Don't Be Holy! - Chapter 36
Can we survive this?
Meanwhile, Rubel thought as he tightened his grip on his sword.
Though he typically avoided weak thoughts, he couldn’t help but think pessimistically since he was surrounded by useless old men and children who would be better off not being there at all.
There was no sign of dawn, the monsters were overwhelming in number, and both the group repairing the village’s barrier and the group spreading Pahma powder to lure monsters elsewhere seemed equally slow.
No matter how many times they explained that this elite few, including Rubel, needed to buy time to prevent the village’s annihilation, these useless humans wouldn’t keep quiet for even a moment, whether out of fear or thoughtlessness.
From stories about fighting with their wives to unnecessary information about some kid still being a virgin.
Were they asking to die together?
Though they had contacted the temple for reinforcements, there was no knowing when they would arrive.
Rubel’s fingers moved restlessly as he considered various options. Just then, the man who had been spreading rumors like a wild beast fixed his gaze directly on Rubel.
“Come to think of it, Lu. Who are you planning to give that to?”
“What?”
When Rubel asked back as if he didn’t understand, the man’s eyes grew more mischievous. He looked around at everyone present, then stood forward like an actor.
“Everyone knows what my shop sells, right? But this guy recently bought something that’s obviously meant for a woman, didn’t he? And he won’t say who it’s for.”
Rubel rolled his eyes but didn’t give any particular answer. People watched them with interested gazes.
Their eyes were careful yet curious, as if hearing their stern teacher’s love story for the first time.
The man continued speaking. A barely suppressed laugh seeped through his words.
“You see, in my opinion, when a man buys that for a woman? It’s only possible if he’s truly in love. When I was doing business near the capital, I could always tell which couples were having affairs and which were truly in love. The kinds of items from my shop aren’t given as gifts between people who are just dating casually.”
“So who is it?”
“Who did you buy it for?”
Following the man’s pompous words, people asked one after another with curious voices. Rubel shook the blood off his sword with annoyance and said.
“Enough. It’s not an important matter.”
“How can you say it’s not important? This concerns the fate of all the village women.”
Unable to bear their persistent pestering any longer, Alf stepped in.
“He said it’s not important, didn’t he? Put away your shameless curiosity. Is this really the time for this?”
But even Alf wasn’t free from this matter. A friend who knew who Alf liked couldn’t help but burst out.
“Could it be Eir?”
Though Alf frowned and struck his friend’s shoulder to shut him up, his friend had already seen how Rubel’s movements suddenly froze.
What had started as a joke had become something else entirely the moment it was spoken.
“That can’t be. Aren’t they like siblings?”
While someone nearby defended Rubel, he frowned and muttered unconsciously.
“No way. That’s impossible.”
His tone was so cold that people couldn’t tell if it was an answer to Eir being the recipient of the gift or to them being like siblings, but they couldn’t say anything.
“Ah!”
Just then, someone who had been watching the mountain inhaled sharply and let out a fear-filled groan.
As Rubel raised his sword and stepped forward, everyone quickly fell silent. While his sharp eyes scanned beyond the dark forest, not even breathing could be heard around him.
After a while, Rubel clicked his tongue and lowered his sword.
“We’re surrounded.”
