Chapter 42

Yakov Sergeyevich Meizer.

Branch Manager of the Hunter Association's Salhad Branch. Yakov was detained on charges of abuse of power and violation of service regulations by Ophelia, but during the chaos caused by the monster's attack, he attempted to escape. However, he was discovered by the staff as a dismembered corpse, having been devoured by the monster.

Zaur Dmytro Blagoy.

Until just before the monster's attack, he was with Branch Manager Yakov at the Salhad Branch, but disappeared without receiving a mandatory request. It is currently under investigation whether Zaur's actions occurred before or after the mandatory request.

Ivan Minaev.

Yakov Sergeyevich Meizer's illegitimate son. Although he was in a position where he could not defy Yakov due to his role as a staff member and their blood relation, there is suspicion that he actively assisted Yakov's actions. During the questioning by Ophelia, he also made statements to protect Yakov. Currently, he is temporarily serving as a staff member under surveillance as part of the aftermath of the monster's attack.

Salhad Branch Staff.

It is understandable that they could not refuse the orders of Yakov, who was both the branch manager and a prominent figure in the village, but this is not desirable. In the future, it is hoped that there will be an improvement in the awareness of association staff.

Ophelia read the report submitted by Ophelia while preparing the documents to be submitted to the headquarters and the temple.

She placed her finger on her forehead and looked up at the ceiling with blurred eyes.

It had been two days since the monsters were eliminated, but the chaos caused by the attack continued.

Repairing the destroyed earth walls and moats, the houses.

Monitoring the forest destroyed by the monster's advance.

Funerals and notifications for those who died.

The village was busy, with no time to immerse itself in the tragedy caused by the monsters.

Still, at night, the sound of sobbing and children's cries could be heard from somewhere.

"Where's Papa? He promised to come back, didn't he?"

Such young voices could be heard as she walked through the village.

Ophelia recalled her unfulfilled vow upon hearing such a child's voice.

Bitter thoughts resurfaced.

A promise that could not be kept, even in an emergency.

And the truth about the person involved.

The morning after the monster's attack.

Seeing Zou in the morning mist, Ophelia called out to him.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

The two walked side by side up the slope.

"Ah, this."

Zou handed Ophelia a deep green ring.

"What is this...?"

"You must have already guessed who I am. Normally, someone who has been hiding their true identity can't be given any kind of protection."

The conflict with Hayato Ichihara, the hero.

Even though they only entered the cave together, it was clear at a glance.

Ophelia didn't ask, but when did Zou, who had been secluded in the mountains for about two years, have any involvement with Hayato Ichihara, who was summoned two years ago?

Considering that Hayato Ichihara defeated the dragon-type monster a year ago and had not left the area around the summoned academy before that, the opportunity for them to meet would have been after the defeat, within a year.

However, considering that Akari and Maxim had contact 100 days ago, Hayato Ichihara's range of activities, and the fact that he was in the Alerdoria Mountains, it becomes impractical.

Perhaps they met secretly around the academy, but considering that Hayato Ichihara was always surrounded by people, this is unlikely.

So, where did they meet?

He sought a hermit-like life in the mountains, yet he harbored Akari, the hero.

Comparing closely, the faces of Akari, Zou, and Hayato Ichihara seem similar.

In other words, perhaps he knew Akari before.

Assuming this, everything fits.

This means that he had interactions with the heroes before the summoning.

And considering that he and Hayato Ichihara had a conflict before, and that it has resurfaced now, the story is consistent.

Indeed, such a hypothesis was formed.

But it was just a hypothesis, with no evidence, no proof, and no way to verify it.

"No, you keep it. It's also a fact that I broke my vow, so I can't take it back."

"Is it okay to guarantee such an unknown person?"

"At least, you didn't run away from the monster's attack and fought alongside the women, even though you could have escaped."

"They might misuse it."

"Hehe, you might just protect them."

"You might make them attack Yuki."

"Yuki wouldn't do something so trivial."

Zou had an indescribable look on his face.

"After a short time, I have come to believe that you are not the kind of person who would willingly commit a crime."

"Believe? That's quite something."

"...You resemble the goddess of the moon. That's why I believe."

"...What, suddenly?"

"Only in the sense that you command a giant leopard."

"Doesn't make sense."

"Hehe. It is said that near the goddess of the moon, there are a bow, a dagger, a magic book, a giant wolf, a giant leopard, a giant owl, a cloak, leather boots, a silver spoon, and an arrow. The stars were named in order of proximity to the moon, which is compared to the shining moon in the night sky. The Hunter's Star also originates from this."

Ophelia spoke with a joyful tone, like a dreamy young girl.

"She was a beautiful goddess, but stubborn, narrow-minded, capricious, and heartless. She rejected all male gods who proposed to her and all other goddesses who invited her, remaining solitary. However, she was not unkind and helped anyone who caught her eye unconditionally. Of course, if they tried to do something evil to her afterward, she would impose a harsh, excessively harsh punishment."

"What a goddess with a difficult interpersonal relationship... Is this a myth?"

"It is said that gods existed in the distant past. There are buildings and powerful relics that can only be explained by the existence of gods. Even now, there are very rare cases where people receive divine revelations. However, it is difficult to prove the existence of gods, but I believe in them."

"There are plenty of people with such personalities."

"That's fine. I just believe it on my own. A young man who appeared from nowhere with a giant leopard and lives in seclusion in the mountains. My heart raced despite my age. When I met you, you hesitated but did not abandon the women. Stubborn, narrow-minded, and difficult to judge as either good or bad."

"You don't seem to have any good qualities."

Ophelia smiled wryly.

"Perhaps not. Still, I feel that you, like the goddess, have something that should not be abandoned. In the end, it's just my imagination, an old man's daydream. So, please keep it as a lucky charm."

Zou seemed to hesitate for a moment but put the deep green ring away.

"Just don't imitate the goddess's tragic end. It would be sad."

By the time all the stars had died out, she was alone and disappeared somewhere. Zou did not want this young man to meet such an end.

"What do you mean—"

Knock knock.

The knock on the door woke Ophelia from her reverie.

She had apparently fallen asleep while sitting.

She was temporarily using a room in the association and was handling the duties until the headquarters staff arrived. In a large city, such a situation would not be allowed, but this was a remote rural area, for better or worse.

Ophelia called out, "Come in."

Ally entered, saying, "Excuse me."

"The judgment panel has arrived."

Ophelia stood up, saying, "I see. Let's go and welcome them."

The sun was directly overhead.

The temperature was rising, and it was a hot day.

"Welcome, thank you for coming from afar. I apologize for the disorder, but please bear with us."

The village chief, who had been with the branch manager when the misty starling was defeated, bowed deeply, beads of sweat on his forehead.

"No, I understand it must have been difficult for you. I offer my condolences."

A middle-aged man in a white priest's robe looked at the village and said this.

Behind him were two magic beast carts, surrounded by priest knights on battle horses. The two magic beasts pulling the carts were armor-flat lizards, which looked like large lizards with shells. They could travel long distances in arid areas, and their armored backs were hard, even wolf fangs could not penetrate. However, they had a weakness of being flipped over, exposing their soft underbellies, but they were indispensable for long-distance travel.

"Oh, it's Lord Ophelia. You arrived earlier?"

The middle-aged priest, seeing Ophelia standing behind the village chief, called out to her.

"I was dealing with the previous matter when the monster's attack occurred. It was quite a strain on my old body."

"Hahaha, what are you saying, a great elf like you. I hear you also eliminated the foolish ones nesting in the village. As expected, the chief lady who once dominated the king is still in good form."

The knights who had arrived earlier had already exchanged basic information.

"Then, about the previous matter—"

"—I understand. With such damage to the village, the judgment must be expedited. We can't let anything go wrong."

The middle-aged priest's smile disappeared, and he whispered.

"Where is she now?"

"She is being hidden in a safe place. It should take about a day to get to the village from there."

"I see. If you say so, Lord Ophelia, there can be no mistake. This is the first special judgment, after all. It will be a litmus test for the 'Judgment of Facts.'"

The priest glanced at the magic beast cart.

From the outside, it was not visible, but inside was Aoi Goutokuji, who wielded the 'Scythe of Truth.'

"We also need to prepare, so how about 3 PM three days from now?"

"That sounds good. Several envoys from different countries arrived this morning, and the remaining countries have already been contacted by messengers. That schedule should work. Is it acceptable to the village chief?"

"Yes, yes."

The village chief, wiping the sweat from his forehead, could only nod.

The village chief was exhausted by the presence of high-ranking priests and the chief lady, and the envoys from various countries. He was too tired to even think of offering an opinion.

For the village chief, the punishment of the tyrannical branch manager and the consolation money from the envoys were sufficient.

The priests were staying at the village's only small church, and the envoys were staying in the homes of the villagers. The envoys were not grand, just there to witness the hero's judgment and report the results to their home countries. They were not particularly high-ranking.

Those who lent their homes were staying with relatives and receiving adequate lodging fees from the village chief. Being forced out of their homes just as they had survived the monster's attack was certainly inconvenient, but the money was necessary for the village's reconstruction, and the villagers were in a difficult position.

Maxim informed Ophelia of the arrival of the judgment panel half a day later.

It was already dark.

"I see. Understood."

Akari, who happened to be visiting Zou, nodded at Maxim's message.

"Prepare to leave in the morning. Since there are hardly any magic beasts in the forest, we should arrive quite early."

Saying that, Maxim left with a swagger.

"That's how it seems. I have been a great deal of trouble."

Akari straightened her posture and bowed deeply.

"Well, a lot has happened, but there's nothing we can do about it. Things are not much different here or there."

Akari raised her head.

Her eyes were slightly moist.

"Could you draw a picture for me?"

It was a sudden request.

"Huh? I don't draw men."

"No, no, not that. Could you draw me?"

"...Naked?"

Akari's face turned bright red.

"Who said that? I'm asking you to draw me normally."

"...I'm not that good, you know?"

"It's not about being good. I want to see you draw me."

Zou thought for a moment, then nodded, taking out his usual notebook and a small brush, and preparing the ink.

Facing the hearth, Zou and Akari sat quietly across from each other.

The only sound was the faint scratching of Zou's brush.

Akari, remaining still, asked in a hesitant voice.

"...Do you not want to go back there?"

Zou continued to move his brush, searching within himself.

"...Maybe because I'm heartless, I don't really want to go back."

"Not at all?"

"...As a human, I sometimes want to go back to my hometown. When that happens, I draw or whistle. By the next day, I'm fine."

"...Is that so. I didn't think I wanted to go back more than anyone else. I miss my family and friends, but I can't think of going back at any cost, no matter what I sacrifice."

"There's nothing wrong with that. Just because you're heartless doesn't mean you lack feelings."

Akari made a wry smile.

"That's not very comforting."

"I'm not trying to comfort you."

"Hehe. That's true. But like you, I sometimes desperately want to go back. When I was first summoned, I was hurt and manipulated by people I didn't understand, and I felt that way a lot. But after riding with Maxim and spending about a year as a hunter, I no longer think that way."

"Being a hunter suited you."

"I think so. Of course, I'm still afraid of magic beasts and monsters. But more than that, I feel alive. There's no guarantee, but I'm asked to hunt magic beasts and am thanked for it. I feel happy about that."

"As long as you can eat, it doesn't matter where or how you live. If you can live without shame, then that's fine. Love and country come after that. As the saying goes, 'When one has enough food and clothing, one knows the rules of propriety.' It's something like that."

Akari continued to talk, and Zou nodded while moving his brush.

Such a casual conversation continued.

"Do you not worry about your family?"

"Worry? I'm single, so there's no one to marry. My parents... I guess they had a very ordinary family. I was just a failure even in that ordinary family."

"That's not true."

"I'm not being self-deprecating, but I couldn't get a regular job, so I was a security guard, cleaner, delivery person, and janitor. It was a three-year contract, and then nothing. If I hadn't been summoned here, I don't know what would have happened. I can't make a living by whistling or drawing, and I don't have the skills for it. I was in a dead