C114: I’m in the middle of something

We all crush the monsters that appear one after another from the ground. I've been kicking the crap out of them for a while now, too, but they weren't zombies yet...with flesh stuck to them and a putrid smell. I avoided the dead bodies and aimed at the skeletal...bodies.

To be honest, I am not comfortable with the act of kicking a monster. I mean, it's just plain scary. However, thanks to my previous experience with black dogs and green kobolds in the village, I could manage to move. I can't force all the scary and painful tasks on the villagers, can I? I have to help them, even if it's just a little bit.

"But it's more destructive than I imagined."

Incidentally, the shoes I'm wearing are safety shoes with a hardened toe, which were given to me by the president because I needed to wear them when I went to clean the factory. They were originally designed to protect me from heavy objects falling on my toes, but the thin steel plate in them increased the power of my kicks. It's enough to crush a battered skull.

I was actually planning to bring the bat from home, but even if I put it in the case, if someone got suspicious and searched my luggage while I was on the move, they would find Destiny hiding in my bag. The monsters are attacked before their bodies are out of the ground, so they can't fight back and are just defeated.

"In any other game, that would be a good experience hunting ground."

I was in such a good mood that I could afford to feel that way. In my bag, I have a reasonably-sized hammer that I bought at a home improvement store near the port just in case, but at this rate, I won't have to take it out.

I guess the dead bodies and bone bodies in this area have run out, and no new monsters have appeared. For some reason, the gazes of Gams and hunters were focused on Niles and Chem, so I looked at them, too, and saw that they had closed their eyes and were making some kind of praying gesture.

"I don't see any sign of undeads in the area."

"Yes, the foul spirits are gone."

The two of them assured me once and for all. They can use some kind of magic to sense the presence of undead nearby in the cleric's magic, so if they say it, it must be true.

The enemies in the area seemed to have been cleared out, so we started moving forward again. I'm pretty sure there's a graveyard up ahead, and I found a staircase that leads to a basement, where the streamers were trapped.

Countless gravestones greeted me, as if to confirm my recollection. The gravestones that had fallen down when the monsters had appeared before were still intact, as were the countless holes in the ground. Could it be that, unlike the previous place, the enemies here no longer appeared?

"Well, it seems there are no more enemies nearby."

"Yes, Master Niles...."

If the two clergymen say so, I'll trust them. After easily finding the stairs leading to the basement, they all turned to look at me. I guess I should interpret this as a request for instructions.

"Our goal is to purify this place, but it would be better to rescue them first so they won't be used as hostages."

As I said, I have no intention of obeying a threat to drop my weapon if they use the hostages. However, if I could stop that situation, I would. The villagers are the most important, but I also want to save the streamers. That's what I really feel.

"One thing that worries me is that there are probably people who are watching this village. This is not confirmed, but there is a possibility that those who worship the evil gods are pulling the strings behind the scenes. So, please be careful and stay alert."

I have to tell them this. If they only paid attention to the monsters, they might suffer an unexpected blow. The person controlling the monster is more troublesome than the monster, whose principle of action is simple.

There's a good chance that they're still peeking in on us, and that they're eavesdropping on our conversation. I think I should take care of the villagers as much as possible, since I can't help them in the fight against the monsters.

"We can't be too careful when the Evil Ones are involved."

When the smile disappears from Niles' face, he exhales heavily. Next to him, Chem also has a difficult look on her face. As a believer on the side of the Lord God, she seems to have some thoughts about the evildoers.

"They may have predicted that we are coming to help again. Be very careful of traps."

When I alerted the small hunter who was examining the stairway entrance, he nodded with a serious look on his face. After a careful inspection of the area, we descended the stairs with the small hunter in the lead. I left a pair of hunters outside to let me know if anything happened.

At the bottom of the stairs, there was a concrete space with an iron door. This looked creepier in the flesh than through the computer screen. Everyone looked at each other while those with swords drew them from their sheaths, and the door slowly opened in a battle ready position.

It's a bleak room surrounded by concrete. There is a TV, a game console, and a bookshelf full of comic books. There are several large cushions on the floor, and I make eye contact with someone lying on them, covered in clothes. The living environment has improved remarkably compared to before.

They just glanced at us and continued playing games and reading. The people seemed to have a different attitude than before, as if they had a different soul. They were definitely the streamer, I can tell that by looking at their faces. What I don't understand is this attitude. They used to shed tears and plead for help, but what is this change?

"Gentlemen, we're here to help."

When I said that, she glanced at me, but quickly looked away. I was waiting for them to say something, but silence prevailed.

"Hey, you guys! We're here to help!"

One of the hunters, annoyed by the other's reaction, walked up to the nearby streamer and shouted at him. The streamer then waved his hands in annoyance and let out a big, deliberate sigh.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Oh, right. I forgot. They were Japanese, so they couldn't understand the language of the other world. It was my job to talk to them here.

"Then let me do the talking. You can understand me, right?"

My words are translated into otherworldly languages on their own, but if I'm conscious of them, I can deliver them as Japanese.

"Whoa, that's Japanese. Are you Japanese?"

"Yes. I'm here to help you. Do you understand where you are?"

They have stepped into a horror spot and are being held captive. So, I want to make sure that they understand that this is a different world. What happens next will depend on whether they know or not. If they know, I can tell them honestly and take them out. If they don't know, I can just cover it up.

"Oh, so this is the other world, huh?"

Whoa, you know that? The other streamers were nodding, so it seemed to be a common understanding.

"I thought it was a different kind of village, but it turned out to be a different world. If we publish this, our views will increase tremendously."

"It's going to be a big hit, isn't it?"

They were having a casual conversation with each other and I didn't think they really understood the situation. Unlike the last time I saw them, there was no sense of sadness or crisis on their faces. They seemed to be relaxing as if they were at home.

"Are you sure you understand the situation?"

I said the question out loud. The distributors looked at me quizzically. –Their eyes were dark and cloudy. What is it with these lifeless, vacant eyes?

I almost flinched a little at the unexpected reaction, but I couldn't let my pathetic appearance be exposed in front of the villagers. I put on my best face and faced them unfazed on the surface.

"I know. This place is run by a guy who worships some evil god. We're being held as test subjects to see if we can chain another world to Japan, right?"

They understand the...big picture. If so, why don't they try to escape?

"If you know that…"

"Just leave us alone. We're here because we want to be here. You abandoned us once. If you stay here, we're guaranteed food, clothing and shelter. We don't have to work, we can just play and live, how can we not be happy?"

"Yes, yes."

They don't look like...people who are threatened and pretend to obey. I'm not sure what to make of that. I can only assume that they mean what they say.

"It's true that you're guaranteed food, clothing and shelter for now, but you're being used as an experimental subject. Are you aware that this is a dangerous thing to do, not knowing what will happen if you fail?"

"Even if we live in Japan, we could die tomorrow in a car accident, or from a disease. So, if we are happy now, why not?"

Decadent thoughts, an excuse for those who have grown lazy. I know it's a pathetic argument, but I used to think the same way. If I had been in the same situation a year ago, I would have said the same thing....I can't help but think so.

"I have friends to hang out with here, and my parents and others don't say anything if I slack off. I'm not even scorned. This is what heaven is all about."

My heart aches as I look at my old self. I didn't have a place at home, I didn't have a job, and I didn't have a shoulder to lean on. I was worried about what people would think of me, but I still couldn't take the plunge. In the midst of all this, people who thought they could get a shot at streaming are gathered here.

I thought of ways to persuade them to leave but that would be a pointless act. When you're in this state, no amount of words from others will change your mind.

Even if the words resonated with them, they would be meaningless unless I took the time and patience to do it over and over again. It's too convenient to suddenly change your mind and reflect on the situation.

I know that better than anyone. I was able to change because I interacted with the villagers through the game and had a reason to move on. Even so, after much hesitation, I managed to take the first step.

"Master Yoshio, what are they saying?"

They may not have been able to understand the words, but they must have realized it from the atmosphere. Niles is looking into my face with concern.

"...Let's leave them here. Focus on defeating the enemy here first, then we can take them with us."

We could forcefully threaten to take them away, but that would definitely drag us down. If that were the case, it would be better to leave them here and take them out after everything was over. Besides, I'm worried about those eyes, empty eyes that don't see reality.

I was expecting one of the villagers or hunters to argue with me, but they seemed to have guessed from the other's attitude, and no one said anything and complied. I didn't say anything to them, but looked at them the moment the iron door closed completely. They had already lost interest in us and were all back to reading or playing games.