Chapter 144.2

Chapter 144.2. Saving The Druids! n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

And so the 2nd retake.

“Thank you for saving us, old man. And you also used the magical tool…”

By some coincidence, amid everyone’s attention, Mistilteinn transformed into a rusted spear, as if it had lost its power.

He wore a slightly perplexed expression. But he still believed Mistilteinn’s power had saved him. It felt awkward.

“Um… we would like to express our gratitude for saving us. May we ask for your name?”

“Don’t worry about it. I was annoyed by the forest, so I got rid of the bothersome ones. But if it’s a gesture of thanks, you can live in the town ahead. And follow the advice of the merchant you met first. That’s all.”

Odin was quite curt. I wish he would put on a bit more of an act. The people around him are bewildered.

Indeed, I taught him the bare minimum lines, but I wish he would add a little more improvisation!

I clutch my tiny hands and watch their conversation.

The druid man was thumping his chest and not nodding at Odin’s story.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but we are druids who live with nature. We cannot live in a city.”

A look of pride on their face, I suppose. It exudes an air of self-importance that Odin’s words are not worthy of consideration.

…… Something’s not right.

[Hey, Freya. These people don’t seem to express much gratitude, do they? Isn’t that strange?]

Even if they don’t burst into tears of gratitude, it wouldn’t be strange for them to show a little more appreciation. At least consider the proposal of the person who saved your life. Why do they seem so indifferent?

From what I can see, they express gratitude, but it feels somewhat absentminded. I wonder why?

[Well, I think they find it somewhat dreamlike. From the moment they were captured until being cured by [Mind Cure], not much time has passed… That’s why…]

[I see. Well, maybe that’s for the best. I didn’t help because I wanted to be thanked, but I wanted to help. It’s good that there won’t be any fanatics born from this. Thank goodness.]

Besides, I’m happy because Mii-chan was the one who saved them. We obtained a few magic seedlings during the Tokyo expedition, so I’m not worried.

[Well, I’m not completely satisfied, but… they paid the price, so it’s fine.]

[They lost their home in the battle.]

We turned the area into a wasteland when battling Gerer. They paid the price.

With this turn of events, it seems impossible to establish a druid settlement in Kamakura. The plan to employ them has failed.

I’m sorry to say that it is impossible to build a settlement of druids in Kamakura if this is the case. I guess the plan to hire them failed.

Just as I was thinking that Odin exchanged strange looks and smiled, then stared sharply at the man before them while adjusting their hats.

“How many years has it been since you moved to Tokyo?”

“Uh, yes?”

“After the [Great Kanto Catastrophe], when Tokyo turned into a forest of destruction, your ancestors decided to live in harmony with nature and moved here. At that time, there were talented wizards among you, weren’t there?”

The druids listened silently to Odin’s words.

“At that time, you still had connections with the outside world, and you had assets. While claiming to live in harmony with nature, didn’t you occasionally acquire things from the outside?”

“That… that was during my grandfather’s time… No, it can’t be. But…”

Living in harmony with nature sounds nice, but when Odin asked if they occasionally purchased things from the outside world, the man became flustered.

He must have some idea about it. It seems there were things that they couldn’t obtain in Tokyo occasionally, and he seemed curious about it.

“And now, are you truly living in dangerous Tokyo by your own choice? Aren’t you holed up in Tokyo because you no longer understand the outside world? Have you ever asked the younger generation about it?”

After a brief pause, Odin revealed something the druids didn’t want to hear.

“Do you not want to live outside?”

Even though he wasn’t speaking loudly. Odin’s voice resonated with these people.

“Your power is feeble, unable to prevent slave hunting despite rejecting the law. You scavenge for tattered cloth in Tokyo, living in houses made of rubble. It’s fine if it’s a path you’ve chosen for yourself. But is that the case? Are you not deceiving your own heart with the illusion called pride?”

“So, what can we do? We have been taught that the outside world is terrifying! Those who captured us looked down on us as foolish slaves with no money or family register. We have no choice!”

They were likely trying to protect their hearts with pride, but Odin dismisses their desperate cry with a snort.

“There are people ahead who can provide you with money, work, and a place to live. I will also send a few of my disciples to protect you.”

“That sounds too good to be true.”

“Well, there are always ‘do-gooders’ who think it’s a shame for someone they’ve helped to die like that. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

Adjusting his hat, Odin says boredly and turns his back.

“Who is that person?”

“Well, at least it’s not me.”

Slightly curling his lips, Odin uses teleportation and disappears.

“‘Do-gooder’…”

Muttering to himself, the man and the bewildered druids decide to go to the place Odin instructed them to go to.

As they quietly watch people walking away, Mii-chan nods.

[Grandpa’s so cool!]

Odin is stern and cool. Mii-chan also tries to imitate him and draws a picture in her mind’s memo.

Placing a hand on his mouth, he smiles and flips backward gracefully. So cool!

Yeah, I hope they can work for us.]

[They’ve fully recovered with healing magic! It would be great if we could hire them. They were just heads or faces, but now they’re fully restored. Their hair is shiny, their skin is beautiful, and their limbs are back to normal!]

I won’t force them. But I’d like them to work for me. We’re a fair company, they can rest assured.

[Um… The ears of those people who were just flowers. They’ve become long, like bamboo grass.]

[Well… it might have been too much to restore only their faces! But don’t worry, in the flavor text, their lifespan is the same as humans, and their magical aptitude has just slightly improved!!!!]

Mii-chan didn’t mean any harm. She covers her eyes with her hand and squats down, pretending not to know.