Vol 1 Chapter 13 – Huh, what?

“Rebuilding’s really coming along nicely, huh~”

Villagers are still busily running around in front of me.

Even the buildings and facilities that the bandits destroyed have been largely restored.

Apparently, with a powerful supporter like Al around, they’ve even come out more impressive than they originally were.

Originally, the village didn’t have many grand buildings, so the reconstruction has been moving along smoothly.

…And just as Rasha and Hannah said, not once did we receive any support from the domain.

This place is incredible.

“Ah, that’s a good thing. Everyone’s looking ahead. These villagers are hardy folk.”

Al looked pleased.

Honestly, he’s such a good person. Even I, as a Holy Sword, find myself drawn to him.

…That said, he’s absolutely over the top.

“So, how long are you going to keep helping?”

“For now, since I’ve come this far, I figure I might as well see it through. It turns out my power is pretty helpful for this village, too. If I can use my strength for others, it only makes sense to give it my all.”

“Ugh… well, it’s not like it affects me, but fine.”

I can’t believe he’d go that far for someone else.

It’s true I’m a Holy Sword and not human, but even among humans, there are few who would work that hard for others.

…And I’ve never once heard anyone say it’s strange for a Holy Sword not to help people. That’s just nonsense.

“Thank you so much, Alvarado-san. Not only did you rescue us, but you’ve helped us so much…”

“Don’t give it another thought. As I told my Beloved Sword, if my power is going to help people like this, I’ll lend it as much as needed.”

“Alvarado-san…”

Rasha gazed at Al with her cheeks faintly flushed.

I wonder just how far he intends to make this woman fall for him in just a few days.

And Rasha’s taste in men is terrible.

Well, he literally saved her life and warded off countless thugs from her homeland, so I get why she’d feel that way…

Also, Al’s personality—whoever really likes him really, truly falls for him.

His sense of justice and goodness is so compelling that even a Holy Sword like me finds him irresistible.

For a girl who hasn’t yet tasted life’s ups and downs, it must have been an unbelievably potent drug.

And on top of that, his goodness is ridiculously over the top.

Everyone has some measure of justice and goodness, but Al’s is off the charts, totally bonkers.

And weirdly, people tend to gravitate toward those who are over the top, whether for good or bad.

The one who fell was Rasha.

…I’ve said it all too often, but her taste is awful.

“Besides, fixing what villains have destroyed is justice, after all.”

“Oh? You sure love talking about justice and evil, don’t you?”

It was Hannah, shooting me a hardened look.

Whereas Rasha is crazy about Al—even if it’s more admiration than ordinary love—I found Hannah to be somewhat resentful.

Frankly, from where I stand, she looks like a kid pouting because someone’s stealing her precious friend.

This is what you get when you’re a loner with barely any friends…

“I’m really grateful you saved Rasha and everything… but why are you so hung up on justice and evil? That talk is pretty complicated, right?”

Justice and evil.

Because they hold such immense power and meaning, they’re inherently ambiguous.

Their definitions differ for each person, and everyone has their own standards of judgment.

It’s a pretty tough question.

“Yeah, true. I once pondered it, too… for a few seconds.”

“Seconds…?”

Many people get seriously tangled up in thought and end up in a mental spiral, yet he says ‘a few seconds’?

At that point, it’s barely worrying…

Honestly, it’s less of a struggle than deciding what to have for dinner tonight…

“‘The antonym of justice isn’t evil. The opposite of justice is another form of justice,’ some say.”

Al gazed off into the distance.

“If you put it that way, it’s true: in the name of justice you can’t tell who’s really doing the right thing. As Hannah said, it’s a complicated matter. I’d imagine that everyone but me has to wrestle with this dilemma. It must be tough.”

“What? And what about you?”

I couldn’t help but ask Al.

Seriously, this is a really tough issue.

I’m not sure since I’ve seldom been wielded by humans, but other Holy Swords say that their wielders often run into this dilemma when they’re venting to them.

Wow, sounds rough. Then again, it’s not my concern.

And while I was thinking that, I was grabbed by this nutcase and put to work.

“I’ve already overcome this dilemma.”

“Really? How did you manage that?”

I’m extremely curious.

A difficult question even those with power struggle with.

To have overcome it means you’ve found an answer.

When asked, Al nodded solemnly and, with a resolute expression free of doubt, opened his mouth.

“―――――I am justice.”

“Eh…”

At Al’s outrageous proclamation, Hannah and I spoke in stunned voices at the same time.

What… is this guy…?