Hvisland: A VR Colony Sim Game

As soon as I reached the kiln, I saw Manu chatting with Xe, the son of the master craftsman. Xe was giving Manu a sack of items. I identified the sack as belonging to Manu himself.

"I will tell you the secret path to escape from this place." Xe said in a fast tone after I pressed the play button. "Honestly, I don't know why I'm doing this."

"Eh?" Manu looks confused.

It must be because of the guardian spirit's orders from Redtooth. So, I immediately gave instructions for Manu to obey Xe.

"I don't want him to be affected by all this." The transparent red-figure descended from above, coming towards me. "After all, in the eyes of my people, he was the one who made the expedition happen. Even if it's because of your orders, right?"

"Oh, thank you…. And I'm sorry…. See you…." I was about to follow Manu, who had started walking with Xe, but Red stood in my way.

"He will be safe with Xe." The transparent female figure sighed. "I promise. If I wanted to harm your people, I've been doing it since the arrival of the Tosa group to your tribe. But, I didn't, right? So, stay here. You shouldn't be able to see what happens here when your men leave, but I can make an exception."

"But, I have no more business here…."

"No more business you say?" Red's tone began to rise. "Hey, did you forget? This all happened because you told Suja about the salt cave, right? Yeah, one of my guys shot the scout without my orders. And I don't know why it happened. But, it all started with you."

I'm speechless. Everything she said was true, and I admit it.

"Honestly, I'm so angry about all of that. I want to vent now. However, I can't do that to your people." Red continues, then pauses for a moment. "You know the reason?"

"Because you can't kill people, right? Unless you have to when your people are attacked. You only lock up those who are guilty. Even for the Leva you hate so much, you'd rather sell her as a slave than execute her." I gave the answer in a slightly stuttering tone. "The point is, you can't betray who you are."

"I could have asked my people to torture yours." Red's voice sounded hoarse, like someone about to cry. "But, you know why I didn't do it?"

This time, I can only shake my head.

"Because they are innocent." Red laughed bitterly. "You made this happen, not them. I can't punish innocent people."

The figure folded her arms across her chest. "So, I won't let you go. I can't punish you, because we really can't hurt each other. However, I will let you see all the results of that mistake of yours. I will make you regret it forever."

I looked at Manu, who had walked away with Xe, then nodded. "Okay."

"But before that, I want to tell you something." Red takes a few steps back. "I did say it's your fault. However, maybe this is the price I have to pay for making this tribe too big. I was overwhelmed with managing them, so I chose Suja to be my mouthpiece. Actually, conflicts like this almost happen several times, but I can always surpress it. However, now I can no longer control them …. Well, maybe the salt cave was just the trigger."

"Thank you for the advice…."

Since Red had already disappeared from sight, I didn't continue my speech. As usual, if this happens, it means that Sena's power is no longer active.

I move to where Tosa is now, who turns out to be standing on a pile of wooden boxes and making a speech. The people of the Redtooth tribe had gathered around him. Some of them were already weeping, perhaps because their relatives were victims of the deadly expedition.

"Aren't you all tired!? Aren't you fed up with this unfair situation!? Suja is having fun in his luxurious palace, while we live an ordinary life and never prosper! He just kept having sex with his bitches, eating a lot like a pig, and drinking. Meanwhile, we have to work hard for him…." Tosa stopped his speech when he saw Sena, who was advancing from the group of adults.

"Sir, please tell me, where is my father!?" The little boy asked in a desperate tone.

I can only clench my fists.

The atmosphere became quiet. All that could be heard were the whispers of some residents. Tosa could only be silent and looked at Sena.

Sena started to shed tears. "If my father is really gone, at least tell me where his corpse is, so I can meet his spirit. The human spirit will only be around its body."

This time, no one spoke at all. Some women covered their mouths with their hands. Some even blinked with teary eyes. Everyone there looked at Sena with pitying expressions.

Tosa shook his head with stiff motion. "Sorry, Sena. I don't know where your father is now."

Sena opened his mouth and then knelt down limply. His eyes were still flowing with tears, but they just stared blankly at Tosa.

He doesn't have anyone anymore.

Noel, who was in the crowd, came to the boy, picked him up, and carried him away from there.

Tosa lowered his head, and said in a trembling voice. "There's nothing I can talk about anymore. We will go to Suja's house and will do something to him. It's up to you whether you want to go or not. If you don't want to come with us, I just hope you don't get in our way. And for those who want to come, bring your weapons."

The man jumped down from the wooden box. The crowd was divided, those who dispersed to go home or pick up weapons, and those gathered near Tosa.

"I'm going to meet someone first." Tosa sighed, then went to one of the houses nearby and knocked on it. It didn't take long for Noel to open the door from the inside.

"What is it?" Leva and Anne's father asked.

"I don't have much time, so I'll just say this straight away. It's about your two daughters, Leva and Anne."

Noel's eyes opened wide. "What about them?"

"Anne is gone, sir. I saw the body firsthand." Tosa took a deep breath. "Then for Leva… I'm sorry, sir. We ran away in a hurry, but with that many stump scorpions, I'm not sure she and his tribesmen can survive."

Noel didn't answer, but I could see the veins on his face tightened.. The old man's breathing also grew heavier.