Shino slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over every person. Deep despair and self-reproach filled his eyes. His voice was low and hoarse, as though shrouded in endless sorrow: "There's no road ahead, and Orks are on our tail. We can't escape anymore. I'm the one who got you into this. I'm sorry."
His words were like a sharp blade, stabbing deeply into everyone's hearts. Shino silently looked at the people before him, his heart full of remorse and self-blame. He knew that because of his decision, they had all been driven into a dead end, and their lives were about to reach their end.
Shino took a deep breath, his gaze firm and resolute. He slowly bent his knees and dropped heavily to the ground. His head hung low, his hands clenched tightly into fists as if he were desperately suppressing the pain in his heart.
"If I hadn't insisted on bringing you out, you wouldn't have ended up in such danger." Shino's voice trembled. His eyes reddened, and tears slid down his cheeks. He lowered his head, choking up and unable to continue.
The crowd stared in shock as Shino suddenly knelt down. Their faces were filled with astonishment. Yet they soon realized how sincere and guilty he was. One after another, they followed his example and knelt, expressing their gratitude to him.
"Lord Shino, please don't say that. If you hadn't saved me, I would have died at the hands of the Orks half a month ago. I wouldn't still be alive today," one person said emotionally, his voice full of gratitude toward Shino.
"Lord Shino, without you, we would have died at the hands of the Orks long ago. And I chose to follow you out this time of my own free will," another added, his