Chapter 123. Survivor (5)
The child spoke in an even more timid voice.
“I don’t know, uh, mom and Dad were taken away to another place…”
“How many days have passed since you came out?”
“Uh… uh, a week…?”
Not just a day or two, but a whole week.
By then, it was likely that the Demi-humans who remained inside Callum Castle had perished.
‘If I was to use those damned bastards’ terms, they would say ‘disposed of.”
I pressed down on the child’s head to signal it was okay to stop and said, “Don’t think unnecessary thoughts.”
The child slowly raised its head and looked at me with trembling eyes.
“Adults are supposed to protect you. That’s what adults are here for.”
I met those eyes directly and said, “You don’t have to feel guilty for not being able to protect the adults. So don’t think unnecessary thoughts.”
In response to those words, the child clenched their teeth and tears began to flow.
Having seen Baron Bolvita’s question provoke such a sensitive reaction, I couldn’t help but suspect—’It must be guilt.’
The child must have been worried about the safety of those who were left behind.
Among them were possibly the child’s parents or neighbors.
But even just managing to survive was a commendable and remarkable feat for such a small body.
There’s no need to feel like a sinner for surviving alone and not looking back at the others.
After comforting the child once, I felt like I could see what was weighing down on them more clearly.
That’s why I couldn’t stop myself and added another word.
“Well done.”
From the conversation, even if I didn’t want to know, I could understand.
This child was the one who led the escape.
Therefore, watching the passage in the rocky crevice collapse, they must have been tormented by immense guilt.
Someone had died because of their choice and persuasion—it wouldn’t leave them unscathed.
“It’s thanks to you we’re even this far. Be proud.”
To hear those simple words and then begin to sob uncontrollably meant, perhaps.
The child’s sobbing quickly spread around.
‘I just managed to calm them down.’
It took only seconds for it to turn back into a sea of tears.
I swallowed a sigh and rubbed my face dry.
‘I made a mistake.’
Understanding the sequence of events was important, but before that, I should have considered more deeply what these young ones were feeling.
‘Maybe then it could have been a little less painful.’
Thinking back on my hasty choice, I sighed and spoke to the embarrassed Baron Bolvita.
“If we continue, it’s like I’ll become a complete villain, so why don’t we take a break?”
“… Yeah, that would be best.”
Baron Bolvita, covering half of his face with a hand, nodded compliantly.
Thankfully, he seemed to realize he had stirred up the child’s guilt with unnecessary words.
After comforting the children again and gathering their testimonies, a search was conducted, but no additional survivors were found.
Eventually, there was talk of returning to the barracks.
Though it wasn’t easy, the task of guiding the children back to the barracks through the long tunnel was somehow a success.
The appearance of suddenly dozens of children caused murmurs among the players who hadn’t participated in the search.
However, it wasn’t the time to pay attention to that atmosphere.
‘We need to decide what to do with these children.’
Indeed, the command held an emergency meeting, and I, somehow, found myself included in it.
It felt like pressure to take responsibility for the follow-up measures, having been the one to find the children.
“The fact that there are survivors is certainly good news, but…”
“The situation isn’t good.”
“Damn, why now…”
“How many of them are general-rank?”
“We’ve identified twenty so far.”
“Any reinforcements? Are there separate orders?”
“No. It’s to proceed as planned…”
Listening to the conversation, there was a word that bothered me.
‘General-ranks?’
I had wondered if there was any news from a while ago.
‘General-ranks have appeared in the battlefield, huh.’
It was indeed an incident to halt the advance.
Watching the murmuring command, I raised my hand quietly but noticeably.
Dozens of eyes suddenly focused on me.
Not minding the attention, I spoke calmly.
“We’ll go.”
Leaving the children under the players’ care would avoid pulling another 4th Battalion’s troop.
‘Extracting one’s own forces would be better than sparing the players.’
Baron Bolvita would be tempted by my suggestion as well.
‘He has no choice.’
When referring to a general-ranks, it signifies a 7-star evolved species.
The objective assessment of their power is that it takes ten common knights to capture one of these General-ranks.
‘You need at least three to four high-rank knights capable of condensing mana to combine their efforts to defeat them.’
They’re opponents that would be challenging for me at my current level.
The appearance of such creatures on the battlefield was certainly unwelcome news.
I clicked my tongue inwardly, so as not to be noticed.
‘It was said that the General-ranks and higher disappeared a few years ago.’
The order’s decision to retake Callum Castle was partly based on that.
The exact reasons were unknown, but the major forces of the enemy army hadn’t moved for the past two, three years.
But that was past information at best.
According to newly updated info, the situation seemed to have changed after repeated engagements near Callum Castle.
‘The other side seems to have received reinforcements too.’
Given this situation, pulling elite forces for the children would be burdensome.
Hence, I proposed the most efficient way I could at the moment.
“Finding the children was my doing, and I would like to take responsibility.”
It wasn’t a lie. I did feel a certain level of responsibility.
But that wasn’t the whole reason.
Engaging directly on the battlefield with the General-ranks’ presence was too risky.
‘It exceeds the risk level I anticipated.’
While some level of risk is necessary to accumulate contribution points, the danger is another story if it threatens one’s life.
I had sought to launch a participation mission without considering the General-ranks’ emergence.
If the information in my hands had changed, the plan needed adjusting as well.
‘Though I regret the contribution points.’
Nothing was more important than life.
‘Luckily, there’s another way now.’
Whether fortunate or not, I knew this game offered generous rewards in certain cases.
The 7 Great Virtues invested in this game would grant contribution points for protecting those children as well.
Seeing another route to earn contributions without diving into danger made entering dangerous areas unnecessary.
Hence, I revised the plan entirely.
“What do you think?”
Perhaps, baron Bolvita had sensed I intended to step back.
But even if he did, so what?
Someone needed to retrace the path they took bringing those kids anyway.
“You may gather as many personnel as you deem necessary.”
Predictably, baron Bolvita did not dismiss my suggestion.
“Yes, understood.”
I then gathered the players and explained everything.
Including the threat posed by the General-ranks, I laid it out as it was.
The outcome was that 46 showed interest and volunteered for escort duty.
Including my party, there were a total of 49 participants.
’12 Silver ranks and 37 Bronze ranks.’
About half of those who responded to the participation mission opted out.
Though I wished to take more, many remained attached to the mission itself.
Forcing their decision was beyond my power.
I finalized the personnel and reported it to Baron Bolvita.
“Once you’ve confirmed the personnel, commence departure.”
As soon as permission left his mouth, a new mission window appeared.
MISSION
「Sub-Scenario: Escort」
You have discovered survivors who escaped from the farm under unexpected circumstances. But it’s unacceptable to lead them onto the battlefield. Escort the survivors to a safe location.
「Rewards」
• Main Scenario Contribution Points 3000~5000 distributed differently
My prediction was correct—or rather, it exceeded my expectations.
‘Does this mean more contribution points than the participation mission?’
Though aware the gods cherished their followers, this level was unprecedented.
Watching the newly presented mission with a somewhat curious feeling, baron Bolvita addressed me.
“Make sure you take them safely.”
His voice, slightly more subdued than usual, sounded bitter.
Honestly, it surprised me a bit. I hadn’t thought he’d say such words.
In my eyes, baron Bolvita seemed sensitive about assigning responsibility.
It wouldn’t be hard to understand if you considered him a type who wanted to avoid creating situations he’d have to be accountable for.
Surely, his indecision over whether to accompany players or not, dragging on for days, was likely because of that.
‘Having players involved with every part of the order, it must have felt burdensome to take them along.’
Even within the military, political factions exist, and there would undoubtedly be factions not in his favor.
If he takes the players along and they suffer substantial losses?
It would be more challenging to avoid political attacks disguised as accountability.
‘I understand, but still.’
It wasn’t that I viewed Baron Bolvita favorably.
But what I saw didn’t define everything about him.
After briefly staring at Baron Bolvita, I replied after a moment of hesitation.
“I’ll ensure it.”
“… Thank you.”
After exchanging a handshake, baron Bolvita turned straight away.
Since each had their path set, there was no need to linger; I promptly began preparing for departure.
* * *
With 49 players, 72 farm survivors, a total of 121, I led a sizable group back along the path we’d come to replenish supplies, their minds bustling.
The child’s tale had left a word lingering in my mind as I moved.
‘Traitor…’
I knew there were forces that had betrayed the Demi-human Alliance long before.
First to defect were the fairies, reportedly a species uniquely harshly treated by illicit human trafficking.
Due to their body sized smaller than a human hand and special powers that put you in dream-like states, they were, even secretly, often sold as slaves.
‘It started with the fairies then, six in total, defected gradually.’
Finally, when mages from the Magic Tower joined the ranks of defectors, the balance of the war decisively tilted.
That was the history of Bihar I knew.
‘Though I’d like to know which species the deserter managing the farm belonged to and how the management was conducted…’
To satisfy my curiosity, I couldn’t burden the child, who now had swollen eyes, with probing questions.
Hence, I kept my mouth shut, leading the group quietly.
But just because I was silent didn’t mean others were as well.
“A farm, of all things…”
“Do they breed Demi-humans as livestock? Like we raise pigs and slaughter them?”
“Isn’t it too inefficient? Humans take long to mature, and only one child can be born at a time. Are other Demi-humans different?”
“Indeed, less efficient as livestock.”
“Hey, is that the kind of comment to make now?”
“What’s the issue? They’re not wrong, are they?”
Listening to the murmuring players, I swallowed in frustration.
Because I understood why monsters would establish an inefficient Demi-human farm.
‘Demi-humans are born with attribute mana.’
Low-rank evolved species only absorb mana, that is, life force, even if they devour Demi-humans with attribute mana.
‘You could say they can’t distinguish among the types of energy provided.’
However, evolved species of 7-star, general level, and above can discern and absorb Demi-humans’ attribute mana.
Meaning they can wield attribute mana like Demi-humans.
‘That’s the reason for the farm’s existence.’
Being born with attribute mana doesn’t depend on any special lineage or condition.
It’s truly an individual trait or peculiarity without rules.
Thus, they establish farms and focus on breeding Demi-humans.
The documents I read mentioned regularly spraying aphrodisiacs or estrus-inducing agents to encourage mass copulation.
‘Newborns possessing attribute mana would then be eaten.’
To monsters, demi-humans are a form of resource.
They are not wrong when calling them material to enhance their combat power.
Damned System