第２６７堀：託すのは絶望でなく希望 (Part2)
If I were to mention changing the guard, Yuki might show up, and we would be devastated if anything happened to him. Besides, the Holy Sword Users have already decided that we won't let anyone die as a mere human anymore.
"Hii!?"
Ah, did I let out a killing intent just by imagining Yuki getting hurt? The foolish vixen was cowering in the bed, curled up into a ball.
*Sigh.* Why does Yuki insist on providing such a comfortable environment for someone we’ve captured? After all the trouble they’ve caused, he should just torture them into submission instead of this tedious attempt at winning them over. If they die, just throw them away. If they break, he could use them as his playthings.
He’s still too soft in that regard.
Well, we have children now, so maybe using them as playthings isn't great for their upbringing? If I had a child, I wouldn't know how to explain what a "plaything" is.
...No, wait. Being Yuki's plaything implies "doing the deed," and that’s absolutely out of the question. We wives should be the only ones who are Yuki's playthings.
Yes, if they break, we can just send them to a brothel. They have good faces and figures; they should be able to earn their keep even if they’re broken.
Wait, no, that’s not right. We haven't even decided to torture them yet. The foolish vixen was just being so noisy that I started thinking in that direction.
"And here I thought it had gotten quiet. She's actually crawled into bed and gone to sleep..."
I hadn't heard her yapping, and this is why. ...Well, she did spend a few hundred years as a shut-in, so I suppose it’s expected. I have my complaints, but she’s quiet now, so I’ll let it slide.
There’s nothing particularly strange written in her behavior... wait, she can use the same illusion magic as me? Huh, I guess living a long time has its perks. According to Yuki, illusion magic is a type of hypnosis, and apparently, there are foxes on Earth who used it to commit all sorts of crimes and left their names in history. As a fellow fox, it’s disgraceful.
"Yawn. Ah, the farm work started early, so I'm sleepy. ...Time to sleep."
We sometimes have to pull night shifts for guard duty, so there’s a futon in this room. ...Though usually, we leave the night shifts to the monsters. The subject is asleep, and I haven't been told to do anything in particular. I might as well get some shut-eye.
I quickly laid out the futon and crawled inside. Tori would wake me up when it was time to switch shifts anyway... Thinking that, I drifted off to sleep.
*Kyaa!! Waa!!*
*Thud, bang, clatter, crash!!*
I opened my eyes to the sound of those shouts. Did something happen? I looked around in a panic to grasp the situation...
"Burn the village!! This village is in league with Gartz!! Don't let a single villager escape!!"
There stood the detestable minister who had been tricked by Yuki long ago and punished publicly. The village being attacked was my own. It was already gone. All that remained were the small graves where I had mourned everyone.
*A dream...*
Even seeing such a gruesome sight, my heart didn't stir; I recognized it as a dream. It’s a dream I’ve seen over and over again. I thought the frequency had dropped lately, but, well, I suppose I still see it. After all, it was the catalyst for my daily life collapsing and the beginning of a new era for me.
*See? There is no value in saving people. You understand that, don't you, given the terrible experience you've had?*
...It seems this isn't just a normal dream. I turned around to see Kaya looking at me intently. That foolish vixen. She must have used mental interference while I was drifting off. But wait, emission-type magic is forbidden here—how was she able to use illusion magic?
*Since it's a dream, your reaction is dull. Oh well, follow me. Then you can achieve your revenge. There's no need to follow a man like that.*
*Save your sleep-talking for when you're dead, you foolish vixen.*
*Wha—!?*
Kaya looked shocked, but I showed no mercy. I immediately punched her in the face and restrained her while she was stunned.
*Guh!? Wh-why!? You're being used as a slave by that man, aren't you!!*
*Sigh.* What an idiot.
The dream shifted to the climax: a one-on-one duel between me and the commander.
"Hahaha!! Listen, woman, kill that man!! Do that, and I'll spare the villagers!!"
Words I had heard once before, knowing full well he had no intention of keeping his promise. But the commander and I both knew it was a lie, and we risked our lives to create an opening for the villagers to escape. The moment I plunged my knife into the commander's chest, the captured villagers used their respective magic to flee.
"Guh, damn it!! Fine, kill them!! Kill them all!!"
I desperately fought off the soldiers chasing them. I wanted to ensure that at least a few more of my comrades could escape. But having fought until now and having worn each other down, the commander and I were quickly cornered.
"Kaya!! Over here!!"
He saved me and pulled me out. He was usually so frail, but at that moment, he was dependable. I was happy to see he could have such a manly side. But then... an axe flew into his head, and... it was over.
...I couldn't even mourn him, and I was taken as a slave. I had cried my eyes out, mourning the loss of him and my comrades, and my own incompetence in failing to protect them.
*Hey, a world like this shouldn't exist!! You understand, don't you!!*
Kaya, who was watching the scene with me, said desperately. But there’s no way I could understand.
*I don't understand. Certainly, this event was agonizingly painful. But that is no reason to bring misery to the people living happy lives now who know nothing of it. What you are doing is nothing but selfish, annoying lashing out. If you want to die, die alone.*
*Even so!!*
Well, if it had just been despair, I might have ended up like this too. But I had everyone. Even after losing everything, I had everyone who, like me, had lost so much and was desperately trying to live in the present. And among them was a strange boy who had been forced to cast aside everything he had ever known and was brought to this world.
Yet, that boy didn't complain; he worked desperately to fulfill the wishes of the gods. He thinks he’s doing all sorts of heartless things, but that’s not the case at all. He was sweeter and kinder than anyone else.
*Even so. My husband said the same words, but unlike you, he taught me to lead people—no, he taught me to strive forward myself.*
*W-what?*