Chapter 225

「Onee-chan? 」

Fillia was confused at Haru who suddenly started crying .

「Onee-chan is, she’s! 」

Fillia gently hugged and wrapped around Haru who was crying out of control like Ardis did for her just now . When she was suffering or sad, like how Ardis did for her, she brushed his head gently, and patted his back lightly .

Feeling the body temperature of Haru coming through, Fillia thought she understood a little of the warmth Ardis had given to themselves, and felt like she grew a little .

Haru, who gradually regained his composure, started to explain his situation .

Haru is raised in a certain farming village about two days away from this city . His life together with his parents and his sister who is seven years older crumbled because of the civil war that encompassed the entire Alburn Kingdom .

Haru’s village didn’t become a battlefield but, the soldiers that deserted or mercenaries that lost their organization became bandits, and attacked nearby villages, causing his parents to decide to move to a bigger city .

But unfortunately, they encountered bandits during the trip, and both of his parents were killed, only his sister and himself managed to arrive somehow .

Although it was lucky for them to enter before entry became stricter, it’s not like there’s any job for refugees that suddenly arrived, they were stuck in a situation without any shelter and food .

Then, Haru and his sister encountered further misfortunes . One day, armed men arrived at the refugees who were gradually driven to a corner of the town .

The armed group cut down any people that was resisting, and chose out young females from the refugees and captured them, taking them away on a carriage .

「Fu――n, I see……」

Rona muttered hearing Haru’s story .

「What is it? 」

Rona answered Fillia’s question calmly .

「Taking advantage of the civil war, they decided to exploit the refugees . They’re probably merchants intending to sell them as merchandise . Well, there’re always scumbags like them anywhere . 」

「Terrible…… . Is something like that allowed in Alburn? 」

「At the very least, it’s illegal in this country . Rather, it’s so in many countries, kidnapping people to sell them is a taboo . Though, that’s only the surface . In reality, there’re people that lives by selling other people, there’re a lot of slave merchants that don’t care about the source of the slaves . No matter how many refugees went missing, no citizens would notice, and their voices won’t ever reach the lord even if they complained . It’s an ideal situation for them to reap money without any hassles . 」

「Something like that……」

Haru desperately begged Fillia who lost her words at Rona’s harsh reality revelation .

「Please, please save Onee-chan! She’ll be taken away if it’s too late! 」

「Taken away? 」

According to Haru, it seems like his sister was already put up for sale, and a buyer was found yesterday afternoon . Fillia suddenly recalled what she saw just now .

The scenery of the objectified people being taken away on a carriage . It’s unknown whether they are taken away by the buyer or the seller, but at the very least, Fillia knew that their future is not bright .

「How did you know that a buyer is decided? 」

「Hic……! 」

Rona’s question caused Haru to freeze, his feeling for his sister must be strong . After a short silence, he started explaining .

「……The people sold will be taken away by carriage from the small hut in the slave market to the business association . And the buyer will take them away the next day . Onee-chan was taken to the business association building yesterday, she’ll be taken away today! 」

It seems like he found out about the merchants that kidnapped the refugees . Haru who monitored the merchants that took away his sister probably grasped how the people were getting transported .

And he was saved by Fillia just as he was about to storm into the building realizing there’s not any moment left to waste, but got noticed and beat up .

「Please! Please save Onee-chan! I-I will do anything! Dad and mom are already no more! I only have Onee-chan left! Please……, please help…… 」

The cry for help that was squeezed out grasped at Fillia’s chest . Losing both his parents, Fillia understood the pain of being left alone, as she saw herself in Haru .

If she was separated from Riana before they met with Ardis―― thinking about it, she felt an inexplicable pain .

「……Alright . I will do something, so don’t cry . 」

「……Really? 」

Haru looked at her with teary eyes . Fillia knew well that she was saying it irresponsibly . However, she couldn’t bring herself to abandon Haru’s plead .

For herself who was rescued by Ardis, she felt like it was her natural cause to rescue Haru who was in the same way as her past .

If she couldn’t help Haru here, it felt like she lost her cause for existence .

「Fillia……」

Rona called out Fillia’s name as if to remind her . She knew what Rona would say already .

The fight just now, even though against three people, against amateur people that aren’t even fighters, she would’ve been in danger if Rona didn’t step in .

If she decided to storm into the business association that are guarded by mercenaries, it’s reckless beyond doubt . Fillia felt pain at her own powerlessness .

「Rona, please . Lend me your power . 」

Her eyes were set, Fillia pleaded to Rona desperately . Even if she has a strong resolve, even if she felt like she had to do it, the reality that she doesn’t have enough strength is something she knew as well .

Fillia could only ask for help from Rona or Ardis to help Haru . While disappointed at her own powerlessness, she could only choose the best way logically .

「Myself can’t……」

Seeing the desperate Fillia, Rona sighed .

「I don’t think it’s a good idea to have you rush into danger without Ardis knowing . Also, it’s scary…… . Can’t we meet up with Ardis first? Even though he said so just now, he’s still soft on Fillia . 」

「But we won’t make it in time then . Haru’s onee-chan might be taken away . 」

「It’s not like it’s for sure that she is getting taken away now right . Also, I don’t think Ardis will be away for a long time . 」

「That’s, that’s true but . 」

Haru got out of the arms of Fillia who looked hesitating .

「……What happened, Haru? 」

His eyes looked a little disappointed .

「Haru? 」

Haru seemed like he wanted to say something at Fillia’s calling, but turned around and started to run .

「Haru, wait! 」

「Fillia! 」

Rona called out to stop Fillia who started to chase after Haru .

「Sorry Rona . Even if Ardis don’t approve……, I will! 」

Saying so with a face that’s on the verge of crying, Fillia as well turned around and started chasing after Haru .

Despite maybe making Ardis angry, maybe getting tired of, or maybe getting thrown away . For Fillia, it’s equivalent fearful to think that she would be thrown away by Ardis or getting separated with Riana .

Even so, Fillia couldn’t bring herself to abandon Haru . What would Riana do, as Fillia thought about something noncontributing .

Thinking about the same thing even without saying in the past, the two that had the same values and thoughts . Although the two are still inseparable, as expected, Fillia felt that their thoughts weren’t as similar as in the past .

Karina said it is normal . Fillia and Riana both didn’t think themselves are normal .

Normal people wouldn’t be thrown with stones when they go out . Normal people wouldn’t be seen as objects and sold by their parents .

If they lived a normal life like normal people, then it’s undoubtedly that they wouldn’t have met with Ardis . She wanted herself to be someone that let someone else have such an encountering .

However, how to become someone like that, Fillia couldn’t find an answer no matter how much she thought . If so, she can only start by chasing after her ideals .

In Fillia, the black-haired ideal would never abandon Haru .

『It’s impossible to save everything . 』

He said so . However, he didn’t say 『I won’t save them』 . She realized his words held the hidden meaning of 『I want to save those that I can save』 .

That’s why, Fillia thought .

If Ardis’s hands are occupied by Fillia and Riana, while being protected by Ardis, Fillia thought her own hands can reach out to someone else .

If someone that he saved saved someone else, in other words, it’s the same as Ardis saving them . Riana might think it’s totally an illogical thinking, but Fillia hardened her will .

While running, Fillia made sure she wouldn’t lose her eyes on Haru . Their distance is not that much far apart .

Fillia who was supposed to be sprinting in full power suddenly saw a big shadow caught up .

「Seriously, it can’t be helped . If Al gets angry, you will help me right? 」

His reassurance made Fillia’s footstep lighter . Rona replied full of gratitude to Rona who showed his willingness to help while grumbling .

「Leave it to me! 」