/
Know Your Crimes
「Stop fucking around! Like I’ll let you do that!!」
Kill Miroslav.
The first thing that came out of Larz’s mouth after hearing my request was his angered voice that shook the walls.
He reached towards the spot next to his waist with his right hand but there was nothing there. That’s where his sword would usually be at.
A sixth-tier adventurer was boiling with rage. He was seriously angry.
My past self would be shaking. I might have even pissed my pants.
But to me now, the rage of this man before my eyes feels like nothing but a breeze to me.
「Why are you mad? You said it yourself, didn’t you? You told me you would let me decide」
「There’s a limit to that! Why do you have to kill her?!」
「Why? Of course, it’s because she wanted to kill me」
「You’re still alive, aren’t you?! You got saved, didn’t you?!  Then there’s no need for her to die!」
「…Are you stupid?」
「What did you say?!」
「Just because I survived in the end, is that a reason to let go of a murderer? I did survive, but it’s only because of my own luck and strength. It had nothing to do with the murderer, you, or anyone else involved in this incident. Why would you guys be freed of your sins because of that?」
「Stop calling Miro a murderer! I will say it again and again, aren’t you still alive?! Miro didn’t kill anyone!!」
*Hahhh*, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Then, I tried to explain to Larz who had lost his temper in a way that would be easy to understand.
「For example..Okay. Let’s say that I stabbed your heart from behind one day」
「…What are you talking about?」
「Just listen. So after I stabbed you there, you will obviously die. However, there just happened to be a priest nearby who could use the miracle『Resurrection』, and he brought you back to life. After that, you would still come after me, no? You would call me a murderer, right? Then when you do, I’ll tell you “You are still alive, aren’t you? That’s why I’m not a murderer! Don’t call me that!” So? What do you think about that? Am I still in the wrong?」
「That is…!」
「Do you see how unreasonable you were being now?」
Larz’s fists were shaking as he remained silent after I questioned him.
Suddenly, Iria opened her mouth as if she came to back him up.
「That’s bullshit. Don’t be fooled, Larz. In our situation, Miro hit his arm and not his heart. Of course, that was still a crime but it’s crazy to treat it like she was aiming for his life, right?」
「…You’re right! That’s right, Miro’s magic hit your arm, even you said so yourself, Sora!」
「Every person that talks in similitude are people who tries to fit their own narrative in, just like this guy!」
Iria stared at me like “If you have a comeback then let’s hear it”.
Larz regained his energy from Iria’s words.
I couldn’t help but sigh again after seeing that.
The number of dumbasses had increased to two. Oi…Do you guys really not realize what you’re saying?
Lunamaria was still silent. Since she was hidden from my view because of Larz and Miroslav, I couldn’t tell what she was thinking…ah whatever. I’m pretty tired of this unproductive conversation anyway, it’s about time we end this.
「”Miro hit my arm and not my heart”, huh? Iria, do you know that’s even more cruel than just killing me? Even though you’re in a C-ranked party, you don’t know what happens to the people who get caught by a king of flies?」
Larz furrowed his brow in suspicion, while Iria went silent as if she turned mute.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Lunamaria’s shoulder twitch.
「What do you mean by that?」
「You really don’t know, huh? You don’t spend much time on your studies as usual, Larz. Here, Iria, teach him like you always do- In a way that’s easy for him to understand」
「…Umm」
「O-oi, Iria, what did he mean?」
「…The king of flies paralyzes its prey with poison and then it brings them back to its nest. Then, they are fed to its larvae alive…」
「Wha?! Then-then…Sora, you were…」
「Yes, I became their live feed. Oh, how I want to share even one percent of the fear and despair from that time with you!」
I showed an artificial smile and then I talked to Iria in a soft, coaxing voice.
「So, back to what you were saying earlier, Iria. You said she was guilty for hitting my arm but it’s crazy to treat it like she was trying to kill me, right? Come on, say that to Larz’s face. Tell him that getting me caught alive by the king of flies is less of a sin than killing me on the spot there!」
「…」
「Oh? You’re staying silent now that things become inconvenient for you, huh? You, a priest of the god of law sect, seem to be exercising your right to remain silent now? A “Murderer” and a “Mute”, hah, you two truly suit each other as companions」
「Sora! Stop it! I won’t forgive you if you mock my companions any more than this!」
「And their leader, the “Angry Boy”. Larz, I’ll say this too while I’m at it, do you think that it was a coincidence that your party ran towards me after you guys were attacked?」
「What do you mean by that?!」
「Iria knew. Of course, Miroslav the magician, and Lunamaria, who is a qualified sage, they should both know as well, about how strong a king of flies is. You guys had no chance of winning even if you fought. If you lost, someone would have gotten eaten. The one who was in the most danger was you, their leader who had fainted. All three of them would have been thinking of the same thing since they like you- “Isn’t there a way to save our leader?” A way to save you as well as themselves… Then they remembered. They remembered the fact that you guys ran into me before you entered the forest. They ran in my direction knowing that I was there. It was no coincidence」
「…」
「Why do you think Miroslav, who specialized in fire magic, only used wind magic at that time? That’s because her fire magic would be too powerful. She knew the traits of a king of flies well; it’s a monster that would be only interested in a living human. It would defeat the purpose of making me the decoy if she killed me. That’s why she used wind magic since it had a limit to its destruction power. She wanted to hurt me but not kill me, so that I would become the monster’s live prey」
「That’s bullshit!」
「Hmph. To you guys, the 『Falcon Sword 』, the “parasite” was a stain on your reputation from the past. Amongst your comrades, Miroslav hated me the most. She tried to isolate me and kick me out of the city by spreading my bad reputation. However, I still didn’t leave. I was still trying to stay even after getting expelled by the guild. And at a time like that, I was attacked by the king of flies…」
「…Oi. Sora, you… Don’t tell me…」
「She probably thought it was an excellent chance to get rid of me. She could do it with the great purpose of saving you. Even if she were accused of committing a crime, she would just use the term Necessity in her defense. I was astonished when she brought up the term Necessity. Wasn’t it just a plan to murder someone with a monster?」
「S-stop fucking around! Stop fucking with me, damn you! Even though we were once companions, how could you—」
「Companions? 『That guy has nothing to do with us anymore anyway』– Didn’t you say that when you ran into me before you guys entered the forest?」
「Ughh….!」
「…Well, to be honest, I’m not sure if Iria or Lunamaria had thought that far about me. However, Miroslav absolutely acted with everything planned in her mind. I bet she was the one who was leading the way when you guys were running from the king of flies. Am I right, Iria, Lunamaria?」
They didn’t answer even when I asked them.
There was not a single voice that reaffirmed my accusations, but there was none denying them either.
Iria cannot lie as a priest, and Lunamaria is an elf who believes that lying is a detestable act. And, there’s no way for Larz to deny that when he was unconscious at the time.
When Larz quickly turned to look at Miroslav, the magic user quickly swung her red hair that she’s very proud of with force from side to side and denied those claims.
「H-he’s lying, he’s lying! Don’t believe him, Larz. I… I did attack him. But I did it to save us! It was a quick decision! I didn’t do it with intentions to kill him! It’s absolutely not true!!」
Miroslav was clinging onto him. It’s a scene that already happened a while ago.
I ridiculed her with my many years of built up resentment.
「Well, of course you’d say that. There’s no woman who would answer “Yeah, I tried to get rid of the nuisance intentionally” in front of the man they like」
「S-shut up, you insolent cur! H-how dare you keep flapping your mouth about that bullshit…! Do you think you can get away with this if you make an enemy with the Sauzar Company’s daughter?!」
There was a fiery glint in Miroslav’s eyes that looked like it could curse someone to death.
I heard there are some magic users out there who could use things like evil eyes or demonic eyes, perhaps she had awakened to an ability like that. But I honestly don’t give a crap at all.
I raised my hands up in an exaggerated manner and looked at the guild receptionist who had been taking notes to record this entire exchange.
「So, the daughter of the Sauzar Company has spoken. I have no intention to withdraw my claim either. Therefore, I want to make a proposition to the adventurers’ guild」
「…A proposition?」
「Yes. I request for a priest who can use the miracle 『Sense Lie』. If we check this girl’s testimony that way, everything will be clear. If my accusations were wrong, I will withdraw everything and receive the punishment for accusing someone of being a murderer. I swear I will never appear in this town or the guild as well. Even she should have no reason to refuse this since the truth will quickly come to light that way, if she’s not lying that is」
I looked at Miroslav in a sly way.
If my doubts about her were really wrong, she would have answered with something like “That’s just what I wanted!”.
However, I saw it. The light of hesitation that flickered in the magic user’s eyes.
The guild receptionist probably caught sight of that as well. The words she spoke next had a terribly cold tone to them.