Chapter 88 - 87: Hero Or Ruler?

After taking care of the first camp, they headed to the second camp. There weren't many bandits in the second camp, their number being only up to twenty-four.

So taking care of them was relatively easier. Well, it was not like the bandit didn't put up their fight. They did manage to leave some minor injuries on Grey and Hina, but it was nothing major. 

"Please don't kill me!!! I was doing this bandit work because I have a kid and wife, I have to feed them!!!" begged the last remaining bandit.

Watching all his comrade fall, the bandit had lost all his strength in his leg due to fear, he wasn't able to run away. 

Grey didn't pay attention to what the bandit was saying, more like he didn't want to hear it. Walking towards the bandit, he raised his sword, 

"No... Please stay away!!" screamed Bandit, begging Grey to stay away from him. 

Grey's hand had again started shaking uncontrollably, to the point where he lost the strength to hold the blade. Letting go of his blade, Grey still continued to walk towards the bandit.

But bandit was relieved since he thought he had been spared,

"Thank you so much!! I will turn my life ---" 

Stretching his hand, Grey brought his plan near bandit's face, 

"Divine Frost" 

"Huh?" said Bandit before his body froze to a point where all of his body disintegrated in an instant. 

With a gust of wind, the little flakes of ice drifted across the air. It was time for the sunset, the orangish ray of light fell upon the drifting little ice flakes, giving it a shiny orange glow, it was a beautiful spectacle.

But in truth, the little ice flakes were the disintegrated remains of the last bandit.

'It was terrifying yet beautiful, the sight in front of me was an extremely alluring sight yet an extremely freighting one. The sight of a full-grown human disintegrating into flakes is terrifying, but yet so beautiful. This boy--- who is he exactly?' Hina was confused about whether to admire to be terrified of the sight in front of her.

Looking at the still trembling hands of Grey she spoke up, "are you fine?" 

"oh-- yes I am," replied Grey, his facial expression was indifferent to his trembling body.

"You don't have to force yourself to draw blood," said Hina.

To which Grey looked her in eyes, determined, "It is my responsibility."

"Responsibility?" 

"If I had left them alive, they would have eventually caused more suffering. They would have continued to kill, steal, rape, kidnap children to sell them off to slavery. This is what they do and I don't have enough patience to let them go expecting that they would change. Mortals can change, but I can't take the risk of letting them go so they could cause more suffering to others.

So it is my responsibility to draw blood if necessary, if I can prevent someone to suffer then I will gladly draw blood." said Grey as he walked closer to one of the dead bandits whose eyes were still, gently closing his eyes.

"They have loved ones too, most probably. Like the last bandit was saying, he said he had kids and a wife, he had loved ones too, you stole him from them. How do you feel about it?" asked Hina, sincerely, she wasn't objecting to Grey, she was just curious about what answer he would give.

"They will never know, that I had killed him. But Hypothetically, they did know that I was the one that killed him. I will become the source of all evil for them, but I don't mind being the source of all evil or dirtying my hand. If it means that I will be preventing future tragedy, I will gladly dirty my hand."

"That's one twisted flawed logic,", a smile curved up on Hina's face as she said, "But I don't hate that logic, since I am the victim of the same logic."

For the first time, her expression changed, this time into a vulnerable one "How old are you?"

"I am thirteen years old currently," answered Grey. 

"It's hard to believe that you are so young. But I am glad that you are young since I would have fallen for you if you were any older. It's hard to find a person who thinks just like, I am glad I met you today." said Hina with a tender smile. 

Letting out a chuckle, Grey spoke up "Even I am glad I met you today." 

"What caused you to have a sense of responsibility like this?" 

Scratching his cheeks, with an awkward smile, Grey said "I want to be a hero." 

Listening to what Grey had said, Hina couldn't help but laugh. No, it was more of a chuckle. 

"What-- what? what is wrong with being a hero?!!" said Grey, panicking. His face had gotten red from ear to ear.

"Nothing. I just found it cute," said Hina, letting out a chuckle. "But, you not a hero like you seem fitter to be a ruler."

"Huh? why so?"

"In my family, there is a saying that, a person who has great determination to hold on to his ideals is best fit to be a ruler."

Grey remembered that saying from somewhere, his face lit up as he remembered where this saying was from. 

(Grey's POV)

As I remembered where I heard it from, I raised my finger as I said, 

"Now I remember! my Grandma used to say that to me, she used to say that it was a Barca family saying."

Shocked, but later she regained her composure as a smile curved up her lips, "Yes, you have found my identity. Let me introduce myself again, I am Hina Barca. The daughter of Barca military family."

Well, it makes sense, she is very military-like. Not exactly military-like, she gives more of a general vibe.

Her Grandad used to be general in the Amay nation army and her dad is the current general of the Amay nation army. 

Barca family holds a great significance in the Amay nation.

Squinting my eyes together, I spoke up, "Now it makes sense."

"Huh? why does it make sense? I am not that upright, okay? right?" Hina Blurted out, she had gotten as red as an apple. 

Letting out a chuckle, I spoke up "I don't know about earlier, but you are currently not very military-like." 

As I pointed it out to her, she quickly regained her composure. The embarrassment on her face was gone as if it was never there before, it was replaced with a serious expression.

"Why don't you work under me? I can nurture you into a great leader if you choose to work under me. It will also benefit me since I am in need of a person like you. What do you say? want to join me?" 

"I am honored by the offer but I can't, I have things that I have to do," I replied.

"Oh, then it can't be helped," she said letting out a sigh. 

After a little pause, 

"By the way, are you heading towards Colmoor?" I asked.

Colmoor is a city right past the Farfern forest, it is the home city for the Barca family. So, it would make sense that she was heading that way. 

"Yes, I am heading that way."

"Then why don't you join us, we are also heading that way." I insisted. 

To which agreed she agreed saying 'If you are fine with having me then I don't have any problem." 

Just like that, I have acquired another travel companion. To be honest, I invited her since there was something I was curious about her. 

I wanted to observe her from up close and I wanted to know her better. There was no particular reason, it was just simple human curiosity.

Later we walked down to the place where my group has camped, before entering the camp I had made sure that Annie and Illya weren't present. Since I didn't want them to see my bloody face and clothes. 

Later as everyone was gathered near the campfire, I introduced my group to Hina. 

Ah, by the way, I never properly introduced how Hina looked like--

Hina is a pretty good-looking young woman, who might be around the age of nineteen or twenty, With an average height and a slender body. She has neck-length black hair and bright yellow eyes. 

Well, she is not exactly of average height, it might be better to say that she is somewhat on the taller side. But not too tall either.

When I came back, Illya was already asleep. Apparently, she had started panicking as I wasn't back even after half an hour. From what I had heard from Rai, her separation anxiety is severe. 

I am glad that Rai was there to comfort her since Illya is weirdly attached to Rai. I came back to find Illya asleep with her head on Rai's lap. 

Rai has been taking care of Illya pretty well.