Chapter 59 Firm Determination
「Haa haa… h-heavy …!」
I was running out of breath and sweating a lot.
No matter how much I lack exercise, I won’t exhausted this much with just walking on flat ground. And even after fighting, being controlled by the cursed sword before.
……Because the fatigue of such battles will come tomorrow. I can’t help but feel scared of tomorrow.
The reason why I am walking so tattered is… because of the existences that get on the cart I’m pushing.
「I’m sorry. We were trapped for a long time and couldn’t get sufficient food, so we didn’t have the power to transform our lower body into humans…」
Screw that. Just go to the sea crawling with both arms.
The one said such an excuse is one of the mermaids in a tank full of water on top of the cart. Those women who were captured by Maximilian want to return to the mermaid settlement. Well, that’s okay. Even I always want to go back home.
The problem is that they don’t try to move themselves. The hell with that. I don’t know whether they are exhauster or don’t have the power to do so, but I’m also exhausted.
I was forced to fight with my life on the line you know. It’s too cruel.
「Haa haa… don’t worry about it. I’m doing it because I want to.」
I don’t want at all. I want to leave you guys and go somewhere far away. Become a dried fish? I don’t care.
However, no matter how much I speak abusive words inside, I won’t show it on the surface. Until I find a convenient woman… no, even if I find it, it will be a problem if I’m being abandoned, so I’ll never reveal my true nature.
But, the reason I can carry the mermaids without feeling down so far is probably because of her presence behind me.
「Huff huff…」
「Are… are you okay?」
There’s Magali who’s breathing that seems like she’s about to die and a mermaid who’s worried about her. Of course, she’s also pushing the cart like me. She’s sweating a lot and her smooth black hair stick to her forehead.
She doesn’t have as much physical strength as I do after all… pfft.
Ahyahyahyahyahyahya!! Look at that, Cursed Sword! Look at her dying face! That’s a masterpiece!!
『D-don’t laugh. She’s working hard too… pfft.』
The cursed sword is also laughing.
Aren’t your personality gradually becomes trash?
Well, if that makes you not making me helping others, I want you to keep that as it is.
「(Screw this! Why do I have to do this…!!)」
Magali gazes at me with bloodshot eyes.
Why? The reason may be simple.
「(That’s because you pushed everything to me and slacked off, idiot!! The gentle and kind Saint-sama won’t leave everything to me, who’s exhausted from the battle, right? My~, I’m saved.)」
It would be impossible for the Saint-sama, who did nothing, to push everything to me after the battle. With her personality, she might be able to do it easily, but there are others’ eyes.
Especially, there was Malta who fought with me, so she could not push everything to me.
「(Tsk…! I wish you had died…!)」
What a coincidence, I think so too.
Well, this suffering is until I bring it to the ship. After that, the mermaids can go to the village with their own power and that’s a goodbye.
Hang in there, me! Don’t lose, me! Don’t yield to this unreasonableness!
And after several minutes of carrying the mermaids, that I don’t even want to help, while encouraging myself.
「W-we arrived …!」
The sea makes waves while making noise.
Finally, I reached the destination. Despite being exhausted, I played my part. After that, the mermaids will move the boat freely, so let’s ride on it and slowly recover my stamina.
……Rather, I’m so exhausted that I feel like I’m about to die shortly after Magali. It should be me who’s more exhausted after the battle.
Normally, she stayed in the castle and only studied as a saint, but she’s no good. Serves you right.
Like that, I was tired but my heart was satisfied….
「Then, I’m sorry, but can you two row the boat.」
「…………Yes?」
To Malta who said so apologetically, I lost my words.
……Are you kidding me? Did she tell me to row the boat even after seeing my situation?
Is Malta a slave traded an I’m her slave?
「Uh… what about your power…」
Magali, who is more cornered than me, said so with a pale face.
「Of course, I want to do so. But, I’ve run out of power in the previous battle…」
Malta says she will row the boat too.
Wrong, not that. Using magic is convenient and I can relax.
If you’re going to row the boat, we have to row the boat too in the end.
「T-then, how about the other mermaids…」
Magali says so and looks at the mermaids who we were carried.
She sure is desperate, heh.
When I saw her like this, my heart refreshed so I won’t talk too much.
「Because we were placed in a bad environment, so we don’t have the power…. To the point that we can’t even swim by ourselves.」
They shake their head apologetically.
…………Isn’t this bad?
D-don’t tell me…! I need to row the boat myself while the burdens, mermaids, also on the boat…!?
I don’t mind if it’s just my weight alone, but carrying these burdens is too much…!
「Do your best, Alistar.」
「Wait a minute.」
I grab Magali’s shoulder and seal her movement when she’s about to get on a small boat while smiling.
This woman, ‘do your best’ my ass.
She was going to push all the mermaids to me.
「It’s impossible to bring this many mermaids in this one small boat. Let’s divide them into two boats with you and me.」
「Do you think I, a sheltered girl who didn’t even do the farm work properly, can do it?」
「It’s not about can or can’t. It’s about doing it or not. Don’t tell me, is Saint-sama going to say that you won’t do it?」
The conversation between me and Magali stopped for a moment. Then, we laughed at about the same time.
「Fufufu.」
「Hahaha.」
『What an amazing murderous intent! This is equal even to the former formidable enemies…!?』
We are laughing at each other. But, our eyes aren’t laughing. We both have strong killing intentions at each other.
「…You two sure are good friends.」
For some reason, Malta said so while pouting and seemed displeased.
Is she blind?
「「What makes you think so?」」
When we asked at the same time with no expression, Malta trembled.
Oops, not good. I have to show my gentle ikemen side.
To think that she told me that I and Magali are good friends, I got irritated unconsciously.
I’m reflecting on it.
Anyway, Magali and I shared the burdens, mermaids, and started rowing the small boats.
If we continue to stay here, we may get caught by the knights due to the rampage at Maximilian’s mansion.
『Come on, let’s go all out!!』
Hell no!!
I was annoyed by the insensitive cursed sword’s yell.
◆
「………」
『Hey, she seems depressed. Try to talk to her.』
Looking at Malta who’s sitting quietly, the cursed sword said so.
Why should I? I don’t care at all even if she’s depressed.
『Just do it.』
O-ouch!?
Why can’t I stand the headache!?
「…… What’s wrong?」
「Ah… you see, I was remembering what Maximilian said…」
When I unwillingly talked to her, she said such things.
What that stupid noble said…?
Ah, about Pamela who cooperated with Maximilian to sell off the mermaids?
I don’t care about her. Even if I mind about it, I’ll just leave it to others. Well, somehow I didn’t trust her, it’s no wonder if she’s doing such wicked things.
However, that’s my opinion. Her sister, Malta, must be different.
『That’s a matter of course.』
Is family someone you can trust that much?
There are no such things for me, so I don’t understand.
『Ehh…?』
「But, there’s no way my sister does such things, he must be lying! I believe my sister. I mean, she’s a leader that cares about other mermaids and adored by them, you know? Selling off mermaids, that’s impossible!」
Malta said so while smiling, pretending to be fine.
Who knows? I wonder about that.
Still, why did the slave hunters can come to the mermaid settlement where nobody knows?
That’s not possible without an insider or someone who gives the information, right?
Well, I don’t know if it’s Pamela or not. Maybe another mermaid who told them. It might be a mermaid who got caught and then told them the settlement’s whereabouts for self-protection.
To be frank, I’m not interested. This is the mermaids’ problem, they can just do whatever they want and solve it.
『No… but, then why did Pamela do something like selling her brethren?』
I don’t know.
Mermaid seems to have a high price in the slave market, isn’t it for money?
Money is not everything in the world, but most of it is about money. If it’s just money, I wouldn’t be acting like this so far. Something I can’t buy with money, I put the trouble acting to get the trust.
『But, selling her fellows for money is…』
I said, I don’t know.
There are various people in the world, everyone is not a clean freak like you. I’m sure there’s a kind of person who’s really attracted to money and has no hesitation in selling people away.
I don’t do that though.
If I’m going to sell someone, I’ll make sure they don’t know I’m involved. If it’s leaked and they crawl up from a slave, they are likely to get revenge after all.
『There might be someone with self-supremacism like you.』
It doesn’t matter now. I don’t commit crimes.
「Well, let’s see. I didn’t interact that much since I met Pamela, so I can’t say for sure…」
It’s irritating even if she’s depressed, let’s just say whatever fits.
「But, I believe in Malta. So, I believe in Pamela which Malta believes in.」
I laugh slightly and say something that I don’t even have in mind.
I don’t believe in Malta and Pamela.
Also, don’t just get depressed and back to work. I’m the only one who’s been rowing since a while ago. My hand is already trembling.
「…Yeah! Thank you, Alistar!」
Malta shows a smile.
After regaining her spirit, she helps me rowing the boat.
That’s it, row it properly. I’m tired by carrying your brethren that I don’t even want to help after all.
…………I have Malta so I have it better, but Magali seems to be dying. Well, whatever.
Still, it’s a big difference from when I first met Malta. Even though she was so vigilant that she was flaring up at me…… how easy.
Well, a good impression is better than a bad impression, so I’m fine with that. In an emergency, she can be my shield.
Thinking about such things, I’m free from obstructive thoughts and continue to row the boat….
「I’m home!」
Finally, we arrived at the mermaid settlement.
Near me, Magali is sweating a lot and exhausted. Let’s tease her later.
However… it’s eerie.
「……It’s awfully quiet.」
Originally, here’s a place like a hidden village, so it’s not lively like the market of the royal capital, but… I could not even hear a voice.
I have a bad feeling. Let’s leave Magali and run away.
I made a firm determination.
