Runaway Hero and the Slave

I feel like I’ve done something out of character today. I’ve chosen my destination with a clear intent, as though I still have a duty to carry out. I’ve come to this country only once before. It was one of my first deployments. I had gotten so infuriated that the soldiers escorting me had to hurry me out of the country, forcing me through as though I was a criminal. When I realized I was close by, all that anger came rushing back. I’m here to do what I had wanted to. I’m here to destroy the country.

This country has a massive slave system. It’s so sprawling that it’s integral to the country now. It’s the foundation that everything else lies atop of. I hated it from the moment I saw it. Even the kingdom found it terrible. And yet we couldn’t do anything. Their wretched system does nothing but pump out efficient workers that can be disposed of and replaced like mere tools. The kingdom told me that their slave soldiers were the most useful regiments of any country. I forced myself to look away for the sake of the soldiers on the frontlines, bracing against the Demon King’s army. But now that there’s no point in fighting, I’m free. I don’t have to look away anymore. I suppose that’s one good thing out of all of this.

However, the country seems quite changed from when I last passed through. This city was dour, a pervasive depression present in the form of people paraded in chains. However, the people seem happy now. As far as I can see, there are no more slaves in the city. I don’t understand how this happened. All I can do is visit the lord I intended to depose just moments ago.

When I arrive, there are no soldiers guarding the gate. Only two lax men in ordinary clothes. No sign of the prize soldiers who were sacrificed for the sake of others. One of them starts to speak.

“Hey there. Are you here to see the bosslady?”

“‘Bosslady?’ If it’s really alright, then please take me to her.”

The man breaks away and leads me into the manor. It’s clear where decorations should be, but there’s not a single one left. All the valuables seem to have been looted by some force. Perhaps it was them?

He opens a door and lets me inside, then closes the door behind me without entering himself. The room inside is large and empty, only a table and some low couches in the center. The light from the large windows falls onto a girl sitting on one couch. She’s small and skinny, a young teenager no older than I was when I first saw this country. A girl as young as this is their leader?

She looks unoccupied, and seems excited when I walk in.

“Ah! Please go ahead and sit down!” I do, and I take down my hood to face her.

“Hello there. I take it you’re the one in charge? Can you tell me what happened in this city?” She looks at me cheerfully.

“I killed the lord, and now everyone is free.” I see. So the lord would let his guard down in front of a girl so young? Truly what a wretched man.

“And for that they made you the leader?”

“Ah, yeah. Well, it’s only in name. They don’t let me work. They want me to do as I please.”

“Well, that’s freedom, isn’t it?” That’s the way I’m living.

“But we’ll all be dead by next year. What’s the point if the Demon King will just kill us?” I can say nothing in response. “Why did we even bother being free if we’re just going to die? I wish I didn’t have to think for myself if this is all I can think about. I wish I just had a reason to exist. If it’s like this, I would rather be a slave.” There’s so much pain in her voice. Almost too much for me to bear, but I must. She decided to entrust these feelings with me.

I am a monster. Everything I wanted to do here was pure arrogance. It was all just fuel for my own worthless ego. I abandoned them once already. I already decided that I could stand back and keep them from being free. I already decided I shouldn’t help them. How can I claim to care about their freedom and wellbeing? I behave like this and still have the gall to do so. And now I’ve made it so they can never be free. Even in their freedom their lives are disposable. Their lives belong now to the Demon King and again I’ll stand back and let them have their lives taken from them.

“Please don’t speak like that. There’s not a single reason you should not be free. The only reason you even ever had your freedom taken from you is because of us. You are a person deserving of freedom and deserving of joy. You’re now free, but you still find joy slipping through your fingers. Please try to find joy, even if only so you don’t regret having what you’ve always been owed.”

“How can I find joy?”

“I don’t know. I barely know what joy is.” There’s only one thing that has truly made me happy. “All I can say is to fall in love. But I have no idea if that would even be possible. All I can do is apologize. I’m sorry I didn’t destroy this country sooner. I’m sorry I failed you.”

I don’t wait for her response. I don’t think I would be able to bear it. I stand up and leave. I move through the halls quickly. I speak to nobody and give nobody the opportunity to speak. I leave the manor and return to the city. I look at a map of the country there. It’s all so hateful.

I don’t want to think anymore. I don’t want to exist. I can’t stand it anymore. I can’t stand it. In a single day, a country with centuries of history fell. I destroyed the country. And all I can do is hope they can find joy in the ruins before I take it all away again.