Chapter 131: Big Discovery

Eric fell asleep in one corner of the main room even though it was still noon. Leva looked at the man for a moment, and when Seb came into the house, the woman led the blond man into the kitchen. There, Leva recounted what had happened earlier, without the slightest reduction. I did ask it that way. Seb deserved to know what was going on.

"That's it, Seb." Leva sighed at the end of her story. "Maybe he said he would try to forgive Manu, or was grateful you were alive. Still, he couldn't lie to himself. He lost a lot of people and he blamed himself for it."

Seb, who was sitting on a small wooden chair, let out a long sigh. "I don't know what to do, Leva. He was my son, but now I feel like he's a different person. I didn't see him growing up.... Honestly, I only saw a little bit of the Eric I used to know."

"But, you're the one who still has a great chance of healing him, Seb." Leva leaned her back against the wall. "You have saved us many times with your words."

Seb chuckled. "Have you seen me do that lately? I am.... Ah, forget it, Leva."

"Just say what's on your mind, Seb." I said to the blonde-haired man. He also needs mental support. Maybe talking to Leva would help.

"To be honest, this whole thing frustrates me a lot, Leva." Seb massaged his forehead. "I can't even keep my own mind clear, let alone help others? Just so you know, I've thought many times about doing what Eric was about to do… Ending my own life…. This world is too crazy for me, Leva."

After a moment of silence, Leva put her hand on the man's shoulder. "We'll get through this, Seb. My parents say any storm will pass."

"But for how long?" Seb looked at Leva's face with sad eyes. "And after one storm has passed, is there any guarantee that the next storm will not come? What if the storm comes while we are still recovering from the previous storm? What if the next storm comes bigger?"

Leva opened her mouth but then closed it again.

Those words emphasized that the condition of my colonist was far from okay. I've always thought of Seb as a shining light for others, even though he's had many breakdowns. It was impossible for him to be completely healed from the terrible things he had seen and experienced.

He is a man who loves peace, after all.

So, what else can I do for them?

I was about to hit the fast-forward button as usual, but I held myself back. Maybe I need something to refresh my mind to make it easier to find a solution? After thinking for a while, I decided to take a walk around the house.

However, just leaving the house, a conversation from the blacksmith's hut caught my attention.

"It must be very hard to keep your people's spirit high, while they don't have much to eat." Manu asked while beating a large piece of iron that was glowing red on the anvil. The man's breathing was more regular this time, but he couldn't use the big hammer in his hand steadily.

"Well, the thing is, I used a guardian spirit as my tool. I said the guardian spirit was battling an evil spirit that was causing a plant disease outbreak, and the lack of animals to hunt. That battle will last for a long time." Suja says while keeping an eye on Manu. The old man had to raise his voice a little to counter the sound of the hammer blows. "Essentially, I make stories that give hope to my people, even though I don't know their future. I even asked my tribe's shaman that time who could see the spirit to support my story."

"Then, did it work?" Manu asked, inserting the piece of iron into the smoldering kiln using a large metal pincer.

"It worked. They can endure until eventually the crops get better, and the animals that can be hunted increase."

Manu put on a faint smile. "Sounds like you are a great leader, Suja."

"Maybe in the past." Suja's gaze becomes glazed. "Before greed kills my morality."

Oh, that's right. Suja is the former leader of a sizeable group. For years he led them, making them obey his orders. This old man probably has the best communication skills in my colony.

***

"I found this in the storeroom." After dinner, Suja puts a clay bottle with a wooden seal on the floor. "Sorry if I'm rude, but I can't help myself when I find wine of this quality."

I did ask Suja to boost the morale of my colonists, and it was up to him to do whatever it took. But I didn't expect him to do that with alcohol involved. Well, I know that his liver condition is not good because of his excessive alcohol consumption. But I guess it's okay if it's just a little.

Seb raised an eyebrow. "Huh, that bottle is the same as oil bottles. I didn't know it was wine."

"It's poison." Leva snorted, choosing to stay away from them. "My dad got sick from drinking too much alcohol."

"But I salute him who can still carry out his usual activities even with the disease." Suja chuckled and started handing out clay glasses to the others, minus Leva, of course. "Don't worry, we won't drink to the point of ruining us. We drink just to warm our bodies."

"I prefer to be sober to guard all of you in case the enemy comes." Leva shrugged with a sneer.

Suja poured the dark purple liquid into the glass each of my colonists was holding.

"We toast to the tribe…." Suja, who had raised his glass, frowned. "Ah, you guys don't have names yet."

Seb laughed. "That's what makes us unique."

"Alright, let's toast so we can get through winter and survive afterward!"

They all touched their glasses to the other's. Suja nods after drinking the liquid. Seb shrugged, perhaps having tasted much tastier wine on earth. Manu only tasted a small portion of it, and Eric finished it in one gulp. Meanwhile, Kat drank slowly.

Suja smiles. "So, have you felt the warmth of ..."

Suddenly the sound of something breaking echoed. Kat had just slammed her empty glass onto the floor, stood red-faced, then ran over to the fireplace.

"These clothes trapped my body! I can't be free!" Kat screamed as she started to take off her garments. "I have to destroy all of this!!!"