"I WILL NOT ACCEPT IT!!"
A crashing sound was heard, right after a scream echoed throughout the room.
We were in the middle of a large room on one side of the large tree we currently live in, taking advantage of the spaciousness of this room we usually use it as a zone to gather and have fun together, playing various games that are also designed to improve skills.
Sometimes we also use it as a discussion room.
And seeing the dark atmosphere in the room right now, of course this room is currently in its second function.
Especially when the discussion does not go smoothly, debates will arise.
I gathered everyone, including Gampa and conveyed everything I had discussed with the Dryad before.
As expected, everyone who heard it was quite surprised, they couldn't even hide it from their faces.
And as expected, there was also a party who strongly rejected it.
Gampa, the third oldest of us all stood up to voice his opinion, then grabbed my chest, threw my body against one of the walls with all the strength he had.
My back landed squarely against the wall made of intertwined roots, catching after a slight pain there.
"Cough—!!" I coughed, spitting out some saliva that I accidentally swallowed.
But when I tried to wipe it away, Gampa was already in front of me, staring with eyes filled with anger and confusion.
"Meeting at the front door? Facing all those creatures? You are indeed strong but didn't what happened the other day make you fly a little too high? Just because you were able to put pressure on the Lion Race doesn't mean you are the strongest here, especially with the significant difference in numbers…"
Gampa gritted his fangs.
"We can't defend with normal means, dirty tricks must be used. Isn't that the basis of the plan we agreed on? What happened to you? Did the enemy do something and make you under their control?"
"They didn't do anything to me, this was something I decided."
"Then why did you—!!"
Gampa stopped his sentence in the middle of the road, it took a split second to understand what happened, then my eyes went to the direction where our attention was diverted.
Right beside Gampa, Besy was standing there, pointing her gun right at his neck.
"Gamp, what did you just do? Violence is unacceptable here."
"Shut your mouth, that rule only applies to those who are family members. The leader and eldest brother who came up with a stupid idea like a suicide plan is certainly an exception, right?"
"What did you say?!"
Both of them strengthened their gazes, it probably only took a few seconds for the emotions that were channeled to explode.
I walked over, mediating the two of them and pushing them to the opposite side.
"I'm not done talking yet, listen until the end."
My eyes turned to Gampa, his gaze throwing a threatening reply.
He was really angry about it.
To see him put up a fight like this, it was really refreshing.
At least we can still disagree about something, it makes me feel relieved if they have emotions like that.
Although it would be a problem if there was a trigger that caused division between us but seeing everyone's reaction, I know that they won't do that.
"The one who will face all the enemies is me alone, you don't have to come with me."
Yes, they each have their roles.
I have to make sure that the role that will be carried out provides rapid development in the future for all of them.
Especially if the world we live in now is not only limited to this forest.
"Alone? What do you mean ..." Gampa stopped his voice in the middle, then raised his thin arms, covering his mouth with four claws.
He was thinking, until his eyebrows started to move up and down.
The gaze in his two eyes began to soften, he also adjusted the air flow in his body and calmed himself down.
"What role should we take?"
"... digging a hole."
I answered him, with a slight pause.
In a moment, Gampa's eyes began to widen slightly, the pupils in both his eyes also enlarged.
"Will there be time?"
"If you're involved in it, I guess it's possible."
"Damn, you should have said something important like this earlier, I even hit you…"
"Sorry, that was a bit excessive."
"No, I'm the one who should apologize. This may sound like an excuse but lately it feels like everything is mixed up inside me. It's making it a bit hard to maintain my composure."
It was natural, he had put in a lot of effort up until now, it was no wonder he was a bit stressed.
After all, taking on the role of an information gatherer in a place that only consisted of enemies was really draining on stamina.
I guess I should pay more attention to him from now on…
I walked up to Gampa and patted his shoulder, he replied with a small smile.
"I don't know what happened but can you share it with us too?"
Besy holstered his weapon, walking over to us.
Behind him were also other children who were staring curiously.
Oty ran, then jumped towards me.
I caught him, then lifted his body above my head.
"Alf, does your chest hurt?" Oty stretched out his short arms, trying to reach my neck but it only went as far as between my nose and mouth.
He ended up poking my nostrils.
"That's fine, it looks like Gamp is holding back a little—Wachuu—!!" I sneezed, probably because one of Oty's feathers got stuck in my nose.
"Hm~ is that so? I'm hungry, can you cook grilled mushrooms today?"
"Huh? Ah, yes I can. I think there are still some in stock." I glanced at Delsa, he nodded.
"Then come accompany me to play in the sand right now."
"Huh? Wait a minute Oty, the topic has changed too much. From my condition, then grilled mushrooms and now playing in the sand? I'm a little confused…"
"Eh? Do you prefer hanging from tree roots?"
Seeing the behavior of the youngest sibling made me smile weakly, giving up on trying to understand her at this time.
I really don't know how her thinking works.
"Delsa, are there still fish in stock?"
"Still there, but not for you."
On the other hand, Delsa and Zoty started talking about something else.
"Huh? What's wrong with—"
"You stole two fish earlier, right?"
"Huh? How…. No, why you accuse me?"
"You idiot, you've said everything…"
"Bwahahahahahaha!!" While rolling, Epi laughed loudly seeing Zoty's complicated expression.
The three of them seemed to be having fun with themselves.
I walked closer to Gampa and Besy while holding Oty's legs that were swaying in all directions.
Gamp had started his explanation, then Besy listened to him carefully.
Besy's expression looked increasingly stiff, then she turned to me.
"Alf, this plan that Gampa talked about... are we really going to do it? Isn't this a little risky for this tree? Especially for you yourself..."
"There is always a risk, because we are on the disadvantaged side. Then regarding my part, only I can do my part."
"But..." Besy seemed to want to say something, but it stopped below her mouth.
Her two hands were clenched tightly, shaking slightly.
I stretched out my arm, reaching for her hand.
Besy was a little surprised by that but she didn't pull it back.
"Everything will be fine, you don't need to worry."
"…it just gets harder…you two always take the most dangerous roles…I really feel disgusted with myself…"
"Huh? What are you saying? We both dan do everything to the fullest because you're here to protect all children…" Gamp replied to Besy with a bad smile.
Besy looked at me, I just continued with a nod.
"Seriously…I can't even protect this little one…" Besy stuck her finger into Oty's hind paw, tickling her there.
Oty laughed loudly, kicked my head and jumped into Besy's arms in front of me.
"Besy, I really like you!!" Oty shouted, then buried her face in the fur in front of her face.
Besy didn't say anything, just stroked Oty's head on her lap.
Gampa and I watched the warm scene without saying anything, until the other three cats ruined the atmosphere with their quarrel.
"Alright everyone, time to gather. The real discussion is about to begin."
I approached them, then broke them up.
No matter how naughty they are, or how troublesome it is to care for them, or even how many obstacles I have to overcome to protect them all.
I have no choice but to defend them.
After all, they are the only ones I have in this world.