A mid-level (middle-aged) office worker's laid-back industrial revolution in another world - Chapter 177

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“It’s spectacular.”

Alice said, sitting on the ground with Takeo, drinking tea as they watched the soldiers scurrying about.

…There was a sword stuck in the earth with the middle of its blade nearby, and the top of the castle gate had just lit up, but the two of them were unconcerned about it. 

“…You’ve got some nerve, Lady Alice,” Takeo said.

“Oh, Master Takeo, are you bad mouthing?”

Alice said with a slight edge in her voice.

“No? I’m counting on you.

But I also know that you are very honest and cute in bed.

It’s that gap that makes me fall in love with you, Lady Alice,” Takeo said.

“Wait… you don’t have to say that right now…”

Alice’s face turns red and she starts to get flustered.

“haha, you’re so cute!”

“Mmm… Takeo-sama has a lot of time on his hands, doesn’t he?” Alice asked.

“No?”

Takeo raises his hand and shows it to Alice.

“…You’re shaking.”

“Yes, I’m so nervous I feel like throwing up.

It’s beyond my comfort zone.

I never thought I’d see the day when I’d have to shoot a lesser being with a gun…”

Takeo said with a sigh.

“Lesser being…”

Alice was taken aback by Takeo’s words.

“I’m from a rather peaceful place, unlike most of the people here, so I need some self-discipline.

‘The creatures that are less than us are attacking us. If we don’t kill them, they will kill us.’

That kind of mindset.”

“We have the same mind set, you know?”

“Of course.

But, unlike Alice and the others, who have been here for many years and have a normal attitude, I have to make it up as I go along.

… Perhaps by the time this battle is over, my personality will have changed somewhat.”

“Is that so? In what way?” Alice asked.

“…I think I’ll be able to judge the value of life. And I’ll probably have a stronger sense of camaraderie and a sense of belonging,” Takeo said.

“The value of life…?

What do you mean by that?” Alice asked.

“To put it extremely, I expect that I will be lenient to my allies and cruel to my enemies.

I will be less hesitant to take the lives of my opponents than I already am,” Takeo said.

“Hmm? Are you hesitant now?

You seem to be used to it already,” Alice said.

“I understand it in my head, but… it’s quite naive compared to the people here.

I’ve never taken a life before and I’ve never seen one,” Takeo said.

“I don’t think you’d see that if you live a normal life…” Alice said.

“…I sense a gap in your understanding, Lady Alice…

I’ve never even seen one being strangled for food purposes,” Takeo said.

“What? …Then how did you prepare the meat at Takeo-sama’s place?” Alice asked.

“I’ve only seen it ready in chunks of meat… already processed. Both meat and fish,” Takeo said.

“What? Was Takeo-sama’s place close to the sea?” Alice asked.

“… Is that how you interpret it?

That’s not true. Preservation technology was so advanced that even if you processed it, it would last for a few days… even a dozen days.

And if you froze it, you could keep it for a month or two.

So this is the first time I’m going to kill a creature with my own hands.” Takeo said.

“But… it’s just goblins?” Alice asked.

“Where I come from, we’re taught from an early age that killing is forbidden… whether you’re a human or a goblin.” Takeo said.

“We also learn that ‘killing and violence are forbidden’ too.” Alice said.

“Didn’t that phrase have words like ‘for personal reason’ or ‘reckless’?

“…Yes, there was.”

Alice says to me thoughtfully.

“The place I was in was too ‘clean’.

It didn’t let the world see or feel death as much as possible.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

Well, we did deal with death in things like games, and of course, we experienced the death of neighbors and relatives.

sigh…killing living things…huh…”

Takeo thought with a slightly distant look in his eyes. “I need to do one more thing…”

..

.

“…Takeo-sama, let me check our plans.

When the goblins are through the forest, Takeo-sama starts firing.

When the distance becomes about 200 meters, you will retreat with me, right?”

Alice asked worriedly.

Takeo sighs in his heart. “You have very good instincts, don’t you?”

“…I’m not retreating with you.”

“Takeo-sama?!” Alice shouted.

“When the goblins reach the 200-meter mark, Lady Alice, only you will return to the center,” Takeo said.

“I can’t do that!”

“No!

“I don’t want to!”

“No, you must.”

“Why? Why do you have to stay there alone?” Alice asked.

“Because I think it’s necessary for me to walk with you in the future, Lady Alice.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to be ready to kill and be killed.

In my head, I am ready.

It’s just a question of whether or not I can actually move against someone who is hostile to me,” Takeo said.

“You don’t have to do this at a time like this…”

“Because it’s times like this.

When the time comes, the situation is more dire.

If you can’t move at that time, you will die.

Now that Lady Alice and the soldiers are here, and the situation is leaning toward victory, it’s the perfect time for a test,” Takeo said.

“You don’t have to stay here alone…” Alice said.

“With Lady Alice next to me, I’ll rely on you…

I need to push myself mentally and see if I can move there.

…I don’t think one can lie in the face of death.

There are people who are brave but can’t actually move, and there are people who speak weakly but are quick to respond…

I wonder if I can move… If I can’t move, I’ll have to train myself to be able to move afterward.”

“… Well, if you’re so determined, Takeo-sama, there’s no point in saying anything…”

Alice looked down with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sure you’ll agree with me.

I’ve had this in my plan from the beginning.”

“Umm… okay… but I can’t just leave my fiancé behind either.”

“Hmm? No, you can’t. Please back off.”

“…half.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going back 25 meters. No further.”

“Hmm? Can’t you go down 50 meters?”

“No.”

“How about 40, 30 meters at least?”

“No, 25 meters.”

“…Lady Alice… Then 25 meters is fine.

But don’t try anything. At least not until I’ve dealt with the first blow.”

“…I understand. I’ll be patient until the first blow.”

“…Yes, that’s fine.

And it’s about time…”

Takeo stood up, took the mug from Alice, slightly flushed it with water along with the tea set, put it in his backpack, and carried it.

“…Takeo-sama, do you plan on fighting with your backpack on?”

“What? Why not?”

“No… I just thought it’s better to be light. I guess,” Alice said.

“Well… I suppose so, but… I’m sure we’ll be doing this not only this time but also during a journey.

If you’re going to do it, it’s better to carry it on your back from the beginning, isn’t it? I’m just trying to get used to it.”

“…Well… If you say so, Takeo-sama…

Then… I’ll go back.

I don’t think you’ll go back until they’re closing in.”

“Yes.

…Lady Alice.”

Alice was about to walk away, but Takeo calls out to her.

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Takeo hugs Alice.

Alice puts her hand on Takeo’s back.

They quickly pull apart and smile and nod at each other.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]