Chapter 163
A gradual change
The story of the elite unit’s attack and annihilation soon spread to the captured prisoners as well. For the Esper soldiers who had been caught during the first raid, it was a bolt from the blue.
“…This can’t be true.”
Tynato, the lion werebeast who had been the commander during the first raid, couldn’t accept that the elite unit had been wiped out without even putting up a real fight.
“Are those damned Cantabrians lying to us?”
Tynato bared his teeth and growled at the companion imprisoned with him.
“M-Maybe you’re right!”
They hadn’t been excessively tortured since being captured, but had undergone fairly intense interrogations. With injuries and without proper guiding since arriving here, they were in a sorry state.
Tynato felt so humiliated, he almost wished he could just end it all right there.
“Tynato, you used to serve His Highness the Crown Prince. Won’t he come to rescue us?”
Annoyed by the weak words of his companion, Tynato snapped back.
“Why would His Highness bother rescuing the likes of us? Are you crazy? As if we’d be of any use to him!”
“…Then… Are you saying we should just die here?”
At his words, the other companions sitting quietly nearby all fell into gloom. Tynato was angry, but he couldn’t scold them any further. In truth, most of his anger was directed at himself.
“It’s better to die here than bring shame to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
At Tynato’s words, the prisoner barracks fell silent as death. At that moment, they heard several footsteps outside. Assuming it was Cantabrian soldiers, they held their breath, already suffocating at the thought of more interrogation.
“…Huh?”
But those who entered, pushing open the barracks door, were not Cantabrian soldiers.
“Espers, we’re here to give you guiding.”
It was the familiar faces of Leonis Empire’s Guides entering. In need of guiding, the prisoners couldn’t hide their relief, though they were still somewhat dazed.
Tynato eyed the Guides suspiciously and asked,
“Didn’t you already go over to the enemy?”
“What?”
“Getting all high and mighty just because you’re being treated well. How could you even think about betraying your country?”
The barracks, which had briefly warmed up, immediately went cold at his words. But Tynato simply couldn’t understand the Guides. Even while imprisoned, he wasn’t ignorant of what was happening outside. He could easily pick up enough from the gossiping Cantabrian soldiers passing by.
“…Then what are you saying we should do?”
“Do I have to spell everything out for you? That’s just like a Guide.”
Tynato’s sneering made the Guides feel insulted. When they’d lived in the Leonis Empire, they’d never noticed it, but after experiencing the courteous treatment of the Cantabrian soldiers, they could feel the difference acutely.
“Then why are you still alive if you’re so loyal?”
The remark from one Guide made fire flash in Tynato’s eyes. Some of the Espers nearby moved quickly to calm him down. He was the highest-ranked among them, so it would take a group effort to restrain him.
“Don’t lump me together with you. I’m going to serve His Highness the Crown Prince to the end, then die. Who are you to decide whether I deserve to live?”
He growled, scaring the Guide, but she didn’t back down. She felt wronged.
After all, they’d barely managed to get permission to come and provide guiding for their soldiers.
If this isn’t what it means to care for your country, then what is? Is dying the only way to prove your loyalty?
“We made our own decision and received permission to come here with great difficulty to provide you with our guiding. Does that mean we’re traitors, while you, doing nothing but sitting here, are serving your country?”
Tynato was briefly at a loss for words. As they said, since coming here, he hadn’t managed to accomplish anything.
“…We’ll just finish guiding quickly and leave. If you don’t like it, don’t receive any.”
At her words, the other Espers glanced at Tynato, then quickly rushed over to be guided. Their pallid faces brightened once they’d received guiding.
The Guides glanced at Tynato, then left the barracks. He sat there, dumbfounded. At that moment, one companion spoke to him.
“It’s not like we don’t recognize your loyalty. But don’t delude yourself into thinking you’re the only one serving our country. All of us felt the same when we came here, and that includes the Guides.”
“…Hah…”
Swallowing his irritation, Tynato curled up in a corner. Everyone, himself included, was infuriating.
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