Chapter 21: Something that can never be compromised (4)

When I lift my head and gaze out of the old window, I can see two faint moons gradually disappearing into the horizon.

The sanctuary, located in a secluded corner of the Caputa Highlands, remained steeped in darkness even as dawn began to break.

This was largely because most of the tribespeople had abandoned hope, worn down by years of discrimination and the poisoned land.

Knock, knock. At the sound of knocking, I responded, and the Hero quietly entered the room, handing me a steaming cup.

Autumn was already here, and the mornings were inevitably chilly.

I was a little surprised by his thoughtful gesture, though I quickly masked my expression.

“Are you okay? You probably didn’t get much sleep.”

“I’m fine. Aren’t you tired, Hero?”

“Haha, I’m used to waking up at this time.”

When we arrived at the sanctuary late at night, we only managed to check on a few critical cases.

Beyond that, nothing was done. While the unyielding rock showed us a place to rest, the conditions were so poor by my standards that I couldn’t sleep a wink.

My claim of being fine wasn’t convincing.

The Hero, with his incredible stamina, seemed unaffected.

Of course, considering his exploits, this was hardly surprising.

“Sera, what do you think?”

“…About what?”

The Hero approached me with a somewhat bitter smile.

Lately, there had been many incomprehensible moments like this.

Perhaps he, too, was frustrated that things weren’t unfolding according to the game’s storyline.

To gain favor with the Unyielding Rock, the first step should have been befriending her lover, Charging Thunder, and defending the fortress against a demon invasion.

But Charging Thunder was nowhere to be found, and the demons were absent, while the Red Tail Tribe had taken over the fortress.

“About the people here. I don’t know who’s right or wrong anymore.”

After confirming I had finished my tea, he quietly placed the cup on the table and inhaled deeply.

Had witnessing the tribespeople’s situation changed his mind? But there was nothing we could do.

The Red Tail Tribe’s warriors had drawn their swords against the kingdom, killing many soldiers and knights.

The time for dialogue had long passed. By tomorrow, the battle to reclaim the fortress would begin.

Objectively, a land rich in mana was too valuable to consider the lives of a few tribespeople.

How could people with different cultures and ways of life be accepted as citizens of the kingdom? Discrimination doesn’t arise without cause.

Differences in appearance and culture alone are enough to fuel it.

It’s far cheaper to suppress them by force than to invest in assimilation.

“…Is there really a need to overthink this?”

I could sympathize with the tribespeople but taking action was another matter entirely.

“We just have to do what we must. We can’t afford to stop just because we don’t know the way.”

“…What we must do.”

The Hero said nothing more, merely gazing at the rising sun.

The Hero’s party’s mission was to reclaim the fortress.

Once the demon king emerged, the Caputa Highlands would naturally play their role.

As for me, I needed to resist falling under the Hero’s hypnosis and avoid corruption.

Everything hinged on the incident in the Holy Kingdom.

If I could remain uncorrupted and prevent the Hero from collecting magic stones, the story would inevitably follow its original path.

“Sister, did you sleep well?”

How far does this “Unyielding Rock” plan to push me? As soon as morning came, she knocked on my door with a cheerful voice, masking her intention to exploit me.

Still, perhaps it was a relief. Being alone with the Hero was unbearably awkward.

“Yes, I’ll be out in a moment.”

The Hero left the room, leaving me to prepare.

Tending to patients as a nun ends here.

Tomorrow, I’ll do what needs to be done.

At the same time, the massive bell atop the fortress signaled the arrival of morning.

In the central courtyard, warriors sparred with incomparable ferocity.

Though small in number, the Red Tail Tribe’s warriors could easily take on ten soldiers each.

“Is the water supply intact?”

“Yes, it remains unaffected.”

“…They’re underestimating us.”

Siege warfare often relied on starvation.

While the fortress had reserves of food and oil, external supplies were cut off.

Contaminating the water supply would have been devastating.

Outside, adventurers and kingdom troops swarmed like ants, preparing siege engines and magical defenses.

Their overwhelming numbers made them confident the fortress would soon fall.

Charging Thunder, observing the situation, remained resolute.