Chapter 50: Even if I’m told not to go

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Translator: Soafp

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“It's you at last, Lidiel Rhydiel.”

“Y–yes!!”

The place Lidiel had been summoned to by the commander of the Hero Division, Cannon Fodder Dog, was the infirmary at Hange Fortress.

Why the infirmary?

Because the rear-guard unit sent to Kaime Fortress had been annihilated, and the survivors had been brought here.

“Ugh… ugh…”

“T–this person is…”

“He's one of the disciples of the ‘Indomitable Hero' Heinbock, who was commanding the rear-guard unit. After telling us that the unit was attacked and speaking the name Lidiel Rhydiel, he lost consciousness.”

“Please step aside. I'll treat him immediately.”

Pushing Cannon Fodder Dog aside and rushing to treat the wounded man was my sister, who had accompanied Lidiel after hearing there were injured.

“Who are you? No—who you are doesn't matter. This man is already beyond saving—”

“Be quiet.”

“W–what did you say? Do you know who I—”

“Did you not hear me say be quiet? If you're going to interfere with treatment, then get out at once.”

“!?”

Nee-san got angry because he was about to say “he can't be saved.”

Wow, scary, scary.

“Never say things like ‘he won't make it' in front of a patient. Thinking ‘I might already be done for' is an act that brings one closer to death.”

“…I–I apologize.”

“And if someone is still alive, there is no one I can't save. …Ask, bring me clean water.”

“Got it.”

Nee-san worked swiftly, and the survivor who had been on the brink of death managed to cling to life.

“Ugh… where am I…?”

“You're awake.”

“I—I… w–waaah!! I'm going to be killed!! Everyone's going to be slaughtered!!”

“P–please calm down. You're safe now!!”

“A monster!! I'm going to be killed by a monster!!”

The moment he regained consciousness, the soldier fell into a state of panic.

He must have experienced something truly terrifying. Even though his injuries were completely healed, his face was deathly pale, as if he might die any second.

Normally Nee-san would gently calm a patient with kind words, but…

There was no sign of his panic subsiding at all.

“…Should I just knock him out?”

“Hey, let's calm down, Nee-san. Leave this to me.”

Stopping Nee-san as she veered toward violence, I stepped forward.

“Mind Down.”

“Ugh—huh? I…?”

“Ask, what did you do?”

“It's mental magic. It drains motivation, but if you use it on someone who's overexcited, it can calm them down.”

“…That's quite useful. Teach it to me quietly later.”

Oh, Nee-san's interested in mental magic now.

Well, mental magic honestly pairs really well with healing magic. It's a shame it's treated as taboo.

Once the soldier had calmed down, Cannon Fodder Dog spoke to him carefully, trying not to provoke him.

“What happened?”

“C–Commander Sedog… I… r–right!! We were attacked by a monster on the way to Kaime Fortress!! Then Lord Heinbock said ‘I'll buy you time,' and let a young soldier like me escape as a messenger…”

Heinbock? Seriously? That guy just raised a massive death flag.

“I see. Still, he is the ‘Indomitable Hero.' I doubt he would fall so easily. More importantly, do you know who attacked the unit?”

“I–I don't know. It looked like a beautiful female demon. But then, suddenly, the heads of my senior comrades just vanished…”

“Their heads vanished? …That doesn't sound like an ordinary demon. One more thing—you spoke the name Lidiel Rhydiel before losing consciousness. Did something happen to her?”

“Lidiel… Rhydiel… r–right!!”

At the mention of her name, the soldier suddenly cried out as if remembering something.

What is it?

“She was… she was looking for Lidiel Rhydiel!!”

“M–me!?”

“…What does that mean?”

Lidiel stiffened at her name suddenly coming up, while Cannon Fodder Dog tried to keep the conversation calm.

“She said that if Lidiel Rhydiel were handed over, she would stop attacking the Empire.”

“That's out of the question.”

Obviously.

We don't know why the demon who attacked the rear-guard unit is looking for Lidiel, but there's no guarantee she'd keep her word.

Everyone must have thought the same thing after hearing the soldier's story.

Everyone except one person.

That exception was Lidiel herself.

“Commander Sedog, I—”

“Denied, Hero Candidate Lidiel Rhydiel.”

“I–I haven't even said anything yet!?”

“I can tell by your eyes. You were going to say you'd go, weren't you?”

“T–that's…”

Cannon Fodder Dog spoke as if lecturing her, glancing sideways at Lidiel.

“Lidiel Rhydiel, devotion and self-sacrifice are not the same. You fought for the fifth-class citizens. Reckless as it was, that was devotion. But this time is different.”

“B–but if I go, there won't be any more casualties—”

“This is no longer about whether casualties will occur. This is an unmistakable declaration of war against the Hero Division—and by extension, the Belhart Empire.”

Cannon Fodder Dog clenched his fist so tightly it looked like it might draw blood as he spoke.

Wow… he's really angry.

“That demon is probably the one who killed a hundred heroes and took Kaime Fortress. We'll have to deploy every hero and all our forces.”

“B–but…”

“This discussion is over, Lidiel Rhydiel. You've done more than enough for a student. From here on, this is the job of imperial soldiers. Do not act on your own.”

“…Yes.”

Lidiel nodded quietly.

After that, once treatment of the injured was complete, my sister and I were told to leave the infirmary.

They were going to discuss countermeasures from here.

“Ask.”

“Hm? What is it, Nee-san?”

“Just so you know, don't go.”

“Huh?”

After leaving the infirmary, my sister suddenly warned me in a low voice.

What is she talking about all of a sudden?

“…Well, if you weren't planning to, that's fine. Knowing you, if you think there might be survivors, you'd charge in without hesitation.”

“What do you think I am?”

“A healing idiot.”

“That's harsh.”

“The enemy is a demon who kills people without hesitation. It's completely different from the knights and soldiers you've dealt with until now, who can't quite go all-out because they're unsure whether it's okay to capture you. …Please, don't do anything dangerous.”

“I know.”

Nee-san worries too much.

Still, I am concerned about the fate of the rear-guard unit attacked by the demons.

Which is why.

“She said don't go, but she never said where I'm not allowed to go, so it's fine, right!!”

I changed into my No-Name outfit and headed for the place where the rear-guard unit was attacked.

Hm? Dangerous?

I've already died once. Dying two or three more times is no big deal.

---

It was night.

While the commander of the Hero Division, Karma Sedog, was discussing plans with the leaders of each unit, a soldier rushed in with an urgent report.

“Commander!! This is bad!! Hero Candidate Lidiel Rhydiel is missing!! Several soldiers saw her leave alone through the north gate!!”

“Damn it, young heroes are always reckless and never listen!! Once preparations are complete, the entire army will mobilize!!”

“T–the entire army!?”

“Leave the defense of Hange Fortress to the reinforcements from the Xilica Kingdom.”

Karma Sedog himself shouldered a holy weapon and began preparing to sortie.

“There's one more thing to report.”

“What is it?”

“There's an uproar because the boy who had been acting together with Hero Candidate Lidiel Rhydiel is also missing… The boy's older sister is apparently hysterical and causing a scene.”

“…That girl with the terrifying eyes.”

“Terrifying? Among the wounded, she's reputed to be like a saint…”

“No, never mind. Calm her down somehow.”

The gaze she'd given him when he misspoke had been so frightening that it left Karma Sedog with a slight trauma.