Chapter 18
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(We... shouldn't have come to this town...)
Gilka, the wolf Beastkin, regretted coming to the town of Grimoire as her thoughts grew hazy.
(Damn it... I was an idiot for thinking I could get anything I wanted in a town where people had disappeared...)
The carefree life of a bandit had been enjoyable. However, she had vaguely considered that a life of taking from others would eventually come to an end, likely with a miserable death.
Still, she never imagined she would be utterly trampled by a monster with such unreasonable and overwhelming power.
(A monster like this shouldn't exist in the surface world... Just stay quietly in the depths of a Dungeon...)
She had some confidence in her strength. In adventurer terms, she possessed the power of a Class Two. Those of Class One had exceptional strength, but even Class Two was enough to be recognized as a notable figure in the country.
(...This one has the power of Class One. No, maybe even more... What even was that magic...? Even if it directly attacks the mind, its destructive power is way too much...)
There are monsters that launch mental attacks. They aren't uncommon in the dark Dungeons.
However, typical mental attacks aren't nearly as powerful as that. They aren't very effective against those with resistant Magical Tools or strong wills.
Gilka, too, wore a Magical Tool to counter mental attacks just in case. Yet, it had no effect whatsoever.
(...My body won't move. Not only that, I can't feel anything. It's like the connection between my mind and body has been completely severed...)
Freed from the vicious mental attack, her consciousness was gradually returning to normal. Even so, no matter how hard she tried, her body wouldn't move. She couldn't even tell if she was breathing.
Yet, as if it were a distant event, she could still hear sounds.
It seemed this monster had companions. The two of them were discussing something about the future.
"Even if they are bandits, there's no need to inflict unnecessary suffering. If you're going to kill them, just cut off their heads quickly. If Yuurai can't do it, I will."
"No, no, I don't intend to kill them. I got annoyed when they attacked, but I do want them to help with cleaning up the town."
"...Bandits don't listen to others. It's better to kill them."
"...I got carried away and overdid it, but Claire, you're saying some extreme things too."
"Bandits shouldn't exist in this world."
"I can still feel the spirit of a Holy Knight in you... I think it's wrong to kill someone unilaterally without knowing their side, so let's hear them out first."
"...If that's what you decide, I'll follow."
"Thanks. Hey, boss over there, are you conscious?"
Being addressed by the monster in the form of a young girl, Gilka felt her soul freeze.
It should have been just a normal conversation, yet the pressure was immense. It was hard to believe she had initially mistaken her for a mere weakling.
"Hmm, not moving...? Holy Knights recovered pretty quickly, but maybe they had resistance...? My magic doesn't seem to work as well on them."
(...That makes it sound like I lost to a Holy Knight, and it pisses me off. But my body still won't move. Damn it.)
"Maybe a light shock will wake them up?"
(Hey, what are you planning? Stop it.)
"Pain."
"Gyaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
A searing pain as if her entire body was being torn apart. It felt like her hands and feet were being ripped off, her intestines dragged out, her body torn to pieces, and burned in hellfire.
It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful. It hurts. It's painful.
Her mind went blank.
"...Please, stop. I don't want this anymore..."
Finally able to move her body, Gilka cried like a little child.
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"Oh, looks like you're conscious again. Good, I'm glad you're not dead."
Seeing the leader coughing up blood and sobbing, Yuurai felt relieved.
"...I told you there's no need to inflict unnecessary suffering, so why did you use that magic again?"
Being reprimanded by Claire, Yuurai was startled.
"Ah... Why did I naturally use Pain like that...? I could've just woken them up normally..."
Yuurai felt uneasy about her own actions. She was supposed to hold the belief of not harming others needlessly, yet what she just did clearly went against that.
(I hope it's just a temporary abnormality from being stabbed in the chest... If this continues, it'll be a problem... I don't want to completely turn into a monster, even in my heart...)
Yuurai grasped Claire's left hand with both of hers.
"I'm supposed to believe in not harming others needlessly. But... I might be losing control over myself. It's true I almost killed these bandits... I'm a little scared of myself..."
Suddenly, Claire embraced Yuurai.
Claire's softness, warmth, and the faint scent of flowers comforted Yuurai's heart.
"If you can feel scared of yourself, you're still okay. You're not a merciless monster."
"Yeah... Thanks. But... if I ever try to do something strange, please stop me."
"...Understood."
For a while, Yuurai calmed her heart in Claire's arms.
"Alright, I'm okay now! Claire, thank you!"
"You're welcome. Also, when interacting with anyone other than me, don't forget to use Concealment magic."
"Ah, right. Concealing my magic power, done."
After casting the magic, Yuurai turned to face the boss Beastkin.
"Hey, would you like to become my companion? There are a lot of things I'd like you to help with."
"...I'll join. I'll do anything. Just spare me..."
"That was quick... Claire, looks like they'll listen to me. Are bandits usually like this?"
"...It's just that your magic is that vicious. You've completely broken their spirit..."
"Dark Magic might be useful for reforming villains, huh? Well, anyway, nice to work with you from now on."
Yuurai lifted the boss Beastkin's right hand and shook it. The boss Beastkin merely nodded.
(...Is this okay? A leader with charisma was appealing, but seeing them this broken makes me worry... They'll recover eventually, right?)
"Hey, what's your name?"
"...Gilka."
At that name, Claire reacted.
"Gilka? That Gilka?"
"Claire, you know her?"
"Only by name. She's the leader of a notorious bandit group in this country."
"Oh, I see. Then her skills must be reliable."
"Likely."
"Got it, got it. Gilka, take care of the others and manage them well. If any of them don't intend to follow me, feel free to throw them out of town."
"Yuurai, wait. That's not okay. If that happens, I'll kill them. Bandits can't be left alive unchecked."
"...Claire says so, which means from now on, you're all my companions. Work hard."
"...Yes."
"I'll give you enough recovery potions for everyone, so use them to heal up. Once you're feeling better, start with cleaning the town. Do your best, but don't overdo it."
"...Understood."
"I'll come check on you occasionally, so make sure you're working properly."
"Yes..."
Yuurai gave Gilka a recovery potion to drink and handed over the rest for the others.
"It's cold today, so don't catch a cold. See you later."
Yuurai left the place with Claire.
With new companions, the town should start looking cleaner from now on.
However, to clean a town that once housed twenty thousand people, they still lacked manpower.
(It'd be great if a group of a thousand or so came to the town... but that's probably unlikely... The Eyeless Tribe's settlement should be nearby, but would they come...?)
Maybe she should look for their village sometime.
Thinking about that, Yuurai headed to the castle with Claire for now.
After changing out of her torn clothes, the two of them headed to the dark Dungeon.