810 Let's Keep It Then
As for the risk of it turning over us, I kept reassuring them. Of course I got a way, something that would break any intrusion from any soul or anyone with dirty intentions.
With my words about negating the threat of these souls, they all started to slowly give out their opinions.
“I agree.”
“I don’t!”
“Let’s tame this guardian and make it ours!”
“Considering the bigger picture, it’s better to leave it on our side.”
“If you can guarantee that it won’t turn against us, then I agree to make it turn into our guardian.”
“I don’t agree.”
The last comment came from Legend. And it wasn’t a surprise. After all he seemed to hold a deep grudge against anything related to his race or what made them a mighty one.
But the total voting went towards keeping it. In fact I leant towards keeping that beast, feeding and raising it to become one of my sharpest swords and fiercest warriors.
To do that, I had to make something I did only once before. But I succeeded, and I wouldn’t fail in this attempt as well.
“So, it’s a go then,” I moved my eyes all over the faces of those around, “if so, you shall all withdraw. Call back your forces and move back to the land. Let all your forces have a piece of each beast, then wait for my return to kill them.”
“Are you planning to let all of us bathe in their blood?!” Sara was surprised by this.
“That’s typical of our stingy and greedy lord,” the jumper snorted, and I totally ignored his remark.
“We lost the chance to give double the boost to our people, so why would I let go of adding four effects of beasts to them? It’s our second best option anyway, right?”
They all got what was in my mind and agreed with a simple and silent nod.
“Go, go now and finish all the preparations before we kill those beasts,” I waved my hand at them, dismissing them.
All went back to their chariots, all but three; the jumper, Hilary, and Legend.
Legend didn’t have a chariot and if I recall correctly, he came on the back of the jumper’s chariot.
“Why are you two here?” as Legend would leave with the jumper, I asked the other two.
“I won’t leave you behind with her,” Hilary gave me such an answer that made me glare at her.
“Go and don’t think about that,” I muttered, couldn’t help but steal a glance at Legend, “I’m not a fan of scales.”
“They are the best in our race!” The kid was stirred with what I said, making me want to laugh.
“Go now,” I said to her before turning to the jumper, “what about you?”
“I just want to see if you are really going to tame it properly or leave a few holes behind.”
“Don’t you trust me?” I raised one eyebrow and he met me with such a fierce gaze.
“You do know the disastrous results if you made a single mistake, right?”
“I’m not going to do such a thing,” I scoffed, “now go, don’t delay or else I won’t let your forces gain a single drop of blood from these beasts.”
“Fine!” The jumper seemed to struggle to say something else, but in the end he couldn’t do anything but to agree. On the other side, only Legend remained without moving.
“Come on kiddo, we have a long journey waiting for us,” the jumper noticed and looked at Legend, who didn’t move even when asked to.
“Can I… stay behind?” He looked only at me, and asked such weird questions.
“Explain it properly first,” I leant over my light weighted glaive and waited for him to speak.
“I just… Want to see the real ugly face of our race,” he said such pitiful words with such a serious face.
Even his small scales moved slightly when he said it.
“You want to see the reality of your race?” I repeated his words before adding, “and who said any race isn’t burdened with such ugly stuff and secrets? I bet even my race, humans, aren’t any better than yours.”
“But you are different,” he paused, seemingly hesitating before adding, “I saw how you dealt with everyone around you. How you cared despite acting tough, how you stood right and said that each race will have a place in your kingdom. All this told me a lot about your essence.”
“That doesn’t negate the fact that my race isn’t any better than yours,” I wasn’t tempted by the good words he said.
“I’m not following our race, I’m following you,” he said, and his words left me silent for a long moment this time.
“Give him a chance, the kid deserves it,” the jumper stepped in, speaking up for someone for the first time ever since I ever knew him.
This jerk… He was trying to get to Legend with any means possible.
“Ok,” I didn’t find it bad to bring him along. After all, the only person whom I trusted about the issues of the Hectors was now lying asleep in one of my beds.
Having another Hector on my side wasn’t a bad idea. “Go you two now, and make sure others won’t slack,” I waved my glaive at the two to move away. And the two just left while the jumper sent me a private message before moving away with his chariot.
[Don’t mistreat my boy, he is one of my generals]
[You are all my generals, so stay away from him] I sent back while feeling how deluded this jumper was.
As the two left, only me and Legend remained.
“Won’t you tell me the real reason now?”
I didn’t move my chariot for a single step, crossing my arms while watching this youngster in front of me.
He said great stuff, seemingly convincing. But for a moment there, he seemed a bit different.