TNZKMA 145

１４5

 

The guild was destroyed, so a temporary one was set up. The southeast section market suffered damage in the last attack. Not only the Guards Guild but also many buildings and stalls were destroyed. The stalls can be fixed quickly, but the buildings are a different story. The most severely damaged eastern section square is being repaired first.

The temporary guild was set up three blocks away from where the original guild was, towards the outskirts of town. It seems they’re borrowing space at the blacksmiths’ meeting place.

The Guards Guild was on the second floor. There were no windows, and I climbed a dark staircase. When I entered the room, all the guards from the eastern section were there.

[You’re safe!?]

I shouted when I spotted the missing Dauntlesses, Vent and Gus.

[I heard you got your stomach slashed by a monster, I was super worried.]

As I got closer, I noticed the blood-stained bandages wrapped around their bodies and stopped in my tracks.

[A-are you okay?]

I timidly reached out my hand. Vent had bandages around his stomach, and Gus around his arm. I couldn’t see what was under their clothes, so maybe their legs were injured too. Both were sitting in chairs.

[It’s nothing serious.]

[Yeah, that’s right. A weaker man would’ve died, but I won’t go down with just this kind of wound.]

[Others would’ve been screaming in pain, but I just laughed.]

Vent was shirtless, as if to show off the bandages around his stomach. He laughed heartily and smacked his toned stomach.

[Ugh…]

[W-wait, you shouldn’t push yourself. The wound might reopen.]

[It might be better to change those bandages. I wonder if we have any dour grass?] 

As I moved closer to Vent and touched his abdomen, Saine’s arm reached out from behind and pulled me away.

[Saine, it’d be good to apply some dour grass, right? I should’ve brought some. That dour grass from  Olphynn’s brand.]

We got a huge jar full last time, and since Haruka hasn’t been getting injured lately, we still have plenty left. It feels bad for  Olphynn, but we’ve mostly been using that dour grass just for me and Saine to, well, bond.

[Leave it. If they’re Dauntless, they should handle their own wounds.]

[Yeah, Saine’s right. Don’t worry about it.]

Vent grinned and gave me a thumbs-up.

Now that Vent and Gus were safe, all the Dauntless from the eastern section had survived. The guards who hadn’t yet become Dauntless had been providing rear support, so they were mostly unharmed, except for Plau, who got blown away at the end. Seeing all the familiar faces together again, I let out a sigh of relief.

The room in the temporary guild was a little smaller than the original one. With everyone packed inside, it felt as cramped as if a huge boulder had been stuffed in here. No windows either, and I found myself panting and retreating to a corner.

[Saine, I think I’ll go to the market after all. I need to buy stuff for dinner.]

[No.]

I was immediately rejected.

[But for dinner…]

[Eat at the market.]

When Saine suggested street food, a sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I didn’t want to lose any more of my responsibilities.

[But making it ourselves is cheaper, right?]

I couldn’t say it was tastier. I knew the food from the stalls was better than mine. It just gets repetitive after a while.

[You are my Reincarnator. I won’t allow you to wander off on your own.]

Saine stood over me, pressing one hand against the wall, leaning down toward me as he gave the command. His low voice sent a shiver down my spine. Lately, I’d been feeling more scared of Saine.

[That’s right. Saine’s been giving you too much freedom. You’re his Reincarnator, so when Saine is around, you’re not allowed to leave his side.]

Dole’s face appeared over Saine’s shoulder when I looked up.

[Come here, there’s a place you can sit.]

I couldn’t really see well with Saine in the way, but Dole crooked his finger, beckoning me somewhere.

[But he’ll feel suffocated.]

I was standing pressed against the corner of the room, and Saine had his hands on either wall, forming a space around me. I started wondering if this wasn’t by chance but something Saine had created for me.

[I get it. It’s fine. Come on,]

Dole led the way, and I moved through the crowded room filled with guards. But instead of stopping inside, Dole went right out into the hallway.

[Where are we going?]

[This room’s a bit much, so I negotiated to let us use the first floor too.]

Dole said, bouncing down the stairs with a spring in his step.

On the first floor, three of the Dauntless were sitting around a table.

[You haven’t told the guys upstairs?]

[Of course not. Well, they’ll figure it out by tomorrow, but for now, let’s enjoy some peace.]

Even though the room is the same size as the one upstairs, it’s clearly more spacious here. There’s plenty of chairs and room to choose from, and there’s even a window. Dole sat down in a chair by the window.

[So, how’s the discussion going?]

Saine sat down across from Dole, and I dragged a chair over and sat down as well.

[The south is in shambles. They say only two Dauntless remain there. Probably about five of us will be sent from here to help out the south.]

[The north should be fine, right?]

[Yeah, the north will handle things on their own. The west is short on people, but still, we should only need to help them a bit, so they’ll be fine.]

[Is there a chance Saine will go to the south?]

In the southern section, there isn’t a monster forest, but instead, a monster sea. But the sea also has shrimp. I wasn’t trying to, but I guess I was smiling because Dole glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

[Probably not. In times like this, usually, they send those who are waiting for their ritual.]

[Then, is Dole going?]

[Well, who knows. It’s up to the old man, but I’d say I’m not going either. Even though monsters showed up instead of a Reincarnator, once the rituals resume, I’ll be the first one to get mine.]

[Really!?]

Surprised, I jumped to my feet.

[Well, I’ve contributed after all. They’ll have to cut me some slack at least.]

That’s right. It was thanks to Dole that the monsters in the eastern section were held back and immobilized. When it comes to credit, no one deserves it more than Dole. Feeling relieved, I sat back down, but then I caught sight of  Olphynn walking down the street.

[ Olphynn?]

I saw him walking down the street, and shortly after, I heard footsteps in the hallway. Huh? I turned toward the open door and saw  Olphynn about to head up the stairs.

[ Olphynn!]

I ran out of the room and called up to him on the stairs.

[ Olphynn, what’s up?]

[So, you were here.]

 Olphynn slowly came back down the stairs.