Chapter 51 (2/2)

【”Good grief”](shopkeeper)

While sighing, the shopkeeper left the counter and went from seat to seat to inform the clients that he was closing up shop early.

Though it was going to affect the sales, he would make up for it later with the help of his colleagues and subordinates.

【”So, what is it you want to know?”]

【”There is that one subordinate of mine who is likely going to have his head sliced off because of an inexplicable judgement. I want to learn the truth of the matter from the people who were involved in the deliberations.”]

【”Even if you do that, you can’t overrule the decision of the council.”]

【”I’m well aware of that. It’s just some useless resistance on my part.”]

If this didn’t go well, he would have to seriously consider joining Erica, as she had half-jokingly suggested to him.

He wanted to help Harold, no matter what it entailed, Cody’s intentions were that genuine. Having felt that, Walsh did not attempt to stop him.

【”But you could end up in some serious trouble, too. If you overlook this situation, you might get caught, you know? Don’t you mind that?”](Cody)

【”Hah…… shut the hell up and mind your own business, will you?  I just have to ask him about that deliberation, is that it?”]

【”Oh man, a friend in need is a friend indeed, am I right?”]

【”Maybe I should go home after all”]

【”Wait, I was just kidding!”]

For Cody, getting Walsh’s cooperation was the ideal scenario.

And so, Cody told Walsh which questions he wanted him to ask.

While they held that conversation, Cody and the others soon became the only four people left in the shop. But in his drunkenness, Finnegan did not seem to be aware of his surroundings as he inclined his glass little by little.

The preparations for the interrogation were complete.

Walsh, who had received the ale mixed with the medicine, placed it in front of Finnegan.

【”There you go”]

【”…Thank you”]

Finnegan sluggishly turned his eyes to the drink and tasted it without an ounce of suspicion. He drank a third in a single gulp.

Then, after waiting long enough for the medicine to start taking effect, Walsh asked him.

【”That thing the other day was really terrible.”]

【”…..terrible?”]

【”You were commander of the expedition, right? Who could have seen that coming”]

【”That thing….”]

He muttered, feeling terribly dispirited. He did not want to recall the events of the Vertice forest which had brought so many casualties.

But even though Finnegan was slow of speech, Walsh had to strike while the iron was hot as the liquor and medicine were taking effect. It was too good of an opportunity to pass on.

【”It seems like one of those recruits is going to receive the capital punishment for treason, but, what did the guy do?”](Walsh)

【”I haven’t actually seen it, but in the report it’s said that he ignored his superior’s orders and escaped in front of the enemy. He’s also suspected of being a spy for wearing a military uniform from the empire.”](Walsh)

【”Hmm. Well, disobeying the superior’s orders and running from the enemy is not unusual for new recruits, so it must be the spy charges. I’m pretty sure that’s what lead to the decision of giving him the capital punishment”](Walsh)

【”No…..”](Finnegan)

While Finnegan was completely lost about what to answer, his eyes gradually turned blank under the effect of the medicine.

【”No we didn’t decide that… But that person said Harold was dangerous. Therefore, so that he wouldn’t kill my wife, for Cynthia’s life….”]

It wasn’t just the alcohol speaking.

Finnegan’s tone became uncertain.

【”Who said it? Dangerous in what way? That has nothing to do with you wife, right?”](Walsh)

【”…ah yes, it’s not related to her… But still, it’s no good. Harold being alive is no good. I could have opposed the judgement, but my child will soon be born….. So, I had to….”]

Finnegan’s state rapidly turned odd. His words were incoherent, and his atmosphere was strange overall.

Had the medicine worked too well? As Walsh wondered that, Finnegan suddenly stood up. The chair he was sitting on fell backwards from the power of his brusque move.

And then――

【”…..ah, aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAH! AAAAAH!”]

Bizarre. As he let out a voice that could only be described as such, Finnegan started running. He ran up to one of the shop’s supporting pillars, grabbed the massive log with both of his hands and began striking his head on it.

As he raised his strange voice as loud as he could, he kept striking again and again until blood started streaming down from his forehead.

Thereupon, Cody and Walsh finally came back to their senses and went to stop the sudden act of violence.

【”Hey wait…!”]

【”What are you doing?!”]

The duo pulled him from both sides to stop him from inuring himself. Even so, Finnegan was violently swinging his head left and right as he continued letting out that bizarre voice.

Despite being restrained by two strong men like Cody and Walsh, he kept resisting for more than five minutes.

However, that resistance suddenly ended. And Finnegan abruptly lost consciousness.

Cody put the exhausted body face up and hurriedly checked his pulse and breathing.

【”…He’s alive”]

The three let out deep sighs of relief.

For the time being, they had to treat his wounds, so Cody instructed the shopkeeper to fetch some cloths and bandages in the shop. Nobody there could use healing magic.

In any case, he wouldn’t be able to hear him out today. Though his injury itself seemed pretty light, they didn’t know about the insides of his head, so he had to be hospitalized for several days.

The shopkeeper had gone out, and for a short while, no sound could be heard in the room. As if he couldn’t bear this anymore, Walsh broke the silence.

【”What just happened?”]

【”…… I don’t know. All I can tell is that it can’t really be justified by the medicine’s effects.”]

There was no illusion or confusion factor in the medicine he made Finnegan drink. And drinking it with sake was fine as well.

【”The Finnegan from earlier was nothing like his usual self…”]

【”I know right? It’s as if he was “possessed by a demon”.”]

A demon. It was his frank opinion regarding Finnegan’s actions.

However, those words he so casually spoke, gave Cody a very bad feeling.