Chapter 64
“Did sothing happen during the moonlit night?”
Leo pinched his own cheek.
He wondered if he was still inside a dream.
In the brief interval of dawn, a child he had never seen before appeared by the leader’s side.
“Nothing special happened.”
Joshua answered dismissively.
“No, don't you think that explanation is a bit lacking to just gloss over it like that?”
“I thought I couldn't just leave her since she was wandering the wasteland.”
Leo was not satisfied with his explanation.
Even though he hadn't spent much ti with Joshua, there was a fact he knew well.
Joshua was not the type of person to save soone without any gain or reward.
Even if the subject was a young child.
“Does this child possess so kind of special power?”
Leo made eye contact with the child.
She hid her body behind Joshua’s legs with an anxious face.
“Yes.”
He was able to hear the words he wanted much more simply than he had expected.
Leo let out a sigh.
Joshua was certainly amazing.
Was that why?
There were many parts of his thoughts and actions that were difficult to predict.
“Can I ask exactly what kind of power it is?”
“It’s a secret.”
“A secret, huh. If you say so, I won't ask further.”
A new comrade had joined.
However, he couldn't honestly be happy.
He felt that the young child was soone to be protected rather than a comrade to rely on.
“Even if you fought this child right now, you might not be able to guarantee a victory.”
“That’s an unfunny joke.”
“I don't like jokes.”
Answering words that seed to grate on his nerves were exchanged.
Leo gave the child another look.
There was no sense of pressure.
There was no feeling of fear either.
However, he felt a strange power that couldn't be explained with his current knowledge.
He wondered if that power was large enough to overwhelm him.
“Oppa!”
Leo flinched like a startled rabbit.
A cold sensation ran down his spine.
When he looked back, Tania was staring at him with a scary look in her eyes.
“What do you think you're doing to a little child!”
Tania passed Leo and lowered her waist in front of the little girl.
She matched her eye level and smiled lightly as she reached out her arm.
“Hi, my na is Tania. What’s your na?”
The girl couldn't answer and gripped Joshua’s pants, which she was already holding, even tighter.
“I believe her na is Luna. She seems to be very shy, perhaps because she's quite bashful.”
“She seems to like you, though, senior?”
“Yes.”
Tania observed Luna intently.
She was still young, but her features were distinct.
Her flowing black hair was so glossy that it was dazzling.
While Tania thought it didn't suit the surrounding environnt, she also felt envious.
“What a relief. If you were just a bit older, I might've felt a sense of crisis.”
Tania let out a sigh of relief.
She felt childish for almost being jealous of a young girl.
“But you know, you sohow remind of senior.”
She had a mory of seeing that sculpted appearance.
And she realized the fact that the protagonist of that look was right beside her.
If one were to separate only the hair color, she resembled Joshua enough that one would believe she was his child.
“Now that you ntion it, it does seem that way.”
Leo stroked his chin.
“But Joshua is eighteen, and it simply makes no sense to have a child that size.”
Even in a society where it wasn't strange to marry before becoming an adult.
It was difficult to accept the relationship between the two as father and daughter.
“I know that much too!”
Tania grumbled.
Luna gave a small smile at the bickering conversation between the two.
“You just smiled, didn't you? It's much cuter when you smile. You're just like a doll.”
Tania got excited and didn't know what to do while squealing.
Luna’s closed heart loosened a bit at those exaggerated gestures.
She stepped away from Joshua and approached slowly.
Then she stopped in front of Tania.
The distance between them was close enough to touch if they just reached out.
“You're even cuter seeing you up close! Luna, can this big sister give you a hug?”
Luna nodded cautiously.
Tania slowly buried her hands under her armpits and lifted her up.
Contrary to her build, she was heavier than Tania had thought.
The muscles in Tania's arms and shoulders were strained more than necessary.
“Ugh, I don't think I can give you a high-high.”
Tania slowly set her down.
“This is why mages are useless. Step aside. I'll do it for her.”
As Leo rolled up his sleeves and approached.
Luna hid behind Joshua again just like before.
“Hehe. Oppa, it looks like you're disliked by Luna.”
“Urgh.”
“So why were you acting so cold. Don't you know first impressions are important for kids?”
“I ant no harm.”
“It's too late for excuses.”
Leo smiled bitterly.
The boy wasn't the type to dislike children.
* * *
Another month passed after Luna hatched.
The radish seeds given to Rodwell were successfully cultivated by the tenant farrs.
Joshua received a few finished ones and tasted them.
The taste wasn't bad.
They were overflowing with sweetness even without any special seasoning, making them perfect for a al.
The comrades who were devoted to training also began to show results step by step.
As much as their start was late.
They worked hard to reach the realm where they were ant to be.
The brilliant talent possessed by Leo and Tania added montum to their growth.
Talleon and Gavinu also blended in well under Leonard.
'It would be nice if this were the end.'
He had reliable comrades.
The basic necessities of life were resolved.
If one possessed these two in an apocalypse, the foundation was established.
Was it over now if he just endured?
Could his remaining life be considered safe?
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
The foundation was rely an elent necessary for survival.
That alone wasn't enough to reach the ending of the ga.
'One day this place will also beco a target for other survivors, or a horde of zombies will cling to it.'
It was a zombie apocalypse ga.
As long as zombies remained, the ga would not end.
He let out a breath mixed with a lant, thinking that he had truly entered a low-quality ga.
“How nice would it be if it stayed like this?”
Rodwell called for him.
Joshua thought it wasn't good news.
If he had called with the intention of playing a joke, it would've been sowhere other than the office.
The office was the space where Rodwell made decisions for the group.
It was a space where he fell into contemplation while looking beyond the window.
Inside that room, Rodwell beca a figure who, though he might appear light, was never light at all.
“It’s been a while.”
As soon as he opened the door and entered, Rodwell offered a greeting while sitting in his chair.
“It’s been a while, Rodwell. I’m glad to see you look like you're doing well.”
Joshua sat in one of the empty chairs.
“Have you tried the radishes?”
“Yes, they weren't bad.”
“I also learned for the first ti that radishes are such a delicious vegetable.”
“They'll beco even more delicious if there's a way to cook them.”
“Right, it seems the people who already harvested them are trying various things. Adding salt or sugar, or grilling them over fire.”
Rodwell changed his expression as if to say that was enough small talk.
“A carrier pigeon arrived from the Order of the Moon.”
He opened a desk drawer and pulled out an envelope to show.
“It was content requesting reinforcents.”
“I see.”
Rodwell pressed his hand to his forehead.
“Shouldn't asking what they need help from be the first thing here?”
“It’s probably zombies.”
“It could be another survivor group.”
“Since it’s one of the two, it's just a matter of having guessed correctly.”
Rodwell looked over with a suspicious gaze.
As always, he gave up on pursuing the matter.
“I’m thinking of refusing the reinforcents.”
“What is the reason?”
“I just feel uneasy sohow. I can't shake the feeling that it's a trap. This handwriting in the letter wasn't written by Derek. And the letter didn't have the seal representing the knight captain. This was sent by soone other than Derek.”
“Would it be okay if I took a look?”
Rodwell pushed the letter over.
[Clever] began to analyze the handwriting.
He spent a few seconds in silence.
At a certain mont.
The na Adela Grace flashed through his mind.
There weren't many people whose elegance could be felt even from their handwriting.
And if it was limited to within the Order of the Moon, only she ca to mind.
“What do you think?”
“I agree with Rodwell’s thought that it wasn't written by Derek.”
“What do you think about the content of the letter?”
A horde of over 300 zombies surrounded their base.
There was no way to escape.
Patients had appeared inside, and they were afraid they might change as well.
Derek and several knights were in a situation where they were missing.
The content was a plea for anyone to send reinforcents if they received this letter.
“I think it’s the truth.”
“I see.”
Rodwell answered as if it didn't matter.
Watching him not ask back, Joshua was certain that his decision would not change.
“Whether it’s truth or lies, you weren't planning on sending reinforcents, were you? Was the reason you wanted to believe it was a trap because you wanted to give yourself a justification?”
“You, don't tell you want to go back to being on uncomfortable terms with ?”
“I can say things like this without hesitation because I think we're close.”
Rodwell, who was hit right where it hurt, made an expression as if his stomach were twisting.
It looked as if his displeasure was showing on the outside.
Joshua thought it was better not to provoke him further here.
“There's a valid reason of my own for not sending reinforcents. We lack manpower because of the knights Lucille took when she left. If I step out, those remaining will tremble in anxiety. I can't just send the knights either. If Derek couldn't resolve it, it ans it would be difficult to handle the situation with just a few knights.”
Joshua narrowed his eyebrows slightly.
No words for a rebuttal ca to mind.
Judging by his attitude.
It seed he had no intention of backing down from his current decision.
“Rodwell’s thought is correct. I would've made the sa decision even if I were sitting in that chair.”
Rodwell widened his eyes as if it were unexpected.
After noticing a small sense of disappointnt dwelling in those pupils, Joshua spoke.
“Did I say sothing strange?”
“No, I just thought you might offer a different opinion.”
“You weren't going to break your stubbornness anyway.”
“So does that an you aren't going to tell the strategy you thought of? What I an is for you to persuade .”
“It’s fine this ti.”
“This ti?”
“It’s true that stabilization of the tower is needed, and if Rodwell leaves, it'll truly be a situation of five minutes before total chaos. So you must stay here.”
Once the flow of conversation reached this point.
It seed Rodwell had grasped Joshua’s intention.
“Are you planning to go to the mine?”
“Yes.”
“It'll be extrely dangerous. And I don't know if there's anything in the mine worth taking that risk for.”
Just as he said, heading to the mine was a reckless task.
It took five days to reach the mine starting from the tower.
In that much ti, the hideout would beco a wasteland due to the zombies.
It would be destroyed before help could even be given.
He might return empty-handed.
Even if they luckily held out, there was no guarantee of saving them.
“There are two reasons I must go.”
“What are they?”
“The first is people. By people here, I an those who are useful to .”
“Like ?”
“Yes, to , Rodwell is also that kind of person.”
“I don't feel bad about that.”
“The second is because it's a thod I haven't tried yet.”
“A thod you haven't tried? What is that vague answer?”
“There is a person who fell into the water. There is a person on the shore watching that scene. However, that person doesn't know how to swim. So he stood by. He thought it was better for at least himself to survive rather than both of them drowning together.”
Rodwell empathized with the emotions as if he had beco the protagonist of the story.
He had a face that asked what he would've done.
He reached a conclusion in an instant and spoke it out loud.
“Is that bad? I think I would've done the sa.”
“Whether it’s bad isn't the point. It’s just that the protagonist of this tale didn't think of calling anyone else, nor did he even think of throwing a buoy.”
“You an he turned away without even trying despite there being a way to rescue them?”
“Yes.”
“Is the protagonist of that story set up to regret not helping the person who fell in the water?”
“That isn't it. At the ti, that was surely for the best.”
“Then what was the motivation that changed his mind?”
“This is the part I left out. The person watching from the shore also dies for a different reason.”
Rodwell distorted his expression at the unsatisfying ending.
“You were doing well and then you just snapped it off. Sohow I feel drained. Now stop talking in circles and answer . The human watching from the shore is you, right? And you're saying that you need to save the human who fell in the water despite the risk in order to survive.”
“That’s right.”
“If you think it’s worth it, then it’s fine to help. He's certainly worthy of respect as a human being too.”
“Aren't you disqualified at the point where you discuss a person’s value?”
“It’s a human who doesn't even know how to swim entering the water. It’s normal to weigh that much. Whether the face is pretty, the body is okay, if they have a lot of money, you should at least give the right to weigh those things. You can't call this selfish.”
“Now that I hear it, you might be right.”
“For the record, am I included in that person who fell in the water?”
Rodwell’s fierce insight was displayed.
It was a sharp question.
To the point where it made him look back on his own actions.
“I never said there were multiple people who fell in the water, so how did you know?”
“It’s obvious. Did you think I wouldn't be able to see through that much? So, the answer.”
“Rodwell is included, but in Rodwell’s case, it's a bit different.”
“In what way?”
Even if Joshua didn't intervene, Rodwell would survive for several months.
That was his fate.
But the ti that this fate protected him would also soon co to an end.
“Let’s end this talk here.”
“Why are you cutting it off here? From my perspective, that was the part I was most curious about!”
“You just need to know that you should be grateful to .”
“Hmph, you brat.”
Joshua fell into contemplation for a mont.
A cluster of zombies appeared.
[Clever] analyzed the scenario that would follow next.
The worst situation one could imagine.
Exactly one thing remained in his head.
“Rodwell, please monitor the east intensively after I leave.”
“Why is that?”
“There is a possibility that another cluster will raid this place.”
Losing one's ho while going to provide support.
He knew this ga hated the player most.
“If it’s sothing you're saying, I can't just let it slide.”
Rodwell ruffled his hair as if it were a headache.
“Do you think we can protect the tower with the people we have now?”
“It'll be difficult.”
“In that case, we have no choice but to abandon it.”
There was no hesitation in Rodwell’s voice.
Knowing how to choose the direction that leads to profit even if one suffers a loss.
That was Rodwell’s advantage.
“If we abandon the tower, where would be a good place to go?”
“Go to Stalia.”
“Don't tell you're telling to run to the guys I kicked out and beg them to save ?”
“I’m telling you to look for a spot near there.”
Rodwell deliberated but soon nodded his head.
He had no suitable alternative either.
“Once the business at the mine is finished, I'll also head that way.”
“You're already talking as if that event will happen.”
“I hope it won't happen, but the possibility of it happening is high. If it turns out that way, please send a carrier pigeon to the mine.”
“Ha, got it.”
With this, I succeeded in creating an escape route.
For , it was best if this plan wasn't used.
But the possibility was high.
Because this world (the Academy) was full of intentions to kill .
Reviews
All reviews (0)