Volume 1 Chapter 5 Part6 (1/2)

Message fro delay for this chapter I'll explain everything in an announcement post soon

Anyways, welcoet here, but we ood stuff I look for

Voluoods the group had on they to even think about toor

After Fin had judged that everyone had relaxed enough, he stood up

“Please hear athered everyone's attention He looked over everyone's faces and slowly said

“I want to confirm with each and every one of you here where you will be heading from now on I believe Captain Varte had explained the situation already, but…it wouldn't be beneficial to either of us if you are holding sorand expectation of ure of a girl lightly appeared, along with the sound of fluttering wings It appeared that Fin's desire was conveyed just by calling her nah the flood of stares from the soldiers caused Leena to blink her eyes, she didn't hide behind Fin like last tion who saved me Her naht hint of surprise A playful smiled appeared on Fin's face for only a moment before he continued to speak

“We call her Leena…As you can see, we're far off froend, and I want you to understand that, at the very least”

Then, he turned to face Leena and asked her in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear

“Leena You formed a bond with me in order to save me Because of that, I've recovered so ht? What I ons:flames and explosions?”

〈But that's not what you desire, Fin Is doing such things necessary?〉

〈Of course I don't want that It's just that norons can do such things Thinking that they can do just about anything Thinking that they are an omnipotent existence〉

Fin sensed her response to his explanation as astonisholden eyes and looked at the people around her

“Whyso violent for no reason? It isn't necessary To break this world again after we've spent soit……The real reason we for creatures is so we can delicately utilize our power By diffusing it through the heart of a s, we can release our poithout needlessly destroying or changing anything”

Leena's words brought forth i a very thin reed tube to allow river water to flow into a entle breeze without using a fan, but a bird's wings With those, new energy gathered in the garden, and everything ca is…”

Varte's voice brought Fin back to reality

“You can't burn the enemy army, blow 'em away, shake the city of Winea, or even send the Co with a kick in the ass?”

“If it's kicking someone's behind, I can at least do that”

Because Leena had answered so sincerely, there was only a short pause to take a breath before the soldiers' exploded into laughter While giving a strained laugh, Fin stroked Leena's head When the laughter had died down a little, Fin raised his hand to quiet the area and continued to speak

“That's right Leena's a dragon and I am the one she for that special”

“At least for now,” Fin muttered to himself If he let on the fact that he could see people's hearts, what kind of reaction would this elicit?

“If you guys run away together with my family and me, you will all be treated as deserters and lose your citizenshi+p What you will get in return, however, is only the guarantee that you'll be able to greet theeven if you sleep outside There is no ive”

After saying that, Fin looked directly at Eutis before surveying everyone else

“Those ant to return to Winea, please do this First, shut your eyes and ears to where everyone else will be heading Then, return back to Winea after staying here for a couple of days and report the following: You pursued us, heading north, but were attacked by the Beasts of Darkness on the 1st night By the time you had realized it, you had been driven quite southwards by them There were many injured and it didn't look like you'll make it back to Winea within that day, so you headed for the nearby crossroads There, you warmly received treatment for your wounds by these people here and could finally return back

Coius will probably be furious either way, but at the very least, you would be dealt with better than if you were to say that you shamelessly let me escape”

This way, there will be no need to silence anyone or for death “This will be a beneficial move for all parties,” Fin implied However, whether this was conveyed or not, Eutis only bit his lip and played around with his shi+rt sleeve

“I'll run away”

The contents of this declaration weren't this serious, but it was Plast who announced it this sole and continued to speak without aze

“I don't wanna return north even if I could I'ius' dictatorshi+p as well I dunno where you're planning on running away to, but I'll be traveling with you for the ti It'll be convenient for the both of us”

He said, looked up at Fin, and raised an eyebrow

“Did'ja kno and arrows are pretty useful when it co food?”

This was too sharp of a jab to be a joke Hunting birds and beasts to liven up an evening inal purpose Not a tool to ed to show a little s”

“I'”

There wasn't even a pause in between before Varte had raised his hand The members of the patrol unit looked at their captain

“I already said this last night, but I can't possibly expect to fool the Coon Lord here told us that he can't do anything special; he's just a youngster with so to Winea, he's already saved 2 people's lives”

Varte hinted, “Eutis and me,” as he slowly said As expected, Eutis didn't raise his face Instead, the gazes of the 5 survivors froathered on Fin Fin was unsure of what kind of face he should esture

Varte sht tone

“No oes, he's capable His head works…fine Ah, and guess what; this boy can cook! There's no har or until where, but I'll stick with ya”

Following after the captain's strangely upfront declaration, his subordinates nodded one after another, saying, “Me too” The members of the pursuit platoon, with the exception of Plast, either exchanged glances or were full of deter by themselves, and if they were to be eaten by the Beasts of Darkness, that would be the end of things Even if they do return to Winea, they would either be killed by Dirgius or be exiled and die outside If they could at least arrive safely at some city…

Everyone had various reasons and expectations, but in the end, there was no one anted to remain That ith the exception of one: Eutis, thebehind”

His voice was so soft that it was barely audible, but it was still enough to silence the area Eutis, bathed in everyone's gaze, continued to hang his head as he continued in a spiteful tone

“If I do go with you, I'll definitely be abandoned soon after You, the captain, and I'o wherever you want; I' over everyone Some were shocked while others were indifferent and si for a bit, Fin approached Eutis and knelt down beside hi to you; while it's true that I don't particularly like you, nor do I want you to co…for your safety”

Eutis raised his face at these cos were a cos without any deceptions mixed in

“This at least is true I really do hope you will survive”

“You…”

Eutis looked like he wanted to say so with his confused look, but in the end, he averted his gaze and bit his lip It was quite clear from this action that the words he sed back had thorns

Then, a young voice suddenly interjected

“I' back hori held up in Oandus' arlared at Fin like how a queen would look as she reprily declared, “No can do”

“If you go back to Winea, Niardo reet you with sweets and flowers, but as soon as he gets tired of you, you'll be killed For exarow up after a few years, that's it When you're an adult, you've lost your worth to him”

“Then I won't become an adult”

“Fernaine……”

“I'll be a child forever I won't grow up I wanna go hoe my clothes, and eat sweets”

“I can't let you do that”

Fin groaned as he held back his headache Varte raised his voice and said, “Hoh,” as he looked back and forth between Fernaine and Fin

“I see So you noticed that pervert's true colors and ran away, huh?”

“You know of Niardo?”

“The story about the sickening taste of the commander's nephew and his friends is famous”

Varte said, pushed hiirl

“Little lady, don't be throwin' a tantrum and causin' us trouble Phineas' family may be nice and all, but I absolutely hate stupid brats who can't listen If you keep being this selfish, Imma spank your ass till it's red You won't be able to ride a horse anymore and'll have to walk So, what'll be? You can shut up and listen to the adults, or you can be dragged along with us, cryin'”

Fernaine was already in tears at this threat As there wasn't a response, Varte roughly ruffled her head

“Al~right As long as you get it”

Varte curtly let her go and lumbered his way back to Fin's side He noticed Fin's threatening look, snorted, and whispered

“Spoiled brats don't understand limits or when to quit There'll be no end if you're only nice to them It'll cause you trouble in the future For both of you”

“……”

Fin opened his uously nodded He was going to ask if this was from his own personal experience, but Fin remembered that Varte's wife and child were killed by bandits

Perhaps Fin's thoughts were exposed since Varte brutishly slapped Fin's shoulder before turning to face everyone

“Well, I believe we've all rested enough Let's getbefore the coet to the provincial border, the harder it'll be for hie and the east is always looking for an excuse to start fighting If we can slip in souous cheers of Ooh's and Aah's resounded in agreey by any means, the soldiers each mustered up soe? Salves? Water? Theywith each other The only one outside of this group was Eutis, as absent there when he brushed the straw stuck to his behind His eyes were averted frolimpse of this man fro After deeply pondering that Eutis wasn't exactly ing in aze And it was then that he was

It wasn't that Eutis was averting his gaze from his comrades; his eyes were focused somewhere else

On Fernaine

(It can't be)

Doubt sprouted in his heart, and a desire to confirrew in his unconsciousness At the saaze Fin shook his head in a panic and looked away