Chapter 57 - A turning point (1/2)

Chapter 57 – A turning point

Seeing Aifa lying face up on the ground, Violette made a dry laugh.

「…For that Aifa to lose to a golem…」

To which Ditzen replied with a curious expression.

「What made you think that you can beat a golem created by a sorcerer who made an island that floats in the sky?」

Although Ditzen didn’t voice his question that loud, Violette turned eyes full of killing intent towards him.

Meantime, Ayla and Yuri were confirming the severity of Aifa’s wounds.

Not sure if it was intentional on A1 part, but because Aifa fell into the pool, no serious injuries could be found. It appears that he was able to deploy protection magic right before A1’s attack hit him, so he lost consciousnesses from the mere shock of impact from falling into the water.

Then, perhaps due to a bit of a rest, he naturally came to his senses.

「…Gu-uuh…」

As Aifa tried to sit up with a small groan, Yuri and Ayla assisted him.

After he sat up, Aifa looked up at the robot standing near him and then turned his gaze to A1 standing next to me.

After staring at A1 for a while, Aifa moved his jaw, as if he confirmed something for himself.

「…It was this golem that fought me?」

「Eh? Ah, yes. You managed to distinguish them.」

While a bit surprised I affirmed that, Aifa showed a soft smile.

「Strangely, this golem feels different from the others.」

Saying that he got up. It seems the damage isn’t as great as I thought.

「…I surely witnessed the power of the Great Sorcerer Taiki-dono. No, in the end, I didn’t have enough ability to see your true strength.」

While Aifa smiled with a refreshed expression, Violette spoke up with a frown on her face.

「It’s my first time seeing Aifa’s smile… It feels so out of place that it’s creepy.」

Ignoring that poisonous remark, Aifa stiffened in his facial expression and looked straight at me.

「…Taking your strength into consideration, I have a request for Taiki-dono.」

「Request, you say?」

When asked, Aifa nodded with a stern expression.

「…Save my family.」

Violette was the first one to react to the words that were so hard for Aifa to squeeze out.

「Hey, wait a minute! Aifa, you…?!」

As Aifa didn’t even react to Violette’s words spoken in a condemning tone, she clicked her tongue and took a step forward.

「Are you going to point a sword at the Empire?! Such ingratitude…!」

Aifa refuted without even glancing at Violette accusing him.

「I have never felt indebted to the Empire.」

「Wha…」

As Violette was left speechless by Aifa’s words, I spoke up.

「What do you mean by saving?」

When asked, Aifa suddenly began to take off his clothes.

Taking off clothes from the upper half of his body, he turned around, showing his back.

Seeing that, Ayla, who stood beside me, gasped for breath.

A certain symbol was engraved on Aifa’s back.

「Is that a slave’s…?!」

To the words from Ayla, Aifa closed his eyes.

「I’m a slave of the Emperor.」

Hearing those words, Ayla stopped moving like she was frozen.

「Having a certain objective, the Emperor raided our village in the depths of the forest and made us his slaves. Originally, outsiders were supposed to be blocked by powerful monsters, preventing them from reaching us, but the Emperor searched through the forest with an astonishing number of troops. We were completely helpless before that army.」

Hearing Aifa speak those words in a powerless voice, I slightly tuck my chin.

「…So you want me to rescue other villagers that were turned into slaves?」

As I asked, confirming, Aifa affirmed while putting back on his clothes.

「I have served the Emperor for the sake of my family that became hostages. However, losing our original duty and just enduring, without a shred of self-respect, merely for the fear of own dear lives, brought the death of our spirit. Right now we are no different from the cattle with a needlessly long lifespan.」

Aifa said that and looked at me once again.

「My family and I bet our lives on you. Please. Free us from the Empire.」

Hearing those words, I pointed my finger to the ground and laughed.

「Would all of you live on this island? In that case, it certainly will be over without any sacrifices.」

After saying that, I look back at Aifa’s face, who was completely unresponsive, and breathed out a sigh.