Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 903: Is it a request?

After leaving the town of Ragram and entering the open road in the wilderness, Shino sped up and headed towards the ruins of Trovenica. The closer they got to the ruins, the darker the sky became, and in the end it was completely dark, requiring oil lamps and torches for lighting.

The girl looked up and saw the Bollian Manor right in front of her. The blazing lights illuminated the surrounding area as bright as day. A large crowd of people were fully armed and were waiting in the open space of the manor. They were all retainers or servants sent by the Gustaf family to various places to monitor the ruins. The leader was Weber, the old butler of the Shadoly Manor, because he was the knight squire of the old master. This ancient rule has been passed down from the kingdom era to the present.

"Shut up!"

Xino pulled the reins to slow down Brandi's pace. She rode her horse to the front of the crowd. When everyone was about to salute and greet the heir of the Gustaf family, the girl stopped them with her eyes. She dismounted and asked directly, "What's the situation, Weber?"

"Miss Xinuo." The old butler stepped forward and replied, "The seal is still being maintained, but it has begun to show signs of loosening. The nearby residents have been dismissed, and I have temporarily relocated them to other manors and promised to compensate them later. In addition, there is a team stationed inside the ruins to report any situation at any time."

The seal of the Trovenica ruins not only suppressed the power of the beast, but also blocked its breath, ensuring that the battle between the Godafu family and the beast would not affect the outside world. This was also the reason why Xino's father, "Paranoid" Reynard, died in battle to seal the beast, but the world mistakenly believed that he died in the charge at the windmill. But as the power of the beast gradually weakened, the seal also came to the most vulnerable time in history. It is unknown how much protective effect it can still play. In order to be on the safe side, Xino asked the old butler Weber to dismiss the nearby residents in advance, and even some employees who belonged to the Bolian Manor but were unaware of the matter were paid in advance and let them go home to rest.

Fortunately, although the Gostave family was a long time ago, they have always had a good reputation in this land, so the residents and employees did not suspect anything. Even if some people were attached to their homeland, the Gostave family promised to resettle them afterwards, so as not to force them to leave their homes. This is another reason why Xino's grandfather was unwilling to seek help from the Church Union: with the Church Union's style of seeking stability, even if the beast was successfully eliminated, it would probably still list this area as a forbidden area and not allow anyone to live there. And letting those residents who trust the Gostave family lose their hometown is something he never wants to see.

Xino nodded slightly and said, "Let that team retreat. There is no need to continue monitoring the ruins. However, some guards are needed outside the ruins. You can arrange them, Weber. In addition--"

She turned her head to look at the crowd. In addition to the knights following the Godafu family, she also saw several figures who were obviously different from ordinary people in appearance: the mountain centaurs who were dressed in iron armor, holding spears and shields, and were more than three meters tall; the gray-feathered eagles with wings on their backs, gray feathers, and only simple light armor to reduce the burden on their bodies; and the Biborgs who were short in stature, their bodies were made entirely of rocks, and their surfaces were covered with moss and mushrooms - the three most powerful alien races in the Loser Mountains were gathered here.

She raised her head and looked towards the ruins. Under the gloomy sky, the wind was whistling faintly, making her voice sound weak and delicate, yet so firm: "Tonight, I will fight alone in the battle to seal the beast."

The three alien leaders looked at each other, and finally Shangquier, the chief of the most powerful mountain centaur tribe, answered the question on their behalf: "This is part of the oath, young lady."

It turned out to be the case.

Compared to the impulsive and impatient Shangquel, Sita's statement was more organized and logical: "The oath between the Gustaf family and us aliens needs to be maintained by sincerity. If we cannot be sincere, the foundation of the oath will no longer exist. For us, sincerity means doing our best to help the Gustaf family within the permitted scope. If we cannot do this, even if the Gustaf family is willing to stick to the oath, we will not have the face to accept unilateral kindness. And for you, what is sincerity? Please tell us the answer, Miss."

Including Sita, the leaders of the three alien races stared at Xino with sharp eyes, waiting for her answer.

"Shangquil!" The harpy leader Sita suddenly shouted, interrupting Shangquil's next words. He shook his head slowly, indicating that the eldest lady was definitely not that kind of person. If she really discriminated against aliens, how could she have been so dedicated to maintaining the order of the Loser Forest for many years and trying to mediate the conflicts between the various alien races? It can be said that the respect that Shino received among the aliens was entirely based on her selfless dedication, not her identity as the heir of the Gustaf family.

Xino was silent for a while, then smiled helplessly: "Maybe I said something wrong, but I didn't mean anything against you, Shangguier. What I actually want to say is that neither you nor the knights of the Gustave family need to come to help me in the battle."

Shangguier knew he had said something wrong, and his expression changed several times. In the end, he did not continue to speak, but handed the right to speak to Sita, who talked to Xino: "Please give us a reason, Miss."

"Shangquil, Sita, and Biberg XIII." Shino named the three leaders one by one, with a bit of curiosity and confusion in his eyes: "Didn't I ask you to take good care of your people and stay in the Forest of Loser? Why did you come here without saying a word?"

Shangquil paused, and his tone became more serious: "Three years ago, my father fought alongside Mr. Reynard and assisted him in resealing the beast. Now it is my turn, young lady."

Three years ago, did Shangquel's father fight alongside his father? Not only him, but also Sita, the leader of the Gray Feathered Harpy, and Biberg XIII, the leader of the Biberg. Their fathers did the same, right? The oath between the Gustave family and the aliens has never been a one-sided relationship, but something that has been tested by time and will not be easily changed even in the face of the threat of war or unrest.

Xinuo understood their thoughts, but fell silent. After thinking for a while, she shook her head slowly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Shangguier, but I'm sorry, I think... I don't need your help."

"Why?" Shang Kui'er's face changed slightly, and a trace of dissatisfaction flashed in his bronze eyes: "Don't you think that we, just aliens, can't help you?"

Shangguier's voice was as heavy as thunder, rumbling under the gloomy sky: "Beginning with the glorious pioneer Baron Vince, witnessed by the great land of Grangenia and the divine horses on the top of the mountains, we, the aliens, and the Gustave family swear this oath together. Since we enjoy the blessing of the white thorn flower, we should pay the same price. Those who only know how to take without knowing how to give back are definitely not our style."

As soon as the voice fell, not only did the three alien leaders show surprised expressions on their faces, but even the family knights heard a noisy voice: "What are you talking about, Miss Xino!?"

"How can the battle of the seal be played like a joke!?"

"If we sit back and watch you fight that terrifying monster alone, where will we knights stand?" "That's right, Miss, please consider it carefully!"

These words were either excited or sincere, but they all expressed opposition. After all, Shino's request was too risky. She was trying to fight against the synthetic beast that had caused the White Knight Hibernton and Joan of Arc to fight hard. Even though the opponent had been weakened several times and was now at its weakest, no one was optimistic that the young lady would succeed. If she failed, the efforts of the Gostave family for seven hundred years would be in vain. The price she paid was heavy.

What was the young lady's motivation for making such a bold and even unwise decision?

"I—" Xino opened her lips slightly, but paused and said nothing. She rode on horseback, looking down at the crowd. Every face was so familiar: the retainers, followers and knights of the Godafu family, as well as the alien leaders who lived in the Forest of Loser and stepped into the dangerous human world to fulfill their oaths. They appeared here and vowed to participate in a battle that might kill them. Was their goal just for glory? I'm afraid it was more than that. There were also ideals, beliefs, and some long-accumulated emotions in their hearts.

Now, do I want to deprive myself of all this?

Because in this world, there may be things that are more important to you than glory and belief.

"I," the girl finally spoke, finishing the sentence she had just left unfinished: "I don't want to see any more sacrifices."

The voices echoed softly, and the surroundings seemed to be quiet for a moment, with only the flame in the kerosene lamp still burning. After a long time - of course, it may not be long, just one or two seconds of silence, a voice came from the crowd.

"Scars are the medals of knights, and sacrifice is the honor of knights." It was a young but determined face. Shino still had some impression of him because he was Chloe's elder brother. He was sponsored by the Gustaf family to enter the Sumia National University. He had the opportunity to continue his studies, but he gave up that path. In order to protect his hometown and to follow the promise of his ancestors, he became a member of the knights gathered under the white thorn flower banner. When Chloe was not yet born and Shino was her age, he also followed her around the mountains and fields, calling her brother.

At this moment, the gentle and polite young man in my memory, who was like a neighbor's brother, was speaking in a solemn and sacred tone about a truth that he had firmly believed in since he became a knight: "If you don't have the courage to sacrifice, you are not worthy of the name of a knight; and if you are deprived of the qualification to sacrifice, it is tantamount to questioning our honor as knights. Miss, I hope you can understand that sacrificing for a glorious mission is not something that knights fear. On the contrary, we are happy to do it."

"That's right." Another steady and deep voice came. Xino looked up and saw an old face. The wrinkles and gray beard left by the years made him look more suitable to stay at home and enjoy his old age. However, the steel armor on his body made him show a kind of stubbornness and stubbornness that refused to admit defeat, as if he was facing a rock or an endless mountain. Xino also recognized this old man. Strictly speaking, he was not his own knight, but his grandfather's knight. He had been loyal to his grandfather since he just joined the army. His seniority was second only to the old butler Weber.

In Xino's impression, he should be a kind and respectable elder. Every time the girl came to the country estate to play, the old man would always accompany her, taking her to play under the grape trellis, fishing by the stream, and even to dig bird nests from the tree... He undoubtedly spoiled the girl as a real granddaughter and would satisfy any request. However, today, he could not indulge her to continue to be willful, because even though he was old, he still had something he wanted to defend: "I think there has never been such a coward among us who is greedy for the beauty of life and is willing to abandon the glory after death for this. Miss, your love for us is the noble virtue that a benevolent lord should have, but it is not the weakness that a qualified general should show. This is a battle, but it is also a war. Since it is a war, how can we expect to win without sacrifice?"

The calm and vicissitudes of life tone persuaded the girl to give up those meaningless kindnesses, strengthen her determination and not be afraid of sacrifice.

"Biberg, you don't understand, the glory of humans and knights!" A sharp and shrill voice was heard immediately afterwards. It was the leader of the Biberg clan, Biberg XIII, who was speaking. These strange-looking stone creatures lived in underground caves and were used to coexisting with darkness. Although their clan was large, they loved peace. Some people thought that they were timid and weak, and were never willing to participate in any form of struggle. But now they appeared on this battlefield.

That was not because Biberg XIII had a braver heart than other members of the tribe, but because he understood a simple truth: "However, we who have made an oath with the Gustaf family must assist you! If you lose your credibility, no one will be willing to believe in you. This is the truth that my grandfather, great-grandfather, great-grandfather... taught me. Since the time of Baron Vince, we have never violated it!"

Yes, everyone who appears here has their own reasons.

The young men fight for the glory of knights, the elders are accustomed to the sacrifices of war, and the indifferent outsiders just want to uphold an oath passed down from ancient times, a mission witnessed by the land of Grangenia and the holy horses on the mountains, which has never been broken since ancient times.

but.

What if all these reasons are not enough to outweigh the girl’s determination?

At this moment, facing the darkness, flames and the black crowd, the girl suddenly recalled the people who left her life one after another: her mother who always had a warm smile on her face, her father who left alone on a quiet night, and the girl who was lying on the hospital bed with a weak breath but still smiled and said "I don't blame you"... She realized in a trance that she could no longer accept any more sacrifices.

The young man who is as gentle and humble as the brother next door, the kind elder who treats her like his own granddaughter, and those simple and kind-hearted strangers who are blessed by the Gustaf family... If possible, the girl hopes that none of them will leave her.

Is this just wishful thinking? Or is it the true love that I finally understand after experiencing so many separations and deaths?
The girl unconsciously grasped Brandi's reins. Facing the pair of determined, stubborn, and unyielding eyes in the darkness, she slowly spoke: "..."

"Let her be."

Suddenly, someone said from where the fire was spreading, with a tired voice and a hint of relief: "This is not an order, but a request."

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)