0.0000001% Demon King - 0DK Chapter 30: The Village of the Sun God (2) (Part 2)
“Hmm.”
As the night completely fell, Karos returned to his lodging. Sinclair was already asleep, apparently exhausted.
“Bathesia.”
– …Oh. Connected again. Last time, the Hero attacked, but you seem fine.
“I managed to talk my way out of it. How are the others?”
– They’re sleeping for now.
“I had something to ask… never mind, Bathesia.”
– Go ahead.
“Can you open my hearing sense for me?”
– …Hearing?
Bathesia spoke in a wary voice.
– It’s possible, but that might risk being discovered by the Hero.
“It doesn’t have to be fully opened. Just enough to hear around this village.”
– That might be okay. Alright.
Karos’s senses expanded, allowing him to hear all sounds: the crawling of insects, the wind hitting the house, and conversations.
“……Damn. What is the Hero thinking?”
The village chief’s grumbling voice reached his ears. Karos closed his eyes and concentrated on listening.
“Why did she bring in such an outsider? She said there wouldn’t be any trouble this time, didn’t she?”
“Right, but… it seems they met at their destination. They must have talked at least for a while.”
“I told her not to meet outsiders.”
Karos chuckled softly. The concerns of the village chief of a Sun God’s branch were not typical. They sounded more like the words of a high-ranking official aware of the Hero’s situation.
“Tch. This is why I was against it from the start. The higher-ups say it’s not a bad experience. Useless, all of them.”
“But it’s still a problem.”
The village chief’s partner muttered seriously.
“If the matter regarding the Sun God becomes known…”
“Hardly. They might suspect, but it’s not something easily discovered.”
“Not incorrect, but there’s always the possibility, isn’t there?”
The conversational partner spoke cautiously.
“If it becomes known, we are…”
“No problem.”
The village chief interrupted.
“Once we reach the sanctuary, it will be impossible to reveal anything.”
– Indeed, quite a precarious situation.
Bathesia clicked her tongue softly.
“Then, as planned for tomorrow.”
“Yes. It’s necessary for the Hero, so it can’t be delayed. Though it might seem odd, since it’s related to the Sun God, that man won’t interfere.”
“Understood.”
The conversation ended. The sounds of them organizing and moving started to be heard.
“That’s enough.”
– You really do get entangled in all sorts of things.
“Tell me about it.”
Karos tapped the blanket lightly.
“I’ve got a rough idea now.”
A village formed by affiliates of the Sun God, conspiring together for some purpose.
“…But I can’t figure out what that is.”
What he knew was that it was related to the Hero and it was something that shouldn’t be known externally. He considered various possibilities, but none seemed quite right.
– Since they mentioned doing something tomorrow, maybe wait and see?
“Seems I’ll have to. That’s it for now.”
– If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll support you.
“Thanks.”
He ended the communication. With a sigh, he released his fatigue and was about to sleep when the door opened.
“…Hero?”
“Uh… Ugh…”
Sinclair, in her pajamas, with a dazed look, entered the room. As Karos watched in confusion, she flopped onto the bed.
“Vaine…”
“…Do as you wish.”
Karos gave up and lay down as well.
**** ****
The next day, Karos woke up to a familiar discomfort, and as Sinclair fled in embarrassment, creating an awkward atmosphere, someone knocked on the door.
“Hero, are you awake?”
“Uh. What is it?”
The village chief entered with a solemn face.
“I have something to tell you.”
**** ****
“…Bandits are planning to attack you?”
“Yes.”
The village chief nodded sadly.
“They’ve been targeting us for a few days now. Even though they know this village is a branch of the Sun God believers, they don’t seem to want to stop. They’ve been pressuring us more and more, and lately, they seem to have decided to attack us. They’ve started gathering weapons.”
“Bandits, a common foe of ordinary people.”
Sinclair clenched her fist with a stern face.
“Where are they?”
“They are in the mountain on the left side of the village as you leave. There seem to be about twenty of them. We’ve tried to resist…”
The village chief shook his head sorrowfully.
“We are powerless…”
‘Here we go.’
Karos barely held back a laugh.
‘What kind of trick is this? Who would fall for this?’
It was too clumsy to be believable. He wondered what they aimed to achieve by sending them toward the bandits, but there were too many obvious flaws to seriously consider their story.
The village’s situation. Non-existent armaments. The health of its people. Each was a glaring hole.
A performance that might deceive children at best. Karos was about to speak with a smirk.
“You all…”
“Alright. I understand.”
Sinclair spoke calmly, taking the village chief’s hands.
“You must have been suffering.”
“…Sinclair?”
Karos looked at her in surprise. However, Sinclair had never been more serious.
“This land belongs to the Sun God. It is our duty to protect it, so we must help. Do not worry about anything.”
“…”
Karos observed Sinclair’s face. There was no deceit, doubt, ridicule, or anger.
Only pure belief existed there. The village chief moved to tears, and bowed deeply.
“Oh! Hero! Thank you! Truly, you are the great Hero of the Sun God!”
“Raise your head. It’s my duty to help.”
The village chief repeatedly expressed his gratitude, and Sinclair stopped him.
And Karos watched it all in a daze.
‘Fool.’
The object of everyone’s ridicule, yet blissfully unaware, simply enjoying herself.