80 – Indirect Murder
“Then the next question.”
“Yes….”
After listening to the adventurers’ information, the empire’s movements seemed unusual.
But even if the Empire launched an all-out offensive right now, there was no way the High Elves would fall easily.
The Histanias Empire would also be well aware of this fact, so they would not blindly invade the Great Forest.
Isn’t it true that fall is coming to an end and winter is just around the corner?
No commander, no matter how bad, would go to war in the harsh winter, so it seemed like there was no need to worry about an empire invasion right now.
“Why are you adventurers subjugating centaurs? “Humans must have noticed that centaurs are no longer monsters.”
So, after solving the centaur’s problem, let’s go straight to the west of the Great Forest.
Thinking about that, I decided to focus on the problem in front of me first and continued asking questions.
The adventurers sitting on the floor hesitated, looked at me, and then answered.
“… That’s because the Adventurer’s Guild of the Kingdom of Festini has placed a bounty on it.”
“Bounty? “You put a bounty on a centaur?”
“Yes. Didn’t the centaurs, who were monsters, attack and plunder peddlers? Even though it is no longer a monster, the valuables that were looted so far will still be there. “It looks like they are planning to gather adventurers and rob them all.”
“Ah….”
I nodded and let out a small sigh.
I knew that Centaur was not a monster, but because his trophies were attractive, he was still treated as a monster.
It could be seen as a self-sufficiency from the looting done in the past, but it was a situation that was not to his liking as he had already decided to help the Centaurs.
“But were you planning on robbing the centaurs of their plunder with only fifteen people?”
However, it felt like their original purpose was not to subdue the centaurs.
That’s because the adventurer party we faced a while ago was severely lacking in numbers.
Even though it is a period of adaptation after receiving the blessing of wildness, these centaurs are not about to be robbed by a dozen adventurers.
When I pointed out that fact and asked a question, the adventurer who was caressing his broken leg answered.
“The purpose of our party was not subjugation but reconnaissance. “I was requesting to find out the habitat and population of centaurs.”
“Then you’re saying the main force is separate.”
“Yes. “There were several parties other than us who received requests for reconnaissance, so there is a high possibility that the main force will attack sooner or later.”
“Hmm….”
It seemed like trouble with the adventurers could not be avoided.
I got up from my squat and asked the last question.
“Then, now is the last question. “Why did you humans take action ahead of winter?”
I have a rough guess as to why, but I asked to be sure.
The adventurer was lost in thought for a moment and then cautiously opened his mouth.
“That’s… “I think it’s because I thought now was my only chance.”
“Why did you make that judgment?”
“Because of the rumor that the elves have become calm and the news that the empire’s troops have moved, adventurers are gathering to the west of the Great Forest. “With so many adventurers and imperial troops harassing the west, they probably decided that the north would be relatively safe.”
“As expected, that’s what happened.”
After finishing all the questions, I stretched lightly and looked up at the sky.
The autumn indigo sky came into view between the dense trees.
The sun was still up and the surroundings were bright, but soon the shorter days would end and night would come.
“That… Do you have any more questions? “I’ll tell you anything I know.”
“I will never come into the forest again…” So please send me home….”
As I was looking at the sky and measuring the time, the adventurers, as if they felt fear in the short silence, begged.
I looked down at them and thought for a moment.
‘There are still many things I want to ask, but the information from a single intermediate adventurer may be unreliable.’
All the questions I wanted to ask earlier were answered satisfactorily.
Once you’ve sucked up all the honeydew you were aiming for, you’ll have to make a choice: kill it or let it live.
Before making a choice, I glanced back at Shizu and asked for confirmation.
“Do you have any questions about them?”
Shizu answered my question indifferently, summoning her spear.
“There is nothing I am curious about about humans. “When everything is done, I’ll take care of it and come back, so go first.”
Shizu seemed intent on getting her blood on his hands this time too.
She even told her to return first, as if she didn’t want anyone to see her killing humans.
It was a remark that could have been considered a bit terrible, but it made me feel happy because it was an act of consideration for everyone.
“Didn’t I tell you that I would save your life!”
“Please don’t kill me! “I told you everything I know!”
“Please, please have mercy…” .”
However, the adventurers were frightened and trembled at Shizu’s remarks.
Shizu looked at me and tilted her head in response to the adventurers’ reaction.
It seemed like she wanted to get final confirmation before killing him.
“Shizu. “You don’t have to kill me.”
I hit Shizu on the shoulder and lightly dissuaded him.
Shizu and Piyi frowned at that, and the adventurers had mixed reactions.
I calmed down Piyi who was fussing on her shoulder and spoke quietly.
“You promised not to kill me based on your answer. I liked the attitude of these guys. “I have to keep my promise, so I can’t kill him.”
[Ugh. Wasn’t that just something you said? If that’s what you think, then I’ll follow it.]
“Then what do you plan to do with these guys?”
I didn’t want to kill the adventurers in front of me.
There was a record of cutting down spirit trees, but compared to me, it was a cute crime.
But that did not mean we could send them away alive.
This is because in the process of digging up information, our information was also discovered to some extent.
They are probably aware of the fact that I am a druid.
It was extremely difficult for the information that the high elves, ley beastmen, and druids were helping the centaurs to be passed on to the adventurer guild.
“Thank you! “I will not forget this grace!”
“Huh! I can live….”
I have no intention of killing him, but I also have no intention of saving him.
The adventurers, unaware of my speed, blushed as if they felt hope.
I looked down at them and asked to prevent any possibility.
“Can any of you use healing magic?”
It wasn’t their intention during the battle, but all of the adventurers had their legs broken.
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Because they had to travel several days to even reach the nearest city, it was virtually impossible for them to return on their own.
In response to my question, the adventurers shook their heads, clutching their broken legs.
“No… It looks like everyone died during the first attack… I’m a wizard, but I only know how to use destruction magic….”
“Really? “I’m so sorry about that.”
I raised my senses and looked at the mana they possessed.
Red, black, and yellow. The various colors of mana appeared blurry, but I could not sense a single white mana like Kaa.
It seemed to be true that there were no healers among them.
I said a bitter farewell, quenching my bitter taste.
“Thank you for your hard work in answering so far. “Then we’ll go, so be careful when you get back.”
“Yes?”
“Uh….”
The adventurers looked dumbfounded at my farewell.
I was told to return carefully with a broken leg, so in a way, it was a natural reaction.
“Well, like that…” .”
Soon a hopeful face turns into a blank face. The embarrassed expression changed into an angry expression.
The adventurers, who realized the true meaning of my words, began to let out pleas and screams without anyone else taking the lead.
“I broke my leg…” I can’t go back in this state….”
“Well, we can’t even stand up now!”
“That means you have to die!”
The bridge is in a horribly broken state, and even though it is only on the outside, it is in a major forest.
The sun was about to set and there was a lot of blood, so there was a high risk of being lured by monsters.
In fact, the goodbye I gave was no different from telling people to savor death slowly.
I turned my head away from them and finished my cold words.
“I only said I wouldn’t kill him, I never said I would save him.”
“Please, please don’t do this! I’ll do anything! “Please save me!”
The adventurers begged and shouted, but I turned around and started walking without hesitation.
Of course, if they called Kaa and casted a healing spell on them, they would be able to survive.
However, the strong smell of centaur blood permeating their bodies completely erased any sense of mercy.
‘I don’t want Kaa to heal those guys.’
They are released freely while being certain of death.
If you are lucky, you will survive, but if not, you will die miserably.
I didn’t feel comfortable because I wasn’t sure of the ending, but considering my mentality, this was the best way.
“Hmph. That’s not a bad method. Because the Great Forest will not let those guys live.”
Fortunately, Shizu seemed to be okay with this ending.
She returned the spear she had summoned and walked side by side with me and spoke.
“It was a bit Druid-like.”
For some reason, I feel like Shizu is right next to me.
She glanced to her side and noticed her pointed ears pricking up.
I was confused because he seemed to be in a good mood.
‘Did he gain Shizu’s favor in exchange for letting a few humans die?’
Then it’s not that bad?
Thinking like that, I walked to the place where the group was waiting.
───!!
How long did it take to walk like that?
The cries of the monsters began to mix with the screams of the adventurers coming from behind.
The first indirect murder I intentionally committed ended in such a futile and tragic manner.