"Mr. Lugis. There's no point in all this, why don't we both put down our swords?
With his white blade gleaming, Herd Stanley muttered in an appeasing manner.
I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I'm sure it's a good idea. If you were to casually jump into his pocket for a surprise attack, his skull would be split in two.
I tried to keep the emotions flowing out of my heart out of my voice and tried to keep my tone as light as possible.
Yes, I agree with you. Yeah, I agree with you. But if we can't bend each other, there's nothing we can do about it.
I muttered to myself, "There are times like this," and spat out my chewing tobacco.
He held a knife in both hands that shone with a dull silver light and kept a reasonable distance from Heldt. It is not an opponent that can be fought rashly. Rather, he did not want to fight without a surprise attack or a trap.
After all, he was dealing with the future savior of the world, the undeniable genius, the sun-like majesty of Held Stanley.
Dust danced in the gutter. In this dimly lit city, only this boulevard was strangely sunny.
I hate it. Yeah, no. Fighting this guy head-on is insane.
And the girl?
So, where's the girl?
She's long gone, he says. He points to the crowded street.
One thing's for sure, he's got bad luck. He's only a child, but he has no reason to be running around in a familiar favela.
He patted his chest as he looked around the crowd and saw no sign of the little figure, and locked eyes with Heldt.
...... Mr. Lugis, why are you doing this?
I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one. He looked as if he was trying to figure out the truth. It was a puzzled look, which was unusual for a man who divides everything between good and justice.
You're asking me something I don't understand. The sister of an acquaintance of mine was about to have one of her arms cut off. You can't help but offer your hand.
He looks at the guards lined up behind him with narrowed eyes.
When Heldt asks if this is true, the guard seems to think that there is no excuse. The guard replied with a salute, "Yes, sir.
This was, of course, very different from his arrogant attitude toward the inhabitants of the poorhouse. He was polite in a way that I have never been treated by anyone.
I don't know when he, Heldt, became a captain of the Guard.
I had never heard of him in my previous travels. However, I have heard that the Stanley family is a well-known family in Galuamaria.
If so, it was only natural that there would be differences in the Guard depending on family status, even though it was a group of citizens. I've never heard of an organization that is completely equal. It is understandable that his family's support and his skill made him a captain in a short time. Of course, there may have been other reasons.
After exchanging a few words with his subordinate guards, Heldt kept his mouth shut, his lips pouting for a moment as he said.
"Very well. I order you to take the girl. But I will not allow you to execute her on the spot. No matter what.
My eyes widened and I couldn't believe my ears. I blinked my eyelids, wondering if I'd misheard something.
What the hell is he talking about? I don't understand. I felt like I was further from understanding than I had been with the lizard earlier.
This person, Heldt, is not a person with bad sense. Like the lizard, he would never try to secure Cereal just for his own merits. So why?
"...... You're outside the walls, Held Stanley. What's the logic behind the Guardsmen coming into the poorhouse?
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Heldt raises both eyebrows and slowly shakes his head. He raises both eyebrows and slowly shakes his head, as if he can see through all of our intentions.
I understand that you did not know the truth. Mr. Lugis ...... received a report from his men that the girl had a tattoo. So we can't just let it go.
It sounds as if he is trying to be conciliatory. Like you're trying to warm up to them. I didn't like the way he said it.
It was true, Cereal had a tattoo on his neck. A sign of his past sins.
But that's the theory. His mouth shook as he made sense. Oh, I'd forgotten all about that.
I'd forgotten that Heldt is a stubborn man who doesn't agree with me at all, and who will not tolerate evil.
So this is what he's trying to say. Tattoos are a sign of an ex-convict. Even if it is a girl, if she was once tattooed in Garou Amalia, this suspicion is not so easy to clear up. It's more like black.
Well, that's perfect. Excellent. That's more than enough justification.
The tattooed are not even allowed to approach Galuamaria. This is a clause that we have agreed to with the surrounding city-states. Mr. Lugis, I understand your point. But can you please let me handle this?
I guess he's trying to say that he won't do anything wrong.
If you are a captain of the Guard, you can send letters to the surrounding city-states as well.
Unlike the lizards, who are only second-in-command, Heldt has the right to drive them out of Galuamaria as long as they have tattoos.
It's a masterpiece.
Leave it to me, it's a laugh. What a sick joke.
My hands and feet go numb. His throat is dry and he refuses to speak. It was as if the snake that had coiled itself around my spirit for so many years was whispering to me to be quiet.
I can't say that I wasn't partly inspired by Heldt on that journey to salvation. I can't help but feel like he's right. No, he's right. There's no difference.
But still different. You and I are absolutely different creatures.
"- I don't blame you, man. It's me. You can judge me.
Herdt's eyes widened as if to ask, "What do you mean by those sudden words? There's no turning back now.
But I'm leaving you in charge of Cereal. I can't do that. You'll punish her. That's the man. This man doesn't understand.
No, he doesn't. Tattoos are a sign of guilt. A theft, a cut, a fraud. There's no such thing as a stipend.
There is no concept in this man's mind that he is compelled to sin. Sin is not something that should be committed at any time.
So, he doesn't even imagine it.
No money to call a doctor, no medicine to buy. You can't even bring nutritious food. You can only watch with wet eyes as your sick family members weaken and die.
No matter how much you pray to God, the world will not help you, and your childhood mind will understand that there is no one in this world who can help you.
And that those who still can't give up, in their quest for medicine and nourishment, may turn to sin.
It's not just Helt. They don't understand, the strong ones. The weak are not included in the theories of the strong.
"I said I'm the one who stole that thing. And that kid's not an accomplice or anything. He's just a passerby.
I'm not asking you to tolerate that. Sin is sin. Punishment is punishment. Yeah, that sounds about right.
But some people can't live in that world.
And there's no point in trying, because the kid can't talk. A long time ago, when I was younger than you, my brother was almost killed by the guards.
He pulled a knife from his waistband and said this as if it was nothing.
There's no turning back now. I'm not even going to try.
His thoughts were surprisingly calm. Deep down, he knew.
That I and Held Stanley were incompatible in will, life, and soul.