Chapter 6: Rescue and Return
"...Uh, where am I?"
As I regained consciousness, a rough rocky ceiling came into view. It was a dim, damp space with a terrible stench that made my nose scrunch up. It seemed like I was in a cave.
"Ugh!"
As soon as I regained consciousness, intense pain ran through my entire body, and I involuntarily let out a groan.
(I see... I was attacked by goblins... I wonder if Julio escaped safely.)
While transporting goods to the neighboring town, we were suddenly attacked by a group of goblins. If it was just a small number of goblins, we wouldn't have fallen behind, but there were too many of them, and there were even higher-level species among them. We judged that we were outnumbered and had no choice but to run away.
Father Ronaldo bought time while I distracted the other goblins, allowing my defenseless mother and Fria to escape. It was also difficult to fight while protecting someone. I just hope they were able to escape safely...
Now, the only way to survive is to defeat these goblins with the three of us.
I stabbed the goblin attacking Julio from behind with my sword and called out to my younger brother.
"Julio! Let's defeat them and join up with Mom and the others!"
Julio is only 14 years old, but he can fight well against goblins. We moved back to back so that we wouldn't be surrounded and reduced the number of goblins with the three of us.
This could work! I thought to myself, but then intense pain ran through my right thigh. I looked and saw an arrow sticking out, blood spurting out.
(Damn it, I can't run like this. This is it...)
"Julio! You go on ahead alone! You can make it now. Call for help!"
Julio nodded quietly and ran without hesitation. He's a really smart and dependable little brother. I'll entrust Mom and Fria to him. Now...
With Julio's escape at my back, I glared at the goblins.
"Come at me! I'll take as many of you down with me as I can!"
I don't remember what happened after that. I must have defeated around 10 goblins before losing consciousness.
Suddenly, I heard a voice and came to my senses.
"Tomas! You woke up, I'm so glad..."
"...Mom? Where are we? Did we survive?"
Mom shook her head sadly.
"We're in the goblin cave. Ronaldo was also caught and brought here."
"What about Dad? What about Julio and Fria?"
"Those kids seem to be missing. They might have escaped."
"I see... then where's Dad?"
Upon closer inspection, I noticed that Mom was pale and trembling.
"Ronaldo was taken away a little while ago..."
Suddenly, screams echoed through the cave, over and over again.
Sweat poured from my whole body and my shaking wouldn't stop. I understood without even trying. Dad was being eaten now.
As I couldn't hear Dad's screams anymore, I could hear the goblins' screams next. Maybe it was my turn next... Fear and despair almost broke my heart, but I gritted my teeth and forced out the words.
"Mom, Julio will definitely call for help. Let's believe and wait."
Mom nodded firmly, though she was still pale.
Even if Julio called for help, it was unlikely to arrive in time. However, that single ray of hope kept the two of us barely hanging on.
In reality, the situation was hopeless. Mom couldn't fight, and I had broken bones in both my hands and feet with an arrow wound. Without treatment, I was severely injured enough to die from massive bleeding. There was no choice but to believe and wait.
However, it was fortunate in the end that the faint hope that arose from Julio's escape prevented us from choosing suicide.
Several footsteps approached. Was it a guard change, or... would the next sacrifice be chosen? The two of us tensed up, and mom stepped forward, hiding me on her back.
Mom had already made up her mind. The next one to be taken would be herself. If she could buy even a little bit of time, the chances of saving her child would increase. With father gone now, there was no one left to protect the children but herself.
The footsteps stopped in front of the cage. Mom couldn't stop the tears from falling. Because in front of her eyes was the figure of her beloved husband, who was supposed to be dead.
"... Mariana, Tomas... you must have been scared. It's okay now. Help has arrived."
＊＊＊
Half a day had passed since Kakeru had left. The sun was setting outside, and soon it would be night.
Fria and Julio, the brothers, were anxiously waiting for Kakeru's return. Despite having emergency lights, they couldn't use them for fear of alerting the monsters. As the room grew darker, the two huddled together under a blanket.
"Big brother... Kakeru-san isn't coming back, is he?"
"He'll be fine. Kakeru-san is strong, and he has amazing medicine. Besides, he said he wouldn't push himself too hard."
"Yeah... you're right... but I'm worried that mom and dad will think the worst if Kakeru-san doesn't come back."
"There's no point in worrying about that now. Let's rest and take care of ourselves. We have to leave for the town in the morning anyway."
Julio gently stroked his sister's head. He was also full of anxiety, but he knew he had to protect his sister from now on. He clenched his back teeth and tried to overcome his weakness.
However, the situation was tough. Although he believed Kakeru was doing his best to find them, it was hard to imagine him still alive. Julio had lost all their belongings, and he couldn't afford to think about what would happen next.
＊＊＊
The sun had completely set, and next to Julio, Fria was quietly breathing in her sleep. As a precaution, they had decided to take turns sleeping.
(I told Fria, but I wonder if Kakeru-san is okay? It's already too late.)
Being alone suddenly made anxiety well up inside Julio. If Kakeru didn't come back, they would have to leave the forest and head towards the town.
The path to the town was quite safe, but for the two who had just been attacked on that supposedly safe road, it was nothing but fear.
He couldn't help but feel uneasy, thinking that goblins might break through the door any moment.
(Please come back soon, Kakeru-san...)
As Julio stared anxiously at his sister's sleeping face, they heard three knocks on the door of the shelter.
It wasn't a mistake! Julio jumped up, woke up Fria, and took his weapon with him to the door just in case.
"Has Kakeru-san come back?"
Fria tugged at his sleeve with a mixture of expectation and anxiety.
Julio hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to open the door or not, but eventually...
"Hey, Fria, Julio! It's Kakeru, you can open the door!"
"Kakeru-san!"
They opened the door and hugged Kakeru together.
"I'm sorry for making you wait. I'm sorry for scaring you."
Kakeru gently stroked their heads.
"As an apology for being late, I have a lot of souvenirs to show you. Both of you come outside quickly."
Souvenirs? Were they so big that they couldn't be brought inside? The two looked at each other and nodded before heading outside together.
Kakeru smiled and pointed behind him, and three figures emerged from the darkness.
Those three were the people the two wanted to see the most, the ones with the smiles they wanted to see the most.
"...Julio, Fria... I'm glad you're both safe..."
Ronaldo hugged the two of them.
"Ah...ah...Dad...Mom...Brother..."
"Mom...waaah"
Fria and Julio could only cry.
(I just wanted to go to the town, but it's good that I was able to help them.)
As he watched the family hold each other tightly, not wanting to let go, he couldn't help but think.
This was a different world where he came to be with Mikoto-san, but people were living here and doing their best.
At first, he had a sense of playing a game, but that feeling had disappeared. It was a world where death was close at hand, so perhaps that's why families supported each other so firmly.
(...Shouldn't we go inside soon? It would be rude to say it, though.)
Kakeru could only quietly watch over them until everyone stopped crying and had their fill.