Chapter 115: The Price

"Kat..." I paused for a moment. "I know you love Rox very much. But you love your friends too, right?" I froze again. I couldn't believe my mouth was talking like this. "I won't force you. You are free to do this or not."

After saying that, I choked. My eyes started to heat up from the tears that were flowing again.

Slowly, Kat's tears also began to fall, although her face still didn't show any meaningful expression. The girl's left hand began to move to the back of her pants.

Rox looked at his master sticking out his tongue, showing no sign of feeling any danger.

"Sorry, boy...." With hands shaking uncontrollably, she started to move the knife she was already holding.

I stood up and looked away. I'm sorry for you too, Rox. However, I must keep my colonists alive.

As the knife got so close to Rox's neck, another hand caught Kat's hand.

"Stop it, Kat." Leva said softly in the face of the amber-eyed girl. "He's your best friend."

Rox just froze, still staring at his master, whether he knew what was going to happen or not. Kat's mouth began to tremble, her eyes twitched. She hugged Rox's body and cried with screams, and kept on begging for forgiveness.

Kat's expression looked more like she was in pain than sadness.

I sat on the snow, leaning my back against the wooden wall. What I've done? I asked Kat to tame Rox myself, and I had intended to use the animal as food. Am I crazy?

Leva hugged Kat and the dog, sighing and shedding tears too. "I told you, didn't I? I don't want to lose another comrade in arms."

The intense cold wind blew again, but it still couldn't muffle Kat's cries.

Maybe I need to take the risk.

***

I need a few days in the real world to solidify my decision. The risk is indeed too great, but after contemplating for a long time, I think this is a better way than my colonists just sitting around until death.

When I logged back in, Kat was still crying outside, and Leva helped her up. For them, today is very tiring. Better let them rest first.

Everything moved quickly after I used the fast-forward feature. In a short time, the afternoon became night, and night became day. My colonists still stay in the house in a gloomy mood. Each sat in a different spot again, and Rox fell asleep on Kat's lap. The girl, whose eyes now looked very puffy, continued to rub her dog's back, occasionally wiping away her tears. Even so, her expression returned as usual.

I knelt next to Eric, who was wiping his katana with a piece of cloth. "Hey, Eric. How about you propose to raid Congraylham, and you say you're going to take it seriously?"

This is the first step of my plan. If Eric could carry out my orders now, I'm sure he would actually carry out the attack, even if he didn't want to.

Eric choked and stopped what he was doing. His mouth opened but soon closed again.

As expected, it won't be that easy. It's time to take alternative steps.

I turned to Seb, who was sitting next to his son in silence. "Seb, your only chance of survival is to retaliate against Congraylham. You don't want your friends and son to starve to death, do you?"

Seb responded by raising his head.

"However, in order to increase the success rate of this raid, I need to exert maximum strength." I continued my speech, then paused to confirm the words in my head. "So persuade your son to join the raid. I know you don't like violence, but this is all you can do."

Seb's mouth began to open. He looked at Eric, who had put the katana on the floor. Eric's expression was a mixture of confusion and rage.

Come on, Seb.

Gulped, Seb shifted closer to his son. "Where did you get that sword of yours, Eric?"

"Ah, this is a gift from the person who taught me to fight." Eric answered without looking at his father.

"But you didn't like violence before, did you? You've always avoided confrontation, too."

Just like you, Seb?

Eric put his katana back into its sheath. "Well, in this insane world, you need fighting skills, right? There are two options, shooting and close combat. I don't know why I chose close combat myself."

It must be because the guardian spirit of his former colony asked him to do so.

Seb nodded. "You must be great at fighting, right?"

"Well, there are some who are better than me." Eric looked at his father. "So, Dad. Have you also learned self-defense skills here."

Seb chuckled. "Not at all. I always run every time there's a fight. Pathetic indeed, even though my friends always fight for survival.... You will definitely be a great addition to this colony."

Eric was silent for a moment, staring at his sword again. "But I'm still not sure if I made the right decision, Dad.... Don't get me wrong, I don't hate this colony, but.... I've lived with them for years, you know."

"Are you going to join them again?" Seb's tone turned colder.

Eric looked at his father again, but only briefly before looking ahead. "It's impossible, especially after Hans' death...."

"So, you prefer your family, which is me, huh?" Seb patted Eric on the shoulder, then sighed. "You know, if all this goes on, we're all going to die?"

Eric's body shuddered. I can't believe words like that can come out of Seb's mouth. Usually, he speaks warmly. However, when I looked at the blonde-haired man's expression, I wasn't sure the words just now came from his heart.

Seb's smile blossomed. "Ah, forget what I said. To be clear, you are already a part of us and we welcome you."

"Be honest with me, Dad. You want me to come along when this colony raids my former colony, right?" Eric spoke in a firmer and louder tone, drawing the attention of the others to him.

Seb closed his eyes, sighed. "Listen, we're just trying to survive, just like your old colonists."

Eric was about to argue, but I quickly whispered in his ear. "Shut up and think about your dad's words."

"Shit." Eric got up and left the place with his sword.