The Babysitter Wants to Stop Dying

Chapter 29: Deep in the Mountains, a Small Village (1)

“The damage is immense. How could something like this happen in Eastbourne, which is fortified with defenses everywhere……. The number of casualties is currently over 1,600. Who knows how much it will increase!”

Mago's voice was more somber than ever before.

Half a day after Arsen left with the Knights.

Eastbourne was swarming with dispatched personnel from surrounding cities and the Association, trying to manage the situation.

As Camila was the highest-ranking person on site, she was too busy giving orders and listening to reports to catch her breath.

“It was an AA-class outbreak. The fact that District 3 didn't disappear entirely is a good outcome.”

Camila, who had emotionlessly handed a man a document regarding shelter for the displaced, finally turned her head to look at Mago.

“Has the monster's route of appearance been identified?”

“……The Association is in the process of tracking it, but there have been no significant results yet. I will inform you immediately if another report comes in later.”

Mago felt his mouth go dry at Camila, who seemed completely unfazed even though so many people had died. Even at the Center, he had been inwardly taken aback by her aloofness, but it seemed like she had shown more reaction back then.

‘How can a person see such a living hell and be like that?’

Mago tried to maintain his composure and calmed his churning stomach.

“Betty Ben, Jan Volkers, Philemon Maxell, Moris……. Mago, I don't need to read the survivor list, do I?”

“Ah, I'm sorry. I gave you the wrong one.”

As she frowned and closed the file, Mago hurriedly handed her another one.

“Um, but, Lady Camila.”

“What is it.”

“This might sound strange, but I feel like I have to ask.”

“You should know. I don't like it when people drag out their words.”

Camila, with her eyes fixed on the new document, furrowed her brow deeply. A sign that her patience was running out, Mago finally let out the words he had been hesitating to say.

“Lady Camila, it seems as if you knew something was going to happen. That something is happening, no, that something is going to happen.”

“I don't know what you mean.”

Camila, who had snapped the file shut, looked at Mago with impassive eyes. Despite her intimidating gaze, Mago swallowed hard and spat out the rest of his words.

“Of course, I was just stating my feelings. However, I was wondering if Lady Camila had any idea about this monster incident……”

“Of course not.”

Camila cut him off sharply. Mago tried to open his mouth to say something more, but just then, someone urgently called for the Professor from the side.

Tsk, she clicked her tongue and turned her body with a tired expression. Mago, who was watching the receding Camila, bowed his head and bit his lip.

‘No way, it can't be.’

Camila, who had stopped him on the hill when he was about to go and rescue Arsen and Lottie. The strange feeling he got back then would have been noticeable to anyone, not just him. That's how suspicious Camila Ingram was.

At this moment, only one thought was running through Mago's mind.

The only beings who could wield transcendent power besides superhumans.

Devil worshippers.

Mago shook his head hard to shake off the ominous thoughts that kept filling his mind.

“……No. It can't be.”

What kind of person she was.

The genius of the century, the one who had changed the pattern of Gate appearances, was none other than Camila Ingram.

“It can't be.”

Mago muttered to himself several times as if to reassure himself, then slowly started to walk. But the seed of doubt that had already sprouted could never be erased.

Unless it was burned, the overgrown vine would soon cover everything.

***

Hee-hee-hing-!

“This damned cargo wagon!”

Along with the sound of a horse's cry, the body of the wagon suddenly tilted. Everyone rolled to the right and their eyes shot open. What helped them wake up completely was Phillip's shout.

“Uu-uu-.”

“It's okay, it's okay.”

I reflexively woke up and patted Lottie's back at the same time. I soothed the child whose face was scrunched up from the sudden situation and looked at Delphi.

“What happened?”

Despite the wagon tilting, she was holding onto the side canvas and had stuck her head out to see the situation.

I had only intended to close my eyes for a bit, but a considerable amount of time must have passed, as it was already completely dark outside. The surroundings of the wagon, which had left Eastbourne and entered a mountain path, were pitch black.

“It seems there's a problem with the wagon wheel.”

Delphi stared at the dark outside for a long time, then turned her gaze back inside.

“Everyone, get up. I don't think we can go any further.”

“No wonder it was so noisy from the start, I knew this would happen!”

Phillip shrieked as he scratched his head vigorously.

“I'm still sleepy……”

“I think we should get up for now. Let's get a grip.”

In the midst of it all, Romero was whining childishly, so I quickly helped her up. I had seen Delphi glaring in this direction.

“What happened?”

“W-well, everyone inside needs to come out.”

As Delphi, who had gotten off the cargo bed, asked, the driver's flustered voice was heard.

***

“Oh dear.”

I let out a small sigh as I looked at the wagon wheel illuminated by the oil lamp. Both wheels on the right side of the cargo bed were completely shattered.

‘It's a wonder it was fine after running on that unpaved road the whole time.’

While I was holding Lottie and wondering if there was anything I could do, the three Knights were just watching me from a distance as I blinked and touched various parts of the wagon.

As if they had no knowledge of such things, they seemed rather interested in my actions.

“The joint is completely broken too.”

If the wagon wheel had just come off or had a minor breakdown, I would have tried to fix it, but this required a completely new wheel. Still, if there was a spare, I could just replace it.

“Do you have a spare wheel?”

I asked the driver, who was squatting and just looking at the broken wheel. If he had one, he would have taken it out, but since he was just sighing and doing nothing, it was highly likely that he didn't.

“I had already changed it several times and was planning to buy a new one in Eastbourne, but with all that commotion……”

So, you're saying you don't have one.

“Our journey has been disrupted, what should we do……”

The driver kept glancing at us.

He knew that the people he was transporting were a group of travelers heading to the 3rd Continent. This cargo wagon, which Mago had procured while Camila was away, was heading to 'Coblo Harbor' to take us to the 3rd Continent.

The driver, who seemed to have already received a hefty payment from Mago, seemed worried that we would ask for the money back.

“I'll just pull it up the mountain……”

“Stay still.”

“Okay.”

As soon as Romero opened her mouth, Delphi firmly shut her up. She was probably going to say she would pull the cargo wagon herself.

The cargo wagon we were on was quite large, with a large cargo bed attached to the back of the small body where the driver sat. In other words, if one side of the wheels was completely broken like this, it would be impossible to pull it even with two horses.

The balance was off, it was a mountain path, not flat ground, and to top it all off, the cargo bed was full of luggage.

But for Romero to just pull something like this with a grin on her face?

The driver would undoubtedly be extremely shocked. Rumors would naturally spread, and the rumors would soon be exaggerated and could be blown up to the size of Romero's true self. Especially with such a conspicuous suit that was hard to forget.

“Is there a solution?”

What's important right now is whether we can use this cargo wagon.

At my words, the driver realized that we had no intention of leaving the wagon and hurriedly nodded his head.

“When morning comes, a few other cargo wagons will pass by. We just have to spend the night here until then!”

“Hey, we can't sleep outside. There's a child with us.”

Phillip, for once, was saying the right thing. I was also reluctant to sleep outside. It would be nice if the weather was mild, but the mountains on an autumn night are as cold as winter.

Even if the bear pajamas were thick, it would be difficult to have Lottie sleep outside without at least a coat. In fact, I was also shivering in just a shirt.

“Isn't there a village nearby? Or at least an inn.”

As I readjusted Lottie in my arms and asked, the driver's expression hardened. Don't tell me there's nothing?

“Is there nothing?”

When I asked again seriously, the driver answered in a crawling voice.

“There is, but it's a neighborhood I wouldn't recommend……”

“What, is it a den of bandits or something? We have to spend the night, so just tell us.”

At Phillip's hearty joke, the driver hesitated for a moment, then raised his finger and pointed to the mountain path that was still a long way off.

“If you follow this path, you'll come to a very small village. It's the only village in this area, and it'll be morning even if you walk all the way to the next village we were originally going to.”

Hearing that, it seemed like I could see a faint light in the distance.

“Then let's load the valuables onto the horse and hide the wagon in the forest for now. We can't have someone steal it.”

As soon as our destination was decided, I formulated a plan in my head and turned to take the luggage from the cargo bed. But I couldn't take a step. I had to stop because of the clothes being pulled from behind.

“N-no. I will stay here with the horses.”

“What? You're going to stay alone in a mountain like this?”

At the incomprehensible words, I tilted my head, and the driver frantically nodded his head while stroking the horse's neck.

“It's fine. I often sleep outside like this, and above all, with these two, even a pack of wolves won't dare to attack.”

At his words, everyone's gaze naturally turned to the two horses in front.

I knew they were unusually large, but I guess they're a type of warhorse. I heard that they train ferocious and belligerent retired warhorses for trade and sell them at a high price.

“Since there's a child, don't worry about me and just go.”

“Then, just in case……”

The Knights didn't seem to have any intention of persuading the driver who didn't want to go with them, and just packed their own luggage and got ready to leave. Just before heading up the mountain path, Phillip reached out his hand towards the driver.

“Th-this is!”

The driver's face was filled with surprise even in the moonlit mountain. With a faint green light, the driver was engulfed in a translucent membrane.

‘A barrier?’

So that's what a shield was. I now understood exactly what Delphi meant when she called Phillip zero-attack power.

A barrier creator.

In other words, a defense-specialized superhuman.

As expected of the Knights. Ability users who can create barriers are rare.

“You were a superhuman! My goodness!”

“It only works as a temporary measure from a distance, but it should be able to block wolves.”

“Th-thank you!”

I thought he was a thoughtless colt type, but he knew how to be kind too. Phillip putting a shield on the driver was quite unexpected.

“Then see you in the morning!”

Romero, who greeted cheerfully and went ahead with a whoosh. We followed her one by one. Just as I was about to take a step.

“Excuse me, baby's dad.”

“Yes?”

Now I was naturally responding to the word 'dad'. As I approached the driver who had called me with a stiff face, he whispered softly.

“I'm telling you because you seem like very good people……”

For some reason, the driver hesitated, glancing around.

“Be careful. Especially, never let go of the child and sleep with them in your arms.”

“……Is there something in that village?”

What. This is obviously suspicious.

“I don't know for sure. But there are some very bad rumors among the merchants. Some say that people who went to the village disappeared······.”

The driver mumbled, turning his head as if he didn't want to say more.

“Arsen! Hurry up!”

“Newbie!”

As I was staring blankly at the driver, Romero and Phillip called out from behind. My stiff feet slowly touched the ground.

If I hear something like this…….

‘I don't want to go.’