Chapter 38: Lets Go! (3) (2/2)
“So…” Eshnunna trailed off
“Is that why you handed over the sixth recruits?”
“…Yes,” Eshnunna faltered a bit, but admitted without hesitation “I won’t deny it I definitely hid the truth and gathered the recruits”
“No, no” Chi-Woo shook his head “Regardless of what happened, a small fraction of the fifth recruits have survived, and all the sixth recruits survived as well” Chi-Woo tapped his temple and asked, “I’m curious why you acted like that, Ms Eshnunna”
Eshnunna looked anxious for the first tihed “…I don’t know”
“?”
“I’ained consciousness, the situation had already turned out like this”
“Are you saying that it’s not out of your oill?”
Eshnunna shook her head “I don’t know”
“…”
“I had no agency during the attack on the fifth recruits, but when the sixth recruits arrived…” Eshnunna’s face fell; she had a choice when the sixth recruits arrived She could’ve told them what had happened and asked for their help However, Eshnunna didn’t do that; the sixth recruits were even less trustworthy and less skilled than the fifth recruits “I…do have the memories” Eshnunna’s voice wavered
Eshnunna recalled the tis She didn’t think tooShe simply mindlessly follohat they told her to do It felt like her head was filled with an unknown darkwith Yohan, it felt as if her hts she hadn’t felt or thought about came down on her like hail all at once—To the point that her eyes began to well up with tears However, this didn’t justify her past actions
She was past the point of no return Eshnunna laughed bitterly “I knohat answer you want from me” She cried like the first ti “That I hadn’t actually wanted to hand over the heroes That I was bewitched by so, but her lips were curved into a smile “But you knohat? That’s not true”
Chi-Woo closed his eyes
“I’ you, but that’s not true at all No matter how much I think about it, there’s a part of etting her breathing under control “I’htly raspy voice “I can’t understand your mindset, and I don’t want to act like you”
“…”
“Why? Because that’s the way it is I’m no hero”
“…Ms Eshnunna”
“A noble spirit? A glorious sacrifice? Be an exathat princesses can’t do whatever they can to survive?”
“Ms Eshnunna, I—”
“Didn’t you say you understand ht you would You seemed different from the others somehow” Eshnunna’s voice became thick with indescribable worry and anxiety “Good Please helpyou to help me You told me that you’ll help” Her eyes reddened “Please help me live My brother as well, and all the natives who depend on me Please don’t tell us to become sacrifices Can you do that?” Eshnunna couldn’t even understand what she was saying anyht; all the energy in her body had left Her words came out as a whimper “…save me…”
Silence fell between theained focus She slowly looked up with a sad s the ridiculous state she was in “Would you be able to do that…?”
And Chi-Woo, who had been quietly watching the whole ti lack of hesitance, “Yes Let’s do that”
Eshnunna was stunned
“Let’s do as you say” He took in the look of shock on Eshnunna’s face and repeated her words, “Let’s save you and your brother and the natives And in the process, let’s save the heroes who have been caught Is that what you want?” No one had to die, and no one had to be sad It was a happy ending where everyone could rejoice
Eshnunna was left speechless for a while She soon recovered and let out an eh “How?”
“It’s simple,” Chi-Woo said “All the probles, do they not? If we defeat those beings, then, won’t everything be alright again?” Chi-Woo quickly added, “Of course, without sacrificing anyone”
Eshnunna looked at him like he was out of his mind Of course, everyone would be happy if the future Chi-Woo pictured could beco was how realistic it was, and if it could really be brought about
“…That’s absurd” Eshnunna snorted “You don’t know anything You don’t kno frightening and evil they really are” In a small part of her heart, Eshnunna had secretly been hopeful, so her disappointment in Chi-Woo’s overly simplistic remarks was obvious “Don’t you know? The cursed ones aren’t the only problems So are the broken ones that can mutate Ah, I heard that you dealt with one of them at the Shahnaz ca theht Chi-Woo Eshnunna knew them well With a nod, he said, “You can’t trust , aren’t you?”
“It’s not ayou to trust ive me a chance to earn your trust”
Eshnunna narrowed one eye as if she couldn’t quite understand hih The situation had stumped everyone up until now, and yet Chi-Woo had suddenly come to her and claimed to have a solution Even if Eshnunna decided to ith hi him just this once, their failure would surely dooining the worst-case scenario
“Why don’t we do it this way?” Chi-Woo considered her position and explained the plan he had in ain
Eyes wide, she asked, “Wh…what did you say?” She wasn’t the only one reacting this way The ed man was completely shocked witless as well; he even dropped his sword at his feet
“What do you say?” Chi-Woo got up fro his pants, he sht fall off “If we do it like this, Ms Eshnunna, at least there will be nothing for you to lose