Chapter 45: Refugee Recruitment (2/2)

That was when she realized what she wanted to ask in the first place.

“No, sir, what I mean to ask is what about the children and the elderly?”

“The youths chosen could bring their families along, and any elderly or children could follow if they want.” Then, Marni turned to look at Leah. “Still, I must first mention that I won’t stop to wait for them if they couldn’t walk and fell behind.”

“Your Highness,” he added somberly, “I trust you would know that it is a dangerous thing to be on the path with the present weather. There are snowstorms that could come anytime and turn humans into popsicles, hungry, fearsome beasts and magical creatures waiting to prey on humans as well as subhuman species who make a living by banditry. That is why I won’t risk an entire convoy.”

“Yes. Relax, I understand. I won’t be unreasonable if something like that happened.”

Leah had seen much of the coldness and cruelty of reality herself, and she definitely would not behave like some holier-than-thou saint who never empathized with others. “In the end, my weakness caused everything. Tierra would not have fallen and many tragedies could have been avoided if I was strong, nor would we need to do things like this. I’m to be blamed for everything.”

She ignored Marni’s surprised look that said ‘kid-are-we-on-the-same-channel-here’, crossing her fingers tightly over her chest to pray devotedly and quietly. “I’ll do my best and become stronger. O God of Games, watch over us.”

Xi Wei spaced out for a moment, suddenly realizing that he now had a zealot amongst his believers. However, when he referred to the God Brain, he realized that it was Leah, who instantly ascended from devout believer to zealot.

After a moment of delight, Xi Wei realized that the kid only wanted strength to stop all tragedy. It seemed that the hidden class [Warrior Princess] was not awarded wrongly, because if he had given her the same saintess-in-training class like he did with Eleena, the church of the God of Games would probably have a saintess whose punches split skies and feet tore the earth…

***

While they conversed, Marni and Leah had reached the refugee camp.

Even as Marni thought about how he should encourage the refugees to join his labor force, an elderly voice called out.

“Princess Leah? Surely my old eyes aren’t playing tricks on me!”

Surprised, both Leah and Marni turned towards the voice.

In a crude tent sewn from pieces of filthy cloths, a skinny man was staring blankly at Leah, tears flowing freely over his wrinkled, suntanned face.

“I never thought I’d see you again, Your Highness… I have no more regrets…”

“You’re…” Leah studied him carefully and found the person who matched his appearance from her memories. “Mister Registrar?”