Volume 7 - CH 14

Chapter 14 – Eto’s Thoughts

Sensing a strong intent in Labolt’s eyes, Eto knew that he wouldn’t be convinced with a sloppy explanation. Apparently, this is the real question that Labolt wanted to ask.

“Excuse me, does Labolt-sama perhaps not find any meaning in our victim support plan?”

However, Eto also knew that it was dangerous to carelessly answer his question without knowing his intention. Because Eto might get himself bound into a situation where he cannot refuse the demand of the other party. So, he chooses to answer it with questions to probe and to ask Labolt’s opinion about the support plan.

“Un? No, I agree with the victim support plan you presented. And I heard Margrave Stainbolt also agreed with that. Besides, I have to make up for the folly of someone from my relatives. What I wanted to hear is your true intention, Eto. You’re not from Veil and you don’t seem too intent to bury your bones here. Even so, why do you choose to do this? That’s what I don’t understand.”

Eto stared at Labolt’s eyes. Apparently, it only meant exactly what he said. Even if there is a trap in his words, Eto couldn’t notice one. In that case, Eto thought he just had to answer honestly what Labolt wanted to know.

With ‘This would be a long story’ as a preface, Eto began to talk about how he was oppressed at a certain party, omitting the name of the Hero’s party. After hearing that he got no rewards, no lodging or food, Labolt asked how Eto lived his life while he was at the party. Eto answered that he alone went to subjugate monsters and collect herbs and exchange them for money at the Guild while the party members were resting at the inn. As Eto finished answering Labolt, Meyer also asked why Eto didn’t immediately leave such a party, which made Eto actually wonder why.

“There were some circumstances that made me unable to leave the party. However, in the end, it may be just because of my feelings and expectation from the surrounding people. I wanted to be of use to the party and I didn’t want to betray the people who had expectations toward me. Even so, there was something that made me unable to stay in that party any longer. I’m not going to go into too much detail, but I ended up leaving the party. Even now, I am glad I made that decision.”

Labolt nodded and silently urged Eto to continue his story. Meyer also silently stared at Eto.

“Before I left the party, I received terrible treatment from the members of the party for about half a year. The requests I took in order to secure living expenses often took me until near morning to complete. I also participated in goblin settlement subjugation requests with other adventurers and couldn’t quit in the middle of the quest.”

Eto sighed as he looked far away to remember those days.

“After finally finishing my subjugation request, I hurriedly returned to the stables of the inn. Yes, I rented a corner of the stables at a cheap price to sleep. However, even if I lay down to sleep, I couldn’t sleep because of tiredness and tension.”

Eto laughed bitterly, as if he was laughing at himself.

“At the time of departure, I dragged my heavy body and followed my party members, joining the busy shopping street in the morning. When I raised my head due to the high-pitched voice of a child, I saw people who bought and sold things, people who walked on the street in proper clothes, or adventurers, yet nobody walked in broken armor that is forcibly tied together like I did at that time. Was it because of the air in the morning? But somehow everyone seemed to shine brightly in my eyes. They seemed to be in a far better situation than me, respected by others, and seemed to have composure.”

Saying that, Eto’s eyes, which are looking down a little, seemed to be hallucinating the scene of that time.

“I wanted someone to save me. Being in that party was suffocating and no one appreciates anything I do. Yes, when my pride and beliefs have been shattered, I had no money, and no place to go home. I sincerely hoped that someone would save me. That is to the point I thought that ‘if it’s you who walks in front of me with a shining appearance, you may be able to save me without much trouble’ However, there is no way such a person would appear…. On that day, I couldn’t move my body that much due to the tiredness and made my party members angrier than usual.”

Eto’s expression returned to his usual calm. Then he took a deep breath to switch his feeling.

“It is hard to explain the feeling of loneliness and helplessness that I felt at that time in words. Of course, the situation at the party didn’t change after that, but thanks to continuing to receive requests at the guild, my rank went up, making the rewards from the guild increase a little. Thanks to that alone, it became a little easier for me.”

Surprisingly, Labolt and Meyer listened to the story of an adventurer enthusiastically while occasionally nodding to the story.

“After that, I’m lucky enough to get out of such a terrible situation, and I think I’m pretty fortunate now. I now have reliable party members and since our rank has risen, we can get enough rewards to eat. That is why, at least, I wanted to help those whom I had a connection with. Those who are genuinely seeking help, just like me at that time.”

Saying that, Eto stared straight at Labolt.

“I think that with just a little help, people can be saved to a large extent. Besides, in the first place, this case was made public by the investigation request that I made. So, I think I will follow this until it is fine for us to go.”

With that said, Eto ended his long story.