NABC Chapter 229
Chapter 229
Side Ravi 2
What’s the meaning of life?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about things like that, which is unlike me. I’m sure it’s because of Licht, Meg, and Ronny.
“What are you doing here!? You swindler! Don’t ever show your face around here again!!”
Right now, an old woman from the village is shouting at me, throwing rocks. I didn’t even flinch when I felt the blood trickling down from my forehead. I kept my head bowed, accepting her words and actions.
“Please refrain from any violence. We’ll have to arrest you if you continue.”
“Shut up! Ahh... Anna... you must have suffered so much, been in so much pain... My daughter was treated even worse! How can you say this is nothing!?”
The knights restrained the woman who was throwing rocks. They didn’t need to stop her. I’ve done things I can’t complain about, even if I was killed.
Ah, but. I can’t die. I have to atone for my sins, for the rest of my short life.
The villagers’ scornful gazes, the old woman’s killing intent. More than painful, I accepted it all as my due. But—
“But... she was the only one who was kind to me, you know? She was always...”
Those words, from one of the victims, defending me... those are the words that tear at my heart.
Why are they defending me? Licht and the others too. You shouldn’t trust someone just because they’re kind to you.
No matter how kind I was, what I did was a crime. I was using them, to sell them off.
But, I guess... it wouldn’t be atonement if it wasn’t painful. If I think of it as my punishment, then I just have to endure it.
And so, today too, I headed for a different village with the knights, bringing the victims we’d rescued.
My job now is to recover as many of the victims I deceived as possible and return them to their villages. It’s only natural for them to curse me, and this ordeal will continue until we’ve returned everyone.
Licht and the others decided to... no, they decided we should all live. I’d vaguely predicted it, but scoffed, thinking they were naive.
But for me, someone who can’t find meaning in life, it was a choice more painful than death.
“Don’t... push yourself.”
“...Ravi...!”
I’ve lost a lot of weight since that time, and my complexion’s bad. You were worried, weren’t you?
When I was sick in bed that time, you were also talkative like this, right? I’d forgotten. Honestly... You’re such a child.
“Come on, Ravi... eat more, be more energetic... Well, maybe that’s impossible, but you... You’re not yourself!”
Ah, I made him cry. It’s not cute when a man who’s almost an adult is sobbing. Honestly, such a handful.
“I’m not Ravi. I’m Seravis.”
“Wrong! I don’t know anyone named Seravis. You’re Ravi! What’s Seravis? What a weird name!”
I was taken aback by his ridiculous words and couldn’t help but chuckle. I was planning to have him leave after just seeing my face, but... ah, I’ve lost.
“Bwaha, Licht, you’re being rude to all the Seravis’s in the world! What do you mean, ‘Weird name’!?”
Seeing me laugh, Licht was dumbfounded for a moment. Then he roughly wiped away his tears and said teasingly,
“I said it’s weird for you! Seravis is too stylish! Just change your name!”
“Ah, do whatever you want.”
In the end, we spent the remaining time talking about meaningless, silly things. It’s valuable meeting time, and yet, both Licht and I are idiots.
But... I’m glad.
“Well then, I’ll be back to inform you when we have another opening for a meeting. ...Ravi.”
“! ...Yeah, I’ll look forward to it.”
The knight in charge, Liger, understands. After that, he’d call me Seravis when there were other people around and Ravi when it was just the two of us. Well, it doesn’t really matter.
Alright then, let’s go get rocks thrown at us again tomorrow.