Chapter 79

It's a bit short. It's like a cushion.

"I will disappear for a while. When I reappear before you, it will be the end of 'humans.'"

After Clairecil said this and disappeared, how long had I been in a daze?

When I came to, the woman called Yūhi was crouching and crying where Setsu had vanished.

I hate all the women who approach him, but for some reason, I felt nothing now, and strangely, sympathy welled up in me.

I could no longer sense Setsu's magic.

He's gone, he's really gone.

No tears came. For some reason, I was cold to the core, and my head was unusually calm.

I accepted his death as just something that happened—so much so that—

◆◆◆

It had been about half a day since Setsu and Clairecil's battle.

Reinforcements in the form of beastmen had arrived, and the human soldiers were all restrained. The decisive battle on the demon continent ended in victory for the allied forces.

However, there were considerable casualties, and most importantly, the disappearance of one man was the reason no one was talking about invading the human kingdom.

The influence of the man named Setsu was so great that it could move a country.

In both good and bad ways.

As for what that central figure of the world is doing now—

"Hey, give me some clothes!"

"Yes, sir!"

He was choking the thieves with one hand.

◆◆◆

"Learn your lesson and don't cause trouble again."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"Good, then go."

"Got it! Let's go, guys!"

I took the top half of the clothes from the thieves who had been attacking a small merchant's carriage.

I had been walking in the forest for a while, but I was shirtless.

It was lucky these guys were around; if I had entered a town like this, I would have been a criminal in an instant. Close call, close call.

"Are you hurt, sir?"

"A-Ah... Thank you. I should do something to repay you—"

"Ah, it's fine. Rather, can you tell me which is the nearest town from here?"

"Town?"

The merchant I had saved scratched his head for a while before giving me a few options.

"If you go south from here, there's a city. It's said to be bustling with dungeons and the like. But it will take a day from here. There are places you can reach in a few hours, though..."

"What? Don't be so dramatic."

"...To the north, there's a village. A fairly large one. There are inns, and you won't have any trouble living there."

"Sounds good, that place."

I just need a place to settle down for now.

The fact that I can't use my magic bag because I lost my magic is a big problem.

I also have to tie my broken black ball to my back with a string.

I need a bag and some spare clothes.

Given my speed, the village a few minutes away is the only option. I can't use magic, but my physical abilities are still enough for now.

"However... I came from there, and there's an epidemic there now..."

"Epidemic?"

"Yes. The cause is unknown, but it's a disease that gradually weakens the body. It mainly affects children and the elderly. ...My daughter is also affected, and I was just about to go to the city to call a good doctor."

Disease... an illness.

I know a few diseases in this world, but none of them come to mind.

If it affects the weak, it's a threat to the vulnerable... but it's not my problem.

"Hmm..."

"If you care about yourself, it's better not to go. There have already been a few... deaths."

"...That sounds pretty bad."

With deaths involved, things change.

Without my magic, I'm a bit anxious.

Judging by how healthy these guys look, a short stay should be fine?

‘...Setsu, you should go to that village.’

"...?"

Straw, who was standing next to me, suddenly spoke.

By the way, this god doesn't appear in the vision of ordinary people unless he intentionally shows himself. They can't hear his voice either. He's almost like a ghost.

‘I have an idea about the nature of that disease. If I'm right... it's at least an incident involving us gods.’

"! ...Alright."

The decision was made.

Besides, it feels wrong to just say 'good luck' to someone in trouble right in front of me.

If the gods are involved, I can't just stand by.

"I'll go to that village, sir."

"Hey! It's dangerous—"

"I'll do something about it."

"...!"

I left those words and ran north without looking back.

When the merchant's figure disappeared, Straw, who was running alongside me calmly, was looking at my face for some reason.

"...You're a strange man."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"For some reason, your words give a sense of reassurance. If you say something, it actually happens..."

He's saying something I don't quite understand.

To me, it's just a normal thing.

"If I say I'll do something, I'll do it. Even with Clairecil, I decided to punch him. So, I will definitely punch him."

When I set my mind to it, there's no such thing as impossible.

That's just how the world works.