Thanks to Sharin opening the hut, I was able to reunite with Argna and the others.
For the time being, I cut the ropes of the Centaurs who were captured in the hut and let everyone escape.
“Alright, come on Argna, stand up.”
I extended my hand to him as he was still sitting down. Argna took my hand, but he was weaker than I thought and couldn’t get up easily. Yola also helped pull his hand, but due to the muddy straw spread at his feet, his hooves slipped and he seemed unable to exert any force.
“Haa, I’m sorry you came all this way, but please leave me behind and escape.”
Yola frowned at his pained expression.
“No, I won’t! We came this far, we have to go home together.”
Saying that, she tried to lift him with all her might, even if it meant forcing him. But his body, lacking strength, remained lying on the ground without moving.
“Hurry, or you’ll be captured too.”
As he said, our companions were somehow holding them off outside, but I didn’t know how long they could last. Yola shook her head in refusal. Suddenly, I remembered I had lent Sharin my cloak.
“Ah, that’s right, Sharin, give me back my cloak.”
Sharin handed me the cloak she was wearing around her neck as I told her to. She looked at me with a puzzled expression.
I placed the cloak I received under Argna’s legs.
“Let’s use this as a non-slip mat. Ready? On the count of three. One, two…”
At the “three” count, Yola pulled his arms from the front, and Sharin and I pushed from behind. Thanks to the non-slip mat, we somehow managed to get him to stand up. Seeing this, Yola happily stomped her feet.
“Thank you, now Father, stand up quickly, let’s get out of here.”
He turned to look at his father, who was still lying on the ground.
“Your father will catch up later, you go on ahead.”
“What are you saying? Come on, everyone is waiting.”
Argna, sighing, extended his hand to his father. However, he didn’t take his hand, keeping his gaze lowered.
“Father, hurry up.”
He slowly raised his face to his urging son.
“You go on ahead. Lead everyone out of here.”
The young man’s adult-like face contorted at his father’s determined eyes.
“Why? Because you’re the one who’s supposed to be in front, right? You always said that. You said not to give up because help would definitely come, didn’t you!”
“I’m sorry, I can’t feel my legs anymore…”
His father’s voice was a mere whisper. Seeing his severely weakened father, Argna said nothing and left with Yola.
