Dropped Into Another World V3C43

Chapter 43 – Special Investigation Unit Abar (1)

-Special Investigation Unit Abar’s POV-

I left the tent that Commander Marofe is using as his office.

After walking for a while, I saw the tent I used to sleep in.

I stopped and let out a sigh.

「What’s wrong, Abar? Do you have a problem?」

Rashi, the other adjutant, had just come out of the tent.

「No, the problem is…….nothing.」

Rashi looks confused by my reply.

「So, there is a problem, right? You went to report to Commander Marofe, didn’t you? Was there a seriously ill patient?」

I shook my head to deny that.

「No, no. They were only sick because of fatigue. They should be fine after a few days of rest.」

「I’m glad to hear that. Then, why do you look like that?」

「…..maybe because I finally understood.」

Rashi looked at me as if he had no idea what I was talking about.

「Wait a minute」

Recalling commander’s expression earlier, my expression became distorted.

「Are you alright?」

I nodded in response to Rashi’s worried voice.

I’m alright.

It’s just that I was upset by the magnitude of my own sin.

「I didn’t do anything when I felt something was wrong. Now, I’m seeing the consequences of that, the magnitude of the damage…..and I’m running away from it.」

Rashi looks confused.

In Emperors Kingdom, it was normal for beastkins to be slaves.

At first, I felt a sense of discomfort that something was wrong.

However, I did nothing.

That’s the way things work in the former Emperors so there’s nothing I can do about it.

However, when I looked at the commander, I realized that my excuse was nonsense.

 

He never shows anger about anything.

Rather, his expression barely moves.

At first, I thought he was that kind of person.

That he must have been nervous because he suddenly assumed the position of a commander.

However, something happened that made me realize that he was not expressionless.

It was not that he had no expression but that he was still deprived of it.

When I realized it, I realized that everything was because that’s how he was cultivated when he was still a slave.

He gets up before anyone else, gets ready before anyone else, comes forward and fights before anyone else, and doesn’t show anger no matter how he was treated.

All of this has been forced on them by us, humans.

「Horn and the others said they wanted to apologize to the commander.」

「Horn? Ah, those guys who disobeyed orders.」

「Yeah, there were also a few others who wanted to apologize so I told commander…..」

I sneer at myself remembering our conversation.

「Naive」

「What?」

I was too naïve.

I hoped that he would respond back even only a little.

Or that he would say he won’t forgive them.

However, he acted as if there was nothing wrong with it.

To be honest, I was puzzled by that reaction.

 

The bad attitude of the troops certainly didn’t do any real harm.

However, not when Horn and the others disobeyed orders.

Horn was only slightly injured but commander had a deep cut on his arm.

Moreover, he was not even given medical treatment saying not to worry about it because beastkin’s injuries heal quickly.

 

Come to think of it, it all started because of that cut.

I was curious about what commander was thinking and doing.

Then, I observed commander and realized.

I realized that he was still stuck in the past.

No, maybe it’s only us humans who have made it from the past.

「Speaking of which, did you hear about the status of commander’s injury?」

「I didn’t.」

「Why?」

Why?

That’s right….why?

I didn’t even think to ask.

Why?

「I don’t know.」

「This is unusual. I never thought Abar would be lost in thought.」

Am I?

I don’t think so.

I just don’t want to admit something.

Don’t want to admit something?

What…..

「Ah, I see.」

That day, the day he denied to be treated.

After hearing commander’s words, I thought “Yeah, right”.

Looking back on it now, it’s strange not to be treated when he’s injured.

And yet I thought, “Yeah”.

I thought since he’s a beastkin, “It’s okay for him to get injured”.

「I’m the worst.」

「Eh?」

I see.

It’s not just the commander who has been trapped in the past.

Me too.

And I didn’t want to notice.

It’s my fault he’s keeping his distance from us, isn’t it?

「What are you doing?」

We turned our gaze when we heard someone suddenly barging into our conversation. We found that it was Vice Commander Pisce.

Speaking of which, I forgot to go into the tent and talk.

「Ehto, we were just talking.」

「In front of the tent?」

Rashi can only give out a dry laugh to our second in command who looks confused.

Right now, my head is a mess.

I’ve never been so sure of myself as I am right now.

「Did something happen?」

Vice commander turned his gaze to me.

For some reason, I can’t look back at him straight.

I quickly lowered my gaze and I sensed that even Rashi was confused.

It’s pathetic but I’m ashamed to admit it.

Behind the scenes, there are still supporters of slavery.

Even though I deny it, I’m not different from them.

「What is Vice Commander Pisce doing?」

Rashi speaks to the vice commander in a slightly cheerful voice.

He must have been helping me because I was acting strange.

I clench my fist tightly.

「Ah, I thought Horfe and Mafe are overworked so I thought I’d limit the number of kills to one per person.」

「「Huh?」」

One per person?

And Horfe and Mafe are overworked?

They’re beastkins just like commander.

「Or maybe limit it to two kills per person. Anyway, I thought of limiting those two guys a little bit and letting the other guys work. Speaking of which, is there anyone here who isn’t feeling well?」

Vice Commander hands me a document which I take.

I see that there are a few checks on the list of names.

「Muro will need to rest for 3 days. What do these checks mean?」

「These are the men Horfe and Mafe teamed up with today. I plan to spend more time working these guys down tomorrow. They took it easy today after all.」

Easy?

「What do you mean? They worked hard today too, didn’t they?」

I agree with Rashi and look at Vice Commander.

I remember the work of the squad members today but they don’t seem to be taking it easy.

「Haven’t you noticed? When you team them up with Horfe and Mafe, the tough job will be given to those two.」

「「Eh?」」

Both Rashi and I froze upon hearing what Vice Commander had said.

I never noticed.

No, that’s not it.

Is that really the case?

I just realized that I’m too stuck in the past.

What if I had been putting Horfe and Mafe to do the tough job too?

What if I was trying to avoid noticing things that I could have judged if I looked at them properly?

「You don’t seem to be overlooking it. It’s more like you haven’t noticed.」

I choked up at Vice Commander’s words.

「……sorry.」

「There’s no point in apologizing to me.」

Vice Commander is right.

I have apologized to the wrong person.

But…..

「Well, I’m sure commander, Horfe, and Mafe will end up with some strange look on their faces.」

I’m sure they will.

My apology will probably won’t get through them.

But still, vice commander is watching everything closely.

「Vice Commander Pisce, when did you notice?」

「What?」

「That commander and the others are still stuck in the past?」

Hearing my words, Vice Commander looks at me.

「They are not the only ones who were trapped in the past, are they?」

I was at a loss for words when Vice Commander said that.

「That’s okay. As for your question, I felt uncomfortable when we arrived at the village attacked by the mixtures.」

That soon?

「I wanted to be needed by Commander Marofe because I couldn’t do anything for them in the old days. I was only watching.」

That is true for many of us.

If only I had been able to do something more back then.

「It’s already in the past so don’t blame yourself.」

Already in the past?

I stared at Vice Commander as he spoke.

「At that time, it was the norm in Emperors Kingdom. You can’t overturn it.」

That might be true.

The king was a terrifying being.

In front of the king, we have to be careful and keep a low profile to make sure we won’t stand out.

「However, it’s different now. So, I’m trying to figure out how to change the status quo.」