Paintbrush Summoner – 82

Chapter 82 – War and Killing

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“Huh…?”

Totto froze up. Menew stared at him with a very serious expression.

“Why are you leaving me here…”

Yes, he would ask that. Menew scratched his head and let out a sigh.

“Totto. Could you kill the innkeeper?”

“Huh!?”

“What about the people at the guild? Right now.”

“Uh…”

Totto was confused..

“Ki-kill…”

“That is what you do in war. You have to kill strangers without a reason. Well, there is a reason, but the reason is determined by the country. It is quite different for individuals.”

Of course, Totto had never thought of this question before.

This was not a short journey to another place.

It was going to war.

Menew was trying to convey this reality to Totto.

“Hey, don’t talk like that to a child!”

Mofusen said as he smacked the back of Menew’s head with his slipper. His teeth also went flying out.

Ralph’s left hand went back to his lap, now that it had nothing to do. They were thinking of the same thing.

Mofusen managed to catch his teeth in the air and put them back into his mouth.

“Menew. I understand what you are trying to say. But you could be more considerate.”

He said with a chuckle, as Menew rubbed his head. And then Ralph turned to Totto.

“Totto. You must be confused and scared. But that is war. Menew wants to know what you will do during such a time… Do you have an answer?”

“No… I don’t…not yet…”

“Of course. If you have never killed someone, it is difficult to imagine it. …And if you do not have to, it is better that way. And so you can leave Menew’s question until the time comes.”

Ralph and Mofusen had killed before.

Menew had killed all of those slavers.

Menew turned to Ralph and Mofusen with uncertainty.

If they were too soft, then Totto might follow them. Menew had wanted to avoid that, and had been deliberately harsh.

Ralph and Mofusen understood that as well. They did, but to take the same attitude that you would with an adult… Surely that question was too big of a burden to ask someone so young.

“I’m sorry…for not being useful…”

Apparently, there was also a different reason that Totto was shocked.

Menew held his head and groaned.

“I do have a job that I want you to stay here and do! Here, this!”

He said as he took out the illegal potions.

The ones that Totto had been forced to make at the mansion.

“Make an antidote. And if you can’t, find out how it works. But don’t use it on any living creatures.”

“…!”

After receiving a role, the life seemed to return to Totto’s face.

“This is not something that Ralph or Mofusen could do. I could not do it. But I think that you can. While you will have to stay here, there is something that only you can do.”

“Ye-yes! I-I will do my best!”

“Yes, thank you.”

And so it was settled.

Ralph and Mofusen sighed with relief.

While Totto was too preoccupied to realize it, Menew, Ralph, and Mofusen had basically declared that they were going off to kill people.

Soldiers who they did not know.

Any child would feel afraid, if they realized that adults they were close to were going to do that. As there was no guarantee that their hand would not be directed to them.

“Well, we will avoid fighting when we can…. Also, we are not going because we enjoy it…”

“Yes! I understand!”

“Good. As long as you know. And we will never do anything to harm you, Totto.”

Menew smiled and patted Totto on the head. This simple honesty was the best.

Totto did not shy away from Menew’s hand. Even though it was clear that he had been beaten by the lord of the mansion. And so Menew did not want him to think that all adults used violence without prejudice.

“So, there it is. I want Mofusen and Ralph to accompany me.”

“I know.”

“Hahaha. Going to war without killing. You are too soft. One day, someone will kill you while you sleep.”

Said Mofusen, and so Menew took something out of his bag.

“Revenge Prevention! Myster Masks, XYZ!”

And then he explained to Mofusen about the masks.

When you wore them, it obstructed the recognition abilities of others, making it impossible for them to identify you.

As for why they were going off to war…

(I’m not being threatened, but… Well, it kind of is a threat. Knowing without killing me…)

And so he will create a debt. For Menew, it would be easier to simply kill Ling, but considering the future, and Menew’s own peace of mind, it was not a good idea.

Though, he just said that he believed in the justice of her request. Which was half of the reason.

Mofusen had already wanted to stop the war, after hearing about it at the Scarab Guild. And Ralph had no reason to object or let Menew out of his sight.

And so they talked and planned late into the night.

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