Volume 7, Chapter 34 – The Luma People

Having returned to the residential district of the Luma, we were now surrounded by Luma men.

“What have you come for! You dog of Dalha!”

They were armed with wooden sticks and the like, but they all looked emaciated, probably from malnutrition.

“You! How dare you be so insolent to Saint-sama! Saint-sama, you can see now. It is useless to say anything to these Defiled. As you can see, they are a lot worse than curs, attempting to repay Saint-sama’s kindness with betrayal!”

“What did you say?! What is a demon who crammed us into a place like this talking about! A Saint can’t do anything anyway! You brought that many soldiers just to kill us!”

That many? There are only about twenty of them. Is that really such a big deal?

Still, if the people who had persecuted them were accompanying her, it might be natural for them to react this way.

“I understand. Now, Khalid-san and the soldiers, please leave the Luma residential district. Is that alright? I have come to have a discussion with the Luma people.”

“Wh- What! Saint-sama!”

“Please. I will be fine.”

“Ugh, very well. However, if anything happens to Saint-sama, we will charge in without mercy. Hey, you lot! Try laying a single finger on Saint-sama. I’ll burn this entire district to the ground for real this time!”

“What!?”

“Stop it! I did not come here to fight. Soldiers, please stop provoking them!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs for the first time in a while. I don’t know if I had any presence, but this managed to make both sides back down for the time being, and the soldiers retreated along with Khalid-san.

“This should be alright now, right? Please let me speak with the Luma people.”

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“…Understood.”

And so, led by the Luma men, we headed once again into the depths of the residential district.

◇ ◇ ◇

The building we were guided into was somewhat spacious and seemed to be used as a meeting hall or something similar.

Several men were there, and they all greeted me at once with a Jumping Dogeza from a Boon.

Hmm. I’d give that a 6.

As with Idris-kun, the posture with the fingertips stretched out straight was wonderful, but the transition into the Jumping Dogeza and the landing were sloppy.

On top of that, they weren’t synchronized, so that’s another point off.

“As God wills.”

At that, they stood up, and one elderly man stepped forward from among them.

“Saint-sama. Welcome once again to the residential district of the Defiled. I am Arbiel, the one who manages this district.”

“I am Fiene Argentata. I have come today because I have something to discuss with the Luma people.”

“A discussion, you say?”

“Yes.”

Arbiel-san looked at me with a suspicious expression.

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“What business could Saint-sama possibly have with people as defiled as us?”

“Eh?”

Why is he speaking so bluntly?

“Fiene-dono. Please request a Soundproof Barrier, I pray. There are those eavesdropping outside.”

“Eh? Oh, yes.”

I immediately cast a Soundproof Barrier to envelop the entire room.

“Saint-sama. That just now…”

“I put up a barrier so that nothing said in here can be heard outside. As long as we are inside here, nothing we say will be heard by the people outside the room.”

“…Thank you.”

After a while of silence, Arbiel-san slowly opened his mouth.

“Saint-sama. I apologize for my insolent attitude a moment ago. In truth, a messenger from the Emir came last night and told us that if Saint-sama arrived, we were to be rude and send her away. He threatened that if we did not, he would burn this district down…”

Grrr. That jerk!

“Since there were those eavesdropping outside, I had no choice…”

“I see. But it is alright now. So, will you listen to what we have to say?”

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“Yes. Of course.”

Then I brought up the idea of having the Luma accepted into Sara-san’s country.

“I see. Migration, is it?”

Upon saying that, he fell silent again for a while.

“Saint-sama. Would you listen to an old man’s story?”

“Yes.”

When I answered, Arbiel-san let out a long, deep sigh.

“We Luma, you see… originally lived in the Eibra region. We made our living herding livestock, and occasionally went to town as traveling performers, showcasing songs and dances. However, about sixty years ago, the Emir of Eibra at the time suddenly issued an extermination order against us. The Yellow Planet army crushed us; many were killed or enslaved. Those who were not enslaved were branded as the Defiled and forcibly migrated to other cities, separated from their families, and forced to do the dirty work of the towns.”

“How awful…”

“And almost no one who knew those times is still alive. We lost our livestock, and our songs and dances have almost vanished. Our pride as the Luma is gone. All that’s left for us now is to wait to disappear. Please, Saint-sama. Please leave us be, Saint-sama, and do what you must for the sake of the world.”

Despite his words, tears were welling up in Arbiel-san’s eyes.

Right. There’s no way he isn’t frustrated.

“Even so, I cannot overlook such a thing. Even if it means leaving your homeland, as long as you are alive!”

“…Saint-sama. As expected, you truly are the Saint. An ally to the weak. However, it is already too late for us. Even if Hilar promises us, he will likely oppress us once Saint-sama leaves this land. No, he might even decide we’re in the way and have us killed.”

“That’s…”

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“But, if it is possible, could you at least take the children with you?”

“Eh?”

“The children have done nothing wrong. Please, Saint-sama. At least the children…”

“…”

I was lost for words at such a request.

Only the children? Meaning the parents stay behind? No way!

“No. Not just the children, but all of you!”

“Arbiel-sama. I am Sara Blackrainbow. The First Princess of the Black Rainbow Empire. When I return to my country, I will welcome you all as precious citizens. Please, could you not trust Saint-sama, and myself?”

Sara-san cut into the conversation.

Thank you, Sara-san. It’s encouraging to have you say that. I absolutely must take the country back.

“…I understand.Then those who can leave will leave. However, since it is dangerous to remain in this town, would you allow us to accompany Saint-sama as we are?”

“Understood. Is departing the day after tomorrow alright?”

“Yes. That is no problem.”

And so, we decided to protect the Luma people of Dalha.