450 – A Reunion Unlike the Original

Awkward.

“Why would you do that…!”

“I apologize, Princess.”

“Do you know how much I suffered because of you…!”

Truly awkward.

I, numbly watching the tearful reunion of granddaughter and grandfather, stared at the two embracing figures and thought, ‘What am I supposed to do now?’

In the original story, the Chancellor would have died from that single blow just now.

Though he had ample opportunity to kill Shartia, the Chancellor, unable to bring himself to kill the Princess who was like a granddaughter to him, chose death.

The Chancellor stopped his sword before Shartia’s eyes and died by the magic she created.

Shartia, watching the Chancellor release a trembling breath, was filled with doubt.

-Why…?

A question containing why he didn’t kill her.

-Princess… this old man has committed terrible acts against you.

-I’m asking why you didn’t kill me…!

-Haha… should I call it affection? I simply couldn’t bring myself to… kill someone who is like my own daughter. Cough….

-Why…!!

-I am sorry for failing to watch over you.

The Chancellor is, undoubtedly, a bad person.

One cannot call a murderer who killed over forty people a saint. Moreover, he attempted to assassinate an Imperial Prince, so if this man wasn’t a villain, then everyone in the world would be a good person.

I have no intention of defending him.

Only one thing, if there could be any excuse offered, would be that those he killed were all people who intended to harm the Princess, or were traitors trying to sell out the Empire – that would be something of a justification.

Even he, who killed over forty people, wasn’t some maniac who reveled in slaughter.

The epithet ‘merciful slaughterer’ also stemmed from his nature. Considering the evil deeds they had committed, the Imperial Family could have tortured them to death, but to be granted a painless death was something they should have been grateful for.

The fact that he didn’t kill the Emperor, who had made a pact with the barbarian chieftain who killed his wife, was proof against judging his character too harshly.

Of course, even so, the fact that he tried to use Shartia remains an undeniable evil deed.

“I… I… I’m sorry. Princess.”

“Talk to me! Why did you do it! I need to know!”

“A loyal subject’s lips must be heavy…”

“…”

“I am not a loyal subject, but as a vassal, it is my duty…”

“I’m going mad from frustration, just speak!!”

Truly.

This is mortifying.

As I watched the two embrace, I decided to take some time to contemplate the events to come.

I saved him for now, but I don’t know where to even begin.

In the original story, after the Chancellor’s death, Shartia began to investigate his actions.

-How strange…

Shartia, who had previously been hesitant to re-examine the Chancellor’s information, now felt that there was something suspicious about his demise.

By uncovering the reasons behind the Chancellor’s murder, Shartia managed to grasp her crumbling sanity, and, becoming more critical of the current Emperor’s flaws, she shifted towards a slightly more assertive stance in this episode.

“Fool… you fool…!”

“…”

“Why… If there was such a thing, you should have told me sooner!”

“I did not wish to burden the young Princess with such a heavy weight.”

Well, maybe somehow it’ll work out.

The Princess, second only to the Crown Prince in the Empire, should be able to handle a single criminal.

In any case, I don’t plan to interfere.

If I intended to kill the Chancellor myself, I would have come alone, I wouldn’t need to borrow the Princess’s power.

I forced her to leave so she could have even a moment to rest, so I suppose I’ve given her some chance to stand on her own.

Come to think of it, I’m a murderer who’s killed hundreds, I’m not even qualified to judge a criminal who killed about forty.

From Hans and Elysee alone, you can tell that things are already too skewed to debate the weight of sins; nothing will change if I pretend to be good now.

If someone suddenly tries to do good, it’s hypocrisy.

Thinking about it like this, it seems like I’m only surrounded by bad people… A villainess, a magic plunderer, and a fanatic leader.

‘Maybe I’m the first one who needs to be purged from the Empire…’

I was freshly melancholic about my ruined relationships.

“Forget about a wretch like me and become a wise and benevolent ruler.”

“What are you talking about!”

“I have exhausted my usefulness.”

“Usefulness? What usefulness…”

“I shall take my own life.”

“Take… life?”

“If I return to the Imperial Palace like this, surely there will be talk because of my existence. To not bring shame, I shall take my own life…!!”

“Don’t do it!!!!”

I let out a dry chuckle, giving the two of them space. It seemed they had much left unsaid.

“I’ll go keep watch.”

I tactfully slipped away.

*

Back at the three-way split in the sewer.

“…Oh.”

I smiled, gazing at the two of them, both letting out weary sighs.

“Impressive, wouldn’t you say?”

I was proud of them, returning without a scratch.

Ruin, smeared in some strange goo, looked at me with an expression full of annoyance.

“Ruin.”

“What.”

“Since when did you switch your aesthetic to aloe vera? If you’re going to change your concept, you should ask for my permission first.”

“…I’m exhausted, why would I make that kind of joke.”

“Hm? I’m being serious.”

“Not funny.”

“I didn’t say it to be funny.”

At my serious expression, Ruin sighed deeply and dropped the necklace he was holding onto the ground.

“Thirteen.”

The necklace clattered as it fell, smeared with bloodstains.

“We caught thirteen.”

“Oh…”

“Is ‘Oh’ all you can say? We caught thirteen.”

Why was he looking at me like that? Was he wanting to be praised? Feeling awkward, I looked at Ruin, about to clap.

“We got fifteen.”

Hannah, exhaling a shallow breath, smirked faintly at Ruin. Her expression dared him to challenge her.

She hadn’t brought the heads of the prisoners.

Only the identification tags, proving their demise. It wasn’t specified that she needed to return with horribly severed heads, and so I accepted the tags she offered, a pleased smile touching my lips.

“You should hand them over properly, not drop them on the floor.”

“…”

Shuen, glaring at Ruin, clenched her fists and shouted.

“How dare you be so rude!”

“…What?”

“Pick them up and hand them over properly!”

“…”

Thanks to Shuen, who spoke my mind, I found myself smiling again today.

“And so…”

I murmured, thinking of the absent two. Were they not here yet?

“Are the others still not here…”

Still, those two hadn’t arrived.

The strongest combination, and yet, the most tender-hearted.

“They must be busy.”

Frankly, I still believed there were many areas where Yuria and Mikhail needed improvement. Their gentle nature required a long and patient hand.

I thought we had made progress during the last vacation course, but I knew some things couldn’t be fixed in a short amount of time. So, I waited for them patiently.

The love for life existed in everyone, after all. Myself included.

-Thud.

“Here they come.”

I watched the hallway, a smile spreading across my face as I heard the sound of weary footsteps. I felt I needed to encourage those who must have struggled the most during this battle.

Mikhail and Yuria approached, standing before me with exhausted expressions.

“Sorry we’re late.”

“It’s alright.”

“We…”

I was about to say it was okay.

Because taking a life would still be difficult for them. I was waiting for Yuria and Mikhail to say they had simply subdued them, but instead, a cold piece of metal dropped into my hand, and I heard the words.

“Five each.”

“..Hm?”

“Sorry for writing it down.”

“Ah… No, it’s alright.”

It was an unexpected development.

That these two had participated in the taking of a life. I, who couldn’t even kill a passing ant, was speechless at the fact that they had wielded ‘killing’, and I offered an awkward smile while stroking their heads.

“Uh…?”

“Ricardo?”

Because they were the ones who had summoned the most courage.

They were the ones who had committed murder while weeping in the novel. Of course, Ruin and Hanna, too. Though Schuen and Vaylin were also mentally taxed, these two were on a different level.

“It must have been very difficult, right?”

“…”

“You’ve suffered greatly.”

“…”

Murder is never a good thing.

Only.

“…Yeah.”

“Thank you.”

That they could protect themselves in order to live filled me with gratitude.

Offering a faint smile, I gazed at them, their eyes wide with anticipation, and slowly uttered the words they were most likely awaiting.

“Then, I should announce first place.”

Hanna and Vaylin smiled.

“Hanna, and Vaylin.”

“Yes!”

“Y-yes…!”

What should I give them?

I offered congratulations with a small smile.

“Congratulations.”

Whatever it may be, I felt I could offer it with a glad heart. Enough to give them the strength to withstand what lies ahead.

“You are first place.”

“Yes! Alright!!”

“To think, he remembered my name…”

“Haha… I will personally deliver the prize to you at a later date.”

This episode seems to be progressing without much difficulty.

Unlike the original, with no one dying.

“Thank you all for indulging my stubbornness. You’ve all worked so hard.”