CH 55

Mud rose from both ends of the town’s main street.

Meanwhile, with the armored vehicle in the lead, the vehicles lined up as they advanced south. After a short distance, about 500 meters or so, the vehicles arrived in front of Nobuhide’s house.

The mud wall on their left had a path leading towards the Wolf tribe’s residential area.

“Everyone, get off!” Nobuhide ordered using the transceiver.

After he got off as well, he looked back at the road they had just used.

There wasn’t much height to the [stone walls] he [purchased] to replace the mud behind the north gate. Beyond those gradually forming walls, he could see beastmen heading over.

But, that didn’t matter.

Nobuhide had purchased [walls] along the road to his house. Furthermore, he had [purchased] a [moat] just outside of his house. With the walls as a barrier and a deep moat, it would take some time for them to arrive.

“Archers, defend this place with the [moat] as a shield! Chief Jiharu will take command!” He instructed.

He did not say “shoot the enemy” because he still had a little mercy left toward the beastmen who rebelled.

The wolfmen lined up behind the [moat] with their bows readied while yelling their affirmation.

Next, Nobuhide [purchased] some [arrow shields] and installed them in front of the moat.

“The remaining people will take this road! This road leads to the Wolf tribe’s residential area! Evacuate everyone to my house! Listen, the only important thing right now is to evacuate everyone! Prioritize speed!”

Under Nobuhide’s orders, the truck headed towards their destination quickly.

By now, the mud that surrounding the roads had turned into stone walls about 5 meters in height. More mud was raised into a [wall] atop the stone walls, further raising the difficulty of getting across it. Thus, the only thing to be vigilant of now were the ones that had already gotten past the walls - the beastmen from the northern main street.

Nobuhide got into the armored car with the remaining Wolf tribesmen and entered the gate to his home.

However, there's only a single house and Catherine inside. Because of that, the wolfmen, who had entered nervously, seemed disappointed.

After that, they carried out treatment for Mira, who was lying in the back seat of the armored car.

Nobuhide [purchased] a [Medical Kit]. One of the tribesmen accustomed to helping with medical treatments pulled out the arrow that had pierced Mira, and sterilized and sewed the wound shut. When that process was over, Nobuhide administered antibiotics on Mira himself.

This was the best Nobuhide could do for now.

If her internal organs were injured by the arrow, Mira couldn’t be saved. Even with treatment from the modern era, it would be difficult to escape death.

Nobuhide clenched his fists as he bit his lips at his own powerlessness.

He wanted to be able to help somehow, but there was nothing an amateur like him could do beyond this.

Nobuhide got off the armored car, leaving Mira and the wolfman, who was treating her, in the back seat. Then, he posted various members of the Wolf tribe as lookouts at the watchtower atop the stone wall.

He also [purchased] 7 type 73 heavy duty trucks. After that, there were 10 trucks in total. With this number, everyone from the Wolf tribe would be able to get on board.

“I’ve done everything I can.” Nobuhide muttered to himself.

After that, he thought about the things he should do for the future. However, it had already been decided - to abandon the town and make another one at a different place again.

That was why he had bought all these trucks. But the problem was where should they go to?

The desert would be impossible. The environment was too severe for people to live. If he used his ability again, it would be possible for them to live there. But, if he died, the Wolf tribe won’t be able to sustain themselves.

Then, how about the other side of the desert? However, that’s also no good.

He doesn't know how far the desert stretched in the first place. Assuming there’s an end to the desert, what would be beyond it? There were plenty of things he didn’t know. Going through the desert without a map would be like sailing the sea without a destination. It would be far too dangerous.

Then, maybe they could rebuild the town again around this area, but with only the Wolf tribe allowed in there?

For example, about 40 km south was the POW prison. With that as the base, a new town could be built.

But, Nobuhide also rejected this choice.

If they stayed around this area, they might be found eventually, not by any human nations, but by the beastmen who had betrayed him today.

Nobuhide didn’t want to see the traitors’ faces anymore.

The days when he lived with them flickered through his mind. He felt so much pain, as if his heart was breaking.

Where should they head to then? The answer would be the far north.

Sometime ago, he heard about the Dryad Kingdom there. He heard that there were a lot of untouched land there, and it was said that as long as you had the money, there would land for you to buy.

He could create a town in that area and accumulate power. He could start over once again, together with the Wolf tribe who had followed him till the end.

But, to achieve that purpose, there were things that had to be done.

“Catherine.” Nobuhide called out.

She stood up proudly, and stared at Nobuhide with her round eyes.

Nobuhide approached her, and gently stroked her cheek.

“You’re smart. You should understand what I’m about to say.”

Listening to Nobuhide’s words, Catherine let out a soft cry.

She was very smart. She had always understood what Nobuhide said to her.

“We will be going north. So, this will be farewell.” Nobuhide sighed.

There were no camels in the north. Bringing Catherine would be for his own ego.

She had a place where she belonged. Building a family, giving birth to children, and having her own life...

Nobuhide thought that that would be the happiest thing for Catherine.

“Listen. You will be killed if you stay here. So, go to the south.” He instructed seriously.

If Nobuhide disappeared, this land would become lawless once more, and the camels’ lives would be at stake. Even now, Nobuhide guessed that the reason why the number of camels decreased was because the beastmen killed and ate them.

“It’s been fun being with you. Thank you.” Nobuhide brought his cheek to Catherine’s big face.

Catherine’s smell, her body temperature that's being transmitted to him...

These were things he would never experience again.

Nobuhide continued to gently stroke Catherine’s neck.

(At least until we separate...)

Eventually, the trucks that went to the Wolf tribe’s residential area came back, and the people who couldn't get in came back by foot. The camels that the Wolf tribe kept also arrived at the same time.

“Fujiwara-sama! The Fish tribe has taken a roundabout path to the south!” A voice rang out from the watchtower.

There's no more time.

Nobuhide opened the back gate.

“Now, go.” Nobuhide hit Catherine’s body lightly.

Catherine looked at Nobuhide. With a cry towards the sky, she ran towards the back gate. Behind her, the camels reared by the Wolf tribe followed her lead.

Nobuhide looked at the backs of the small flock as they galloped away. The figure of Catherine’s body was hidden by the sand thrown up by their galloping, and the bodies of the other camels. But, Nobuhide could still firmly grasp Catherine’s figure in his mind.

Then, following after them, dozens of camels came from the left and right, and the small flock quickly became a large herd. Those were the camels reared by the other tribes in town.

Since the stone walls of the town had already been sold, there was nothing keeping the camels enclosed anymore. Catherine’s loud cry also seemed to have reached the other camels, causing them to heed her call.

“This is fine... This is fine....” Nobuhide muttered to himself.

(Catherine is in the front of that flock. She will live on with her friends. So this is fine...)

“Be happy.” Nobuhide’s eyes became red.

But he didn’t shed any tears because there were other things he needed to do.

As the camels left the town, the back gate closed again with a heavy thud.

“Call Jiharu and everyone else here!” He called for Jiharu, who was confronting the traitorous beastmen at the moat.

Then, Nobuhide and the Wolf tribe gathered in the spacious 100 meter square area of his home that’s surrounded by 20 meter tall stone walls.

However, the wolf tribesmen were confused. The wolfmen, who were inside their residential area, were already aware of the attempted rebellion.

But, why did they need to let the camels go?

The Wolf tribe did not know that Nobuhide was planning to abandon the town. They thought that he would simply barricade himself here.

“Then, let us go too! Everyone, board the truck!” Nobuhide ordered.

“Eh..? Aren’t we going to barricade ourselves here and protect the town..?” It was Jiharu who asked the question.

Like the other wolf tribesmen, Jiharu also thought that they would barricade themselves here.

“We will leave this town! We are heading towards the far north!” Nobuhide declared.

At Nobuhide’s announcement, shock could be seen on everyone’s faces.

“Unthinkable, abandoning the town..!”

Such mumbles could be heard amongst everyone gathered.

At that, Nobuhide used his ability to make a town.

Several mud walls raised up before the wolfmen, and instantly transformed into various shapes.

What appeared were ears of wheat, vegetables, chopsticks, tablewares, and chairs.

“Do you understand now? Since there's not enough time, I didn’t make anything too big. The houses, wells, and everything in this town were made by me. As long as I want to, I can create a town anywhere.” He explained quickly. “Is there any reason to remain in this place? There are only enemies around us. Thus, I’ve decided that it would be better to build another town again at a different place. Since I can build one easily, there's no meaning in protecting this place.”

Those who saw the miracle for the first time, and those who saw the miracle once again. Neither party could refute Nobuhide’s words.

The Wolf tribe quickly boarded the trucks. While doing so, the front gate and the back gate were beginning to groan from the blows of the other beastmen.

Various voices could be heard from outside the gates, including voices of repentance and the voices pushing the blame onto the other races.

“Alright, let’s go!” When everyone had boarded the trucks, Nobuhide gestured with his hand, and turned the back gate into mud.

The Fish tribe rushed in immediately, but with a single car horn, they scattered in all directions.

With Nobuhide’s armored car in the lead, eleven vehicles rushed out from the back gate. Then, Nobuhide finally [sold] his own home.

The cars headed north through the rough terrain, leaving the town behind in the distance.

“Aaah... The town...” The Wolf tribe members at the back seat of the trucks grieved as they looked at the town shrinking in the distance.

The huge stone wall exceeding 20 meters was the symbol of the town. The Wolf tribe was only able to go to the the town and live there after they saw the stone walls from a distance.

Now, the walls slowly sank down and disappeared, as if they had never existed in the first place.

For the Wolf tribe, the town was supposed to be the land where they could live in peace. They spent 6 years without any worries of starving or any threat of enemies. Without anyone dying from unnatural causes while the number of children steadily increased, the tribe felt nothing but joy. They were happy there, and everyone from the Wolf tribe thought of the place as their hometown.

That’s why they can’t help but feel their hearts tighten at the sight of the town being destroyed like this.

◆

Under the scorching sunlight, eleven cars travelled towards the north. The vehicles don’t encounter the Shugurin Dukedom’s army as they took a long detour to the west, and proceeded from there.

On the way, from his armored car at the front, Nobuhide spotted a cloud of sand.

It was the army of the Shugurin Dukedom. They were advancing from their camp to attack the town.

Now that he saw them, Nobuhide suddenly remembered the beastmen’s words. The Raccoon tribe’s chief was talking about starting the rebellion when the Shugurin Dukedom army attacked.

(After this, what will happen to the beastmen left in the town..?)

Pain pricked at Nobuhide’s heart.

(Since they said that they had secret communications with the Shugurin Dukedom, they wouldn’t be treated badly, right?)

Nobuhide thought before shaking his head.

(No, there was no such thing. If the humans were that kind, they wouldn’t have taken the beastmen’s land in the first place.)

The beastmen who rebelled were probably thinking of fighting against the Shugurin Dukedom after they obtained the town. But now, there were no weapons for the beastmen to use to fight off the humans. They would need to beg for mercy from the humans, be forced to lead a bitter life.

Nobuhide thought that that was what they deserved. However, at the same time, he felt unbearable pain at the thought that the misfortune would extend to their children.

(The children have no sin...)

But, Nobuhide shook off that thought, and stepped on the accelerator. He can’t turn back anymore.

“Fujiwara-sama.” A voice called out from the back seat after a few minutes.

“What is it?” He questioned.

“There's no change in Mira’s condition. Her internal organs have probably been injured.” The voice quivered.

Nobuhide gritted his teeth.

At this rate, Mira will eventually die.

Even in modern day Japan, it was difficult to treat the wounds of internal organs.

However, there's one a way to cure it - the existence of magic in this world, which wasn’t available in modern Japan.

(If it’s healing magic, then Mira might be saved.)

Nobuhide tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

(Should I turn back, attack Shugurin Dukedom’s army, and capture a user of healing magic?)

With this armored car, even if the enemy’s army was large, they still wouldn’t be able to capture him. Even without using the armored car, he could still [purchase] a new cannon and attack them with it.

(But, will they really comply?)

Nobuhide wondered.

Thinking back to the rebellion, Nobuhide had already been scared by Gobi, one of the wolf tribesmen. He did not realize that just the measly power of one person could be a threat to his life.

For example, what might happen if those who surrendered were only pretending to do so? It would be selfish to sacrifice the others for his own goals.

It was hard for Nobuhide to make a decision. His foot stayed on the accelerator as he continued to think.

When the Shugurin Dukedom’s army couldn’t be seen anymore, Nobuhide changed course along the river. There, he could see the shadow of an army across the northern river.

(Are those the reinforcements of Shugurin Dukedom? If that’s the case, why are they setting up camp here?)

Nobuhide turned the steering wheel to make another detour to the west again.

But, a horseman rushed out and approached him swiftly.

Looking at their appearance, Nobuhide felt as if he had seen them somewhere.

“Oiii, Stop~!” The horseman yelled.

Golden hair, a feminine body, and a high voice particular to a female... When Nobuhide looked through the binoculars, he immediately knew who the person was.

It was Mireille from the Red Dragon Knight Order.

“HALT!” As Nobuhide ordered through the transceiver, he was filled with hope.

The line of vehicles slowed down and eventually stopped.

“Princess Mireille!” Nobuhide jumped out of the driver’s seat.

This Mireille, unlike her former, thin self, was full of life.

“As I thought, it’s Fujiwara-dono.” Mireille smiled widely.

Looking at her friendliness, Nobuhide judged that they didn’t come to wage war on the town. He wanted to know why she was here, but it was not the right time for that.

“Is there anyone who can use healing magic in your army?” He questioned.

“Indeed there is.” Mireille nodded.

“Mira has a serious injury! Please, help her!” Nobuhide pleaded.

“What!?” The princess exclaimed.

Nobuhide remembered that Mira had taken care of Mireille before she returned to the Kingdom of Sandra. At that time, he realized that the relationship between Mira and Mireille was not shallow. That’s why he knew that she would definitely save Mira the moment he saw her.

“Understood! Wait a moment!” Without asking about their circumstances, Mireille quickly returned to her camp.

(Looks like Mira can be saved!)

Nobuhide clenched his fist.

“Let’s take a break here. But, don’t let your guard down. If you don’t have any business, do not get off.” Nobuhide ordered through the transceiver, and waited for Mireille’s return.

Before long, Mireille came back with someone who could use healing magic. Nobuhide brought both of them to Mira, who was still in the back seat.

Then, Nobuhide and the wolf tribesmen watched Mireille and the healer vigilantly from outside of the car.

The healer looked over Mira’s injury. A faint light shone when his hand touched the wound that had been sewn up.

“How is it? Can she be healed!?” Mireille demanded.

“Yes. It will take time, but her life can be saved.” The healer replied calmly.

Saved.

Upon hearing that word, Nobuhide’s body just about lost all its strength from the sheer amount of relief he felt.

(That's good.)

Nobuhide looked at Mireille.

Mireille was talking to the unconscious Mira. Her face looked very gentle.

Since things were already fine, Nobuhide left that place.

Then, after another hour...

After the healer finished treating Mira, he left while being accompanied by Mireille.

(Time sure flew by slowly.)

Nobuhide leaned on the vehicle's body and stared into the blue sky.

In this one hour, Mira’s condition was stabilized, and there's no need to worry for her life anymore.

“When Mira’s wakes up, I need to thank her.” Nobuhide muttered with a slight smile.

The good news continued.

“Fujiwara-sama! Something is heading toward us!” A wolfman reported.

“What!?” Nobuhide glanced around.

His eyesight was worse than the wolfmen, so he had to look through the binoculars to the place the wolfman had pointed at.

A thin cloud of sand was gradually approaching.

Before long, the figure was clearly reflected through the lens of the binoculars.

(Could it be..?)

Nobuhide stared.

“Ca-Catherine...” He was surprised at first, and murmured her name unconsciously. “Catherine..!”

The second time, his voice was full of emotions.

“Catheriiiiinee!!”

The third time, his voice was projected loudly from the bottom of his heart.

Then, a loud cry resounded from far away. There was no way Nobuhide could mistake that sound for anything else. It was unmistakably Catherine's voice.

Nobuhide couldn’t stay still anymore, and ran towards her.

The distance between them shrunk with each step they took.

Run, run, and run.

Even if his breathing became rough, Nobuhide’s steps still became stronger.

Soon, both of them reduced their paces, and approached each other. They stopped at the distance where they could feel each other’s breaths.

“Catherine...” Nobuhide embraced Catherine’s long neck.

As if to answer him, Catherine let out a soft snort.

Why did she follow him?

It was such a boorish question. However, the fact that Catherine followed him made Nobuhide happy.

“You are such a fool. Choosing a human over your friends.” Tears flowed out from Nobuhide’s eyes.

They were tears of happiness. Meanwhile, Catherine also let out a happy cry.

“I will not leave you ever again. Let’s go, together. We’ll be together forever.” He vowed.

Under the hot sun, Nobuhide and Catherine enjoyed their reunion for a long time.

The town was gone, but the Wolf tribe and Catherine were still on his side.

Nobuhide had not lost anything important.

[TL: the tl has lost his very important conscious and rationality because of the last few line that seems like something coming from bestiality Doujin]

[TLC: be strong, i am also somehow feel weird tlc-ing this]

[ED: I feel like the third last line is like something from out of a Persona game where they do the deed and have to censor it...]