There was some apprehension as to what they would say as a negotiation. What the uncle, the chief of the group, said was that he wanted us to live in our village.
Perhaps they wanted to take advantage of the fact that we were living in this forest without any inconvenience. They wanted to make contact with us. They, too, are desperate. They, too, are desperate to survive.
--- That's why they made the request. But we could not immediately nod to their request.
But we didn't know what would happen to Ms. Loma if we refused. This is a threat in the name of negotiation. I realize that. But the uncle who tells us this has a stern expression on his face. I can't give an immediate answer. I don't know what the best answer is. --He is talking to me. He is talking to me, of all people.
It's not fair to take hostages and then try to negotiate with Lelunda, who seems to be the weakest.
Frene is next to me, revealing her anger. His voice is heard only by me here. No one else reacts. It may be cowardly to set up a negotiating table with a few people, including myself, under such conditions that the gryphons would not be brought along, and even take hostages. But it is evidence of their exhaustion.
I was at a loss for words, wondering what to say.
"Let's capture or kill these three women and children!
They shouted at me like that.
It was the youngest of them, a man who was still young in years, who shouted that. They said, "Stop! I can't believe you would do such a thing to the person who saved me," and they were desperately trying to stop me. Oh, that's the boy I saved. There was also a boy whom I had saved on the side of the people who were stopping me.
They were saying, "You can't talk so nicely, we're taking hostages! It doesn't matter how many people we catch, it's all the same!
That's right! We can't be worrying about other people..."
The people on the side being stopped are shouting such things.
We can't afford it. They said they already have hostages, so it doesn't matter how many hostages they have, it won't make a difference. The man who was talking directly to me has a difficult look on his face. Taking hostages is not an option that they really want.
Our village has made the choice that it is best to stay out of their way. That is an extreme choice. We wanted to keep them away. It was best not to get involved. But I got involved. And this is the result.
But I don't think it would have been better if I hadn't helped them.
"...... catch them, kill them, I can't. I'll fight back."
I won't be caught, and I won't be killed. I might have made that choice the first time I went to the beastmen's village. I was willing to put myself in a lot of trouble. --But I don't have that choice anymore.
I want to make the choice that everyone is safe, including myself.
What is it with women and children that they fight back?
Frenet.
I called out to Frene when I saw them trying to reel us in, even though they were trying to reave those who had held them back. Gaius and Mr. Wettany were getting ready, but I thought it was best to get them to see what was going on before they did.
Besides, I thought Frenet could do whatever he wanted without hurting them too much. I called out to Frene, and she moved immediately.
Magic stirred. With it, the wind swept over the place. The wind hit the people who were trying to attack us with pinpoint accuracy. Fresne, you are amazing at manipulating magic power. If I did it, I would have hit the people around me. I thought, "Spirits are really amazing.
I can do anything I want to do to you guys.
--I told him, "Don't try to come at me anymore. I said these words with such feelings in my mind.
I don't want to be an enemy of you. I can't listen to all of your requests. But I understand that it is impossible for me to stay away from you all the time. So I will do my best to walk with you. Is my answer not good enough?
I thought hard and spun my words.
I'm sure that Roma is being held hostage, but that doesn't mean I'm going to ask for everything you want. But that doesn't mean we should have the attitude of doing everything they ask.
And also there are many people who are trying to stop those who have tried to attack us, so he is not a bad person at heart, that's why I think so. And I think the people who are trying to catch us are doing so because they are in dire straits.
How is that ......?"
I don't know yet. It's not up to me alone. I don't know yet, but I'm not going to make it your fault. ...... Of course, if you promise that Loma will be safe. We were trying to keep you out of it. But we will find a way to work together.
We will find a compromise. There is no choice but to stay out of it. And yet, no one wants to abandon these people, no one is thinking of eliminating them. --- then I wanted to look for an option that would allow both us and them to compromise. I don't know if we can find one, but we want to.
We can't make them live in the village. But we can compromise. To my words, the uncle replied.
---- girl and her people 5
(Maybe the girl, who is a godchild, sees their current situation and negotiates with them. (She says this in an attempt to find a way to compromise, a way to walk together.)