Chapter 46 - Persecution Complex (1/2)

—Raust—

It was some time after I broke away from Narsena that I saw Armia running away somewhere in a hurry.

I couldn’t clearly see her face as she was quite a bit away, but seeing that she looked lively, I smiled involuntarily.

「Narsena, you did well.」

To be honest, Armia before this looked really pitiful.

However, even if I reached out to her, the problem wouldn’t be solved.

I understood because when I was betrayed by the first party I was in, I also fell to the same place as Armia.

…I could tell her I forgive her, or I don’t, regardless, it wouldn’t solve the fundamental problem.

But, as I didn’t know what to do, I gave up, though Narsena was different.

「Can you leave this to me, Onii-san?……… I’ve never been betrayed by someone I admire. But, just imagining it hurts my heart and I can’t stand it. I just…… can’t leave her alone.」

After Zieg-san left, Narsena told me so.

To be honest, I didn’t understand what she was going to do.

Even so, I didn’t hesitate to let her do what she wanted.

It was thanks to Narsena that I was able to recover from the bottom.

I had a premonition that if it was Narsena, she could handle Armia just fine.

And that premonition was right.

I knew that from Armia’s appearance as she ran away.

Now Zieg-san and his party will be relieved.

「……Seriously, Narsena, you’re amazing.」

Thinking so, I muttered those words.

Narsena was different from me, she was an excellent and special existence.

Embracing that feeling anew, I felt proud of my party member.

And then, with a fresh mood, I walked away from this place.

「Found you, finally.」

「It’s good that we believe the guild’s staff’s words……」

「……Huh?」

……However, hearing multiple voices of men, I stopped my leg.

Their voice wasn’t from someone I knew.

However, while feeling an unknown sense of deja vu, I looked back timidly.

「………Uaaa-」

And then, seeing large numbers of adventurers there, my face cramped.

Without realizing the small shriek I leaked, the adventurers began to bow their heads to apologize.

「I’m really sorry for what I’ve done until now!」

…These adventurers were the people I escaped from before, the people whose apologies I ignored.

As the slowly approaching unsavory adventurers began to surround me, the two words making the word runaway disappeared from my head.

「Please! I will even give you all my money! Please, at least spare my life!」

……Seeing the adventurers beg with a desperate expression, I knew running away was impossible.

They would never give up even if I ran away now.

Even if I don’t have a plan to kill them, they wouldn’t know that.

「…Hahh~」

Thinking that, I let out a sigh.

For the time being, I couldn’t leave this place without explaining the misunderstanding of the adventurers in front of me.

「…For the time being, would you guys calm down?」

Having decided so, I raised my voice…

◇ ◆ ◇

「Please! life, at least…」

Even after a dozen or so minutes after I decided I would solve the misunderstanding, the situation didn’t progress at all.

While listening to the adventurers who bowed in front me, with a convulsing face I opened my mouth.

「No, seriously, I never thought about taking your life……」

「N-No! It’s fine! Even if you say that, I know there is no way you tell us!」

「Yes! You will absolutely not tell!」

「That’s why, life……」

…But my words didn’t enter their ears.

I’m not going to take your life, I wasn’t sure anymore how much time I have repeated that.