IGSAGCSAWAYSH) Playing Defense Against An Angry Mob Part 3 (Patreon)

“It’s fine. I am not one to hold grudges as long as you are not trying to hurt the people I care about. You are safe to stay here as we will protect this inn with everything we have. Do you want to know why I am so willing to do this when we could have easily left?” Shizuku looked at the people in the room with a smile as she asked her question.

“I was actually wondering this. Princess Shizuku, with the people you have here you really could have escaped the monster stampede so why did you stay?” An older woman asked. She found it strange that she was willing to put herself in danger.

“Because the people of this inn did not look down on me. They are a single mother and her two daughters. How could I allow them to suffer when they have been so kind? Goddess Yunni sees all races as equal. She does not look down on a single race. The only ones who had decided to split the races up into good and bad was the human church which holds weight in all the lands of those they deem useful. Think about it. My people used to fight alongside humans. But the church feared our strength and wanted to weaken my people. I have no problems with humans. I only have issues with the church that looks down on me and, well, you as well.” Shizuku did not plan to get into this kind of conversation, but since they were killing time, she decided to go ahead and make it their top discussion.

“Now, do you not find it strange? You were told I set up bait to call the monsters here, right?” Shizuku asked. As she did, the room went quiet for a minute. 

“Now that you mention it. From what I know, you never left the inn nor did your friends. All except the girls in black who appeared out of nowhere.”

“It is true that my guards were hiding in the shadow, but they would not leave my side, or else they would be failures as guards. But the truth is, if I wished to harm this town, I would not have stayed in the first place. I would not have allowed any of you into the inn to protect you. I could have easily destroyed this town with this simple trick, just like how it is being destroyed now. But no…. I did not do such a thing. Why would I need to? There is no point in destroying a small village like this to begin with.

“You all grow fruit here as a tourist attraction and nothing more. While many people might believe in the effects of your fruit, they are, in truth, not real. There is no such miraculous cure for such things. 

“It would be no different if I walked over to a pond of water and said taking a sip of this Tears of Yunni will cause you to grow young again. Only the rich and stupid would believe in such things. So why would I go out of my way to destroy something I do not even believe in? Who was it that told you that I was the one who brought evil upon this village?” Shizuku’s words were settling in with each sentence.  

“So…. Our own people…. No, they wouldn’t want to harm our home. The only ones who would wish to harm you the most would be the church….” A young man began to understand what was happening. “In order to use us to get rid of Princess Shizuku, the church is using despicable means!”

“Whether it was the church or not, I do not know, but I can say this now. Since you were willing to put your trust in me, I will do what I can to protect all of you.” Shizuku meant this. She would not allow people who were willing to trust her to die. She would not use the lives of others as a means of getting back at those who tried to harm her. This was why, as long as they did not cause a scene, anyone could enter the inn to keep safe.

“Princess, there is a problem!” Number Three came rushing into the room. “There are monsters rushing down the street, and people are trying to push their way in.”

“Just let them in and protect them as they do. Anyone can enter as they wish. But if they dare to try to do anything out of control, toss them back out to the monsters. I will no tolerate any kind of disturbance, especially now when people are afraid. But remember, elderly, women and children first.” Shizuku gave out her orders and Number Three saluted before rushing back outside. 

Outside, Number Three stood at the top of the steps and yelled out, “Women and children first! We said you could all enter, but the elderly, women, and children are to be let in first. The young men should be willing to help protect them!”

“Why should their lives be any more important than my own!? By the goddess, I order you to let me in first!” A voice yelled out. It was a man wearing priest robes.

“Sorry, but people of the church are not allowed to enter!” Lishia’s words fell from the rooftop. “You dare to take one more step forward, and I will cut you down myself.”