For the next two days, Minami Yojuro didn't rush back to town. Instead, he dissected the Venom Dragon for all the useful materials he could salvage, then waited outside the village to see how things would unfold.
By the third day, Yojuro's sharp senses picked up the noise of a commotion inside the village — crowds gathering at the central square. He knew then that what he had expected had indeed come to pass.
At that moment, Yosuke looked utterly miserable. His whole body was weak, tied to a wooden frame with a great pile of firewood stacked beneath him. Villagers surrounded him, hurling curses and pointing fingers, while the old village chief stood there holding a torch, clearly ready to burn Yosuke alive on the spot.
But just as the torch was about to ignite the wood, a flash of swordlight sliced through the air. The chief's torch was cut cleanly in two, and Minami Yojuro's figure slowly appeared in everyone's sight.
"Well, well, Yosuke. Haven't seen you for two days, and this is the kind of treatment a so-called hero gets?
Feeling touched yet? This should be the second time I've had to step in and save your skin."
Seeing Yojuro appear, the bound Yosuke showed a complicated expression. He hadn't expected things to turn out exactly as Yojuro had predicted.
After Yojuro had left that day, Yosuke had told the villagers he had a way to solve their water shortage. The old chief and the others had been overjoyed, even taking out what little food and water remained to host Yosuke in gratitude.
Unfortunately, because of his appearance, the girls the chief arranged were unwilling to get close to him. They said he looked too much like a half-orc, and they simply couldn't bring themselves to do it…
Even so, despite the villagers' prejudice, Yosuke still cheerfully lent his aid to solve the water problem.
Using magic combined with his modern knowledge, he created a jar that could automatically produce flowing water. But what he didn't know was that the village held deep religious beliefs — to them, only water drawn from underground or from rivers was pure.
A water source created from nothing like Yosuke's jar was considered "demon water."
Already shunned for looking like a half-orc, now he had presented this so-called "demon water," and thus Yosuke was inevitably branded as taboo.
In terms of fighting strength, the villagers were obviously no match for him. But under the pretext of "thanking" Yosuke for his help, the chief had invited him to a great feast.
That meal, however, was clearly laced with something extra.
When Yosuke woke again, he found himself tied up and powerless — exactly the scene Yojuro had just walked in on.
"You're the adventurer who slew the Venom Dragon… you haven't left yet?"
"We know this half-orc is someone you're acquainted with, but he violated our village's taboo. Don't try to stop us from giving him his baptism."
Seeing Minami Yojuro appear, the old village chief's expression grew uneasy. A man who could slay a Venom Dragon could wipe out their whole village as easily as swatting flies.
The only reason he dared to face Yojuro at all was because he knew adventurers weren't allowed to kill innocent people indiscriminately.
"You call this a baptism? How about I toss you into the fire first and see how you like your bath?
My friend here was only trying to help you out of kindness. Maybe he did offend your religious beliefs by accident, but don't you think this punishment goes way too far?"
The old chief, gripping a pitchfork with more bluster than courage, shot back:
"We truly do want to solve our water problem, but no matter what, we will never drink this rootless, drifting demon water! It will corrupt our very souls!"
At the chief's self-righteous words, Yojuro let out a cold laugh. He walked right up to the magic jar Yosuke had created, scooped out a ladle of water, and drank it in front of everyone.
"Stop mistaking ignorance for faith.
Rain that falls from the sky, water that wells up from underground, rivers that flow across the land — do you really think those are gifts from your gods? They're just the natural cycle of atmosphere and vapor. …Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I explained.
The magic my friend used comes from communion with spirits. This water he produced is drawn from water spirits themselves.
'Demon water'? Ridiculous. If the god you worship was truly so powerful, why didn't he save you when the Venom Dragon was tormenting your village?
Yet here you are, ready to burn alive the one person who actually helped you. Don't you find that laughably pathetic?"
Yojuro's words left the entire crowd stunned. The old chief opened his mouth several times, but found nothing he could say in reply.
As for resisting with force? Forget it. Against a man who had slain the Venom Dragon single-handedly, a mob of villagers armed with farm tools were no more than ants.
In the end, Shima Yosuke was rescued by Minami Yojuro, and not one villager dared utter a word of protest.
Only long after the two had left did thirst drive one bold villager to approach the jar Yosuke had made. Mimicking Yojuro, he scooped up a ladle of water and drank.
"Chief… this water is sweet. It's no different from the water we always drink."
Hearing that, the others could no longer restrain themselves. One after another, they rushed forward, scrambling to drink from the only water source available.
---
"Once again, you've saved my life. Thank you, Yojuro.
But… how did you know I'd be in danger?"
With the spirit's help, the poison lingering in Yosuke's body had quickly been purged. Looking at Yojuro beside him, he voiced both his gratitude and his lingering question.
"It seems I should've waited a bit longer before stepping in — at least until that old man actually lit the fire and it started burning your backside.
I wanted you to learn a lesson, but clearly it didn't sink in deeply enough.
I told you before, didn't I? This isn't a game. This is a real world. Not everyone is worth helping. Put away that saintly compassion of yours, or one day you'll die without even knowing how it happened.
Next time, you might not be so lucky. Don't count on me always happening to be nearby — or willing to save you."
With a quiet sigh, Yojuro quickened his pace, unwilling to explain further to such a naïve child.
°°°
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