Chapter 304
“Why the sudden change of heart…? I’m curious about the reason.”
“Those who commit crimes must receive a fitting punishment. Isn’t that one of the teachings of Annwood Academy?”
It’s a principle one hears at least once in their life.
The kind of rhetoric that idiots use to justify their own murders, claiming the legitimacy of private sanctions.
Caron felt like a fool for having even a sliver of expectation.
“So this fitting punishment is ‘death,’ is it? Deciding the punishment by yourself without even holding a noble’s trial… Does the Academy’s Principal have such authority? I wasn’t aware. I’ve made a huge mistake.”
Caron slightly bowed his head.
A blatant mockery. But Dwener didn’t even snort in response.
“No matter what you say, I’ve already made up my mind. If you’re not going to help, then stay out of it. I’ll handle it myself.”
“I don’t understand. Why this sudden behavior? Didn’t you say confidently last time that you’d find a way within the bounds of the law?”
“Caron, you know this as well as I do. They’ve crossed the line long ago. The power of the law alone isn’t enough to stop them!”
Caron knew it well. He’d gone through these stages long before Dwener.
He understood Dwener’s feelings, but becoming a monster like them would render it meaningless.
“If villains like them don’t pay for their crimes, not only innocent people but also children will be put in danger.”
Count Zachary and Administrator Rieur.
They would certainly commit such acts again. And in the process, some children would inevitably get caught up.
The “children” Dwener spoke of didn’t just refer to the students of Annwood Academy.
He meant all the children in this world. All of them.
“And what will the children think if those criminals go unpunished?”
“You’re embarrassed to face the children, so you’re going to kill them. Is that it?”
“We need to show them that this world is functioning correctly. Even if it’s just on the surface… It’ll be enough for the children to nurture their dreams.”
“To protect the children’s innocence, you’re going to kill people. How impressive.”
“Yes, I will protect their innocence. Even if it’s only for three years! Children should be able to be children!”
“…!!”
Caron’s eyes widened.
Children as children.
Students as students.
Adults as adults.
A world where everyone acts according to their age. That was one of the worlds Caron had dreamed of.
‘…To hear those words from his mouth.’
A dream that everyone had mocked Caron for.
Now, someone was saying it wasn’t a foolish dream, but an achievable one.
Right here, right in front of him.
‘But this isn’t something that can be achieved with high ideals alone.’
Becoming a monster, killing villains—it’s easy.
Even Caron could do it without difficulty, more easily than anyone else.
After all, the number of those who couldn’t control their anger and executed villains was relatively high.
However—
‘You can’t call them heroes.’
They’re just people who couldn’t contain their anger. While some might praise them as heroes, Caron certainly didn’t see it that way.
There was something that distinguished them from heroes. And that was—
‘A spirit of sacrifice.’
Not feeling pleasure while killing villains, but feeling pain.
Taking responsibility and feeling guilty for what one has done, bearing the weight of death.
That was Caron’s definition of a hero.
Of course, this was only from Caron’s perspective. To the average person, Dwener’s actions wouldn’t appear heroic but rather—
‘Just a mad killer justifying his own actions.’
Nothing more, nothing less.
That’s why this path is so difficult. Even if you eradicate evil for the sake of the world, in the end, you’ll be remembered as a great villain in history.
And the end… goes without saying. It would be a horrible demise.
‘Dwener… Are you really prepared to walk that path?’
Caron adjusted his posture.
Yes, anyone can talk a big game. What matters is whether you can actually put those thoughts into practice.
Conveniently, the materials were already prepared.
It would be more than enough to test Dwener.
“…I see. I understand your intentions, Principal. Go ahead and try.”
“You’re going to help?”
“Just this once. We’re in the same boat, after all. What choice do I have?”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“Talking to me about this in the first place was a mistake. What if I decided to leak this information elsewhere…”
Caron grumbled. To so boldly declare his intention to kill those people.
Not much of a mastermind.
But Dwener just gave a pleasant laugh.
“So, do you have any ideas?”
“Of course. As you know well, there’s something even more important than just killing them.”
“To make it known to the world that they’re villains deserving of death, right?”
Dwener nodded.
While gaining public support was one reason, his main intent was to send a warning to other villains.
If villains were struck with fear, then their wicked acts would also decrease.
And to instill that fear effectively—
“The most effective way is to show the gruesome end of a villain. Do you have anything in mind?”
“I’ve been thinking about it. Caron, it may not be as sophisticated as your methods, but…”
What Dwener suggested was something so horrific, gruesome, and monstrous that it couldn’t be described in words.
Even the great Caron felt a shock.
“Call me when it’s time to wrap things up. I’ll finish it.”
“…Understood.”
With a slight shudder, Caron left the office.
Dwener, left alone, leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
“Huu…”
He was old. Long ago, he had grown old while chasing dreams.
But if the times demanded it, if it meant protecting the children…
If even someone like him had the qualifications—
“Then I’ll gladly take on the role of a mad murderer.”
The rats’ hideout.
“A duel between the wandering knight Jenson and Henry of the Red Tiger Order…”
“The genius of the Rownter family, Yuridia…”
“Student Council President Aywin confronted a high-ranking demon to buy time…”
The rats were sharing their information while rummaging through the garbage piles.
“…”
The hideout, which had been bustling like a marketplace, suddenly fell silent. Because someone had appeared.
Step.
The leader of the rats and the Empire’s rat.
Caron.
“…There’s a new job.”
No conversations about how things were, no inquiries about injuries. No simple salutes to their leader.
Working during that time was more efficient.
“The client is me.”
The eyes of the rats, each in their comfortable positions, sparkled.
A job from Caron. An event that happened only a few times a year.
“This is a personal request, and you are not to tell anyone about it. If you don’t want to do it, leave now.”
If a job didn’t suit them, they should immediately withdraw. That was the rule of the rats.
But not even the sound of a small footstep could be heard. Not a single rat left.
What is it with these rats? Are they so desperate for work? Caron wondered.
‘I don’t distrust my subordinates, but…’
There could be double agents planted by certain families. If there was a spy from Duke Aziz’s faction among them, it would be critical.
After a moment’s thought, Caron spoke up.
“Ten years of experience minimum, confident in torture, and someone who has lost family unjustly due to nobles.”
“Damn it…”
“Too bad.”
About 90% of the rats rushed out of the hideout.
Caron went through a few more rounds of selection, and ultimately, two rats remained.
Roy and Bernstein, two veteran rats.
“Follow me.”
They followed Caron. Half a day later, they arrived at their destination. Both of them knew this place well.
It was where Count Zachary and Administrator Rieur, the two pigs, were being held.
A rat who had been hiding somewhere appeared and opened the cell door, leading the way for Caron and his group.
After passing through about four massive doors leading underground, they finally reached their destination.
“C-Caron!?”
“Sir Caron!?”
The two pigs began to have fits the moment they saw Caron.
But it didn’t last long. They puffed out their large bellies and shouted.
“I am Zachary! Go ahead and torture me as much as you like! I will never give in!”
“I-I’ve memorized your faces! You’d better be prepared!”
It was the fourth day since they’d been captured.
At first, they were busy trembling in fear, but by the third day, they had assessed their situation.
‘No torture…?’
‘They’re feeding us…?’
It was a poor lifestyle compared to usual, but what mattered was that there was no torture.
‘If it’s Caron, he would’ve easily gathered information on our misdeeds. And if he still hasn’t tortured us…’
Duke Aziz. Their backer must be pulling some strings.
“Kukuku, of course. Duke Aziz wouldn’t abandon me.”
With the Lester family, once a pillar of the Empire, now gone,
Duke Aziz aimed to take their place, and Count Zachary had rallied people to support him.
Given that Carpathia was at the Empire’s center and a major trade hub, Count Zachary’s connections were extensive.
‘Well, there were a lot of bribes and other things, too.’
In any case, abandoning him, a retainer of Duke Aziz’s faction, would be like stepping down from the position of a pillar.
Even now, he was surely doing his utmost to get him out.
Count Zachary’s calculations were complete, which is why he was acting so boldly.
As for Administrator Rieur, the person next to him? Well…
‘What happens to him doesn’t concern me.’
In fact, Administrator Rieur was at the top of the list of people to be killed as soon as he got out of here.
He knew too many secrets, having worked closely with him.
Count Zachary wasn’t foolish enough to keep someone alive who knew his weaknesses.
‘No, that’s not right. Rieur is second. First place goes to…’
Dwener, who had dared punch him. That bastard.
How could someone from a third-rate family dare to strike a high noble like him?
As soon as he got out, he’d send someone to kill Dwener.
‘No, no, I should give him a beating worse than the one I got first.’
Even though Dwener was technically part of Duke Aziz’s faction, he was just a parachute appointee.
Duke Aziz wouldn’t say a word even if he killed Dwener. That’s the kind of man he was.
Yes, Count Zachary’s plan was perfect.
He thrust his belly out at Caron and shouted once more.
“You impudent fool! How dare you threaten me, a mere tool of the Emperor! Fine, go ahead and torture me! I’ll show you the pride of a noble!”
“…So be it.”
“Fine! Do your worst… Huh?”
What did Caron just say? Surely, he didn’t say he’d torture him.
To torture a high noble like him?
Yeah, he must have misheard.
“Ahem, maybe I got a little too excited. Yes, Caron. You can’t be blamed. You’re just following orders from above.”
“…”
“But really, torture? Isn’t that joke a bit much? Let’s just drop it and have a drink, talk about all the misunderstandings. I’ll pay, of course, no worries.”
Count Zachary slightly bowed his waist in a pleading gesture.
Caron’s response was straightforward.
“Restrain them. We’re moving.”
“W-Wait! Yes, yes, calling you the Emperor’s tool was harsh. I was wrong. Please, Sir Caron!”
“S-Spare me, please!”
Restraint wasn’t easy when the two of them, each as large as three grown men and pig-like, began to struggle.
Caron’s hand moved like lightning.
“Guh!”
Thud.
Administrator Rieur collapsed. Caron had struck him in the face with his fist.
Realizing the situation had taken a strange turn, Count Zachary began to wail.
“S-Sir Caron! Don’t do this! I’ve done wrong. No matter how angry you are, if you go this far… Guh!”
Count Zachary fell to the ground. His last memory was of Caron’s large fist.
Everyone has a plan that sounds good.
Until they get tortured.
–TL Notes–
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