Chapter 162: Rehabilitation Possibility (2)
“Tutor... what?”
“What’s that guy saying? A fairy?”
The last car was filled with the smell of soup and sweat.
Inside, the stifling atmosphere was shattered by the sudden arrival of a young man without warning.
It was inevitable.
The young man introduced himself with the absurd word ‘fairy,’ instead of being an executor or training instructor.
Perhaps because of that, despite being dragged to a punishment squad and their lives being fleeting, a commotion broke out in the place.
“It’s freezing to death, and this is ridiculous.”
The one who stood up was a fierce-looking man missing an ear.
“What are you, kid? What are you blabbering about?”
The man chuckled and then frowned as he walked towards the young man. No one stopped him.
The knights, who kept the prisoners from doing foolish things, watched the situation dumbfounded, and the kneeling prisoners made way with interest, wondering what would happen.
“Didn’t you hear? I said I’m the fairy of the tutorial.”
The young man, faced with the approaching trouble, spoke calmly. Really, was he of noble birth? It seemed so, given the inhuman dialogue he spat out, as if his blood ran blue.
“If you’ve understood, then don’t make a fuss and sit down. I have a lot to explain to you from now on.”
“Fairy? A fa-airy?”
The man, holding his belly in laughter, turned to the seated prisoners.
“Did you guys hear what he said? He says he’s a fairy.”
“What’s a fairy?”
“...A magical being that lives in untouched, mystical places or realms beyond human reach.”
“How come you know so much? Did you study a bit?”
“Mystical places, that’s all lies and propaganda. Don’t you know? It’s all fabrications by the empire to deceive other countries.”
“Shh, so to your eyes, does this guy look like a fairy?”
“Of course not. He’s just an ordinary human.”
After a while, amidst the murmuring on the floor, the young man in black clothes spoke up with authority in his voice.
“I told you to sit down.”
It didn’t seem like he was angry. Could it be that he hadn’t heard the murmuring? Or perhaps he was deliberately ignoring it. Whatever the trash talked about, it was none of his concern.
“...Tch, how boring.”
At that disappointing reaction, the one-eared man, Jansen, frowned and turned his back.
“Keke, idiot.”
Mocking laughter echoed. Inside the dimly lit car, open mouths laughed, revealing yellow teeth.
“If you’re going to listen, why did you stand up?”
“Idiot, what’s so boring about this?”
“Eventually, acting tough without being able to do anything.”
“Aw, isn’t that embarrassing? If it were me, I would’ve hit him by now.”
The jeering that boiled the blood continued, and unlike when he returned to his seat, no one made way for him this time.
Jansen tried not to lose his composure despite being taken aback.
“Move.”
“Move? Why should I? Cowardly brat giving orders.”
The lean man with one eye sneered.
“If you won’t move, I’ll just step over.”
Jansen extended his foot over the one-eyed man’s knee to cool his heated head.
Crack-
“Argh!”
Jansen fell to the floor, clutching his ankle, and shot a hateful look at the one-eyed man.
“You, you bastard!”
The attack, which contained neither inner energy nor mana, was too crude. Such an attack couldn’t harm Chen, who was protected by aura...
Crack!
Chen’s head was ripped off and hit the wall. One side of the car was stained red, and his lifeless body slumped over.
“Now that everyone is seated, I’ll start the explanation.”
“...”
“I won’t lead you to a vain death.”
The young man did not spare a glance at the cooling corpse on the floor.
“People point fingers, saying that this unit will just be used as a meat shield against the demons, but I don’t see it that way.”
The young man, who spoke with conviction, approached Jansen, who was not groaning despite clutching his ankle. As the young man extended his foot, the prisoners made way like the ebbing tide, and Jansen swallowed his saliva with a stern face.
And then, a miraculous event happened.
Whoosh-
It looked like he was going to rip off the whole ankle, but instead, warm light burst from the extended hand of the young man.
“May the merciful Lord grant redemption to those of you who’ve ruined your lives with a momentary mistake.”
“...”
The broken ankle was healed in the blink of an eye. It was a feat only a high-ranking clergyman, rare even for ordinary people to witness, could perform.
Jansen, the subject of the healing, watched the scene with a bewildered expression.
However, this time, he did not curse or complain. His cloudy eyes began to clear, becoming as lucid as they originally were.
“What is your name?”
“My name is... Jansen.”
“How did you end up here?”
“...I killed someone.”
“Is that all? I don’t think so.”
Though the words were significant, Jansen seemed to grasp their meaning. Overwhelmed with emotion, he spoke with a trembling voice.
“The person I killed was a monster. He raped and killed my daughter, who hadn’t even started school.”
“I understand your feelings. There could have been another way.”
As the young man expressed his sympathy, Jansen burst into tears.
“The man who raped my daughter was a young lord from the region I lived in. Not even the village chief, let alone the lord, would listen to me!”
“That’s a terrible thing.”
The young man took out a handkerchief and wiped Jansen’s tears.
“But it’s okay. I will erase all your sins. The Lord will allow it.”
With those words, the young man stood up firmly.
“Sin can be covered with good deeds. Even those destined for hell can go to heaven if they do good.”
[...That’s not right.]
Latera disagreed with Shiron’s dignified statement. While the soul of Jansen was relatively pure, half of the souls here were beyond redemption, like the one whose head had just exploded.
But what mattered was not the souls of the rabble but Shiron’s soul. Latera noticed that Shiron’s sins were gradually being alleviated.
“So, follow my words carefully.”
Ignoring Latera, Shiron spoke with conviction.
“Follow my words carefully. Then you will be able to live and return to a warm home.”
“Really?”
“Can even a death row inmate live?”
“Yes, I swear.”
Feeling pleased at the outburst from the corner, the train slowed down with a loud rumble.
“Then, let’s all stand up.”
Once Shiron confirmed that everyone was standing, he moved towards the outside without hesitation. A land filled with darkness and harsh cold awaited them.
Ahead, numerous lights flickered.
