LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 52
The core of the Sand Worm, that is to say, the Magic Stone was absorbed into the Golem.
We first attended to the severely injured.
Lucius and Rosmas rushed around, moving the injured, while I used the Golems to gather the dead.
No matter how much we had the Blessing of the Moon Goddess.
No matter how quickly we tried to manage the situation.
In that first moment of hesitation, the number of lives lost was beyond counting.
Now, the number of corpses visible to the naked eye was almost fifty-nine.
While the number of survivors reached into the hundreds, many among them were severely injured.
Most of them were men.
“…….”
The women, thanks to the Blessing of the Moon Goddess, were unharmed.
Even though a few were injured, given the ratio, it was an undeniable fact that the men suffered more.
‘If I can meet the Moon Goddess later, I’d like to ask her once.’
Did you do this 500 years ago too?
I wasn’t particularly inclined to argue, but I was genuinely curious about why a goddess would let the world become like this.
From an efficiency standpoint.
‘Giving blessings to both sides of humans would be more effective in raising faith, right?’
If she just granted blessings indiscriminately, both men and women would willingly endure exposure to believe in the goddess.
Look here.
“In the name of the Moon Goddess….”
“…….”
The priests of the Moon Goddess rushed out from outside Normans to heal the people, but could the expressions of the injured be called good?
Not at all.
I certainly didn’t think so.
It wasn’t like they were giving medicine after inflicting harm; if they had distributed blessings fairly from the beginning to prevent people from being hurt, wouldn’t there be no complaints?
After some degree of cleanup was completed.
“Master.”
Lucius approached me, looking somewhat tired and fatigued.
“If you’re tired, why not go rest at the lodge?”
“You seem more tired than I am, though?”
“I’m not physically exhausted. Just a bit mentally drained, but it’s something manageable. But you, Master….”
“I am having a tough time sorting things out in various ways.”
Moving the Golems completely consumes my mana, my life force.
That admirable Lucius, caring about his master’s life force, so thoughtful.
“Here, have this. It’s a drink the priests brought.”
“Thank you.”
“How does it taste….”
“Why does the taste matter? Just what I needed to quench my thirst. Hehe.”
I gulped down the water Lucius handed me.
The water in the wooden flask was quite cool and refreshing.
“Just drinking water in this situation is a treat in itself. It washes away some mental fatigue.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. Where’s Rosmas?”
“She’s healing people with magic. She’ll be here soon.”
“Such a good girl, Rosmas.”
Even if she seemed like she did nothing while handling the Sand Worm, I bet she’s accumulated considerable fatigue from tending to the people.
The elves I know wouldn’t even want to touch a human, let alone bother, but it seems that the time that has passed has changed that notion.
Or perhaps Rosmas is a bit special, or maybe she’s trying to look good in front of Lucius, who is also human, by healing people.
‘Am I being too harsh on Rosmas?’
If it’s the latter, she seems too crafty.
But surely it can’t be the latter.
Her character isn’t that twisted.
“I’ll talk more when Rosmas arrives, but… the investigation will begin soon.”
“Investigation?”
“Yeah. An investigation into our identities.”
Lucius paused momentarily.
“Why do you look so frightened? Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”
“Master, you seem overflowing with confidence right now.”
“Of course. I’m proud of it.”
Not that my actions are bold, but it’s because the strength I possess is sufficient.
After finding the Magic Stone of the Sand Worm and claiming it as my own, I now possess enough mana to survive for about six months without doing anything.
Thanks to that, it feels like my mana reservoir has expanded a bit.
“Open your chest and be proud. We are those who deserve it.”
“….”
“Have we committed any crimes, or done anything wrong?”
I have nothing to be ashamed of, so there’s no reason not to have confidence.
“Haah, haah. I’m sorry. Ah… W-witch.”
Rosmas arrived holding three water bottles.
I felt a bit awkward, but remaining quiet at a moment like this isn’t considerate.
“Perfect timing. Rosmas, can you pass me a bottle of water?”
“Yes….”
“Thank you. I was thirsty. Phew, feels like I can live now.”
I took a sip from the water Rosmas handed me.
Out of courtesy, but clearly to make my thirst known, just half.
This way, Rosmas wouldn’t feel awkward.
“Lucius. Rosmas. Just so you know, I’ll lead the conversation. People will surely come to investigate us.”
“… It doesn’t look like there’s even a chance to talk.”
Lucius pointed with his eyes behind me.
There stood a bald man approaching me with a stiff expression.
“True. But that’s okay. Leave it to me.”
Dealing with such a man is as easy as pie.
I stood still, waiting for them to approach, and the bald man strode up to my eye level and looked down at me.
“Are you the Crimson Witch?”
I knew the identity of the bald man.
He is the head of the Adventurer Guild branch here in Normans.
“How rude. Talking down to someone upon first meeting.”
“…….”
“It’s a waste of time to converse with someone lacking even basic etiquette.”
“I apologize.”
The bald man bowed formally.
Not that I was looking to get a rise out of him, but the fellow named Belphegor inside me couldn’t hold back his disdain.
Frankly, when has he ever seen me before to speak so casually?
“It was Arthur Lucius behind defeating the Sand Worm, and I’ve heard that you are Arthur’s master. Is that correct?”
“Who did you hear that from?”
“From Morzen. She saw your promotion examination.”
“…….”
The information relayed through Morzen was not particularly threatening.
Morzen doesn’t know about the existence of the Holy Sword.
The real danger lies within the incident itself.
“Lady Crimson Witch….”
“If you have something to say, don’t beat around the bush; just ask directly. How urgent is the situation right now?”
I pointed to the north.
“The Behemoths must be attacking from the north, so we need to go deal with them right now. Is there time for a debate here?”
“Don’t worry about that. The Flame Hero, Bearnes has defeated them all.”
“…….”
Suddenly, a wave of irritation washed over me.
‘My Magic Stone.’
If I could catch the creatures in the sky and extract the Magic Stones while frying their bodies, crow tempura would be quickly made. But if Bearnes has taken care of all the monsters, I can’t gather the Magic Stones.
“That’s a relief. The hero has done well.”
“Yes. So, with that said, if I might ask….”
The bald man inquired with a serious face.
“Are you in collusion with the Demon King’s Army, Asydia?”
“……I can’t believe I’m hearing this. It’s utterly ridiculous.”
I genuinely felt bewildered.
“Are we in collusion with Asydia? What nonsensical talk is that?”
“Can I believe there’s no possibility of that?”
“Of course. Unless it were the opposite, I wouldn’t understand.”
A thief doesn’t get anxious about his own foot being caught.
I am a Demon King, but in this world, I’m just a witch awakened from her seal to eliminate the Demon King who has resumed activities after 500 years.
“Why the sudden unpleasant question?”
“Because there are those who suspect that. This kind of thing has happened 500 years ago.”
“If we’re talking about something similar… ah, I see. I understand why you misinterpret us.”
To deceive the enemy, one must first deceive allies.
I, Demon Lord Belphegor, gained the trust of humans by directly attacking my own forces.
“Are you thinking we would win their trust by pretending to be allies, then betray them at the most crucial moment after stacking up achievements?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, but that’s exactly it.”
Ahh.
Is the karma from 500 years ago coming back to haunt me?
“The Adventurer Guild has certain figures to be wary of. Especially, there’s an ancient tradition dating back 500 years.”
“Someone who suddenly appears is 70% likely to be part of the Demon King’s army?”
“You know that, huh?”
“I learned it from the guild’s book.”
I understand.
500 years ago.
I played the weak and in a dangerous situation, saved my companions, earning their trust, then lured them into a dungeon where I paralyzed everyone but myself to annihilate the Hero Party.
The gazes admiring me when I showcased my strength just right.
The despairing gazes when I finally revealed my true identity.
Though it was more like a prank, it drove the humans mad.
“We sincerely want to trust the Crimson Witch. The image you and your student showed was the essence of a hero. However, that makes it harder for us to trust you. That being said….”
“Did you encounter any associates of Asydia during your promotion examination?”
“… I didn’t, but someone is suspecting so.”
“Haah.”
Really, there are far too many needless worries.
But.
“First, the monster attacks in the north are over, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then we’re safe for a moment. Alright. If there’s anything we need to prove our identities other than actions, I will comply. But….”
I narrowed my eyes at the bald man, subtly spreading a determination to scorch all the remaining hair on his sides.
“Can you handle it?”
“…….”
It’s a cheeky question, but it’s not intended to make the bald man uncomfortable.
It’s a question considering Lucius.
With the Holy Sword being revealed, Lucius’s hometown residents were all massacred.
For him not to want to reveal the Holy Sword is partly because I’m diminishing my desire to use it regularly in a dungeon that’s empty of people, but more so he’s worried that those who know of its existence would suffer significant harm.
“… Regardless of whether I can or not, I need to know. That is the responsibility of the branch leader overseeing the Normans branch.”
The bald man’s resolution was clear.
His determination not to back down was strong, and I realized he wouldn’t give in any further.
“Alright. But there’s a condition. Let’s talk in a place where there are no people, just the two of us.”
“Yes?”
Lucius looked more surprised than the bald man.
“Master?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Even so, talking face to face….”
“That’s not me, it’s you.”
“……Yes?”
I lightly tapped Lucius’s belly with my knuckles.
“You just have to talk with that guy.”