Chapter 13

The Next Morning.

The early morning birds were chirping.

Juuichi was ready for departure.

After a good night’s rest, his condition was excellent. He secured the ties on his gauntlet and fastened his sword at his waist.

The sky outside the window was overcast, and a thick mist had settled, but he had no intention of lingering in the village any longer.

After gathering all his belongings, Juuichi left the inn.

“Are you leaving already?”

—Juuichi had already sensed the presence of Origo standing outside. The old village chief with a limp was waiting for Juuichi in front of the inn.

“Yes, thanks for your hospitality. I was able to get a good rest. It was a bit pricey, but I won’t complain.”

“Thank you very much. We will certainly use it to aid the village.”

“If the bandits saw me here, it could bring trouble to the village. I should leave quickly.”

With those words, Juuichi turned to leave.

However, Origo grabbed his hand, stopping him.

“Please wait! Could you spare a moment to listen to my request?”

“…What is it?”

When Juuichi turned around, Origo looked up at him with pleading eyes and said,

“Traveler, could you serve as the village’s ‘guard’ for a short while?”

“What?”

“I understand it’s an impertinent request, but I believe you to be a person with a rare, noble spirit in these times. Please, I implore you. Of course, I will pay as much as I can afford.”

Juuichi looked at Origo with a slightly exasperated expression.

Even if they were trying to exploit his goodwill, this request was absurd.

“What are you saying? Isn’t this village currently threatened by bandits? Are you seriously asking me, a lone traveler, to face an entire band of bandits?”

Dealing with a band of bandits was typically the job of an army.

It wasn’t something one would ask of an individual. Origo’s request bordered on the outrageous.

“Of course, we wouldn’t rely solely on you. First, please follow me. This way, if you would.”

Origo urged Juuichi, limping as he began to walk toward the outskirts of the village.

With no other choice, Juuichi followed the old man.

“This way, this way. I’m not asking anything impossible. Together with the villagers, we wish to drive the bandits away from here.

The king won’t help us, but even peasants can provide some fighting force. A few have even served in battle. If you would only lend us your assistance—”

“…How many villagers are there in total? Including the women and children.”

“About fifty in total. If an experienced fighter like you could lead us. Our weapons will have to be farm tools, though.”

“And the bandits?”

“They number around fifty as well.”

“Impossible. It can’t be done.”

Juuichi dismissed the idea. The disparity in strength was obvious just from listening.

The opponents were seasoned killers, while the villagers, with their makeshift weapons, would be of little use. Even counting women and children, there was no way they could stand a chance.

There was no stronghold in the village, and even if they fought, they would be wiped out quickly.

“But…”

“Stop it. If you don’t want everyone slaughtered.”

Juuichi stated a general truth, but Origo continued to walk in silence.

Eventually, they reached the outskirts of the village.

There—

“…What is this?”

In a misty corner at the edge of the village stood a burned-down house.

Nearby, tied to a tree, hung the remains of a human, partially skeletal. The flesh had been picked by birds, held together only by rotting tendons.

There were five in total.

Two skeletons likely belonging to adults. Beside them were two noticeably smaller, frail skeletons… and one that appeared to belong to an infant.

With a voice void of emotion, Juuichi asked,

“Who are they?”

“The former village chief and his family. He had just succeeded his father, the previous chief, who had passed away.”

“Why?”

“Because of the bandits. Bravely, he refused to give them money or food. He was an earnest young man who cared for the villagers’ lives.

Perhaps he was too eager to become a village chief his father would be proud of. His father, the previous chief, was my cousin, so these were his children and family.”

The old man’s shoulders were quietly trembling.

“When they were hung, I was living in a nearby town. By the time I rushed back after hearing the news, it was too late.

Our family has served as village chiefs for generations, so I became the new chief in his place. The bandits ordered me to leave the bodies as they are, as a warning…”

Origo took Juuichi’s hand.

The village chief’s eyes were bloodshot—

—They were filled with a deep-seated hatred toward the cruel villains who had taken those lives.

“May they face divine retribution. I beg you, traveler.”

“…”

What should he do? Juuichi thought, for dealing with bandits who committed such heinous acts might be worth considering.

But…

“I refuse.”

Deliberately, he shook his head.

Looking down at the elder’s despairing gaze, Juuichi spoke.

“Your hatred is natural. But what you truly desire isn’t to drive them away, is it? What you seek is revenge against them. You shouldn’t drag the villagers into your revenge.”

“O-Oh…” Origo’s words faltered.

If he did, it would mean indirectly sending the villagers to their deaths.

“You should know there’s little a single mercenary can do. Despite that, are you telling the villagers to die?

Were you planning to involve the women and children, forcing them to be sacrifices for your revenge?”

Juuichi didn’t like Origo’s intentions.

Regardless of the outcome, it was a reckless, doomed plan that would lead to countless dead and wounded, and he couldn’t be part of it.

Their lives after this will be shattered. Children who have lost parents and parents who have lost children will be everywhere.

Driven by revenge, he seemed to have forgotten his position as village chief, disregarding even the sacrifices of his companions. I had no desire to cooperate with a man like that.

Origo fell silent, as if struck by the truth.

Then, eventually, he lowered his head and spoke.

‘You’re right. No… I knew it all along. It was disrespectful of me to make such unreasonable demands of a mere traveler passing through. I apologize.’

To the dejected Origo, Juuichi said nothing more.

Turning his back on him, Juuichi began walking toward the outskirts of the village.

On his way back to the main road, Juuichi stared down at the dirt ground.

The tracks of horses’ hooves.

There was no need to use past reconstruction to recognize those dried prints immediately. Perhaps there were five horses galloping here.

It wasn’t hard to guess who their riders were, given that so many had come to this remote village.

Following the trail would undoubtedly lead to their hideout.

Juuichi took out his map from his pocket and spread it open.

He recalled there was an old abandoned military fort nearby. It would have provided enough shelter and bedding for a group of fifty or so.

Indeed, Juuichi had refused Origo’s request.

But he had only refused to join Origo’s vendetta and fight alongside the villagers.

Juuichi hadn’t intended to reject fighting altogether.

He would do it alone.

There was no way he could allow those scum to run rampant as they pleased.

‘…I’m making a wrong decision here.’

He was aware of that. There was likely something still hidden in that village, and getting involved without proper investigation was unwise.

Breaking his principles often led to trouble.

However, those fifty simple villagers…

Their lives and livelihood were now in danger.

The king’s army, who should be protecting them, wouldn’t come. If the national security forces weren’t functional, there was nothing to stop the bandits.

While Juuichi was gathering information about the village, more villagers might be hanged. It could even happen tomorrow.

Or next, the bandits might kill for their own amusement. Women would be used to satisfy their desires, while the elderly and children would be enslaved and sold off as labor.

Juuichi could weigh the value of lives on his mental scales now.

The fifty villagers and the fifty bandits.

Whose lives held more weight—

It was an appallingly arrogant act. But it wasn’t even a question worth testing.

There was no need for mercy toward merciless murderers who would even hang infants.

Juuichi’s steps passed through the forest path, returning to the stone-paved highway from a side trail.

‘It’s in the woods, less than four leagues north from here, isn’t it? I guess I’m too soft for wanting to help… No, it’s the opposite. I’m scheming for a mass slaughter.’

In any case, Juuichi made his choice—to protect the lives he deemed worthier of living.

It was his value judgment, an act of egoism.

This ultimate decision was not Juuichi’s to make.

It was something only a god-like being could do.

But since the gods did nothing, it fell to those governing the world, whether a monarchy or a democratic republic. Yet Juuichi was neither of those.

As an outsider to this world by nature, Juuichi had no right to unilaterally judge its evils.

Still, he made that choice.

Simply because he wanted to.

Of course, a lone swordsman couldn’t take on a band of fifty bandits.

He’d be overwhelmed by their sheer numbers, surrounded, and killed. There was no way he’d win head-on.

Ordinarily.

──But Juuichi was no ordinary swordsman.