NABC Chapter 222
Chapter 222
Deciding the Punishment
Ravi-san seems to feel an incredible amount of guilt. She understands the gravity of her crimes.
She told us how at some point she vaguely realized it was wrong, but couldn’t escape. And that she couldn’t betray Gordon.
I see... Gordon’s an important person to Ravi-san. Even though he’s hopeless, he’s her lifesaver...
“I didn’t have the power to stop Gordon. Even if I did... it wouldn’t stop the organization. So I thought... I at least wanted to minimize the damage.”
“It’s an excuse,” she said.
But, but, she regrets it so much! If it wasn’t for her, the people who were caught might have suffered even more!
“In that case... then, Ravi-san... I want you to properly atone for your crimes! Then I’m sure...”
“No! You can’t! That’s not okay!”
Ravi-san raised her voice, cutting me off. I faltered. I could tell Licht and Ronny were also confused.
“That’s not... sorry, Meg. I don’t want to be forgiven.”
“Not be forgiven...? What does that even mean?”
Ravi-san said this weakly, and Licht pressed her for an explanation. It felt different from not wanting to atone for her crimes.
“What I’ve done isn’t something I can be forgiven for, even if I atone, even if I’m executed. It’s something I’ll never be forgiven for, no matter what I do in the future.”
She shouldn’t be forgiven. It’s brazen to even think of being forgiven. ...That’s what she said.
“Gordon... he might be happy, in a sense. Because he doesn’t understand anything. He’s not even aware that he’s committed any crimes. He just thinks... it’s his turn now that he’s been caught.”
Whether they’re forced to work in harsh conditions for their whole lives or die, he just accepts it as how things are. The natural order of the world. That kind of thinking is ingrained in Gordon.
What kind of environment do you even grow up in to become this warped? No, or rather, maybe he thinks we’re the warped ones.
Even after seeing Gordon so pathetic, it didn’t make me feel any better. Hearing Ravi-san’s story, it’s like I was made to realize that there are things in this world that can’t be helped.
There are things that can’t be changed, no matter how much you worry, grieve, or rage.
Even so, I couldn’t stop wishing that such a sad fate would never be born again.
“Are you okay with this? You, Licht, and Ronny?”
“I’m fine with it.”
“Yeah, me too.”
We returned to the room, were given some time to think, and then we came up with an answer. We all nodded when Dad asked us one last time for confirmation.
“We want Ravi-san, Gordon, and the others... to be properly treated for their injuries, to eat proper meals, to sleep in a proper place. First of all, we want them to recover. And then, we want them to work for this country, under the country’s supervision.”
It’s an incredibly, unbelievably lenient decision, for those who committed serious crimes. I understand that the victims’ anger won’t subside.
But I thought... they’d be able to find the slaves who were sold more easily, since they’re the ones involved. Dad said they’re planning to abolish the slave system, so there must be a mountain of work to do. I think it’ll take a long time, though, until it’s actually abolished.
And it’s not an easy job. Of course, they’ll be hated by the slaves who were sold, the innocent people, and their families. They’ll have to keep apologizing while being pelted with rocks and insults, as they do their best to return as many people to their families as possible.
Through those experiences... I want them to understand. I think it’s easier to just be executed, pitifully, without knowing anything. Knowing, being hated, suffering... that’s also a form of punishment.
It’ll probably be a punishment that tears Ravi-san apart...
But you know? I think it’s necessary. Even if they’re never forgiven, or if, by some miracle, they are forgiven. Because “knowing” the feelings of the other person is the first step to moving forward.
It’s too empty to just end their lives. Even if it’s cruel, even if it makes Ravi-san hate me.
I want Ravi-san to live, and when the time comes for her to die, I want her to be able to do so with closure.
That’s the shared will... of the three of us.