Chapter 66

"I always feel like I'm not involved in the final act."

With a dissatisfied and sullen look, Rio muttered and looked out the window of the hospital room. Beyond the visible defensive wall, the Galdrats should be stepping into the territory of the Telopes to carry out a sweep.

"You always do something reckless, and that's why this happens!"

Shiraha slammed the window shut, blocking Rio's view, and carefully covered it with curtains.

When Rio averted his gaze from the window, feeling resigned, Shiraha nodded in satisfaction and sat down beside Rio's bed.

After receiving the charge of the white Telope with a body full of injuries, Rio made reckless movements and performed a magic slash, pushing his body's enhancements to the limit, leaving him in a terrible state.

Bruises, lacerations, anemia, damage to the airways, dislocation of the right shoulder, and various other injuries.

The doctor who examined Rio asked why he had done such reckless things, and after hearing the details, he was half amazed and half exasperated, saying:

"You only ended up this bad because you learned how to move your body from Galdrat."

Based on the doctor's diagnosis that if it were the Rio from when he lived in the village, he would have been in much worse condition, Shiraha strengthened her supervision of Rio.

Since his hospitalization, she has been watching him so closely that there hasn't been a moment when he didn't feel her gaze. She was determined not to let him leave the hospital.

Even Rio, who usually wouldn't think of escaping the hospital, knew he would only be a hindrance.

With nothing to do and unable to see outside, Rio looked around the room for something to pass the time.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the hospital room.

Thinking that his entertainment had come to him, Rio was about to call out to the person on the other side of the door when Shiraha covered his mouth.

"Don't make a loud noise!"

Concerned about Rio's injured throat, Shiraha called out instead.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and the old man from the guild reception entered. His right arm was bandaged, but it was a minor injury, and he carried his cane without leaning on it.

After closing the door behind him, the old man sat down in the guest chair and spoke.

"You seem to be in better spirits than I expected."

"I've been told to rest for a couple of days."

"Considering the battlefield, it's a relief you're still alive. Many have died, you know."

"What about Yomban?"

"He regained consciousness a little while ago. It might be difficult for him to return to the field, but there's always work to do, like organizing documents. After all, we're short on people."

The old man glanced at the closed window with a troubled look.

"There's no point in telling you this, but let's get to the main point."

"The main point?"

Rio echoed, thinking the old man had only come to visit. The old man frowned and nodded solemnly.

"Once you're discharged, leave this town. I'll assign Jaggi and the others as your guards."

"No, that's sudden. You just said we're short on people."

Many adventurers and vigilantes died in the defense battle. In a situation where even a cat's paw would be useful, it doesn't make sense to want to immediately expel Rio and the others, who could be a fighting force.

The old man pointed at Rio.

"If you stay in town, you'll be kidnapped."

"What do you mean?"

"… I won't allow it."

"Shiraha, be quiet. You'll make things worse."

Rio put his hand in front of Shiraha's mouth to stop her from speaking.

The old man began to explain the detailed situation.

"During the defense battle, Rio cut the magic on the slave collar that Galdrat's slave was wearing. I deeply appreciate that you saved Galdrat. However, that's the problem."

The defense team also witnessed Rio neutralizing the slave collar. Even if they hadn't, the fact that Galdrat, who should have been wearing a slave collar, was free at the end of the battle would have raised suspicions.

"You can neutralize a slave collar without going through the proper procedures. In other words, Rio can free even criminal slaves."

"… Ah, now that you mention it, that is indeed a problem."

Slavery is an established industry. Slave collars are a form of insurance to prevent slaves, who are considered property, from escaping.

Rio can unilaterally remove this insurance.

"Slave traders have been probing the guild, and various criminal organizations, big and small, have roots in this town. Until now, adventurers and vigilantes were strong enough to keep them in check."

"But now the fighting force has significantly decreased?"

"Yes. Besides, even though they are a group of criminals, they have nowhere else to go. Even such people have the will to protect the town. As long as there are still Telopes and Blakuls around, we can't recklessly crack down on them and weaken the town's defense."

The old man sighed, clearly frustrated.

"The news hasn't spread to smaller organizations yet, but if the slave traders start moving, we won't be able to hold them back. It's better to leave the town before you're held captive."

"I understand."

Rio also didn't want to be constrained by the town and decided to follow the instructions.

"Assigning guards means there's a possibility my life could be targeted?"

"Your life won't be targeted. Rio put the tip of his sword to Galdrat's neck. No one would dare to act recklessly against that."

Even on the battlefield, surrounded by Telopes and Blakuls, Rio's sword tip had indeed reached Galdrat's neck.

Galdrat is the strongest swordsman in this town. The fact that Rio managed to strike him is significant, and those who might target Rio are being cautious.

"Even though our fighting force has decreased, we still have the guild's backing. You should be safe for a few days. Galdrat and the others should be back by tonight."

"I don't need to worry while I'm in the hospital?"

"No, you should still be on guard."

The old man warned him, noting that the security situation wasn't good, and Rio glanced at the window.

During his hospital stay, it seemed the window wouldn't be opened.