196 - A Certain Priest’s Decision

It was unfortunate about the vice guild master.

He was our escort target, but he approached Argos himself and lost his life.

Allow me to state unequivocally that the adventurers who accepted this request were not at fault.

We had also been made to keep our distance “in order to show that we had no hostility,” so before we could even rush over, he was killed by Argos.

Unfortunately, I do not know what they were talking about, but judging from Mr. Guon’s usual words and conduct, the negotiations failed.

Perhaps it was the result of him flying into a rage when things did not go as he wanted and saying something improper.

Then, when Argos’s body color changed from gray to black, combat suddenly began.

The first to raise his voice was Cole, the temporary hire.

He appealed that we had no intention of fighting, but he was not heard, and Argos closed in on Cole and sent him flying as far as the forest.

After that, it beat Lizary, who was desperately calling out to it, to death, and when Argos crossed the river, Quorth, who had been the leader of this request, shouted.

“Spread out and run separately!”――he had judged that the request had failed, and that even if we fought, we could not win.

Even now, I believe that judgment was correct.

Cole, who excelled the most in combat ability among the members, was left unable to do anything and his life or death became unknown.

I can state unequivocally that at that time, the only thing we could do was flee.

That was how great a threat that new species called Argos was.

We scattered according to his instruction and began running in separate directions.

Each time a scream rose, my legs froze with fear as I thought, “Will I be next?”

Then, after seven screams had risen, I definitely heard his voice.

It was Quorth.

He advanced in the exact opposite direction from the direction he should have fled and lured Argos away.

Anyone could say, “It was too late.”

But even if it meant he would die, he chose to at least let one person escape and convey this.

And so, I alone was able to reach the town of Saisaros.

He allowed me to live.

That is why I at least want to repay his death.

In that situation, he chose to become a decoy and let another person return alive rather than surviving himself, so I would be grateful if all of you could understand his achievement and character.

That is everything I saw.

I think this.

No matter how intelligent it may be, a monster is a monster.

As our history tells us, we must not make the wrong choice.

Please, I ask you to make a wise decision.

“What is the meaning of this, Priest Nea!”

“What do you mean?”

What waited for me after I left the guild was an interrogation from Cole, who had likewise survived that place.

As I feigned ignorance, Cole pressed even closer.

But everything was already far too late.

“What was that report!? At this rate, a subjugation force will be organized! Did you not understand when you saw him!? That is something humans――”

“So what?”

Cole was dumbfounded when I cut off his words.

Surely, he understood that many sacrifices would appear if we fought Argos.

But that did not mean my will would change, nor did it become a reason to reconsider.

Quorth was no longer here.

For him, who died so that I could live, this was about the only thing left that I could do.

No――surely, that was not my true feeling.

“Quorth is gone now, you know?”

I hated it.

That monster that took him from me, the guild that brought in such a request, and the root cause that became the source of that request――I hated them.

So I am probably aware that I have become desperate, thinking everything should just be crushed.

Even if someone said, “You were taken advantage of,” I would not deny it.

Even so, unless I hated something, I felt as if this grief and sense of loss would crush me.

This was probably the final opportunity.

But Cole did not stop me, and merely nodded silently.

Without saying anything, he accepted my choice.

I had been prepared to be condemned, but although he was faithful to his work, it seemed he had his own thoughts on the matter.

It seemed we were a little late to coordinate our stories, but… that would probably not be a problem either.

How many people in this country would try to get along with monsters?

Even without learning, one could know that humans and monsters were in the middle of a struggle for survival. That was the kind of country the Kingdom of Seizeria was.

One learned it through experience, or through hearsay.

There was no choice but to exterminate monsters――that was precisely why that person spoke to me.

“It is highly intelligent? Then all the more reason why such a dangerous monster must be eliminated. Isn’t that right?”

The me of before would probably have had a little time to think about that question.

But now, I too was a person on the side that had been robbed.

There were also things one understood only after becoming directly involved.

Were all those who had lost someone filled with such feelings…? I was ashamed of my past self for watching that from the perspective of a bystander and preaching the teachings of God.

“The one who brings salvation is always oneself.”

If one does not act, one cannot be saved.

If one does not decide, nothing begins.

That was why I chose.

No matter what result this path brings, I will probably not stop.

He, who knew the truth, also closed his mouth and silently overlooked my actions.

Even if he said that there would be too many sacrifices, he understood that that thing was something that had to be eliminated.

He is an excellent hunter.

If persuaded, he would surely fight together with us.

Ah, but before that, I must speak with that person once more.

As expected of a noble who had continued to support the kingdom, his thoughts were never disturbed and were always aimed toward a single objective.

“Exterminating monsters from this world is necessary for humans to live happily. Even if you had not made a decision, I would have acted. But your decision will stir many people.”

At that time, I took the hand that was extended to me.

Sacrifices would be born.

But he said it was something someone had to do.

Pretty words were not only the province of nobles.

As someone who served God, even I did not know how many empty words that merely sounded pleasant I had spoken.

So enough.

No matter how much this hand is stained with blood, no matter how many corpses I pile up, my revenge will not stop.

But before that, I was admonished that “there is a woman who should be punished.”

I immediately understood who that was.

From his attitude, I understood that even he, a noble, found her, a mage, to be an eyesore.

An accomplice――no, I am likely only being used.

I understand that our interests merely happen to align.

Even so, I nodded.

After all, she too was nothing more than one of the people I ought to hate.