Chapter 19
Everyone stared at the man lying flat on the ground.
“Huh?”
Topu stepped closer.
“It is you, right? Sir? You know me, don’t you?”
The man desperately turned his head from side to side to avoid Topu’s gaze.
“Y-You are mistaken. I-I am not that man.”
He even changed his voice.
Was he trying to sound like a woman?
“It is you! Turn your face this way.”
“I-I said it isn’t!”
Topu finally grabbed the man by the back of the neck and forced him to turn.
Under the flickering torchlight...
His dirt-and-blood-covered face was clearly revealed.
Topu immediately clapped.
Clap!
“See! I knew it! You were in the Teren village square!”
“Who is he? Do you know him?”
I asked.
Topu was about to answer.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
His face twisted angrily.
“Wouldn’t exactly say I know him... but I saw him when I sold the potatoes.”
Then his eyes narrowed.
“Wait.”
He leaned closer.
“Sir... did you follow me here?”
That was definitely suspicious.
A human traveling alone in this deadly frontier...
Without even proper weapons...
Was practically committing suicide.
I examined his hands and body.
He didn’t look like an experienced warrior or hunter either.
“Answer properly.”
A flat voice came from behind me.
Zakan.
Blood was already soaking through his bandages.
Yet the murderous pressure coming from his body was so intense that even I flinched.
“E-Eek! P-Please spare me!”
The man looked into Zakan’s eyes and immediately collapsed like a frog before a snake.
He repeatedly slammed his forehead against the ground.
“Did you follow Topu?”
“I-I’m sorry! Please spare my life!”
The man burst into tears.
Honestly...
We didn’t need a long explanation.
Topu had sold potatoes for ten times the normal price in a public square.
Of course greedy people would follow the young merchant after smelling money.
“Unbelievable!”
Topu shouted.
“So you followed me all the way here to rob me?!”
“N-No! I swear I wasn’t going to rob you!”
The man cried like he had been falsely accused.
“I-I only wanted to secretly find where those Magic Crops came from...”
He sniffled.
“Then steal some from the field...”
Ah.
He wasn’t after Topu’s money.
He wanted the Magic Crops themselves.
Clever bastard.
Zakan looked over the destroyed village.
“Look carefully at what your greed caused.”
His voice was cold.
“You destroyed our defenses.”
The man trembled.
“You pushed our children to the edge of death.”
Zakan continued.
“You destroyed the village our ancestors lived in for generations.”
His eyes hardened.
“You tried to steal the lives of our tribe.”
“T-That... that couldn’t be helped! The monster suddenly appeared...!”
“To make sure greedy humans never approach a warrior’s land again...”
Zakan raised his greatsword.
“I will cut off your hand as an example.”
“Eek!”
Topu immediately turned away.
Normally, I might have stopped Zakan.
This time...
I remained silent.
Because of this idiot...
The children nearly died.
Zakan himself had been badly wounded.
Zakan gave a small nod.
The furious children immediately grabbed the man and forced both arms down.
“AAAAH! N-No! Please! Please forgive me!”
“I will cut it cleanly so you feel little pain.”
“Let go! Let me go! Please, just forgive me once!”
Tears and blood mixed on the man’s face.
“I-I earn my living with my hands! Please!”
He desperately struggled.
But an ordinary human couldn’t escape barbarian strength.
Zakan raised his greatsword high.
Realizing death was approaching, the man wildly looked between the collapsed tents and broken fence.
Then he screamed.
“I-I’m useful!”
Zakan didn’t stop.
“I can help! The village is destroyed, isn’t it?!”
His sword came down.
“I’M A CARPENTER!”
Carpenter?
“Wait, Zakan!”
CLANG!
My axe barely blocked Zakan’s greatsword.
Ugh...
My wrist went numb from the impact.
Still, I controlled my expression and looked at the man.
“You said you’re a carpenter?”
“Sniff... y-yes! Yes!”
The man immediately crawled toward me on his knees and grabbed my pants.
“I’m a carpenter! I’m extremely good with wood!”
“Izak. Move.”
“Zakan.”
I looked at him.
“Give this human to me.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I need him.”
“The law cannot be broken.”
Zakan raised his sword again.
“He tried to steal our land. He must pay.”
Haa...
No choice.
I needed to explain logically.
Zap.
[Barbarian Mind resists!]
Why now?!
Normally it stayed quiet.
Then, whenever I desperately needed my brain...
It decided to interfere.
Not happening.
I tried again.
[Barbarian Mind resists!]
[A large amount of Mental Strength is consumed.]
“Gasp! Izak nose bleeding! He is using wisdom!”
Blood ran from both nostrils.
My skull felt ready to explode.
Still, I fought against Barbarian Mind.
“Zakan. Look at the destroyed village.”
I pointed around us.
“If you cut off his hand according to the law, will the village repair itself?”
Zakan went silent.
“No.”
I continued.
“We only lose someone who can rebuild it.”
I wiped blood away.
“Another Red Moon will come.”
My voice became firm.
“The White Winter is approaching too.”
Zakan’s expression changed.
“If another monster like the Varg attacks tomorrow...”
I pointed toward the broken fence.
“What will we do?”
Zakan frowned.
“Izak. Stop using wisdom. You are hurting yourself.”
“The ancestor god says this.”
I forced myself to continue.
“This man will remain alive.”
I pointed at the trembling carpenter.
“He will repair our home.”
Then I looked toward the fence.
“He will build stronger walls.”
Finally, I looked back at Zakan.
“That will be how he pays for his crime.”
Zakan slowly lowered his sword.
“If he fails to prove his usefulness...”
His eyes became cold.
“Then we follow the law.”
“Yes! Yes! Understood! I’ll prove it!”
The carpenter nodded wildly.
“I’ll work hard! I swear!”
Only then did our stubborn chief finally put away his greatsword.
The carpenter, who had actually wet himself from fear, bowed repeatedly at my feet with tears and snot covering his face.
Haa...
Every single moment in this world was exhausting.
After roughly settling everything...
Zakan and I walked through the damaged village.
Despite his injuries, he followed beside me without showing any pain.
Solid as a rock.
The damage looked even worse after seeing everything properly.
Torn tents.
Shattered barricades.
Broken fences.
But those things could be repaired.
The important problem wasn’t the village.
“...You were reckless, Zakan.”
