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Return of the Fallen Volume 2 Chapter 39

Author: Blue_Rat

ch39

A low murmur spread amongst the villagers as they tried to comprehend Kazuki’s words.

“She’s staying but she’s leaving.”

“That’s what he said but it makes no sense.”

“Chief, what does Ryuta mean by his statement? How can Mei lead us in the future if she’s going to leave?”

Abah gripped the Black Stone Tablet tighter and tighter. As things were going, the future of the Mangshi was looking bleak.

(Brother, what will you do?)

Atoh was stunned. When Kazuki and the others returned with Tsura and Mei, he thought it was too easy but now he knew why.

Atoh could never have seen this coming. His old shaky hand pointed at Tsura.

“You witch, how…how did you trick Ryuta? What venomous words did you whisper in his ear to change his mind?”

Kazuki stepped in front of Tsura and spoke calmly to Atoh.

“Atoh, you are confused by these sudden events but I assure you I did not come to this decision easily. I’ll tell you this right here and now: If I felt she was too far gone, I originally planned to use every bit of my ability to kill her. However, after finding out who she really is, I believe she has a bright future, one though that is not intertwined with this forest.”

Atoh shook his head in denial.

“No no no, this doesn’t make any sense. You know the risk and dangers that will befall Mei if she leaves. Out there she will most certainly die and her being will lead more humans to my people and we will all face destruction, so why are you doing this? You are not thinking logically. Without control, Mei will destroy everything and you know it to be true.”

“If only things were so simple. Right now, were she to leave the forest, your prediction is most likely to come true. No, there’s little doubt in my mind that it would happen exactly as you say.”

Atoh hung on Kazuki’s words and felt a little hope return.

“Exactly exactly, she can’t be allowed out. This is the only choice.”

Kazuki wasn’t done though and what he said next made Atoh feel as though a cold bucket of water had been dumped on him.

“Wrong. If she were allowed to leave now, yes things would be bad but if we waited, the outcome is not something that’s set in stone. When she becomes an adult, her strength will reach Sky Beast level, you told me this yourself. As long as she’s guided properly until then, what happens afterward, I at least see a much better outcome than before. You once said you would guide her. Tell me, has that changed?”

Atoh felt pained in his heart.

“It’s not a matter of whether I guide her or not. If she leaves, what will happen to my people? Mei, are you really this selfish? Are you really going to abandon those who care about you and only wish to be under your wing? What will I tell them? Should I say Mei doesn’t love her people and only wishes to fly about with no real attachments? This forest is your home, it’s our home. Do you really hate this forest so much? Do you really hate us so much?”

Mei felt heavy pressure from chief Atoh but her feelings couldn’t be suppressed and she yelled angrily at Atoh.

“I DO HATE IT!”

Everyone was taken aback by Mei’s sudden outburst but many of them could understand.

“I hate it here. This stupid forest, these stupid trees, I hate it. Daddy always told me stories about the tall mountains and the deep seas, and a sky that stretched on forever. How beautiful it all was. The way he talked about it like it was a treasure. The same way he said he loved me and mommy like we were his treasures, you could just hear it in his voice. I want that. I want to fly higher and higher. To feel the cold crisp mountain air on my feathers. To soar to the end of the world with nothing holding my wings. Why can’t I be free? Why can’t you find someone else? You’re not a Sky Beast or a King Mangshi yet you are the Chief, so why can’t you find someone like you?”

Mei fell silent for a moment before tear after tear fell from her face. Hugging her mother she cried.

“I hate it…I hate it I hate it I hate it…I…I love it as well. I love all the kind village aunties who give me snacks, the funny uncles who were always making me laugh and the fun games the bigger kids would play with me. I loved our little house that was just for mommy and daddy and me. Sitting around the fireplace, cozy and bundled up in a big fat blanket, listening to daddy tell stories while he held me. Getting to help mommy with the chores because of how grown up I am. I loved it, I really did but…I want to fly, I need to fly. I am a Mangshi, it’s in my blood. You all as well are Mangshi, we are not supposed to be bound to the ground. We’re not supposed to only be able to peek above the tree line but instead, look down from beyond the clouds. You all know this as well because you all are Mangshi.”

The villagers were struck by Mei’s words.

(You all are Mangshi. Look down from beyond the clouds.)

Her words echoed within her mind and struck a chord within them.

“I don’t get it. Why does everyone have to suppress themselves with those tattoos? Why is no one allowed to transform? Isn’t that denying the fact that we are Mangshi? What’s the point of having wings if you never use them?”

Once again Mei’s words struck the villagers.

Atoh though shook his head.

“No! We can not allow such things. Once we go back to the old ways, we will be no better than those we split from back in the western lands. We’ll revert back to our baser instincts and become dumb violent creatures. We cannot go back to those times, we absolutely mustn’t, otherwise, our people will end even sooner. Mei, you said it yourself that you have love for this place, you know in your heart that the right thing to do is to stay permanently. As for having wings and not using them, Mei there are plenty of birds that can’t fly, yet they are still proud birds.”

Mei said nothing else and simply shook her head in disappointment. If even after everything she just said and the old chief doesn’t get it, he never will, she thought.

Chief Atoh tried to convince Kazuki some more. He felt that reason was not lost yet and if he could just convince Kazuki then it would all work out somehow. Little did he know that Kazuki’s mind was made up long ago.

“Ryuta, if things go this way, then there will be no reward. Are you telling me you really intend to give up on half of all the Magnitium in this forest? That’s billions of gold Zeni, can you really throw such a fortune away?”

It was true that that was more gold than most countries in this world had and Kazuki hated to lose such a large sum but a few billion gold Zeni for a Sky Beast that owed you a favor, in a life or death situation would you rather have strength or gold, the answer becomes clear. Right now Mei’s worth was not much but later on down the line, she would be a powerful force on the Feya continent. Kazuki could not ignore such factors. Besides, although the wealth he had right now was nowhere close to billions of gold Zeni, it was still a small fortune and it was more than enough for him to buy the ingredients to reforge his Mage core as well as cloak his compass’ aura. He’s just lucky that the dark continent is so far away otherwise he might have had to abandon this little treasure of his long ago.

“Chief Atoh, it’s no use, I’ve made up my mind. Billions of Zeni are indeed tempting but Mei’s freedom is more important to me.”

Tsura and Mei, as well as Asuna and the others, felt touched.

(Does this young man really care so much for me and my daughter’s freedom. Honey, it looks like your sacrifice won’t be in vain.)

Atoh shook his head, his expression turning worse and worse.

“You can’t do this to me, to my people. You can’t go back on your word.”

“I haven’t gone back on my word. I did exactly as I said I would and brought Mei here. As far as I’m concerned my mission from you has already been completed. As for the reward, hmph, keep it. Mei and Tsura though will have their freedom, it can no longer be stopped.”

Atoh’s face darkened and he eyed his sister Abah for a second before looking back at Kazuki.

“Young warrior, are you sure you will not change your mind? I do not wish for things to fall apart. Beyond this, there is no turning back for either of us.”

Kazuki shook his head.

“Chief, I would be extremely careful if I were you. One might take your words as a threat. As for changing my mind, there is nothing to be done and seeing how you’re staring at me, it seems our conversation has come to an end.”

The surroundings grew quiet and the atmosphere became eerily cold. Kazuki made a hand signal behind his back indicating for everyone to be prepared for a fight.

Kazuki and Chief Atoh stared at one another in silence. Kazuki’s mind was clear and calm and he was wondering if the old man was really gonna do it. Looking in his eyes, there was a fire of determination in Chief Atoh’s dark pupils but Kazuki could also see hints of fear and hesitation.

(Are you really going to fight me, old man? Do I really have to kill you to get the message across? Haaaa, this old fool. Even if you and your villager’s Limiter tattoo’s have been altered and your strength equals mine, it still will not be enough to kill me. What is it you’re planning, exactly?)

For almost a minute nothing happened and the two simply stared at one another. The villagers behind Chief Atoh were extremely nervous but Atoh’s words filled them with courage.

“Men, remember who we are, we are the proud Mangshi and what we do, we do for the future of our village. Do not hesitate! Sister, if you would.”

As those words fell, Kazuki rushed forward with a drawn sword.

“Hmph, you think I’d let you make the first move!”