Seeker 365

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Chapter 365. A Confession Of Guilt

As we began descending the pathless trail through the mountains, Nils slowly started to speak.

“...What they said was true. I’ve killed someone before, back in the city. The guy was just some lowlife thug, but still. We were both drunk, got into a fight, and by the time I realized it, he wasn’t moving anymore. My fists were covered in blood.”

“......”

Elvira, who had been so loud earlier, clung to Nils’s back in silence. Kazane, Yuzuki, and I listened quietly as well.

Nils continued, recounting his story without pause.

“The guy was a thug, sure, but he didn’t have any awakened powers. In that sense, he was just a regular person. I never thought hitting him would kill him that easily.

He was the type who would suck up to the strong and bully the weak. It pissed me off so much that I wanted to show him who was in charge. And then... when he was lying there in a pool of blood, and I saw how pale he’d gotten, it was already too late.

I was scared and ran. But they never figured out I was the one who did it. Maybe because he was such a scumbag, the authorities dropped the investigation pretty quickly. Honestly, I was relieved. Killing someone in the city is a serious crime. If they’d found out, I’d be hanged for sure. I planned to take that secret to my grave. But... one of those guys saw me do it.

They started messing with me, telling me to cooperate if I didn’t want my crime exposed. I guess they thought my skills were useful or something. If I helped them with their jobs, they’d cut me a small share of the spoils. At first, I figured, why not? I thought everything was over when they threatened me, but the deal wasn’t as bad as I expected.

But when I saw what they did to you, Elvira... I couldn’t take it. Sure, I’ve done my fair share of dirty work, but even I couldn’t sink that low.”

Nils let out a deep sigh. Then, in a voice as if trying to push Elvira away, he said,

“Now you get it, don’t you? I’m not the ‘good guy’ you think I am. I’m just a piece of trash who’s a little less rotten than the others.”

“I... I don’t get it! I still think Nils is a good guy!”

Elvira, still clinging to him, refused to accept it. Nils smiled faintly, just a little.

“Is that so? Well, if that’s what you want to believe, then go ahead.”

His voice sounded strangely happy.

“That’s right! Nils is going to be my butler! I’ve decided you’re a good guy, so you are!”

“You’re still on about that butler thing? Didn’t you hear what I just said? It’s not happening. Even if it’s just you, I spilled everything to the adventurers over there. I’ve got no choice but to turn myself in. And when that happens, I’ll be arrested and hanged.”

Yeah, well... I thought. Even if we listened quietly as he asked, there was no way to stay silent about something like this.

Regardless of what kind of person he is, if he’s committed a crime, the right thing to do is confess and stand trial in this land.

That’s the right thing to do, but... a hanging?

In this world, there are temporary holding cells, but there aren’t many long-term prisons for housing criminals. Usually, after a trial, a sentence is carried out immediately.

And the punishments here are pretty brutal. Thieves have their wrists chopped off, and rapists are castrated… that’s how it works here. For lesser crimes, you might get off with a few lashes, I’ve heard.

Even after hearing his reasoning, Elvira still wasn’t convinced.

“No! It’s not right for someone as good as Nils to be hanged! I’ll ask my father to make sure it doesn’t happen! He listens to everything I say!”

“You’re unbelievable. What kind of upbringing did you even have?”

“If that’s what you think, Nils, then you should become my butler and teach me!”

“Yeah... but even if I do, would you actually listen to me?”

“If I agree with what you say, I will!”

“You won’t listen at all, will you?”

“Nils, you just have to convince me! I already trust you, so I’ll listen a little.”

“This is gonna be a long road...”

At that, Nils chuckled softly. When Elvira asked what was so funny, he simply said, “Nothing”.

And then, the two of them started to bicker playfully, as if they were enjoying themselves. It seemed like there was no need for me to listen any further, so I focused back on carrying the eggs.