Chapter 72: Two philosophies

Quinn suddenly turned toward the trees, its bluish markings flickering as it pointed one of its front legs toward the southern forest.

Kael immediately understood that something had caught his familiar’s attention.

"Let’s go."

Without wasting another second, he hurried toward the trees. But after a few steps, someone called his name.

"Kael Grayford!"

Seraphina, who had been overseeing the preparations nearby, noticed his sudden departure and quickly called after him.

"Where are you going?"

"My familiar found something." Kael glanced over his shoulder while continuing forward. "I want to check it out."

Seraphina’s gaze shifted to the white spider perched on his shoulder. Quinn’s markings continued to glow faintly, and its body remained oriented toward the forest.

After a brief moment, she nodded.

"Then I’ll come with you."

Kael slowed down and looked at her.

"Are you sure? You should probably stay here and continue organizing the defenses."

"The defenses can manage without me for a short while." Seraphina adjusted the sword at her waist, her expression firm. "If it has discovered something important, I want to see it for myself."

Kael hesitated.

He understood her reasoning, but leaving the sanctuary without knowing what awaited them wasn’t exactly a brilliant idea. On the other hand, he wasn’t particularly keen on exploring an unfamiliar situation alone, especially when Quinn had reacted so strongly.

Having Seraphina accompany him would also make it easier to respond if they encountered trouble.

"Fine," he agreed.

Seraphina nodded, and the two continued toward the trees. They hadn’t gone far when another voice called from behind them.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Kael turned and saw Leon approaching with his sword at his side.

Leon glanced between them before settling his gaze on Kael.

"I noticed you leaving the sanctuary. What’s going on?"

"My familiar sensed something in the forest," Kael explained. "We’re going to investigate a little."

Leon looked at the white spider on Kael’s shoulder. Quinn responded by raising its front legs and giving him a brief look.

"Then I’m coming too," Leon declared.

The way he said it sounded like there was no room for argument. Kael sighed inwardly and continued moving forward.

Since Kael did not object, Seraphina also remained silent.

Hearing no objections from them, Leon followed them.

’Does everyone here have a habit of inviting themselves along?’

Kael suppressed the thought and continued forward.

The three moved carefully through the trees, avoiding dry branches and patches of loose soil that might betray their approach. As they climbed a slight incline, the forest floor gradually gave way to a rocky outcrop overlooking a lower section of woodland.

Quinn’s movements became increasingly restless.

When they reached the top, the spider pointed toward the area below.

Kael followed its gesture.

His expression immediately changed.

Several students were running desperately through the forest below them. Their formation had completely collapsed, and they were fleeing in panic as a horde of undead pursued them.

Some of the students carried weapons, attempting to fend off the creatures while retreating. Others were clearly injured, stumbling over exposed roots and struggling to keep up with their companions.

Behind them, the undead advanced relentlessly.

Their decaying bodies moved between the trees in a seemingly endless stream, forcing the students toward a narrow stretch of uneven ground. Every time someone slowed down, the creatures behind them gained ground.

One student fell.

Before he could get back up, another student grabbed his arm and dragged him forward.

They were barely keeping ahead of the horde.

"Those are academy students," Seraphina said, her expression tightening.

Kael scanned the area, trying to determine their numbers and identify a possible escape route.

There were at least five students. The uneven terrain limited their movement, and the undead were approaching from behind while spreading toward both sides of the path.

If the students continued running in the same direction, they would eventually reach a steep slope bordered by dense vegetation. Once they reached it, their options would become severely limited.

"We have to help them," Seraphina said immediately.

Kael nodded, already examining the terrain.

"Agreed. If we approach from this ridge, we can intercept the undead before they reach the slope. We should also establish a retreat route so the students can get back to the sanctuary without becoming trapped between the horde and the forest."

Seraphina leaned forward, studying the ground below.

"We could draw the undead toward us while the students move around the western side. That would give them an opening to escape."

"Possibly, but we need to make sure the route is clear first. If the undead have already surrounded the area, leading them toward the sanctuary could expose our location."

"We can’t leave them down there," Seraphina replied firmly. "They’re our fellow students. If there’s a reasonable way to rescue them, we should take it."

Kael glanced at her, then returned his attention to the fleeing group.

"I’m just trying to figure out the safest way to do it."

A third voice interrupted them.

"And what happens when that horde follows you back?"

Kael and Seraphina turned sharply.

Leon had arrived behind them and had apparently heard the end of their conversation. He stepped onto the rocky outcrop and looked down at the students being chased by the undead.

His expression darkened as he assessed the situation.

"Look at the number of creatures pursuing them," he said. "Even if we manage to rescue those students, what makes you think we can prevent the undead from following us to the sanctuary?"

Seraphina frowned.

"We can deal with that problem after getting them out of danger."

"That’s not a plan. That’s wishful thinking."

Leon’s voice remained controlled, but his gaze was unwavering.

"We have dozens of survivors gathered at the sanctuary. Some are injured, and many can’t fight. The defenses are barely holding together as they are. If we lead that entire horde back to our location, we could put every one of them in danger."

He pointed toward the fleeing students.

"I’m not saying their lives don’t matter. But we can’t risk everyone just to save a few people. We need to consider the consequences before acting."

Seraphina’s expression grew colder.

"And if we abandon them, what happens when they run out of places to escape? We already know the undead are faster than some of the students. How many do you expect to die while we stand here discussing whether they’re worth saving?"

Leon met her gaze without flinching.

"Saving many lives is a lot important."

Neither of them raised their voice, but the tension between them was unmistakable.

Kael remained silent.

He understood both arguments, and that was precisely what made the situation difficult.

Looking at Leon, he suddenly remembered the role the young man played in the original game.

Leon wasn’t merely a talented student with strong combat abilities. As the story progressed, he would eventually rise through the ranks and become a commander entrusted with the lives of countless soldiers.

His reputation would be built not only on his strength but also on his willingness to make difficult decisions.

When faced with a choice between saving a few people and preserving the lives of a much larger group, Leon would choose the majority, even if it meant sacrificing those he couldn’t save.

He wouldn’t make such a decision out of cruelty. In his eyes, a commander who allowed personal feelings to endanger an entire force had failed in his duty.

It was a harsh philosophy, but Kael couldn’t honestly call it wrong.

A commander couldn’t save everyone. Sometimes, sacrificing a small number was the only way to prevent a much greater loss.

The problem was that knowing when to make that choice was far more difficult than simply accepting the principle.

Kael shifted his gaze toward Seraphina.

Unlike Leon, she had a different approach to leadership.

To most people, Seraphina appeared aloof and cold. She rarely displayed her emotions openly, and her composure sometimes made her seem distant from those around her.

However, that exterior concealed a deeply rooted concern for the people under her command.

To Seraphina, every life mattered.

She understood that sacrifices might sometimes be unavoidable, but she would never accept them simply because doing so was convenient. If even one person could still be saved, she would search for a way to save them even if the consequences were putting her own life at risk.

That compassion was one of the qualities that would eventually make her a remarkable commander but also her greatest weakness.

It was the quality that could place her in difficult situations when the lives of many depended on a single decision.

Kael looked back at the students below.

One of them had fallen behind the others. Another student had slowed down to help, and both were now struggling to escape the undead closing in behind them.

They didn’t have much time.

Leon was right about the risks. If the horde discovered the sanctuary, everyone there could be endangered. The current defenses weren’t strong enough to withstand an unlimited number of undead, and the survivors had nowhere else to retreat.

Seraphina was right, too. Abandoning the fleeing students without even attempting a rescue would mean condemning them to almost certain death.

Neither option was acceptable, yet they couldn’t afford to waste time searching for a perfect solution.

’Great. Two future hero commanders, two completely different philosophies, and somehow I’m the one standing between them.’

Kael rubbed his forehead.

’One wants to protect the majority, even if it means sacrificing a few. The other refuses to give up on anyone while there’s still a chance to save them.’

He glanced at Quinn, hoping his familiar might have noticed something useful about the terrain.

The white spider merely stared at the fleeing students, its blue markings pulsing faintly.

No convenient solution appeared.

Kael returned his attention to the forest below.

He needed a plan that accounted for both risks: saving the students without leading the entire horde back to the sanctuary.

The question was whether the terrain offered them such an opportunity.

And if it didn’t, he would have to decide which risk he was willing to take.

For the moment, Kael found himself caught between two people whose judgments felt right and wrong for entirely different reasons.

He just hoped he could find a third option before the students below ran out of time.