Chapter 23 It is said that decisions made at dusk will not be regretted
"Eh——"
The unexpected answer made me squint:
"You should know that Qian Zhihe wants to participate in the war."
"Yeah, and I made it clear that I support her."
The dean admitted frankly.
"What's the trouble?"
"Once that child makes up his mind, no matter how much I try to persuade him, it will be of no use."
"..."
"But I will not break the promise I made. If one day, Xiaohe really wants to go to the battlefield, I will do my best to stop him, and even force him to death... At that point, even if she hates her for it
I, I will never regret it."
I looked at the dean's firm face and hesitated to speak, so I had to nod silently.
I want to emphasize to her that even if I already know the truth, if she suddenly changes her story and claims that she is Qianzhihe's biological mother, I will still believe her without thinking.
At this time, Al ran in:
"Mr. Lonely! Long time no see!"
"Yo~~"
I responded quickly:
"Where did you go to play again? The sun has set."
"I'm going to find Sister He!"
Al's eyes sparkled with a strange light:
"She taught me a lot of knowledge. Sister He is so amazing!"
"Al, remember to wash your hands after playing. You can't ignore hygiene."
The dean stared at Al with a look that was half stern and half loving. Only then did I notice that Al’s hands were dirty.
"Okay, okay..."
After Al answered the dean perfunctorily, he kept talking to me about what he saw and heard in the guard camp, without any thought of washing his hands.
I watched helplessly as he put his hand on the armrest of the chair where I was sitting, but could only listen to his chatter patiently.
The dean on the side gave me an apologetic smile.
......
I said goodbye to the dean and was on my way back.
Compared with physical fatigue, the entanglement in my mind troubles me more.
I think of the conversation I had with Qian Zhihe a few days ago...
......
"When spring comes next year, some of the guards and I will go to the north and join the army there as ordinary volunteers."
"...Huh?"
One cool autumn night, while walking with paper cranes, she revealed her plan without warning.
"I have discussed it with the lord, and he promised that after we leave, he will send new troops to guard the town-"
"No, no, no...that's not the problem."
I quickly interrupted her and asked while sorting out my confused thoughts:
"Why are you leaving so suddenly?"
"Suddenly? We have been planning for a long time, but we just didn't tell you."
Qianzhihe's tone is as plain as talking about the weather:
"Besides, I have long said that I want to join the war. If I don't take action for a long time, will it become empty talk?"
"...Marcia and Alvin are also among them?"
"Hmm."
"Then why do you choose to tell me now?"
"Because this is now a conclusion, telling more people earlier will stop us from wavering."
"In other words, have you ever wavered?"
"...Hmm."
After hesitating for a while, Qian Zhihe admitted.
At the same time, I saw the reasons for her wavering: attachment to the small town, resistance to killing and concerns about "change".
These factors that stopped her actually prompted her to take the final step.
"...Besides your companions and me, who else did you tell? Does your mother know?"
"There is no one else, including mother."
I sighed:
"I will not comment on this matter. Just do what you think...but I suggest that it is better to let your family know your plans as soon as possible."
Qian Zhihe softly said "Hmm", and I saw her lowering her head, as if she was a child who had done something bad.
I have to leave so soon...I don't even have time to react.
How will her mother feel after hearing these words?
Are you like me, wanting to say something but unable to say anything...
......
"That little girl wants you to go with her."
"...Huh?"
Gale's words pulled me out of my memories.
"What are you going with? Who?"
"A little girl with red hair."
"Do you really dislike saying other people's names..."
Is this guy telepathic? How does it know what I was thinking...
"I can tell, she hopes you can join the war with her."
"Huh?"
After confirming that no one was around, I raised the volume slightly:
"Are you an idiot? Qian Zhihe definitely understands - I will never leave the town no matter what."
"It was precisely because that little girl understood this that she didn't invite you. But as long as you have a little bit of mind, it's not difficult to know - why didn't she hide it from you like she did with others?"
"Didn't she hide it for a while..."
"That's because I'm afraid that stupid you will cause trouble."
What a disgusting stinker, you don’t have any manners in your speech.
But... I really cared about what it said, so I suppressed the anger that was about to burst out.
"If you don't believe it, I can bet you that before winter comes, that little girl will definitely invite you to come with her in some way."
This guy said it so firmly, he probably has some basis for it...
"I am too lazy to bet with my servants, but your opinion... I will remember it."
"Humph, you stupid person, you are sophistry, but in fact you still follow my instructions...Hmm~~I am very satisfied."
"You can talk nonsense as you want, but I have to remind you - I have already considered the prophecies you mentioned, and I don't need your mere servants to warn me."
"Hey! What you said is really unpleasant!"
"You're not much better, you bastard."
Then, a quarrel broke out.
......
At the end of autumn, Qian Zhihe asked me to meet on a mountain—it happened to be the same mountain where I signed the marriage contract with Gale.
There is a meadow on the top of the mountain. I often see children entering here in groups, sometimes to play and sometimes to take a nap.
But this time, when I arrived, I only saw Paper Crane sitting alone on the grass.
Her shadow was stretched long by the setting sun, motionless.
The grass looked a little withered and yellow, but it didn't make any sound when I stepped on it. She didn't notice me until I was only about one meter away from the paper crane.
"Here we come."
"Hmm."
"Look!"
Qianzhihe’s voice is full of surprise:
"At this location, if you stand up, you can overlook most of the town!"
"Oh..."
After hearing what she said, I looked down——
The low houses are connected to the rising smoke, pedestrians are scattered on the streets, and the street lights are on one after another, contrasting with the dusk light.
I identified people one by one based on their vague outlines.
I saw Keelon and Monty... That one seems to be Al... Oh, Miss Polly is getting dry clothes...
"What a beautiful sunset."
The moment I looked up, I admired.
"This is the best choice for watching the sunset."
Qian Zhihe said fondly:
"When I was little, Grandma Beth would occasionally bring me here..."
"I remember you once said that people are more rational before dusk, while people are more emotional after dusk."
"So, as the interface between reason and sensibility, dusk is the most suitable time of the day to make decisions."
She continued what I said:
"This is why I choose to see you at dusk."
"So, the decision to join the war was also made by you as the sun set?"
"Of course, thanks to this, I avoided unnecessary regrets."
Oh~~So it works.
I'll try it another day...
Well...by the way, Gale guessed it right this time.
Was that smelly Dingyou a hunter or a fortune teller during his lifetime?
"..."
"I won't leave, I can't leave the town."
The matter has come to this, and I don’t want to delay it.
"...Eh? You can tell...it's the purpose of divinity?"
Wow, it’s true or false...
"So be it."
Qian Zhihe looked at me in surprise. I took a deep breath and sat down next to her.
"Why do you have this idea?"
I asked her back.
At the same time, I predicted her answer.
Well...this guy's reason is undoubtedly related to the divine eye, so I just need to use "I can't use magic" as an excuse like before.
But——
"I don't want to end our relationship because of my obsession."
That's what she said.
...our relationship?
"Our relationship?"
"To be precise, I don't want to lose you as a good friend."
Oh~~Are we friends? Yes~~I understand.
"No, no, no...is this another obsession of yours?"
I laughed awkwardly:
"In order to continue to be my friend, you must drag me into your war plan?"
As always, he goes his own way, this guy.
"Isn't it very willful?"
Thousand Paper Cranes actually stared at my face a little proudly:
"And I know you will never promise me."
"Then why..."
"Not saying everything you have to say - that's just not my style."
"..."
"I believe that one day you will be able to use your divine eye to the extreme. I am also looking forward to it. Although you may not be able to see it... just take your time."
As she said that, she nudged me gently with her arm.
I don’t know why, but this move made me feel more intimate.
"..."
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew by, and Qian Zhihe quickly held down his hair as if he said something.
The woods not far away made a "whispering" sound due to the wind, which reminded me of summer - from morning to night, the chirping of cicadas would pour at the feet of the trees like fallen leaves.
The wind also hit my eardrums, restless like a wild horse.
But I don’t care, after all, this is what the autumn wind should look like. I always hate things that pursue “eternity”.
However, what if... What if I really accompanied these brats to another place? Does this mean that everything will start again? Then the memories of the small town that I am proud of...
What am I thinking about... They are going to fight. Even if I go with them, I am just a burden.
In the small town, I am the "lonely old man", but far away from the small town... I am a pure useless person.
However, no one is wrong.
The wind stopped.
"I admire your courage, but my reply will not change."
"Well, that's it."
Qian Zhihe nodded slightly without any surprise.
In the backward, ordinary town of Vige, there is Raya, there is "eternity", and there is the meaning of my existence. It has too many things attached to it that I can't let go of.
"...What about you? Do you have the courage to get rid of your reluctance to leave the town?"
"I'm not sure, but I have more urgent goals waiting for me to achieve."
There is some kind of emotion hidden in Qianzhihe's eyes - it should be hatred.
The death of her parents shaped her hatred, so that in her stable days, she still yearned for the distant war.
I gradually understood: she wants revenge, she longs for peace of mind, even if it means killing, even if it costs her life, she will not hesitate.
In other words, I can't stop her.
"Come on."
What an amazing kid.
I entrust all my sighs to brief encouragement.
"I will."
"Well..."
I closed my eyes subconsciously and wanted to sit quietly for a few minutes.