"Y-you were showing a face only someone who got their life turned upside down showed." We really were alike after all.
"You are correct. My mother and sister." They weren't the most trustworthy of people, but after a lot of thinking, this was the only conclusion I could draw. I didn't know any other people I could entrust Anino to. The people I trusted the most happened to be scum, so what's to say that the others aren't. So the safest place she could be, if they were to accept her, would be next to them. And for that, I'll bet on those two feelings even the slightest bit of guilt towards me.
Even if they did reject her, Anino could always pose as an orphan. As bad as the church was, they would have to take her in to maintain their image.
So it was a gamble with a safety net. Of course, I couldn't trust the church either... but it was better than living alone... But if everything were to go wrong...
"They are still where you saw them, I want you to meet them and tell my sister that she doesn't need to take care of my field anymore. And that she should focus on taking care of you instead." This would trip her feelings up, right? "And if they don't do that, reach out to the church and call yourself an orphan. If the church seems shady, there's a small field on the top of this hill with the name 'Elton', live a secluded life there." That wasn't the field Dad left behind, but the one I bought for my own projects.
Almost no one visited it, so it should be safe by all means.
"Okay." Anino said, while still looking at the ground.
I ran up and climbed on top of the tree. I needed to catch my breath too and this discussion seemed to be a long one. This was our final parting after all.
"Rumie."
"Yeah?"
"Out of the 32, which do you reckon is the strongest?"
"You don't even know that much?!"
"No." She looked up at the tree with a confused reaction.
"Do you know anything about the world outside?"
"Not really."
"I'll just... ughh... Do I really have to go over all of it?"
I looked down at her as if telling her she had no say in the matter.
"Alright... Let's just get this over with. These lands are divid..."
.
.
.
"That leaves us with the weakest of the 32 churches. Intuitively you would expect it to be the one in Rottheim since it's the furthest away from the front lines, but because of its connections throughout its small environment, and the church being the God of Prosperity, it has a lot of disposable manpower.
So the weakest one I'd say is the church of Ohnicht. The ruling God is barely holding onto his spot in the 32 and its following is more like a cult than a religion. So if you want to take any one of those on, then it should be that one."
[ I agree with her analysis of that God, yes. ]
Liu confirmed.
"I see. All in all, if we went against all the churches individually, even if I spent half a year finishing them off, it would still take sixteen years to get rid of them. Then I would need to get rid of the crusade... Only after all of that would the Deity descend."
"Wait if you're going to destroy the Crusade, who'll protect us against the darkness?" Anino was cautious.
"Honestly, I don't even care anymore." With my words, she looked away dejectedly.
If I was being truthful to myself I'd say that I would kick the bucket by the time the third church came around. But this was just my attempt to do something so that I could say that at least I died trying.
I knew full well this was a suicide mission... But I wanted to die.
I was already sick of everything and everyone around me. How was I supposed to live with people after losing the ability to trust?
"Vivi, you should start off by carrying Rumie to the plateau outside. I'll start plundering for some food."
"Alright."
"And Anino, I know this is sudden, but this will probably be the last time that we meet." I had no obligations toward her anymore. I took care of her of my own free will, and she was old enough to survive in this world. I mean, I was. "It would be bad if someone recognised me here, or if any remaining adv-" Eh they were all probably dead.
As soon as I was about to finish, Anino bent her head forward. She was bowing so deeply that her hair flipped over her head and her nape was visible.
"THANK YOU!" She shouted in all sincerity.
And I didn't have any words left. Til now all that I had ever been thanked for were little chores. I could feel the entire weight of her life behind her gratitude. And since this was all borne of my self-interest I didn't expect something like this in the first place.
I felt my neck choke up but I pushed through- "Live a good life."
Those words were cheesy but that was all I could think of as I left ahead.
"I don't know about that guy, but I'll definitely see you again!" Vivi shouted as she ruffled her hair.
"Bye! Be safe!"
"You too!"
And then our little alliance disbanded. We left towards a new destination. A new start.