Chapter 104 : Chapter 104
Chapter 104
Risilbak, offering to save me if I sided with the monsters.
At that unexpected proposal…… a proposal so difficult to refuse, a myriad of thoughts crossed my mind.
‘I’ll be saved, so I should side with the monsters……. What exactly does that mean?’
I had meant to think to myself, but without realizing it, I had spoken to Risilbak.
―What does it mean to side with the monsters……?
Grin―.
Risilbak gave a wide smile as he answered.
It was a cunning, tempting smile, as if he were testing me.
―It is simple. Do not prepare for the war against the monster army at all. Make the castle gates thin and the walls weak. The knights shall not train, and the soldiers shall be kept hungry. Discard talented individuals and employ only those full of greed. Forcibly mobilize your people to build a road in front of the Monster Mountains. So that the monster army may easily attack your kingdom.
―…….
―With that, you show your loyalty to the Minotaur. If you do that much, you will surely be able to survive. You, and you alone.
To summarize Risilbak’s words…… it was to ruin the kingdom.
So that the monster army could trample it with ease.
To offer up the entire populace of the kingdom, and beyond that, the entire kingdom, in exchange for saving me.
It was an absurd proposal.
But…… I was still swayed by the offer. Because the very reason I was going through all this trouble was for ‘my own survival.’
‘……I struggled to live. That’s why I purged the nobles, and got rid of the thugs and wicked merchants. Eliminating the bandits and establishing justice in the kingdom was ultimately for ‘my own survival’.’
As a result, the people of the kingdom came to live happily, dreaming of a better tomorrow than yesterday, but that had not been my original goal.
‘Yes, my original purpose was to save myself. Not to protect the peace and happiness of the people like the kings or heroes in history.’
That was right. It was certainly so.
So, it was right for me to readily accept Risilbak’s proposal.
‘But why…… am I hesitating? Why do I keep worrying about people other than myself?’
Since when did I start caring about the well-being of others, not just ‘myself’?
Was it from the time the King told me to go see the lives of the kingdom’s people, and I went to see them?
‘I want to let those people live at least like humans, even if they aren't happy. I have the opportunity and the responsibility to do so. And I…… despised those in power who did not take responsibility. I will not become like that. Never.’
That vow I made when the King gave me the sword.
It suddenly came to mind, and with it, the answer to the question the King had asked me a few days ago.
‘The King asked me. What kind of king do I want to be remembered as.’
The King had said he wanted to be remembered as a king who never gave up until the end.
As for me…….
―I appreciate the offer, but I must refuse.
As I spoke clearly.
Risilbak asked back as if surprised.
―Why?
―Because I am the one responsible for this kingdom. A king is such a person, and the king I aspire to be is that kind of king.
―…….
―From your perspective, you may think some kid is spouting empty words. You might scoff, thinking I am tainted by some pathetic heroism. But―.
As I was speaking honestly and hollowly.
Risilbak cut off my words.
―Young Half-Elf. Since when was someone who takes responsibility called a 'kid'?
―……Pardon?
―And since when did taking responsibility become a pathetic heroism?
―…….
―‘King of humans.’ In your eyes, do I seem so immature as to think of one who tries to take responsibility for his own kingdom as a kid or someone lost in pathetic heroism?
Just a moment ago, Risilbak had been wearing a cunning and tempting smile.
But now his expression— despite being a snake’s expression— was incredibly serious.
Risilbak continued in an even more serious voice.
―I have met countless people in power. Not just humans, but elves, dwarves, monsters, and even the king of the dead.
―…….
―Among them, there were many who would take responsibility by betting their wealth. There were also many who would take responsibility by betting their families. But there were very few who would genuinely take responsibility by betting their own lives.
―So…… what are you trying to say?
―That I like you. You have passed my test.
Swoosh-.
Risilbak raised his head high and moved away from me.
―If you seal the Minotaur, we Anakros will stand on the side of humans and fight against the monsters. It seems that is also the fastest way to regain the quietness and tranquility that I and the Anakros love.
―Ah…….
―To be honest, I have also been annoyed lately that the young monsters have not learned manners and etiquette. They need to be harshly disciplined at the cost of blood and flesh.
Some of them these days do not even know me, 'Risilbak'.
Having finished speaking, Risilbak began to head in the direction he was going before, towards the Monster Mountains.
As he left, he left one last word.
―King of humans, this is a pact. A pact made between your kingdom, the ‘Plank Kingdom,’ and the ‘Anakros race,’ a pact of the same level as the one I made with the elves.
―Yes.
―If you seal the Minotaur, our race will fight for your kingdom. But you too must fight for your kingdom with your life on the line. I doubt you would, but if you abandon your kingdom and run away―.
―That will not happen.
―……You cut me off again. Are you doing that because you are not afraid of dying? Or do you think I will not kill you just because I said I like you?
Pfft―.
I do not know if it was just my imagination, but I thought I heard a light laugh from Risilbak.
And so, a moment later.
Ssssss-.
Risilbak moved away at a rapid speed. Once he was so far away that he was completely out of sight, my legs gave out.
Thud―.
“Y-Your Highness!”
“Leonardo……!”
“My friend!!”
From behind, I heard the voices of Jereuth, the King, and Grondar in that order.
I understood that Jereuth and the King were surprised and worried, but I did not know why Grondar called me 「“My friend!!”」.
‘……My legs won’t move.’
Was it because I was so tense, or was it because I had focused so much on Risilbak?
Even after collapsing on the ground, my legs continued to tremble.
“A-are you alright, Your Highness? Can you stand?”
“……Yes, I am fine.”
I barely managed to get up by holding Jereuth’s hand. Since the strength had not fully returned to my legs yet, I staggered, and Jereuth caught me again.
As the situation calmed down for a moment, Grondar, who seemed unable to calm down by himself, spoke in an excited voice.
“A-amazing! To stand up to that monster so bravely!!”
Grondar shouted in my ear. Honestly, it felt like my eardrum would burst.
……He was spitting a lot too.
“Let me introduce myself again! I am the son of the Giant Elder Barut and―!”
While Grondar was speaking.
Jereuth placed his hand on his sword and blocked Grondar’s path.
“Step back, Giant. I left you alone earlier so as not to displease Anakros, but it is different now. This is not someone just anyone can speak to.”
“I know! A human king? A prince? Something like that, right? I heard! Like an elder to a Giant!”
“……‘Something like that’? There is a limit to rudeness.”
Jereuth revealed his killing intent.
Grondar waved his hands and laughed awkwardly.
“Uh…… I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know…… haha.”
Grondar backed down, but I could tell something surprising. It was that Grondar was not scared of Jereuth.
Grondar was clearly laughing playfully.
‘Anyone would be scared if Jereuth got that angry…… Is he not scared because he doesn’t know who Jereuth is? Or is he that confident in his own skills?’
While I was thinking, the King gently pressed down on Jereuth’s sword and joined the conversation.
“Jereuth. Is there not something we should ask first? We need to confirm if that Giant is truly Barut’s son.”
―Huh? Do you know my dad?
“He is Barut’s son. Look at the backpack that Giant is wearing. It is the backpack Barut used when we adventured together in the past. His personality seems similar too. And his face as well.”
―An adventure? With my dad?! Then are you guys perhaps Jereuth and Philip?!
“Hmm, I was unsure, but now that you say it, it seems so. That is Barut’s backpack.”
―My dad said you two fought tooth and nail because you wanted to marry an elf, is that true? But where is that elf?
Jereuth and the King had been ignoring Grondar’s words and continuing their own conversation.
But they could not ignore the last part, and their conversation came to a ‘thud.’
As Jereuth and the King stared at him simultaneously, Grondar scratched his cheek.
“Uh…… was I not supposed to say that?”
“That way of speaking is just like Barut. Barut always spouted strange nonsense and then tried to brush it off like that.”
“My father does have that side to him. That’s why he always gets a beating on the back from my mom.”
“Do you want to get beaten too?”
“No.”
“Then do not speak nonsense. Just answer what you are asked.”
“Yep.”
This time too, Jereuth spoke while showing his anger.
However, Grondar was not intimidated at all this time either.
I did not know if it was a case of ‘ignorance is bliss,’ or if he was truly confident in his skills.
That aside.
‘Jereuth and the King fought over an elf? An elf worth fighting over would have to be Queen Victoria, so was it some kind of love triangle? ……It was a more complicated relationship than I thought.’
While I was thinking, Jereuth spoke to Grondar again.
“Grondar. What are you doing here? This place is quite far from the Giant village. Did you commit a crime and run away?”
“I did steal my dad’s backpack, money, and food, but that’s not a crime!”
Why is that not a crime?
“I am on an adventure! I want to go to the human kingdom and become the protagonist of a wonderful story!”
“You want to become the protagonist of a wonderful story in the human kingdom…… Barut said that too.”
Jereuth muttered and then nodded his head.
“I understand. You do not seem like you will be a harm to us, so I will let you go. You and we are both in a hurry, so let’s part ways here.”
“Wait a minute! Where are you guys going? If you go north from here, it’s the Wasteland of Ruin, isn't it? Are you perhaps going to the Giant village?”
“There is no need to tell you. Be on your way.”
Jereuth waved his hand as if shooing away an animal.
But I could not let Grondar just leave. Because he was the trustworthy Giant companion mentioned in the <Future Diary>.
‘Though I don’t know that Giant well yet.’
“Just a moment, Commander. I have something to ask that Giant.”
At my words, Jereuth immediately changed his attitude and said.
“Halt, Giant.”
“My name isn’t Giant, it’s ‘Grondar’! In the language of Giants, it means ‘a really strong punch, an even stronger kick, and a headbutt even stronger than that’.”
A name that means ‘a really strong punch, an even stronger kick, and a headbutt even stronger than that’……
What a chaotic name. Though it does suit him.
“Yes, Sir Grondar. Earlier you called me a friend―.”
“Please just call me Grondar. I want to be friends with you!”
Grondar mentioned what I was about to say first.
“Yes, about that. Why did you call me a friend? And why do you want to be friends? We just met.”
“Because you are a strong person!”
“A strong person…… you say?”
“Yes! Not blinking an eye against that incredibly huge snake earlier! It was amazing! Giants respect the brave and consider it the greatest honor to befriend them!”
Not knowing if that was true, I glanced at Jereuth.
As if understanding my gaze, Jereuth nodded his head.
“It is true. Giants respect the brave and make it their life’s purpose to make good friends. The Giant who was my companion before also said such things.”
I see.
‘I gained his favor for an unexpected reason, but…… is this for the better?’
“Then Sir Grondar. No, Grondar.”
“Yep!”
“We are going to the Giant village because we have a request for the Giants. Could you perhaps accompany us?”
Going to the Giant village with Grondar.
That was not something mentioned in the <Future Diary>.
But I had a feeling that if I went to the Giant village with Grondar, it would be easier to get the Giants’ help.
‘We’ll reach the Giant village eventually anyway. But it would be easier if we go with the elder’s son.’
Thus, I proposed that Grondar accompany us for my own calculated reasons.
However, Grondar seemed to have taken it a little differently.
“D-does that mean you’ll be my friend?!”
“Pardon?”
“You asked me to go to the village with you! That means you’re asking me to invite you as a guest, which means you’re asking to be friends!”
“Yes, well…… something like that.”
I found it difficult to keep up with Grondar’s energy. I was an introverted person who preferred quiet, but Grondar seemed to have the complete opposite personality.
‘Still, the feeling isn't bad. It feels like we have good chemistry.’
I did not know why, but I had a feeling that Grondar and I would get along well in many ways.
A feeling that we could become the kind of friends who could talk about anything without reservation.
Happy to have become ‘friends’ with me, Grondar smiled from ear to ear. Then he hurried me, Jereuth, and the King.
“This way! This is the path I came up, it’s the fastest way down the mountain!”
Grondar guided us to a rather steep path― to exaggerate a little, a path that was almost a cliff.
With that innocent expression and tone, he was asking us to climb down a cliff, and I almost followed him without thinking.
“Grondar, we have horses, so we cannot take that path. Even if we did not have horses, I would never allow His Highness to take that path. That is practically a cliff.”
“Ah……! Right. Climbing cliffs is dangerous for humans.”
At Jereuth’s words, Grondar made a sound as if he had realized something.
Then he suddenly approached the horses―.
“Heave-ho!”
―Neeeigh?!
Grondar said as he slung a horse over each of his shoulders. The horses, surprised by Grondar’s sudden action, cried out with a sound that clearly showed their bewilderment.
The horses’ legs flailed in the air.
I, too, was flustered by a sight I had never seen before, a sight I would probably never see again in my life.
‘……What is that incredible strength? Horses that size should weigh 400-500kg, right?’
The fortunate thing was that Grondar had not touched Kartum.
If he had another arm, he might have lifted it too.
“Then let’s run down a slightly flatter path instead of the cliff! It’s a bit of a detour, but if we run, we should be able to get to the foot of the mountain quickly!”
“……If it’s a path we can run on, why are you carrying the horses? Horses are for riding, not luggage to be carried.”
“Ah.”
At Jereuth’s reluctant words, Grondar made a sound as if he had realized something again.
“The horses are startled, so put them down quickly.”
“Yep.”
Grondar put the two horses down on the ground without any effort at all.
The horses, still surprised by what had happened to them, could not move and were just blinking their eyes.
“Then come this way! This is a flat path that you can ride horses on!”
Grondar, with excited steps, led the way.
I followed him with an awkward smile.
‘I’ve gained more than I expected. I recruited Anakros as an ally, and became friends with Grondar all too smoothly.’
With so many things proceeding this smoothly, the very first thing I had to do now was to check the <Future Diary>.
The ending where the kingdom becomes a wasteland after the monster army advances, despite sealing the Minotaur.
I have to check how that has changed.
It has to have changed.