Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 142



Only Krnovel

Episode 142, The Frost Queen’s Crown (14)

When I clenched my fist, the first one to react was Nowen.

“… … ?”

He didn’t say anything, but he raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t like it.

And the fact that Nowen is reacting like this means that he is… … of the people here.

No, it just proves that I cherish the welcome bodies here a lot.

I know that too.

So I approached them with my fists clenched.

As I moved, the gazes that had been looking at me also moved along.

The look in their eyes as they laugh leisurely, knowing that no matter what they do, they will win.

“… … .”

I also looked at them without giving in.

I just passed them by and picked up my backpack at the back of the waiting room.

Seeing that sight, Nowen, who had been feeling uneasy, felt relieved.

“… … Are you going to go?”

“……yes.”

“I… … , I’m sorry for doubting you. Everyone here is so sensitive because of the state of the people here.”

“No. In the end, it’s up to me to build that trust. That’s why I’m leaving.”

“Still, I feel sorry for you… … .”

“An apology is okay.”

With those last words, I put my backpack on my shoulder.

The backpack itself wasn’t that heavy because it was empty.

Still, Nowen seemed sorry for pushing me around for no reason.

Instead of speaking to Nowen, I spoke to the guys who were still staring at me from behind Nowen.

“Well, to some people I might be a real enemy.”

“… … What does that mean?”

“That’s literally it. I was just wondering if that might be the case.”

“… … .”

They didn’t show much reaction to what I said.

I also just left without saying anything more.

When I came back, Biella looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“Oh, sir. Are you just going to leave?”

“Yes, I think we need to take a step back for now.”

Let’s turn our heads again and look at Diana.

Diana was still groaning and sweating profusely.

… … I can’t tell for sure, but it seems like the greater the degree of integration with the illusionary body, the longer the period of unconsciousness.

I turned my head again and looked towards the waiting room.

“Thank you, Leader… … .”

“Haha, as expected from a leader!”

“Haha, no. I just… … .”

As I left, the blood stopped flowing like a ghost, and there was Nowen and the guys laughing and talking.

If Diana is like this, Nowen might lose consciousness for even longer after dealing with the illusionary entity… … .

As I rubbed the back of my neck with that thought, my eyes suddenly met with a man sitting alone in the corner.

“Then, why did you come forward… … .”

From the way you mumble, it seems like you think I’m the one causing trouble.

Well, I didn’t have a problem with that if they thought that way.

If I didn’t have to run into soldiers again, I could easily deal with goblins.

So before I go out… … .

“Inogen.”

“Why are you doing this, human?”

“For now, you stay here and protect Diana.”

“… … You want me, not that human woman, to guard this place?”

Let’s leave Inogen here, not Biella.

Inogen asked me back, as if it was unexpected.

It’s surprising, since Inogen is the strongest force at the moment.

… … Rather, it seems that the inside is more dangerous than the outside.

Since he bled like that, I think he’ll do something while we’re away.

So I decided it would be better to leave Inogen behind rather than Biella.

Above all… … .

“Ugh… … .”

Even if I leave Biella behind, I’m not sure if I can protect the unconscious Diana.

“You stay and watch over those people and protect Diana. We can go hunting together.”

“I don’t mind, but… … Are you okay? I can’t even use my abilities.”

“You’ll be fine since you have stealth abilities, and there’s one more thing I’d like to ask you… … .”

Let’s look at Inogen with the end of our words trailing off.

Inogen shrank back as if he felt ominous.

Perhaps this side had also learned it by now.

When I make an outrageous request, this strange atmosphere is created.

But I said what I had to say, whether Inogen’s body shrank or not.

“While I was away… … , … … I would like you to do this.”

“T-what does that mean, huh… …!”

Inogen reacted angrily to my request, saying it was ridiculous.

It didn’t have much effect.

In any case, Inogen has no choice but to listen to me.

And on top of that… … .

“If you don’t like crowded places, don’t you also hate the smell here?”

“Well, that’s true, but… … .”

“If you do me a favor, you can get out of here quickly.”

“… … Even if you say that, I can’t do it!”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not something I can do in the first place.”

Hmm… … .

Well, that’s not wrong.

If it had been a dragon, there would have been no need to do it.

I nodded with my arms crossed.

Inogen also found hope and began to speak more fluently.

“Hey, human. You think so too? How could I… … to a human like me.”

“Of course it will be difficult for you, but I will reward you.”

“Look, compensation?”

“Yeah. What made you come with me?”

“That’s what you, human, gave me… …!”

“No, not that.”

In addition to eating the jewel, Inogen had another reason to stay with me.

Because she had to fulfill the wish of the owner of the body she occupied.

To be exact, to kill the god that body serves.

“If you do me a favor, I will give you information about that god. Can you do it?”

“… … !”

Instead of remaining silent at my words, Inozen swallowed once.

But that alone was enough of an answer.

It must be a reaction that came out without you knowing it because my proposal was attractive.

“Well, then I’ll try! I don’t know if it’ll work, but… … .”

Even after that, Inozen continued to mutter that he was not confident.

… … Strangely enough, I have a feeling that Inogen will do well.

Looking at what I’ve done so far, I keep thinking that it might be like that.

That’s why I’m trying to leave Inozen here even more.

Well, it seems like Inogen’s side has been resolved well.

“Mr. Biella.”

“Why, why?”

“Then, Mr. Biella, come outside with me.”

“… … Are you really saying that the two of us are going out alone?”

“Yes, just the two of us.”

Let’s answer confidently, but Biella still hesitated as if she was not sure.

I nodded reluctantly.

Even though it’s not very appealing since I can’t use my powers right now, I guess I figured there must be another way.

Well, actually, there was another way, so I chose Biella.

“Then, Inozen, please take good care of me.”

“Father, please, keep your promise even if the outcome is not good, human… … .”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Yeah, I get it.

As I waved my hand roughly as if it was bothersome, Inogen sat down next to Diana as if he was reluctant.

After I adjusted my backpack once more, I approached Nowen again.

“leader.”

“Huh? Why are you doing that?”

“We will also take the backpack the leader is carrying.”

“… … Oh, right! That’s right. Here it is.”

Nowen obediently handed me his backpack.

I handed it back to Biella.

“I don’t like it because it’s rustic… … .”

Biella took it again and grumbled as she put it on her shoulder.

“But… …, are you two going together?”

“Yes, I’m going to go now.”

“Can the two of us do it? It feels like the monsters outside are increasing in number as we go… … .”

“Oh, that’s okay.”

“Ahem, well. If you say you’re going, I won’t stop you… … .”

Nowen looked like he was wondering if he should go again now.

“Koo, kuluck, ugh!”

… … The guy lying on the floor coughed again without giving him a chance.

The bastard’s upper body shook and blood began to flow out little by little from the wound in his abdomen again.

“Sorry, sorry. Leader, cool!”

“Oh, it’s okay. First, let’s stop the bleeding… .”

… … Huh.

Looking at this, the method itself is tiresome.

Well, since it’s a welcoming party, it can’t be helped that Nowen is affected by such crude tricks.

I looked at the guy who was coughing quietly, then looked at Nowen who started to stop the bleeding again.

“So, where do we get our food?”

“… … Ah, if you go out the exit and walk straight, you’ll find a mart.”

“You can get it from there.”

“That’s true, but now you too are running out of food… … .”

“Oh, if it’s just a food issue, then it’ll be fine.”

“Oh, are you sure it’ll be okay?”

“Well… … .”

If only those guys were gone, there would be fewer mouths.

Of course, I can’t tell Nowen right now.

“Anyway, let’s go.”

“Yeah, yeah. I hope you have a safe trip.”

I nodded silently to Nowen’s words.

Not long after, Nowen, who had finished stopping the bleeding, raised the subway station shutter.

As soon as Biella and I came out, the shutter closed again.

… … When I came out and checked the outside scenery, it was already night here.

There was more snow piled up than during the day.

Is it up to your ankles now?

… … Although it is less than the winter forest, there is quite a bit of snow here.

It will probably pile up more and more.

Even though I only took one step, the cheap shoes that had been modernized upon arrival here quickly became soaked in snow.

Let’s take a few steps without worrying about it.

“… … .”

The streets were strangely quiet.

Even during the day, the occasional gunshots or roars of monsters are no longer felt.

A literal lull.

From a distance, it looked like an ordinary street in the early morning, with no people around because it was so late.

… … Of course, most of the buildings on that street were destroyed.

“… … Oh, it’s gotten really quiet. Sir?”

“Maybe it’s because all the soldiers are gone.”

There don’t seem to be any survivors left, so they must have just been bombed.

It seems like the bombing temporarily reduced the number of monsters.

“Mr. Biella.”

As I said this, I reached out to Biella.

“… … What do you want me to do?”

Biella looked at him strangely and asked back.

After a while, he seemed to realize my intention and grabbed me tightly.

Since then, I have been in hiding.

“Our first goal is to gain Mr. Nowen’s trust.”

“… … So that’s why you said you would bring food like this?”

“For now, yes. And to gain trust, you probably need to… … do something this time.”

Usually, you have to be useful within a group to have a say.

Trust is bound to build up.

Just as we were hiding, a goblin that had been wandering around nearby appeared.

Key, kir, kir, le,… … .

A guy who had one arm blown off by a bomb and was limping.

He stopped and sniffed as if he sensed something suspicious.

Before long, they were just walking along at an unsteady pace again.

……okay.

Anyway, the low-level monsters here wouldn’t be able to detect Biella’s hiding place.

therefore.

“Let’s take a look, everything in that mart.”