Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer?

Chapter 121: If I Could Leave (3)

“The Jatav are blocking the way, so we can’t go?”

“Yeah. They seem furious, talking about some secret weapon of the Vigabol chief they call the black snake… Anyway, it looks like we’ll have to fight the Jatav to get to the Vigabol’s territory.”

“Berserk is confident about beating them.”

“You might be able to fight them freely, but our Tower can’t afford a battle, okay? We barely secured permission to gather materials from the Great Forest, but if we fight them, they’ll block us from doing so again!”

“Then what should we do?”

“What else can we do? We must negotiate. They probably won’t agree, but…”

“So, joining up with the other two will be…”

“Sorry, Hero. It appears we’ll have to delay our journey by a few days.”

“Ah…”

We managed to arrive in the territory of the Vigabol.

【How… How did you manage to…?】

While I’d hoped we could simply return without any issues and receive a warm welcome from the tribe before visiting the Mountain Lord, I kind of expected this. It was still surprising, though.

【How could you do this?!】

【Hah, shut up! I warned you repeatedly, Atarte. You were the one who didn’t listen!】

【Taposhaka! Sammar!!】

As expected, a rebellion had also occurred here, and the village was under siege.

“Are you… erm, okay? Your expression doesn’t look good.”

Suppressing the rebellion itself wasn’t that difficult; there were still forces loyal to Atarte, and not all the villagers were participating in it.

However, even though there weren’t any particularly skilled fighters among the rebels, as this was an ideological battle, Atarte had tried fighting without any weapons and seemed to have pushed them back.

【Uwaaah!】

【Shut up, you’re noisy!】

However, the real incident happened at the end of their talk.

Faced with their rebellion’s imminent failure, the rebels took several kids, about six years old, hostage.

Naturally, my eyes practically turned red with rage when I saw others, especially innocent civilians, getting caught up in this incident.

Obviously, those bastards, who had grown up protected and cherished by their parents, had completely forgotten their own childhoods and had stooped so low as to take kids hostage. Those insane pieces of shit. These jerks, these scumbags.

“Let me ask you something.”

The moment they laid hands on children, all their claims about keeping tradition and justifications had lost power in my eyes.

I gripped my sword while firmly engraving a certain point into my mind. Before me were rebels occupying a village, staging a hostage situation in a last act of defiance.

“Can I kill these vermin?”

The rebels’ leader was holding one of the child hostages directly, while the others were kneeling behind a wall where another rebel stood. Additionally, they were bound with rope.

“…You.”

The Archmage called out to me sternly, but I ignored him.

Instead, I focused on the guy holding the child.

Since he had six arms, I couldn’t cut them all off without harming the child, and because he held the kid’s head close to his jaw, aiming for his neck would be difficult.

Even if I attacked and defeated him, the other children’s safety was still at risk. I needed to plan my next move carefully.

“Kill him if you want. I’d prefer you leave his head intact, but it’s also fine if you don’t.”

Just as I was trying to fish for an answer carefully, Atarte gave me his definitive confirmation. That was all I needed.

“Tell them this.”

“…?”

“Tell them to close their eyes.”

A pitch-black light etched itself into the air, piercing the enemy right between his eyes.

Bang!

At the same time, I propelled myself off the ground, taking to the air.

Craaash.

At that moment, a transparent barrier shattered into pieces as I broke through the inner fortress wall, swiftly climbing up to stand before the freshly fallen corpse.

【Huh?】

The child was safely in my arms. At that moment, losing my chest armor felt like a blessing in disguise.

【Wh-What—】

Afterward, I swiftly moved toward the other children and swung my sword. It seemed Atarte had relayed my message properly, seeing that most of the children had closed their eyes.

Thank goodness.

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Slash!

Steel sharply cut through flesh, spraying blood everywhere.

【Urgh.】

At that moment, my chest became damp with snot and tears.

It was better that way. If the child was rubbing their face against my chest, their vision was blocked, in which case they couldn’t see their surroundings.

Rustle.

I adjusted my hold on the kid, ensuring they couldn’t peek over my shoulder as I checked for survivors.

Was it because the children were a lot smaller than adults and also kneeling? My sword slash had only cut through those inhumane pieces of trash. The children had been merely splattered with some blood but were otherwise unscathed.

I had succeeded in saving them without causing them any physical harm.

“Keep your eyes closed.”

I knew they wouldn’t understand my words, but I hoped they would at least grasp what I meant from the tone of my voice.

With that in mind, I gave out a futile warning as I gently placed the child in my arms with the hostages.

Then, I looked into the bewildered faces of those around me who seemed unable to believe what had just happened.

With the children’s safety ensured, it was now time to subdue the rebels completely.

【The children are safe! Move in!】

【We should move the children first, Chief. That way, he can move more freely.】

【I see. That might be better!】

After I made a move, the previously halted suppression efforts resumed.

The Archmage used magic to shatter their barrier—they’d hastily recast it after I broke through earlier—and the blocked door, allowing the warriors to rush in.

【Taposhaka… Sammar…】

Among them was Atarte. He climbed up the wall to take the children away but paused for a moment. His gaze lingered on the corpse of the man with a hole in his forehead and the body of a woman a bit further in.

A mix of affection and anger flickered in his eyes before he finally closed them. I didn’t know what kind of relationship he shared with them, but it clearly wasn’t shallow.

“I’ll take over now.”

Well, whatever their relationship was wasn’t any of my concern.

I handed the children over to the Archmage and Atarte, who was with him to ensure his safety while casting, and then left the scene.

Thud.

As I landed below the wall, I stirred up a small cloud of dust before moving forward.

【…He managed to subdue most of them alive. Is he being considerate so we can personally execute them later?】

【I don’t think that’s necessarily the reason…】

I proceeded to beat down the remaining rebels who continued to resist and dashed to where the enemy priests supposedly were. Though I could see a few rebel warriors still standing, I left them to the Vigabol warriors.

I knew I couldn’t afford to give the priests (wizards) any time.

【The maze is almost complete! If we keep this up, they won’t be able to get in!】

I ran through the building and kicked down the door to a room where I could hear voices coming from.

Bang!

【Alright, it’s com—?!】

【Wh-What the–!】

【How did he get here so quickly?】

【Those filthy outsiders…!!】

I had no idea what they were saying, but judging by how their faces were flushing and twisting in anger, they seemed to be cursing me out. Since I couldn’t understand their words, this didn’t really impact me.

【Qu-Quick, take the children hostage—】

However, their shouting was so annoying that I couldn’t help but use force to shut them up.

While violence was a temporary solution, it couldn’t be said to be the true answer, nor did I believe it could change a person, but I had no other choice right now.

Those bastards were trying to keep the children they’d apparently kept inside as reserve hostages. These guys were just like their comrades outside; not even a speck of goodness could be found within them.

“I hope you realize how precious the integrity you’ve abandoned is.”

Those filthy scum bastards. They should be grateful that there were children here; that they were watching was the only thing holding me back here.

“Because if you do, you'll want to bite your tongues and die from shame over what you’ve done.”

These utterly despicable pieces of trash…

* * *

* * *

【A-A man with missing arms…】

【A monster came to get us…】

【Uwaaah. Moooommyyy.】

I took a deep breath, hearing a ringing in my ear.

My expression must have been quite terrible, seeing these children burst into tears like that upon seeing me.

The anger surging within me had been smothered by a wave of embarrassment.

“…Don’t cry.”

Leaving behind the despicable scum, who’d had their limbs broken by me, I approached the crying children first.

It hurt a little to see them scooch away in fear whenever I reached out to them, but… I would be scared, too, if a large, darkly dressed man who’d just beaten up some adults came near me.

Although I was here to rescue them, the visual information they got from me was that I was a threat. I doubted they were even old enough to make judgments based on context.

【Hic. Waaaah!】

【Uwaaaaah!!】

【Daaaaaddyyyyy!!】

But I couldn’t just ignore their ear-piercing cries. I decided to take some special measures while I tore apart the ropes tied around them.

“Look at this.”

【Hic, sniff.】

【…Pretty.】

I had to apologize for cursing out those adventurers who gave me that gift pack, calling it clutter. They’d actually had quite some foresight.

I took out various pretty, shiny, but otherwise useless items from the gift bag I’d received in Tatara.

There were octagonal ornaments reminiscent of Korean lacquerware, colorful knot decorations made of five-colored thread, tiny bells, painted wooden figurines, bracelets made with low-grade crystals, and so on.

Even to my eyes, these items seemed quite beautiful. I could only imagine how fascinating they might look to the kids. Their attention was immediately captured.

Riiip.

At that moment, while the children were distracted, I tore apart the vine ropes as quickly as I could.

It was quite a hassle, as the children were each tied up individually and once more in groups. The ropes were bound so tightly around them that it left marks on their skin.

I would have to deal with these bastards properly as soon as I got out of here.

【B-Behind you.】

Huh? I saw the child I’d just freed looking past me and exhaled.

Bam!

【Argh!】

Even if the child hadn’t warned me, I would’ve quickly noticed that guy’s limping footsteps… but it was still pretty creepy. If they had that much determination, they should have held a proper discussion with the chief in court instead of leading a rebellion.

I tripped the approaching rebel and punched him squarely in the face. I didn’t use any Arcane Power, so he probably wouldn’t die from that. However, considering all the blood pouring from it, his nose was most certainly broken,

“It’s okay.”

Rather, why weren’t Atarte’s warriors coming in? Did they decide to subcontract this job to me and then just went to slack off?

After freeing all the children as they played with the various trinkets, I decided to take them outside. Although the rebels had been subdued, I couldn’t just leave these kids amidst criminals.

“Let’s go.”

Despite us speaking different languages, they seemed to understand what I meant. I picked up the visibly youngest kid, who was fiddling with one of the knot decorations, in my left arm, and with the others clinging to my head and legs, I went outside.

To make it easier for the kids to cling to me, I returned my sword to the inventory, essentially leaving me unarmed, but that was fine.

This uncle was still more than capable of beating kidnappers with his bare hands.

“How did you get in here…?”

Then I ran into the people who’d just entered the place.

The Archmage looked at me with a subtle expression, speechless at the sight of me leading these kids out like little chicks.

Guiding the hostages outside shouldn’t be out of character, though. As I mentioned earlier, I couldn’t just leave hostages, especially children, in the same space as their kidnappers.

So, I‘d thought this much would be okay… or was it not? Did I do something wrong?

My mind was racing a mile a minute, trying to decipher the Archmage’s reaction.

“…I knew you were quite kind to children, but, hmm. Anyway, hand them over to the warriors. It’s better that the children are not here.”

I was relieved to hear that, though I was a bit worried about this coming to haunt me later. I’d intended to hand them over, anyway.

Having someone else care for them made much more sense than keeping them with me.

【You, and you! Take the kids outside!】

【Okay, let’s go.】

【Thank you, Mister Armless Warrior.】

【Bye-bye, warrior.】

【By the way, what are you all holding?】

【The warrior gave it to us.】

The Vigabol warriors quickly took away the children. They also wanted to take the child I’d been holding in my arms, but…

【Please hand them over to me.】

【Hnng.】

Uwah.

Hey kid, I really appreciate you not pulling on my hair, but please, let go of my clothes and the eyepatch.

The child’s grip was so strong that the button securing my eyepatch at the back tore off, causing it to slip free. I quickly covered my right eye with my hand.

【Noo. I don’t wanna go. Waaah.】

【Urgh!】

【Heeeek!!】

The child, who was in the process of getting forcibly pulled away from me, cried loudly and swung around the hand holding my eyepatch. It seemed they wouldn’t let go of my clothes so easily, either.

【We can’t have this. A good warrior doesn’t cry over a simple goodbye.】

【Now, how about looking at this?】

However, someone who’d belatedly come forward from the back and the Archmage performing some magic tricks briefly distracted the child.

The warriors used that moment to pry away the child and return my eyepatch.

【Waaaaaaaah!!】

The poor thing started to cry bitterly.

“【The crying is too loud. Please take them away. I apologize for the child’s rude behavior… Ah.】 I apologize on the child’s behalf. We failed to educate them properly.”

“…No need.”

Educate? Kids were always like that at that age.

After quickly putting my eyepatch back on, I reached into my inventory. There shouldn’t be any more toys in there after I’d taken those things out earlier.

“The priests set up a maze barrier, but you still somehow managed to get inside. Inviting you here was indeed a wise decision. As expected of the Black Snake Warrior.”

Ah, so that’s why they took so long. I’d thought it was strange.

While thinking about what to do, I rummaged through my inventory. It was filled with all kinds of things ever since I’d opened that bundle, so finding what I wanted was rather tough.

I scowled slightly.

“…If the child’s actions offended you, I will sternly warn them…”

What was that crazy person talking about? Warning them for a natural reaction? Instead, we should be trying to soothe them to cover up all these bad memories. Was he out of his mind?

“I said it’s not necessary.”

I walked past Atarte with a deep scowl on my face.

“Just keep your promise.”

I caught up with the warrior moving slowly outside with the crying child in his arms.

【Hic, sniff.】

Tak.

【Sniff, huh?】

Something fell into the arms of the kid, whose crying had stopped momentarily due to exhaustion. A colorful ball of yarn, about the size of a baseball, rolled around the child’s hand.

【Wooow!】

【Huh?】

With that, half of my useless stock had disappeared. Nice.

* * *

The Archmage watched as a certain someone almost indifferently gave the child a gift before walking away.

Even though it wasn’t anything special, the child had stopped crying and was now beaming. Just like everyone else who’d received help from the Demon Knight.

【…He’s more generous than he looks.】

【Right?】

Maybe that was why. The Archmage couldn’t tell if it was surprising or actually typical of him.

He was always hostile toward others, but when it came to those whom others easily looked down on—the injured and endangered, those who’d lost much and couldn’t worry about anything but their survival, and children who still needed the protection of adults—he showed great kindness. Truly.

【His harsh behavior and tone often cause misunderstandings, but he is someone who always seeks to walk the path of the righteous.】

It was difficult for someone as strong as him to show genuine kindness to the weak.

【Truly a rare sight in this age.】

Indeed, the Demon Knight was a good person. He was far too precious to have a bomb placed around his heart to end his life… a truly precious individual.

【Of course, it would be a lot better if he stopped neglecting himself like this in his pursuit, though.】

Therefore, the Demon Knight absolutely deserved a better life.

There was no need for him to carry around a bomb or push himself to the brink of death like this. He should enjoy a life filled with relaxation and happiness.

He absolutely deserved it, even if he didn’t think so.

【Hmm.】

The Archmage watched that young man’s retreating back with a satisfied expression on his face.

【He truly is… an excellent person.】

Because of that, he didn’t notice.

【Very righteous.】

Atarte was smiling coldly.