Chapter 99 - Responsibility

A winter where a freezing chill whipped about as if to freeze everything solid.

Hestia village was engrossed in construction work as usual.

Hanson, who had been working since the early stages of the village's construction, was promoted from foreman to director.

He was considered the most successful among the commoner technicians who managed the foremen.

"Hey, give me some more meat! How am I supposed to get my strength up eating such stingy portions?"

"Meat is strictly rationed."

"Standard rations, my ass! That piece of meat over there looks bigger. Doesn't that mean someone else will get to eat more? Is that a standard ration?"

"Man, now that you've become the big director, you should buy some ham from around here and share it. It's already annoying enough that the food rations are still a mess."

"When am I supposed to save money if I buy and eat things like that!? Never mind that and just give me a little more of that meat."

After a brief scuffle, he managed to receive a sizable chunk of meat.

Hanson walked away from the serving line with a satisfied smile.

"Director Hanson! Come over here! I saved a seat for you!"

He laid down a mat and sat a reasonable distance away from the campfire.

"Wow. Even after becoming a director, you still eat in a place like this?"

"Do I look like I have the time to eat with the higher-ups? While they slack off, everyone else does all the work!"

"Where did that knight sir go?"

Hanson shrugged.

"How should I know? Even if he suddenly disappears, I just figure that's how he is. He doesn't eat anyway, so let's just eat in peace."

A moment later, a foreman approached while anxiously glancing around.

"Are you eating?"

"I am. What, are you being chased by your wife?"

"It's similar to my wife. Because I don't want to run into him. Here, here. Hurry up and take this."

He pulled an item out from inside his coat.

It was ham.

"Ooh! Where did you get this ham?"

"I distinctly heard there was an issue with the supplies."

"What do you expect? I stealthily swiped one from those southerners."

The man openly boasted of his theft.

Instead of scolding him, the men were busy praising him as a hero.

"Then why didn't you bring a bigger one?"

"This was the biggest one."

"This bad boy is huge. I was just thinking the meat ration was a little lacking, but now we get to grease our stomachs a bit. Take out your knife."

"Mine is dirty. Let's use yours."

"Mine is just as dirty. Stop fussing and hand it over."

"Doesn't it get sterilized if we scorch it in the fire?"

"Then let's scorch yours in the fire and use it."

It was right then, as they were squabbling over not using their own knives.

"Gentlemen."

"That bastard is here! Hide it, quick!"

At the young man's voice, the men moved in a flash.

They just scooped up their stew as if nothing had happened.

The young man who approached them wore half-plate armor, carried a single sword, and sported an armband that read 'security captain'.

It was William.

The security captain, whose strictness could be felt just by hearing his voice, asked.

"The people from Halim are saying their food rations have gone missing. Do you happen to know anything about that?"

"Beats me. Do you know?"

"I don't know either. Maybe some petty desert god turned into a ghost and stole it?"

He smoothly scanned his surroundings.

An unusually large crotch caught his eye.

"Take out whatever is in your pants."

"Whoa, look at this guy! We're eating here, and you're telling me to expose my crotch?"

"I'm saying that because it looks suspicious. Take it out already."

"He's naturally packing a massive one."

"... Please, let's not make this embarrassing for each other."

Left with no choice, he pulled the ham hidden in his pants out.

William let out a sigh.

"This is clearly theft. Why are you all acting like this, really."

"H-Hey, those guys did it too! A few of our materials went missing, and didn't they feign ignorance saying they didn't do it?"

"That's right! Why should they get to use it and not us?"

The laborers shouted that it was tit for tat as they claimed ownership of the ham.

However, the security captain wasn't buying it at all.

"I have a duty to maintain security in this village. Please, let's not do things that will cause bad blood between us."

"Come on, I'm telling you they did it too. You're not going to lock up poor folks like us over something like this, are you?"

"Consider your revenge complete by returning something you rubbed on your crotch. Next time this happens, I really will handle it by the law."

"That's not half bad. Because the stench of your crotch is toxic."

"Oh, you wanna go? You haven't washed in a week, so yours is even more toxic!"

While the laborers squabbled over the pot calling the kettle black, the security captain picked up the ham like it was filth and disappeared.

The laborers watched his retreating back and spat out a few words.

"Damn it. That refugee bastard struck it rich as soon as he got here."

"Where did that piece of trash roll in from?"

"I don't know, his name is William, but he's just some refugee. Even though he's a refugee, didn't the administrator tell him to be the security captain the moment she saw him?"

"Why would they entrust a heavy responsibility like security captain to some refugee?"

"Did he bring some higher-up's family heirloom and secretly slide it to the administrator?"

"Why would a dragon spawn have that kind of greed?"

"But looking at how he acts, doesn't it suit him? With how strict he is, you'd think he's some esteemed sir knight."

"True."

They didn't want to admit it, but at the same time, it was true.

He had never once done anything to shame the epaulettes of a security captain.

Then, a sudden thought crossed one of their minds, bringing up a new topic.

"Come to think of it, why haven't they even considered giving our knight sir a title?"

All the foremen nodded in agreement.

Considering his monstrous strength, it was bizarre that he still remained a mere laborer.

"I thought for sure that the armor knight would become the security captain."

"They said he wasn't even offered the job. When I asked the administrator if our knight shouldn't be given a title, she just said it was under consideration!"

"So they are thinking about it. We just have to wait, right?"

"Thinking, my foot! Isn't it just a scheme to work him to the bone and toss him aside? She's no different from a greedy, corrupt official."

At those words, the foremen felt a chill run down their spines.

"That... administrator is a dragon, isn't she?"

"Not a dragon, a dragon spawn."

"To people like us, it's all the same. They're the type to snap your spine in half if they get angry, so is it really okay to run your mouth like that?"

"... I'm just saying, that's all."

Hanson tucked his tail between his legs and muttered.

Hanson knew the value of his own life, so he didn't have the guts to actually get angry on someone else's behalf.

Since ancient times, there was a saying among commoners to beware of things with horns on their heads.

Demons, dragon spawns, or dragons.

Because they all possessed abilities that surpassed humans.

"Huh?"

"What is it?"

"Isn't that our knight sir over there?"

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear, here he comes."

A man dressed in armor wholly unsuited for a construction site walked in.

"Sir Knight, over here!"

Hanson waved his hand wildly at him to draw his attention.

The armor knight spotted a familiar face and came over with quick, small steps.

"Seeing the way he runs, he comes over like some delicate woman."

"With his height and build that big, there's no way he's a woman, though..."

Figuring it was some obscure knightly etiquette, they casually brushed it off.

Above all, he was someone who could pick up 11 whole logs barehanded.

It was only natural that his behavior felt feminine.

Because the person inside was none other than a woman, Valdrova.

"My goodness, Sir Knight. Have you eaten?"

Nod nod.

"Then, rest here for a moment. We were actually just talking about you."

She tilted her head, floating a question mark.

"We were just saying how upsetting it is that they haven't given our knight sir, who has made such great contributions here, a title."

"?"

"I mean, considering how much you've done for the construction of this city, isn't it really disappointing that they haven't done anything for you?"

Hanson spoke in a flurry.

His reasons included genuine regret, but it was also to secure his own share of the pie.

There was no better power than having an acquaintance in a heavy position of responsibility.

Hanson just wanted him to take a knight's position so he could ride on his coattails.

Of course, Valdrova couldn't even see through such a shallow trick.

'The work I'm doing now is fun enough as it is.'

Above all, Valdrova was satisfied with the work she was currently doing.

Rather than being a knight or something, she wanted to do work that involved building things.

Even if she received little pay, she couldn't hide the pride that welled up every time a building was erected.

She preferred staying in a place like this over becoming a knight.

As the meal was drawing to a close, someone's loud shout erupted.

"You fucking...!"

Eyes naturally focused on that spot.

A group of armed men was grabbing hold of a young girl.

And an older girl, who appeared to be the young girl's guardian, was trembling in fear.

"Can't you keep your sister in check!? Why did you let her walk around carrying something like that? My clothes got ruined because of you!"

"I'm sorry, adventurer. I will wash it for you, so please, the clothes..."

"Get your dirty hands off me! Do you know how much this is worth? It's 3 shillings!"

"U-Um, I-I'm sorry! To have dirtied such expensive clothes..."

"Talk is cheap. Pay up already."

"E-Excuse me??"

"Are your ears clogged?! I said hand over 3 shillings!"

The older girl's complexion turned pale.

It was a situation that couldn't help but cause panic.

When they had to worry about what to eat tomorrow, where would they get 3 shillings?

The laborers watched the scene and threw out a few words.

"A lot more of those bastards have been showing up lately."

"Isn't this place originally for adventurers? It's only natural for adventurers to gather here."

"Aren't there plenty of adventurers in the Empire too? I've never seen any act so disrespectfully."

"That's because guys like that would have been chased out long ago. They're just all bark and no bite. Isn't that why they're stuck in Bronze or Silver ranks?"

The foremen clicked their tongues as they gossiped.

However, they didn't have the guts to actually confront the adventurers.

"I-I will pay back the money. We're staying here, so I'll save up money step by step..."

"When will you earn 3 shillings doing that? I'll die of old age first."

"This oppa knows how to earn 3 shillings fast, want me to teach you?"

"What do you mean..."

A wicked hand reached out toward the girl.

The girl instinctively sensed what was about to happen and curled her body inwards.

"Those filthy bastards—!"

Just as the foremen were about to stand up, unable to hold back any longer, someone else shot up from their seat a beat faster.

It was the armor knight.

Being a heavy set of plate armor, the sheer impact of his standing up was enough to freeze the foremen in their tracks.

She trudged heavily toward the commotion.

Although she had shrunk compared to her original armor, she was still on the very large side.

And that size was enough to make the hooligan adventurers tense up.

"W-Who are you?"

"..."

"Y-You fucker! Do you think keeping your mouth shut like that will scare me?!"

Valdrova raised her fist.

The hooligans flinched, thinking it was an attack, but the fist opened.

Inside it were 3 silver coins.

3 shillings.

She was paying the price in their stead.

The completely intimidated hooligans belatedly tried to save face as they spoke.

"Take this and get lost? Yeah, sure, I'll do that! Hey, kid, consider yourself lucky!"

The extorting hooligans snatched the money and let the younger girl go, practically throwing her.

The young girl's body was caught in Valdrova's embrace.

The little girl remained snugly held in her arms.

With a face that didn't know what to do, Valdrova awkwardly hovered her arms in the air before lowering her hands.

Just then, the girl's older sister approached.

"T-Thank you for saving us, Sir Knight."

"..."

"I will definitely... pay you back the money somehow. So please, my sister..."

The girl looked like she was about to cry.

Her hand holding the basket was still trembling violently in fear.

Valdrova handed the young girl over just like that.

The older sister wiped away her tears and grabbed her sister, running off somewhere.

Valdrova blankly stared at their retreating backs.

"Why would you give them money? Punching each of those scumbags and sending them flying wouldn't have been enough!!"

"..."

Hanson tried to argue, but Valdrova just quietly looked at him.

Hanson remembered that he was the possessor of enough monstrous strength to lift 11 logs and lowered his voice.

"Since you are a fellow adventurer, Sir Knight, and seem to have your own intentions, I suppose it would be useless for this lowly one to argue."

Valdrova faintly realized that it hadn't been the right choice, either.

Seeing them grab that young girl had made her blood boil.

Strength had surged into her fist, and she had wanted to hit them hard enough to make them bawl.

But she couldn't let it lead to violence.

Valdrova knew very well.

'If I use my strength... someone dies.'

Death leads to sorrow for some, and to terror for others.

It was something she had felt and experienced over the course of decades, centuries.

'I hate that.'

That was why, if possible, she had wanted to smooth over the situation and move on.

And the best method for doing that right now was, as expected, money.

Thus, she had handed the adventurer the money he wanted.

The situation ended at that.

Without incident.

Valdrova was satisfied with that.

She thought it would be nice if everything in the world could be smoothed over like this.

It was then.

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Suddenly, the loud sound of an alarm bell rang out across the village.

"What is that sound?"

"I think it's ringing from the center of the village?"

Nobody exactly knew what that bell meant.

But they could gauge that it was a sound warning of danger.

The question was whether that bell was truly signaling danger.

As everyone stood frozen in place, the security captain was sprinting toward them with his sword drawn.

"This is a real emergency! Everyone who can't fight, evacuate inside the buildings! Demonic creatures are swarming in!"

"D-Demonic creatures?"

"Oh my god! They weren't kidding about the east!"

"Foremen, quickly spread the word to the laborers and evacuate them! This is a real emergency!"

The foremen hurriedly shouted as they organized the evacuation.

Valdrova stood blankly in place.

'Demonic creatures...'

It felt as though the inside of her head had been painted completely white.

With demonic creatures swarming in, she couldn't make any choices right now.

"You're the armor knight, correct?"

"..."

"We need hands right now. If it's at all possible, would you fight for this city?"

"..."

When she didn't express any intent, William tried to persuade her again.

"We can't hold them off with the security force alone! Everyone is in danger! One wrong move and Hestia village could collapse. Everything could turn into nothing but an illusion. We need your cooperation, Sir Knight!"

Hearing William's earnest appeal, Valdrova finally snapped back to her senses.

She nodded her head and followed behind him.

The sight that entered her vision as she followed him was the chaotic landscape of the city.

Everyone was moving around in a panic, their arms packed full of belongings.

Armored security guards wielding spears clumsily ran toward William.

"Sir! Evacuation is about 70 percent complete! Should we finish sorting it out?"

"No, that's enough! Security force! Form a defensive square in front of me!"

The spear-wielding security guards stood on the road and raised their spears.

They were all an army of soldiers in name only, completely lacking in proper training.

Because of that, they desperately needed the adventurers' help right now.

-Security captain.

Isabella's telepathic transmission could be heard.

-A wolf demonic creature is expected to enter through one of the alleys to the west; could you send an adventurer over there?

"Understood!"

William quickly scanned the area.

He spotted a familiar group of adventurers and shouted.

"Adventurers! We need defense for the western alley... Where are you going!? Hurry up and join the battle—."

"What, are you crazy? Do you think I became an adventurer just to lay down my life here?"

"Didn't we say that adventurers would be mobilized in times of emergency!?"

"Who cares! I'm not participating!"

"If you're the security force, then act like it and protect the place yourselves!"

"I didn't see anything. I didn't see a thing."

They had come with the sole intent of making a quick buck, but faced with the immediate terror before their eyes, they were too busy fleeing with their tails between their legs.

Rather than being of any help, they left behind a massive pile of shit that only chipped away at morale.

'Those damn bastards.'

For William, his blood pressure was rising to the point of death.

He had thought that even if they disturbed the peace, they would at least be of help at the crucial moment, but they weren't even capable of that.

In the end, all he could rely on was a small number of adventurers with a conscience and the security force.

'The armor knight of monstrous strength.'

Right now, this person was the only one he could trust.

If the security force was to safely block the main road, his help was desperately needed.

William made a choice.

"Sir Knight."

"?"

"They say troops are needed in the western alley. A demonic creature is entering there, and it needs to be stopped."

"..."

"Will you be able to do it alone? If you can't do it alone, I can dispatch about 4 men—."

Valdrova cut him off.

It was a signal that she didn't need any reinforcements, so they should just handle their own business.

Then, she moved silently.

To the east.

"S-Sir Knight? It's not that way..."

Oops.

The west is that way.

In that manner, the lacking position was filled.

The main force had lost a significant amount of its combat power, but William had no other choice.

A moment later, the main culprits behind the blaring alarm bells revealed themselves.

They leaped out from the forest and entered the village.

-ROOOAAR!

A whopping 15 wolf demonic creatures, twice the size of normal wolves.

Three of them showed themselves on the main road.

William raised his sword high and shouted.

"Hold your spears straight! We advance 1 step forward!"

Hearing his words, they moved little by little.

What lay before them was death.

Who could confidently step forward in the face of death?

At the very least, it was a difficult task for them, as poorly trained soldiers.

The wolves smacked their lips, savoring the fear of the inexperienced soldiers.

Their instincts knew.

That the formation would collapse if they just dug in a little deeper.

-BARK!

"H-Huh? D-Don't come any closer! I said stay back!"

One wolf demonic creature dug past the spear shafts and closed in.

The infantrymen panicked and fell over at the force of the demonic creature charging in without fear.

"A-Aaagh!"

The moment they thought they were going to be eaten,

A red sword aura sharply struck the head of the wolf demonic creature.

-YELP!

The wolf demonic creature backed away with a mangled head.

The one who had delivered the fatal blow was none other than William.

He pulled the fallen security guard to his feet and shouted.

"Get up! Hold your spears straight! If you want to live, brace your spears firmly and lower your center of gravity!! All you need to do is hinder their movements!"

William pounded his own chest.

The sound of his plate armor rang out like a metal gong.

"I will take responsibility for your lives!"