The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 9 - Chapter 437.1

SIDE:

The Captain’s Anguish

VILLAGE WATCH CAPTAIN APPAS’S PERSPECTIVE

“WHAT’S THE VERDICT?”

When I entered the room, the summoning circle flashed for a moment, then quickly faded out. Then, the person inside it gasped and looked at their surroundings. Melisa called them over and then gave them a checkup while explaining what had happened to them. She had the patient go into the next room to rest while Acting Vice-Captain Gigina briefed them on what the plan was moving forward while answering their questions. 

It was a scene I had already witnessed countless times. At first, the adventurers and watchmen would be awestruck when they were freed from the spell. Some took longer than others, but everyone managed to grasp the situation in the end. It was clear from the looks on their faces that they were relieved to learn they had friends going through the same crisis. It’s reassuring to know you aren’t alone.

“It truly is remarkable, Captain. I’m not at all tired.”

The one operating the summoning circle at the moment was Mithran. One of his gloves had a protrusion in the palm where Sol’s magic stone was concealed. When Ivy first gave me the stones, the power they held was a mystery, but none of us could have ever foreseen what remarkable abilities the stones had. I shuddered to think what would happen if our enemies got ahold of them.

“Mithran, don’t you dare tell a soul…”

Under no circumstances could anybody ever see or find out that we were using a magic stone to operate a summoning circle.

“I know. We’re dealing with some crazy-dangerous stuff here.” Mithran’s eyes narrowed to slits. He put on a friendly face, but he was a force you did not want to mess with. I couldn’t count the number of times I’d been relieved he wasn’t my enemy. Especially now—I was so glad to have him as an ally.

“Well, for the time being, it’s a necessary evil for us.”

We’d had Sol free Mithran and the other summoning circle operators from the spell because they had a degree of knowledge about the circles and I believed they would agree to help me. I openly told them everything: what was happening and what we were planning on doing. As I talked to them, they realized what I was asking of them and committed to the potential consequences. I almost broke down and begged for their forgiveness multiple times, but I didn’t have the right to apologize to them. My guilt didn’t matter; only their bravery and sacrifice would resolve this problem. In times like this, I felt so helpless. No matter what I did, I couldn’t save them.

“I’ve still got a few rounds left in me. Go ahead and bring in the next subject.”

As Mithran assumed his usual smile and casually waved in another person, a wry smile crept onto my face. Sol’s magic stone was easing my worries. I was starting to believe that maybe I wouldn’t have to lose Mithran and the other operators after all. 

“Be sure you take breaks. I don’t want you fainting on my watch.”

I had to project strength and confidence. When I accepted my title, I’d made peace with the fact that people were going to resent and hate me. I would protect Hataka, even if it meant sending people off to their deaths. I had to make peace with all of this and commit to the job. But committing was one thing; accepting reality was no easy task. There were countless times when I’d wanted to run away from it all, and I even almost went through with it once. I stayed here because I had allies, and yet I had made the call to sacrifice them.

“Come on, we’ll be fine. If something happens, I’ll deal with it,” said a voice from the corner of the room. It was Ugalpa, who had been working the summoning circle before Mithran.

“How are you feeling? Notice any changes?” When I shot him the questions, he laughed and answered he was fine. Hearing that made the tension in my shoulders melt away, and Ugalpa laughed again at the sight of it.

“Ha ha ha! You really are a worrywart. We’ll be fine, okay? Thanks to those magic stones, we aren’t feeling any side effects. There’s not even a hint of the discomfort I felt before. It’s baffling, really.”

Ugalpa and Mithran were adventurers I’d met during my previous run-in with a summoning circle. They knew full well the dangers of the circles, and yet they’d agreed to help me. They were the best friends a guy could ever dream of.

“How did Mapa do?” Ugalpa asked, referring to another adventurer in the same party as him and Mithran.

“Sleeping soundly as we speak. Won’t wake for quite some time, I imagine.”

Ugalpa started laughing again, but his smile vanished at the sound of a knock at the door. “Come in.”

The door opened, and in walked a middle-aged village watchman with a younger colleague in tow. “Sorry we’re late.”

“Ah, good. You’re here. Sorry, but would you mind standing in the middle of that area for a bit?” Mithran asked.

The younger watchman looked apprehensive, but since I wasn’t commanding Mithran to stop, he cautiously stepped inside the summoning circle.

“Mithran, if you sense anything is wrong, abort immediately and call for me.” I repeated the warning yet again as I walked out of the room. The middle-aged watchman followed. “Anyone try to escape?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“Good. Bring the next one in. No—hold that thought. You’ve already been working for three hours. Get somebody to replace you and go take a break.”

“Um, sir, I can keep going…”

“It’s only going to get wilder from here. Take breaks whenever you have the chance.”

My watchman raised a curious eyebrow at my order, but he knew he had to obey regardless how he felt about it, so he nodded.

“Rest up while you can. You might not get any breaks tomorrow.”

The watchman nodded and called out to his replacement. After I confirmed that the exchange was made, I went upstairs to the room where Mapa was asleep.

“Phew…” I sighed heavily.

“You okay? You look exhausted.” My shoulders flinched a little when I realized Mapa was awake. I’d assumed he would be asleep for a while longer.

“I’m fine. The effects of the booze wear off yet, Mapa?”

When the summoning circle was ready and Ugalpa and Mithran asked their comrade to join them, he’d been quite drunk. He apologized, but that wasn’t the first time his drinking had caused problems.

“I’m still a bit buzzed but okay otherwise. Are Ugalpa and Mithran operating the summoning circle in turns?” Mapa poured some water from a pitcher into a cup and gulped it down.

“Yeah, they are… Mapa, ease off on the drinking, will ya? You’re too old for this.”

Mapa was the oldest in his party, after all. He scowled at me and said, “I ain’t that old.”

“Bull—you’re over sixty.”

Mapa sighed quietly and adjusted his clothing. “Okay, guess I’ll go join my buddies and help out.” He got out of bed right away and turned to leave the room, but then he stopped by the door and said, “Appas…you made the right call. I believe in you.”

Mapa’s words hit me right in the heart. He knew exactly what I was going through and was eager to help.

“Thanks…” I finally managed to squeeze the word out.

“I’ve got your back!” With a hearty chuckle, Mapa walked downstairs. Sol’s magic stones were saving our hides, but how much longer would they last? We still had so many cursed people to save. Would the stones’ power hold out until everyone was free?

Knock, knock.

“Hm? Who’s there?”

“Hello there.” Zinal popped his head around the door and smiled sheepishly at the sight of me. I must not have been hiding my feelings well. “We’re standing by on the first floor in case something happens.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

“Not at all. Captain, you should go to bed.” And with that, Zinal promptly closed the door, his descending footsteps echoing from behind it.

“Agggh…” I knew he was right, but I just couldn’t fall asleep these days. I’d been tricked by the enemy’s spell, and I’d made the choice to sacrifice my friends… I couldn’t get those thoughts out of my head. “Guess I’m getting too old for this, too.”

Which reminds me… The person I was hoping to choose as my replacement died in this whole summoning circle mess.

“Argh… What do I do now?”