I, holding a long sword in my hand, only know one move

.That's the one. "

Peering into Rick's eyes when he was thinking, Hubie said: "Hubby is just interested in those eyes..."

"Really? What I'm thinking about right now is almost like a child's fantasy, right?"

Rick was originally a child, and he should have such innocent fantasies, as he originally understood the world, as simple as a game.

There is no game that cannot be won, hard work will pay off and anything is possible.

Looking at the world through bright eyes - all he can think of is...

"That's good...it's wrong - I want to correct it..."

Hubie turned his head several times as if deep in thought, and perhaps finally reached a conclusion.

I saw her nodding vigorously - she successfully defined a "feeling".

Perhaps that made her quite happy, and she forgot that she was a machine and smiled cheerfully.

"Well...I guess....I 'like' that."

Somehow, even Rick himself doesn't understand.

"It's so ambiguous again!"

——When was the last time you laughed like this?

Well, it was at a family dinner not long ago... with Cheng, Kelong, and Hubi.

oh? Family dinner...?

Rick held his belly, as if tears were about to flow out, and laughed from the bottom of his heart.

It was really great to meet Hubie.

And that heartless, inhumanly strong guy... He has gone from being a strange trouble that made him feel helpless and having a headache at the beginning, to a close friend who can safely leave the settlement in his hands.

.......

It was almost evening, and the red sky turned into a dark red like burning charcoal. Cheng Rang jumped down from the observation deck and pushed open the door of the studio.

"It's not too late to come back, those two people..."

Cheng Rang had already discovered signs of Hubi moving at high speed while holding Rick in his arms, and was quickly approaching here. He probably chose the time he was on duty today to be able to come back in such a swagger, otherwise what if others saw him? ....Can't explain clearly.

Well, it might be considered an enemy attack, hahaha!

Thinking of the funny scene, Cheng Rang raised the corners of his mouth and quickly arrived at the gate of the settlement.

"Yo! Rick, Hubie. Welcome back."

Just like Rick is the first to greet him every time, Cheng Rang is also the first to welcome the two of them back.

"I'm back."

"Thank you for your hard work...eh?" Cheng Rang looked surprised. He looked into Rick's eyes and couldn't help but make a sound of doubt.

I always feel like the look in Rick's eyes seems to be a different person.

"What's wrong?"

Throwing the cloak into Cheng Rang's hand, Rick took Hubi's hand and walked into the settlement.

"It's nothing..." Cheng Rang shook his head, then rolled his eyes at the two of them and said, "Hey, tell me! Are you so good at holding Hubi's hand now? How many times have I said this? Where’s the dog!”

"Hahaha, didn't you say you also have a wife? What are you envious of now?"

Following Rick, the three of them returned to the settlement. Cheng Rang sighed softly and said, "Hey, if Isabella hadn't been around, you would have been shown off to death by me!"

"Don't you still have your knife wife?" Rick retorted with these words and made a joke.

Um?

Hearing such words, Cheng Rang couldn't help but stop, stared at the backs of Rick and Hubie, and thought to himself:

its not right? Why would Rick still joke like this today?

By the way——

"Rick! Are you back after making out with your wife? It's just in time for dinner!" Others in the settlement greeted Rick enthusiastically when they saw him coming back.

"I'm not making out! I just went to investigate some things."

Why didn't Rick object to Hubie being called his wife this time? !

Kelon, who jumped out of the cave, still had a bright voice, welcoming Rick's return and threw herself into his arms.

Could it be that these two people really had an affair?

Cheng Rang, who was filled with gossip, smiled evilly, holding his chin and looking back and forth at the two figures.

Staring at him sent a chill down Rick's spine and his whole body trembled.

"...Rick, what's wrong?" Hubie looked up at Rick, who was shaking all over, and asked with concern.

Rick rubbed his shoulders and subconsciously looked in the direction behind him. Cheng Rang quickly retracted his expression and whistled while pretending to look around at the scenery.

Huh-huh-

Although it doesn't sound at all...

"Nothing." Rick replied, turning his head again and twitching the corners of his mouth stiffly twice.

That guy... always feels like he's thinking about something rude.

Chapter 47 Handover

Not long after the peaceful days passed, the time finally arrived.

Just as Rick feared——

Early that morning, Simon rushed down the stairs in shock and shouted: "Rick, Cheng! Something bad has happened! Six dragon elves were captured from the telescope, and a large fleet of goblins is coming here." !”

Ke Long, who was holding a measuring device in his hand, also ran down and continued: "The marching routes are north-northwest and north-east-east! If there is a conflict like this,

Nine miles to the east will become a battlefield! "

Her loud report resounded throughout the settlement, and the moment of peace finally came to an end.

"Cheng!" Rick and Cheng Rang looked at each other and immediately understood what they meant.

"Leave it to me." After spending a long time together, the two of them have developed a good understanding.

Cheng Rang nodded, immediately stood up and assumed the overall command, evacuated all personnel efficiently, and instructed the food and luggage to be taken away.

At the same time, Rick, Hubie and Kelon were racing against time to calculate the scope of the battle's impact on the map.

Suitable evacuation locations were determined from the twenty-eight locations selected during a five-year survey.

Eight hours before the predicted battle begins, complete evacuation preparations, start moving, and then...

There were nearly two thousand residents in the settlement, and all of them saw their homes being swallowed up and destroyed by light. For more than a year, all the peaceful, beautiful, and warm memories and traces in that shelter were revealed with the explosion. Blazing red and dissipated in the wind.

The number of people who died was less than 200, and they were those who were still directing the evacuation until the end.

Such a large-scale battle near a settlement - such a disaster is considered very small.

But looking at the settlement that had evaporated along with the rocks and mountains from the high platform, people were sobbing and crying.

In the sky illuminated by the fireball, even the dark clouds were coated with a layer of dazzling red, as dazzling as the burning clouds at sunset.

Cheng Rang stood next to Ke Long, put his hand on her shoulder, and looked at the battlefield in the distance.

"The lost home will always be rebuilt. As long as people are still there, they will be able to get back on their feet."

Ke Long was clenching his fists, his body shaking with anger.

The lost home just needs to be rebuilt - that's true in theory.

Although I also lost the telescope that I worked so hard to repair, there was nothing I could do about it. I could only recognize that it was originally there for today.

Information, maps, surveying instruments, and other important items were all moved out smoothly, but...

"But, so what?"

It’s not just the tangible things that matter. In order to maintain the countless efforts and sacrifices accumulated in that settlement, the emotions of people living there to this day, the wishes and prayers entrusted to them by their predecessors.

——Those disappeared in an instant.

And that's probably just because of stray bullets, senseless destruction without any malice or awareness.

People who don't cry are weird, people who don't feel frustrated are crazy.

It is true that my life was recovered - in this case, what will I do with this life in the future?

Going through the same thing again?

I had to make sacrifices again, swallow so many tears, bite my lips and endure the sad and miserable experience.

To be wiped out like trash again...?

Unable to hold back the tears any longer, and on the verge of bursting out of her eyes, Kelong's eyes reflected the back of his younger brother.

"Rick...? R-Rick!!"

He and Hubi sat side by side on the ground, holding their knees with their hands. Ke Long immediately ran towards the trembling figure.

Cheng Rang's hand, which was freed by Ke Long's shoulder, was hanging in the air. He looked at her running towards Rick's back, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and his expression became subtly complicated.

"Rick, cheer up! There are so many people surviving, and Rick has done his best!"

——It’s no longer possible, it’s reached its limit.

Don't make excuses... Ke Long warned himself so and made up his mind.

She can no longer rely on her brother and let him bear a heavy burden...from now on...

"Rick, just rest! Okay? My sister will take over next—"

The moment Cheng Rang heard Ke Long's words, he couldn't help but feel helpless for Rick's behavior. He reached out and slapped his forehead with his hand, letting out a long sigh.

Subsequently.

"Hubby, did you hear the verbal agreement?"

“…..Every word is missed…..”

Rick raised his head cheerfully, with a cunning smile on his face. His eyes were full of child-like innocence after his dejected look was gone.

It seemed like the prank was successful——

"Ah...ah? It's strange, Rick...you!"

Perhaps it was a woman's intuition. In response to Rick's sudden change, Kelon retreated reflexively, and then bumped into a solid chest, letting out a mournful "咿~".

Looking back, Cheng Rang, with an apologetic smile on his face, was putting his hands on his shoulders.

Seeing this, Rick smiled and said: "Don't even think about running away, Kelon, from today on, you will be the leader of the settlement, please!"

"Huh? Huh-!?"

With a smile on his face, Rick handed the map to Kelon, then stood up straight.

"This is the location of the new settlement. As long as you go underground through the horizontal hole over there, it will be safe. Although it is a bit messy, you can live in it immediately. I just considered this before deciding to take out the things to escape." Rick He exchanged glances with Hubie who was standing next to him and said this.

"But... the person in charge is not Cheng..." Ke Long said halfway, his eyes widened as if he suddenly realized it, and he stamped his feet: "Cheng! You actually colluded with Rick and the others! Damn it! I’m the only one left in the dark!”

Then he saw his younger brother walking in the opposite direction with a playful smile. At this time, he finally recovered from his empty state.

Kelon yelled: "Wait, wait a minute, Rick! Without you, neither I nor the settlement—!"

Anyway, Rick...if his brother is gone, no one can take his place.

Kelon shouted as if crying, but——

"No, it will be no problem as long as Kelon is here. Because next - no one will die."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry, I will ask Cheng to come over and contact you at the appropriate time. If it is Ke Long, I can leave everyone to you with peace of mind."

Rick said as he and Hubi gradually walked away. Kelon stared blankly at their backs, and then subconsciously pulled Cheng Rang's sleeve beside him.

"Rick...what does he want to do?"