Virus Tensei Kara Isekai Kansen Monogatari Ch. 18 – The Value of Life

(Is he the owner of the carriage…?)

I glanced at the effeminate-looking man, and tilted my head.

He wore well-tailored clothes that were obviously expensive, and there was a hint of elegance in each of his movements.

His face wore a composed smile, with sharp slit-eyes.

The effeminate man spoke out to me, as he held his hands forward.

“Thank you, thank you! It appears as if the strong smell from my cargo attracted nearby Gray Wolves. The adventurers hired as escorts were far too tired from our journey to continue fighting. I’m remiss to admit our carelessness.”

Quite the talkative person.

The tension was also quite high.

It was difficult to imagine him as someone that has just been cornered by a pack of Wolves.

Seeing me dumbfounded, the effeminate man thankfully brought me back to my senses.

“My apologies for the late introduction. My name is Roy Endhardt, of the Valéry Firm. Please, call me Roy.”

If he was associated with trading, then that meant this carriage was loaded with goods.

Since he was the one to come forward first, he was likely the one in charge.

The effeminate man- no, Roy sent me his gaze.

Ahh, he had been expecting me to reciprocate with my own name.

I slackly shook my head..

“It’…s not, …some…thing…impor…tant. I’m…just a ..swords…man.”

The merchant wore a strange expression once he began to hear my manner of speech.

I continued speaking without panicking.

“An… old… battle… wound… makes… speaking… hard…I…apologize…for…that”

This was the explanation I had prepared in advance. In a world filled with monsters, it wasn’t too incongruous.

“No, no, it’s no problem at all! That type of thing isn’t uncommon.”

Roy gave some words of sympathy.

He was a little theatrical about it, but he didn’t seem to be lying.

Thankfully, I’d gotten away with it.

“Even so, that battle earlier was truly amazing. Your level of skill had all of my guards impressed.”

Roy chuckled as he watched the guards setting the carriage the right way up.

The gaze I had felt from him earlier didn’t indicate that he suspected me as a monster.

This was relieving, as I no longer had to consider taking drastic measures.

Roy had been praising me non-stop as I inwardly pat my chest.

“The way you fought was as if you did not fear death. I’ve met many adventurers in my time, but this was the first time I’d ever seen one fight with such ferocity. It wasn’t foolhardiness or barbarism, but purely an overwhelming sense of self-confidence in the ability that accompanied it. You finished with so much energy to spare, and I absolutely adore the way you look.”

Roy’s praises had been so accurate that I nearly laughed.

I truly wasn’t afraid to die, I could just revive.

Unless the virus had been completely eradicated, I would never disappear.

With that certainty, it allowed me to fight without fear. 

It wasn’t normal to simply jump into a battle.

“You’re… praising… me… too… much”

“What are you saying! There’s no fault in my eyes, ask any of the adventurers escorting me and you’d get the same answer.”

After saying that, Roy returned to the carriage and waiting escorts.

They each came to express their gratitude and to praise me.

It really wasn’t like that, they were evaluating me a little too highly.

As I continued the conversations amicably, I snuck the virus into each of them.

> Symptom Discovered [Parrying I]

> Symptom Discovered [Reflexes I]

> Symptom Discovered [Kinetic Vision I]

> Symptom Discovered [Battle Perception I]

> Symptom Discovered [Combat Instincts I]

> Symptom Discovered [Evasion II]

> Symptom Discovered [Composure I]

> Symptom Discovered [Insight II]

> Symptom Discovered [Intuition I]

I wasn’t aiming to silence any of them with the virus, but rather I wanted to gather as many symptoms as possible.

Also, I was genuinely curious as to what types of skills Humans would give me.

Please, forgive me for turning you into carriers with no symptoms.

I’m not trying to abuse it, truly.

Anyhow, I was able to acquire a great number of skills.

Since they were primarily adventurers, I gained a lot of combat oriented symptoms.

Looking over them, they gave the strong impression of skills suited for surviving.

As for me, an amateur, I was just grateful for any symptoms that could help me in battle.

I felt glad that I helped them, and this was undoubtedly a feast.

Noticing my satisfaction, Roy deeply bowed his head to me.

“Again, thank you very much for your cooperation. If you’d like to come with me to the Merchant’s Association, I would be happy to prepare you a small gift of appreciation.”

“That… won’t… be… necessary. Your… survival… was… already… reward… enough…”

After all, if you were dead, I wouldn’t be able to gain symptoms.

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