The System Sent Me to Breed an All-Female Amazon Tribe-Chapter 48: But Why Were They Suddenly Crying?

I guess that could explain why Shishi-no-su was in six parts and districts.

But I looked at all the different aged faces of these legends... And wow.

"I don’t know what to say," I scratched my head, feeling suddenly small under their collective gaze. "King Leorin was one hell of a happy man... If he had you all, then I’m sure he felt like he had the world... Hm?"

My words suddenly hung in the air for half a second.

Then every single one of them broadened their eyes, noticeably shocked, like I had spoken something sacred they had long forgotten how to hear.

Tanuko’s lower lip trembled before anyone else.

Then a single tear slipped down her cheek, and another soon followed.

Kumai reached over without a word and pulled her close, one massive arm wrapping around the raccoon granny’s shoulders as she buried her face against Kumai’s chest and began to weep softly.

Eh?! D-Did I do something wrong? Did I say a forbidden word just now?

[Answer: I have no knowledge of why the indivi—]

I tuned out Sys’s cruel joke, my stomach churning in panic.

Then I opened my mouth to apologize, to express regret, but Sakura’s hand found mine under the table and tenderly squeezed them, steadily and reassuringly.

When I glanced at her, she was smiling softly and slightly smug in fact. Her amber eyes were shining in a way that eased the panic clawing up my throat, though.

"Sakura, you truly hit the jackpot with this one. I commend you," Medline said quietly, with a thick voice. Then a single tear rolled down her scaled cheek and dripped onto the cushion in front of her.

Soon everyone had tears rolling off their eyes. With soft sobs filling the chamber; Khanna was pressing a sleeve to her eyes, Asherah was looking away with a trembling smile, and Kumai’s shoulders were shaking even as she held Tanuko tighter.

The laughter from moments ago had all but vanished, now replaced by something raw and fragile... that I apparently triggered.

I wanted to start cursing myself—for getting arrogant and so comfortable that I’d hurt these people unwittingly... But...

They all looked at me again. "Thank you, Benjamin Mark," they said in unison, as their voices overlapped in calm harmony.

Huh? Why were they thanking me? I don’t get it.

"It was the best thing in a very long time that’s happened to us; the best gift we were to ever receive so far," Khanna said finally, wiping her cheeks. "Please, Benjamin Mark, we leave the future of Shishi-no-su... No, the future of Elyndor in your trusted hands."

Wow. The entire Elyndor? I don’t know... Th-That’s a lot of land, but okay.

I swallowed hard, with my throat tight.

I didn’t know what to say to that to them, so I just nodded, squeezing Sakura’s hand back.

***

We left after saying our farewells; with more bows, more soft words, and some more tears that somehow felt like blessings rather than mere sorrow.

The grannies waved us off from their cushions, their cups still raised in quiet salute. Though I was happy that Khanna had begun to make light jokes again.

To be honest, I also wanted to cry a bit. So much grief was emanating from them... But did I do something wrong?

"You did nothing wrong, Benjamin," Sakura stated as if reading my mind, her voice gentle as we walked the wide stone path leading deeper into the complex. "apart from the fact that you’re the most wonderful and amazing man I have ever met..."

"But why were they suddenly crying?" I asked, still shaken from my sin.

"Why won’t they?" Sakura flashed me a toothy smile, one I had never seen before, so bright and unguarded, almost childlike. "That thing you said to them, ’If my father had them, then he had the world,’ was a special statement he himself constantly declared. It was the last thing he said before he died too. If he had my mothers, then he had the world..."

Oh... so I just made them remember King Leorin?

Relieved that I hadn’t touched a nerve in the wrong way, I smiled too.

"It was a coincidence though," I giggled as we climbed the giant stairs to a higher part of the place, the stone steps here were also worn out smooth from all the countless feet walking over it through millennia. "Your father keeps sounding more and more like a man I’d like to be acquainted with."

"I suppose he was," Sakura said, her arm still linked with mine since we left the grannies. "He was like you in many ways, beside your extreme gullibility."

"Hey!" I pouted, bumping her shoulder lightly as she laughed at me. "I was born in extremely peaceful times, you can’t blame me."

Sakura only grabbed hold of my arm tighter, pulling me upward with gentle insistence.

Then I asked her, curiosity getting the better of me:

"Hey, I know beastkins are long-lived, but aren’t your stepmoms... Well, TOO long-lived? I’m not saying they shouldn’t be alive or anything! What I mean is, even Asherah is a human. And humans don’t live so long. So I was wondering if they were like you and Princess Lily, with their spirit level exceeding their flesh level."

"Oh? What a pleasant surprise, Benjamin." Sakura’s eyes widened with wonder. "You are so well-informed."

Ah...! Is it safe to mention Sys here?

Though, I decided to stay vague for now.