Another Roadblock

They paled and stood up as soon as they gathered themselves, though a few were still chewing. "We're sorry milor—Sir Shiro. It's just that the disaster happened and we couldn't get back anymore." 

"Yes, yes, we don't have families anymore, so we just accepted our fate."

Fos' and the others' eyes twitched, while Shiro shook his head. "It's okay, I don't blame you." 

Shiro led the way back to their assigned tables, leaving the 'deserters' standing there, awkwardly staring at their backs and then at each other. 

When Shiro and his team had sat down, some of the deserters approached. 

They really couldn't risk their new good lives to report too much. However, despite everything, Shiro and the former lord were rare good lords who cared about the citizens.

Further, they still had a lot of friends in the other village, they naturally wanted life to be better there now that they had a chance.