Paradigm Parasite

Chapter 141: "Grave visitation"

"I get the story."

I nod in agreement, having finished listening to Abdullah's mountainous half-life in a nutshell.

The goblin king sitting opposite me waits patiently for my reply with a somewhat refreshed expression.

Now, what is my decision?

If I believe what I've heard, I'm sure that the elves are under the control of the Gnosis, or some similar organisation.

...Well, I mean, how many people could use such a distinctive symbol?

Definitely Gnostic.

How did those people powder the elves?

It would be difficult to cross the mountain range without the inhabitants noticing, and first of all, what would be the benefit of taking in people who live in such an enclave...

Sigh.

It's hard to say at the moment.

We were going to see them either way, we should probably include confirmation of that.

"As I recall, you want us to wait until the elves are destroyed, but we can lend a hand in some cases."

Abdullah's eyes widen.

"I can't just take your word for it though ....... You understand that, don't you?"

There is no reply to my words.

He just stares at me with a probing gaze.

"I'm going into the Elven Forest in a few days to do some research. I want to put negotiations with the goblins on hold until after that. In relation to that, I'd like you to stop the invasion for a little while... well, I'm not asking you to stop the invasion itself, whatever the outcome. I just need a little time."

"So you want us to wait until you have a better idea of the elves?"

"You can take it that way. If I can use them, I will find a way to bring them in. If not, you can destroy them as you like. But if they are harmful to me, I will help you."

I say, "Well?" I ask.

Abdullah opens his mouth after a short pause.

"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

"Go ahead."

"Can I take your decision as your consensus?"

"Yes, I'll make sure that whatever we decide here is thorough and I'm capable of doing that. You can trust me on that."

"......, what is your definition of useful or useless at ......?"

This is another difficult question.

In short, what is the basis for the decision?

To be frank, I don't really care, but they are a potential threat, considering what would happen if the elves were Gnostic and found out about me.

I'm going to need them to disappear from the world peacefully.

Using the goblins as a cover, it would be convenient for me to destroy them.

I'd like to see the elven realm as a confirmation, ...... rather than simply because I want to.

Perhaps, but Abdullah's story was not false.

There were no discrepancies with what I had heard about the Death Worms before, and from my memory of the goblins I had pulled out so far, I didn't find anything odd about them.

As for the dwarves and trolls, that's none of my business as I'm going to leave them to Fatima.

Well, they will do well.

I'll just have to put the goblins on hold for a little while.

"Either they're a threat to me or they're not."

"And if they don't, will that prevent me from getting my revenge?"

"...... probably not. Unless you're lying to me, there's a high probability they'll be a hindrance to me."

I can honestly say that.

The elves have a high probability of finishing them off.

"Do you expect me to believe that?"

"If you don't want to believe it, that's fine. But before you get your revenge, your assurances of a better tomorrow are gone."

"...... can I have one last question?"

Go ahead.

"Who are you? How do you know Hironori-sama's mother tongue?"

"I have a little connection with the people who speak it. I know some of the black-and-white people you mentioned."

Sorry, I'm not going to tell you everything.

... but let's just be clear about where we stand.

"If those people are really involved, I think I can help, don't you?"

"All right. I believe you. I'll just hold the line for a little while."

"And talk to them about getting me through to the other side."

I'll just have a few more good moods and a few more impressions to make.

"Oh, and if you like, why don't we go to Mr Kofuji's grave at a later date? It's a bit of a distance, but I know where it is."

Abdullah's eyes widen at the suggestion.

Oh, come on. Was it that surprising?

He seems to be conflicted and his gaze is darting this way and that.

He was silent for a while and then bowed his head and said "please" as if he was trying to squeeze out.

"This is not what we had a meeting about?"

After the meeting with Abdullah and the graveside visit, a slightly grumpy-looking Fatima was waiting for me after we broke up.

"Sorry. I'm interested in that goblin story."

"Can you tell me what it's about?"

I nodded and told her the story along the way.

"Are you one of the earthworm's relatives?"

Fatima's impression after listening to the story was very rough.

'You're a landworm... well, that's alright,' she said.

"Do you have to take him all the way to the grave?"

"Even if he's going to obey us, it wouldn't be a bad idea to put him in a good mood to a certain extent."

"Why do you need to put him in a good mood in the first place?"

"I've been thinking about it a bit, and I'd like to avoid relying on root brainwashing if at all possible."

It's not like I'm going to take them under my wing and I don't have to force them into it.

Besides, it reminds me of what happened in the frontier prison.

That thing laughing at me with a goofy smile, surrounded by fake Noh masks.

It looks at Fatima next to me.

Fatima smiles at me, but to me it looks like a mannequin is smiling.

...Is that where I'm going?

When I think about it, a strong resistance arises.

It's not that I've developed feelings for them or anything, but... I feel terribly uncomfortable.

If they are simply made on the premise that they are disposable, like Riley and his team, there is no problem because they can be separated as tools, but if they are used in frequent conversations like Fatima and company, for some reason they feel empty, as if talking to a mirror.

Conversely, I felt a strange freshness in my conversations with Abdullah.

...but I don't hesitate to get rid of them if they do something strange.

It didn't bother me until I came back from the frontier, but now that I'm here, it's strange.

Is this also an effect of leaving that thing?

I have no idea how I've changed.

What did I throw away with that thing?

I was thinking about that until Fatima approached me with a dubious look on her face.

A few days later.

I was on the road riding Savage.

Next to me is a rickshaw pulled by a zombie troll in armour, disguised as a golem, with Abdullah riding in it.

Behind him, a group of goblins in similar armour are running frantically to escort him.

"Lord Roe, where is the location of the tomb?"

"Deep in the woods on the western outskirts of this territory."

A few days after the meeting, I had led Abdullah to the tomb as promised.

At present, the Tierdras Mountains are busy with the post-war process.

Fatima is currently working out the details with representatives of the Trolls and Dwarves, and she is doing a lot of work without a break.

She's handy in times like these.

I wouldn't want to have her anywhere near me, though.

Incidentally, the orcs have been brainwashed, so there's no need to even discuss it.

Radeeb will handle it well.

A lot has changed, but the territory's inhabitants have been kept in the dark about this, so the oratorium is running normally today.

Occasionally, people passing by look at us with a suspicious expression, but it is probably because the Lords' procession is unusual.

Abdullah, like the others, hides his identity by wearing armour and clothes, so there are no particular problems.

The fact that they honestly follow the instructions to disguise themselves may indicate that they have a large heart.

Or is he too worried about the grave to do anything about it?

As I was thinking about this, I began to pass more and more people on the road.

It's about time the village came into view.

The village had been completely rebuilt, as it had been a long time.

The population has also returned to normal, but not quite.

Well, most of the damage was caused by my magic!

I asked if they wanted to pause in the village, but Abdullah shook his head and said no.

I could tell he was fidgeting a bit.

He seems to be more concerned about the graves.

I decided to keep going too, especially as I don't have any problems without a break.

After leaving the village, we entered the forest and proceeded deeper into the forest.

After a few hours of going through the forest, I saw the grave I wanted to go to.

"Here it is."

I said and got off the rickshaw.

Abdullah gets out of the rickshaw and follows me inside.

Inside, nothing had changed at all since I last entered.

I proceeded down a straight corridor and descended a flight of stairs.

After going down for a while, I came out into a large space.

I stop in the middle of the space.

"Oi! Are you here?"

I shout out in Japanese.

After a while, I heard a crawling sound from the back and the small death worm appeared.

"Oh... oh ......"

...?

Looking back, Abdullah shudders and rushes to Death Worm, taking off his helmet.

"Mister Bichiren!"

Death Worm turns his head towards Abdullah as if startled by his voice.

"Are you ...... Abdullah?"

"Yes, that's right! Yes, Mister Bichiren! I... am..."

As he approached Death Worm, he knelt on the spot.

"I am sorry... sorry! I left the great Hironori-sama, to whom I am indebted, and fled, and have lived in shame until this day... if only I had... gone with you... then..."

Death Worm shakes his head as Abdullah kneels down.

"I'm so glad you're safe. He was worried about you to the very end."

Abdullah sobs, perhaps overcome with emotion.

I let out a small breath and go back the way I came.

Let's not do anything wild.

I go straight out of the cemetery.

There seems to be a lot to talk about, so let's just kill some time until they come out.