A Reason to Run

Hm? Is that...

Huh... Wonder what they're doing?

Whoa! They moved fast as lightning!

Wait, wasn't that an Imperial Soldier?

Hey, who was that just now?

Wha?! Um...

N-N-No one! I don't know any Imperial deserters, okay? Wh-Why would I?

They deserted the Imperial Army?

Oh dear...

A-Are you from the Empire? Are you here to take him back?

No, don't worry, I have nothing to do with the Empire. I was just curious, that's all. So that soldier is on the run from the Empire?

Yes, he was part of an Imperial excavation team sent to the Sakoritas Ruins. When the dig ended and the Empire withdrew, he left the army and stayed behind here. It seems he's now hiding from the Imperials in the ruins.

He stayed behind of his own accord? Why would he do that?

I don't really know either. I just can't bear to see him go hungry. I've been sneaking out to the village entrance to hand him supplies away from prying eyes so the villagers don't find out.

Ah, so that's why they left in such a hurry.

Yes. So please... Please don't tell the other villagers.

My lips are sealed.

Thank you so much! Well, I should get going.

Weird. Why would an Imperial soldier want to stay behind in this world?

I agree. It is weird.

Minalca?! Did you hear all that?

Heheh. An Imperial deserter, eh? Just like me.

Might as well find him and see what he has to say.

Good idea. Let's head to the Sakoritas Ruins and see if we can find him there.

What a feast she's given me! I don't know what I'd do without...

There he is!

Eep! They've found me! My life is over!

Calm down! It's okay, we're not here to arrest you or anything!

Deserter, do you recognize me?

Huh?

Y-Yeah, I do! Minalca, right? I haven't seen you since our training days!

Wait, you two know each other?

In a sense. We enlisted at the same time. So you're the deserter, huh?

I hear you've made quite the name for yourself, Minalca! How you and your arbiters deal with Imperial trai...

Ahh! No! B-But that would mean... You're here to punish me, aren't you?

Ugh, I can't be bothered with this. Explain it to him, Aldo.

Uh, sure...

Oh, I see. You ran away from the Empire as well...

So? Why did you leave the army?

I always hated it. I hated being stuck on a set path. I enlisted like my parents told me. I trained like my superiors instructed. But...I'm not brave enough to fight.

......

Everyone in the miu world lives free. I almost couldn't believe it when I first came here. I was so envious of them, I just wanted to live in their world!

So I fled. There was a cave-in during the excavation, and I used that as an opportunity to fake my own death.

Bold move. And they haven't caught on yet?

The Imperial Army isn't that stupid. They'll know all right. And desertion is a serious offense. If they find you, you're done for.

Anyway, I don't buy it. That was quite the risk for a coward like you to take. You must have had some other motivation.

H-Hey, how could you...

Fine... I fell in love. With a miu girl from Entrana.

You fell in love?

She's the kindest soul you'll ever meet. She used to bring me food after a long day's excavating. Even now, she's still sneaking me food. And she's kept it secret that I'm hiding here.

(Is he...talking about the girl from earlier?)

Hmph. So you've been hiding out here?

For old time's sake, I'm going to give you some advice. Don't underestimate the Imperials. They don't forgive, and they don't forget. If you stay right where you disappeared, they're bound to track you down sooner or later. If you wish to escape, then get yourself far away from here.

Understood. You know their ways, so if that's what you think, then that's what I have to do. I have to run away somewhere the Empire can never find me.

Wait. Doesn't that mean you can never come back to Entrana? But the whole reason you left the army in the first place was to...

It's fine. A human and a miu can never be together. I'll only be a burden to her. Just...if I can, I'd like to thank her before I go.

Of course. We'll fetch her for you.

Aldo, it's really not your responsibility to...

But he's an old friend of yours. Don't you think we should help him if we can?

Ugh. Goody two-shoes.

Thank you. I'll wait here and prepare to depart.

Aldo, hide!

What?

We're looking for an Imperial soldier! He'll be dressed as we are. If anyone knows anything, speak now!

Anyone found harboring the fugitive will be punished!

What're you talking about? I don't know any Imperial soldiers.

And even if I did, I wouldn't shelter them. I don't want to get caught up in any trouble.

They're looking for a soldier. Then...

They're after our deserter. Talk about bad timing.

No one's seen them, huh...

Then gather everyone outside! I want a full sweep of every single house in the village!

Wait!

I think I know who you're talking about. He's hiding in the Sakoritas Ruins.

Huh?

Oh? You're not lying to me, are you?

No. I saw a soldier at the entrance to the village. Saw him with my own two eyes.

We've got to get to him, quick!

Unless we find him first, he'll be...

Hold up, Aldo. There's no reason for us to stick our necks out for him any further. When a deserter is caught, they face the full weight of the military penal code. He is well aware of this.

Yeah, well the army rules have nothing to do with me. He simply wanted to be free. Besides, he was your friend. That's more than enough reason to help.

Look, I don't know why you've gotten it into your head that he's a friend. He's just...

*sigh* Forget it. It's actually more hassle trying to stop you.

Okay, let's hurry back and warn him before those soldiers find him.

You saw me with him?

Yeah. I didn't want to poke my nose in before, but it's different now. I don't want them ransacking our homes.

Look, everybody knows you have a kind heart. But the safety of the village comes first. You've gotta understand that, okay?

......

HEY!

Well? Did you find him yet?

No, not yet. But this area seems like a good hiding place...

Did you hear that?

Yeah. I think it came from over there.

Hey! Is there someone there? Come out with your hands up!

No answer?

Let's go. Don't let your guard down.

Hey! Who are you?

I'm just one of Velette's helpers. Is something wrong?

Velette? That weird archaeologist, you mean? Augh, what a mess.

Wait. Have we met before?

Huh? Oh, n-no! You must be imagining things!

(Uh-oh, they're on to me! Hurry up and run away you two!)

Okay. This should be far enough.

Now go. Don't waste my efforts by getting yourself caught, you got that?

Thank you. But why? Why did you help me? You even used your friend as a decoy to help me escape. It's such a risk for you to take.

Yeah, I'm asking myself the same thing. I guess his stupid goody-goody influence is rubbing off on me.

So that's it, then? I can't come back here anymore? After all the sacrifices I made to come to this world, I can't even stay? I'll never get to see her again...?

'Fraid so. You wanna live, you gotta leave.

Ugh...

Did you really think a human and a miu could live happily ever after? Did you never consider the barriers between your species?

The miu stick with their own kind. They're wary of other races. You just happened to run into an exception. So think about it. What's more important? Your life, or some dream that can never come true?

But...but...my feelings are what they are. I can't change them.

Don't you know what I'm going through? Isn't that why you left the Empire and came here?

Um...

AAAHHH!

Wha! Did you hear that?

Was that a scream? I think it was coming from the entrance!

What the heck was that?

Hey! Who's that running away? It's gotta be our deserter...

Quick! After him!

Hold on.

What?

Out of my way! I have to find him and warn him before it's too late!

Eeek!

Leave her alone!

Are you hurt?

I-I'm fine. But you've got to get out of here! The Imperials are looking for you!

I know, I know. But did you think I was gonna leave you behind?

Ahh!

There he is!

No! Don't tell me we were too late!

Minalca!

It's just one thing after another with this guy, huh? Let's go, Aldo!

It looks like he passed out.

Well, I'm glad you're both okay.

It's been a while, ma'am.

Pfft. You can drop the formalities, you know.

Minalca, those soldiers. Are they...

Yeah, they were my men, once upon a time. So, what brings you guys here? Are you here for the deserter?

......

I'm a wanted woman too these days. They'd never walk away and let bygones be bygones.

Which means...there's only one way to resolve this.

Minalca! Violence doesn't solve everything!

Agreed. We don't want to fight you, ma'am.

Huh?

The deserter was killed by a monster. At least, that's what our report will say.

That brave soldier could never be confused for the cowardly deserter we seek.

You're...serious? You're just going to let me go? Even though I'm an enemy of the Empire now?

I know you're a lone-wolf, and not someone who's quick to trust, so I don't expect you to believe this... But as soldiers we always respected you, ma'am... Well, look after yourself.

......

Minalca...

Hmhm... Wha?!

The monster! Where's the monster? And the Imperials? We have to...

Relax, it's all okay now. The monster's been defeated and the soldiers have left. We'll tell you the rest later, but the important thing is, they're not interested in arresting you anymore.

Th-They're not? You're serious? Then...I don't have to leave? I can stay here?

Let's go back to the village. I'll tell them how you risked your own life to save me.

My friends, listen to me! This man isn't like the other Imperials. He doesn't mean us any harm.

Oh yeah? What's so different about him?

Do you remember when the Imperial research team came to the village?

Eep! I-I'm so sorry!

Whatcha think you're doing, missy? You think a li'l miu girl like you can defy the Imperial Army?

Why don't you give me a little meow, huh? I bet it'd sound real cute.

Hey! Stop that!

It's against military code to mess with the locals! You should be ashamed of yourself!

Tch. You're ruining all my fun.

Are you okay?

I really can't apologize enough. Please don't think all of us Imperials are like him.

Th-Thank you!

So that's how you met?

I brought him a little something to thank him for rescuing me, and he seemed to really like it... Ever since then, we've been meeting up in secret. Even after I found out that he'd chosen to stay behind.

I'm sorry I never told any of you. But I...

No, let me take it from here.

I realize that from your perspective, a human soldier like me must be inherently untrustworthy. But I... I love her.

I intend to spend the rest of my life in this world. So...will you let me join your village?

Well?

......

That's what this was all about? You should've said so earlier.

Yeah. He sounds like a really nice guy.

What?

I agree. If you're no longer with the Imperials, then I don't see the problem. Besides, you saved her life. We should be the ones thanking you.

Yeah! Don't you worry about a thing, human. Next time they come, they'll have us to deal with!

You guys!

Thank you so much!

I didn't expect them to welcome him so readily.

Yeah...

Barriers can be crossed. Those too high to jump over can always be smashed instead. Heheh. The world beyond the barrier may not be quite as you imagined, though.

What's that supposed to mean?

It seems I was wrong to think the miu don't get along with those not of their kind. Still... It's not easy for different species to coexist.

Well, I think we're finished here. Shall we call it a day?

Okay. I really am so grateful to you all.

Now go ahead, make yourself at home. Let's meet again at dinnertime.

Huh?

W-Wait! I came all the way here to be with you! Shouldn't we talk about our future or something?

Our future? Why would we need to discuss that?

Live where you want, how you want. When the mood takes you, we can hang out together. It's that simple.

Well, see you later. If I don't leave now, all the good nap spots will be taken.

Erm...

Hey, wait! Let me join you! If you like napping, I like napping!

Looks like it will be a bumpy road ahead for the two of them.