Chapter 100 – In the Woods (6)

“…Did something like that happen? Thank you so much.”

Eddie bowed his head and thanked us. Rumia and I responded to him with a conventional response. Eddie looked terrified that he had almost become an orphan.

“No. I just did what I had to do.”

“Didn’t you spare my mother? If her brother goes to the wrong place or has an accident, if her mother dies… I really hate to imagine. Thank you very much again.”

Eddie’s expression, which had been lifeless, was lively again. Because mentioning his family was like plugging in nutritional supplements. Eddie thanked us again with tears in his eyes.

“Will it wake up soon?”

“That sounds good. I need to get out of here quickly.”

“Really… I think I should finish my work today and go home right away.”

“You have a job pulling levers. Are you satisfied working here?”

Rumia asked Eddie. Eddie heard the question, her expression hardened for a moment, then she said, her businesslike grin on her face.

“…Because I give you money. Are doing I don’t know how to do it, so I’m sensitive to this kind of thing.”

“Are you satisfied? He was doing something pretty brutal.”

“…Because they are all sinners. After all, they keep pulling the lever, thinking they are sinners. If I don’t pull the lever, my brother and mother will starve to death. When my father passed away, I left a lot of debt behind.”

“Okay. How did you end up working here?”

She didn’t seem to like the scenery here. Eddy narrowed her brows at Rumia’s question, but she answered fluently anyway.

“Originally, I lived by cutting down trees near here. On my way to the market after packing firewood, I happened to meet and talk with Father Andrew. He said that I had a lot of debt and that I was taking care of my mother and younger brother, so he suggested that I work with him.”

“That’s why you pulled the lever.”

“I am satisfied with this job. Isn’t it a noble task to judge sinners?”

Eddie’s words had some bones. Both I and Rumia felt it, but we decided not to ask more about this. After all, he and Brother Andre’s work is someone else’s business, isn’t it? We didn’t care what side effects this rehabilitation had.

Demon followers are thrown straight into the fire without regeneration. Rumia asked me in a low voice.

“Evan. Can we leave now?”

“Okay. OK.”

“Thank you again.”

Eddie packed her own things and got up from her seat. When she opened the door to the parlor, the murderous robber from earlier was dragged away exhausted before our eyes. The sight of her holding her tongue out and her handcuffs evoked a thrilling yet strange feeling.

Lumia also frowned as she watched the robber walk away. It was because the sound of her footsteps came from the other side of her. Her chains dragged and her raucous words were heard. Eddie muttered as he got dressed.

“After all, everyone is a sinner. Yes. There is nothing you can do about it because you are a sinner.”

“Well, really, I didn’t steal! I just watched! There’s no way I could steal that much bread by myself!”

“You still don’t reflect? Uh? Witnesses say they saw you holding a mountain of bread! You or someone else is the culprit!”

“I-I mean, there’s a gang that ordered me to be a lookout!”

Where have you heard this story before? A story about vicious puppies who take advantage of ignorant children and use them as lifeboats in the most critical moment. An eerie story about a kid being enslaved or taken to prison and ruining his life, and then thugs finding new lifeboats to swim leisurely through a hotbed of crime.

“Oh, fuck…”

It was a story that made me laugh. It was because I had definitely heard that voice that had been claiming innocence in a voice that was wrathful.

“Eddie! Raise your power to the maximum today!”

“Yes.”

Eddie nodded her head and moved on to do things for the unrepentant sinner. Rumia held my hand tightly and spoke in a low voice.

“Evan. You have to be patient. There are too many eyes here.”

“It sucks, really.”

I had no intention of running away. However, since I remembered seeing that figure being dragged miserably somewhere, I had to turn around without being able to hide my embarrassment.

“No, I do not want! Help me! Sorry! Yes I was wrong!”

“You haven’t reflected yet! Aren’t you not able to memorize prayers! Memorize the prayers! Become a faithful believer! It is to purify the body and mind and be born again! Tie him to the chair!”

“Aaaaagh! Aaaaagh! No! Don’t do it! Aaaaagh!”

My head was cold. I was breaking out in a cold sweat, and my head was dizzy. Rumia was holding my hand and moving her steps faster. There were too many people here. We had to get out of here quietly, unless we could keep everyone’s mouth shut.

“Fuck… ! Fuck hair… !”

“It’s okay. Evan. Wouldn’t it be nice to come back later? You have to be patient now. Certainly something is wrong here.”

As Rumia said that, she continued to cool my feelings. Toward the bright light we were going. The mana stone activated in the darkness and the boy’s scream spread.

“Aaaaagh! Sorry! Aaaaagh! I won’t!”

You have to be patient.

That way, you can move on without having to do anything annoying. I get tired of spreading even strange rumors.

“Repent! Memorize your prayers!”

“Aaaaagh! Aaaaagh!”

“Repent!”

After all, isn’t it someone else’s business? Whether that child turned into a mana stone barbecue or what kind of insane plan Priest Andre devised, in the end it was all someone else’s business.

In the light came the figure of Priest Andrew. With his back turned to us, he was addressing sinners with enthusiasm.

“Everyone! Sins can be washed away! I believe you can live a new life free from sin! All you need is faith and will! That’s it!”

“Aaaaagh!”

A scream was heard again in the darkness. Priest Andre fell silent so that the ghastly voice spread all over the place, then shouted again.

“Do you hear that sound! It’s an ordeal we all have to go through! But guys! Hear me out! If you come into the arms of God! I can promise you all will have a new life! Everyone! Don’t be afraid of hardships! Take my word for it and follow it! Let me show you I’m not wrong! No matter how heinous a sin he committed! I will show you that true indulgences can be obtained!”

“Sorry! Please stop! AA AA AA! Aaaaa! No! Don’t do it! Aaaaagh!”

Could it be that Priest Andrew was right? He might not have been an innocent child. That child could be the devil’s seed for a really heinous sin. It wasn’t even my job. So it was right to get out quietly here.

“Ruler! Everyone! Let’s say a prayer of repentance before going back into the room! For those unrepentant sinners! For us!”

‘Cause I just need to turn my eyes a little bit more Now I can go out and forget all these things.

The door to the building was closing. The dark, thick iron door that prevented escape closed very slowly, pushing the screams into the darkness. I could see the entrance slowly moving away.

“Oh God! Please forgive us our sins today!”

Suddenly, I remembered the old days. The days when I was beaten unfairly and learned to steal. A boy who learned how to notice on the streets before he had other dreams.

“Bring the lambs out of their delusion and take them into your arms, so that your will may be done on earth as much as it is in heaven!”

When a group of beggars became involved in a troubling case, the gangster blamed the ignorant boy. A boy who believed in an unfounded promise to make you feel comfortable as long as this matter goes well was dragged away in chains.

“Look upon the most abandoned souls!”

At that time, I clearly remembered the conversation between the thug and the corrupt captain of the guard.

“Someday, let me come to your kingdom and gain eternal life!”

[Older brother. Let’s do what this guy did. Yes? We ate a lot of things among ourselves, wouldn’t it be troublesome if I got caught? Yes? This time, my relative also entered the academy. Everyone is in a frenzy because there is a dragon in the house, but what will happen if I get caught? Yes? I will live quietly. Please close your eyes just once.]

“Please reach out to the darkest places in the world!”

The prayer is over. People will now be swept away like a tidal wave. It was enough for us to cut our way through countless people like salmon regurgitating a river.

Because it was enough to forget it. Like many other misfortunes I faced with my own eyes, I could have just ignored it and lived on.

Then he stopped. Holding Rumia’s hand tightly, I nodded and took a deep breath.

And.

In the crack of the door,

A faint voice was heard.

“…Help me.”

A laugh came out.

“Rumia.”

I couldn’t stop laughing.

The future seems clear, but strangely, I couldn’t stop laughing.

I laughed and called Rumia’s name. Rumia looked at me and nodded her head wordlessly. I smiled and asked Rumia.

“I must be crazy. Yes?”

Rumia nodded her head with passionate eyes.

“So do i.”

The door has not yet been closed.

We turned and started walking towards the prison again.

I grabbed the door that was about to close and forced it open. The groan that had been dying out spread clearly. Amidst the flames, the eyes of the bewildered staff could be seen.

Leaving our backs on the light, we headed towards darkness.

In the distance, a pale blue light jumped out.

I took a breath and increased my speed.

“Rumia.”

“Yes. Evan.”

“Did you say you believe in old things?”

Love, justice, and all the good things in the world.

Rumia replied with a nod of her head.

“Yes, it is.”

A man stood in front of me with a puzzled face. Grabbing the man by the collar and throwing him to the floor, he heard the sound of his bones breaking.

My voice rang in the plosive.

“I don’t believe in that.”

“Is that so?”

“…I just, I just don’t like religious people. Except for you. You know what I mean?”

Rumia said with a brighter smile.

“I know. Evan.”