Chapter 9: Unraveling Motives and Hidden Truths

“So, how did a priestess like you, who’d never come to a place like this in her life, end up in the Great Forest?”

Crunch, crunch.

Munching on bear meat, which wasn’t as good as wolf but still had a nice chew, I tossed the question at the priestess.

I’d already pieced together why the theocracy’s people were here, but I wanted more details from her.

What kind of rumor spread to make the theocracy come after me so soon?

And how far had that rumor spread outside the Great Forest?

Gulp.

As I stared at her while swallowing the meat, she fidgeted, nervously gauging my reaction.

Then, with a serious expression, she started pondering something.

…Is this really a question worth agonizing over?

Can’t she just answer like she did before?

Puzzled by her hesitation, I tilted my head. Finally, she let out an awkward laugh and spoke slowly.

“W-Well… I was just sent to investigate something in the Great Forest. No other motives, I swear!”

“Hm?”

“It’s got nothing to do with you, Witch! Really!”

Trying to proclaim her innocence, she flailed despite her bindings, shouting.

I smirked, pulled a mushroom from the basket, and chewed it.

A brief silence.

Feeling uneasy, she averted her gaze, trembling, and I looked at her while carefully picking up the cleaver on the table.

“Theocracy folks really can’t lie.”

“W-What?!”

“You’re not skilled enough to fool anyone. Even someone as gullible as me can tell.”

“N-No way! I didn’t lie…”

“Oh, really?”

THWACK!

I stabbed the cleaver into the owlbear meat, smiling slyly.

Your lie lacks detail, girl.

If you’re going to lie, at least put some thought into it.

Slicing the owlbear meat into bite-sized pieces, I corrected her lie.

“I never once said I was a ‘witch.’”

“…!”

Realizing her slip-up, the priestess stammered, trying to cover it.

“I-I meant… you look so much like a witch… N-No, that’s not it! Ugh…”

But she was already too flustered.

For someone bad at lying, panic broke her completely.

Tears welling up, she began begging for her life.

“W-Witch? I’ll tell the truth, so please, just spare me this once!”

“…?”

“N-No, I won’t even ask to be spared. Just… kill me gently…”

What’s wrong with her?

I haven’t done anything evil, so why is this prim, noble priestess acting so pathetic?

…This setup makes me look like an actual evil witch.

I’m not some sadistic pervert who gets a thrill from toying with lives or causing pain.

To clear the misunderstanding, I set down the meat and cleaver and approached her.

“There’s some kind of misunderstanding here.”

I gave my most harmless smile, looking into her fear-filled eyes.

“I’m not interested in your life.”

Gently stroking her soft hair to calm her, I continued.

“I’m only interested in what’s going on outside.”

Exactly as I said.

Right now, I need external information more than anything.

With the damn author remaking the novel, the original settings are all murky.

Since the original plot no longer applies, I need to escape if I can.

Honestly, do I really need to adventure with those lunatics?

In the original novel, Beatrice had some grand goal for joining them, but I don’t share her lofty ambitions.

My goals are simple: “survive” and, if possible, “live quietly and leisurely.”

To achieve that—

“You need to tell me everything you know.”

I have to squeeze every bit of information out of this priestess.

Even if what she knows is pitifully little.

As I gently patted her head to help her relax, she finally calmed down and slowly turned to face me.

And then—

“…You’re truly, horrifically evil, Witch.”

She muttered, her face filled with terror.

Hey, what did I do to deserve this slander, you jerk?

*

On a dark night, in a nameless village where only the rustling of reeds could be heard, the village chief stood alone, smoking a cigarette and staring at the Great Forest.

Hiss—

The cigarette’s flame went out in the chilly night breeze.

Sensing someone behind him, he sighed and spoke.

“Those sent from the theocracy haven’t returned.”

“Why not wait a bit longer, Chief? It was a promising saintess candidate with twenty paladins.”

“The problem is it’s been dead silent despite that many people going in. If we at least heard some noise like on the first day…”

“Hm…”

The retired adventurer let out a groan at the chief’s weary words.

Did even the Goddess’s servants all perish?

If the theocracy’s elite couldn’t handle it, just how hellish is the Southern Great Forest?

Lost in grim thoughts, he joined the chief in staring at the Great Forest.

The forest stood boldly under the faint moonlight.

Was it just his imagination, or did the dark entrance look like the gate to the underworld?

A chilling sensation made him grip his longsword, but the chief offered him a cigarette to calm him.

“You okay?”

“…I’d like to say I am, but I can’t. It feels like I sent the theocracy’s people to their deaths.”

“How is that your fault? It’s the evil witch in the Great Forest’s fault. Sigh…”

The chief smoked, gazing at the forest with wistful eyes.

The retired adventurer smoked alongside him for a while, then asked a question that suddenly came to mind.

“I’ve got one question, Chief.”

“Ask away.”

“Is there really a witch living in the Great Forest?”

“…”

The chief fell silent, then stamped out his cigarette and spoke.

“You’re only curious about that now?”

“…”

“Don’t give me that scary look. There really is a fearsome witch living there.”

As the adventurer glared menacingly, the chief continued with an expressionless face.

“But here’s the thing… that witch has never harmed our village. The legends call her evil, but whether she truly is, I don’t know.”

“What are you blabbering about?”

“Blabbering? I’m just stating facts. Given how much you’ve contributed to our village’s safety, don’t you deserve to know the truth?”

“What?”

The adventurer drew his longsword, but the chief, unfazed, kept mocking him.

“What, planning to kill this old man? Too bad, you can’t even do that now.”

“You—”

“Why can’t you move? Oh, are you paralyzed? Such a pity. I should tell the villagers what kind of person their chief is.”

Picking up the cigarette that fell from the adventurer’s mouth, the chief spoke to someone in the air.

“Take him. He’s not as high-quality as the others we offered, but he’s not bad.”

“Heh… Is this really okay for a village chief? Well, we don’t care as long as we get our stud.”

“Four more. Just four more, and you’ll keep your promise to protect us for a hundred years.”

“Of course, would proud beings like us break a promise? Heh…”

A figure, barely covering vital parts with leaves, picked up the paralyzed adventurer, salivating as they looked at him.

“Ha… Should I have some fun before we go? Back at the village, I’d have to wait my turn…”

“Stop talking nonsense and leave. If someone sees—”

“Alright, alright. Geez, this old man worries too much.”

“I’m sorry.”

With a wistful gaze at the Great Forest, the chief picked up the ownerless longsword.

“A small sacrifice for the greater good—what can I do? I’ll remember your noble sacrifice until I die.”

Seeing bright lights approaching the village from afar, he slowly walked toward them.

Four more…

If luck holds, he could fulfill the contract with “them” within the week.

Arriving at the village entrance, he saw four burly figures that “they” would go wild for.

‘Top-notch.’

With a warm smile, the chief welcomed them.

“Welcome! What brings you to our humble village?”

One of the burly figures grinned and answered.

“Looking for a bride.”