Game World: I Can Share Talents-Chapter 66: This Prosperous Age, As You Wished
The Resistance Army’s evacuation efforts continued for several days. Under efficient coordination, the Resistance Army broke into smaller groups and left with the refugees.
Not only that, but they also had to take as many human slaves as possible away from the lands their families had inhabited for generations, heading for foreign territories.
Such a large-scale migration should have been met with an overwhelming pursuit by the Dragon Beast Legions, ultimately ending in a massacre.
But thanks to Westheid’s subversive and meticulous efforts, one would be hard-pressed to find any organized Dragon Beast units on the Kepal Plain. As for the Dragon Descendants... they had been messed with so badly they could barely take care of themselves.
The remaining Giant Dragons had all become exceedingly cautious. Knowing the Resistance had a Sword Saint, none of them were willing to be the one to stick its neck out.
’Our lives as True Dragons are precious. How could we risk being slain for the sake of human slaves, who are no better than weeds?’
’We’ll wait for Scorching Wings to return before deciding anything. For now, we’ll lie low!’
Thus, a miracle unseen in a thousand years occurred on the Kepal Plain. The Dragon Race’s oppressive rule vanished completely. In this extremely short period, the Resistance Army easily escaped toward the border with tens of thousands of slaves.
Even if the final battle against Scorching Wings was lost, the Legendary Giant Dragon would no longer have the capacity to hunt down slaves fleeing in every direction. And even if Scorching Wings was petty enough to not let a single ant escape, he would be too spread thin to slaughter more than half the civilians at most.
From a purely pragmatic perspective, Westheid had already secured a baseline victory. He had completed the Trial’s objective and already won.
The only remaining question was whether it was a small win, a medium win, or a big win.
After the evacuation was complete, the scattered elites of the Resistance Army and the Trial Takers returned to the fortress. Solren needed to make it clear that he was still there to draw the fire of Scorching Wings’s retaliation.
Although, compared to the Legendary Sword Saint, Westheid and his group were likely better at attracting hatred.
The troops were recalled to the fortress in batches, but the Sword Saint specifically ordered the War Knights’ team to camp outside the fortress for one more night. He had something to discuss with Burlington and the others.
Burlington and his men were puzzled by Solren’s order, but they complied nonetheless.
「At nightfall.」
In the camp, numerous Trial Takers gathered around a bonfire, sitting down after receiving their rations from the Resistance Army.
"By the way, ever since Duke Qinghui and his people arrived, Lord Solren hasn’t sought us out. Tonight is a good opportunity. We have to find a way to drive a wedge between them and the Sword Saint."
Burlington squeezed the flatbread in his hand and began discussing in a low voice with those beside him.
"Ptooey! This stuff is basically just garbage kneaded together. Is this even fit for human consumption?"
Just then, Andre, who was sitting to the side, took a bite of the flatbread. He immediately grimaced, his face contorting as if he’d just tasted something utterly foul.
It was no wonder he reacted that way; the distributed food was simply inhuman.
Beneath the rough, hard crust were large amounts of wood shavings, crushed bone fragments, and rotten wild vegetables, all mixed with a slop-like liquid that gave off an extremely bizarre taste.
Even Burlington, who was accustomed to military life, couldn’t help but look disgusted after a single bite. "Even barbarians eat better than this," he said. "This can’t even be called food... I never imagined conditions would be this harsh, and just when we’ve run out of our own dry rations."
"Forget it. I really can’t eat this stuff."
Andre tossed the flatbread to the edge of the camp. "I’d rather wait and go hunting later. I can manage without eating for a day or two."
"Even if you find it hard to swallow, please don’t throw it away."
Just then, a low sigh was heard. The familiar voice made Andre stand up reflexively, his back ramrod straight.
"An... Lord Solren!"
Solren emerged from the shadows of the forest. The Sword Saint walked to the edge of the camp, the bonfire illuminating his resolute face, but it only made his features seem cold and hard.
Burlington asked, "Sir, you asked us to stay behind. What are your orders?"
The Sword Saint didn’t answer directly. He seemed to have come alone. He glanced at the flatbread Andre had thrown away and said: 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
"A dough filled with wood shavings and bone fragments certainly can’t compare to fine cuisine. But to me, this was a delicacy I dreamed of as a child. As a slave, you had to work desperately for a whole day just to receive one ration. If you didn’t work hard enough one day, you wouldn’t even get this much food."
Solren walked over, picked up the flatbread, brushed off the dirt, and then tore off a piece and put it in his mouth, savoring it as if it were a rare delicacy.
Chewing slowly and deliberately, he continued to speak.
"That’s how my parents died. They gave their last bite of food to me, then starved to death right in front of my eyes. At that moment, all I could think was, ’If only we had one more piece of this flatbread, then we wouldn’t have to die.’"
Andre, Burlington, and the other War Knights looked at each other, a sense of shame washing over them.
"Ance... Lord Solren, I... we didn’t mean..."
Solren said, "I’m not blaming you for wasting food. I can see you didn’t do it intentionally. You were just subconsciously shocked by how bad it tasted and tossed it aside, even preferring to go hungry than eat such garbage."
After swallowing the entire piece of flatbread, the Resistance Army’s Sword Saint took a deep breath and sighed.
"You must have grown up in an incredibly privileged and prosperous environment. How fortunate. If only my children could grow up so carefree, not born as slaves to the Dragon Race, but able to run freely under the sun, as strong and vibrant as you... For that, I would give everything. I would be ground to dust and have no regrets."
Andre’s spirits lifted at these words, and his eyes lit up.
’The Radiant Holy Tree Empire is the very nation born from humanity’s future overthrow of the Demon Dragons’ rule! After that, the Imperial nation became incredibly prosperous and powerful. In terms of area and population alone, it is the greatest of all nations!’
’And in the Imperial nation, the Solren Clan is a prestigious family that has never declined.’
’Ancestor! This golden age... it is as you wished! It is as you wished!’
He was about to excitedly voice his words of acknowledgment and encouragement, but just as they reached his lips, his eyes met Solren’s cold gaze.
Instantly, a chill enveloped his entire body, as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss.
"But in this land ravaged by the Dragon Race, all humans are slaves. Where could one find the soil for such a fortunate upbringing? You... who exactly are you?"
Everyone was stunned, and they quickly spoke up.
"Sir, we believe we’ve already told you..."
"We came from a faraway land, specifically to help you fight the Demon Dragons."
Solren replied, "Yes, and I believed you... at least, I used to."
The Sword Saint scanned the Trial Takers before him and threw the Communication Device he had gotten from Westheid onto the ground.
"I never questioned your pasts, why you had such fine equipment, or why you possessed such professional skills. I did this because I respect every righteous person who resists the Dragon Race. No matter who they are, they can be my comrades-in-arms... But you... you deceived me. You spies from the Celestial Vault Kingdom."
