42
Chapter 42
One immutable law.
Bad premonitions always come true.
Rubia was experiencing this firsthand more deeply than anyone right now.
'Just why?'
The children all had unwavering resolve. Even after being warned about the dangers, they were still full of thoughts about joining Black Fang.
Even setting aside issues like avoiding thirty more fanatics, this was a major problem.
"Do you kids even properly understand the situation you're in?"
Rubia sighed as she spoke.
Well, to some extent she could understand why these children made such choices.
Captured as slaves and enduring all kinds of hardships, a life merely waiting for death.
And then a savior suddenly appearing.
It wasn't strange for their young hearts to admire that. Thinking they wanted to repay the favor was also natural.
However, this wasn't something to be decided so simply.
As the Leader said, this was extremely dangerous.
A revolutionary organization openly opposing the Empire.
Voluntarily joining such a dangerous place.
That wasn't a choice she wanted to recommend.
'Of course, originally joining Black Fang wouldn't have been such a bad option.'
Among the slaves rescued from the Black Market, those who had places to return to were released after only receiving a Mana Oath to prevent identity leaks.
Those remaining here were children with bleak prospects and nowhere to rely on.
Naturally, the probability of such people surviving on their own in the world was slim.
They'd likely be captured as slaves again, or live as pickpockets until they got caught and died.
Nine times out of ten, that would be their fate.
So if someone offered to take responsibility for their food and shelter, following them was rational.
However, the current situation was quite different.
The Leader had surprisingly excellent character.
Ian had presented them with another option.
An option where they didn't need to join a dangerous group like Black Fang, but simply stay here as guests until they became adults.
Looking at the children's future, this was much more rational.
By any measure, this was the better choice.
There was no need to choose a dangerous path.
Even after explaining all that, these children were being stubborn.
"You don't know when or how you might die. You have to risk your life every moment. Do you truly understand what that means?"
Even as Rubia said that, the children nodded.
That sight.
It was clear what was happening.
They hadn't yet realized the weight of risking their lives.
Rubia pondered for a long time.
She didn't want to use such coercive methods. She didn't want to make threats either.
But what if.
What if, because Rubia didn't stop those children here, someone were to die later.
What if, because she didn't explain the dangers more strongly here, someone were to lose their life.
She didn't want that.
She'd definitely have troubled sleep because of it.
She had to prevent such a thing from happening.
Rubia's face turned cold in an instant.
With so many unusual things happening lately, she rarely had the chance to judge and act this dispassionately.
But ultimately, she was an entrepreneur at her core.
If it meant achieving her goal, she was prepared to use somewhat extreme measures.
-Swish!
The artifact the Leader had given her for self-defense.
The sword sliced through the air at her command.
With a sharp crack, the sword fiercely grazed past one of the children.
That child collapsed to the floor in panic.
Naturally.
If the angle had been slightly different, that child's head would have been severed clean off.
"You'll experience things like this dozens of times... no, definitely thousands of times going forward."
Rubia sensed the atmosphere of the room change in an instant.
Naturally.
Making a resolution and actually experiencing something are fundamentally different.
No matter how prepared you think you are in your heart, when you actually face the fear of death, anyone would panic like that.
Those children probably realized it too.
The weight of this choice.
The true meaning of sacrificing everything for Black Fang.
'I didn't want to go this far, but.'
Still, it was better than those children dying because of her.
If they experienced something like this in actual combat, it would be too late for regrets. The only time to turn back was now.
The Leader probably told her to confirm their resolve for this very reason.
With those thoughts, Rubia looked at the children. And then.......
Her face filled with bewilderment.
A girl caught Rubia's eye.
While everyone else stood frozen, not knowing what to do, this girl alone was looking at her with unwavering determination.
That little girl was slowly walking toward her.
"Once more, I ask of you."
Saying such incomprehensible words.
*****
Perhaps I was already dead.
While being held captive by that Black Mage, the girl had such thoughts.
Since when had it been?
Since when did she stop screaming even as her limbs were torn away.
Days repeating the process of having her arms and legs dismembered and then restored with Healing Magic, all because he needed to collect the emotions of pain for his research.
At some point, she stopped crying.
The children in the same situation.
Even when those she could call comrades had their limbs swapped and stitched together like toys, merely for the Black Mage's amusement.
Even when she was forced to sacrifice her very right to see the world to a Demon.
Even when she finally lost her sight.
She just stared blankly.
She lived without a single thought in her mind.
Because thinking was painful.
It was better to be dead. It was better not to think at all.
Because at least that way, she didn't suffer.
It was a life no different from a corpse.
A life where she was alive, yet not truly living.
But.
That person came.
Like magic.
A Knight, like one straight out of a fairy tale, had come for her.
He showed her a miracle.
The shackles that seemed like they would bind her ankles forever disappeared.
That invincible, demon-like man had fallen as well.
She gained the freedom to live a new life.
A second chance had arrived in a life she thought was over.
However, the girl couldn't be happy.
There was no way she could be happy.
'I... don't deserve such a miracle.'
The girl wasn't the protagonist of a fairy tale.
She wasn't a good enough person to deserve such a miracle.
1,201.
When that number of children died in front of her.
Truthfully, she felt a little relieved.
Even though she said it was a life no different from death and that she wouldn't think about anything.
In truth, she rejoiced.
She ended up rejoicing.
That it wasn't her.
That she had survived. Feeling such a vulgar joy, she had actually smiled.
Her ugliness didn't end there.
Even after receiving such great help from that person.
Despite receiving the unbefitting gift of a new life. In the moment that truly mattered, she had turned her back on him.
The fight between that person and the Black Mage.
In that situation, she ran away.
She ran away, leaving behind the person who risked his life to save her.
There are limits to ugliness.
There are limits to being disgusting.
Such a terrible and lowly human being had no right to be saved. She shouldn't be allowed to live a happy life.
And yet.
That person said.
Not to worry about it. That such things could happen.
He forgave her so easily.
Such an absurd amount of luck, a miracle, was given to her of all people.
1201.
Countless people who could have been sacrificed before that number.
Among them, she was the lucky one who was saved.
She gained a new life. Even though she had no right to it, she survived.
Therefore.
'I can't back down here.'
That much, she knew for certain.
She decided to become someone worthy of the miracle that found her.
She promised to help that person someday. She resolved to repay a grace that was beyond her station.
That was why.
The girl walked forward.
She could sense the face of the woman who had been explaining about Black Fang filling with confusion.
Even without her sight, the girl could feel it. She could feel more than what she could see with her eyes.
"Once more, I ask of you."
"W-What are you even talking about right now?"
"That sword. I can stop it."
She would prove that she could be of help.
She would never back down.
"I'll prove it to you. That I'm resolved."
"......."
"Until you do it again. I'll keep standing right here. For hours, days, years. However long it takes."
"...Are you being serious?"
She could feel the woman's face filling with bewilderment.
She understood why the woman before her would react that way.
Certainly. This was a foolish thing to do.
Thinking about it normally, everything the woman said was right.
Rather than doing this to join Black Fang, it would be more practical to rely on that person's warmth and seek peace.
But.
That was all the more reason.
"I will never give up."
She couldn't back down.
Because she had made a promise.
Never again, she would run away.