“Ma’am, you’re okay. I’m so glad.”
“I’m glad to see you’re okay too. But what is going on? What’s gotten into people here all of a sudden…”
Yuugo was relieved when he confirmed that the old lady was safe, and she was also happy to see that despite everything going on, he was also fine.
Both looked around at the ten or so students who ran into this house, and the few villagers who made it there safely, and Melt spoke to them.
“Only these people are still all right? What about everyone else…”
“They were probably taken by the one’s acting weird. To protect old people like me and children…”
Every villager that was saved was either an old person or a child.
When Yuugo heard of the other villagers who sacrificed themselves to protect them, his expression darkened, and he shook his head.
Melt’s expression also turned gloomy, as she wondered if such good people were among the ones Zenon was cutting down earlier.
And then, the old lady whispered as she looked out the window.
“It’s that red mist. They appeared from that mist, and people started acting weird after being swallowed by it. What is that?”
“Do you know what it is? Have you ever heard of anything like it?”
“No…I’ve lived in this village for many years, but I’ve never seen or heard of that strange mist. I asked the people who ran here too, and everyone said the same.”
Yuugo and Melt listened to the old lady, as they looked outside through the barred windows.
As they saw the crazed people approaching slowly, with the mysterious red mist behind them, their faces twitched, and they began talking about it.
“Melt, do you know what it could be? She’s right, people get weird when they get into that mist.”
“No, I don’t know… I think it’s magic energy that’s making it change color, but I have no idea what made it like that…”
There was no doubt that there was something abnormal about that mist, but they had no idea what exactly, or why that thing appeared.
But one thing they did know, and that was that they could not get inside it. If they let themselves be swallowed by it, they would lose their sanity and join the ranks of the crazed people.
“…The people taken by the mist are clearly attacking people who are still sane. And trying to get them to their side.”
“So someone is controlling them? Could that mist be man-made? Ah, dammit…! I feel like I get it, but I don’t…!”
They thought about it based on what little information they had, but could not find a complete answer.
If only the smart Phi was there… Thought Yuugo, but he shook his head, and focused on what he had to do.
(There’s no point in thinking about an answer I’m not gonna find. We need to get the people that are still all right to a safe area…!)
He was definitely interested in knowing what it was that caused this, but they had to escort the villagers to safety.
The best course of action would be to take them to a nearby village, and ask the guards for backup.
The worst case scenario would be for them to prioritize finding out what caused this, everyone getting wiped out, and there being no one left to tell of this abnormal situation.
“Ma’am, tell everyone to get ready to move. I know it might be hard, but those weird people will be pressing towards us soon. We need to get away from the village.”
“Yes, I understand… Dear, I never thought I would use this memento like this. Please watch over us and the children…!”
Yuugo nodded, as the old lady said this and grabbed a nata knife from a shelf.
The old lady was sad about the idea of using the memento from her husband who had passed on, that she never used as a tool, as a weapon for protection. But she would do what she had to in order to protect the children.
And as Yuugo and Melt watched her, Zenon spoke to them.
“You two have a moment? I think we should get out of here and go to another village. We need to report this situation and ask the guards to move out. What do you think?”
“I agree. There will be no end to them if we hole up here. Ah, wait, that one wasn’t a joke.”
“I think so too. We should reach another village if we get out of here and go down the mountain…”
The mist came from up the mountain, meaning, they should be safe for the time being if they went the other way.
If they stayed in that house, they would just be waiting for the crazed people to get closer, so they had to leave quickly or they would be overrun.
Yuugo and Melt agreed with Zenon, in that it would be best to leave the village, and Zenon continued.
“I’m glad you understand, but there’s a problem. All the people that took shelter here are old people and children, so they’re not going to move fast. It’s too dangerous to take them when every second counts.”
“Hey hey, what are you saying? You’re not saying we should leave them, are you? I’m against it. If it comes to that, I’ll act as a rear guard to buy time while you all lead them out of here.
“Then I’m staying too. We can definitely hold them off if we’re together!”
“…Calm down. I didn’t say that. I’m saying we should split into two groups. One stops the crazed people, and the other takes the villagers down the mountain. If we divide tasks like that, we can get through this, is all I’m saying.”
Zenon told them his plan, after peeking at Melt, who said she was also going to stay.
Yuugo nodded strongly, as he judged this to be the best way to get through this predicament without leaving anyone behind, and agreed with Zenon.
“Yes, let’s do that. That’s good. Like I said before, I’ll be with the group that stays and buys time.”
“I’ll do that too. Who else?”
“I’ll stay with people I’ve picked. The rest, take the villagers down the mountain. I wish we could talk about that more… But I don’t think we can.”
“Yes, apparently not.”
The crazed people were almost at the house. They had no more time to talk.
Zenon turned back to the students and villagers looking at them, and yelled out instructions.
“Everyone, run ahead! Go down and tell them what’s happening! We’ll stay here and buy time! Now go!”
The students moved out quickly after hearing Zenon, as Yuugo watched the crazed people approach, and clenched his fists.
The red mist was still far. He took a deep breath as he roused himself to buy time until it got near, and spoke as moonlight shined on his eyes.
“A retreat? It’s a disadvantageous situation, but also a place for a hero to show what he’s made of. To prevent any more sacrifices… Here I go!”
He brought a clenched fist to his face, and put so much strength into it that it made cracking sounds.
Yuugo raised his head as if looking at the approaching mist, and activated Blaster with the same yell as always.
“Henshin!”
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