Editing Amaryllis in the Ice Country:Chapter 6 (section)

===Part O===

“Oh, it has been a while!”

Chief turns his head around, and cheerfully greets us,

“Thank goodness, Chief…you’re still alive.”

“Yes, alive and jumping!”

Seeing the Chief look so enthusiastic, I feel relieved for the time being.

“Oh my, you people seem lively too. Hahaha!”

“…”

And so, after feeling so relieved, I feel enraged.

“No, sorry, sorry. Hahahahaha!”

“Goodness, you worried us—and you’re laughing!”

I pick up the Chief’s head, and tug at his beard sideways.

“Ouch!”

“You suddenly disappear, and now you go ‘hahahaha’!? You idiot Chief!”

“Well, don’t be so angry owowowowow, I’m really sorry.”

Chief says with tears in his eyes. Such a punishment should be expected when he made everyone worry.

“—Now then.”

I tug at the Chief’s face with both hands, and glare at him with fearsome eyes.

“Where were you, and what were you doing!?”

“Well…owowowow.”

Chief answers with a grimace.

“I’ve been here the entire time.”

“You mean, this ‘secret room’?”

“Well, yes. I have been checking the records of the past, and considering over the future of the village.”

“If that is the case, couldn’t you have discussed it with everyone?”

My anger remains unable to be vented.

“Of course, I do have to discuss this with everyone sooner or later…however, I want to sort out my thoughts first.”

His reply remains as vague as before, but his expression was more serious than ever before.”

“Then, what are your thoughts, Chief?”

“I shall talk about my thoughts later. First, I want to hear your thoughts.”

“Ehh, well that’s fine…”

I want to pursue the matter of the Chief leaving home(?), but the emergency has to be prioritized.

“Now, about the solutions proposed during the meeting…” I put the Chief down on the sofa, and start to explain.

“There are a few solutions, and first—”

I suggest a few solutions to solve the shortage, “Yes, yes”, and Chief appear to be nodding in agreement.

“—So, I want to get your permission, Chief.”

“I see.”

And then, Chief suddenly changes the topic,

“…Anyway, Amaryllis.”

“Yes?”

“How many times have you been ‘extracted’?”

“…EH?”

This sudden question leaves me startled.

Chief repeats the same question.

“I shall ask again. How many times have you offered your parts for the Snow White?”

“Ah, yes…I think, about seventeen times.”

“Seventeen…probably the most in the village. What about you, Viscaria…?”

“Me?” Viscaria seem troubled by this sudden question, “Sixteen.” And answers.

“Götz?”

“Similarly, sixteen times.”

“Eisbahn, what about you?”

“Same as Amaryllis.”

“Seventeen…hmm?”

Chief nods away, seemingly enlightened, and continues,

“Having come down to this underground world, you all and I have been providing maintenance for the Snow White. Day or Night, we did so for every day.”

Chief narrows his eyes in nostalgia.

“We kept prioritizing our masters no matter what, restricting our lives, cutting into our expenses, offering our bodies for them.”

“Hmm, yes…”

I’m skeptical. This should be a discussion about the emergency measures, yet Chief suddenly diverts the topic, and it confuses me.

“Having done that, you will continue to love your masters, serve them, and make self-sacrifices to protect the Snow White for them from now on, no? Is that so, Amaryllis?”

“Yes. But, Chief.”

“What is it?”

“What have you been talking about? It is rude of me, but I have to say that you are stating the obvious. I…”

“Now then, I shall state my conclusion.”

Chief turns his head around to face me. With a sharp look, he looks different from the suual kind Chief.

“I—”

What he says next topples over the history of this village that spans for more than a hundred years.

 

<i>“Do feel that humans should be wiped out.”</i>