TNZKMA 133

１３３

 

I had always wanted to visit the central plaza, but I never imagined I’d be going like this. I watched Dole’s back as he led the way, trying my best to keep up and not get left behind. The guards naturally walked fast, and Olphynn had long legs. So, just keeping up was all I could manage. My breathing grew uneven.

[If you’re tired, let me know. I’ll carry you.]

 Saine, walking behind me, offered, but I shook my head. I didn’t want to be a real burden. I’m a man too, after all. I can at least walk on my own.

As we moved away from the eastern plaza, the houses became normal again. None of them were damaged. It was almost like the devastation we had seen earlier was a distant memory as the ordinary houses stood in neat rows. This area, the east and west sections, were filled with family homes. They weren’t particularly wealthy households, just a bit larger, with the same construction as Saine’s place.

As I walked, looking at the slightly larger-than-average houses, I spotted one made of brick, which wasn’t typical for regular homes. As we continued further, there were clearly multiple buildings that should be called estates. If this area was the same as the east section, these were likely homes of the rich, government offices, and the priests’ residences.

[This is the Priests’ Guild.]

Olphynn said, standing in front of the largest building. I counted the windows to see how many floors it had, and it was five stories, something I’d never seen since coming here. But this was also a school class, the first floor, the first floor was huge, and looking up made my neck hurt.

[Let’s go inside.]

Olphynn said, and went inside. I tried to follow, but Saine stopped me.

[Don’t do that. There’s no point in everyone going in.]

[There’s no guarantee that there won’t be a monster waiting inside. If we can’t get out, someone has to let the others know.]

With that, Dole put his hand on the entrance.

[Loop and I will check it out. Saine, keep watch here. Vyrs, scout the area.]

[Am I a hindrance?]

Once we were alone, I asked Saine.

[No. We wouldn’t have found the hole if you hadn’t been there.]

[Maybe, but… I’m slower than everyone else, and isn’t the only reason you stayed behind because of me?]

Saine, his gaze still sharp as he scanned the surroundings, gave a small chuckle.

[They’re in too much of a rush. When you don’t know what’s going to come out, it’s better to proceed slowly and cautiously. People running ahead can’t suddenly stop or jump out of the way if something appears.]

If it were me, whether running or walking, I’d probably freeze in place and scream.

Saine let out a brief laugh, then looked at me and patted my head once. But soon after, his eyes became sharp again as he continued to watch the area.

[Don’t worry too much. Everyone’s doing what they’re best suited for.]

[Is there anything I can do?]

[Stay by my side.]

I was about to step forward, but his words made me stop in my tracks. When I looked up at him, I saw him give me a small glare.

[Don’t go anywhere.]

I nodded in agreement and quietly decided to wait for everyone to return. The central plaza was indeed huge, much larger than the eastern plaza, maybe about five times bigger. There weren’t any stalls in front of the Priests’ Guild, but I could tell that a ton of stalls had probably lined the other side.

None of the buildings in this area were damaged. It was eerie how clean and untouched everything looked, with no people around. But in the distance, I could see the collapsed stalls.

Even though they were ruined, I really wanted to go check them out. I couldn’t buy anything since there were no shopkeepers, but I was hoping there might be some shrimp. Of course, I wasn’t just thinking about that—I also wanted to check if there was anything strange. But Saine had caught on, so I stayed put like a good boy. Honestly, he’s so sharp.

After about 30 minutes, Vyrs returned, and the three of us waited for Olphynn and the others to come out. The sky had started to turn slightly red. My stomach began growling since I hadn’t eaten since our early morning meal in the forest. Vyrs gave me some nuts—the kind everyone usually eats at the guild. The shells were too tough for me to crack, but the guards could easily snap them open. Even now, Vyrs cracked one and handed me the insides.

I thanked him and ate. I was the only one eating, so I hesitated a bit, but I ate anyway. Saine would tell me to eat, and Vyrs would probably laugh and say not to worry about it. Being overly polite isn’t good, but neither is being too reserved. I thanked him again and gratefully accepted the food.

I slowly chewed the small nuts, savoring them.

Just as I had settled my hunger with the nuts, Olphynn and the others came out of the building.

[There was a hidden door. It led to a long staircase, which eventually opened up to a pathway. I think it might connect to the underground path,]

[We went a little further down it, and it’s quite a long road. The floor, walls, and ceiling are all covered with stone. It’s definitely not something that formed naturally. We could go all the way to the end to see if it’s blocked, but the road branches off to the left, right, and opposite direction as well.]

[It probably connects to all the sections.]

[That’s probably true. I don’t know if it goes under the sections and ends below the town, or if it continues on to the monster forest.]

[It probably leads to the forest.]

The Saine asserts.

[That’s right. I think so too. There’s no point in building a road that ends below the town.]

[If it was built by the current priest guild, it would have been to go into the forest and work on the water… but it doesn’t look that new. No, it’s too old…]

[I think so too. I also doubt that the current priest guild even noticed the road below.]

[What do you mean?]

Saine and Vyrs tilted their heads in response to Dole’s words.

[The hidden door to the underground path—it had some intricate mechanisms that wouldn’t be noticed easily. At first glance, it just looked like a normal wall, and there was even a shelf in front of it. When we moved the shelf, we found a distinct sun-faded mark on the floor. That shelf must have been there for a long time.]

[It was heavy too. Dole, Loop, and I had to work together to move it. I doubt any priests would be doing that kind of heavy lifting regularly.] 

Olphynn continued, frowning.

[The underground path itself was just that—a path that continued on and on. It wasn’t very wide either, just enough for two people to walk side by side. The road stretched endlessly, with occasional side paths that had collapsed, so we couldn’t make much sense of them.]

[We’ll need more time to thoroughly investigate to figure out more details. First, we should examine the plaza. There weren’t any rooms other than the plaza itself, right?]

When asked by Dole, I nodded yes. I kept touching the wall, but it was a clean wall. There was nothing that could catch my finger, that is, anything that could be considered a door.

[I don’t know if there was a door on the other side, but the wall I was touching was just an ordinary wall.]

[It could also be thought of as an evacuation route. When monsters attack, the townsfolk go down all at once. The side streets might lead to stairs that can be accessed from somewhere, like this priests’ guild.[

Listening to Dole’s story, I began to think that the square was a place of refuge. But even if it was a place of refuge in the eastern section, it wasn’t large enough for everyone to enter. I wonder if they were planning to run that far, rest for a bit, and then go to the forest.

[Hmm, but… even if everyone in town went to the forest or the square, I don’t think they could all get in. There are similar places in the western and northern forests, and I don’t think people who live in the western section could get in to the western forest, or people who live in the northern section to the northern forest. I wonder about the eastern forest I went to… even if they packed in tightly, I think only about 50 people could fit in. The square below could fit about 100 people.]

And what about the people in the south? The south is not a forest, it’s the sea. They wouldn’t be able to be saved by going into the sea. That means they’ll only gather in the square below. But if it’s as big as what I saw, it would still be 100 people.

The four guards just glanced down as I continued to ask my questions. Just as I was wondering what they were talking about, Dole spoke up. [Even if it really was an evacuation route, I think only a limited number of people used that road. Priests, rich people, and high-ranking officials who live in the central plaza.]

[There seems to be a side road, too, but it’s collapsed. That collapse probably didn’t happen this time, it must have happened a long time ago. But the road leading to the Priests Guild was still standing. I don’t know the purpose of the road or how it was used at the time. Even if it was later used as an evacuation route, it may have been intended for only a limited number of people to use. Well, it’s all just speculation.]

[What do you mean? Only the rich could escape? You wouldn’t survive if you did that.]

Even if they run away, there’s no food. The priests can only perform rituals, and they make food in the fields, on pastures, or in the sea.

[If the Heroes are with us, maybe we can catch something in the forest. But wouldn’t it be suffocating if only a select few survive? I think it would be heartbreaking.]

Besides, how were they planning to rebuild the town if it collapsed like this? The rich don’t have much strength, and the priests aren’t very strong either.

Someone came up with the idea of ​​using the road below as an evacuation route, but as I was thinking about what they were planning to do after they survived, Saine patted me on the head.

[What’s wrong?]

[No. Nothing.]

Saine said that and patted my head. He was a little strong, and I was shaking.

[Well, let’s have something to eat. Olphynn wants to check this area, so we’ll sleep here tonight.]

[Eh? Here? Isn’t it dangerous?]

The priests’ barrier is only in the eastern section. This is unbounded. 

[If it’s an area big enough for six people, then my barrier alone is enough.]

Olphynn states decisively, and I can’t help but applaud her shining confidence.

I wish I could say something like that too. But it’s only Olphynn’s efforts that support it. If you want to have strong confidence in something, you have to work dozens of times harder than other people.

When I go around with Saine and the guards and listen to Olphynn’s stories, I really think I’m no good. I wish I’d at least studied hard at school while I was alive over there. I think if I had, I might have been able to use the knowledge I gained over there to help me here.

Regret comes later. Haruka’s grandma used to say that. I was now regretting my past life, when I spent all my time playing around.