Chapter 99: Responsibility
wB3GFKBWinter.HprWVnW
Z4RhT7An icy cold capable of freezing everything swept through the surroundings.mpZzh
OgJhEven so, Hestia Village continued concentrating on construction work as always.onOJ
rRTALxaHanson, who had worked since the earliest stages of the village’s construction, rose from foreman to supervisor.YzqjC
CUAAmong the commoner technicians who managed the foremen, he could be said to be the one who had prospered the most.oNYQwV
CnK“Hey, give me more meat! How am I supposed to find strength eating this miserably?”lmzfk1
NteK“Meat is only distributed in fixed portions.”PoZpglf
h1D5mP“What do you mean fixed portions? That meat over there looks bigger! Are others going to eat more than me? Is that what you call a portion?”JquHd
jbuRhK“Ah, Supervisor, now that you’re an important person, you should buy ham and hand it out yourself. The food distribution is already troublesome enough.”Zc9DNM
gik15z4“If I buy things like that, when am I ever going to save money!? Just give me more of that meat.”VdAwxr
ATw9H9After a long argument, he managed to obtain an enormous piece of meat.pHBIM
Ij9aNGRHanson left the distribution table with a satisfied smile.4NBh
g0E9“Supervisor Hanson! Come over here! I saved you a spot!”Rgtk2Td
3odAdI0He sat down in a place moderately far from the bonfire.Ufh0O
dnfSp“Well now. Even as a supervisor, you still eat in a place like this?”tEn
9dt21“As if I have time to sit around eating with the big shots! While they laze around, the rest of us do all the work!”fVh2
1eppCy“And where did that knight fellow go?”QbFeo
SglHanson shrugged.nCXXdLU
dcmPhC0“How would I know? Even if he suddenly disappears, I’m not surprised anymore. Besides, he doesn’t even eat. Let’s just eat peacefully.”lcmn5
ooHSoon after, one of the foremen approached while nervously looking around.trG
mcx“Are you eating?”hD0Ew
A8bcC“Of course we’re eating. What’s wrong? Is your wife chasing you around?”UPD
Tbkcc“It’s something similar to a woman. I don’t want to run into her. Here, hurry.”lWxqF
gA93OfHe pulled something hidden inside his clothes.01Mf
IMZOo8It was ham.5BGt
MulB“Oooh! Where did that come from?”pjh
mpjN“Weren’t they saying there were supply issues?”Ldb
GUe“So what? I discreetly stole it from those southern guys.”9MOSyGt
r0hcabThe man proudly boasted about stealing.bHplZ
lUdiInstead of scolding him, the others hurried to treat him like a hero.V3AdW4
6ZaF“Then you should’ve brought a bigger one.”U5Zm
Bs356ro“This was the biggest one.”XbxxmRg
1UaWxy“Wow, it really is huge. I was just thinking the distributed meat wasn’t filling enough. This will really put some fat on our stomachs. Take out a knife.”kCk
j5DhP“Mine’s dirty. Use yours.”fYHe6
FvmEBAf“Mine’s dirty too. Better give me yours.”tvgFRp9
CZP“Doesn’t it get disinfected if you hold it over the fire?”6ugzuVs
ywIcDO“Then use yours and disinfect it yourself.”u9ib
KP4xWhile they argued over whose knife to use.6Jh
t6D“Gentlemen.”pKUm
82fl91R“There comes that bastard! Hide it quickly!”B61
ObZCGkUpon hearing the young man’s voice, the men moved immediately.xEI
y6PAs if nothing had happened, they calmly resumed serving themselves stew.qZ6q
PQqT1ZThe young man who approached wore half armor, a sword at his waist, and an armband that read “Guard Captain.”h3OPs
1EAZM5hIt was William.arZcnwO
J0jFyRuThe guard captain, whose voice already carried stiffness and seriousness, asked,Dt6m
r3xEm2“The people who came from Hallim say part of their food supplies disappeared. Do you know anything about that?”UvC
erL“I wouldn’t know. And you?”c5A
QJ4WEvM“Me neither. Could it be that bastard desert god turned into a ghost and stole it?”tCl4bD
ExfJiThe man slowly scanned the area with his gaze.LBA3XWN
yflQThen he saw an abnormally large bulge in one man’s crotch.Z9r
z3ID“Take out whatever you’re hiding there.”EtJcl2r
frA7tt“Hey! What do you mean take off my pants while I’m eating?”hMM
xn8“Because that looks suspicious. Take it out quickly.”1IuA
1fZBV“It’s just naturally big down there.”WBkKM
plFreZw“…Please, let’s not make this more uncomfortable for everyone.”PZKVt8
o3CWith no other choice, he pulled out the ham he had hidden inside his pants.ZSL9R
KytFkWilliam let out a sigh.ls1R
x6Z“This is clearly theft. Why are you doing things like this?”XLWSYjF
T6XjIO“They did the same thing! Some of our materials disappeared too, and they denied it!”QA9G
4ssJE“Exactly! If they can do it, why can’t we!”tV9M
L6mEhThe workers shouted that they were even.RbRR
WQFCY4XBut that did not impress the guard captain in the slightest.lXZ
3zAbd“I have the duty to maintain order in this village. Please stop doing things that will end up causing fights.”w6HI
PiIJT“I already told you they did it too. You’re not going to throw us in jail over something like this, right?”OVmL
Xis“Consider it sufficient revenge to return something that was rubbing against someone’s crotch. But next time I will act according to the law.”AS2Da3I
RtC3w“That doesn’t sound so bad either. Your crotch must smell strong.”WUpiJiR
QoIUI“Oh really? Yours must smell worse if you haven’t bathed in a week!”RHx1F
bARWhile the workers argued like children, the captain picked up the ham as if it were trash and left.xiFr
AiiThe men watched him walk away while commenting among themselves.G29c
yy8fY“Damn it. That refugee showed up and immediately succeeded.”ylg
AfNokh“Where did that guy even come from?”VrCic
nzyfZd“No idea. His name’s William, but they say he’s just some random refugee. As soon as he arrived, the administrator ordered him to become guard captain.”0l3X
HsfoV1“How are they going to give such an important position to a refugee?”Se0p
qehC“Maybe he brought some noble relic and secretly handed it over to the administrator?”aRx
8pWj“What greed would a Dragon Spawn have to accept something like that?”QeX
9Tvau“Still, seeing how he acts, he really does seem suitable. He’s so rigid he looks like a real knight.”6HgLyu
amvny“That’s true.”KR9Ch
erIDmxEven if they did not want to admit it, it was true.f356
SUWgFhHe had never done anything unworthy of the guard captain’s armband.EYrIYH
nY7sThen someone commented something that opened a new topic.57vYqZ0
Wt2Ms“Speaking of that, why don’t they plan to give an important position to our knight lord too?”Vk5JH
F7b3lwAll the foremen nodded immediately.s1Ba
IOxfPWith the monstrous strength he possessed, it was strange that he remained nothing more than a simple laborer.0SbO
HbTi“I thought our knight would end up becoming guard captain.”WfJXJWB
qPRCCW“I even asked the administrator if they shouldn’t give him an important position, but she only said she was considering it!”4VLe
VMUb0“Well, that means she’s thinking about it. We just have to wait.”UIY
t9lvrh3“What is there to think about? She’s probably planning to exploit him and then throw him away! That corrupt official has greed even in her eyes.”Y0T
bAH79Those words made everyone feel a chill run down their spines.hV8RBM
Ljf“Uh… wasn’t the administrator a dragon?”x6H
iQsf“No, a Dragon Spawn.”CKF
sR9wB3N“For people like us it’s the same thing. They’re beings who could split your spine in half if they get angry. Is it really okay to talk like that?”hJnUP
kBzXdSW“…Well, it was just a figure of speech.”VRr8
XKXlHanson lowered his head while muttering.ZSNSQ8
wVyDqgHe also valued his life far too much to dare cause trouble.qkM
lm2H3Among commoners, there had always existed a saying.HV0l1L9
BtKHAPD“You must be careful around beings with horns on their heads.”gK4vIx
esBwDemons, Dragon Spawn, or dragons.1KZfZOn
EAD2XWsAll possessed abilities far superior to those of humans.7rd8lWF
6by4x“Hm?”0cOugD
Z7g1ORE“What is it?”h9YKn
O0nraL5“Isn’t that our knight lord?”357
wwLp“They say when you speak of the tiger, he appears.”s7QTu
u82wNdA man in armor, completely out of place at a construction site, entered the area.s344I8
2IuF“Knight, over here!”GTnUbd
CPxGHanson waved his hand vigorously to get his attention.JvAxU5
uC1mThe knight recognized someone and hurried toward them with quick steps.wJyKorE
d8G“He runs like a young lady.”2Yp2pP
D28qP“With that size and height, there’s no way he’s a woman…”BDqcW
AwdThey assumed it must be some strange knightly habit and paid it no mind.dK3W
yUnRAfter all, he was someone capable of lifting eleven logs with his bare hands.RI5o
qIyLedyThat his movements seemed feminine was natural.c4eN
TiFiDJvBecause the one inside the armor was none other than Valdrova herself.9R0tB
v1Ahx“Ah, Knight. Have you eaten yet?”90P
OB6hShe nodded several times.dHtHMMU
e19m“Then come rest with us for a while. We were just talking about you.”r8B
xCecT8JShe tilted her head with a doubtful expression.mxmW
bFidS8“We were saying it’s a shame they haven’t given you an important position after all the merits you’ve earned in building this city.”DuyQVj
qsFhoN“?”RCNSjo
l7GVMb9“I mean, you’ve done so much for this city. Doesn’t it bother you that they give you nothing in return?”LtSbI42
vl2ey0Hanson spoke almost breathlessly.D4MZV
zpWlzvPart of him genuinely felt sorry, but deep down he also wanted to profit for himself.A93Ci
ch1There was no better power than having an acquaintance occupy an important position.DsP
qToHanson wanted him to obtain a knightly position and take advantage of his influence.41n
MNaJnOf course, Valdrova was not even capable of noticing such shallow intentions.HYD
dSxbs8‘The work I do now is already fun enough.’z5iWs
hI58khMore than anything, Valdrova was satisfied with what she was currently doing.rxEGz
lLIIMore than becoming a knight, she wanted to devote herself to building things.t0Nk
UC47Even though she earned little money, she could not hide the satisfaction she felt every time a building was raised.UYVf
wWb06She preferred staying in a place like this rather than becoming a knight.ZAFu1fr
pyptWhen the meal was almost over, someone let out a furious shout.rM7Qa
fU9xZf“Goddamn shit…!”fOI
5ZqEveryone’s gazes naturally turned in that direction.291t
EQMrA group of armed men were grabbing hold of a little girl.eKbq
d88Ue1VAnd a slightly older girl, who appeared to be her sister and guardian, was trembling in terror.CZpa
SiSTr“Can’t you control your sister properly?! Why the hell are you letting her carry something like that?! Because of you, my clothes got dirty!”3GaPc
t4DN47l“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Adventurer. I’ll wash it myself, so please, your clothes….”ViBf
QBBF“Can you take those dirty hands off me? Do you know how much this costs? Three shillings!”9uf
IxoYn“S-sorry! I dirtied such expensive clothes…!”UbVb
vav“Anyone can apologize with words. Pay up quickly.”hne3wrp
yIG“W-what?”mbsjkB
DJm867M“Are you deaf?! I said give me three shillings!”SDO1
HWrThe girl’s face turned completely pale.sizSpBE
LPZIt was inevitable for her to panic.pbXK
TsjhThey were barely worried about finding food for the next day, so how could she possibly gather three shillings?fY08zO
4enQThe workers watched while commenting among themselves.oW3n
Ugo“There are more and more guys like that lately.”5Gwhjt
v4mddp“Wasn’t this place made for adventurers? It’s normal they gather here.”AhLXT
D4B6ISl“There are lots of adventurers in the Empire too, but I’ve never seen ones this rude.”CGTEux5
RfBVU“Because the ones who acted like that got kicked out immediately. They only know how to shout and have nothing of value. That’s why they stay stuck in Bronze or Silver.”3PEZA
pvJThe foremen clicked their tongues while talking behind their backs.3sTO
MzfCBut they also lacked the courage to confront the adventurers directly.LUHgQaH
jOWjYt“I-I’ll pay the money. I’m living here, so I’ll save little by little….”sHZNVtC
9lhE9v“And when exactly are you going to gather three shillings like that? I’ll die of old age first.”lcMQl
6nvTS“This big brother knows a quick way to earn three shillings. Want me to teach you?”WAABe
8TDZM“What…?”8Hq4B
8vcA disgusting hand reached toward the girl.ocK0S1w
7kw3iZPInstinctively, the little girl shrank back after realizing what they were trying to do to her.8yyR5
kMdBis8“Those damn bastards…!”qoJkGz
wFsThe foremen were about to stand up, unable to tolerate it any longer.KWBStwR
LJpFmKhBut someone stood first, a moment before them.HuD
N24MRoThe armored knight.qxC1JjG
K6pju9Since she wore heavy plate armor, merely standing up was enough to make the foremen freeze.CuPqHB
scLpTShe walked step by step toward that place.c8zJ
8s8nNeBEven though the armor was smaller than the original, it was still enormous.W4H
dsZAAnd that size made the delinquent adventurers tense up.aL7k
E5l“W-who the hell are you?”qAk2jo
Ces01“…….”BEi
KMyLIQQ“D-damn bastard! Do you think I’ll get scared just because you stay silent?!”itHla
ebMDValdrova raised her fist.HZZ
GefNThe thugs trembled, thinking she was about to attack, but the fist opened instead.ze7P6VY
Htm0eqcInside were three silver coins.ymkoQc
AbV52xaThree shillings.g7BQR
3qljShe was paying the money in their place.rIw
BVCLIyTThe thugs, already completely intimidated, tried to regain their composure and said,7NC8D
R5nnG“So you’re gonna pay and leave? Fine, then do it. Hey, brat, you should be grateful for your luck.”aNaY3
wx2QThe thugs who had been threatening them took the money and let go of the little girl as if throwing her away.wzWYMY
2eJLQBThe little girl’s small body fell into Valdrova’s arms.MAy8vK
mLPThe child remained tightly clinging to her.oD4
Tk1Valdrova looked like she did not know what to do, awkwardly hugging the air before lowering her hands.EY08HO
VZu0jThen the little girl’s older sister approached.2GZ8
WfK“T-thank you for saving us, Mr. Knight.”Q64R
Juj4sR5“…….”HtrHo7n
x0ga“We’ll pay the money back somehow… we really will. So please, my sister….”rJTeRU
E71qThe girl looked on the verge of tears.HSXpv
AAcbm7eThe hand holding the basket was still trembling in fear.CHuV6DS
mXcValdrova returned the little girl to her.69qWze4
6SMThe older sister wiped away her tears while pulling her sister along and running off somewhere.ucSvqYM
SXsValdrova silently stared at their backs.8E0FOE
3Zb“Why did you give them money? Those guys needed a good beating!”zwV2
tO2EfPA“…….”SkvBc4Z
OJpiHanson tried to complain to her, but Valdrova only looked at him silently.qPCLqmG
VNFWMHanson remembered that she was someone capable of carrying eleven logs with her bare hands and lowered his voice.ieM7i
DFI“I suppose, since you’re an adventurer too and must have your reasons, it’d be pointless for someone like me to argue.”dfNnfki
oP0OJ1Valdrova also vaguely understood that this had not been the best choice.5BX9N
L5kWhen she saw them grabbing that little girl, anger surged through her all at once.cvuze
tJtU1gShe clenched her fist and wanted to hit them so hard they would end up crying.gSBE
6egwu5But she could not allow things to end in violence.8bO
q43NRValdrova understood that very well.vH1
UsOp‘If I use my strength, someone will die.’a3PUF2Z
6Y4vBqNDeath brings sorrow to someone and fear to others.gSW
W4KxThat was something she had felt and experienced for dozens, hundreds of years.Oks
XkKv‘I don’t want that.’15b
nMkZeXEThat was why, if possible, she wanted to resolve situations peacefully.PLNS5i7
GCEAnd right now, the best method was still money.YtzOd
AFHCSo she simply gave the adventurer the money he wanted.O6qZ
reMjKAnd just like that, the matter ended.5AWe
L93Without anything else happening.TCnE
Dq5IyeValdrova was satisfied with that.V0ksjA
S7vfsShe wished all things in the world could be resolved that way.Lt0
ytGWWRIt was then.sFFsd
5Laaw0WClang! Clang! Clang!Qqk
1g1oK0Suddenly, a loud alarm bell rang throughout the village.KCVHGf
Wop“What the hell is that noise?”BwUH73q
OTrrqR“Sounds like it’s coming from the center of the village.”Ct0mqWB
3UYNinNo one knew exactly what that bell meant.g43EabH
vdLQ3But they could tell it signaled danger.awRNVzh
3Uhw7The problem was whether it truly was real danger.Grv
hYbXqkgWhile everyone remained frozen, the head of security came running with his sword drawn.8yuLgaw
F0fa0s“Real emergency! Everyone unable to fight evacuate immediately inside the buildings! Monsters are approaching!”YWlMH
5k6“M-monsters?”Vmr
6LkolO“Oh God! The east really is the east!”G8Ha
fHJf“Foremen! Hurry and relay the information to the workers and evacuate them! This is a real emergency!”ZILT7
ji6The foremen immediately began shouting frantically while evacuating people.rotVxhl
M056na1Valdrova remained motionless in the same place.TRr
qGZ‘Monsters….’yfwEz3H
ghwHer mind seemed to go completely blank.6akt
NiVb6Now that monsters were approaching, she could not make any decision.m10
hEO“You’re the armored knight, right?”9rZ2dUS
VXxHAp“…….”bzvbu
MNLJA“We need help right now. If possible, could you fight for this city?”ZjK
Spj“…….”ecY
6ZE0wHKSince she showed no response, William insisted again.cm1tNce
GHu“The guard cannot stop them alone! Everyone is in danger! Hestia could collapse if this continues! Everything could disappear like an illusion! We need your help!”f376
HHiOnly after hearing William’s plea did Valdrova finally react.s4v6
cj5A58JShe nodded and began following him.eoKd
pJQAs she followed him, she saw the sight of a city plunged into chaos.LjXya
Vd2XRXEveryone was running in terror while hastily carrying their belongings.gTVmoC
vQYKMYcSecurity guards with spears and armor clumsily ran toward William.09QL00
qmw“Report! Evacuation is seventy percent complete! Shall we continue evacuating?”STP
Z5evQn“No, that’s enough! Security guards! Form a defensive line in front of me!”Nug1djq
Bj6The guards raised their spears in the middle of the street.lgmwcz8
RM0egZ5All of them were soldiers only in name, men without real training.XJoa
TFDgZThat was why they desperately needed the adventurers’ help.IxgF
uelvhE— Guard Captain.aByRY
zXcIsabella’s voice echoed through magical transmission.fImM
eBeWA— A wolf monster is expected to enter through one of the western alleys. Can you send adventurers there?cNjV2r2
Xc9Wzxu“Understood!”GYg
V3s8qsWilliam quickly looked around.mUQC
uxxScVHe spotted a group of familiar adventurers and shouted.naL1
McP4“Gentlemen adventurers! We need to defend the western alley…! W-where are you going?! Hurry and join the battle—!”ZN0fpQ
BSO“What? Are you insane? Do you think I became an adventurer to throw my life away here?”uNSRW
6FYD9“Didn’t we tell you adventurers would be mobilized in emergencies?!”TppMl
VjO1T“What do I care?! I’m not participating!”eGb92
N7UwjZI“Then protect it yourselves if you’re the guard!”UgBYUK
KuIM“I didn’t see anything. I saw absolutely nothing.”GVyH
1TzThey had come dreaming of earning a fortune, but in the face of immediate fear they fled in terror.6NRiJ
mb1AVJNot only did they refuse to help, they also left behind an enormous stain of demoralization.kRjCU
r9ZF‘Damn bastards.’Dznbl
XYVdKWilliam felt like he was going to explode with rage.CnNQ7
X7vVpHe thought that even if they caused problems, they would at least be useful during critical moments, but not even that.Hp5Qyp
fSIW1In the end, he could only rely on the few adventurers with a conscience and the knightly guard.aWP
jBGr‘The monstrously strong armored knight.’myF7Prg
TTW53yIRight now, she was the only person he could trust.3vsAHlp
LHTawIf they wanted to properly defend the main avenue, they desperately needed her help.Kzv
ceWsZEpWilliam made a decision.ElIT
HwSNS“Sir Knight.”QAS
mjGxB6z“?”zePB
pLobujl“They say they need manpower in the western alley. A monster is going to enter there, and we need to stop it.”8wCZAT
NohMvx“…….”sp7
kyT6“Can you handle it alone? If you think it won’t be possible, I’ll pull out four men to support you—.”GMLvVD
9Ohc2Valdrova interrupted his words.TBO1
gadZnioIt was a clear sign that she did not need support and that they had to manage on their own.gOZPxmH
e2ByzThen she began walking away without saying anything.2HHfTBG
IjPNiTEToward the east.jOVV
TpBou“S-sir Knight. It’s not that way….”UbWW
AKgiwTBAh.ABBlT
wZc2BThe west was the other direction.L1QlKr
yLdThat was how she ended up covering the missing spot.r1CprM9
vwUcxbHAlthough the main forces weakened considerably, William had no other choice.xO9v
wP8pJNwSoon after, the cause of that piercing alarm finally appeared.jOG
5LCcIt burst out from the forest and entered the village.DAPoGUh
zfAoV— Grrrraaaah!zGsZdwn
I0M4fz5Fifteen wolf monsters, each twice as large as a normal wolf.iH3g0
yOo7wZThree of them appeared on the main avenue.UDNog7G
vanvW7rWilliam raised his sword and shouted.1Hg
T5hb7“Hold your spears steady! Advance one step forward!”t54wJ
vDocCThe men moved little by little.zlii
kZfHuDeath stood before them.Mq6r
lgPVWXWho could proudly advance toward death?
At least for those poorly trained soldiers, it was impossible.RFHJJe
n05YIaThe wolves savored the fear of those inexperienced soldiers.frU
cHsMmTheir instincts knew it.jinaf9B
FTDIf they broke the line just a little more, everything would collapse.wUO
otpVEP— Grrr!c9pbD
JMlsD“A-ah! Don’t come! I said don’t come!”URM
2gOCxrOne of the wolf monsters charged straight through the spears.N3R
4G0jThe soldiers panicked at the creature advancing without fear.Bq1bU
jqJ“A-aaah!”aTFr
t9EO3Just when he thought he was about to be devoured—0Pi7t
ruf3WjkA red sword violently struck the wolf monster’s head.91yaSy
1v8JI8h— Kyaeng!pcNs68w
DFkZ6G0Its head shattered, the monster staggered backward.UCkd4J
cu2ZsQThe one who had delivered that deadly blow was none other than William.FeOVu
ypb3lpHe lifted the fallen guard and shouted.28FddJ
3TBYw“Get up! Hold your spear steady! If you want to live, brace your spear properly and lower your center of gravity! You only need to hinder their movements!”UzV8q
kV8XWilliam struck his own chest.Pqnn8Gs
OgKcThe sound of the plate armor rang out like a steel bell.XGIV
LzJ“I will take responsibility for your lives!”OqYCgK
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationWilliam us brave 👏 you got this 👍
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationCoward.