Chapter 239: Evening Party Riot (8)

Chapter 239: Evening Party Riot (8)

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Ah!

Both sides, lower your weapons. Any further fighting is pointless.

Standing atop the wall I had created, I called for a ceasefire. The blazing flames illuminating my figure cast a strange shadow, especially with the iron mask covering the lower half of my face. The soldiers faces showed more fear than caution as they looked at me.

On the contrary, the children seemed relieved to see me. The children who were lying face down on the wall and using crossbows to resist the soldiers had relaxed expressions on their faces. Even Magna, who had been glaring at me relentlessly since our first encounter relaxed as blood continued to flow from a cut on his forehead.

However, they were too careless. None of them reacted to the spiritual art launched by a soldier below. I manipulated the sand forming the wall to intercept the spiritual art, causing visible dismay among the soldier who had cast it and his comrades.

They might be surprised, but for me, this was a trivial matter. The difference between the spiritual arts of those who were not conscripted into the war with the Republic and mine, honed on the front lines of that very war, was too obvious to even discuss.

Who the hell are you? Stop interfering!

I am a mercenary employed by the Rowell family. Those inside this wall are merely a group of orphans. They are not the enemies you are looking for.

Expect us to believe the words of a mercenary who appeared out of nowhere? If you continue to interfere, we will eliminate you too!

The soldier who seemed to be the commander was ranting about how it was impossible and such. It would have been easy to dismiss them, but that would have meant antagonizing the Galar Kingdom, which was something I needed to avoid at all costs.

So, what to do? The best course of action would be to let the commander see with his own eyes that there were no enemies here. If he tried anything strange, I could always stop him.

I silently created a slope of sand. I could feel Magna and the others looking at me in shock as if I was betraying them, but this was for their benefit too. They had to follow this plan.

Then see for yourself. Magna, go down and gather the children in one place. Dont let them run wild.

Tch. Fine.

Magna, scowling and glaring at me, seemed to realize that they would have been annihilated had things continued as they were. Being in command, he must have been acutely aware of the danger. The children all jumped down at once.

I too leaped down inside the wall while using all of my compound eyes to take in the situation. Including Nana and Mia, there were only ten survivors; sadly, it seemed the rest of the children had perished. There were also severely injured among the survivors and I didnt know if they could survive. I needed to administer first aid quickly.

Te-Teacher You came for us

The first person to approach me as I landed was Chirik, my disciple and Yaros son. His face was pale, and sweat dripped from his forehead. He must have been channeling his entire spiritual power into reinforcing the wall.

You did well.

I said before patting Chirik on the head with appreciation. He initially flinched in surprise when I touched him but then relaxed as he leaned on me, exhausted. It seemed that maintaining the spiritual art had also taken a toll on him, and he began to doze off.

While this was happening, soldiers I had directed using the slope I created began to climb the wall and jump inside. The children, who had been gathered in one place by Magna, glared at the soldiers with hostility, but no one made a move. They understood that intervening wouldnt improve the situation.

Hmph, do as you like. Lets go!

Having secured the commanders commitment regarding the childrens situation, I led them away from the blazing area. I used my spiritual arts openly to protect them from the sparks fanned by the wind, from the refugees running around with bloodshot eyes, and from the soldiers filled with killing intent.

We arrived at a plain located beyond the refugee camp when viewed from the royal capital. The gates of the capital seemed still open, but I thought that it wouldnt be appropriate for the children in their current state.

Whos there?

Big brother.

Lappy. And Chris too Is it okay to leave Liselottes side?

Because it was a deserted area, it was easy to notice the presence of people approaching. Nana, the deputy leader of the children, who was keeping watch in place of the disheartened Magna, turned around with a voice tinged with fear and caution toward the newcomers.

However, it was impossible for me not to notice what Nana did. Nor would I allow those with hostile intentions to approach us just like that. The reason I allowed the approach was simply because I knew they were allies.

Ive taken her to the mansion, so she should be safe now. I came here after hearing from Decius, but

On seeing the state of the children, Chris faltered in her words. The number of children had decreased, many were seriously injured, and judging the current situation after being expelled from inside their fortress, no one would likely say All is well. Even Lappy who was usually expressionless had her eyebrows lowered in a sad shape.

Everyone was at a loss for words, and silence reigned around the place. Amidst this, it was Lappy who moved first. She walked up to Nana and hugged her tightly. Lappy, being smaller in stature, might have looked like a younger sister embracing her older sister from a distance. But it was indeed Lappy who initiated the embrace.

Uuh Uaaaah

Fuh Ggh Damn it

Ugh Hic

Being held by Lappy seemed to completely unravel Nanas tightly wound nerves. She fell to her knees, clinging to Lappy, and began to weep as if a dam had burst inside her.

Spurred by her, Magna who had been disheartened also cried with his head bowed. Mia repeatedly wiped away her unceasing tears with her slender arms. The same was true for the other surviving children, who simply continued to shed tears.

~~..!

This was also true for Chirik, who was in my arms. It seemed he had regained consciousness without me noticing and was desperately trying to hold back his tears, not wanting to be noticed. However, his trembling body and the tears soaking into his clothes were impossible to hide.

Offering words of comfort is easy. But if asked whether they truly heal the heart, I must honestly admit that I have no confidence in that. When I once thought Chris was dead, I experienced a deep despair akin to what these children are feeling now. Could I have easily recovered back then, simply by someone saying something to me?

The answer is probably no. I was so furious that I even forgot my mission to survive for one hundred years, delirious enough to challenge a holy knight with no hope of victory. At least for now, no ones words are likely to reach them.

Then, the only thing left to do is to let it all out with their tears. Anger, sadness, despair, regreteverything must be released before moving forward. I pretended not to notice and tightened my hold on Chirik just a little.

The night sky was illuminated by the burning refugee camp, and the smell of soot and the shouts of people reached even here. Familiar smells and sounds that usually wouldnt stir my heart were easily disturbed by the smell of the childrens blood and tears and the sound of their sobs. Things dont go as one wishes, I thought as I stared blankly up at the sky.