Chapter 22: Heart Piercing Thorns?
After a moment of hesitation, I gritted my teeth and held back the rising feeling in my stomach, and had to utter the words that would plunge the boy into despair once again.
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"... I'm sorry, it's impossible. That person... Can't be saved."
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"Why!?"
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"... Because it's impossible to bring the dead back to life."
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The boy's eyes widened at my merciless announcement, and with tears streaming down his face he slowly turned his attention to what had been his brother.
A drop of water fell from the boy hit the young man's body, but the man will never react to them again.
The boy, having now come to understand the reality, he twisted his face in grief and let out a sob.
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"Why, why... My big brother..."
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Unable to bear watching, I looked away and saw several other vilgers who had not moved at all despite the potions I had sprinkled on them. Their injuries were not as obvious as those of the young man, but they were probably already dead. I saw people who were crying beside the boy, perhaps their family or friends.
Ahh... This is terrible...
In the gloomy air, clutching my stomach as if I'd swallowed lead, I tried to move my feet to help the vilger whose treatment had only been half-way done, when I heard the words made me feel like a hand growing from the depths of the earth had grabbed my foot.
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"... If only you guys had come sooner...!"
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"-!"
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Losing your family in front of your eyes is surely enough something you want to compin about.
And it truly... Fell on me like a curse, piercing my heart.
It feels like a heavy weight was pced on my back, and now I can't move my legs.
It turns into heavy chains, and it feels like my body is being bound.
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The cold metal like feeling almost froze my heart... But just before that happened, I was scooped up.
Fricka gently pced her hand on my back.
Uru stood in the way to protect me.
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"What are you saying? If you can't protect your own vilge and its people with your own strength, how did you intend to survive in this world?"
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"Wha...?!"
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The boy was left speechless by the unexpected counterattack.
But Uru didn't wait for a reply (in first pce she wasn't expecting a proper answer) and continued.
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"We're just travelers passing through this pce, not vilge guards, you know? We don't have a duty to help... Rion may be a miko, but there's no reason to bme her for not being able to save him."
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"A M-Miko...? If so, then that's even more--"
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"We didn't know if this vilge will be attacked or not. It's just a coincidence that we're here at this time. Are you telling me to predict the future or something? Or do you want me to leave other pces alone and stay here to protect this vilge?"
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Even though I had stock of powerful potions, the boy didn't connect that with me being a miko, and was surprised.
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However, when he tried to argue that as a miko I should be helping people even more, he was immediately verbally beaten down by Uru.
Turning towards the boy, who was opening and closing his mouth rapidly as if unable to say anything back, Uru continued to put pressure without loosening her grip.
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"In first pce, if you cannot protect yourself, why don't you ask for the protection of the miko who lives in this nd, rather than Rion's? If you want to push the responsibility of your own negligence onto Rion, I will show no mercy."
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That is a good question.
The fact that we've been moving around so much and still haven't made any contact suggests that the miko doesn't live in this vilge after all.
However, according to the Creator God's words, the miko probably lives not too far from this vilge.
It shouldn't be like Kua Vilge and Grosso Vilge, where I just suddenly showed up recently and the locals didn't even know I existed. There's a miko nearby, and if the monsters are strong, surely they should ask for help and strengthen the defenses, or even just relocate?
Or... Is there a reason why they can't do that?
For example, in my case, the main reason I don't increase the number of residents at my base is because, for one reason or another, I don't fully trust people. I wonder if the miko here is a simir type. Well, I'll still help out by strengthening the vilge's defenses though.
... Could it be that this vilge has incurred the miko's displeasure and it won't help them...?
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"Miko-sama, I apologize for the inconvenience caused by one of my own."
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Uru and the boy gred at each other... Or rather, just as the boy looked like a frog being stared at by a snake and began let out cold sweat in pce of tears, another vilger called out for me.
I turned around to see a middle-aged man wearing clothes that looked to be made of fairly high-quality materials - although they were stained with blood.
Setting his eyes on the man, the boy lowered his brows in a troubled manner.
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"... V-Vilge chief..."
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"Kiriku, I understand that you're sad that your brother Eric died. But don't you understand that it's wrong to take it out on the Miko-sama?"
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"...!"
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Hearing the low voice that sounded like a scolding, the young boy Kiriku bit his lip and looked down. His clenched hands were trembling. It seemed that even though his mind understood what was going on, his emotions couldn't keep up.
Well, it's pretty cruel to tell a child (even to an adult) to stay calm right after their family has died. As the one that was used as the target for his anger, It's very unpleasant, but I'm not sure I'd be able to avoid venting my anger if I were in his position, so I'll compin back, but I won't go so far as to punish. This time, Uru spoke for me, so I won't say anything more.
The vilge chief sighed at the boy who had gone quiet, then turned to face me again.
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"You seem to be very tired, Miko-sama. Please leave the rest to the vilgers and go and rest at my house for now."
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When the vilge chief told me this, I put my hand to my cheek. I wonder if it was showing on my face.
I turned my gaze to Fricka and asked her, she replied, "You're pale." in a small voice.
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... I didn't feel particurly tired physically, but it seemed like seeing corpses had really put me under mentally. I also had a strange feeling in my stomach that had been bothering me for a while. Maybe I should just follow his suggestion.
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"... Okay. But I'll give you some supplies before resting."
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I called over the nearby vilgers and offered them various potions and holy water, as well as rge amounts of food and water. Being hungry makes you feel even more downcast.
The vilgers stared bnkly at the mountain of items piled up in front of them.
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"Huh? Eh? Is it okay to have this much...?"
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"I haven't used up all the things I made to level up my skills. I have a lot of other things, so let me know if there's anything else you're missing."
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I meant it with the intention that they should use it without hesitation since there's still plenty left... But it seems there was too much for them. All the vilgers who heard what I was saying froze, including the vilge chief and young boy Kiriku. Uru and Fricka gave a wry smile.
Isn't a miko worth saving items...?
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On the way to the vilge chief's house, I come across a half-broken statue of the creator and a small church, so I fixed it.
Come to think of it, I'm the only one who can make Return Stones, right? It seems like some unnecessary quarrel might arise, so maybe it'd be best not to be seen carelessly in the future. Thinking this, I secretly make a Return Stone.
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However, even so, there's something bothering me about the behavior of the vilgers passing by.
Most of them express their gratitude sincerely, but some look at me with excessive expectation (it was a bit scary so I pretended not to notice), but some took a few steps back as if they had seen something unpleasant. Putting expectations aside, what is the reason for their disgust?
Is this starting to suggest something happened between them and the Miko...? Maybe I should ask the vilge chief.
