Chapter 115 (1/2)
Isaac 115
It was just as Isaac had said. Isaac’s open arms turned her attention to the nearby agents’ twisted faces. All of them seemed as if they’d rather die as they formed a protective circle around Isaac. Baffled, Rivelia shouted out.
“Why! Why do you protect him!”
“The fact you don’t know that is precisely why you’re the innocent damsel.”
Twitch!
The stare Rivelia sent to Isaac would have killed him a thousand times if it had physical form, but Isaac snickered away as he lit a new cigarette.
“O damsel of the great and magnificent Duke Pendleton, your family certainly has the power to cover everything up after you kill these r.e.t.a.r.ds and I. Why do these r.e.t.a.r.ds protect me you say? Don’t you remember? These r.e.t.a.r.ds placed their entire lives on the line for a reward in the distant future. But if I die, that reward will evaporate into thin air. Can the Pendletons or the Emperor promise the same thing I offered them? They are protecting me with everything they have because that’s impossible. Do you understand now?”
“Just… just for that…”
Isaac heard Rivelia’s muttering and shook his head.
“Those who look down from high above find it difficult to see how insects squirm under their feet. They don’t even understand why insects squirm in the first place. It’s not just for that reason but because of that reason. What seems like petty rewards to the great n.o.bles are these r.e.t.a.r.ds’ lifelong goals.”
“Even if you say that, it still doesn’t justify this atrocity!”
Rivelia argued back, and Isaac stepped down from his box.
“You’re right if you use common sense. But common sense can always be changed to suit one’s palate. Now! Let me ask. What did Central say?”
“…”
“I’m sure you reported this to the higher-ups? What was their reply?”
“That it is an unavoidable sacrifice… But!”
“Hey, damsel, there are no buts. Now that it has been decided by those ruling this world, it is now our common sense.”
“…”
Isaac commented cynically, and Rivelia dropped her sword with utter defeat on her face. The agents let out a sigh of relief. Facing a Sword Master was an almost insurmountable challenge by itself, but Rivelia was especially untouchable. Duke Pendleton’s vengeance was a foregone conclusion if they dared lay a finger on her.
At that moment, the sound of hooves signaled the arrival of a group of wagons, who entered the village plaza. The agents looked to see what it was.
“… Huh? Was I late?”
Saints asked carefully as he noticed the heavy, awkward atmosphere that had befallen the plaza.
“No. Perfect timing. Welcome. We don’t have much time, so hurry up.”
“… Don’t tell me you’re going to rob the storage?”
Kainen asked, dumbfounded, as Saints and his men busily loaded goods from storage onto their wagons.
“Of course I am. We are bandits. You think anyone would believe a story about bandits leaving supplies behind?”
“…”
The agents were lost for words, and even Rivelia seemed too exhausted to be angry. She simply watched with a despairing look on her face. Suddenly, one of the agents that left to find the last civilian returned. The civilian was thrown into the middle of the plaza by the agents, and the boy quivered in absolute terror as he saw the dead bodies around him.
“Oh! The sole survivor. Kill him.”
Isaac waved at the boy warmly and gave his order.
“No!”
Rivelia ran and put herself in front of the boy, her arms outstretched.
“Sigh. Do you really want to tire me this much?”
“He’s but a child!”
“He’s all grown up. Kill him.”
Isaac looked at the boy, who seemed to have just reached the end of p.u.b.erty, and replied in annoyance. Rivelia lowered her head.
“I beg of you.”
Rivelia pleaded earnestly. Isaac, who was about to place his cigarette in his mouth, stopped and looked at Rivelia in disbelief.
“Hey, damsel, are you begging me?”
“Yes. I am begging you.”
Thud!
Troubled, Isaac scratched his cheek as he saw Rivelia kneel before him. He sighed, and approached the boy.
The boy was quivering right next to Rivelia, his only hope, with his eyes shut.
“Hey, brat, raise your head. Oi, you listening?”
The boy quivered in place when Isaac called him. But when Isaac’s speech started to sound annoyance, the boy carefully raised his head. When the boy’s eyes met with Isaac’s, the boy gulped in terror and stepped back, and Rivelia, who had been watching, again put herself in between the boy and Isaac. Under Rivelia’s watchful gaze, Isaac spoke as wisps of smoke wafted out of his mouth.
“Brat, what’s your name?”
“Ph-Philson.”
“So, Philson. How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“Hm. You’re all grown up then.”
“N, no! My birthday has yet to pa.s.s, so I’m still sixteen! Trust me!”
Philson heard the two argue whether to let him live or not regarding how young he was. Worried that Isaac was going to push for his death for being an adult, Philson pleaded to Rivelia that he was sixteen.
“Whatever. Did you live in this village? What about your parents?”
“I don’t have parents. Please spare me. If I’m gone, my siblings will have nowhere to go!”
“Oh dear, you have siblings? Where are they now? How old are they?”
Philson saw a glint of hope as he saw pity in Isaac’s eyes, so he did his best to plea his case.
“Eins is twelve, Colin is ten, and Emilia is eight. They are all nice and adorable children. Without me, they will starve to death. I was supposed to leave the village originally, but I begged to be hired for this job. Please spare me.”
Philson begged desperately to Isaac, yet all that returned was a pitying shake of Isaac’s head.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you live.”
“Sir Isaac!”
Rivelia shouted. Isaac smirked, never imagining Rivelia of all people would call him ‘Sir.’
“But I’ll make one promise. If you are prepared to die here, I will make sure to take care of your children.”