Chapter 95

The thugs who attacked the village were all wiped out by Abinion.

...No, the way they were erased was so overwhelming that it's hard to say whether the word "kill" is even appropriate.

The human bodies turned into foam and disappeared.

Just as the surface of their skin began to bubble, the thugs began to lose volume in their bodies, and in the end, they vanished without a trace.

"I really wanted to make them suffer more, but I can't let the children watching from the side be frightened by something too gruesome."

Abinion said this offhandedly.

It was as if she was saying, "I thought about having meat for dinner today, but I decided on fish instead."

"Well, I can torture their souls as much as I want after they become ghosts. There's a lot to do, so I wanted to get this over with quickly."

"Thank you, Abinion."

I ended up relying on her again.

Those thugs probably never dreamed that their target was protected by an invisible guardian spirit.

As a result, they recklessly took hostages and provoked her anger, leading to a gruesome end.

No, their end began the moment they provoked her anger.

"I'll immediately summon their ghosts and try to extract information, but it doesn't seem like it will be very useful. They were just expendable pawns, but I'll try to gather as much as I can."

"Thank you very much!"

Realizing that the ghost interrogation would be a terrifying sight, Abinion disappeared for a moment.

From the view of the children who had just been freed.

This was likely out of consideration to not scare the children, and they waved back to her as she waved slightly before leaving.

The children may not have fully understood the situation, but Abinion's eyes sparkled as she confirmed this.

"...Well."

I have to do what I need to do.

Despite the darkness of the village before dawn, all the residents were awake and gathered outside.

They had been dragged out and restrained by the thugs from the Blueballum slave state.

They were to be used as hostages to counter me, and if their goal was achieved, they would be taken as slaves to the Blueballum slave state.

Thanks to Abinion turning the thugs into foam, they were saved, but ultimately, they were involved because I stopped by the village...

...

I decided what I needed to do.

"I am truly sorry!"

I bowed deeply to express my apology.

After all, these people were victims of a disaster because we happened to stop by the village.

Of course, the ones most at fault were the thugs from the slave state, but I felt responsible and apologized to them, while also solidifying my resolve to destroy the root of all evil, the Blueballum slave state!

"Please raise your head...!"

This was said by an elderly man who stepped forward from among the villagers.

He looked like a village elder.

"I don't know the full details, but we can only be grateful to you. After all, you protected us from the beasts of Blueballum."

"No, they attacked because we...!"

I should have kept quiet, but I stupidly spoke the truth.

No, it's fine. I shouldn't benefit from my own mistakes.

However, the village elder shook his head even more...

"Even if you hadn't stopped by, those beasts would have come to the village eventually..."

"What do you mean...?"

"Long ago, there were many more villages. Beyond this village, closer to the border with the beast slave state. But one by one, the villages disappeared, and eventually, our village became the one closest to the border..."

"What...?"

Could it be...

That the Blueballum slave state had been destroying villages?

Starting from those near the border?

"For what purpose...? No... I see."

There was no need to wonder.

What else could a slave state that primarily deals in the buying and selling of slaves be planning?

Slave hunting.

Abducting people, turning them into slaves, and selling them as commodities.

"To do that, they came out of their country and attacked several villages, taking everything?"

"When the village just before ours was destroyed, it was clear that our village would be the next target. To survive, we had to abandon our village and move as far away from the border as possible. But could we really rebuild our lives in an unfamiliar land, leaving behind our familiar hometown?"

While they were agonizing over this, the slave state finally attacked.

That seems to be their mindset.

If that's the case, it was only a matter of time before they faced danger...

"What nonsense!? There must be something else that can be done! The rulers of this country! Can't they send knights or adventurers to protect the village!?"

After all, what they are doing is a clear invasion of another country.

If the country doesn't act here, what will it do?

"It's not possible. The beasts of the slave state are more vicious than you can imagine."

"They have people in the palace working to their advantage, so the king can't take strong action..."

"That's not all!"

The villagers spoke up one after another.

"The most terrifying thing about the slave state is the 'slave mark'! ...Because of it, those who are captured become true slaves who can't resist until they die!"

"The 'slave mark'...!?"

I heard this term earlier.

I have no idea what it means...

"At first, the knights were enthusiastic and fought the slave hunters near the border! But...!"

"When a battle occurs, there are always casualties. Even if they drive away the slave hunters, one or two knights inevitably get captured..."

What happens then?

The villagers' story was shocking.

The next time the slave state's slave hunters invaded the border, the captured knights would lead the charge.

"It's because of the 'slave mark'...! Whether they are civilians or knights, anyone captured is branded with the 'slave mark.' Once that happens, they have no choice but to obey!"

"Even former comrades, once branded with the 'slave mark,' become enemies. This is a great burden for the knights who are protecting us!"

"When facing former comrades, they inevitably hesitate and become confused. But the branded side shows no mercy and attacks relentlessly, putting them at a disadvantage!"

"Thus, another knight is captured, branded, and joins the enemy side... Over time, the power balance reverses!"

The villagers spoke with passion, perhaps out of frustration, making it hard to follow the content.

...What exactly is the 'slave mark'?

"Sometimes, the knights were taken hostage and used as leverage, and the entire group was captured."

"Of course, they were all branded and joined the enemy side... As this cycle repeated, the country eventually gave up on dealing with the issue..."

"I've heard that the king or general lamented, 'It would be better to die in battle.'"

The villagers spoke with tears in their eyes, perhaps out of deep frustration.

In short, the country was forced to retreat after losing a series of skirmishes with the slave state Blueballum.

Abandoning its own citizens near the border.

It's easy to call them heartless, but the villagers' words conveyed the bitter decision they had to make.

The slave state, the Republic of Blueballum.

A heretical country despised by the world, yet it has managed to survive until today, suggesting there is a secret behind its persistence.

"The 'slave mark'... I should be careful."

So, what do the villagers, who narrowly escaped the crisis, plan to do?

"There's no choice. We will immediately abandon the village and move away from the border. We've been told that the capital has a system in place to protect those who have been forced to leave their villages..."

"It's a small way to help in place of sending knights..."

The country I'm in... I think it's the Kingdom of Saveterra.

One of the many countries between the Centaurian Kingdom and the slave state Blueballum, but their efforts to protect their country are commendable.

"I understand. Then, we'll part ways here. We will head to Blueballum."

"Please don't. You'll be branded with the 'slave mark' and turned into a slave. You'll lose your pride, freedom, and dignity, and become a mere puppet. Please flee to the capital with us."

The elder is worried, but I came here with the goal of destroying the slave state. I can't change my resolve.

"I can't say with certainty that I will destroy the slave state, so it's safer for you to head to the capital."

I want to do my best to reclaim a place for you to return to.

The slave state seems to have spread its influence more than I thought, causing widespread suffering. I need to stop it as soon as possible.

...At that moment, Noem woke up.

"Ugh... Luya, is something wrong?"

"You were sleeping this whole time!?"

Did the forced march really tire you out that much?