第１９２５堀：襲撃後の町 (Part1)
Chapter 1925: The Town After the Raid
Side: Nina
“Did you hear? About the swarm of monsters that attacked Uesa?”
“I heard, I heard. They even sent out a notice telling everyone to abandon the town and run, didn’t they? And the Lord’s army brought back the remains—they lined up more than ten Ogre heads for everyone to see.”
“I saw them. It was incredible. They say they were even larger than normal Ogres.”
“So it seems. Well, I’m just glad the town is safe. I was one of the ones who couldn't get out in time.”
“Me too. The carriages were prioritized for the women and children, so I ended up joining the volunteer militia to help defend the place.”
“You were actually planning to fight?”
“Well, it’s not like I had anywhere else to go. If we lose this town, I’ve got no life left. If that’s the case, fighting is the only option.”
Snippets of conversation like these drifted into my ears. In fact, the same topic was being discussed everywhere I looked. The consensus was clear: the town of Uesa had been successfully defended.
However, riding the coattails of that victory...
“Did you hear? They say a strange knight appeared during the battle.”
“I heard, I heard. The adventurers were talking about it, and even the Lord’s soldiers were saying the same thing. The Lord even put up a public notice about it, didn't he?”
“What was the name again? The Silver Knight of Humanity, Knightman?”
“I thought it sounded like an exaggeration, but the stories say he took down half the monster swarm—including those Ogres—all by himself. Maybe the name isn't so far off after all.”
Yes, talk of our very own "Knightman" was spreading. It was garnering quite a bit of attention.
And because of that...
“Uuuugh...”
Vilia was currently slumped over the table in front of me. She hadn't even touched her food.
“Vilia, I know how you feel, but you need to eat. Even a Doppelganger needs nutrition. It would be a hassle to feed you after we get back to the house, wouldn't it?”
Kishua offered these words of concern while urging her to eat lunch. She wasn't wrong, of course. Doppelgangers do require nourishment. While it isn't impossible for them to survive on magic alone, since they are mimicking humans, obtaining nutrients from food helps maintain their mental stability. Magic alone cannot quiet the pangs of hunger.
This is precisely why "wild" human Doppelgangers don't really exist in dungeons. Mimicking an adventuring party on the spot is the best they can manage; if they stay in that form without a steady food source, they simply die.
But setting aside the ecology of monsters, Vilia was simply dying of embarrassment over yesterday’s battle. I understood her feelings, just as Kishua did. If she had wanted to be a hero, that would be one thing, but Vilia was acting as a hero—or rather, a mysterious figure—as a job. Furthermore, she wasn't playing a woman, but a man. It was beyond "unfamiliar" for her.
And to make matters worse...
“Did you hear the news, dear?”
“Oh, I heard. That Silver Knight who protected us and then left without asking for a thing... Oh, he’s wonderful. I wonder if he has a wife?”
“It makes you wonder, doesn't it? In times like these, a strong man is best. Though, we both already have husbands.”
“If only they were a bit stronger. And if only he weren't married.”
“Ahaha!”
Laughter like that echoed from nearby tables, and then...
“I’m going to marry the Silver Knight!”
“I mean, I hope you can, but we don't even know where he is, do we?”
“That’s why I’m going to look for him! With my figure, he’ll be mine in an instant.”
“You think so? Well, I’m confident in my body too. Maybe I’ll go looking for him as well.”
I could hear the voices of young women chatting excitedly. If this were a man who loved women, he would be overjoyed, but...
“...I am Big Brother’s wife. Being popular with women doesn't do me any good...”
Vilia seemed to wilt further and further. It couldn't be helped. She was a woman, and she had a husband named Yuki. If she had an interest in women, it might have been fine, but she had no such inclinations. Under the circumstances, that kind of affection was merely uncomfortable. Moreover, seeing women throw themselves at her meant she was seeing an indirect reflection of the way she might act toward Yuki. Looking at herself objectively like that was probably enough to give her a stomachache.
“Well, there is no doubt that we’ve managed to steer the public perception successfully, so you should be proud, Vilia. You received a message from Yuki as well, didn't you?”
“Yes. Big Brother and the sisters all told me I did a great job. That’s the only thing making me happy right now.”
At Sia’s words, Vilia looked up immediately, a smile returning to her face. She was quite honest—or perhaps just simple. I’m sure Yuki and Seraria knew that and sent the praise to support her.
“Alright, Vilia, eat your food while you listen. Let’s reorganize our understanding of the situation in Uesa.”
We were currently staying at an inn in town—the same one we had rented before the monster attack. As you could gather from the townspeople’s conversations, the defense of Uesa was a success, and daily life was returning to normal.
That said, it had been a massive upheaval. There were reports of looters taking advantage of the chaos and other various troubles, but the general reaction was one of relief that it had only cost them that much. Originally, they were supposed to abandon the town with nothing but the clothes on their backs; compared to that, this was a much better outcome.
“Uesa was successfully defended. Casualties from the monsters were zero. The rulers and the Lord likely spent a fortune in funds and supplies during this incident, but daily life for the commoners should settle down within a few days.”
“True. They mobilized so many people. Not just the Lord’s army, but they moved the adventurers too. The costs for all that must be staggering.”
“Indeed. Moving people on that scale is a monumental task. However, with almost no loss of life or property, and considering the battle seemed hopeless when the monsters first attacked, I think we can call this the best possible result,” Sia added.
As Sia said, considering the disparity between the enemy’s strength and Uesa’s defenses, this outcome was indeed optimal.
“Yes. I’m just glad the people of the town are safe. By the way, Sia, you and the others stayed behind to handle healing and guidance, right?”
“Yeah, well, it was more like guarding them, but we ended up coming straight back afterward.”
“Right. While we were healing people and guiding the refugees, the battle ended and everyone headed back to town. Sia was approached by people from the Church, though. She doesn't know how to hold back.”
“It couldn't be helped. People were on the verge of dying.”
During the evacuation, Sia had used recovery magic to save several people who were about to be crushed to death in a minor stampede. She had been seen by quite a few people, and word had reached the Church. Specifically, the Clearstream Church.
“Well, helping the injured is one thing, but how are we going to handle the Clearstream Church? Are we going to keep our distance for now? Or are we going to make contact earlier than planned?”
“Let’s see. The original plan was to begin our activities in the Kingdom of Ioa, wasn't it? Both as adventurers and with the Church.”