Liberators
Chapter 9 - The Return Journey
The total number of civilians is 18. Where 10 of them are elderly who are over 60 years, 2 of them are small children, and the rest are 4 adult men and 2 adult women.
"Everything?" Eva asked who was all over her body filled with that dark red blood.
"Yes. I've asked them to pack up all their stuff." Axel.
'Stamp!'
Suddenly, Eva patted Axel's shoulder hard enough. Placing a lot of blood from his hand into Axel's uniform.
"Good job." Eva replied with a big smile and closed her eyes.
Even so, Eva did not stop patting Axel's shoulder.
He even began to pat with his left hand as if it was intentional to clean his hand from the blood.
"Sorry, Eva. But what are you doing?" Axel asked with a slightly annoyed face.
"Cleaned my hands of blood. Especially?" Reply Eva while still smiling.
With that reply, Axel no longer had the words to throw back at this woman with crazy physical abilities.
"Everything! Prepare to leave! Our journey is far enough!" Eva shouted as she waved at the refugees.
"Are they able to stay in the fortress? Didn't you say those who didn't join the military...."
"I'm sorry I half lied. As long as you take any job, you can stay inside the fort.
With the exception of relatives joining the military or special divisions, relatives of military members do not need to work. If the relatives are in the special division, they'll get VVIP treatment." Eva was still smiling.
Axel felt a little annoyed by that explanation. How not? He was really set up to shorten his life by a lie.
"Is that so? Huh...." Reply Axel limp.
It's all too late. He only had 3 more years of life after undergoing the hell operation.
"Don't be moody like that. Can't you help a lot of people? Besides, that's our goal. It's a pity to see your extraordinary talent not being used for the benefit of the crowd." Eva now with a worried face.
But Axel remained silent.
He was still upset that he had to enter into a special division by force.
"eeh? Really angry?" Ask Eva.
Together with the group of refugees, the two of them continued walking without a word from Axel.
......***......
Her night.
The group rested under one of the collapsed buildings. With the help of Axel's lightning magic, lighting a fire was no big deal.
"Thank you big brother! Your powers are cool!" Shouted the little girl who saw Axel light a bonfire with his magic.
"Is that so? Thank goodness you like it." Reply Axel smiled faintly as he stroked the hair of the girl he had previously saved.
On the other hand, Eva seems to be discussing with 4 adult men who are considered to have enough strength to help the group travel.
After enjoying a simple dinner for a while, Eva finally called Axel to join.
Not with words, but with a simple hand.
"What's wrong?" Ask Axel.
"We have determined the care shift. Me and 2 of them will be on guard for 3 hours, then you and the other 2 for 3 hours. Each of them as many as 2 shifts and we will leave at 7 am." Eva Clear.
"Understand." Reply Axel briefly.
"Remember! If you see the slightest movement of monsters, wake up the rest of the group."
In this situation, even more so by lighting a campfire in the open, it was the same as revealing the location of this group to the monsters.
Arranging that guard schedule is a must for everyone's safety.
And with this, the first night passed with a feeling of calm in the hearts of the refugees. Realizing that there are soldiers guarding them.
......***......
Her morning.
On the other hand, Axel who got a sleep schedule 3 hours earlier just woke up. Still trying to gather his consciousness.
'Bruk!'
"Wake up, don't spoil it. You're the soldier in charge of looking after them. Not a refugee." Eva said as she slapped Axel in the face twice.
"Should you slap me?" Axel asked who was in a bit of pain.
"That's so you don't get spoiled." Reply Eva who immediately stood back up to organize the group.
Axel on the other hand, started tidying up his equipment while standing up. In a soft tone, He replied to the words of Eva earlier.
"Sorry anyway. I enlisted this division by force for my sister. Because I thought my sister wouldn't survive if I didn't join."
Hearing the reply, Eva stopped all her activities and turned her body towards Axel. He stared intently in Axel's eyes without a word.
Until finally, Eva just pointed at the little girl who was busy feeding her teddy bear with a plastic spoon.
"Say, if you're not here. Do you think the girl will survive? And if you don't, are you gonna be okay with that fact?" Ask Eva.
"Aren't you able to help her yourself? Besides, your power is huge, isn't it?" Reply Axel.
"You're right. If I move alone as usual, I can definitely save them as well. With the exception, since I had to clear 20 Orcs before helping her, the girl would already be preyed upon by the Goblins when I arrived."
With that reply, Eva immediately turned around and led back this group of refugees.
The words from Eva really pierced right into Axel's heart.
He forgot that Eva had to deal with an Orc troupe that was far more dangerous than the green-skinned monster.
And arriving there....
The little girl who just hid behind the vault....
Must have died.
Axel continued to look at the figure of the little girl. He seems so cheerful even though he lives in this very broken era.
Even if the teddy bear is torn on several sides, he still treats it well. Even stroking and hugging the doll that had been so dirty.
'Sruugg! Oruugg!'
Slowly, Axel approached the little girl and raised her up. Let him sit on his shoulders.
"Oh yeah, brother hasn't asked your name yet." Axel said with a very friendly smile. In the distance, the girl's mother slightly lowered her head towards Axel.
"Milina!" Reply to the little girl cheerfully.
"Nina huh? What a beautiful name." Reply Axel.
"Who's sister's name?!" Ask the little girl back. While near her mother, Nina is seen handing over her teddy bear. Put it on her mother.
"Axel."
"What a cool name! Brother Axel! I want to play with Axel's brother!" Shouted Nina.
"On arrival at the new house, brother will play with you." Reply Axel.
But not with a smile.
But an expression that seemed a little sad and full of guilt.
"Yey! Nina's gonna introduce Axel's sister to Teddy! Teddy is so good! Always accompany Nina every day!"
His lips began to tremble. His eyes began to glaze over.
In the end, Axel was no longer able to withstand it. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
Imagine if this cheerful girl died in the worst way? Shredded and eaten alive by the monster?
No. gabe. Axel couldn't imagine it. He didn't want to imagine it.
But that's the truth.
The fact that he never joined the division and helped Eva in this rescue.
