EP.219 The Story of the Past, The Pied Piper of Hameln - 5
After all that commotion, to put it simply.
I was tightly bound with a rope made of tree vines.
The horror and anger rising on the children's faces pierced me like sharp spears. They surrounded me, even raising their weapons.
Just a moment ago, they were comforting and cheering each other on, fighting together with combined strength. Where did that friendship and trust go? Earning is hard, but squandering is easy.
Well, it's only natural.
"Oops, I've been caught."
The fact that a massive pheromone bait attracting all kinds of beasts was hidden right in the middle of this base, that it was scheduled to burst soon, and if it did, the beasts that were wary of the uninvited human group would sweep through the camp...
All of it was discovered.
"What... exactly is going on."
Siati muttered with a trembling voice. Bound as I was, I shrugged my shoulders at her, who was in confusion.
"Why the surprise? Everyone knows, right? Unless you're an idiot, it's a situation you can't help but know."
The answer they reached themselves is more certain than anything else, so there's no need to try hard to persuade them.
Because the clues they found, the logic they wove together, and the slowly accumulating doubts all culminate in a single truth.
Chento, who was curious about where Carapald and I went yesterday, retraced our tracks and discovered the rope that was holding the driftwood. The children noticed the rope's existence and rejoiced, prematurely assuming this situation was also a test. If it wasn't an emergency but part of a test, then nothing would happen that was out of control. Reassuring themselves arbitrarily like that, they moved about even more actively.
In the meantime, Carapald organized a team and searched the camp. Having drawn the map of the camp, he realized that this place was somewhat similar to the shape of a magic circle and tilted his head. While the children, thinking this was a puzzle or a test question, groaned in thought, Siati took the children out to gather food and water.
Beneath the camp was bedrock, and along the shallow grooves, a bizarre magic circle was drawn. Right around when everyone was racking their brains over the magic circle of a form they had never seen in their lives...
Coincidentally, a pitch-black box appeared right in the middle of one of the camp tents. The children, guessing it was a clue, opened the lid of the box.
Without knowing it was a bait that called beasts.
The pheromones thickly coating the bait spread out. A child with hunter parents recognized its identity and urgently shouted to close it, but it was already too late.
From afar, the sound of beasts rampaging could be heard.
The 150 or so students who had received military training dealt with it somewhat appropriately, but that was their limit. Appropriate response.
This proved that the reason the beasts hadn't attacked the human group until now was due to the innate caution of the beasts that had survived so far.
An antlered deer, extremely excited, charged through the camp from end to end, spitting saliva. It was an attack comparable to a cavalry charge. The house-sized deer looked like a giant swinging two trees hanging from its head, and it took ten people just to pull a single snare.
Following that, the wolves that had been cautiously prowling pounced. They realized the attack of the stealthy hunters only after there were casualties.
Crows and vultures, sensing the signs of a fight, circled from afar.
Seventeen died.
If traps hadn't been prepared in advance, many more would have died.
Anyway, the humans displayed their latent strength. With united bonds, appropriate commands, and a desperate struggle, they managed to drive away the beasts.
Precious friends died, but there was no time to feel sorrow. The exhausted children sat on the floor, watching in horror as the blood flowing from the dead children ran.
The blood trickled down the intaglioed grooves... lit up the giant magic circle, and seeped into it.
It wouldn't have been visible if it had been hidden underground, but it was a secret that was revealed because they had exposed the bedrock while investigating.
While everyone felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding, someone cautiously suggested. Since there was a risk of injury and infection, how about taking off their clothes.
The children agreed and deactivated their clothing packs.
And they discovered a bright red mark glowing ominously on my back. A trace whose meaning was so clear that they couldn't even bear to turn their eyes away.
"N-No way... How, such a thing..., Nicholas, made us into sacrificial lambs..."
Everyone understood the series of events. The fact that the nation had abandoned them, the leader they trusted was actually a wolf in sheep's clothing, the friend they laughed with until yesterday was dead with limbs grotesquely twisted, and that they too would soon end up like that. That at that time, someone would take their deaths and gain power.
"Kill him!"
Someone shouted. It was a child who had broken his arm blocking the deer and was bandaged. With his eyes bloodshot red, he poured curses at me.
"There's no instructor here to stop us anyway! Kill him and bury him somewhere!"
"T-Then how do we explain it?"
"Just say he slipped and fell into the river!"
"Yeah! This is self-defense!"
They shouted fiercely. I smiled as calmly as possible and said.
"It's a natural judgment. Keeping me alive, who is suspected of being a collaborator, in the middle of all this, is a foolish act. Right?"
"If you're a prisoner, shut up like one, Huey."
Siati and Carapald, who had newly become the representatives of the students, calmed the confused children. Siati, who was particularly angry at me, tightly pressed her lips together and glared at me.
"Huey. I didn't like you, but at least I thought you were more human than the other two. But... I guess I misjudged you."
"Why compare me to those two of all people? Right, Siati. What are you going to do with this terrible and inhuman me?"
"I'd like to kill you right now if it were up to my feelings."
Since the ones she now had to persuade were the other children and not me, Siati turned her head and shouted.
"Killing you here won't change anything. We will tie you up, put you on a ship, go to Hameln, and hold him accountable. If you're the one Nicholas dotes on and protects so fiercely, you'll make good bargaining material."
"Bargaining?"
"Yeah! Taboo is an act that the Holy Hall is dead set on catching. In exchange for keeping the secret, we could demand something..."
"Puhahaha!"
I laughed out loud while still tied up. As the guffaw continued, the gazes of the children, including Siati, gathered in one place. Having drawn enough attention, I abruptly stopped laughing and said.
"Siati. Stop saying things you don't even believe yourself. Nicholas was going to kill all of you and commit a taboo, do you think he'd say 'Oh, sorry' and give you Level 3 as a reward just because you saw through it and returned?"
No way. If that were possible, he wouldn't have started it in the first place.
"No, he'll kill you all. To bury you along with the taboo, he'll use even harsher methods."
"Then, what! You want us to die for you here?!"
"What you do is your choice, but if you're going to do it, at least follow what you yourself believe. Your choice is nothing more than a delusion that not only lacks realism, but even denies reality right now."
"Talking like you're so smart...!"
Siati strode over and grabbed me by the collar. Being dragged by the neck while tied up, I choked in pain, but she spoke without caring about my condition.
"I'll kill you! So what if you're smart?! No matter how smart you are, you can't decide our fate...! I, we! Didn't work hard all this time just to become your prey!"
As she spoke, her fierce shouting gradually gave way to sobbing. Grabbing my collar as if she would stretch it, Siati shed clear tears and resented me.
"Why? You can already go to the military academy anyway! Is that not enough? Even though you've already reached Level 3, which we want so badly...! Did you want something bigger? Did you want to become even more outstanding? Even if it means killing us all?"
After spewing out all her resentment, what remained was a pitch-black, clinging emotion. Her dark eyes, as if her heart had died, looked up at me.
"Then you... die too. That's fair."
I sensed it instinctively.
Ah, this is dangerous. If I stay like this, I'll really get swept away.
Is a taboo a taboo for nothing? It is a taboo because it denies the very belief in humans that has been built up until now.
Siati, who had become the side that was denied, now clenched her fists, completely consumed by hatred and despair.
...So, Historia.
Now is your last chance to save me. If you don't save me.
I.
The fact that the trainees who left for the graduation practical were stranded spread instantly. Nicholas, feeling a deep sense of responsibility for the incident, took only his close aides and rushed out of Hameln Middle Military Academy first. The main force decided to load supplies onto the rescue ships and follow Nicholas.
'You asked for help, but I didn't think something would really happen. Did you perhaps foresee even this?'
Historia didn't forget the promise. That was why, the moment she learned there was a problem with the graduation practical, she slung a gun on her back, ran to the Hameln River, and rented a small boat.
When she rowed, strange waves parted on both sides of the river. It wasn't pushing the water away, but rather a way of rowing that forcefully depressed the water's surface to create a slope, then gliding on top of it.
The small boat literally glided across the river, advancing rapidly. Historia instantly arrived at the riverbank full of driftwood, hid herself, and assessed the situation.
The sight she witnessed... was bizarre.
'Huey? Why are you tied up? And what's with the kids?'
A situation where she couldn't understand at all how things were flowing. In the meantime, the boy was restrained amidst everyone's focus, like a criminal hanging on the gallows, or like the first saint pierced and killed on a cross.
The children surrounding him seemed to be condemning something in despair and anger.
She didn't know how to react to the unexpected situation, but Historia took out her gun for now.
The target was me. And Siati next to me.
'Siati. I don't know why you're holding Huey. But if you try to kill him, I will definitely stop you.'
It's better not to reveal herself until she grasps their intentions. If it was a trivial matter, it would just pass over, and if it was a dangerous situation, it could become even more dangerous when Historia appeared.
Stealth or infiltration techniques—quiet and covert skills—didn't suit Historia's loud qi circulation. Instead, Historia aimed her gun from a blind spot out of their line of sight.
She looked at Siati and me through the gun's sights. I was still unharmed, and even while tied up, I had a bright smile on my lips.
Seeing my usual mischievous face, Historia almost let all her tension slip away, but she calmed her breathing again and aimed.
'I can't hear the sound well. Roughly guessing, it seems someone died and they're resenting Huey...'
Even if I am the leader, would they really tie someone up like that just for that?
Reaching the same question, Historia tilted her head while keeping her whole body's muscles tensely strained, aiming at Siati.
However, she didn't rashly step out or shoot.
Siati was also Historia's fellow cadet. If the opponent was an enemy or a beast, she would have blown a hole in them right away, but since they were acquaintances, her hand wasn't as ruthless.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
'Huey. Do you get it now? When push comes to shove, the only thing you can trust is your own strength. You need to pay a little more attention to qi circulation.'
If I felt a threat to my life, I would realize the importance of qi circulation and focus more on it. With that thought, she left me alone for a moment.
Because of that, she was late. I had already become thoroughly tainted by hatred and despair toward the military nation.
Siati and I conversed. A boring time flowed by. Where had all the serious atmosphere gone, the conversation was fluent, and the expressions I made were colorful.
To Historia, it looked as if I was enjoying this very situation itself. It wasn't a wrong statement, though.
'What. Do you really need my help?'
I needed help. Not anymore, though.
'So, if you had learned qi circulation from the beginning. If you hadn't wasted pointless time on kids who would betray you without gratitude. You wouldn't have needed to be tied up. Tch, making me anxious.'
My body wasn't bound. Because a rope like this can't tie me up.
I spread my hands, which were tied behind my back. It was a clumsy knot tied with stiff vines. The vines slithered loose, and both arms rose above my shoulders as if they had never been tied. The flustered children were startled, but I reached out my hand and calmed them.
'You're not even tied up? More and more, I feel like I'm becoming a fool.'
To Historia, they were all acquaintances from the same cohort. No matter how insignificantly she viewed them, they were still in the category of fellow cadets. She didn't feel the need to attack them.
It was when the relaxed Historia resumed the breathing she had momentarily paused. A voice was heard from close range.
"Boar woman."
Click. The muzzle turned in an instant. Where her muzzle was aimed, Lankart stood expressionlessly.
He was looking back and forth between Historia and me with an ambiguous face that couldn't be read at all.
Historia lowered the muzzle and asked.
"Ah, shit. You scared me. What are you doing?"
"That's what I should be saying. I'm here because I'm the vanguard that departed with Nicholas. But you? What the hell are you?"
"I'm the rear guard."
"How is the rear guard already here?"
"You guys are slow. What are you going to do, arriving later than me who rowed here?"
Lankart finally discovered the small boat and the huge oar by the riverbank and muttered.
"Crazy, lunatic boar..."
Still, the fact that Historia came here itself was within expectations. It was also the reason Lankart followed Nicholas.
'This boar is a mood-swinging beast, and whether it's her mating season, she pours out even more overt interest towards Huey. I need to drop her off before her predatory instinct kicks in.'
"It's Chief Instructor Nicholas's order. The instructors will handle the Huey issue, so you stay out of it for a bit."
"Handle? Handle what?"
'To check if the predatory instinct was successfully achieved, and to personally deal with any remnants if there are any. But... what on earth is this situation...'
Historia sneered at Lankart, who was lost in thought.
"Again, again. Stop turning that useless head of yours. Stop pulling the same tricks with your talentless brain and just speak straight, will you?"
"This is a concept that you lack, you bitch."
After amicably exchanging verbal abuse, Lankart answered irritably.
"We need to sort out this situation. I won't say more than that. Even if I tell you, you wouldn't understand."
"Why, suddenly. Is there something you're hiding?"
"Yeah."
As Lankart readily agreed, Historia let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
"...Hah. You're confident. That makes me even less willing to step out of it."
'Tch. So stubbornly obstinate and persuasion won't work, how annoying. Even if I want to eliminate her by force, fighting here won't reach a conclusion. Then.'
"It's for Huey's sake."
"What? For Huey's sake?"
"I don't know if you'd know, no, you just wouldn't. This evaluation is actually a test prepared for Huey. If you're watching, the meaning of the test fades."
"A test?"
"Yeah. With this, right with this, Huey will step forward to the next level."
Wow. It's not a wrong statement. Because it was a place for me, after all.
Thanks to mentioning me, Historia's anger softened. She looked back and forth between me and Lankart, pondered for a moment, then clicked her tongue softly as she saw me now freed.
'...I don't like this guy Lankart, but he's thorough with his work. He half-worships Huey, so he wouldn't harm him. Plus, if the Chief Instructor has come, well. The situation must be all over.'
Convinced, Historia slung the shotgun over her shoulder and stood up.
"...I'm warning you, don't order me around. I'll do what I want."
"If you have the energy to talk back, go hunt the beasts lingering along the riverbank. It's a job that suits you perfectly."
For now, the intended goal of shaking Historia off was achieved. Lankart muttered so, still watching me with a confused face.
'He didn't reject the predatory instinct. But he didn't accept it either. What exactly are you trying to do, Huey...?'
"Don't say such nonsense!"
While the two finished their private conversation, I, who had untied myself and come out, had finished persuading the children.
Siati shouted loudly as if she wanted to deny my words, but.
"...No. Siati... No."
The other representative who was listening to my story, Carapald, closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.
"Thinking rationally... Huey gave us hints. Even after knowing the existence of the net, he told everyone, and told us to uncover the secret of the camp. The one who jumped in first to close the box containing the pheromone bait, and personally carried it to throw it in the river, was Huey. Also, if Huey hadn't told us to set up traps in advance, more people would have died. If he had wanted to kill us..."
More. Or everyone would have died. Carapald finished his explanation.
And the silent majority agreed with his intention.
We spent a full day in the same place. Because they knew that I, who was always giving orders and working day and night, had no time to scheme anything. Because they saw my conduct, the persuasion worked.
Siati wasn't stupid enough not to believe that either. She was simply more angry than that. Having lost the target of her anger, Siati clenched both fists and shouted.
"Then! Then, what! What the hell is it...!"
"Are you curious? I'm curious too. Honestly, even I didn't know what was waiting here until I came here."
This is a clear truth. I thought there would be a predatory instinct, but I didn't think they would use driftwood, a bait camp, and pheromones to trigger the predatory instinct.
It was hard to call it a success because there were casualties, but we overcame it nonetheless. However, this was only the first hurdle.
The real malice that tried to kill everyone was approaching now.
"Only one person can give you this answer."
"Who...?"
"Chief Instructor Nicholas. The head of Hameln Middle Military Academy, who planned all of this."
The image of a man in uniform, with a warm yet strict impression, floated into the children's minds. He was enthusiastic about education, poured time and effort into the children, and even if he flogged and punished them, he never starved or injured them. He could be considered a relatively decent person.
But now... he only looked like a monster wearing a human shell.
"Now, so let's get ready, kids."
I know Nicholas. He is a good educator, but that exists only as a characteristic of a military nation's officer. His view on education is for the nation. Education is a field cultivated by the nation to produce talents for the nation.
It seems he thought that me, having taken a portion of their power, would be more outstanding than a mediocre hundred.
I can say with certainty, he is definitely wrong.
Because I am a person who is more outstanding when among a hundred. Even if their power were combined into one, it would be no different from tearing books to use as firewood.
The guardian of knowledge is a library full of good books, not the librarian guarding its front. Tearing books to make a fire for the librarian is putting the cart before the horse.
Of course, if the atrocity of using books as firewood were committed, the librarian would be the angriest of all.
"That box with the pheromone bait was structured to open on its own in a few hours. I don't know for sure, but that time is probably the execution time. But would Chief Instructor Nicholas just leave it alone after doing something like this? Presumably, Chief Instructor Nicholas will come soon."
"C-Chief Instructor...? In person?"
"Yeah. This practical, the net that tied the driftwood, the camp where the taboo was hidden and the pheromone box that would eventually burst... If the one who prepared this grave himself doesn't come, the word 'taboo' would be meaningless."
I wasn't certain. If I hadn't read Historia and Lankart's thoughts earlier, I wouldn't have been able to assert it.
Anyway, now that I have the information, I need to prepare.
"When Chief Instructor Nicholas comes, what to ask him. How to welcome, greet, question, and answer him. We need to prepare in advance."
Looking around at the eyes that had lost focus after being abandoned by the military nation, I lowered my voice and conveyed to everyone.
"So that you can listen to the story and be convinced."
Because I know, but you don't.
Leaving behind all doubts, despair, and exhaustion. The children stood up for now. They tightly clenched the hands that had just buried their friends' corpses and looked up at me.
I spoke vigorously to everyone.
"First, shall we make some traps?"
As a means of dialogue, that is.