The X Guide-Chapter 96: To Travel The Chaotic Lands (8)

It was laughable, really. He was an S-class esper; despite exhaustion, normal citizens would not be able to do anything to him.

Khal had no clue.

Eventually, he realized the reason.

"Why can’t I save all of them? They said their family was still inside the city. Why do I have to stop? Some said I was late. Where was I before? While most of them..." Khal’s lips hooked at the memory.

Perhaps he finds the memory ridiculous now, but what was he feeling that time? Khal hardly remembered them. It also did not make any waves inside him anymore.

Khal felt Ayen’s hand on him tighten, and felt that Devion had unknowingly moved beside him. The hook on his lips genuinely spread into a small smile.

He continued. Devion was there too and heard of it.

"Most of them cried and complained. I should have let them die there with their family, and they don’t have the reason to live anymore," Khal lightly laughed at the memory. "I thought, right, why did I save them?"

Khal felt far colder after a few glared at him with resentment and tried to kill him with ordinary weapons. It was filled with cold disdain, and somehow, the emotions because of exhaustion made him muddleheaded.

If Devion were not there and stopped him, Khal must have been granted their wish to die.

Ungrateful wretches who deserve to die... Khal could only see the darkness of their hearts at that moment. He was tired and, even more, emotionally spent.

Khal had done a whole day of running around, forgetting even to eat or drink. He was racing against time, so he could not afford to stop.

Injuries also accumulated on his body, which was already dried.

He did not really need gratitude. But at least... He did not expect to be resented for what he did either.

He was young then; Khal was more sensitive to such emotions.

Khal thought... Maybe if he could not save everyone... Was it not really worth it?

He also soon realized that these people were overwhelmed with grief and wanted to blame someone. Khal was just there, and their resentments poured onto him.

Realizing did not mean he understood or accepted it.

Why would he be resented? Why should he be blamed just for the sake of it?

Of course, not everyone blamed him. They were actually just the minority. Yet it was enough to chill his heart.

Khal paused, then looked Ayen in the eye. He could see the emotion in those once very indifferent pair of eyes. He was glad that they were somehow changing Ayen’s perspective and letting him open again, but...

He did not want Ayen to suddenly become very open to the idea of saving others. Khal still hoped that Ayen would tread so cautiously and never let his guard down towards others.

"I did not tell this story to just discourage you from saving others. It’s still good to have that mindset, but you should know that we can’t save everyone."

Khal primarily used this experience to inform Ayen that while they were SS-class espers, they were not too all-powerful. They could not save this world, or everyone in it.

"We can save this village and escort them to the nearest zone. That’s fine."

If Ayen wished for it, then why not?

"But remember this, Ayen. Not everyone is worth saving." Khal firmly squeezed Ayen’s hand. "We’ll encounter a lot on the road. You have to be ready."

Devion sighed and suddenly leaned his head on Khal’s shoulder. Khal and Ayen quickly glanced at him with concern in their eyes.

"I’m fine." Devion moved and kissed Khal’s jaw as if to comfort him. "I just remembered how terrible I felt that day. I guess this trip is really good for Ayen."

Devion sighed again. "But I don’t want Ayen to feel the same way."

Devion had only passed by at that time. He was fighting on the front lines and also heard what Khal had been doing. It was a huge spectacle that everyone actually knew.

Khal was his unofficial rival, and out of curiosity, he decided to visit him. It just so happened that he heard the commotion. Devion was not even the one being pointed at, but he was already so terribly disappointed.

He might not even be there, but he knew Khal’s dedication after saving millions of people. No one could be able to replicate that.

Honestly, he only stopped Khal from raging and killing them because he did not want the glorious feat Khal did to be overshadowed by killing the civilians.

Devion had always thought Khal was pretentious and always acted as a hero. That day, Khal earned his biggest respect, and so Devion dragged Khal out of those ungrateful bastards.

They did not deserve Khal.

Due to some unexpected events, that was the start of their cooperation.

Khal finally sighed, and his arm wrapped around Devion and pulled him closer, kissing his temple. He thought his story triggered the curse.

Devion also realized he might be abrupt.

"Sorry. I’m just frustrated, that’s all." Khal nodded.

Ayen watched them and also began to ponder.

He understood their worries. Ayen himself reflected on why they began to be concerned. It seemed he was truly under an illusion that they could do anything as long as the two were with him.

Ayen shook his head and took a deep breath.

"I understand." He firmly held Khal’s hand with both hands and looked at them. Ayen tried to reassure them. "I won’t blindly save everyone."

After all... Ayen was definitely not a saint. He was merely too confident because of the two by his side.

With this settled, they began to spend the night in the village. No one disturbed them, and the three did not interact with the village either. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

By the next day, they reached out to Genea and told them their intention. After talking about last night, they decided to let the villagers decide.

They could not just tell them their intentions to escort them outright. Some people just would not like to leave their homes.

Sure enough, after discussions, most villagers refused to leave.

This was already the extent of kindness they would give them. They did not insist and left. Genea and some might want to leave with them, but those remaining would not be able to hold much longer.

It could only depend on fate.

"Are you disappointed?" Devion asked Ayen as they began to continue on their journey.

"No. They already made that choice."

Just like how he made his choice to try to be with Khal and Devion, the villagers chose this path for themselves. There was no need to be disappointed.