Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Just after returning from a free exploration. Late in the afternoon.

Downtown Crossroad. The shrine.

"..."

In front of the infirmary, I was nervously cracking my knuckles.

As soon as the exploration ended, we all came here for treatment. The final battle had left us all with minor injuries.

Particularly, Jupiters injuries were severe.

She had recklessly blocked a combined attack from two wizards of higher levels, which had resulted in considerable damage.

"..."

Crack. Crack. Crack.

I continued to crack my knuckles.

My head was dizzy with anger at them, but a sense of bafflement filled me.

Whether they were living in the dungeon under the lake, or they were hostile NPCs that could not be recruited... after all, they are humans.

I have to fight against humans.

This is a completely different aspect from the battles so far.

No, its more than just a different aspect.

Its a matter of values.

I rested my chin on my clenched hands and frowned.

All this time, weve been fighting against monsters. To protect people.

But now, we have to fight against people.

To protect people, we have to kill people.

Its not a matter of PVE or PVP. This is...

I bit my lip hard.

Sure, in the game, weve fought against hostile NPC factions too.

I used my characters to kill the enemies one by one as efficiently as possible, stealing their items and gaining experience points.

But, this place is reality now.

Theyre definitely living, breathing humans too.

Can I exterminate them as I did with monsters?

"..."

Back in Stage 2, when I had ordered Damien to snipe the Pied Piper, he hesitated and ultimately couldnt shoot.

Im facing the same dilemma that Damien had then.

Is it okay to fight against humans for survival? For clearance?

Is it okay to kill humans?

"Your Highness."

At that moment, Saintess Margarita and the priests under her command walked out of the infirmary. I hurriedly stood up.

"Is the treatment over?"

"Yes. Fortunately, no ones life is in danger."

Margarita wiped her blood-soaked hands with a towel.

"However... Jupiter has fallen into a state of magic overload due to the after-effects of overusing her magic."

"Magic overload? Isnt that extremely dangerous?"

"Yes. Its a state where magic escapes control and consumes the casters body. If were not careful, she might not be able to use magic for the rest of her life."

Its similar to the principle of self-devouring magic in martial arts novels.

Its the most dangerous injury a wizard can sustain in a game. It couldnt get worse.

"She needs absolute rest for a while."

"I see..."

I gritted my teeth.

Jupiter was the core of our power in this stage.

But with this injury, shes out for at least this stage. If were unlucky, shes out for the season.

"Who would have thought a disaster would strike like this..."

After composing myself, I asked Margarita,

"Can I visit her?"

"Unfortunately, you cant see Jupiter. Shes in a very critical condition."

"I see..."

I glanced awkwardly at the direction of the ward.

I wondered if I had gone too far, activating my negative Gold-Fever trait just now. I felt terrible.

"The others have finished their treatment. They will be out soon."

"Always grateful. Here..."

After generously making my usual offering, I left the temple.

Lucas, Evangeline, and Damien were waiting for me at the entrance of the temple. I tried to put on a cheerful face as I approached them.

"Youve all worked hard. How is everyone feeling?"

"The prisoners have escaped!"

This was news to me.

"...Prisoners?"

I blinked in confusion before finally asking,

"Who are these prisoners?"

***

After hearing Aiders report, I massaged my temples, feeling a headache coming on.

"So, after repeatedly requesting reinforcements from the capital..."

"Yes, yes!"

"...Instead of sending reinforcements, they sent five convicts sentenced to death."

"Thats exactly it!"

"And these five extremely vicious criminals, former soldiers of the empire, all sentenced to death, managed to overturn the carriage they were imprisoned in while being transported to Crossroad... And they all escaped..."

I glanced at the glass window leading outside the mansion. It was already getting dark.

"...And this happened around noon today. And up until now, theyve not been captured. Is this what youre saying?"

"Thats exactly right, Milord! Youre a summary genius!"

"Is now the time for summaries, you damned fool!"

I grabbed Aider by the scruff of his neck and shook him violently.

Aider let out a deflated balloon-like sound, "Eeeee!"

"Why did they send convicts instead of reinforcements from the capital! Why did the escort party let them escape midway! Why couldnt you prevent this from happening! Youre supposed to be a Director!"

"I...I...I have no power in this world! I cannot foresee the future!"

"Is incompetence your passive skill, you fool! Then start by helping where you can! Do you know anything else about this matter?"

The convict delivery event...this was a situation I had never encountered before.

Would Aider have any information for me?

"I...I do not know how things in the capital led to this...I do not know the cause..."

As my gaze turned icy, Aider quickly added,

"B...but I can give you information on the five convicts! I have already entered their profiles into the system. Please check."

"You shouldve started with that."

I opened the system window and started searching for the convicts profiles. Lets see...

"And."

Aider then lowered his voice.

"Although they are convicts, they were still sent as reinforcements from the capital."

Catching my glance, Aider seemed to grin slyly.

"If you can manage them well, who knows? They might become actual reinforcements."

"...!"

While looking for new talent to recruit, I had definitely said:

It didnt matter if they werent human.

As long as they were good at killing monsters, I would be willing to recruit even ghosts, demons, or zombies.

But convicts?

Arent they much better than ghost demons or zombies?

This thought solidified as I checked the profiles of the five convicts.

"Capture them."

After quickly scanning the profiles, I told Aider with a grim face.

"Whatever it takes, were recruiting these bastards."

"Even though theyre notorious criminals from the Empire?"

"Better Empire criminals than enemy soldiers, and better communicating criminals than monsters who cant talk."

Better than the Gargoyle monsters that would attack in a few days.

Better than the white-masked enemies who ambushed us from under the lake.

At least these guys are negotiable.

Whats more, theyre good.

Their abilities.

And plenty of them.

"So, incompetent Director, you do have an idea where these guys fled to, dont you?"

As I glared at him, Aider nervously scratched the back of his head.

"I have sent scouting parties in all directions since noon, and I received a report just before your return."

"Where are they?"

"Theyre in the mountains north of the city. Its not far, but a bit remote."

"Theres no need to delay. Guide me there immediately."

Straightening my clothes, I broke into a grin.

"Lets have a meeting of sorts, all of us driven out of the capital."