Chapter 331

Episode 331 If only I could (17)

“No, dear. “Are you okay?”

“Ah...”

What should I do? The boy reflexively took a step back as he saw the approaching hunter. What should I do? I should run away. Realizing that there was no other way, my brain wisely came to an early conclusion.

“It looks like it has been wandering in the mountains for a long time...”

Since they did not record any traces, if a chase team were to catch up, they would easily reach this place. And if they and that hunter encounter each other, the boy’s portrait... and any external information will be completely ignored.

The story is that even if the boy eludes his future pursuers, a wanted order with his appearance will be issued. To make the boy’s future more difficult and to make it more difficult for him to move.

So that the number of people who will die due to the devil will gradually increase.

However, even knowing the future, the boy only measured the timing to run away.

Kill the old hunter to block the spread of information. That kind of option was never even considered. 『Protecting the weak and protecting people is a knight.』 Inevitably, the boy was someone who dreamed of such a being. Even though I know which option is more efficient, I can’t make a choice.

“Sweetheart, if you need any help—”

Oh my!

The boy took the timing and stood up with a face that made him want to cry. There was a splash of water, and the boy’s body seemed to be thrown away and ran in the opposite direction of the hunter.

“for a moment!”

You have to go as far as possible. The boy resolved even more strongly to the conclusion he had drawn earlier. Now that there was eyewitness information, the boy had to go even further and faster.

The sadness that was surging up gave the boy even more strength to his feet.

“Honey, wait a minute...!”

However, the old hunter also showed an uneasy reaction. Although it was a little slower than the boy, it chased after it at a speed that was superior to that of an average person of that age.

‘Are you dealing with magical power...!’

Due to the devil’s influence, the boy’s body was able to produce greater force than his muscle mass. In addition, the boy himself has learned how to strengthen his body with magical power.

Nevertheless, chasing him only means that he also uses magical powers. The boy was astonished by that fact and raised his magic power even more.

[You are taking a useless risk when you could just kill him.]

Of course, the price was not light. This is because the devil, who does not want the situation to go the way the boy wants, has laid a siege to the situation.

The magic energy that the guy moved as it pleased collided with the boy’s magic power and shook the inside. Yuck. The boy spit out the blood coming up to the side and forced his legs to move.

The distance began to widen.

“Let me help you! “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll help you!”

And when the distance widened to the level of ‘unless you fall hard, you won’t be able to catch up’, the old hunter shouted as loud as he could. Let me help you. The boy’s ankle was caught in an intangible noose.

“...She’s an old old woman now, but she used to be a useful hunter. “It might be helpful to you.”

You have to run away. Even though the boy was trembling, he couldn’t stop his head from turning without thinking. The old man’s friendly tone and gentle suggestion were so sweet that I had no choice.

The boy’s head, with tears streaming down his face, looked behind his knee.

“If you really feel like it, how about stopping by the house for a moment? My house is right next to here. “Few people know of its existence because we don’t interact with it.”

Still, you shouldn’t fall for that. I don’t know what the devil will do, and how can I accept that offer when so many people have died after being caught up in it?

“...I can’t because there’s someone chasing me.”

The boy clenched his fists and made a shaky resolve. I killed those people. When I thought of the kind and gentle Heretic Questioner, my resolve became even stronger.

“Are you being chased by someone? In that case, I will lend a helping hand. “This grandmother may not know anything else, but she is good at following traces and erasing them.”

“...what do you believe in?”

However, the opponent was skilled. Erasing traces leaves no room for tracking. The boy’s heart fluttered again in front of the technology he wanted the most.

“What are you saying you believe in and are helping me? Are you saying that because you know my situation? “Are you saying that because you know what I did to get chased?”

Still not possible. The boy’s face contorted at the mere offer of help. Hair that had not been washed or trimmed since the devil entered my body flowed down my bowed head.

“...Letting me go is the biggest help.”

In my urgency, I said something sharp to the person who tried to help me. The boy blamed himself for it, but did not utter an apology.

Anyway, if that old man knew his identity, he would despise or be afraid of the boy. Or maybe only in the afterlife will I find out what the boy’s true identity is.

“Don’t try to get involved anymore.”

The boy refused the old hunter’s favor in a gloomy voice and started walking again.

It doesn’t look like they’ll come after me anymore, so there’s no need to use magic anymore. The boy’s legs hit the ground weakly.

“baby. When I was young, I hunted a lot of criminals. And most of them tried to silence any witnesses they found while running by killing them.”

The old man spoke a little faster. Even though the boy knew that this was not the time, he listened to the old hunter.

“But you didn’t. Even though I sensed that I would be in trouble the moment it confirmed my presence, I just chose to run away. “Without the slightest hesitation, as if it were a natural thing to do.”

“...How do you know that—”

“How many people do you think this old lady has seen? In my opinion, you are not a criminal. “I’m just a kid who runs away for some reason.”

For some reason, I felt like crying.

“Honey, just ask for help. “If you say so, I will help you.”

My feelings deepened as I realized that the old man’s belief that he would not have committed a crime was just an illusion. The boy gritted his teeth.

“...I guess I should go too.”

“If you come this far and let me go without treating you well, I will be angry.”

“It’s not okay because our old man is talking like that.”

But it’s better for you to be angry for a moment than to die. The boy searched for words of rejection without being able to cry or laugh.

“It’s no use pretending to wash up and then running away. “This old woman has no stamina or skills to chase you down.”

But the hunter added those words as if he had read the boy’s mind.

I knew it was a joke, but still, the boy’s body stiffened slightly. If that mature pursuer made up his mind to chase after the boy, it was obvious what would happen if the boy’s mental strength was exhausted.

“Just take a shower and eat and then go. “I will never hold on to anything more than that.”

“...It’s a promise. Be sure to follow it.”

Therefore, I have no choice but to skip it. The boy rationalized it and followed the hunter’s suggestion. I decided to wash in the spring behind the house.

“Oh, use this when you wash. “It is excellent at removing odors.”

“...yes.”

Even though it hadn’t been washed in months, it wasn’t that difficult to remove the skeins. Perhaps because it was a hunter’s house, there was soap made from animal fat and ashes.

The boy washed his body with soap that smelled like grass and washed his hair. My older brothers, who scolded me for having to scratch my scalp, were no longer around, so I couldn’t get rid of the smell completely, but my condition got much better.

The boy shook off his hair, which had reached his wing bones, with a dry cloth.

“I thought you had black hair, but it turned out to be gray.”

“....”

“The color is so beautiful.”

Before he knew it, the hunter who was watching the boy laughed and threw him some dry clothes. It was a dress of a size that didn’t seem to fall off, even if it left a little room in the body.

“This...”

“Go ahead and try it on. “I think that’s right.”

Both the hunter and the hunter’s husband were tall, but I don’t know where they got clothes that were so small. I don’t know if I can get clothes to wear before then. When the boy hesitated, the hunter suggested again.

“are you okay. “After all, these are clothes without an owner.”

“...Without an owner?”

“The child who was supposed to wear it died from horseradish erosion.”

“...!”

The hunter smiled faintly, saying it had already been twelve years.

“I’m sorry....”

“Huh? no, that’s fine. “You have something to apologize for.”

“But...”

“Even if it’s okay.”

The boy was very upset, but ended up accepting the clothes and wearing them. The clothes before were too dirty and the hunter had cleaned them off first.

So I had no choice but to wear it. The boy wore an active shirt, pants, youth boots, and protective gear. It was all given by the hunter.

“It looks like there’s some time left before the meal is ready, so in the meantime, I’ll teach you how to use it. “Tell me what’s in your bag.”

Judging by the signs of use, this must have been used by a hunter’s son. The boy was sad, but listened to the old man’s story.

“Now, the third pocket on the left... not that one, but the one next to it. Yeah, that one. It is a space where frequently used but small items are stored. To the right is a water bottle storage box, but there will be no water in the water bottle. When you go, fill up some water from the spring. And on the other side... yes there. That’s where you hang the ropes and hooks. The bottom is where you put the dagger. Oh, do you know how to hold a dagger?”

“...I know that.”

“I see. “Then do you even know how to write?”

“...How to defend yourself or attack when in a hurry.”

“Oh... then how do you use the dagger in a non-fighting situation?”

“I don’t know that.”

“I see.”

It was a lot of time, but it was well worth the investment. The boy learned how to start a fire with a dagger when in a hurry and what was in his bag and what he must carry with him. It was the knowledge the boy most desperately needed.

“The food is ready!”

“Wow... there are a lot of things I want to teach you, but it’s already too late.”

The meal was completed after learning how to create a hiding place while leaving as few traces as possible. The boy was relieved by that, but also felt a little disappointed.

It was a regret that it was time to leave the place with walls and fireplace.

“Now, hurry up and eat.”

“I hope it suits your taste.”

However, considering that you never know when the devil might run amok, it was actually a good thing. I’m not sure if that’s why the devil stayed quiet all this time... but it was clear that this luck wouldn’t last long.

[Don’t leave this place for three days.]

That’s right. This was the one who wouldn’t even give up on the boy’s superficial happiness.

[If you try to leave, I will explode your magic energy.]