Kays Translations

Chapter 169: The Hour of Gathering

After a single overnight stop, the carriage managed to reach the designated town.

The town, bathed in the morning sun, was certainly in a sorry state, but considering the stories about it being attacked by an orc horde, it was in better condition than imagined.

The town had no walls, but instead, it was encircled by a dry moat. On the inner side of the moat, there were wooden stakes set up, and watchtowers were built at regular intervals. It was quite a defensive setup.

A black mist-like haze rose from below the moat, and Lutz, jumping down from the wagon, approached it. The haze was, in reality, comprised of thousands, if not tens of thousands, of flies. Just listening to their buzzing was enough to make one's head spin.

Holding his nose, Lutz approached the moat. The identity of the mist was the countless corpses of orcs with greenish skin and men who appeared to be a self-defense group, dressed in leather armor, piled up under the moat.

Swatting away the clinging flies with his hand, Lutz returned to the carriage and explained what he had seen to his fellow passengers.

“It seems the people of the town hadn't been completely overrun.” 

Ricardo nodded as if he understood. They resisted, which is why the town's damage wasn't as extensive, and only one person, Dennis's daughter, had been taken.

Of course, for Dennis's family, this was still a tragic event. No one would dare to call it a stroke of luck.

They passed through a makeshift gate, and the carriage continued along the main street. Houses were being rebuilt in various places in the town, but it was challenging to say there was much vitality.

The thought of, "If the orcs attack again, it will just get destroyed," seemed to be dampening the citizens' spirits and making them sluggish.

If they could live in a house they built for ten or twenty years and if it were a job connected to the future, they might find more motivation. However, knowing that it would be destroyed again soon didn't encourage much enthusiasm. Until the threat of monsters was removed, the town's recovery wouldn't make much progress.

Samurai Mask wore a visibly troubled expression, even over his mask.

"There’s no sign of knights stationed anywhere." 

He said scanning the area from the driver's seat, but they hadn't seen anyone who looked like knights.

"Even if the reinforcements didn't arrive in time for the initial attack, wouldn't they place knights here to prepare for the next attack or to reassure the citizens?" 

"There must be a different reasoning from the people who keep the books," 

"Knights exist to be the swords of those without swords. If they don't move now, they might as well be no different from statues!"

"Absolutely, I'd love to have our knights hear that."

Lutz replied in a tone that clearly indicated he had little trust in nobles. Seeing Lutz's attitude, Samurai Mask felt ashamed and looked down. What right did he have to say such things?

"As soon as I was relieved of responsibility, words like 'we should have done this, we should have done that' keep coming to mind. It's embarrassing, but…"

"We're going to make up for the debt of doing nothing from now on."

Lutz said, maintaining his usual light tone. To an outsider, his attitude might seem irresponsible, but for Samurai Mask, who was increasingly burdened by many thoughts, having a clear and straightforward path to follow was actually welcome.

They asked a few passersby for directions and arrived at Dennis's shop, or perhaps it should be called that.

The shop had many holes in the walls from the orc attack. There was neither the cost nor the motivation to repair them, so curtains were hung like shields to block the wind.

"Dennis, as per our agreement, Samurai Mask has come to assist you!"

Samurai Mask got off the carriage and called out loudly, and there was movement inside the shop.

The middle-aged man who came out by parting the curtain stared at Samurai Mask with an expression of disbelief.

"You really... came, didn't you?"

"Heh, you thought I'd run away?"

"Oh, no, I... What can I say..."

No matter what he answered, Samurai Mask approached the flustered Dennis and patted him on the shoulder.

"It's fine, I understand that adventurers can't be trusted. The one who suffered the most was probably you ,Dennis, and I won't blame you for doubting. But there's one thing that sets me apart from other adventurers."

“That you’re a samurai mask?”

“That’s right!”

"Haha," Samurai Mask laughed heartily. They had to face a group of orcs in the near future, and he knew Dennis would be terrified. However, this performance was intended to reassure Dennis by demonstrating his valor.

This considerate gesture seemed to work, as Dennis's pale face brightened slightly. Nevertheless, he still looked like a dead man. It was only a temporary respite and comfort.

"Those are your companions, right?"

Dennis looked at the idle-looking men behind Samurai Mask and asked.

"Allow me to introduce them. These are reliable comrades who came to help out of a sense of justice. The blacksmith, Lutz-sama, and the brave hero, Ricardo-san. Once we are assembled, even if we face an orc horde, you will wait without worry for good news, undisturbed."

Samurai Mask puffed out his chest, but Dennis had a suspicious look on his face.

The hero being here, Dennis understood that. But why is the blacksmith here?

Samurai Mask laughed loudly, opening his mouth wide. After all, they would have to fight the orc group soon. There was no way he wouldn't be nervous. But he believed that performing like this would make Dennis feel a bit relieved. The effort seemed to have worked as Dennis's pale face brightened slightly. However, it was still a deadpan face. It was just a psychological band-aid, a temporary measure.

Lutz knew exactly what Dennis was thinking as he looked at him, but he did not know how to explain it, so he kept silent, smiling a fearless smile that had the air of a strongman's courage.

No, really. Why was he here?

All he could say was that it just happened.

It would have been fine to leave it to Samurai Mask and Ricardo alone, but they were not acquainted with each other. Samurai Mask, also known as Donald, had a somewhat peculiar sense of distance. Ricardo, on the other hand, was somewhat shy. It might have created a slightly awkward atmosphere without Lutz's presence. Despite the extra burden on Lutz, bringing him along turned out to be the best choice.

"Is that person over there also a companion?"

Dennis gazed at the main road, and

 Lutz's group couldn't comprehend what he was talking about. Their companions consisted of the three people standing there.

All three turned around at once, and they saw a knight on horseback.

The man looked familiar.

The katana he held looked familiar.

The horse he rode looked familiar.

But he was wearing a mask that was unfamiliar.

"What are you doing Josel-san...?"

Lutz murmured, and Dennis asked again.

"Do you know him?"

The three turned around in unison and replied in unison.

"He's a total stranger."

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