Looking out the window, Allen let out a breath.

　His face is cloudy, and his expression is indescribable.

I'm not at all ...... or unconvinced, is that right?

　I looked at the voice and saw Leeds standing right by the door.
　Apparently, everyone's healing is over.

"Sort of. I mean, isn't anyone else convinced?
...... Sure, that might be true. We, and I'm sure the townspeople and adventurers ...... or even the Kuro Wolf Knights, have no idea what's going on. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's over, and I mean that literally.

　Yes, the city's blockade had already been lifted.
　It's because the Kuro Wolf Knights have retreated, and that has been widely publicized, just as when the city was sealed off.

　However, the reason was never revealed until the end, and there was no explanation as to why the blockade was lifted.
　Many people are relieved to be able to go out of the city without any explanation, and those who had things to do would have gone out of the city as soon as possible.

　Allen and the others didn't either, because they needed to treat everyone first.
　Noel and Milene were not unharmed, though they were not in mortal danger.
　However, they came afterwards if anything.

　It was Curtis who really needed treatment.

And Curtis, by the way?
He's asleep now. I'm sure he's going to be fine, but can I see you later at ...... to make sure he's okay?
"I'm not a doctor or anything. ...... Well, okay.

　With a wry smile, you turn your gaze to where Curtis would be sleeping.
　Of course, all you can see is the wall, but Curtis is probably sleeping peacefully in a room similar to this one.

　But, of course, this is not a hospital room, but an inn room.
　Curtis's wounds were not something that could be healed immediately, so I gave him first aid and then took him to the inn.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you go to work.
　Because Curtis had his lower abdomen secretly gutted.
　Not from saving the child, but from the man.

　He would not have gone to the hospital simply because the wound was too deep.
　A potion would still have helped, but there was no need to go to the hospital any more.
　Since potions are not medicines, but a kind of magic tool, you don't need to go to the hospital.

　This does not mean that potions are not prescribed in hospitals, but there are many visitors to hospitals, and potions are basically valuable.
　You can't always get them by going to the hospital, and even going through the hospital will increase the amount of money you need to spend.
　If you are in a situation where you clearly need a potion, it is cheaper and more likely that you can get it by looking for it directly rather than going to the hospital.

　But that doesn't mean you can get it, though.
　Off topic.

...... To be honest, I agree with you, Allen.
Hmm?
Noel and Milene, Curtis ...... and the people who were at the inn. I didn't know what else he was going to do, but he was going to do something and you stopped him from doing it, didn't you, Allen?　People who did that to ......
"Oh ...... that you missed out on as a result, you mean?
...... yes. I'm not convinced and I'm not at all confused.

　To put it simply, Allen did not put a stop to the man.
　No, ...... or perhaps I should say he couldn't. I'm not going to say that he couldn't kill people now.

　I'm not going to say that you can't kill someone now.
　I don't actively or want to, but that was definitely a situation and a person to kill.

　So I didn't do it because he stopped me just before I got there.
　Not by force, but by law and reason.

But it was inevitable. And I understood what was told to me.

　Another member of the Kuro Wolf Order was there to stop Allen.

　She told him.
　I know how you feel and it's natural, but it's also very bad.

　The man was on death row.
　So, for lack of a better word, he is the property of the empire.
　There might be trouble if you destroy it all on your own.

　At least that's the way it's built up.
　If you're trying to avoid trouble, you shouldn't do anything else, that's what I've been told.

　Strictly speaking, however, Allen didn't agree with those words and backed out.
　Rather, it was more because of the other thing she told him.

　It was--

And since they're willing to get rid of it, that's fine, isn't it?　It's a bit of a hassle to say this, but honestly, it saves me a lot of time.

　Yes, she did stop Allen from killing the man, but she wasn't trying to help him.
　The man was in the middle of being punished for his misbehavior about a week ago.

　This was in that situation.
　It's true that the Kuro Wolf Knights can exert their power, but only if they are able to get their point across firmly.
　You will be able to find out the best way to get the best out of them.

　Since this was the second failure in a short period of time, there was a high possibility of punishment.

　Since it was only a high possibility, there was also a possibility that it was not, but that is why Allen had two conditions.
　The first is that even if you survive, you will not even be in sight of Allen and the others again.
　If I ever see them, I'll cut them down, no questions asked.

　And the second thing is that the man will never do this again, or let him do it.
　If Allen he hears that the man has done something else, then I will crush the entire Kuro Wolf Order.
　I don't care if it means picking a fight with the Empire or not.

　Allen meant what he said and would do it if it wasn't followed.
　But the man decided to let it go because he agreed to the terms and swore to make sure they were kept.



It may be so, but ...... that guy showed up again looking like he deserved it, after raiding the Elven Forest?　There may not be a third time.
I'm just going to do as I've declared in that moment. ...... Don't believe it?
"I believe in you, Allen, and the woman who promised me ...... might be believed as well. But ...... I've heard a lot of stories about the Kuro Wolf Knights because of my position: ......
"Oh ...... I see

　I thought it was unusual for a good-natured or basically good-natured Leeds to not trust people, but I'm convinced that's the case.
　Although Allen only heard lightly from Henriette and Curtis, Leeds must have really heard a lot of stories.
　Even the lightly touched Allen thought it was considerable, so it was no surprise that he was doing something that even Leeds would say he couldn't believe.

　In fact, though, Allen is satisfied with that case.
　It's not that much of a distrust thing: ...... because, to be honest, the man was rather unimportant.

　It's true that what he did is unforgivable, and I don't think he's someone to be forgiven.
　But for Allen, it was more important than killing the man that Leeds did not have to watch the man get killed.

　He knows that Leeds is not an innocent man, and he has seen people die more than once or twice.
　A few of them were shown by Allen ...... but still, the fewer opportunities you have to see people die, the better.
　It's a good thing that we didn't have to show you the scene of a man's death.

　...... or maybe there was another reason for that, too.

Why did you look so unexplained and unconvinced at ......?
Yeah, that's because the Kurowolf Knights pulled that one off.

　To be honest, Allen didn't expect it to end that way.

　Although he never gave any evidence, the man had assured them that they were the ones he was after and had actually attacked them.
　And if the man backs down, there is no reason for the Kuro Wolf Knights to back down.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier and more fun.
　I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get it right.

I'm not sure what the purpose of this is.
"We were the goal, weren't we?　But he gave up on it because the man was easily beaten. ......
It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can do this. It's a good idea to have a reason to convince people that they have the power to do so. If they attacked us once and returned the favor, I would still understand: ......
What about the fact that ...... was looking for us, but at the same time it was to buy time?
Hmmm... ...... It's true that you've earned your time, but you've earned it... ......

　Some of the time has passed, partly because of the treatment of Curtis and partly because we got ourselves into it, and partly because we rescued survivors from the rubble.
　If we wait for Curtis to wake up, it will likely be tomorrow before we can leave the city, but it's still only one day's work.
　Although you want to get there as soon as possible, I doubt that one day will be a fatal delay.

　Besides--

...... Well, there's a lot on my mind. It's just that thinking about it with a wry face doesn't tell you anything, so it's time for a change of scenery. It's time for a change of scenery, like seeing Curtis and ...... and, speaking of which, how are Noel and his friends doing?
"The fact that you are injured doesn't change the fact that you are injured, so I told you to lie down for a while, but you complained that you didn't need to because you didn't have ...... problems.
So, well, I guess we'll just have to show up there.

　Then with a wry smile, I got up.

　So while leaving the room with Leeds, ...... it occurred to me that I was going to have to do something about it.
　It's not that I meant to do that, but as it turns out, Allen showed mercy to the man in the first place.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you go to the store.

　But.

It's not good for the soul, but it's good for the soul.

　I rolled the words around in my mouth so that Leeds couldn't hear them.

　When was the last time he could realize the meaning of those words, he wondered.
　In the end, Allen let out a small sigh at the futility of his actions again.