Chapter 6: The Weight of a Refusal and a Daughter’s Lament

“Therefore, do any of you still object to my decision?!” Odur swept his gaze across everyone once more. As the captain, he inherently possessed the authority to recruit members directly, yet he still hoped for minimal opposition to his decision.

Everyone who met Odur’s gaze instinctively lowered their heads. The recent predicaments they faced undeniably left them with no room for rebuttal.

Only Gusede spoke up.

“Captain, we all understand the militia’s situation. We’re short-staffed. We could issue a public notice, directly recruiting people from across the town. Farming and hunting can be temporarily suspended until the wolf threat is resolved.

“However, to directly enlist a young girl who has never even held a weapon? I apologize, Captain, but I neither agree nor accept this.”

Having said his piece, Gusede turned and walked away without another word.

Odur made no further attempts to persuade him. He had already said all he could, and there was nothing more he could do.

“Um, excuse me, but may I interrupt?” A timid voice emerged. “While I feel a bit awkward saying this, you haven’t actually heard my opinion yet.”

“Hmm?” Odur turned, looking at Mulee Hua, who had suddenly spoken.

“I’m sorry! Uncle Odur. But I cannot join the militia.” The girl’s expression was hesitant, yet she spoke her words carefully.

At this moment, Odur’s expression was truly priceless.

He looked like an old bachelor, who, having never been in love for over twenty years, finally mustered the courage to confess to his dream girl, only to be mercilessly rejected.

“Can you tell me why?”

“Because I can’t do it! I haven’t received any combat training! So! I’m truly sorry! Uncle Odur.” Mulee Hua held the black cat close as she bowed deeply to Odur, then turned and ran off.

“Wait! Mulee Hua! Please reconsider.” Odur hadn’t even finished speaking before Mulee Hua and the black cat had already run far away.

Only the others remained, exchanging bewildered glances.

Catching sight of some who seemed to be stifling laughter, Odur grumbled loudly, “What are you looking at?! A big show?! Have you finished all your own tasks? Get back to work. Prepare for the next shift change.”

With a gloomy expression, Odur walked to his desk. After sitting down, he remembered something and added,

“Gusede was right. Even if the town doesn’t have much combat strength, we should still do our utmost. This afternoon, post a notice throughout the town, calling for combatants. All eligible individuals can participate.

“As long as… we can hold on until the Archmage from Rochester arrives…”

***

It was only after Mulee Hua had left that Agnes remembered the item Mulee Hua had given her. She took out the small box Mulee Hua had delivered.

Upon opening the box and seeing the transparent crystal shard, Agnes’s face registered surprise.

The scroll’s craftsmanship was even better than she had imagined; even some high-ranking archmages couldn’t achieve such pure artistry. Yet…

Through the window, Agnes gazed in the direction of Mulee Hua’s home, murmuring in a voice only she could hear, “Ah, the young lady of the Apocalys family, and a black cat of unknown origin… It’s an ill omen.”

***

Why did she run away? Votila’s mind was now filled with questions. From Votila’s perspective, the girl’s actions were undeniably an escape.

But Votila couldn’t ask. As a dragon, it could comprehend a myriad of languages. Yet, as a black cat, it couldn’t master human speech.

Why did she run away?

Perhaps Mulee Hua herself didn’t know; she simply held Votila tightly.

Votila didn’t struggle. It lay nestled against the girl’s chest, feeling the rhythm of her heartbeat. The girl’s emotions seemed somewhat chaotic.

Patting the black cat’s head, the girl didn’t go directly home. Instead, she walked towards the outskirts of the town.

Outside the town, a small river flowed, winding through the valley and extending deep into the forest. There, a small lake shimmered, its water so clear and pristine it resembled a sapphire crystal.

The only regrettable aspect was the numerous pieces of driftwood floating along the shore, marring the lake’s natural beauty.

Beside the small lake stood an ancient tree, and in front of it, a low tombstone. The tombstone was spotless, showing no signs of weathering.

Lush green grass grew around it, giving the area a surprisingly vibrant feel. The inscription on the stone read: Oz Apocalys.

The golden-haired girl sat before the tombstone, gently caressing it, her eyes filled with a faint sense of remembrance.

The kitten lazily sprawled by the water, basking in the sun, occasionally lifting its head to glance at the girl before the tombstone.

Since arriving here, the girl had been quietly looking at the tombstone for quite some time. At some point, she raised her hand, gently brushing away the fallen leaves from the stone.

“Father, your daughter has come to see you again. It’s been five years, and I’ve always felt that you were by my side, never truly gone.”

The girl smiled softly, as if the person before her wasn’t a tombstone, but her father himself.

“Father, your teachings have always remained in my heart. Everything Uncle Heim taught me, your daughter practices every day.”

“But just as they said, your daughter cannot possess magic. It seems I will never become a magus in this lifetime.”

“However, your daughter can now barely manage the alchemy furnace you left behind. I can support myself now.”

The girl spoke softly before the tombstone, recounting trivial matters, yet she appeared genuinely happy.

No, that wasn’t right. Despite her smile, Votila saw a tear tracing a path down the corner of her eye.

‘Are you crying, little one?’

Votila walked up to the girl. Although she was smiling, the tears in her eyes simply wouldn’t stop flowing.

“It’s so strange, I am. Even when I was called useless in class, or expelled from school by the teacher, I never felt this strange… I distinctly told myself I wouldn’t cry anymore. It’s so strange… Why am I…?”

‘Is this girl so sad because her father was mentioned?’

Votila tilted its head, unsure what to do. It climbed onto Mulee Hua’s chest, rubbing against the sobbing girl. “Meow!”

“Nana…” The girl looked down at Votila, picking it up. “Are you trying to comfort me?”

“Meow.” Votila looked up and licked the tear streaks on the girl’s face. It didn’t know why it was doing this; it simply saw the crying girl and acted instinctively.

The girl’s tears were salty and astringent.

They tasted nothing like human blood.

“Nana.” Mulee Hua hugged the black cat tightly to her chest. “You’re just a cat, yet you’re warmer than any human…”

Dragons couldn’t comprehend humans.

Much like the executioners who, on the side of the shattered ridge, wielded their swords and shed tears.

They were so frail, yet possessed the power to slaughter dragons.

Greedy, cruel, and merciless, yet also sentimental and prone to sighs of melancholy.

Votila didn’t hate humans themselves; what angered it was humanity’s malicious nature. In Mulee Hua, it saw no such malice.

The black cat shook its head, its bell tinkling with a clear, crisp sound, casting the bothersome thoughts aside.

Just then, the black cat sensed a gaze—not from the gently weeping girl, but a prying stare from afar.

‘Who’s there?!’

Votila struggled free from the girl’s embrace, landing on the ground and letting out a warning “Meow” towards the distance, its fur standing on end.