Chapter 21
Chapter 21: The Return of the Daughters!
We received guidance from the woman we rescued all the way to Gondo Village.
In the distance, we spotted several figures.
Beyond them, we could see something resembling a village.
As we approached, it seemed they also noticed us.
One of them hurriedly returned to the village.
"Are you all safe?"
"Yeah."
Among those we rescued, three village women were crying.
Villagers started gathering one after another.
They hugged what seemed to be their family members with joy.
They must have resigned themselves to never seeing each other alive again.
Amidst their joy, they seemed to have noticed our presence and were explaining.
While the other women were fine, I was probably being cautious because I had Kuro on my right shoulder and Shiro in my left arm.
It's natural to be wary of monsters when you live closely with them.
An elderly man who seemed to be the village chief and a few others walked toward us.
"We thank you for saving the village girls."
As they deeply bowed their heads, the other villagers also lowered theirs.
"Don't worry about it. I'd like to hear the details instead."
It's tough not being able to use honorifics.
If I don't come up with a solution soon, it might become a big problem...
The women we rescued were guided by the villagers to another location to rest.
There are women from outside the village as well, and there might be some things they don't want to be asked about.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
I decided to talk with several male villagers at the village chief's house.
Shiro and Kuro were waiting outside the house.
I received thanks from the villagers once again.
I explained that I couldn't use polite language due to the "curse."
Everyone was surprised, but they calmed down when I assured them that it wouldn't affect others.
This village used to make a living by cutting down trees and selling fruits from the forest (currently known as the Forest of Lost). However, about fifty years ago, numerous monsters settled in the forest, making it impossible to coexist with the forest that had been their livelihood. People who entered the forest never returned, causing trouble for the villagers.
Furthermore, in recent years, it seems that the village has been under attack by goblins, orcs, and the like, and young women and scarce food have been stolen.
Indeed, all the villagers were thin...
Although I am prepared for the village to disappear if this situation continues, I also have resistance to leaving the land where I was born and raised. In the midst of this conflict, it seems that they are desperately trying to survive.
I informed them that the powerful magic in the center of the forest has disappeared, causing the monsters to return to their lives deep in the forest as before, and that the distorted sense of direction was caused by that magic. I also told them that I had completely wiped out the goblin settlement.
Those who were present were surprised, but some didn't believe it.
Until now, the villagers have had terrible experiences with monsters, so it's hard to believe that they suddenly disappeared.
"As for the matter of the forest's magic, I will go to the entrance of the forest to prove it. As for the goblin matter, please listen to the details from the girls who were here earlier."
This is the most polite language I can muster. The line between casual and formal speech is too vague, and I don't really understand it.
The village chief instructed the villagers to bring back the girls who had returned to the village.
After a while, a red-haired woman entered the house.
She was the one who cried and pleaded with me to kill her sisters in the goblin settlement.
Her name was Fran.
Fran occasionally looked pained as she told the story from the moment she was captured.
I don't want her to talk about Al and the others...
She cried as she said that when we came to rescue them, the women who had been captured before were already dead.
They probably decided to coordinate their stories among the women who were there.
Because it was their choice to kill, they must feel guilty.
The villagers were astonished.
Fran, whether it was because she had been holding back or because she felt relieved after speaking, covered her face with both hands and continued to cry.
After regaining some composure, Fran apologized to everyone, saying, "I'm sorry."
She then earnestly explained that I was not a dangerous person.
She also explained how Shiro and Kuro are monsters but cooperated in defeating the goblins.
Although there were a few who were still not convinced about Shiro and Kuro, the village chief allowed them to enter the village, so they reluctantly accepted it.
I expressed my gratitude, saying, "Thank you," for allowing Shiro and Kuro to stay.