The Musafir

Letting Go of Humanity

THEY stood before a pair of large archways that seemed to be made of red brick. It is clear that the gate takes the same style as the gate in Javadvipa. Is this indeed a form of rejection of the Kotaraja Slum Settlement against the legitimate government of Koying? The mantle could not determine the answer with certainty.

“After passing through the gate, we officially enter the Kotaraja Slum,” said Chitra Anggini trying to relax.

The mantle did not respond. The gate actually reminded him of the Darkness Mistress who was so devious in a hunch. His current mind could not be taken leisurely.

“Soal Mrs The Darkness .. it's good not to be taken dizzy.” Chitra Anggini said carefully, timidly offending Mantingan. “Although he has indeed deceived us, but however much we still benefitted greatly. Wouldn't that ruse have no effect on Tapa Balian's rescue plan?”

Mantingan turned his head straight towards Chitra Anggini before turning back to look away. He shook slowly.

“Power struggle,” hiss, “always inflicts victims who never little.”

“Not really. Tarumanagara seized the power of Salakanagara without causing any casualties.” Chitra Anggini smiled triumphantly after feeling successful in refuting Mantingan's usually irrefutable remarks. “And even in the power struggle this time will cause many casualties, you do not need to feel guilty. Don't you just want to save Tapa Balian in the end without disturbing Koying's power? If anyone is to blame, then it is entirely in the Darkness.”

Chitra Anggini's assumption of the absence of victims who fell in the event of Tarumanagara's seizure of power against Salakanagara is not entirely true. Was not during the Punawarman leadership a rebellion of disgruntled supporters of Salakanagara, who nevertheless ended up causing very few casualties?

“I don't care who's guilty later. But on the many innocent victims, I feel unable to let it go.”

“That's none of your business,” sergeant Chitra Anggini.

“That's my business and yours anyway.” The mantle looked at him sharply. “Where is your authority as a swordsman, O Chitra Anggini?”

Chitra Anggini was a little stunned. It is certainly not forgotten by him a written rule of the martial world that every warrior is obliged to defend those who are helpless. Not even a few black warriors still hold that stance. However, what happens to Chitra Anggini who is located as an underground warrior of the martial world that seems never bound by the rules of shortness?

“No, this is very difficult.” Chitra Anggini shook his head. “You can't maintain short-term authority here.”

“Even if I do not have the authority of shortness, I still have the authority of humanity.” Hardened mantle. “Cannot I let innocent people die so easily.”

Chitra Anggini flirted in his place. How to feel so unfamiliar with Mantingan's attitude when showing his anger. Really, for a moment he did not know what to say or do.

Realizing that his words had made Chitra Anggini feel bad, Mantingan finally let out a long sigh and asked Chitra Anggini to forget about it and continue the journey.

Slowly but surely Mantingan, Chitra Anggini, and Munding Caraka entered the Kotaraja Slum area. But only a few steps after passing through the gate, the Mantingan times have come to a halt. His eyes widened with a look of disbelief.

“This ...”

Chitra Anggini continued, “This is Kotaraja's Slum Settlement.”

The mantang shook his head slowly. With a sliced mind, looked at the surroundings.

People were lying on top of the leaves of the banana that had been dried and torn. Shouted, not necessarily a place. There are those in the corners of the garbage pile, some are crosswise in the middle of the muddy streets. Skinny, lost hope. It is unclear whether they are all alive or not.

Several others were seen limping closer to Mantingan with their hands outstretched. Their faces would invite anyone to cry!

Mantingan immediately grabbed the pocket of coffers on his waist. Why would he have so much money if he could not help those people? Truly, he was willing to give up all the pieces of gold and stone he had if it could make them live properly!

However, just after Chitra Anggini breathed his arm while saying, “Don't help them.”

“Why?” Mantingan, he clearly knew that Chitra Anggini would not do this without a really strong reason. Whatever the reason, he felt helpless.

“We never know who they really are. Some of them were select warriors from the underground network that was in this place that was hiding power. If you show suspicious behavior, even if it is very small, you will still be killed.” Chitra Anggini whispered softly right in her ear. “Continue walking forward and don't mind them. I plead with you very much, do not use the feeling of humanity this time.”

Although Mantingan really did not feel the heart to let the helpless people who begged him just like that without giving anything, he said, but he knew very well that what Chitra Anggini said was really true.

So when it was also he stepped back while slightly pulling the front of his caping down. Let him this time be indifferent, for however Mantingan has his own interests that are far more important than just one or two people's lives. He was responsible for thousands of lives by preventing the release of the Moon Sword in the Midnight Silence into the wrong hands of the swordsman.

Kiai Guru Kedai once said to him:

“Victory always asks for sacrifice. Sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself, but sometimes you have to sacrifice others to achieve a glorious victory to be together.”

Isn't what he's going through right now really the same?

Chitra Anggini smiled faintly after seeing Mantingan move his legs. He also stepped foot, leaving beggars who did not have hope, but also with a very heavy feeling.

Although it seems that the girl is heartless and always has the heart for everything, but actually Chitra Anggini still has a sense of humanity. It's just, it's almost never shown to anyone.

When he said to Mantingan to leave the poor men, his tongue turned numb, his lips trembling. Perhaps his words will make them starve to death soon.

Wouldn't it be if Chitra Anggini hadn't gotten in the way, the Mantingan would have given them some gold to exchange for a lot of food?

So that's how two young people with a buffalo stepped with a sliced mind because they could not help while they were very able to do it.

In underground networks, humanity must often be removed for the fulfillment of an interest.

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Episodes of the month: 6/40