Countless people.
That scale.
A magical disaster.
A teleportation disaster.
Why didn't I realize it?
That Hitogami said 『Large Scale Magical Disaster』.
Why did I think that Buina village would be fine?
I see.
Everyone is missing...
"In other words... Sylphy as well?"
When I say that, Paul once again makes an irritated expression.
"Rudi. You're more concerned about a woman than your own mother?"
I gulp.
"K-, Kaa-sama is still missing!?"
"Yeah. I couldn't find her at all! Lilia as well!"
Paul's bitter words hit me like a slap.
I stagger like I'd been hit.
My legs are unsteady.
I feel like I'm going to collapse.
In front of me is a chair.
I somehow manage to lean on it.
"To search for the missing people, we formed into a search party organization."
A search party.
I see.
In other words, the people here are the search party?
"B-, but why would a search party kidnap people?"
"There are those who became slaves as well."
Slaves.
Having been teleported, without knowing where they are, they're deceived, and then made into slaves...
And apparently there are a great number of people like this.
Paul and his group seem to compare slaves one by one against the missing person list, and earnestly ask the owner for their freedom. However, among them are many who don't want to part with the slaves that they've obtained. According to Milisian law, no matter the circumstances, once a person is made a slave they are the property of their master.
That's why Paul decided to forcefully abduct the slaves.
Stealing slaves is of course a crime.
But there's a loophole in this law.
Using this, Paul freed countless slaves.
Of course, if it was according to their wishes, then it would have been fine to leave the slaves.
However, the majority of the slaves begged in tears to be allowed to return to their hometown.
The boy they rescued this time was one of them.
I thought I had seen his face somewhere, that boy was one of those who had bullied Sylphy in the past, Somal.
During this past year, he had been made to live as a prostitute.
Hearing the bitter cries of those who were made into slaves, but among them were those who couldn't be saved.
In other words, there were also those who were neglected by some of the nobles, but couldn't understand the search party's high-handed way of doing things.
From above, from below, they were criticized from all sides.
Though Paul's nerves were worn down each day, he never gave up and continued to give his best.
All for the sake of saving those who were teleported due to the magical calamity.
"Rudi. I thought that you had already noticed the situation long ago, and had already taken action."
At Paul's words, I hang my head without power.
Don't say something so unreasonable...
How exactly was I supposed to realize?
Ahh, but, I see.
I see.
It's possible that during my journey on the Demon Continent, there were people from Fedoa region in one of the towns I passed through.
Had I asked one of them for their stories, I might have realized the severity of the situation.
I was negligent in confirming the situation.
I should have prioritized finding out about the disaster over Ruijerd's situation.
I've failed.
"So for you to have been having a carefree adventure is..."
Thoughtlessness.
Ahh, that's right.
That's right, isn't it?
While I was being aroused by Eris's panties.
While I was being aroused by the bodies of the young women at the adventurers guild.
While I was licking the thighs of the Demon Realm's Great Empress.
While I was groping the bodies of the beast-eared girls...
Paul had been risking his life to find our family.
Of course he's angry.
"..."
Only, I can't apologize.
Because it couldn't be helped, right?
How should I say this?
It's because I thought that I had been trying my best at that time.
"..."
Paul doesn't say a thing.
Norn is silent too.
However, I can feel from her gaze a strong sense of rejection.
That feeling gouges at me.
It gouges at my heart.
It gouges at my soul.
When I look around, I find that all of Paul's companions had been looking at me with looks of reproach.
Thoughts of my past cross my mind.
It was the day after, when the pictures of me, shown to be naked and inferior, were pasted around the school.
The looks of everyone when I entered the classroom...
The inside of my mind turned pure white.