Welcome to Hell! - Chapter 242: Preparation for Departure

After parting ways with Crane, I headed towards where the children were staying. It was the spot where I had stopped when fleeing the burning refugee camp, where I had created a simple yet as sturdy as possible house using my sand spiritual arts. The children were living there.

As I emerged from the refugee camp and saw the sand house, I noticed the children were having a meal with Chris. It was food we had bought inside the royal capital. Although we had prioritized quantity over quality, the children were happily stuffing their faces and were far from complaining.

“They said they used to steal food or scavenge for nearly rotten leftovers. Their food situation must have been far worse than that of the Atonement Soldiers or the Special Operations unit.”

“Ah, Antares. Are you done talking?”

Noticing my approach, Chris waved at me while munching on bread. All the children except Mia had finished eating and were eating at a much slower pace. It seemed Chris was eating about the same amount as the children, though she should have had breakfast at the mansion too. Wasn’t that a bit too much?

Although I was slightly taken aback, I didn’t show it on my face and nodded as I walked towards the children. Before I could reply to Chris, Chirik addressed me.

“Welcome, teacher. I’m counting on your continued support today as well.”

“Ah, leave it to me. But before that, there’s something I want to talk to you about. Please call Magna and Nana.”

“I can hear you. You know.”

I continued teaching Chirik. He hadn’t yet overcome the death of his comrades, but it seemed that he could forget about it while focusing on his spiritual arts training. I wondered whether I should be happy about his increased enthusiasm or sad about the reason behind it.

However, there was something important I needed to convey before training, not just to Chirik but also to Magna and Nana, who were the leaders of the group.

Apparently, they heard my voice because they approached without Chirik having to call them. Both were holding wooden swords in their hands, and sweat beaded on their foreheads.

After finishing their meal quickly, it seemed they had been practicing swordsmanship using the wooden swords. Just as Chirik was deeply involved in his spiritual arts training, Magna and Nana were immersed in their swordsmanship. Probably for the same reasons as Chirik.

Especially as the older ones and as the leader and deputy leader, they lamented their weakness in not being able to protect their comrades. They were eager to gain strength as quickly as possible to protect the surviving members.

Perhaps inspired by them, all the surviving children except Mia practiced with dedication. Overwhelmed by a sense of loss and helplessness, they all shared a desire for strength.

Since Chris had taken on the role of instructing them in swordsmanship, their training had become quite formal. They could focus solely on training, as we would bring them food and other necessities.

And then there was Mia, another key figure who wasn’t participating in the swordsmanship training. Sitting silently beside Chris, she was diligently eating bread while intently carving a piece of wood that seemed like scrap. She was shaping it into a wooden sword…that’s not something even I could do. However, she wasn’t just making a simple wooden sword. She was crafting multiple pieces of wood into complex shapes.

If you asked whether she was creating something meaningless, the answer would be no. When these pieces were assembled, they formed a small doll. The precision with which the pieces fit together without any gaps was a proof of the skill of the Tana race, to which she belonged.

She explained that these completed dolls were being buried at the graves of the children who had passed away. In the Tana race’s tradition, dolls are buried as offerings to prevent the souls of the deceased from feeling lonely and turning into restless spirits.

Ideally, these dolls would be buried with the body, but they had none prepared in advance. So now, she was hurriedly making them and burying them for her comrades.

I had heard that the souls of the deceased usually dissipate unless they have a strong attachment or are artificially preserved, like in the case of Orvo. Therefore, it was uncertain whether the souls of the children were still lingering on earth. However, I felt that her desire for the peace of her comrades’ souls was profoundly respectful and noble.

It was surprising that she, who appeared to be the most timid of the bunch, was the one facing the death of her comrades head-on, while the other children were immersing themselves in other activities, perhaps as a way to escape their suffering. She might seem timid, but at her core, she could be the strongest of them all.

“I guess that settles it then. In fact, we’re leaving the royal capital tomorrow.”

“Is that so…”

Regardless of my thoughts about the children, I announced our approaching departure. Chirik’s shoulders visibly slumped down at this news. It seemed I had become close to him to the extent that he felt sad about our leaving.

I found myself pleased by this. Chirik and I could almost be said to be related by blood. It would have been quite difficult if he was to hate me instead.

Meanwhile, Magna and Nana waited silently for the rest of the conversation. For them, this was a topic they knew would come eventually. They must have been prepared.

“There are two options for everyone. One is to stay here and part ways with us, returning to life as it was before we arrived.”

“There’s no way we can go back…”

At my first option, Magna wrinkled his eyebrows and said so. I was aware that what I said might sound unrealistic. It was impossible for them to just get over the loss of their comrades and immediately return to their previous state of mind.

Moreover, their way of life could never return to how it once was. Having lost the tunnel connecting them to the royal capital, they would struggle to secure daily sustenance. With the loss of their robust walls and reduced numbers, protecting themselves had become an even greater challenge.

Their current location was a bit removed from the refugee camp and remained safe because we were coming and going. However, it was uncertain what would happen after we leave. Magna, Nana, and Chirik were all aware of this reality.

“The second option is to come with us. We guarantee a basic standard of living and will provide training. However, there’s a significant secret we carry. If this secret gets out, depending on the situation, our lives could be targeted, and you would certainly be involved in the danger.”

“…….”

The second option I presented, with its significant drawbacks, left the three of them speechless. They had just lost their comrades; the weight of the words “life being targeted” was far greater than under normal circumstances. Their fear was understandable.

However, I couldn’t lie to them. This choice was not only a decision about their lives but also about whether they would become our new comrades. Any lack of commitment from their side could only hinder us.

“Take a day to decide. Make sure you won’t have any regrets. Now, let’s begin your spiritual arts training.”

“Y-yes, teacher!”

◆◇◆◇◆◇

The day of departure finally arrived the next day. The horses we had purchased were in the stable, and the cargo was already loaded onto the wagons. All that was left to do was hitch it to the horses.

Interestingly enough, all the horses were showing a compliant demeanor. I had heard they weren’t fully trained yet, but they didn’t seem like wild horses when I first saw them in the stable. In fact, they were trembling so timidly that I worried they might be sick.

According to what I secretly heard from Apao, they became stiff with fear because they sensed the same imposing aura from me that they did from Tigar. Their lack of aggression was a relief for us.

It seemed that a clear hierarchy had now been established with Apao at the top. Apao had become the boss of the horses, but he seemed to prefer spending his time away from the herd, mostly with Weiss.

Weiss didn’t seem to mind this arrangement, and Chris even said they had a good relationship… I wonder what would happen if a demon horse like Apao mated with a normal horse. If Orvo was here, he would definitely have been eager to observe that.

“Hey there. Were you here?”

“Mr. Robert.”

As I was checking the stable to make sure I hadn’t left anything behind, Robert came by. Having lived a life where I was constantly hearing complaints during report meetings, I had become familiar enough with Robert to address him with just a basic honorific. Our role in unraveling the behind-the-scenes of the evening party scandal, where we both played a part in some way, had also brought us closer.

Robert, looking around the now empty stable which still strongly smelled of horses, seemed melancholic. His beloved horse was the only one not removed.

“Horses leaving always makes me sad. You see, the territory of my Rowell family is a region where good horses are produced. That’s why we use a horse in our crest.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, especially the good horses were either presented to the royal family or given as gifts to other noble houses with close ties. This stable was used to temporarily house horses meant for gifting. But ever since the war started, we’ve been ordered to send all the horses to the front lines, leaving only one here.”

“War is never a good thing.” Robert concluded tiredly. The incident at the party wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the war. War brings a lot of negative effects, not just on the battlefield.

“Originally, the work you did for me was so significant that I should have provided the horses for you. I feel bad that your compensation is only in monetary form.”

“No, that’s more than enough, Mr. Robert. In fact, it feels like we’ve received too much.”

“Haha! Then, think of the extra as hush money. For the sake of the kingdom’s honor.”

“If that’s the case, I won’t hold back.”

“Hey, big brother! It’s time to leave!”

As I was exchanging these words with Robert, Leo’s voice came from outside the stable. It seemed that the time for parting was drawing near. Then, Robert smoothly extended his right hand for a handshake.

“Thank you for everything. We may never meet again, but I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”

“Take care of yourself too, Mr. Robert.”

We exchanged a firm handshake. After that, I climbed onto the coachman’s seat of the wagon without looking back. After Lieselotte finished saying her goodbyes to her great-aunt and came out of the mansion, we set off from the royal capital.