Chapter 34 – 34. Suspicion

I want to be strong.
But I didn’t know how.
Because simply ignorantly wielding a sword was not a world where one could become infinitely stronger.

“So, how can I become stronger?”
[… ] … Are you asking me that?]
“Yes. As far as I know……Because Fenrir is the strongest. Oh, except for Master and Margaret, of course.”

So I approached someone who might know the way. Fenrir. Evangeline’s familiar. A calamitous monster that can face an army alone.

However, upon hearing my question, Fenrir hardened his expression as if he was troubled.

[Sorry, but I can’t tell you how to become stronger.]
“…… Why?”
[I am a spirit creature. Just by being born, I became stronger than you now, and after that, I did not become stronger even after suffering so much.]

Fenrir said that it doesn’t take any effort or practice to become strong.

All that was needed was the depth of the lineage that was innate and the quality of magical power possessed by the contracting witch. It was just these two things.

Fenrir replied that he was able to become as strong as he is now because not only was he born with a fairly outstanding lineage, but he was also able to make a contract with his master.

“No, it is, but… Do you have any know-how? It’s like using mana well to become stronger…….”

[I don’t understand. Are you not human Human strength is not individual strength, but a ruse using numbers and intelligence?]

“…… It is, however.”

[Let me tell you this one thing clearly. You are born with great talent, and no matter how hard you try—you cannot become strong. No matter what you do, you can’t become stronger than your master. That’s what destiny is.]

Humans cannot be stronger than witches.
At those words, my heart started to burn.
It meant that I couldn’t protect Master forever.

* * *

Even if your life is dotted with frustration and despair, time flies. The stars shine without any interest in the lives of the individuals living above them.

I was frustrated and depressed when I heard that I couldn’t be strong, but I didn’t continue to be in despair.

Time was always weak.

‘Okay, what am I doing when I get stronger? One hit from Master’s magic will cause a nuclear explosion, but who will protect whom…….’

After a long period of self-reflection and faith in Master, the worries I had became irrelevant.

To be honest, I didn’t think I could overcome something that endangered Master, who even caused a nuclear explosion, just by practicing a little and becoming stronger.

I couldn’t even imagine being a being that would endanger Master in the first place!

‘Master is the best, the cutest in the world, the strongest in the world, the world’s greatest witch…….’

While I was walking through the woods thinking that, a monkey monster with a familiar appearance fell from the top of a tree.

When the monkey saw my basket full of food, it gave out a squawk and ran straight toward it.

“Keeeee!”
“No— is this crazy?”

It was a monster I had dealt with many times before, so I twisted my body as I was used to, avoiding its charge, and grabbed it by the scruff of my neck and pressed it to the ground.

He was a monstrous guy who could exert more than his weight, but I was the same. I broke the scruff of the neck of the guy who pressed me down like that with just the strength of my grip.

Soon after, the guy whose cervical vertebrae were smashed trembled and died. After roughly throwing the limp body in the woods, I touched the necklace I was wearing as if it were strange.

‘I’m fine… There are no cracks anywhere.’

This necklace that Master made for her was a magical necklace that prevented her from being attacked by other monsters. To be precise, it was an item that contained the Master’s magical power and prevented frightened monsters from approaching.

However, the necklace has already been attacked for the third time today alone. All of them must have starved for several days, and they were monsters that had become quite sharp.

‘Is the necklace broken…….’

Thinking that if the necklace was broken, I might not have recognized it because I am not magically trained.

After returning to the hut, I reported to Master what had happened today, and Master scratched her cheek as if she was very embarrassed and explained the reason.

“…… That’s probably because of me.”
“Yes? What did Master do…….”
“No, that…… You blew away part of the forest while fighting the witch this time, right? In the process, the monsters and animals were evacuated in advance so that they would not die. The animals actually survive and the forest they live in has shrunk, so it’s only natural that the monsters who were pushed out in the territorial battle rush at it without thinking…….”
“Ah-.”

After listening to Master’s story, I could understand why the monsters attacked. Originally, there must have been just the right number of animals living in this forest. If each of them lived in their own territory, it could have been maintained semi-permanently without any problems.

However, not long ago, Master fought a battle with the Fire Witch, and part of the forest completely disappeared in the process.

The monsters that lost their territory were scattered to other regions, and the monsters pushed out by the monsters that suddenly invaded the territory must have attacked themselves.

“But that…… Isn’t it inevitable?”
“What—I can’t help it. Gathering in the forest is prohibited for a while. Because you might run into dangerous monsters.”
“…… Then what do you eat? We?”
“What are you worried about? If it was before, I would have just gone to get it, but now there’s Ritz, right? You can go to the city and buy it.”
“But wouldn’t it be dangerous to go to the city every day? I could have doubted where the hell he came from…….”
“Get a room! You just have to act like the people who live in the city there! Anyway, this commotion will be over in a month or two, so it won’t be too long!”

In the end, Master compromised by going to the city every day to buy ingredients. Margaret decided to come up with the necessary bath water instead.

If I met alone, I wouldn’t be a threat to the dangerous monsters and witches.

Having lived in the city for the first time in a long time, I went to sleep with a little anticipation. And the next day, I headed to the city from the wind in the morning.

* * *

An unknown city.
It was also a city I hadn’t visited on purpose since the paladins openly showed in the plaza how they captured innocent citizens and brutally killed them.

After getting off the back alley of the city, I went straight to the butcher shop. Did you say it was a butcher’s shop in this era? I was determined to be full of filth and blood as it was in the Middle Ages, but surprisingly it wasn’t like that.

“Welcome.”

The owner looked at me with a sidelong glance and silently cut the meat. It was meat that did not look like pork or beef at first glance…… At least he didn’t look hurt.

I don’t know if it doesn’t go bad because it’s a monster, or if it’s really fresh meat…… After purchasing meat, I immediately went to another store to buy bread or fruit that I couldn’t normally eat.

‘A fantasy is a fantasy. There won’t be a refrigerator, but the food is fresh…….’

Maybe there was a sewage system, there was no filth on the floor, and even though people were overcrowded every day, maybe they washed their clothes a couple of times a week, and I couldn’t see anyone with curly hair.

It is something that cannot be thought of as a mere uncivilized fantasy. Well, even if commoners try to decorate like that, they can’t even follow Master’s toes—

“John?”

Just as I was about to go back after purchasing ingredients for breakfast, a very familiar voice spoke to me. When I turned my head slightly, Elesis was standing there in a paladin uniform.

“…… Elesis?”
“Anyway – what are you doing here? Where is he going?”
“Is it him, Master?”
“Okay. Did you come here? Why? Could it be the mushroom cloud that happened a while ago in the forest?”

Saying that, Alice looked around. It must have been her instinct as a paladin that her hand naturally went to the hilt hanging from her waist.

I glanced at the figure, and carefully lifted the ingredients in my arms.

“I just came to buy groceries. Don’t worry, Master isn’t here.”

“You came here to buy ingredients, so far?”

“As you said, the forest went wild. After that happened, monsters and animals that had no place to live ran rampant in other realms…… Well, that’s about it.”

“Is it. Good luck. I mean, he’s not here.”

The moment she heard that Master was not in the city, she removed her hand from the hilt in relief. I don’t know what he would do if he pulled out his sword, but he seemed quite arrogant.

And—Elesis, as if sensing my gaze, smiled shyly and spoke to me.

“I’m sorry. That’s what I mean by training. This is what happens to a being like him just being around.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t have to speak with your mouth, people say a lot with their eyes. By the way, this is also meant to be, can you spare a minute? There are a few things I’d like to ask you…….”

At those words, I glanced at Margaret next to me. She started to whimper as if to take care of herself.

Well, even if it means that she calls me out with a different mind——if Margaret is with her, there won’t be any danger to her life.

Thinking so, I nodded and accepted her offer.

‘Master… You wouldn’t say anything about something like this, well.’
“Thank you. It won’t take that long…… Branch.”

Saying that, Elesis went straight to the church. She entered the church, which could be said to be grand compared to the size of the city, and entered the innermost room, greeted by several nuns and priests.

Knowing that she was at least a paladin, I slightly opened my mouth as I saw the treatment she was receiving.

“What, you- weren’t you a paladin?”
“Right. Even now, I’m still a paladin. Being treated like this…… I was lucky enough to catch a witch a while ago. Because I was awarded this church as a reward.”
“…… Catch a witch?”
“Well. Do you know? The fire witch who burned down a city not too long ago…….”

Hearing her words, I looked at her with her mouth shut for a moment.

‘Why did that turn out to be something you caught?’

Those words crawled up her throat.

* * *

Evangeline, who struggled through her morning sleep and crawled out of her bed, stretched her out and called for John.

“Yohaaaaan…….”

No answer came. Feeling uneasy, she ran straight into the living room to find John. She couldn’t find John anywhere, but luckily she found a piece of paper on the table with John scrawled on it.

[I will go to the city to buy groceries.]

Even though it was written that it wouldn’t be long, she felt a little uneasy.

For some reason, she had the feeling that John was talking to another woman while she was away.

“…… Is it because of your mood?”

Evangeline thought so and she waited for John.
She waited and waited
However, no matter how long they waited, John did not return.