Gacha Kingdom Building-Chapter 291: Roadblock

After our battle, the army took Yuri into custody, hoping to deactivate his Gift and return the people he had transformed into toys back to their original selves.

Unfortunately, they just confirmed what I already knew from using [Hollow Destiny] on him.

His Gift worked like a curse, so deactivating it wasn’t enough to reverse the transformation into toys.

Inside the Kingdom’s clinic, Raella and Gabriella worked exhaustively to stop the curse from creeping further up Lana’s leg.

Progress was slow, a constant back-and-forth battle measured by tapes strapped to her skin.

The optimists among them predicted that it would take them days to restore Lana’s leg to normal.

Agatha, the realist, pulled me out of their sight.

In a hushed tone, she asked me permission to amputate Lana’s leg, if the worst came to worst.

She warned me it could be a traumatic and painful experience.

Similar to removing the curse, they’d need days to regrow a limb, even with magic and Angie’s angel tears.

I couldn’t give her the greenlight.

Instead, I asked her to wait and watch for a little longer.

If we truly didn’t have another option, I’d make the call.

Father had also been afflicted with the toy curse, but thanks to his Gift’s abilities and his higher level, he was in a much better condition.

The doctors I spoke with told me that he’d be good to go in a couple of days. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

This gave me hope that we wouldn’t need to resort to extreme measures with Lana, despite her condition being more critical.

Unfortunately, with my healing skills not measuring up to the other girl’s, I had no choice but to hold tight to this hope and put my faith into them while waiting for Lana’s recovery.

In the meantime, Alpha Team’s leader ensured I wouldn’t be sitting idly by.

Since Father was out of commission, at least for a while, Piper politely forced all of his work onto my shoulders.

Only a day had passed since the airport battle, and I was already back in the field.

Alex and I were deployed to a repurposed police station. The urgency here was palpable. For every officer in sight, there were at least three soldiers, and the corners of every room were stacked with military-grade weapons. Police operations, while still active, had become a distant second priority to the army’s needs.

Orders were shouted over the roar of constant sirens. It was impossible to find a face without heavy bags under the eyes.

Amidst the chaos and noise, every available chair was occupied by a sleeping officer. Pushed to their limits, they ignored the world, desperate to squeeze rest out of their few minutes of respite.

A phone alarm rang nearby, waking four officers who quickly got up and rushed out. The warm chairs they vacated were immediately taken by the next shift.

Only a few hours had passed since we arrived, and already, I felt restless.

Alex: "Haah... I need fresh air."

Miwen: "Great idea."

On the other side of the street stood two hotels, both of which were being used as temporary shelters for refugees.

Our main task was to protect the police station and the two buildings.

We were also to be on call, in case anything happened nearby.

Since we had a surveillance team watching over us, any tasks would reach us, even if we stood outside the building.

We didn’t go that far, though.

The rooftop of the taller hotel allowed us a good view of the city block, including the buildings we were tasked with guarding.

It was a better sight, but not by much.

The pressure I felt within the station hadn’t left my body completely.

I thought it might have been because of the houses in ruins, the cars rushing out of the station, or even the people desperately crying for help.

It would be enough to leave a strong impression on anyone.

But it would be a lie to blame the weight I felt on any of it.

The truth was much simpler.

I was still worried about Lana.

Every tick of the clock without good news meant one step closer to a decision I didn’t want to make.

Alex: "I swear, it’s like looking at an old mirror..."

He sat at the rooftop’s railing, looking at the street below.

His words carried a hint of dejection, barely hidden beneath his usual joking tone.

Alex: "Marcus will be fine. I’ve seen him go through much worse."

Miwen: "...It’s not him that worries me."

Even if his entire body had been turned into a toy, I’m sure he’d find a way to bounce back to flesh and blood.

The fire in his eyes wouldn’t die before him.

Alex: "Once he gets better, you know what he’ll do, right? No way he’s going to let your friend suffer."

...He was right.

Dad’s Gift had many different effects, so after breaking the curse himself, he could use it to help Lana and the other victims.

Or rather, he would definitely help them.

Miwen: "I see. I hadn’t thought about that."

I took a seat, letting my back rest against the wall behind us.

The sky was particularly bright.

Suddenly, the daylight felt less annoying than before.

The breeze, which I hadn’t noticed until now, felt refreshing.

Miwen: "...Do you regret helping me back then?"

If I hadn’t involved him with Maya’s case, like other high-rankers, Alex could’ve joined the AOTG.

He could’ve also avoided the conflict.

No matter the outcome, he’d probably do well for himself.

Alex: "...Your parents would’ve dragged me into this anyway."

I couldn’t deny that possibility.

Even when his abilities weren’t necessary, Alex always found himself forming a party with my family.

Often, to his dismay, according to the stories they told me.

Alex: "Besides, if the worst had happened to Maya, you bet I’d be here all the same. Hell, I’d already have a knife up Erik’s throat."

I had never seen him angry before.

He didn’t raise his voice.

The way he spoke stayed the same as before.

Yet, from the way he turned and looked directly into my eyes, I could tell he was serious.

Alex: "Being on their side would also mean going against Piper, and even though I hate babysitting you two, I’d be crazy to prefer the alternative."

He turned his back on the city.

His eyes were devoid of the anger they had a moment ago.

Despite its strength, his heart made it fickle.

It just wasn’t in his nature to seek conflict.

Yet, he was still a trailblazer.

He had found himself back in a warzone.

Just like twenty years ago, conflict had become unavoidable, even to men like him.

Miwen: "I mean... Aren’t we the ones babysitting you?"

Alex: "And I even have to hear things like this... Hah... When this is over, I’m moving to that new continent. Maybe if I’m far away from you and your family, you won’t drag me into a new mess."

The number of people fleeing to the continent that emerged after Earth won the last Divine Event grew at the same pace as the war.

It was hard to blame anyone for being tempted by the promises of peace, riches, and a new life.

I was quite interested in it too, but...

I couldn’t bring myself to abandon this country.

Not when my family was still fighting for it.

Alex: "I’m telling you. Once this is over, I’m at least buying myself a boat."

Miwen: "Big dreams, huh?"

Alex: "Yeah. Not as big as the boat I’m getting, though."

Before I realized it, the worries I had vanished.

We were only allowed a few moments before the next crisis, but in this brief time, I came to understand why everyone always insisted on having Alex join them.

It wasn’t just his Gift.

He had the rare ability to lift the mood, no matter how tense the situation was.

Being able to rest easy like this was important, regardless of how powerful we were.

It was nice that we had the opportunity to clear our minds, too, since an hour after we left the station, a loud boom echoed through the city.

Almost immediately, our phones started ringing, and we were called back into the station.

We were quickly briefed on a situation happening at a nearby bridge that connected us to a neighboring city.

That city had fallen into complete anarchy after being taken over and divided by several different factions, and now, they had launched their attack.

Not only that, they were being aided by the AOTG.

The troops guarding the bridge were soon to be overwhelmed by their numbers, and if they were to fall, this city would be flooded by hostiles as well.

Every available hand was to reinforce the bridge.

No exceptions.

Once the order was given, the chaotic station fell into silence.

Everything else became secondary to this task.

The majority of the forces left, and the few who stayed only did so to redirect those returning to the station.

Alex: "You okay to go? I can handle this one if you-"

Miwen: "Hah. As if. C’mon. I’ll pick up your slack."

Alex: "Brat. You’d better not make a mess. I’m not looking forward to cleaning after you."

Despite our banter, Alex and I were in a far better mood than when we arrived.

Although I was adamant about proving I’d be the one doing the babysitting this time.