a swordsman, being told I’m weak doesn’t really bother me.
Because my bow and arrows are stored in the magic bag, it’s probably mistaken because of the large hatchet slung at my waist.
It’s not custom-made, but a normally sold bronze hatchet. In terms of size, you could say it’s a short sword, but it’s single-edged, thick, and heavy, so it’s not very suitable for combat.
If the opponent doesn’t move, even a skull can be crushed.
”Heh, you’re a coward. Admit defeat easily, and you think you’ve gotten smarter?”
”Anyway, I’m not a combat-oriented profession.”
My job is Stargazer. As a real profession, I suppose I’m an apprentice blacksmith.
Wanting strength from a production job is a bad habit of combat jobs. I wish I’d train myself with at least a sword before saying such things.
”No, you’re that, right? The summoned Hero? Didn’t you fight against Schulz the dragon?”
It seems there’s some misunderstanding. Even if Ms. Fieme explains, she hasn’t seen the entire situation, so I don’t know how Schulz and I ended up as master and apprentice.
”This is not a sword, but a hatchet. Well, you can also use it as a self-defense weapon.”
Mainly used for dismembering quails, but it can also cut branches and be used as a shovel. If sharpened well, it’s a great kitchen knife too.
”No, no. You’re reasonably strong, right? Aren’t you a swordsman? Truly?”
I wonder what he intends, saying I’m weak sometimes and strong other times.
I thought I’d leave before things got complicated, but Ms. Mia offers me a meal.
Is this a small token of hospitality? It would be rude to refuse, so I decide to accept.
The foxes bring over a clay plate with freshly torn rabbit meat, carrying it in their mouths. Lucky.
Ms. Mia is casting magic on the meat. Is it sterilization? No, by just looking at the spell, I think she’s killing parasites.
The foxes seem to be using illusion magic on me, but of course, I resist it. My mental resilience is probably maxed out; normally, people would break their minds before that.
”Hey, hey. This is a hospitality, so don’t resist──it’s rude.”
The old swordsman says that.
”Well, I guess I’m the type whose body is resistant to illusions.”
It’s a result of the strange way my proficiency increased in the Valley of Trials, but I need to cover it up for Uno’s sake.
It would be bad if it got out that she’s actually a pretty big klutz, considering she’s revered as a divine dragon.
”What a waste. To think you can’t enjoy the hospitality of these beautiful women.”
I see, these foxes are disguising themselves as beauties. It’s like something out of a Japanese folktale.
Well, foxes are cute even as they are, so it’s comforting, but I can’t help but think of the fox that Alex killed. It’s kind of bittersweet.
The raw rabbit meat offered to me isn’t properly bled, but it’s pretty good since it’s fresh. If I were to be picky, I’d wish for some ginger soy sauce.
The magic Ms. Mia used on the raw meat is something I need to study. If it can kill parasites, I might be able to eat sashimi without worry.
”Hey, hey. Since there’s no illusion, this feast must look like raw meat to you, right? I can’t believe you can eat that.”
The old swordsman says this while hungrily devouring the raw meat. What does he think he’s eating, I wonder.
The foxes and Ms. Mia’s group are surprised to see me eating raw meat without a problem, but they also seem somewhat pleased. There’s a sense of camaraderie that comes from eating the same thing.
Well, I can’t eat raw meat all the time either.
Maybe it would go well with rock salt or grated garlic. Marinating it in olive oil or vinegar and turning it into a carpaccio-style dish sounds good too.
My dreams are expanding, but all of it will have to wait until I can analyze Ms. Mia’s magic formula.
I suddenly feel a nostalgic gaze, and when I lift my head, I see a fox peeking from behind a rock in the ruins, hurriedly hiding.
That’s the fox, no doubt about it.
”That fox got killed by an adventurer once, so it’s scared of humans. It won’t come anywhere near me.”
I hear the old swordsman grumbling. Does that mean it was killed by Alex and then came back to life?
”Whether humans are worthy of living alongside… I had it try to find out by giving it a blessing.”
As a result, the fox was killed. So, that means humans are not worth allying with, right?
”I told it not to trust humans. Just like the horsefolk, they’re only good for being used and thrown away.”
The old swordsman seems to dislike humans quite a bit. Even though he’s a human himself.
”I’ve had various reasons for disliking humans. I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? I am the true Hero Escalion, that is to say, me.”
What’s with this old man, is he suffering from chuunibyou at his age? Though it’s quite pathetic, if you think of it as something like Don Quixote, it’s not too strange.
”Could it be that you don’t know about Sir Escalion? He’s the most popular hero legend. You’ve probably seen some puppet show, right?”
”I’m sorry. In the royal capital, such plays weren’t performed.”
At least, it’s not the kind of performance that Miss Floria or Shea-Shea would want to watch.
”What do you mean by that? I became a recluse because I didn’t want to be bothered by being called a hero. The people around here are quite unfeeling, aren’t they?”
”Then that’s just perfect for you.”
”Well, that’s true, but no, that’s not it! What I mean is──oh! You’re making that look like you’ve already attained enlightenment? Are you really a summoned Hero? The Heroes I know were more vulgar, with glinting eyes.”
Even among summoned Heroes, there’s a variety. Alex, for example, was quite glinty, maybe. He’s the type who can’t settle unless he’s the protagonist.
Indeed, there are many such summoned Heroes. If kids suddenly get cheat-like strength, it’s natural they’d become arrogant.
As for me, with luck plus 1, if I get carried away, I could die easily, you know.
”You’re young, but you have an enlightened face, don’t you? Alright! Become my disciple, I’ll give you special training.”
”No, I already have a master.”
He’s quite pushy.
It’s common for someone to become a disciple by force, but I’ve never heard of a master by force.
”Then I will become your true Hero’s master. After all, there’s only one true Hero in this world──me. It’s an absolute bargain! I wasn’t planning to take disciples, but I’ll make an exception this time.”
Certainly, it wouldn’t be strange to have multiple masters.
But, what exactly is a true Hero? It’s about 3 times more suspicious than just a Hero.
* * *
I still want to ask about the fox and various other things, but the old man grabbed the back of my neck and dragged me between the large stone pillars.
This person is no good. He’s the kind who doesn’t listen to others at all.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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