CHAPTER 25: THE ATTACK

　It is too dark to see clearly, but the [Sensory Spores] captured one in front, three on the right, two on the left, and one behind. There are seven of them.

 

 

　If it were a work of fiction, they would have attacked us with a strange cry, “Hyaha!”, but they have remained silent and merged into the darkness. Are they accustomed to attacks, or are they simply not ready? If it is the latter, I am glad.

 

　I sense an arrow that is shot again and blocked with my great shield. I quickly dispatched the two that come at me from the opposite side with my sword.

 

　—slow. From my current reflexes, I could have blocked it with a paper-thin margin. They don’t even reach the feet of slime’s tentacle attacks.

 

　Creating a [Burning Ball] at the fingertips of my right hand I threw it forward. Boom! A red fire explodes, and a short scream “Waah!”

 

 

　As soon as their attention is diverted to that direction, I moved down to the right side and closed the distance at once.

 

　One has a bow and two have a stone ax. I slash at the archer whose reaction has been delayed due to the diversion.

 

　As I tried to cut them down, our eyes meet.

 

　It is a man. He is a man in his thirties, dirty-looking, with a full beard and stubble.

 

　—I hesitated. A moment’s pause.

 

　The archer takes the opportunity to pull a knife from his waist.

 

 

(Damn it!) (Shuu)

 

 

　I flipped my sword and hits his neck with the flat of the blade. With his back falling without even a moan, the remaining two people who were approaching me were blown away together a blow from my great shield. They hit their back against a tree and got knocked out.

 

　Wiping off the sweat on my forehead.

 

　Just one more step and I would have had to kill them.

 

 

(Well, humans are too weak, you know?) (Shuu)

 

 

　They can’t respond to my movements. They are far inferior to Ghost Wolves and Blue Goblins.

 

 

“–*Hiss*! I’m here, squeak!” (Tamiko)

 

 

　One of the men in the back is trying to get into the back of the truck. Noa and Tamiko seem to be fighting back.

 

　I rush around to that side—and see a man falling with blood spurting from his neck.

 

　Noa is leaning out of the back of the cart, holding a mycelial knife. Her face is bathed in the spray of blood.

 

 

(–Seriously?) (Shuu)

 

(You killed him.) (Shuu)

 

 

“Abe-san!”

 

 

　While I was standing there with my eyes wide, the two men on the left turned and come toward me. One of them holds a spear and shouts savagely, “Oh, oh, oh!” Behind him, an archer draws an arrow.

 

　The spear is just a wooden stick with a sharpened rock attached to it, and a light stroke of my sword can cut down both arrows. I kicked the frightened man in the face, and swat away the flying arrow. Before he could try to ready an arrow again, I closed the gap and struck him in the jaw with the butt of the pommel.

 

 

“The one in the back is retreating, squeak!” (Tamiko)

 

 

　Should he let him go or chase him? I hesitated for a moment, but just before he was about to flee into the woods, I caught up with the attacker with my [Enhanced Leaping Ability] and slashed at him. I slashes down my opponent, who was despairing. Of course, with the back of the blade.

 

　The situation is under control and calm returns to the forest.

 

 

　I let out a puff of heavy air from my body.

 

　The result alone was an easy victory. Even if there were twice as many people, it would have been no problem.

 

　Even so, there was a completely different kind of fear than in previous battles with beasts. It was a fear that came from knowing a human so well. And the fear of having to deal with them. The sweat on my forehead was wiped away with the palm of my hand.

 

 

“Wow… brother, that was amazing… almost by yourself… it’s quite the inhuman skill, that was a compliment…” (Konno)

 

 

　Konno is in the back of the truck with his eyes wide. Next to that, Tamiko has a sloppy grin for some reason.

 

 

“Um… what should I do with these guys?”

 

 

　One was killed by Noa, but the other six were just knocked out. It is hard to judge how to deal with the captured bandits, especially me who is not familiar with the common sense of this world.

 

 

“We can either take them back to town or kill them here. Well, it’s safer to kill them.” (Noa)

 

“Eh? You will kill them?” (Shuu)

 

“Well, we have no choice but to do that.” (Konno)

 

“Are you serious?” (Shuu)

 

“That sound’s bad for the humans, squeak?” (Tamiko)

 

 

 

 

　The five thieves, still unconscious, are carried away and gathered in the back of the cart.

 

 

“Ikari-san… Is it natural to kill bandits on the roads?” (Shuu)

 

“Yes, it is. As a hunter, you can kill or capture them, but I think killing them is the surest way. The corpses won’t fight back, and they won’t do anything bad ever again.” (Noa)

 

 

　Noa is unperturbed. Just now, this eighteen-year-old girl has killed one of the wild thieves. The blood is still sticking to her cheek.

 

 

“Isn’t murder a crime? No, of course, it’s completely done in self-defense.” (Shuu)

 

“There is a provision for the crime of murder in the Tokyo Law established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The target is the residents of each tribe, the registered townspeople, and the ‘good Free Folk’.” (Noa)

 

“What do you mean by ‘good’?” (Shuu)

 

“It’s a little vague, but I guess that’s up to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.” (Noa)

 

 

　That’s cunning.

 

 

“What about me? I’m not a bad person, right, squeak?” (Tamiko)

 

 

　Tamiko was shivering.

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“The Magic Beast tribes that have signed a friendship agreement with human society, including the Carbuncle tribe, are considered a ‘good neighbor’ under Tokyo law and have the same rights as humans in society. Any person who harms a Carbuncle is also subject to punishment, although it is not the same level as murder.” (Noa)

 

“I know that squeak.” (Tamiko)

 

“Liar.” (Shuu)

 

“On the other hand, the rights of criminals, such as brigands and ‘wicked free folk,’ are not protected. The Hunters Guild also has an article in its code that says, ‘A hunter must do their best to protect the public order.’ For the sake of justice and to keep the peace in New Tokyo.” (Noa)

 

“…so bad people have no human rights?” (Shuu)

 

 

　I couldn’t help but scratch my head.

 

　It’s just good or bad, and it can become a problem if it’s judged arbitrarily.

 

　Well, I’m sure these guys who attacked are “bad”.

 

 

“They shot arrows at Abe-san and Konno-san without question. In other words, they were going to kill them and take their car. I don’t think there is any need to show them mercy.” (Noa)

 

“Yeah… I understand, but…” (Shuu)

 

“Rats, moles, and ghost wolves kill and eat a lot, squeak, and they kill and eat humans, squeak?” (Tamiko)

 

“No, well… they don’t eat them, but…” (Shuu)

 

“Do you kill them even if you don’t eat them, squeak?” (Tamiko)

 

“Tamiko, even when you are full, if a beast attacks you, you fight it off, don’t you? It’s the same thing. People who attack humans are more wicked than beasts, and they never learn their lesson. If left alone, they will attack someone else.” (Noa)

 

 

　As expected, Tamiko became mystified.

 

 

“But, aren’t we about to reach town? What about catching them, putting them in jail, and putting them on trial?” (Shuu)

 

“They will still get hanged. No town will allow bandits. The difference between dying here and dying later.” (Konno)

 

“Is there anything else besides the death penalty?” (Shuu)

 

“Well, I’ve heard that since the trial involves the church… if a man is found to be penitent, he can be imprisoned or even converted. But since they are the kind of people who would suddenly shoot at others, chances are almost zero.” (Noa)

 

 

　Do I have to admit it? I have to admit that my values are a relic from the moldy past, from a hundred years ago. That this set of morals is rooted in that era and not this one.

 

　After all, the humane morality of putting human life first at all costs is only a prerogative if you have the capacity to embrace a complex system. I have only touched a small part of this world, but it seems that more primitive concepts are prevalent here. A simple justice that fits this world and protects this world.

 

 

“But still…” (Shuu)

 

 

　I’ve killed many beasts in order to live and to eat.

 

 

(What is the difference between killing to eat and killing to protect?) (Shuu)

 

(Is it wrong to say that it’s okay to kill beasts but not humans?) (Shuu)

 

(Then, what about Magic Beast like Tamiko? Do I draw a line depending on whether they can communicate or not?) (Shuu)

 

(What is right? Who decides what is good or bad?)

 

 

　When dealing with Metro Beasts, I have always faced the situation with a mindset of “no hard feelings.” For the other party, I would say, “I don’t care! I’ll haunt you the rest of your life!” But at least, I, myself have always been prepared to take a life in order to live and to have it taken away from me.

 

　If we apply that logic, killing these people who attacked us with the intention of killing us may be no different in the end.

 

 

　But—they are no match in the beginning. Still, do I dare to stab them without intending to eat, is that okay?

 

 

“Let’s just get it over with and go back to the town. We don’t know if there are others out there.” (Konno)

 

“That’s right.” (Noa)

 

 

　At Konno’s urging, Noa creates a [Hypha Knife] out of her hand.

 

　The tip of the knife seems to be trembling slightly, or is it my imagination?

 

　She takes a breath, swings it,

 

 

“Wait, Noa.” (Shuu)

 

 

　I stopped her.

 

 

“…Still. I’m not slicing the neck of a guy who has lost his ability to fight, and who isn’t even awake.” (Shuu)

 

“…Then what are we going to do?” (Noa)

 

“We’ll hand him over to the people of the town and let the law do its job. Let’s let them do their job from here on out.” (Shuu)

 

“Brother but that’s…” (Konno)

 

“I see.” (Noa)

 

 

　I know it myself. It is no longer a matter of logic but of emotion.

 

　The bottom line is that I just don’t want to get my hands dirty.

 

　I just don’t want to see someone die in front of my eyes.

 

　It’s my ego that doesn’t want to make her do it.

 

 

“But… I can’t say it well, but I think it’s better this way…” (Shuu)

 

 

　Even if those are values that don’t fit in today’s world.

 

　Noa lowers the knife and takes a breath.

 

 

“…I see. It was Abe-san who caught them, so I will obey.” (Noa)

 

“Hey, kid.” (Konno)

 

“I’m sorry, Konno-san. I’ll restrain them and take them to Sugamo. Please let us carry them in your car.” (Noa)

 

 

　Konno shrugs and shakes his head in disbelief.

 

 

 

“I’ve never seen such a good-natured hunter before.” (Konno)

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