59
Chapter 59
......So basically.
Just what the hell is going on here?
"Please!"
I blankly stared at the people kneeling before me and shouting.
A headache naturally crept up on me in this utterly incomprehensible situation. It was to be expected, in a way.
Easily over a hundred people were bowing their heads in unison before me, asking to join.
How many people could say they've experienced something this bizarre?
On top of that, they were completely barking up the wrong tree. If they wanted to join Black Fang, they needed to go to their Leader.
Why were they doing this to me of all people?
There was a limit to how ridiculous things could get.
"I am not the Leader of Black Fang."
That was why I declared it once again.
This was already the second time today I had to make this bizarre clarification.
But....
"Leader......."
The people didn't seem to believe me at all. Judging by their persistence, they didn't look like they would give up either.
No matter how much I told them the truth, they stubbornly held onto their bizarre misunderstanding and only shot me looks that begged me to reconsider.
Was it just my imagination? It felt like nothing but bizarre things kept happening lately.
Someone suddenly made an out-of-nowhere donation, the Empire jumped to the wrong conclusion and imploded, and then these people....
"I know that with our skills, we will only be a burden. But even so, we can't just stand by and watch this situation unfold. So please...."
They were begging me to let them join Black Fang.
To me, who had never even met a single low-ranking member of Black Fang, let alone the Leader.
Was this the sorrow of the boy who cried wolf?
No matter how much I explained, they just wouldn't believe me.
Perhaps I was paying the price for so casually impersonating Black Fang all this time.
"...Please give me a moment to think."
I let out a sigh and spoke.
Honestly, if it were up to me, I'd rush straight back to the bed at the Relief Center and figure out a plan at my own pace.
'Just why are they going to such lengths?'
But I simply couldn't do that.
The people who had only been kneeling earlier were now bowing so deeply that their noses were practically touching the ground.
If they took a breath, they'd probably inhale sand instead of air.
Judging by their enthusiasm, they would definitely stay like that for a long time even if I left.
I couldn't just leave them for hours doing all this just to wait for my answer.
Because of that, I quickly racked my brain.
'A way to somehow explain to them that I'm not Black Fang...'
It wouldn't work.
No, even if it actually worked, it wouldn't be a very good choice.
They looked ready to sacrifice themselves for a revolution right at that moment.
If I left them behind, they would probably start doing dangerous revolutionary activities on their own.
Yet of all times, the Empire was just about to issue a massive Wanted Order for Black Fang.
It was the exact timing when the Empire would be most enthusiastic about hunting down Black Fang.
The chances of those people getting caught and killed were incredibly high.
'I have to stop that from happening no matter what.'
In the end, there was only one method that came to mind.
Honestly, I wasn't sure if this was a good plan or not, but it was definitely better than letting them die at the hands of the Empire.
So after pondering for a long time...... I finally opened my mouth.
"It will certainly be a difficult path."
I spoke in a serious tone. The people swallowed nervously with grave expressions.
"Are you truly prepared for this? You may have to risk your lives."
Even though I openly emphasized the danger, no one showed any intention of backing down.
They merely steeled their resolve, each stating their own reasons.
Some said they wanted to repay the favor they had received from me,
while others said they wanted to leave a better world for their children.
I watched them and nodded with a serious expression before speaking.
"I will respect your resolve."
Of course, that was a lie.
I had been spending time with them lately and had grown somewhat close to them.
I didn't want to carelessly push my acquaintances into a dangerous and shady organization like Black Fang.
"But... now is not the time. We are not ready yet."
Lying without changing my expression pricked my conscience a bit, though.
Still, it was much better to move them to a safe place, even if it meant lying through my teeth.
"Now is the time to stockpile our strength. For 'that day' that will eventually come."
That was why I spouted whatever nonsense came to mind.
Things like the day that will eventually come, stockpiling our strength, and now not being the right time.
It was all just random nonsense I spouted as it came to mind.
"Those who are ready, please follow this child. She will guide you."
I said that and pointed at Rien.
Rien visibly panicked, but I quickly approached her and whispered.
"Take them to your father. You understand what I'm trying to do, right?"
If we're talking about the best place to avoid the Empire's eyes, it was already decided.
It was the same place I had sheltered the self-proclaimed Prophet's tribe when they fell out of the Empire's favor.
I would just have them kill time there, maybe doing some physical training amongst themselves, until the Empire's public search came to an end.
"......Yeah! I understand completely."
Rien was confused for a moment before replying in a bright voice.
Thankfully, it seemed she had caught on to my intentions.
Because of the large number of people, she couldn't use Teleportation Magic like before. Rien led the group and quickly walked away.
For a hastily thrown-together plan, it was decent, I thought as I watched them leave.
'...I do feel a bit sorry for dumping such a complicated task on Mister High Priest, though.'
Well, he did say it himself anyway.
-Tell me whenever you need help, we will all be on your side.
Right now was exactly the time I needed help.
I shouldn't hold back and just ask for a big favor.
*****
The High Priest blankly stared at the scene unfolding before him.
He had been on alert after hearing the news that a group looking like an army was suddenly flooding this place, wondering if the Empire had finally come for them.
But the ones who appeared were his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in a while, and... the hundreds of people she had brought with her.
"So, about what happened......."
Rien broke into a cold sweat and frantically tried to explain the situation, but the High Priest knew what she was going to say even without hearing it.
It was to be expected, in a way.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't surprised by the sudden visit, but it was painfully obvious what was going on right now.
"That child sent you, right?"
At the High Priest's words, Rien nodded with a surprised expression.
The High Priest watched her, rubbing his chin with a grave expression before speaking.
"I see... So that day has finally come."
"......Did you know about all of this?"
Rien asked with an even more flustered expression than before.
That completely confirmed his prior suspicions.
'So that guy really was the Leader of Black Fang.'
Actually, I was about ninety percent sure.
When I couldn't get a glimpse of his fate no matter how many divinations I cast last time, I simply thought my skills had grown rusty.
Since then, the High Priest had never made a single mistake.
On top of that, the abnormal mental fortitude I saw back then.
It was only natural that the High Priest was the first to recall that extraordinary boy upon hearing the rumors about Black Fang.
'Considering even that map, it would actually be stranger if he wasn't the Leader of Black Fang.'
That bizarrely precise map.
Not to mention other countries, even the Empire likely didn't possess records detailing its own territory so meticulously.
And there was only one purpose for creating such a map.
Because a map was a type of Military Weapon.
It was easy enough to grasp the implications of the person who crafted such a map starting to gather people on such a large scale.
He was preparing for a revolution.
It was an incredibly dangerous endeavor.
But....
"Follow me."
The High Priest spoke without hesitation.
As for resolve, all the Tribe Members already had it.
Since receiving that map, they could tell what the boy was planning.
Because of that, everyone had discussed and decided what answer to send if the boy ever requested their cooperation.
The conclusion reached at the end of the debate was that they would gladly lend their strength to the boy.
It was to be expected, in a way.
They had been content just living in hiding to avoid being used by the Empire, but the bastards went ahead and burned down their village, taking away their family and friends.
As long as they were alive, the Empire would never let them go.
It was the Empire that left no room for negotiation.
'I suppose things are going to get a bit busy from now on.'
With that in mind, the High Priest led the massive crowd and walked forward.
There was a lot to prepare.
*****
And so, Black Fang secretly began to train an army for the revolution.
The operation was carried out so secretly that,
even the one who issued the orders hadn't even noticed.
It was truly perfect security.