Chapter 89 - I Want to Speak (5)

Now that I had even left a tip, there really was no business left.

I led DeB and stepped outside. There wasn't much time left until departure, and with people starting their day, we had to move quickly.

"You're heading to the harbor, right? I'll come with you."

Windhand, who said he had dropped by briefly, was also heading to the harbor—naturally. The ship couldn't leave without him—so he accompanied us.

"Let's go to the harbor."

"Yes."

"Oh man, people have already gathered."

"They aren't approaching us, though."

News of my visit must have spread far and wide, as I could already see people peeking around.

However, no one dared to approach easily, and the guide expertly chose paths where crowds couldn't easily gather. The Lord hadn't assigned him for nothing.

Thus, I checked the sword again without worry. Slipping from its scabbard, the blade cut through the light and revealed a matte, elegant beauty.

It was truly beautiful.

And truly short.

"... Can you use it?"

In response to DeB's question, I sheathed the sword instead of answering. This wasn't something I could use.

"Take it."

So what else could I do? I couldn't even use it, and I didn't want to just let it gather dust or sell it as some 'good sword,' so I had to hand it over to someone else.

"Huh? Eh??"

I tossed the sword to the Meat Dumpling to soothe my bitter feelings.

I was planning to buy him a substitute for his kukri anyway, so while it was a shame, it wasn't a waste.

In fact, it almost felt like destiny. It was just a judgment based on a quick glance, but that sword was roughly the same length as the kukri DeB used to use.

To think a sword perfect for him was made right after I broke his weapon. If this wasn't destiny, what was?

As for my regrets... it was just a shame because it perfectly suited my tastes, but as long as the materials remained on the mainland, I could just have it remade, so it didn't really matter.

I handed the sword over with a relieved heart.

"A-Are you giving this to me, Sir?"

"Oh."

On the other hand, DeB's eyes widened as large as bells when I handed over the sword. Seeing him ask such a foolish question, he must have been quite surprised.

"Really...?"

Well, if I wasn't giving it to you, who else would I give it to? It wasn't like I could give it to Windhand.

As I kept walking straight ahead without a word, that seemed to serve as enough of an answer. DeB lagged behind for a moment, then quickly caught up to my side.

"T-Thank you, Sir."

His deeply moved face made him a guy quite worth giving a gift to.

"You're here."

Thanks to the capable guide, we finally arrived at the harbor. The ship was already floating on the water, loaded with people, as if everything was fully prepared.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yep!"

"Then weigh anchor! We're departing!"

Windhand, who was the last to board, waved his hand. The anchor was hauled up, and the oars began to work.

"Hey, look at this."

"What is it."

"The Sir gave this to me."

"...!"

"You didn't get anything like this, did you?"

"W-W-What."

The sound of the two Dumplings squabbling like elementary schoolers on the deck mixed with the wind and drifted over the gunwale.

"Wait, wait!"

And just as the ship moved away from the dock and slowly prepared to unfurl its sails, a person came bounding over from afar.

The person who came rushing up to the dock had a pouch in their hand.

"Hanta?"

"Heeeeeey!"

At that point, I straightened my body, which had been leaning against the railing, to leave the spot.

"You left way too much for the labor fee—!!"

"Hmm?"

"Huh, isn't that the coin pouch the Sir left behind?"

"Just how much money did he leave that that guy would..."

"What kind of crazy bastard leaves 7 million gal—!!"

"...??"

"...7 million gal?"

... I know nothing about this. I know absolutely nothing about this.

"Sir?"

Whether people's gazes focused on me or not, I gradually shifted my steps to head downstairs. It was the next moment that another shouting voice was added from the dock.

"Demon Knight! You left behind the bounty for killing Bipurit!!"

... Dammit! They have zero tact, seriously!!

They could have just come a little later!

* * *

After leaving behind a threat that I would kill them if they wasted my time by turning the ship around, I ignored everyone trying to talk to me and holed up in my assigned room.

I was really glad they gave me a private room. If not, I would have been pestered to no end.

"... I brought food."

Well, the captain himself bringing me food, for one. And considering he dropped lines like, "A guy like you is really..." before leaving, I suppose I was already being pestered anyway.

No, I only said I couldn't help if it meant risking breaking my character; I never said I wouldn't help! If there was a way to help without breaking character, why wouldn't I!

Of course, since you guys don't know that, you're probably thinking, 'Why is that bastard's mood as fickle as boiling porridge.'!

Anyway, I didn't want to see that kind of reaction, so I finished all my meals in my room and didn't step outside.

Actually, the fact that my seasickness was terribly severe was a slightly bigger reason than that.

Honestly, I felt like throwing up right now too.

"Are you still sleeping?"

"... What is it."

"We're arriving at the mainland soon, so I called you."

Still, sprawling out and sleeping every single day made time fly by. Heading to Canaves, the closest mainland city, instead of the distant Gruh Telz must have played a part in the quick arrival as well.

Setting that aside, I pressed a hand to my forehead for a moment against the dizziness that rushed in right after waking up, then stumbled outside.

The Archmage, whom I hadn't run into much over the past few days, looked at me with a lukewarm gaze again today. His gaze mostly contained the kind of pride one would have when looking at a grandson who had done a commendable job.

"... Do you want your eyes gouged out?"

"Haha, of course not."

I tried to leave quickly because I knew it would be like this.

I suppressed my surging emotions. If 'Rage' triggered from this, everything would go down the drain.

"When we arrive, let's stop by the Magic Tower first."

Fortunately, the Archmage helped with that.

Faced with this newly introduced topic, I composed myself as calmly as possible.

"The seal has been completed."

Well, for the sake of the concept, I had to fake some complicated feelings, though.

"..."

If it were before, I would have thrown a massive fit the moment a seal was mentioned, accusing him of running his mouth carelessly... but it was different now that a rampage had happened once. Plus, it was a fact I had already heard.

Thus, instead of saying anything, I turned my back to the Archmage and tightly gripped my right arm. I dropped the tension from my shoulders and slightly hunched my back, so it must have looked quite troubled from behind.

In reality, never mind feeling troubled, I was just thinking, 'What will the seal's effect be? It would be great if it permanently disabled the Rage skill.'

"Do not worry too much."

No, I'm not really worrying, though.

Even if I were, it'd just be about what the seal's effect was? If it was a permanent deactivation of the Rage skill, that would be the absolute best, but if it reduced my stats, that was a different story.

Hmm... Surely not, right? It won't reduce my stats, right?

It had been over two months since the start date; theeeere's no way they'd do a balance patch now of all times.

"It is simply a precaution just in case. It is not that we do not trust you..."

I took a step before the Archmage could finish speaking. Thump. My foot, carrying a bit of force, advanced down the wooden hallway with a creak.

"I know."

The Archmage's words completely broke off.

Thump, thump.

I stepped up the wooden stairs leading to the deck. At my appearance after shutting myself in my room, everyone, from the sailors to anyone else present, stared in my direction.

"You..."

The most intense of them was Windhand. He had brought me meals, but maybe because I barely gave him any chance to talk, there were dozens of things he wanted to say floating on his face.

"You'd better turn away those insolent gazes before they get plucked out."

But my concept is being in a bad mood right now. I growled, then slowly approached the gunwale.

In the blowing wind, my hair swayed and tickled my forehead.

"Ah, Demon Knight. Have you come out?"

However, someone with zero tact approached, oblivious to my mood. While everyone else was appalled, she remained steadfast.

"Have you eaten? I was worried because you weren't coming out of your cabin."

Was the Inquisitor always this sociable? I quietly glared at the person chattering in front of me.

I wasn't sure if she was that worried about not seeing me, or if she had just grown as a person.

But one thing was for sure...

"Demon Knight. U-Um."

Her eyes were sparkling burdensomely, as if she were expecting something.

"That is..."

"Sir, you've come out?"

"...!"

However, before the Inquisitor could finish her sentence, DeB cut in. Hanging neatly at his waist was the sword I had gifted him.

I wanted to ask if he liked the sword and if it fit his hands well, but due to my concept, I just maintained my silence.

Meanwhile, a few sparks flew between the Inquisitor and DeB. I thought they had gotten somewhat closer, but it felt like they were back to square one.

"Never mind. I will go help out now!"

And at the end of it, the Kimchi Dumpling backed down first. She had plenty of justification. After all, she was still carrying a large piece of luggage in her arms.

Why did her retreating back look so lonely, though?

I looked back to see if there was a problem. However, there was nothing that really stood out.

Did I... do something wrong...? No, it didn't look like she was glaring at someone who had wronged her, though? Her eyes were way too sparkling for that, weren't they?

"Sir."

After I pondered for a moment. The Meat Dumpling, who had chased the Kimchi Dumpling away, smoothly struck up a conversation with me. "Prepare to dock!" As we nearly reached the mainland, the deck was gradually getting busy.

"U-Um. It's not my place to say this, but..."

Watching the commotion, I kept my arms crossed and struck a cool pose. DeB, standing next to me, stealthily whispered.

"Do you happen to have... anything... you could give to that blockhead as well?"

That single whisper brought an immediate realization.

Because DeB received something, she wanted something too...!

The contents of a parenting book—one I had read while doing research—that said you shouldn't raise children with favoritism sharply flashed through my mind.

"Nonsense."

"Mhm, I figured, right?"

The problem was that my concept wasn't the type to go around showering people with gifts.

I shot him down reflexively while desperately racking my brain. DeB had suffered a lot, too, but if I had to pick the one who suffered the most, it was the Inquisitor, so I really couldn't just brush it off.

On top of that, it was true that my head was still attached to my neck thanks to the Inquisitor.

I glanced at DeB's sword, which at least had the excuse of me disposing of something useless. Since I gave DeB a sword made of dragon scales, whatever I gave the Inquisitor should be around that level...

Unfortunately, the things the Inquisitor used didn't overlap with mine at all. Which meant making something to give her would break my character instantly.

Then, at the very least, I wanted to feed her a hearty meal of her favorite food... but that wouldn't work either, would it? The conditions wouldn't allow it, right?

I felt even more sorrowful than the moment I witnessed the completed sword being too short. There were so many things I wanted to say and do for them, but blocked by my concept, I couldn't do a thing.

It was a lamentable situation.

"More importantly, the Temple came out to greet us?"

"They are additionally deployed personnel."

"Ah, Archmage."

"Of course, there might be some who came to greet the Hero as well. After all, this was quite a massive incident. We did write and submit an incident report, but there are many who wish to hear the details more closely."

"... Does that mean we have to work again?"

"Do not worry. I will handle that side of things. You all should rest well and recuperate in the meantime. Or deciding on the next city to visit would be good as well."

"That's a relief, at least."

Is the next city the problem right now? I have absolutely nothing I can give to the Inquisitor...

I swallowed my tears inwardly, wishing I could at least offer a word of apology. Treating my favorite character the most coldly, is this for real? It genuinely brought tears to my eyes.

"Alright, those who are getting off, get off!"

Still, I had to disembark. Listening to Windhand's words, I jumped down from the ship.

I caught a glimpse of sailors belonging to trading companies like Gridana and Makarang loading supplies from the dock onto ships.

Thud.

「Canaves」

And just as my feet touched the dock.

Perhaps because I had been on a ship for so long, the unswaying earth felt momentarily unfamiliar. It was a precursor to land sickness.

"Sir, let's go together!"

While I stayed still for a moment to fight off the land sickness, DeB landed behind me.

He cried every day about not being a superhuman, but looking closely, that guy wasn't a normal civilian either.

"Me too..."

"You can't jump! Are you trying to smash the dock to pieces?!"

"Gasp."

Meanwhile, the Kimchi Dumpling, who tried to copy us, was caught by a horrified Windhand.

It was understandable. I didn't know when she had fully equipped her armor, but if she jumped from the ship in that outfit, the wooden dock would be completely shattered.

The expression of the Archmage standing next to her seemed to have aged rapidly in that short moment.

"Quietly climb down the ladder!"

"Understood..."

Eventually, under Windhand's supervision, the Inquisitor climbed down the ladder together with the Archmage.

It was cute, but for this matter alone, I couldn't take her side either.

"Do you have a brain in that head or not?"

"S-Shut up."

"Phew."

Well, still, kids that age tend to want to copy what the people around them do.

... Or not? I'd remember if being 20 was just a day or two ago, but it's been over 10 years, so I don't really know. It isn't very important, so it doesn't matter.

"Wait!"

I slowly moved my feet to leave the port. Windhand, who had gotten off after the Archmage, called out to me.

"Damn it, I didn't think I'd be saying this only at the very end..."

Windhand's words made me realize that this moment was the last moment I would share with him.

Indeed, he wasn't a member of our party, and his combat power was too ambiguous to include him in it.

Unless we went back to Zakrati, or got tangled up with the pirates in these nearby waters again, we wouldn't have any more business with Windhand.

"..."

Thus, I offered him a brief moment. Perhaps that made him even more nervous, as Windhand couldn't easily continue speaking.

"If you have nothing to say, I am leaving."

But my concept wasn't the type to give someone special treatment just because it was the end. I coldly turned my back.

"Thank you. I really wanted to tell you this."

Right after, his words of gratitude struck me.

"Inquisitor, thank you for doing your best until the end even though I treated you harshly at first... Hooded friend, and you too, Mr. Great Sage... I owe you all a lot in one way or another."

"... It was only what had to be done."

"I didn't even do anything..."

"Don't mention it."

Once the words burst out, they flowed smoothly. The others made awkward faces at the sincere greetings. Even though my concept was moving forward with a 'do whatever you want, I'll go my own way' mindset.

"And... Demon Knight, I'm the most grateful to you."

However, I had no choice but to listen to that greeting.

"Thank you... truly, for saving my hometown and my family. No matter what anyone says, you are the hero of Zakrati."

Maybe it was because of the trolling I did at the end. My face grew hot for no reason. It would be more fitting for the Inquisitor to hear those words rather than me.

"You call me a hero even after seeing that sight."

Based on those feelings, I lightly gripped my right arm and prodded him, telling him to take his words back.

"Utterly laughable—"

"If you're talking about... that moment on top of the magic circle, didn't that Priest lady already say it?"

What returned was a voice mixed with a smile.

"I don't know exactly what your circumstances are. Because I didn't hear the details. But I do agree with what that Inquisitor lady said back then. The 'you' that I've seen will never lose."

I felt like I had been caught off guard.

"So you are indeed a hero. No matter what anyone else says, you'll forever be one to us."

But as for whether that was unpleasant, hmm. Like mother like son, I suppose; it wasn't particularly so.

"Besides... we're ready to repay this debt of gratitude at any time."

If anything, even if it was cringeworthy, it actually felt pretty good.

"If you ever need our help, call us anytime. No matter where it is... if you call, we'll gladly come running. Got it, Sir Knight?"

Shounen manga weren't popular for nothing. Though my face was genuinely burning up.

"Wait."

At that moment, the Inquisitor stepped forward. I didn't know what she was trying to say, but thanks to her, the atmosphere shifted.

Alright, just say anything except something agreeing with what he said! In the meantime, I'll escape from this spot reeking of touching emotions!

"I... I also have something I want to say."

Just as I was about to turn around and leave without a word, the Inquisitor took a deep breath from her diaphragm and shouted resoundingly.

"Setting aside the relationship between Zakrati and the Temple, crime is bad!"

I almost stumbled on my feet.

"Huh?"

"So put an end to your piracy!"

"W-What the...?"

"With your abilities, couldn't you help others without having to remain a pirate anymore?!"

"...!!"

"Understood?!"

I barely held back the urge to burst into laughter. Because I somehow imagined the faces I couldn't see since my back was turned.

"... Damn it, are you saying that knowing I'd have to be locked up in prison for 50 years to end my piracy?"

"I don't know! But I cannot say something that is wrong is right!"

"Damn it, of course you wouldn't! Haha! Got it, I got it! Next time, I'll greet you as an honorable man, Hero!"

Ah, I thought we were escaping the shounen manga vibes, but they just got thicker. Though again, I didn't dislike it.

* * *

"Proxy!"

Receiving the pirates' salutes, we gradually left the dock. The Priests who had been waiting at the port came rushing over.

"We have been waiting for you."

I felt a momentary sense of anxiety wondering if they had come to catch me, but fortunately, that wasn't it. They displayed a proper greeting to celebrate the Hero's return.

"But why are you out here already? I should have sent word that we would drop by the Temple later..."

"That is..."

However, just because it was a proper greeting didn't mean an incident absolutely wouldn't occur.

"We apologize. A problem has occurred with the dragon corpse we were keeping."

My... My reward!!