Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~ - Chapter 87: Deep Mountains of Anguish (2.1)

(Patreon)Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~Chapter 087 : Deep Mountains of Anguish (Part 2.1)

The strategy to defeat the orcs that attacked the village was decided easily. After all, the opponents were fundamentally stupid even if they were in groups, and honestly they were not that strong. While their brute strength and rudimentary weapon skills might pose a threat to villagers or newly recruited soldiers, they didn’t require complex tactics.

Uni, skilled in guerrilla tactics, took on the role of scout to grasp the enemy’s lairs and group composition. The plan was to flush them out of their hiding places and then have attackers handle the annihilation. That was the procedure for the extermination.

Normally, one could say that this plan was complicated enough. After all, the forces of the extermination side were too overwhelming. With a former high-ranking adventurer, a knight boasting an achievement of vampire subjugation, and even priests of Omnia, annihilating a group of slightly unusual orcs should be a trivial task, even if done half-heartedly.

So, why not just do that? The reason was the presence of the village women captured by the orcs. It was akin to having hostages in enemy hands. If it were just a matter of wiping out the orcs completely, they could have sufficed by collapsing their lairs with magic or letting Due rampage freely. However, with the rescue targets present within the enemy’s ranks, it became more complicated. It was necessary to lure the enemy out in stages and ensure the safety of those who needed rescuing.

――That was what was explained to Yuuto.

“Well then, let’s review the procedure once again, just to be sure.”

“Sore jaa, nen no tame ni mou ichido tejun o kakunin shimashou.”

The following day at noon, they were currently on their way to the site of the extermination by wagon. Taking the lead with a smile that seemed as insincere as ever was the noble who ruled this region, Marquis Tullius Shernan Oubeniel. To reassure his subjects, the lord himself would lead the charge against the monsters. Frankly, he found it hard to believe that this man could have such noble intentions. Since entering Volden Province, he had been repeatedly shown slaves suffering harsh labor in his territory.

(What is this guy plotting…?)

(Nani o takurande iyagaru nda, koitsu wa…?)

Yuuto, who had nothing but a bad impression of him, couldn’t help but think so.

Whether he was aware of Yuuto’s disrespectful thoughts or not, Tullius continued without hesitation.

“Uni should be returning from reconnaissance shortly. Once we meet up with her, she and I will draw the orcs out of their lairs. If all goes well, we should be able to lure out the majority of them. Everyone, please wait until that happens and proceed to the enemy’s lair and rescue the kidnapped people… Does anyone have any questions?”

“Ma mo naku, teisatsu ni dashita Yuni ga modotte kuru koroai deshou. Kanojo to gouryuu shitara, boku to ano ko de ōku o ana no soto e hikitsukemasu. Umaku sureba daibubun wa tsureru deshou ne. Mina-san wa, sore o mihakaratte kara teki no soukutsu e to totsunyuu shi, sarawareta katagata o kyuushutsu shite kudasai… Nani ka go-shitsumon wa arimasen ka?”

“…Yes.”

“…Hai.”

When he raised his hand timidly, the copper brown-haired man squinted his eyes with keen interest. Honestly, it felt unpleasant as if he was being assessed.

“What is it, Erimiya-kun?”

“Nani ka na, Erimiya-kun?”

TL Note: Tullius called Yuuto by his surname in kanji, unlike other characters in that world who call Yuuto with his name in katakana.

“Just to be clear, why are we the ones going in?”

“Ichiou kiite okimasu keredo, doushite ore-tachi ga totsunyuu suru ndesu ka?”

He asked, tilting his head slightly at the subtle nuances when his name was called. It was obvious that the ones taking the biggest risk during the execution of the plan would be those who rush into the enemy’s stronghold. The Omnia side’s forces, including Yuuto and the others, were directed there. To Volden, they were supposed to be guests. Wasn’t this strange? If it was Volden’s problem, shouldn’t the one risking bloodshed was Tullius’ side since he was the one in charge of the territory?

Tullius responded with a wryness mixed with his smile.

“There are three reasons. Firstly, it’s for the sake of the abducted villagers. It’s been four days since they were taken by the orcs. They’ve been in such a dire environment as the monster’s lair for so long. It’s desirable to meet up with the priests for healing as soon as possible.”

“Riyuu wa mittsu arimasu. Mazu hitotsu ni wa, sarawareta murabito-tachi no tame desu yo. Kare-ra ga ōku ni sarawarete mou yokka-me. Sonna ni mo nagai aida o, kaibutsu no su-ana nado to iu retsuaku na kankyou ni okarete iru no desu. Ikkoku mo hayaku, chiyu o nasareru shinkan no kata to gouryuu suru no ga nozomashii deshou.”

“Yes, that is my intention as well.”

“Hai. Watashi mo sono tsumori desu.”

Irmaella said, clasping her fingers in front of her chest and praying with a solemn expression.

He inwardly spat venom at how easily she said it. It was up to her if she was going to perform some sort of good deed that she adored so much. But Yuuto was being dragged along with her. Into a monster’s lair, even. After involving others, she still had such intentions? That was his feeling.

“Secondly, there’s the strength of a Holy Knight Candidate, Lady Balbastre at your side. I can guarantee her skill. After all, we were comrades in arms just last year.”

“Dai-ni ni, sochira ni wa sei kishi kouho Barubasutoru-kyou to iu senryoku ga irassharu. Kanojo no ude no hodo wa boku kara mo hoshou shimasu yo. Nani shiro kyonen ni wa kutsuwa o narabeta naka desu kara ne.”

“I didn’t expect to team up with you again, though. Especially not so soon.”

“Masaka, mata kikou to kumu koto ni naru to wa omotte inakatta ga na. Sore mo konna ni hayaku ni.”

Elisha said, sounding somewhat unenthusiastic.

“Well, as long as there aren’t any monsters scarier than vampires, it should be fine.”

“Maa, teki ni vanpaia yori mo osoroshii mamono demo inai kagiri, daijoubu deshou.”

That was what Tullius said, but Yuuto couldn’t quite discern which was more fearsome between vampires and orcs. In games and such, vampires who are depicted in a more beautiful way often hold a higher status compared to the pig-faced orcs. Was this also the case in this world?

“And finally, I suppose most of the orcs will be handled by our side. Otherwise, it will be difficult to rescue the people trapped in the nest. Rest assured, I won’t burden our guests with all the work. Please be at ease.”

“Soshite saigo ni, ōku no daibubun wa kochira de hikiukeru koto ni naru to omoimasu. De nai to, su ni torawarete iru darou hitobito o kyuushutsu suru no ga muzukashiku narimasu kara ne. Sasuga ni okyaku-jin no kata ni bakari, futan o oshitsukeru you na mane wa shimasen yo. Go-anshin kudasai.”

Even though he was told to relax, it was an impossible request without knowing the means by which they would attract the orcs. However, the others didn’t seem concerned about it. Neither Elisha nor Irmaella did. Were they really so confident in Tullius’ arrangements? Or perhaps they didn’t consider entering the orc’s nest such a daunting task. Regardless, it would be unbecoming to show anxiety when the two women remained composed. Reluctantly, Yuuto decided to relent.

In turn, Elisha spoke up.

“I have a question too. Is it alright not to bring Due Schwarzer? I think if it’s that man, he would make an excellent vanguard, though?”

“Watashi kara mo hitotsu kiku ga, Dūe Shubarutsā wa desan de yokatta no ka? Ano otoko nara kakkou no zen’ei to naru to omou ga.”

As she mentioned, the two-handed sword warrior was not accompanying this group. He had been left behind to defend the village in case the orcs made a move. In his place were his strangely taciturn subordinates.

“The villagers will also need a reliable bodyguard. If anyone in the village fought in last year’s battle, they should know his capabilities. Consider it part of our outreach policy. Besides, let me show you that there are others besides him in our household. Right, you guys?”

“Murabito-tachi ni mo tayorigai no aru goei wa iru deshou. Ano mura ni mo kyonen no sen ni juugun shiteita hito ga itara, kare no katsuyaku mo shitte iru hazu. Maa, senbu seisaku no ikkan to o-kangae kudasai. Sore ni, touke ni mo kare igai no hito ga iru to iu tokoro mo o-mise shimashou. Sou da ne, kimi-tachi?”

“”Yes.””

““Hai.””

From within the closed helms that completely covered their heads, muffled replies echoed. Clad in black iron armor, with a large sword on their backs and several spare weapons at their waists, the fully armed Oubeniel soldiers, so heavily armed that one couldn’t even see their faces, gave Yuuto the impression that they were like robots. It was as if they had the man named Due Schwarzer mass-produced.

“I didn’t see them last year, but they seem like soldiers worth a lot of money.”

“Kyonen wa minakatta ga, zuibun to kane no kakatta heitai to mieru.”

“We’ve been entrusted with the borderlands now, so we can’t afford to skimp on military equipment. Thanks to that, no matter how much budget we have, it’s never enough.”

“Arata ni kokkyou no chi o azukeraremashita kara ne, gunbi ni mo te wa nukenai no desu yo. Okage de ikura yosan ga atte mo tari ya shimasen.”

Tullius scratched his cheek in a troubled manner. He was a man difficult to read, but this seemed like his genuine concern.

It was then.

“I have returned.”

“Tadaima modorimashita.”

Just as faint rustling in the trees could be heard, a maid in an outfit unsuited for the wilderness gracefully descended onto the wagon’s bed. It was Uni, who had returned from her reconnaissance.

“Good job. How was it?”

“Otsukare-sama. Dou datta?”

“Report. After tracking the traces, I discovered a cave ahead that appears to be the Orcs’ base.”

“Houkoku itashimasu. Konseki o tsuiseki shita kekka, kono saki ni ōku no kyoten ni natte iru to omowareru doukutsu o hakken shimashita.”

“A cave, huh… that sounds troublesome.”

“Doukutsu ka… yakkai sou da ne.”

While the master and servant seemed to be concerned about something, Yuuto couldn’t quite grasp what the issue was. Orcs would surely use a cave to shelter from heat and rain.

Perhaps his confusion showed on his face, Elisha opened her mouth, trying to elaborate.

“They are hiding in a natural cave instead of digging a hole. Creatures with low intelligence like them wouldn’t be able to properly create a large scaled nest. If they were to dig randomly to expand it and the ground collapsed, they’d be buried alive, after all. That’s why groups that use holes as bases tend to be naturally smaller in scale.”

“Ana o hotta no dewa naku tennen no doukutsu ni senpuku sareta to iu koto da. Chinou no hikui renchuu ni ookibo na su-ana o matomo ni tsukureru hazu wa nai. Tezema ni natte kita kara motto hirogeyou nado to tekitou ni hotteitara, jiban o hori kuzushite ikiume ni natte shimau kara na. Dakara su-ana o kyoten ni suru mure wa shizen ni shoukibo ni naru wake da.”

“…So being holed up in a cave means the opposite, that the group is larger?”

“…Tsumari doukutsu ni komorareta tte koto wa sono gyaku de, mure wa ookiku naru to?”

“Exactly.”

“Sou iu koto ni naru na.”

And now they were assigned the role of entering the cave where the orcs were presumably holed up. Anxiety surged again. Would Tullius and the others really draw enough enemies away? Or were they planning to use them as bait? Such suspicions filled Yuuto’s mind.

“Well then, let’s get ready. Uni, did you find those things I mentioned?”

“Sate, sore ja junbi ni kakarou ka. Yuni, rei no mono wa mitsukatta?”

“Yes, here it is.”

“Hai, kochira ni.”

Uni took out various items such as plants that looked like medicinal herbs and poisonous colored mushrooms with warts on their caps which she seemed to have collected in this mountain along the way during reconnaissance. Tullius took them and began grinding them with a mortar and pestle, tools used for crushing ingredients into a paste.

“Um, Your Excellency? What are you doing?”

“Etto, koushaku-sama? Nani o nasatte oide nan desu?”

“Can’t you see? I’m concocting.”

“Mite wakarimasen ka? Chougou desu yo.”

Even without being told, it was obvious. Irmaella’s question was likely about why he was starting to concoct when they were preparing to attack a monster’s nest.

“…It’s the source of the perfect scent to lure the orcs. Aah, please don’t peek. It can be quite effective for humans too, so it would be troublesome if someone like you were to inhale it.”

“…Ōku o obikiyoseru no ni zekkou no nioi no moto desu. Aa, nozoki komanaide kudasai. Ningen ni mo kekkou kikime ga arimasu no de, kijo mitai na hito ga suikondari shitara taihen da.”

“Okay…”

“Haa…”

Is it really safe to make such a dangerous concoction outdoors, especially on top of a packhorse-drawn wagon? Yet, his hands were remarkably skilled, continuing the concoction without spilling a drop of wild grass juice outside the mortar. Finally, he finished grinding and mixing, collecting the mixture in a small vial.

“There we go, all done… Oh, it seems we’ve arrived just in time.”

“Hai, dekiagari tto… Oya, choudo yoku touchaku dekita mitai desu ne.”

The wagon came to a sudden stop. They were in a clearing a little off the forest path, in front of a cave with a gaping mouth on a steep slope, much larger than expected. The entrance alone was about ten meters wide.

(This cave looks like something straight out of an RPG.)

(Nante iu ka, honto ni RPG ni demo dete ki sou na doukutsu da na.)

Normally, he might have felt a sense of adventure at the sight, but there was no room for such luxuries now. Setting aside Yuuto’s complex feelings, Tullius frowned at the scene.

“I wonder why hasn’t such a conspicuous cave been reported until now. Thanks to that, monsters have made it their nest and turned it into a dungeon.”

“Nan datte mata, konna medatsu doukutsu ga ima made houkoku ni agaranakatta nda ka. Okage de monsutā ga sukutte danjon ni natteru janai ka.”

“Much of the geography in the eastern part of Volden remains unexplored, one of the reasons is because it is still undeveloped, after all.”

“Vorudan toubu no chiri wa, mi-kaihatsu to iu koto mo atte haaku sarete inai bubun ga ooi no de.”

“When we return from inspecting Elpis-Roanne, we’ll have to investigate this area once more… Aah, my work has increased again…”

“Erupisu-roānu no shisatsu kara kaettara, mou ichi-do kokora hen mo chousa shinaito ne… aa, mata shigoto ga fueru…”

Descending to the ground with a sigh of lamentation, he bent down for some reason and resumed his work.

He was mumbling something, and his palm, which he put on the ground, illuminated with a soft glow… It seemed like he was using magic or something of the sort.

“Are you setting traps?”

“Wana o shikaketeiru no ka?”

“Yes, using ≪Alchemy≫ to modify the structure, I made the ground brittle and hollow to create a few pitfalls. When you pass through, please veer around the area where I am by about four to five meters because you’ll fall if you step on them. Also, I’ve sharpened the bottom, so if you fall, you’ll get hurt.”

“Ee, ≪Renkin≫ ni yoru kouzou henka o ouyou shi, jiban o moroku shitari kuudou-ka shite yatte otoshi ana o shoushou. Tooru toki wa boku no iru atari o shi~go mētoru hodo ukai shite kudasai ne. Fundara ochimasu kara. Ato, soko no atari o togaraseteiru no de, ochitara kega shimasu yo.”

He responded to Elisha’s inquiry in a curt tone, as if focused on his work. It would have been nice to know about such things before he started doing it, though.

After finishing setting up the pitfalls, he stood up and turned back towards them.

“Well then, it’s about time to lure them out. Are you ready?”

“Sate, sorosoro obikidashi ni kakarimasu ga, junbi no hou wa yoroshii no de?”

“Yeah, no problem.”

“Aa, mondai nai.”

“Me too.”

“Watashi mo daijoubu desu.”

The two women voiced their readiness in unison, but Yuuto wasn’t even mentally prepared. Perhaps noticing his silence, Irmaella glanced briefly in his direction. Her gaze seemed genuinely concerned, but it was she who had brought Yuuto here. Well, to be precise, it was Elisha who had pulled him along, saying,

‘If Irma is going, then you, her attendant, can’t just hang back.’

‘Iruma ga iku nara, waki-yaku no omae ga ushiro de hikkonde iru wake ni mo ikan darou.’

Anyway, if she’s going to worry about involving others at this point, then why bother doing anything in the first place? He was infuriated by her self-interested show of kindness.

“…I’m ready. I only have a sword though.”

“…Junbi wa dekiteiru yo. Ken motteru dake dakedo na.”

Perhaps spurred on by a sense of opposition, such words came out. In truth, aside from his inner turmoil, there wasn’t anything he needed to prepare.

“Well then, let’s begin the operation. We’ll lure out the enemy, so everyone, keep watch from the shadows and wait for the right moment to charge in. If possible, cover your mouth with cloth or something… Anyway, Uni, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Dewa, sakusen o kaishi shimashou. Boku-ra ga teki o yuuin shimasu no de, mina-san wa kokage kara yousu o ukagai, ki o mihakaratte totsunyuu shite kudasai. Dekireba, sodeguchi demo kamaimasen no de kuchimoto ni nuno o atete oku you ni… sore jaa Yuni, yoroshiku.”

“Understood, Master.”

“Kashikomarimashita, Goshujin-sama.”

As Yuuto and the others concealed themselves as instructed, Tullius handed the vial to Uni. If he was planning to lure the orcs with the scent inside, why hand it to someone else? He could just open it himself instead of giving it to another person. Yuuto pondered this curiously as he peeked from the shadows, puzzled by the situation.

“…Aah, Erimiya-kun, could you avert your eyes for a moment?”

“…Aa, Erimiya-kun wa sukoshi me o sorashiteite kuremasen ka.”

Before he could ask what that meant, a soft rustle of fabric echoed.

“……Huh?”

“……Ha?”

His voice slipped out. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The complicated-looking apron dress that Uni was wearing slipped off as if by magic. She then proceeded to remove even her underwear with a fluid motion. What remained were only the seamless collar, her white brim, and garter.

In short, she was naked. A woman standing exposed in the bright sunlight of the open plain. Yuuto was utterly stunned by the unexpected turn of events. What was happening? Why was she undressing? Weren’t they supposed to start the monster subjugation soon? Questions swirled in his mind, but instinctively, the boy’s gaze busily wandered over her slender waist, well-shaped buttocks, cleavage, and even more suggestive areas――

“Do not look!”

“Mite wa dame desu!”

――Just as he was about to do so, Irmaella blindfolded him with her hand.

“That’s why I told you not to look, didn’t I? Ugh, really.”

“Dakara minaide kudasai ne, tte itta ja nai ka. Mattaku.”

Tullius muttered with a hint of astonishment in his voice. At the same time, there was a faint sound of swallowing coming from Uni’s direction. It seemed that what Tullius had concocted was some sort of potion. However, while making her drink the potion was one thing, why was she undressing?

Just as Yuuto pondered this,

“Mh… the effects should start kicking in soon.”

“N… sorosoro, kouka ga demasu.”

Suddenly, a sweet, dizzying aroma wafted into his nostrils, causing his heart to race and his blood to quicken.

(Oh no, what the heck is this…)

(Yabai, nanda kore…)

He somehow managed to control his quickening breaths. The intoxicating fragrance was able to dull one’s rationality and stir their instincts.

“I see, so you intend to use her as bait like this.”

“Naruhodo, kou shite sono musume o otori ni suru tsumori ka.”

“Yes. Considering there are hostages inside, we can’t just smoke them out with fire, can we? If only I could use ≪Enchant Temptation≫, it would be easier, but that magic doesn’t work unless the decoy is within the target’s field of vision.”

“Ee. Naka ni hitojichi ga iru koto o omou to, hi o taite kusuburidasu wake ni wa ikanai deshou? ≪Enchanto Tenputēshon≫ ga tsukaereba raku nan desu keredo, ano mahou wa otori ga aite no shikai-nai ni inai to kouka ga demasen shi.”

Elisha and Tullius spoke in a matter-of-fact tone. So, the potion seemed to have a potent effect akin to an aphrodisiac, causing the ingested person to emit intense pheromones or something of the sort. It appeared to be a plan to lure the orcs out of their cave with this scent.

“Um, do you really need to take off your clothes for this?”

“Ano, kore tte o-meshi-mono o nugareru hitsuyou wa aru no deshou ka?”

“Yes. Wearing clothes would hinder the release of the scent after all… More important than that, they are coming.”

“Arimasu. Chakui ni yotte nioi no houshutsu ga samatageraremasu no de… sore yori, kimasu yo.”

The flat yet somehow feverish voice of the decoy served as a signal.

“――Buuoooooohhh!!”

From deep within the cave came the unbearable guttural voices as the monsters leaped out. Creatures with stout human bodies and animal-like heads. Some resembled hairy boars, while others had pig-like pinkish skin, each with their own unique traits. However, they all shared an unmistakably grotesque appearance, clearly inhuman creatures.

(So, these are orcs… these are monsters…!)

(Kore ga, ōku… kore ga, monsutā…!)

As Yuuto laid eyes on these monsters for the first time, he was left breathless. Despite encountering many fantastical things that could never be seen in his original world such as magic, this was something else entirely. The realistic depiction of these creatures, like something straight out of a game, blurred the lines between reality and fantasy.

The number of orcs that emerged in a steady stream easily exceeded ten. Like insects drawn to sweet nectar, they howled towards Uni, who stood there naked. It was evident that they were excited just by looking at them. And at the forefront, one of them unsuspectingly fell into Tullius’ pitfall trap.

“Bugyaaaaaahhh!?”

It was a scream devoid of any semblance of intelligence. The bottom of the pit was sharpened, so the creature likely suffered wounds or even death from that. However, the following group, perhaps driven by momentum or lost in the scent of the woman, charged forward without pausing or taking a detour. Naturally, they fell into the trap one after another, quickly filling up the pit. This meant that even those who didn’t fall into the trap at the bottom could be crushed to death by the following falling from above.

“It is like a feeding frenzy… ≪Gale Edge≫”

“Iregui to iu mono desu ne… ≪Geiru Ejji≫”

Uni spoke with a tone of mild exasperation as she unleashed her magic. One orc that didn’t fall into the hole had its neck severed by a blade of wind and died instantly. Then, with only a short dagger in her right hand, she leaped into the midst of the enemy, deftly striking vital points with precision. Despite being completely naked and surrounded by numerous hairy beasts, she engaged in this intense battle. Yuuto couldn’t help but admire the incredible courage of this woman.

“Now, all of you, don’t just watch and get to work.”

“Sa. Kimi-tachi mo miteiru dake janaku hataraite kure yo.”

“”Yes.””

““Hai.””

Upon receiving orders from Tullius, the robot-like soldiers also joined the attack. It was a completely one-sided massacre. Yuuto couldn’t help but wonder if there was even a need for them to intervene.

Elisha grabbed Yuuto, who was watching the whole thing in a daze.

“Don’t just stand there mesmerized, kid. Let’s go.”

“Mihoreteiru na yo, shounen. Iku zo.”

“I-I know!”

“Wa, wakatte imasu!”

In any case, the decoy seemed to be extremely effective. With such a large number drawn out, the inside was likely lightly guarded. So, their task was simply to rush in and rescue the abducted villagers. The three of them turned their backs on the melee and ran towards the cave where the smell of beasts still lingered.

~~~

Inside the cave was surprisingly bright, with moss growing on the walls and ceiling emitting a soft glow, providing illumination in the otherwise dark underground. This phenomenon, its name derived directly from the ecology called “Maryoku Hikari Goke,” absorbed magical energy from the atmosphere and underground veins, creating natural light. Without being asked, Irmaella explained this to Yuuto, who was looking at it curiously.

TL Note: Maryoku Hikari Goke (マリョクヒカリゴケ) is “Magic Light Moss” in English.

The interior resembled a typical limestone cave, with stalactites and stalagmites stretching from floor to ceiling, giving off a cold and eerie atmosphere. The mixture of cold air and unknown odors was unpleasant, clearly indicating that it was indeed a monster’s lair.

“I used wind magic to scout around, and it seems there are only two possible exits: the one we entered through and another one connected to a side passage. If we control these junctions, even if there are survivors deeper inside, we can prevent them from escaping. Also, it serves as an escapeway in case of emergency.”

“Kaze no mahou de sore to naku sagutte mita ga, deguchi ni nari sou na ana wa ware-ra ga haitte kita mono ga hitotsu ni, soko no yokomichi kara tsuujiru mono o awaseta futatsu nomi. Kono bun kiro sae osaete okeba, oku ni zanzon suru mono ga ita to shite mo nigasazu ni sumu. Sore to, man’ichi no baai no dasshutsu-ji de mo aru na.”

Elisha explained, gesturing towards the side passage. Irmaella tilted her head slightly and asked,

“In case of emergency? Is there really such a dangerous creature in an orc’s lair?”

“Man’ichi no baai, desu ka? Ōku no su-ana ni sore hodo kiken na mamono ga iru no deshou ka.”

“Well, who knows… It’s unlikely they would do something to us here, but it’s better to be prepared.”

“Sate, na… Koko de ware-ra ni te o dasu to mo kangae gatai ga, sonaete oku no ni shiku wa nai.”

“Eh?”

“E?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”

“Nan de mo nai. Kocchi no hanashi sa.”

As if to cut off any further questions, Elisha walked ahead, taking the lead. Her saber drawn, its blade reflecting the eerie light of the magical moss, shining brightly. Even though it was an ally’s weapon, it appeared ominous to Yuuto, gleaming like a dangerous object in the strange glow of the cave.

(If the lured out orcs weren’t all of them, we would have to fight. With just us…)

(Obikidasareta ōku ga zenbu janakatta baai, tatakai ni naru nda yo na. Ore-tachi de…)

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he felt like his mind was going crazy with anxiety. In video games, orcs were just low-level monsters encountered at the early game. While it might be tough without sufficient experience and equipment, they were ultimately not formidable opponents. But that was only if it’s on the other side of the screen. When facing them in reality, with their ugly appearance and repulsive smell, they were not something he wanted to get close to.

(Elisha-san and Irmaella are both calm, and even that maid called Uni also easily took them down. T-there shouldn’t be anything to worry about…)

(Erisha-san mo Irumaerra mo heizen to shiteiru shi, jissai ano Yuni tte meido-san datte karuku taoshiteita nda. Fu, fuan ni omou koto nante nai, hazu…)

Despite trying to reassure himself, Yuuto’s heart refused to calm down. What if one of those creatures ambushed them from the shadows? What if the leader of the orcs lurking deeper inside the cave was incredibly powerful? No, no, what if there were even stronger monsters hidden within? These doubts and speculations kept flooding his mind.

The two women walking side by side seemed unperturbed by such concerns. Perhaps they hadn’t even considered the possibility of serious danger, or maybe they had concluded that it wasn’t significant. Regardless, their leisurely stride contrasted sharply with Yuuto’s, who was closely following behind.

Did they truly grasp the gravity of the life-threatening situation they were in? Yuuto couldn’t help but wonder. Even though this place was said to be the home of monsters that attack humans, how could they remain calm? It made sense for a knight like Elisha, who must have undergone combat training and seemed to have actually achieved notable feats in battle. But what about Irmaella? She was a priestess and a sheltered girl, often referred to as a young lady by others. What thoughts allowed her to remain so relaxed, even dragging someone like him into this perilous situation?

The boy’s frustration grew as he pondered these questions.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet since earlier.”

“Dou shita, sakki kara damarikonde?”

“Huh?”

“E?”

“I’m impressed that you don’t make pointless chatter near enemy territory, but your stiffness is a bit concerning.”

“Teki-jin no chikaku de muda-guchi o tatakanai to iu no wa miageta mono da ga, sukoshi kata-sa ga ki ni natte na.”

In the face of Elisha’s bold remarks, Yuuto couldn’t bring himself to respond. He was nervous due to the anxiety, but he couldn’t possibly express it openly. It would be embarrassing for a man like him to admit to being scared while the women remained composed.

There was also a desire to cover up his feelings, because his mouth started to speak words he hadn’t intended to utter.

“…Nothing. I was just wondering why we’re here, that’s all.”

“…Betsu ni. Nande ore-tachi wa konna tokoro ni iru ndarou, tte omotteita dake desu.”

“Hmm?”

“Fumu?”

“‘C-cause, isn’t that right? Wasn’t our job originally to go to that place called St. Gallen and negotiate to stop the civil war?”

“Da, datte sou deshou? Moto-moto, ore-tachi no shigoto wa Zankutogaren tte tokoro ni itte, naisen o tomeru you ni koushou suru koto ja nai desu ka.”

His tongue continued to utter words without his consent.

“If Omnia’s duty is to save people, wouldn’t it be more important to fulfill that task quickly?”

“Hito o sukuu no ga Omunia no yakume datte iu nara, socchi o hayaku hatasu hou ga juuyou na nja tte.”

“Yuuto-sama…”

Irmaella called his name with a painful tone. He felt a hint of reproach in her voice, which only angered him further.

“…And besides, with the military strength of that noble, Oubeniel, aren’t they more than capable of defeating the orcs? Why do we have to go through all this trouble――”

“…Sore ni, Ōbuniru toka iu kizoku no senryoku demo juubun ni ōku wa taoseru deshou? Waza-waza ore-tachi ga konna――”

“Boy.”

“Shounen.”

The murmuring voice of the female knight cut off his argument. It was neither firm nor sharp, but it carried enough force to silence him.

“You’re saying something quite unlike yourself. It’s almost like the words of those priests we left behind in the village.”

“Zuibun to rashiku nai koto o iu. Marude, mura ni oite kita bouzu-renchuu no shuchou to onaji da na.”

Her words stung. He was accused of spouting the same contemptuous sentiments as those who he had utterly looked down on. Yuuto couldn’t help but lower his gaze in response.

“Hasn’t that been explained to you? Since the village where we were supposed to resupply was ravaged by monsters, we have no choice but to be halted here.”

“Sono koto ni tsuite wa setsumei sareta darou? Hokyuu suru hazu datta mura ga mamono ni arasareta ijou, donomichi koko de ashidome o kuu hoka nai to.”

“That’s… not what I meant.”

“Sou iu, koto ja nakute.”

So, what do you mean? While even he himself thought so, he still retorted reflexively.

“I-isn’t there’s no need for us to fight…”

“O, ore-tachi ga tatakau hitsuyou nante, nai, nja tte…”

He added, offering a feeble and illogical rebuttal. But Elisha wasn’t merciful in her response.

“You can’t lie. This is what you really want to say, right? Not ‘we,’ but ‘I’ don’t need to fight.”

“Uso wa ikenai na. Hontou wa kou iitai no darou? “Ore-tachi” ga, dewa nai. “Ore” ga tatakau hitsuyou wa nai, to.”

“!!”

Caught off guard by her piercing insight into the truth he had tried to conceal behind sophistry, Yuuto bit his lip.

“Um… Is that… true?”

“Ano… Sou, na no desu ka?”

Irmaella timidly interjected from the side. He wanted to shout back, “Isn’t it obvious?” How many times had he said it? He was not a capable fighter, let alone a hero.

If it were just a diplomatic journey, he wouldn’t have complained. Well, maybe he would have, but he could have accepted it. Carrying a sword for self-defense would have been tolerable. But what were they doing now? They were actively stepping into danger, facing off against hostile monsters. This wasn’t something a mere high school student like him should be doing. And now she asked, “Is that true?” What the hell was that, was this nun kidding?

As his simmering emotions began to boil over, just before his frustration burst forth…

“Then I don’t mind.”

“Nara kamawan.”

Elisha said, turning away abruptly.

“Huh?”

“E?”

“If you don’t want to fight, and lack confidence in yourself, wouldn’t it be pitiful to forcibly thrust you into the fray? Just stay here. We’ll take care of it quickly and be back soon. Sorry for asking the impossible.”

“Tatakaitakunai, sono jishin ga nai to iu no nara, gouin ni tekkaba ni tsukkomaseru no mo kawaisou dearou? Omae wa soko de taiki shiteiro. Sugu ni katazukete modoru sa. Muri o itte sumanakatta na.”

And with that, she began to walk briskly ahead, indicating her serious intention to leave him behind.

“Wa――! …Wait! What if the orcs show up?”

“Ma――! …Matte kudasai, moshi ōku ga detara?”

He managed to suppress his rising voice and asked again, but her response was merciless.

“If that happens, you can choose to run away or come to inform us. Aah, if you choose to run, it’s wiser to go back the way we came, okay? An amateur getting lost in the forest from a shortcut would only lead to disaster. So it would be better to join up with Marquis Oubeniel… maybe.”

“Sono toki wa nigeru ka, ware-ra no hou e shirase ni hashiru ka, suki na hou o erabe. Aa, nigeru no nara kita michi o modoru hou ga kenmei da zo? Shirouto ga nukemichi kara mori ni mayoi dete mo, sounan ga ochi dakara na. Sore nara Ōbuniru-kou to gouryuu shita hou ga ikura ka mashi… kamo shiren.”

“That’s…”

“Sonna…”

Elisha walked away, leaving Yuuto behind. He couldn’t move. The one reliable person he had encountered since coming to this world was now walking away from him as if abandoning him. He couldn’t even bring himself to chase after her. There might be a battle where she was going. No, it wasn’t certain. After all, there were a large number of orcs lured out towards the exit. Considering that, there might not even be any enemies. Yet, just thinking about the possibility of fighting monsters made his legs feel like they had turned into stalagmites.

――What are you dawdling for? Walk, run, chase after her. Even if she’s stronger than you, she’s a woman heading into danger. If you don’t follow her here, you’re not a man. You’ll definitely regret it, aren’t you ashamed, you idiot?

――Nani o bootto shite iru, aruke, hashire, oikakero. Ikura jibun yori tsuyoi to wa ie, onna no hito ga kiken ni mukatte susundeiru janai ka. Koko de tsuite ikanakattara otoko janai. Zettai ni koukai suru zo hazukashii to omowanai no ka baka yarou.

He scolded himself, but the result remained the same.

――That’s not my concern, isn’t it…

――Shitta koto janai janai ka…

A cold part of Yuuto’s mind sneered.

It was the same as when you were in Japan. While thinking that you have to do something and wanting to be different from now, what were you doing? Nothing. While making excuses that you don’t want to do anything different from others, that it was risky, and in the end, you didn’t try to do anything yourself.

Nihon ni ita toki to onaji da. Nani ka o shinakereba, ima to wa chigau mono ni naritai to omoi nagara mo, omae wa dou shiteita? Nani mo shinakatta jaa nai ka. Risuku ga aru kara, mawari to chigau koto o shitakunai kara, sono tame no chikara ga nai kara to iiwake o shite, kekkyoku jibun dewa ugokou to shinai.

Despite that, you complained that the world was boring. Ignoring the fact that the most boring thing was yourself. It was probably the same in this world too. But isn’t it fine to stay boring? Isn’t it okay to leave scary, troublesome, and dangerous things to others and pretend you don’t know anything?

Sono kuse, yo no naka ga tsumaranai da no to hozaite ita. Ichiban tsumaranai no wa, jibun jishin da to iu koto kara me o somuke nagara. Sore wa kono sekai demo kawaranakatta to iu dake darou. Ii ja nai ka tsumaranai mama de. Kowai koto mo mendou na koto mo abunai koto mo, zenbu tanin ni makasete shiranai kao o shite ireba ii.

(No! I… I――!)

(Chigau! Ore wa, ore wa――!)

So, what do you want to do? What should you do?

Nara, jibun wa dou shitai? Nani o suru beki na nda?

Unable to find an answer, the boy continued to stand still.

“Yuuto-sama…”

The cause of all this trouble shot a meaningful glance at him.

“What…?”

“Nan, da yo…”

“…No, it’s nothing. I will go with Elisha-san as well. Please take care… I hope you do not push yourself too hard.”

“…Ie. Watashi mo Erisha-san to ikimasu. Dou ka go-buji de… muri wa nasaremasen you ni.”

――Don’t underestimate me, I’m not pushing myself.

――Baka ni suru na, muri na mon ka.

――I see, I’ll take your word for it then.

――Sou ka, nara o-kotoba ni amaete.

His mind kept going back and forth as contradictory responses were on the tip of his tongue. In the end, he simply tightened his lips and remained silent. With a small bow to the boy, the girl also hurried away, following after the woman.

Only the boy were left behind, still unable to find an answer and lost in uncertainty.

~~~

To be continued…

~~~

TL Note:

Ohhh my God I totally forgot to upload this on 20th since I’ve been very busy studying for the university entrance exam 😭😭😭 I’m sooo sorryyyyy~

Also poor Yuuto got left behinddddd I wonder if Tullius then would pick him up╰(*°▽°*)╯

Btw if you’re wondering where’s ch 86 part 2 there’s NONE. I uploaded ch 86 as a whole chapter but somehow when I submitted it to novelupdates they changed the chapter name from 086 to 086 part 1, potentially causing misunderstandings😭 So the part 2 is ch 87 and it’s very longgggg so I’m splitting it to part 2.1 and 2.2

Read the advanced chapters in my patreon!

See you next chapterヾ(≧▽≦*)o

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