Chapter 9: Saving One at a Time
"Hey, Chiba, are you feeling any better now?"
Chiba nodded silently at the cheerful young man in front of him, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.
It had been seven days since Chiba narrowly escaped death.
Initially, Chiba had been overjoyed to have survived. However, by the second day, he noticed a serious problem—his wound had become infected.
Perhaps due to the fragility of his body—having gone days without food and recovering from poisoning—Chiba had little resistance left. He struggled for a few days before collapsing beside a river just as he managed to exit the forest.
Fortunately, fate seemed to favor him. A group of refugees traveling along the river stumbled upon him and took him in.
The smiling young man before him, exuding infectious warmth, was the leader of this group. His name was Natsuki.
Natsuki was a man who seemed to be perpetually smiling, effortlessly lifting the spirits of those around him. Everyone in the group spoke highly of him.
However, if Chiba had to describe Natsuki in three words, he would call him a "hopeless good guy."
Although Chiba was grateful for being saved, he couldn't agree with some of Natsuki's decisions—especially his choice to rescue Chiba.
When Chiba had been found, nearly everyone in the group opposed saving him. They were already struggling to survive with limited food supplies, and taking in an injured child would mean wasting precious medicine and dedicating someone to care for him.
Furthermore, even if Chiba recovered, he was just a child with no useful skills. Keeping him would only drain their resources further.
Yet Natsuki insisted on taking him in, overriding everyone's objections.
Over the past few days, Chiba had learned more about the group. Most of them came from the same village and had fled together to escape the war.
Chiba, as an outsider, couldn't help but feel like he didn't belong.
Looking around, he saw people busy with tasks—gathering wild vegetables, fishing, building fires. Everyone had a role to play. But Chiba, even if healed, knew his contribution would be minimal.
The sight of a child mixing dirt into the group's meager food supply only deepened Chiba's complicated emotions.
As he brooded, the air filled with the sounds of a heated argument nearby.
"Natsuki, if you keep doing this, you'll get all of us killed!"
"Yeah! We've tolerated it before because those kids could at least help out, but this one's just a burden. The medicine we've used on him could've kept us fed for days!"
"Natsuki, enough is enough. We can't let this go on!"
People voiced their frustrations, one after another, demanding that Chiba be cast out.
But Natsuki remained steadfast, trying to reassure them. "Please trust me. I promise I'll lead us out of this mess. Please, just bear with me a little longer…"
Eventually, seeing their complaints were futile, the group reluctantly dispersed, though not without casting hostile glares and muttering curses at Chiba.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Natsuki turned to Chiba with an awkward smile. "Don't let it get to you. You'll be fine; I've got your back."
"Let me leave," Chiba said firmly, meeting Natsuki's gaze.
"I'll wait until my wound heals a bit more, but I'll leave after that. I won't drag you all down."
Reaching into his belongings, Chiba pulled out half of the money he had taken from Scarface and handed it to Natsuki.
"This is payment for saving my life."
Chiba's decision was well thought out.
Over the past few days, it had become clear that people were growing increasingly dissatisfied with Natsuki's leadership. If things continued, it wouldn't be long before Natsuki was overthrown—and Chiba's situation would only become more precarious.
With Scarface's money and tools, Chiba believed he could survive on his own for a while. After that, he would figure things out as he went.
But Natsuki dismissed his offer with a grin.
"Come on, kid. Don't be so dramatic."
Ignoring Chiba's protests, Natsuki ruffled his hair playfully.
"That little bit of money won't get you far, especially with how expensive things are now. And those medicines we used on you? This wouldn't even cover a fraction. You might as well stick around and pay off your debt. Don't even think about sneaking off!"
Chiba fell silent, his emotions swirling as a warm feeling filled his chest.
"I know you're trying to help me, and I'm grateful you saved my life. But I can see how much trouble I'm causing you. People are constantly giving you grief over me. If this continues…"
Chiba trailed off, unable to ignore the growing tension within the group. He didn't want to be the cause of more problems for his savior.
But Natsuki waved off his concerns with a lighthearted laugh. "Don't worry about it. They're just blowing off steam. They won't go too far. And if we abandoned you now, it'd be no different from killing you. Don't overthink it—we're not hurting for resources as badly as you think."
His tone was so resolute that Chiba couldn't argue.
This wasn't the first time Natsuki had dismissed Chiba's concerns, always finding a way to keep him in the group.
After a long pause, Chiba asked the question that had been gnawing at him.
"Why?"
"Why what?" Natsuki looked at him curiously.
"Why are you being so kind to me?"
Chiba knew it might seem ungrateful to ask such a question, but he couldn't help himself.
Why was this man, who barely knew him, so willing to go to such lengths?
Natsuki's expression softened as he gazed into the distance, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"Why, huh? Maybe it's because I used to be a war orphan too."
His tone grew somber, laced with complexity.
"I know how hard it is for someone like us to survive in this world. The struggles, the humiliation… I've been there."
As he spoke, Natsuki's memories seemed to resurface, his voice wavering with emotion.
"So, I can't help but try to save kids who remind me of myself. I know I can't save everyone, but at least… I can save one at a time."
A gentle smile spread across Natsuki's face, full of warmth and hope.
"Save one at a time…"
Chiba stared at him in awe, deeply moved by the simplicity and sincerity of those words.
Perhaps only in a world as harsh as this could someone like Natsuki exist—a beacon of humanity amidst the chaos.
Just as Chiba was lost in thought, someone came running over, panic evident in their voice.
"Natsuki, there are bandits up ahead blocking the road!"
Natsuki didn't panic. In a world plagued by war, bandits were a common sight. This wasn't the first time his group had encountered them.
Frowning slightly, Natsuki retrieved a massive bow and arrows from his belongings, stepping forward confidently.
Chiba stared at the oversized weapon, incredulous.
"How can someone as slim as Natsuki handle something like that?"
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