Chapter 51: Beaten

It’s best to get unpleasant things over with quickly.

That’s what I believe.

So I must have been the sort of honor student who finished summer homework on time. I don’t remember, but I’m sure that’s how it was. And so, here I am now, standing in front of a house with a small gift in my hands.

Though calling it a house is generous. It’s a Tooth house.

It pulses, it’s damp. The entrance is like an alien’s mouth. That mouth opened. If you were to add a sound effect, it would be a hiss. Saliva stretched in strings.

“…Excuse me.”

Resigned, I stepped inside. No one greeted me. But—

“This way.”

A voice called. I followed and came into a wide room. Perhaps incense was burning, because smoke filled the air with a floral scent.

The Leone clan’s culture didn’t include chairs. On the carpeted place of honor sat an old lion-man. He was full beastman type, with a thick mane.

I felt as though I’d seen him before. Probably just placebo. My memory was never that good. Most likely, that sense of familiarity came from hearing about his background from Rikan.

Ranked fourth, Schwanz.

Father of the commander I’d shot in the battle that led to my capture.

I sat in seiza before him.

“I thought it was impossible.”

His voice was dry, almost ready to dissolve into the incense smoke filling the room.

“It was impossible. So— We switched to hunting the Mother Bubble. That’s plenty. It was a desperate measure.”

I spat the words.

Taking land had been impossible. So I showed them footage of me shooting a Mother Bubble and explained what it meant from here on.

That was a sniper’s true job.

The Bubbles lacked commanders, but apparently, the Mother Bubble was an irreplaceable individual. They were swarm creatures. Even shot down, they didn’t panic. Still, the damage was real. If it inflicted damage, then it had strategic meaning.

I emphasized that and sold myself.

Long-range sniping—a small core at two thousand meters. I claimed I could do that with ease.

If we could take down the Mother, there would be a thread to follow toward the nest.

And there weren’t many who could make that kind of shot with such precision.

My stock rose somewhat.

In other words—

“You ended up sending salt to the enemy, huh.”

That’s what it meant.

“I’m just a hired gun,” I said.

“All right, all right. I lose. The strong are right. That’s absolute.”

“The one who blew off my left leg—”

“You’re the one who took his life. You won. I don’t need consolation. So—”

He drew in a single breath. Fourth in rank, Schwanz inhaled and shot me a sharp glare.

“What do you want, Ratchet?”

That piercing stare held me. I offered the small gift I’d brought. It was a bottle of liquor Rikan had chosen. Then I drew the automatic pistol from my hip holster. Schwanz froze for an instant.

I aimed the pistol at him—

“What’s the meaning of this?”

—and tossed it to him.

“Choose. Kill me or don’t. In situations like this I’m weak. If things like this keep happening, I’ll lose. Then it’s better sooner than later. If you’re going to kill me, do it here. If not, keep your hands off me from now on. That’s all there is.”

Schwanz raised the pistol and leveled it at me.

“Feels like you’d dodge it even at this distance.”

“Don’t worry. I’m less than a scarecrow at this range.”

The muzzle aimed at the center of my forehead.

His eyes locked on me with no emotion.

A killer’s eyes.

The back of my neck prickled as if it were burning. Killing intent. I could somehow feel the moment he’d fire. So this was the world Yuri saw. If I had the physical ability, maybe I could dodge a bullet even at this distance.

But I didn’t have the body to use that sense.

So I kept my eyes on the muzzle without looking away.

Schwanz pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang out. The scent of incense mingled with gunpowder.

I—

“Then we’ll say no more of that sort of thing in the future. Yeah, that’s fine. Tch, at least flinch a little. Not cute at all.”

“…Then I’m very cute. I’m plenty scared.”

I made a little dog with my fingers beside my face, snapping at the air. I barked cutely, wiped none of the blood running from my cheek, and left.

***

Since it was too much for Ox Unit alone, I dragged Sheep Unit out as well to help haul supplies.

The contents were almost all those tasteless rations, but with this much volume, it was a small fortune.

“Is it always this much?”

Glancing sideways at the cargo, I said to Rikan, who walked ahead.

“Of course not. This time is special. The results were the results, so the reward is larger. That is only logical.”

“I see.”

If they had always been given this much, I would really have reached the point of never forgiving those people. Not that forgiveness was ever an option anyway, but at least I wouldn’t need to launch straight into a purge, and that was a small mercy.

“Hey, Ratchet.”

“What is it?”

“You’re really going through with this?”

“That’s why I had you carry it here with me.”

“Ratchet.”

“What is it this time?”

“You are reeeally—really—unbelievably awful, you know that?”

“…”

Rikan grinned while saying something so horribly cruel that I slumped.

Well, even slumping, if you keep walking, you’ll get to your destination. We arrived at the church of the human village.

“Well, well! Young master, mercenary-dono, thank you for coming!”

The priest came out rubbing his hands. When I looked closely at him—ah, so that’s how it is.

“Shall we play a game of changing every ‘wa’ into ‘ba,’¹ young master?”

“No, it would be far better to change ‘mercenary’ into ‘pervert,’ wouldn’t it, mercenary-dono?” Rikan said.

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

So we’re playing that kind of game.

While Rikan and I joked like that, a group of well-fed children and adults filed in. After them came the women who had served at my welcome feast, the injured men, the Vultures, and finally the stray-dog-eyed children.

Most likely, that order of entry reflected their order of power.

Ah, damn it all.

—Kii.

My pupils creaked. Killing intent leaked out. Rikan stopped me, smacking me sharply on the head with a loud spaan! It hurt, in a dull and irritating way. Terribly mean.

“Something the matter?”

“No, nothing.”

From among the well-fed crowd, a sturdily built middle-aged man stepped forward. “I see. Then I’ll count on you,” he said, holding out his hand. From what Rikan had told me, this was the village chief. I answered by taking his hand.

A handshake.

“I’m glad such a reliable young man has come.”

His deep voice offered praise. I smiled brightly in return.

“Thank you.”

At that smile, the people around us recoiled. “…” It stung, just a little.

“It’s a lot this time, isn’t it? Ah, and thank you for coming all this way, young master.”

“Mm. This is escort duty. The aftermath looks likely to cause trouble, so I came along.”

“Aftermath?”

The village chief blinked at Rikan’s words. Rikan glanced at me. I gave a small nod and a little wave to draw attention.

“What do you think of the phrase ‘Those who do not work shall not eat’?” I asked.

“Well… I think that’s true, yes.”

“Good. Then that should prevent any quarrels.”

I said it with a smile. Then, still smiling, I added,  “Then I will take all of this food.”

“…?”

The village chief looked like he couldn’t quite catch up. Leaving him there, I gave orders to Ox Unit and Sheep Unit.

“Sorry, Rikan. I made you come along, but it looks like there’s no problem.”

“Don’t worry. By the way, if that’s done, how about a meal, Ratchet? My fiancée wants to meet you.”

“I would be honored.”

“Wait, Ratchet!”

An angry voice cut after us as we cheerfully turned to leave. I looked back and saw Vulture, steamed and furious.

“What do you mean by that!?”

His eyes were sharp. Pure anger showed. I took in the scene around him: children who didn’t understand, adults who were unsettled, people who, like Vulture, openly showed anger, others who moved to shield the children, and children who had just accepted it—who had given up.

I picked up on the information. Then I used it.

“Of course. I commanded the forces drawn from the human village this time. And in my squad that worked there were me, Rudo, and my Monoz. Those who do not work shall not eat. That’s how it is. Hm? Ah, I see. You did some work, Vulture. I’ll give you a little bit. Here.”

“…What is this?”

“Pick it up.”

I provoked him. I stoked their anger. To see where the anger would be directed. Some of it turned toward me, but some of it was directed at the children sent to the battlefield. I put them through a sieve.

“Hey!”

Vulture shouted. He stepped forward, drew back his arm, and swung a punch at me. Rikan moved in to cut it off—

“!?”

—but he didn’t make it in time.

I got hit.

“…Oi, Rikan.”

You’re supposed to be my bodyguard, right?

“No, you deserved to be hit.”

Rikan chuckled softly at my protesting look. Was that so? Fine. I would take one blow without complaint.

My mouth split; it tasted like iron and rust. It was disgusting. I spat. Vulture came closer. Rikan stepped in to stop him.

“That’s how it is. Do you understand now, village chief?”

“No, surely, that’s—”

He tried to argue. I shut his mouth.

I drew the pistol from my hip holster. Aimed it. “Ox Unit. Sheep Unit.” Words. Orders. The two Monoz waiting behind me also drew their guns.

“You understand?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

Click. The sound of metal.

“Y-yes, I understand.”

So he understood. Good. Even so—

“You’re just a puffed-up little boss among prisoners, village chief. You could at least show a little backbone.”

“…”

“If things keep going this way, your people will starve. Are you fine with that?”

“…”

“Ah, right. That’s it, isn’t it—”

A breath. Breathing. I swallowed down the anger rising in my throat.

Not yet. I wouldn’t let it out yet.

“Because the first ones to starve won’t be you, so it doesn’t matter, is that it?”

“!”

The village chief was struck dumb.

I kept the muzzle pointed at him, my eyes cold.

I tried to provoke him, but nothing more came back.

“…Rotten.”

I gave up on him.

The root of it—he was rotten, and because of that, this whole human village was rotten. I holstered the gun and let out a sigh.

“Ratchet!”

Vulture’s shout. I gave Rikan a signal to shut him up.

Then, one woman stepped forward. Around thirty, maybe. Ah, I remembered—she was the one who had organized the serving women at the welcome banquet. She sat down on the ground and bowed her head.

“Please, at least save the children.”

“…”

I said nothing.

Then a few others bowed their heads as well.

Ah. They split cleanly, almost amusingly so.

Adults who were secure, whose children were safe, didn’t bow. They glared at me.

They were so easy to read. Very good.

Adults who could throw themselves away for their children. Adults who could get angry for their children. This scene had revealed such people. Or maybe what it had revealed were the adults who preyed on children.

“Those bowing now, and the children—this way. Rikan, fold them into my squad. Ah, I forgot. Vulture, you too. Ox Unit, Sheep Unit, begin leading them.”

“Mm. Understood, you nasty dog.”

Rikan laughed and lightly tapped my head.

“How cruel. I only carried out your orders. I’ve dealt with the rotten part, leader,” I said and shrugged.

With this method, some clever but rotten people might slip through. That is fine. If they’re capable, they can still be used. At least people who’d use children as human shields or cannon fodder would be cut off.

Those I’d named fell in with Ox and Sheep and were led away.

Then I realized. My wording had been poor. That would cause a misunderstanding.

“Sorry. You lot are different.”

“…Huh?”

I addressed the well-fed children. The boy who seemed to be their leader was sharp; he went pale at those words alone.

Too bad. If he had that much sense, he could have reached out to the weak.

I would not save them. They have people who protect them. Taking in every child was impossible. I didn’t have enough hands.

“You go over there.”

I told them with a smile.

Do not come this way.