“Hinoki, what do you mean by that?”
“Take them away out of this city.”
“Hinoki, what are the real circumstances? I already have the gist of it.”
“…”
“It’s the war right?”
“Yes. You snoop around very well, even though you are just here for only a few days.”
“Tell me Hinoki, everything. Depending on the circumstances that occurred, I shall make my decision.”
I can’t burden myself with companions or any children around for the reason I need to travel fast. If and if, the circumstances are something she is at fault, I am going to leave immediately.
“A dwarven artifact.”
“What about it?”
“A dwarven artifact was stolen. The blame is being pinned on us. The artifact is a sphere of pure mithril. It’s said that sphere is important to the dwarves because it’s the tool they use to clean and purify mithril, even in its worse state.”
“Why?”
“The one who stole the artifact… is an elf…”
“What did you then?”
“An envoy from the dwarven kingdom came and told us what happened. At first, we thought they may have fabricated the story to start a war but… the artifact… was found within our territory… right inside the city…”
“…”
“They wanted us to present the culprit so we ask them for some time to investigate the case. But the investigation was fruitless. Right from the start, we don’t even have any leads. And the artifact being found within our territory, it seems someone set it up. But…”
“But?”
“They wanted to go to war against us for disgracing them and making them looks like a fool for the reason that, even if the artifact was brought back, the shame we brought to them and unable to present the culprit.”
“They are idiots, that for sure…”
“No, they are eyeing on our resources for quite a time now. They can’t just come up with the reason to go to war against us. So for them, claiming our land and resources at the same time doing in it the pretext of regaining their pride and glory, they set out for a war against us, the elves. We tried negotiating with them the other day for more time, but they strongly refuse.”
“You… even though your prowess as a leader to have your whole domain prosper, you don’t have the proper knowledge for war…”
“…I can’t refute. Our military forces are only for subjugation and protecting and keeping the order inside the city…that was…my major flaw…I even tried to keep my citizen in the shadow and they thought that everything is okay… I honestly don’t know what to do…”
“Hinoki…”
“Tomorrow, I’ll have all the citizens evacuate, the estimated arrival of the dwarven forces is two days so I hope it gives us enough time…”
“You didn’t even take to the account of the panic and the circumstances of your citizens. You are even willing to entrust your daughters to a man you just met today. You are keeping everyone in an illusion of peace. You even rule this city for a goddamn centuries and yet, was not able to properly organize a war prowess for this kind of circumstances. And now, I’m guessing you want to throw away the life of the soldiers of your own kin for the citizens to escape.”
“T-that’s…b-but…you see…”
“What?!”
I am no leader.
I am not a man of sympathy.
But I know that much.
I berated her and judge her on my own accord.
I have many questions to ask about this city and how did she advanced it that it’s almost on a par with cities back in my world.
“You are right. You are absolutely right. But, first, the reason I trust you is that… I know you are someone not from this world…”
“Hmmm… I am not surprised that you know of that but that is not enough for trusting me.”
“No, I believe it’s enough. You escorting my daughters all the way here is also to be taken account for! If you want, you could just abduct them but… you didn’t. I know how you cared for them. I am not going to ask you to participate in this war but please… I want them to avoid being mixed up or being used. Also, my deceased husband is from another world like you…”
“Haaaa… a mother first before a leader… I understand now…even the reason how you were able to advanced your city like this… but… I have a condition.”
“Really?! Really?! Really?!”
Like mother like daughters… they get too excited and they sometimes repeat words… and just a moment ago… she was pale, shaking and was about to cry…
And her husband is from another world huh… if she was able to make the whole government system centuries ago…then her husband must have live a really long life…
“W-what’s your condition?!”
“I want you to tell Casablanca and Hibiscus about everything.”
“…why?”
“If you want to announce it to your citizens, then, I want you to start with your daughters.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“That’s… why do you have to be cruel? You should know by now how they love this city!”
“That’s the more reason for you to tell them. If they insisted to stay, then I can’t do anything about it.”
“You want me to tell it to them as a condition for you take them but you know that there is a high possibility that they will insist to stay! You—“
“Your decision?”
.
.
.
“Mama! That’s…”
“You should have told us something mama..”
“I’m really sorry… I don’t want to make you two worry… but please…please come with Susanoo!”
“You want us to abandon you, mama?!”
“We can’t do that! We don’t want to abandon our people too!”
“Please! Please! Don’t be stubborn!”
It pains my heart to see this. But I want to show Hinoki the results of her shortcoming as a leader.
As a mother she excel, but… she failed to assure her citizens safety… this is a complete opposite of a leader who works only for their citizens and the result… their family becomes distant to them…
“I promise you that mama will be fine. So please, be obedient and come with Susanoo!”
“Mama…*hic*… but…*hic*…”
“Why not come with us, Mama!?”
“My precious girls… I can’t… I still have responsibilities to our people. I want you two to be strong and never forget everything I taught you.”
“”MAMA!””
Is that…Hinoki’s last wish?
It’s understandable that the enemies force is overwhelming if you compare the elves military prowess to them… I am pretty sure that this city will be over run in just a short time.
Hinoki seems to resolve her self to stay here and defend the city until she can evacuate all the citizens.
I feel like I am the one who pushed her to do this…
But everything is the result of her incompetence with militaristic affair… her centuries worth achievements and efforts will crumble with just this one flaw…
Her only assets in the war against the devils will be their resources, other than that…none…
“If this what Mama wants, then we shall go with Susanoo.”
“Un. If Casablanca says so, then I will go too.”
“Thank you! Thank you, my precious daughters!”
She persuades them in the end. It seems my traveling pace will be slower now…
“Susanoo, please take care of them.”
“I will Hinoki, you entrusted them to me after all. And…don’t try too hard. Always remember that you have daughters.”
“You’re so cruel… that’s fine… Susanoo… let me give you a good luck charm…”
“Charm?”
CHU
She kisses me on the cheek. It feels childish but I appreciate it. I honestly hope she thinks about what I said.
After that, I prompt the twins to get ready as soon as possible. We are going to leave immediately as I myself don’t have the leisure time.
The scene of them crying and saying farewell to each other…
I just thought… after this… are they going to be an orphan themselves if…
It feels heavy…
.
.
.
We are currently travelling inside the forest after I let the two sleeps for several hours. I am fine. I need to be fine.
On the way… there are mercenaries and dwarves that seem to be an advance force. The twins don’t notice them. It was convenient for me as I kill them stealthily.
But still…I wish… even just a bit…those people that I kill…would raise the chance of Hinoki’s victory…
I can’t…look at them…being so down like this…
.
.
.
Two days… two days already passed and this time, we are now in the plains on a higher ground so the whole battlefield is in sight.
But… the two of them… for the past days…eaten less…they get frantic or they tremble. They had recurring nightmares… a dream where the city is being destroyed… a scene where they saw their mother… in the worst possible scenario…
I can only bite my lips at the scene…
I know… I am partly at fault for their predicaments… but… still…
.
.
.
As we are climbing the higher grounds we saw it…
The army of the dwarves…
There are about…a hundred thousand of them… that’s a lot…
I immediately understand… who the losing side will be…
Casablanca then speak
“Hibiscus…please run away with Susanoo! I am going back! I don’t to run away like this! I don’t want to!”
“C-Casablanca?! But…”
“I don’t care anymore… if running away like this and living in guilt…*sob* I don’t want to…*sob*”
“Then, I shall go back too with you!”
“Hibiscus…”
They made up their minds… they are brave… but they can’t do anything on their own.
“You two wants to go back? You two won’t be of help. Not to mention, the enemies are already close to the forest. It’s just a matter of time…before the war breaks out…”
“Susanoo! Thank you for everything!”
“Even though in just a short time, it was fun…”
“You two…”
What the…
They are determined to do this… even though there is no hope…
Even though they know they won’t be of help…
Even I want to help…but I can’t.
With that number… not a single man like me can flip the tide of the battle…
I remember the people living in that city… they will lose their homes
The children I met at the academy…they will lose the chance to learn… their dreams will be limited…
I can’t help them…
And this war… will produce more orphans…
And I have a duty to do…
I just thought how pathetic I am right now…
Sure I did killed many people, those kills are mostly covert and within the range of my specialty…
But this is a war…
I don’t have a way to stop it…
And If I have to stop it… I shouldn’t spill a single blood so this war won’t escalate further…
.........
Wait… stopping the war…
It doesn’t have to be me…
Hehehehe….hahahaha!
“Wait a minute you two.”
“Susanoo, please don’t stop us now!”
“We have already decided!”
“Not that… I will help.”
“Susanoo! But…But this is not something related to you!”
“We appreciate it but…”
“I said I will help…but…I am going to summon someone.”
“”Someone?””
“…A demon lord from another world… it’s best if you two hide behind those boulders. She is a really dangerous one…especially to the two of you…”
““She?””
“Go.”
“O-okay…”
The two immediately hides behind a boulder…
I bring out a dark purplish crystal from my coat pocket…
Right…It doesn’t have to be me…
The problem is… making a deal with her to do this.
[Susanoo’s kill count: 665]