Chapter 5

Last time, David's title was listed as a prince, but I have corrected it to the former second prince.

I am now an unknown, unaffiliated magician.

I need to be able to provide at least some form of identification to gain trust.

So, I came to the Adventurer's Guild, but there's almost no one here.

At the reception, a staff member yawns out of boredom, and a person who looks like an adventurer is sitting in a chair, rowing a boat.

Despite this scene, Elna walks up to the reception counter as if it's perfectly normal.

"Hey, Elna. Have you finished the monster hunt?"

"Yes! Here's the proof of the hunt!"

"Oh, a Baphomet! This is great! If the number of violent monsters decreases, the exchange with the capital might be revived!"

"Actually, the one who hunted it is this Soa."

"Soa...?"

After greeting the receptionist, I proceed with the adventurer registration process.

After filling out the necessary information, it's time for the registration test.

I was optimistic, thinking it would be a piece of cake, but I'm surprised by the content.

"A condition for the registration test is to have a skill and to have hunted a level 4 monster, Galyon... Isn't that too strict?"

"In these times, if you want to become an adventurer, you need to meet these requirements."

"Is it because of the sudden increase in monsters?"

"Plus, there have been sightings of unknown monsters recently. If half-baked people get eaten and become monster food, we can't afford that."

I see, if that's the situation, it can't be helped.

I think I have a decent understanding of adventurers.

During my time as a saint, I met many adventurers.

During expeditions, whether it's exploration or rescue, the job can't be done without people who know the area well.

That's when the help of adventurers is needed, and I've seen many battles.

Before I knew it, analyzing parties and their strengths had become a hobby.

Parties would unite to hunt monsters and sometimes rescue stranded people.

And the after-party after the job was done.

Everyone was fun and enjoyable. Those were good times—

"Hey! We've been working for justice!"

"Thanks to our vigilante group, the town is peaceful today!"

Armed men noisily entered the Adventurer's Guild.

Suddenly, Elna's expression turned serious.

"Hey, isn't that Miss Elna? You don't have to force yourself to be an adventurer. We can take care of you."

"I won't rely on you!"

"That's a terrible attitude towards the town's heroes. These days, the townspeople can't even look us in the eye?"

"You're just bandits who extort money and food by threatening people!"

The men laugh crudely.

The adventurer sitting in the chair is clearly pretending to be asleep.

It seems he doesn't want to get involved with this so-called vigilante group.

"Hey, that's a bad way to talk. We're just taking rewards, you know?"

"The brave people who used to protect this town risked their lives! There's no place for you, who came later!"

"Listen, those guys are dead, right? That's why we're offering to protect you... Don't you get it?!"

The man's thick arm delivers a punch to Elna's cheek.

Elna collapses, unable to withstand the blow.

Unlike me, she's not constantly reinforced by magic.

In her normal state, she's just an ordinary girl, so this is to be expected.

"Ugh...!"

"Elna!"

"Mr. Soa, I'm sorry... We should leave this town..."

"I'll heal you first."

Elna should know my capabilities.

She could have asked me to take care of these people.

Even if she asked for help, no one would blame her.

"What's this? I don't recognize you."

"Take off your hood and show your face."

"You're Soa, right? Can you use healing magic? Join our vigilante group. Helping a country girl like her won't benefit you at all."

Due to the increase in monsters, the people who protected the town have died.

Those left are the so-called vigilantes who came from somewhere.

The townspeople are being exploited and are living in fear.

Is that the situation?

"Elna, are you okay?"

"Y-Yes. I don't feel any pain."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Hey, you've been ignoring us, haven't you?"

This so-called vigilante group has no sense of crisis, even in this situation.

If monsters attack, they'll be finished too.

Or do they plan to escape on their own?

In contrast, the townspeople can't escape from the monster-infested outside.

"... If it were the saint Soaris, she would have appeared gallantly and taken care of people like this."

"Soaris? Ah, the woman who used super magic water to boost her magic power. I was just a kid back then, but I laughed my ass off."

"That's right. She was pathetic."

"What a farce. I wonder what happened to the people who praised and revered her as a saint back then?"

"She should atone. She should be ashamed of herself for causing this situation."

"But she was sealed away, right? Even though she became strong with super magic water! Hahaha! What's wrong? Are you cold?"

I'm not shaking because I'm being mocked.

I was sealed away due to a mistake, and during my 20-year absence, the kingdom has changed.

Frustration and anger rise within me at my own incompetence.

I can't afford to be surprised. I can't afford to lament.

Stand up, Soaris.

You don't have time to stand still.

"Let's clean up this town."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"This town doesn't need a so-called vigilante group."

"Are you looking down on us?"

"No, I just despise you."

"It's the same thing!"

The fist that hit Elna comes flying at me.

When I hit it with my own fist, the man's arm makes a sickening crack.

"Ow! It hurts!"

"Unless you're not a vigilante, fulfill your duty. I should be your target, right?"

"I'll kill you!"

The remaining three draw their weapons and attack.

But their arms are cleanly severed, followed by their legs and waists.

"Huh..."

"What...?"

The men's bodies are being divided along with the space.

"H...uh...?"

"What...happening...?"

Just before their consciousness fades, the space returns to normal.

As a result, the men are back to their original state, but one collapses, another starts shaking uncontrollably, and the last one screams.

"Whaaaat! What, what's happening to me?!"

"Haa... Haa... What just happened..."

The men don't understand what happened.

But they clearly understand the fear of death.

I cast healing magic on them right after they were cut, just before they died.

Most things can be reconnected with magic, as long as the state isn't too gruesome.

But even though I helped people with missing limbs on the battlefield, the emotional scars remain.

Perhaps what these men are experiencing now is similar.

"N-no... no... no..."

"Aaa... aaa..."

Magic power disappears as life fades.

As long as you can accurately judge the flow of magic power, such things are possible.

The fear of the body turning cold and the consciousness sinking into darkness is something no one wants to experience again.

After all, that darkness is the entrance to the afterlife.

"If a saint were here, she would have done the same thing."

I return to my初心 (beginner's mind).

It might not matter to the vigilantes who are trying to cling to something nearby and escape or are having accidents.

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