Published at 7th of January 2021 04:05:42 PM

255 Two Options

Im throwing down a rope! Please climb out as fast as possible!

Tatark shouts down while Im thinking.

Seriously, what should I do here? If we join them in running away, letting ourself get caught will become pointless.

I dont know how the manticore will react to its sacrifices breaking out, nor can I predict how the village will react. If were unlucky, the village could fall into chaos, tipping the manticore that something was off.

Wh-whats your plan in having us flee? Wont other children get brought here instead?

The eldest girl says, looking up at Tatark. He shakes his head in response.

This village is already on its last legs. The manticore has been demanding sacrifices heedless of the low population. At this rate, in two years time, there will have no girls left.

I-I havent heard anything like that

It was hidden from the children. Nagrom-sama was planning to start a war with the dragon-god village in order to kidnap children.

That ossan[1]was planning to do such a thing?! Even if hes got no other way, thats not an option, surely.

But the reason the manticore came to this village was the dragon-gods return. The dragon-god is there, so theres no way this village can do anything to them. This village is over!

The children fall into silence. That would shock them, yeah. To hear that their hometown would soon be wiped out.

The manticore seems to be aiming specifically for children, but I cant predict how it will act when it loses them. Either theyll be ruined by the disappearance of the children, or the manticore will eat them all. Either way, it might not be inevitable, but their outlooks not good.

T-tatark-san, will you also come to the dragon-god village?

One of the girls opens her mouth. Tatark bites his lip in silence for a few seconds, before shaking his head.

Just the other day, I abandoned them. To get accepted here, I told this village about their war potential, the states of their fields, everything

Tatark says in a heavy voice, hanging his head.

For the sake of that village, the dragon-god would pass a ruthless judgement on me. If I go there, Ill be burnt alive by dragon breath to be made an example of.

To burn someone to death, their god must have been really scary.

As Im thinking that, the girls all turn to look at my partner in unison. Mixed into their crying faces and scared faces are faint looks of reproach and disappointment.

P-Please wait a sec! Im not going to do anything like that!

For that matter, youve got the wrong dragon! There were those three-headed camels all over the desert, so theres got to be lots of two-headed dragons out there! Even though the only one Ive seen is my own reflection in the waters surface!

Ga, gaa

My partner takes a step back, faltering. Oi, your dragon is showing again.

I will stay here and propose reconciliation with the other village to Nagrom-sama. Its likely that todays meeting has already touched on that topic. If all the sacrifices have run away, Nagrom-samas alternatives will be reduced.

Reconciliationhuh, From my point of view, that would be the best possible outcome, though I wonder if itll really go so well, since it looked like their antagonism runs quite deep.

Though even if persuading Nagrom-sama goes well, Ill most likely be killed for intentionally narrowing his options. In the first place, theres no guarantee the dragon-god side wont spurn a peace deal and massacre us instead

If one mistake is enough for everyone to die, then thats no good! Either way, this ossans going to die!

Even though rescue has come, the children look like they cant say anything. Will they sacrifice themselves to save their hometown, or will they run away and shorten their hometowns lifespan. Its a cruel decision. As a bonus, the person who is proposing their escape, Tatark, is asking them to abandon him as they flee, so itd feel bad through and through.

Hmm? N-no, this, if I look at it differently, couldnt it be a chance for me?

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In that village, the dragon-god should be able to speak out on important matters or punishments. Indeed, it was there that the plan to offer sacrifices came about, and Tatark said something along the lines of Theres no way the dragon-god would permit me to return now . If thats the case, then I should hold quite a lot of sway.

With my cranes voice,[2]no, with my dragons voice, not only should I be able to push the reconciliation through, I should be able to avoid having the blame forced on anyone.

However, the risk involved is high. If we aim for reconciliation, then its clear that it would be disastrous if we cant get Nagrom to agree. In the worst case, the manticore slips away and war breaks out.

Its best not to rush here. If I choose to push forward reconciliation now, a single mistake would spell this villages doom. As long as Im recognised as the dragon-god, therell be another chance at it. Its not what I should be prioritising while were in a situation where lives are at risk.

Besides Theres something about the dragon-god that I cant overlook. Theres something that unsettles me, something that doesnt feel right

Oi, ossan. Plug the hole back up and stand watch.

My partner calls out to Tatark.

H-huh? How are you The rope

For tonights sacrifice, Ill go. You just gotta go back to the front entrance. Ill send that monster flying.

She points to herself with her thumb as she declares.

From around us, I hear the sounds of gasping. The sacrificed children seem to finally understand the reason we came here.

Th-theres no way you could You can only say that because youve never seen the manticore! Its not a monster that a person can handle! Never mind that, hurry up and climb! Please climb up! The one with mikos blood has strangely good intuition! I dont know when theyll come chasing after you!

In response to his appeal, no one moves at all. The one person who doesnt know whats happening, Tatark, looks around the cavern.

Someone Hurry If you dont run away now, Nagrom-sama will think he can still curry favour from the manticore and will proceed with his war preparations! But as long as that ruthless dragon-god is around, he doesnt stand a chance of winning. Hell just be pointlessly making corpses. Thats why, not just for yourself, but for the village too

The eldest girl stands up, looking around at the other girls. Even though they look bewildered, in the end they all nod their heads.

Having gotten each persons approval in turn, she turns to my partner. My partner gives her a small nod, smirking.

We will not run! We will stay here!

Wh-why At this rate, war will

We believe in dr in this person! Thats why were staying here!

The eldest girl declares that. Tatark steps back weekly, grimacing.

[1]Ossan: middle-aged man

[2]A cranes voices: a voice of authority