(Attendance… plz…)
….
What Reinhard had just said was something many wouldn't even consider before attacking. It was a common cycle, seen in humans and monsters alike: Monsters killed my family, so I will kill all monsters to avenge them. A human group slaughtered my village, so I must kill them and everyone related to them.
In their rage, few stopped to understand that the individuals directly responsible were the only ones truly guilty, along with the ones who ordered them. Guilt by association was the rule of the land.
But Reinhard disregarded that entirely. He had killed everyone who had attacked the ogre village. He had killed the one who ordered them and controlled them. He had cut the head off the snake, and now he refused to punish the body for moving.
"I know what you are saying, Reinhard," Benimaru answered, his voice low. "And I understand that. I won't break the promise I made when you helped us. But… it will take time."
Reinhard didn't let him say anything else. He knew what Benimaru was thinking, what he was feeling. He put a hand on the ogre's shoulder. "I understand. And I appreciate that very much. Thank you."
"Why are you…" Benimaru started, but Reinhard interrupted him again.
"It is not an easy task to let go of hatred and anger against somebody just because they said so," Reinhard said softly. "So thank you for even considering my words. It means a lot to me that you are keeping your word on our promise."
Benimaru smiled faintly. "Then what do you intend to do with all of them?"
Reinhard turned around to look at the vast sea of orcs. He didn't know the specifics, but he knew one thing for certain: he couldn't just let them die or starve again.
That would simply restart the cycle that had caused this tragedy in the first place. Or worse, prejudice against them would fester, and they would be hunted down like animals.
Before he could formulate a plan, a familiar green light blossomed at a considerable distance. From within it, Treyni, the Dryad of the Forest, presented herself.
"Reinhard," her voice carried across the clearing, echoing with the authority of the forest itself.
"From all the inhabitants of the forest, and as its protector…" She looked at him, conveying her deep gratitude. "I thank you."
She then proceeded to address the issue at hand. "If you like, I have a proposal for the orcs that have surrendered."
Reinhard looked at her, hope sparking in his eyes. "Really? Please, anything if you can help them."
Treyni smiled. "I was right in choosing you for help. In my capacity as the overseer of the Great Forest of Jura, I will begin a dialogue with the intention of resolving this situation. It will take place tomorrow morning in a forest clearing just to the southwest of here. Anyone who wishes to participate ought to select a representative to argue their piece."
She then turned to the side, looking into the empty forest, and spoke as if addressing someone standing right there. "I'm counting on you to relay this announcement to your Lizardman Chieftain. Join the delegation."
No one knew who she was talking to, as there was no one there, with the sole exception of Reinhard, of course.
Lizardman scouts had been tracking and keeping an eye on the whole Orc Lord situation from afar.
While no one else could see that far, a dryad was an exception, knowing whatever was going on within her domain.
And Reinhard was among the few who knew it too. They were very far away, but they got the message.
They knew what had happened here, what had transpired, and who had finished this whole thing.
One of them was already on his way to relay the news of the Orc Lord's defeat by a single human.
And now, those who remained couldn't believe what they were seeing: a dryad, the protector and overseer of the forest, right in front of them, calling for an all-out delegation regarding the orc army.
She then turned back to the orc side. "Who will be the representative from your side?"
The two generals who had stood by the Orc Lord's side looked at each other.
They knew what that could possibly mean. Going as far as offering their own heads for forgiveness was a price they were willing to pay.
Neither of them was scared by that prospect. One of them stood up to speak, but before he could utter a word, a voice cut in.
"I will be their representative," Reinhard spoke up.
The orc general's eyes widened in surprise. "Why are you doing this?" he stammered.
He couldn't understand why a human would go this far for them. It was none other than the one who had killed their lord, the one who had stopped their march. But now, for him to step up for them?
Reinhard looked at him for a long moment before answering. "Why?" he said quietly. "I killed your king. That makes this my responsibility now."
He turned his eyes toward the orcs gathered behind him. "You weren't acting on your own will. You were being driven by a skill. I'm not going to call that a choice. Any race, any people, put in the same position… would have done the same."
"Walking away now would just start the same thing all over again," he continued. "You will try to take the blame for something that wasn't in your hands to begin with. You were all manipulated by that majin. And if this can be resolved by someone taking full responsibility for this whole ordeal… then it is fine with me. I'm ready."
The orc generals stared at Reinhard as if he had spoken in a foreign language. One of them slowly lowered his head, not in submission, but in something closer to disbelief.
"…You would bear the burden of our sins?" he asked hoarsely.
Reinhard shook his head. "No. I would bear the burden of the mistake. There's a difference."
Treyni's eyes narrowed slightly, studying him. Not with suspicion, but with something far more of an interest as to why go that far at all for someone else.
"You understand," she said slowly, "that by acting as their representative, you place yourself between every faction in this forest."
"I know."
"And that if negotiations fail, you will be blamed by all sides."
Reinhard let out a small breath. "That's fine too."
"…You really are serious about this," Benimaru muttered.
Reinhard didn't turn around. "If I wasn't, I wouldn't have said it."
….
A/N: Rushed chapter. I could rewrite it depending on how it gets received. Vote below:-
Q: Was it good. Or like it needs a rewrite with other angle?
-Good
-Rewrite
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