"You...you saw it early on?"

"How is it possible? It's just good luck."

I didn't expect that I could ask so many questions. I could get the truth by inferring from a hypothesis. A large part of it was luck, and the rest was thanks to Uncle A's razor.

"Does the Divine Eye work?"

"It does almost nothing."

That guy once had murderous intentions towards me - naturally I couldn't tell Qian Zhihe about this.

I patted the dust on my clothes and said nonchalantly:

"Now that the matter is over, let's consider how to deal with that guy first. Speaking of which, if you want to arrest him and he refuses to admit that he is a deserter, don't expect me to help you."

"You mean...you sympathize with that gentleman?"

"I just don't want to meddle in other people's business. Since that guy is harmless to the town, there is no need to cause any more trouble..."

"You really like small towns."

"That's why I hope it is 'eternal'~"

We walked out of the utility room and found that the darts in the hall had been picked up. After confirming that nothing was missing, we left the church.

It was a rare opportunity to visit the church with Qian Zhihe, but we encountered this kind of thing. Fortunately, it was resolved smoothly, which is a blessing among misfortunes.

If you leave that guy alone, who knows what kind of trouble will happen...

My lovely little town of Vige, you have to thank the unknown and lonely old man.

"Hey, are you worried?"

Seeing that Qianzhihe was silent, I asked.

"That gentleman... seemed very scared of the fact that he had killed a demon."

"Well..."

I recall the guy pulling at his hair to calm himself down.

He looks like a madman.

"Are the soldiers on the front line still so afraid of killing... No, they are killing demons."

"Demons are humans too, right?"

The demon clan is mainly composed of demonic betrothed hosts and those who practice taboo magic without authorization. Nowadays, the number of demon clan has increased sharply and they are connected with each other. They have been engaged in a decades-long war with the empire.

But from a biological point of view, they are no different from ordinary humans.

"The demons are the demons."

Qian Zhihe’s tone was firm.

"Well..."

"I don't understand, why are you scared?"

I feel the gaze of Qianzhihe.

"Isn't one of the duties of a soldier to destroy the demons that endanger the empire? Is there anything to feel guilty about?"

"...That guy probably doesn't feel guilty because he killed the demons. I think it might be the 'killing' itself."

"'Killing' itself?"

"Didn't he tell you before? That was the first time he killed someone with his own hands..."

I followed my own understanding and said while walking:

"Quoting Lao Rubu's battlefield experience - killing someone for the first time will produce huge psychological resistance, so killing requires practice... Although I have never killed anyone before, I can't fully explain it."

"..."

"If you want to participate in the war in the future, you will definitely have to go through this kind of test."

"I will prepare it in advance."

"Come on~~"

I glanced at Qian Zhihe. Her expression was solemn and she was biting her lower lip.

After experiencing this, can she still be as determined in her goal of participating in the war? Can she still view the war with a normal attitude? Can she still encourage young people to join the battlefield so enthusiastically?

Can she really get used to killing?

How should I...support her? Can I do it?

It’s so annoying. I hate doing multiple-choice questions.

......

The name of the "deserter" is Philemon Deaf.

Just in case something unexpected happens, I made up a new identity for him:

[Mondy, a businessman, and his grandfather once lived in a small town. He returned to the small town after his business went bankrupt and is now looking for a new job.]

"That's it, go ahead."

After the explanation, I nodded towards Monty.

The current location is a hotel.

"Okay..."

Monty checked in with my fake identity, and I followed him into the room.

"Well~~It's done. Congratulations on your smooth integration into the town, Mr. Mundy."

"I'm grateful for your care...but...why do I have to have a grandfather...who lived in a small town?"

"Everyone in the town is quite repulsive to outsiders. Doing this will make everyone regard you as a local. And your 'grandfather' lived in such a distant era, it is difficult to verify, isn't it?"

"Well...but, but I can't prove..."

"Oh, you guy, you look so timid, but you think about things very thoughtfully——"

It seems that I underestimated him.

"But don't worry, I was just about to say this - whenever someone asks you who your grandfather is, you just need to say that Mr. Gu Lao has met him and ask him to come to see me... Ah, 'Lao Gu'

'That's my name."

"...Huh?"

"What? You don't believe it? Well...although I look like a young man, I'm actually over a hundred years old."

Monty still looked puzzled. I was too lazy to talk. Talking too much would be useless:

"Okay, okay, believe it or not, in short, you just do as I say, understand?"

"...Okay..."

Sigh, so tired... This guy is so cowardly.

"Besides, no matter what, don't betray me. I'm trying my best to help you."

"Of course."

"Do you plan to live in a small town forever?"

"If nothing else happens..."

"May I ask, your family...?"

"I won't go to them -"

Monty shook his head resolutely, with a sad voice:

"Once they discover me, they will definitely order me to fight again."

"Eh..."

I wanted to find some words of comfort in my head, but what came out of my mouth was:

"Then please be sure not to cause trouble in the small town. Just pretend that the memory of the past does not exist. From today on, you will draw a clear line from the past."

"Okay...Okay..."

"Wish us a happy time together."

"Happy..."

Monty gritted his teeth and forced out a relieved smile:

"Thank you..."

I turned around and went out without looking back.

I don’t want to see my uncle shed tears.

......
To be continued...