Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 117



Only Krnovel

Episode 117, The Fugitive (6)

“… … Little finger, are you talking about that?”

At the leader’s question, I just nodded silently.

Realistically speaking, to get out of this situation safely.

I had no choice but to pretend to have dealt with them.

Even if we just release him without any evidence, there is a warrant for his arrest issued by the temple.

It would be difficult for them to even get out of the labyrinth.

So even if you openly ask for evidence, there’s only one thing we can say from our position.

“… … Is that really all that would be enough?”

“okay.”

“I will do that.”

……okay.

Well, I knew you’d answer like this.

After hearing his answer, I put my sword away again.

The leader looked at me and opened his mouth again.

“Yes, but there is one condition.”

“condition?”

“… … Yes. If we are safe before the cataclysm comes, I will give you the proof then.”

“It takes some time.”

And I think they also need a guarantee that they can live for sure.

“… … I won’t ask you to protect me. I just want to give you proof when I’m sure.”

Hmm… … , what should I do?

It’s not like that’s a difficult condition.

From this point of view, they will know that if they provide evidence, their safety will be safer.

Because I never thought he would lie in the first place.

“Then when do you plan on giving us the evidence?”

“I will leave a token in front of the boss gate exactly one hour before the cataclysm occurs.”

“It was an hour ago… … .”

“T, that would be difficult… … ?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Well, boss here, we can handle this quickly within an hour.

“Then let’s do that.”

“… … Thank you. I will not forget your kindness.”

Well, after we finished talking like that.

The leader took up his tent again.

Before trying to rejoin the group again.

I grabbed the leader who was walking ahead and asked him.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“… … Please speak.”

“No matter how difficult the situation was, the adventurers wouldn’t have attacked us without warning. Why did they kill the others?”

When I asked him this, the leader hesitated again and then said this.

“… … As I said before, I am also an absorber.”

“If you’re an absorber, does that mean you absorb blood?”

“Yes, and you could say it’s a kind of supply chain. … … Because we can’t do anything without blood.”

“So, you killed others to maintain your power?”

Let’s summarize it all in one go.

The guy looked at me for a moment, then shook his head.

***

… … After hearing the full explanation of the situation from the leader.

We rejoined the crowd.

The captured apparitions sat quietly in their seats without any resistance.

Our group also just watched them and didn’t take any action.

It was just that Berman’s expression as he watched them was not good.

… … After all, I was a new adventurer and lost two companions overnight.

I don’t think you’ll feel well.

Given that Steelfying has the side effect of somewhat dulling the user’s emotions.

If Berman, who is at a higher level of steel than me, is this angry.

Perhaps they have a deep bond with their dead comrades, or perhaps they are old acquaintances.

… … Well, thinking about Berman gives me a bit of a headache.

I looked at the group, then looked at Diana and said.

“Miss Diana, let’s release these people first.”

“… … Has it been decided to release it?”

“For now, yes.”

When I said this, Diana just nodded silently without asking any further questions.

Following Diana, who was holding a dagger and starting to break the bonds.

I also drew my sword and started to untie their bonds.

The first one I let go was the big guy who had rushed at me earlier.

The big guy was sitting stiffly, perhaps because of what happened earlier, but when I completely relaxed, he awkwardly greeted me.

“Oh, I won’t forget your kindness… … .”

As they released the bonds one by one, Berman quickly got up.

Just a moment ago, he was glaring at them with his arms crossed.

He looks flustered because we suddenly let him go.

Berman jumped up and took a few steps towards us and asked.

“What are you doing now? Why, why aren’t you executing those authors?”

“I just heard enough about the situation over there.”

“Then, shouldn’t we kill them now! What did they do… …!”

Of course I knew.

To Berman, those guys were just killing his comrades.

That he was nothing but a criminal and a murderer.

I didn’t say anything in response to Berman’s words.

Finally, he untied the woman who had been disguised as Veronica.

When he finally let go of that woman, Berman’s frozen expression distorted in pain.

“Besides, aren’t these authors the Prophets? The principle is that Prophets should be summarily executed without any reason… …!”

I threw the sword I was holding at Berman, who was talking about principles.

A sword that falls to the ground without any visible damage and produces a metallic sound.

In this situation, Berman just looked at me blankly, as if he still didn’t understand.

“If summary execution is the rule, then kill him. Of course, if you can.”

Let’s ask with our arms crossed like the guy just now.

Berman just stood there, staring at the group of robed men and swords surrounding him.

But unlike the momentum he had shown just now, Berman did not swing his sword at them.

To be exact, he couldn’t even lift the sword I had thrown to him.

I guess you already know that.

Even if I go at them alone,

That he couldn’t even survive, let alone kill them.

I knew that eventually he would have to do it.

So I just looked at him and activated my telepathic powers.

– Berman, can you hear me?

“… … !”

Even when I spoke to Berman, he just stood there, looking at me without saying a word.

A look of considerable embarrassment was clearly visible on his face.

You can probably hear it.

– Since I ate the crystal just now, I can use the power of the sound wave for a while.

“… … .”

The reason why I could use the power of sound transmission was explained to the guy.

― I’m letting you go for now because I had a deal with them, but I plan on executing them separately. So don’t worry.

… … It was a white lie.

In a way, it’s like I’m sparing the lives of a group of manifesters for my own benefit.

I can’t just say that it’s true though.

In short, the operation went like this.

I promise to execute them alone, and if they leave behind evidence later.

That’s how you fool Berman by bringing it.

… … After all, if you want to deceive the eyes of the temple, you can’t just leave the witnesses alone.

― I swear on your name, Lord Libero. Will you believe me?

When he said this, Berman could only nod reluctantly.

Well, I guess I feel better now that you’re going to execute me.

… … But it seems like I still don’t like the fact that I have to release him right away.

Well, let’s summarize Berman like this.

I just thought back to the conversation I had with the leader.

The last time I asked before joining the group.

The leader clearly told me this.

[… … At first, we all came together and planned to hold out here as long as possible.]

[however?]

[While moving like that and being separated for a moment, Menica almost got into trouble.]

[… …Who is Menica?]

[A woman who acts with us. She can create a blood-transfer technique.]

[… … Oh, you were talking about that woman. But what about the disaster?]

[The older men I met back then… … tried to rush at Menica, who was alone.]

[So you were thinking of revenge.]

[We are sorry for causing harm to others, but that was all we intended to do to them.]

[… … But you are still a sinner to those who have no connection with them, do you understand?]

[… … I know.]

Let’s get the facts straight, even the leader seems to have nothing to say.

He just lowered his head.

Well, they know what they’ve done.

When I see that sight, I feel like I should tidy up for a moment.

One question came to mind.

[But that’s strange.]

[Yes? What is… … .]

[Haven’t you already killed someone? Why did you kill them?]

[……ah.]

[And why did the group that had been gathered together so well disperse?]

When I asked this, the leader averted his gaze for a moment.

He answered like this.

[… … We met adventurers who knew of our existence before. And we scattered while trying to avoid their attacks.]

[……what?]

[So I figured most of the adventurers here would know our information.]

[… … .]

[So there was an aggressive move there too… … .]

I already knew there would be more than us.

… … I didn’t know it would be here too.

Those who are trying to hunt down the manifesters.

***

After calming down Berman, I nod to the leader.

The bastard quickly took care of his colleagues and disappeared.

After those guys disappeared, Berman just stared at me blankly again.

“… … Are you really going to do as you say?”

“Yes, because I swore.”

… … Well, it’s a vow that has no effect, so my conscience is a little prickled.

But there’s nothing I can do.

In the current situation, the manifesters would be of more help to me than the beginner adventurers.

I decided to organize my schedule for the future and find a safe place to rest.

Berman still didn’t seem to like my choice though.

He didn’t express any particular complaints.

In the first place, they are not in a position to complain to us.

Since Diana and Biella are manifesters, they seem to understand my decision… … .

Like his successor, Nowenmann Berman, he did not seem to understand my choice.

It’s not that I’m surprised or resentful of the fact that he was released like Berman.

“What on earth did you get that you pretended to let me go? Huh? Just tell me?”

… … It seemed like they were curious about what they had given in return.

I would say it’s closer to pure curiosity than antipathy.

Well, we arrived at the safe zone with Berman joining us.

Berman’s complaints remained, but he seemed to be aware of his situation.

They asked us for help.

He said he would be grateful if we could catch the boss and allow him to return to the city through the hall.

I’m not particularly interested in the reward, but I decided to help anyway.

I thought it would be helpful as a healer and tank.

… … Since he is a witness, I thought it would be better to keep him by my side.

So, take a rest and wake up the next morning.

We continued to move towards the boss room as planned, killing trash mobs.

Our goal is to get to the boss room before receiving the evidence.

While I was resting in the nearby grounds, I was returning from a hunting expedition with evidence of a group of Loebs.

The ultimate goal was to fool others into thinking they had caught them.

After that, if you catch the boss and Berman goes out through the hall,

We were thinking of going up to the third floor.

So let’s go up while killing mobs, and as expected.

As the blood level rose, movement began to slow down.

Well, there wasn’t any screaming or anything like that in the meantime.

It seems like the manifesters are hiding well.

When you are moving smoothly and have the boss room in front of you.

A group of adventurers that had not been seen before came into view in the nearby area.

… … Usually, when adventurers meet each other, they just say hello and move away.

This one came over as if it had been waiting for us as soon as it saw us.

“… … Mr. Declen, what is it?”

“Let’s just wait and see for now.”

We were on guard against you.

Judging from the equipment visible as he approached, he seemed like a fairly outstanding adventurer.

It didn’t seem like a 5-coefficient like Nowen’s, but it felt like it was at least a 4-coefficient.

… … It’s even stranger when you look at the level.

Why are you, a 4th-order adventurer, loitering around here?

When you just look at the other person with a puzzled mind.

An adventurer who had been watching us blankly suddenly asked a question.

“Are you adventurers?”

“……however?”

After answering the guy’s question, the guys started looking at us.

“No, the composition is different… … .”

He just muttered like this.

Conversely, when we try to ask them about their identity.

He looked at us and asked again in a businesslike tone.

I couldn’t help but harden my face at those words.

“I heard there’s a group of manifesters around here. Do you know anything about them?”