At some point, people would reach a point where they would have no escape from their current situation. Some people would be unfortunate enough to accidentally kill an important person, or perhaps they unknowingly offended a god.

I know I have reached that certain point but do I know the reason why I am in such a situation?

Unfortunately, no.

“Grandmaster.”

Retracing my past, I was still unable to find the answer to my question. I regret every moment I breathe, but time had proven multiple times that I am nothing but a coward, unable to take responsibility.

“Grandmaster!”

I looked up at the owner of the voice. Scanning the room I was in, we were all seated around a round table. Facing me were men draped in a bizzare variety of apparels from robes to full plate armor. I, too, was wearing a full set of plate armor. Whenever I took off my armor, I felt vulnerable, so I wore my armor most of the time.

“Yes?” I asked in a low voice.

“A-ahem…Forgive me for intruding your incredible thoughts, but we were humbly asking for your opinion, Grandmaster,” the man standing opposite of me replied. I placed one of my elbows on the table and leaned my face against my hand.

Oh shit. I wasn’t listening. T-they’ll think I’m disrespecting them! Let’s see… maybe I could just ask them to repeat the discussion without making it seem like information was flying from one ear to another.

“Go over the plan once more, I do not wish to make any mistakes in preparation of our… plans,” I commanded.

“Ah, yes. Grandmaster is indeed very wise,” someone muttered.

“This is why only he can lead us to our salvation,” another replied.

“May the world be thankful for Grandmaster’s wisdom,” someone else praised.

Voices were murmured across the room, but I could only feel my ears heating up from embarrassment. Seriously, what do these people see in me?!

“As planned, we will take over the city of Sakasius. Defenses would be tough, but not tough enough for our elite knights. With our magic capabilities, Sakasius would fall in less than two weeks, giving us time to prepare against the Empire’s troops. However, we are still undecided on what will we do about the common folk in the city,” the man proceeded to explain.

“Thank you, Sir Theodore. Now, let’s hear your ideas.” I was trying to buy time to collect my thoughts. What the hell is a ‘Sakasius’ and why are we attacking it?! I had no idea what was going on!

“Grandmaster, it would be good to just exile to peasants. They would bring us unnecessary burden,” one suggested.

“We shall shelter them! The world may be corrupted, but people can be saved!” A man in black full plate armor smacked his fist against the table.

“If they ask for mercy, perhaps we should be lenient, right, Grandmaster?”

Damn it, why did you call me?! I am still preparing! In the first place, maybe we don’t even have to attack the city in the first place, right?!

“Perhaps… if we made it so that we don’t have to deal with anyone. Holding a city or dealing with civilians is clearly a waste of time.” I placed my foot down into this argument. Surely, they would understand that I didn’t want to deal with any of these, right?!

“Grandmaster is right!” Someone shouted.

Yes!

“We don’t have to deal with Sakasius…”

Yes!

“...if Sakasius doesn’t exist in the first place! We shall burn down the entire city!” As soon as someone said that, everyone stood up and threw their fists up.

“If Grandmaster wishes so, we shall remove the taint that is the Holy City of Sakasius! Burn the orphanages! Burn the elderly homes! Burn the pet stores! Burn the nunneries! The Vallen Empire shall suffer for their insolence!”

“Wait a minu-...” I was about to stand when all of the people rushed out of the room, each proclaiming glory to the Order or excusing themselves in order to prepare as early as possible.

…

I…

I’ll just cry myself to sleep again.