[That was really something.]
"If you're saying it then I guess it was.."
[I actually never seen anyone do such a thorough job...]
"Now let's check on the captives."
Last Night was hell… I dealt with all the soldiers in the army. Since nobody could get out or hide, I was sure I got all of them. Still my mind was a bit hazy, a fight that long was overwhelming really… but the thing I was most surprised about was that I was able to go through with all this… killing so many people felt like nothing to me. There was no feeling of despair or guilt in my heart...
As I walked to a big tent and opened the door, the light entered the tent. I saw hundreds of girls and women huddled together in the corner. Not all of them were fine. I could see some of them looked injured and malnourished.
Since I was still splattered in blood, I must have looked terrifying to them. Still, mustering her strength, finally someone came forward.
She should have looked pretty but her lack of fine dress and other necessities was shown by how she looked… actually all of these girls were like this…. I wonder how badly they were treated. I want to return them to their homes...
"S-sir… Wh-what is going on out there? Wh-who are you?" She Stammered while talking, her voice was so soft it had a healing effect after that hellish night…. Ignoring her question I asked her.
"Do any of you know how to use water magic.. I need some water.." this whole camp didn't have anything, be that food or water. I wonder what happened to the supply… but since I couldn't find those and There was no river or pond here, I didn't have a way to clean myself. I could only generate a glass of water at a time and after the long fight, one single glass was nothing. I want to clean this blood off… I had thought there would be guys here too but, I guess the army had brought the girls for blowing off steam. I felt pity looking at these girls.
As I said, so, few of the girls came forward… looking at me, I doubt they would disagree with anything I say…
"Can you please get some water with magic? I need to get these blood washed…" since the tent had a place to use water too, I was able to wash myself there. Even though the tent door was open, not one of the girls went near it.
As the blood was washed off, some girls even helped me. I guess they wanted to get me in a good mood… I didn't say anything, just silently took the help. the scent of blood was so thick on me, I don't think a simple washing with water would be enough to scatter the scent.
even so, After getting dried, The girl who talked to me first and looked like she was their leader of sorts looked at me. This tent was a bit worn out; it was no more than a prison cell.
But I couldn't just take them outside where there were 100 thousands soldiers bloodied, not everyone can stomach such a scene. As I sat down on a chair that I got from my storage, I started to ask and find out what these girls were here for or rather how they were here.
"So who are you people?" As I asked, they looked puzzled.
"We were brought here to be used by the soldiers.." their Leader spoke quite bluntly. It was a hard reality I guess… the soldiers used them.... I have dealt with each and everyone of them... then why do I feel my anger rising even now?
[It's time to move on to next phase don't you think?]
"Hmmm… I see… which country were you from?" restarting the questioning, I asked them while my gaze automatically became softer.
"We are from the empire."
"They take their own country people? And you guys look like..." I was speechless just hearing about that... they actually took their own people and used them like this?
"Yes, we were here to serve them until we die… our families presented us with that in mind."
"That's….. Really…. How can I say this..." I was speechless… even their families presented them... no wait... the empire can't be this rotten.... at this rate, I have to believe that debauchery was actually a household thing.
"Think nothing of it sir, our lives are meaningless from the day we were born." the way I see it.. This girl who had the skills to be a leader… she knew just what the situation was… their life was meaningless… huh.. Being able to say it…
"So… I can see a lot of you look ready to die… I mean you are all injured like you were beaten…"
"Yes, the soldiers are rough sometimes… many of us have already died…" She was saying such a painful topic with a clear face… was this the empire's reality? Was this treatment normal for these girls?
"Let me heal you all… Mother's touch.. New-born." Since the time I got the Divine element, I could use healing magic pretty easily, so I developed this new spell.
It would nullify any damage be it mental or physical. They would be as healthy as the day they were born any and all illness should be cured too. their mind even if broken from torture, it would mend it self, even at times making the host lose any and all trauma entirely.
This type of healing, not everyone could do it but since I was able to use lifeforce, I was capable of such feet. After I healed the king of Stein with Life force, I had this idea of combining healing magic with life force and this spell was the end result.
Thankfully I just achieved getting light Element before coming to this fight, not only could I fight seamlessly with wounds… my stamina recovery had leveled up. it was better to replenish stamina with this power rather than using spirit energy to replenish it.
As the Soothing healing light cured all the girls and women, many started to cry as their feelings that were stopped at some point returned to them, of course having to feel so much torture until now, not all of them were normal, I was sure there were quite some girls who were mind broke.
but... No matter the situation, I guess they still want to live… after they healed up, even their feelings came back to them.
"Th-thank you very much sir… Who are you?" It was the same question she asked the first time she saw me. but now there was some warmth in it. did she think I was a savior?
"I am… The cursed sword wielder…" I wanted to give my name but I considered it again. No hero would do what I just did last night. I was already prepared to be the cursed sword wielder this world feared.
Hearing me some girls from the back run forward and come to look at me. They didn't look frightened at all… now this is a bit...
"It's- it's the heroes grandson! How are you here sir! Did you come to save us too?" As the girls asked such things innocently, they had a ray of hope in their tone and face For the first time since I saw them.
"Wow, how did you guys know?" Since I hadn't told them such things they knew somehow. was my identity known even in the empire?
"Everyone knows you sir! You are said to be stronger than the former heroes."
"It is said that you were left at the edge of the world when you were a child so that you could be strong and train hard!"
"We even heard you saved many villages from monsters plaguing them for years!!"
"You even managed to marry the Richest Girl alive!"
"Okay.. I see you girls know quite a lot…"
"Then why are you here Sir, you know this is enemy territory." the leader who was talking to me for the first time asked again after letting the other girls settle down… man... they knew a lot about me huh... but I felt my heart relaxing looking at the girls who were now smiling just looking at me.
After healing, I could see that all the girls looked healthy. After a proper bath, meal and rest, they would look normal again. Since they felt better now, they started to see me in a good way.
"Well the army out there is dead… I was here to destroy the empire…"
"Wow! He is awesome!"
"Yeah!" as if hearing my line they got excited but not many could process what I had just said.
"Now, what would you girls like to do? I am going to the empire and its future doesn't look good, so I would say to not go there anymore…"
"What? Then sir what about the soldiers? and the other people here?"
"They are all dead.. Didn't you guys hear the fighting?"
"Yes we did hear them… but I didn't know all this was going on…"
"Say, why don't you guys give me your names?" that was a bit puzzling.. I can't address them properly.
"Our name? Nobody really used it so we forgot to introduce ourselves…"
"That's deep…" really these girls are just too tragic… still, to think they held me in such respect, even as I said that I had killed their country people…
They didn't even bat an eye and looked happy that I was able to reach them.
[Your heroics seems to have spread thanks to saving and mending the relationship with Stein and Treastein... but after this... things may change yet again, be prepared to be looked upon with fear and disgust.]
"I know, that is why it is fascinating that these girls are even looking at me with such innocent looks..."
"We don't have anywhere to go…" The youngest girl who had come in front of me said so while looking sad. no not sad... it felt like she wanted to stay with me... rather her feelings extended to even the girls around her.
{Notice; The blessing is taking effect, many of the humans here have been given proper attention from the Blessing, from now on they might want to find solace from master and lean on Master for comfort. it was done in the sense so most of them could stay sane after the mass healing, their psyche had been damaged severely enough to warrant for such an action, master is advised to not let any kinds of pressure affect them for the foreseeable future. }
something like that was possible with my blessing? no wait... of course it was... they need care after all... my blessing were actually perfect to save them.... it seems rather then healing their body, their mind was the one that needed the most care.
"There really are a lot of you… but.. I think I could take you guys in…. Acadia does have a lot of types of businesses… but you will have to work hard and don't do anything like stealing and such.." Actually they don't even know what it is like to steal since they haven't even lived like humans until now. I guess I shouldn't leave them in society like this… they would end up in a place like this in no time…
"Sir, you are too kind but is it alright? Most of us are unable to do any work. Besides… you have saved us from…"
"Don't worry, all of you are still young, it's not too late to get a new start. You look like you have a bit more outer knowledge.. Tell me your name." as I said so to the leader here.
"My name is Mila…" it was a name like Mai's.
"I see.. Now then everyone, out there is a bloodbath of soldiers.. I am going to get us out of here…. Wait, I will get you some clothes…" I generated some clothes with my Miasma, since there were a lot of them here, I went for simple dresses. It was better than those beat up rags they were wearing. Those barely covered them.
"Now don't get frightened after going outside."
"That's not a problem Sir, we are quite numb to such things.." The way Mila said looked really convincing.. I didn't even want to ask what these girls went through. After that I got them out of the tent, which probably had a lot of germs and bacteria in it.
We moved from the encampment after I dismissed the Mass dimension.
I had a portable house in storage. After being able to build a house. I went a bit overboard and built a huge house while I was at it… but since It was of no use, I had put it in storage.
Now in this big grassy plane, that portable house could easily be used. It was good that it's already fitted with furniture, so I wouldn't have to think of sleeping on the floor. I had already moved to another location. The battle ground was far away from me now.
After suddenly seeing a house being taken out, of course everyone felt bewildered but I put them to rest. Since they were raised while being extremely sheltered to the point very few knew the world, it was easy to make them understand.
"Everyone find yourself a room. There is a big bath in there too but I guess there is no water so you have to manage it.. Yeah I have enough food so after getting fresh everyone, come to the dining room to have dinner."
"Dinner?" The fake dimension was active for at least 12 hours so in the real world close to 1.2 hours had passed and night had just fallen. As soon as I had released the spell, everything had gotten dark. It was night time. Since the moon wasn't there tonight, only the stars sparkled at the sky. So everyone followed me to the house.
Since there were hundreds of them, of course they couldn't all enter at once so it took quite a while for them to get in. as if seeing the height of luxury, they all gulped after getting in. it was only the bare necessary decorations but I guess they only had a floor to sleep until now.
Since I got in to prepare dinner, everyone else went straight to get freshen. It was their first priority since I had given them clean clothes and they didn't want to make them dirty again.
As some time passed, Mila and some girls came inside the kitchen. It was big but not big enough for everyone to get inside, so they must have come as everyone's representative.
"Master, wh-what is this?"
"Master?... That kinda felt familiar actually…" It felt like it was Mai…. I wish she was here… I would have liked to sleep using her lap… that battle was hard enough as it was..
"This? It's curry and the other one is rice. Since it was already late, this was the only thing I could prepare. Curry is easy to make and it goes well with rice. These two dishes should get your Malnourished bodies back to health in no time!"
"Yes, I see that… but this much?" Mila was right, it was quite a bit actually. But I think our numbers were more than enough to finish it. Still I guess the 2 big cooking pots had a big presence.
After it was all cooked, everyone lined up and I served them like an open cafeteria at school one by one. At some point, I felt like I had become a robot. Seeing that serving so many people was hard for me alone, Mila started to help me out too.
"Thanks.. I was a bit overwhelmed."
"Master should eat first…" as she said so, she gave me my own portion too and started to serve others with the girls that had already eaten.
As I started to eat, I could see that all around me everyone was eating silently… Usually with good food people tend to talk amusingly but they were concentrating on eating.
They must have been starved… that empire.. Even before all this, I didn't have a good image of it but after seeing all this. I feel even more disgusted.
[True, they have taken depravity to the limits.]
Amanori thinks so too?
[Yeah.]
I guess the empire's done. Even if I wasn't here, it would eventually fall. Still I should end this as fast as I can… I wonder what will happen after I am done. I don't want to see people in misery any more.
As the night grew old, the pots emptied out. Looks like it was just enough. I put everything inside my storage. I didn't want to keep myself up anymore and tidy up.
But before I went to my room and passed out, I saw Mila coming, behind her the girls waited anxiously…
"Master.."
"There are a lot of free rooms, find them and get some rest. I need to sleep… sorry for not getting you guys situated. We will talk tomorrow."
As I said so without hearing an answer, I left the place and went to my room. I know they wouldn't run out on me. As grounded as they were, my slight kindness should have felt too overwhelming; they just had to adjust themselves to it.
.....
"I feel so tired… but I can't sleep…" I said to myself… Amanori had done a lot today, so she was already passed out. It's surprising but she even sleeps sometimes. so right about now, my mind is very much feeling lonely.
I could hear the Girls chattering from outside. They must be finding rooms and getting their well deserved rest. After a while, the chattering died down.
"They must have been tired. I guess they fell asleep… I wanna sleep too!" As I said, feeling exhausted, I heard a knock.
"Come in."
"Master…" It was Mila. I hope she wouldn't say that she would do her nightly duties for my kindness. Hell no! they just got out of hell, I should not even think of such things!
"Master, I heard this was your first big battle… so I wanted to help you to get to sleep…." As she said so, she came inside and sat on the bed. She took my head and fixed it on her lap. beside her she fired some incense. what was this?
"Oh… Mila… I didn't think you were this forward…" I asked since the first time I saw her, I felt she was scared of me. but after talking a bit. I guess she was the only one more forward among the girls.
"Sorry master if this bothers you." the smell of the incense was quite soothing, I wonder where she found it. maybe it was with her all this time.
"No, it's fine. I wasn't able to sleep… should we have a chat? Tell me about you Mila."
"Me…. Master is like my father…. Or so I felt.."
"Your father?" Mila was a bit older than me, maybe was a bit younger than Mai…. but I don't have such a fantasy you know?
"I heard from my mother… My father was nice to women and girls… but when he fought, he was like another person… The first time I saw Master, I felt like Master had a frightening look in his eyes… but After you saw us, that look went away…. Like it was never there…. I only heard this from my mother since my father died before I was born.. But I guess he was also similar to you, master in that aspect…."
"Wow… I see that's why you could talk easily with me…" I guess there were decent men in the empire too.
"But now men like my father are gone from the empire… a few years ago a revolt was taking place in the empire, few good natured people stood up to form a ground.. But it was taken down without a second thought. Now the empire is filled with backstabbers, criminals, influential people who view others like their only insects… the common people have all got used to this and they became just as cunningly… the girls tend to die young because of not getting a good place to grow up, the few who live get dragged on like us. I heard that most of the girls were brought here because of the prince's orders."
"I see that the empire is standing on glass… the society has taken a plunge for the worse… but I don't know why that empire is still going on with all these bad natured people. An outer power has to be at play…"
"Master is thinking about the future?"
"I was thinking what would happen after the empire's downfall…"
"Don't worry master, even if you take down the emperor, no innocent lives will be lost.. There are a few people out there who are still helping people like us… if they get some time, they can take innocent people out of the country… if you let the chaos run for a while they would easily accomplish that…"
"There are people like that?"
"Yes, most of them are adventurers. Still they are all around the country, even with low numbers they are very meticulous."
"I see… That makes me worry less.. I wouldn't want innocent boy's and girls getting dragged into this chaos…"
"Master Really has a kind soul." Mila looked down at me…. And started stroking my hair… it felt soothing… after a long battle a woman's kindness can go a long way. with the scent of the incense wrapping around me, I finally fell asleep. what blunder... the stench of the blood was keeping me up but Mila had understood that and made quite a simple solution... I didn't understand that until it was quite sometime though.
"Thanks Mila…" I drifted off to sleep in no time…