Chapter XC - Aftermath (part 1)

Slowly I opened my eyes, and I immediately understood how it feels to have my body crushed by a truck.

It goes like this. I slowly regained consciousness, I opened my eyes, and without even realizing where I am, I immediately screamed to the top of my lungs.

"Aaaaaaa!!!!!!!"

That is just how painful my entire body felt like.

Once I am capable of thought, I quickly casted healing magic on my whole body. The cracks on the bones, burned muscles, as well as other horrible conditions I was in immediately got healed.

After healing myself, I let out a sigh. I slowly lifted my upper body up and began studying the situation.

I looked at my body, studying if there's any changes. Luckily, there's none, including the charred skin on my hands and legs.

My clothes were nearly ripped apart, so they had me change into a new set of casual clothes. And since the top is short sleeved, they added bandages to cover the nasty skin on my arms.

I wonder who changed my clothes… I hope it's Valey or Cony.

I studied my surroundings and noticed that I am currently inside our tent. There's no one else, but I can sense a lot of people outside. 

I slowly lifted my body and stood up, and I continued studying my body to see if there's any other changes. Aside from the overuse of bandages on my hands and legs, as well on my forehead, I'm pretty much fine.

I began walking towards the exit and took a peek outside.

It's currently afternoon, and the adventurers outside were all busy moving around, doing their own businesses right outside of the dungeon entrance. 

Some of them are carrying large logs, some of them are running around doing stuff. I can see an adventurer holding a paper and a quill, writing stuff while commanding the other adventurers.

No wait, that's Jrake.

Slowly, I opened the tent's tray and began walking outside. Seeing how my condition wasn't bad anymore, it should be fine for me to walk around.

Jrake noticed me coming, and he immediately looked shocked.

"Wo-Hey!! The doctors said you shouldn't move around!! You have broken bones and stuff-"

"Yeah? Well, I healed those."

Jrake said when I approached him. His face was quite shocked and worried but I kept a straight face.

"So, what's happening?"

"Well, everyone is... busy with cleaning up. We are about to leave and head back to the kingdom."

"I see…"

I became quite hesitant to ask, but Jrake seemed to know what is inside my mind. He turned away before saying.

"Go ahead. Ask."

He said coldly, and I let out a sigh before asking.

"Can you… tell me more…?"

My memories… they are always such a pain in the ass.

I couldn't remember anything. What happened down there? I couldn't remember anything after…

After… I turned into a devil…

That feeling was unbearable. That hatred, it was burning my entire body. It was painful, but it was extremely enjoyable.

But… it saved me and Hod. That much is all I cared about.

I remembered seeing Jrake and Valey, along with Cony, Rath, and Barett after the fight. But after that, I somehow lose consciousness.

"… I don't remember anything after I fell."

"Oh..."

Seems like Jrake is keeping something as a secret. But if he is hiding it, that must mean he must have his reasons. That reason must have something to do with me.

"Alright then, keep your secrets."

"W-What?"

I turned towards the dungeon entrance and grinned. Jrake turned his confused face at me, completely disregarding his work.

"I can tell that you are keeping something from me. So, go ahead. Keep your secrets."

"W-Wha..."

Looks like my guess is spot on.

I tried prying my memory open, but I just can't remember what happened afterwards. They didn't rape me, did they?

I looked around and I managed to recognize some of the adventurers. And yet, the ones that I actually know closely aren't here.

My teammates… where are they?

Teammates…

I quickly turned to Jrake after remembering something.

"Hod!! Where is Hod!?"

I asked Jrake, but he shook his head.

"The carriage carrying Hod and your friends already left. Right now, Hod needed some treatment by the best of doctors in Mazino."

"W-What kind... of treatment?"

"... Both physical and psychological."

My fist became harder as my gaze fell down to the ground. He was damaged, to the point that he will probably quit from being an adventurer.

His neck was bitten, he lost a leg, and that was all mostly physical damages. What about his mental state? No matter how strong someone's heart, they are totally not okay when they went through what he just went through.

Technically, I also went through it. But for some reason, I don't feel like dying.

These life and death situations need to stop happening to us… it's really making us age faster...

"I… couldn't protect him."

"Huh?"

"I was too lazy to get up after being knocked away from that three tailed hell hound. By the time I woke up, an explosion occurred. Hod... He lost his leg."

Jrake understood what happened. He probably already imagined what happened. 

He placed his left hand that is holding the quill on my shoulder, and I turned my gaze back at him.

"What happened to him was never your fault. Remember that there was a traitor in our midst."

Hearing him saying that, my eyes immediately went sharp. He can sense the pure bloodlust coming from my glare, but then he chuckled.

"Relax, he's dead. The dungeon boss apparently massacred his entire team before Fran and the others arrived."

Jrake said proudly and then continued by laughing after that. I also let out a sigh of relief.

The asshole is dead...

"Speaking of… What about Fran and the others?"

"Oh, you don't remember? They killed the dungeon boss."

"Oh, really!? Of course I wouldn't know, I was asleep the whole time."

Something from my words somehow ticked Jrake's memory, because he looked confused for a second.

"Ah... Ah, right."

I do not want to pry any further. He had his reasons for keeping a secret, and knowing Jrake, that reason must be something good.

He told me about how Cane and Fran killed the dungeon's boss. They barely had any help from the other adventurers, because the others just couldn't move thanks to the boss' pressure.

"Hmm... That felt quite familiar somehow."

"H-How is that familiar?"

"Just a little secret between me and my girl, Valey."

I recalled back when we fought Galar, Valey was scared to hell and couldn't move. Too much of a pressure can make someone immobilized. I understood at least that much.

Me and Jrake kept on talking about a few things. He helped me get caught up with the news around here before we finally left the dungeon.

The villagers have returned to their homes. The village chief was quite pissed when he noticed how his bathroom was used by the adventurers. But, he was still glad that their problem is now gone.

Armir went back and continued his peaceful life at the village. And since this village is the nearest to the dungeon, a lot of visitors like knights or other adventurers will come to the village so that they can see the dungeon.

This could also prove a good thing for the villagers, but it will still never be comparable to the damages that they have taken. Twelve adults have died, and there is nothing in this world that can make up for that.