ATPnovel The third candidate for the battle in Chapter 21
The third candidate for the battle in Chapter 21
Whether the laughter was well-intentioned or malicious, it abruptly stopped, and the entire group from Duanpo Village fell into a deathly silence.
The young man who had been laughing the loudest just moments before now looked as if someone had grabbed him by the neck, his face turning bright red from the sudden change in expression.
He wanted to say something more, but remembering the old leader's former authority, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
"Old Chief, how can this be?" an older elder exclaimed.
"Yes, old chief, this is no joke...it's a matter of great importance!"
"Besides... if anything were to happen to Gis, Sister-in-law Slin would fight you to the death!"
"Let's find someone else. Geese is only sixteen years old after all, and his combat experience is still somewhat lacking..."
Listening to the whispers of the surrounding villagers, old Yar recalled Slin's fierce protectiveness and hesitated for a moment...
As outsiders, Rogge and the other two could only watch quietly from the sidelines, unable to get a word in edgewise.
Giss was someone Rogge favored, but old Jarre wanted to send Giss to fight this life-or-death battle, which made Rogge somewhat unhappy.
Although Geese wasn't one of his men, he, as an outsider, shouldn't have meddled in other people's business...
But Roger just couldn't bear to let such a promising talent die like that.
With such top-tier talent, all that's missing is a suit of plate armor to be completely transformed!
Moreover, he is still a minor, so his potential is simply immeasurable!
It is precisely this kind of half-grown genius, whose level is not high, that is most useful to Rogge!
Its potential for improvement is huge, so the more "experience" Rogge can withdraw!
Not to mention the care that Giss's mother had given Roger and his two companions over the past month. He remembered this kindness and was determined to chime in today.
Voices of opposition to Gis's appearance rose from the surrounding crowd, some questioning, some offering support, but the number was small, given old Jarl's prestige.
Rogue Cat, standing behind God and Virgil, also spoke in a high-pitched voice:
"Find someone else, Geese can't do it!"
He's still young, he can't handle it!
That's so heartless! How could they bear to send a minor to their death?
Anyone else would be better than Geese...
Rogge's voice wasn't loud, but it still stood out clearly amidst the crowd.
Upon hearing this, Gold and Virgil turned around abruptly and saw Roger huddled behind them, secretly making a fuss. Their faces were full of astonishment, but they didn't say anything to expose him.
Hearing the doubts around him, his straightened back bent again, his fingers clutching the hem of his clothes, and he was somewhat at a loss.
Old Yar also heard the faint voices of doubt, a hint of shame flashed across his face, and his heart wavered a little more about his decision.
He came up to Geese, looked up at Geese, and realized that he wasn't even as tall as Geese's shoulder!
He had been the leader for thirty years and was considered a burly man in Broken Amber Village, but now, standing in front of sixteen-year-old Giss, he appeared rather short.
Looking at the boy's broad shoulders and stubborn expression, old Jarl's hesitation suddenly vanished.
Gis is the most suitable candidate.
Perhaps Geese's immense strength can create some unexpected effects.
In old Yar's view, everyone should contribute to the overall benefit of the village.
He never intended to sacrifice anyone; he simply had no other choice.
Having temporarily decided on Geese as the person in his heart, old Jarl, feeling ashamed, didn't explain much. He reached out and patted Geese's arm.
Old Jarre raised his hand to silence the surrounding chatter, his voice low and gentle:
"Child, the decision is in your hands."
"At your age, I wouldn't even dare to stand up. If you're afraid, back out now and no one will say a word against you!"
"We old folks are the ones holding the fort! The responsibility of protecting the village isn't for you young people to shoulder."
When we can no longer wield swords or row boats, this land will need you to stand up and protect it!
As old Jarl recounted his story, Giss's eyes reddened. He lowered his head to meet old Jarl's cloudy yet resolute gaze:
"Old chief, I can protect the village! I won't let everyone down! Please let me participate!"
Seeing Giss's firm resolve, a hint of approval flashed in old Jarl's eyes, but he became even more hesitant, doubting his own decision.
"Are you really sure? I won't force you!"
"I can do it!" Geese clenched his fist and replied firmly.
"Okay! Since you're really willing to step forward, I believe you!"
Here, everyone should do their part to defend their homeland and territory, giving it their all and going all out!
As soon as he finished speaking, old Yar turned around and said in a deep voice to all the villagers:
"Giss is the third choice for Broken Amber Village."
That's all for now!
When the third person confirmed that it was Geese, everyone fell silent.
The elders, who had originally wanted to offer a few more words of advice, ultimately just sighed heavily and fell silent.
Given old Jarre's temperament, once a decision is made, there's no going back...
Looking at the tall, upright figure of the young man, Roger felt unwilling and was about to say something when Virgil patted him on the shoulder.
"Never mind, it was his own choice. Even if he dies, he died protecting his homeland."
Roger sighed and said nothing more.
He thought of the heroes who had sacrificed themselves in his past life, all fighting to protect their homeland.
Their sacrifice was not in vain...
……
Rogge suddenly felt a bit self-deprecating.
At first, his idea was simple: he had his eye on Geis, a talented person!
The three of them were just passersby, and should have remained detached observers. However, due to their selfishness, they rashly interfered in the fate of others. Looking back now, they realized how incredibly selfish they had been.
"It's best not to interfere in other people's fates," Roger could only pray in his heart that Geese would survive.
……
As noon approached, the early spring sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm yet dazzling light.
Two groups of people gathered on a temporarily expanded, flat, wasteland.
The hundreds of people from Duanpo Village and Gangde Village each occupied one side, facing each other, and a tense atmosphere permeated the warm air.
Everyone looked solemn.
The next few battles will determine the ownership of large tracts of land, the livelihoods of the two villages for countless years to come, and even whether many of them will be able to survive on this land...
Rogge was thinking,
They are both Fieldsway people, both villages under the rule of the same lord, and even share the same ancestry if you go back three generations!
Why have we come to this point, where we have to fight to the death?
Without certain plots of land, would we really be unable to survive?
Rogge didn't know, but it seemed that was indeed the case...
The desires of people at the bottom of society are simple yet contradictory. They often only ask for "a wife, children, and a warm bed," but the simplest things are often the most difficult to achieve.
They had to pay taxes to the lord and also support their families.
But there's only so much land and food, and productivity is too low...
Under the rules, they dared not defy the high and mighty lord, and could only turn their swords against the lower classes like themselves.
At this moment, no one in either village can remain uninvolved.
Even Roger, an "outsider," was on tenterhooks because of Gis.
……
Rogue and his two companions stood atop a giant rock on a high ground, overlooking the entire arena.
Under the shade of a tree not far away, the cavalry commander handed his helmet to his companion and stood up to go to the center of the field.
However, this cavalry commander didn't seem to follow the procedure; judging from his expression, he seemed to have something else to say...
……