It felt like an eternity since I last came home.
Thankfully, neither my parents nor my sister had visited the girls while I was home. Otherwise, it'd be pretty difficult to explain the situation.
Though I kinda missed my older sister.
It had been almost a year since I last saw her.
And she was always better than me at... everything, really.
Sometimes, I'd get this thought in my head that, if it were her with this Gift, she could've accomplished much more.
From the very start, all that I wanted was something simple.
Just enough to make a living as an adventurer was good enough for me, but I'd accept anything that was even slightly useful or cool.
Instead, I got this.
A power I had misused so badly that now, someone had died under my watch, and their daughter was crying their eyes out, completely isolated from her home and everything she knew.
I wanted to love [Gacha Kingdom Building].
I knew it could be an amazing Gift, but...
Sometimes, it felt a little too heavy.
Before leaving the bedroom to meet the girls, I sat on my bed.
After a deep sigh, I decided to check the [Events] tab.
As expected, the Snow White Wolves' Event had disappeared, together with the other one.
Instead, I had two new [Available Events].
[War! The One To Rule Above All
The continent of Myashia is home to three kingdoms whose war has been ongoing for generations.
After conquering every single nation on the continent, the last one standing shall rule them all as the Myaskya Emperor.
Will the King ally himself with the battered human Kingdom of Garatilia? Perhaps the Undead Empire of Luzikitania? Or will the King conquer the Union of the Ambren Beastmen?
Restrictions:
All gacha banners are restricted, except for [Weapons Banner], [Supplies Banner], and [Armor Banner]
Time Limit:
Eight Years.]
Yeah, no.
The difficulty slider was firmly in the red edge, so much so that it almost felt like it'd break away from it entirely.
But even if that weren't the case, I was done with wars for the time being.
Still, I hoped the next [Event] would be something a little better for me.
[Invasion! The Traveling Merchant Arrives
The Traveling Merchant is a being t... Th... T-
The Traveling Mer-
+*&*As&*d)Me*%&$r*%#L!(a@!*Da_+@
...Hm?
What is this?
Strange. It feels like it's getting stronger?
Oh, you can't sense it? Lucky me, then.
I get it all to myself.
Hm... I wonder where it's connecting to?
Hello? Anyone there?
...Interesting.
Pris, you can handle things here.
Me? I'm going for a walk.]
This Gift really had a way to mess with me, but of all things I had seen so far, this was by far the weirdest.
But as strange as that was, it was only the beginning.
In the blink of an eye, the entire [Event] description disappeared, only to be replaced by a new one.
[Invasion! The Travelling Merchant Arrives
Due to outside interference, this event has been automatically selected.
As per the contract, the Traveling Merchant shall be delayed for up to 6 days.
If the user decides to, the event will begin immediately.
Protect your kingdom.
Restrictions: None
Time Limit: Unknown]
Aside from a timer running down from 6 days, there was nothing more to it.
It was slightly better than the other one since it at least made some sense, but...
Yeah, I didn't get it.
Whatever that was, I didn't really have a choice, though.
The Traveling Merchant was going to come.
I could only prepare for it.
And while that last bit about protecting the Kingdom was ominous enough, since this was a merchant... Maybe I could trade something with him?
[Gacha Kingdom Building] certainly was useful for building stockpiles and whatnot.
I could offer him something in return for fucking off somewhere else and be done with it.
Though it was no use thinking about it today.
I didn't have any tickets, and I didn't feel like wasting my mana either, so...
I wanted to see the girls.
I needed to remind myself that...
I could make it work.
So, I walked slowly to the living room, searching for them.
The TV flashed lights against the sofa, illuminating the otherwise completely dark room.
Claire and Licia were completely silent, eating popcorn from a bucket.
I didn't recognize the movie they were watching, and thinking nothing of it, I approached from behind the sofa.
Miwen: "Hello?"
My voice came a second before a monster appeared on the screen.
Licia and Claire: "Kyaaah!!!!"
Popcorn flew everywhere.
Standing up on the sofa, Claire readied a punch while Licia jumped back, briefly facing the TV before swiftly turning her attention to me.
Claire: "Ahhh! Fuuck! Die!"
A fist came my way with absurd speed, flames erupting from it.
Even though I formed a thick ice block to stop them, I still felt their heat warming my face.
Then, a few water droplets fell on my shoulders.
Looking up, I found a massive spiky formation on the ceiling.
It trembled slightly, but thankfully, it never fell.
Miwen: "I thought you knew better than to use fire magic inside the house."
Claire: "You!... Bastard!"
She turned away from me, tears escaping her eyes.
Licia: "Seriously, how much of a child can you be?"
With her hands on her waist, Licia pouted.
Miwen: "It wasn't on purpose."
Maybe it was a little.
But I never expected I'd see my life flashing before my eyes like this.
Claire: "So, if you're back, I guess everything is over now?"
Miwen: "... Yes. We lost."
Licia brought a hand to her mouth.
Some of the ice spikes even fell beside me.
Meanwhile, Claire was at a loss for words.
She tried to approach me, but her hands hesitated.
Licia: "...Do you want to talk about it?"
Miwen: "Yeah."
Licia reached a hand on my shoulder, and the two helped me to the sofa.
I didn't know where to start.
But...
Being able to talk with them already made me feel a little better.
I ended up telling them about Melissa's decision. About how she felt regarding it all and...
Everything she told me.
The promise she forced on me.
And then... My impressions.
How I thought it was brave and stupid for her to go back to a lost cause.
How I hated her for betraying my trust, for leaving her daughter behind...
I even told them how I understood some of it.
The desire to get revenge for her husband's death.
The pain of running away from the home they fought so hard for before.
And even...
How I felt about myself, after failing to do anything.
I might've said too much, but the girls listened patiently until the very end.
Claire: "...That dumbass! I told you she was about to give up."
She was breathless, her eyes almost flaring.
Miwen: "She didn't really, from the start she-"
Claire: "Don't buy into that! It's just an excuse! If she wanted to, she could've found a way to throw her people into your kingdom!"
Miwen: "That wouldn't work. I can't feed that many people."
The girls were one thing, I had some funds saved up and a reasonable allowance, but...
There was definitely a limit to how much I could afford.
Claire: "You can buy seeds and start a small farm in there, can't you?"
Miwen: "It takes too much time for these to grow. And most of them weren't farmers."
Claire: "Then I don't know! Bring them here and let them fend for themselves, throw them into the dungeons or whatever. Anything is better than certain death!"
She flailed her arms around, shouting.
I thought she had also died fighting, so it surprised me to see her so angry.
Though she still had her eyes narrowed, after Licia landed a hand on her shoulder, Claire seemed to calm down a little.
Licia: "...She didn't want to run, she wanted to fight. I think... She was being sincere. That must've also been how her people felt. So even if it meant her end..."
Claire: "...Not everyone wants a glorious death in battle."
She took away Licia's hand.
But despite her tone, Licia smiled gently.
Licia: "But everyone wants to protect their home and family, right?"
Claire: "That's why they had to flee!"
While Claire shouted even louder, Licia gently shook her head.
Licia: "If Miwen wanted to fight, would you abandon him?"
Claire didn't answer.
At least not with words.
She simply lifted her chin, pretending the answer wasn't obvious already.
Licia: "If even one soldier decided to fight with Melissa, their family would follow. And seeing their friends fight, well... I think the people who fought a dragon wouldn't abandon their friends and family, is all. I think that's just... the type of people they were."
Even though I agreed with Licia, truthfully, I couldn't care less about the tribe.
The only ones I cared about were Mia and Melissa.
One was dead.
The other was scarred for life.
Claire: "I suppose... But I don't care either way! What I care about is..."
She looked at me before quickly averting her eyes.
Licia: "...Hmn. I feel the same."
Patting Claire's head, Licia turned to me.
Licia: "How do you feel about it, Miwen?"
Miwen: "...Sorry, Licia. I get where you're coming from, but... I couldn't care less about land, history, pride... Call me a coward if you want, but... I'd have prioritized everyone's lives."
Claire: "That's not what she's asking you."
Licia stopped stroking Claire's hair and grabbed my hand.
Her voice was gentle, almost soothing.
Even her eyes were smiling softly.
Miwen: "Huh?"
Licia: "I'm asking about you, Miwen. We know that you cared for her and..."
She stopped for a second, her smile growing a little.
Licia: "You're extremely devoted to those you try to help, so... I can only imagine how hurt you must be."
Claire turned toward me.
Slowly, she reached for my hand as well.
Miwen: "...I wanted to save her."
They didn't reply.
Miwen: "I wanted to make them happy."
The TV was turned off, and the room had fallen into complete silence.
Miwen: "I didn't want to see her daughter suffering and crying. I didn't want innocent people to die."
I took a deep breath.
For a second, I averted my eyes from them.
Miwen: "I thought that this time, I could help before the tragedy. I was proud about it, you know? I guess... I thought I could prevent death and that... And that it'd be better that way."
The two closed their eyes upon hearing that.
I couldn't blame them.
Even I was stung by it.
But still...
I couldn't help it.
I thought that by saving Melissa and Mia, I'd be making up for not saving Claire and Licia.
I knew it was pointless. I never had the chance to save them in the first place, but...
If my Gift allowed that, I'd be proud.
But having failed, I...
Miwen: "I guess I'm a bit lost right now..."
I couldn't look them in the eyes anymore.
I was a little weak for that.
Miwen: "It's getting a little late. I'll give Mia her dinner. You girls can go to bed if you want to. Please."
Just like Mia, I felt like being alone.
Still, I had a promise to fulfill.
Another girl to help.
Another tragedy I couldn't prevent.