He ran over.
One enormous wooden beam blocked the entrance.
Kai grabbed it.
Lifted.
Nothing.
He gritted his teeth.
Again.
The beam shifted slightly.
Several nearby townspeople immediately joined him.
Together—
They pushed.
The beam rolled aside.
A woman was pulled free.
Alive.
Barely.
The little girl hugged her tightly.
"Mama!"
Kai stepped back.
Relieved.
The woman looked toward him.
"...Thank you."
Kai couldn't meet her eyes.
Because he knew.
If he hadn't planted the bomb—
She never would've needed saving.
He quietly walked away.
Munnu watched everything.
He said nothing.
Persia eventually approached.
"...Interesting."
Kai frowned.
"What?"
"You helped."
"...Obviously."
Persia adjusted his glasses.
"Most new recruits don't."
Kai didn't answer.
The Outlaws finished loading the final wagon.
One of them shouted,
"Boss!"
"We're done!"
Munnu nodded.
Then looked around the ruined settlement.
"...Time to leave."
The caravan slowly turned away.
As they departed—
Kai looked back one last time.
Smoke.
Fire.
Broken homes.