Chapter 11 (1/2)

Chapter 11: About This World

10 seconds. Which equates to 1 round in D&B.

This unit of time will most likely become the deciding factor between my life and death.

Mora and the adventurers were already on the verge of being caught up in the cliff’s collapse when I got to them. The only reason why I was able to use [Wall of Force] to create a floor and walls and stairs to save them was because I had those 10 seconds.

After that, I could leisurely shuttle everyone to a safe place using the phantom horse. Most likely due to having flown around in the flesh, the flying sickness was not so bad this time around.

Because of how tired everyone was, we agreed to take a break after coming out of the forest.

♥♦♣♠

As expected, all of the adventurers are pressing me for an explanation of what just happened. Although they didn’t actually see me chanting, “a meteor just coincidentally fell onto the army of anki” didn’t work. It didn’t hurt to try, though.

“Well, in any case, we understand now that you are a great magician—no, wizard. Margils…… -sama…… should we call you that?”

After going to the trouble of starting a fire and brewing a pot of s.h.i.+l tea (the one doing the pouring is Mora though), it appears that Sedam has largely calmed down.

Though calm, his voice and face are, as can be expected, still a bit hard.

Looking around, I see that Ted and Jiruk are outright frightened. Torad and Fijika look uneasy, and Claura is blatantly being wary.

Mora is looking on with worry.

“Please don’t. I am not a n.o.ble, nor am I that great. I’m just your average citizen. Please act normally with me. Normally.”

Adding a -sama for a salesman already feels bad enough. Please spare me from being treated as ‘a great wizard-sama.’ But well, a corner of my mind understands that after doing what I did, ‘average citizen’ isn’t going to cut it.

“Margils-sama! It is unthinkable for a personage capable of mowing down such a number of anki in one blow to be addressed without the -sama honorific!”

“Margils-sama is a great hero!”

As I’d expected, Jiruk and Ted are desperately objecting. It’s at the level where I can ask “what kind of bullying is this supposed to be,” but they are most likely doing this to not evoke my anger. From their standpoint, they might not even have a choice.

“Of course, I am extremely thankful to you. If an anki army of that scale reaches the village, it would be a catastrophe. But that is all the more reason why we are being cautious. It would be quite troublesome if, on on a 1 in a million chance, that meteor falls on our heads. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

I don’t blame him.

I quietly, but carefully, enunciate my next words.

“...... I am Gio Margils, a wizard from Jiiteias. I still have a lot to learn about this world. However, I will absolutely never use the power of wizardry to commit evil acts or to harm the people of this world. So I swear.”

“...... Fuun.”

“A-, As I’d thought!”

“Let’s all believe in Margils-sama!”

Fijika and Ted, as well as Jiruk, all look at least slightly rea.s.sured.

“Who or what do you swear to? Do you have a G.o.d?”

As expected of the Monk to ask such a question. Hmmm, how should I answer this?

“...... I do not know if he is the same as the G.o.d you all believe in, but my oath is by The Guardian.”

“Hou……”

I am just raising the first name on my mental list of existences that seem kind of G.o.dlike. The one who muttered what sounded like interest was Sedam. Torad simply has his arms crossed. The thought that I might be in hot water if his religion is oppressing believers of The Guardian as heathens or pagans flashes across my mind, but the die has already been cast.

“I’ve never heard of such a G.o.d before. But he surely must be a good G.o.d, if he is being followed by someone who uses his power to defeat anki.”

Torad’s face breaks into a smile. I wonder if him touching one of his earlobes with the palm of his hand is a religious gesture of some sort?

“Gio-san is a really great person, but he is also really kind and, erm, he’s a kind person!”

Mora also appeals to the adventurers on my behalf. I feel apologetic, having such a young girl back me up even though we’ve only known each other for two days. But is it my imagination, or is this girl calculating the timing of her input?

“...... Yep, that’s right, isn’t it. How can we not trust in the hero who saved the village?”

While smiling, Sedam gave voice to both what I wanted to hear and what I didn’t want to hear. I am really not hero material.

“You know, that Guardian might be the one who brought you here. How about asking him for help?”

Sedam claps my shoulder. You, good sir, are way more reliable than The Guardian is.

♥♦♣♠

After the break, we go out to the highway and strike east.

This road, which crosses the plains east to west, is covered with stone paving, which reveals that this world’s level of civilization is by no means low. According to Sedam, we will be arriving in Yuule tomorrow morning, after camping out for a night.

The duration of the [Phantom Horse] spell was up since a while ago, so now Mora is walking next to me. The Jyagul statue and jute bag are still floating along behind, though.

I do have a spell that can transport this number of people at high speed, but I want some time before we reach the village, so I didn’t mention it. With Mora’s father’s feelings in mind, I also want to reunite the two of them as soon as possible, but he’ll have to be satisfied with the fact that I’ve already saved her from the mountain bandits.

While looking southward at the mountainous area and forest where we had been just earlier, I first talk to Sedam.

“As I said before, I know almost nothing at all about this continent. Can you teach me? Even the simplest thing is fine.”