He opened the door wearily, only to find Zebul standing there with a large crowd of villagers behind her.
"You're finally out. We've been waiting here for two days," Zebul said with concern.
It wasn't just Zebul—looking past her, the faces of all the villagers were clouded with worry.
Elliot was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected that simply piecing together those shattered memories had taken him two whole days.
"Sasayuri, I've already learned the details. This wasn't your fault."
After Elliot had left Kitsune Saiguu's birthday celebration, Zebul—who had felt a vague sense of unease—decided to check on him.
By asking the villagers, she learned the full story. She also knew he had been in the wooden house the whole time, but chose not to knock, afraid she might disturb his state of mind.
It was safer to wait for him to settle himself and open the door on his own.
After this incident, the villagers recalled how they had once treated Elliot. Guilt weighed heavily on them, and they chose to wait here, wanting to thank him face-to-face.
"How bad were the casualties…?" Elliot was still the first to ask about the villagers' safety.
Zebul hesitated for a moment at his words. Looking at his worn and haggard expression, she felt, for the first time, as though the Elliot before her was a stranger.
The Elliot she knew wasn't like this.
This was the man who had once stood alone against Orobashi and hundreds of invaders to protect Yashiori Island, just so the founding festival wouldn't be delayed.
The man who had lost an arm in that battle.
This time, sensing danger, he had flown thousands of miles without hesitation to save Watatsumi Island.
Though the rescue hadn't been perfect, he had saved the vast majority.
Yet even now, his gaze was filled entirely with self-reproach.
Zebul couldn't understand when he had started becoming like this—someone who would risk everything to protect others.
"You've already done more than enough, this time—"
"Fifteen dead, right?"
Before she could finish, Elliot cut in.
Last time, when the villagers had stolen supplies, he had counted exactly 430 of them.
Now, there were only 416. Fourteen adults gone, plus the one child whose neck he had personally seen twisted—the child of Rina.
"Twelve dead, three seriously injured," Zebul replied truthfully.
"I see…"
"Twelve dead…"
Elliot lowered his head in anguish, his right hand clenched tight.
"Sasayuri, look up."
"Look at these living, breathing souls… and the children you brought back safely."
"No one is perfect. You saved ninety-five percent of the people. That's already a great success."
Seeing his state, Zebul's heart ached, and she tried to comfort him.
"Yes, Sasayuri, please don't blame yourself. This wasn't your fault. We were the ones too quick to trust outsiders."
"If not for you, Sasayuri, our children wouldn't be here. You are our hero—our god."
"If it weren't for you, I don't even want to imagine what would have happened to the children. Thank you, Sasayuri. Thank you for saving us."
"Even after how we treated you before, you never got angry. You even shared your food with us. And now you've saved us again. We can never repay this kindness…"
"Please, lift your head and look at us. We're standing here safe because of you. Don't keep blaming yourself."
At that moment, the villagers of Watatsumi Island all spoke from the heart, offering Elliot their gratitude.
"But…" Elliot slowly raised his head, eyes red, tears streaking down his face. "Twelve people died…"
"If I had been more careful…"
"If I had thought things through a little more…"
"If I had been ruthless enough to drive that man away…"
"This wouldn't have happened."
"I could have done it… so why was I careless?"
"Why didn't I think more?"
"I knew the beacon would send a signal."
"If only I'd thought just a bit further…"
"My carelessness cost twelve lives."
"Twelve human lives."
"I promised him I'd take care of all of you…"
"I failed."
"I'm a waste."
In Elliot's eyes, there were no images of the people he had saved—only those who had died.
To him, saving them was simply his duty, what he was meant to do.
He felt no pride for rescuing most of them.
But for the ones he failed to save, guilt consumed him.
It was like failing to do something you were fully capable of, all because of one moment of negligence.
If it had been a small matter, perhaps it wouldn't have mattered—but in this case, twelve lives were lost.
Hearing his words, Zebul's expression grew complicated.
Shock, heartache, confusion…
She couldn't understand why Elliot couldn't see the lives he had saved.
Nor could she understand why he was so fixated on the small number who had been lost.