33.
“You’ve got a face that says a lot.”
“There’s no way I’ve got nothing to say.”
“Haven’t you already heard roughly what’s going on?”
I nodded at his question.
I had already heard enough of the story.
The unfamiliar woman visible behind him—the harvest, or perhaps the landmine, from this whole affair.
“Congratulations on returning safely from the job.”
“Though it seems unforeseen events are popping up one after another.”
“About that… I suppose you’d call it unavoidable?”
“What do you mean, unavoidable?”
A mercenary heading to a battlefield happens to meet otherworlders on the very battlefield he went to.
Something that doesn’t normally happen has occurred.
I would have rather it not happened at all.
“First, let’s verify.”
34.
“My name is Prutsu.”
“In the world I originally lived in, I was a Demon Lord.”
“The bastards who tried to kill us were completely insane, so I ran away.”
That was the gist of what I heard there.
Choe Seongjae—that man—was listening calmly.
While listening to the story, he was looking at me.
“To think there’s a human walking a similar path to Arma. Fascinating.”
“I thought only Arma was like that.”
“I suppose that’s the usual reaction?”
“Right.”
If it were an evaluation of the otherworlder who showed abnormal behavior in order to kill Demon Lords and demonkind in the world he lived in, it probably wouldn’t change.
At least, not here.
Because aside from Arma, there’s no one else who doesn’t distinguish between means and methods for the sake of their goal.
“Anyway, I understand the situation.”
“I suppose it’s fair to say you’ve effectively sought asylum.”
“What’s the probability they’ll chase after you to kill you?”
“Probably none.”
“They won’t be able to come even if they want to.”
“Because tracking me down is inefficient.”
“Unless they want the Demon Lord’s corpse, that is.”
“Are you saying there’s no possibility at all?”
“…Well, knowing his personality, I think he’d do it, but is there a need?”
“They wouldn’t gain anything by doing so.”
“They wouldn’t volunteer for something so dangerous just to obtain one Demon Lord’s corpse.”
“Going back is a hassle in itself.”
I suppose so.
But if the opponent was similar to Arma, a being with insane drive, then it was possible.
For now, I won’t think about this problem right away.
“Then let’s move on to the next matter.”
“Well, I think you’ll know full well what comes next.”
“Ah, fuck.”
I looked at Choe Seongjae’s face.
No, our eyes met.
I knew full well what those eyes meant.
I knew this bastard would pull something like this again.
“Hey, let’s be reasonable.”
“Reasonable? What reason are you talking about?”
“It was originally a house used by a man living alone.”
“I don’t have that big a house because I’m often away on mercenary work.”
“Just how many people are you planning to dump on someone like me?”
“Can’t you just provide support from your side?”
“Support… if that came easily, I’d say something at least.”
“But it’s not.”
“And I think given the current situation, the side you’re attached to is more advantageous.”
“Advantageous?”
In what way?
“The nun next to you has likely already built up a certain degree of familiarity through sufficient conversation with you.”
“And as for the Demon Lord, the demonkin, beside you—simply leaving him alone is not a risk we can dismiss.”
“At the very least, someone needs to watch over him by his side.”
“And the one suitable for that—”
“—is me, ha, fuck.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand.
I already knew full well that they would make such a choice.
From the moment I brought him and ran from that battlefield.
But even knowing that, hearing it directly still made me feel like shit.
“If you’re going to leave otherworlders in my care, you could at least provide some support, couldn’t you?”
“Do you know what’ll happen if I suddenly have two dependents without any support?”
“Hmm, I’ll give that sufficient thought.”
Ha. He’ll never actually say he’ll do it.
I hadn’t expected anything from the start.
Those bastards.
35.
“Things have gotten strange.”
“We were simply waiting for the result of that otherworlder who went to the battlefield, but to think another one suddenly appeared.”
“They did say he was a being called a Demon Lord in his original world, didn’t they?”
“Yes, he’s not someone we can simply leave as is.”
“He’s cursing up a storm, but it’s fortunate he took the job. If he hadn’t—”
“Well, a huge problem would’ve blown up.”
“There are few interested in such matters, so it would have taken time for this issue to even be recognized.”
“…”
They still hadn’t figured out how to handle the issue of otherworlders.
Thinking about how they appeared, it was only natural.
There’s no knowing when or where they’ll appear, or for what purpose someone might summon them.
“So what you tried to propose?”
“It was blocked.”
They had wanted to propose a law regarding otherworlders, but they couldn’t.
The very concept of a law regarding otherworlders had become a stumbling block.
The fact that there were still no people interested in otherworlders or thinking deeply about the problems they carried was too significant.
“It means the perspective on otherworlders is still incomplete.”
“Yes, we’re trying to at least define the summoning of otherworlders somehow, but even that isn’t easy.”
“The reason being, the moment it’s defined by law, they fear the punishment for summoning otherworlders would grow stronger.”
“Because they want to carry out their work in secret.”
There’s probably no method more beneficial to them than summoning otherworlders.
With no home and unable to communicate properly, there was nothing they could do, making them perfectly suitable to be used as unpaid slaves—such a perception was rampant.
“Bullshit like no other.”
“Isn’t the military the same?”
“Well, that’s true, but… it’s not like we officially say we maintain troops by summoning otherworlders.”
“Because it wasn’t done legally in the first place.”
“There are calls from various places to just do so openly, but this isn’t a panacea.”
“Indeed.”
Continually talking about otherworlders might be the best course of action for now.
That’s why someone like him is needed.
Those who can prevent cases of otherworlders being exploited.
Even though he himself is cursing his predicament right now.
36.
“Is this the house you live in?”
“Yes, it’s the house I live in.”
Not much time had passed, but I felt like I was aging.
No, actually aging from stress was probably unavoidable.
“Anyway, it’s still fine for now.”
“If more are added here, that’ll be the problem.”
“Should we look for a separate place to live?”
“That would likely be difficult.”
“Because this is still a country lacking consideration for otherworlders.”
It’s impossible for an otherworlder to look for a house alone.
Putting aside getting ripped off, they have no fixed income.
“It’s correct to say that otherworlders aren’t treated like people.”
“There are actually many people in similar situations.”
“…I see.”
“By the way, what do we do from now on?”
“For now, I’m living with you, but is there anything in particular?”
“There probably won’t be anything special.”
“You’ll likely just move together when mercenary work comes up.”
I have to teach these two how to adapt in this world.
Not that this world has established any laws for otherworlders yet, but they need to learn what’s necessary to survive.
At least when I’m away for work, if they don’t come along, there will be times the two of them have to manage by themselves.
37.
I came to face a new life in a new place.
It wasn’t bad.
If you exclude the problem of how poorly otherworlders are treated, that is.
But similar things exist in every world, so it doesn’t hit me too hard.
“Let me introduce myself again.”
“I’m Prutsu.”
“Once, I was a Demon Lord, but now I’m not—just an ordinary demonkin.”
“I’m not sure how a former Demon Lord can be called an ordinary demonkin, but I’m Sejin.”
“I’m Lucia.”
“Are you a saint?”
“No, I’m just an ordinary nun.”
“I spent my whole life in a convent.”
“I had heard news of the battlefield, but this was my first time.”
“Is that so? You’re fortunate you haven’t seen it.”
“The battlefield isn’t a place you can easily see.”
“And it’s not a place you need to see.”
It’s a place better left unseen.
Living a life far from fighting is a good thing.
“This place doesn’t seem all that peaceful, but at least it’s more peaceful than where I lived.”
“That’s why I like it.”
“I look forward to your continued kindness, Sejin.”
“I look forward to working with you too, Mr. Sejin.”
“…Yes, all right.”
“The hard part is yet to come.”