A Strange Egoist

Even if I say “tenfold payback,” I can’t just barge in and kill everyone on sight. All I need to do is take back what was stolen and have a nice little chat so they can properly show their sincerity.

Let’s have a good talk, like civilized people. If they still resort to violence, then there’s no need for me to hold back. I’m fully prepared to eliminate them.

As usual, I smeared mud over my body and stuck branches and leaves to my skin. Imagining a ghillie suit, I camouflaged myself accordingly.

Before dawn, I headed towards the village, using the faint moonlight as my guide. Then I waited for dawn at a spot some distance away from the village.

After a while, the sky began to brighten. In the dim morning light, I cautiously approached the village.

From a tree some distance away, I observed the village. It seemed like they were going about their normal lives. There was no sign of heightened vigilance about me having escaped.

A few villagers were out working the fields, but only a handful. It was still early, so they might be having breakfast at home. There was smoke rising from the houses, likely from cooking.

Most of the houses were crudely built, the kind that looked like they would collapse if you rammed into them once. The lifestyle here reminded me of a medieval village, though at least they seemed to have some sense of hygiene. It was a relief that the roads weren’t covered in filth.

It was the kind of village where the fields were inside the fence. The farmland sat right next to the houses, and there was plenty of space between each home.

The villagers all looked Anglo-Saxon, the kind of “Westerners” that Japanese people tend to picture. There wasn’t a single person who looked remotely like me.

Maybe because of poor nutrition, most of them were thin and about my height. But their legs were so damn long. Our waistlines didn’t even line up. That’s just unfair.

I tried reading their lips, but it was no use. Part of it was the distance, but their pronunciation itself was different from Japanese.

So the old theory that “people in another world just happen to speak Japanese” turned out to be wrong.

Still, since they understood words like “seriously?” He means colloquial Japanese expressions. it might be that whatever I mean to say gets converted automatically into their language.

It seems like even subtle nuances are getting across, and it works the other way around too.

It’s not that I understand the language itself, but more like I’ve come to grasp it instinctively.

A half-baked language cheat, exactly what you’d expect from that so-called god. Which meant there was a real chance I wouldn’t be able to read their writing.

While thinking about that, I was observing the village, but there didn’t seem to be anything strange. After a while, the village girl who had been taking care of me came out of what seemed like a clinic.

She appeared to be heading to the well to fetch water. The other villagers were acting distant. Their attitude toward her seemed a bit off. Maybe they’re treating her like an outcast for helping me escape.

I was suddenly struck by a feeling of tightness in my chest. Although it’s risky, I’ll need to get a little closer and observe further.

I peeled off some of the leaves and branches stuck to my body, careful to hide my presence as I crept toward the village and slipped over the crude wooden fence meant to keep monsters out.

Then I heard shouting coming from one of the buildings. It was early morning, yet someone was throwing a loud, drunken party. Laughter and rough voices spilled out through the walls.

I moved closer, staying alert, and pressed my ear against the wall to listen in. The language cheat seemed to be working; I could understand what they were saying.

“Finally, that old hag of an apothecary kicked the bucket.”

“Yeah, things’ll be a lot easier now.”

“What about her apprentice? You sure the girl can handle it?”

“Looks like the old woman trained her well enough.”

“Heh, then we’ll have to teach her a few other lessons after dark.”

“Hah! Hahaha!”

“She’s not like the old hag. Weak little thing, we can do whatever we want.”

“Still, she’s plain as hell. Would’ve been nice if she were prettier, or had a bit more meat on her bones.”

“Don’t get picky. A young woman’s a luxury around here.”

“Yeah, you got that right.”

Their words turned my stomach. The conversation grew uglier the longer I listened. From what I could tell, they’d been drinking since yesterday, repeating the same disgusting talk over and over again.

I forced myself to keep listening to the drunkards’ rambling, their talk looping and jumping all over the place, until I could piece together what they meant. The more I heard, the worse it got.

The old woman had once been a famous apothecary in the royal capital. Nobles and wealthy merchants had constantly crowded around her for her high-quality medicine, causing such a commotion that she eventually grew tired of it all and returned to her rural hometown.

In a village like this, even a simple cold can be fatal. A skilled apothecary is worth more than gold. For a small, remote place, having a healer of her level, and someone once renowned in the capital, was priceless.

Naturally, her standing in the village rose. The chief, feeling his influence slipping away, tried to bring her under his control through force.

But the old woman was strong, far stronger than they expected. Her level was high, and she kept dangerous poisons on hand. The chief and his men had been the ones beaten back.

Angered by their attack, she had retaliated in her own way by charging the chief outrageous fees for treatment whenever he came crawling for help. Over time, she backed him into a corner.

The drunks making all this noise were the chief’s idiot son and his lackeys. Now that the old woman was dead, the only power left in the village rested with the chief.

And that power had gone straight to their heads.

The girl who treated me, though, she’s a good person. In Japan, someone like her would’ve been respected, even admired. But in this world, that kind of kindness only makes you a target.

Jealousy, envy, resentment… In a small, closed-off village, emotions like that never stay buried for long. They twist and churn until the whole place reeks of them.

Even in peaceful modern Japan, I often hear the same story. Build a brand-new house and the neighbors start resenting you and making your life miserable. It is one of those classic rural things.

In a harsh, struggling village, an apothecary who shows kindness is a rare treasure. I could only imagine how much hatred, born from jealousy, was directed at the village girl.

She probably does not fully understand that. Even if she did, she could not change how she lives. Maybe she simply cannot bend her beliefs.

Unlike the old woman, the village girl has no fighting ability, and they intend to control her with violence. The other women of the village seem to tacitly accept it.

Jealousy is a terrible thing.

I had been living alone as a wild man for so long. After my first real contact with people in ages, to find their feelings were nothing but jealousy and ugly desire made me sick to my stomach. I felt awful.

The ugliness and filth of people that modern society usually hides had been slammed at me in high concentration. I felt my chest darkening, as if everything inside me was turning black.

Should I storm in and slaughter them all? Should I set the village on fire and wipe the whole place out? That faint, strangely sweet urge to destroy washed over me, almost enough to let myself go.

Then the image of the village girl’s nervous, helpless face floated into my mind.

Even scum like them would probably make the village girl sad if I killed them. Thinking that helped me calm down.

I had gotten the information I needed. Now I needed to talk to her. She had been the apprentice of a famous apothecary. There was no reason for her to stay tied to this village. She could live just fine in a larger town.

She did not need to keep herself chained to a place like this. Through her teacher’s connections, she could surely find work as an apothecary in the royal capital or another city.

Carefully, I moved through the village, keeping my presence low and avoiding people as I made my way toward the girl’s clinic. I sensed only one presence inside the building. She was alone.

This was my chance. Making sure no one saw me, I slipped quickly inside.

The girl was grinding dried herbs with what looked like a mortar and pestle.

I crept up quietly behind her and spoke.

“Hey, you there.”

“Huh? Ah!”

She let out a startled cry, and I quickly covered her mouth.

“Calm down. It’s me. Do you recognize me?”

With her mouth still covered, she nodded several times. I slowly let go.

“You’re Mr. Goblin, right? I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“I’m not a goblin! But never mind that right now. I need to talk to you, okay?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“You’re the one who treated my injuries, right?”

“Yes… did I do something wrong with the treatment?”

“No, it was perfect. You saved my life. Thank you.”

“I see. I’m so glad to hear that.”

After expressing my thanks for her treatment, I got to the main point. I told her about the village chief’s idiot son and his gang, and how the rest of the village was turning a blind eye.

She listened to everything in silence. She did not cry. She just listened.

“You should leave this village. Do you have anyone you know somewhere else?”

“I have a senior apprentice in the town of Rock Cliff, the largest town in Count Megan’s domain.”

“Then let us go there. I will guarantee your safety on the way. I can handle any monsters or bandits we run into.”

“Why would you go that far for me?”

“You saved my life. It is my duty to repay that debt. My family motto says debts must be returned tenfold.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I will stay in the village.”

“What are you saying? I understand you might not trust a stranger who showed up out of nowhere, but it is dangerous for you to remain here.”

“I know you’re not lying, Mr. Goblin. I also know what kind of person the Village Chief’s son is.”

“Then why do you insist on staying?”

Repaying a debt can be a troublesome business. I know the best way to repay someone is to help them get what they truly want. But what if the thing they want is wrong?

Forcing my values on someone is not repayment. Still, could I leave a benefactor to be treated like a slave? Even if that was what she wanted, I could not accept it. I lost my temper speaking to her.

“When I was small, my parents died in an epidemic and the apothecary raised me. I was born here and I have lived in this village my whole life. I know the village dislikes me. Even so, they have lived with me all this time. You may not understand now, but I believe they will understand someday.”

I thought she was hopelessly naive, the sort of person who takes the good in people as a rule. But she had understood everything and still decided to trust people and live by her convictions.

She would trust them, be exploited, be worn down, and trust those village scum until her humanity was gone. No, I could not do this. I could not repay her in that way. Forgive me, village girl.

“Village Girl, pack up your valuables and get ready to leave for town.”

“I will stay in the village.”

She said it with quiet strength. How dazzling, how noble she was. This was not repayment. This was my own selfishness.

If the village insists on binding her, then I will destroy this village.

To save one person who does not wish to be saved, I will kill many. It is madness, but so be it. I am a wildling, a barbarian without civilization. If I do not like them, I will kill them. That is fine by me.

I narrowed my eyes and spoke with genuine intent to kill.

“Village Girl, I intend to take back what was stolen. The supplies and the hobgoblin’s parts.”

“That is—”

“I do not expect the greedy village chief to hand them over quietly. They tried to kill me once. If things turn violent, I will not hold back. At worst, there may be so many deaths that this village can no longer function.”

She did not beg me to stop. If she had asked me to, the debt I owed her would have made me listen. She must understand that.

She still did not tell me to stop. It was obvious the village chief was at fault. They stole from me and tried to kill me. The victim simply wanted to take back what was stolen. That was all there was to it.

Because the village girl knew who was to blame, even if she wanted me to stop, she could not bring herself to say it.

I understood that. I was about to take an action my benefactor did not want. Even so, I would not be stopped. I resolved then and there to crush this village.

“Even so, I will stay in the village.”

“You would not be so foolish as to say you will stay, right?”

“Um…”

“If the village can no longer sustain itself, people will scatter to other villages and towns. The village will not survive. And you, Village Girl, you have a responsibility.”

“Responsibility?”

“Yes. With the apothecary’s skills you can save many people and pass that knowledge on to the next generation. If you have learned excellent techniques, you must teach them. You have a role to play, like the woman who raised you.”

Her face twisted in anguish. I had never seen that expression before. That gentle girl did not suit such a face. I felt ashamed to have put her in this position.

“If it can be settled by talking, then fine. I will not lay a hand on anyone. Still, be prepared. If I clash with the villagers, someone might take it out on you and hold a grudge against you because you treated me. I am sorry for that, but rather than let people needlessly die in a rural village, it would be better for you to leave for a town. It is also the best way to preserve the apothecary’s excellent techniques for the future.”

If it could be resolved peacefully through discussion, things would go the way she wanted. She could continue living in the village and keep trying until people’s hearts changed. I said that and tried to make it sound convincing.

But we should prepare for the worst just in case. I said that. She answered in a small voice that she understood, and began to make preparations.

I did not think she was at all convinced. I could not imagine the greedy village chief agreeing to a calm discussion. Still, she would probably pray that nobody got hurt.

I am sorry, Village Girl. Even if the chief tried to talk, I planned to force the issue and kill him if he would not give things back.

Normally, nobody would accept such a mad scheme. But the apothecary is dead and the villagers are set on mistreating her. In that situation, calm judgment is impossible.

Imagine escorting someone into town who has killed a large number of the villagers. It makes no sense at all. So I would push this while she was still confused.

If villagers start dying and the village collapses, there will be no choices left. Even if she hates me, I would become the only person who could guarantee her safety on the road to the town.

While I was thinking that, I sensed someone moving toward the clinic. There were five of them. The chief’s idiot son and his cronies, probably. Were they going to make a move on the village girl while drunk on courage??

Perfect timing. I wanted to act before she could recover from her shock. Nice timing, idiot son. You’ll be my reward at the blood bath.