Chapter 164 The Monster'S Goal
I was on my way back to the civilian's house where I was staying after finishing the synthesis, when a person suddenly burst out of the neighboring house to the left.
That person's shadow and I bumped shoulders as we walked.
"Whoa?!"
Despite the force with which they burst out, the impact of our shoulders colliding was weak, and I just stumbled a bit. However, the person I bumped into didn't seem to be okay, and they kneeled down on the ground with a thud.
I crouched down beside them, worried. He was an elf man.
"Are you okay?"
He wasn't particularly muscular, nor was he skinny. It was strange that he would kneel down after bumping into me, a small girl.
The elf man didn't seem to hear my voice, and just stayed bowed down.
"Laura-sensei!"
At the sudden voice from behind, I quickly stood up, and the elf man ran away from the scene.
I was taken aback, and as I turned around to chase after him, I saw Sieg-san standing a short distance away, passing by the elf man who was trying to escape from me.
Sieg-san chased after the elf man for a few seconds, then walked back towards me. He helped me up, and quietly said...
"May I have a moment?"
――I was led to the room where Arnold was sleeping.
Sieg-san told Rustu's people, who was on watch, a few words, then closed the door. He seemed restless, glancing around nervously, and whispered a proposal to me.
"Laura-sensei, let's move to another city tomorrow."
"Huh, why?"
My response to the unexpected proposal was a simple question.
I didn't understand the reason. Why would he suddenly suggest such a thing?
I looked up at Sieg-san, puzzled, and he furrowed his brow in concern.
"That's... there's a possibility that a monster is hiding in this city."
"Eh!?"
After I let out a loud scream, I suddenly remembered how Sieg-san was being really cautious around us earlier. I quickly covered my mouth with both hands. ――If what Sieg-san said is true, then maybe this conversation is being heard by that 'monster', and they might be on high alert because of that.
However, a monster in this city...? Honestly, I couldn't believe it.
My face must have shown my confusion and doubts, so Sieg-san explained without hiding anything.
"To be exact, it's like the elf from earlier ―― Bozek-sama's body was taken over, so to speak."
I've seen cases in the past where monsters took over people's bodies. Like Elvira, who was possessed by a demon king to recover, and the people of Rustu, who were controlled and allowed monsters to invade this city. And then there was Arnold.
So, it's not an impossible story that the elf lord, Bozek-san, had his body taken over by a monster. Assuming that's true, the next thing that comes to mind is the "purpose".
I remembered. Bozek-san seemed to have come out of the house next to the one I'm staying in ―― the one we're in right now. If that's the case, what was his purpose?
"Is the purpose to use the power of the demon king inside Arnold...?"
"Yes, likely. It seems he was wandering around the house where Arnold-dono's resting."
From his suspicious behavior, Sieg-san seemed convinced.
But wait a minute. It's unlikely that monsters can enter the city of Rustu's people. Because of past mistakes ―― when their own people were taken over by monsters and suffered harm ―― the city's security has probably become even stricter.
If that's the case, the monster must have taken over Bozek-san's body before coming to this city. And the timing was likely when the elf village was attacked by monsters.
However, when the elf village was attacked by monsters, Arnold still hadn't sealed the demon king's power within his body. If the monster inside Bozek's body had the goal of releasing the sealed demon king's power, it would mess up the timeline.
"Wait, didn't the elf village get attacked before Arnold sealed the demon king's power?"
"Yes. It's likely that the goal changed after the attack."
That means that when the elf village was attacked and Bozek-san's body was taken over, there was a different goal at play, separate from releasing the sealed demon king's power. The original goal was to infiltrate the elf village, and a new goal emerged that wasn't part of the initial plan—
"What was the original goal, anyway?"
"It's something that was stored in the elf village. After the monsters that attacked the village left, it suddenly disappeared from the storage location."
It seems Sieg-san has a hunch about the monster's "original goal" too.
"As I said earlier, this is just our speculation and a possibility. Even if our speculation is correct, we don't know who did it. So we thought it was best to handle it internally... and keep an eye on everyone."
It seems I was being monitored without even realizing it.
When I look up at Sieg-san, he bows his head respectfully.
"I apologize."
I'm not angry about being monitored. In reality, Sieg-san and Hagen-san, who probably gave the order to monitor us, were trying to avoid causing us unnecessary worry and trouble. And being constantly monitored means being constantly protected, in a way.
Plus, I can understand the flow of events now. I thought it was strange that the villagers were being protected in Rustu's city, even though the village was attacked by monsters. Even with the change in regime, it was hard to believe that many people would be easily invited into the city, which was heavily guarded by the barrier to protect the bloodline.
"Is it possible that someone was possessed by a monster, so you're saying we should protect all the elves in the city?"
"It's more like surveillance, not protection. It's a request from Village Head Yorma-sama, after all."
――It was a direct request from the Village Head of the Elf village, after all. However, the risk is high, and accepting a request from the Village Head means that the monster's "original purpose" might be important to the people of Rustu.
Sieg-san isn't the type to simply explain the "original purpose", and only hints at it without giving details. So, I'll ask him about the other things that are bothering me.
"But, is it okay to invite a monster into the city? If they find out the location..."
"This city has already been invaded by a monster once. No matter how strong the barrier is, if the monster finds out the location, there's a possibility it'll break through. We're planning to abandon it after the demon king is defeated this time."
I nodded again in understanding at Sieg-san's answer.
(That's why there were so few people in the city...)
The house we're staying in is clearly owned by one of the city's residents. If that's the case, where are the people who lived there now? ――They've probably already moved to another city.
The barrier of this city won't be easily broken. It's enough to protect us until the demon king is defeated. However, to prepare for when we'll face the demon king again in the far future, I want to eliminate at least one source of anxiety.
"Anyway, at first, I was half-doubting whether someone was really possessed by a monster... But now that the possibility has arisen, Laura-sensei should move out of this city first. I can't let you be in danger. The preparations are ready."
The people of Rustu have been monitoring this city for several days, trying to figure out who's suspicious and who's not. And now that they've found someone suspicious, they're trying to move the non-suspicious people to another city.
In other words, everyone who was brought to this city was suspected from the start. Until their doubts are cleared, no one is invited to the true safe haven, the inner citadel.
Even though they're being protected, the people of Rustu are still extremely cautious and calm, I think. I don't blame them for that, and besides, this time it's a request from the village head of the Elf village. They know that they have to make tough and heartless choices for their mission.
What I'm more worried about is Arnold. If I move to another city, what will happen to him?
"What about Arnold? What will you do with him?"
"...He's a target for the monsters. If he moves carelessly, the enemy will find out. We'll increase the guards and set up a barrier in his room."
I nod in agreement. The enemy will also lose their target if they can't find him. To make their doubts conclusive, Arnold has to stay here.
Moreover, Arnold still has some of the demon king's power sealed within him. Even if we resolve the issue with Bozek-san, he might not be protected in this city, which has already been invaded by monsters once. We can't let the monsters find out the location of the new place too.
(Elvira entrusted Arnold to me...)
Elvira's face flashes in my mind. She entrusted her brother, Arnold, to me. But can I really abandon him and escape to a safer city? Wouldn't that be betraying her trust, who's fighting against the demon king with her small body?
I clench my fist tightly in my chest.
If there's anything I can do, no matter how small, I want to help.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Help?"
With an expression that seemed to say "I don't get it" at the bottom of his heart, Sieg-san tilted his head, making me feel like I'd said something selfish, and I hastily started making excuses.
"Look, setting traps or... I don't think it's a good idea to drag things out, and trying to lure them out is..."
"There's danger to Laura-sensei's life."
Sieg-san shook his head. His expression was dead serious, and I realized that vague words wouldn't reach him.
I once again bit my lip and looked up at Sieg-san. Then, with a firm tone, I spoke directly to him.
"I was asked by Elvira to take care of Arnold. So, I can't just do nothing and run away alone."
That was my genuine feeling. However ―― it wasn't because I felt obligated to Elvira, but because I truly thought so from the bottom of my heart.
If I left Arnold's side now and something happened to him, I'd regret it for the rest of my life.
I spoke in a softer tone to Sieg-san, who had fallen silent.
"Of course, if there's nothing I can do, I'll do as I'm told. But if there's something I can do to help... please let me help."
I didn't want to be a hindrance. I didn't want to be a burden either. But, as an outsider who's almost completely unaffected by the monster's influence ―― unlike the people of the elf village ―― I didn't have a specific timing to be taken over by the monster. Since I might be caught off guard during our journey, I was being monitored as a precaution.
Sieg-san must have thought I was an outsider too, which is why he suggested moving to the city first.
I looked up at Sieg-san, thinking that maybe I could be of some use. He nodded slowly after a few seconds.
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