I didn't expect that I could ask so many questions. I could get the truth by inferring from a hypothesis. A large part of it was luck, and the rest was thanks to Uncle A's razor.
"Does the Divine Eye work?"
"It does almost nothing."
That guy once had murderous intentions towards me - naturally I couldn't tell Qian Zhihe about this.
I patted the dust on my clothes and said nonchalantly:
"Now that the matter is over, let's consider how to deal with that guy first. Speaking of which, if you want to arrest him and he refuses to admit that he is a deserter, don't expect me to help you."
"You mean...you sympathize with that gentleman?"
"I just don't want to meddle in other people's business. Since that guy is harmless to the town, there is no need to cause any more trouble..."
"You really like small towns."
"That's why I hope it is 'eternal'~"
We walked out of the utility room and found that the darts in the hall had been picked up. After confirming that nothing was missing, we left the church.
It was a rare opportunity to visit the church with Qian Zhihe, but we encountered this kind of thing. Fortunately, it was resolved smoothly, which is a blessing among misfortunes.
If you leave that guy alone, who knows what kind of trouble will happen...
My lovely little town of Vige, you have to thank the unknown and lonely old man.
"Hey, are you worried?"
Seeing that Qianzhihe was silent, I asked.
"That gentleman... seemed very scared of the fact that he had killed a demon."
"Well..."
I recall the guy pulling at his hair to calm himself down.
He looks like a madman.
"Are the soldiers on the front line still so afraid of killing... No, they are killing demons."
"Demons are humans too, right?"
The demon clan is mainly composed of demonic betrothed hosts and those who practice taboo magic without authorization. Nowadays, the number of demon clan has increased sharply and they are connected with each other. They have been engaged in a decades-long war with the empire.
But from a biological point of view, they are no different from ordinary humans.
"The demons are the demons."
Qian Zhihe’s tone was firm.
"Well..."
"I don't understand, why are you scared?"
I feel the gaze of Qianzhihe.
"Isn't one of the duties of a soldier to destroy the demons that endanger the empire? Is there anything to feel guilty about?"
"...That guy probably doesn't feel guilty because he killed the demons. I think it might be the 'killing' itself."
"'Killing' itself?"
"Didn't he tell you before? That was the first time he killed someone with his own hands..."
I followed my own understanding and said while walking:
"Quoting Lao Rubu's battlefield experience - killing someone for the first time will produce huge psychological resistance, so killing requires practice... Although I have never killed anyone before, I can't fully explain it."
"..."
"If you want to participate in the war in the future, you will definitely have to go through this kind of test."
"I will prepare it in advance."
"Come on~~"
I glanced at Qian Zhihe. Her expression was solemn and she was biting her lower lip.
After experiencing this, can she still be as determined in her goal of participating in the war? Can she still view the war with a normal attitude? Can she still encourage young people to join the battlefield so enthusiastically?
Can she really get used to killing?
How should I...support her? Can I do it?
It’s so annoying. I hate doing multiple-choice questions.
......
The name of the "deserter" is Philemon Deaf.
Just in case something unexpected happens, I made up a new identity for him:
[Mondy, a businessman, and his grandfather once lived in a small town. He returned to the small town after his business went bankrupt and is now looking for a new job.]
"That's it, go ahead."
After the explanation, I nodded towards Monty.
The current location is a hotel.
"Okay..."
Monty checked in with my fake identity, and I followed him into the room.
"Well~~It's done. Congratulations on your smooth integration into the town, Mr. Mundy."
"I'm grateful for your care...but...why do I have to have a grandfather...who lived in a small town?"
"Everyone in the town is quite repulsive to outsiders. Doing this will make everyone regard you as a local. And your 'grandfather' lived in such a distant era, it is difficult to verify, isn't it?"
"Well...but, but I can't prove..."
"Oh, you guy, you look so timid, but you think about things very thoughtfully——"
It seems that I underestimated him.
"But don't worry, I was just about to say this - whenever someone asks you who your grandfather is, you just need to say that Mr. Gu Lao has met him and ask him to come to see me... Ah, 'Lao Gu'
'That's my name."
"...Huh?"
"What? You don't believe it? Well...although I look like a young man, I'm actually over a hundred years old."
Monty still looked puzzled. I was too lazy to talk. Talking too much would be useless:
"Okay, okay, believe it or not, in short, you just do as I say, understand?"
"...Okay..."
Sigh, so tired... This guy is so cowardly.
"Besides, no matter what, don't betray me. I'm trying my best to help you."
"Of course."
"Do you plan to live in a small town forever?"
"If nothing else happens..."
"May I ask, your family...?"
"I won't go to them -"
Monty shook his head resolutely, with a sad voice:
"Once they discover me, they will definitely order me to fight again."
"Eh..."
I wanted to find some words of comfort in my head, but what came out of my mouth was:
"Then please be sure not to cause trouble in the small town. Just pretend that the memory of the past does not exist. From today on, you will draw a clear line from the past."
"Okay...Okay..."
"Wish us a happy time together."
"Happy..."
Monty gritted his teeth and forced out a relieved smile:
"Thank you..."
I turned around and went out without looking back.
I don’t want to see my uncle shed tears.
......
Through my introduction, Mondy became the same lamplighter as Keelung.
As he gets older day by day, Keelon has become a little overwhelmed with this job. He is in urgent need of a helper, and Monty, a former soldier, has a very high basic magic value and is undoubtedly the best candidate for this profession. Kill two birds with one stone.
More than twenty days have passed, and Monty has become an indispensable part of the town. He has finally put aside many worries and is determined to enjoy life again.
Hum, this is all due to my wise actions.
"Hey~~"
I couldn't help but giggle.
"Hey, did you hear that?"
Alvin nudged me with his elbow.
"Huh? What?"
"Alas..."
I was distracted and Alvin sighed helplessly:
"I finally have time to ask you, please don't be distracted..."
"Sorry~~"
Since the lord's "assistant" took over the heavy desk work for Qian Zhihe, Qian Zhihe has had enough time to train herself...and her guards.
In other words, Alvin and others are still very busy at the moment. I haven’t quarreled with Marcia for several days, but I am happy to be free.
As for me, after getting Gale, I gradually lost the motivation to continue training. Although I still come to the Guard Corps camp every day, I often just chat with these children, even the date of the last time I entered the training ground...
....Well, I really don’t remember.
Seeing that I gave up on my own initiative, Qian Zhihe couldn't persuade me. What's more, she had to concentrate on improving the combat effectiveness of the army and couldn't focus too much on me.
My self-knowledge forces me to admit that this is hard to change.
"Are you still practicing your mutual injury technique?"
"Mutual injury technique...ah, let's have it for now."
"...really?"
"Maybe?"
"Why is it in a questioning tone... Then to what extent have you learned?"
"Well..."
I'm thinking hard.
In order to avoid disappointing Alvin, who has always cared about me, I had to think of a euphemistic way to say it.
Not only can she live up to his expectations, but she can also maintain her sincere image...
Yes——
"abandon..."
"Huh?"
......
At sunset, I slowly walked to the tailor shop.
The temperature of the air has dropped, and without the sun to support it, it is like a dying tiger surrounded by wolves, relying on its remaining arrogance to raise gusts of hot wind, trying to show its remaining power.
I suddenly thought of what Qian Zhihe said before:
"Twilight is the best time of day to make decisions."
Dusk is the best time of day to make decisions...
I repeated it silently in my mind.
In front are Keelung and Mondi, waving to me.
"Yo~~"
I quickened my pace and said hello.
"Mr. Lonely..."
Monty bowed to me and smiled shyly.
Hmm~~I don’t hate polite children.
Keelung's goatee was trembling, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were wrinkled. He also bowed slightly to me, but his movements were not very neat, and he looked like an old butler.
"Old Butler" has really grown old.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"You too."
"Haha~~What do I have to do hard for?"
I shrugged:
"The whole sky is the same as a statue, but it has an extra dispensable soul."
"Your soul is enough to make us proud."
"Thank you."
I waved my hands as a farewell.
In five minutes, we will be at the tailor shop.
What kind of delicacies will Miss Polly cook today~~ Her cooking skills are comparable to those of a great chef in a restaurant.
In order to facilitate work and save money, and there happened to be an extra room on the second floor of the tailor shop, Miss Polly agreed to live with us at Raya's suggestion.
So, thanks to Miss Topley, three meals a day became one of my expectations.
"It's getting dark."
I am talking to myself.
"Your divine eye has not been activated for a long time."
"Really?"
I don’t have much impression of what Gale said:
"It doesn't matter if you activate it or not... I would say, it doesn't matter if you don't activate it. After all, divine talent is an accessory to war."
The town is far away from the war, and I don't care whether the divine eye works or not.
"War...don't you think that you will be exposed to war one day?"
"I don't have such a long-term vision."
"Well, I also think you are a short-sighted person."
"There is no need for you to agree more and more, you are a useless mate! Besides, you are just a useless mate, even if you go to the battlefield, you will only accompany me to death."
"...My biggest mistake was choosing you as my partner."
"Ah? What are you talking about? Who is your partner? I am your great master."
"...Damn you, just wait for me."
"Oh~~Then I have to wait patiently. Please surprise me, you~~"