Chapter 48 Becoming an honest person.
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Translator: “WN_Explorer_2000” Editor: ”Weasalopes”
Names and natures do often agree.
Such a proverb can be heard.
But in this particular case it seems to be not the case, probably.
Goodman’s occupation column states he is a bandit…
Is it about that thing?
The gang of the bandits who bring troubles to this village?
While I was lost in such thoughts, I went to consult with Emma and Luna-san in a low voice.
「What the h*ll is that?! Then, that person for everyone…」
「Shh, Emma-dono. Just pretend that you are calm here.」
「U, un, I know. So, Noir, what are you going to do about it?」
「Let’s approach him casually while being on guard.」
Emma and Luna-san quietly nodded to my proposal.
As I’m over level 60 now, he is not a threat ability-wise.
There is also no skill to turn the situation around.
But I have to approach him carefully.
For example, it would become troublesome if he takes a hostage.
「Village chief, there is one thing I would like to know.」
Pretending that we have some business with the village chief, we approached Goodman.
We kept our sight as much as possible on the village chief.
However, Goodman was quite perceptive.
He moved away from as in order to retreat.
We were… exposed?
When I checked the face of Goodman, his eyes weren’t careless at all, and his left hand was in the place to touch the sword handle anytime.
This is no good.
Let’s get started then.
Since Goodman was a bit far away from the villagers, I took a knife from my【Subdimensional Storage】 with my right hand and threw it.
「*Guh*, you really noticed it!」
I aimed at his feet, bit Goodman jumped and completely avoided it.
He must have some fighting experience.
It seemed he was going to shoot a stone projectile with his left hand, while pulling out his sword with his right hand.
「Eat this!」
I was not going to imitate him, but I also indomitably fired a 【Stone Bullet】.
In the confrontation between the stone projectiles, it was my complete victory.
His projectile was easily blown away, and my projectile was still heading towards him.
It’s natural, because it is 3 times larger.
「What the h*ll is that?! But I won’t lose.」
Taking a precise aiming stance, Goodman quickly swung his sword upwards, and thrust his sword from above at the stone heading towards his chest.
With a proper timing, the stone was properly dropped to the ground. Despite him being an enemy, I could say that it was splendidly done.
At first Goodman was surprised by his unexpected success, but later his face regained its self-satisfied appearance.
However, then his expression has quickly changed to despair.
*zugyun――kin*!
It was Luna-san’s shot that was fired towards Goodman’s sword.
「Don’t be so careless.」
「Cr*p…」
Turning his back away from here, Goodman tried to escape, but at his first step he stumbled and fell down.
Emma, who was closing in, did her foot sweep kick.
Luna-san and me pressed him down from his back, and the battle was over.
Having lost words from the series of events unfolding before him, the village chief became confused.
「Wh… what are you doing, Noir-dono?!」
「Everyone, please calm down and listen. I have an 【Appraisal Eye】 ability, and, according to it, Goodman-san is――a bandit!」
It gets noisy. No wonder it is.
Because the person they trusted, was in fact nobody else, but someone like an enemy spy.
Goodman gave up and didn’t even resist.
In contrast, the village chief didn’t seem to be able to accept the reality.
「Tell me that it is a lie, Goodman. How could it be that we were deceived all this time?」
「…………That’s right, I was sent to monitor the people of this village, I’m their comrade.」
It was a smart move. Because the bandits came to the village daily for confirmation, the villagers didn’t think they were double-watched.
Unknown to the others, Goodman reported the information from inside to the bandits every day.
「Anything and everything was just an act to be trusted by you, guys…
I’m… their accomplice.」
「If that’s the case, why, why are you saying it while prostrated on the ground!」
The village chief tightly grabs the trembling shoulders of Goodman and intensely shouts.
「Your occupation is a bandit… but, but are you really a bandit in your heart?
Because, that time, that time earlier you could have seen through my acting with the lower back pain. Even though why didn’t you report?」
「That is…」
That’s right, the permission for the village chief to leave was given because Goodman reported that that there had been no doubts that it was necessary.
So, as the village chief said, he was actually supporting the villagers?
「We all believe in Goodman!」
「That’s right, earlier you were always for our sake…」
In response for the expression of trust from the villagers, Goodman firmly closed his eyes and shook his head in disagreement.
「That’s not, not, not, not it, I’m a rare bada** scoundrel, I wouldn’t care for the likes of you.」
「Goodman, we don’t think you were a bad guy back then. We don’t think it was all lies that you did every day.」
「I told you, I’m…」
「That’s enough. Please, leave everything to me.」
I want Goodman to speak the truth.
As well as to know the information about the enemy in detail.
Thereupon I use 【Creation】 skill.
【Real Intention】 100LP.
The problem is, how many LPs it is going to take to 【Grant】 him the ability.
Goodman +200LP
Oh, it’s helpful that it won’t take too much. By the way, in case of other villagers, it would take 300LP at lowest. And for someone with the highest amount it would be over 4 digits.
I wonder if it means that originally Goodman was not originally a liar.
My amount of LPs is close to 900 thanks to Emma and Luna-san, so I expend 300 LPs and attach the skill.
After 【Grant】it properly, I asked again.
「Now then, Goodman, I’ve granted you a skill which would make it impossible to make lies. Please, tell everyone about your true feelings.」
「But I told you, I――――From long ago, I was all on my own… With no relatives, alone… One year ago, when I was wandering around here, the bandits invited me to become one of them. I became a bandit merely for something to eat. But… I wasn’t fit for being a bandit. That why, half a year ago, when there was a talk about monitoring this place, I was the first to volunteer.」
Once you became one of the bandits, you can’t easily quit.
The last resort for Goodman was to become a spy.
「As I spend some time in this village, I, for the first time, was needed by someone… I was happy… I was so happy! To me, who was always alone, everyone came with such kindness. They even said I was their friend! Before I knew it, I came to like everyone a lot!」
「Goodman, Goodman, our feelings are the same, after all!」
The village chief and Goodman hugged each other. At that, the other villagers rushed and joined them. Everyone was in tears, with running noses.
For people it is reckless to decorate themselves (make themselves look better) with honest words outright.
But, probably, sometimes it is important to be honest like that.
…Later I have to ask Goodman about their hideout.
「Toramaru, are you crying?」
『*GuaaAA*…Goodman… I understand you, I understand your feelings so much.』
「True, your were like that as well.」
He was truly alone for hundreds years. It is no wonder he would feel so emphatic.
And then Luna-san, too – with both of her hands on the ground, water drops were flowing from her eyes.
「His feelings, they are flowing into me. He also can get good, trustworthy companions (if he tries).」
「Luna-san was a lone adventurer as well.」
Luna-san and Toramaru were somewhat in the same place as Goodman as well.
Then Emma – she had nothing to do with loneliness, but rather a wind, which couldn’t stay in one place.
「Emma was popular everywhere she went to, after all.」
「There is no such a thing.」
「Back in the previous school, there was no day when she wasn’t surrounded by boys…」
「That must have been because of my breasts.」
「But it is not like that. It is because of her innocently cheerful, pure-hearted character that everyone would gather around her, isn’t it?」
「Even you, Noir!」
「Even I have a dark-natured, cowardly part of mine.」
「Me, I have something to hide as well.」
「Hmm, there was such sort of thing?」
「Ah, I don’t believe itー!」
As she was talking about her hidden episodes, Emma puffed up her cheeks.
Probably it wasn’t too dark or heavy, but, with that, I was convinced.
As the violent emotions of everyone calmed down, Goodman stood before me with a refreshing face.
「It was all thanks to Noir-san. Such a refreshing feeling, I wonder when there was the last time I had it. Just to think that there was such a skill which makes it impossible to make up lies!」
「Now, it is your turn. If you tell us the information about the bandits, we will crush them properly.」
「No, you don’t have to try it hard. Because I’m going to live my life without lies from now on.」
Living in honesty with yourself――is an important matter, after all.
Though in case of my Master, being faithful to her desires looks a bit problematic (wry smile).
And then we listened to the story of Goodman, devoid of the great lies.
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