Kapitel 39: Aftermath

The guards slowly reorganized themselves while Earl decided what to do with the captured mercenaries. Most of the more aggressive ones had already died in the battle, including the two who had claimed the lives of Earl's men.

Ash sat back as everyone moved around, gathering up supplies and gear that'd been tossed during the battle.

'I kinda lost it there… if Alex hadn't backed me up, it could've gone terribly.'

Internally, Roth was grinning.

^Yea, but that was great, right? That bastard who killed our family, look at him now!^

Ash's gaze wandered over to the pool of blood surrounding the dead mercenary.

The sight of the corpse would make anyone want to retch, and it was part of the reason the guards had left it sit. All of the captive mercenaries were tired up a short distance from it, the sinister scent of blood wafting up from the torn body enough to drive away any thoughts of trying something stupid.

Just like Ash's own fur, the dead Jorg's once orange beard was starting to turn dark red as the blood dried.

'I almost can't believe I did something like that… ripping out someone's throat. I didn't even hesitate this time.'

While Ash was conversing with Roth inside his mind, someone walked over and patted the large wolf on the top of his head.

"Nice job. We would've been in a lot more danger without you."

Ash looked up to see Alex standing by his side. Despite his words being appreciative, his expression still looked gloomy. It wasn't because of anything Ash had done, but instead because of his duties as one of the leaders of the guards.

Even if he already would've gone around to comfort people on his own, he likely wouldn't have gone to everyone. The people who'd died were his close friends, to the point that they were almost like family.

Instead of mourning with the other guards, he still had to go around and check on everyone else.

"I'd try to wash you off, but I think this is going to take more than just a little bucket of water. Let's wait until we get to a river."

After patting Ash's head one more time, Alex straightened up again and walked over toward where Alice and Earl were standing by each other.

From his position, Ash could just barely overhear their conversation.

"So, Alice, what do you think we should do with the people we captured?"

The girl didn't take very long to answer.

"We can sell them back to their employers for money, right? That way we can make back some money that we lost in the fight, and we can prevent any more bloodshed."

Instead of answering yes or no, Earl instead leaned back against the side of a carriage, then looked up at the sky as if he was wondering about something.

"Hmm… but there seems to be some impending conflict. I wonder which side these men will be on in the future."

Alice's eyebrows furrowed, and she hesitantly raised a finger to point at the men from Ignar.

"They will side with the other people from their hometown… they are our enemies, right? As for the mercenaries… I don't know."

Earl noticed Alex approaching, and nodded his head to the young man.

"Alright, then. What are you going to do about that?"

Alice quickly turned and started questioning the guard leader about the merc groups, and Alex was able to answer most of her questions. He already kept a close eye on any potential problems in Holen, and most of the groups present were from the local area.

"Dad, most of them are hostile or neutral to us, but Alex says that some of them are loyal to Mol. Are they allies?"

"That's for you to decide, but just know that we are indeed working with our home country's interests in mind."

After taking a few more moments to question Alex, the girl listed a few of the less country-bound merc groups, then pointed at Ignar's soldiers, who had been gathered at the camp.

"You are saying… We should execute all of these men? I- it seems a bit too much… but if it will save the lives of the guard…"

Friedrich walked over to their group just in time to overhear Alice's words, and he understood Earl's intent by having her think over the matter.

"Kiddo, who do you think those Ignar soldiers are?"

"... Soldiers?"

The grizzled veteran shook his head.

"Farmers, mine workers. They are all common folk who barely know how to fight, it's why we crushed them so easily. That's what most soldiers are."

Alice turned back to her father, stomping her foot on the ground.

"Dad, if they are just normal people, we can't kill them! They all have families to go back to!"

The aging merchant placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"Kid, you need to be more greedy. Value yourself and your family over anyone else. Just because the enemies have families doesn't mean we should go easy on them."

Alice's expression fell, and her gaze wandered over to where the soldiers had been gathered up. Most of them were sitting or laying on the ground, nursing their wounds or crying over their lost brethren.

They certainly didn't look like a group who would come back to attack their family… but what Earl was saying had to be correct. He wouldn't lie to her about something like this.

Alice steeled her heart.

Before she could say anything, Friedrich's hefty palm patted the girl's back.

"Bah, you shouldn't be needing to worry about this! Just leave it to us older folks to make these kinds of decisions."

The grizzled veteran pushed her toward where Ash was sitting and listening in.

"Go with the other soldiers down to the stream, and wash your wolf off."

Alice looked reluctant to leave the farmer-turned-soldiers to whatever fate awaited them at the hands of her elders, but she still listened to Friedrich.

'If it's what needs to be done, to protect our home and our family… then I guess that's what should happen.'