“Rapid development.”
“That’s the explanation.”
“Ohoho, I see, I see. Well, that must have been tough.”
(This old man is too casual. What happened to his intimidating attitude earlier? We were outsiders, after all.)
Leaving useless Sara behind, I proceeded to explain the situation to the village chief as we had planned. At first, just like with Sara, the village chief displayed open hostility. However, as I continued explaining, his demeanor gradually softened, and in the end, he had tears in his eyes and was sobbing.
And here’s the mystery: Even Sara, who knew the situation, was crying. This was beyond exasperating; it was downright baffling. Didn’t we discuss this beforehand?
“Alright, alright! If that’s the case, I’ll permit your stay in the village. Heck, why don’t you become members of our village?!”
“No, I think our parents would be worried about us. We’ll return to Demon Lord’s capital.”
“I see. Yeah, I see. I know it’s tough, but do your best.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
“Haha… What an innocent smile. It’s a bit too dazzling for an old man like me.”
I smiled back at the village chief’s words. At that moment, he muttered something strange under his breath, but his voice was too low for me to hear.
AD
With the meeting with the village chief finally over, we returned to the house where we had been initially taken. According to the village chief, a young couple used to live there, but they had moved to the city about ten days ago. That explained the lack of furniture.
“Hey, don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Well, yes. There is something I should say.”
“You know, right? So, spill it.”
Back in the house, when we were alone, I confronted Sara. Despite our detailed discussion, she had been utterly useless in the crucial moment. It was only appropriate that she offer an apology.
She seemed to understand this, and she met my serious gaze. Then, as if making up her mind, she blurted out:
“Rolando-tan looked so cute explaining things to the village chief… Ah!”
“I knew it! Cut out that kind of comedy!”
“W-What’s ‘cut out that kind of comedy’?”
Thinking deeply, I pondered what she was earnestly considering, only to realize she was making fun of me for desperately explaining things to the village chief. Whose fault was it that we were in that situation? Did she even comprehend that?
I delivered a chop to Sara’s head in response to her foolishness, administering some discipline. She seemed puzzled by the word “comedy,” indicating she didn’t understand, but I couldn’t be bothered to explain.
As we were engaged in this exchange, one of the villagers entered the house. He was one of the gatekeepers from earlier, not carrying his spear now. It seemed he had come to relay a message from the village chief.
“It seems you’ve received permission from the village chief. He wanted to let you know he’s keeping an eye on you.”
“Thank you. We appreciate your hospitality during our short stay.”
“Thank you.”
“Ah, I’ve been slow to introduce myself. I’m called Raid. Nice to meet you.”
After our introductions, Raid left. While we were treated as guests, the villagers had their daily tasks like tending to the fields and other chores.
Thanks to Raid’s visit, villagers took turns dropping by to greet us. A little embarrassing moment occurred when a young village woman hugged me like a stuffed toy as soon as she saw me. Even though I claimed not to have any romantic inclinations, the soft sensation and the unique fragrance of a woman were a double blow. If Sara hadn’t intervened, things could have gotten dicey.
At that moment, the woman hugging me exclaimed, “Your sister really loves her little brother, huh?” This misunderstanding left me in an awkward position. Remembering Sara’s reactions when I acted as her little brother, I couldn’t deny the woman’s words.
Amidst these events, we spent the day in the village. After a dinner feast at the village chief’s house, with nothing else to do, we naturally prepared for sleep…
“…”
“Now, Rolando-tan, let’s sleep next to your sister.”
“Hey, there are two beds, so we can each have one, right?”
“In that case, I won’t be able to see Rolando-tan’s sleeping face—Uwah!”
Sara seemed to be up to no good, so I wrapped her up in the bed sheets and tossed her onto the bed. I heard muffled groans coming from the bundle, but I paid them no mind.
After a while, Sara seemed to fall asleep, as the groans stopped. I let go of my consciousness and drifted off.
The next morning, I untangled Sara from the bed sheets and, just like the day before, we had breakfast at the village chief’s house. Suddenly, a panicked villager burst in.
“What’s going on?”
“Chief, it’s bad! A horde of ogres is outside the village!”
“What?! What did you say!?”
(Ogre horde… Could it be the ogres from before?)
AD
Having a clue about this ogre horde, I recalled the information about ogre behavior from my memory.
Ogres, much like goblins and orcs, were classified as monsters that formed groups. Among them, ogres were ranked as B-class monsters individually, but when forming a horde, their threat level jumped to A-class.
According to scholars studying monsters, creatures that formed such hordes recognized each other through magic and had a tendency to sense when one of their kind was killed due to the cessation of the magical energy supply. They would then relentlessly pursue retribution for their fallen comrade. This phenomenon was referred to as “Link,” a unique ability among monsters that formed groups.
In other words, the ogres that were pursuing us likely sensed that their leader, the Ogre King, had been defeated, and they were now seeking revenge against me. While indirectly, I might have contributed to this situation.
“Gather the men of the village! Those who can’t fight, instruct them to take refuge in the central square!”
“U-Understood!”
With the village chief’s precise instructions, the villagers hurried away. Clearly, this wasn’t a time to enjoy breakfast. Sara and I also evacuated to the village square.
In the square, there were women, children, and the elderly who couldn’t fight. Everyone was terrified by the sudden appearance of the ogre horde, their faces marked with anxiety.
“Sara, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s possible that we’re in this situation because we came here.”
“What do you mean!?”
In a hushed voice that wouldn’t carry to the people around us, I explained the ogre’s behavior and the reason I had concluded that our arrival might be the cause. Sara listened with a serious expression and eventually agreed, “Indeed, if that’s true, it’s possible.”
“So, what should we do? If we stay like this, the villagers will be in danger.”
“That’s why I’m thinking of taking action. But this time, let Sara handle the fight, not me.”
AD
“W-Wait, why me? I can’t fight! I’m Sara, you know? That Sara!”
“I don’t know which ‘Sara’ you are, but this is the plan. You don’t have the right to refuse.”
“That’s just not fair!”
Anyway, since I was the cause of this situation, it was only right for me to try to resolve it. But if I fought directly, my cover would be blown. Hence, it was time for Sara to step up.
During our explanation, I had mentioned being abducted by a bird-like monster. I would now modify the story to say that Sara fought and defeated the bird, establishing her as having combat abilities.
Of course, in reality, I would be the one fighting while remotely controlling Sara like a puppet. To an outsider’s eye, it would appear as if she were fighting.
“Can you really do something like that?”
“It’s my first time trying, but it should work, probably.”
“I’m really anxious about this, you know?”
There was no other option left at this point. Well, maybe if I put more thought into it, there could be other choices, but I myself was averse to putting effort into that kind of thinking. In simple terms, it was just too bothersome.
Anyway, with the ogre horde closing in, there was no time to waste. In the midst of a situation where combat could start at any moment, I used magic on Sara.
“Thread Marionette”
“Huh? Huh? Wait, hold on?”
I employed the chaos magic spell “Thread Marionette”, which allowed me to manipulate others like puppets. The principle involved creating threads of magic and attaching them to the target, enabling puppet-like control.
However, there were drawbacks. The spell had a low success rate and weak transfer of intent if the target possessed high resistance to magic or if the distance between me and the target grew too large. This made it a somewhat impractical spell to use.
Since it was my first time using it, the sensation of control felt a bit strange, but I figured I would get used to it eventually. I might inconvenience Sara for a bit, but I hoped she would bear with it.
“How does it feel to be a puppet?”
“I don’t like that phrasing, but it does feel strange. It’s like I’m walking, but it’s against my own will, a sensation that’s hard to explain.”
“I see.”
After spending a little time with Sara, practicing and getting used to the sensation of control, we headed toward where the village men had gathered.
“Rapid development.”
“That’s the explanation.”
“Ohoho, I see, I see. Well, that must have been tough.”
(This old man is too casual. What happened to his intimidating attitude earlier? We were outsiders, after all.)
Leaving useless Sara behind, I proceeded to explain the situation to the village chief as we had planned. At first, just like with Sara, the village chief displayed open hostility. However, as I continued explaining, his demeanor gradually softened, and in the end, he had tears in his eyes and was sobbing.
And here’s the mystery: Even Sara, who knew the situation, was crying. This was beyond exasperating; it was downright baffling. Didn’t we discuss this beforehand?
“Alright, alright! If that’s the case, I’ll permit your stay in the village. Heck, why don’t you become members of our village?!”
“No, I think our parents would be worried about us. We’ll return to Demon Lord’s capital.”
“I see. Yeah, I see. I know it’s tough, but do your best.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
“Haha… What an innocent smile. It’s a bit too dazzling for an old man like me.”
I smiled back at the village chief’s words. At that moment, he muttered something strange under his breath, but his voice was too low for me to hear.
AD
With the meeting with the village chief finally over, we returned to the house where we had been initially taken. According to the village chief, a young couple used to live there, but they had moved to the city about ten days ago. That explained the lack of furniture.
“Hey, don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Well, yes. There is something I should say.”
“You know, right? So, spill it.”
Back in the house, when we were alone, I confronted Sara. Despite our detailed discussion, she had been utterly useless in the crucial moment. It was only appropriate that she offer an apology.
She seemed to understand this, and she met my serious gaze. Then, as if making up her mind, she blurted out:
“Rolando-tan looked so cute explaining things to the village chief… Ah!”
“I knew it! Cut out that kind of comedy!”
“W-What’s ‘cut out that kind of comedy’?”
Thinking deeply, I pondered what she was earnestly considering, only to realize she was making fun of me for desperately explaining things to the village chief. Whose fault was it that we were in that situation? Did she even comprehend that?
I delivered a chop to Sara’s head in response to her foolishness, administering some discipline. She seemed puzzled by the word “comedy,” indicating she didn’t understand, but I couldn’t be bothered to explain.
As we were engaged in this exchange, one of the villagers entered the house. He was one of the gatekeepers from earlier, not carrying his spear now. It seemed he had come to relay a message from the village chief.
“It seems you’ve received permission from the village chief. He wanted to let you know he’s keeping an eye on you.”
“Thank you. We appreciate your hospitality during our short stay.”
“Thank you.”
“Ah, I’ve been slow to introduce myself. I’m called Raid. Nice to meet you.”
After our introductions, Raid left. While we were treated as guests, the villagers had their daily tasks like tending to the fields and other chores.
Thanks to Raid’s visit, villagers took turns dropping by to greet us. A little embarrassing moment occurred when a young village woman hugged me like a stuffed toy as soon as she saw me. Even though I claimed not to have any romantic inclinations, the soft sensation and the unique fragrance of a woman were a double blow. If Sara hadn’t intervened, things could have gotten dicey.
At that moment, the woman hugging me exclaimed, “Your sister really loves her little brother, huh?” This misunderstanding left me in an awkward position. Remembering Sara’s reactions when I acted as her little brother, I couldn’t deny the woman’s words.
Amidst these events, we spent the day in the village. After a dinner feast at the village chief’s house, with nothing else to do, we naturally prepared for sleep…
“…”
“Now, Rolando-tan, let’s sleep next to your sister.”
“Hey, there are two beds, so we can each have one, right?”
“In that case, I won’t be able to see Rolando-tan’s sleeping face—Uwah!”
Sara seemed to be up to no good, so I wrapped her up in the bed sheets and tossed her onto the bed. I heard muffled groans coming from the bundle, but I paid them no mind.
After a while, Sara seemed to fall asleep, as the groans stopped. I let go of my consciousness and drifted off.
The next morning, I untangled Sara from the bed sheets and, just like the day before, we had breakfast at the village chief’s house. Suddenly, a panicked villager burst in.
“What’s going on?”
“Chief, it’s bad! A horde of ogres is outside the village!”
“What?! What did you say!?”
(Ogre horde… Could it be the ogres from before?)
AD
Having a clue about this ogre horde, I recalled the information about ogre behavior from my memory.
Ogres, much like goblins and orcs, were classified as monsters that formed groups. Among them, ogres were ranked as B-class monsters individually, but when forming a horde, their threat level jumped to A-class.
According to scholars studying monsters, creatures that formed such hordes recognized each other through magic and had a tendency to sense when one of their kind was killed due to the cessation of the magical energy supply. They would then relentlessly pursue retribution for their fallen comrade. This phenomenon was referred to as “Link,” a unique ability among monsters that formed groups.
In other words, the ogres that were pursuing us likely sensed that their leader, the Ogre King, had been defeated, and they were now seeking revenge against me. While indirectly, I might have contributed to this situation.
“Gather the men of the village! Those who can’t fight, instruct them to take refuge in the central square!”
“U-Understood!”
With the village chief’s precise instructions, the villagers hurried away. Clearly, this wasn’t a time to enjoy breakfast. Sara and I also evacuated to the village square.
In the square, there were women, children, and the elderly who couldn’t fight. Everyone was terrified by the sudden appearance of the ogre horde, their faces marked with anxiety.
“Sara, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s possible that we’re in this situation because we came here.”
“What do you mean!?”
In a hushed voice that wouldn’t carry to the people around us, I explained the ogre’s behavior and the reason I had concluded that our arrival might be the cause. Sara listened with a serious expression and eventually agreed, “Indeed, if that’s true, it’s possible.”
“So, what should we do? If we stay like this, the villagers will be in danger.”
“That’s why I’m thinking of taking action. But this time, let Sara handle the fight, not me.”
AD
“W-Wait, why me? I can’t fight! I’m Sara, you know? That Sara!”
“I don’t know which ‘Sara’ you are, but this is the plan. You don’t have the right to refuse.”
“That’s just not fair!”
Anyway, since I was the cause of this situation, it was only right for me to try to resolve it. But if I fought directly, my cover would be blown. Hence, it was time for Sara to step up.
During our explanation, I had mentioned being abducted by a bird-like monster. I would now modify the story to say that Sara fought and defeated the bird, establishing her as having combat abilities.
Of course, in reality, I would be the one fighting while remotely controlling Sara like a puppet. To an outsider’s eye, it would appear as if she were fighting.
“Can you really do something like that?”
“It’s my first time trying, but it should work, probably.”
“I’m really anxious about this, you know?”
There was no other option left at this point. Well, maybe if I put more thought into it, there could be other choices, but I myself was averse to putting effort into that kind of thinking. In simple terms, it was just too bothersome.
Anyway, with the ogre horde closing in, there was no time to waste. In the midst of a situation where combat could start at any moment, I used magic on Sara.
“Thread Marionette”
“Huh? Huh? Wait, hold on?”
I employed the chaos magic spell “Thread Marionette”, which allowed me to manipulate others like puppets. The principle involved creating threads of magic and attaching them to the target, enabling puppet-like control.
However, there were drawbacks. The spell had a low success rate and weak transfer of intent if the target possessed high resistance to magic or if the distance between me and the target grew too large. This made it a somewhat impractical spell to use.
Since it was my first time using it, the sensation of control felt a bit strange, but I figured I would get used to it eventually. I might inconvenience Sara for a bit, but I hoped she would bear with it.
“How does it feel to be a puppet?”
“I don’t like that phrasing, but it does feel strange. It’s like I’m walking, but it’s against my own will, a sensation that’s hard to explain.”
“I see.”
After spending a little time with Sara, practicing and getting used to the sensation of control, we headed toward where the village men had gathered.
